CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Joel Farabee scored twice and had an assist to lead the Calgary Flames to a 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

Morgan Frost had a goal and two assists for the Flames, who snapped a four-game winless skid. Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist in his debut for Calgary, and Blake Coleman also had a goal and an assist. Dustin Wolf made 25 saves.

Seth Jarvis had a goal and two assists for the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes, who lost in regulation for just the second time in their last 16 games (12-2-2). Sean Walker, Alexander Nikishin and Andrei Svechnikov also scored for Carolina.

Brandon Bussi stopped 20 shots, but his nine-game franchise record-tying winning streak ended.

In their first game without No. 1 center Nazem Kadri, who was traded to Colorado on Friday, the Flames got off to a rough start as Jarvis scored 44 seconds in on the game’s first shot.

Calgary bounced back in the second with three goals to take the lead for good. Strome, acquired from Anaheim on Friday, got it started by scoring 19 seconds into the period off a feed from Olli Maatta — who also made his Flames debut after coming from Utah in a trade on Wednesday.

Strome had his first multipoint game since Dec. 7, when he had two assists against Chicago.

Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud (upper body) left the game in the first period and didn’t return.

Up next

Hurricanes: Host Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

Flames: Visit Washington on Monday.

—

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

Bo Horvat scored with a nifty backhand on a breakaway as the Islanders continued their insane overtime record (9-0) and salvaged a win from their California swing, defeating the San Jose Sharks, 2-1.

Brayden Schenn made his Islanders debut and was a presence for both the regulation goal for and against, settling in next to Ondrej Palat and the center he’s temporarily bumped to wing, Cal Ritchie. Wearing the #10 ceded to him by new #92 Simon Holmstrom, Schenn was credited with winning 6 of his 14 faceoffs, a blocked shot and a check in 17:26 of ice time.

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

The first two periods were not super eventful, though that in itself is a big improvement over the previous two games. There were a few good saves from both star goalies. Tony DeAngelo broke the ice with a shot through traffic midway through the first period. The Isles were victimized by super sophomore Macklin Celebrini finding space just 33 seconds into the second period to tie it at 1-1.

The rest of the second was a standstill, but the Islanders came out with real jump in the third and logged 11 of the first 13 shots. They couldn’t convert though, and every Celebrini rush provided a scare, just as every Matthew Schaefer counter doused the flame.

With time winding down, the Islanders were perhaps gifted with a power play with under four minutes in regulation, when noted pest(ilence) Kiefer Sherwood took a run at Mat Barzal on the Isles forward’s way to the bench. Barzal got a crosscheck back at him, but perhaps Sherwood’s reputation and prior behavior earned him the only call.

As they always do, however, the Isles completely wasted that power play. There was a TV timeout, and Patrick Roy started the second unit, which promptly skated in offside to burn their 30 seconds.

And worse, the officials gave the Sharks a chance of their own when Pelech held Sherwood’s arm on a counterattack after J-G Pageau failed to get the puck in at the Sharks blueline. The Sharks spent the final 1:28 of regulation on the power play and got a couple of golden chances that required five-star saves from Sorokin.

The power play carried into overtime for about 30 seconds of 4-on-3, but the Isles killed that off with some great anticipatory interceptions by Schaefer.

Horvat’s winner came when things were back to 3-on-3 with a great threaded feed from Schaefer, his 26th assist of the year. He got a step around all three Sharks and slipped a backhand through Yaroslav Askarov’s wickets, which proved a better approach than shooting him in the mask.

Up Next

It’s Schenn Packing Day as the Islanders finish this road trip Tuesday in St. Louis, where Schenn will get to pick up his things, do a farewell wave and hopefully take two points from his former team.

The win nudges the Islanders into 2nd in the Metro, a point ahead of Pittsburgh, which lost in extra time (as did Columbus). Both have two games in hand on the Isles.

The New York Islanders snapped their two-game losing streak, defeating the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in overtime on Saturday night. 

Bo Horvat played hero, beating San Jose's netminder Yaroslav Askarov five-hole on a backhand breakaway try at 4:20 of overtime, an extra frame that began with the Islanders killing off the final 32 seconds of Adam Pelech's penalty.

Bo Horvat has a step! 🚨#Isles win!!! pic.twitter.com/vo11e5xTBA

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 8, 2026

Ilya Sorokin stopped 30 of 31 in the win. 

Tony DeAngelo got the scoring started at 11:37 of the first period, a wrister that beat Askarov from the point. Then, Macklin Celebrini tied the game just 33 seconds into the second period. 

That was the lone scoring in regulation. 

Brayden Schenn, whom the Islanders acquired at the trade deadline, played 17:26 minutes, recording a shot, a hit, and a block. He went 6-for-14 in the face-off dot (43%). 

The Islanders wake up on Sunday morning in second place in the Metropolitan Division. 

UP NEXT: The Islanders conclude thier four-game road trip (1-2-0) against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night at 7:30 PM ET. 

The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone. Several significant prices were paid to acquire players league-wide, and other prices weren’t met, leaving many players rumored to be on the move to stay put with their current teams. What was rumored to be a “buyer’s market” quickly became a “seller’s market,” and now the NHL landscape is more solidified for the stretch run of the regular season, with playoffs on the ever-nearing horizon.

The Anaheim Ducks have been one of the busiest “sellers” since Pat Verbeek took over as general manager just before the 2022 trade deadline. They’ve stocked up on high-end young talent via the draft and trades, added some seasoned veterans, hired the second-winningest coach in franchise history, and are now on the precipice of their first playoff appearance since 2018, which would end the NHL’s third-longest such streak.

Takeaways from the Ducks 6-5 Shootout Win over the Canadiens

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on 2026 Trade Deadline Moves

The Ducks made two trades in the 24 hours before Friday’s noon PST deadline, so here are reviews of those deals:

The Anaheim Ducks acquire defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a conditional 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick

Ducks Acquire John Carlson from Capitals

Embracing the “buyer” label, Verbeek actively attempted to put his team into the “contender” category when he pulled off perhaps the deadline’s biggest blockbuster trade. Carlson is in the final year of his eight-year contract, which carries an AAV of $8 million. No contract extension talks have been had or will be had during the season. Carlson is a pure rental.

The conditions on the pick rely solely on the Ducks making the 2026 playoffs. If they make the playoffs, they’ll transfer their 2026 first-round pick to the Caps. If they don’t qualify, they’ll have the option to send their 2026 or 2027 first-round pick.

Carlson (36), in his 17th NHL season, has scored 46 points (10-36=46) in 55 games and leaves the Capitals franchise as their defensive leader in all categories for defensemen and a Stanley Cup champion in 2018.

This is an interesting move for the Ducks from two angles. 1) Trading a first-round pick isn’t a move non-cup-contending teams make in exchange for rental players. 2) Carlson doesn’t fit the expected archetype for a defenseman the Ducks would have been looking to add at this year’s deadline.

