Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is scheduled to return to the lineup on Wednesday, March 18 for the first time since he was injured at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Crosby has missed 11 NHL games since he suffered a lower-body injury on a Radko Gudas check during Canada's quarterfinal win against Czechia. He also missed the semifinal and the gold medal game loss to the United States.
The Penguins have gone 5-3-3 in Crosby's absence to remain in a playoff position, and during five of those games, they were without suspended Evgeni Malkin.
"When you see on a nightly basis the way we compete, the way we work, just coming back in games ... I just want to jump in there and contribute the best I can," Crosby told reporters.
Malkin had two goals and an assist when he returned from his suspension in the Penguins' last game.
"He set the bar high," Crosby said.
Sidney Crosby injury update
Penguins coach Dan Muse told reporters that Sidney Crosby will return from his 11-game absence on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was practicing on a line with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
Sidney Crosby stats
Despite missing the 11 games, Crosby remains the Penguins' top scorer this season. He has 59 points in 56 games. This season, he passed Mario Lemieux to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
Heading into the third and final head-to-head matchup of the season between the Blues (27-30-10) and Flames (26-34-7), St. Louis has won eight straight dating back to Oct. 26, 2023, the longest current winning streak against any opponent and tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the NHL.
The Blues, who won at Scotiabank Saddledome, 4-2, on Oct. 11, then beat the Flames 3-2 on Nov. 11 in St. Louis, look to make it a clean sweep of the season series on Wednesday in Calgary at 8:30 p.m.
Dating to Dec. 22, 2018, the Blues have won 16 of the past 18 matchups (16-2-0) against the Flames.
But these two teams, currently on the outside looking in at the Western Conference playoff race, seem to be jockeying more for who will have a better chance at the lottery odds for the 2026 NHL Draft to be held in Buffalo June 26-27.
Currently, the Flames (59 points) are 31st in the league standings, which would give them the second-best odds of landing the No. 1 pick behind the Vancouver Canucks, who have 50 points and barring a late-season surge, would have the best odds at landing the top pick. The Blues (64 points), who have won five of six away from home and are 6-1-1 in March, are 28th overall but on the flip side, are seven points behind the Seattle Kraken for the second wild card in the West.
Each team has 15 games remaining, so how do you handle the situation of wanting to compete and play well, compared to giving yourself the best chance at possibly landing one of the top picks by finishing as low or near the bottom of the league standings.
Meanwhile, the Flames are coming off a road trip in which they lost four of five and are 2-7-1 their past 10 games, while the Blues are 7-2-1 since the Olympic break.
- - -
Dylan Holloway continues to lead the way with nine points (three goals, six assists) in his last seven games, including his 14th goal on Sunday in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 10 games since returning from his right high ankle sprain injury on Feb. 26. Jimmy Snuggerud, named the NHL's Third Star of the Week on Monday with six points (three goals, three assists) and a plus-5 rating in four games, and Robert Thomas, who had his personal nine-game point streak snapped on Sunday, has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his past 10 games. That top line has been an offensive driver.
- - -
The Blues are making three changes to their lineup, with Jonathan Drouin and Otto Stenberg returning along with Tyler Tucker on defense, and making way out are Jonatan Berggren, Oskar Sundqvist and Justin Holl coming out.
With a plethora of bodies and no injuries to report, the team can afford to make changes and look at everyone.
- - -
The Blues have allowed 1.88 goals against per game in March, the fewest in the NHL, and they lead the league with five wins and 10 points on the road in March.
- - -
Blues Projected Lineup:
Dylan Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud
Jake Neighbours-Pavel Buchnevich-Jordan Kyrou
Jonathan Drouin-Dalibor Dvorsky-Otto Stenberg
Alexey Toropchenko-Jack Finley-Pius Suter
Philip Broberg-Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein-Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler-Tyler Tucker
Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Nathan Walker, Matthew Kessel, Jonatan Berggren. The Blues report no injuries.
- - -
Flames Projected Lineup:
Blake Coleman-Mikael Backlund-Joel Farabee
Matvei Gridin-Morgan Frost-Matt Coronato
Yegor Sharangovich-Ryan Strome-Connor Zary
Victor Olofsson-Martin Pospisil-Adam Klapka
Kevin Bahl-Zach Whitecloud
Olli Maatta-Hunter Brzustewicz
Joel Hanley-Zayne Parekh
Devin Cooley will start in goal; Dustin Wolf will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Ryan Lomberg, John Beecher, Brayden Pachal,Yan Kuznetsov and Tyson Gross. Jake Bean (undisclosed), Samuel Honzek (upper body) and Jonathan Huberdeau (hip) are out.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain will return to the lineup on Wednesday night against Carolina after missing nearly a month with a lower-body injury sustained while competing for Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
“Excited to get back in it,” Crosby told reporters after the team's morning skate.
