The Nashville Predators (26-36-8, 60 points) visit the Carolina Hurricanes (43-23-4, 90 points) for the teams' second and final meeting this season Tuesday at Lenovo Center.

The Predators beat the Hurricanes, 5-2, on Dec. 23 at Bridgestone Arena behind a three-point performance from Jonathan Marchessault. 

Nashville is coming off a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, and the Predators are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. Carolina is coming off a 5-2 defeat of the Anaheim Ducks and has just one loss in the last 10 games.

Tuesday's game marks Nashville's first time facing Mark Jankowski since trading him to the Hurricanes at the March 7 NHL trade deadline. Since arriving in Carolina, Jankowski has six goals in seven games.

Juuse Saros will start in goal for the Predators in Raleigh, while Pyotr Kochetkov will tend the twine for Carolina.

How the Predators Lined Up vs. Carolina

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

Skjei-Blankenburg
Del Gaizo-Barron
Oesterle-Stastney

Saros
Annunen

Extra: Englund, Vrana
IR: Josi, Lauzon, Wilsby

Predators at Hurricanes: Live Updates

First Period (NSH 1, CAR 0)

The Predators earned the first power play chance in the game when Dmitry Orlov was whistled for high-sticking against Michael Bunting just over three minutes into the first period. Nashville's top power play unit struggled early, allowing Carolina's penalty killers to generate multiple shorthanded chances in the first minute of 5-on-4.

The Predators' second power play unit cashed in, however, when Bunting found a loose puck behind the pad of Kochetkov and tucked it in to give Nashville a 1-0 lead over the Hurricanes at the 5:14 mark of the first period.

Bunting's goal was assisted by Kieffer Bellows, who earned his first helper as a member of the Predators, and Brady Skjei, who was playing in his first regular-season game at Lenovo Center as a member of the opposing team after spending parts of the last five seasons with the Hurricanes.

When the opportunity strikes, Bunts is there 👍 pic.twitter.com/eVCQFsjLoo

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 25, 2025

Bunting has now scored two power-play goals in his last three games, both against his former teams. His last came on Saturday in the Predators' 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played for two seasons from 2021-23.

Bunting signed with Carolina in free agency before the 2023-24 season, and he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins later that year in the deal that sent Jake Guentzel to the Hurricanes. Nashville acquired Bunting from the Penguins in the week leading up to this year's trade deadline as part of the deal that sent Luke Schenn and Tommy Novak to Pittsburgh.

Second Period (NSH 2, CAR 1)

Luke Evangelista widened Nashville's lead to 2-0 just over four minutes into the second frame. Filip Forsberg received a stretch pass from Marc Del Gaizo along the boards and chipped it to Evangelista entering the zone, and Evangelista deked on Kochetkov for the score.

Luke Evangelista made this one look easy!@PredsNHL | #Smashville | #NHLTonightpic.twitter.com/6UtqTR13Fc

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 26, 2025

With the primary assist on the play, Forsberg recorded his 22nd career five-game point streak and passed Roman Josi (21) for the most in Predators history.

Michael McCarron committed the Predators' first penalty of the game less than a minute later with a cross-check on Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Carolina made them pay. Taylor Hall received a pass from Seth Jarvis, entered the zone with speed and buried the puck down low on the backhand for a highlight-reel goal to cut the Hurricanes' deficit to 2-1 at 6:02 of the second period.

TAYLOR HALL LOVES PLAYING FOR THE CAROLINA HURRICANES pic.twitter.com/SGVE0Md0xW

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 26, 2025

Hall's goal was his third power-play tally in his last four games with the Hurricanes.

The Predators were fortunate to come out of the second period with a one-goal lead after being outshot, 27-9, through the first 40 minutes of play. The Hurricanes held Nashville to just two shots in the second period alone as the Predators failed to take care of the puck and struggled to keep up with Carolina's speed.

The St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens face off Tuesday with two of the NHL’s most valuable players since the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

Blues center Robert Thomas and Canadiens center Nick Suzuki are largely responsible for their teams' rise in the standings to a wild-card spot in the past month. Both players are among the NHL’s top 10 scorers since the 4 Nations tournament, but their contributions, in particular, have led to some massive results.

The Blues occupy the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a three-point lead on the Vancouver Canucks. St. Louis was eight points behind Vancouver during the 4 Nations Face-Off. 

While it’s unfair to the team to say only Thomas carried them to where they are today, he has done much of the heavy lifting. Since Feb. 20, Thomas posted 14 assists and 19 points in 16 games. He got at least one point in 13 of those games, and he posted two or more points in four of them. The 25-year-old now has 42 assists and 60 points in 60 games this season. 

A Blues team that’s 16th in the league in goals-for per game (2.97) would be well out of a playoff spot were it not for Thomas’ contributions on offense. His point-per-game average is well above any other Blues player, considering he missed some time due to an injury this season.

