Category: NHL

How many Presidents' Trophy winners have went on to win the Stanley Cup? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Winnipeg Jets are champions of the NHL regular season.

Winnipeg on Sunday clinched the 2024-25 Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the most points in the regular season. The Jets secured the franchise’s first Presidents’ Trophy after the East-leadingWashington Capitals lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets, putting Winnipeg’s current point total of 114 out of reach for Alexander Ovechkin and Co.

It’s been a historic season in more ways than just one for the Jets. In the first season under head coach Scott Arniel, the Jets have set franchise records for longest winning streak (11 games) and wins (55) — and they’ve matched the franchise record for points that was set in 2017-18, with one more game still on the schedule.

Kyle Connor and Co. are now looking to deliver the franchise its first Stanley Cup championship. But what does history say about Winnipeg’s Cup chances after winning the Presidents’ Trophy?

Here’s what to know about the Presidents’ Trophy:

What is the Presidents’ Trophy in hockey?

The Presidents’ Trophy is awarded to the NHL team that finishes with the most points in the regular season.

In the event of a tie for most points, the team with the most regulation wins gets the award. The second tiebreaker is the team with the most regulation and overtime wins and the third tiebreaker is the team with the most total wins.

When was the NHL Presidents’ Trophy first awarded?

The Edmonton Oilers won the first-ever Presidents’ Trophy in the 1985-86 season. Wayne Gretzky and Co. also won it the following season.

Who has won the most NHL Presidents’ Trophies?

The Detroit Red Wings own the most Presidents’ Trophies with six, although it’s been close to two decades since their last win. Detroit won the award in 1994-95, 1995-96, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2005-06 and 2007-08.

The Boston Bruins and New York Rangers each have won four Presidents’ Trophies, while the Colorado Avalanche and the Capitals have claimed three apiece.

How many NHL Presidents’ Trophy winners also won the Stanley Cup?

Presidents’ Trophy triumphs have been followed by many more playoff exits than championship victories. Since it was first awarded in 1985-86, just eight Presidents’ Trophy winners have went on to capture the Cup.

Who was the last NHL Presidents’ Trophy winner to win the Stanley Cup?

It’s been over a decade since a team picked up the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season. The Chicago Blackhawks finished atop the NHL standings in the shortened 2012-13 campaign before beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the ’13 Cup Final. That Blackhawks team is also the most recent Presidents’ Trophy winner to even reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Chicago is one of seven franchises to sweep the two trophies, with the Red Wings being the only franchise to achieve the feat more than once. Here’s a full look at each Presidents’ Trophy-winning Stanley Cup champion:

• 2012-13: Chicago Blackhawks
• 2007-08: Detroit Red Wings
• 2001-02: Detroit Red Wings
• 2000-01: Colorado Avalanche
• 1998-99: Dallas Stars
• 1993-94: New York Rangers
• 1988-89: Calgary Flames
• 1986-87: Edmonton Oilers

What’s the record for most team points in an NHL season?

The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins racked up 135 points in the 2022-23 campaign to break the single-season NHL record. Boston also set the league record for wins that same regular season with 65. The previous NHL record for points of 132 was held by the 1976-77 Canadiens.

The 1995-96 Red Wings, who tallied 131 points, are the only other team to ever reach the 130-point milestone.

