OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Drake Batherson scored twice, including the eventual game winner, as the Ottawa Senators beat the San Jose Sharks 7-4 on Sunday.

With the game tied at 4, Batherson put the Senators (34-23-9) ahead with 6:52 remaining when an Artem Zub shot bounced in off him when he turned to protect himself.

Warren Foegele, Fabian Zetterlund, Tyler Kleven and Dylan Cozens also scored for Ottawa. Brady Tkachuk added an empty-net goal. Linus Ullmark, who was coming off a 23-save shutout against Anaheim, made his third straight start and stopped 19 shots.

Mario Ferraro, Tyler Toffoli, Collin Graf and Michael Misa scored for San Jose. Laurent Brossoit, making his first NHL start since April 18, 2024, made 17 saves for the Sharks (32-27-6).

Both teams were playing the second game of back-to-backs and it showed at times.

Macklin Celebrini reached the 60-assist mark in 65 games, the fewest games by a member of the Sharks since Erik Karlsson accomplished the feat in 63 games in 2022-23.

Ottawa’s power play, which has struggled recently, went 2 for 3 with the man advantage.

Up next

Sharks: Visit the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

Senators: Visit the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

___

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

It's not said often, at least this season, where the St. Louis Blues looked this decisive against an opponent and lost.

But that's exactly what happened on Sunday afternoon at Canada Life Centre, when the Blues dominated most categories, yet fell 3-2 to the Winnipeg Jets in a critical game in the push for the playoffs.

These are the kinds of games that are an absolute must. Call them the classic four-point games (sorry, Andy Murray, but they are -- IYKYK).

The Blues put on a push from start to finish, but three critical errors all proved costly, and the Jets (28-28-10), who were tied with the Blues (27-31-10) in points coming into the game, not pull two ahead with a game in hand and gives St. Louis now five teams it has to jump over for that second wild card into the Western Conference with just 15 games to play and a six-point deficit coming in (pending other results Sunday night).

Dalibor Dvorsky and Dylan Holloway scored for the Blues, who outshot the Jets 31-16. Jordan Binnington made 13 saves.

Let's look at Sunday's observations:

* Falling behind by two on two preventable situations -- The Blues started this game on time and were actually playing well, with territorial edge but something we'll get to later on (net front traffic). However, the Jets broke out with one of their few transitions out of the zone, but the Jake Neighbours-Pavel Buchnevich-Jordan Kyrou line was slow in tracking back on the play, and it backed the Theo Lindstein-Colton Parayko D-pair in. 

The puck was coming in on the lefthand side, played into the oncoming D-man Haydn Fleury, who beat Binnington with a shortside wrister that you'd like to see stopped, but it could have all been preventable with more desperation staying connected by the forward group, and it came on Winnipeg's first shot at 2:31:

FLEURS' FIRST GOAL IN 817 DAYS ‼️ pic.twitter.com/U1FC6AJwvv

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) March 15, 2026

And against a defensively stingy team, which showed on Saturday in a 3-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche, it can absorb anything and everything but be structured enough to take away what can fuel your success.

And the Blues were at nearly three minutes to 42 seconds of offensive zone time, but another play that allowed a breakaway goal from Mark Scheifele at 7:51 made it 2-0, when the Jets center scooted by a puck that hopped past Pius Suter, and Cam Fowler was caught flat-footed on the play thinking Suter was going to get the puck, and Fowler could not recover to perhaps dive in and poke the puck away. Instead, Scheifele was off to the races from the right and went forehand, backhand upstairs on Binnington:

MR. DO IT ALL HIMSELF 😤 pic.twitter.com/hS1nQb2j02

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) March 15, 2026

So you're chasing a game you had no business chasing on two preventable plays.

* Blues pushed even harder but needed more net front -- The Blues gave the Jets little to nothing moving forward, and through two periods, the O-zone possession time was 6:28-2:51, a massive edge by the visitors.

Here's the issue, something that's been problematic for most of this season: net front presence.

No offense to Eric Comrie, who came into the game with a plus-3.00 goals-against average and below a .900 save percentage, but he is now 4-0-0 against the Blues in his career for a reason: not enough bodies at the net taking his eyes away.

The Blues generated 59 shot attempts and 31 on goal, but in my view, Comrie was able to see too many pucks. There was not enough traffic from the dots in, particularly in and around the crease, or else this could have -- and should have -- been a different outcome.

But you know why Winnipeg had an 8-7 edge in high danger chances? It's because the Jets made a more concerted effort to get to the front of the net.

* Another critical mistake after dominating -- The Blues pushed and pushed and pushed, and finally broke through when Dvorsky, a healthy scratch Friday against the Edmonton Oilers, was at the net and finished a Jonatan Berggren pass to make it 2-1 at 5:17 of the third period (BTW, Berggren is such an underrated passer of the puck):

Nothing the goalie could do about that. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/ieIs678Ku6

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 15, 2026

It was early enough that you could just sense the Jets were sort of holding on for dear life.

The territorial edge was growing. The Blues were controlling the puck for large swaths but again, didn't make a concerted effort to get to the interior.

