LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights will host the Minnesota Wild on Easter Sunday, as the teams open their Western Conference playoff series at T-Mobile Arena at 7 pm pacific.

Vegas, which earned the Western Conference's No. 2 seed, earned home ice, after winning the Pacific Division. The Knights have the home-ice advantage against every team in the conference except the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets.

The Wild are the Western Conference's top Wild Card.

The Golden Knights and Minnesota have played three times this season, with Vegas sweeping the regular-season series.

The first meeting saw the Golden Knights defeat the Wild 3-2 on Dec. 15. The next two meetings were won more dominantly, but the Wild were also without star Kirill Kaprizov.

Vegas turned in victories of 4-1 and 5-1.

Game 2 returns to T-Mobile Arena with puck drop set for Tuesday night at 8 pm.

Games 3 and 4 will shift to St. Paul.

Game 3 will be on Thursday at 6 pm pacific, with Game 4 scheduled for 1 pm.

If Games 5-7 are necessary, they've been scheduled for April 29, May 1 and May 3, with start times to be announced.

Games 5 and 7 would be in Vegas, with Game 6 being played in Minnesota.

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Maple Leafs netminder Joseph Woll should stay hot, hold game to under but in losing effort to Detroit Red Wings on Thursday

Thursday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups to end of the season.

The game that sticks out is one with the Detroit Red Wings, who would like to end off their troublesome season on a strong note after missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season. 

They will face off against a fierce Toronto Maple Leafs team that will likely be shorthanded after securing the Atlantic Division with their last win on Tuesday and will likely be resting their horses in this one. It should give the Red Wings a good chance to get a win and make for an exciting matchup. 

More Betting:Safe Bets to Close Out the NHL Season: Top Picks for Parlays and Futures

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 11-4 record on our last 15 picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings Best Bets:

• Under 6.5 goals (-160)
• Red Wings ML (+136) or Red Wings +1.5 (-188)
• Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points (-125)

More NHL: The Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

Detroit should be more motivated to win this game after missing the playoffs yet again and will want to give their fans something to cheer for. A big gift for the Red Wings faithful is beating one of their longtime rivals in the Maple Leafs.

This will be the 687th meeting between Toronto and Detroit with the Maple Leafs holding the upper hand all-time with a 302-285-93-6 record. Detroit has gotten the better of Toronto lately with wins in five of their last eight matchups with a win Thursday evening up the season series at two wins a piece.

It'll be challenging as the Maple Leafs have a league-best 12-2-1 record over their last 15 games while the Red Wings have a 6-2-1 record over their last nine games. The man who should help Detroit get the job done is none other than legendary winger Patrick Kane, who has been one of the hottest player on the team as of late.

More NHL:Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

The three-time Stanley Cup Champion has continued to play like an all-star even into old age with six goals and 12 assists for a team-lead 18 points over his last 17 games.

Kane has also done with historically versus Toronto with three goals and four assists for seven points over his last eight games against the Maple Leafs dating back to 2023.

Woll-y MolyDavid Pastrnak rips one off the post and back into Joseph Woll, but Woll's quick reaction allows him to save the puck from going into the net.Breaking news, ...

He should be one of the only Red Wings to score as Toronto's Joseph Woll has been sensational lately with a 5-2-1 record and a 2.49 goals against average over his last eight starts.

The Missouri native has also gotten the better of Detroit in the past with a 1-1-0 record and five goals allowed or a 2.54 goals against average and a save percentage of .900 in two career starts against the Red Wings.

Woll should do enough to keep the game to a low total but I don't expect a high-offensive performance out of Toronto. 

More Hockey:Top NHL Prospect Expected to Join Michigan Wolverines Next Season

John Tavares has fond memories of watching the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators in the early 2000s.  

Just a few years before being drafted first overall into the NHL in 2009, Tavares watched the Leafs and Senators trade hostilities in the 'Battle of Ontario'.  

"I remember (Joe) Nieuwendyk's goal, watching that," Tavares said, reflecting on Toronto's Game 7 victory over Ottawa in the 2004 first-round series. "I think Cujo (Curtis Joseph) running into the ref or the linesman there. So the intensity I thought was pretty unbelievable".  

The two teams squared off four times in the postseason between 2000 and 2004, creating some epic moments. Tie Domi was part of those teams, and his son, Max, will get to experience that rivalry in the playoffs for the first time.  

Part of the series' charm is the dedication of the well-traveled Leafs fans, who will undoubtedly make the trip to Ottawa for road games.  

"I think that's going to be key," Domi said. "Obviously, going into a tough building like Ottawa, it's going to be nice to have some support there. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Every game is going to be tough. It's going to be an absolute war".  

This upcoming series reignites a natural hostility already established between the teams. Who could forget when Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was suspended for five games after crosschecking Senators forward Ridly Greig in the head following the player's slapshot into an empty net?  

Report: Maple Leafs Defenseman Morgan Rielly's 5-Game Suspension Appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman to be Heard In-Person on FridayRielly was suspended five games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for a cross-check to the head of Ottawa's Ridly Greig.