List of Presidents’ Trophy winners

• 2024-25: Winnipeg Jets, 114 points (1 game still remaining)
• 2023-24: New York Rangers, 114 points
• 2022-23: Boston Bruins, 135 points
• 2021-22: Florida Panthers, 122 points
• 2020-21: Colorado Avalanche, 82 points
• 2019-20: Boston Bruins, 100 points
• 2018-19: Tampa Bay Lightning, 128 points
• 2017-18: Nashville Predators, 117 points
• 2016-17: Washington Capitals, 118 points
• 2015-16: Washington Capitals, 120 points
• 2014-15: New York Rangers, 113 points
• 2013-14: Boston Bruins, 117 points
• 2012-13: Chicago Blackhawks, 77 points
• 2011-12: Vancouver Canucks, 111 points
• 2010-11: Vancouver Canucks, 117 points
• 2009-10: Washington Capitals, 121 points
• 2008-09: San Jose Sharks, 117 points
• 2007-08: Detroit Red Wings, 115 points
• 2006-07: Buffalo Sabres, 113 points
• 2005-06: Detroit Red Wings, 124 points
• 2003-04: Detroit Red Wings, 109 points
• 2002-03: Ottawa Senators, 113 points
• 2001-02: Detroit Red Wings, 116 points
• 2000-01: Colorado Avalanche, 118 points
• 1999-2000: St. Louis Blues, 114 points
• 1998-99: Dallas Stars, 114 points
• 1997-98: Dallas Stars, 109 points
• 1996-97: Colorado Avalanche, 107 points
• 1995-96: Detroit Red Wings, 131 points
• 1994-95: Detroit Red Wings, 70 points
• 1993-94: New York Rangers, 112 points
• 1992-93: Pittsburgh Penguins, 119 points
• 1991-92: New York Rangers, 105 points
• 1990-91: Chicago Blackhawks, 106 points
• 1989-90: Boston Bruins, 101 points
• 1988-89: Calgary Flames, 117 points
• 1987-88: Calgary Flames, 105 points
• 1986-87: Edmonton Oilers, 106 points
• 1985-86: Edmonton Oilers, 119 points

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 13. Their goal will be to bounce back after losing each of their last two games, first to the Columbus Blue Jackets and then to the Florida Panthers.

However, unfortunately for the Sabres, they will be without one of their best defenseman. The Sabres have announced their roster for the contest, and Owen Power will not be playing.  

Tonight's look against Tampa. #LetsGoBuffalopic.twitter.com/FBcH2fnUz6

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 13, 2025

Power being out of the lineup against the Lightning comes after the star blueliner left the team's April 12 contest against the Florida Panthers early due to an injury. 

Power is one of the Sabres' top defensemen, so this is tough news for Buffalo. This is especially so when noting that the Lightning are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. It will be intriguing to see if the Sabres can pick up a win against the Lightning without Power from here.

Power has seven goals, 33 assists, and 40 points in 79 games this season for the Sabres. 

Recent Sabres News 

Sabres' Owen Power Exits Panthers Matchup With InjuryThe Buffalo Sabres have announced that defenseman Owen Power will miss the remainder of the team's April 12 matchup against the Florida Panthers.  Sabres Star Finishing The Season Red-HotThe end of the season is just about here for the Buffalo Sabres, as the Atlantic Division club will not be in the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year. While this is the case, the Sabres have been playing some of their best hockey of the season, winning eight out of their last 10 games. Sabres Breakout Forward Closing In On Nice MilestoneThe Buffalo Sabres are almost at the end of their season, as they have just five games remaining. Overall, it has been another tough season for the Sabres, but off-season addition Ryan McLeod has undoubtedly been one of their bright spots.

St. Louis Blues goalie prospect Colten Ellis is enjoying an excellent season down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Springfield Thunderbirds. In 41 appearances, the 24-year-old netminder has a 22-13-3 record, a 2.62 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage.  However, what's more encouraging about Ellis' strong play is that he is only continuing to thrive as the campaign carries on. In his last appearance against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on April 12, he stopped 40 out of 43 shots, which equates to a .930 save percentage. Furthermore, he has had a .900 save percentage or better in six out of his last seven appearances. This includes a 36-save shutout against the Iowa Wild on March 28.

Given how consistently well Ellis has played in the AHL this season, it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future. While the Blues are set between the pipes right now with Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer, it is fair to wonder if Ellis can make the jump to the NHL level at some point next season. 

Nevertheless, it will now be intriguing to see how Ellis finishes off his excellent 2024-25 campaign with the Thunderbirds from here. 

Recent Blues News 

Blues Star Is Heating Up In A Big WaySt. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich is one of the team's most important players. When playing at his best, the 29-year-old is a big difference-maker because of his high offensive skill.  Former Blues Star Struggling With New TeamDuring this past off-season, former St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings. This was after he appeared in 76 games split between the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers last season, posting 23 goals and 55 points in 76 games. He also won his second career Stanley Cup with Florida that spring.