Crosby hasn't played since his right leg buckled during a collision with Czechia's Radko Gudas during Canada's quarterfinal win at the Olympics. The Penguins placed the 38-year-old on injured reserve after the Olympic break ended.
Pittsburgh, one of the league's biggest surprises this season, went 5-3-3 during Crosby's 11-game absence and is in second place in the Metropolitan Division with less than a month to go. The Penguins are eyeing a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
“It’s never easy watching, but I think you gain even more appreciation when you’re up top, and you just see on a nightly basis, the way we compete, the way we work," Crosby said.
Crosby has 27 goals and 32 assists in 56 games this season, putting him on pace to extend his NHL record for most consecutive years averaging at least a point a game.
His return comes four weeks to the day since he was injured. He had been skating with the team recently and his comeback comes during a busy stretch in which Pittsburgh faces a series of quality opponents, including the division-leading Hurricanes.
Penguins coach Dan Muse credited Crosby's leadership even when he's out of the lineup as one of the reasons Pittsburgh has been able to hang in there.
Crosby's return comes a game after teammate Evgeni Malkin scored two goals in a romp over Colorado after serving a five-game suspension for slashing Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin.
“To see him come in like that after missing five games was huge,” Crosby said of Malkin. "He set the bar high.”
The road trip started in Raleigh last Tuesday and will end with another game against the Canes. This will be the third of four matchups between the two teams this season. The Penguins won the first game back on Dec. 30 before the Hurricanes won the second game in a shootout last Tuesday.
The Penguins have won two in a row coming into this contest, while the Hurricanes lost 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. They'll be playing the second half of a back-to-back with travel, while the Penguins had Tuesday off.
Sebastian Aho is having another strong season for the Hurricanes, compiling 24 goals and 68 points in 67 games. Andrei Svechnikov, who scored in the shootout against the Penguins last Tuesday, is also having a good season, racking up 25 goals and 59 points.
Seth Jarvis was on the Team Canada Olympic roster and has been fantastic this year, leading the Hurricanes with 28 goals. He also has 53 points and is steady every time he's on the ice.
Jaccob Slavin is one of the best defenseman in the NHL and is elite at suppressing chances in his own zone. He'll see a healthy amount of time against the Penguins' top line, which will look a bit different for this game (and going forward).
Brandon Bussi started in goal for the Hurricanes on Tuesday, meaning Frederik Andersen will likely replace him on Wednesday.
As mentioned above, the Penguins' top line will look a bit different because Sidney Crosby is officially back. He skated on a line with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust during the morning skate and will return after missing 11 games.
Here's a look at the projected lineup:
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau
Soderblom-Dewar-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Shea-Letang
Solovyov-Clifton
Stuart Skinner will start in goal after Arturs Silovs started on Monday.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
Since taking over for the fired Jim Hiller on March 1, interim head coach D.J Smith has injected energy and purpose into the Los Angeles Kings' lineup. However, has he done enough to be given the permanent head coach role beyond this season?
Smith has coached the Kings for eight outings, picking up victories in half of them, and one of the four losses was in overtime. That comes out to a 4-3-1 record and nine points from a possible 16.
The Kings certainly haven't lit the world on fire with their play since the coaching change, but you can see some improvements in how they approach the game, and they're a lot more competitive and threatening.
That jolt of energy comes in the hands of Smith. But, there's a difference between a coach fixing the systemic and tactical issues on the ice and a coaching bump. And with that, Smith may need to prove a little bit more before Kings GM Ken Holland hands him a contract.
So, what else does Smith have to do to prove that he's the man for the permanent head coaching role in Los Angeles?
One accomplishment that would likely make D.J. Smith the official head coach of the Kings next season would be to make the playoffs. It's a no-brainer situation, but it would truly speak volumes if Smith were able to steer the ship around and get Los Angeles into the post-season.
That was the goal for the Kings going into this season, and despite Hiller failing to put the team in a prime position to reach the post-season, if Smith can clean up the mess, that should be enough to land him the permanent job.
D.J. Smith (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
Another thing that management will be looking for during the rest of this regular season is how some of the organizations' young key players perform or grow.