While it's doubtful past incidents like the Rielly-Greig one will resurface, the three intense contests between the clubs this season make it clear they don't like each other, and much will be on the line.  

"I think it's just kind of natural intensity just because it's the playoffs and there's more at stake," Rielly said. "You look around at the other matchups, they're all going to be very intense and they're all going to be very competitive. That's what you get this time of year. And that's what makes it fun".  

'Good For Hockey': Leafs And Senators Will Be Hungry In The Battle Of Ontario's Newest ChapterThere might not be an NHL first-round series with more built-in emotion than the Battle of Ontario between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Senators' entry into the playoffs was somewhat unexpected this season; it's their first playoff appearance since 2017. They are clearly the underdog of the series, despite beating Toronto in all three regular-season contests this season.  

"That's a very good team over there," Berube said of the Senators. "It's a young team that's grown together. They added some veterans, but overall they're a good hockey team with a lot of good skill on the front end and the back end, and they play a gritty game. It'll be a tough series"

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are confident they'll have their injured players back for Game 1 of the playoffs against the Ottawa Senators.

Jake McCabe is on the ice for the Maple Leafs’ well-attended optional skate.

He’s been out since Apr. 2 with an upper-body injury. pic.twitter.com/zG1gyZg0zI

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) April 17, 2025

David Kampf, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson participated in the Maple Leafs' optional skate before their final regular season game. Kampf and McCabe have been out since Apr. 2, while Ekman-Larsson has been dealing with an upper-body injury since Apr. 9.

All three won't be in the lineup on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, but Toronto head coach Craig Berube is "fairly confident" each will be available for the first Battle of Ontario in the playoffs since 2004.

"I think they’re all in pretty good shape. I feel pretty good about it," Berube said.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube says he feels "pretty good" about David Kampf, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson being ready for Game 1 vs. Ottawa.

"I think they’re all in pretty good shape."

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) April 17, 2025

Max Pacioretty and Jani Hakanpaa, who have been on long-term injured reserve for some time, were also on the ice for Thursday's optional skate. Pacioretty hasn't played since Feb. 8, while Hakanpaa hasn't played since Nov. 16 as he deals with knee issues.

Berube has mentioned that he's "pretty confident" he'll be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs. Hakanpaa, however, seems to be more of a feel thing, with the veteran defenseman saying, "It’s been trending really good in the gym and on the ice, off the ice, everything. Hopefully, we'll get there. We’ll see."

‘Hopefully, We’ll Get There; We’ll See’: Maple Leafs’ Jani Hakanpaa Making Progress, But Return For Playoffs Still UncertainAs the Toronto Maple Leafs inch closer to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s cautious optimism surrounding the status of the return of defenseman Jani Hakanpaa — but no guarantees.

Both players wouldn't be eligible to return in the regular season anyway because of how close the Maple Leafs are against the salary cap.

Kampf has played 59 games this season, scoring five goals and eight assists, and averaging 12:24 in that span. Pacioretty has put up five goals and eight assists in 37 games this year.

McCabe and Ekman-Larsson have been vital parts of Toronto's defense corps. McCabe has played most of his season alongside Chris Tanev on the team's shutdown pairing. He's scored two goals and 21 assists (a career high) through 66 games, plus has averaged the most ice time among Toronto players this season (21:31).

Ekman-Larsson has four goals and 25 assists this season after signing a four-year, $14 million contract with Toronto in the summer. His 21:04 of ice time per game is the fourth-most on the Maple Leafs, behind McCabe, Morgan Rielly, and Mitch Marner.

Toronto clinched the Atlantic Division title on Tuesday with their 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. According to several reports, Game 1 against the Senators is set for Sunday inside Scotiabank Arena.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins may not be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.

But a whole lot of ex-Penguins are.

There are only three playoff teams - the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Los Angeles Kings - that are not employing a former Penguin (who was on Pittsburgh's NHL roster at some point) on their playoff rosters. But the remaining 13 teams have at least one, and in many cases, several.

Pens fans: Here is your ultimate guide to help you distinguish which ex-Penguins to root for - or root against.

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Carolina Hurricanes

-  F Jordan Staal: Staal played for the Penguins from his draft year in 2006 - he was late former Penguins GM Ray Shero's first draft pick (2nd overall) with the Penguins - through the end of the 2011-12 season, winning the only Stanley Cup of his career with Pittsburgh in 2009. He was, primarily, the team's third-line center during that time.

-  F Mark Jankowski: Jankowski was with the Penguins for one season in 2020-21, playing in 45 games and registering four goals and 11 points.

Dallas Stars

-  G Casey DeSmith: DeSmith played NHL games for the Penguins from 2017-23 as, largely, their primary backup goaltender, and he was dealt in the summer of 2023 to the Montreal Canadiens as part of the blockbuster Erik Karlsson trade.

-  D Cody Ceci: Ceci spent one season in Pittsburgh - a solid one - in 2020-21 before signing a four-year, $13 million free agent contract with the Edmonton Oilers during the summer of 2021. 

-  F Mikael Granlund: Granlund was acquired by the Penguins and former GM Ron Hextall at the 2023 NHL trade deadline, and... let's just say it didn't work out. 