The Buffalo Sabres battled the Florida Panthers in the first of a Sunshine State back-to-back, tying the game late on a JJ Peterka power play goal, before falling 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday, but the game marked scary incidents to Sabres rookie center Jiri Kulich and defenseman Owen Power.

Kulich was slammed at center ice by Panther forward Jonah Gadjovich with a high hit late in the second period, which drew the rebuke of a number of Buffalo teammates, but Gadjovich was not penalized for the hit. Gadjovich later dropped the gloves with Sabres winger Alex Tuch.

Jonah Gadjovich NAILS Jiri Kulich in open ice and the Sabres go after him 😳💥 pic.twitter.com/qrPOhRyzdW

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 12, 2025

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?The Buffalo Sabres are currently focused on finishing off the 2024-25 season on a positive note after most of the campaign being dominated by the negative. The club is looking to win their third game in a row in Utah on Thursday after a shootout win over Vegas on Saturday and an overtime victory in Boston on Monday. Barring an incredibly successful final 16 games, the Sabres are likely to finish in the bottom five of the NHL standings, and with a number of questions that will need to be addressed in the offseason. Dahlin Refutes Assertion Of Wanting Out Of BuffaloAs if the Buffalo Sabres do not have enough drama with the club heading for their 14th consecutive season outside of the playoffs, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin refuted a report from TNT panelist and Spittin Chiclets co-host Paul Bissonette that the Sabres team captain met with GM Kevyn Adams and wants out of Buffalo if the club does not improve quickly. Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The AthleticThe Buffalo Sabres season began with the hope of ending their long playoff drought and will end on April 17th with a 14th consecutive year outside of the postseason. There are a number of contributing factors to the club’s struggles, but according to an article in the Athletic that surveyed fans from every NHL club, Sabres owner Terry Pegula is ranked last among the 32 owners.

“A tough hit. (It’s) debatable whether it was clean or not,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “They are claiming that (the puck) touched (Kulich’s) stick. I’ve watched it few times, I’m not going to debate whether it hit or barely touched his stick or not.”

Power left the game in the middle frame after Mattias Samuelsson knocked Carter Verhaeghe into the Sabres blueliner’s leg and rolled up on his left ankle. Ruff indicated that Power would likely not play in the second of back-to-back games against Tampa Bay, with Jacob Bryson stepping in on the left side, but the injury looked to be more severe and potentially could end Power’s season with just three games remaining.

Owen Power injury #Sabrehood#TimeToHuntpic.twitter.com/zSKlcgHYKj

— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) April 13, 2025

After Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves in the loss to Florida, James Reimer will get the start against the Lightning.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Nashville Predators prospect Joakim Kemell is considered one of the team's most promising youngsters. The 20-year-old forward is continuing to develop his game at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Milwaukee Admirals and is in the middle of a solid season that saw him play in the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic.

In 63 games this season with the Admirals, Kemell has posted 18 goals, 21 assists, and 39 points. Overall, he has shown good upside with the AHL squad, but this is especially the case with his most recent play.

Kemell is starting to heat up for the Admirals, as he has three points in his last two contests. This includes a two-goal night against the Iowa Wild in the Admirals' 5-0 win on April 9.

Seeing Kemell put together some solid games is undoubtedly encouraging for the Predators. The hope is that the 2022 first-round pick will blossom into a key forward for the Predators in the future, and it will be intriguing to see how he builds on his hot stretch of play from here. 

In 144 career AHL games with the Admirals, Kemell has 40 goals, 53 assists, and 93 points. He also appeared in his first two NHL games back in February, where he recorded eight shots. 

Recent Predators News 

Predators Sign Tough Guy To Contract ExtensionThe Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed forward Navrin Mutter to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2025-26 season. Former Predators Forward Done For The SeasonPittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has announced that former Nashville Predators forward Tommy Novak will be out for the rest of the season.  Nashville Predators Sign Goalie To Multi-Year ExtensionThe Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed goaltender Matt Murray to a two-year, two-way contract extension. At the NHL level, he will carry a $775,000 cap hit.

In their final home game of the 2024-25 season, the Ducks will take on the Colorado Avalanche.

Anaheim is looking to bounce back from a 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Apr. 10. The Avalanche are coming off a 5-4 loss to the Kings on Saturday. They will be without several key players––including Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar--due to injuries and maintenance.

