SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox each scored two goals, Jonathan Quick had 21 saves, and the New York Rangers beat the San Jose Sharks 6-1 on Saturday.

Jonny Brodzinski and Vincent Trocheck also scored for New York.

Cam Lund scored a power play goal for San Jose for his first career point, and Sharks goalie Alexandar Georgiev had 27 saves.

Panarin, who scored his team-leading 32nd and 33rd goals, got New York started scoring twice in less than two minutes in a first period in which the Rangers out-shot San Jose 14-5. His first goal broke a scoreless tie at 12:04 of the first and then next at 13:58 made it 2-0.

Takeaways

Rangers: New York solidified its position in the wild card playoff race. The Rangers had lost eight of their previous 11 games (3-6-2) going into Saturday.

Sharks: Were seeking what would have been their first three-game winning streak since early December.

Key moment

Fox’s goal at 4:48 of the second period made it a 3-0 game and gave New York some breathing room a day after the Rangers blew a two-goal lead in the third period of Friday’s 5-4 overtime loss to Anaheim.

Key stat

The Rangers won 67.9 percent of the faceoffs in Saturday’s game. New York ranked third in the NHL in faceoff win percentage (53 percent) going into Saturday, and San Jose ranked No. 25 (48.2 percent)

Up next

The Rangers play host to Minnesota on Wednesday, and the Sharks play the Kings in Los Angeles on Sunday.

It’s been a fun week at home for the Florida Panthers.

After picking up a pair of wins over Pittsburgh and Utah while enjoying some down time in-between, the Panthers will look to complete their second straight perfect homestand when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday afternoon in Sunrise.

It’s the start of a home-and-home between the two Atlantic Division rivals, one that concludes on Tuesday at Bell Centre in Montreal.

One thing that is quite certain is that the Panthers should get a hell of a fight from the playoff hopeful Habs.

Entering play Sunday, Montreal holds the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference despite being in a three-way tie with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers points-wise.

The Canadiens have lost five straight though (0-3-2) and, at least until now, have squandered a chance solidify their standing in the playoff race.

Instead, the Canadiens will have to fight for points against the defending Stanley Cup champs over the next few days.

Florida arrives on Sunday one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top spot in the Atlantic Division and with a game in hand.

Much of the attention in Pantherland this week was on Brad Marchand.

Acquired at the NHL Trade Deadline while recovering from an upper-body injury, Marchand made his Panthers debut on Friday against Utah.

Marchand played well and picked up the primary assist on Sam Bennett’s overtime winner.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Sunday’s showdown with the Pens:

Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart

Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Brad Marchand

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Jesper Boqvist

A.J. Greer – Nico Sturm – Evan Rodrigues

Gus Forsling – Seth Jones

Niko Mikkola – Tobias Bjornfot

Nate Schmidt – Uvis Balinskis

Scratches: Tomas Nosek, Jonah Gadjovich, Dmitry Kulikov

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NASHVILLE -- The Golden Knights extended their win streak to six games by closing out their three-game road trip with a 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators.

Reilly Smith scored his 11th goal of the season, and first since returning to the Golden Knights just before the trade deadline, to break a 1-1 tie 6:25 into the third period.

"It's definitely nice to be able to help the team win, and a little bit of relief just to see it go in," Smith said. "I feel like I've gotten a lot of opportunities over the last few games and just hitting something and not going in. Sometimes your worst opportunities are the ones that go in and just find it fortunate it bounces in the crease. At the end of the day that it's a big win for us and a really good road trip."

Smith's goal was the team's 52nd power-play goal of the season, tying a franchise record.

🗣️ REILLY
SMITH 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/uFf4Ole5m8

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 30, 2025

Jack Eichel scored his 27th goal while Brett Howden celebrated his 27th birthday with his 22nd goal of the campaign.

Adin Hill made a spot start and made 23 saves for the Knights, one night after making 18 saves in a 5-3 win at Chicago.

Vegas now has 98 points with nine games left on the schedule, nine points ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division.

Ryan O'Reilly scored Nashville's lone goal while Justus Annunen made 27 stops for the Predators, who were eliminated from the playoffs last week.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

ON THE SPOT: Hill wasn't scheduled to start in Nashville, after playing the night before, but after taking warm-ups, coach Bruce Cassidy said Ilya Samsonov wasn't able to go.

"Sammy just wasn't able to go," he said. "Something tightened up. So that was that. It was not going to be Hilly. We tend not to play a guy back to back, especially this time of year. But that was the choice we were left with, and good on him.

