Blackhawks prospects Anton Frondell (No. 6), Roman Kantserov (No. 16), Sam Rinzel (No. 34), Nick Lardis (No. 41), Oliver Moore (No. 48), Kevin Korchinski (No. 54), Vaclav Nestrasil (No. 71), and Marek Vanacker (No. 94) all made the cut.
When noting that all these players have good upside, it is not difficult to understand why they have each been featured on Wheeler's rankings. They all have the potential to be important parts of the Blackhawks' future as they continue to develop.
Frondell is already showing his skill at the NHL level, as he has three goals and nine points in 11 games since joining the Blackhawks. This is undoubtedly encouraging to see from the 2025 third-overall pick, as he is making an impact immediately.
While Frondell is the Blackhawks' top prospect at this stage, the other youngsters on this list also could become high-impact players for the Blackhawks soon. It is certainly an exciting time for Blackhawks fans, and it will be fascinating to see how well these prospects develop their games from here.
Scott Wheeler has released his latest top 100 drafted NHL prospect rankings for The Athletic. With the Montreal Canadiens having one of the strongest prospect pools in the league, it is not surprising in the slightest that four of their prospects have made the cut: Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, David Reinbacher, and Bryce Pickford.
Hage was given the No. 11 spot by Wheeler, and it is not difficult to understand why. The 2024 first-round pick had a spectacular sophomore season with the University of Michigan, as he recorded 13 goals and 52 points in 39 games. With numbers like these, there is no question that the 6-foot-1 center has the potential to become a high-impact player for Montreal.
Zharovsky landed the No. 17 spot on Wheeler's rankings. The 19-year-old winger's placement also makes sense, as he had a big rookie year in the KHL with Salavat Yulayev Ufa this season. In 59 games with the KHL club, he had 16 goals and 42 points.
Reinbacher picked up the No. 35 spot on Wheeler's rankings. The 2023 fifth-overall pick has the potential to become a nice part of the Canadiens' blueline in the future and has shown promise this campaign. He recorded an assist in his recent NHL debut for Montreal and has five goals and 24 points in 57 AHL games with the Laval Rocket this season.
As for Pickford, he just made Wheeler's rankings by picking up the No. 98 spot. The 2025 third-overall pick had a special regular season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, as the 6-foot-1 defenseman had 45 goals and 83 points in 55 games. He also has five goals and eight points in eight playoff games.
The Buffalo Sabres capped off a remarkable turnaround with their 50th victory of the season and clinching top spot in the Atlantic Division with a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Tage Thompson scored twice and reach the 40-goal mark for the third time in four seasons, and with the victory, Buffalo will have home-ice advantage in the first and second round, and could have it in the Eastern Conference Final if they play anyone other than the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Sabres first round opponent is as yet undetermined, as the Boston Bruins lead the Ottawa Senators by a point with one game to go. The Bruins play the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden on Tuesday, and with a win of any kind would clinch the top wildcard spot and Buffalo as their first round opponent. If the fall to the Devils in regulation, overtime, or a shootout, the Senators could jump over them into the first wildcard with a victory at home over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
Buffalo lost three of four matchups against Boston this season, 3-1 in Boston on October 11, 4-3 in overtime at TD Garden on October 30, and 4-3 in overtime at KeyBank Center on March 25. The Sabres only win, 4-1, came at home on December 27. Against Ottawa, Buffalo went 2-1; an 8-4 win at home on October 15, and a 3-2 overtime victory in Kanata on December 23. Their only loss, 4-1, came earlier this month at Canadian Tire Center.
It means a lot. Division champions from where we came from in December, I'm going to enjoy this hat for one day. I'm going to work on the next hat.
What got you to this point?
I think the leadership of all our guys, you start with (Dahlin), (Thompson) and (Tuch) and all those guys. You look at a game like tonight with Tommer getting a couple and Tucky getting a big goal, and then the (penalty) killing. The season has been a total team effort. We've got a guy that blocked a shot laying on the ice, and he's almost stacking his legs trying to block another shot while he's trying to get off the ice. It's been that willingness to do whatever you can to win a hockey game.
What does home-ice advantage and the level of excitement in Buffalo for Game 1 mean to you?
