For the first time since 2022, the Pittsburgh Penguins are officially Stanley Cup Playoff-bound - and then some. 

On Thursday, the Penguins beat the New Jersey Devils, 5-2, to secure two points and punch their ticket to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is the first time the Penguins will appear in the postseason since 2022, and with a Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, they were able to secure home ice advantage in round one as well.

So many on the outside wrote off this Penguins' team before the season even began. Now? It's all come full-circle, and the team is happy to have proven folks wrong. 

"I'll be honest, it feels a little better given the outside expectations all year," Bryan Rust said. "Giving everyone a big middle finger feels good."

Bryan Rust: "I'll be honest, it feels a little better given the outside exceptions all year. Giving everyone a big middle finger feels good."

— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) April 10, 2026

The road for the Penguins this season wasn't an easy one, nor was their post-Olympic stretch. And even this game had its moments early on.

The Devils registered the first five shots of the hockey game, peppering Penguins' netminder Stuart Skinner early. Skinner answered the bell, though, and Pittsburgh finally responded just under five minutes in. The Penguins were in the offensive zone, and Kris Letang managed to get the puck to a breaking Egor Chinakhov on the left side. Chinakhov sold "shot" all the way, but instead, sneakily threaded a perfect seam pass to Rust on the other wing, and he was able to execute a perfect one-time touch redirection into the net to give the Penguins the 1-0 lead on their first shot.

THE MILKSHAKE MAN DELIVERS 👏

Score half off Rusty's shake at @MShakeFactory tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/qdmda8CAjZ

— x - Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 9, 2026

The Penguins took over the rest of the period for the most part, but they were still giving up some dangerous grade-A looks against. That came to a head approaching the midway point of the second period, when Paul Cotter took advantage of an Erik Karlsson misplay and took off on a breakaway, beating Skinner and tying the game at 1-1. 

But, as they often do, the Penguins didn't sit back or sulk. Instead, they got right back to work. Less than two minutes later, Pittsburgh gained the offensive zone on the rush, and Karlsson slipped a nice pass to Evgeni Malkin, who was breaking through the middle. Malkin then slid the puck forward to Tommy Novak, who went top-shelf to score his first goal in 13 games and restore the Penguins' lead.

TOP SHELF TOMMY ‼️ pic.twitter.com/jgE2IHncJ9

— x - Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 10, 2026

They'd never surrender that lead, and, in fact, kept adding. Ryan Shea got possession of the puck off the ensuing faceoff, and he backed up and fed a breaking Chinakhov a perfect pass on a Murphy dump. Chinakhov managed to separate just enough to knock down the bouncing puck, and - off-balance, nonetheless - he reached forward with his stick, somehow getting a solid backhand shot off and beating Jake Allen blocker-side to put the Penguins up 3-1 just nine seconds later.

EGOR BRINGING THE ENERGY 🔋 pic.twitter.com/jfBreL7soH

— x - Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 10, 2026

Jack Hughes added a tally for New Jersey within the final five minutes of the middle frame to bring the Devils back to within one, but the Penguins put any hopes of a comeback to bed in the third. Almost seven minutes in, Chinakhov pounced on a puck down low and used his foot to redirect the puck to Crosby at the net-front. Crosby made a nice move on Allen and almost scored a highlight-reel goal of his own, but he couldn't finish it - which wasn't a problem for Evgeni Malkin, who found the puck on the doorstep and put it home for his 19th of the season to make it 4-2.

GENO MACHINOOOO 💪 pic.twitter.com/Z0GopvXm3R

— x - Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 10, 2026

Then, with three minutes left, Karlsson put the cherry on top with an empty-netter from long-range to give the Penguins the 5-2 and seal the deal on clinching for the first time in four years.

"It's exciting," Crosby said. "That’s why you play. That's the best time of the year. To know that we’re going to be there, to set out to do that... it’s nice to get rewarded. Everybody has had a part in this, especially with this group. Everybody’s contributed to get here.”

BREAKING: Penguins Clinch First Playoff Berth Since 2022 With Win Over New Jersey DevilsDespite outside noise, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have clinched a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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Here are just a few notes and takeaways from the Penguins' biggest win of the season:

- Honestly, I am not going to say a whole lot down here this time. There will be plenty of pieces, plenty of discourse, and plenty of writing to be had in the week and a half between now and when the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Saturday, Apr. 18.

That said, boy, this has been such a fun hockey team to cover this season. 

Head coach Dan Muse was asked after the game when he first remembered feeling like this team could be special. And without hesitation, he said "Training camp."

Honestly, I get it. I am not going to sit here and claim that I thought this team was going to make the playoffs, even if I did not think they would be a lottery team. I was convinced that it would be much of the same from last season, when they finished ninth-worst in the league.