Some of those cornerstones include 23-year-olds, defenseman Brandt Clarke and center Quinton Byfield. And to a lesser extent, in terms of potential and expectations, Alex Laferriere, Alex Turcotte and Sam Helenius.
It's a good sign that Smith immediately found opportunities for AHL players such as Kenny Connors, Angus Booth and Jared Wright. It shows that the coach is willing to give the organization's youth a chance, which is crucial for the team's future.
While it's nice to dabble in the franchise's youth, the most important pieces of the Kings' future would be Clarke and Byfield. Once captain and center Anze Kopitar retires at the end of this season, and defenseman Drew Doughty will eventually be next, Byfield and Clarke are next in line.
Another aspect that would factor into Smith sticking around for the long term is the coaching market.
Whether or not Smith checks off all the boxes for Holland and the team's brass, if there's an appealing bench boss available, it may not matter.
There are other proven head coaches out there, including Peter DeBoer, Peter Laviolette, John Tortorella, Bruce Boudreau, and several more. Not to mention others who could potentially be let go by different teams around the NHL.
Smith's destiny with the Kings may be out of his hands, depending on the thought process of the front office. But he can certainly help his case one game at a time, and fight to get Los Angeles to the post-season.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Calgary Flames host the St. Louis Blues at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight, with both teams well outside the playoff picture and already looking ahead to the 2026–27 season.
Rookie Matvei Gridin has provided a spark for Calgary, and he headlines my top Blues vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks for Wednesday, March 18.
Blues vs Flames prediction
Blues vs Flames best bet: Matvei Gridin Over 0.5 points (+120)
Calgary Flames rookie Matvei Gridin is finding his NHL footing and has marked the scoresheet in four of his past six games.
The Russian cracked the CHL All-Rookie Team last year while averaging 1.41 points per game in the QMJHL, and he followed it up with 30 points across 37 AHL games this season before being promoted to the highest level.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues have surrendered a healthy 3.39 goals per road game and rank 23rd in expected goals percentage at five-on-five on the highway.
Blues vs Flames same-game parlay
Calgary is a respectable 16-12-4 at home, and the Flames have covered the puck line in 16 of their last 25 home games (+7.50 Units / 17% ROI), while the Blues sport a 12-18-3 road record.
In addition to both teams trending to the Under recently, Calgary has scored the fewest goals per game (2.46), and St. Louis sits 28th (2.63).
As a result, I'm anticipating a close, low-scoring game tonight.
Blues vs Flames SGP
Flames +1.5
Under 5.5
Matvei Gridin Over 0.5 points
Blues vs Flames odds
Moneyline: Blues -125 | Flames +105
Puck Line: Blues -1.5 (+195) | Flames +1.5 (-240)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)
Blues vs Flames trend
Calgary has covered the puck line in 16 of its last 25 home games (+7.50 Units / 17% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Flames.
How to watch Blues vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Mountain West, SN1
Blues vs Flames latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Back in late December, the Philadelphia Flyers acquired forward Philip Tomasino from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Egor Zamula. Zamula's time in Pittsburgh ended up being incredibly short, though, as he had his contract terminated and signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in early January.
Since being acquired by the Flyers, Tomasino has played for their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In 28 games with the AHL club so far, he has recorded five goals, 13 assists, and 18 points.
Yet, as the season carries on, it is clear that Tomasino has been heating up with Lehigh Valley.
Tomasino is currently on a four-game point streak with the Phantoms, where he has one goal and three assists over that span. He also has 11 points over his last 12 games with Lehigh Valley, so there is no question that he has been making an impact offensively.
If Tomasino can continue to produce solid offense like this for the Flyers, perhaps it could open the door for the 2019 first-round pick to get a chance on their NHL roster. Just last season, he had 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games with the Penguins after being acquired from the Nashville Predators, so he has shown that he can produce some decent secondary offense at the NHL level.
Recently, the Montreal Canadiens’ defensive woes have been at the forefront of their press coverage. Not that it’s a new issue, it’s been there all season long, but when you’re winning, or you can pin the loss on the goaltender, it’s not as obvious.
In their two losses against the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks over the weekend, Martin St-Louis’ men committed a whopping 40 giveaways. When you turn the puck over to the opponent and find yourself having to flip to defence mode in an instant, you’re more likely to commit mistakes in your reads or your coverage, and that’s exactly how the Canadiens lost those two games.
On Tuesday night, the Canadiens cut down on turnovers. Through 40 minutes, they had only committed six, and they ended the game with 11. Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle were separated after being on the ice for the Ducks’ game-winner on Sunday, with the sophomore skating with Jayden Struble while Guhle was paired with Alexandre Carrier.