Defenseman Ian Moore will make his NHL debut for the Ducks after signing his entry-level contract (ELC) on Saturday. He will be paired with veteran Jacob Trouba, a natural right-hander who will shift to the left and play his off-side.

"It's been an awesome couple of days," Moore said. "I'm super excited for my family and it's a dream come true. I'm super honored to have this opportunity. Hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm really excited for it."

"He's a young kid," Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said. "First NHL game, he's gonna be excited. He had a little bit of practice time yesterday and he looked like he had pretty good footwork. I think his Harvard pedigree is a reflection of his IQ. Hopefully, that transfers to the ice. Excited to watch him."

"Trouba's been around a long time and he can play the left side, which will help the two righties. I think his experience on both halves of the ice will help the team and that line that's on the ice with them."

- Ducks head coach Greg Cronin on the decision to pair Ian Moore with Jacob Trouba.

Lukáš Dostál will start against the Avalanche, with the opportunity to rebound from a tough performance against the Kings. Dostál will look to replicate his bounceback performance from Apr. 7, when he stopped 45 saves en route to a 3-2 win after allowing six goals in the previous game.

Ducks Projected Lines

Cutter Gauthier - Leo Carlsson - Alex Killorn
Trevor Zegras - Ryan Strome - Frank Vatrano
Nikita Nesterenko - Mason McTavish - Troy Terry
Jansen Harkins - Isac Lundeström - Sam Colangelo

Jackson LaCombe - Radko Gudas
Jacob Trouba - Ian Moore
Pavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson

Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)

Avalanche Projected Lines

Artturi Lehkonen - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta - Charlie Coyle - Martin Nečas
Parker Kelly - Jack Drury - Logan O'Connor
Jere Innala - Chris Wagner - Jimmy Vesey

Sam Girard - Erik Johnson
Keaton Middleton - Sam Malinski
Wyatt Aamodt - Jack Ahcan

Scott Wedgewood (confirmed)

Tim Stutzle scored twice, including the overtime winner, as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre. Thomas Chabot chipped in with a goal and two helpers as the Senators officially nailed down the top wild card position in the East.  By not winning in regulation, they now cannot go any higher or lower in the standings.

Ottawa typically thrives when scoring first—they lead the NHL with the best record after scoring the first goal in a game—but this was a game they never led, getting outshot 32-25 in the process.

After a scoreless first, Flyers tough guy Nicolas Deslauriers found himself wide open in front of the Ottawa net and tucked home his own rebound to make it 1–0. Losing track of a player like Deslauriers in coverage is a bit like not noticing that a grizzly bear is in your living room.

But less than a minute later, Stützle took a crisp lead pass from Thomas Chabot, sprinted past his man and cut to the middle to tie the game at 1.

With under three minutes left in the second period, Noah Cates restored the Flyers' lead. On a one-on-one with Chabot, Cates got his shot off, skated around him to grab the rebound, and then beat Anton Forsberg on the wraparound to make it 2–1.

Early in the third, at 4:41, Shane Pinto floated a slick saucer pass to Fabian Zetterlund, who showed off his elite release and snapped one past Flyers goalie Ivan Fedotov to tie it at 2.

But less than three minutes later, Garnet Hathaway scored from a bad angle, beating Forsberg short side—a save attempt the Sens goalie, to put it kindly, would love to have another go at.

With under eight minutes to play, Angus Crookshank set up Thomas Chabot at the top of the right circle. Chabot fired a wrister high to the blocker side, tying the game once again at 3–3.

In overtime, after Travis Sanheim went off for interference on an obvious pick play, the Senators went to work, 4-on-3. When Cates lost his stick, the Sens were able to throw the puck around freely. Finally, in a perfect tic-tac-toe play started by Claude Giroux, Stutzle one-timed a perfect pass from Drake Batherson to win it.

Since it wasn't in regulation, the OT victory officially locks the Senators into the Wild Card 1 position. With two games to play, they could still finish the season tied with either Tampa Bay or Florida, but now they can’t catch them in regulation wins, which is the first tiebreaker.