The Cost

“I think when you have an opportunity to better your team, I think that’s your responsibility and your duty to do that,” Verbeek told the media following the deadline. “I think we have enough draft picks. We have enough prospects coming. Is it worth it to give up a conditional first-rounder? In my opinion, yes, it is. And so to get the quality of a player with John Carlson, then it made sense not only to us, but to our organization. So that’s how I viewed it.”

The Ducks are projected to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years, since 2018. They’ve stockpiled talented current young players and prospects at every position during their extended playoff absence, and the potential path to the Western Conference Final is the easiest (on paper) in the Pacific Division, widely regarded as the weakest division in the NHL.

Does adding a 36-year-old defenseman for 20 games line up with the assumed “contending window” for the Ducks? If the Ducks win one or two playoff rounds this spring, then the window is open now.

If the fit is undeniable and Carlson is a big part of whatever run the Ducks make during their projected playoff appearance, Verbeek has stated he hopes to re-sign Carlson following the season.

“It’s worth it to give this group experience, give them a chance to make the playoffs, and to do well in the playoffs,” Verbeek said. “That’s kind of how I looked at it, with the hope that we’ll be able to re-sign him when this season’s over.”

Parting with a first and third round pick for a player who plays 20 regular season games and a potentially short playoff run can understandably give some pause. However, if that player re-signs with the club on a reasonable contract extension, the deal becomes a lot easier to swallow and could even be received more glowingly.

The Fit

The other area of intrigue with Carlson’s addition to the Ducks’ roster is his fit along the blueline. Looking at the left side of their defense corps, it’s full of dynamic and offensively gifted young players: Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger.

If one had speculated an add to the blueline for Anaheim at the 2026 deadline, one would likely have assumed they’d have added a traditional “shutdown/stay-at-home” defender. Frequent names on trade lists fitting that archetype were players like Colton Parayko, Tyler Myers, Brandon Carlo, etc.

However, Verbeek zigged when a zag was expected. Carlson has been one of the most consistent and productive offensive-oriented defensemen in the NHL for nearly the last two decades.

The Ducks are one of the poorest defensive teams in the NHL in 2025-26 and have gotten where they are off the backs of their high-octane offense and spectacular starting goaltender, Lukas Dostal. So in a surprising and refreshing move, Verbeek seemingly leaned into his team’s strength and acquired an offensive play-driving puck-mover from the backend in Carlson.

Carlson’s offensive output shouldn’t dismiss his defensive impact, however. Even at age 36, Carlson, before the trade, played in all situations for the Caps, including ranking second among Washington blueliners in shorthanded TOI/G (2:28) and power play TOI/G (2:33).

Though his defensive metrics haven’t been spectacular, he’s a quality skater, cerebral positionally, and fundamentally sound. It’s possible that switching from the Caps’ man-coverage in the defensive zone to the Ducks’ pressure-zone coverage system could benefit Carlson, as he won’t be exerting as much energy in his end during elongated sequences and should give a boost to the Ducks’ exit numbers.

In theory, the Ducks’ system could enhance what he does well and allow him to translate that ability to the defensive side of the puck.

The Anaheim Ducks acquire a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Ryan Strome

Ducks Trade Ryan Strome to Flames

Strome was one of two signings Verbeek made on his first day of unrestricted free agency in his first summer as an NHL general manager in July 2022, with Frank Vatrano representing the other. Strome was signed to a five-year contract that carried a $5 million AAV and had no trade protection attached.

Strome was an eerily consistent producer for Anaheim, scoring 41 points in each of his first three seasons with the Ducks. He was projected to start the 2025-26 season in the middle-six for new coach, Joel Quenneville, but missed the first 16 games of the season with an oblique injury. He was replaced in the lineup by Beckett Sennecke, who grabbed hold of that spot and refused to relinquish it, as he currently leads all rookies in scoring.

Strome struggled to carve out a role for himself outside the top six and even served as a healthy scratch for 12 games this season. He’d been a positive locker room presence for the Ducks during three of their leanest years in franchise history, and he’s too skilled to be continuously kept out of the lineup.

Moving him to Calgary, even though his value was at its lowest, will allow him to play meaningful minutes again for the remainder of this season and next. Calgary will absorb Strome’s full cap hit, clearing $5 million off Anaheim’s books for the summer of 2026, where they’re expected to sign star RFAs Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson to sizable contract extensions, as well as RFAs Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, and Ian Moore. In addition, if Verbeek plans on re-signing any number of pending UFAs like Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, or Radko Gudas, he’ll need all the cap space he can get.

The Ducks are in a transitional period in their franchise’s history, on the cusp of returning to the playoffs and now even looking to make a deeper run than anticipated. Though the roster remains imperfect, and they’re playing a firewagon brand of hockey, Verbeek has made a statement to his roster and to the league that the Ducks view themselves as true contenders.

Ducks Sign Ryan Poehling to Four-Year Extension

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-1 Win over the Islanders

Looking ahead to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, many were anticipating some bigger moves ahead of the 3:00 p.m. ET cutoff on Mar. 6.

Well, as it turns out, there wasn't much activity at all - not from the league, and not from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The lone move that Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas made on deadline day was to acquire forward Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. Soderblom, 24, is a massive physical presence at 6-foot-8, 252 pounds, his forechecking, speed for his size, and two-way game were all attributes that drew the Penguins to him.

However, given the Penguins' current predicament - they are still without Sidney Crosby, who is week-to-week with a lower-body injury but skated with the team Friday, and Evgeni Malkin, who was suspended five games by the Department of Player Safety - there are many who wanted to see the team shoot a bit bigger in the trade market (size aside, of course).

The Penguins are stretched thin at the center position, they have the toughest strength of schedule remaining in the NHL, they're missing their top-two points producers, and they're barely hanging on to second place in the Metropolitan Division with two teams chasing closely behind them.

Nevertheless, Dubas chose to stay the course. And he believes in the group that they have.

Evgeni Malkin Suspended Five Games By NHL's Department Of Player SafetyEvgeni Malkin has been suspended for five games for slashing Rasmus Dahlin.

"Obviously, the mix has worked quite well," Dubas said. "They've got some chemistry. Dan [Muse] has done a great job coaching them. The staff has done a great job. We just have to deal with some absences this year for various different reasons, and continue to stay with it. 

"Find a way to write our own story, regardless of what everyone else expects it to be."

Dubas's actions - or inactions - at the deadline didn't simply speak to the market he was dealing with. Yes, he did say prices were sky-high, and teams weren't willing to meet asking prices. Yes, he did say that teams' respective positions in terms of playoff contention - including his own - played a factor in choosing not to buy big. Yes, at the end of the day, he didn't do much at all. 

But a big part of the equation was the fact that he already added to this team - and that they've already responded to those additions. Through trade, he added Stuart Skinner, Egor Chinakhov, and Brett Kulak - then Sam Girard - all of whom are upgrades over the players who would be in those positions otherwise based on the roster the team began the season with. 