Edmonton Oilers

-  F Kasperi Kapanen: Kapanen - originally drafted 22nd overall by the Penguins in 2014 before being traded to Toronto and then brought back to Pittsburgh - played parts of three seasons with the Penguins from 2020-23 before getting waived, recording 29 goals and 82 points in 162 games. 

Florida Panthers

-  F Evan Rodrigues: Rodrigues spent parts of three seasons on Pittsburgh's NHL roster from 2019-22 and was a solid depth piece. He was traded to Toronto as part of the deal that brought Kapanen back to Pittsburgh, and then he signed with the Penguins as a free agent for the 2020-21 season.

-  D Dmitry Kulikov: The veteran defenseman had a brief stint with the Penguins post-trade deadline in 2023, but he only played in six games total - registering one point - due to injury.

Even In Passing, Shero Leaves Legacy On Penguins OrganizationIt's hard to talk about the Sidney Crosby-era Pittsburgh Penguins without talking about former general manager Ray Shero.

Minnesota Wild

-  F Frederick Gaudreau: Gaudreau, 31, spent parts of one season in 2020-21 with the Penguins, as he was back-and-forth between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate. He posted two goals and 10 points in 19 games with the NHL club that season.

-  F Vinnie Hinostroza: A bit of a journeyman, Hinostroza was with the Penguins' organization in 2023-24 and played in only 14 games at the NHL level, registering a goal and three points. 

-  G Marc-Andre Fleury: Beloved to the Pittsburgh faithful, Fleury was drafted first overall by the Penguins in 2003 and went on to help the team win three Stanley Cup championships. He was selected first overall in the 2017 expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights, ending his long Pittsburgh tenure. Fleury plans to retire once the 2024-25 season concludes for the Wild.

Montreal Canadiens

-  D Mike Matheson: A smooth-skating, puck-moving, high-risk defenseman, Matheson came to Pittsburgh from Florida in the Patric Hornqvist trade and played two seasons with Pittsburgh from 2020-22. He was traded to the Habs in a package for defenseman Jeff Petry in the summer of 2022.

New Jersey Devils

-  F Cody Glass: Glass was brought to Pittsburgh from the Nashville Predators last summer, along with a couple of draft picks. He was dealt to the Devils at the trade deadline.

-  F Daniel Sprong: Sprong was drafted in the second round (46th overall) by Pittsburgh in 2015, and he never quite panned out in parts of his first three NHL seasons with the Penguins. He was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during the 2018-19 season.

-  D Brian Dumoulin: 'Dumo' was a key contributor to the Penguins' back-to-back Stanley Cup runs in 2016 and 2017 as an elite shutdown presence. He was mostly paired with Kris Letang during his 10-year tenure with the Penguins from 2013-23.

Penguins Defenseman Kris Letang Has Surgery To Repair Hole In HeartIt appears the Pittsburgh Penguins will be down one more man for their final game of the season on Thursday against the Washington Capitals.

Ottawa Senators

-  F David Perron: Perron was with the Penguins for parts of two seasons from 2014-16 before being dealt to the Ducks, recording 16 goals and 38 points in 86 total games.

St. Louis Blues

-  F Oskar Sundqvist: An oft-injured Sundqvist played in 28 total games for the Penguins from 2015-17, posting only a goal and four points.

Tampa Bay Lightning

-  F Jake Guentzel: Guentzel enjoyed a spectacular Penguins' career for eight seasons as, primarily, Sidney Crosby's best winger. He scored 219 goals and put up 466 points in 503 games with Pittsburgh before being dealt to the Hurricanes as a rental at last season's trade deadline.

Vegas Golden Knights

-  F Tanner Pearson: Pearson came to Pittsburgh during the 2018-19 season when forward Carl Hagelin was sent to Los Angeles, and that was his only season with the Penguins. He registered nine goals and 14 points in 44 games.

-  F Reilly Smith: Smith came to Pittsburgh from Vegas prior to the 2023-24 season and showed little interest in being there, was traded to the New York Rangers in the 2024 offseason and showed little interest in being there, then got what he wanted all along and was traded back to Vegas at the 2025 trade deadline.

Washington Capitals

-  F Lars Eller: Eller was a reliable third-line center for the Penguins for parts of two seasons from 2023-24 with 19 goals and 38 points in 99 games. He was dealt to the Capitals in November this season after some brutal losses by the Penguins.

Like Ovechkin's Capitals, Penguins Owe It To Crosby To Right The ShipOn Sunday, the hockey world got to witness Alexander Ovechkin - The Great “8” - surpass The Great “One” for the most goals in NHL history.

-  F Anthony Beauvillier: After a rough season where he was traded three times, Beauvillier found his inner New York Islander again in Pittsburgh this season before - you guessed it - getting traded, this time, to the first-seeded Capitals. Not a bad outcome for him this time.

Winnipeg Jets

-  F Brandon Tanev: After spending two solid seasons as a bottom-six piece for the Penguins from 2019-21, 'Turbo' was, unfortunately, a casualty of the 2021 expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken. He was well-liked in Pittsburgh.

