The New York Rangers have officially been eliminated from playoff contention after their 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.

The big storyline going into this matchup was the call-up of Adam Sýkora. 

One day after being called up by the Rangers, Sýkora made his NHL debut in Toronto, and Mike Sullivan gave him a substantial role as he played on a line alongside Will Cuylle and Vincent Trocheck. 

Sýkora recorded 13:33 minutes while taking three shots on net. His energy throughout the night was prevalent to the watchful eye, specifically when it came to his relentless puck-pursuit game and ability to create plays through his speed.

"I thought he was great,” Sullivan said of Sýkora. “I thought he played really well. His speed was evident. He made a couple of nice wall plays. Didn't panic with the puck. He made good decisions at the lines. Didn't force things that weren't there. I thought he made an impact. I thought he had a really good game."

This night was a long time coming for the 21-year-old forward, who was selected by the Rangers in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft and has spent the last three seasons playing in the American Hockey League for the Hartford Wolf Pack. 

“I just enjoyed it in the moment,” Sýkora said, “It was like a pretty good feeling. I’m super grateful again for the opportunity… First couple of shifts I was kind of nervous, but then I just try to be in the moment, enjoy, play simple. I felt like I did a good job as the game went.”

From recording 10 shots in their 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday night, the Rangers came out with a lot more fire in Toronto and actually posted a season-high 43 shots on net. 

It was a game in which the Rangers felt they deserved better, but Igor Shesterkin had a rare lackluster performance, giving up four goals on just 18 shots. 

“Definitely the opposite of last game,” J.T. Miller said. “We outplayed them for pretty much the entire game. We shot the puck a lot more, had a more direct mentality, skated more. We played a good game. One of those games where they were more opportunistic than we were, but yeah, (you) can sleep whenever you play like that.”

Ultimately, the Rangers’ effort in Toronto does not change the difficult reality they find themselves in.

Despite essentially being eliminated from the playoffs for weeks now, Wednesday night’s loss put a dagger in what has been a dreadful season for the Blueshirts. 

The Rangers had hoped to flip the script from their failures of the 2024-25 campaign by hiring Mike Sullivan to be the team’s head coach and signing Vladislav Gavrikov. 

Out of the gate to start the season, the Rangers’ inconsistencies were fully apparent, and the season went south in January when both Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin missed a significant chunk of time with injuries, resulting in the team plummeting down the Eastern Conference standings. 

Chris Drury’s letter to fans issued on Jan. 16 outlining the Rangers’ plan to “retool” the roster put their underachievement into more perspective.

From the moment the letter was issued up until now, the Rangers have made a slew of trades and attempted to restore a sense of purpose, but there has been really very little to play for. 

Igor Shesterkin Feels The Need To Step Up As A Leader For Rangers Through RetoolIgor Shesterkin is no longer the young kid he once was when he joined the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a>’ organization all of those years ago.&nbsp;

“I don’t think anybody would have thought we’d be where we are right now, eliminated with this many games left,” Miller said. “Obviously, we failed in reaching our goal this year.”

There are still 10 games to go before the Rangers can pack their bags for what will be a long summer, and all Sullivan can do is try to build some sort of positive momentum into next year and push his team to the finish line to close out this tumultuous season. 

“Nobody is thrilled with where we are at,” Sullivan said. “We're doing everything we can to try to instill a certain standard here that we can build on moving forward.”

Even without a fully healthy lineup, the Colorado Avalanche demonstrated Tuesday night just how dangerous they can be. Fresh off the returns of captain Gabe Landeskog and penalty kill specialist Logan O'Connor, Colorado exacted revenge on the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 6–2 win at PPG Paints Arena.

Though sloppy at times, the Avalanche displayed the caliber and grit of a bona fide Stanley Cup contender. When 12 different players record at least a point, it speaks not only to the stars producing but to the depth that truly wins championships.

Necas Leads the Charge

Nathan MacKinnon scored just 4:57 into the game, marking his league-leading 46th goal of the season. Sam Malinski scored for the first time in nearly three months, while Martin Necas—arguably the NHL’s best player coming out of the Olympic break—delivered another standout performance with two goals, including one on the power play, an area where Colorado had struggled most of the season until recently.

Prior to the Olympic break, the Avalanche ranked at or near the bottom of the NHL in power-play efficiency, converting just 15% of opportunities. Since February 25, however, Colorado has climbed nearly 20 spots in the standings, converting on 23% of their power plays. Necas has been the not-so-secret weapon, tallying 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in his last 15 games.

Lines Clicking at the Right Time

The Avalanche may have the league’s most dangerous lineup. The return of O’Connor on the third line provided a massive boost and allowed Nazem Kadri, acquired at the trade deadline from the Calgary Flames, to slot in at center behind MacKinnon and Brock Nelson.