While the defensive play was better, it wasn’t perfect. The Habs’ difficulty with the man-to-man defensive coverage was particularly evident on the Boston Bruins’ second goal. Struble had his man, but Hutson and Oliver Kapanen went for the same man, Viktor Arvidsson, leaving Pavel Zacha, who had scored the Bruins’ first goal, to skate unhindered to Jakub Dobes’ net and be in perfect position to convert on Arvidsson’s pass.
Confused defensive coverage is once again at the heart of a goal against.
Throughout the season, the Canadiens have outscored their issues. They simply scored so many goals that it didn’t matter that they allowed so much because they were able to run up the score. The problem with that is when you get to the playoffs, or even nearer to the playoffs, as we are now, teams tighten up, and they play a more defensive game. You can’t outscore fundamental defensive flaws in the playoffs.
At this stage of the season, it’s too late for a complete overhaul of the defensive system, but Martin St-Louis has to be aware that there’s a lot of work to be done there. While on paper the system works, it means that on the ice, players need to make the right reads in a split second. That’s easier said than done, and if a player like Oliver Kapanen with such a high hockey I.Q. can make a mistake, anybody can. On Tuesday, instead of sticking with his man, the Finn stopped and was drawn to the puck carrier who Hutson already had.
Of course, it’s impossible to play a perfect game in which you make no mistakes, but if the Canadiens want to get to the playoffs and play more than the five games they had last season, they need to tidy things up as a matter of urgency.
The Ottawa Senators are playing their best hockey of the season and look to inch closer to a playoff berth with a win over the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Wednesday, March 18.
My top Senators vs. Capitals predictions and NHL picks are calling for Ottawa to do just that and top Washington tonight.
Senators vs Capitals prediction
Senators vs Capitals best bet: Senators moneyline (-125)
The Ottawa Senators are putting together a postseason push with an active 11-2-2 record while ranking fourth in Corsi For percentage and second in expected goals percentage at 5-on-5.
It’s a different story for the Washington Capitals, with respective ranks of 25th and 20th during the same stretch.
Additionally, I also value Sens starter Linus Ullmark going 7-1-2 with a respectable 4.12 goals saved above expected since returning to action.
Senators vs Capitals same-game parlay
A key to success during Ottawa's heater has been excellent defense, with the Sens allowing the fewest goals per game (2.13) and third-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.
Plus, the Capitals have played to the Under in 10 of their last 12 games (+7.95 Units / 61% ROI).
Sens winger Drake Batherson rounds out the same-game parlay, as he continues to be mispriced in the points market. He’s found the scoresheet in six of his past eight games to climb to an impressive 3.19 points per 60 minutes.
The Washington Capitals have hit the Under in 10 of their last 12 games (+7.95 Units / 61% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Capitals.
How to watch Senators vs Capitals
Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Date
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
MNMT, Sportsnet
Senators vs Capitals latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
March 16th, 2002, started just like any other day. That night, the Columbus Blue Jackets were playing the Calgary Flames at Nationwide Arena, and I would be there. Little did we know how bad the day would turn out for one family though.
The Jackets would beat the Flames 3-1 that night. Geoff Sanderson scored, Cole Sillinger's dad Mike would score, and Ray Whitney would put on a show, scoring a goal and getting two assists.
The game also had some legends playing. Players like Bob Boughner, Jarome Iginla, Marc Savard, Craig Conroy, and Craig Berube were playing for the Flames. The Jackets had Jody Shelley, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Kevin Dineen, Mike Sillinger, and Rusty Klesla playing. It was the O.G. days of CBJ hockey for sure.
That night I sat in section 219, staring down at the attack twice net for the Flames. Midway through the second period, Norwegian forward Espen Knutsen took a harmless shot that was deflected way up into the stands behind Columbus goalie Ron Rugnutt. That happened a lot, with pucks flying into the stands. You can usually see the ushers walking down to where the puck landed and giving a thumbs-up if everyone is okay.
But on this one, someone was hurt. A few minutes later, you could see what looked to be a teenage girl walking with a coat pressed to her head, and leaving. Usually, that means the puck drew blood and that they were going to get patched up. The game continued, the Jackets won, and fans went home happy.
Little did we know though, that the young girl who was struck, suffered a skull fracture and had been taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital in downtown Columbus. Reports say that she suffered a seizure and was kept for observation. She seemed to be doing fine according to reports, even still holding the puck that hit her while sitting in her hospital bed.
