The good news for the Los Angeles Kings is that they clinched a playoff spot following their win against the Seattle Kraken on Monday. That secured their ticket to the post-season for the fifth straight year, despite a far-below-average start to the campaign.

The bad news is that they are in line to play against the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs if L.A.'s position in the standings doesn't change.

Colorado has already claimed the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the regular season, and is two wins away from this being the most successful regular season in the Avalanche franchise history.

So, with how impressive and dominant the Avs have been all season long, how do the Kings match up against the league leaders?

This also doesn't help their case, but the Kings lost all three meetings against the Avalanche during the season. The last game on March 2 ended 4-2 in favor of Colorado.

In terms of the playoffs, the last time the Kings played against the Avalanche was in the 2001 post-season. The two teams met in the Western Conference semifinals, and Colorado got the best of Los Angeles, taking the series 4-3.

The Avalanche went on to win the Stanley Cup for the second time in franchise history.

Looking at the Avs of this year, they could very well go on to win another Cup. The power and skill of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas, Devon Toews, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, and others is more than the Kings can handle on paper.

King's Playoff Berth Means Maple Leafs Get Second-Rounder From Laughton DealThe Los Angeles Kings have clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and with that, the Toronto Maple Leafs will receive a second round pick from the Scott Laughton trade.

Los Angeles isn't going to beat Colorado player-for-player in terms of talent, and interim head coach D.J. Smith knows that.

However, in the playoffs, there's more to each contest than beating your opponent in a skills competition. And that's where the light can shine on the Kings.

Since coach Jim Hiller was replaced by Smith,  the Kings have been one of the most physical teams in the league. From March 1, Los Angeles has the fifth-most hits at 525 in 22 games.

Has D.J. Smith Shown Enough To Become The Kings' Permanent Bench Boss?From now until the end of this season, what does Los Angeles Kings interim head coach D.J. Smith need to do in order to earn the full-time position?

Hitting isn't everything, but when a team is physically imposing on the opposition and heavy on the forecheck, like the Kings have been since Smith stepped in, that can wear on the Avalanche's stars.

Another aspect in which the Kings can hang around with the Avalanche is their ability to shut down their opposition.

In addition to the Kings being fourth in the NHL in fewest goals against, they have the fifth-most shutouts this season with six on the year. Though the Avalanche are slightly above them in those categories, too, it's key that the Kings print out the details on how to stop Colorado's stars.

After all, MacKinnon alone is about to claim the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer, in the hunt for the Art Ross, and very well could take home the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP.

NHL Playoffs And Awards Watch: What's Still Up For GrabsThe NHL's goal-scoring title, home-ice advantage and a chance to avoid the Colorado Avalanche in the first round are part of what's still up for grabs. Here are the breakdowns.

Even Necas is tied for seventh in scoring and is just one point away from notching his first career 100-point campaign. 

And for Makar, not much needs to be said about how dynamic and how much of a revelation he's been among defensemen in the NHL.

Of course, the Avalanche are heavy favorites in this series if there is no change in the NHL's seeding from now to the end of the week. 

But as they say about the Stanley Cup playoffs, you just need to get in. After all, the Kings did win the Stanley Cup in 2012 as the eighth seed in the Western Conference, a comparison to this year's team.

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It might be meaningless Game 82 for the Carolina Hurricanes in terms of standings, but it'll be a memorable day for a pair of rookies.

Felix Unger Sorum and Ronan Seeley will both make their NHL debuts tonight at UBS Arena, earning callups for the final game of the year.

Dreams to reality 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8S1BSMCGlj

— z - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 14, 2026

Unger Sorum, 20, has made quite the jump in his second year in North America, more than tripling his point production from his rookie year in the AHL.

The Swedish winger led the Chicago Wolves in scoring with 16 goals and 63 points in 69 games.

The 2023 second-round pick is a cerebral playmaker who excels with the puck on his stick. He has tremendous vision and is able to create time and space with ease.

While not the biggest player, he's unafraid of going into the corners either and has proven that he's capable of elevating his game in North America.