Parker Kelly - Colorado Avalanche (16) pic.twitter.com/JD9zjG0sbF

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) March 25, 2026

That line looked deadly all night, especially with Parker Kelly joining the mix. Colorado opened the game with four first-period goals, and with 2:41 left, Kelly scored the fourth. It began when Kadri beat former Avs defenseman Samuel Girard to the puck along the boards, quickly fed it behind the net to O’Connor, who found Kelly at the doorstep for a one-timer that found the net.

Beyond scoring, the line’s overall performance was encouraging, averaging about 15 minutes of ice time. O’Connor logging 15 minutes after 11 months away is remarkable—and it should only improve as he gains more games under his belt.

That said, this Penguins team had just handed the Avalanche a 7‑2 loss on home ice. While Evgeni Malkin was out, Colorado wasn’t at full strength either, making this win far from guaranteed.

Depth to Challenge Any Opponent

Nic Roy was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury and is expected to return by the end of the regular season. Meanwhile, Artturi Lehkonen, sidelined since March 3 with an upper-body injury against the Anaheim Ducks, is expected to rejoin the top six upon his return.

When that happens, Ross Colton—who scored in his first game back from injury—may slide from the second line to the fourth. Roy, a dual-threat who can play center or wing, would likely take the left side of the third line with Kadri remaining at 3C and O’Connor on the right. A potential fourth line could feature Colton, Jack Drury, and Joel Kiviranta.

Colorado’s depth has been a hallmark of the franchise. In 2022, injuries to stars like Darcy Kuemper and Kadri were absorbed seamlessly, with replacements like Pavel Francouz and Jack Johnson stepping up. Even with healthy scratches like Gavin Brindley, the team remains formidable, with prospects like Zakhar Bardakov adding depth and elite forechecking.

In short, this Avalanche team is a powerhouse. As they head into Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Colorado isn’t just a contender—they’re a benchmark of depth, skill, and resilience. Opponents will face a relentless, multi-layered lineup, and if the Avalanche can sustain their execution, they enter the postseason as the team to beat.

TORONTO (AP) — Dakota Joshua had a goal and an assist, Joseph Woll made 40 saves and added an assist, and the Toronto Maple Leafs topped the Rangers 4-3 on Wednesday night, eliminating New York from playoff contention.

Jake McCabe, Nick Robertson and John Tavares had the other goals for Toronto and Matias Maccelli added two assists. Woll picked up the second assist on Joshua’s goal for his first NHL point.

Mika Zibanejad scored two goals and Alexis Lafreniere had a goal and two assists for the Rangers, while Igor Shesterkin stopped 14 shots. Adam Fox chipped in two assists.

New York, which will finish below the postseason cutline for a second straight season, sits second-to-last in the overall standings. Toronto ranks 21st and is on the way to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

BRUINS 4, SABRES 3, OT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Paval Zacha scored 38 seconds into overtime, David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists and Boston rallied for a win over Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo.

Casey Mittelstadt scored with six minutes remaining to tie the game, and Viktor Arvidsson also scored. Boston bounced back from a 4-2 loss to Toronto a night earlier, and moved into a tie in points with Montreal for third in the Atlantic Division standings — and three points ahead of eighth-place Ottawa.

Joonas Korpisalo finished with 22 saves.

Jason Zucker scored twice and Zach Benson also scored for Buffalo, which is 12-1-2 in its past 15. The Sabres still earned a point to tie Carolina atop the Eastern Conference and move within 10 points of clinching their first playoff berth in 15 years.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves.

The Bruins won after both teams squandered one-goal leads in the third period.

TORONTO (AP) — Dakota Joshua had a goal and an assist, Joseph Woll made 40 saves and added an assist, and the Toronto Maple Leafs topped the Rangers 4-3 on Wednesday night, eliminating New York from playoff contention.

Jake McCabe, Nick Robertson and John Tavares had the other goals for Toronto and Matias Maccelli added two assists. Woll picked up the second assist on Joshua’s goal for his first NHL point.

Mika Zibanejad scored two goals and Alexis Lafreniere had a goal and two assists for the Rangers, while Igor Shesterkin stopped 14 shots. Adam Fox chipped in two assists.

New York, which will finish below the postseason cutline for a second straight season, sits second-to-last in the overall standings. Toronto ranks 21st and is on the way to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Tavares scored his 26th goal of the season at 11:57 of the third period to make it 4-2 when he ripped a shot past Shesterkin after Toronto had built a 3-0 lead in the second.

New York’s Adam Sykora made his NHL debut after being called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack. The 21-year-old winger, selected 63rd overall at the 2022 draft, had 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points across 62 games in the AHL this season.

Toronto’s William Nylander is one point away from passing his father, Michael, for family bragging rights. The winger has 679 points in 741 regular-season games. The elder Nylander registered 679 points in 920 contests.

New York, which tied a dubious franchise record with just 10 shots in Monday’s 2-1 home loss to the Ottawa Senators, directed 14 attempts on target in Wednesday’s opening period. The visitors had 17 more shots on Woll in the second.