Penguins Sign Goaltender To Entry-Level ContractThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> are pretty well-known at this point for the goaltending depth they possess in their system. Netminders like Sergei Murashov, Joel Blomqvist, and 2025 draftee Gabriel D'Aigle have received a fair amount of attention.&nbsp;

Since the Chinakhov trade, the Penguins are 14-5-4, and they've been playing better systemic hockey. They've been getting contributions from up and down the lineup, and even Crosby went pointless in four out of his last six games before the Olympic break while his team went 4-1-1. 

And Dubas points to those contributions from everyone - as well as his team's ability to respond well to adversity and respond after bad games - as defining qualities of this particular group of players. 

"I think the contributions from some of the younger guys throughout, but then, whether it's been Chinkahov, Brazeau, Mantha, the rise of the Lizotte line... I think that's led us to have success and give the team the chance to see it all the way through" Dubas said. "I think, especially since we've come back from Christmas, it's not just been the wins, but the way that the team has gone about winning that shows that, when we're at our best, it's a very good team."

He added: "For me, the greatest thing about the team the whole year has been the way that we've weathered times that haven't been great. The way that the team responds when things don't go well... the team always finds a way to respond, even with guys out of the lineup."

Evgeni Malkin Suspended Five Games By NHL's Department Of Player SafetyEvgeni Malkin has been suspended for five games for slashing Rasmus Dahlin.

Without both Crosby and Malkin, there are some players, in particular, who are going to have to step up even more. That includes Rickard Rakell, who is already being asked to man the center position, which he hasn't played regularly since his teens and early-20s. That also includes Erik Karlsson, who will be relied upon to drive more offense from the blue line. And it especially includes 18-year-old rookie Ben Kindel, who has already impressed with his 200-foot play and will probably need to hike up the production. 

But that's just what these Penguins have done. They've stepped up when things have gotten hard. They've responded after tough losses. They've fought tooth and nail for every point they've gotten this season. 

And that's not only a testament to the talent that populates the roster, it also speaks to the chemistry of the team and the locker room.

"I think the mentality is very much, 'We're gonna make the most of what we have,'" Dubas said. "And I think Dan has led that, but the players have been right there with him every step of the way, and it's a huge credit to them for being able to stick with that throughout the year.

"That said, we have our biggest challenges ahead, and it will be the ultimate test of that. But I think that's also the most exciting part of being here and being in this position is we have a great opportunity now, and we have to make the most of it and find a way."

Dubas believes in his team as-is, and his team has a belief in themselves. Now, it's time for them to show everyone exactly what they're made of down the stretch run of what has been a magical season so far. 

'You Know That Things Are Happening': Penguins' Players Talk Deadline Day, Belief In GroupWell, the biggest day of the NHL's regular season has finally arrived.

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

Another game where it felt like the Kings were in control against the Montreal Canadiens falls just short of their grasp. 

The Los Angeles Kings  (25-23-14) appeared to be in control early and for the entire game, but couldn't close the door on the Canadiens, surrendering two quick third-period goals in a 4-3 loss on Saturday night. 

Final from LA.#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/u1d9VETh2i

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 8, 2026

Despite dominating the opening period, outshooting the visiting team 16-1, the Kings watched another game in which they held a late lead and let it slip away in the final minutes, as the Canadeins capitalized on the power play and a momentum shift to steal this game. 

The Kings did play much better on 5-on-5 tonight, generating good looks on offense, and played much better on defense, until it counted. It is a tough loss to walk away from, but a learning experience under the new interim head coach, DJ Smith, who has this team playing much better. 

Kings Control the First Period

Los Angeles came out flying in front of their home crowd, completely tilting the ice in the opening frame, peppering Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes with 16 shots while allowing just one.

The defensive pressure paid off in the opening frame with the captain, Anze Kopitar, opening the scoring for Los Angeles. Kopitar finished a sequence set up by Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin at 5:48 of the first period to give the Kings the early 1-0 advantage. 

LAK Goal - BEAUTY!

Kempe threads one to Kopitar off the rush and the captain buries it from close range. 1-0 Kings.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 8, 2026

Artemi Panarin helped drive the play throughout the period, consistently creating chances and keeping the Canadiens pinned to their zone. 

Even with the overwhelming shot advantage, Los Angeles left the door open by scoring just once, something that would come back to haunt them later. It felt like the margin should've been bigger for Los Angeles heading into the second period, but Dobes did a good job limiting the Kings from extending the game to a 2-0 lead. 

The Kings thought they had a goal with Samuel Helenius, who thought he had scored to extend the lead to 2-0, but the call would stand as a goalie interference. LA decided not to challenge the call and move on to the next play.   

Canadiens Push Back in the Second

Montreal found its footing in the second period and quickly erased the Kings' lead. 

Forward Jake Evans tied the game at 1-1, and Taylor Ward felt he was cross-checked into Kuemper, which affected the play. Los Angeles declared it would not challenge again and continued to play after taking a timeout to talk things over.

MTL Goal - Kings do not challenge, goal stands. 1-1.

I do think there was some impact there, but don't think that would have been overturned. Probably a good decision not to challenge. https://t.co/D8uvSwO29w

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 8, 2026

The Canadiens then grabbed the lead at 4:19 of the period when Juraj Slafkovsky finished a play created by Nick Suzuki and Alexandre Carrier. Slafkovsky finished the night with two goals, one assist, and three points, one of the key contributors to the Candiens' comeback win. 

Los Angeles answered shortly after. Newly acquired forward Scott Laughton tied the game 2-2 at 2:29 of the second period, burying a chance set up by rookie Jared Wright and defenseman Brandt Clarke. 

Laughton was just the third skater in the last 15 years to record a goal in his first LA Kings game after being traded to the franchise (Sean Durzi on Nov. 24, 2021, and Carl Grundstrom on March 9, 2019). Overall, he is the 68th skater in team history to score in their team debut. 

The teams headed into the final period tied 2-2, looking like it would end in a dogfight. 

Laferriere Gives Kings the Lead

Los Angeles regained the lead early in the third off the faceoff win,  Alex Laferriere capitalized on a rebound created by Clarke’s point shot.

LAK Goal - Laf Factory!

Kings capitalize off a faceoff win. Clarke's shot is stopped by Dobes, Laferriere buries the rebound. 3-2 Kings.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 8, 2026

At this point in the clutch, with LA outplaying the Candiens throughout the whole game and taking a 3-2 lead, it looked like this goal could help them escape with this win. 

Montreal Scores Twice in Under a Minute

Instead of holding on and playing clutch defense, Los Angeles once again folded in crunchtime. 

After a penalty was called on the Kings, the Canadiens struck on their first power play goal of the game, with Slafkovsky scoring his second goal of the game to tie the game 3-3 for Montreal. 

Just over a minute later, Nick Suzuki gave the Canadiens back their lead, who were also great tonight, finishing with one goal, two assists, and three points to help lead the comeback win for Montreal. 

MTL Goal - Suzuki makes it 4-3 Montreal. Two goals in under 60 seconds.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 8, 2026

The comeback stunned the Kings and left them shell-shocked after having the game in their hands. 

Panarin, Kempe, and Kopitar continue to dominate in their line, showcasing elite offense, but once again, it wasn't enough because of penalty kills, face-offs, and defensive breakdowns in the clutch. 