Felix Unger Sorum: The NHL's Youngest ProspectIn just three months, Carolina Hurricanes prospect Felix Unger Sorum has gone from a relatively unknown teenager from a small, Swedish village to everybody's new favorite prospect in Raleigh.

Seeley, 23, has been a steady presence in the organization, where he's managed to carve out a steady role despite the odds.

The 2020 seventh-round pick has spent four years in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves and has been a stable presence on both sides of the puck.

Congrats to both players on their debuts!

Welcome to the league, boys 💪 pic.twitter.com/XdaSp8ybK4

— z - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 14, 2026

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild (45-24-12) is back in action tonight for its final game of the regular season against the Anaheim Ducks (42-32-6).

Minnesota dropped its last game 6-3 in St. Louis on Monday. In that game, the Wild rested eight regulars.

The Ducks have two more games left in the season and are just one point up on the Los Angeles Kings for the third spot in the Pacific. They are also only three points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first in the Pacific and one point back of the Edmonton Oilers for second.

Although the Ducks have clinched a playoff spot, they still have a lot to play for, like home ice in the playoffs.

The Wild, on the other hand, don't. It is already official that they will face the Dallas Stars in round one, with the first two games being in Dallas.

On that note, the Wild will again use this game to rest the same guys.

Kirill Kaprizov, Ryan Hartman, Mats Zuccarello, Joel Eriksson Ek, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Marcus Foligno and Jared Spurgeon.

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Wild’s Game 1 Starter No Longer Obvious Amid Gustavsson’s Slide, Wallstedt's PushThe Wild’s Game 1 starter against Dallas was once a formality. Now, Filip Gustavsson’s late-season struggles and Jesper Wallstedt’s surge have turned it into a defining playoff decision for Minnesota.

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One week ago, defenseman Jake Livanavage was suiting up for the University of North Dakota at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.

And now, he will be suiting up to take NHL ice for the very first time. 

On Tuesday, Livanavage will make his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final game of their regular season. Pittsburgh will take on the St. Louis Blues, which will be the team's last opponent before facing the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Livanavage, 21, signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Apr. 10 that kicks in this season.

Penguins Sign Intriguing NCAA Free Agent Defenseman, Report Him To PittsburghThe Pittsburgh Penguins dipped into the NCAA free agent pool on Friday when they signed Jake Livanavage, an in-demand defenseman out of the University of North Dakota.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound left blueliner may not be eligible for the postseason - he was a UFA who signed after the trade deadline and was not on the Penguins' reserve list - but he put together a nice enough season at North Dakota for the Penguins to outbid some other suitors for his services. He registered five goals and 25 points in 39 games to go along with a plus-15, and his mobility and offensive instincts are hallmarks of his game. 

When you are cutting the Jake Livanavage tape and you come across a sequence so good you have to stop and tweet it pic.twitter.com/KrTrDwRB03

— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) April 11, 2026

But, all that aside, Livanavage grew up a Penguins' fan, so debuting with the team he rooted for as a kid is a full-circle, dream come true.

"Being part of this organization is a dream come true and something that I'll never take for granted," Livanavage told Penguins' reporters after Tuesday's morning skate. "So, it's been awesome so far."

And he looks forward to getting that first NHL game under his belt, even if it will be his only game this season. 

"I'm sure they'll be nerves and a lot of emotions going on," Livanavage said. "But just trying to enjoy it and be a part of this group for tonight and try and help the team win."

Pittsburgh Penguins At St. Louis Blues Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins will play their final regular-season game on Tuesday night.

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It is no secret that the Chicago Blackhawks have one of the NHL's best prospect pools. It is why many are excited about the Blackhawks' future.

Due to their strong prospect pool, several of their young players have made Scott Wheeler's latest NHL top 100 skater prospect rankings for The Athletic. 

