By Evan Berofsky, RotoWire.com

It's NHL Trade Deadline day. A couple prominent players have already changed locations, including a couple late blockbusters on Thursday and probably a lot more activity going into the 3 p.m. ET cutoff.

Sit down. Strap in. And get ready for some excitement. Or not. 

So while you're waiting for your favorite team to complete a couple trades that will surely please/surprise/anger/confuse most fans, you can kill at least 10 minutes (15, tops) reading through the following waiver wire recommendations.

(Rostered rates as of Mar. 6)

Forwards

Gabriel Landeskog, COL (Yahoo: 52%): It's incredible that Landeskog is still around 50% coverage. The only logical explanation for this is his extensive injury history, but that just means most poolies aren't taking advantage of a player who's gone off for six points, 15 shots and a plus-7 in the five games since coming back from the Olympics while skating alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas at both five-on-five and the power play. The mission — should you choose to accept it — is to get Landeskog well over the halfway mark.

Tyler Bertuzzi, CHI (Yahoo: 46%): Bertuzzi has already equaled his personal-best with 20 power-play points that put him even with Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, Sebastian Aho and Miro Heiskanen entering Thursday's action. He's also set to approach his top scoring campaign at only four goals under his peak of 30 and another 17 points required to match his 2021-22 output. The latter may be too much to ask for, though you know Bertuzzi will give it his all to try and get there. 

Jordan Eberle, SEA (Yahoo: 27%): Eberle was first mentioned at the end of October after starting off great, and he's back here having consistently produced since. He went on a six-week run across December/January where he found the scoresheet in 17 of 21 outings. And even after a couple lulls, Eberle registered two goals on three shots with a PPA Saturday and often logs major minutes. There's no shame adding someone from a bottom-third offense who can immediately help.

Chris Kreider, ANH (Yahoo: 23%): The Ducks boasted a top-10 attack for a while and are currently just below that, though they've scored at least four goals eight times over their last 11 outings. During that same span, Kreider has accumulated five goals, five assists, three PPPs and 20 shots at nearly 17 minutes per game. He's been reunited with Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier on the lead trio and man-advantage. As long as Kreider is favorably positioned, he'll continue to help the Ducks as they attempt to reach their first playoffs since 2017-18.

Cole Perfetti, WPG (Yahoo: 22%): Winnipeg has turned it around enough where the lineup probably won't be dismantled by the deadline. Perfetti has also gotten back on track thanks to seven points through eight matchups to go with 29 shots on a 17:32 ice time average, with 4:00-plus of that on the first PP. He may not be achieving what was projected for him as a former top-10 pick, though he is on a solid run while maintaining the skills and responsibilities to keep it going.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2026 MLB season]

Luke Evangelista, NSH (Yahoo: 11%): Evangelista is similar to Eberle in that he's regularly been hot on a weaker scoring side. The fourth-year pro has already blown past his career high for points at 47 and PPPs with 15 — including PPAs from three of the last four games. Evangelista won't do much when it comes to secondary stats but can contribute in scoring and shots (over two per outing) as a fixture in the upper-half of Nashville's depth chart. 

Taylor Hall, CAR (Yahoo: 9%): Let's discuss another positive-trending over-30 forward. Hall may not have achieved anything while up a man since mid-January and the ice time is somewhat lower than recent campaigns, yet is once again on the fantasy radar via two goals, four assists and 10 shots across the last four appearances. He's also been helped by having talented linemates like Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. Carolina has been lethal of late for finding the back of the net and will be facing a couple weaker defenses the next week (Oilers, Blues), so Hall could be set to pile on some more points.

Matt Savoie, EDM (Yahoo: 6%): It became immediately obvious Savoie was too good for the AHL, yet it took a season to fully integrate him on the Edmonton roster. The first month or so didn't amount to much (1G/1A through 17 matchups), and it wasn't until a regular even-strength partnership with Leon Draisaitl that things got going. Savoie is riding a four-game scoring streak where he's posted a PPG, six assists and nine shots. It probably doesn't hurt to take a chance on him and see how long this upswing can last.

Defensemen

Simon Edvinsson, DET (Yahoo: 19%): In case you missed it, Edvinsson is back after a brief spell on the sidelines. And in the four games since, he's recorded two goals, an assist, six shots, five hits and nine blocks while averaging 23:04 of ice time. While Edvinsson doesn't appear on the power play, he'll be able to supply enough stats across multiple categories to boost any fantasy squad.

Dmitry Orlov, SJ (Yahoo: 16%): The Sharks remain a solid source of scoring where any of their more prominent players will be able to benefit. Orlov immediately clicked to start his tenure with the club by racking up 11 assists from the first 16 contests and four of those coming on the man-advantage. He continued to do well before his offensive stats dipped and temporarily lost the PP1 QB gig to John Klingberg, but he's back on that unit and produced a PPA on Tuesday (now at 12 overall). With that type of upside and a decent haul of shots, hits and blocks, Orlov needs to be on more rosters.

Zayne Parekh, CGY (Yahoo: 15%): Parekh was originally brought up here in early January as it was assumed he'd soon be able to join the Flames after the World Junior Championship, yet it took him a few weeks and a minor-league conditioning stint to return to the NHL. And even though no offense has come during the six appearances, he participates on Calgary's top power play. That placement should hold after MacKenzie Weegar's departure and the fact Parekh totaled 87 goals and 153 assists in three OHL seasons with another two and three over an abbreviated AHL run.

Philip Broberg, STL (Yahoo: 5%): Broberg is a key piece of the Blues' 24-and-under core. He recently signed a six-year deal and is also in line for more responsibilities the rest of the way, as the team isn't competing for a playoff spot. Broberg is already logging 23 minutes a night while providing sufficient — though not spectacular — stats. He has also picked up the point pace with five of them over his last eight outings and an increased man-advantage role that's guaranteed to get him additional coverage.