If there is an underlying issue that the Kings are facing and the biggest recurring theme in their losses this season— and even in some of their wins — it’s these challenges closing out games when it gets close, we saw it happen in the playoffs last year when they had that meltdown, blowing the 2-0 series lead, it looks like the Kings haven't gotten over that series loss yet. 

Final Thoughts

And ultimately, it hasn't changed because we've been seeing the same story all season long. When it looks like Los Angeles gets off to a big start, everyone already knows how it will end, losing the game in crunch time.

Even with the Kings being the far better team tonight, outplaying the Canadiens, it still came down to the wire, where Los Angeles has shown no ability to win when it gets there. 

Both the numbers on the statsheet and on-ice production showed that Los Angeles was the better team tonight, outshooting the visiting team 39-23 and controlling large stretches of the game, but defensive breakdowns and the costly third-period penalty proved decisive.

You have to give credit to the Canadiens for not giving up, and goaltender Dobes for turning aside 36 shots, and the forwards Suzuki and Slafkovsky for coming up big in the clutch to help make this comeback possible.  

The loss will definitely sting because, under head coach DJ Smith, Los Angeles looks much better and more organized on ice, especially in terms of effort. But tonight, a brief lapse late in the third period erased all the effort they put in for 60 minutes. 

Final: 4-3 MTL

New coach still the same rough losses, badly hurts the Kings playoff chances.

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) March 8, 2026

Instead of walking away with a statement win, Los Angeles has to leave with yet another result that has been ailing them all season long. 

The Kings' next match will be on Monday, March 9, at 4:00 PM EST, where they will begin their five-game road trip against the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

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The Vegas Golden Knights will spotlight Women’s History Month on Sunday night when they host the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena, turning the matchup into a celebration of women making an impact both in hockey and throughout the Las Vegas community.

Fans arriving early can add a little gold to their game-day look, with complimentary hair tinsel and face gems available outside on Toshiba Plaza. Inside the arena, supporters will also have the chance to share their appreciation by filling out “The Woman Who Inspires Me” signs on the concourse near Sections 11 and 12.

The team will also roll out several Women’s History Month–themed items for fans looking to take something home, including canvas tote bags and specialty pucks available at The Arsenal at City National Arena and The Armory at T-Mobile Arena.

Before puck drop, Miss Nevada Abigail Bachman will ring the ceremonial pregame siren. Bachman serves as the executive director of Nevada Miss Amazing, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls and women with disabilities. She’s also part of the Autism Cares Advisory Committee in Las Vegas and works closely with Best Buddies of Nevada.

Throughout the night, the arena atmosphere will lean into the celebration. The Golden Belles and Vegas Vivas will perform during the game, while Knight Club will feature a female DJ during the second intermission. Fans in attendance could also find themselves taking part in the 5-Prize Frenzy, where prizes created by female artists will be up for grabs.

The Golden Knights will also use the evening to recognize women who have made a difference in the local community, including the presentation of a Women’s Business Award.

During the first intermission, the spotlight will shift to the ice as two all-girls youth teams face off in the Mites at Knight showcase — a moment that reflects the growing presence of girls in hockey.

Off the ice, the organization is also hosting several VGK youth hockey players who are interested in sports careers. The girls will spend time shadowing women working across departments in the Golden Knights’ business operations, getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to work in professional sports.

Overall, the night is designed to celebrate the women helping shape the game, the community, and the future of hockey.

Viktor Arvidsson scored the go-ahead goal on a breakaway 4:28 into the third period and the Boston Bruins beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 on Saturday for their 12th straight home victory.

Pavel Zacha also scored for the Bruins, who have their longest home win streak since a 14-gamer during their 2022-23 season when they set an NHL record with 65 victories. Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves and Elias Lindholm added an empty-netter.

Arvidsson scored the winner by slipping a wrister over goalie Logan Thompson’s left pad after taking a short backhand pass from Casey Mittelstadt.

Aliaksei Protas scored for Washington, which lost its third straight. The teams meet again in Washington on March 14.

It was the Capitals’ first game since trading longtime defenseman John Carlson to Anaheim before Friday’s trade deadline. He was with the team for nearly 17 seasons and it affected the locker room.

The Bruins haven’t lost at TD Garden in 2026; since a 6-2 loss to Montreal on Dec. 23rd.

DEVILS 6, RANGERS 3

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jack Hughes had a hat trick and an assist, Nico Hischier scored the go-ahead goal, and New Jersey beat New York for its fourth straight win.

Hischier scored a power-play goal at 8:05 of the third — his team-leading 21st — to give the Devils a 4-3 lead before Hughes scored twice, including one into an empty net, for his fourth career hat trick.

Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer also scored for the Devils, who are nine points out of a playoff spot. Bratt and Connor Brown had two assists each and Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves.

Will Borgen, Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Cuylle scored for the last-place Rangers, who were coming off a 6-2 home win over Toronto on Thursday. New York is 4-12-3 since winning the Winter Classic over Florida on Jan. 2.

SABRES 3, PREDATORS 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker scored less than two minutes apart in the second period and Buffalo held on to win its sixth game in a row, beating Nashville.

Josh Doan scored 16 seconds into the third period for a 3-1 lead and Alex Lyon made 23 saves for Buffalo, which played the first of a five-game homestand and has now earned a point in 13 of its last 15 games.

Thompson extended his point streak to a career-best 10 games (six goals, five assists) with his goal with 7:21 to play in the second period. Zucker made it 2-1 with 5:43 to play in the period.

Zachary L’Heureux scored his first goal of the season to give the Predators a 1-0 lead at 1:17 of the second period and Matthew Wood added a power-play goal with less than four minutes to play to pull Nashville within 3-2. Juuse Saros made 21 saves.

With an assist on L’Heureux’s goal, Nashville’s Jonathan Marchessault now has 300 career NHL assists.

The Sabres are now 29-2-0 this season when they have the lead after two periods.

FLYERS 4, PENGUINS 3, SO

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Trevor Zegras scored the only goal of the shootout to help Philadelphia defeat Pittsburgh.

Owen Tippett, Alex Bump and Denver Barkey scored for the Flyers, and Dan Vladar stopped 20 shots.

Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson scored for the Penguins, and Stuart Skinner stopped 12 shots a day after Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin was suspended for five games. The Penguins were also without captain Sidney Crosby, who is out for a minimum of four weeks because of a lower-body injury.

Tippett scored his 20th goal of the season less than a minute after Novak opened the scoring for the Penguins. It marked Tippett’s fourth consecutive season with at least 20 goals.

Bump scored in his NHL debut to tie the game at 2. With his family in the stands, he scored short side after a no-look pass from Nikita Grebenkin just over a minute after Rackell put the Penguins ahead 2-1 early in the second period.

Karlsson scored a minute later, and Barkley scored midway through the second to even the score at 3.

CANADIENS 4, KINGS 3

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Juraj Slafkovsky scored his second goal 49 seconds before he set up captain Nick Suzuki for the tiebreaker with 4:33 to play, leading Montreal's rally for a victory over Los Angeles.