Blackhawks prospects Anton Frondell (No. 6), Roman Kantserov (No. 16), Sam Rinzel (No. 34), Nick Lardis (No. 41), Oliver Moore (No. 48), Kevin Korchinski (No. 54), Vaclav Nestrasil (No. 71), and Marek Vanacker (No. 94) all made the cut. 

When noting that all these players have good upside, it is not difficult to understand why they have each been featured on Wheeler's rankings. They all have the potential to be important parts of the Blackhawks' future as they continue to develop.

Frondell is already showing his skill at the NHL level, as he has three goals and nine points in 11 games since joining the Blackhawks. This is undoubtedly encouraging to see from the 2025 third-overall pick, as he is making an impact immediately.

While Frondell is the Blackhawks' top prospect at this stage, the other youngsters on this list also could become high-impact players for the Blackhawks soon. It is certainly an exciting time for Blackhawks fans, and it will be fascinating to see how well these prospects develop their games from here. 

Scott Wheeler has released his latest top 100 drafted NHL prospect rankings for The Athletic. With the Montreal Canadiens having one of the strongest prospect pools in the league, it is not surprising in the slightest that four of their prospects have made the cut: Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, David Reinbacher, and Bryce Pickford.

Hage was given the No. 11 spot by Wheeler, and it is not difficult to understand why. The 2024 first-round pick had a spectacular sophomore season with the University of Michigan, as he recorded 13 goals and 52 points in 39 games. With numbers like these, there is no question that the 6-foot-1 center has the potential to become a high-impact player for Montreal. 

Zharovsky landed the No. 17 spot on Wheeler's rankings. The 19-year-old winger's placement also makes sense, as he had a big rookie year in the KHL with Salavat Yulayev Ufa this season. In 59 games with the KHL club, he had 16 goals and 42 points. 

Reinbacher picked up the No. 35 spot on Wheeler's rankings. The 2023 fifth-overall pick has the potential to become a nice part of the Canadiens' blueline in the future and has shown promise this campaign. He recorded an assist in his recent NHL debut for Montreal and has five goals and 24 points in 57 AHL games with the Laval Rocket this season.

As for Pickford, he just made Wheeler's rankings by picking up the No. 98 spot. The 2025 third-overall pick had a special regular season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, as the 6-foot-1 defenseman had 45 goals and 83 points in 55 games. He also has five goals and eight points in eight playoff games. 

The Buffalo Sabres capped off a remarkable turnaround with their 50th victory of the season and clinching top spot in the Atlantic Division with a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.  Tage Thompson scored twice and reach the 40-goal mark for the third time in four seasons, and with the victory, Buffalo will have home-ice advantage in the first and second round, and could have it in the Eastern Conference Final if they play anyone other than the Carolina Hurricanes. 

The Sabres first round opponent is as yet undetermined, as the Boston Bruins lead the Ottawa Senators by a point with one game to go. The Bruins play the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden on Tuesday, and with a win of any kind would clinch the top wildcard spot and Buffalo as their first round opponent. If the fall to the Devils in regulation, overtime, or a shootout, the Senators could jump over them into the first wildcard with a victory at home over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. 

Buffalo lost three of four matchups against Boston this season, 3-1 in Boston on October 11, 4-3 in overtime at TD Garden on October 30, and 4-3 in overtime at KeyBank Center on March 25. The Sabres only win, 4-1, came at home on December 27. Against Ottawa, Buffalo went 2-1; an 8-4 win at home on October 15, and a 3-2 overtime victory in Kanata on December 23. Their only loss, 4-1, came earlier this month at Canadian Tire Center.

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Head coach Lindy Ruff spoke after the game:

What does winning the division mean to you?

It means a lot. Division champions from where we came from in December, I'm going to enjoy this hat for one day. I'm going to work on the next hat.

What got you to this point?

I think the leadership of all our guys, you start with (Dahlin), (Thompson) and (Tuch) and all those guys. You look at a game like tonight with Tommer getting a couple and Tucky getting a big goal, and then the (penalty) killing. The season has been a total team effort. We've got a guy that blocked a shot laying on the ice, and he's almost stacking his legs trying to block another shot while he's trying to get off the ice. It's been that willingness to do whatever you can to win a hockey game. 