-  D Luke Schenn:He wasn't in Pittsburgh for a long time (48 hours), and he certainly wasn't there for a good time (he wanted to play for a contender instead).

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While the final week of the regular season is fan appreciation week in Montreal, it turned into Brendan Gallagher appreciation week this season. The Montreal Canadiens’ alternate captain lost his mother in early March, and since then, the fans have rallied around him to offer support and condolences.

Mission Accomplished, The Canadiens Are Back In The Playoffs
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Two fans went above and beyond, though. Artist Jessica Boudreau (jb_artmtl on Instagram) painted a picture of the right winger hugging his mother on his wedding day. When Gallagher saw it on Instagram, he asked to meet her in person to thank her and receive the painting. The meeting happened on Wednesday at the Bell Centre.

Later, after the Canadiens had finally clinched their playoff berth, Gallagher met Lucie Lachance on the red carpet. The Gatineau fan who had won his Hockey Fights Cancer lavender jersey in an auction in 2022 had offered to send it back to him after Della Gallagher’s passing, as he had dedicated it to her, but Gallagher replied he wanted to do a jersey swap on the final night of the season with her.

Lachance went a bit further, bringing the player gifts for his daughter Everly, who was born days before his mother's passing. Gallagher gave her a signed jersey and a signed stick as well, along with what looked like a long thank-you note.

Chanceux d’avoir des partisans comme vous 💜

Habs fans are the best#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/Iv15JaL4ym

— x - Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 17, 2025

Montreal Canadiens fans may be intense and willing to drive to the airport to get a glimpse of a 19-year-old’s arrival in the country. Still, their intensity also shows in how they support their players in sickness and health until death do them part, and even beyond that. Who doesn’t remember the funerals of Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur?

The fans' love for this team knows no end, making Montreal an actual hockey city. In this market, hockey is so important that electoral campaign debates are moved to ensure fans won’t prioritize hockey over politics. After all, politics and religion should never be mixed and for some, the Sainte-Flanelle is more than a hockey team, it is a religion. 

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Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. 

Win or lose on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-35-12) will have their first losing season since the 2005-06 campaign, when the club was 22-46-14.

That season was memorable for so many reasons. Mario Lemieux retired after 26 games, and Sidney Crosby debuted, finishing second in the Calder Trophy to future long-time rival Alex Ovechkin. 

Meanwhile, the NHL had only 30 teams; Jaromir Jagr was on Broadway, Martin Brodeur was still chasing the all-time wins record, Wayne Gretzky owned all the scoring records, and Joe Thornton became the only league MVP in North American sports history to be traded mid-season. 

Ultimately, the NHL was quite a different place in 2006, the last time the Penguins failed to win more games than they lost. Here are 25 fascinating facts about the league 20 years ago.

25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing Season

25. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings played in the Western Conference.

Both clubs moved to the Eastern Conference for the 2013-14 season.

24. The Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and Utah Hockey Club did not exist.

The Jets relocated in 2011, while the Golden Knights joined the NHL in 2017, followed by the Kraken in 2021, and the Utah Hockey Club became a new franchise in 2024.

23. The Phoenix Coyotes and Atlanta Thrashers were still active clubs.

Atlanta would move to Winnipeg in 2011, while the Coyotes would change their name from Phoenix to Arizona and fold operations in 2024.

22. The Boston Bruins hadn't won the Stanley Cup in 34 years.

Boston's drought would reach 39 seasons before a title in 2011.

21. The Toronto Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup drought was only 39 years old in 2006.

The Maple Leafs haven't played in the Stanley Cup Final since 1967.

20. The Chicago Blackhawks were in their 45th year without a championship.

The Blackhawks would win three Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013, and 2015.

19. Neither the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, nor the Florida Panthers had won the Stanley Cup yet.

All these clubs have won the Stanley Cup in the past 20 seasons, including the Ducks in 2007, the Kings in 2012 and 2014, the Capitals in 2018, the Blues in 2019, and the Panthers in 2024.

18. Martin Brodeur had only 446 wins in 813 games with 80 shutouts.

Brodeur would go on to set the NHL records for wins (691), games played (1,266), and shutouts (125).

17. Macklin Celebrini wasn't born yet, and Connor Bedard was turning one.

The Penguins' final game of the 2005-06 season took place on Apr. 18, 2006. Celebrini was born on June 13, 2006, while Bedard was born on July 17, 2005.

16. Connor McDavid was only nine years old.

McDavid was born on Jan. 13, 1997.

15. Mark Messier ranked second all-time in points (1,887).

Messier now ranks third all-time behind Jaromir Jagr (1,921).

14. 2006 Hart Trophy winner Joe Thornton had only 189 goals, 347 assists, and 546 points in 590 career games.

Thronton would finish his 24-year career with 430 goals, 1,109 assists, and 1,539 points.

13. The Detroit Red Wings had the fifth-best season in NHL history.

In 2005-06, the Red Wings were 58-16-8 with 124 points, the fifth-best single-season performance in NHL history. Since then, the Tampa Bay Lightning (2019) and Bruins (2023) have surpassed their totals.

