Category: NHL

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Zack Bolduc sat at his locker recently, comfortable in his own skin -- his NHL skin.

The St. Louis Blues forward, playing in his first full season after getting a taste of life in the NHL last season after the Blues selected the 22-year-old with the No. 17 pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, can look around his surroundings in St. Louis and finally knows he belongs.

It took some time, plenty of learning curves and teachable moments, lots of patience and frequent flier miles between St. Louis and Springfield of the American Hockey League.

It's not always fun and games for a highly-touted prospect to hit the ground running -- or skating -- in the NHL. Look at Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon, who did have 63 points in his first NHL season in 2013-14 but only had 38 in his second; Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid did put up 48 points his rookie season in 45 games before he's taken off; Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov may be the best comparison of them all after scoring just 18 points in 52 games his rookie season of 2013-14. Those are some of the high-end first-round picks that are faces of the league today.

Not comparing Bolduc to any of these players, but it just shows that even the best of players need some time to develop. Bolduc is still developing, but the foundation seems to have been laid for growing his potential.

Earlier in the season, Bolduc still wasn't sure he belonged -- yet. As the Blues (43-28-7) embark on their final road trip of the season, starting with Monday against the Winnipeg Jets, Bolduc knows he longs.

"Oh yeah, definitely," he said. "I'm feeling comfortable and confident on the ice. I feel like I can play with everyone on the ice, against anyone. I think I can help this team win some games too. It's great to be a part of it.

"We have a great group of guys too. We're building something special here right now. We've just got to keep it going."

Bolduc, who has 33 points (18 goals, 13 assists) in 68 games this season and is among the team leaders at plus-20, was in and out of the lineup earlier in the season under Drew Bannister. But when Jim Montgomery took over and made his Blues debut as coach on Nov. 25 against the New York Rangers, Bolduc scored his first two goals of the season and seemingly began to build his game.

It took some time, even though Montgomery was building trust in the young player, but it finally started taking shape despite the occasional healthy scratch. Things really seemed to take off after the 4 Nations Face-Off break, coinciding with the Blues' 18-2-2 run since Feb. 22.

Remember, this is a player that combined for 209 points (105 goals, 104 assists) in two seasons with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL before turning pro.

"I don't know exactly when he had the 'Ah-ha' moment in the last six weeks, but he obviously had it mentally," Montgomery said. "As coaches, you can tell someone, 'I want you to make plays, I believe in you.' Until he believes it himself, there's going to be inconsistency. And what we're getting out of him is night in, night out, he competes. Night in, night out, his details are really good. The offensive part of his game, he's getting more opportunities because his habits are so much better."

Bolduc had a goal and two assists in two games leading into the break but was sent to Springfield during the break to continue playing, and despite only getting two assists in four games with the Thunderbirds, it seemed to reset Bolduc and he's scored 12 of his 18 goals on the season in 22 games since, including two power-play goals on Saturday in a 5-4 win against the Avalanche to extend the Blues' winning streak to a franchise record 12.

Power play goal for St. Louis!

Scored by Zack Bolduc with 19:11 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Robert Thomas and Cam Fowler.

St. Louis: 1
Colorado: 0#COLvsSTL#stlblues#GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/xOnQJqxpFB

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 5, 2025

Bolduc seems to have found himself a role in the bumper on the power play.

Power play goal for St. Louis!

Scored by Zack Bolduc with 11:07 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Robert Thomas and Cam Fowler.

St. Louis: 4
Colorado: 0#COLvsSTL#stlblues#GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/MfddxN3SLJ

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 6, 2025

"I think it's just time," Bolduc said. "Play the position and feel some situations here and there, be around the guys and do some video and try to learn everything on the ice and off the ice.

"For me it was all about time. You give yourself some time and try and work, try and learn every day and things will happen. I started feeling all the effort you put in when you come back, it's fun."

Even though he's played majority of the time on the third line with Oskar Sundqvist, Mathieu Joseph and whoever else has had to slip into the lineup, Montgomery seems to be tapping No. 76 on the shoulder more so if there's a need for top six minutes with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, or Brayden Schenn, Jordan Kyrou and Jake Neighbours now that Dylan Holloway is sidelined week to week.