 What does home-ice advantage and the level of excitement in Buffalo for Game 1 mean to you?

It's been a long time coming. It's been too long but to have home ice secured. I think we talked a lot about being a playoff team. We didn't talk much about winning a division or winning our conference, but to be division champions, and we get to start at home, (it's) great for our guys, great for our team, great for our fans and awesome for the city.

When did you think that this turnaround was for real?

I think that 10-game winning streak (in December) put a lot of confidence in the team that we could win a lot of hockey games and get back in it. I think that was the start of it. The fact that we bounced right back after a loss and put a lot of wins together again right after that. Just playing good hockey for a long period of time from December on. 

What did you like about Tage Thompson’s game?

Everything about his game, (he's had) a little struggle of late. I think there's been a few games where the energy has been a little bit low, but I thought tonight we got his A plus game, and I think his energy level is back to where it needs to be. We know what he can do when he's at the top of his game……He went through a couple weeks of the Olympics and big celebration after, and then he joined us right away in Florida. I've talked to him several times. I think just a lot of that caught up. That was part of him not practicing a couple of those times. I said, 'whatever you need to take off to get the energy back where it needs to be. If you didn't take a game off. Well, go get your game off.' But he wanted to play, and I think he's worked his way through it.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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With nothing left in the standings to play for, the Detroit Red Wings traveled to the Sunshine State for their two final games of the 2025-26 NHL regular season.

In their penultimate game of the campaign, they suffered a 4-3 overtime setback against the Tampa Bay Lightning after Nikita Kucherov scored just 27 seconds into the extra session.

The Red Wings, who trailed 3-1 at the beginning of the third period, rallied with goals from Marco Kasper and Alex DeBrincat, but despite outshooting the host Lightning, they weren't able to pick up the winning goal. 

Not only did Detroit outshoot Tampa Bay, but they also refused to lie down and stop competing, which head coach Todd McLellan noticed. 

"I thought they were prepared and willing to play from minute one on through, and if it wasn't there, I don't think you'd see us come back," McLellan said. "I give them credit for competing hard and playing to the end." 

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

Even though Monday's game against the Lightning and their regular season finale against the Florida Panthers both mean nothing in the standings, McLellan gave the club credit for playing hard rather than mailing it in with nothing left to play for. 

"I'm not gonna sit here and say the guys were all full of piss and vinegar early in the morning; it is what it is right now," said McLellan. "You have to play out the schedule, and there's always concern our guys will play safe, but they were real competitive and I give them credit for that.

"When you're in the thick of it, and you're playing for your lives, the intensity is different, and the pressure is different," he continued. "But when you're done, and you have six periods of hockey left, it changes quickly."

The Red Wings will face the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night in their 82nd and final game of their centennial campaign. 

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The Athletic's Scott Wheeler released his latest top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects list, and six Philadelphia Flyers prospects made the cut. 

Porter Martone, Oliver Bonk, Jack Nesbitt, Jett Luchanko, David Jiricek, and Denver Barkey were all featured in Wheeler's rankings.

Martone was given the No. 2 spot in Wheeler's rankings, and it makes sense when noting that he has the tools to become a star power forward in the NHL. The 19-year-old forward has three goals and eight points in games since joining the Flyers. 

Bonk was ranked at the No. 65 spot. The 21-year-old defenseman has had a solid first year with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, posting six goals and 19 points in 44 games. It is what helped him land a call-up to Philly's NHL roster for their season finale. 

Nesbitt was ranked at the No. 80 spot in Wheeler's rankings. The 2025 first-round pick had another good year in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires, recording 25 goals and 58 points in 55 games. 

Luchanko was given the No. 81 spot and had another solid regular season in the OHL this year. In 38 games split between the Guelph Storm and the Brantford Bulldogs, he recorded seven goals and 43 points. 