12. Steve Yzerman was a few weeks away from retirement.

Yzerman played his final game on May 1, 2006, and ranked sixth all-time in NHL scoring with 692 goals, 1,063 assists, and 1,755 points at the time of his retirement. 

11. Six active players were in the NHL during the 2005-06 season.

According to statistics at NHL.com, only Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Corey Perry, Brent Burns, Ryan Suter, and Marc-Andre Fleury were around to see the last Penguins' losing season.

10. Mark Recchi had one Stanley Cup ring when the Penguins traded him in March 2006, winning his second with the Carolina Hurricanes in June.

Recchi won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1991, another ring with the Hurricanes in 2006, and a win with the Bruins in 2011. 

9. The Civic Arena was 45 years old.

Built in 1961, the Civic Arena was still four seasons away from closing its doors in 2010.

8. Mike Sullivan had only 164 games of head coaching experience, going 70-56-15-13 with the Boston Bruins.

The winningest coach in Penguins history has compiled a record of 408-254-89 in 751 games behind the Pittsburgh bench in ten seasons, including championships in 2016 and 2017.

7. Jaromir Jagr had 591 goals and 1,432 points in 1,109 games with only three teams.

Jagr is the second-highest scorer in NHL history, with 766 goals and 1,921 points in 1,733 games.

6. Mario Lemieux played his last NHL game on Dec. 16, 2005, five months before the season ended.

Lemieux played 26 games during the 2005-06 season, skating alongside rookie Crosby. 

5. Marc-Andre Fleury was 21 with 17 career wins in 71 games.

Fleury will retire at age 40 after the 2024-25 season, winning the second-most games (575) and skating in the second-most games (1,051).

4. Evgeni Malkin (1,212 games) and Kris Letang (1,161 games) hadn't made their NHL debuts.

Malkin ranks third all-time in Penguins history with 1,346 points, while Letang owns all the team's defensive scoring records. 

3. Alex Ovechkin had only 52 goals in 81 games.

In April 2025, Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's goal record with his 895th career goal.

2. Sidney Crosby had 39 goals, 63 assists, and 102 points as an 18-year-old.

As the Penguins' all-time assist leader with 1,061, Crosby is chasing down Lemieux's goal (690) and points (1,723) records with 624 goals and 1,685 points.

1. The Penguins were a perfect 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Penguins have played in the Stanley Cup Final four times since 2006, losing in 2008 but winning in 2009, 2016, and 2017 to improve to 5-1 in the championship series.

Most of the speculation regarding the Philadelphia Flyers has focused on their potential replacements for fired coach John Tortorella. 

Candidates range from interim coach Brad Shaw and the University of Denver's David Carle to Vancouver Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet.

As the off-season approaches, there is growing conjecture over their roster plans. GM Daniel Briere is reportedly open to using one of his three first-round picks in this year's draft as trade bait to acquire an established young player. 

Kevin Kurz of The Athletic wondered if Briere might consider going the offer-sheet route this summer. He pointed out the Flyers GM isn't afraid to make bold moves during the off-season.  

Kurz suggested Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild and Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs as potential offer-sheet targets. However, there's no certainty that those pending RFAs will be open to entertaining offers from other clubs.

McTavish could be an intriguing possibility. Anaheim has a projected cap space of $38.6 million with 16 active roster players under contract for next season. Kurz points out that the rebuilding Ducks usually don't spend to the cap ceiling, noting they must ensure they have sufficient long-term space for rising stars Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier.

Kurz believes fixing their goaltending should be the Flyers' priority. Their team save percentage (.879) and goals-against per game (3.43) are among the league's worst.

The Flyers could stick with Samuel Ersson as their starter and have Ivan Fedotov as their No. 3. Aleksei Kolosov is reportedly returning to Belarus following this season. 

Kurz suggested Jake Allen of the New Jersey Devils and oft-injured Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes could be the best option in a thin free-agent market for goaltenders. 

Trade options could include John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks. Thatcher Demko might be available if the Canucks decide to part with him after signing Kevin Lankinen to a contract extension. 

Briere could also be in the market for a young prospect with another club who could soon be NHL-ready. 

The Hockey News' Jonathan Bailey suggested the Flyers' seven picks in the first two rounds of this year's draft could help them make a competitive bid for Isaac Howard if the Tampa Bay Lightning decide to trade the 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner.

Correction: Marco Rossi is the Wild's pending RFA.

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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (39-23-7-1) played their 70th game of the season on Wednesday night, dropping a tightly contested 3-2 affair to the Providence Bruins, who broke a tie in the standings between the two clubs.

After the victory, the Bruins (40-23-5-3) now sit in the third seed in the Atlantic Division with 88 points, while the Penguins slip down to the fourth seed with 86 points. 

In the first, Atley Calvert tallied his ninth of the year to open the scoring at 10:32. Harrison Brunicke and Mathias Laferriere had helpers. 

The visiting Bruins tied the contest with the only goal in the second period, a Dan Locnelis tally at 14:06. After getting outshot 15-10 in the first, Providence had the advantage in the second, 16-10, with the teams tied on the scoreboard. 