But there was a different air in training camp this season. With the coaching change, with a pretty overturned roster, with legitimate youth talent pushing... you could feel an energy that simply wasn't there prior to the 2024-25 season. There was a lot of positivity. A lot of encouragement. A lot of hard work. A lot of responsiveness between the players and coaching staff. Just high spirits in general, and not the regular kind when a team returns to camp after months off in the summertime. 

No. You could sense the belief in this group from day one. You could tell the veterans - from Crosby to Rust to Karlsson and everyone else - felt they had underachieved in the previous three seasons. There was unfinished business with this core of players, and they intended to finish it.

Well, this season was a testament to that. What a special group this is. They earned this opportunity, and that belief and that energy carried them through the season. 

Bryan Rust Nominated For King Clancy Memorial TrophyBryan Rust is the Penguins' nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.

- That said, it's not like they operated entirely on belief. The talent and the depth is there, too, and it was on full display in this game. 

Chinakhov registered three points to give him 18 goals and 36 points in 41 games with the Penguins this season, including four goals and 10 points in his last five games. Karlsson scored his 15th goal of the season, yet another notch in an outstanding season and giving the Penguins 10 players with 15 or more goals. Novak got back on the board. The big guys put in some work.

Making sure the two points were earned in this game was a group effort that took everyone. That's been the case all season, that next-man-up mentality. I'm sure it will be the case in the playoffs, too.

- Skinner was outstanding for the second time in the last three games. He made some huge stops early on - when the Penguins weren't playing so well - to neutralize the Devils and keep his team ahead. And he made sure they didn't fall behind within the first five minutes of the game. 

He has separated himself as the Game One starter at this point. The Penguins have serious goaltending depth in their organization, so I'm not sure any of them are the "wrong" answer. 

But experience wins out, as does clutch performances in games like this. Skinner has brought such positive energy to this team - even more than it already had - and he deserves the net to begin the playoffs.

- There were a lot of other notes from this game, but I'll save some of them for later. I'll leave you with this:

Enjoy the back-to-back with the Washington Capitals this weekend. Make time to watch it and take it in. It will be nice for fans to not have to worry about the result, too, but the Caps will surely be pushing.

And this, very well, could be the last time we see Crosby, Malkin, and Alex Ovechkin go head-to-head. 

Ticket prices for these two games are absurd, but it's no mystery why. The Penguins and Capitals were the gold standard in the NHL for two decades. They employ the two biggest hockey icons of that respective generation as well as two of the greatest to ever play. Three, too, if you're counting Malkin, who certainly deserves that recognition.

Don't take it for granted. Again, enjoy it. You'll probably never see a rivalry quite like this one again.

Capitals' Alex Ovechkin Looks Back At Rivalry With Sidney Crosby: 'It's History'Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby may be playing each other for the last time in the NHL this weekend. As Ovechkin and his teammates say, it's a historic rivalry that won't ever be recreated.

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As the National Hockey League's regular season wraps up, the Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to be in the playoffs competing for the Stanley Cup.

Is it too late to get Penguins playoff tickets? Here's what to know heading into next week, including where and when to get playoff tickets and how to watch the team.

Are the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs?

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins have clinched a playoff berth based on their second-place standing in the Metropolitan Division as of April 10.

When can I buy tickets to the playoffs?

While they're in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Penguins don't yet have an opponent or date for when they drop the puck on the postseason. As of April 10, the team hasn't set a date for when playoff tickets will go on sale, but updates will be posted online. They'll also send presale access and on-sale alerts if you sign up for their emails.

Where can I buy Penguins playoffs tickets?

Penguins tickets are available on the team's website through Ticketmaster.

How can I watch the playoffs at home?

There are several ways to watch or stream the playoffs.

• Stream on ESPN+ or the ESPN App, Hulu, WatchTNT or HBO Max
• Watch live on ESPN, TNT or ABC

Pittsburgh Penguins games can also typically be found through SportsNet Pittsburgh and SNP 360.

When do the Penguins play this week?

The Penguins' final games of the regular season are scheduled to take place through April 14. Here's when and where they are.

• Saturday, April 11, 3 p.m. ET vs. the Washington Capitals
• Sunday, April 12, 3 p.m. ET at the Washington Capitals
• Tuesday, April 14, 9:30 p.m. ET at St. Louis Blues

Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at fwalker@floridatoday.com. X: @_finchwalker. Instagram: @finchwalker_.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Pittsburgh Penguins make Stanley Cup Playoffs. Where, when to buy tickets

Six years ago, Jim Benning and the Vancouver Canucks used the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft to select Vasily Podkolzin. The Russian winger was playing for Neva St. Petersburg and was the second-ranked International Skater heading into the draft. While hindsight is 20/20, even at the time, there were debates about whether the Canucks selected the right prospect. 

Fast forward to today, and the decision to draft Podkolzin remains a haunting moment for the organization. Not only has Podkolzin been traded, but two of the players who were drafted in close proximity to him are thriving in the NHL. Those players are Matthew Boldy and Cole Caufield, who both have hit the 85-point mark this season. 