Goaltenders

Akira Schmid, VGK (Yahoo: 28%): Schmid's 5-4-2 record in 2026 may not look great, though he's only allowed more than three goals once during that stretch. Meanwhile, Adin Hill has posted a 3.68 GAA and .850 save percentage since returning from injury. The duo has more or less been alternating starts, so Schmid should be receiving enough action behind a solid offense on a Vegas side looking to keep the top spot in the Pacific.

Joel Hofer, STL (Yahoo: 21%): Jordan Binnington has lost his last eight appearances, in which he's compiled a 4.19/.844 line. Since Jan. 13, Hofer has gone 6-2-1 alongside a 2.41 and .909 that includes a shutout over the 'Canes and back-to-back impressive wins at Minnesota and Seattle. As Binnington has been slumping and the subject of trade talk with St. Louis looking to the future, Hofer's time as the No. 1 could come sooner than expected.
 

Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026, was a big day for the Anaheim Ducks. First, they locked down speedy forward Ryan Poehling to a four-year contract extension. But their biggest move of the day would come several hours later, when they acquired longtime Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson.

Carlson, 36, is in the final year of an eight-year deal that has an AAV of $8 million. The Capitals are receiving a conditional first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft and a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for Carlson. There is no salary retention involved in the deal and a contract extension has yet to be discussed. Anaheim was also not on Carlson's 10-team no-trade list.

The conditions on the first-round pick are as follows:

The conditional first-round pick shall be Anaheim’s 2026 first-round pick. If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim will retain its 2026 first-round pick and shall instead transfer its 2027 first-round pick to Washington (subject to the Option below).

If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim shall have the option to transfer its 2026 first-round pick to Washington instead of Anaheim’s 2027 first-round pick. To exercise this option, Anaheim shall notify Washington of the option exercise no later than immediately after the selection of the draft pick preceding Anaheim’s first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Carlson's acquisition solidifies the right side of Anaheim's blue line, giving them three veterans with substantial playoff experience in Carlson, Jacob Trouba and captain Radko Gudas. Combined, the trio has amassed 267 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Trouba has been to three Conference Finals, while Gudas was part of the Florida Panthers team that lost in the Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. Carlson, of course, won a Cup in 2018 against those Golden Knights during their inaugural season.

"John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a press release. "We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch."

Carlson immediately slides in as the Ducks' No. 1 right-handed defenseman and will help stabilize both the power play and penalty kill. At 5v5, his ability to find teammates with outlet passes will be extremely beneficial for head coach Joel Quenneville's squad, who is at their best when they can get into open ice and create off the rush.

One of the league's top defensemen from the past decade, Carlson concludes his Capitals career as their leader in games played, goals and points among defensemen in franchise history.

Carlson's availability for Anaheim's game against the Montréal Canadiens on Friday is unclear. More will be known following their morning skate.

The Ducks bolstered their blueline Thursday night in anticipation of ending their long playoff drought, acquiring veteran defenseman John Carlson in a trade with the Washington Capitals.

In exchange for Carlson, the Ducks will send a conditional first-round pick (2026 or 2027 draft) and a third-round pick (2027) to Washington.

Carlson, who played an integral part of the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup win and is a former Norris Trophy runner-up for the NHL's top defenseman, should bring a veteran presence to a young Ducks team that is on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Read more:Ryan Poehling agrees to four-year contract extension with Ducks

“John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. “We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch.”

Set to become a free agent this offseason, Carlson had 10 goals and 46 points in 55 games with the Capitals this season. He led all Washington skaters in ice time, averaging more than 23 minutes per game.

Carlson, however, has not played since Feb. 5 because of a lower-body injury. It's unclear when he might make his Ducks debut, but was practicing with the Capitals before the trade. When he does get into the lineup, he'll join Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas as part of a formidable right-side defensive trio for the Ducks.

In 1,143 career games over 17 seasons entirely with Washington, Carlson recorded 771 points (166 goals, 605 assists) — ranking him 24th all-time among NHL defensemen. He also had 78 points in 137 playoff games. A two-time All-Star, Carlson played for the U.S. at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games and in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He also scored the winning goal for the U.S. in the 2010 World Junior Championship.

The Ducks are second in the Pacific Division and have won 13 of their last 16 games. They face the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and the St. Louis Blues on Sunday before embarking on a four-game Canadian road trip.

The Carlson deal was finalized roughly 14 hours before Friday's NHL trade deadline at noon PST.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles Kings (25-22-14) controlled the ice from the opening faceoff Thursday night, outshooting the New York Islanders (35-23-5) 19-5 in the first period and getting Artemi Panarin’s first goal with the franchise in a 1-0 start, prevailing to a 5-3 victory.

Los Angeles led the game for the entire time tonight, forcing 14 Islanders giveaways and sparking an impressive defensive effort to never give the Islanders a chance to make a run. 

That’s a Kings Win™️#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/SZOfXcaKrn

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 6, 2026

Los Angeles, from the opening tip, was very physical and played with tempo, outscoring the Islanders 19-5 in the first period, and defensively were forechecking the puck. It was a quality win by the Kings against an Islanders team that is a top-three team in the Metropolitan Division.  

The start came at 16:43 in the first period when Artemi Panarin scored his first goal as a member of the Kings after finding himself completely unmarked from roughly ten feet from the net. 

Panarin was very patient when he got the puck and shot the puck when there was an open look at the net past Ilya Sorokin to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. 

A big milestone was recorded tonight by Anze Kopitar, who was honored midway through the first period for playing in his 1,500th NHL game. The milestone makes Kopitar just the 25th player in league history to reach 1,500 games and only the eighth to do so with a single franchise.