At 7:50 of the third, Emil Bemström scored his team-leading 23rd goal of the season to restore his team's one-goal lead. Boris Katchouk and Nate Clurman set up his lamplighter, the Penguins' final tally of the night.

WBS Penguins Sign Three Players For 2025-26 SeasonThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins continue their quest for the Calder Cup this season, but the club is also looking towards the future, agreeing to contracts with three NCAA players for next season. 

During a Clurman interference penalty kill that started at 10:06, the Bruins evened things up again at 10:59 with a Patrick Brown goal, before securing the one-goal victory at 19:33 with a Riley Tufte lamp lighter. 

Somehow, Providence almost equalled their two-period shot total (26) with 20 in the third period, while limiting WBS to just six. The home team got fewer opportunities as the games progressed, going from 15 to 10 to six shots on goal.  

In goal, Michael DiPietro picked up the win thanks to 29 saves on 31 shots, while Penguins' Joel Blomqvist was far busier, making 43 saves on 46 shots. 

Regarding special teams, the Bruins went 1-for-3, while the Penguins failed to capitalize on their two opportunities. 

WBS will play two more times before beginning their quest for the Calder Cup, facing the Hershey Bears on Friday and then the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday. 

Morgan Geekie would ‘love' to be with Bruins ‘as long as I can' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The most important Boston Bruins free agent this summer is Morgan Geekie.

The 26-year-old forward is coming off the best season of his NHL career. He scored 33 goals — 16 more than the previous campaign. He actually became the first B’s player not named Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand or David Pastrnak to score 30-plus goals since Loui Eriksson did it in 2015-16.

It’s not like Geekie padded his stats by scoring a bunch of power-play goals, either. He was highly effective at 5-on-5. In fact, his 26 goals at 5-on-5 this season were tied for the second-most in the league and led the Bruins.

Geekie is able to become a restricted free agent in July, so the Bruins do have some control over his future. He’s also eligible for arbitration if the two sides have trouble reaching a new contract.

Geekie is hoping that process is not needed.

“We hope it doesn’t come to that. Obviously, no one wants to go to arbitration. It’s not a fun time for anybody,” Geekie told reporters Thursday during the team’s end-of-season media availability.

“I’m gonna prepare like I’m gonna be at training camp on Day 1. It’s not something I’m going to give too much thought about. I’ll leave it up to my agent and Don (Sweeney) and Cam (Neely), just go about my business and things will play out how they’re gonna play out. I love playing in Boston. My family loves it here. It’s one of those things I really hope works out, and we’ll see where it goes.”

It sounds like term will likely be important to Geekie in his next deal.

“Any time you can stick around — like I said, I love it here. I’d love to be here as long as I can,” Geekie said. “That’s definitely a goal, especially with a family now, being able to be in one spot would be awesome.”

Geekie also added: “If it was up to me, I’d like to stay as long as I can. I can’t say enough good things about the organization and the guys and the culture here. I would love to stay as long as I could.”

Players who score 30-plus goals are not easy to find, and they are expensive. Geekie’s current contract that will soon expire is a two-year deal worth $2 million per season. He deserves a large raise in his next contract. And when you consider the Bruins’ lack of scoring depth, re-signing Geekie needs to be a top priority.

The Bruins are projected to have around $28 million in salary cap space this summer, per PuckPedia. Geekie and defenseman Mason Lohrei (also an RFA) are Boston’s most notable internal free agents.

On a team with stars like Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, and Kevin Fiala, the name Alex Laferriere may not be well known among NHL fan bases, but Kings' head coach Jim Hiller would probably say it should be.

"He's going to be a really important player for us in the playoffs because he going to bring physicality and he started that tonight," said Hiller, following LA's 5-4 win against Colorado on April 12th. 

The 23-year-old native of Chatham, New Jersey has shown an ability to mix it up since his NHL debut on October 11th, 2023, when he dropped the gloves against the Avs' Logan O'Connor.

First time I've seen a family celebrate a guy fighting in his NHL debut like Alex Laferriere's family pic.twitter.com/j6i0aHfQLs

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) October 12, 2023

While Laferriere is certainly no enforcer, he never shies away from contact. His 124 hits are good for third on the team behind Tanner Jeannot (211) and rookie Samuel Helenius, who has already made an impressive 145 hits in just 49 games played. 

Offensively, Laferriere has made it a habit to improve on his numbers every year, even going back to his college hockey days at Harvard. In his first season with the Crimson in 2021-22, Laferriere recorded 31 points (14 G 17 A) and was the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Hockey Rookie of the Year. Laferriere had an even better sophomore year when he struck for 42 points (21 G 21 A) and helped lead Harvard to the NCAA hockey tournament.

At the NHL level, Laferriere is showing the same knack for consistent improvement. He had 23 points for the Kings (12 G 11 A) in 81 games in his first season but has come close to doubling that output in 76 games this year. Laferriere has 19 goals and 23 assists heading into LA's final regular season game against Calgary on April 16th. Should he score against the Flames, it would give the Kings six 20+ goal scorers, a testament to LA's scoring depth. 