Cassidy added he had "no idea ... because it's something we expected to play right up until 5:10, or something. So hopefully not. Once we get back, it'll be re-evaluated."

COMING TOGETHER: Vegas' third line of Smith, William Karlsson and Victor Olofsson continues to build chemistry. Smith's goal came on the heels of Olofsson's two he scored in Chicago on Friday. With Smith and Karlsson's built-in chemistry after playing together in Vegas from 2017-2023, and now Olofsson a part of the line, the trio becomes an integral combination in the bottom six.

"I think the last two games is a testament of us trying to work with each other more and trying to create more on the rush and in zone," Smith said. "I think our reads have been better over the last two games. We're playing a little bit quicker, a little bit more in sync, and we're getting more opportunities because of it."

PLAYOFF READY: With just nine games remaining and the Golden Knights playing well, Cassidy wasn't ready to concede that his team is in playoff form... yet.

"You never want to get ahead of yourself, but I said last week, I thought we're trending really well, so we're certainly closer to the top of the scale than the bottom, especially our overall game," Cassidy said. "We're not only winning because we're scoring. It's not one thing, it's not one line, it's not one special team. It's, I think, a little bit of everything."

For the second straight game, the Ottawa Senators picked up a huge victory at the expense of an Eastern Conference wild-card hopeful.

Ridly Greig had a goal and an assist as the Senators defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 at Canadian Tire Centre in front of 17,758 fans. Shane Pinto added two assists, while Linus Ullmark made 29 saves.

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The victory leaves the Senators eight points above the Eastern Conference playoff cut line, ahead of Columbus, the idle Montreal Canadiens, and the New York Rangers. The Rangers will play later on Saturday night in San Jose.

Greig opened the scoring just over seven minutes into the first period, tipping in a low wrist shot from Thomas Chabot. However, the lead lasted only 31 seconds. Ullmark kicked out a big rebound into the slot, allowing Boone Jenner to fire a wrist shot past him to tie the game at 1.

With under six minutes left in the first, Drake Batherson corralled a loose puck in the slot and beat Daniil Tarasov between the legs, restoring Ottawa’s lead.

The Senators were even more dominant in the second period, but Tarasov stymied several great scoring chances. Jake Sanderson did manage to find the net on a two-on-one opportunity. Pinto directed the puck toward the net, and the rebound deflected off Sanderson’s body and in, making it 3-1. The whole play was set up by Greig's slick neutral zone chip pass off the boards that set Pinto free behind the defence.

Entering the third period down by two, Columbus was likely feeling the effects of an emotional game the night before against the Vancouver Canucks. But the Senators failed to finish their chances, letting the Blue Jackets hang around, and with under nine minutes to play, Kirill Marchenko cut the Ottawa lead to 3-2.

That gave the Blue Jackets some life, but despite a hard push, they couldn't find the equalizer. As it was in Thursday's win in Detroit, the third period for the Senators was a 'bend don't break' scenario. But the Sens were the better team and had enough chances to put the game out of reach a lot earlier.

"Yeah, top to bottom everybody was good, so it's good to see," Greig told the media. "I thought we were on top of them throughout the whole game. We were able to turn pucks over and kind of play fast."

Head coach Travis Green says he's pleased that his depth is coming through – all four lines are rolling and contributing at both ends of the rink.

"Yeah, and it's good when you have options as a coach," Green told the media. "You can make subtle changes to your lineup. You know, we've got Gauds and Highzy with Ammo on the fourth line right now (Adam Gaudette, Matthew Highmore, and Michael Amadio). And Ammo has played some really good hockey. The good teams have some depth they can play with and we're getting there for sure."

They'll need that depth on Sunday in a quick turnaround for a 5 pm game in Pittsburgh, where they'll face a Penguins team that's tracking to miss the playoffs for a third straight season.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Nico Hischier scored three goals for his second hat trick of the season and the New Jersey Devils beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Saturday.

Paul Cotter and Tomas Tatar also scored, Jesper Bratt had two assists, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 22 shots for the Devils. New Jersey won for the second time in six games (2-3-1).

Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman scored and Filip Gustavsson made 28 saves for the Wild, who have lost three of four.

Minnesota is tied with St. Louis for the top wild card in the Western Conference, with the teams six points ahead of Vancouver. The Blues beat Colorado 2-1 Saturday for their ninth straight win.