Jake Evans also scored and Jakub Dobes made 35 saves for the Canadiens, who salvaged the final stop of their three-game California road trip with a late surge led by their offensive stars.

Shortly after Slafkovsky tied it on Montreal’s only power play, Cole Caufield forced a turnover that went from Slafkovsky to Suzuki for a one-timer that slipped underneath Darcy Kuemper’s arm.

Montreal had its NHL-leading 20th comeback victory one night after making a late rally — and then blowing a lead — in a wild 6-5 loss to Anaheim.

LIGHTNING 5, MAPLE LEAFS 2

TORONTO (AP) — Nikita Kucherov had three assists in a four-goal first period and added another in the third to give him 100 points on the season as Tampa Bay cruised past listless Toronto.

Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel, with a goal and an assist each, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Ryan McDonagh and the newly reacquired Corey Perry scored for Tampa Bay, which snapped a four-game slide.

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves. Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli added two assists.

Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson scored for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz stopped 28 shots.

The Maple Leafs, who started the night eight points back of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and were booed off the ice, have dropped seven straight since returning from the NHL’s Olympic break.

Tampa Bay tops the East and the Atlantic Division with 82 points, which put them 17 clear of Saturday’s opponent.

Toronto captain Auston Matthews, who hit the post in the third period on a shot that glanced off Vasilevskiy, has now gone 11 games without scoring, and has just one goal in his last 15 games.

MAMMOTH 5, BLUE JACKETS 4, OT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Logan Cooley scored his second goal of the game at 2:08 of overtime and Utah overcame Columbus’ tying third-period burst to win its third straight victory.

Clayton Keller broke free on the right side in the 3-on-3 overtime, slipping a cross-ice feed through traffic to Cooley.

Utah holds the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Mammoth ended Columbus’ three-game winning streak and left the Blue Jackets two points out of the East’s final wild card.

Michael Carcone had a goal and an assist for Utah. Kevin Stenlund and Dylan Guenther also scored, and Alexander Kerfoot had two assists. Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves.

Damon Severson, Mathieu Olivier, Adam Fantilli and Mason Marchment each had a goal and an assist for Columbus. Kirill Marchenko had two assists to extend his points streak to four games, and Charlie Coyle added two assists to push his streak to five games. Elvis Merzlikins made 18 saves.

Stenlund broke a 2-2 tie three minutes into the third, and Cooley made it 4-2 on a breakaway 1:54 later.

JETS 3, CANUCKS 2, OT

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Josh Morrissey scored 1:49 into overtime to become the highest-scoring defenseman in franchise history, lifting Winnipeg to a victory over NHL-worst Vancouver.

The winning goal by Morrissey, who missed the last five games after being injured while playing for Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics, gave him 417 career points to surpass Dustin Byfuglien for the Jets record. He tied the mark with an assist on Gabriel Vilardi’s tying goal.

Mark Scheifele also scored in regulation and had two assists and Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves for the Jets, who extended their points streak to six games.

Linus Karlsson had a goal and an assist and Liam Ohgren also scored for the Canucks, who have lost 11 of 13. Kevin Lankinen stopped 32 shots for Vancouver, which beat Chicago on Friday night to end a seven-game skid that started in January.

SENATORS 7, KRAKEN 4

SEATTLE (AP) — Shane Pinto had a goal and two assists in Ottawa’s four-goal spree in the first and second periods in a win over Seattle.

Linus Ulmark made 17 saves to help Ottawa improve to 3-1 on a five-game trip. The Senators are four points behind Boston for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Seattle has lost two in a row and four of its past six. It holds the second wild card in the West after San Jose’s overtime loss to the New York Islanders.

Tyler Kleven, Dylan Cozens and Michael Amadio also scored after Jacob Melanson gave Seattle an early lead.

After Eeli Tolvanen scored for Seattle to cut it to 4-2 late in the second, Warren Foegele, Tim Stutzle, and Brady Tkachuk pushed Ottawa’s lead to five in the third.

Matty Beniers and Brandon Montour had late goals for the Kraken. Joey Daccord made 29 savss for Seattle.

ISLANDERS 2, SHARKS 1, OT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Bo Horvat scored with 39.6 seconds left in overtime, lifting New York to a win over San Jose.

Tony DeAngelo also had a goal and Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves for New York, which snapped a two-game skid and improved to 9-0 this season in overtime. It was also the Islanders’ second win over the Sharks this season.

Macklin Celebrini scored his 32 goal of the season for the Sharks, who also lost in overtime against St. Louis on Friday. Yaroslav Askarov had 32 saves.

Brayden Schenn made his debut for the Islanders after being acquired from the Blues at the trade deadline for forward Jonathan Drouin, a goaltending prospect and first- and third-round picks in the draft this year. He had one shot and a blocked shot in 20 shifts and 17:26 of ice time.

Both teams had early goals before the game hit a scoring lull.

After Celebrini’s goal 33 seconds into the second period tied it at 1, the teams went nearly 44 minutes without scoring.

FLAMES 5, HURRICANES 4

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Joel Farabee scored twice and had an assist to lead Calgary to a victory over Carolina.

Morgan Frost had a goal and two assists for the Flames, who snapped a four-game winless skid. Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist in his debut for Calgary, and Blake Coleman also had a goal and an assist. Dustin Wolf made 25 saves.

Seth Jarvis had a goal and two assists for the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes, who lost in regulation for just the second time in their last 16 games (12-2-2). Sean Walker, Alexander Nikishin and Andrei Svechnikov also scored for Carolina.

Brandon Bussi stopped 20 shots, but his nine-game franchise record-tying winning streak ended.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Josh Morrissey scored 1:49 into overtime to become the highest-scoring defenseman in franchise history, lifting the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 victory over the NHL-worst Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

The winning goal by Morrissey, who missed the last five games after being injured while playing for Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics, gave him 417 career points to surpass Dustin Byfuglien for the Jets record. He tied the mark with an assist on Gabriel Vilardi's tying goal.

Mark Scheifele also scored in regulation and had two assists and Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves for the Jets, who extended their points streak to six games.

Linus Karlsson had a goal and an assist and Liam Ohgren also scored for the Canucks, who have lost 11 of 13. Kevin Lankinen stopped 32 shots for Vancouver, which beat Chicago on Friday night to end a seven-game skid that started in January.

With Winnipeg trailing 2-1 in the third period, Vilardi scored his 24th goal of the season at the 15:12 mark to tie it. Vilardi scored a goal in all three matchups against the Canucks this season, all victories for the Jets.

Winnipeg improved to 9-2-0 in its last 11 against Vancouver.

Up next

Canucks: Host Ottawa on Monday.

Jets: Host Anaheim on Tuesday.

—

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

TORONTO (AP) — Nikita Kucherov had three assists in a four-goal first period and added another in the third to give him 100 points on the season as the Tampa Bay Lightning cruised past the listless Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Saturday night.

Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel, with a goal and an assist each, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Ryan McDonagh and the newly reacquired Corey Perry scored for Tampa Bay, which snapped a four-game slide.