The LA Kings honor captain Anze Kopitar for playing his 1,500th game tonight. He’s the 25th player in NHL history to hit the milestone, and only the 8th to do it all with one team. pic.twitter.com/js7EZpLTBz

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) March 6, 2026

Panarin's goal continued a long history of success against the Islanders, as he picked up his 19th career goal in 41 games against New York, along with 29 assists. 

Artemi Panarin likes playing against the Isles.

He gets his 1st goal for #GoKingsGo

Panarin now has 19 goals in 41 career games against the Isles, along with 29 assists. pic.twitter.com/WJlyK0j27y

— Jonathan Cisowski (@cisow77) March 6, 2026

Los Angeles kept the pressure throughout the remainder of the period, holding a 1-0 lead to end the first. It should've been a much bigger lead because the Kings were generating a lot of good looks, but the Islanders' goaltender Sorokin was sharp, allowing no stick-on goal in the period. 

In the second period, New York had plenty of power play opportunities to tie the game and even extend a lead, but it was very bad tonight, finishing 0/3, which even gave the Kings a chance to score twice on their power play. 

Midway through the second period, the Kings extended their lead. 

At 5:40 of the second, Samuel Helenius scored his fourth goal of the season, finishing the nice play off the assist from Jeff Malott and Taylor Ward, giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead. 

The Kings' fourth line was very impressive, giving good offense and energy from their young guys. Defensively, the team was strong tonight as well, led by Brandt Clarke. The Kings' energy was great, with forechecking pressure that made it tough for the Islanders to score. 

Just over a minute after Helenius scored, defender Mikey Anderson got on the board, scoring his third goal of the season to extend the lead to 3-0.  Drew Doughty and Adrian Kempe picked up assists on the goal as Anderson’s shot found its way past Sorokin with Kopitar providing a strong screen in front.

The Islanders, though, finally scored a miraculous goal with under one second remaining in the period, after winning a faceoff, Bo Horvat quickly snapped the shot to score his 26th goal of the season, a defensive breakdown from the Kings, clearly thinking it was off.  

Still, the Kings didn't look fazed at all, and quickly built their lead in the third period after playing a near-perfect second period before giving up that late goal. 

Two minutes into the final frame, Alex Laferriere scored a power-play goal to restore the three-goal lead, going coast-to-coast, snapping his shot inside the post on the blocker side, giving Los Angeles a commanding 4-1 lead. 

LAK Goal - It's a........power-play goal!

Laferriere goes coast-to-coast, snaps his shot inside the post on the blocker side. 4-1 Kings.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 6, 2026

The Islanders still kept fighting, answering two minutes later with a shorthanded goal, after a two-on-one rush by Adam Pelech, finishing the play to once again trim the lead down to two.  

It didn't matter because every time the Islanders looked to have gained momentum and trimmed the lead, the Kings would quickly answer back with a big play on the ice. 

At the 8:30 mark of the period, Adrian Kempe tipped a shot in front of the net to make it 5-2 Kings off the nice rush and feed from Clarke and Panarin. Clarke picked up his second assist of the night on the play, while Panarin recorded his second point of the game. 

LAK Goal - Juicy!

Panarin hits Clarke, who goes back post to Kempe for the goal! One of the prettier goals they've scored this season. 5-2 Kings.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 6, 2026

The Islanders would convert on a late goal after Emil Heineman scored off the deflection by Matthew Schaefer, with just two minutes remaining in regulation. But, the comeback would fall short, as the Kings would hold on down the stretch and secure the 5-3 victory at home. 

Key Stats

Darcy Kuemper finished with 31 saves on 34 shots, finally playing a very good game coming off the Olympic break and injury. Meanwhile, Los Angeles finished with 35 shots to the Islanders' 34 and finished 1/3 on the power play, holding New York to 0/3. 

Panarin and Kempe were both great for the Kings tonight, with each leading the team with two points, one goal, and one assist. Kopitar's milestone was also a great watch for the fans sitting in attendance at Crypto.com Arena, celebrating the historic King for all the great moments he's given to us over the years. 

For Los Angeles, this is a great win because, coming off the Olympic break, they were 1-3 and looking like a team on the verge of giving up on the season, but a win like tonight could spark some momentum for them. 

Final: 5-3 LAK

Good overall team win for the Kings putting them three points back of playoff spot with the trade deadline tomorrow.

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) March 6, 2026

The Kings' next matchup will be against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, March 7, at 7:00 PM EST. 

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LOS ANGELES — The Islanders may have just had the worst run in Southern California since Magic Johnson tried hosting late-night television.

After 5-1 in Anaheim came 5-3 in Los Angeles on Trade Deadline Eve, as the Islanders fell to the Kings on Thursday in a game where they were completely overmatched from the jump. As messages to management go, this was one Mathieu Darche would probably like to erase.

One bad game was something the Islanders could wave away off the heels of a five-game winning streak. Two is a harder sell.

“It’s a wake-up call for us that we still have a lot of work to do,” said Bo Horvat, whose line has been a shell of its usual shelf so far on this trip. “We still have to play confident, good hockey in order to make the playoffs.”

It is easier to list the couple positives for the Islanders on Thursday than the many, many things that went wrong.

Ryan Pulock was back from injury, and going 8:35 without allowing an empty-net goal was fairly impressive. That is, pretty much, it.

The Islanders turned pucks over, they had no net presence on either side of the ice, they were anemic on the power play.

They have yet to come out of a first period without trailing since the Olympic break, and Thursday was their worst start yet, as the Isles were outshot 19-5 and barely touched the puck.

“I wasn’t surprised the way they came out,” Roy said. “We talked about it. We knew it was the second game for their new coach, and they lost against Colorado.”

Of course, Roy’s team also lost on Wednesday and should have had plenty of motivation.

