Ivan Demidov has had a busy day. A few hours (if that) after reaching an agreement with his former team, SKA St. Petersburg, to part ways before the end of his contract on May 31, the right winger signed his ELC with the Montreal Canadiens.

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Unlike Tyler Thorpe and Jacob Fowler, the Russian wonder’s ELC starts this season, meaning he’ll burn his first year. However, you won’t see anyone complain about that in town, as the city is already abuzz with the news of his signing, and everyone is eager to find out when he’ll play his first game with the Sainte-Flanelle.

Media members tried to get a press availability with Kent Hughes before the game against the Detroit Red Wings. Still, the Canadiens’ communication department replied that the GM and Jeff Gorton were working on all the details to bring Demidov over.

However, word to the wise: Hughes will be interviewed on TSN during the first intermission, an appearance that has been planned for weeks. Talk about great timing for the network. We are still awaiting confirmation of when the GM will be available for a full press conference.

i🆅an de🆆idov#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/h2qqbVBxUY

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 8, 2025

There’s no word yet about Demidov's timeline for joining the team or indication about when he’ll play his first game, but in an exclusive interview with RG.org, he said he will most likely have time to play in the regular season. Understandably, he also added that his goal was to adapt to this new style of hockey as soon as possible and show what he could do.

The three-year pact has a $941,000 cap hit and a value of 2.82 M. As expected, there is a signing bonus for each year and performance bonuses he can also hit. As I said earlier this week, the future is now Habs fans, so enjoy it!

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The Maple Leafs have four games in the next six nights, against the Panthers, Lightning, Canadiens, and Hurricanes.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to get as much rest as possible before the playoffs begin.

After having the day off on Sunday, the team opted for an optional practice on Monday. Several players got onto the ice and worked with Toronto's development staff, including injured players David Kampf and Jake McCabe.

The two won't be available for the pair of games in Florida. Kampf and McCabe's status beyond the back-to-back games is undetermined.

Having an optional skate allowed players to either step on the ice and feel the puck for a bit or remain off the ice and get some rest. It was a chance for the team to get a reset before entering the final stretch of their schedule.

"We got two sets of back-to-backs coming up here, starting tonight, and one on the weekend, so it’s a lot of hockey," Maple Leafs head coach Berube said. "Rest is important, and that’s one way we could do it."

One player, however, who is usually on the ice for long stretches after practices but wasn't skating on Monday, was John Tavares.

He took advantage of the day off to work on areas of his game away from the ice.

"I think you look at the big picture and the small picture, and you try to balance both," Tavares said on Tuesday, ahead of their game against the Florida Panthers.

"No doubt with the travel coming here, the back-to-back games we have in front of us, and then what’s coming on the weekend, and too, the last week next week, I felt personally it was just a good time to take the extra day, do some things off the ice."

‘I Want To Keep Everything Internal’: Why Maple Leafs' Steven Lorentz Didn’t Visit His Former Panthers Teammates In Return To FloridaToronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz is drawing the line in the sand ahead of the club’s clash with the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. 

Toronto has six games remaining in the regular season. Four matchups are on the first or second half of a back-to-back, and five of the six teams are divisional opponents. The playoffs begin on April 19, and their first-round opponent is still in the balance.

These final games are crucial for deciding who they get in the opening round and whether they secure home-ice advantage.

If the post-season began today, Toronto would play the Ottawa Senators in the first round. However, they're two points back from the Panthers for third in the Atlantic division. As of now, whoever finishes in the first wild-card spot faces the Maple Leafs.

"I think we've been playing meaningful games for quite some time now," Berube added. "Going into tonight, it's another meaningful game, and the next day. Those are important, in my opinion, going into the playoffs."

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Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Denver, Colo. - The Colorado Avalanche have four games remaining in their regular season. They begin this stretch by returning home for the first of two times left before playoffs start to play the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Most of this year's playoff attendees have already been determined, and the point of the season where teams will begin clinching home ice has begun. In tonight's game, for example, the Golden Knights can secure home ice in the first round if they earn at least a point against the Avalanche. 

Seeing as the Dallas Stars also have a chance to secure home ice for themselves, this is a game the Avalanche want to come out on top of in regulation if they want any chance of catching up to their rivals and want better odds down the playoff stretch.

While Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said a few weeks ago that he doesn't pay much attention to the standings, Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy said this morning that it is something he likes to look at, especially at this point in the season.

We definitely keep an eye on it. I think coaches are our guys that look at the standings a lot. I don't talk to our players much about the standings all year. Now, you have to address it, because there is something on the line and at this time of year, I think players are looking toward the finish line. I think it's human nature after six long months. So, we have to keep focused in the day-to-day and remind them what's at stake. Now is probably when we discuss it a little more.

- VGK head coach Bruce Cassidy on paying attention to the standings.

Morning Skate Updates for the Avalanche

Optional morning skate for the #GoAvsGo ahead of tonight game vs. the Vegas Golden Knights.

🏒 Scott Wedgewood is in the starter’s crease
🏒 Valeri Nichushkin and Brock Nelson wearing 1st line practice sweaters (subject to change)
🏒 Sam Girard is the only one here from… pic.twitter.com/hV5WKPiDU9

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) April 8, 2025

Coach Bednar confirmed following today's optional morning skate that Scott Wedgewood will start tonight against the Golden Knights. Since joining the Avalanche, Wedgewood is 11-4-1. In his last 10 starts, the netminder is 7-2-1.

During his morning presser, Bednar also mentioned that none of the injured guys who he considers day-to-day (Martin Necas, Jonathan Drouin, Josh Manson, Sam Girard) will play in tonight's game, but he still expects them to make a lineup appearance at some point this week. The team has another home game on Thursday, and then they head to Los Angeles for a game on Saturday.

Players to Keep an Eye On:

Nathan MacKinnon, 115 points, is currently tied with Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov for first in the league in points. He's recorded at least one point in his last 25 games at home, earning a total of 16 goals and 26 assists for 42 total points. He currently holds a seven-game point streak, tied for the second-longest active streak in the league.

Cale Makar currently rides a four-game point streak with 3 goals and 4 assists. In Colorado's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, Makar became the first defenseman since Mike Green in the 2008-09 season to hit 30 goals in a single season. On the season, Makar is currently at 91 total points on the season, with 61 assists complementing his 30 goals.

Cale Makar can do it all. #GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/jbWcyEgBX9

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 4, 2025

Brock Nelson is one goal away from 300 career goals. In 15 games with the Avalanche since being traded from the New York Islanders, the forward has 4 goals and 7 assists. He's been a prominent presence on the power play and has slotted into the center spot on the second line since arriving in Colorado.

Where/How to Watch the Game

Puck Drop: 7:45 pm Mountain Time

T.V. Broadcast: ESPN (national)

Radio Broadcast: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 (Colorado), Vegas Golden Knights Radio Network 98.9 (Vegas)

It’s been such a long time coming. The Ottawa Senators can officially clinch their first playoff spot in 8 years on Tuesday night as they face the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second time in as many games.

The Senators still have five games left in their season, and all they need to secure their Stanley Cup playoff ticket is one more point. However, thanks to the New York Rangers loss on Monday night, the Senators could also clinch a playoff berth if:

They defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in any fashion (7 p.m. TSN5, RDS2); OR the Red Wings lose in any fashion Tuesday at Montreal; OR the Senators lose in regulation while the Red Wings earn one point or less against the Canadiens.

Team captain Brady Tkachuk has missed the last four games due to an upper-body injury and did not travel with the team to Columbus. In a game a week ago Sunday, he was hurt in a neutral zone collision with Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves.

The Senators have performed very well without Tkachuk, winning their last three games and allowing just one goal in the process. Meanwhile, winger Nick Cousins is on the trip. He has been out with a knee injury since January 25th after a collision with Toronto Maple Leafs center Jacob Quillan. Cousins skated with the team on Tuesday morning, filling in on defence alongside Dennis Gilbert, who was Ottawa’s 7th defenseman for the practice.

As he often does, Travis Hamonic skated at practice in place of the very banged up Nick Jensen. With the playoff spot nearly secured, it will be interesting to see if Jensen gets some rest and recovery time during the final nine days of the regular season.

The Senators will start goalie Anton Forsberg, who has been outstanding in his last two games, allowing zero goals in regulation. He took the loss on March 30th in a 1-0 OT defeat to Pittsburgh, then on Sunday, he made 37 saves in a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers.