While he’s still somewhat of a hidden gem outside of St. Louis, Thomas is doing everything asked of him. He’s a high-value performer at an average salary of $8.125 million per season.

In the Eastern Conference, the eighth-place Canadiens also are getting terrific contributions from captain Suzuki. Since Feb. 20, he has six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 13 games. The 25-year-old has also put up at least one point in 10 of those games, and six of them are multi-point nights. 

The Habs are 13th in goals-for per game, so Suzuki’s point production is necessary to where they are today. And his salary of $7.875 million also makes him a great bang-for-his-bucks type of player. 

The Blues and the Canadiens aren’t anywhere close to locking up a playoff spot. That means they’re almost certainly going to need more out of Thomas and Suzuki. But the good news for Montreal and St. Louis fans is that both players are ready, willing and able to drive offensive production and take the heat off the rest of the lineup.

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.

After blowing a two-goal lead to the Florida Panthers en route to a 4-3 shootout loss Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins will look to rebound against the other team residing in the sunshine state.

On Tuesday, the Penguins will take on ex-Penguin Jake Guentzel and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who took the first two games of their season series. And Pittsburgh's captain has a chance to make NHL history.

Captain Sidney Crosby is just two points shy of Wayne Gretzky's point-per-game seasons record, which is currently set at 19. Clinching the record at 20 seems perfect for Crosby, who is, arguably, the most consistently dominant player in NHL history.

"It's so impressive to be doing it for, what, 20 times?" forward Rickard Rakell said. "He's one of the best to have ever played this game, so... he shows why. I mean, it's such a hard game, and for him to do it every year, it's pretty nuts."

While Crosby chases the NHL record books, the Penguins will be chasing two points, as they are now in desperation mode in terms of the NHL playoff picture. They currently sit six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, and Montreal has three games in hand. 

They are aware of the hill that they would need to climb, as they only have 10 games remaining. But they're going to fight for every inch of ice they can get.

And that's always tough against a goaltender like Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has been one of the best goaltenders in hockey for the last decade.

"He's been, obviously, one of the elite goaltenders in the league ever since [2016]," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "He's one of the premiere goaltenders in the league. The workload that he's been able to endure season-in and season-out... these guys have played a lot of hockey. They've gone deep into the playoffs, they've had a number of playoff runs, and he's played hard hockey. In a lot of ways, there aren't a lot of goaltenders that carry the workload he carries in today's game."

Vasilevskiy will be opposed by Tristan Jarry, who is red-hot for the Penguins. Jarry has a .924 save percentage in his six starts since returning to the Penguins from the AHL on Mar. 3, and - including Tuesday's game - will have started seven of the last eight for Pittsburgh.

As for the lineup, forward Evgeni Malkin will miss Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury. Forward Emil Bemstrom will slot back in.

Here are the lines and pairings for the game, which features Erik Karlsson on the left side next to Conor Timmins on the second defensive pairing:

Tonight's lineup in Tampa.

Evgeni Malkin (upper body) will not play tonight. pic.twitter.com/NgzadEILjJ

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 25, 2025

Tampa Bay currently occupies the third spot in the Atlantic Division. They have lost two consecutive games and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. 

Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has two goals and six points in the last five games.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

For years, Jakob Chychrun has been linked to the Los Angeles Kings in some form or fashion. 

His father, Jeff, played 26 games for the Kings in 1991-92. Years later, when Jakob became a pro, his name kept popping up as a potential trade target for Los Angeles. The connection was never more intense than in the Winter and Spring of 2023 when a trade between LA and Arizona seemed imminent. 

Sounding like a Jakob Chychrun @LAKings@ArizonaCoyotes trade centered around 2021 8th overall pick Brandt Clarke. #RealKyperandBourne

— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) February 12, 2023

Lots of smoke connecting #LAKings with Jakob Chychrun, but no confirmed fire yet. And so, we wait.@DailyFaceoff

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 12, 2023

It did not come to fruition, however. With the hole on the left side of their defense still unfilled, the Kings pivoted to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Vladislav Gavrikov.

We've acquired defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for goaltender Jonathan Quick, a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.#GoKingsGo

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 1, 2023

Fast forward to today…

Chychrun signed an eight-year, $72 million contract with the Washington Capitals that begins next season and has an average annual value of $9 million. And while this may officially close the door on any potential union with the Kings, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Chychrun has stopped impacting the Kings. Like him, Gavrikov is seeking a new deal and the Kings would prefer to get him signed before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. 

We’ve previously speculated on what retaining Gavrikov long-term may cost the Kings, but with Chychrun signing a massive deal, the market for defensemen may have been reset. 

Some underlying numbers would have given us a little pause at our projection and this #MaxTerm deal is a little higher than we projected. Generally, the Capitals should expect Chychrun to be a solid top-4D offensive producer with iffy-to-average defensive impacts. #ALLCAPShttps://t.co/Vl9ylgAp3Ppic.twitter.com/ec45ZGK2B8

— AFP Analytics (@AFPAnalytics) March 25, 2025

To clarify, Gavrikov and Chychrun are far from direct comparables. Chychrun is 3 years younger and is on pace to eclipse the 20-goal and 50-point marks, both potential career highs. He is also a fixture on the Capitals’ power play and can be deployed in any situation.