"It's a great feeling," Bolduc said. "I know I can play with these guys. I know now I can help this team win some games and I can play with a guy like Thomas, 'Jakey', whoever. Sometimes I play with 'Schenner' when lines are flipping here or there.

"Our full lineup is full of talent. It's fun to play with everyone. I just want to do the best for this team and win as many games as we can."

Unfortunately for the Pittsburgh Penguins, they will be hitting the links early for the third consecutive season.

With a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, the Penguins were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season, which puts them just one season shy of the four-year non-playoff stretch from 2002-06.

For a franchise that has seen the success that Pittsburgh has, losing is not something the Crosby-era group, in particular, has been accustomed to. That's why it's important for the team to maintain the winning culture within their locker room as they transition to the next phase of young talent.

"Obviously, we're not where we want to be, and we all understand that," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "We know where we're at. We know where we want to go. We've got to keep working towards that, and that's what we're trying to do."

This one was a back-and-forth affair for a lot of the evening, as chances were traded throughout most of the game. Although the Penguins pressured at various points, Chicago capitalized on odd-man rushes and were able to get behind the Penguins' defense in the latter half. 

With just a minute and five seconds to go in the second period, the Blackhawks got a shorthanded two-on-one when Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson pinched to try to keep the play alive in the attacking zone. Frank Nazar capitalized to give Chicago the 1-0 lead. 

It's Only Been Six Games. But Rutger McGroarty Is The Real Deal.Yes, it's only been six NHL games for Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Rutger McGroarty.

Then, midway through the final frame - and after a flurry of Penguins' chances - Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev managed to get behind Penguins' defenseman Conor Timmins for a breakaway, and he beat goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to put his team ahead, 2-0.

Rickard Rakell did add a power play goal a few minutes later for his 34th of the season - tying his career-high set in 2017-18 with the Anaheim Ducks - but it didn't prove enough, as Mikheyev added the empty-netter with 56 seconds left to secure the win.

"I just don't think we matched their energy," Nedeljkovic said. "I mean, the game was right there. I just think they had a little bit more juice than we did."

Against one of the league's worst teams - as Nedeljkovic said - the Penguins just couldn't match the energy they had against two of the hottest teams in the league in their two games prior, when they took the St. Louis Blues to overtime Thursday and beat the Dallas Stars, 5-3, on Saturday. 

"We weren't even close to the team we were [Saturday]," Sullivan said. "It was one of those nights where we just didn't seem to have the energy. I didn't think we did as good a job managing it also. There's going to be some nights where, maybe, you don't have your legs or you don't have your A-game, so to speak. But you have to acknowledge it, recognize it, and manage the game appropriately and be yourself. I just didn't think we were diligent enough in that area."

In addition, captain Sidney Crosby's 12-game point streak drew to a close. During his streak, he registered 11 goals and 20 points.

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On Friday night, the Chicago Blackhawks were a part of history when they faced the Washington Capitals at home. In that game, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tied the all-time goals record set by Wayne Gretzky. 

Chicago had to follow that up with travel home to play a Sunday match against another legend in Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh Penguins are not an elite team anymore, but any squad with Crosby is dangerous on a given night.  

It looked like the Blackhawks and Penguins were going to make it to the second intermission scoreless but Frank Nazar had other ideas.

With under two minutes left in the middle frame, Nazar scored the first shorthanded goal of his NHL career. It was a great play by Teuvo Teravainen, finished off by Nazar for his 9th of the season. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on XFrank's first shorthanded goal, nbd🤷

Since coming up from the AHL, Nazar has been great. His speed and hard-working motor are noticeable on just about every shift. He needs to work on his finishing a bit more over the summer and in the future but you wouldn't be able to tell on this goal. 

In the third period, Connor Bedard made a great play to spring Ilya Mikheyev, who scored his 19th goal of the season. On the goal that made it 2-0 Chicago, Sam Rinzel earned his first career NHL point with an assist. 

Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) on XRINZEL 1ST NHL POINT. BEDSY POINT. MICKEY GOAL. 🙌

Rinzel has been playing well for Chicago in all three zones. He was finally rewarded with a point, which will be the first of many. 

With the assist on Nazar's goal, Bedard became the 11th player in NHL history to have multiple 60+ point seasons as a teenager. Sidney Crosby and Patrik Laine are the only other two active players on the list.