Starting with Boldy, he is the type of winger that Vancouver hoped Podkolzin would develop into. Listed at 6'2", 201 lbs, the 25-year-old has become a force in the offensive zone and this season, has added penalty killing to his tool kit. Drafted two spots behind Podkolzin, Boldy ranks third in goals and assists as well as second in the draft class for points. 

As for Caufield, he has developed into one of the best scoring wingers in the NHL. Listed at 5'8", 175 lbs, the 25-year-old is enjoying his first 50-goal campaign and recently surpassed the 300-point mark for his career. Drafted five spots after Podkolzin, Caufield is a great example of why teams should not overlook smaller players, as he ranks first in goals and third in points among 2019 draft picks. 

Boldy and Caufield are just two examples in a long list of draft misses for the Canucks from the last decade. While it is not a guarantee that these two players would have vaulted Vancouver into contender status, it is hard to imagine the Canucks being in a similar position as they are now if either were currently on the active roster. With potentially five picks in the top 100 of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Vancouver has the chance to select prospects who will one day hopefully impact the Canucks, just like Boldy and Caufield have for the Minnesota Wild and Montréal Canadiens. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The news going into the Buffalo Sabres contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets was concerning, as head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that veteran goalie Alex Lyon pulled a muscle in New York City on Wednesday and would be out at least a week with a lower-body injury. The injury meant that rookie Colten Ellis would be making his first start in over two months, but the youngster stepped up with a 37-save performance in a 5-0 victory to earn his first career shutout and the Sabres a key two points in their race to win the Atlantic Division. 

"(Ellis is) the ultimate competitor. He's doing all a lot of extra skates with our extra players. Every time he steps in the net in practice, he's trying to make sure he doesn't get scored against," Ruff said after the game. "(He is the) first guy to the rink a lot of times, almost every day. I think that's part of routine that leads a lot of great habits." 

The 25-year-old was claimed off of waivers in October and has remained as the third goalie behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Lyon all year, but has been needed to step in as both veterans have been injured for stretches this season, and has posted a very respectable 8-4-1 record in 13 starts. Ellis has served as the backup for both veterans on most nights, and did get into a game last weekend after Lyon allowed three goals in less than six minutes. 

"When I put him in in Washington, a little bit of a different situation, he didn't feel that comfortable. But I think knowing that he was going to play and preparing to play really helped him out." Ruff said. "Halfway through the first period, it just looked like he just had himself in a great place." 

After taking the lead in the first on a Peyton Krebs goal, the Sabres seemed to be holding on for dear life, with Columbus outshooting them 14-4 in the second, but Josh Doan’s first of two goals midway through the third period seemed to open the floodgates, as Buffalo scored four goals to pull away. The win was critical for the Sabres in their quest for home-ice advantage in the first round.

According to Moneypuck.com, after the Montreal Canadiens beat Tampa Bay 2-1 at the Bell Centre on Thursday, Buffalo has a 73.7% chance of winning the division, and a 95.4% chance of having home-ice advantage in the first round. Both the Habs and Lightning have a game in hand, but the Canadiens is two points behind the Sabres, and Tampa Bay is four points back. 

Buffalo and the entire NHL have the day off on Friday, but the Sabres next game is not until Monday in Chicago against the Blackhawks and finish the regular season against the Dallas Stars at home next Wednesday. 

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

The Buffalo Sabres 2024 Draft may be the only group that former GM Kevyn Adams selected that will yield NHL prospects outside of the first round. Top pick Konsta Helenius is thriving in his second pro season in Rochester, second-rounder Adam Kleber won with Team USA at the World Junior in 2025 and is a big, righty blueliner, and third-rounder Brodie Ziemer was one of the best scorers in the NCAA last season, netting 23 goals as a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, but two more '24 picks will have a chance to add an NCAA Championship to their resumes.

Fourth-rounder Luke Osburn and seventh-rounder Vasily Zelenov and the Wisconsin Badgers will take on Denver U. in the Final on Saturday. Osburn won the USHL defenseman of the year in 2025 with Youngstown, surprisingly made Team USA's World Junior squad last December, and posted 21 points with Wisconsin as a freshman. Zelenov played his youth hockey in Austria, played one season in Green Bay of the USHL, and had 18 points in his freshman season with the Badgers.   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser has been selected as his team’s nominee for the 2026 King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The award is given to the player that “best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

Boeser, who has been with the Canucks since being drafted in 2015, signed a seven-year extension with the team during the 2025 off-season and is one of only four players who have spent more than five seasons with the team. Last night, he took sole possession of eighth all-time in franchise history in points scored by a Canuck with 479. 

The award is voted on by a panel featuring NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as well as former winners of both the King Clancy Trophy and the NHL Foundation Player Award. A $25,000 donation will be given to the winner’s charity of choice. 