Gavrikov, on the other hand, is an elite defender that will likely top out at 30 points. NHL GM’s will always put a premium on offensive production, but in Gavrikov’s case, his value to the Kings is more significant than his value around the league.

Gavrikov the #1 defenceman seems to be going very well early on. https://t.co/rcOTFri0QPpic.twitter.com/HWOGp9tzag

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 27, 2024

Vladislav Gavrikov from the Los Angeles Kings has been amazing this season. But it's a contract year for him. Maybe it's a fluke? I believe there will be a team that will overpay him in the off-season if he plays at this level all season. pic.twitter.com/6OheRcQuI9

— Rono (@RonoAnalyst) January 7, 2025

According to AFP Analytics, Gavrikov’s projected contract is 5 years, $5.4 million. For that to be a reality, Gavrikov would have to take a pay cut. Not likely. It stands to reason that he would be looking for at least a $1 million raise on the $5.8 million he is currently making. Add to that the projected $7.5 million increase in the NHL’s salary cap ceiling, and the Kings may be looking at long-term deal for Gavrikov with an AAV exceeding $7 million.

That may sound rich, but the reality for the LA Kings is that they need to re-sign Gavrikov. There are no viable internal options to replace him, and with Chychrun off the board, most external options would be a downgrade. The bigger challenge for the Kings will be the length of the contract, as players of Gavrikov’s ilk do not historically age well.  

The Ottawa Senators will continue their pursuit of an Eastern Conference playoff spot on Tuesday night in Buffalo, facing a Sabres team that's given them nothing but trouble this season.

Barring a miracle finish, the Sabres are wobbling toward an NHL record 14th consecutive season without making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they could have fooled Ottawa. Buffalo has had the Senators' number this season, defeating them 5-1 in November and 4-0 in January.

The Sens have had a couple of days off, but none of the Eastern wild-card hopefuls in the gooey clump behind them in the standings was able to cut into their lead. As they were after Saturday’s 3-2 win in New Jersey, the Senators are five points above the current playoff cut line in the East. The Montreal Canadiens are the second wild card, four points behind Ottawa.

Tuesday will be a homecoming for Sens centre Dylan Cozens, playing in Buffalo for the first time since being traded to the Senators on deadline day. Cozens told the media he expected it will be "a little weird," but he’s trying to treat it as just another game.

The Workhorse from Whitehorse was traded with defenceman Dennis Gilbert and a 2026 second-round draft pick for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Bernard-Docker waited 15 days before finally making his Sabre debut on Saturday in Minnesota. He then posted two assists on Sunday, a 5-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, marking the first multi-point game of JBD's NHL career.

As for Norris, he’s missed the last five Buffalo games due to an undisclosed injury and will be out again on Tuesday against his former team. His homecoming, if they can put him back together by then, could come on April 1st when the Sabres visit Ottawa.

Norris’ injury after just three games as a Sabre has only served to amplify the immediate concerns Buffalo fans had about the trade. According to TSN1200, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed to the media on Tuesday that Norris brought this injury with him from Ottawa.

That won't do much to tone down the grumbling.

Acquiring a long-term, expensive player who has been as injury-prone as any player in the NHL would usually come with the belief/hope that the player’s injury troubles are behind him. In this case, the Sabres appear to have taken on Norris, knowing he wasn’t healthy at the time of the trade.

On the bright side, Norris says he’s starting to feel better, though he couldn’t put a timeline on a return date.

"It’s slow progress, but yeah, feeling better, and hopefully I’ll be back soon," Norris told the media on Tuesday. "It’s just something I’ve been dealing with for a little while this year, and I kind of re-aggravated it. So, I’m just being smart about it."

Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams clearly made this deal for next season and beyond. With just 13 games left in a lost season, they'd be well served to shut Norris down until the fall.

The Senators held an optional game day skate on Tuesday morning, and as per TSN 1200, only a few players participated: goalie Linus Ullmark, who will back up Anton Forsberg on Tuesday night; Artem Zub; Dennis Gilbert; Nick Jensen; and Brady Tkachuk.

Jensen and Tkachuk have both been dealing with nagging injuries for some time. Jensen hasn’t played since March 13th against the Boston Bruins, while Tkachuk played on Saturday in New Jersey. However, his ice time was well below his season average, and he was held out of practice on Monday.

Forsberg will start against James Reimer, who was fantastic on Sunday against the Jets. Optimus Reim has also given the Senators fits over the years with a record of 17-6-4 and a .924 save percentage.