In the final moments of regulation time, Mikheyev deposited his 20th of the season into an empty net. The Blackhawks took the 3-1 final to the bank. 

After some struggles to hang onto leads in recent weeks, it was good for the Hawks to get this one in the win column. They aren't going to the playoffs and they are in the mix for the draft lottery but it doesn't hurt for the young guys to hold a victory. 

Next up for Chicago is two games on the road. It starts with these Pittsburgh Penguins again back in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Owen Sound Attack (Ontario Hockey League) goalie Carter George has been re-assigned to the Ontario Reign (American Hockey League).

The 18-year-old netminder compiled a stat line of 47 W 46 L 9 OTL  6 SOL and four shutouts in 113 games played with the Owen Sound Attack. 

George's quest for the J. Ross Robertson Cup was dashed by a four-game sweep at the hands of the London Knights.  George was virtually under siege in the 1st Round series, facing 42, 41, 39, and 53 shots respectively in the four games. 

huge props to carter george, absolute gem of a goalie, facing 53 shots tonight ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3P0nyI42Ow

— jenna (@jennaamxo) April 4, 2025

Although the Los Angeles Kings are riding high with goalie Darcy Kuemper this season, the organization has sought to bolster its pipeline of young goalies over the past few years. George will join 24-year-old goalie Erik Portillo with the Reign, with both prospects hoping to be the future of LA Kings goaltending.

Portillo, who was acquired in a trade from Buffalo, made his NHL debut this season on November 29th. His 28 saves on 29 shots backed the Kings to a 2-1 win at Anaheim and the big Swede looked the part of somebody knocking at the door for a longer stint in the NHL.

Carter George was initially drafted by Owen Sound in 2022 and then in the 2nd round by Los Angeles in 2024. Therefore, George cannot play in the American Hockey League until he turns 20. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native would, however, be eligible to play with the Kings at the NHL-level. 

A forgettable road trip has finally come to an end for the Florida Panthers.

Playing their second straight set of back-to-back games, the Panthers failed score in either game this weekend, dropping Sunday’s affair to the Detroit Red Wings 3-0.

Despite missing several key players, the Panthers looked like they were on top of their game during the opening 20 minutes.

Florida ended up with a 10-7 shot advantage on the Red Wings after the opening frame, but strong efforts from Vitek Vanecek for the Cats and Cam Talbot for the Wings kept the game scoreless.

An early second period power play would turn the tide in favor of the home team.

Alex DeBrincat converted a one-timer from Lucas Raymond to put Detroit up 1-0 at the 4:37 mark, sending the Little Caesar’s Arena fans into a frenzy.

The Red Wings doubled their lead about seven minutes later.

Crossing Florida’s blue line with sudden time and space. J.T. Compher snapped a wrist shot past Vanecek, giving Detroit a 2-0 lead they would carry into the final frame.

Rookie Mackie Samoskevich scored with under a minute left and Florida’s net empty, cutting the Red Wings’ lead in half, but that would be as close as the Cats would get.

On to Toronto and the final homestand of the season.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Florida’s five-game losing streak is the team’s longest of the season.

Samoskevich has two goals and three points over his past four games.

Anton Lundell assisted on Verhaeghe’s goal and overall has two helpers and 15 shots on goal over his past four games.

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The Vancouver Canucks will be getting a significant piece of their offence back when they face the Vegas Golden Knights. After missing the past six games with an injury, Nils Höglander will return to the lineup on Sunday night. Höglander will replace Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who had an assist during Vancouver's 6-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. 

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Höglander was injured on March 22 when the Canucks fell 5-3 to the New York Rangers. In his absence, Vancouver went 3-2-1, which included their victory on Saturday night against the Ducks. With Höglander returning, Vancouver will have different lines than on Sunday, but those will be revealed closer to puck drop. 

This season, Höglander has six goals and 21 points in 66 games. After a slow start, the Swedish winger was finding his groove and had points in four of six games prior to his injury. In 287 career games with the Canucks, Höglander has 56 goals and 111 points, which ranks 12th `among skaters from the 2019 NHL Draft class. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Russia's Alex Ovechkin has become the National Hockey League's highest all-time scorer by hitting his 895th career goal to surpass the legendary Wayne Gretzky's 31-year mark.