All in all, Alex Laferriere has emerged as a key component for the LA Kings this season. With the injured Tanner Jeannot still listed as week-to-week, the Kings will need Laferriere to continue to ramp up his physical play. His mix of grit and offensive upside will be needed if the Kings intend on finally vanquishing the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs.

It was back in September — long before the Montreal Canadiens went on a Cinderella run that resulted in a wild card berth in their final game of the regular season — that Nick Suzuki revealed to The Hockey News that this year might just be more than another rebuilding year.

In other words, forget about getting another top-5 pick in the draft. The Habs captain was more interested in grabbing a playoff spot.

"Personally, I feel like you can’t just keep stockpiling prospects," Suzuki said back then. "I want to be in the playoffs. I’ve been in the playoffs twice now and they haven’t been on normal circumstances, so I haven’t got to play at the Bell Centre in front of a sold-out crowd. That’s definitely something I’m itching for this year."

On Wednesday, Suzuki scratched that itch.

The Canadiens have done the improbable — if not the seemingly impossible.

They are a playoff team.

Ole, ole, ole, ole... Habs are going to the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/aZyJIHyjy4

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) April 17, 2025

That they did it before the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings ended their playoff droughts should not be lost on the Chicago Blackhawks or San Jose Sharks or any other franchise that preaches a long rebuild in order to get back to the playoffs. Yes, the Canadiens haven't been in the post-season since reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2021. But compared to the Ottawa Senators, who missed for seven years, this return to the playoffs feels very premature.

No one was picking the Habs to be a wild card when the season began. Now, they will  face the top-seeded Washington Capitals in the first round, where the Canadiens are the "underdogs."

However, bet against them at your own peril.

"We wanted to make playoffs no matter what and we did it. That was our main goal all the time," Suzuki told reporters after the playoff-clinching 4-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night. "You can't talk loud about it. It was our little goal that we kept between us and, yeah, it happened."

Mission Accomplished, The Canadiens Are Back In The PlayoffsThe puck dropped on the Montreal Canadiens’ 82nd game of the season at the Bell Centre on Wednesday night, with the Carolina Hurricanes in town. Martin St-Louis’ men had already failed to clinch a playoff berth in their last three games, and expectations were high in Montreal, especially since the visitors decided to rest some of their regular players. Rod Brind’Amour even went as far as using Jesperi Kotkaniemi as his top-line center.

It happened mostly because of Suzuki, who since the March 7 trade deadline has scored the fifth-most points of any player in the NHL. But the Canadiens probably wouldn't have qualified without the unlikely contributions from their youngsters.

Defenseman Lane Hutson, who is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy, led all NHL rookies with 66 points in 82 games. Juraj Slafkovsky, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2022 draft, had a breakout year with 51 points. Cole Caufield, who is still only 24, led the team with 37 goals. Even 18-year-old Ivan Demidov, who has played in two games since coming over from Russia, has contributed with a goal and an assist.

And then, there were the players who everyone thought would have been gone by now.

Instead of trading Jake Evans at the deadline, the team signed him to an extension. On Wednesday, he rewarded that decision by scoring the empty-netter that sealed the win. Marc Savard, another player who was rumored to be moved, led the team with 180 blocked shots.

"Top to bottom, we have really deep forwards," said Suzuki. "I think our young D will just keep getting better. We’re adding probably some young guys that will make the team and give us a boost. From the first line to the fourth line, I think we could be one of the deepest at that position."

Canadiens' Suzuki Itching For Playoff Hockey In Sold-Out Bell CentreMontreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish this season before it began.

Add it up and Montreal looks like they could be one of those dark horse teams that goes further than anyone expected. By making the playoffs, they've already done that.

Now, who knows what else they can do.

The Blue Jackets will play their final regular-season game on Thursday against the New York Islanders. 

Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets, this game means very little other than keeping a five game winning streak alive, and going out on a winning note. The Montreal Canadiens beat the "resting" Hurricanes in regulation, which means the Jackets are out. They left it in the hands of other teams to get them in, which is not a recipe for success. 

Columbus Blue Jackets Eliminated From Playoff Contention The Columbus Blue Jackets have been eliminated from playoff contention.

The Blue Jackets still have this game to play, and will do so in front of their faithful fans who will fill the arena to the rafters. 

There are still a few things to play for.

1. A six game winning streak.
2. Zach Werenski needs 1 assist to tie the single season assist record, and two to pass Artemi Panarin.
3. Boone Jenner is one goal from 200 in his career.
4. Columbus will have five players who will play 82 games - Kuraly, Provorov, Olivier, and Fantilli. In 23-24 they had just one - Provorov.

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play - 19.5% - 22nd in NHL
• Penalty Kill - 76.9% - 22nd in NHL
• Goals For - 261 - 8th - 3.22 GPG - 9th
• Goals Against - 266 - 25th - 3.28 GPG - 25th

Islanders Stats

• Power Play – 14.8% - 31st in NHL
• Penalty Kill – 77.8% - 31st in NHL
• Goals For - 261 – 8th – 2.73 GPG – 27th
• Goals Against – 266 – 25th – 3.10 GPG – 19th

Series History vs. The Islanders

• Columbus is 17-7-5 at home and 26-22-8 in 56 all-time games against the Islanders
• The Jackets are 2-1 vs. NYI this season. 