After New Jersey was blanked 4-0 Friday in Winnipeg, Hischier scored 29 seconds into the game and Cotter scored before six minutes elapsed for a 2-0 lead.

Hischier made it 3-1 early in the third, but Hartman answered two minutes later for the Wild. Hischier completed his first three-goal game since Nov. 25 with a power-play goal with 5:10 remaining. Hischier has a career-high 33 goals this season.

Foligno also had an assist on Hartman’s goal in the third period, and a major for fighting the Devils’ Jonathan Kovacevic for a Gordie Howe hat trick.

Takeaways

Devils: Hischier, whose first goal was the fastest to start the game for New Jersey this season, has points in 10 of his last 11 games with seven goals and six assists.

Wild: Minnesota finished 5-5-1 in a stretch it played 10 of 11 games at home. Five of the last eight games are on the road, where the Wild are second in the NHL with 47 points (22-11-3).

Key moment

New Jersey just missed making it 3-1 with 15 seconds left in the second period. On a 3-on-1 Bratt’s shot looked to be going in, but it went off the skate of teammate Timo Meier who was crossing at the edge of the crease and the puck deflected wide.

Key stat

Per NHL Stats, Bratt’s two assists give him 15 this month, the most in a month by a Devils player since Scott Gomez had 16 in March 2004. Bratt has a career-high 66 assists this season.

Up next

Wild visit New Jersey on Monday to complete the home-and-home set.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is a first-ballot Hockey Hall of Famer whose career is worthy of skipping the mandatory three-year waiting period to enter the hall immediately upon retirement.

Recently, Crosby broke Wayne Gretzky's record for averaging a point per game for 20 seasons, a mark the Great One held for over 27 years. Considering these hockey legends are two of the greatest to play professional hockey, their longevity has allowed them to break or hold some important NHL records.

BREAKING: Sidney Crosby Breaks Wayne Gretzky's Point-Per-Game Seasons RecordAfter 20 years in the making, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has made NHL history.

However, both missed some milestones despite playing 20 or more seasons in the league. Today, we want to look at three NHL records that Crosby, who still has two seasons left on his contract, won't be able to tie or break despite over two decades in the NHL.

Most Seasons by a First Overall Pick

Crosby was the top pick in the 2005 Draft, which took place seven seasons into Joe Thornton's career. Thornton was the first overall selection in the 1997 Draft and would play 24 seasons in the NHL, including 17 after Crosby entered the league in 2005-06.

Interestingly, these two top picks met in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins won the series in six games, and Crosby took home the Conn Smythe Trophy, Thornton's only appearance in the Final.

Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule: Remaining Games & Statistical NotesThe Pittsburgh Penguins are winding down their 2024-25 season and on pace to miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. However, there is plenty to play for in the final weeks of the regular season. 

Although Crosby has outscored Thornton in goals (618-430) and points (1,676-1539), Sid the Kid is still chasing Jumbo Joe in assists (1,109-1,058). He needs 51 over the two seasons to move up to seventh all-time, which is Thornton's place.

Since Crosby is wrapping up his 20th season, when his contract expires in 2027, he'll be two seasons short of Thornton's record of 24 seasons. However, if he remains healthy, Crosby will surpass Mike Modano (21 seasons) for second-most seasons by a first-overall pick. 

Most Seasons With 80 Points

On March 27, 2025, Crosby scored a first-period goal to net his 80th point, which gave him the NHL record for most seasons averaging a point per game.

That historical night also marked the 14th time in his career that Crosby scored at least 80 points, breaking a four-way tie for most 80-point seasons, a mark he shared with Dale Hawerchuk, Mark Messier, and Marcel Dionne at 13.

'When He Speaks, Everyone Listens': How Sidney Crosby's Mentorship Has Passed On To Multiple Generations Of TeammatesFollowing the team's regular practice on Dec. 16, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby took some extra time out of his day to do something pretty much everyone around him is accustomed to witnessing on a day-to-day basis.

As mentioned before, Crosby has two seasons left on his deal. The Penguins captain hasn't scored less than 80 points since the shortened 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns, the only two years he failed to reach 80 in over a decade dating back to the shortened 2012-13 season.

However, even if he continues collecting 80 points over the next two seasons, Crosby will end up one year short of Gretzky's record of 17 seasons of 80 points or more. 

Most Points by a Player in Their 30s

Crosby will turn 38 in August, and at the end of his contract in July 2027, he'll be 39, approaching 40. Since turning 30 ahead of the 2017-18 season, the captain has played 563 games, scored 236 goals with 413 assists, and has 649 points.