Canadian Hall of Famer Gretzky broke the record previously held by his compatriot Gordie Howe in 1994.

Washington Capitals' Ovechkin scored the historic goal against the New York Islanders on Sunday, with Gretzky in attendance.

The game was paused for almost 20 minutes as players and spectators acknowledged the historic moment.

Ovechkin was joined by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and four-time Stanley Cup winner Gretzky, who said: "I can tell you first hand, I know how hard it is to get 894 - [so] 895 is pretty special.

"They say records are made to be broken but I'm not sure who's gonna get more goals than that."

Ovechkin celebrated with his team-mates, completed a lap of the arena and then shook hands with his Islanders opponents before being joined by his family.

"What a moment for hockey, what a moment for myself," Ovechkin said.

"Finally no-one's gonna ask me about 'when you're gonna do it'. It's over right now."

The achievement was celebrated in Moscow-born Ovechkin's homeland too, with the Russian Olympic Committee and Russian President Vladimir Putin's economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev among those posting on social media.

His feat is all the more remarkable given that his season was interrupted for a few weeks when he broke his leg in November.

Ovechkin tied with Gretzky on Friday, during the Capitals' 4-3 win over the Chicago Black Hawks.

Who is Alex Ovechkin?

Ovechkin has been a mainstay for Washington Capitals since his NHL debut in October 2005, helping them to their only Stanley Cup victory in 2017-18, and becoming one of the greats.

He has now passed the 40-goal mark in 14 of his 20 NHL seasons, despite missing a month of this campaign with a fractured fibula.

Known for his passionate celebrations and relaxed attitude towards the strict diets expected in the modern game, his face is plastered across the league's marketing material.

But it is the nation's capital where his star truly shines, and with the Capitals having already qualified for the post-season play-offs, he may soon be writing his name in the city's history books once again.

Who previously held the NHL goals record?

Ovechkin is passing an all-time great - indeed, Gretzky was given the rather straightforward nickname of 'The Great One' during his career.

The Canadian played 21 seasons in the NHL between 1979 and 1999 predominantly for the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings.

Gretzky has held the NHL goals record since he scored his 802nd on 23 March 1994, passing the total of post-war icon Howe, his compatriot and hero.

While he may have lost that record, Gretzky still holds the league record for the most overall points and assists.

Ovechkin may have edged closer, but 'The Great One' remains out on his own.

Who has scored the most goals in the NHL?

1 - Alex Ovechkin (Rus, 2005-) - 895

2 - Wayne Gretzky (Can, 1979-99) - 894

3 - Gordie Howe (Can, 1946-80) - 801

4 - Jaromir Jagr (Cze, 1990-2018) - 766

5 - Brett Hull (US, 1986-2006) - 741

The Nashville Predators are set to face off against the Montreal Canadiens on April 6. After losing each of their last five games, the Predators will be looking to end their skid against the Habs from here.

This is a game that Predators fans should certainly be tuning into, as top prospect Matthew Wood is set to make his NHL debut. The 6-foot-5 forward is expected to play on a line with Predators forwards Cole Smith and Michael McCarron. 

Predators Announce Roster Move Ahead Of Canadiens MatchupThe Nashville Predators will face off against the Montreal Canadiens on April 6. The Predators' goal for this matchup will be to snap their ongoing five-game losing streak.

Wood just signed his entry-level deal with the Predators on March 29, and now he is ready to make his debut. When noting that the Predators selected Wood with the 15th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, he is viewed as having a ton of upside. Now, Predators fans will get to have their first look at him in the NHL during this contest against the Canadiens. 

Wood just completed his collegiate career with the University of Minnesota this season, where he had 17 goals, 22 assists, and 39 points. He spent the two previous years with the University of Connecticut, posting 27 goals and 62 points in 70 games.

With numbers like these at the collegiate level, it is hard not to feel excited about Wood's future with the Predators. It will be intriguing to see how much of an impact he makes in his debut with the club from here. 

Recent Predators News 

Nashville Predators Sign Goaltender To Contract Extension

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The Nashville Predators (27-41-8, 62 points) look to avoid a sixth straight loss as they host the Montreal Canadiens (37-30-9, 83 points) Sunday at Bridgestone Arena. 