The hospital performed a CT Scan on Brittanie but failed to see that she had a torn vertebral artery, which resulted in severe clotting, causing her brain to swell. On March 18, 2002, young Brittanie Cecil passed away at 5:15 PM after developing a high fever and losing consciousness. She was just 13 years old. She died two days before her 14th birthday.
When the local news and newspapers reported Brittanie's passing, fans in Columbus and around the league were shocked. How could this happen? What could be done to prevent this?
Jackets forward Espen Knutsen said about the incident, "I think about it all the time. It was a terrible accident, and I cannot get it off my mind." Knutsen was given the option of sitting out the next game but chose to play. Reports say that Knutsen was sobbing in the Columbus locker room after he heard of Cecil's passing.
"I'm not sure what being haunted by something really means, but if it means feeling the pain of what happened to that little girl all these years, feeling so bad for her family, wanting to tell them how sorry I am, then I guess that's what this is for me," Knutsen told the Columbus Dispatch in 2010. Former CBJ head coach Dave King said, "That incident ended his career. Espen was a wonderful person, and he had talent. But he was never the same player after that." King also said, "He was beyond consoling, and that was for weeks and weeks."
Knutsen, who had two stellar seasons for the expansion Jackets, scoring 22 goals and totaling 95 points, was never the same. In the next two seasons, he played just 45 games, mainly due to injury. He would retire in 2005 after playing just 211 NHL games.
Flames defenseman Derek Morris said, "You try to say, 'It happens all the time,' but you can't. I don't know how many times pucks get deflected over the glass, but it doesn't make it any better. You can always say, 'It's not my fault,' but you always feel like it is, a little." Morris would go on to play 1107 NHL games over 16 seasons.
In the aftermath of Cecil's death, the NHL implemented certain safety measures to prevent something like this from happening ever again. Gary Bettman ordered that glass be a standardized height in all arenas, and also protective netting be added to prevent high-speed pucks from going into the stands. Nowadays, most fans don't even notice the netting, as it has just become part of the experience.
Cecil's family would set up The Brittanie Nichole Cecil Memorial Scholarship Fund. Per their website - "The Fund will award scholarships to graduating seniors of Hilliard Darby and Twin Valley South High Schools who wish to become the best person they can be."
On this date, March 18th, we remember young Blue Jackets fan Brittanie Cecil, who would be 38 years old on March 20th.
NextUpFor Columbus: The Blue Jackets are back at home to face off against the New York Rangers on Thursday.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Nathan MacKinnon leads all players in shot attempts and shots on target, making it no surprise he’s also pacing the league in goals.
He scored in both games against Dallas this season, and my Stars vs. Avalanche predictions have him finding the back of the net again.
Let’s get into my NHL picks for Wednesday, March 18.
Stars vs Avalanche prediction
Stars vs Avalanche best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (+100)
Nathan MacKinnon lives to play the Dallas Stars. They have been a top-tier contender for years, and yet MacKinnon has still found a way to score in eight of the past nine head-to-head meetings, including six straight.
MacKinnon has generated 45 shots on goal and 78 attempts over those nine games. That’s an average of 5.0 shots and 8.66 attempts, better than his normal outputs, which were already elite.
With the last change in the Colorado Avalanche's back pocket, head coach Jared Bednar will get MacKinnon extra shifts away from Dallas’ top defensive personnel.
Stars vs Avalanche same-game parlay
Cale Makar has logged 26+ minutes in five straight against Dallas and should be heading for another massive workload, given the stakes of this Central Division battle.
He has an assist in seven of the past 10 games MacKinnon has scored, and heavily correlates at 5-on-5 and on the power play.
Thomas Harley blocked multiple shots in 16 of 20 games vs. Top-10 shot-generation teams. He has also blocked two or more in seven straight against Colorado.
Nathan MacKinnon has scored nine times over the last nine games against Dallas. Find more NHL betting trends for Stars vs. Avalanche.
How to watch Stars vs Avalanche
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Stars vs Avalanche latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Edmonton Oilers beat the San Jose Sharks 5-3 Tuesday night at Rogers Place, and here are the standings explained.
Going into the game, Edmonton sat five points and two places above San Jose in the Pacific. Sounds comfortable, but the catch is the Sharks still have three games in hand, and that gap can close quickly. Kris Knoblauch put it plainly before puck drop.
"It's a four-point game. If we can win tonight, we're up seven. If they win, (we're up) three, that's quite a difference in the standings. And you know, if we're up seven, it's a nice cushion for us. We have to keep them behind us."