Ahead of his next game, Crosby ranks 18th all-time for points scored by an NHL player in his 30s. He's four points shy of catching Joe Pavelski (653) for 17th all-time. Pavelski is the only name ahead of Crosby on this list who is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

As expected, Gretzky owns this record thanks to 217 goals and 601 assists for 878 points, breaking the mark formerly held by Jean Ratelle, who had 861 points in his 30s.

 

Penguins Crosby Joins Exclusive Club With Another 80-Point Season Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored a first-period goal against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, March 27, securing his 14th 80-point season.

Thus far, only four players have scored over 800 points in their 30s, including Adam Oates (842) and Martin St. Louis (822). After these names, there are six names in the 700-point club, including Alex Ovechkin, who sits at 715. 

Once Crosby catches and surpasses Pavelski, next up is Joe Sakic (662), Norm Ullman (668), Daniel Alfredsson (672), Ray Bourque (680), and Brett Hull (690).

Considering the Penguins' captain has a career 1.24 points per game average, if he remains healthy over the next two seasons, he could potentially finish with an additional 204 points, which would give him an estimated 853 points in his 30s, which could be 25 points shy of Gretzky's all-time mark.

Former Waterloo Black Hawk Sam Rinzel has signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, less than two years after the defenseman’s final game at Young Arena.

Rinzel played for Waterloo during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 United States Hockey League seasons. He was drafted by Chicago during the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft.

The NHL’s Blackhawks chose him 25th overall. Rinzel has spent the past two years skating for the University of Minnesota Gophers.

In 2021/22, Rinzel appeared in 21 Waterloo regular season games, primarily after completing the high school season in Minnesota. He notched 10 points (2-8-10) and also was on the ice during all six of the Hawks’ 2022 Clark Cup Playoff games.

That summer, he became the fourth Waterloo player to be selected during the first round of the NHL Draft.

Returning to Waterloo for a full season in 2022/23, Rinzel produced 36 points (9-27-36) in 58 regular season contests and also tallied three points (1-2-3) in three playoff games.

Rinzel’s second USHL campaign was highlighted by three game-winning goals, eight multipoint nights, and a +14 plus/minus differential.

The Chanhassen, Minnesota, native advanced to the University of Minnesota in the fall of 2023. In two seasons with the Gophers, Rinzel played in 79 NCAA games, racking up 60 points (12-48-60). He was named to the Big Ten All-Rookie Team after his freshman year.

Earlier this month during the closing days of his sophomore season, Rinzel claimed the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award. His 31 points in 2024/25 ranked sixth among all college defensemen.

Within his time as a Gopher, Rinzel also represented the United States during the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships. He returned from the competition with a gold medal.

Rinzel’s three-year contract with Chicago covers the current season. The Blackhawks have nine remaining games during 2024/25, including a matchup tomorrow at the United Center versus the Utah Hockey Club at 3 Pm.

An increasing number of players have skated in the USHL for Waterloo, then in the NHL for Chicago. This season, Craig Smith became the latest former USHL Black Hawk to join the NHL Blackhawks. The former Waterloo captain was traded to Detroit on March 7..

Zach Sanford is also currently under contract with Chicago and has spent the season with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. Vinnie Hinostroza, Blake Hillman, and Rem Pitlick have also played for Waterloo and Chicago.

Last summer, the Blackhawks drafted Waterloo’s top 2023/24 goal-scorer, John Mustard, with the 67th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

A dozen former Waterloo Black Hawks have played in the NHL this season. The group includes Max Sasson, the most recent Hawks alumnus to make his NHL debut. Sasson dressed for his first game with the Vancouver Canucks on November 23rd.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (44-25-4) are in California for a back-to-back series, as they faced the Los Angeles Kings (40-23-9) today and are scheduled to play the Anaheim Ducks tomorrow. Anthony Stolarz led the Leafs onto the ice for the game against the Kings, while Darcy Kuemper started in net for Los Angeles. Tanner Jeannot and Alex Turcotte remained day-to-day with their injuries. Playoffs are weeks away. The Kings need to stay sharp and win today – those two points are vital.

First Period Showdown 

The first period was underway with both the Kings and the Maple Leafs displaying a high level of physicality, energy, and engagement. The teams exchanged numerous hits until a fight broke out between Jeff Malott and Brandon Carlo, leading to five-minute major penalties for both. With the power play over, Kuemper continued to defend well, making key saves. Despite the scoreless outcome at the buzzer, the first period was anything but dull, played in front of a highly energetic and vocal crowd.