Somehow, they were still within arm’s length going into the third period thanks to Horvat scoring in, literally, the final second of the second period. After one second was put back onto the clock, Horvat whipped one in from above the left circle off a faceoff to bring the Islanders within 3-1.

The momentum proved fleeting.

The Islanders and Kings ended up trading goals throughout the third, with the deficit never getting below two as Alex Laferriere, Adam Pelech, Adrian Kempe and Emil Heineman all added to the scoresheet.

There is just no way to come back down three goals without being much, much better around the crease and below the hash marks than the Islanders were on Thursday. Let alone when giving the opponent free access through the neutral zone.

Come to think of it, forget coming back, it’s hard to win a game at all under those conditions.

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND ISLANDERS STATS

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“In the games where we came back, the previous five games, we were getting to the [dirty] areas, creating more havoc our front,” Horvat told The Post. “These last two games, we’re trying to be too pretty. It’s kind of backfired on us. We got to get back to being more simple.”

Horvat’s commentary on his own line, which was on for two goals against and made little positive impact for the second straight night, was just as scathing.

“Right now we’re trying to make something out of nothing,” he said. “We got to be a heck of a lot better in order for our team to win here. My line has to step up in bigger ways and create offense. And be reliable in our own end too. We have to be a lot better than we have been the last two games.”

Making matters worse was that, aside from JG Pageau’s line, pretty much the entire lineup has had a brutal two nights.

The fourth line, which can usually generate some kind of a forecheck, didn’t have much in the tank and Kyle MacLean committed a brutal turnover leading to the Kings’ second goal, via Samuel Helenius.

The second line has been a total nonfactor two straight nights and looks an obvious candidate to be broken up.

Pelech turned it over leading to Mikey Anderson’s third goal just 1:31 later.

Scott Mayfield has had a tough two games and though Matthew Schaefer is beyond any serious criticism, the superstar rookie hasn’t looked like his usual self in either game out West.

Maybe there is something in the air in this building, where the Islanders haven’t won since 2018. Or maybe it is Southern California in general, even though the smog is largely a thing of the past.

Either way, the Islanders will be glad to get out of here.

It’s a good thing the Islanders managed three dramatic comeback wins coming out of the Olympic break, because then they headed to southern California and played like doodoo. Actually, their starts and play in SoCal wasn’t that much different from the prior three games, just the bounces and outcomes were a little different.

They followed up a 5-1 loss in Anaheim with a 5-3 loss to the Kings in Los Angeles Thursday. For moments, I had Scott Gordon Era flashbacks, staying up late to watch depressing performances on the West Coast and questioning life choices.

However, this one also had a distinctly Patrick Roy flavor, with a very early goalie pull that provided some surrealist entertainment for the final 8:30 of the game.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

Things got off to a weird start when Ilya Sorokin lost his stick in an encounter with Anze Kopitar, and no Islander bothered to sweep it back to him. Even after the Islanders cleared the zone once and the Kings had the puck at their own blueline with all five Isles skaters between them and Sorokin, no one bothered to retrieve the goal stick from the corner.

Sorokin made a couple of sterling, groin-defying saves without his stick, but then they left Artemi Panarin all alone in front, and the Russian was patient in beating his countryman (no)stick side.

This is just frustrating to see. What the hell were they doing and thinking?

Patience pays off for Panarin 🍞

Watch Islanders-Kings on ESPN and the ESPN App 🍿 pic.twitter.com/XY7zSz8yyL

— ESPN (@espn) March 6, 2026

In DJ Smith’s second game as interim head coach, the Kings committed two too many men penalties in the second period, one with six skaters and one with seven(!). During an in-game interview, Smith took the heat for it while noting “one by the D, one by the forwards” as too eager to get on.

But what’s the risk? The Islanders power play, rarely inspiring, was downright abysmal. The Kings had the best scoring chances on both advantages.

Meanwhile, the defense continues to be mind-boggling, too:

This can’t happen. Like ever. pic.twitter.com/Fnhsg4pmtg

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) March 6, 2026

Speaking of which, the Kings made it 2-0 late in the second period with the Islanders coverage scrambling all over the place. Carson Soucy was bodied off the puck, did well enough (maybe?) to reach and poke the puck around the boards, but it was intercepted, and Soucy spent the intervening time complaining to the ref while covering no one.

Within a couple minutes, it was 3-0.

The Islanders would get one more power play to try to get back into the game, and while they at least gained the zone a few times — progress! — they still posed no threats.

HOWEVER…a J-G Pageau faceoff win and a Bo Horvat bullet led to the all-too-rare faceoff goal with 0.2 seconds left on the clock. Horvat put everything into the shot and whipped it in off the far post. Impressive.

At least Bo Horvat gives a shit to shoot pic.twitter.com/mUjFjwTZ0e

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) March 6, 2026

The Islanders followed that up by coming out in the third with a little more pep, but Veteran Experienced Ondrej Palat took an offensive zone slashing penalty, and the Kings cashed in on the ensuing power play to make it 4-1 just 2:30 into the period.

Then Ilya Sorokin sailed a puck over the glass to put the Kings on the power play again, and it looked like we were in for more pain. But that was a failure of the imagination, because I neglected to envision the classic Pageau-Adam Pelech shorthanded 2-on-1, which Pelech finished like an opportunistic sniper to cut the lead to 4-2.

Adam Pelech just scored shorthanded lmao pic.twitter.com/VEwXrXM7ha

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) March 6, 2026

Did that make it a game again? It did not. A 3-on-2-ish from the Kings four minutes later restored the three-goal lead.

Patrick Roy pulled Sorokin for a sixth attacker with over eight minutes left, which provided some late-night entertainment at least. The Islanders mostly controlled the puck and were able to make some goal-saving blocks on Kings empty-net tries.