Throughout history, three members of the Canucks have won this award: Trevor Linden (1997), Henrik Sedin (2016, 2018), and Daniel Sedin (2018.) 

Here is the full list of this year’s nominees. 

Anaheim Ducks: Lukas Dostal

Boston Bruins: Jordan Harris

Buffalo Sabres: Alex Tuch

Calgary Flames: Jonathan Huberdeau

Carolina Hurricanes: Jaccob Slavin

Chicago Blackhawks: Alex Vlasic

Colorado Avalanche: Sam Malinski

Columbus Blue Jackets: Boone Jenner

Dallas Stars: Jake Oettinger

Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin

Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Florida Panthers: Sam Bennett

Los Angeles Kings: Kevin Fiala

Minnesota Wild: Marcus Foligno

Montreal Canadiens: Nick Suzuki

Nashville Predators: Ryan O'Reilly

New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes

New York Islanders: Kyle Palmieri

New York Rangers: Adam Fox

Ottawa Senators: Linus Ullmark

Philadelphia Flyers: Garnet Hathaway

Pittsburgh Penguins: Bryan Rust

San Jose Sharks: Alexander Wennberg

Seattle Kraken: Joey Daccord

St. Louis Blues: Colton Parayko

Tampa Bay Lightning: Ryan McDonagh

Toronto Maple Leafs: John Tavares

Utah Mammoth: Alex Kerfoot

Vancouver Canucks: Brock Boeser

Vegas Golden Knights: Jack Eichel

Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin

Winnipeg Jets: Gabriel Vilardi

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The NHL unveiled their 2025-26 King Clancy Trophy nominees on Friday, with veteran defenseman Colton Parayko selected for the St. Louis Blues. 

The King Clancy Trophy goes “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

Each team nominated a player who best fit the criteria.

A committee including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, former winners of the King Clancy Trophy and past winners of the former NHL Foundation Player Award will consider a nominee’s inspiration, involvement and positive impact on their community. They will then take a vote to determine the winner.

Whoever gets the most votes wins not only the award but also a $25,000 donation to a charity or charities of their choice. The winner can even choose to have his team receive a grant of up to $20,000 from the NHL to help organize an activation supporting his humanitarian cause.

Kelly Chase in 1997-98 is the only Blues player to win this award. 

Jordan Binnington Named Blues' 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy NomineeJordan Binnington has been selected as the St. Louis Blues’ 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee.

In a press release, the Blues outline Parayko's work in the St. Louis community.

“Since arriving in St. Louis in 2015, Parayko has built a reputation that extends far beyond his play on the blue line. He remains a familiar face at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, while also supporting a wide range of charitable efforts both locally and in his home province of Alberta.

In 2021, Parayko expanded his commitment to giving back by launching Project 55, a foundation focused on supporting hospitalized children and their families. The initiative provides both financial assistance and emotional support, and over the past several years has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help families navigating difficult circumstances.

Project 55 also creates memorable experiences designed to lift spirits during challenging times. Throughout the season, Parayko hosts patients and their families at Blues home games at Enterprise Center, offering an all-inclusive experience that includes game tickets, team gear, and a postgame meet-and-greet.”

In addition to the 32-year-old’s off-ice work, he’s posted three goals and 17 points in 73 games this season, claimed a silver medal with Team Canada at the Olympics, and will reach 800 career NHL games if he plays in each of the Blues’ remaining games. 

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‘A great jump': Why James Hagens is NHL-ready after breakout season at BC originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The future is now for the Boston Bruins.

Top prospect James Hagens, who recently wrapped up a very strong sophomore season for Boston College and just played six games for the AHL’s Providence Bruins, signed his entry-level contract with the B’s on Wednesday.

Hagens skated at an optional practice with the Bruins for the first time Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena. His first full practice was Friday. The Bruins’ next two games are this weekend: home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. B’s head coach Marco Sturm confirmed Friday that Hagens won’t play against the Lightning.

It’s hard to know exactly how ready a 19-year-old player is for the NHL. It’s a clear step up in speed, skill and physicality compared to the NCAA and AHL levels. But Hagens’ improvement as a sophomore for BC this past season — especially in the defensive aspect of his game — should help the transition to the Bruins.

“He did take a great jump in so many areas,” Boston College men’s hockey head coach Greg Brown told NBC Sports Boston this week.

“His offensive game was always there, and he still continues to develop it. He’s only 19 years old now, but I think he took huge steps in the rest of his game, becoming a 200-foot player, defensive awareness, defensive detail — all those things that you’re going to need to play in the NHL, James really improved on this year, so it’s great to see.”

Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images

Inside Hagens’ offensive breakout

One of the most notable improvements Hagens made in Year 2 with the Eagles was becoming a more prolific goal scorer. He’s always been an elite playmaker, but his goal-scoring went to another level this past season. He scored 11 goals in 37 games for BC as a freshman, and then he jumped to 23 goals in 34 games in 2025-26.

What led to Hagens finding the back of the net more frequently?