Then came the grave error, the let-out for the Jets.

Suter, who typically has been responsible, was getting called for an offensive zone penalty and the Jets were playing with an extra attacker, Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux were on the ice playing a high line. Connor is coming off the bench. That has to be recognized, and it's another breakaway and another goal, the dagger goal, at 11:53 to make it 3-1 and eliminate all the momentum the Blues generated:

KYLE FRICKIN' CONNOR AT YOUR SERVICE 🫴 pic.twitter.com/CoIG76iC4q

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) March 15, 2026

Now the Jets can really lock it down, and the Blues, to their credit, kept pushing and got it back to within one again ta 3-2 when Holloway was at -- you guessed it -- the net front and give the Blues some life with 50.7 ticks left on the clock:

Not over yet! pic.twitter.com/itF8La4hUE

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 15, 2026

However, there would be no repeat of the 'Winnipeg Miracle' like Game 7 last May for the Blues, who now are off until Wednesday when they face the Calgary Flames.

According to naturalstattrick, the Blues had a 53-24 edge in Corsi-for/against, 28-11 edge in scoring chances for/against and 11-4 in high danger for/against. Kind of tells you the difference in play.

It was a solid seven-game point streak (6-0-1), and five straight wins on the road but to come away with nothing in this game, that one stings.

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Roughly 19 hours after stepping off the ice following a dominant 3-1 home victory over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, the Winnipeg Jets were right back at it Sunday afternoon.

Taking on the red-hot St. Louis Blues, the Jets came out firing, scoring the game's first two goals in the opening frame before shutting things down in the third period for a 3-2 home win, pulling to within four points of the final wild card playoff spot.

"It feels good," said Eric Comrie, who won his fifth-straight game. "Once again, I just try and do my job once my name gets called. Just trying to be ready whenever I get my chance, and I feel good right now. Switching to the white cage has been good so far, so I like that.”

Haydn Fleury found his first goal in 817 days - his first as a member of the Jets - to open the scoring just two-and-a-half minutes in. Picking up the puck and walking into the Blues' zone, Fleury ripped home a wrist shot past Canadian Olympian goaltender Jordan Binnington for the early 1-0 lead. 

Then, it was Mark Scheifele, whose solo effort gave the hosts a two-goal lead six minutes later. Picking up the puck off a bobbled play by the Blues on the Jets' blueline, Scheifele cut in to the St. Louis goal and fired his 31st of the year into the net past Binnington for the 2-0 lead.

After Winnipeg saw two unsuccessful power plays in the first period, the teams exchanged minors in the middle stanza, but neither was able to capitalize on the man advantage. The second period as a whole was a whole lot of nothing for either club. 

The Blues extended their shot lead to 15-10, but remained trailing the Jets entering the third.

Two of the league's very best teams since the Olympic break (12-3-3 combined), St. Louis entered the third period with a seven-game point scoring streak on the line. And they struck almost immediately, with Dalibor Dvorsky tapping home a three-on-one rush up-ice, to bring the Blues to within a goal of Winnipeg.

But the Jets did not turn over. 

It was Kyle Connor - who earlier saw Scheifele score his 31st of the year - who capitalized on a delayed Blues penalty, scoring on a six-on-five on a breakaway feed from Morgan Barron, restoring Winnipeg's two-goal cushion. 

With Binnington on the bench for the extra attacker, the Blues found a way to get one back. It was Dylan Holloway who jammed home a net front scramble with 50 seconds remaining in the game. 

But that was as close as the Blues would come, dropping their first game in regulation in eight tries. 

Comrie played spectacularly in goal for the Jets again, earning another win while turning aside 29 of St. Louis' 31 shots on goal. Binnington made 13 saves for the Blues. 

“We're a good team. We have a lot of talent in this room," Comrie said.

"We have maybe the best first line in the locker room. We have an unbelievable d-corps. Morrissey is one of the best defensemen, if not the best defenseman in NHL. We have Scheif, KC, we have the world's best goalie by far in Connor Hellebuyck. We have a really good team in this room. We have a lot of confidence in this room. We have a great coaching staff. We trust everyone in this room. We just know that we're going to go out there and give us the best foot forward. We have a very veteran team, and we're confident that we can get into the playoffs.” 

Next up for Winnipeg is the final test of the eight-game homestand, as the Nashville Predators roll into town for a 7:00 PM central affair on Tuesday night. That game will be another battle between Central Division playoff hopefuls, as just one point currently separate the two clubs in the standings. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Capitals signed 19-year-old defenseman Cole Hutson to a three-year entry-level contract with an average annual value of $975,000.

The Capitals drafted Hutson in the second round in 2024, and he had 10 goals and 22 assists in 35 games for Boston University this season. He also represented the United States in the world junior championships in 2025 and 2026. When the U.S. won gold in 2025, he had three goals and eight assists, becoming the first defenseman to lead the tournament in scoring.

Hutson could represent the future of the Washington blue line after the Capitals, with their postseason hopes dwindling, traded John Carlson before this year's deadline.

___

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

When the NHL introduced three-on-three overtime in 2015, the goal was clear: ignite excitement.