It's been a long time coming. It's been too long but to have home ice secured. I think we talked a lot about being a playoff team. We didn't talk much about winning a division or winning our conference, but to be division champions, and we get to start at home, (it's) great for our guys, great for our team, great for our fans and awesome for the city.
When did you think that this turnaround was for real?
I think that 10-game winning streak (in December) put a lot of confidence in the team that we could win a lot of hockey games and get back in it. I think that was the start of it. The fact that we bounced right back after a loss and put a lot of wins together again right after that. Just playing good hockey for a long period of time from December on.
What did you like about Tage Thompson’s game?
Everything about his game, (he's had) a little struggle of late. I think there's been a few games where the energy has been a little bit low, but I thought tonight we got his A plus game, and I think his energy level is back to where it needs to be. We know what he can do when he's at the top of his game……He went through a couple weeks of the Olympics and big celebration after, and then he joined us right away in Florida. I've talked to him several times. I think just a lot of that caught up. That was part of him not practicing a couple of those times. I said, 'whatever you need to take off to get the energy back where it needs to be. If you didn't take a game off. Well, go get your game off.' But he wanted to play, and I think he's worked his way through it.
The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres have met eight times in the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and these teams have given hockey fans plenty of memorable moments.
Brad Park’s series-winning goal in Game 7 of the 1983 Adams Division Final and Brad May’s thrilling OT goal to eliminate the B’s in the 1993 Adams Division semifinals (with Rick Jeanneret’s legendary call) are just two examples of the thrilling hockey this rivalry can produce.
The latest chapter will be written over the next few weeks when the Atlantic Division champion Sabres battle the Bruins (first wild card team) in a best-of-seven first-round series.
The Sabres are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2010 (when they lost to the B’s in Round 1), ending the NHL’s longest postseason drought. The Bruins saw their eight-year playoff appearance streak end last season, but it only took one year for them to be back in the tournament.
Which of these teams has the upper hand in this first-round matchup? Check out our full preview below.
Series schedule
Game 1 at Buffalo: TBA
Game 2 at Buffalo: TBA
Game 3 at Boston: TBA
Game 4 at Boston: TBA
Game 5* at Buffalo: TBA
Game 6* at Boston: TBA
Game 7* at Buffalo: TBA
*If necessary
Regular season head-to-head
Oct. 11 at Boston: Bruins 3-1
Oct. 30 at Boston: Bruins 4-3 in OT
Dec. 27 at Buffalo: Sabres 4-1
March 25 at Buffalo: Bruins 4-3 in OT
Tale of the Tape
Here’s how the Bruins and Sabres compare in several important stats (all from even-strength play, except the power play and penalty kill) from the regular season. NHL rank in parentheses.
Note: The Sabres’ final regular season game is Wednesday, April 15.
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The Bruins win the series if…
All four lines contribute.
The Bruins can’t be a top-heavy lineup and expect to beat a Sabres team that has loads of scoring depth.
The Sabres had 13 players score 10-plus goals and 10 players reach 40-plus points. The B’s had 10 players score 10 or more goals and seven players hit 40-plus points.
The Bruins have been a little more reliant on the top of their lineup, specifically David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie, to score goals and create scoring chances for teammates. The B’s don’t need to worry about Pastrnak showing up. He has scored 11 goals with five assists in 21 games over his last three first-round series. He also has scored in each of his last three Game 7s. He has 87 points in 90 career playoff games.
The question is whether the B’s will get enough offensive production from their bottom-six forwards. Before the final two games of the regular season, many of these bottom-six guys hadn’t provided much offense since the Olympic break in February.
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The Bruins need two or three of these players to provide a bit of a spark offensively in Round 1. Maybe one of those players is James Hagens, the team’s top prospect, who played well over the final two games of the regular season.
Stepping up in the playoffs is a lot to ask of a 19-year-old rookie, but Hagens has an elite offensive skill set and could make a positive impact scoring-wise, both at even strength and the power play.
The Sabres win the series if…
Buffalo’s PK remains elite.
The key matchup in this series might be the Bruins power play versus the Sabres penalty kill. Both of these teams ranked top 10 in even-strength goals scored. Therefore, an effective power play could be enough to tip the scale in either team’s favor.
The Bruins power play showed tremendous improvement for the first five months of the season and ranked third-best in the league entering the Olympic break. But since the Olympic break, the B’s have converted on just 16.2 percent of their man-advantage situations, which ranked 27th among 32 teams over that span.