“A couple of things. One, he worked very hard on his shot,” Brown said. “It was almost every day he was out there after practice or before practice taking shots to improve his one-time or to improve his release on his snapshot. So, he had physical gains that way.”

“But also, I think his awareness of where to find openings — he scored a bunch of one-timer goals, whether it was low by the goal line or whether it was up at the top of the circle. He really did a great job of finding the space. As well as having a good shot, it’s critical to be able to find the opportunities to get shots, and he made great strides in that area, too.”

Hagens with a hat trick to close out the second!

📺 NESN pic.twitter.com/pF4kNg3197

— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) February 21, 2026

How Hagens can boost Boston’s power play

One area where Hagens could really make a positive impact early in his Bruins career is on the power play.

He thrived in those situations for BC, where his vision, playmaking and ability to carry the puck into the offensive zone made a huge difference.

“James was tremendous for us on the power play this year,” Brown said. “He kind of ran it from the flank, and his skill set obviously lends to offensive hockey. But his ability to play the game with his head up the whole time allows him to see opportunities and where openings come very quickly.

“He doesn’t have to look down and check the puck and make sure it’s on his stick. He’s always scanning, always ready to look for the next opportunity. So, I think that will serve him very well as he makes the transition to pro hockey.”

Will Hagens play center or wing?

Bruins head coach Marco Sturm did not commit to putting Hagens into a certain spot in the lineup when asked at a press conference Thursday, but it sounds like most, if not all, of his early reps will be on the wing.

“It’s probably a wing for sure, because right now we feel very comfortable with our centermen,” Sturm told reporters. “It’s not fair to put him as a center because he didn’t play it all year long. I think he’s in a safe spot here as a wing. Moving forward, we’ll see. I would love to see him as a center because he has that speed and ability to move pucks, but definitely not this year.”

Hagens is a natural center, but he played on the wing plenty for BC this past season. This kind of versatility should be a benefit to the Bruins.

“It was huge for us, (for Hagens) to be flexible and to be effective in all three forward positions, but I also think that it’s critical if you’re going to become an NHL forward. As you’re joining a team, you don’t know what their strengths are, where they have guys slotted. You want to be able to be put in anywhere,” Brown said.

“If they ask you to play left wing, right wing, or center, you wanna be able to say, ‘Yes, I can do that.’ I think he gained a lot of valuable experience, playing all positions, and he did a great job for us wherever we put him.”

Can Hagens live up to the hype?

Expectations for Hagens are high. That’s part of the deal playing in a sports-crazed city like Boston, especially when you’re a top-10 draft pick. But dealing with pressure and expectations are nothing new for Hagens. That experience will help him as his pro career gets underway.

“James does a great job of blocking out the noise and focusing on playing,” Brown said. “I thought, as much attention as he got from being a high pick and playing in Boston, I think even his freshman year was harder before the draft, when there was so much attention put on him, and he had to do interviews all the time, whether it was with teams or with the media.

“So the fact that he was able to handle that, handle those responsibilities and also still play at a high level, really showed his maturity and his ability to separate the two things. He’s going to have a lot of attention, but so far, the way he’s handled it, it gave him great experience in that department, and I think he really doesn’t let it affect him.

“When he steps on that ice, he’s all-in on how he’s gonna play.”

DENVER — Tyson Gross gave Calgary a moment to hold onto late Thursday night in Denver—even if the scoreboard didn’t fully reward it.

The hometown product broke through with his first NHL goal in the final minutes against the Colorado Avalanche, battling at the top of the crease and jamming home a loose puck after a point shot from Matvei Gridin. It was the kind of gritty, hard-earned tally young players dream about—scored not with flash, but with determination in the blue paint.

A Dream Realized—And Nearly Doubled

For Gross, the breakthrough was only part of the story.

Just a few shifts after his first career marker, he appeared to strike again. Stationed near the side of the net, Gross angled his stick perfectly and banked another puck across the goal line, momentarily sending the Flames bench into celebration. For a brief moment, it looked like a storybook night—two goals in quick succession in just his early NHL action.

But the jubilation didn’t last.

Following a coach’s challenge from Colorado, the play was ruled offside at the blue line, wiping away what would have been Gross’ second goal of the night. Instead of a multi-goal performance, he was left with a single tally—though one that still carried immense personal significance.

Despite the overturned goal, Gross’ impact was undeniable. In a game where Calgary struggled to generate sustained offense, his net-front presence and willingness to battle stood out.

“I thought he did a great job on his faceoffs,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska stated. “He did a really good job, especially in the third period, winning draws and then going right to the net. He has a presence in front, and he did a good job of banging—or whacking—a rebound in. We’re excited for him to score his first goal in the NHL.”

Even in a 3-1 loss—sealed late by an empty-net goal from Nathan MacKinnon—Gross delivered a glimpse of what could be more to come.