Senators Projected Lineup (NHL.com)

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

Defence

• Jake Sanderson – Travis Hamonic
• Thomas Chabot – Artem Zub
• Tyler Kleven – Nikolas Matinpalo

Goalies

• Anton Forsberg
• Linus Ullmark

Scratched

• Dennis Gilbert

Injured

• Nick Cousins (knee)
• Nick Jensen (lower body)

---

Sabres Projected Lineup

• Zach Benson – Jiri Kulich – Tage Thompson
• JJ Peterka – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
• Jason Zucker – Peyton Krebs – Alex Tuch
• Beck Malenstyn – Tyson Kozak – Isak Rosen

Defence

• Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
• Bowen Byram – Connor Clifton
• Owen Power – Jacob Bernard-Docker

Goalies

• James Reimer
• Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Scratched

• Jacob Bryson

Injured

• Jordan Greenway (lower body)
• Josh Norris (middle body)
• Sam Lafferty (groin

By Steve Warne
Site Editor at The Hockey News Ottawa

Stay updated with the most interesting Ottawa Senators stories, analysis, breaking news and more at The Hockey News Ottawa. Tap the star here at Google News to add us to your favourites and never miss a thing.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore has been activated from the long-term injured reserve and is in line to make his return to the lineup against the Minnesota Wild. 

HC Bruce Cassidy announced that Theodore would be a game-time decision tonight, and whether he plays or not is completely up to him. He's participated in multiple practices with contact and took line rushes alongside his usual partner, Brayden McNabb. 

Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Raphael Lavoie had been removed from the Golden Knights roster, indicating he was sent down to the Henderson Silver Knights. 

Doing so opens a roster spot for Theodore and paves the way for him to slide back into the lineup. 

The 29-year-old hasn't played an NHL game since Feb. 8 and hasn't played since Feb. 12, when he sustained the injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off. 

His return means Kaedan Korczak will likely exit the lineup. The 24-year-old had done a serviceable job in Theodore's absence, playing in 13 games. Korczak is averaging 14:41 of ice time this season, recording eight assists in 31 games. 

The expectation is for Theodore to return to his spot on the Golden Knights' No.1 power play unit and take advantage of offensive situations. 

Tonight's fixture is a potential first-round matchup, and it should allow Theodore to get back into the mental state of preparing for the playoffs. 

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.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have assigned OHL prospect Luca Pinelli to the AHL, where he will join the Cleveland Monsters.

Pinelli, 19, has spent the last four seasons in the OHL with the Ottawa 67's. Now that his junior career has come to an end, he will transition to the AHL.

In 246 games with the 67's, he recorded 128 goals and 124 assists for 252 points, along with 209 penalty minutes, 45 power-play goals, 838 shots on goal, and a cumulative +26 plus/minus rating.

Could Jakob Chychrun's Extension Set The Market For Ivan Provorov?The Washington Capitals have announced that they have signed Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year extension worth $72 million, carrying an AAV of $9 million per season.

He has the potential to develop into a strong middle-six forward for the Blue Jackets in the future. His NHL debut could come as early as next season if he impresses at training camp and earns a roster spot.

Pinelli is known for his ability to get under his opponents' skin. Once he senses he has struck a nerve, he keeps pushing until he draws a penalty. That agitator style is exactly the kind of presence the Blue Jackets could use in the years ahead.

Blue Jackets Halt Six Game Skid; Roy and His Players Have Strong Words For The Officials Adam Fantilli(22), Boone Jenner(2-SHG), and Kirill Marchenko(26) scored the goals for Columbus, and Elvis Merzļikins made 30 saves, including all three Islanders shootout attempts, to beat New York on Long Island in comeback fashion. 

The Buffalo Sabres return home after splitting a four-game road swing with a 5-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets to take on some familiar faces, as former Sabres Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and Linus Ullmark and the Ottawa Senators visit Key Bank Center on Tuesday.

Even though his name was frequently mentioned in trade rumors all season, the four-player deal on deadline day that brought center Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Sabres still came as a bit of a surprise to Cozens, who was in his fifth season in Buffalo.

"My name was out there for a while, and I thought a lot of it was just kind of talk, rumors and stuff. I never really thought it would actually happen, so when I found out that it was real, it still did kind of come as a shock," Cozens said on Tuesday morning. “I wanted to be here. I committed to being here. I wanted to be part of the solution. It was sad that it didn't work out."

After a career-high 31 goals in 2023, the 24-year-old center struggled to recapture his offensive chops in Buffalo, dropping to 18 goals last season and 11 goals in 61 games this year, but thus far his scoring touch has bounced back with the Sens, with seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in eight games. Gilbert, who played 25 games for his hometown team before being dealt, has played only once since the trade and is not expected to be in the lineup for Ottawa.

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?

Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The Athletic

Dahlin Refutes Assertion Of Wanting Out Of Buffalo

The Sens are in a good position for making the playoffs for the first time since 2017, as they hold the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference with 79 points, four points up on Montreal, and five points ahead of the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. Ullmark, who was acquired in a trade from Boston last summer, has bounced back from four straight losses after returning from injury, going 8-2-1 in his last 11 starts.