So now it's seven. But holding that lead is going to be a challenge, and the schedule is a big reason why.
The Sharks have a better schedule than the Oilers down the stretch. The Oilers calendar reads as follows: Panthers, Lightning, Mammoth, Golden Knights, Ducks, Kraken, Blackhawks, Golden Knights again, Mammoth again, Sharks again, and finally the Kings on April 11. They can’t win them all (we think), but they have to win enough.
Conversely, the Sharks face a much more optimistic Sabres, Flyers, Predators, Blues, Blue Jackets, Blues again, Ducks, Maple Leafs, Predators again, Blackhawks, Oilers again, Ducks again, Canucks, Predators again, Blackhawks again, and Jets on April 16th. That’s 2 games against teams in the bottom 10 compared to nine for the Oilers and Sharks, respectively.
That's the situation without Leon Draisaitl, who is out for the remainder of the regular season as the Oilers announced Tuesday afternoon.
"We're not gonna be able to score five every night, but it's nice when guys are feeling a part of it," began Zach Hyman post-game. "Nobody's gonna replace Leon. He's one of the best players in the world, so collectively as a group, everybody's got to raise their game, be a little bit better."
The Oilers managed fine on Tuesday. They outshot San Jose 37-30 and won over 54 percent of faceoffs, but the schedule ahead is considerably harder than the Sharks'.
San Jose also sits a point behind Seattle in the Wild Card race with a game in hand, and now sits behind the Oilers, Kraken, and LA Kings in the standings. That'll make Oilers fans feel better, but there's still plenty of time for things to change.
The Sharks have every reason to keep pushing, but the Oilers just made the remainder of the regular season slightly less dramatic.
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Cleveland Monsters left wing Roman Ahcan (37) plays the puck as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Phil Kemp (52) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins center Joona Koppanen (15) defend during the second period of the American Hockey League game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Cleveland Monsters on February 27, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Wilkes-Barre Penguins endured a season-long losing streak of five games, which they finally put to an end by defeating Lehigh Valley last Saturday. Rutger McGroarty scored the opening goal in the 3-1 win to set the tone. McGroarty has produced five points in the five games during month of the March.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 15, 2026
Sunday’s win was much needed to get back on the right track after previous losses last week to Hershey and those same LV Phantoms. From WBSPenguins.com:
Friday, Mar. 13 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hershey 4 A five-minute lapse in the second period allowed the Bears to seize a 3-0 lead. The Penguins turned up the heat in the third, nearly staging an electrifying comeback. However, a tying tally never arrived after goals by Aidan McDonough and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard inspired hope.
Saturday, Mar. 14 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Lehigh Valley 4 (OT) Lehigh Valley pulled off a stunning rally, erasing the Penguins’ 3-1 lead in the last 5:13 of regulation, then winning the game on a power-play in overtime. Both Joona Koppanen and Tanner Howe had two-point games relegated from the headlines as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dropped its fifth game in a row.
Sunday, Mar. 15 – PENGUINS 3 at Lehigh Valley 1 The Penguins found redemption by clapping back against the Phantoms fewer than 24 hours later. Rutger McGroarty, Gabe Klassen and Owen Pickering all found the net for the Black and Gold to improve to 7-0-1-1 in its season series with Lehigh Valley.
Pickering’s empty net goal marked his sixth tally of the season, he had only two goals in 47 games last year with Wilkes. While not known for his offense, that’s a healthy uptick in goals this season for the 22-year old.
The games against Lehigh Valley were a nice reset from WBS’s recent trend of falling behind in games, as touched upon here last week, a trend that continued with falling behind against Hershey.
Here were the lines from the last game, Jack St. Ivany is back in Pittsburgh following his latest conditioning stint and Alexander Alexeyev has been returned to WBS after a short time on the NHL roster where he did not appear in any games with Pittsburgh. Tristan Broz remains out with an injury. A potentially good developing situation for Wilkes is that Avery Hayes was a healthy scratch in the NHL and could be further from playing after Sidney Crosby returns from his injury to boost the numbers of the Pittsburgh forward group. Pittsburgh made a paper move on deadline day to put Hayes on the AHL roster and maintain his eligibility to play in that league if they want him to send him back that option is open.
Game #️⃣6️⃣0️⃣ on tap today, and here’s how we’re rolling ⬇️
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 15, 2026
Clinching a playoff spot is all but a formality at this point, the magic number for WBS sits at one point gained by them or lost by Springfield and Bridgeport to officially punch their ticket. The bigger magic number to chase is 19 – any combination of those points gained by Wilkes or lost by Charlotte ensures a second place finish with 12 games remaining in WBS’s regular season.