Jiricek was right after Nesbitt and Luchanko at the No. 83 spot. The right-shot defenseman has had trouble cementing himself as a full-time NHL defenseman, but has thrived with the Phantoms since being acquired by the Flyers at the deadline. In 13 games with the Phantoms, he has two goals and 13 points. 

As for Barkey, he just made the cut at the No. 91 spot. The 20-year-old forward has shown promise during his first NHL season with the Flyers this campaign, as he has five goals and 17 points in 42 games. He also had seven goals and 16 points in 26 AHL games this season with Lehigh Valley. 

There may only be a couple of games left in the 2025–26 season for the Vancouver Canucks, but this doesn’t mean they’re excused from any arising injury issues. Evander Kane has yet to play since Vancouver’s game on April 4 against the Utah Mammoth, and it appears the forward will remain out until the end of the season. 

“He’s not going to play unless we get walloped with some injuries. So we’re going to keep going with the group we have,” Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote said after Vancouver’s morning skate on Tuesday ahead of their matchup against the Los Angeles Kings in their final home game of the season.  

Kane’s recent appearances in Vancouver’s lineup have been sporadic. The forward skated in enough games to put him at the 1000th NHL-game mark on March 30 against the Vegas Golden Knights, but did not play again until the 4th due to injury. Against the Mammoth on home-ice, Vancouver celebrated Kane’s career-milestone. He has not played in a game since then. 

With Kane’s current contract up at the end of the season, the forward will become a UFA by the start of July unless the Canucks opt to sign him to an extension. Through 71 games played this season, the forward has scored 13 goals and 18 assists. 

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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When the 2025-26 NHL season ends, the Florida Panthers will have two Group 6 UFAs, center Cole Schwindt and winger Nolan Foote, according to PuckPedia.

To qualify as a Group 6 UFA, a player must be 25 years old by June 30, have an expiring contract, and a skater must have played less than 80 career NHL games, while a goaltender must play less than 28 games with more than 30 minutes of ice time.

Finally, they must have at least three professional seasons, which is any time spent in the NHL, AHL, or ECHL. 

For Schwindt, he’ll turn 25 years old on April 25, and even if he plays in the last game of the season, he’ll only hit 78 career games. Schwindt would have likely hit the 80-game threshold if he hadn’t sustained multiple long-term injuries this season.

As for Foote, he’s played just 41 career NHL games, scoring seven goals and 10 points. Foote has played just 11 games this year, scoring one goal. 

Foote joined the Panthers organization in the off-season, signing a two-way deal after spending five seasons with the New Jersey Devils. 

Due to Schwindt and Foote becoming UFAs, they’ll be free to sign with any NHL team on July 1, and the Panthers won’t receive any compensation for it, as they would if they were tendered qualifying offers as RFAs.

The Panthers coaching staff spoke highly of Schwindt throughout the season, and the only reason Schwindt was ever taken out of the lineup was due to injuries. The Panthers seem very inclined to bring back Schwindt on an NHL contract, while Foote could return on another two-way deal. 

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The Florida Panthers have one game remaining in their 2025-26 season.

Unlike the past several years, there will be no appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Panthers this spring, no push for a third straight championship.

Thanks to an injury-filled season unlike any the team had seen, Florida is instead wrapping up their regular campaign with an eye toward the future.

That’s because the Panthers’ 2026 first-round pick, which Florida included in the 2025 Trade Deadline deal with the Chicago Blackhawks that brought Seth Jones to the Cats, is top-10 protected.

When the dust settles on the regular season in a couple days and the NHL holds its annual Draft Lottery soon after, if Florida’s top selection remains in the top 10, they will retain the pick and instead send their 2027 first rounder to Chicago.

Entering play Tuesday, the Panthers hold the seventh-worst record in the NHL with one game remaining.

Florida can finish no lower than sixth-worst and no higher than tenth-worst, depending on how things play out with the Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks and in the Panthers’ finale on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings.

If they finish no better than eighth-worst, the Panthers are guaranteed to keep their pick, but if they finish in ninth-or-tenth-worst, Florida will have to wait to see how things shake out in the Draft Lottery.