Head coach Lindy Ruff provided an update on Jordan Greenway, who did not return after being injured in the first period on Sunday. Ruff said it was a day-to-day situation but that it was not as a result of a blocked shot. After a 33-shot victory over the Jets, James Reimer was in the starter’s net for the morning skate on Tuesday, but Ruff would not confirm his starting goalie.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

For most of the last four decades, the Philadelphia Flyers have been the poster child for mediocre-to-poor goaltending.

This year is no exception.

In their first full season without goalie Carter Hart since 2018-19, the Flyers are again near the bottom of the standings and again getting mostly subpar goaltending. Hart, who left the team about 14 months ago, is awaiting trial next month for an alleged sexual assault in 2018, and his lawyers say he will plead not guilty. The Flyers did not give Hart a qualifying offer last summer, and he became a UFA.

Samuel Ersson, 25, and Ivan Fedotov, 28, have had some spurts of impressive play, but for the most part, they and their defense have contributed to another disappointing season. The Flyers (28-35-9) will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season, matching a franchise record for futility.

To point fingers solely at the goaltending and defense would be unfair.  The offense has been awful: 25th out of 32 teams in goals scored (2.71 per game) and 30th on the power play (13.8-percent success rate).

The goaltending has been even worse. Flyers goalies are last in the NHL in save percentage (.880) and 28th in goals against (3.39 per game).

'Heartbeat' Of The Team

Flyers coach John Tortorella wasn’t using hyperbole when he said goaltenders are the “heartbeat” of a team’s success.

“It’s the water in Philly or something happens that everything gets screwed up,” Tortorella said earlier this season. “No one expected Carter leaving and forcing 'Ers' into this situation. Then it’s just a domino effect with these other guys… I’m not sure where it all goes, but it is what it is. We have to deal with it.”

So what in the name of Bernard Marcel Parent is the reason the Flyers have been a goalie graveyard for so long?

For every Bernie Parent, Pelle Lindbergh (whose career was cut short by his tragic death) or Ron Hextall, there were dozens of flops. And when they did find a goalie with elite potential – hello, Sergei Bobrovsky – they traded him in arguably the worst deal in franchise history.

The goalie carousel looked like it had finally stopped when Hart arrived in 2018-19. He brought stability and confidence to the team. As a rookie, he equalled an NHL record for most consecutive wins (eight) while under 21. He had a 2.83 GAA and .917 save percentage that season. In his first six years, he was mostly solid despite having a weak team in front of him.

Despite Appearances, Tortorella Loves Coaching Flyers Rookie StandoutIf you’ve watched the Philadelphia Flyers this season, you wouldn’t be faulted for believing that John Tortorella has had a miserable time coaching rookie Matvei Michkov.

The Issue Begins

When Hart left the team midway through last season – he was 25 at the time – goaltending became an issue for the Flyers.

Ersson, thrust into the No. 1 goalie spot, played gallantly in 2023-24 before being worn down by his extensive use. This year, he has been extremely inconsistent (3.00 GAA, .886 save percentage), looking more like a No. 2 goaltender than a reliable No. 1.

Fedotov, a 6-foot-7, 214-pounder, has been given a chance to show his Olympic success – he led Russia to a silver medal in 2022 – and strong KHL play would translate to the NHL. He hasn’t taken advantage of the opportunity, however. Witness his 3.21 GAA and .877 save percentage in 24 games this season.

So the Flyers’ rebuild has taken a significant step backward.

Oh, there are some promising goaltender prospects in the system, but they aren’t ready, and the fans are getting restless. That might cause GM Danny Briere to add a veteran goaltender in free agency, someone who can steady the ship as the team tries to become relevant.

Jake Allen, Frederik Andersen, Anton Forsberg, Ilya Samsonov, David Rittich, and Matt Murray are some of the veterans that are expected to be UFAs this summer.

Maybe Briere goes that route. Or maybe he stays with his unproven goaltenders and tries to spend money on free-agent centers, such as Sam Bennett or Ryan Donato, who also plays wing.

Whatever the Flyers do, they must soon find a goaltender – at some point – who is capable of avoiding the long losing streaks that have plagued them during their playoff-drought years.

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 Edmonton Oilers are going to the playoffs.

That much is clear. Both The Athletic and MoneyPuck peg their playoff chances at over 99% with about three weeks left in the regular season. But the Oilers aren't looking to just make the playoffs, they're looking to go on another long run. That starts now, with twelve crucial games left to determine their playoff seeding.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.

They're in very familiar territory, sitting third in the Pacific Division, tied with the Los Angeles Kings with 87 points with one more game played. The Vegas Golden Knights are just barely in sight with 92 points, while Vancouver and Calgary are miles behind as they battle for the final wild card spot in the west.

Thus, the divisional playoff format rears its ugly head once again, as the Oilers and Kings are on a collision course in the first round for the fourth consecutive year.