The Sabres have a top-tier penalty kill that ranked fourth-best in success rate this season. If that unit can shut down the Bruins power play, Buffalo will have a strong chance to win the series.
Players to watch
Morgan Geekie, left wing, Bruins
Geekie led the Bruins with a career-high 39 goals, and he recently ended a 17-game scoring drought with a hat trick against the Hurricanes on April 7. He has five goals in his last four games.
Can he keep up that pace in Round 1? Is his slump officially over? It’s hard to imagine the Bruins winning this series if Geekie is close to a non-factor offensively.
McAvoy took his performance to another level this season with a career-high 61 points (10 goals, 51 assists) in 69 games. He also led the team with 24:28 time on ice per game, while playing the second-most power-play time and most penalty kill time.
McAvoy drives offense at a high rate and shuts down the opposing team’s top forwards. He also sets the tone with crushing hits, and he’s never afraid to put his body on the line to block shots. A huge series for McAvoy would go a long way in helping the Bruins get to Round 2.
Tage Thompson, center, Sabres
Thompson is a force offensively at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds. He leads the Sabres with 40 goals and 81 points. He’s also played well against the Bruins in his career with 18 points in 31 career games, including five points in four matchups versus Boston this season.
Thompson has not scored in five of his last six games. Can he engineer a turnaround against the Bruins? The Sabres really need it.
Dahlin is the Sabres captain and one of the best players at his position. You could even make a case he deserves to win the Norris Trophy. Dahlin is an excellent defensive player, he battles, he plays in all situations and he defends against the opponent’s top players. His offensive skill is elite, too, evidenced by his 74 points (sixth-most among all defensemen).
Buffalo’s top pairing of Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson ranked ninth in goals scored percentage (61.3) among all pairings with 350-plus minutes together, per MoneyPuck.
Dahlin will be asked to create scoring chances and shut down Pastrnak’s line. If he’s successful at both, the Sabres will advance to Round 2.
Goalie breakdown
Jeremy Swayman, Bruins
Even though Swayman has struggled a bit of late, he was one of the best goalies in the league this season and could be a Vezina Trophy finalist. He went 31-18-4 with a .906 save percentage and a 2.76 GAA. He ranked No. 2 in both goals saved above expected (26.4) and wins above replacement (4.40), per MoneyPuck. Swayman is the No. 1 reason why the Bruins made it back to the playoffs.
He is the best and most experienced goalie in this series. The last time we saw Swayman in the playoffs was 2024 when he posted a league-best .933 save percentage in 13 games through two rounds. He dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs in his most recent first-round series.
Swayman played a lot down the stretch, but overall he had a normal No. 1 goalie workload of 54 starts.
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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sabres
Luukkonen and Alex Lyon both played really well for the Sabres this season and helped Buffalo rank eighth in even-strength save percentage. Lyon has been dealing with a lower body injury and hasn’t played since April 4.
Luukkonen has played six of the last eight games and put up better stats than Lyon this season, so he could get the start in Game 1. Luukkonen tallied an impressive .910 save percentage and a 2.52 GAA in 36 appearances. But unlike Swayman, Luukkonen has zero playoff experience.
How will he handle the pressure of the postseason? Luukkonen did play well against the B’s this season, earning a 1-0-1 record and a .907 save percentage in two starts.
Prediction
Bruins in six games.
There’s no doubt the Sabres have a ton of talent and depth. Buffalo having home-ice advantage is meaningful as well, and the atmosphere at KeyBank Center for the Sabres’ first playoff series in 16 years will be electric.
Boston’s advantage in postseason experience and goaltending is a huge factor, though. Swayman was arguably the league’s top netminder this season, and we’ve seen him play at a very high level in the playoffs before. The Bruins’ two best skaters — David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy — have a combined 181 career playoff appearances.
This will be a very intense, physical and exciting series. If the Bruins steal one of the first two games, they should be in good shape.
The Flyers had to like what they saw from their youngsters Tuesday night in a 4-2, regular-season finale win over the Canadiens at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Porter Martone, Oliver Bonk, Matvei Michkov and Alex Bump provided the team’s goals. All four players are 22 years old or younger. Martone, Bonk and Michkov were first-round picks.