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves. Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli added two assists.

Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson scored for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz stopped 28 shots.

The Maple Leafs, who started the night eight points back of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and were booed off the ice, have dropped seven straight since returning from the NHL’s Olympic break.

Tampa Bay tops the East and the Atlantic Division with 82 points, which put them 17 clear of Saturday’s opponent.

Toronto captain Auston Matthews, who hit the post in the third period on a shot that glanced off Vasilevskiy, has now gone 11 games without scoring, and has just one goal in his last 15 games.

Perry was reacquired from L.A. and arrived in Toronto at 4 a.m. Saturday. The 40-year-old played two seasons with the Lightning from 2021 through 2023, including a trip to the Stanley Cup final in 2022.

Up next

Lightning: End a four-game road trip in Buffalo on Sunday.

Maple Leafs: Visit Montreal on Tuesday.

___

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

The Ottawa Senators will have a new face in the lineup Saturday night when they face the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Veteran winger Warren Foegele will play his first game since being acquired by the Senators on Thursday from the Los Angeles Kings.

Senators head coach Travis Green will bring Foegele into the mix gradually, at least based on the line combinations at Saturday’s game-day skate. The 29-year-old winger is expected to start on the left side of the fourth line alongside Lars Eller and Fabian Zetterlund.

Zetterlund arrived in Ottawa under similar circumstances. Acquired at last year’s trade deadline with 17 goals already to his credit, he also began his Senators tenure on the fourth line before eventually working his way up the lineup.

Foegele is known primarily for his defensive reliability and penalty killing, but his offence has gone quiet this season. The veteran winger has just seven goals and two assists in 49 games, including two goals and one assist in his last 31 outings, so it shouldn't be a surprise he’ll begin in the bottom line.

Regardless, Foegele said he’s excited about the change of scenery.

“Yeah, it’s been a pretty wild 48 hours,” Foegele told reporters in Seattle after the morning skate. “I loved my time in L.A., just a great group of guys there. I had a lot of fun with those guys, and obviously, I’m going to miss them. But I’m super excited for this new opportunity.

“The guys here seem great and, just watching some games, I think it’s a style that brings me back to my roots. It’s kind of similar to playing in Carolina and fits the mould of the player that I am.”

Foegele’s arrival means someone has to come out of the lineup, and for the second straight game Stephen Halliday is expected to be a healthy scratch.

Halliday was a surprise scratch in Thursday night’s 4–1 win in Calgary, replaced by tough guy Kurtis MacDermid, who had been sitting out since late December. The move led to some speculation that Halliday may have been involved in trade discussions at one point, although the team said they simply wanted MacDermid in the lineup to add toughness against the Flames.

Foegele's debut is the only change to Saturday's combinations, and the Sens noob will wear his familiar number 37.

He's the eighth player to wear No. 37 in Senators history. According to Hockey Reference, the others are Yves Sarault (1999), Dean McAmmond (2007–09), Martin St. Pierre (2010), Corey Locke (2011), Casey Bailey (2017), Joshua Norris (2020) and Donovan Sebrango (2025–26).

While Norris became well known in Ottawa for wearing No. 9, he briefly wore No. 37 for three games in 2020 because Bobby Ryan held No. 9 until the Senators bought out his contract later that year.

The Senators are also beginning life without David Perron, who was traded back to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. But the Sens had already been adjusting to that reality. Perron had not played since undergoing sports hernia surgery on Jan. 20.

Prior to the injury, Perron had been heating up with four points in his final four games as a Senator. But with Perron set to turn 38 in May, carrying a $4-million cap hit and headed for unrestricted free agency this summer, it wasn’t a huge surprise that Ottawa opted to move forward and get something for him while they still could.

Linus Ullmark, despite a couple of shaky outings in there, hasn't been tagged with a regulation loss in 12 games (8-0-3). He'll start on Saturday versus former Senator Joey Daccord.

Here’s how the Sens are expected to line up tonight in Seattle.

Senators projected line combinations

Drake Batherson — Tim Stützle — Claude Giroux
Brady Tkachuk — Dylan Cozens — Ridly Greig
Nick Cousins — Shane Pinto — Michael Amadio
Warren Foegele — Lars Eller — Fabian Zetterlund

Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot — Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven — Jordan Spence

Linus Ullmark
James Reimer

Kraken projected line combinations (NHL.com)

Jared McCann — Matty Beniers — Jordan Eberle
Jaden Schwartz — Chandler Stephenson — Eeli Tolvanen
Berkly Catton — Shane Wright — Kaapo Kakko
Jacob Melanson — Ben Meyers — Ryan Winterton

Vince Dunn — Cale Fleury
Jamie Oleksiak — Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura — Ryker Evans

Joey Daccord
Philipp Grubauer

Seattle newcomer Bobby McMann will not play because of visa issues after being acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.

But that's not the only bad news for the Kraken.

There's also a bug of some kind going through the Kraken locker room. Defensemen Adam Larsson and Ryan Lindgren, along with forward Frederick Gaudreau, are all sick and missed the game-day skate. They'll be game-time decisions, and even if they can play, it's doubtful they'll be feeling their best.

“We’ve got some guys who aren’t feeling well.”

Game time decisions for Lindgren, Larsson, and Gaudreau, per Lane Lambert. #SeaKraken

— Mike Benton (@Benton_Mike) March 7, 2026

In their last meeting back in October, the Senators came away with a 4-3 shootout victory. With Ottawa's net empty, Dylan Cozens scored the tying goal in the dying moments, and Tim Stutzle won it in the shootout.

The Senators begin play on Saturday night (10 pm Sportsnet, TVAS, City TV) six points out of a playoff spot after the Boston Bruins defeated the Washington Capitals 3–1 earlier in the day. Despite having a lesser record than the Sens, Seattle holds down the final wild-card spot in the West, but not by much. So they will be equally desperate.

With the trade deadline now behind them and such a big hill to climb, it's time for the Senators to get Kraken. Their goal on Saturday is to get out of Seattle with two points... and without getting sick.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News. Read more great Senators coverage and bookmark TheHockeyNews.com/Ottawa-Senators

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Brady Tkachuk Jokes About Being 'Under Microscope' After Olympics
After Trading David Perron, Senators Have Cap Space To Do More At Deadline
Senators Stand Pat On Quiet Final Day Before NHL Trade Deadline

Pregame

There’s no Evgeni Malkin (suspension) or Sidney Crosby (injury) so the Penguins are working with this lineup today.

First period

Good start for the Penguins, the Flyers take the first penalty about 90 seconds into the game and then about 90 seconds later a pretty passing play between Justin Brazeau to Tommy Novak leads to an opening goal.

Philadelphia is able to respond less than a minute later, Avery Hayes tries to clear the zone but isn’t quite on the same page with Ville Koivunen, the turnover gets down to Trevor Zegras. Zegras makes a nice pass over to Owen Tippett who has the time and space to beat Stuart Skinner with a shot. 1-1.