The Penguins are waiting to see if Cruz Lucius will be signing with them and joining Wilkes for the remainder of the season. Lucius, named to the first team of the NCHC, had his college career wrap up recently with Arizona State after finishing 2025-26 as one of the nation’s top scorers with 46 points (15G+31A) in 36 games. Two of his teammates have signed contracts and turned pro but as of yet he has not. His options include staying to finish a degree and turning pro later this summer, either with the Penguins or waiting to become a summer free agent where he could sign with any NHL organization.
Up next is a rare Canadian road trip for the WBS Pens, with upcoming games against three North Division opponents in Laval, Belleville and Toronto. They should be clinching a playoff spot at some point on this trip and have the opportunity to get to work to solidify the important second seed.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche close out a brief two-game homestand Wednesday night against the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena, with both teams arriving in Denver looking to respond after lopsided losses earlier in the week.
This marks the third of four regular-season meetings between the Central Division contenders. The season series has already produced two tightly contested matchups—Dallas edged Colorado 5–4 in a shootout on October 11, while Colorado returned the favor with a 5–4 shootout win in Texas on March 6.
Earlier this month, Jared Bednar talked to reporters about having to face the Dallas Stars several times prior to the conclusion of the regular season.Credit: DNVR
Avalanche Searching for Response After Defeat
Colorado enters the matchup following a disjointed 7–2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, a game that unraveled quickly and exposed rare defensive lapses for one of the league’s most structured teams.
Nathan MacKinnon provided one of the few bright spots, scoring his 45th goal of the season to briefly tie the game early in the first period. The tally further cemented his place among the NHL’s elite, making him just the sixth player in league history to record at least four consecutive 110-point seasons.
However, Colorado’s defensive breakdowns proved costly. Evgeni Malkin led the Penguins’ charge with two goals, while Pittsburgh capitalized on turnovers and coverage lapses to build a commanding lead before the first intermission.
Veteran defenseman Brent Burns reached a historic milestone in the loss, scoring his 271st career goal to pass Bobby Orr for seventh-most by a defenseman in NHL history. Still, the achievement was overshadowed by a game in which Colorado allowed seven goals on home ice—an outcome that sharply contrasts with the club’s typical defensive standard.
Despite the setback, the Avalanche remain driven by elite production across their core. MacKinnon continues to lead the NHL in goals (45) while sitting among the league leaders in both assists and total points. On the blue line, Cale Makar remains one of the most dynamic defensemen in hockey, ranking near the top of the position in goals, assists, and overall scoring. Meanwhile, Martin Nečas has been a consistent offensive force, sitting among the league’s top scorers with 81 points.
It will be worth monitoring how the Colorado Avalanche respond on the ice following the public comments from Nathan MacKinnon, who expressed clear frustration with how head coach Jared Bednar has recently structured the lines.
MacKinnon after scoring his 45th goal of the season against the Penguins. Credit: Ron Chenoy
This is hardly an ideal moment for internal tension to surface, particularly with the Central Division race tightening and the Dallas Stars arriving in strong form. Dallas has been one of the league’s hottest teams, with just one regulation loss in its last 10 games, adding further weight to an already high-stakes matchup.
Stars Also Reeling After Defensive Breakdown
Dallas arrives in Denver facing similar urgency after a 6–3 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday. Like Colorado, the Stars struggled defensively, surrendering four third-period goals in a game that slipped away late.
Jason Robertson continues to pace Dallas offensively, leading the team with 80 points while maintaining his role as one of the league’s most consistent scoring threats. Wyatt Johnston has emerged as a major contributor as well, leading the club in goals and providing secondary scoring depth that has been critical throughout the season.
On the back end, Miro Heiskanen anchors the Stars’ blue line, combining high-end playmaking ability with heavy minutes in all situations.
High-Stakes Meeting Between Contenders
The matchup presents a pivotal opportunity for both teams to reestablish momentum as the regular season enters its final stretch. Colorado has historically held the edge in the series, owning a 56-40-8-12 record in 116 regular-season meetings, though recent matchups have been tightly contested and often decided beyond regulation.
MacKinnon, in particular, has consistently produced against Dallas, totaling 51 points in 46 regular-season games, while Makar has also been highly effective in the matchup from the blue line. Nečas has added steady contributions of his own, further underscoring Colorado’s offensive depth against a familiar opponent.