More open ice, faster pace, odd-man rushes, and sudden-death goals before a shootout — it was designed to inject unpredictability into the game. Initially, it delivered. Fans witnessed frantic, edge-of-your-seat action, with overtime periods often producing more drama than regulation itself.

Today, however, that chaos has taken an unexpected turn — and not for the better.

The current iteration of 3-on-3 overtime prioritizes possession over aggression. Teams rarely force plays; if an offensive opportunity isn’t immediate or obvious, the puck is frequently carried back to neutral ice or even returned to the defensive zone to reset. At times, the puck circles all the way back to the goaltender, creating a loop of cautious, low-risk play.

Nate Dogg delivers the shootout winner for the Avs 🐕 pic.twitter.com/L3fLg9A0lG

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 8, 2026

Enter, survey, retreat, reset — repeat.

The outcome is a slow, grinding version of sudden death that often feels more like keep-away than hockey.

⁉️ Is it time to change the rules for NHL overtime?🚨

Saturday night the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers combined for ONE shot on goal in 5 min of 3on3 play.

🤷‍♂️Too much bringing the puck back. What was meant to be exciting back-and-forth action has turned… pic.twitter.com/X8P30VUHwD

— Petey (@spetershockey) March 15, 2026

A recent example illustrates the point perfectly: in the overtime matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers, the five-minute period produced only one shot on goal, despite the abundant open ice that should have encouraged end-to-end action. Both teams spent the majority of the session cycling through the neutral zone, seeking the “perfect” opportunity rather than creating one.

The strategy is simple: if the opponent never touches the puck, they cannot score. But while this approach may be defensible from a coaching perspective, it undermines the very spectacle that 3-on-3 overtime was intended to create. For fans — the lifeblood of the sport — it is increasingly viewed as stale and unengaging.

Since returning from the Olympic break, 265 NHL games have required overtime. Only 170 of those ended with an overtime goal, roughly 64 percent, leaving a growing number of contests decided in shootouts — a method even more polarizing for purists.

The Case for a Compromise

The current format is five minutes of 3-on-3, a structure that has grown stale and predictable. A potential solution would be to extend overtime to 10 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey. This approach would provide half a period of full-strength, authentic hockey before resorting to the shootout, blending skill, strategy, and excitement in a way that better reflects the sport.

Such a compromise could satisfy fans, preserve competitive integrity, and maintain the thrill that made the 3-on-3 experiment promising in the first place. Whether the league is willing to embrace it remains uncertain, but the need for a more engaging overtime format has never been clearer.

Three-on-three was intended to create drama. Today, it often puts you to sleep. 

In the Montreal Canadiens’ defeat against the San Jose Sharks, Cole Caufield, who was back in the lineup after missing the previous game with an illness, scored his 38th goal of the season, a new personal best for the 25-year-old.

You're not going to BELIEVE who just scored on a Saturday Night 🚨

GOAL CAUFIELD BABY 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/rRzKlBINWn

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 14, 2026

With 17 games to go in the season, it appears to be a foregone conclusion that he will be the Canadiens’ first 40-goal scorer since Vincent Damphousse achieved the feat in 1993-94. Back then, seasons had 84 games, a length that will return for the next campaign. If Caufield keeps scoring at the same pace, he should have 48 goals in 81 games (since he missed a game).

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Caufield is currently tied in second place for most goals in the league with Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprisov, trailing Nathan MacKinnon, who currently has 44 lamplighters, on his way to a first Rocket Richard trophy win.

This is the Wisconsin native’s sixth season with the Canadiens, and he’s made tremendous progress under Martin St. Louis' tutelage. When he was drafted, he was seen as a sniper, but nowadays he plays a much more complete game. The five-foot-eight winger is now much more defensively responsible and has such an active stick that he can often create his own scoring chances by picking defensemen’s pockets.

Despite his small stature, he is not afraid to go into traffic to get the puck and to attack the net in close. In his earlier years, he would stay on the perimeter, taking one-timers from the faceoff spot in the offensive zone. He can still do that, but he has learned to mix things up, making him less predictable for the defence corps. Caufield now has 65 points on the season, only five away from his personal best, a number he should easily beat if he keeps the same pace.

While it raised a few eyebrows last season when St-Louis took him out of “his office” on the power play to give that spot to Patrik Laine, it ended up being a formative experience for the youngster, and it helped him diversify his game.

Still, it feels like Caufield has yet to reach his ceiling, and it will be interesting to see where he goes from here. With a $7.85 million cap hit for the next five seasons, he will soon be seen as a complete steal for the Canadiens, just like he was as a fifteen overall pick back in the 2019 draft.

---

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A Western Conference clash between the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators closes out tonight's NHL slate.

It's go time for Edmonton down the stretch, and it’s time for the captain to lead the charge. That's why Connor McDavid highlights my Predators vs. Oilers predictions and NHL picks below. 

Predators vs Oilers prediction

Predators vs Oilers best bet: Connor McDavid anytime goalscorer (+105)

Connor McDavid is revving up the engine as the stakes get higher down the final stretch run. 