Hayes finishes a big time hit on Cam York behind the net. Jamie Drysdale takes offense to it, not much comes out of the fight where both are off-balance. The Pens get a power play out of the sequence but are unable to score.

Shots are 8-2 PIT after one period; a fight, some nice hits, some goals, a nice Penguin/Flyer game to start.

Second period

Pittsburgh scores in the second period, Egor Chinakhov feeds Rickard Rakell, who steps into a wrister from the top of the circles that ends up in the back of the net in part thanks to the Bryan Rust center lane drive. 2-1 Pens.

The Flyers find another answer quickly, Ben Kindel tries to bump a puck back to Connor Clifton but it gets turned over deep in the Pens’ zone. It ends up going to Alex Bump, who is able to score in his first career NHL game by settling a rolling puck and firing by Stuart Skinner. 2-2.

It takes another minute for the Penguins to respond to that. Rakell wins an offensive zone faceoff and Chinakhov plays the puck back to Erik Karlsson. Dan Vladar has a clean lane to see the shot, but it sails through his blocker side anyways. 3-2 Pens.

Philadelphia is able to tie the game once again, another Penguin turnover results in a nice passing sequence for Denver Barkey to flick into the net. 3-3 game.

Kris Letang’s rough period continues, he allows Travis Sanehim to skate right through him and then has to slash at him from behind to help deny a scoring chance. The Flyers get their second power play of the game out of it, they come up empty.

There are only 25 total shots in the game after 40 minutes (15-10 for PIT) but there have been six total goals, three per team.

Third period

The Pens are the better team at the start, Chinakhov gets a great chance that just misses the net, as does a Novak tip attempt on a Karlsson point shot. Rakell flashes and forces a Flyer to take a penalty to alter a scoring chance to send Pittsburgh to their fourth power play of the game but they don’t manage even a shot on goal.

The Flyers then get a few chances but don’t score. Rakell draws a second power play in the period by taking a stick up high for a big chance with just 6:40 to play in the game. It gets a ton of zone time but is mostly stagnant and the puck remains to the outside.

Quiet period, each team records four SOG a piece, neither comes particularly close to breaking the tie during regulation.

Overtime

Rakell-Rust-Karlsson start out the 3v3 for the Pens. Pittsburgh got the puck back but Novak looked like he got hurt in the corner. The Flyers have a 3-on-2 the other way and Trevor Zegras’s pass through the crease gets inadvertently blocked away from the open net by his own teammate.

Vladar makes a stop on Chinakhov but then steps out of his crease and puts a pick on Karlsson. Can’t do that, refs penalize him and Zegras slams a stick to the ice in frustration of his goalie’s mistake.

4v3 power play with 2:09 to go, Skinner wisely heads to the bench for an “equipment issue” to serve as an impromptu, uncharged timeout for the Pens to get ready. Karlsson does send a shot off the outside of the post at one point, but all things considered a tough miss.

Shootout

Anthony Mantha is the first one up, he swoops in slowly and shoots right into Vladar’s leg pads.

Matvei Michkov goes first for the Flyers, similarly his low shot is stopped by the legs of Skinner.

—

Rakell is the second shooter for the Pens, his shot finds the post but ricochets out.

The dangerous Trevor Zegras is up next, he dances in then picks a corner, making it look easy on the goal.

—

Chinakhov has to score to keep the game alive, he doesn’t.

Some thoughts

• We’ve been coming back to the difficulty for the forwards to produce 5v5 goals lately without Sidney Crosby around (they only have five 5v5 goals from a forward in the last six games), it was huge for Rakell to get on the board in the second period. It’s almost like a bonus these days when that happens, tough to live like that indefinitely but hopefully Crosby’s eventual return will help boost that area.
• The power play went 1/6 won’t kill yearly percentage but doesn’t really like in a good flow, especially the first group. That’s partially to be expected with no Crosby and now no Evgeni Malkin. It’s not always going to be pretty, getting as much as they can out of it is absolutely crucial within the game —since as mentioned above— it’s been a struggle for the forwards at even strength so they need players like Brazeau and Novak to produce goals in whatever way they can.
• Pens fall to 1-9 on the shootout, more of the same where they can’t find a goal at all. But the problem isn’t the shootout in this one, the problem was letting this game get to the shootout in the first place. Philadelphia only had five total SOG in the third period + OT, basically doing nothing out there. That’s a disappointment to let a game drag on so far — especially with the late power play in OT. The game is right there for the taking for the Pens, they simply were unable to reach out and grab it.
• On all the Flyers goals, the Penguins had the puck in their defensive zone less than five seconds before the goal was scored. That’s got to be frustrating for the coaches. On a pair of goals it looked like Kindel was caught in space and Koivunen was either weak on the puck or half a beat too slow to gain a clearance. Kris Letang making mistakes all over the place didn’t help either. It happens with young players, but it’s a lesson to be a little more on the details or learn that the puck ends up in your own net mighty quickly at this level.
• There was an adjustment made in that department for the start of the third period; Kindel was put on a line with Mantha/Brazeau (a line from earlier in the season) and Novak moved in to play with Koivunen/Hayes.
• Two assist game for Chinakhov, who seamlessly fit in with his new linemates of the day. Nice to see him continue his productive ways apart from Malkin.
• Great game from Rakell, he actually won 45% of his 21 faceoffs which is legitimately a very positive increase. A goal, an assist (due to a faceoff win) and he was a beast at taking the puck off Flyers in the 3v3. One of his best games in a long time.
• Today was the last PIT/PHI game of the year, and I don’t know, March 7th and Game No. 62 is too early in the season to not have any more Pens/Flyers games. Kinda a bummer.
• The Pens went 2-0-2 against the Flyers this season, which in NHL math is as good as three wins.

It’s going to be a struggle for Pittsburgh to claw out any and every point that they can without Crosby and Malkin. and now move to 2-2-2 in the six games post-Olympics without their captain. Staying .500 will help keep the afloat, though it would be nice to see them dig deep and get some sort of result at home against the Bruins tomorrow. Easier said than done with that opponent.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In the lead-up to the draft, when Matthew Schaefer was asked what he knew about the Islanders, answers usually mentioned the players with whom he happened to share an agent. 

That reflected something a little uncomfortable.

The Islanders, even with the new arena and even with recent success, were still a franchise that didn’t have much of a profile around the league.

Players who played there had plenty of good things to say and loved the area.

Those who didn’t tended to include Long Island on no-trade lists.

Brayden Schenn, who had a 15-team no-trade list this season, was one of them. 

Now, the first thing everyone associates with the Islanders is Schaefer.

So when Schenn was asked to waive his no-trade clause to come to the Islanders on Friday, the 18-year-old defenseman was a huge reason why he said “yes.” 

“That’s no secret,” Schenn said before the Islanders’ 2-1 overtime win over the Sharks on Saturday. “He’s world-class. He’s elite. You hear a lot about him; you see his highlights. And I think you really learn what a guy’s all about when you start playing with him. The guys in this room obviously speak very, very highly of him, how dynamic [he is]. We all know what he does as a player. 