The Oilers have come out on top in the past three matchups, and it's gotten easier every time. Having beat the Kings in seven games in 2022, six in 2023, and five in 2024, it doesn't take a genius to predict a four-game sweep in 2025. The Kings seem destined to run into the wall that is the Edmonton Oilers yet again.

Trending Oilers Articles

Oilers Prospect Report: O'Reilly & Akey Playoff BoundThe NHL playoffs don't start for another month, but regular seasons are wrapping up across the rest of the hockey world.

Former Oilers Holloway & Broberg Come Up Clutch

Ex-Oiler Pat Maroon Makes Big Emotional Announcement

How Oilers Can Get The Most Out Of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Edmonton Oilers Prospects: William Nicholl Quietly Impressive

3 Best Oilers' Trades By Stan Bowman

Oilers Game Schedule For March 2025EDMONTON -- It's trade deadline month.

But we all know that's not how the NHL playoffs work. Eventually, it feels like Los Angeles will have to break through. And they could have one big advantage they haven't yet had over the Oilers: home ice.

Going back to the playoff odds, both The Athletic and MoneyPuck project Edmonton to finish third in the Pacific Division behind Los Angeles. The Oilers have already seen what happens without home-ice advantage: they lost game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals on the road last year. What happens when they don't have that advantage against the team that knows them better than anyone?

Ideally, the Oilers just storm their way to the Pacific Division title, Vegas be damned. MoneyPuck gives them a 5.7% chance of winning the division, with the Golden Knights as heavy favorites with a 77.4% chance. So, not likely.

That same site gives the Oilers a 25.2% chance at finishing second ahead of Los Angeles. They need that 25.2%. The Oilers are more vulnerable than they were last season--they can't be giving out advantages to their biggest rivals.

Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Philadelphia Flyers captain Sean Couturier enters Tuesday with a three-game point streak versus the Toronto Maple Leafs

Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate.

The game that sticks out is one with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are looking to bounce back after blowing a 2-0 lead in their loss on Saturday to the Nashville Predators. They match up against a slumping Philadelphia Flyers, that has a league-worst 2-9-2 record over their last 13 games. 

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 7-2 record on our last nine picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

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

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Philadelphia Flyers Best Bets: 

• Flyers +1.5 (-128)
• Sean Couturier Over 0.5 points (+118)

The Flyers have certainly been struggling lately with five straight losses and not giving their fans anything to be happy about. To make things even worse, they are getting listed at fairly decent odds to cover every night yet they've barely managed a 7-8 record against the spread in their last 15 games. 

This appears to be another spot where people can count them out and bet against a slumping team while riding with a hot one in the Maple Leafs, who are coming off a bad loss that they would like to make up for.

More NHL:NHL Insider Hints to Stanley Cup Contender Getting Former All-Star Back From Injury

This is a classic Maple Leafs spot if you've ever seen one as they are expected to win a bounce back game against a seemingly weaker team but the NHL has parody and any team can win on any given night. 

Nick Piccone (@_piccone) on XCOOOOOOTS IN OVERTIME TIM SAUNDERS ON THE CALL (don't mind him calling every Flyers player on the ice Sean Couturier)

Philadelphia has a 5-2 record against the spread in their last seven games versus Toronto and this should happen once again with the help of captain Sean Couturier. The 32-year-old veteran centre has been decent during the team's rough stretch with seven points over his last 13 games. 

Couturier has a habit of playing his best against the Maple Leafs with 11 points in their last 14 matchups, including a three-game point streak heading into Tuesday. He should help propel a Flyers team that has won outright or stayed within a goal in five of their last seven trips to Toronto.

More NHL: Maple Leafs Closing Gap on Panthers in Atlantic Division Title Race

There are some exciting developments down on the farm for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With more talent in the system than they've had in recent memory, the Penguins have several prospects of interest to keep an eye on. We will take a look at how some of the organization's top forward prospects are faring right now in our March prospects update.

---

Rutger McGroarty

As we detailed in our February forward prospects update, McGroarty - after a brief NHL stint at the beginning of the season and a slow start to his AHL season - has finally seen his process meet expectations for production.

And that has continued in the month of March.

In 11 March games, McGroarty has five goals and nine points, picking up right where he left off in February. He does only have one point in his last four games, but the team - and his line - continues to roll.

Overall, McGroarty has 14 goals and 39 points in 59 games on the season. His second half should serve the WBS Penguins well as they vye for their first Calder Cup in franchise history, and his all-around game - adding in the production - is pretty much NHL-ready at this point.

---

Avery Hayes

Hayes - part of that line with McGroarty and Vasily Ponomarev - has been one of WBS's best players this season. He has 19 goals and 37 points in 49 games, and his play earned him an entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins that he signed on Mar. 13. 

The undrafted forward has worked hard to find success in professional hockey, as his unconventional path required some extra steps and injuries led to some inconsistency in 2023-24. But, all of a sudden, the 22-year-old right winger has solidified a relatively consistent placement on a line with McGroarty and Ponomarev, arguably the two most NHL-ready prospects in the Penguins' system.