Who To Watch For The Islanders

• Bo Horvat leads the Isles with 29 assists and 57 points. 
• Anders Lee leads the team with 29 goals. 
• Ilya Sorokin is 30-24-6 with a .907 SV%. 
• Marcus Högberg is 2-5-3 with a .887 SV%.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Islanders

• Boone Jenner has 15 points in 31 career games against New York. 
• Zach Werenski has 13 points in 23 games.  
• Sean Monahan has 16 points in 19 games against the Islanders. 

Injuries

• Kevin Labanc (shoulder) is on Injured Reserve as of Feb. 21 and is out for the season (25 Games) 
• Elvis Merzļikins (upper body) has missed 4 games. 
• Jake Christiansen (upper body) has missed 3 games. 

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 321

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

Let us know what you think below.

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The puck dropped on the Montreal Canadiens’ 82nd game of the season at the Bell Centre on Wednesday night, with the Carolina Hurricanes in town. Martin St-Louis’ men had already failed to clinch a playoff berth in their last three games, and expectations were high in Montreal, especially since the visitors decided to rest some of their regular players. Rod Brind’Amour even went as far as using Jesperi Kotkaniemi as his top-line center.

Nick Suzuki Is Up For The King Clancy Trophy
Canadiens: The Training Wheels Are Off Demidov
Josh Anderson Wins An Award

Milestones

Although Juraj Slafkovsky is only 21, he skated in his 200th NHL game on Wednesday night. He started the game with 50 points, tied with the career high he had established last season, but he didn’t have to wait too long to top it, registering an assist on the game’s opening goal scored by Kaiden Guhle.

While he took a silly penalty in the second frame, as has often been the case lately, he played a great game. He was on the ice for three of the Canadiens’ goals, blocked three shots, and landed a hit. His physical play also led to Nick Suzuki's goal, and when he learns to play like that on a consistent basis, he will become a real threat for opponents. 

This Habs goal by Nick Suzuki doesn’t happen without the big hit & board battle win by Juraj Slafkovsky

pic.twitter.com/0ckn4uHEoQ

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 17, 2025

In the second frame, rookie blueliner Lane Hutson got an assist on Kaiden Guhle’s second goal of the game, it was his 60th helper, tying Larry Murphy’s record for the most assists in a season by a rookie defenseman. If his name wasn’t already penciled in as the Calder Trophy winner, it should be now.

Guhle Bounced Back

After a disappointing game on Monday in which he took a penalty that became the turning point, Kaiden Guhle played a massive role in the Canadiens’ win. He scored two goals, landed seven hits, blocked three shots, and logged nearly 24 minutes of ice time.

On nights like these, it’s easy to see why Kent Hughes decided to make Guhle the first young core piece of his defense. He can do it all, excel on defense, contribute to the offense, and pump up the team with his physical play.

It Wasn’t Perfect, But It Was Enough

While the 4-2 scoreline could lead to believe the Canadiens dominated, it wasn’t the case. There was an agonizing stretch for Canadiens’ fans in the second frame when the score was tied 1-1 and during which the Hurricanes dominated even though they were icing a watered-down version of their roster. It was a display reminiscent of the loss against the Chicago Blackhawks.

With 8:49 left in the second stanza, the Canes had a 12-2 edge in shots on goal for that frame, and the Habs looked like they were playing nervously. The captain took charge four minutes later, and Suzuki scored a big goal to give Montreal a lead that Guhle doubled minutes later. Then, in the final frame, after the Canes had gotten back to within one, there was a lot of defending, and the Habs really needed to work to close out the game, with the coach cutting his bench and using his more defensive players.

In the post-game presser, the bench boss was almost beaming with pride:

The last two minutes after we scored in the empty net, I could breathe a bit, and I was thinking about plenty of things, my dad came to mind, my mother too. My dad was a huge Canadiens fan […] As soon as I could, I went to see my dad in the room and gave him a big hug, I think he was even more stressed than our players.

- Martin St-Louis about the way he felt.

St-Louis was visibly proud of his team and can now look forward to experiencing the playoffs in Montreal while being on the home side. It will be the first time since spring 2017 that the Canadiens will participate in the playoffs in front of a real crowd. There was that magical run to the Stanley Cup Final back in 2021, but the building wasn’t full thanks to COVID. If tonight’s anything to go by, the atmosphere when the Canadiens take on the Washington Capitals in just over a week should be electric.

---

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What's next for Sharks in net with Georgiev set to move on? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

Alexandar Georgiev is moving on.

“I’ve already had a conversation with the GM, and he said they’re going with a different group for next year,” the pending unrestricted free agent shared, after stopping 25 of 27 shots in the Sharks’ season-ending 3-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.

It was the Sharks’ 11th-straight loss.

Georgiev, 29, was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Mackenzie Blackwood trade on Dec. 9.

It was a trying campaign for Georgiev, who had led the NHL in wins over the last two years.

Ousted by the team that he thought he’d be leading into the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring, the veteran netminder had to try and find his game on perhaps the worst defensive team in the league.

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