“I think what guys say is how good of a person he is, how fun it is to be around him. When superstars in this league are good guys that take care of his teammates, guys are gonna want to be around him. And guys are only gonna want to come to the New York Islanders in the future just because of his talent and character.” 

That’s music to the ears of fans who have watched their Islanders struggle to attract free agents for a long time. 

Schaefer is not the only reason to come and was not the only reason Schenn agreed to the move.

He has relationships with Thomas Hickey, Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin.

He’d heard good things about the community.

The Islanders are competing for a playoff spot.

\That’s all appealing. 

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND ISLANDERS STATS

Schaefer, though, was the first thing he brought up when listing off the reasons. 

“What enticed me about this team, if you look, it’s a franchise defenseman that’s obviously taking the league by storm,” he said before referencing standout Ilya Sorokin. “Great goaltender, lots of skill up front. When you always play the Islanders two times a year for the past nine or 10 years, you always knew you were gonna get a tough game.” 

Part of the goal in acquiring Schenn ahead of Friday’s trade deadline was to get tougher and harder to play against.

He lined up Saturday between Cal Ritchie and Ondrej Palat on the second line.

Taking some responsibility off the 21-year-old Ritchie’s shoulders is a nice side effect. 

“I think he’s gonna be a great mentor to Cal,” coach Patrick Roy said, noting how much dialogue the two had just in one morning skate. “I think that’s gonna help him. It’s nice to see that kind of leadership.” 

Schenn, who bargained with Simon Holmstrom to keep the No. 10, will get a quick homecoming in St. Louis on Tuesday night before playing his first home game with the Islanders against the Kings on Friday.

He’s still in the middle of a whirlwind that started two days ago when Blues general manager Doug Armstrong called him with a heads up of where this could end up going. 

“Even before that, we all knew with where we were at, it’s not this year, it’s previous years, too, in St. Louis, where they weren’t pretty happy with the direction of the team,” Schenn said. “I was there for a long time. They’re going all 20-, 22-year-olds. I’m looking forward to coming to a team chasing a playoff spot. You can just tell right now it’s a great group of guys that have fun playing for one another. Good to be a part of the group.”

Ahead of the trade deadline, Andrew Mangiapane was the one roster player to come to the Chicago Blackhawks. He came with a first-round pick from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach. 

Things didn't work out for Mangiapane in Edmonton, and they were desperate to move him for players that better fit what they were trying to do. 

With Chicago, Mangiapane has an opportunity to play on a team that doesn't have pressure to win. He does has pressure to keep his NHL career alive, and it's easier to do that on a non-playoff team loaded with young players like the Blackhawks. 

Friday's game against the Vancouver Canucks was his first opportunity to suit up in a Chicago sweater. He battled some visa issues after the trade, but he was able to make it in time to participate. 

In his first game, following an incredibly crazy time for him, he made a good first impression. He had a couple of scoring chances, three hits, and took a penalty in 8:52 of ice time. Jeff Blashill didn't play him a ton in his first game, but that ice time will only increase as he gets in more games. 

"He played 8:52, so he didn't get a ton," Blashill said of Mangiapane's usage. "He got in a tough spot in the second there. There was four-on four, power play, penalty kill. He's not on any of those right now. He did a good job. I thought he showed the tenacity that I think he's gonna have to have to be successful for us."

Mangiapane was a cap-dump. Nobody in the organization thinks he's going to be the 35-goal scorer that he once was with them, but they do think he can do the little things needed to earn himself more work down the line. 

Over the course of his career, he has shared a bench with some really good players. Now, he gets to see Connor Bedard up close and personal, and he recognizes that an elite talent is rising. 

“I played with him at Worlds a couple of years ago, and it was my first time watching him. He's definitely matured and grown since then. He’s a special player in this league, and you could see it on the ice.”

It sounds like Mangiapane is bought into what the Blackhawks are doing, and that includes the nice words about the superstar in town. 

The highlight of Mangiapane's night was very close to being a goal. He made a great play at the net-mouth, and the puck ended up in the net, but the officials ruled that Landon Slaggert kicked it in. 

Mangiapane has the tools to be an effective player in the league. If he can defend well enough, he'll continue to get ice time, which will allow him to also be involved on offense. Off the ice, he already fits right in. 

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Jack Hughes has been a sensation over the last three and a half weeks, and it only continued Saturday against the Rangers.

Recording his fourth career hat trick in a 6-3 Devils victory at Prudential Center, Hughes became the first New Jersey player to have such a game against the team’s cross-river rivals since Scott Gomez on Dec. 26, 1999.

Add it to his fast growing list of accomplishments and triumphs, which includes scoring the overtime game-winning goal for an Olympic gold medal.

His golden goal also led to appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

Two of his three goals Saturday night came in the final 20 minutes, including an empty-netter at the tail end of the third period.

Seven seasons into his NHL career, Hughes has 19 goals in 24 games against the Rangers.

“Can’t say enough good things about Jack,” Vincent Trocheck said of his USA teammate, who scored the golden goal against Canada at the Olympics in Milan last month. “His play spoke for itself at the Olympics. Obviously, he was one of our best players and scores the goal that made me a gold medalist. The way he’s handled post-Olympics, I think it’s been a blessing to have him as kind of the poster boy for Team USA. He’s handled everything so well with such humility, and it’s been an honor to watch him after.”

After giving up another goal less than two minutes into the start of a game, when Jesper Bratt scored 1:06 after puck drop, the Rangers got a couple of goals from their defensemen.

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Will Borgen notched the first before Vladislav Gavrikov recorded his 12th goal of the season, doubling his previous career high.

The Devils had only capitalized on one of their previous 26 power plays, but they went a perfect 3-for-3 against the Rangers.

With 12.4 seconds left in the first period, Dawson Mercer scored first with the man advantage to tie it up 2-2.

Hughes later cashed in on the power play in the second period, one of his three goals on the day.

It only lasted for just over a minute, however, as Will Cuylle notched his third goal in the last two games.

Nico Hischier broke a 3-3 tie just over eight minutes into the third period when the Devils captain scored his team-leading seventh power-play goal after following up on a rebound.

“Just a lack of urgency,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said of their PK. “We didn’t box it at our net front, get sticks. We’re standing there screening our goalie. Look at how the goals were scored. Three of them were just sifters from the outside. We don’t get into people. There’s just no urgency to it.”

Borgen has switched to his off-side on the left of Braden Schneider in recent games, after the 29-year-old defenseman spent the entire season on the right side.

“We think we get a better version of Schneider when he’s on the right side, and so that’s why we made the switch,” Sullivan said. “We’re going to try Will there and see how Will is able to adjust. There’s a lot of subtleties to the position. It’s not as simple as — I think it’s harder for a defenseman to play the off-side if he’s not used to it than it is for, say, a wing to play the off-side because the pivots are different, the angles are different, the stick detail when you’re defending, the rush, one-on-one, things of that nature. So, there’s a lot of subtleties to it. Some players like it, prefer it. Others don’t.”

Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick stopped 29 of the 34 shots he saw in his 15th loss of the season.