With 1:59 left and after a few more blocked empty-net tries, the Isles finally got one through. Matthew Schaefer’s point shot was deflected by Emil Heineman past Darcy Kuemper to make it 5-3.

That’s where things would finish, after one final empty-net block by Schaefer. Sorokin got himself a nice long rest. The Isles got zero points from their southern tour.

Up Next

The trade deadline, and then a visit to San Jose Saturday to complete the California swing.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Artemi Panarin scored his first goal in a Kings uniform, and Los Angeles beat the New York Islanders 5-3 on Thursday night for the club’s first victory under interim head coach D.J. Smith.

Panarin, Mikey Anderson and Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist apiece for the Kings, and Darcy Kuemper made 31 saves. Samuel Helenius and Alex Laferriere also scored in just Los Angeles’ second victory since January.

Kings captain Anze Kopitar had an assist while playing his 1,500th game, becoming the 25th player in NHL history to hit the mark. The Slovenian center, who is retiring this spring after 20 seasons in Los Angeles, is just five points away from passing Marcel Dionne to become the Kings’ career scoring leader.

Bo Horvat scored an improbable goal off a faceoff taken with a second left in the second period for the Islanders, but it didn’t prevent a second straight blowout loss for New York in Southern California.

Adam Pelech scored the second short-handed goal of his 11-year career and Ilya Sorokin stopped 30 shots for the Isles, who had won five straight before losing to Anaheim and Los Angeles by a combined 10-4 over the past two nights.
Emil Heineman scored with 1:59 to play while Sorokin was pulled for the final 8 1/2 minutes of the third period.

Smith replaced Jim Hiller on Sunday after the Kings’ slump took them out of playoff position. Los Angeles played decently in his debut while losing to NHL-leading Colorado on Monday.

Panarin had three assists in his first four games with the Kings, who acquired the Russian star from the Rangers and signed him to a $22 million contract extension a month ago.

Panarin finally got his first Kings goal 3:17 after the opening faceoff when Kopitar found him utterly unmarked 10 feet from Sorokin. He also secured his 10th career 20-goal season.

Down 3-0, the Islanders finally scored on an unbelievable play: With one second showing on the clock, Jean-Gabriel Pageau won a faceoff straight to Horvat, who whipped a perfect one-timer past Kuemper’s pad for his 26th goal.

Up next

Islanders: At San Jose on Saturday.

Kings: Host Montreal on Saturday.

After talks picked up towards the beginning of this week, the Vancouver Canucks have officially traded Conor Garland. The forward, who spent five seasons with the Canucks, has been sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a second-round pick in 2028 and a third-round pick in 2026. Garland finishes his time in Vancouver with 82 goals scored and 139 assists in 371 games. 

Aside from the 2025–26 season, Garland has consistently been a 45–50-point player for the Canucks since being acquired via trade in 2021. He recorded a career-high in points in 2021–22, scoring 19 goals and 33 assists in 77 games. Last year, he registered his second career 50-point season. 

Garland is a valuable player for any team — contending or not — due to his ability to provide offence, help drive a line, and kill penalties if needed. Many teams will likely find him best suited for an energy role, which he often provides night-in and night-out. 

Discussions around a potential Garland trade picked up when Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News reported that the New York Islanders were engaging in conversations revolving around the forward. Things escalated on Thursday when Pierre LeBrun of TSN, Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV, and Jimmy Murphy of RG all confirmed multiple teams’ interest in acquiring Garland. Interested teams at the time included the Islanders, Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and San Jose Sharks. 

With this trade, Vancouver now has multiple second-round picks in the next three NHL drafts. They also have two first-round picks in this year's draft and two fourth-round selections in the next three after 2026. 

Vancouver will face the Chicago Blackhawks later tonight in what will be their first game without Garland on the team since 2021. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:30 pm PT. 

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, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Dylan Cozens scored a power-play goal 6:33 into the third period to snap a tie and lift the Ottawa Senators to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

Brady Tkachuk found Cozens alone in front and he beat Devin Cooley on the blocker side to give the Senators a 2-1 lead. Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto added empty-netters for the final score. Lars Eller also had a goal as the Senators, who are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, moved within four points of the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Eller’s goal ended a 34-game goalless drought. His last goal came on Oct. 30 against Calgary.

Linus Ullmark made 19 stops to improve to 8-0-3 in his last 11 decisions.

Martin Pospisil scored his first goal of the season for Calgary and Cooley made 33 saves.

Ottawa has been strong of late with the man advantage, entering the game 5 for 12 over its previous five games. The Senators finished 1 for 4 against Calgary.

Down 2-1, the Flames got a power play of their own with just over three minutes to go in the third period. But Stutzle intercepted Yegor Sharangovich's pass and scored into the empty net to put the game on ice.

Stutzle extended his point streak to 11 games (seven goals, eight assists).

The loss dropped the Flames to 31st overall in the league standings, ahead of only the Vancouver Canucks. Calgary is 0-3-1 in its last four games.

Up next

Senators: Visit the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

Flames: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

The Calgary Flames dropped a 4–1 decision to the Ottawa Senators Thursday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, in a game where strong goaltending kept Calgary within reach but Ottawa capitalized when it mattered most.

It was the Flames’ first game without veteran defenceman MacKenzie Weegar after he was dealt to the Utah Mammoth the night before, leaving Calgary’s blue line noticeably shorthanded.

The Senators pushed the pace early, applying pressure in the opening minutes, but Flames goaltender Devin Cooley held firm. He turned aside all eight shots he faced in the first period and came up with a key pad save in the final minute to keep the game scoreless.

Calgary broke through late in the frame. Rookie Matvei Gridin tracked down a loose puck and slid it across to Martin Pospisil, who tucked it past Linus Ullmark at 17:04 for his first goal of the season.