With both clubs positioned as legitimate postseason contenders and separated by little in terms of overall talent, Wednesday’s game carries the intensity of a potential playoff preview. Clean execution, defensive structure, and discipline—areas both teams struggled with in their most recent outings—will likely determine which side regains its footing.
Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield wasn’t on goal-40 watch for long. After scoring his 39th goal of the season on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks, the talented winger notched his 40th of the season in overtime to give the Habs a much-needed win over the Boston Bruins.
The diminutive winger is the first player to score 40 goals in a season with the Sainte-Flanelle since Vincent Damphousse did it in 1993-94, back when seasons had 84 games. The Quebecer only managed to reach that number once over the course of his career, and in an interview with The Gazette, he explained:
I’m surprised it has taken that long. I thought I was going to do it again. I did it in ’94, and I thought it was going to be more of a trend for me. It’s difficult, and it just shows how hard it is. You’ve got to be in good health. You’ve got to be consistent throughout the year. You can’t have too many slumps. You’ve got to go on hot streaks once in a while because there’s going to be some cold spells. But if you limit your time when you’re struggling, you can get it done. Consistency is the key.
Cole is able to score goals, but I really liked the rest of his game tonight. When he plays like that, he can have more scoring opportunities. […] All of his life before he got here, he played with the puck. In the NHL, the game is played without the puck; there are defensive moves you have to make, and you defend not with one or two players, but as a group. There are actions you have to take on the ice so that your team sees more of the puck. When you do that, your team has the puck more when you’re on the ice, you’re going to get more touches, and it creates a domino effect. There’s a hockey game to play, and it’s more than just scoring goals.
-
Asked what has to happen in a season for a player to score 40 goals, the coach explained:
It’s not just one thing. Sometimes, things start way before the season, and what you do to prepare yourself for a season, especially in today’s game, is crucial. If you want to have the opportunity to score that many goals, you need to have a certain amount of ice time, and it’s hard to get that ice time if your coach doesn’t feel confident when you’re on the ice on the other side of the puck. It takes a certain level of commitment for a player to understand that. Cole understood that. “ It’s been a while since we got a 40-goal scorer," I was 18 years old, St-Louis said, giving the media a wink. It doesn’t make me feel any younger, but I’m proud to be able to see it with my own eyes from the bench. […] I’m very happy for him, for the fans, for the organization.
-
While he was talking about Caufield, you can also find the rationale behind not playing Patrik Laine in that quote. Whichever way you look at it, the Canadiens’ game has progressed to such an extent that they now want to win and can no longer allow a player who can’t play up to those defensive standards to make the lineup. It's a shame for the big Finn, but that's the reality of it, and Kirby Dach being out for two to four weeks won't change that.
As for the man of the hour, Caufield got a bit emotional as he was interviewed by Marc Denis on the ice after the game and received a raucous ovation, you could see it hit him right in the feels and when Denis asked him what his next target was now that he had 40-goal, whether he would go for 50, he said that 41 was the next target.
Speaking to the media in the dressing room, he stayed humble, saying that his scoring 40 says a lot about the direction the team is headed and that it’s the right direction.
He also added:
A lot of work goes into that, a lot of great teammates and coaches, so it’s obviously a team sport, and that doesn’t happen without the guys in the room. I’m just lucky enough to be part of this group.
-
Speaking about his coach, he said:
It means a lot to have him on your side of things; it’s pretty special to have a guy like that be your coach and your mentor. He’s hard on us, and he wants the most out of us. It means a lot to see how much work he puts in with the coaching staff to get us heading in the right direction and give us a chance every night. Obviously, he’s done a lot for my full 200-foot game, I think maybe without that, you don’t get as many chances
-
By scoring that goal in overtime, Caufield also established a franchise record with 13 overtime goals (in both regular season and the playoffs), which belonged to Howie Morenz since 1936-37. And yes, there was regular-season overtime in Morenz’s days; the NHL discontinued regular-season overtime only in November 1942. The historical figure scored 13 overtime goals in 493 games with the Canadiens; Caufield needed only 378 games, which is rather impressive.
Cole Caufield
Sets Canadiens record for career Overtime goals (Regular season & playoffs) with 13, surpassing Howie Morenz#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/KlA76Bb15h
The Canadiens still have 15 games left in the regular season, and if we project his scoring pace over 81 games (since he missed one), it comes to 49 lamplighters, meaning the 50-goal mark is far from impossible.
Caufield still has five more years left on his contract with the Canadiens, meaning he could play another 420 games with the Habs (the season will be 84 games long starting next campaign). One has to wonder just how many goals he will have scored by then.