“It just kind of shows the growth and the youth movement here,” Martone said. “What we’ve got in the prospect pool and down in the AHL in Lehigh and the players contributing up here in the NHL. It’s awesome to see that youth, but that youth doesn’t grow without the veterans in this room and what they do to help us get to the NHL.”
Bonk and Hunter McDonald each made their NHL debut and had an assist.
Bonk made it 2-0 in the first period when he uncorked one. The righty-shot blueliner celebrated with a big fist pump.
“I’m just trying get better every single day, a little bit better,” Bonk said. “I definitely can say I’ve taken some strides since I was practicing here, but there’s still a lot to do. Definitely happy with the result today, though.”
McDonald made a good read and hit to keep the puck in the offensive zone before Bonk’s goal. The 6-foot-4 defenseman had a plus-3 rating.
“That’s what I want to bring to this team and this league,” McDonald said. “Obviously I can keep getting better out there, but I think I showcased [my game].”
Fans also got their first look at David Jiricek in a Flyers jersey. The 22-year-old defenseman came to the Flyers in the Bobby Brink trade. He went scoreless, but he did show his powerful shot in the second period.
Martone continued to impress. He has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in nine games with the Flyers. He assisted Bump’s goal, which gave the Flyers third-period insurance.
Bump is a legit shooter. His ability to find the back of the net has been promising.
“I said to [president of hockey operations Keith Jones] after the game, ‘Man, I’ve got to get this guy in the lineup somehow,'” Tocchet said. “He’s going to get in; we’ve just got to figure when. But I really enjoyed his game tonight.”
• Samuel Ersson converted 27 saves on 29 shots.
The 26-year-old was super reliable after the Olympic break, giving the Flyers six wins in seven starts.
“I think the whole team, we put on a good run during that time,” Ersson said. “That was huge. It felt like we almost played the playoffs up until this point. Every game was so huge for us. I think we’ve got a lot of good feelings, good confidence, we’ve got some momentum going in here.”
The Flyers never trailed in this one. Montreal twice cut the deficit to one, but the Flyers responded each time.
Ersson made a sharp glove save on Oliver Kapanen a little over halfway through the third period to keep the Flyers in front.
“I’ve noticed since the break, he really looked big in the net, calmer,” Tocchet said. “I think he’s worked on not only the physical aspect of his game, but the mental.”
Canadiens netminder Jakub Dobes stopped 21 of the Flyers’ 25 shots.
• Michkov had two assists to go along with his goal.
“I think he’s just getting information and he’s starting to understand it and apply it,” Tocchet said. “I think early on, he maybe didn’t understand it as much and maybe got frustrated. … I think the communication’s a lot better, too, with the language barrier and stuff like that. It’s helping.”
The Flyers were 11-0-0 this season when Michkov recorded a multi-point game. No doubt he is an X-factor in these playoffs.
• The Flyers now get set for a first-round matchup with the Penguins.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs kick off Saturday. We’ll see if that’s when the Flyers and Penguins get underway in Pittsburgh. The schedule has not yet been announced.
With nothing left in the standings to play for, the Detroit Red Wings traveled to the Sunshine State for their two final games of the 2025-26 NHL regular season.
In their penultimate game of the campaign, they suffered a 4-3 overtime setback against the Tampa Bay Lightning after Nikita Kucherov scored just 27 seconds into the extra session.
The Red Wings, who trailed 3-1 at the beginning of the third period, rallied with goals from Marco Kasper and Alex DeBrincat, but despite outshooting the host Lightning, they weren't able to pick up the winning goal.
Not only did Detroit outshoot Tampa Bay, but they also refused to lie down and stop competing, which head coach Todd McLellan noticed.
"I thought they were prepared and willing to play from minute one on through, and if it wasn't there, I don't think you'd see us come back," McLellan said. "I give them credit for competing hard and playing to the end."
Even though Monday's game against the Lightning and their regular season finale against the Florida Panthers both mean nothing in the standings, McLellan gave the club credit for playing hard rather than mailing it in with nothing left to play for.
"I'm not gonna sit here and say the guys were all full of piss and vinegar early in the morning; it is what it is right now," said McLellan. "You have to play out the schedule, and there's always concern our guys will play safe, but they were real competitive and I give them credit for that.