The Flames carried a 1–0 lead into the intermission.

Ottawa responded midway through the second. At 9:35, Ridly Greig found Lars Eller in the slot, and the veteran forward blasted a one-timer past Cooley to even the game 1–1.

The remainder of the period featured tight checking and solid goaltending at both ends, sending the teams into the third period deadlocked.

Special teams made the difference in the final frame.

After drawing multiple penalties, Ottawa converted on their second power-play opportunity. During a battle along the boards, Brady Tkachuk dug the puck free and spotted Dylan Cozens alone in the slot. Cozens quickly picked his corner and snapped the puck past Cooley at 6:33 to give the Senators their first lead of the night.

With Calgary pressing late and the net empty, Tim Stützle sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, extending his point streak to 11 games and Shane Pinto scored again into the empty net securing the 4–1 Ottawa win.

Three Takeaways

1. Cooley making his case

Even in a loss, Devin Cooley looked composed and confident, making 35 saves. The Flames netminder made several timely saves and kept Calgary within striking distance throughout the game. Performances like this suggest he could be pushing for a larger role moving forward, and the Saddledome crowd responded to his effort like he’s quickly becoming a fan favourite.

2. Youth movement on the power play

The Flames’ first power-play unit featured young talent on the blue line, with Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin handling duties at the point. It’s a glimpse of the organization’s future as Calgary begins leaning more on its developing prospects.

3. Trade deadline uncertainty

With the NHL trade deadline approaching, Thursday’s game could potentially mark the final appearance in a Flames sweater for veterans Nazem Kadri or Blake Coleman. After the Weegar trade, Calgary’s roster could see more movement in the coming day.

Adam Edstrom returned to the Rangers lineup for the first time in more than three months.

The Blueshirts activated the 6-foot-7 forward off injured reserve ahead of Thursday’s game against the Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden.

In his first game since suffering a lower-body injury in practice in early December, Edstrom skated on the fourth line next to Jaroslav Chmelar and Juuso Parssinen.

“So I’ve been going through some struggles,” Edstrom said after the Rangers won 6-2. “Just kind of something that blew up again in practice, so it was something that they just thought I should take care of now instead of keep on playing through it. It’s always tough to miss time, but I feel way better now.”

This was Edstrom’s second long-term injury in the span of 10 months.

He sustained a different lower-body injury last February, which required surgery to repair and knocked him out for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.

After earning a spot out of training camp this season, Edstrom was scratched with “bumps and bruises” for a couple of games in early November.

On Nov. 18, however, the 25-year-old served as a healthy scratch.

Whatever sidelined him on Nov. 7 and 8 continued to nag him and ultimately forced the Rangers to put him on long-term injured reserve in mid-December.

Edstrom went on to miss 33 consecutive games.

The big-bodied Swede recorded a team-low 8:24 of ice time in the Rangers first regulation win on home ice since Nov. 24.

“At the start, you can kind of tell that you missed some time,” Edstrom said. “You always get a chance to come back in practice, but it’s always a little different coming out there in a game situation. I feel like I worked my way into the game, kind of happy to get the first one out of the way and now I can just look forward.”

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Parssinen appeared in his first NHL game since Nov. 22.

After dealing with a long-term hand injury for a majority of his season with AHL Hartford, Parssinen skated in his 15th NHL contest of the season.

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS

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Thursday night was also Chmelar’s first game since Dec. 16 and the seventh NHL game of his career.

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Goalie Igor Shesterkin got the nod Thursday night, marking his 38th start of the season.

After returning out of the Olympic break from a 13-game injury-related absence, he has backstopped the Blueshirts to a four-game point streak (2-0-2).

On Thursday, Shesterkin stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced.

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At 7 p.m. April 5, tune into ESPN+, Disney+, Disney Channel or Disney XD to watch the Rangers and Capitals skate alongside Joy and Sadness in the Inside Out Classic, a real-time animated alternative broadcast featuring characters from the award-winning Pixar films.

Watch as “Inside Out” characters compete with animated versions of the NHL players, who will be virtually transported to Hockey Island inside the mind of the film’s main character, Riley.

Dylan Cozens snapped a 1-1 tie early in the third period as the Senators went on to defeat the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Thursday night in the second game of their four-game Western road swing.

The victory looked nothing like Ottawa’s previous stop in Alberta. Two nights earlier in Edmonton, the Senators lost 5-4 in overtime after squandering a 4-2 third-period lead.

Thursday’s game in Calgary was the polar opposite as the Sens outshot the Flames 37-20. 

Calgary opened the scoring late in the first period when Martin Pospisil capitalized on an Ottawa turnover. Senators defenceman Nick Jensen accidentally over-skated the puck in his own zone, allowing Calgary to pounce. Pospisil finished the play for his first goal of the season, sending the Flames to the intermission with a 1-0 lead.

Ottawa answered midway through the second period, and the goal ended a lengthy drought for Lars Eller. Eller snapped home a shot off a beautiful feed from Ridly Greig to tie the game at 1. The goal was Eller’s third of the season and his first since October 30.

The game remained tight heading into the third period before the Sens finally broke through on the power play.

At 6:33, Cozens ripped a wrist shot past Calgary goaltender Devin Cooley, the game's first star with 35 saves. The goal gave Ottawa its first lead and it stood up as the game-winner.

The finish wasn’t without a little drama.

Artem Zub was called for a penalty with just over three-and-a-half minutes to play, giving Calgary a late power-play opportunity. The Flames pulled their goaltender to create a 6-on-4, but this just in, the Flames don't have the Oilers' power play and Ottawa’s much-maligned penalty kill held firm.