Given that the line has largely been together since the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo last summer, it's certainly working in Hayes's favor that he's developed chemistry with those two players in particular. 

He has four goals and seven points in the month of March.

---

Ville Koivunen

Like McGroarty, Koivunen has slowed down a bit in his most recent set of games, having just two points over the last 7. He has four goals and eight points in the month of March.

However, his 20 goals and 54 points in 61 games is tied for seventh overall in AHL scoring and is tied for first among rookies in scoring. He is also tied for third in goals among rookies.

Although he is still working on rounding out some of the details of his game, Koivunen's development this season has been nothing short of spectacular. He has adjusted well to the pro game so far, and he should see some significant NHL ice time in 2025-26.

He is also chasing WBS's franchise record for points as a rookie, which is currently held by Toby Peterson (2000-01) at 67 points. There are 11 games remaining, so it's a longshot - but never say never.

---

Tristan Broz

Broz was out for a good while due to mononucleosis to begin the calendar year, returning on Feb. 7 and picking up right where he left off prior to his absence.

However, he has been a bit slow production-wise in the month of March. Broz has just two goals and four points in 11 March games, one point in his last seven games, and five points in his last 15 games.

That being said, he has continued to develop his two-way game and his positional versatility. There has been a bit of a rotation as far as the team's centers and their placement in the lineup, as Broz has spent time as both first- and second-line center, and even some time on the wing. 

Most of the time, he centers a line with Koivunen and Valtteri Puustinen. Puustinen has five goals and 11 points in March.

---

Vasily Ponomarev

After nearly getting to the point-per-game mark about a month ago, Ponomarev has gone cold production-wise. He has no points in his last six games and just two goals and four points in his last 14.

However, don't mistake this for Ponomarev playing poorly. He is still driving a decent amount of offense and playing responsibly on both sides of the puck. Like McGroarty was earlier this season, he is a bit snakebitten right now, but he's also been a bit more passive in terms of his own opportunities. 

The production will come for Ponomarev as long as he keeps playing strong all-zones hockey. He has a commitment to details that is advanced beyond most of his peers in WBS, and getting that monkey off his back will hopefully help him get his confidence back, too.

---

Tanner Howe

Howe began the season with the WHL's Regina Pats - as their captain - and was traded midseason to the Calgary Hitmen. 

And wherever he's been this season, he hasn't missed a beat.

In a regular season that has included skating for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship at the turn of the New Year, Howe had 18 goals and 46 points in 47 games between both teams. He will also be doing his best to lead Calgary to a CHL championship in their upcoming playoff run. 

The 19-year-old power forward - a second-round pick (46th overall) by the Penguins in 2024 - is developing a solid two-way game and certainly doesn't shy away from physicality. In fact, he uses phsyicality to gain positioning on opponents, which makes him a menace on the forecheck.

If his development continues on its current path, he could, conceivably, become an effective middle-six winger at the NHL level. He will presumably be playing in WBS next season, as his junior eligibility will be up.

---

Melvin Fernstrom

Fernstrom, 19, was acquired by the Penguins from the Vancouver Canucks as part of the Marcus Pettersson trade on Jan. 31. The right winger from Balsta, Sweden was a third-round pick (93rd overall) by Vancouver in 2024, and he was advertised as a raw prospect with a high ceiling.

His first full season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Orebro HK has been a bit of a mixed bag, as he has registered eight goals and 17 points in 48 games. But he's also playing against much more experienced players, and his showing for the J20 Nationell - against junior-level players - resulted in 11 goals and 18 points in 12 games.

Last season, Fernstrom's 31 goals led the J20 league. 

There is still some growth that has to happen for Fernstrom, but there is some promise there. And Penguins' management is pretty high on this guy. There is a good chance he plays in North American next season.

---

Mikhail Ilyin

Ilyin, 20, is currently playing for the Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL, and he is making progress in his third season with the team. He saw games in the KHL as an 18-year-old, and he has also been seeing top-line minutes since then.

The right winger has seven goals and 30 points in 64 games this year, and his contract with Severstal expires at the end of the season. A 2023 fifth-round pick (142nd overall) by the Penguins, there is a chance he could join the organization in North America next season.

Ilyin will have to develop his skating a bit more - as well as his level of production - if he is going to be a regular at the NHL level at some point. But his playmaking smarts, passing ability, and the details in his game fill a lot of the gaps that the other deficiencies in his game leave.

Ilyin is certainly a work in progress, but he is definitely making strides. If his game can translate to the North American game, he may be a pleasant fifth-round surprise for the Penguins. 

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

Former Ottawa Senators defenceman Jakob Chychrun has signed an eight-year, $72 million contract extension with the Washington Capitals.

Capitals general manager Chris Patrick made the announcement today.