The Edmonton Oilers captain has scored in two of his last three games and has a long history of tickling the twine against the Nashville Predators. 

He has 10 goals in his last 10 games against Nashville, including a hat trick in the January 6 meeting between the two clubs earlier this season.

Overall, Nashville has struggled in the defending and goaltending department all season long, sporting a 3.42 GAA this season to go with a lowly .896 team save percentage over their last five games.

Predators vs Oilers same-game parlay

Ill take Edmonton to go Over on their team total of 3.5. They’ve eclipsed that mark in six of nine games, and in four of the last six meetings against Nashville.

Lastly, I’ll add Over 0.5 assists for Evan Bouchard. The Oilers defenseman has an assist in seven of his last nine games, and leads all NHL blueliners with 74 points, 56 of which are assists.

Predators vs Oilers SGP

• Connor McDavid anytime goalscorer
• Evan Bouchard Over 0.5 assists
• Oilers team total Over 3.5

Predators vs Oilers odds

• Moneyline: Predators +150 | Oilers -175
• Puck Line: Predators +1.5 (-150) | Oilers -1.5 (+140)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Predators vs Oilers trend

The Oilers have won seven of their last 10 meetings against the Predators. Find more NHL betting trends for Predators vs. Oilers.

How to watch Predators vs Oilers

Predators vs Oilers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending prospect Artur Akhtyamov is sticking around for three more years.

The 24-year-old goaltender signed a three-year extension with the Maple Leafs on Sunday afternoon, worth $2.7 million. The contract's annual average value is $900,000.

We’ve re-signed goaltender Artur Akhtyamov to a three-year contract extension

Details ℹ️ https://t.co/gH7yKVapGBpic.twitter.com/3Zk3EE5po7

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 15, 2026

Akhtyamov's extension, which will begin next season, will start as a two-way contract in 2026-27 before converting into a one-way deal for the final two years (2027-28 and 2028-29).

The Kazan, Russia-born goaltender was a fourth-round (106th overall) pick from Toronto in the 2020 NHL Draft. He's playing in his second full season of pro hockey in North America, since coming over from Russia in 2024.

In his first season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, Akhtyamov picked up 11 wins and a .901 save percentage through 26 games, playing mostly behind fellow goaltending prospect Dennis Hildeby.

Entering this season, Akhtyamov was focused on building off what was a successful first year in the AHL.

"I need to work, and we'll see. My work is to stop the puck," Akhtyamov said before the season last September. "I hope I will sign a new contract with the Maple Leafs."

Through 32 games this season, he's tallied 18 wins and a .904 save percentage, while also being named an AHL All-Star earlier this year. Akhtyamov hasn't had a regulation loss at home since Nov. 26, going 8-0-1 in that span.

'My Work Is To Stop The Puck': Maple Leafs Prospect Artur Akhtyamov Eager To Follow In The Footsteps Of Dennis Hildeby Last Season<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/hes-still-young-but-man-hes-not-afraid-of-the-moment-maple-leafs-prospect-artur-akhtyamov-is-stealing-the-show-with-the-marlies">Artur Akhtyamov</a> is excited for another year in Toronto despite being far from home.

Akhtyamov also made his NHL debut on Dec. 13 against the Edmonton Oilers, coming in for the relief of Hildeby. Akhtyamov stopped all five shots he faced in the game, despite the 6-3 loss. He dressed as a backup for the Maple Leafs in five games this season.

In 58 career games with the Marlies, the goaltender has a 29-18-8 record, four shutouts, and a .903 save percentage.

It appears the Maple Leafs think very highly of both Hildeby and Akhtyamov. Hildeby signed a similar deal to Akhtyamov's last September. What's different about Hildeby's contract is that it's a two-way deal for the first two years, turning into a one-way contract in the final year.

"It's really good. He's a really good partner," Akhtyamov said of Hildeby in September. "I'm happy he's staying here, and we work together again."

Both appear to be almost ready to challenge for a roster spot with the Maple Leafs, and likely will in training camp next fall.

Toronto now has four goaltenders — Joseph Woll, Anthony Stolarz, Hildeby, and Akhtyamov — under NHL contract until 2028. Woll will be an unrestricted free agent in 2028, while Hildeby will be a restricted free agent.

Stolarz and Akhtaymov's deals run until 2029. Both goaltenders will be UFAs when their contracts expire.

With the NHL playoff races tightening, the Ottawa Senators host Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks on Sunday afternoon (5 pm, TSN 5, TVAS) in a game with significant implications for both teams.

The Senators (33-23-9) begin play on Sunday five points behind both Boston (WC1) and Detroit (WC2). Ottawa has a game in hand on the Bruins and two on the Wings, a team they'll meet head-to-head a week from Tuesday in Detroit.

This weekend's visits from Western teams are a reminder of how much easier life would be for the Senators if they played in the other conference. Only three teams in the entire Western Conference (Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota) have a better record than the Senators (.577).

San Jose (32-22-6) holds WC2 out west, just one point up on Seattle and Los Angeles.