The Predators are coming off a winless three-game road trip, most recently dropping a 5-1 decision to the Dallas Stars Thursday. The Canadiens, who currently hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, have won three straight heading into Sunday's game.

How the Predators Lined Up vs. Montreal

Bunting-O'Reilly-Evangelista
Forsberg-Stamkos-L'Heureux
Smith-McCarron-Wood
Bellows-Svechkov

Skjei-Blankenburg
Del Gaizo-Barron
Englund-Oesterle
Stastney

Saros
Annunen

Extra: Marchessault (day-to-day, lower-body), Sissons (week-to-week, upper-body)
IR: Josi, Wilsby, Lauzon

The Predators will ice 11 forwards and seven defensemen against Montreal. Defenseman Spencer Stastney, who missed Thursday's game against Dallas and was listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, returns to the lineup, while Colton Sissons (week-to-week) and Jonathan Marchessault (day-to-day) remain out with lower-body injuries.

Matthew Wood, the Predators' first-round pick (No. 15 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, will make his NHL debut with Nashville just over one week after signing his three-year, entry-level contract upon the conclusion of his final collegiate season at the University of Minnesota.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a hot lap pic.twitter.com/LIrfjcB9HJ

— Emma Lingan (@emma_lingan) April 6, 2025

Juuse Saros will get the start in goal for the Predators after being pulled from his last start after two periods in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Head coach Andrew Brunette, who is away from the team while he attends to a family matter, is replaced behind the bench by assistant coach Todd Richards.

Predators vs. Canadiens: Live Updates 

First Period (NSH 1, MTL 0)

Nashville scored first in this one, when Filip Forsberg forced a turnover in the offensive zone and found Steven Stamkos for the snipe at the 4:19 mark of the first period.

Steven Stamkos takes advantage of a Mike Matheson turnover and makes no mistake with it to open the scoring! pic.twitter.com/wFR1cPdN1t

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 6, 2025

Michael McCarron appeared to score Nashville's second goal of the game approximately three minutes later, but a successful goaltender interference call by the Canadiens determined that Nick Blankenburg had in fact made contact with Jakub Dobes and the goal was waved off.

The Predators carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Shots in the first period were 8-4 in favor of Nashville.

Second Period (NSH 1, MTL 2)

It took Cole Caufield less than two minutes to tie this one up for Montreal in the second period. Receiving a feed from Nick Suzuki in transition, Caufield skated the puck into the zone and beat Saros five-hole off the rush at the 1:40 mark of the middle frame.

Patrik Laine gave the Canadiens their first lead of the game four minutes later with a laser from the left face-off circle to make it 2-1. 

There may have been some bigger stories dominating NHL headlines on Sunday, as Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin officially broke Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record.

But there is another smaller story to look forward to Sunday, as two generational players - almost two decades apart in age - will square off for just the third time.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the Chicago Blackhawks, which means Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby and Chicago Blackhawks superstar forward Connor Bedard will meet for the first time this season - and just the third time overall.

Crosby is coming off of a three-goal, four-point performance in a 5-3 win against the Dallas Stars Saturday, and he and his team will look to take the second leg of their back-to-back against Chicago before facing Chicago again on Tuesday in Pittsburgh. In two games against Bedard, Crosby has three goals.

Bedard has two assists in his two games against Crosby and the Penguins. On the season, he has 20 goals and 59 points in 76 games, which is a bit of a dropoff from his production in his rookie season, when he registered 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games. He is tied for the team lead in points with Ryan Donato.

-  In other news, the Penguins will be without forward Philip Tomasino, who is being evaluated for an upper-body injury.  Forward Joona Koppanen will take his place in the lineup. 

Crosby's Hat Trick Powers Penguins 5-3 Win Over StarsThere is a certain NHL winger about to break Wayne Gretzky's goal record who is - rightfully - garnering a ton of attention across the league.

-  Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic will get the start in goal for the Penguins, and it will be his first start since Mar. 21 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, when he surrendered just three goals on 47 shots. His last two appearances came in relief of Tristan Jarry in lopsided losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres.

Here is the rest of the Penguins' lineup:

Rutger McGroarty - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Rickard Rakell - Evgeni Malkin - Ville Koivunen
Danton Heinen - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
Joona Koppanen - Kevin Hayes - Connor Dewar

Matt Grzelcyk - Kris Letang
Conor Timmins - Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves - Ryan Shea

It's Only Been Six Games. But Rutger McGroarty Is The Real Deal.Yes, it's only been six NHL games for Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Rutger McGroarty.