Tim Stützle and Shane Pinto put the game away with a pair of empty net goals. Stutzle's was a shorthanded effort, while Pinto’s goal was meaningless but welcome. He had entered the game with just three goals in his last 26 games.

Stützle was held off the scoresheet for most of the night before his late goal, but for the second straight game he may have been Ottawa’s best player, consistently driving play and creating chances.

The win was an important one for the Senators as they try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Ottawa not only picked up two points in Calgary, but also got some help out of town. The Nashville Predators defeated the Boston Bruins 6-3 on Thursday night, tightening the Eastern wild-card race.

With 21 games still to play, the Senators now sit four points behind Boston for the final wild-card spot and six points back of the Montreal Canadiens, who hold the first wild card.

With the trade deadline less than a day away (Friday at 3 pm), Thursday's results won't necessarily push general manager Steve Staios into full buyer mode, but the Sens still have every reason to believe they can claw their way back in the race. 

Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

For the first time since early January, the Pittsburgh Penguins have lost back-to-back games in regulation. 

While, on the surface, this doesn't seem like the worst thing, there are other potential ramifications from Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres that could - quite frankly - alter the course of the Penguins' season and playoff hopes.

In addition to their loss to the Sabres - which kept them in a second-place tie in the Metropolitan Division with the New York Islanders for the time being - they also lost forward Evgeni Malkin, who was assessed a game misconduct for a slash to the head of Sabres' defenseman Rasmus Dahlin early in the second period. 

The Sabres scored on the ensuing power play via a low-slot shot from Josh Norris, and the call was upheld after yet another failed goaltender interference challenge by Penguins' head coach Dan Muse.

And even Penguins' players admit that things may have snowballed after the Malkin sequence and another goaltender interference call failing to go their way.

"It's not easy," said goaltender Arturs Silovs, who was dealt a tough hand Thursday and stopped 21 of 25 Buffalo shots on goal. "We get [a]  five-minute major we have to kill. I think we did a good job. But, sure, one of the top players leaving, it's not the best. It's like, one of the top [players in] our offense. So, it's not easy to regroup, but we tried to."

Things started off a bit sloppy for the Penguins, as Ryan McLeod scored his league-leading fifth shorthanded goal of the season on a breakaway after a tricky play at the offensive blue line to elude Penguins' defenseman Kris Letang and put the Sabres up, 1-0. 

However, the Penguins responded with a shorthanded goal of their own less than three minutes later, when Bryan Rust performed his signature power move around Norris and across the net-front for his 21st goal of the season to tie the game. 

Then, the second-period shenanigans with Malkin ensued, and the Sabres were up, 2-1. Two minutes after Norris's go-ahead goal, the Penguins were on a power play but found themselves in the defensive zone, where they took a penalty. On the delayed call, Alex Tuch buried his 25th goal of the season to put the Sabres on top, 3-1, and Owen Power added one just past the midway point of the second period to make it 4-1.

Mattias Samuelsson added an empty-net goal late in third period to bury the Penguins for good and secure the 5-1 win. 

Malkin Assessed Game Misconduct For Slash On Dahlin, May Have Ripple EffectPittsburgh Penguins' forward Evgeni Malkin was assessed a game misconduct for a slash to the head of Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on Thursday, which could result in a suspension and force Kyle Dubas's hand at the trade deadline

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Here are some thoughts and takeaways from this emotional loss:

- I'll get to Malkin in a second because I won't have many thoughts numbers-wise, but I sure have plenty of thoughts. And let's start with this goaltender interference. 

And, yes, this was clearly goaltender interference. 

The Penguins challenged the Sabres' 2nd goal of the game for goaltender interference but the ruling was good goal 🫣 pic.twitter.com/nc4xpnEGAp

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 6, 2026

I have not agreed with all of Muse's challenges for goaltender interference so far this season, but this one seemed clear as day. Josh Doan ventured to the blue paint unimpeded initially and made contact with Silovs before Letang made contact with him. And, even if Letang did make what was very little contact, it seemed inconsequential, as Doan made no ensuing effort to get out of the way of Silovs. 

This was goaltender interference. I know it. Most of the internet knows it. Analysts know it. Silovs knows it, too.

"For sure," Silovs said. "You know, it's like... I think it was clearly goalie interference. Like, I don't know. Other guy gets a little touch, doesn't count. It was blatant. He didn't even try to avoid me. Went through me, and what am I supposed to do? Yeah, I don't think the refs tried to help us at all today."

Muse also knew it. In fact, he was sure about it. 

"My view on it is goalie interference because their player skated in the blue paint, made contact with our goalie, which affected the play. Which is the rule," Muse said. "He came in and made contact. Afterward, there is a little bit of a push. He initiated the contact in there. By the rules, I thought it was goalie interference. I still feel like it's goalie interference. And it seems like it changes day to day right now.

"People are again going to maybe question some of the challenges I've made. There's been lower percentage [challenges]. This one, I thought, was pretty clear."

So, if I was sure of it, the internet was sure of it, analysts were sure of it, Silovs was sure of it, and Muse was sure of it, why aren't NHL officials sure of it?

There is a disconnect with what this rule actually constitutes now, and it needs to be addressed. Especially since the loser of the challenge is punished with a penalty. 

Just an egregious one to miss tonight. I don't understand it.

Could Small AHL Transaction Signify Bigger Move For Penguins?With less than 24 hours remaining until the NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins may already be in the process of setting the table for another move.

- Speaking of egregious, let's talk about Malkin.

This is a 39-year-old franchise legend who badly wants another contract with the Penguins. That situation has become pretty public in the past week or so, even if Dubas prefers to keep negotiations private between he, Malkin, and agent J.P. Barry.

Your team is hanging onto second place in the Metro with the Islanders right on your heels in third and the surging Columbus Blue Jackets getting closer in the rearview. Your team is without its best player in Sidney Crosby for a few weeks, you have a guantlet of a schedule in March that is the hardest in the league, and despite this adversity, your team continues to battle and win most hockey games. 