This is what you call a TILT 🥊 pic.twitter.com/LAlx5YHcdM

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 29, 2025

Bring On the Second

Alex Laferriere opened the scoring early, netting a backhand goal just one minute into the second period to give the Kings a 1-0 lead. Shortly after, the play saw Matthew Knies push Mikey Anderson, sending him into a collision with the Kings' net. Kuemper was slow to his feet but resumed in his net, nonetheless. As the period wound down, the Kings showcased their strengths: getting on the scoreboard early and keeping the puck out of their defensive zone. 

WHAT A MOVE LAFFY pic.twitter.com/5i7IRJSHep

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 30, 2025

The Third Period Push

Kuemper provided solid and reliable goaltending, consistently bouncing back to his feet with impressive tenacity in the last forty minutes of play. As the last twenty minutes was underway, Auston Matthews' first shot was turned aside, but he scored on his second try at 19:05 with a snap shot, his twenty-ninth of the year. Immediately after, Los Angeles called a timeout for a review of the play. Los Angeles challenged Matthews' goal for a high stick, and the review was unsuccessful for the Kings, leading to a delay of game penalty against them. Locked at 1-1, the game took a turn for the worse for the Kings when Drew Doughty tripped Mitch Marner, resulting in a power-play and a potential goal for the Leafs. The Kings, now in a state of panic, scrambled frantically to defend their zone. Kuemper then tripped Matthews, drawing a tripping penalty. Almost as if on cue, John Tavares found the back of the net, giving the Leafs a 2-0 lead. The goal marked his 490th in his career. 

As Jim Fox nicely puts it, "it's one of those games." Tavares scored his second goal of the night and his 35th of the season, ultimately securing the win for the Maple Leafs. The final score saw the Kings fall to the Maple Leafs 3-1. Their next challenge would be a home game against the San Jose Sharks tomorrow.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (37-18-7-1) continue their march towards the AHL Calder Cup playoffs, chasing the top spot in the Atlantic Division and pursuing a 40-win season. They got closer to achieving those goals after defeating the Charlotte Checkers 5-3 on Saturday.

In his professional debut, 2024 second-round pick Harrison Brunicke had an assist and a shot on a goal while finishing the afternoon minus-1. The rookie set up Vasily Ponomarev's game-winner at 14:43 of the third period, a power-play tally that broke a 2-2 tie. 

Despite picking up two helpers, Tristan Broz was not one of the game's three stars, as Valtteri Puustinen took top honors, scoring a goal at 12:10 of the second to give the visiting Penguins a 2-0 lead. 

WBS Penguins Can Snap Organization Playoff Winless StreakThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins punched their ticket to the Calder Cup playoffs on Wednesday with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the Hartford Wolf Pack. 

Unfortunately, that lead didn't make it to intermission as the Checkers got lamplighters at 14:57 and 16:15 to tie things up after 40 minutes.

Once Ponomarev restored the Penguins' lead, Matt Nieto and Joona Koppanen scored unassisted goals into the empty net at 17:43 and 18:08 to extend the visitor's lead to 5-2. Then, with 26 seconds left, Charlotte scored to make it a 5-3 final. 

Between the pipes, Filip Larsson made 25 saves on 28 shots (.893 SV%) to improve to 12-8-3 this season. Cooper Black was on the hook for the loss at the other end, stopping 18 of the 21 shots he faced. 

On special teams, WBS scored one power-play goal (Ponomarev) while going perfect on the penalty kill, 3-for-3. Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, with Charlotte finishing with more shots, 28-23.

Interestingly, Saturday's contest was not a day for players racking up assists. Three of the eight goals were unassisted, and only one tally (Ponomarev) had a secondary assist. 

The Penguins have nine games left and have already clinched a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs. Their next game is Sunday, a rematch with the Checkers. WBS is looking for its 38th win of the year and is chasing its first 40-win season since 2017-18.

Additionally, they are just three points behind the Hershey Bears for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, a crown they haven't won since 2016-17.

Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule: Remaining Games & Statistical NotesThe Pittsburgh Penguins are winding down their 2024-25 season and on pace to miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. However, there is plenty to play for in the final weeks of the regular season.  March Penguins Prospects Update: GoaltendersThere are some exciting developments down on the farm for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nashville Predators forward Colton Sissons left during the first period of Saturday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Bridgestone Arena with what appeared to be a lower-body injury.

After taking a hit and falling awkwardly to the ice behind the Vegas net, Sissons remained down on the ice for several minutes and appeared to be in significant pain while being tended to by Predators head athletic trained Kevin Morley.

Sissons was eventually helped to his feet and off the ice by teammates Steven Stamkos and Michael Bunting, and he was not putting any weight on his left leg as he was helped back to the Nashville locker room. 

Sissons did not return to the game and was seen leaving Bridgestone Arena on crutches during the third period. The Predators have yet to provide any further update on his injury status.

The NHL’s coaching carousel continues to spin, with the Philadelphia Flyers firing coach John Tortorella this week. Tortorella was replaced on an interim basis by associate coach Brad Shaw, increasing the number of interim coaches to three. 

Let’s look at each interim coach’s situation and offer a guesstimate of which ones are likely to stay with their current team.

In alphabetical order of teams:

1. Boston Bruins

After replacing the fired Jim Montgomery in mid-November, veteran coach Joe Sacco was given the interim reins of the Bruins. But Sacco was unable to turn Boston’s season around, as he’s posted a 22-25-6 record since taking over, and Bruins GM Don Sweeney dismantled much of the roster at the NHL trade deadline.

For that reason, Sacco probably won’t be the choice to coach the Bruins beyond this season. But despite some rumors, Tortorella isn’t the solution. Tortorella has a very short shelf life behind the bench, and the Bruins don’t require a whip-cracker like him.

Rather, we see current Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan as the likely coach of the Bs. Sullivan is expected in many circles to part ways with the Pens at the end of the year, and picking Sullivan – who has already worked as Boston’s coach in 2003-04 and 2005-06 – makes much more sense for the Bruins. 

In any case, don’t expect Sacco to stick around Beantown much longer. He’s a placeholder coach, and Boston hasn't changed for the better under his guidance. Sweeney will almost assuredly want a more proven bench boss, and that isn’t Sacco at this stage.

2. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks moved in a different coaching direction in the first week of December when they fired coach Luke Richardson and made Anders Sorensen their interim bench boss. Since Dec. 7, Sorensen has generated a 13-27-7 record as the Blackhawks have sunk to the bottom of the Central Division and second-last place in the NHL. 

But really, what coach could’ve done any better with the dog’s breakfast of a lineup created by Chicago GM Kyle Davidson? This organization is still in the early stages of a full rebuild, and they are going to continue to be a non-playoff team for the foreseeable future. So, our bet is that Sorensen has the interim tag removed from his job title, and he becomes the permanent coach in the Windy City. 

Sorensen’s ability to be a teacher is exactly what the Blackhawks need right now, and continuing to change coaches won’t help Chicago in the short or long term.

The Hawks can keep Sorensen around as the roster continues to be tweaked, and maybe a couple of years down the line, they can go with an experienced coach to take the organization to a higher level. For now, though, Sorensen is the right choice for the Blackhawks’ current predicament.

3. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers gave Shaw the reins after dismissing Tortorella, and Shaw is only going to get another seven games to prove he’s the right man for the job. Philadelphia indeed looked energized in the first two games after the Tortorella Era ended, but let’s be realistic – there’s just not enough of a sample size for Shaw to demonstrate he should be Philly’s coach beyond this season.

As we said earlier this week, there’s no shortage of candidates for Flyers GM Daniel Briere to consider, whether it’s an in-house candidate like AHL coach Ian Laperriere or an outside candidate like NCAA coach David Carle.

Some have suggested current Vancouver Canucks coach and former Flyers star player Rick Tocchet might be the right man for the gig in Philadelphia, but if we’re being honest, we don’t see Tocchet choosing to come in and have the pressure of leading the Flyers to the playoffs when they aren’t close to being at that level, and who's to say Tocchet won't just be back in Vancouver next season.

It’s a shame for Shaw to have so little time to prove himself in Philly, but the coaching business is far from fair. Thus, we don’t think Shaw is going to be the Flyers’ coach after this year is over.

It’s not the right situation to go with someone with relatively little time running his own NHL team, although Carle is in the same boat in that regard. However, Carle’s success at the collegiate level is what is making him an odds-on favorite to land the job in Philadelphia (or another market). The Flyers are probably going to go in a different direction at season’s end, and Shaw will likely latch on to another team as an assistant coach.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Nashville Predators (27-38-8, 62 points) fell to the Vegas Golden Knights (45-20-8, 98 points), 3-1, Saturday at Bridgestone Arena. 

Ryan O'Reilly scored Nashville's lone goal on the power play, and Justus Annunen made 26 saves in goal. Adin Hill made 23 saves to earn his second win in as many nights for Vegas.

Ilya Samsonov took warmups with the Golden Knights, but it was Hill who made the start on Saturday despite also starting Friday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Samsonov remained on the bench for the first period as Hill's backup but did not return after the first intermission.

How the Predators Lined Up vs. Vegas 

Forsberg-O'Reilly-Evangelista
Bunting-Stamkos-Marchessault
L'Heureux-Svechkov-Sissons
Smith-McCarron-Bellows

Skjei-Blankenburg
Del Gaizo-Barron
Englund-Stastney

Annunen
Saros

Extra: Vrana, Oesterle
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Predators vs. Golden Knights: Live Updates

First Period (NSH 0, VGK 0)

Predators forward Colton Sissons left during the first period with an apparent lower-body injury after taking a hit and falling awkwardly to the ice behind the Vegas net. Sissons needed to be helped off the ice and was unable to put any weight on his left leg as he headed back to the locker room.

Predators' Colton Sissons Exits vs. Golden Knights with Apparent Lower-Body InjuryNashville Predators forward Colton Sissons left during the first period of Saturday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Bridgestone Arena with what appeared to be a lower-body injury.

The game remained scoreless after the first period, with the shot total even at nine apiece.

Second Period (NSH 1, VGK 1)

The first goal of the game was scored on the first power play of the game for either team less than six minutes into the second period. After William Karlsson was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct, it took the Predators' top power play unit just six seconds to find the back of the net. Ryan O'Reilly tipped in a Nick Blankenburg shot from the blue line to give Nashville the 1-0 lead at the 5:53 mark of the second period.

Filip Forsberg recorded the secondary assist on the play, moving him into second place on the Predators' all-time assists leaderboard with 357.

Vegas had an answer less than three minutes later, however, when Jack Eichel scored on the rebound of a Shea Theodore shot to tie the score at 1-1.

O'Reilly appeared to score his second goal of the period a few minutes later, but a successful coach's challenge by Vegas determined that Luke Evangelista interfered with the goalie prior to the play and there was no goal.

Third Period (NSH 1, VGK 3)

With Justin Barron in the box for hooking, Reilly Smith broke the tie for Vegas on the power play by picking up a loose puck and scoring to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead at the 6:25 mark of the third period.

Brett Howden scored into the empty net with 45 seconds remaining in regulation for the 3-1 final.

The Ottawa Senators are about to get extremely well acquainted with the 2024-25 Columbus Blue Jackets. The Senators have just 11 games left in their regular season, and three of them – more than a quarter – will be against the Blue Jackets, starting Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre (7 pm).

That means six points are up for grabs and that's exactly Ottawa's lead on Columbus right now. A Sens win on Saturday would make it eight and almost impossible for the Jackets to catch them. A loss would drop the lead to four, which suddenly isn't all that imposing. So, that's the last thing the Sens want to see.

That, and donkey hats.

YOUR FIRST STAR AND DONKEY OF THE GAME!✨
BOOOOOONNNEEEEEE!!!! 🫏 pic.twitter.com/g6U8phXV9y

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 29, 2025

After each victory, the Blue Jackets decided this season to honour their player of the game with a donkey hat in honour of the late Johnny Gaudreau, who would jokingly call his teammates "donkeys' when the friendly chirps broke out. 

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Columbus enters play on Saturday as the WC2 holder, tied with the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers, but they've played two fewer games than the Rangers and one less than the Habs. The New York Islanders lost 5-3 to Tampa Bay on Saturday to stay a point back.

The Senators will have the advantage of rest for this one. While they beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 two nights ago, the Blue Jackets scored a wild, emotional 7-6 shootout victory over the Vancouver Canucks at home on Friday. Columbus had trailed in the game, 3-0, so it's hard to predict if they'll be gassed on Saturday or on top of the world. 

Jackets head coach Dean Evason isn't buying into the fatigue factor.

“It’s just hockey,” Evason told the Columbus media after Friday's game. “That’s all it is. We’re not skating (Saturday), so you can sleep in and get a nice meal in a wonderful hotel. You fly a charter and have a nap, you wake up, puck drops, and you play hockey. It’s not that hard.”

Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson, who has nine points in his past eight games, says the Sens' locker room is buzzing about the opportunity that lies before them.

"Yeah, it's such a tight race and for those teams, it feels like they're almost losing every night we lose. So it's been kind of good for us," Batherson said. "It's going to be an interesting finish, I think, and we're excited for it. Obviously, we've got three games left against Columbus alone, so a lot of big points at stake here coming up."

At the brief game-day skate on Saturday morning, banged-up Senator defenceman Nick Jensen didn't participate. But this has been the norm for many weeks and probably won't change until next season. He is expected to play on Saturday as the Senators roll out the same line combinations they did in Motown.

Linus Ullmark will start in goal for the Sens against Daniil Tarasov for Columbus.

The first 7000 fans to Canadian Tire Centre will receive a pair of Go Sens Go sunglasses. Apparently, the Sens' future is so bright they gotta wear shades. 

Senators Projected Lineup

 Forwards
Claude Giroux – Tim Stutzle – Fabian Zetterlund 
David Perron – Dylan Cozens – Drake Batherson 
Brady Tkachuk – Shane Pinto – Ridly Greig
Matthew Highmore – Adam Gaudette – Michael Amadio

Defensemen

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

Goalies

 Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg

Scratched 
Dennis Gilbert, Travis Hamonic

Injured 
Nick Cousins (knee)

Blue Jackets Projected Lineup

Forwards 
Dmitri Voronkov – Sean Monahan – Kirill Marchenko
Boone Jenner – Adam Fantilli – Kent Johnson 
Cole Sillinger – Justin Danforth – Mathieu Olivier 
Zach Aston-Reese – Sean Kuraly – Luke Kunin

Defensemen 
Zach Werenski – Dante Fabbro 
Ivan Provorov – Damon Severson 
Denton Mateychuk – Erik Gudbranson

Goalies 
Daniil Tarasov 
Elvis Merzlikins

The Vancouver Canucks have made a roster move ahead of their matinee game on Satuday against the Winnipeg Jets. Vancouver assigned goaltender Artūrs Šilovs to the Abbotsford Canucks, who are currently in San Jose to take on the Barracude. The move is a good indicator that both Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen are fully healthy and ready to resume their tandem for the remaining nine games of the season. 

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Sending Šilovs down the AHL should give the Latvian goaltender an opportunity to start more games. The 24-year-old has played just two games since the start of March, with his only start coming in a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. So far this season, Šilovs has played 10 games at the NHL level, posting a 2-6-1 record with a .861 save percentage. 

The addition of Šilovs should help Abbotsford in its quest to secure a spot in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. Through 62 games, the AHL Canucks have 75 points and currently sit third in the Pacific Division. Abbotsford has 10 games remaining and is on pace to be the host city for their first-round matchup. 

As mentioned, Vancouver will be wrapping up their six-game road trip with a game against the Jets. Saturday's game is crucial for the Canucks as they are battling to secure a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Puck drop on Saturday is scheduled for noon PT from the Canada Life Centre.

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

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brayden Point scored twice and Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Islanders 5-3 on Saturday.

Nick Perbix and Jake Guentzel also scored for the Lightning. Jonas Johansson made 35 stops.

Marc Gatcomb, Anthony DeAngelo and Ryan Pulock scored for the Islanders, who lost their fourth straight game. Ilya Sorokin made 19 saves.

The Lightning won their third straight and matched the idle Florida Panthers’ 91 points atop the tight Atlantic Division, where the Toronto Maple Leafs entered Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings just a point back.

Takeaways

Islanders: At 32-20-10, New York is in fifth place in the Eastern Conference wild-card race with 74 points. The Islanders trail Ottawa (81), Columbus (75), Montreal (75) and the New York Rangers (75) with Saturday’s slate of games remaining.

Lightning: After a rematch with the Islanders on Monday in the opener of a four-game trip, Tampa Bay is at Ottawa, Buffalo and the Rangers, through a week from Monday.

Key moment

Kucherov and Perbix scored in the first 7:31 of the game to give the Lightning an early advantage. Point scored late in the first and second periods to extend the advantage to four goals before the Islanders clawed back with three unanswered goals in the first nine minutes of the third, making it 4-3. Guentzel’s empty-netter sealed the win.

Key stat

Kucherov scored on the Islanders’ first shot, at 2:02 of the first to fuel the fast start.

Up next

The Lightning play at the Islanders on Tuesday. New York is at the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.