-  The Blackhawks have already been eliminated from playoff contention, and they are 1-8-1 in their last 10 games. Their goal differential of minus-71 is the second-worst mark in the league, and they are 14-20-5 at home this season.

Crosby is riding a 12-game point streak heading into the matchup, which includes 11 goals and 20 points.

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On Friday night, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals hosted the Chicago Blackhawks in DC. Ovechkin entered the game one goal shy of tying the record (894) held by Wayne Gretzky. 

Ovechkin scored the two he needed to tie the record against the Blackhawks, which set him up for a historic day on Sunday afternoon. Playing against the New York Islanders on the road, Ovechkin broke the record with his 42nd of the season and 895th of his career. 

It was as poetic of a goal as you could have asked for from Ovechkin to break this record, as it was a power play snipe from his legendary "office". 

The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) on XOV scoooooores!!! NO. 895! Passing Wayne Gretzky to become the best goal scorer in hockey history!

Dylan Strome, a former Blackhawks player, was one of the assisters on this massive goal. This was Strome's 51st assist of the season, the most he's ever had in a single season.

It was a mistake letting Strome go for nothing as he is a talented playmaker capable of being a difference maker on a nightly basis. With that said, his career was allowed to blossom with an organization trying to win every year at this current time. 

Tom Wilson was the other player to earn an assist on Ovechkin's goal in addition to Storme. When "The Great 8" scored this legendary goal, he dove to the middle of the ice and celebrated with all of his teammates.

A wonderful ceremony that included speeches from Wayne Gretzky, Commissioner Bettman, and Ovechkin himself followed. It will go down as one of the most memorable days in NHL history. 

B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) on XWayne Gretzky's speech as he passes the torch to the NHL's newest goals King, Alex Ovechkin 🐐B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) on X"WHAT A DAY" 🔥 OVI ON THE MIC AFTER BREAKING GRETZKY'S ALL-TIME GOALS RECORD 🎤

Now that Ovechkin has done this, 900 goals, perhaps 1000, and another run at the Stanley Cup await him. That quest for him will continue on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes in DC. 

Former Blackhawk Dylan Strome should be proud of himself. He is almost a point-per-game player and managed to have over 50 assists. It's going about as good as it can. He deserves it after being let go in Chicago. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

The Ottawa Senators' eight-year, seven-season Stanley Cup playoff drought is about to come to an end. It's not a matter of if but when. The Senators will face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday at Canadian Tire Centre, and if the Sens win in regulation, they could clinch a playoff spot as early as Monday night.

Good things happen in threes, and here are the three good things that need to happen:

On Sunday, the Senators need to beat the Blue Jackets in regulation, and the Detroit Red Wings need to lose to the Florida Panthers in any fashion. If those two things occur, then on Monday night, if the New York Rangers lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning in regulation, the Senators will clinch their first playoff spot in eight years.

The Senators enter Sunday’s game an impressive 12 games above the .500 mark at 41-29-6. They're already guaranteed to finish with their best record since 2017, when they finished 16 games above .500 at 44-28-10 and in second place in the Atlantic Division.

As most fans remember, the Senators made it to the conference final that year, coming within one game and one goal of the Stanley Cup Final. Since then, Senators fans have endured a lot of bad hockey, poor decisions, and general nonsense.

Now that they've joyfully emerged from that – like Andy Dufresne finally climbing out of a long Shawshank sewer pipe – they’re ready to embrace the freedom from 8 years of misery and the third-longest active NHL playoff drought.

With the window now open to better days in both the present and future, here are five Sens trivia questions from the better days of the past.

If you're reading this on The Hockey News, just scroll down for the answers. If you're reading it elsewhere, you can find the answers in the comments section of The Senators Roundtable.

1. Who are the only four active NHL players who were part of Ottawa's last playoff run?

2. Ottawa won five overtime games in the 2017 playoffs. Who scored the OT winners?

3. The 2017 Penguins playoff roster had one former Senator (who played here in 2010) and two future Senators. Name them (Ian Cole, who never played for Ottawa, doesn't count).