It's the time of year where pretty much every game is a must-win, but especially the game before the NHL trade deadline, when your GM just spoke about looking to add to the team on the forward front and defensive front to shore everything up for both a playoff run and the future. 

And you go out and do this. 

Yikes pic.twitter.com/V57xnf7s4Hhttps://t.co/e5Nw7a5xjy

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) March 6, 2026

The cross-checks? Sure. They happen dozens of times per game. Matching cross-checks are one thing, but slashing the head of an opponent with your stick is another, and it comes at a time when this Penguins' team is trying to hold on without its captain. 

Composure needs to be kept there. This is not Malkin's first rodeo with a stick infraction, so he's almost certainly going to miss some time. Not having Crosby AND Malkin could quite literally derail what has been a magical, expectation-defying season for this team, and it would all be the result of a selfish, heat-of-the-moment decision by a player this team counts on.

There is never a time and place for what Malkin did. But it was especially bad considering the circumstances around this team, this season, and this contract negotiation.

If the Penguins miss the playoffs, they can point to several things. But this would be looked back on as the catalyst to the collapse.

So, for Malkin's sake - assuming that he misses some time and that Crosby won't be back for at least another week - his team better find a way to ride out the storm.

Penguins Linked To Potential Reunion With Canucks ForwardThe Penguins are being connected to one of their former players.

- All that said, Muse offered a pretty strong statement to his team after the game. 

I asked him what the message was to the team after a couple of regulation losses in a row - the first time that's happened since Jan. 10-11. This was an emotional loss, and the last time the Penguins had a condensed schedule was December, when an emotional loss against the Anaheim Ducks snowballed into an eight-game losing streak.

So how do the Penguins avoid that this time around?

"You can say the schedule... I think it's just this league in general this time of year, too," Muse said. "Like, be pissed off. I don't want anybody walking out of today seeing this as okay. You also gotta be quick to turn the page. So, you get home, you get some sleep, you get to the rink tomorrow, we've got to look at ways that we can be better, we've got to quickly turn the page, and we've got to be ready for this next game.

"That's where we're at, and that's an important part is you don't let things continue to build. And I'd say the same thing if we had a game that we really liked. You've got to be ready for the next one because these are all turning fast."  

The 'Chinakhov Template': 10 Penguins' Trade Targets Who Fit The Dubas MoldPittsburgh Penguins GM and POHO Kyle Dubas spoke on Wednesday's 'GM Show' about the types of deals he'll be looking for by Friday's NHL trade deadline - and here are some trade candidates who fit his mold.

- Finally, Friday at 3:00 p.m. marks the NHL trade deadline. 

Although Dubas already hinted at the types of deals and players he was looking for, the potential of not having Crosby or Malkin for this next stretch almost surely spells the need to add a forward - preferably, a center.

We'll see what happens. In any case, Dubas is not - contrary to some panicked belief on Twitter - going to suddenly pivot and have a fire sale. 

No. This team deserves to be rewarded. They've earned that. And they're still in a divisional playoff spot. Dubas must stay the course, whatever that means.

So, buckle up, Penguins' fans. This is going to be a very interesting 24 hours.

5 Centers Penguins Should Target In Trade MarketThe Pittsburgh Penguins, currently in playoff position and without Sidney Crosby, may look to add a viable center option at the NHL trade deadline.

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

The Winnipeg Jets are sending defenseman Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn to the Buffalo Sabres in a package deal, according to insider Frank Seravalli. 

The move helps Buffalo’s in their efforts to strengthen its blue line as the Sabres explored a trade for Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, but the deal ultimately fell through when Parayko declined to waive his no-move clause on Thursday. With that option off the table, Buffalo appears to have had the Winnipeg duo as their backup plan with the return package not yet known. 

Stanley, 27, has emerged as one of Winnipeg’s most productive defensemen this season. The Kitchener, Ontario native is in the midst of a career year, recording nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 59 games.

Not that he needs it, but confirming Chad’s reporting - #GoJetsGo are completing a deal to send both LD Logan Stanley and RD Luke Schenn to #Sabrehood in one package deal, pending trade call. https://t.co/TtXdk5WEpl

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 6, 2026

His breakout campaign has made him an appealing trade target around the league, particularly given his ability to handle significant minutes while playing under a very manageable cap hit. Stanley is averaging just over 17 minutes of ice time per game and carries a cap hit of $1.25 million. Over the course of his NHL career, he has appeared in 261 games with 14 goals and 43 assists.

Schenn, 36, could also be part of the discussions according to early rumours surrounding the negotiations. This season he has recorded one goal and seven points in 46 games while providing a physical presence through hits and shot blocking. The veteran defenseman brings a wealth of experience, including two Stanley Cup championships across a career that has spanned more than 1,100 NHL games.

Buffalo already had one of the deepest defense cores with Stanley and Schenn joining the likes of Rasmus Dahlin, Michael Kesselring, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson and Bowen Byram. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves, Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Thursday night.

Morgan Barron, Gustav Nyquist and Kyle Connor, into an empty net, also scored for Winnipeg. The Jets improved to 25-26-10, extending their home winning streak against Tampa Bay to five games.

Nyquist scored his first goal in 41 regular-season games dating to last season. He gave Winnipeg a 3-1 lead at 5:34 of the third period.

Brayden Point scored for Tampa Bay, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots. The Lighting have lost four straight to fall to 38-18-4.

Point scored at 1:52 of the third period to spoil Hellebuyck’s shutout bid. Jake Guentzel picked up his 39th assist, matching his total last season.

Up next

Lightning: At Toronto on Saturday night.

Jets: Host Vancouver on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl