Category: Ice Hockey

In a lacklustre game against the Vegas Golden Knights that saw the Vancouver Canucks put up only 11 shots on goal, only one line was able to find the back of the net: that of Max Sasson, Teddy Blueger, and Linus Karlsson. 

The trio has presented themselves well in the past few games, having found some offensive chemistry a little while after first being put together on March 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes. They were broken apart for a short period of time at the end of March but were reunited in Vancouver’s 8–6 rout of the Colorado Avalanche on April 1. It was a speedy dash by Sasson and Blueger that helped the Canucks break the ice during this game. Sasson’s Tuesday night goal reflected the same kind of speed and hard forecheck that this line has produced since then. 

But what has made this group so noticeable as of late? 

“They work together. They play the system, they forecheck as one. Really disciplined, and they’re able to generate a lot of more offensive zone time, and they play in heavy structure. They work well together. They’re a very predictable and dependable line,” Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote said of the Sasson – Blueger – Karlsson line after the team’s 2–1 loss to Vegas on Tuesday. 

Sasson’s goal on Tuesday night marked the sixth Canucks goal scored with this line factoring into the play, with five of these goals being scored directly from members of the line themselves. Four of these goals were produced with this trio breaking into the O-zone. 

According to Sasson, this has been a point of practice for this group. 

“We work on 3-on-2 rushes daily, so I know exactly how Teddy likes to move it and when,” he said, speaking on his goal after Tuesday’s loss to Vegas. 

There’s a reason why the recipe has been able to produce as of late, according to the players involved. For Blueger, that comes from his wingers’ abilities to forecheck hard and put some pressure on the opposition.   

“I’ve enjoyed playing with them a lot. They work extremely hard, they compete, they battle, so they’re easy to play with. I’ve enjoyed it a lot. They want to do well. They want to succeed. It’s honestly super enjoyable to play with guys like that, and we’re on the same page, as far as what we need to do to be successful, and they’re easy to talk to. Communication is good, so we’re learning from each other.” 

“He’s solid. He’s so good defensively, he plays a simple game. That’s what I like — where the puck goes and you can read after that, and [he’s] a great leader. I really enjoy playing with him. He’s a great guy, and I just love to play with him for sure,” Karlsson added of having Blueger as a centre.  

Pair two no-quit wingers with a defensively responsible centre in Blueger, and just like that, you’ve got a line that has earned not only their coach’s trust, but also the highest minutes as a line on their team. While Tuesday against Vegas was technically a ‘down’ night for them, Sasson, Blueger, and Karlsson still played 8:28 minutes together. This was the first time since their reunion on April 1 that the trio did not lead Vancouver in 5-on-5 minutes played by a line, as they held the team leads in their games against the Utah Mammoth (9:37), Minnesota Wild (10:51), and Avalanche (11:01).    

With this trio, like Foote says, you know what you’re going to get. Hard workers, solid defence, and energetic forechecking. The recent push in offence doesn’t hurt, either. 

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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The Pittsburgh Penguins held their final practice before Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils.

This will be the first chance for the Penguins to clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which are set to begin on Apr. 18. Any type of win gets the Penguins in the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season. 

All healthy players were present and accounted for at practice, including Anthony Mantha and Stuart Skinner. Mantha missed Tuesday's optional practice due to illness. Skinner looked good during Wednesday's session after a puck hit near his eye during Saturday's game against the Florida Panthers. The injury forced him to miss Sunday's second half of the back-to-back against Florida. 

Sergei Murashov was also present at practice after he was officially recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday. He got some work, but Skinner and Arturs Silovs took most of the reps during drills. 

Head coach Dan Muse told reporters after practice that all three goaltenders will travel to Newark for Thursday's game. 

Here's what the full lines looked like:

Forwards

Chinakhov-Crosby-Rust

Novak-Rakell-Malkin

Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau

Soderblom-Dewar-Acciari

Defensive pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Girard-Letang

Shea-Clifton

Ryan Shea, who has enjoyed a career season this year, knows that the Penguins have the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot on Thursday and is super fired up about it. 

"I think we've had jump in every game since the East playoffs standings have been so tight. You have to have jump at this time of year," Shea said after practice. "You're fighting to get into probably the best playoffs in all of sports, and obviously, I haven't been in the playoffs yet, but just watching growing up as a little kid, and then now you're here, you're so close that I think it's just everyone's giving it their all."

"The motivation is at an all-time high, but also the confidence is at a high. We're not playing with, I guess you can call it, stupid motivation. We're playing with confidence, and we're playing in our structure. I think everything will take care of itself. Obviously, we know that another two points will clinch it, and we're going into a building that's tough to play in. They (the Devils) obviously have high-end skill, but if we play like we've been playing, then I think our work ethic will overcome their skill."

Avery Hayes, who's been up and down between the Penguins and WBS for the last couple of months, is also excited about the opportunity. 

"Yeah, it's amazing," Hayes said. "That's the goal, right? You want to play playoff hockey, every team, you gotta get there just to get into the dance, and you never know what's going to happen. To be that close and kinda taste it, it's a great feeling."

Penguins Make Flurry Of Affiliate TransactionsThe Pittsburgh Penguins'AHL affiliate made some moves Wednesday to bolster its roster for the Calder Cup Playoffs

The Penguins will face a Devils team that was eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday night following their 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. It came one day after the Devils parted ways with general manager Tom Fitzgerald. 

Even though the Devils aren't playing for anything on Thursday, this is still a team that can hurt the Penguins. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt have been fantastic as of late and can impact the game each time they're on the ice. The Penguins have also really struggled in Newark over the years. 

A win and a regulation loss by the Flyers on Thursday would also clinch home ice for the Penguins in the first round. They'd have second place in the Metropolitan Division all locked up.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

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The Buffalo Sabres, who are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, also have a chance to win the Atlantic Division title.

They can take a step toward that on Wednesday, April 8. If the Sabres (102 points) pick up at least a point against the New York Rangers, they will break their three-way tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens.

But if they lose in regulation, they will drop to third place in the division based on points percentage.

The same thing applies in the Pacific Division. The Edmonton Oilers are tied with the Vegas Golden Knights at 88 points and hold the tiebreaker edge. They can lead outright by gaining at least a point against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. If they lose in regulation, they will fall to second in the division.

The Sharks need the win because they trail the Nashville Predators by three points in the race for the second wild-card spot in the West. Wednesday will be one of their two games in hand.

Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:

NHL playoff tiebreakers: How they will affect the postseason races

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference: Carolina, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Montreal

Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota

Who can clinch an NHL playoff berth today?

No team can clinch a playoff berth today.

Today's NHL games (Wednesday, April 8)

• Buffalo at N.Y. Rangers, 7, TNT
• Washington at Toronto, 7
• Edmonton at San Jose, 10, TNT

NHL playoff standings

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

After April 7 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Metropolitan Division

• y-Carolina Hurricanes (106)
• Pittsburgh Penguins (96)
• Philadelphia Flyers (92)

Atlantic Division

• x-Tampa Bay Lightning (102)
• x-Buffalo Sabres (102)
• x-Montreal Canadiens (102)

Wild card

• Boston Bruins (96)
• Ottawa Senators (92)

Sitting out of playoff position: Columbus Blue Jackets (90), Detroit Red Wings (89), New York Islanders (89), Washington Capitals (87), z-New Jersey Devils (83), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-Florida Panthers (77), z-New York Rangers (75)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

After April 7 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Central Division

• y-Colorado Avalanche (112)
• x-Dallas Stars (104)
• x-Minnesota Wild (102)

Pacific Division

• Edmonton Oilers (88)
• Vegas Golden Knights (88)
• Anaheim Ducks (87)

Wild card

• Utah Mammoth (88)
• Nashville Predators (84)

Sitting out of playoff position: Los Angeles Kings (83), San Jose Sharks (81), Winnipeg Jets (80), St. Louis Blues (78), Seattle Kraken (75), z-Calgary Flames (73), z-Chicago Blackhawks (70), z-Vancouver Canucks (52)

NHL playoffs if they started today

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 7:

• Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)
• Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (M3)
• Tampa Bay (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
• Buffalo (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 7.

• Colorado (C1) vs. Nashville (WC2)
• Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
• Edmonton (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
• Vegas (P2) vs. Anaheim (P3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
3. Total wins
4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.

When do the NHL playoffs start?

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff bracket, latest 2026 standings, tiebreakers and scenarios

After a short stint in Providence where he got to show what he could do against professionals, the Bruins announced on Wednesday afternoon that they’ve signed James Hagens to his entry-level contract (ELC).

The three-year ELC begins with the current (2025-2026) season and carries a cap hit of $975,000 at the NHL level.

With his amateur tryout now over and his ELC signed, Hagens is free to join the B’s at the NHL level, should they determine there’s a spot for him on the NHL roster.

That part is likely a formality, as the Bruins probably wouldn’t bother having him sign a contract if they didn’t intend to get him some game time at the NHL level.

It’s worth remembering that the 23-man roster limit is lifted after the trade deadline, so the Bruins don’t technically have to send anyone down to make space for Hagens.

However, they do still need to be cap compliant, so it’s possible that there’s a corresponding move coming. That will likely come down to the extremely detailed, daily salary cap number crunching that I won’t pretend to understand.

Hagens ended up playing six games with the Providence Bruins, recording a goal and three assists for four points.

The stretch beginning today always seemed like the most likely time for the B’s to pull the trigger on this move, as Hagens would (in theory) have two full days of practice with the NHL team prior to Saturday’s game against the Lightning.

In addition, while a playoff spot isn’t officially locked up, the B’s do have a little margin for error in the standings that might make them more willing to throw a rookie into the mix.

With the offense stagnating in recent games (though things went OK in Carolina last night), it makes sense to see if Hagens can provide a bit of a spark, whether it’s with playmaking abilities, skating, or whatever else.

The Bruins will practice at Warrior Arena at 11 AM on Thursday morning; presumably, Hagens will be there.

Marco Sturm will address the media after practice, so we’ll likely get some more details on the team’s immediate plans for Hagens at that time.

HAGENSMANIA BEGINS!

Ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Colton Dach and Jason Dickinson to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a 2027 conditional first-round pick.

While Dickinson was the main piece in this trade for the Oilers, Dach has the potential to be a solid player for them. He undoubtedly demonstrated that during the Oilers' most recent contest against the Utah Mammoth. 

After missing a month of action due to injury, Dach had a strong return to the lineup for the Oilers against Utah. At the 2:09 mark of the third period, Dach scored his first goal as an Oiler, and it was a nice one. After having his one-timer stopped by Karel Vejmelka, Dach picked up the rebound and beat the Utah goaltender with a great snapshot. 

This goal gave the Oilers a 5-4 lead over the Mammoth, but Utah ended up winning the contest in overtime. While the Oilers lost, this was certainly a good moment for Dach. This is especially so when noting that he is looking to cement himself as a regular in Edmonton's lineup. 

In four games with the Oilers since the trade, Dach now has one goal, one assist, and 11 hits. This is after the former Blackhawks forward has three goals, nine points, and 189 hits in 53 games this season with Chicago before the trade.

Colton Dach

432nd player in Oilers history to score an NHL goal pic.twitter.com/YR2LS6M1wY

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 8, 2026

It will be interesting to see how Dach continues to grow his game with the Oilers, but he is off to a solid start with his new club. 

The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs are not far away, with the first series set to begin on Saturday, April 18.

The league is on track for the biggest postseason turnover in history, with the potential for half the field — eight of the 16 spots — to be teams that did not qualify a year ago. There will be a new champion and no three-peat after the Florida Panthers were derailed by injuries following three consecutive trips to the final.

The regular season runs through Thursday, April 16, a day after Eastern Conference teams wrap up.

Who's in the playoffs

WEST: Central Division rivals Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota are in, with the top-seeded Avalanche on track to win the Presidents' Trophy and ensure home ice throughout the playoffs. Five spots remain open.

EAST: Carolina, the Metropolitan Division champion, is in along with Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Montreal in the Atlantic Division. The Sabres ended their NHL record 14-year postseason drought. Five spots remain open.

The matchups

The top three teams in each of the four divisions division make the playoffs. The other four spots go to the next two highest-placed teams in each conference, regardless of division.

The teams with the best record in each conference open against the wild-card team with the worst record; the other wild-card plays the other division winner. Teams that finish second and third in their division play each other in the bracket headed by their respective division winner. The second round thus carries a higher prospect of division foes matching up ahead of the conference finals.

All four rounds of the playoffs are best-of-seven; the first team to 16 victories wins the Stanley Cup.

The first-round matchups so far:

— Dallas vs. Minnesota.

The favorites

Colorado is the 3-1 favorite to win the Stanley Cup, followed by Tampa Bay at 9-2, Carolina at 5-1 and Dallas at 10-1, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

How to watch

Every playoff game will be nationally televised in the U.S on an ESPN or Turner network. The NHL schedule is here and a streaming guide is here. Much of TNT’s coverage, which includes the Stanley Cup Final, will be simulcast on truTV and available on Max’s B/R Sports Add-On. In Canada, games will be showcased on Sportsnet and CBC.

After three rounds of seven-game series, the final starts in early June. If the final goes the distance, Game 7 could go as late as June 21.

Who to watch

— Colorado, with MVP candidate Nathan MacKinnon and star defenseman Cale Makar, has been hockey's best team since October.

— Connor McDavid and Edmonton lost in the Cup Final the past two years but are playing better defense and should have Leon Draisaitl for the playoffs.

— Tage Thompson was a big part of the U.S. winning Olympic gold and the Sabres' leading scorer finally gets to the postseason.

— Nikita Kucherov is right there with MacKinnon and McDavid in the NHL scoring race and has steadied the Lightning through months of injuries.

___

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

Game. Set. Baby!

A woman went into labor and gave birth inside Rogers Place in Alberta, Canada, last week during the Las Vegas, Knights’ victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

“Breaking news: We have word that someone has gone into labor here tonight,” play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels said during the second period on the Sportsnet broadcast. “There’s a baby being born on the seventh floor at Rogers Place as we speak.”

“So someone’s going to have a great story to tell,” Michaels added, before joking, “It would be nice to have the mother join us on After Hours to describe what’s happened, but that could be asking a bit much.”

The mother, who has yet to be publicly identified, did not appear on the sports network’s post-game show.

Details about the mother and newborn have not been released, and it remains unclear whether medical personnel assisted with the delivery.

The Independent has contacted Rogers Place for comment.

While details on the birth itself are slim, fans on social media had big reactions to the once-in-a-lifetime event.

“At least someone is delivering, [Connor] McDavid sure ain't,” one X user wrote, referring to the Oilers’ center and captain.

“They better get season tickets for life,” another person suggested.

Others offered up their baby name ideas.

“Did she make it back for the 3rd period? And what's the kid's name? Rogers, Connor, or Seven (any Seinfeld fans?)?” one person asked.

“I think they name the baby Roger. Roger’s Place,” another said.

The Golden Knights defeated the Oilers 5-1, ending Edmonton’s five-game winning streak in a game that also saw a fan struck by a puck and a late on-ice fight, just weeks before the NHL regular season wraps April 16 and the playoffs begin.

As we get closer to the NHL Awards season, Colorado’s nominee for the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy has been revealed, and the captain, Gabe Landeskog, has been nominated by the PHWA Colorado chapter for the 2026 award.

The Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy is one that’s given to an NHL player “best exemplified perserverence, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey”. Landeskog was also the Colorado chapter’s nominee in 2025.

Landeskog’s journey back to the NHL since lifting the Stanley Cup in June of the 2022 season has been well-documented. Initially, he missed time in the 2022-23 season due to a knee injury, but it wasn’t until the playoffs in 2025 that he finally returned to NHL hockey, then resumed regular-season play in 2025-26. Despite the ups and downs of his journey, Landeskog’s resiliency and determination to get back to playing hockey are incredibly impressive, and it’s awesome to see him get recognized for those attributes. Hopefully, he wins the award this year.

Looking back at the return of the Cap. pic.twitter.com/BgSlgOjchX

— z – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 8, 2026

With junior seasons, the NCAA season, and the NHL and AHL regular seasons all wrapping up, probable and locked in playoff teams are beginning to shore up organizational depth in hopes of bolstering rosters for playoff runs. 

And the Pittsburgh Penguins' organization made a few moves on Wednesday to do just that. 

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - got their hands on an intriguing reinforcement when forward Mikhail Ilyin was re-assigned from the KHL's Severstal Cherepovets to WBS. In addition, WBS signed forward Ryan Miller and defenseman Quinn Beauchesne - both from the 2025 draft class - to amateur tryout agreements (ATOs).

Ilyin, 21, has been one of the better Under-22 forwards in the KHL for the last few years. In 68 games this season, he registered 14 goals and 44 points, largely playing top-line minutes. The 6-foot-3, 191-pound forward - drafted in the 5th round (142nd overall) in 2023 - signed a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) with the Penguins ahead of the 2025-26 season, but he opted to go back to the KHL and was loaned to Severstal for its entirety.

Despite his loan to the KHL, he is still in the first season of his ELC. Ilyin has already joined the WBS Penguins, as he debuted at practice on Wednesday.

Привет, Михаил!

Mikhail Ilyin joins WBS! pic.twitter.com/aBBXg72YCv

— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) April 8, 2026

Beauchesne, 19, was selected in the fifth round (148th overall) in 2025, and the young blueliner has continued to build on what is already a relatively impressive profile for a player selected in the fifth round. He registered seven goals and 35 points in 56 games for the Guelph Storm of the OHL this season, and he is an excellent skater with good offensive instincts.

He was issued a late-season two-game suspension for a slash to the head of London Knights forward Ryan Brown during a March game between the two squads.

The Penguins have signed 2025 draft picks, forward Ryan Miller and defenseman Quinn Beauchesne, to amateur tryout agreements.https://t.co/nNZCZ57yXEpic.twitter.com/sHgIJJfJ00

— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) April 8, 2026

Miller, 18, was also selected in the fifth round (130th overall) in 2025 and put together an impressive season for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL with 30 goals and 75 points in 65 games. He also had a 19-game scoring streak earlier this season, and he committed to the University of Denver for the 2026-27 season.

Beauchesne, a right defenseman, and Miller, a center, will fight for spots on a crowded WBS roster that has already clinched a Calder Cup Playoff berth. WBS's right side features Phil Kemp, Finn Harding, Chase Pietila, and Harrison Brunicke, who joined WBS after the Kamloops Blazers were eliminated from the WHL playoffs. 

Penguins Defensive Prospect Assigned To Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonHarrison Brunicke will finish the 2025-26 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

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Wilson, who paid it forward to Flyers' prospects, becomes a Masterton nominee originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Garrett Wilson didn’t give up on the NHL as he went nearly seven straight years playing in the minors.

And he certainly didn’t give up on his teammates, most of them prospects and vying for the next level.

Wilson looked after them.

“I just wanted to take care of the younger guys,” he said three and a half weeks ago, “because I got taken care of when I was younger.”

The 35-year-old winger was rewarded last month with an NHL contract and his first game since the 2018-19 season. His blend of selflessness and stick-to-itiveness has made him the Flyers’ nominee for the 2025-26 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

The nomination was voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association’s Philadelphia chapter. The Masterton Trophy is an NHL award given annually to “the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.”

“I am very proud to see Garrett recognized as a nominee for the NHL Masterton Trophy,” general manager Danny Briere said in a statement released by the team Wednesday. “Garrett’s commitment to the Flyers organization and journey in hockey is a true testament to his dedication and pure love of the game. He helped establish a level of professionalism and has made a profound impact with the young players in our system for the last six years. His return to the NHL this season speaks volumes about his character and he has earned everything that’s come his way.”

Wilson has been a part of AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley’s leadership group over the last six seasons. The Flyers have seen a lot of their key young pieces come through the Phantoms. Wilson has been teammates with guys like Tyson Foerster, Cam York, Emil Andrae, Alex Bump, Denver Barkey and Nikita Grebenkin, among others.

“I knew my role, I’ve been there six years,” Wilson said. “The rebuild and the new prospects coming in, I really wanted to make sure to take care of them. Because when I was a young guy, I had lot of good leaders taking care of me. So kind of pass down that to them. Just teach the guys how to be pro every day, how to act around the rink, how to take care of the trainers and the staff. I just try to lead by example.”

Wilson has done so as a tough, hard-nosed player who stands up for his teammates. He’s now with the Flyers for their playoff push and has appeared in two games. Prior to this season, Wilson’s last NHL game was April 16, 2019, in the playoffs with the Penguins.

As time went on in the minors, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever play in the NHL again.

“There was definitely a bit of doubts,” Wilson said last Thursday. “Once you sign the AHL deal, you’re kind of restricted to just playing in the AHL. I got the chance to come to training camp, had [professional tryout offers] and that. I just tried to stay positive, go down there, I liked the role I had down there of taking care of the younger guys and showing them the pro game. A lot of the guys, they’ve graduated to here.”

And now Wilson has had the chance to be their teammate again.

Oskar Lindblom won the Masterton Trophy in 2020-21, becoming the fourth Flyer to ever take home the award. He joined Bob Clarke (1971-72), Tim Kerr (1988-89) and Ian Laperriere (2010-11) as the Flyers’ recipients. Kevin Hayes was a finalist in 2021-22 and Ivan Fedotov was the Flyers’ nominee last season.

Following a vote by the PHWA, the winner of the honor will be announced among the NHL awards.

The Central Division and Metropolitan Division title races have been settled but the other two NHL division races are tight.

After games on Tuesday, April 7, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens are tied atop the Atlantic Division with 102 points each. In the Pacific Division race, the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights are tied with 88 points and the Anaheim Ducks are one point back at 87.

So which team has the edge for the division title and which would finish second and have home-ice advantage in the second round?

That comes down to tiebreakers.

Here's an explanation of NHL tiebreakers and how they will affect the 2026 playoff races:

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
3. Total wins
4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals

How NHL tiebreakers affect the Atlantic Division race

The Lightning and Sabres entered Wednesday's game tied with 39 regulation wins, so that would go to the second tiebreaker. Tampa Bay leads 44 to 42 in ROW, giving it the division lead. The Canadiens have only 32 regulation wins and can't catch the other two teams in that category, so they'd have to finish ahead of the Lightning and Sabres in points to finish first or second in the division.

Buffalo plays on Wednesday and Thursday, April 9, while Tampa Bay visits Montreal on Thursday.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the Pacific Division race

Edmonton leads Vegas 30-28 in regulation wins and in ROW 39-35, so the Golden Knights will have to finish with more points or regulation wins than the Oilers to win the division. Anaheim has only 24 regulation wins.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the race for the Eastern Conference top seed

The Carolina Hurricanes have 106 points, but if the Lightning or Sabres can catch them, they have three more regulation wins than the Hurricanes.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the Eastern Conference wild-card race

The Boston Bruins (96 points) and Ottawa Senators (92) hold the two spots, with four other teams within five points of Ottawa. The Senators have the most regulation wins in that group (35) with only the Washington Capitals (33) able to catch them in that category, but they're five points back. Ottawa would take the first wild-card slot if they and Boston are tied in points at season's end.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the Western Conference wild-card race

The Utah Mammoth (88 points) are trending toward finishing with the first wild-card spot. The Nashville Predators (84) are sitting in the second wild-card spot, but they have played one or two more games than their closest pursuers: the Los Angeles Kings (83), San Jose Sharks (81), Winnipeg Jets (80) and St. Louis Blues (78).

The Kings currently have only 19 regulation wins, so they'd lose out in the event of a tie. The Predators have 27, the Sharks have 25, the Jets have 27 and the Blues have 29. The Sharks have the most ROW at 35 if it comes down to a second tiebreaker.

Nashville and Winnipeg are currently tied in regulation wins and ROW, but the Predators have three more total wins. If it comes down to a fourth tiebreaker between those teams. the Jets have the edge in the season series.

How NHL tiebreakers affect the second seed in the Central Division

The Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild first-round series is the only one that is set, but home-ice advantage hasn't been determined. The Stars lead by two points and by an insurmountable five regulation wins, so the Wild can't win a tiebreaker. They would get home ice only if they finish with more points.

The teams play in Dallas on Thursday, April 9.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How NHL tiebreakers could affect 2026 playoff bracket, standings

This is it for the Los Angeles Kings; we're now in the final week of the regular season as they prepare for their final five games, starting Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. 

The Mammoth and Golden Knights continue to stack up victories and are the two hottest teams in the Western Conference playoff race, each winning four straight games. 

Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks continue to slide, now losers of six straight, and have dropped from the No. 1 seed to the third seed in the division. If Los Angeles can defeat the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday and Anaheim loses to San Jose, the Kings will be just two points back for the third seed. 

Teams like Nashville, LA, and even San Jose are putting pressure on Anaheim because of its recent skid, and with a much tougher schedule in its last four games, Anaheim can make things interesting in the final week of the regular season. 

But Los Angeles still has to take care of business in its final five games to be playoff-bound and determine where it will finish in the standings. 

Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the divisions:

Central Division:

4. Utah Mammoth - 41-30-6, 88 points

5. Nashville Predators - 37-31-10, 84 points

6. Winnipeg Jets - 34-31-12, 80 points

Pacific Division:

3. Anaheim Ducks - 41-32-5, 87 points

4. Los Angeles Kings - 32-26-19, 83 points

5. San Jose Sharks - 37-32-7, 81 points

With the Ducks, Predators, and Mammoth holding the tiebreakers over the Kings, Los Angeles is going to have to catch them with more points if they want to surpass them in the standings. 

Updated Pacific Division/Wild Card standings pic.twitter.com/1AePY0VOFX

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) April 8, 2026

Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who Kings fans should be rooting for.

Wednesday

Oilers At Sharks

San Jose, winners of five in their last six games, have been hot, especially Macklin Celebrini, fighting for a playoff spot, so expect them to give a full effort at home against the Oilers. Meanwhile, Edmonton is tied with Vegas for the top seed in the division after losing two straight games, so they will also give a full-on effort on the road to stay on top. 

Thursday

Predators At Mammoth

Two teams that the Kings are fighting with to make the postseason. Utah has been on a heater recently, winners of four in a row, while the Predators hold the final wild card spot over Los Angeles. Expect this game to be a dogfight, with Utah trying to separate itself from Anaheim and Nashville. 

Golden Knights At Kraken

Expect the Golden Knights to win five in a row since firing their head coach. Seattle has lost six games in a row and no longer has any desire to win, as they've fallen too far behind in the playoff picture. 

Sharks At Ducks

If the Kings want to move into that third seed in the Pacific Division and avoid the Avalanche, they'll root for the Ducks to lose their seventh straight game to the Sharks. But, at the same time, there's a dilemma. If the Sharks win, they will move closer to the Kings; this game will determine whether Kings fans would rather see Colorado or potentially Edmonton or Vegas in the first round of the postseason. 

Saturday

Wild At Predators

The Minnesota Wild have already clinched a postseason spot and will face the Dallas Stars in the playoffs. If they want home ice advantage in that first round matchup over the Stars, they'll do everything they can to win this game. 

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Each NHL team has had a player revealed as a nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, and it comes as a shock to no one that the Los Angeles Kings' representative is Anze Kopitar.

The Bill Masterton Trophy is awarded "to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey." The Professional Hockey Writers' Association votes on who should win this award.

Not only has Kopitar shown those qualities throughout his career, but this season is particularly appropriate.

The Kings' captain is in his final NHL season, announcing before the season that this will be his last year in the NHL before retirement.

He's shown his dedication to hockey in so many ways, but what could make Kopitar a finalist for this award is how long he's played in the NHL and that he's about to tie a bow on what has been an incredible career.

Family, Golf And F1 Races: Kings' Kopitar Reveals His Retirement PlansWith just a sliver of the 2025-26 season and Anze Kopitar's NHL career remaining, the Los Angeles Kings captain was asked about his plans for retirement in a recent interview with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

This is Kopitar's 20th season in the NHL - two decades of lacing up his skates for Los Angeles. In that span, he's cemented himself as arguably the best King to ever play the game, and the stats speak for themselves.

He leads the franchise in games and seasons played, has the most assists in Kings history, and earlier this season, Kopitar became the franchise's all-time leading scorer. 

On March 14, Kopitar scored a pair of goals against the New Jersey Devils, which saw him surpass Marcel Dionne on the Kings' all-time scoring list.

In addition to Kopitar's talents and all the accolades he's collected in his career, there is another aspect to him as a leader and athlete that also ties into his dedication to hockey.

Kings' Kopitar Proving He's Not Hanging Up His Skates Without An Honest FightLos Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar is retiring at the end of this year. But with the way he's been playing lately, he's not interested in letting his career end without a fight to get into the post-season.

Though the 38-year-old has dealt with a couple of knocks and injuries that forced him to miss 15 games this season, his ability to remain healthy and available for the Kings throughout his career has been impressive.

Before this 2025-26 campaign, Kopitar went on an eight-year stretch of only missing a total of four regular-season contests.

Along with the two Stanley Cups, two Selke Trophies, three Lady Byng Trophies, 1,516 games played and 1,314 points scored, Kopitar has certainly exemplified perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey and the NHL.

Only three Kings have ever won the Bill Masterton Trophy. Butch Goring in 1978, Bob Bourne in 1988 and the latest winner was Dave Taylor in 1991.

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With a packed NHL slate of games on Tuesday, the Western Conference playoff picture saw several changes, and unfortunately for the Winnipeg Jets, the results were not in their favor. 

As of Wednesday, the Jets sit four points out of a playoff spot behind the San Jose Sharks, who have 81 points, the Los Angeles Kings with 83 points, and the Nashville Predators, who currently hold the second wild card spot in the West with 84 points.

Winnipeg has five games left in the season, the same as the Kings, while the Sharks have an advantage with six games remaining. Nashville is looking to finish strong with just four games left. Despite being behind in points, the Jets surprisingly have the best goal differential among the group and have been playing well recently. 

They have gone from being completely out of the playoff race to firmly in contention. The Jets have collected points in ten of their last 13 games, including six wins in their last eight. Maintaining this momentum will be crucial as the playoff race remains razor thin.

Winnipeg’s final five games are on the road against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, followed by a home matchup Saturday versus the Philadelphia Flyers. Their last three games next week are against the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, and San Jose Sharks. To secure a playoff spot, the Jets must stay hot and win all of these remaining games.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs look to play spoiler again when they host the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, April 8.

Washington still has a slim chance of punching a postseason ticket, so my top Capitals vs. Maple Leafs predictions and NHL picks are calling for the Caps to pepper Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz with shots tonight.

Capitals vs Maple Leafs prediction

Capitals vs Maple Leafs best bet: Anthony Stolarz Over 25.5 saves (-125)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are 5-10-5 out of the Olympic break while allowing the most shots per game (34.9) and ranking last in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5, so with the Washington Capitals still battling for a playoff spot, I expect the Caps to carry the play while caving the Leafs in for sustained chunks of time.

Of course, Toronto starter Anthony Stolarz has also been solid with a .910 save percentage and 8.71 goals saved above expected across nine games during the highlighted slump, so he stands to face enough rubber to clear this saves total tonight.

Capitals vs Maple Leafs same-game parlay

I’m expecting Stolarz to play well enough to cash the Under. Toronto ranks 31st in expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 across the noted 20-game stretch, and Washington is 19th, so these are both below-average offenses.

Still, the Maple Leafs have seen a spark since rookie Easton Cowan has climbed to the No. 1 line with John Tavares and William Nylander.

Cowan has marked the scoresheet in three straight, and Nylander has three or more shots in three consecutive games, while they’ve clicked with Tavares and have been on the ice for 9.63 goals per 60 minutes.

Capitals vs Maple Leafs SGP

• Under 6.5
• Easton Cowan Over 0.5 points
• William Nylander Over 2.5 shots on goal

Capitals vs Maple Leafs odds

• Moneyline: Capitals -150 | Maple Leafs +130
• Puck Line: Capitals -1.5 (+155) | Maple Leafs +1.5 (-180)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-115) | Under 6.5 (-105)

Capitals vs Maple Leafs trend

The Washington Capitals have won 14 of their last 25 games (+3.75 Units / 13% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Maple Leafs.

How to watch Capitals vs Maple Leafs

Capitals vs Maple Leafs latest injuries

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