Since two draws are held, one for the first overall selection and one for the second pick, it’s possible for two teams to move up and potentially bump the Panthers out of the top ten.

For fans wondering which teams to root for, it’s as simple as hoping the teams around Florida in the stands all collect as many points as possible.

On Tuesday, that would mean hoping Winnipeg wins in Utah and that St. Louis beats the Penguins at home.

Wednesday, aside from Florida hosting Detroit, the Sharks will be in Chicago and Seattle plays in Vegas. Then on Thursday, the final day of the regular season, St. Louis is in Utah, Winnipeg hosts the Sharks and Seattle plays in Colorado.

We’ll have to wait and see how things play out for the Panthers, but it’s looking like they have a fairly decent chance at retaining their first-round pick.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Apr 2, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice watches from the bench against the Boston Bruins during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Winnipeg Jets may not have any hope left at a playoff spot, but a spot in the NHL Draft Lottery is now up for grabs for the 2024-25 Presidents' Trophy winners.

On Monday night, the Jets were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but just 20-some-odd hours later they will return to work in Utah for a test against the postseason-bound Mammoth.

Currently sitting tied for 24th in the league with St. Louis and Florida, the Jets have the eighth best odds of landing the No. 1 overall selection at this year's NHL Draft Lottery set for May 5.

With two games left to play, valuable drafting odds remain up in the air. The Jets can climb as high as 86 points with two more wins, or remain at 82 points, which would effectively be Winnipeg's second-worst season on record since returning to Manitoba.

Being the second half of a back-to-back, the Jets did not skate on Tuesday, so the forward lines and defence groupings will remain a mystery until closer to puck drop.

The goaltender of record for Winnipeg will be Eric Comrie, as Connor Hellebuyck will get his first night off in months. It is expected that the team will ice a similar lineup to that of the group of 18 players that suited up on Monday in Vegas.

Winnipeg Jets expected line combinations for Tuesday, April 14 at Utah:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi

Perfetti-Lowry-Lambert

Koepke-Toews-Rosén

Niederreiter-Yager-Chibrikov

Nyquist

Morrissey-DeMelo

Samberg-Miller

Fleury-Bryson

Heinola

Hellebuyck

The Colorado Avalanche wrap up their final road trip of the 2025–26 regular season Tuesday night in Calgary, closing out a season series they’ve controlled from start to finish.

Colorado has taken both previous meetings, including a lopsided 9–2 win on March 30 and a more measured 3–1 result on April 9, and arrives at Scotiabank Saddledome riding a tight, defense-first stretch at the right time of year.

Grinding Out Wins Without Bednar

Their latest outing offered a snapshot of that formula.

Colorado edged the Edmonton Oilers 2–1 in a shootout Monday at Rogers Place, leaning heavily on Scott Wedgewood, who turned aside 30 of 31 shots. Nathan MacKinnon delivered the decisive moment, scoring the shootout winner after Valeri Nichushkin and Martin Nečas also converted.

Wedgewood’s calm presence was the backbone of the win, particularly as Edmonton pushed late and into the shootout.

“He was rock solid all the way through… it’s a continuation of what he’s done throughout the season,” assistant coach Dave Hakstol told The Hockey News postgame, reinforcing just how steady Wedgewood has been during this late push.

The night also carried personal significance for Brock Nelson, who skated in his 1,000th NHL game, marking the milestone in a tightly contested win that reflected the kind of hockey Colorado has leaned on down the stretch.

Sam Malinski accounted for Colorado’s lone regulation goal, finishing a Nicolas Roy feed from the left circle midway through the second period. Edmonton’s only response came off the stick of Connor McDavid later in the frame, but the Avalanche locked things down from there—killing off every Oilers power play and allowing little in the way of second chances.

That defensive commitment has quietly become one of Colorado’s defining traits down the stretch. Since April 4, they’ve allowed just 1.50 goals per game—the best mark in the league over that span—while also owning the NHL’s top penalty kill at 84.3 percent.

Still, the team continues to operate under unusual circumstances behind the bench.

Head coach Jared Bednar remains away from the club as he recovers from facial fractures and a corneal abrasion suffered in a recent game against Vegas. In his absence, Nolan Pratt and Hakstol have taken over bench duties, guiding the Avalanche through this final stretch of the regular season with a steady hand.

MacKinnon Driving The Push

Offensively, the story remains familiar.

MacKinnon continues to drive everything. His 52 goals lead the NHL, and his 126 points place him firmly among the league’s elite. Nečas isn’t far behind in overall production, sitting at 99 points, while contributions from players like Malinski have added unexpected depth—particularly from the blue line, where his recent scoring surge has stood out.

Calgary, meanwhile, enters Tuesday’s matchup coming off a 4–1 win over Utah. Matt Coronato and Connor Zary struck early to set the tone, while Mikael Backlund and Brayden Pachal extended the lead in the third period. The Flames have leaned on a balanced attack at home, with Coronato leading the team in points and Morgan Frost pacing them in goals.

Historically, the matchup has been competitive. In 136 regular-season meetings, Colorado holds a 68-54-8-6 edge, and the two teams last met in the playoffs in 2019, when the Avalanche dispatched Calgary in five games.

But this version of Colorado looks different—tighter defensively, confident in goal, and still powered by one of the most dynamic players in the sport.

With one final road test before the postseason, the Avalanche aren’t just trying to complete a season sweep. They’re sharpening the identity that could carry them into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.

The disappointment that was the finality of MSU hockey this season has still not taken its root to the depth of where my disappointment lingers. While we are glad we weren’t forced into throwing up again as Ann Arbor celebrated another title, we did get to sit in our misery and watch Porter Martone score goals for the Flyers. With that being said, here’s a quick update on the comings and goings of MSU hockey players and the massive roster overhaul that will be taking place in East Lansing.

First, let us congratulate some award winners. First team All-American nods go to Trey Augustine, Porter Martone and second team, Charlie Stramel. Martone is the first freshman in school history with the honor and Augustine secured his second. Adam Nightingale was also announced as the head coach of the 2027 U.S. National Junior Team for the World Junior Championships. 

Of course we have our outgoing seniors. Tiernan and Travis Shoudy, Dolan Gilbert, Daniel Russell, Charlie Stramel and Matt Basgall. Gilbert has entered the transfer portal and looks to play as a 5th year senior somewhere. Now that the portal is open, let’s see who’s in, who’s out, who’s where in MSU hockey.

DEPARTURES

Tiernan Shoudy

Signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 2026-2027 and signed with the Wheeling Nailers, the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the rest of 2025-2026.

Daniel Russell

Signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Matt Basgall

Signed with San Diego Gulls, AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks.

Porter Martone

Signed with the Philadelphia Flyers and is already scoring goals.

Trey Augustine

Signed with Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.

Maxim Strbak

Signed with the Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres and joins former teammates Red Savage and Jagger Joshua.

Charlie Stramel

Signed with the Minnesota Wild. He is out for the remainder of this season with a broken ankle.

Colin Ralph

Signed with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.

Melvin Strahl

Transfer Portal to Minnesota. This implies that the freshman Joshua Ravensbergen was set to get the majority of playing time in East Lansing.

Austin Baker

Transfer Portal to Miami of Ohio

Nathan Mackie

Entered the Transfer Portal 

ARRIVALS

Cullen Potter

Potter has committed to MSU after two seasons at Arizona State. Potter is a center who is very quick. Here is an in-depth highlight reel prior to the 2025 NHL Draft where he was drafted by Calgary. This past season he had 12 goals and 26 points in 24 games. 

What are your thoughts TOC on the comings and goings? Minnesota has already had a successful portal haul, Michigan seems to be staying strong and Wisconsin has added. What are your wishes for MSU hockey? Are the Spartans keeping up? Let’s discuss in the comments and we’ll continue to update with any new news.