"When you're in the thick of it, and you're playing for your lives, the intensity is different, and the pressure is different," he continued. "But when you're done, and you have six periods of hockey left, it changes quickly."
The Red Wings will face the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night in their 82nd and final game of their centennial campaign.
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Porter Martone, Oliver Bonk, Jack Nesbitt, Jett Luchanko, David Jiricek, and Denver Barkey were all featured in Wheeler's rankings.
Martone was given the No. 2 spot in Wheeler's rankings, and it makes sense when noting that he has the tools to become a star power forward in the NHL. The 19-year-old forward has three goals and eight points in games since joining the Flyers.
Bonk was ranked at the No. 65 spot. The 21-year-old defenseman has had a solid first year with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, posting six goals and 19 points in 44 games. It is what helped him land a call-up to Philly's NHL roster for their season finale.
Nesbitt was ranked at the No. 80 spot in Wheeler's rankings. The 2025 first-round pick had another good year in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires, recording 25 goals and 58 points in 55 games.
Luchanko was given the No. 81 spot and had another solid regular season in the OHL this year. In 38 games split between the Guelph Storm and the Brantford Bulldogs, he recorded seven goals and 43 points.
Jiricek was right after Nesbitt and Luchanko at the No. 83 spot. The right-shot defenseman has had trouble cementing himself as a full-time NHL defenseman, but has thrived with the Phantoms since being acquired by the Flyers at the deadline. In 13 games with the Phantoms, he has two goals and 13 points.
As for Barkey, he just made the cut at the No. 91 spot. The 20-year-old forward has shown promise during his first NHL season with the Flyers this campaign, as he has five goals and 17 points in 42 games. He also had seven goals and 16 points in 26 AHL games this season with Lehigh Valley.
There may only be a couple of games left in the 2025–26 season for the Vancouver Canucks, but this doesn’t mean they’re excused from any arising injury issues. Evander Kane has yet to play since Vancouver’s game on April 4 against the Utah Mammoth, and it appears the forward will remain out until the end of the season.
“He’s not going to play unless we get walloped with some injuries. So we’re going to keep going with the group we have,” Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote said after Vancouver’s morning skate on Tuesday ahead of their matchup against the Los Angeles Kings in their final home game of the season.
Kane’s recent appearances in Vancouver’s lineup have been sporadic. The forward skated in enough games to put him at the 1000th NHL-game mark on March 30 against the Vegas Golden Knights, but did not play again until the 4th due to injury. Against the Mammoth on home-ice, Vancouver celebrated Kane’s career-milestone. He has not played in a game since then.
With Kane’s current contract up at the end of the season, the forward will become a UFA by the start of July unless the Canucks opt to sign him to an extension. Through 71 games played this season, the forward has scored 13 goals and 18 assists.
Mar 30, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Evander Kane (91) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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When the 2025-26 NHL season ends, the Florida Panthers will have two Group 6 UFAs, center Cole Schwindt and winger Nolan Foote, according to PuckPedia.
To qualify as a Group 6 UFA, a player must be 25 years old by June 30, have an expiring contract, and a skater must have played less than 80 career NHL games, while a goaltender must play less than 28 games with more than 30 minutes of ice time.
Finally, they must have at least three professional seasons, which is any time spent in the NHL, AHL, or ECHL.
For Schwindt, he’ll turn 25 years old on April 25, and even if he plays in the last game of the season, he’ll only hit 78 career games. Schwindt would have likely hit the 80-game threshold if he hadn’t sustained multiple long-term injuries this season.
As for Foote, he’s played just 41 career NHL games, scoring seven goals and 10 points. Foote has played just 11 games this year, scoring one goal.
Foote joined the Panthers organization in the off-season, signing a two-way deal after spending five seasons with the New Jersey Devils.
Nolan Foote (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Due to Schwindt and Foote becoming UFAs, they’ll be free to sign with any NHL team on July 1, and the Panthers won’t receive any compensation for it, as they would if they were tendered qualifying offers as RFAs.
The Panthers coaching staff spoke highly of Schwindt throughout the season, and the only reason Schwindt was ever taken out of the lineup was due to injuries. The Panthers seem very inclined to bring back Schwindt on an NHL contract, while Foote could return on another two-way deal.
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The Florida Panthers have one game remaining in their 2025-26 season.
Unlike the past several years, there will be no appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Panthers this spring, no push for a third straight championship.