4. Which player who played for the Sens in the 2017 playoffs most recently played for the Senators?

5. Who was the last goalie, other than Craig Anderson, to win a playoff game for the Senators?

By Steve Warne
Ottawa Senators Site Editor
The Hockey News

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© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The New York Islanders and Washington Capitals entered Sunday's matinee at UBS Arena with the game slated as the co-main event, while the Alex Ovechkin chase to the top of the NHL's all-time goal scorer took center stage. 

The Islanders however came out motivated and had some early jump. 

Sure enough, the Isles kicked off the scoring 7:06 into the game, as Bo Horvat scored his 26th goal of the season. Simon Holmstrom and Anders Anders Lee picked up assists.

 

Bo Horvat kicks things off for #Islespic.twitter.com/9glgT12ApV

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 6, 2025

Then only 1:54 later Marc Gatcomb scored his seventh goal of the season, giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead. Kyle MacLean and Alex Romanov picked up assists. 

#isles are buzzing. 2-0. Marc Gatcomb🚨 pic.twitter.com/P3snKCnLqM

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 6, 2025

Although shots ended 8-5 for the Capitals in the first period, the Islanders held the lead 2-0.

Pierre Engvall was called for tripping in the offensive zone seven minutes into the second, giving the Capitals a power play -- and Ovechkin his first chance to score with the man advantage.

Then it happened!!!

Alex Ovechkin 895 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ElVGtX7iNU

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 6, 2025

© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

A long delay with a ceremony including Wayne Gretzky, Commissioner Gary Bettman and Caps owner, Ted Leonosis occurred at center ice before the game resumed. 

Then, 10:26 into the second, Gatcomb scored his second goal of the day, burying a perfect Matt Martin pass to give the Islanders a 3-1 lead. 

Matt Martin in Gretzky’s office feeds Gatcomb for an #Isles 3-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/6Ci1JH1dUz

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 6, 2025

The Capitals led 18-13 in shots entering the third period. 

4:20 into the third period, J. G. Pageau scored his 13th of the season from Max Tsyplakov and Adam Pelech giving the Islanders a 4-1 lead. The goal was reviewed but confirmed.

JG Pageau gives the Isles some more breathing room 🚨 pic.twitter.com/x6Bqt9Enh0

— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) April 6, 2025

The Islanders played well down the stretch, as Sorokin turned aside 12 third period shots and the Islanders captured two points, leaving them five points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Wild Card slot in the East. 

The Islanders skate again on Tuesday in Nashville at 8PM.

The Colorado Avalanche had their two-game win streak ended Saturday with a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues, who won their 12th-straight game. Here are three key takeaways from the Avs' loss:

1. Avalanche Dig Massive Hole Through First Half Of Game, Can't Claw Their Way Out

The Avs knew they were up against a Blues team that was riding a massive win streak, but Colorado couldn't stop St. Louis, allowing the Blues to score the first four goals of the game by the 8:53 mark of the second period. The Avalanche then scored the next three goals to make it 4-3 with 2:18 left in regulation time, but St. Louis locked up the win by getting an empty-net goal with 31 seconds left in the third frame. 

The Avs gave up more than three goals in a loss for the first time since a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders Jan. 28. But the Blues proved to be deadly with the puck, and Colorado couldn't do enough to thwart them early on.

2. Special Teams Were The Difference In Colorado Losing To The Blues

The loss to St. Louis can be chalked up to a tale of two special teams, with the Blues going 2-for-3 on the power play, while the Avalanche were 0-for-2 with the man advantge. If one of those two results were different in the Avs' favor, Saturday's game could've had a different result. 

Colorado's power play is still one of the best in the league, with their man-advantage ranking seventh in the NHL at 24.8 percent efficiency. But the Avalanche's penalty kill is a different story, as it is ranked 15th-overall at 79.1 percent. In the Avs' remaining four regular-season games, they need to be much better on the PK, as special teams often are the deciding factor in wins and losses in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Colorado has to be more disciplined and smarter in their own zone, because their first-round opponents -- likely to be the Dallas Stars -- have the second-best penalty-kill in the game at 84.6 percent, so the Avs' PP probably won't be as potent, and their PK will have to be significantly better.