So both teams are highly motivated, fighting for their playoff lives, and both may face a little fatigue at some point. The Sharks played last night, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. The Senators also played earlier in the day, blanking the Anaheim Ducks, 2-0, on a 23-save shutout by Linus Ullmark.

As is often the case in part two of a back-to-back, it was expected that both teams would go to their backup goalies. On his 38th birthday, James Reimer will not get the call against his former team. On Linus Ullmark bobblehead day, the Sens will go to the big Swede once again, hoping he can keep the magic up from Saturday's performance.

Having seen the preview, it would have been nice if they didn't give the Ullmark figurine a wobbly trapper.

Meanwhile, for a third straight game, the Senators will face a goalie who was recently in the American Hockey League. The Sharks will go Laurent Brossoit, who will play in his first NHL game since April of 2024. The former Winnipeg Jet was recalled from San Jose's AHL club on Friday and was the backup against Montreal on Saturday.

After Canadiens callup Jacob Fowler and Anaheim's Ville Husso absolutely stood on their heads in the past two games in Ottawa, the Senators shouldn't expect Brossoit to be anything less than Vezina-level on Sunday.

The game does mark the return of former Senators Adam Gaudette and Zack Ostapchuk. Gaudette had 19 goals for the Sens last season but signed as a free agent with the Sharks over the summer. He has 14 goals and 7 assists in 51 games.

Ostapchuk was part of last year's Fabian Zetterlund trade. The Senators thought it was a clear upgrade for them, and paid a stiff salary cap price for it, but they're both fourth-liners, getting 9-11 minutes per night.

The Senators continue to be without Jake Sanderson and while his absence leaves a big void, the rest of the group has done a fine job of stepping up in his absence. Out of the three games since Sanderson was hurt in Seattle, the Senators have posted a pair of shutout victories.

Jordan Spence has probably elevated his game the most, logging more ice time (22:55) against the Ducks than any Senator not named Thomas Chabot (27:24). He was excellent versus Anaheim on Saturday afternoon.

Clearly, the Sens' big task on Sunday will be to shut down Celebrini, whose 94 points in 64 games as a teenager is all kind of ridiculous.

But they won't face Igor Chernyshov, another promising youngster for San Jose. Cherynshov has 11 points in his first 16 NHL games, but was caught with his head down by Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson on Saturday.

The neutral zone collision wasn't that hard, but Chernyshov's skates seemed to get caught up with Matheson's stick, tripping him up and sending him airborne. He appeared to be knocked unconscious after he fell hard to the ice. Disturbingly, with wobbling legs, the rookie tried twice to get up before linesmen came to his aid.

Projected lineups (NHL.com)

San Jose Sharks

Collin Graf -- Macklin Celebrini -- Will Smith

Adam Gaudette -- Alexander Wennberg -- Kiefer Sherwood

William Eklund -- Michael Misa -- Tyler Toffoli

Barclay Goodrow -- Zack Ostapchuk -- Ryan Reaves

Dmitry Orlov -- John Klingberg

Mario Ferraro -- Shakir Mukhamadullin

Sam Dickinson -- Vincent Desharnais

Laurent Brossoit

Alex Nedeljkovic

Scratched: Pavol Regenda, Nick Leddy, Philipp Kurashev

Injured: Ty Dellandrea (lower body), Yaroslav Askarov (lower body), Igor Chernyshov (undisclosed)

Ottawa Senators

Drake Batherson -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux

Brady Tkachuk -- Dylan Cozens -- Ridly Greig

Nick Cousins -- Shane Pinto -- Michael Amadio

Warren Foegele -- Lars Eller -- Fabian Zetterlund

Thomas Chabot -- Artem Zub

Tyler Kleven -- Jordan Spence

Dennis Gilbert -- Nikolas Matinpalo

James Reimer

Linus Ullmark

Scratched: Stephen Halliday, Kurtis MacDermid

Injured: Jake Sanderson (upper body), Nick Jensen (lower body)

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

Bobby McMann’s tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs was defined by the long road, an undrafted climb from the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers to becoming a fixture in the NHL’s most scrutinized market. On Saturday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, in his first game since being traded by Toronto, he showed the Seattle Kraken exactly why he was worth the wait.

After missing three games due to a visa issue following his March 6 trade from Toronto, McMann debuted on Seattle’s top line and promptly paced a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. With two goals and an assist, the 29-year-old made in immediate impact. Up until the trade, McMann had been clear about his desire to stay in Toronto, but as the Leafs shifted into seller mode as playoff aspirations waned, the player who fought his way onto the roster became one of its most valuable trade chips.

McMann is just one of several players dealt by the Maple Leafs making a huge impact at the NHL Trade Deadline.

Nicolas Roy, who was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on March 5 for a conditional first-round pick, has been a revelation for the Stanley Cup contenders. Roy has already suited up for five games with the Avalanche, recording two goals, uncluding a power-play marker in a 5-1 win over these same Kraken last Thursday. In Colorado, Roy’s versatility has allowed him to jump between center and wing, providing the cup-contending depth Toronto originally brought him in for.