A Much Better Effort

Speaking with several Flames players prior to the game—including Zach Whitecloud and Morgan Frost—the message was clear: they wanted a far better showing than their March 30 loss, when they were routed 9-2 by this same Avalanche team.

While the lineup wasn’t identical—Nazem Kadri, who had been dealt back to Colorado at the deadline, was unavailable due to a broken finger—the response from Calgary was noticeably different.

Despite another loss, the Flames didn’t go quietly. They competed for every inch of the ice from the opening puck drop. Dustin Wolf, who was pulled in that previous meeting after allowing four goals on 16 shots in less than half a period, bounced back in a big way—stopping 38 of 40 shots and giving Calgary a chance throughout the night.

If the Flames can continue to bring this level of effort, while retooling, drafting well, and steadily improving their roster, this is a team that could become one to watch in the near future. There’s no shame in this performance—only signs of progress.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the playoffs, officially clinching their spot on Thursday night with a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. It ends a three-year playoff drought and gets them back into the playoffs far sooner than anybody expected when Kyle Dubas was hired as general manager to start rebuilding the organization. There is still a lot of work to do long-term, especially as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and even Erik Karlsson get closer to the end of their careers. Those are questions for another day.

The only question that matters right now is what can the Penguins actually do now that they are in the playoffs with home-ice advantage secured in the opening round.

Given that this team has silenced doubters and exceeded expectations all season, nothing should be completely ruled out.

I said this a few weeks ago, but if you ignored the preseason expectations and just simply looked at the way this team plays and the numbers behind it, you would probably not hesitate to call it a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

As of Friday they are on pace for 101 points this season. They have the eighth-best record in the NHL as a whole, the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference and rate in the top-10 in pretty much every meaningful category.

• Standings: 8th
• Goal-Differential: 8th
• 5-on-5 Goal Differential: 7th
• 5-on-5 Expected Goals Share: 7th
• 5-on-5 Scoring Chance Share: 10th
• 5-on-5 High-Danger Scoring Chance Share: 9th
• Power Play: 7th
• Penalty Kill: 6th

They are also the second-highest scoring team in the league behind only the Colorado Avalanche, despite Crosby, Malkin, and Rickard Rakell each missing double-digit games. The depth has been sensational as they already boast 12 10-goal scorers, 10 15-goal scorers, five 20-goal scorers, and have outscored teams 93-89 with a 52 percent expected goal share during 5-on-5 play when neither Crosby or Malkin is on the ice.

They are incredibly deep at forward with as many as 16 or 17 NHL caliber players. That is a necessary ingredient for a Stanley Cup contender.

They also have two other necessary ingredients in a true No. 1 center (Crosby) and a true No. 1 defenseman (Erik Karlsson).

No matter who their first-round opponent ends up being, whether it is the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders or Washington Capitals (very long shot) the Penguins should be favorites in it. Imagine somebody telling you that back in September. You would look at them like they were crazy. Well there is nothing crazy about it now, because the Penguins are here, and they look like a team that is capable of at least advancing a little bit in the playoffs.

It is just a matter of how far they can go and what their ceiling actually is.

For all of the positives and key ingredients this team has, there are still a couple of questions that could limit what they do and how far they can go.

They can score with, and outscore, just about any team in the league.

The question will be stopping people.

While the Karlsson-Parker Wotherspoon pairing has been outstanding, the Penguins do have some big questions on defense after them.

The biggest being whether or not Kris Letang and Sam Girard can continue on the path they have started to display over the past couple of weeks.

When that duo was first put together it was a problem. A big problem. But as Girard has started to find his confidence, that pairing is starting to click a little bit. There might not be a bigger development for the Penguins right now than those two becoming a legitimate second defense pair. They are now outscoring teams 13-8 with a 52 percent expected goals share at 5-on-5 overall. Over the past 10 games those numbers are 11-5 and 58.4 percent.

That would be a game-changer to have two pairings you can count on.

The question then becomes whether or not you can hide the third pairing of Connor Clifton and Ryan Shea. And while they have been very good this season, and especially lately, I do still have some fears about Clifton in a best-of-seven series where teams are scouting deeper, line-matching harder and looking to exploit whatever weakness they can.

Then there is the goaltending.

Stuart Skinner seems to have taken the upper hand in net and is likely to enter the playoffs as the No. 1 goalie. It is deserved, and the best choice. For all of his flaws and inconsistencies, he has shown over the past two years he can play well in stretches, especially in big games, and at least do enough to get a team to the Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins do not need him to be a superhero in there. They just need him to not lose games.

I am not ready to say the Penguins are on the same level as a Colorado, Tampa Bay or even Carolina when it comes to Stanley Cup contenders. But they are also not going to be a pushover or an easy out if/when they get beyond the first round. This is a really good hockey team. A playoff team. Now we get to see just what type of playoff team they can be.