3. Avs Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood Must Be More Consistent As Playoffs Draw Near

Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood allowed four Blues goals on 21 shots Saturday, for a save percentage of .810. That marked the third time in Blackwood's past six games that he's posted an SP of .900 or worse. And while it's not so alarming as to cause major concern for Avs coach Jared Bednar, Blackwood's consistency has to be better as the post-season gets near. 

Blackwood still has a .914 SP in 54 appearances this season, but he's going to be going up against a Stars team that has the NHL's third-best offense at an average of 3.42 goals-for per-game, so Blackwood will be tested early and often in their probable first-round matchup. The way he responds will go a long way toward deciding who wins that series.

Yes, it's only been six NHL games for Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Rutger McGroarty.

But through those six NHL games, something is becoming pretty clear, and it doesn't really feel like a stretch to say it:

This kid is the real deal. And he's only going to keep getting better.

After an impressive training camp that featured five points in six preseason games - and with three different forward injuries factoring in - McGroarty made the opening night NHL roster. He spent three games largely alongside Lars Eller - traded to the Washington Capitals in November - and Jesse Puljujarvi, whose contract was terminated by the Penguins in February.

In those three games, it was clear that McGroarty wasn't quite up to NHL speed. His skating and first strides needed a lot of work, his reads were slow, and the pace of play was a bit too much for him to handle. So, he was sent back to continue his development at the AHL level, and - even at that level - he had just one point in his first eight games. 

Fast forward six months later, and McGroarty has eight goals and 18 points in his last 19 AHL games and has played three NHL games on a top line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust, registering a goal and three points in that time. 

His skating looks miles better than it did in October, although there's still work to be done. His production - between the AHL and NHL the last couple of months - is beginning to line up with expectations.

Crosby's Hat Trick Powers Penguins 5-3 Win Over StarsThere is a certain NHL winger about to break Wayne Gretzky's goal record who is - rightfully - garnering a ton of attention across the league.

But those things aren't what makes him the real deal, a legitimate piece of the puzzle for the Penguins’ long-term future. 

No. What makes him special is his hockey brain.

Nowadays, the term “hockey-IQ” is a bit overused. It's almost a requirement for players to think the game on a higher baseline level than what it used to be in order for players to make it in the NHL. The game is significantly faster, and more specialized training has raised the bar for the bare-minimum talent requirement.

But that's definitely not something that applies to McGroarty. His hockey smarts are evident during almost every shift he plays: he's always in the right position, he anticipates and sees plays before they happen, and he has the ability to execute on those smarts. A lot of the details that aren't necessarily rounded out for players his age are already defining aspects of his game at 21 years old.

He's regularly beating opponents to the danger areas of the ice. He's regularly in hard on the forecheck and around the net front. He's regularly predicting where to hit teammates with backdoor, cross-ice, and seam passes. He's regularly showcasing his stick details and defensive acumen. And he reads off of Crosby as if he's been playing with him for three years, not three games.

That hockey sense and those details are part of a skillset that is not only highly valuable at the NHL level - particularly in order to have success with someone like Crosby - but also something that you simply cannot teach.

"He's on pucks, he's creating loose pucks, he's winning battles," Crosby said. "You saw there, on the goal in the third - the second goal [against the Dallas Stars] - he's in the right spot at the right time and makes a great play on his backhand.

He's willing to do a lot of those little things. Those add up, and on top of that, he's got the ability to make plays. So, it's a good combination to have."

Sidney Crosby has TEN goals and 18 points over his 12-game point streak 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EDYNgA0sFf

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 5, 2025

Again, it's only been six NHL games for Rutger McGroarty. A lot can happen over the course of NHL development for any young player. He could be point-per-game for the remainer of this season and not register a point in his first 15 games next season. There will be highs and lows, peaks and valleys in his development, just as there are for any young player.

But McGroarty just has it. And it's a bit tough to quantify that “it” on a stat sheet, but you can witness it game-in, game-out and shift-in, shift-out.

"He's been great, a kid who works extremely hard," Rust said. "He tends to be in all the right places, and I think that just shows how well he can think the game.

"The more he stays in this league and he plays his game, I think he's just going to keep getting better and better."

McGroarty Scores First NHL Goal In Penguins 5-4 Overtime Loss To BluesThe Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday - which gave the Blues their whopping 11th straight win - obviously wasn't the desired result.

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