Similarly, Scott Laughton has wasted no time making an impression with the Los Angeles Kings. Since being dealt for a conditional third-round pick on deadline day, Laughton has recorded two goals and an assist in just five games along with a 58.3 percent success rate on faceoffs.

In Vancouver, McMann’s first goal in a Kraken sweater came with just 50 seconds remaining in the first period. On a power play, McMann threw a puck toward the net from the left circle that caught Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo off guard. It was McMann’s 20th goal of the season, marking the second consecutive year he has reached that plateau.

He wasn't finished. At 4:14 of the third period, McMann drove the far post with the same relentless intent that once made him a favorite of the Scotiabank Arena faithful, tapping in a cross-slot feed from Jordan Eberle for his 21st goal and a new career high. He also added an assist on a Matty Beniers goal later in the frame, finishing the night with three points and an 18:04 workload.

For the Kraken, the win snapped a four-game losing skid and moved them within one point of a wild-card spot. For McMann, Roy, and Laughton, the post-Toronto era is off to a flying start, leaving the Leafs to wonder if the assets they gained will ever outweigh the immediate production they lost.

For months, the Calgary Flames have faced a stark reality: their current roster, despite flashes of talent and veteran leadership, is not built to contend for the top of the NHL.

A combination of aging stars, cap constraints, and a need to inject youth left the organization with a difficult choice. That decision came into sharp focus on March 6, 2026, when the Flames traded veteran forward Nazem Kadri, along with a 2027 fourth-round pick, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for the rights to Max Curran, winger Victor Olofsson, a conditional 2027 second-round pick, and a conditional 2028 first-round selection.

Kadri, a cornerstone of the locker room and a proven scorer, carries a $7 million cap hit through the 2028-29 season—a figure that increasingly limited Calgary’s flexibility to add younger talent and build a sustainable core. For a franchise embarking on a multi-year reconstruction, retaining Kadri while balancing salary and roster development simply wasn’t feasible.

Nazem Kadri CALLS GAME in the 8th round of the shootout 🔥

The Flames spoil the Oilers' home opener after being down 3-0 😲 pic.twitter.com/4BiDH1x9yv

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 9, 2025

A Move That Signals a New Era

Trading a player of Kadri’s stature is never undertaken lightly. He consistently delivered offensively, brought playoff experience, and served as a leader in the dressing room. His departure underscores the Flames’ acknowledgment that the team cannot realistically compete at the highest level without recalibrating its strategy. The organization is now fully committed to a long-term rebuild, one that prioritizes youth, cap flexibility, and draft capital over established veteran presence.

The trade also creates opportunities for younger players to step into meaningful roles. John Beecher, for example, recently showcased his potential with a two-goal performance in Calgary’s 5–4 win over the New Jersey Devils. Kadri’s exit clears the path for emerging talent to take on central positions and gain valuable NHL experience, accelerating the franchise’s evolution.

Draft Capital as the Cornerstone

Ultimately, the success of Calgary’s rebuild will hinge on its draft strategy. By exchanging a fourth-round pick for the potential of a second-rounder and a first-round selection, contingent on conditions, the Flames have placed their future in the hands of scouting and player development. Smart drafting could fast-track the team’s return to competitiveness, while missteps could extend the rebuilding timeline. Every choice in the coming years will reverberate far beyond the immediate roster.

According to TSN’s Craig Button, the Flames boast a pair of promising prospects. In his annual ranking of the top 50 NHL-drafted prospects, two Flames prospects made the list: Cole Reschny at 24th and Ethan Wyttenbach at 39th.

Reschny, from Macklin, Saskatchewan, was a first-round pick by the Flames in 2025, selected 18th overall with the pick acquired from New Jersey in the Jacob Markstrom trade. He spent two seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Victoria Royals, including a standout 92-point campaign in 2024–25, his draft-eligible season. Reschny also impressed internationally, delivering a strong showing for Canada at the Under-18 World Championships.

Looking Forward

The Flames had little choice but to move Kadri. Calgary is entering a period defined by strategic patience, calculated risk, and the deliberate cultivation of young talent. The organization is signaling that the next chapter of the franchise will be built on potential and opportunity, with a new core poised to shape the team’s future. For fans, Kadri’s departure represents both the closing of a familiar era and the opening of a promising—though inherently uncertain—one.

After dropping two points against the San Jose Sharks at the Bell Centre on Saturday night, the Montreal Canadiens will have to bounce right back to take on the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night. The Habs lost their first meeting against Anaheim last week in a lengthy shootout session with Samuel Montembeault in what would be his last start before the decision was made to call up Jacob Fowler.

The good news for the Canadiens is that the Ducks will be without their captain, Radko Gudas, who is serving a five-game suspension for ending Toronto Maple Leafs’ captain Auston Matthews’ season. No, that Gudas has that much of an impact, but he plays carelessly, and the last thing Montreal needs would be an injury to a key player.

Canadiens: You Can’t Gamble Against Celebrini
Canadiens’ Prospects Dominate Lists Of Top Affiliated Prospects To Canadian Teams
Breaking: Gallagher Healthy Scratch For Canadiens In Game Against Sharks

Neither team has confirmed who will be their starter today, but given the fact that both teams played yesterday, we should see a Jacob Fowler vs. Lukas Dostal matchup. The Ducks were shut out 2-0 by the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night with Ville Husso in the net.