That means the Sens will face the winner of the Atlantic Division in the first round of the playoffs, which will either be Toronto or Tampa Bay. The Leafs have a four point lead on the Lightning with three games to play.  

By Steve Warne
THN Ottawa Site Editor

Sens Headlines:

- Andlauer Reflects On Playoffs; Could New NHL App Help Mitigate Dadonov Fallout?
- Brady Tkachuk: 'I Don’t Think I’d Ever Miss An Opportunity To Play In The Playoffs
- The Five Core Ottawa Senator Players Most Ready To Finally Experience Playoffs
- David Perron Chosen As Ottawa Senators 2025 Masterton Trophy Nominee
- CLINCHED: Ottawa Senators Officially Clinch First Playoff Spot In Eight Years
- Former Ottawa Senators Assistant GM Ray Shero Passes Away At Age 62

During the New Jersey Devils' April 13 contest against the New York Islanders, forward Paul Cotter was given a match penalty for an illegal check to the head on defenseman Adam Pelech. 

The play occurred during the second period of the matchup. After Pelech dumped the puck into the Devils' zone, Cotter caught the Islanders blueliner with a shoulder to the head. 

Following the hit, Pelech was noticeably bleeding and later ruled out for the remainder of the contest. 

Paul Cotter was given a match penalty for this hit on Adam Pelech

Pelech got up and was FURIOUS at Cotter 😳 pic.twitter.com/OESobMUf28

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 13, 2025

Cotter, 25, was acquired by the Devils this past off-season from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for forward Alexander Holtz and goaltender Akira Schmid. In 79 games this season with the Devils, Cotter has 16 goals and 22 points. 

In 217 career NHL games over four seasons split between the Golden Knights and Devils, Cotter has 38 goals, 29 assists, 67 points, 109 penalty minutes, and 661 hits. 

Recent Devils News 

Devils Forward Continues To Be Strong AdditionThe New Jersey Devils made several moves this past off-season that helped them turn things around this campaign. Among their notable ones was signing forward Stefan Noesen to a three-year, $8.25 million contract.  New Jersey Devils Star Continues To DominateThe New Jersey Devils picked up an impressive 4-0 win against the New York Rangers on April 6. With this, the Devils have improved to a 41-29-7 record on the season and have won each of their last three games.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Bo Horvat scored late in the second period and Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves and the Islanders topped the Devils 1-0 on Sunday.

Horvat intercepted an attempted pass by Devils forward Timo Meier and fired a shot past goalie Jacob Markstrom with 57 seconds left in the middle period for his 28th goal this season. The Islanders held on as Sorokin improved to 30-23-6 with his fourth shutout this season and the 22nd of his career.

This is the second time the 29-year-old Russian netminder has reached the 30-win mark in his five-year NHL career.

The Islanders snapped a three-game losing streak by winning a day after they were eliminated from postseason contention with a shootout loss at Philadelphia. New York made the playoffs the past two seasons, losing to Carolina both times in the first round.

This was the ninth time the Devils were blanked this season.

Devils captain Nico Hischier had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the waning seconds but shot the puck wide.

New Jersey is heading to the postseason for the second time in three years. The Devils will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round. New Jersey defeated the Rangers in seven games in the opening round two years ago, then lost to Carolina in the second round.

Markstrom made 21 saves for the Devils.

Takeaways

Devils: Fell to 19-16-5 at home. New Jersey is 22-16-2 on the road.

Islanders: Improved to 16-17-7 on the road with their first away win since March 18.

Key moment

Sorokin, who hadn’t played since allowing Alexander Ovechkin’s record-breaking 895th goal last Sunday at UBS Arena, returned from a three-game absence with a lower body injury with a flawless performance.

Key stat

The Islanders are 19-5-6 when scoring first and 15-29-6 when allowing the opening goal.

Up next

Devils: Visiting the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Islanders: Hosting the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are nearly here, and already, we know many of the first-round matchups we’ll be seeing.

In the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes will be taking on the New Jersey Devils. The Washington Capitals will be squaring off against the Montreal Canadiens or the Columbus Blue Jackets. And in the Western Conference, the Winnipeg Jets will be battling one of the St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild or Calgary Flames, and the Los Angeles Kings will be facing the Edmonton Oilers. To be sure, there will be no shortage of drama right out of the gate in the playoffs.