"Jakob is a proven, dynamic defenceman in the prime of his career who has established himself as one of the premier blueliners in the NHL," Patrick said in club statement. "His work ethic, skill set, and ability to excel in all situations at both ends of the ice make him a valuable asset to our team. He is a perfect fit with our culture and vision for the future, and we couldn't be more thrilled that he will continue to be part of our organization for the next eight years."

Chychrun, 26, has a career-high 43 points in 65 games with the Capitals this season. But simply put, it's the kind of deal that wouldn't have made a lick of sense in Ottawa - not unless the Senators chose to move out the likes of Jake Sanderson or Thomas Chabot, who both bring similar styles on the left side. All three move the puck well and excel at creating offence from the back end.

Sanderson and Chabot both make in the vicinity of $8 million while Chychrun's AAV will be $9 million, which drives home why Senators GM Steve Staios was pro-active in moving Chychrun last summer for Nick Jensen in the great re-balancing act of 2024. Chychrun is a fine defenceman with heavy local ties, but for a team like the Senators, it wasn't wise to give up a first-rounder and two seconds to bring in a superfluous asset.

In Washington, it's been a perfect fit, especially with their top defenceman, 35-year-old John Carlson, now starting to approach his sunset years.

"It’s been a great fit for me personally," Chychrun told the media back in January during the Caps' visit to Ottawa. "I think I’ve really enjoyed my time (in Washington), and when you’re winning hockey games, it’s always a lot of fun. So, you know, we’ve got a great group that’s been playing well with one another, and we’re just doing our best to get better each day now."

As a big fan of consuming raw meat, Chychrun's health regimen remains as "alternative" as ever, at least according to teammate Dylan Strome.

“He has a new thing every day,” Strome said on the NHL Unscripted Podcast. “I heard yesterday that he’s 'no light bulbs.' He’s doing candle-lit in his house now. That’s what his thing was yesterday. So, he was on to beeswax candles is what I heard is great for you. So, now we’re all bugging him about beeswax candles.

"Like, there's lights everywhere (you go). What are you talking about with no light bulbs?"

Sounds like the same old Chyc. It's good to see he's finally found a nice fit in a new (dimly lit) NHL home.

By Steve Warne
Site Editor at The Hockey News Ottawa

Stay updated with the most interesting Ottawa Senators stories, analysis, breaking news and more at The Hockey News Ottawa. Tap the star here at Google News to add us to your favourites and never miss a thing.

Welcome to a new week of The Hockey News Big Show, where we explore some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

Who Is The NHL’s MVP Since The 4 Nations? by The Big Showundefined

0:59: The battle for first in the Atlantic Division is tight. Which team needs first place the most? 

3:19: Would Matthew Tkachuk actually want to play against his brother, Brady Tkachuk, if the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators meet in the first round?

4:19: Which team do you think will ultimately earn the top spot in the Atlantic division?

6:43: The Blue Jackets announced Monday they activated Sean Monahan and Erik Gubranson off injured reserve. How will their returns affec the Blue Jackets’ playoff push?

9:16: The New York Islanders’ potential game-winning goal was disallowed because of goaltender interference. Was there interference or not?

11:29: Since the 4 Nations Face-Off, the top scorers are Roope Hintz, Sidney Crosby, Nick Suzuki, Robert Thomas and Connor McDavid. Who has been the MVP for their team most during this run?

14:01: McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are unlikely to play in any of the Edmonton Oilers’ three games this week. Can the Oilers prove they are more than a two-man team?

16:43: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle is travelling with the team on their four-game road trip. If Guhle comes in, who should the Canadiens take out?

19:20: The Pittsburgh Penguins' latest hot streak has kept them out of a guaranteed top-five draft pick. Has this "hot streak" actually done more harm than good for the Penguins?

21:56: Which team needs to change coaches?

25:25: Speculation has circulated for a while connecting Gavin McKenna - the consensus No. 1 pick for the 2026 NHL draft - to the University of Michigan. The rumor on the street is that Michigan could be offering something upwards of $100,000 annually for him to join them. How would McKenna making this move reshape the future of junior and college hockey?

30:21: The NCAA men’s hockey tournament begins on Thursday. The top four teams are No. 1 Boston College, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 Maine and No. 4 Western Michigan. Is the national champion in this top four? Who is your pick? 

32:51: The Washington Capitals re-signed D-man Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year extension worth $9 million per season. Good or bad deal?

34:31: Gavin McKenna closed out his draft-minus-1 season with 129 points in 56 games. Sidney Crosby is the only CHL player to score more in a D-minus-1 season. Could McKenna be the best prospect since Sidney Crosby? 

36:42: ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that billionaire Dan Friedkin has gotten into the mix as an ownership option focused on bringing the NHL to Houston. Yay or nay to an NHL team in Houston? 

38:53: The referees robbed us all of a goalie fight between Darcy Kuemper and Jeremy Swayman on Sunday. Yes or no: should refs try to stop goalie fights to prevent injuries?

 Watch the full episode here.   

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.