The Pittsburgh Penguins completed a double whammy yesterday, not only did they clinch a playoff spot for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs as a result of their victory, they also clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers loss. That makes for the best of days.

What’s next for the Pens?

They have to finish out the regular season with three more games – at home against Washington on Saturday, then a rematch against the Capitals in Washington on Sunday followed by a random enough trip to St. Louis on Tuesday for the final game of the season. The NHL playoffs begin in the days that follow, the Pens are expected to host Game 1 on either Saturday April 18 or Sunday April 19 depending on the league’s scheduling.

That leaves the next week to get ready, and it will be interesting to see how the team handles the build up period. You would think most, if not the full lineup star players will be playing tomorrow for the home finale (fan appreciation day, no less) and maybe try to get Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust to the 30-goal plateau as they share the ice with Alex Ovechkin one more time, and possibly for the last time pending Ovechkin’s summer decision on playing in the NHL next season or not. The added benefit would be a Penguin win over the Capitals tomorrow will more or less pull the plug on their season that’s already on life support – so what better way to end the lopsided Crosby/Ovechkin rivalry than ending his (potential) last season?

Beyond that, I wouldn’t expect too many star players to be taking the trip to St. Louis on Tuesday night. The NHL has call-up rules in place to limit the amount of talent that can come up from the AHL after the deadline, so it’s not like the Pens would be able to give everyone a night off, but there isn’t much reason for older/important players to not stay home and rest for an extra couple of days.

Then there is the potential opponents, let’s take a look as of today:

The Flyers remain in third place, but things have tightened up with their 6-3 loss to Detroit last night, coupled with the Islanders winning their first game with new coach Pete DeBoer. Columbus, sadly for them, looks like they have run out of gas following a 5-0 loss to Buffalo last night, spoiling a critical chance to get back in the running. With 29 regulation wins, NYI would hold the first tiebreaker over either team, should it come down to a tie after 82-games.

So, as of now for the Penguins, it’s looking like Philadelphia or the NY Islanders. Things could change with a couple of losses by them combined with a couple of wins for CBJ or Washington but time is running critically low with all the teams only having three games remaining in the season. It’s difficult to make up many points in that limited an amount of opportunites.

Philadelphia plays at Winnipeg (just about toast for playoff odds, but scrappy winners of three-straight games) then ends the year with home games against Carolina (already clinched first place, nothing to play for) and Montreal (who might need to win that game to win their division and avoid a tough playoff matchup). Fairly manageable for the Flyers, though giving up six goals and losing to a struggling Detroit team shows that Philadelphia’s performances are variable.

The Islanders might be the true wild card team (not to be confused with competing for a Wild Card playoff spot) due to their coaching change throwing a big change into the proceedings. The change might have come a little too late to salvage the season, though understandably enough because it’s not like there’s a reason to make the change unless things are already going off the rails. NYI ends with a home afternoon game against Ottawa (who have been all over the map but are starting to look stable with a three-game winning streak) and then play Carolina (nothing to play for) and Montreal (potentially something to play for).

The key to everything could be tomorrow for PHI@WIN and OTT@NYI. The Islanders need some help from the Jets and even more importantly they need to take care of their business against a quality opponent. The Flyers are one point ahead but a tie in the standings is as good a win for the Islanders, can they make a move tomorrow or will the Flyers get a victory and stay controlling their own destiny? The season for those teams may well come down to the results of how it shakes out tomorrow, given that they both play CAR and MTL in the final two games.

The season will not come down to the final games for the Penguins, though. They’ve taken care of their business and wrapped everything up a few games early. Now they can start to shift gears into planning for how to handle the meaningless games in the coming games and start to ramp up for whoever emerges from a pressure situation late in the year as their opponent in the first round of the playoffs.

While Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield was scoring the 50th goal of his career on the Bell Centre ice, prospect Michael Hage and his Michigan Wolverines were taking on the Denver Pioneers in the Frozen Four semi-final in Vegas.

In a hotly contested game, Denver came out on top with a 4-3 win in double overtime. Hage got one assist in the game, just like Sam Harris (another Canadiens prospect who plays for Denver). The defeat means Hage’s season is over, and it will be time for him to decide what he wants to do next season. Of course, he might need a bit of time to grieve after failing to reach the Frozen Four final, but given the fact that there are only three games left in the Canadiens’ season, a decision should be made rather quickly.

Caufield Makes History For The Canadiens
Canadiens’ Kent Hughes Praises Martin St-Louis And Adam Nicholas
Mike Matheson Named Canadiens’ Candidate For Bill Masterton Trophy

It’s obvious that the Habs believe the 6-foot-1, 199 lbs center is ready to turn pro. While Kent Hughes said the decision was up to the player, the way he spoke in interviews this season leaves little doubt about what the Canadiens would like him to do.