However, the first-round showdown we’re most interested in will be the Dallas Stars against the Colorado Avalanche. This will be the second time since 2019-20 that the Stars and Avs have faced each other in the post-season, with Dallas winning both series. But this time around, we believe the Avalanche have what it takes to beat the Stars and win their first-round series for the second season in a row. 

A lot of the Stars’ fortunes will depend on the status of star defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who hasn’t played since Jan. 28 due to a knee injury that required surgery. Dallas has gone 18-7-5 in Heiskanen’s absence, but Heiskanen could miss the entire first round, and being without a first-pair blueliner who can play 25 minutes a night could be devastating for the Stars’ playoff aspirations.

Given that Colorado has superstar D-man Cale Makar – the odds-on favorite to win this year’s Norris Trophy as the league’s top blueliner – not having Heiskanen to counterbalance Makar’s impact might be the difference that pushes the Avalanche to victory in the opening round.

Colorado has gone 2-1-0 against Dallas this season, with the Avs winning the two most recent games, including a 4-3 overtime win on March 16. And the Avalanche’s lone loss to the Stars this year came on Nov. 29, well before Colorado remade their goaltending tandem and altered much of their lineup.

But in the two Avalanche wins over Dallas, the Avs didn’t play No. 1 netminder Mackenzie Blackwood, going instead with backup Scott Wedgewood. So the Stars are going to get their first up-close look at Blackwood in Game 1 of their upcoming series, and the Stars’ lack of familiarity with Blackwood could play out to Colorado’s advantage.

Dallas does indeed have the edge in some significant team stats, with a slightly better goals-for average of 3.38 per game (compared to the Avs’ average of 3.32) and a better goals-against average of 2.64 (compared to Colorado’s average of 2.83).

However, the Avalanche have the better power play at 24.7 percent (compared to Dallas’ average of 22.8 percent). And given that special teams often matter greatly in the post-season, the Avs could benefit from their potent play with the man-advantage.

We’ll be offering our predictions for the entire first round once the series matchups are all confirmed. But for now, we’re going to say we like the Avalanche to narrowly beat out the Stars this time around.

Colorado’s lineup is stacked with first-rate talent, and Dallas’ lineup doesn’t have a shortage of skill, either. But we believe the Avs have the best player in the series in superstar center Nathan MacKinnon, and his determination to win is likely to push Colorado into the second round. 

And regardless of who wins, the Stars/Avalanche series is going to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the opening round – and the winner of the series could go on to win it all.

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With only two games remaining on their 2024-25 schedule, the Pittsburgh Penguins don't want to go out with a whimper. 

And their injury-depleted lineup will see some relief on Sunday afternoon.

Forward Philip Tomasino will be back in the lineup on Sunday against the Boston Bruins, who have fallen to the basement of the Eastern Conference with a 2-8 record in their last 10 games. 

Tomasino has been out since Apr. 5 with a concussion, and he will slot into a new spot in the lineup on a fourth line with Vasily Ponomarev and Joona Koppanen. Tristan Jarry will get the nod in goal for the third straight game.

Here is the rest of the Penguins' lineup:

Today's lineup vs. Boston ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/GQyNnAWedI

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 13, 2025

Entering the game, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is one point shy of registering his third consecutive 90-point season and the ninth of his NHL career. Crosby sits at 32 goals and 89 points.

Bryan Rust needs one more goal to hit the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his career, and Rickard Rakell - sitting at 34 goals - is one tally shy of setting a new career-high. His 68 points also puts him just one point shy of tying his career-best mark set in 2017-18 with the Anaheim Ducks.

In addition, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk enters Sunday's matchup just two points shy of hitting the 40-point mark for the first time in his NHL career.

'I Would Love To Come Back': After Career Year, Grzelcyk Hopes To Stay In PittsburghWhen defenseman Matt Grzelcyk made the decision to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer, he did so with the mindset that he'd come in and be granted some opportunity to rediscover his game.

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

The New York Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.

It was the first game for the Islanders following their elimination from playoff contention.

Ilya Sorokin returned to the crease following his injury in the Islanders' 7-6 loss to the Nashville Predators on April 8. 