Fowler has never played the Ducks, but he has a 5-4-2 record this season, including a shutout with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Meanwhile, Dobes has never faced them, but he is 21-7-4 with a 2.97 GAA and a .891 SV% on the season. He should be the one who backs up Fowler tonight, even though that hasn’t been confirmed yet, and there will be no media availability before the game.

As for the Ducks, Dostal has a 3-1-1 record with a 3.11 GAA and a .882 SV in five career games against the Canadiens, while Husso is 4-0-2 with a 1.95 GAA and a .929 SV and two shutouts.

Up front, we know that Brendan Gallagher will be back in the lineup tonight. Martin St-Louis was clear about that on Saturday morning, but we’ll have to wait until game time to know who will make way. Zachary Bolduc or Alexandre Texier could be possibilities. The alternate captain is the Canadiens’ point leader against Anaheim with 12 points in 16 games, followed by Phillip Danault with 11 points in 26 games, and Nick Suzuki wraps up the top three with nine points in just 10 games. It’s also worth mentioning that Lane Hutson has four points in three games against Anaheim, while Zachary Bolduc has six points in as many nights, and Cole Caufield has six points in seven tilts.

As for the Ducks, new acquisition John Carlson has 28 points in 46 games, but he has yet to play for his new team since he was traded and is currently listed as day-to-day. Chris Kreider comes in second place with 22 points in 33 games, including four in last week’s game. Veterans Alex Killorn and Mikael Granlund both have 21 points, the former in 43 games and the latter in just 20 games. As for Troy Terry, who’s currently listed as day-to-day, he only has 10 points, but he got them in just nine games.

Since beating the Habs last week, the Ducks have lost three of their last four games and have a 6-4-0 record in their last 10 games. They are involved in a three-way battle with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers for the Pacific Division lead and sit in second place, a single point behind the Knights, making tonight’s game all the more important for them. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are 5-2-3 in their last 10 games and now only have a two-point lead on the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings, who occupy the two wild-card spots. The Habs have games in hand on both teams, but they still need the win, ideally in regulation. Should they end the season tied in points, the number of regulation wins is a tie-breaker, and Montreal only has 25 of them, just like Detroit, while the Bruins have 27. The Ducks have won six of the last 10 duels between the two teams.

The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on RDS, TSN2, KCOP-13, and Victory+. Frederick L'Ecuyer and Francis Charron are set to officiate, while Julien Fournier and Jesse Marquis will serve as the linemen. After seeing Macklin Celbrini, the Bell Centre crowd will get to see Beckett Sennecke in action. The youngster is second in points amongst rookies with 51, just one behind Ivan Demidov, who has 52. Rookie blueliner Matthew Schaefer is catching up on both of them; however, he now has 48 points.

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The Montreal Canadiens are right back in action tonight against another California-based team as they welcome the Anaheim Ducks to the Bell Centre.

Both clubs have struggled to put the puck in the net over the past week, and I’m predicting a low-scoring affair in my Ducks vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks for Sunday, March 15.

Ducks vs Canadiens prediction

Ducks vs Canadiens best bet: Under 6.5 (+110)

The Montreal Canadiens have boasted one of the NHL’s strongest offenses this season, ranking second in goals per game (3.51), while the Anaheim Ducks have also had a respectable attack.

However, both clubs have struggled to put up much offense this week. Montreal is averaging just 2.67 gpg over its last three outings, while Anaheim has scored 2.00 gpg over its last four.

The Habs have cashed the Under in three straight, while the Ducks have done so in three of their last four.

Both teams will also have tired legs in the second half of a back-to-back.

Ducks vs Canadiens same-game parlay

The Canadiens have been hot at home, winning 10 of their last 14 games at Bell Centre, while the Ducks have struggled on the road with just one victory in their last five as the visitors.

This marks the fourth road game for Anaheim, so the tank is running on fumes.

Ducks vs Canadiens SGP

• Under 6.5
• Canadiens moneyline

Ducks vs Canadiens odds

• Moneyline: Ducks +125 | Canadiens -145
• Puck Line: Ducks +1.5 (-180) | Canadiens -1.5 (+155)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-130) | Under 6.5 (+110)

Ducks vs Canadiens trend

The Under is 4-2 in the last six meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Canadiens.

How to watch Ducks vs Canadiens

Ducks vs Canadiens latest injuries

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Once again, the Western Conference race to the postseason is going to be a tight one, and the Kings are in the thick of it. 

Entering just near the end of the regular season with a few weeks left, little separates seeds three through six, meaning nearly anything is possible for the Kings. By the start of the playoffs, the Kings will either be home for the entire summer or could be staring at a potential playoff berth. 

Kings Rally Falls Short To Devils, Despite Kopitar's Historic NightThe Kings stormed back in the second period and briefly took control, but ultimately came up short as they fell to the New Jersey Devils

Now, after suffering a disappointing loss yesterday to the New Jersey Devils, the Kings fell from the fourth seed in the Pacific Division to the sixth seed just like that, with a loss. 