Up next

Rangers: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Maple Leafs: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

TORONTO (AP) — Dakota Joshua had a goal and an assist, Joseph Woll made 40 saves and added an assist, and the Toronto Maple Leafs topped the Rangers 4-3 on Wednesday night, eliminating New York from playoff contention.

Jake McCabe, Nick Robertson and John Tavares had the other goals for Toronto and Matias Maccelli added two assists. Woll picked up the second assist on Joshua’s goal for his first NHL point.

Mika Zibanejad scored two goals and Alexis Lafreniere had a goal and two assists for the Rangers, while Igor Shesterkin stopped 14 shots. Adam Fox chipped in two assists.

New York, which will finish below the postseason cutline for a second straight season, sits second-to-last in the overall standings. Toronto ranks 21st and is on the way to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Tavares scored his 26th goal of the season at 11:57 of the third period to make it 4-2 when he ripped a shot past Shesterkin after Toronto had built a 3-0 lead in the second.

New York's Adam Sykora made his NHL debut after being called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack. The 21-year-old winger, selected 63rd overall at the 2022 draft, had 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points across 62 games in the AHL this season.

Toronto's William Nylander is one point away from passing his father, Michael, for family bragging rights. The winger has 679 points in 741 regular-season games. The elder Nylander registered 679 points in 920 contests.

New York, which tied a dubious franchise record with just 10 shots in Monday’s 2-1 home loss to the Ottawa Senators, directed 14 attempts on target in Wednesday’s opening period. The visitors had 17 more shots on Woll in the second.

Up next

Rangers: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Maple Leafs: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

___

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

The Hockey News' main site revealed players 61-80 for their latest top NHL-affiliated prospect rankings on Wednesday. A notable Pittsburgh Penguins prospect made the cut, as forward Will Horcoff was given the No. 63 spot.

When looking at the season that Horcoff has had with the University of Michigan, it makes a lot of sense that he has been named among the NHL's top prospects. The Penguins' 2025 first-round pick has 24 goals, 13 assists, and 37 points in 37 games this season with the University of Michigan. With numbers like these, there is no question that the 6-foot-5 forward has a ton of potential.

Horcoff has the size and skill to become an impactful player at the NHL level for the Penguins later down the road. Because of this, he is undoubtedly a youngster who Penguins fans should be watching incredibly closely as he continues to develop his game. 

Nevertheless, it is going to be interesting to see how good of a player Horcoff will become for the Penguins. It is clear that the skilled forward has a high ceiling. 

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin’s fiancee, Carolina Matovac, is back in Buffalo and on Wednesday attended her first game since her heart failed while the couple vacationed in France last summer.

The Sabres welcomed Matovac by showing her in the stands during the first period of their game against Boston. Matovac waved to the cheering crowd while Sabres players slapped their sticks against the boards.

Matovac received a lifesaving heart transplant and had spent the past seven months recovering in the couple's native Sweden, with Dahlin taking a few brief trips to visit her during the season.

Upon reporting for training camp in September, Dahlin revealed his fiancee's ordeal in a message posted on the team's website. He said Matovac felt sick for several days before her heart failed, saying she required CPR on “multiple occasions and up to a couple of hours at a time.”

Matovac spent weeks on life support before receiving a new heart. In January, Matovac revealed that she was pregnant when her heart failed, adding that her unborn child played “a vital role” in the discovery of the problem. The fetus, however, did not survive.

___

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

The Montreal Canadiens are one of several teams in the tight Eastern Conference looking to punch their ticket to the playoffs. While they are third in the Atlantic Division, the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings are not far behind them. Thus, every game at this juncture of the season is important for Montreal. 

Due to this, the Canadiens need their key players to be on their A-game right now, and goaltender Jakub Dobes certainly has been as of late.

Dobes has had a .923 save percentage or better in five out of his last six appearances. This included him stopping 41 out of 43 shots in his most recent start against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 24. With this, the 24-year-old goaltender is playing some strong hockey right now at a critical juncture of the season for the Canadiens. 

With his ongoing hot streak, Dobes has a 23-8-4 record, a 2.88 goals-against average, and a .896 save percentage in 35 games this season with the Canadiens. While he has had some growing pains at times this season, it is very encouraging to see him heating up down the stretch.

It will now be interesting to see how Dobes performs during this final part of the season from here. 

DETROIT (AP) — The Red Wings on Wednesday signed defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a two-year extension worth $3.2 million.

He will count $1.6 million against the salary cap through the 2027-28 NHL season.

Bernard-Docker, 25, has found a home on Detroit’s blue line by skating an average of 15 minutes over 55 games. The Red Wings are his third team in the league after playing his first 129 games with the Ottawa Senators and finishing last season with the Buffalo Sabres.

The Alberta native was a first-round pick in the 2018 draft.

___

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