Beyond Ullmark getting the night off, which may be the norm down the stretch, the Senators will go with the same lineup they had in their 4-0 win over the Blue Jackets on Sunday. Elvis Merzlikins is starting in goal for Columbus. He zipped things up for the Jackets on Sunday following Daniil Tarasov's early exit after just 5 minutes.

Head coach Travis Green says the Sens will likely need to be even better on Tuesday than they were on Sunday.

"It's an important two points for us. It's going to be an important two points for Columbus," Green told the Ottawa media. "We're going to play a desperate team that's very good in this building. And anytime you play a team two times in a row, if you want to win the second game, you're going to have to be better than you were the first one.

Senators projected lineup (NHL.com)

Fabian Zetterlund - Tim Stutzle - Claude Giroux
David Perron - Dylan Cozens - Drake Batherson
Ridly Greig - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio
Matthew Highmore - Adam Gaudette - Angus Crookshank

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven - Nikolas Matinpalo

Anton Forsberg
Linus Ullmark

Injured: Nick Cousins (knee), Brady Tkachuk (upper body)

Blue Jackets projected lineup

Boone Jenner - Sean Monahan - Kirill Marchenko
James van Riemsdyk - Adam Fantilli - Kent Johnson
Dmitri Voronkov - Cole Sillinger - Mathieu Olivier
Zach Aston-Reese - Sean Kuraly - Justin Danforth

Zach Werenski - Dante Fabbro
Denton Mateychuk - Ivan Provorov
Jake Christiansen - Erik Gudbranson

Elvis Merzlikins
Daniil Tarasov

Zetterlund has just 2 assists in 15 games for the Senators, still seeking that first goal for Ottawa. On Saturday, Matthew Highmore got his first goal in 34 games; On Sunday, Adam Gaudette scored his first in 25, and Nik Matinpalo got the first of his career. Zetterlund hopes his turn is next.

Ottawa's last playoff game was May 25, 2017.  Whether it's Tuesday night or later in the week, there isn't a fan base in the league that's more excited to stop being playoff wallflowers and get back to the dance.

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St. Louis Blues star Robert Thomas has been a massive reason for the team's immense success over the last several weeks. The 25-year-old has been on fire with the Central Division club, posting four goals and 16 assists in his last nine games alone. 

Thomas' dominant stretch of play has been going on for quite a while, though, as he has an impressive 40 points in his last 27 contests. With this, he has been one of the NHL's best offensive players down the stretch, and the Blues have been benefitting from it significantly. 

Thomas now has 21 goals, 55 assists, 76 points, and a plus-17 rating in 67 games for the Blues this campaign. It has easily been one of his best seasons, and he is now nearing a major milestone because of it. 

Thomas needs only nine more points to record the 400th of his career. When noting that he is only 463 games into his NHL career right now, it is certainly impressive that he is already closing in on point No. 400.

Former Blues Star Struggling With New TeamDuring this past off-season, former St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings. This was after he appeared in 76 games split between the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers last season, posting 23 goals and 55 points in 76 games. He also won his second career Stanley Cup with Florida that spring.

The Blues have three games remaining this season, so the clock is ticking for Thomas to get his 400th point before it's over. However, when looking at how excellent he has been playing, the possibility of him hitting 400 career points before the campaign is finished should not be ruled out. Let's see if he can do just that from here. 

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Top NHL prospect Ivan Demidov is coming to the Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens and Demidov agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning this season and lasting through 2026-27.

Canadiens fans followed KHL St. Petersburg all season because of Demidov, their fifth-overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft. With St. Petersburg’s season ending early in the playoffs just a few days ago, the watch was on to see if the super-prospect would head to North America to finish this season.

While there were many reports that Demidov was staying in Russia until June 1, when his contract officially expired, and was set to join the Habs in the fall, plans changed. 

St. Petersburg said goodbye to its 19-year-old leading scorer.

“SKA (St. Petersburg) and Ivan Demidov have taken a joint decision, which will see the forward join the Montreal Canadiens this season,” the team said in an X post. “His KHL rights will remain with SKA. He will return to Saint Petersburg if he doesn’t gain a foothold in the NHL.”

NHL clubs cannot legally negotiate early releases from KHL clubs, which means Demidov’s representation did that. Although St. Petersburg released his rights, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes still had to work out an entry-level contract with Demidov and his agent. That's now completed.

There was some tension because although Demidov was clear in his desire to come to North America when his contract expired, his KHL club consistently said it felt his best development situation was to stay with SKA.

Demidov had 19 goals and 30 assists for 49 points in 65 games this year, recording the most points in a season by a U-20 player in KHL history. He played in just six playoff games, notching five points for St. Petersburg before its elimination in the first round of the playoffs. 

Demidov is the No. 1 ranked prospect in The Hockey News' Future Watch issue after asking a scout, director of player personnel or GM from each NHL team.

Top 25 NHL Prospects In Future Watch 2025Some players make the NHL as teenagers, but many prospects take three, four or even five years to break through.

Routinely their most dynamic skater, Demidov’s relationship with coach Roman Rotenberg seemed strenuous, to say the least. He’s mentioned many times that he feels like Demidov has plenty to learn still and that Russia is where he can learn that. He’s limited Demidov’s ice time a number of times, including twice playing him under 10 minutes in the playoffs. 

Demidov, can join the Canadiens' run toward the playoffs and possibly give them a secret weapon offensively. His dynamism and skill are unmatched on the Habs roster.

Demidov should be suiting up in a Habs sweater soon enough.

'I Try To Take His Mamba Mentality': Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Ready To Be a Game-BreakerIvan Demidov's sporting idol is Kobe Bryant. He wants to be the difference-maker the Montreal Canadiens need with the Mamba Mentality. And he feels ready – when the time comes.

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz is drawing the line in the sand ahead of the club’s clash with the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. 

The 28-year-old who won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers just last season has made it clear that he’s putting his friendships with former teammates aside for now, keeping his circle tight and inside the Maple Leafs locker room ahead of the postseason. 

“We wouldn't hold it against a guy if he's going to see someone on the other team. But I think just at this time of year, I want to keep everything internal,” said Lorentz after Tuesday’s morning skate. “You want your group to be as tight as possible. Like I said, this is our group, so I'm going to keep it inside the group.”

'In The Playoffs, That's Going To Be Huge': Steven Lorentz Scores Fourth Game-Winning Goal Of Season In Maple Leafs' Win Over Ducks Lorentz had two goals in the playoffs last spring with Florida, one of which was a game-winner.

When asked whether he had tried to catch up with any former Panthers teammates during his time in Florida, Lorentz was direct.

“Not really. No, try to keep it internal. Obviously, there's no secret what's going on in the standings and stuff. So it's a battle right now. Like I said, it's a new season. So we're trying to win,” said Lorentz.

The Waterloo, Ontario, native signed a one-year, $775,000 deal with the Leafs in the offseason, leaving the Panthers in NHL free agency after their championship run. Through 74 games this season, Lorentz has posted seven goals, 10 assists, and 17 points. With the playoffs on the horizon, Lorentz is locking in ahead of two crucial games in Florida on Tuesday and Tampa Bay on Wednesday. 

“Yeah, good memories (here). That's in the past. We've got a job to do, so that's the focus right now. I know it's obviously what's happened to happen, but again, we've been on a new team all season, and this is where my heart's at right now, and this is where we want to win. So that's where my mind is,” said Lorentz. 

'It Was Definitely Worth The Wait': Maple Leafs' Steven Lorentz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, And Anthony Stolarz Receive Stanley Cup Rings From Panthers Ahead Of Game Against Former ClubLorentz, Ekman-Larsson, and Stolarz are all expected to be in the lineup for Toronto on Wednesday evening in Florida.

With only six games left in the regular season, Toronto is fighting for seeding in a tight race with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Panthers, and the up-and-coming Ottawa Senators. The Leafs hold a two-point lead over Tampa and a six-point advantage over Florida, making the two-game stretch in Fort Lauderdale critical.

The Leafs defeated the Panthers less than a week ago at Scotiabank Arena, 3-2, with Tuesday's game being the final regular season meeting between the two this year. With the standings so tight, every point matters at this point, and Lorentz isn’t allowing off-ice distractions to get in the way.

“This means a lot for a lot of different reasons. Again, obviously coming back here. But at the same time, standings-wise, it's obviously a tight race with these guys and the Lightning. Ottawa is us catching up, too. So it's tight all over the NHL,” Lorentz explained. “There's spots to be made up and places to be earned. And teams are going to get jumped. There's going to be a lot of movement, but we just have to focus on ourselves one day at a time.”

‘There’s Still A Lot On The Line’: Maple Leafs Strengthen Atlantic Division Grip With Crucial Win Over Panthers, Secure Ninth Straight Playoff BerthThe Toronto Maple Leafs took another step forward towards securing the top spot in the Atlantic Division on Wednesday night with a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena.

Balancing Act

The situation resonates with all members of the Maple Leafs, but that does not mean that every player is taking the same avenue. Teammate John Tavares, while respecting Lorentz’s mindset, has a slightly different perspective on how to navigate the final stretch of the regular season – with a more balanced approach heading into the playoffs.

The 34-year-old, who has been a pillar of leadership for the Leafs since he arrived in Toronto in 2018, understands the need to be focused on the ultimate goal while also having an appreciation for the moment – labeling it as a “balancing act.”

‘All These Points Matter’: Maple Leafs Separate Themselves In Atlantic Division Race With Win Over Ducks, Successful California Road TripThe Toronto Maple Leafs capped off a successful California road trip with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night. The club secured five of a possible six points, going 2-0-1 in three games and creating some breathing room at the top of the Atlantic Division. 

“I think we know playoffs are coming and what that time of year is all about and what it means. But I think trying to switch, flip a switch, so to speak, I think you want to just build yourself throughout the year. So to me, it's just been a constant build on how we've been playing and the style of hockey that's played at the time of year that it is. I wouldn't say that all of a sudden we just decided to get a real seriousness or intense... But I think there's a recognition of where we're at this season and the way we want our team trending and how we're approaching everything on a daily basis, but also trying to make sure you're enjoying yourself and appreciating the opportunity and making the most of it,” said Tavares. 

“So that's always the balancing act of trying to make sure having fun, but that's a competitive intensity that's needed on a nightly basis. But certainly, at this time of year, it's at the forefront.”

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Stanley Cup Playoffs start April 19 with few value bets left ahead of first round

The NHL Playoffs are fast approaching and despite the first round not being set just yet we can already starting taking bets for what we think will happen.

All season, we've been looking at future bets for the Stanley Cup, each conference and division as well as awards to be handed out.

We now finally get to add to it with some predictions on how the first round will go. We explore who will go on a potential run and who will bow out early in disappointing fashion. 

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: Safe Bets to Close Out the NHL Season: Top Picks for Parlays and Futures

Edmonton Oilers to Win 1+ Playoff Series (-156)

The Kings have been rolling this season with a 44-24-9 record that has them slated to have home-ice in their first round matchup likely versus the Edmonton Oilers. 

The defending Western Conference Champions have been missing key players down the final stretch like superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as well as top pair defenceman Mattias Ekholm. They will be rested and hopefully healthy heading into a matchup against a Kings team that is very home-dependant. 

LA is tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the best home record in the NHL at 29-5-4 but this overshadows the Kings abysmal 15-19-5 road record. This places them behind the likes of the Flames, Canucks and Utah Hockey Club, who are all expected to miss the playoffs.

The Kings have won just once in their last eight trips to Edmonton and could prevent them from moving on to the second round. 

More NHL: Expect Canadiens To Clinch Final Eastern Wild Card Spot

The Oilers have bonfied stars that carried them to a 7-6 road record last postseason. Because of this and the lack of star power for LA, I expect the Kings to struggle in at least one home game that Edmonton should be able to edge out and take a stranglehold of the series. 

Toronto Maple Leafs to Win 1+ Playoff Series (-122)

Expecting that Toronto would get past the first round used to be a tall order but after years of troubleshooting and putting together a solid roster full of star talent, this is the best chance to win ever.

The amount of mythbusters being surpassed by this group is starting to create a feeling like the Leafs can finally do real damage for once. They are pegged to get a first round matchup easier than most against an inexperienced Ottawa Senators team. 

Linus Ullmark Gifts One To Auston Matthews 😱#NHL #Hockey #shorts #NHLshorts #NHLhighlights #MapleLeafs #Leafs #TorontoMapleLeafs #Toronto #Senators #OttawaSenators #Ottawa

Facing off against the tenth-youngest team in the league should give Toronto a confidence-building series that as a franchise, they could really use.

Ottawa has downed the Maple Leafs four straight times this season but playoff hockey is a different atmosphere with Toronto simply having far more experience. 

More NHL:Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

This team has dealt with the heartbreak of multiple hard losses and will be more motivated to get the job done against a red hot Senators team that is due for a cool off. The confidence built during this round will play the biggest factor in how challenging the second round will be. 

Toronto Maple Leafs to Win 2+ Playoff Series (+310)

The current assumption is that the Battle of Florida will take the most out of both the Panthers and Lightning with each side having a sizeable amount of playoff experience and should make for a captivating series. 

The biggest hope for the Maple Leafs is that this chips away at the already beat up Florida Panthers, who have missed many key players lately in captain Aleksander Barkov as well as star forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart.

Lightning's Kucherov Ejected After Knee-On-Knee Collision With TkachukWatch as Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov is thrown out of the game in the first period against the Florida Panthers following a knee-on-knee collision ...

If the Cats can make it out of Tampa, it'll be likely without one of their stars and this should bold well for the Leafs. 

More Betting:March Madness on Ice: Predictions, Betting Strategies, Best Values on 2025 NCAA Frozen Four

If the Bolts prevail, the Maple Leafs should enter with more confidence as they will be able to say they beat Tampa Bay the last time they squared off in the playoffs plus beat them three straight matchups this season.

A Toronto team making the conference Finals isn't out of the question so long as all the chips fall the right way for the Maple Leafs.

The Calgary Flames announce today that they have recalled defenseman Zayne Parekh from the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit.

The Parekh-to-Flames rumors began when the Spirit were eliminated by the Erie Otters in the OHL playoffs, and it seem they have proven to be correct.

The ninth overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft played in 61 games for the Spirit in 2024-25, posting 107 points from 33 goals and 74 assists with a rating of +42, bettering his draft year performance of 96 points where he won the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman, while being named the CHL's Defenseman of the Year, enroute to helping Saginaw capture the Memorial Cup. In both seasons, he led all OHL defensemen in scoring, as well as scoring the most goals with 33.

The Nobleton, Ontario-native will be a much-needed addition to the Flames as they pursue the Minnesota Wild for the second wild-card spot.

The 19-year-old could make his Flames debut tomorrow evening against the Anaheim Ducks.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal on Sunday, passing Wayne Gretzly for the most goals in NHL history. 

In honor of Ovechkin doing what many thought was impossible we wanted to look back at his career ratings in EA NHL video games. 

Ovechkin debuted as the cover star at 95 overall in NHL 07 and has been a dominate in-game character all the way up to NHL 25.

His career ratings are below. 

• NHL 07: (Cover Athlete) 95 overall
• NHL 08: 91
• NHL 09: 94
• NHL 10: 92
• NHL 11: 94
• NHL 12: 93
• NHL 13: 93
• NHL 14: 94
• NHL 15: 93
• NHL 16: 93
• NHL 17: 94
• NHL 18: 92
• NHL 19: 92
• NHL 20: 92
• NHL 21: 93
• NHL 22: 92
• NHL 23: 92
• NHL 24: 91
• NHL 25: 91

Ovechkin was initially an 89 overall when NHL 25 was first released, his first time being rated below a 90 overall, but is now up to 91 overall after mid-season updates. 

A free Ovechkin card is available to all players in Hockey Ultimate Team to celebrate his achievement. 

Check out HUT Corner Stones Event Week 2, April Fools' content release and Team of the Season Week 1. 

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.     

The Vegas Golden Knights can clinch home ice in the first round of the playoffs if they can pick up one point against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Golden Knights currently hold a five-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings for the Pacific Division and a nine-point lead over the Edmonton Oilers, with five games remaining. An overtime loss would mean the Oilers could not make up the ground to catch the Golden Knights, guaranteeing the first round of the playoffs would begin in  T-Mobile Arena. 