The difference in their standings could be the smallest of tiebreakers. 

With head-to-head being the first decider, let’s take a look at the tiebreaker situation between the Kings and all teams they are currently competing with for a playoff spot.

Seattle Kraken

With only one game remaining between the two, the Kraken already own the tiebreaker over the Kings as they've won all three meetings this season. 

The Kings and Kraken will play one more game this season on April 13, but it won't mean much for Los Angeles, which has already lost the tiebreaker. 

Both teams are currently tied for the fifth seed in their division with 69 points, so that could later come back to haunt the Kings for not playing well against Seattle this season. 

Kings Playoff Watch: Biggest Games Around The NHL To Watch This WeekIf the Kings beat the Islanders and Devils in their back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday, and the right teams lose, they can end this week as a top-four team in the Pacific Division.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are another team that owns the tiebreaker over the Kings. San Jose completed the season series sweep, winning all three contests very early in the season. 

San Jose, like Seattle, is neck and neck with the Kings, so both teams could end up spoiling LA's playoff chances by owning the tiebreaker. 

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings have split their first two meeting this season, with the Oilers dominating the road game in Crypto.com Arena, winning 8-1. The Kings won the first meeting back in January and will meet one more time on April 11 for a chance to gain the advantage over their Western Conference foe. 

The Oilers have been struggling as of late, currently on a two-game losing streak and having lost four of their last seven games, leaving them just four points ahead of the Kings. That deciding game in the last week of the season could be a critical one. 

Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim, currently the second seed in the Pacific Division, just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot, won the season series 3-1 against Los Angeles. The Ducks are only six points ahead of the six-seed Kings, so it's possible for Los Angeles to climb up, but considering the lead and tiebreaker that the Ducks have on the Kings, it's only likely if the Ducks continue losing. But that remains unlikely, with Anaheim having one of the easiest remaining schedules. 

Utah Mammoth

Utah is the only top team in the Western Conference against whom the Kings have a good position right now, leading the tiebreaker 1-0, with their last matchup coming in December.  The Mammoth, who are in the Central Division, are in a good position with 74 points, but have lost four straight games, and LA can overtake them with just five points separating them.  

The pair of teams will split two games at the end of March in Utah and Los Angeles, rounding out their final two games of the season. The Kings will just need to win one of two contests to own the tiebreaker. 

Nashville Predators

Nashville, in the hunt for a playoff spot, is two points behind the Kings and three points behind the Sharks for the final playoff spot. The Predators won the first matchup very early in the season back in October in a shootout, and Nashville will fly to LA for a pair of games in April. 

Nashville is still very much alive in the playoff hunt, with the seedings changing every day in the Western Conference. Those two games at Crypto.com Arena will be critical for the Kings, needing to win both contests to own the tiebreaker.

Overall, LA is in some tough spots, having already lost the tiebreaker to Seattle, San Jose, and Anaheim. Also, have tough games coming up where they will need to capitalize against Utah, Nashville, and Edmonton to take sole possession of the tiebreaker. 

In short, they're playing with desperation every night. This late into the season, that’s giving them something to use in their games if they want to make a run at the playoffs and control their own destiny. 

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Two teams that are trying to chase the final Wild Card spot in the West collide this afternoon, when the St Louis Blues visit the Winnipeg Jets.

Both teams start the day five points back of the L.A. Kings, with three other teams between them and that spot.

After Winnipeg’s impressive win over the NHL-best Avalanche on Saturday, my Blues vs. Jets predictions and NHL picks have the home team carrying the momentum in a back-to-back.

Blues vs Jets prediction

Blues vs Jets best bet: Jets moneyline (-120)

The St. Louis Blues have been rolling since the NHL resumed after the Olympics, going 7-1-1 in their last nine. They sport the best GAA in the league in that stretch at 1.78.

The Winnipeg Jets have been good as well since coming back from the break, with a 5-2-2 record, punctuated Saturday with a nice 3-1 win at home against Colorado.

They’re well equipped to handle the mileage of a back-to-back: they're 4-2 in such a scenario this season, averaging better than 4.0 goals per game.

The Jets have also won two of the last three meetings.

Blues vs Jets same-game parlay

Mark Scheifele has picked up points in five of his last six games, including three goals. He’s also scored two goals in each of the Jets' last three games on the second leg of a back-to-back.

Kyle Connor has been hard to stop against St. Louis. He picked up two assists last game over the Blues in a 3-1 win, giving him points in 12 of the last 15 head-to-head matchups.

Blues vs Jets SGP

• Jets moneyline
• Mark Scheifele anytime goalscorer
• Kyle Connor Over 0.5 assists

Blues vs Jets odds

• Moneyline: Blues +100 | Jets -120
• Puck Line: Blues +1.5 (-245) | Jets -1.5 (+215)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5

Blues vs Jets trend

The Jets are 4-2 ATS in their last six home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Jets.

How to watch Blues vs Jets

Blues vs Jets latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.