If he does decide to make the jump to the pros, one question remains: Will he sign his ELC and join the Canadiens right away, or will the organization decide that it would be good for him to join the Laval Rocket in their playoff run? If they decide to opt for the second option, the youngster will sign his ELC to start in the 2026-27 season and sign a one-way AHL contract to join Pascal Vincent’s team, just like Jacob Fowler did last season. 

This will probably be a tricky decision for the Canadiens, who are eager to see what the youngster could do in the NHL, but every game is pivotal right now as the Sainte-Flanelle is fighting for home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Is now the right time to bring someone new in? He has plenty of talent and should be a good NHL player in the future, but is he ready to dive right into the deep end? Furthermore, he suffered a lower-body injury recently and is probably not fully healthy right now. 

Seeing Martin St-Louis try different combinations for his second line in the last couple of games, it’s clear that he isn’t set on one combination yet, and the hope is that one day, Hage could be their second center, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to step into that role right away. The pivot finished his sophomore season in Michigan with 52 points in 39 games, a big improvement from the 34 points he got in 33 games as a rookie.

Chances are, Hage will be wanting to burn the first year of his ELC this season, but we’ve seen Hughes manage to have his way in the past.

Whichever path the Canadiens and Hage decide to pick, he will probably find himself playing in Laval next season. There’s a huge gap between the NCAA and the NHL level of play; it takes some getting used to. The 21st overall pick at the 2024 draft would benefit from spending some time under Vincent in Laval.

Of course, there's also a possibility that he decides to return to Michigan for another year to try for a national title, but I would be surprised if that was the case. 

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ELMONT, NY -- After watching countless hours of film on New York Islanders rookie phenom Matthew Schaefer during the roster construction process of Team Canada's 2026 Winter Olympics team -- a team Schaefer didn't make -- Thursday night marked the first time Pete DeBoer would see the 18-year-old in action.

Not only did Schaefer score his 23rd goal of the season to tie Brian Leech for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history, but we saw what we've seen all season long: his two-way game. 

Islanders Matthew Schaefer Ties Brian Leech For Most Goals By Rookie Defenseman In NHL HistorySchaefer etches his name in NHL history, netting his 23rd goal to match a legendary rookie defenseman's scoring record.

He was getting back to break up players, he was saving pucks from going over the goal line, and in the final few minutes, with the Islanders holding a two-goal lead, he was blocking shots off the collarbone to help secure a critical two points. 

"I told the coaching staff in there. They've seen him every night this year. So you probably get a little bit numb to it. But for me, watching him from the bench live like that, it was just, wow," DeBoer said. "I mean, what a player. I watched him a lot on video as we were scouting for the Olympics.

"But to see him live like that at the age he's at, and how dynamic he is both ends of the rink, defensively, particularly, I mean...I know the offensive stuff, but for a young player, how defensively aware he is and how much he works at the defensive piece of the game, too, he's a really, really special player."

Thursday night in Seattle the Kraken met the LasVegas Golden Knights.  The teams had met twice before this season; Seattle came out victorious in both.  The Kraken maintained that winning record, eking out a 4-3 shootout win.

The game started out rough.  Mark Stone had Vegas ahead 2-0 by a minute into the second period.  The Kraken had some good chances, but could not get anything past Adin Hill.  Finally, almost eighteen minutes into the second period Jared McCann capitalized on a power play opportunity and the Kraken were on the board.

In the third period Vegas scored again and the Kraken found themselves in a two-goal deficit for the second time.  Berkly Catton took advantage of an out-of-position Adin Hill and with a lucky bounce scored his seventh of the season.  Suddenly, the Kraken only needed a single goal to even the score.

Where else could the missing point come from but Bobby McMann?  With a nearly point-per-game average since joining the Kraken just after the trade deadline, McMann has been a consistent feature on the Seattle scoreboard.  On a pass from Jordan Eberle out of the corner, McMann hurled the puck over Hill’s right shoulder to tie the game.

Overtime was scoreless and the game moved on to the shootout.  Mitch Marner managed to get one past Joey Daccord, but it was the first and last for Vegas.  On the Kraken’s next turn, Matty Beniers deked, fooling Hill who dived left while Beniers slid the puck in on his right side.  Daccord and Hill went stop-for-stop until the Kraken sent out rookie Berkly Catton.  

Hoping his lucky bounce would portend good fortune in the shoot out, and it did.  Catton put the Kraken up 2-1 in the shootout, and Vegas got one more opportunity to stay in the game.  Pavel Dorofeyev gave is his best wrist shot, but Daccord was ready for him.  The Kraken emerged victorious.

Currently, the Golden Knights hold the second seed in the Pacific Division standings, just one point behind the Anaheim Ducks in first.  The Kraken, on the other hand, are eight points out of a wildcard spot with only four games remaining.  While not technically mathematically eliminated yet, the likelihood of any kind playoff run for Seattle is virtually nonexistent.

Related:

Ron Francis To Step Down At End Of SeasonThe Kraken seek a new leader as Ron Francis departs, leaving a legacy of team building and a future in flux.