Acquiring that point will be a difficult task. The Avalanche loaded up at the deadline, adding multiple significant contributors and have been one of the best teams in the NHL since the deadline. The Avalanche are third in the Central Division with 98 points and will likely take on the Dallas Stars in the first round of the playoffs. 

The Golden Knights are slowly beginning to get healthy. Alex Pietrangelo returned on Apr. 3, meaning Tomas Hertl and Ilya Samsonov are the remaining Golden Knights players out with injuries. Both are considered day-to-day and are working their way back to full health. 

Akira Schmid and Scott Wedgewood are tonight's expected starters. Puck drop is set for 6:30 PM PST at Ball Arena.

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Tomas Hertl Returns To Golden Knights' Practice In Non-Contact JerseyVegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl practiced today in a non-contact jersey for the first time since suffering his injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Mar. 23. Golden Knights Recall Akira Schmid Amid Injury Concern For Ilya SamsonovThe Vegas Golden Knights have recalled goaltender Akira Schmid from the Henderson Silver Knights as they deal with a possible injury concern with Ilya Samsonov.

The Vancouver Canucks have assigned right-winger Jonathan Lekkerimäki to the AHL. The 20-year-old will join the Abbotsford Canucks, who are currently on a 13-game winning streak. During his latest call-up, Jonathan Lekkerimäki played 13 games, recording three points while averaging 11:25 of ice time.

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This season, Lekkerimäki has thrived in the AHL. In 32 games, he has 19 goals along with 28 points. Despite spending significant time on Vancouver's NHL roster, Lekkerimäki ranks tied for ninth in goals among AHL rookies, while his 116 shots rank 20th.

Sending Lekkerimäki down to the AHL also protects his Calder Trophy eligibility for next season. The Swedish winger has played 24 games and would lose his eligibility if he dressed two more times this season. Only two players in franchise history have won the Calder Trophy, with those being Pavel Bure in 1992 and Elias Pettersson in 2019.

Multiple Canucks Could Lose Their 2026 Calder Trophy Eligibility Before The End Of The SeasonWith eight games remaining, the Vancouver Canucks are in an uphill battle to qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. At this point, it is likely the Canucks will need to win at least seven of their final games, as the teams above them in standings keep collecting points on a nightly basis. While returning to the post-season isn't likely, it is not an impossible task, especially as Vancouver plays six of their final eight games at home. 

The first opportunity for Lekkerimäki to get into Abbotsford's lineup will be on April 11 against the Calgary Wranglers. The Calgary Flames AHL team sit fifth in the Pacific Division and are ten points back of the AHL Canucks. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from the Abbotsford Centre.

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On Sunday night, the Chicago Blackhawks hung onto a third-period lead to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center. The young guys carried the team to victory in a game where Chicago outskated Pittsburgh all night. 

Now, the two teams will have an even amount of rest as they finish the second half of a home-and-home with the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. This is a chance for Chicago to earn a season sweep.

Spencer Knight is going to start in goal for the Blackhawks. This is how the lines and defense pairs will look in front of him:

Donato-Bedard-Mikheyev 

Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi  

Slaggert-Moore-Kurashev 

Reichel-Veleno-Foligno  

Vlasic-Rinzel

Korchinski-Murphy

Kaiser-Levshunov

This is the same lineup that the Blackhawks used against the Penguins when they met on Sunday. There is a lot to like. 

We don’t know if Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, or Oliver Moore will be centers in the future, but that is the 1-2-3 punch they will use in this game. If they all turn out to be impactful down the middle, that will increase Chicago’s chances of returning to the playoffs in the future. 

The wingers there to support them are all playing well lately. Ryan Donato is one goal away from 30, Ilya Mikheyev just scored his 20th, and Teuvo Teravainen is one point away from 60.

They are still working on adding young depth up front, but there are worse groups than this. 

The top pair on defense is Alex Vlasic with Sam Rinzel. That is a solid duo that will only improve over time. Rinzel is playing well beyond his years and Vlasic already looks like a top-pair guy in the defensive zone. 

Artyom Levshunov, who may have the highest ceiling of them all on the blue line, is on the third pair with Wyatt Kaiser, who has been wonderful this season. Connor Murphy, the only elder veteran going on defense vs Pittsburgh, will skate with Kevin Korchinski who is working on his game at the NHL level. 