Jacob Markstrom made his first start since April 8 when he conceded seven goals on 23 shots in a loss to the Boston Bruins.

Here’s how it happened:

Penalties by Casey Cizikas and Nathan Bastian gave both teams a power play in the first half of the period, but neither capitalized.

The Islanders nearly opened the scoring at 11:01, but it was deemed not to be a goal.

Around the 13:30 mark, Pierre Engvall fired a wrist shot off the post, followed by Hudson Fasching’s rebound attempt, which was turned aside by Markstrom.

The Devils outshot the Islanders 10-8 in the period.

A Paul Cotter elbow to Adam Pelech at the 6:00 mark resulted in a five-minute major and match penalty. This was the second time Cotter has been ejected from a game for an illegal hit to the head, the last time coming in 2023.

The hit left Pelech with blood gushing from his nose as he left the ice:

Paul Cotter gets ejected for going up high to #Isles Adam Pelech. pic.twitter.com/tTsLbhwJlP

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 13, 2025

He did not return.

The Islanders had one shot on goal and did not score during the five-minute power play.

Bo Horvat found the game’s first goal in the final minute when he intercepted a Timo Meier pass before sniping Markstrom glove-side:

Horvat. 1-0. That was easy. pic.twitter.com/oBfpSEuByI

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 13, 2025

This was Horvat’s 28th goal of the season and fourth in his past six games.

The Devils outshot the Islanders 6-5 in the period.

It was an uneventful third period that saw neither side generate much offense.

Sorokin turned aside all 23 shots faced for the shutout and Horvat found the game's lone goal as the Islanders earned their 35th win of the season.

UP NEXT: The Islanders battle the Washington Capitals on Tuesday at 7:30 EST.

The Chicago Blackhawks earned a point in their shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. That was their 57th standings point of the season, which ranks 31st in the National Hockey League. 

The Nashville Predators currently sit in 30th with 66. Chicago only has two games left, so it is impossible to catch them. The San Jose Sharks, who currently rank 32nd with 51 points, can no longer catch Chicago now that they are up to 57. 

That means that Chicago locked itself into the second-best draft lottery odds by being the second-to-last place team in the league. They will have a 13.5% chance of winning the first overall selection. 

This upcoming draft isn't like other drafts in the sense that there isn't one guy standing out as a lock to be picked first. There is no Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, or Connor Bedard ready to change a franchise right away. 

Instead, there is a clear-cut top four who could go in any order. That is for Chicago scouts to figure out once the results of the lottery are revealed. 

This makes it three years in a row that the Blackhawks will have top-three draft lottery odds. Of course, they selected Connor Bedard first overall in 2023 and Artyom Levshunov second overall in 2024. Here in 2025, they'd love to add another franchise pillar. 

The lottery will take place during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 2025 NHL Draft will start on June 27th and go through June 28th. 

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

Flyers up to 31 goals under Shaw, but lose to Senators in overtime originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers saw another game go to overtime Sunday afternoon and lost to the Senators, 4-3, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.

Nicolas Deslauriers, Noah Cates and Garnet Hathaway provided the Flyers’ goals. All three gave the Flyers a lead.

But the Senators responded each time.

Ottawa netted the OT winner on the power play after Travis Sanheim was whistled for interference 19 seconds into the bonus session. Nick Seeler and Cam York both had a gutsy blocked shot before Tim Stutzle scored from the circle.

The Flyers (33-37-10) dropped to 5-1-1 under interim head coach Brad Shaw with two games left. They’ve scored 31 goals through those seven games. Prior to Shaw taking over for the fired John Tortorella, the Flyers went 1-10-1 in their last 12 games and scored just 21 goals.

Over a quarter of the Flyers’ season has featured overtime. Sunday afternoon was the team’s 22nd time in OT. The Flyers dropped to 12-10 after regulation.

Shaw’s club was coming off a 4-3 shootout win Saturday afternoon over the Islanders. The Flyers had a nightmarish time in the second game of back-to-back sets this season, going 1-10-2 while being outscored 56-32.

The Senators (44-30-6) are headed to the playoffs. The Flyers went 1-1-1 against them.

• Ivan Fedotov finished with 21 saves on 25 shots.

In the second period, just 53 seconds after Deslauriers opened the game’s scoring, Stutzle went around Egor Zamula to tie things back up.

Ottawa tied it twice in the third period. Fabian Zetterlund made it 2-2 from the slot as a pass snuck by Jamie Drysdale. On Thomas Chabot’s 3-3 goal, Fedotov lost his stick.

Senators netminder Anton Forsberg stopped 29 of the Flyers’ 32 shots.

• The Flyers ended the weekend with the sixth-best odds in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

But the standings are tight.

The Flyers are narrowly ahead of the Kraken via the tiebreaker of fewer games played and they’re not far behind the Sabres, Penguins and Ducks, who are all in action Sunday.

The Flyers could finish the season anywhere from the fourth-best odds to the ninth-best odds.

More: The latest NHL standings

• Nikita Grebenkin wasn’t needed in the Flyers’ lineup after being called up from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley under emergency conditions. Following warmups, he was loaned back to the Phantoms.

The 21-year-old winger has recorded five points (three goals, two assists) over nine games with Lehigh Valley after being acquired by the Flyers in the Scott Laughton trade.

• The Flyers have their final home game of the season Tuesday when they welcome the Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

CHICAGO - Patrick Maroon announced his retirement in March. He did so to Darren Pang during a warmup interview ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks' game against the St. Louis Blues. Maroon is a St. Louis native, and he won the Stanley Cup there, so it was a fitting ending. 

Due to his age and contract situation, there has been speculation about Alec Martinez's future, but he has refused to acknowledge it for a long time. 

Finally, he did precisely what Maroon did and told Pang that he'd retire at the end of this year. The only difference was that he waited until his final game to say something. 

Each player was in the starting lineup for Chicago, who ended up losing to the Winnipeg Jets 5-4 in a shootout. Each of them got their own special video tribute to go with a standing ovation at different points of the game. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xcongrats to the one and only Pat Maroon on an incredible career👏Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xcongratulations to the legendary Alec Martinez on a phenomenal career!👏

Imagine telling a Chicago sports fan 10 years ago that Patrick Maroon and Alec Martinez would receive incredible love from a Blackhawks crowd at their retirement. 

After the game was over, the Jets stayed out to offer handshakes and well wishes to these two players before they hit the showers. Hockey is great for a lot of reasons, but this level of sportsmanship is one of the reasons it's the best. 

NHL (@NHL) on XAll class from the @NHLJets as they pay their respects to Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez. 👏 The two of them announced that tonight would be their final NHL games.

Both Martinez and Maroon won the Stanley Cup three times in their career. Before ending up together in Chicago, their teams had some intense battles over the years in the Western Conference. Now, they were happy to hang them up together. 

"I'm so happy that I got to share with Marty tonight," Maroon said on retiring alongside Martinez and being celebrated by the hometown crowd. 

Coming in, Maroon's retirement was the only topic on everyone's mind when it came to players leaving the game for good. Martinez changed that narrative right before puck drop. 

"If we both have to hang them up, it's pretty cool we could do it together," Martinez said when asked the same question about sharing this night with Maroon. 

The mutual respect between these two teammates is off the charts. It is evident by their embrace right before they left the ice following the kind gesture by Winnipeg.

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xgoodnight Hawks fans❤️

"They're just awesome human beings," said interim head coach Anders Sorensen on Patrick Maroon and Alec Martinez after the game was over. This came after joking about them being in the plans to go during the shootout. You'd have to assume that the shootout went pretty deep if either of them took a shot.  

The Blackhawks have two more games but they are both on the road. Maroon and Martinez will not participate in those matches. Closing out their high-end careers at the same time in front of the home crowd was their loud exit. 

"The future is bright," Maroon said of the Blackhawks going forward. He played a key role in helping some of the young players grow their games both on and off the ice. Having veteran mentors like that is important which made Maroon an important piece to this team. He excelled in that role. 

It's hard to predict Alec Martinez's future in hockey beyond playing. However, it is almost a lock that Maroon will be around the game a lot. Whether that is in hockey ops somewhere or the media side of things, don't worry about never seeing him again. 

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