The Penguins are having one of the worst seasons they've had in the Sidney Crosby era but the fact remains that he is still playing at the top of his game, which makes them dangerous on any given night.

With other veterans (and future Hall of Famers) like Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Kris Letang there, it's never an easy night against the Penguins regardless of their spot in the standings. 

This game can be seen locally in Chicago on CHSN and heard on AM-720. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

The original six.

When two teams that have been around since the inception of the NHL play each other, there is bound to be overlap.

There is plenty for the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

With the two teams playing their most important game of the season, it was a good time to see who has played for both teams. To limit the selection, we only look at current Red Wings players who have also played for the Canadiens.

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Lineup Update: Red Wings Head to Montreal Healthy with Talbot Holding Down CreaseTuesday night in Montreal, the Detroit Red Wings will play the biggest game of their season, taking on the Canadiens in a so-called 'four-point' game with the chance to turn the wild card chase on its head.  

The list is organized from players you likely knew played for the Canadiens to the least likely. Without further procrastination, here are the four current Red Wings players who have played for the Canadiens.

Ben Chiarot

Ben Chiarot was brought in to the Red Wings organization to beef up the blueline. He plays a rugged game and can chip in offensively.

He played for the Canadiens for nearly three seasons, as he was traded around the deadline to the Florida Panthers. Chiarot’s most successful year with the organization was his first, the 2019-20 season. He recorded 21 points in 69 games, averaging 23:08 a game.

Jeff Petry

Jeff Petry was an Edmonton Oilers draft selection traded to the Canadiens in his fifth season with the team. He would spend seven years playing with them.

Petry had the most offensively productive years of his career with the Canadiens, recording four consecutive 10-goal, 40-point seasons. He also played a lot, averaging between 21 and 24 minutes a game.

Erik Gustafsson

Erik Gustafsson’s tenure with the Canadiens didn’t last long. In April of 2021, he was traded to the Canadiens from the Philadelphia Flyers. He played five regular season games and 16 in the playoffs, the year they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final.

William Lagesson

William Lagesson’s tenure with the Canadiens was even more short-lived. He was traded to the team from the Oilers in a deal that saw the Oilers receive Brett Kulak. 

After the deadline, Lagesson played three games for the Canadiens. He recorded one assist and played 15 minutes a night.

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The Hockey News Big Show is back for another week of discussing some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Breaking Down Ovechkin's New NHL Goals Record, The Playoff Chase, Lane Hutson And More by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and guest co-host Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

1:04: Now that Alex Ovechkin broke the NHL all-time goals record, what's next for him? How will he add to his greatness?

6:28: Will Ovechkin’s new record ever be broken?

9:50: Where does Ovechkin rank on the NHL's "greatest players ever" list? 

11:36: The Ottawa Senators are now just two points behind the Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division. Could the Senators snag that spot?

14:20: On his 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman discussed what is being called the "Sunshine State Conspiracy" against Toronto. Do we think this "conspiracy" of the Panthers trying to get the first wild-card spot to face the Toronto Maple Leafs is real?

18:07: Both conferences’ second wild-card teams, the Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens, have at least a four-point lead over the teams chasing them to get in. Can any team in the chase actually catch up, or is the playoff picture getting clearer?

22:53: Which trade acquisition who didn't hit the ground running with their new team is due for a hot streak?

26:27: Tage Thompson is up to 43 goals this season, the third most in the NHL. Is he the best value contract in the NHL? Are his prime years being wasted in Buffalo? Would they ever consider trading him?

31:36: Anthony Stolarz is 5-0-0 in his last 5 starts with a .944 save percentage. Is the Leafs’ Game 1 starter debate over?

33:33: Which Canadian forward who got snubbed at the 4 Nations Face-Off should be on the Olympic team?

34:40: Lane Hutson is feeling like a lock for the Calder. Should he also be getting some serious consideration for the Norris?

37:30: When asked about his message to his team following their 5-1 loss to the Lightning, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said, "I don't have a message right now. I don't go into the locker room after the game." Is it weird for the coach not to go in the dressing room after a game?

40:06: Ovechkin's first posts since breaking the NHL all-time goals record both expressed his love for longtime teammate Nicklas Backstrom. Are they the best bro-mance in hockey? 

Watch the full episode here. 

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