Thanks to an injury-filled season unlike any the team had seen, Florida is instead wrapping up their regular campaign with an eye toward the future.
That’s because the Panthers’ 2026 first-round pick, which Florida included in the 2025 Trade Deadline deal with the Chicago Blackhawks that brought Seth Jones to the Cats, is top-10 protected.
When the dust settles on the regular season in a couple days and the NHL holds its annual Draft Lottery soon after, if Florida’s top selection remains in the top 10, they will retain the pick and instead send their 2027 first rounder to Chicago.
Entering play Tuesday, the Panthers hold the seventh-worst record in the NHL with one game remaining.
Florida can finish no lower than sixth-worst and no higher than tenth-worst, depending on how things play out with the Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks and in the Panthers’ finale on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings.
If they finish no better than eighth-worst, the Panthers are guaranteed to keep their pick, but if they finish in ninth-or-tenth-worst, Florida will have to wait to see how things shake out in the Draft Lottery.
Since two draws are held, one for the first overall selection and one for the second pick, it’s possible for two teams to move up and potentially bump the Panthers out of the top ten.
For fans wondering which teams to root for, it’s as simple as hoping the teams around Florida in the stands all collect as many points as possible.
On Tuesday, that would mean hoping Winnipeg wins in Utah and that St. Louis beats the Penguins at home.
Wednesday, aside from Florida hosting Detroit, the Sharks will be in Chicago and Seattle plays in Vegas. Then on Thursday, the final day of the regular season, St. Louis is in Utah, Winnipeg hosts the Sharks and Seattle plays in Colorado.
We’ll have to wait and see how things play out for the Panthers, but it’s looking like they have a fairly decent chance at retaining their first-round pick.
Photo caption: Apr 2, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice watches from the bench against the Boston Bruins during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The Winnipeg Jets may not have any hope left at a playoff spot, but a spot in the NHL Draft Lottery is now up for grabs for the 2024-25 Presidents' Trophy winners.
On Monday night, the Jets were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but just 20-some-odd hours later they will return to work in Utah for a test against the postseason-bound Mammoth.
Photo by Rob Gray/USA Today
Currently sitting tied for 24th in the league with St. Louis and Florida, the Jets have the eighth best odds of landing the No. 1 overall selection at this year's NHL Draft Lottery set for May 5.
With two games left to play, valuable drafting odds remain up in the air. The Jets can climb as high as 86 points with two more wins, or remain at 82 points, which would effectively be Winnipeg's second-worst season on record since returning to Manitoba.
Being the second half of a back-to-back, the Jets did not skate on Tuesday, so the forward lines and defence groupings will remain a mystery until closer to puck drop.
The goaltender of record for Winnipeg will be Eric Comrie, as Connor Hellebuyck will get his first night off in months. It is expected that the team will ice a similar lineup to that of the group of 18 players that suited up on Monday in Vegas.
Winnipeg Jets expected line combinations for Tuesday, April 14 at Utah:
The Colorado Avalanche wrap up their final road trip of the 2025–26 regular season Tuesday night in Calgary, closing out a season series they’ve controlled from start to finish.
Colorado has taken both previous meetings, including a lopsided 9–2 win on March 30 and a more measured 3–1 result on April 9, and arrives at Scotiabank Saddledome riding a tight, defense-first stretch at the right time of year.
Grinding Out Wins Without Bednar
Their latest outing offered a snapshot of that formula.
Colorado edged the Edmonton Oilers 2–1 in a shootout Monday at Rogers Place, leaning heavily on Scott Wedgewood, who turned aside 30 of 31 shots. Nathan MacKinnon delivered the decisive moment, scoring the shootout winner after Valeri Nichushkin and Martin Nečas also converted.
Wedgewood’s calm presence was the backbone of the win, particularly as Edmonton pushed late and into the shootout.
“He was rock solid all the way through… it’s a continuation of what he’s done throughout the season,” assistant coach Dave Hakstol told The Hockey News postgame, reinforcing just how steady Wedgewood has been during this late push.
The night also carried personal significance for Brock Nelson, who skated in his 1,000th NHL game, marking the milestone in a tightly contested win that reflected the kind of hockey Colorado has leaned on down the stretch.
Sam Malinski accounted for Colorado’s lone regulation goal, finishing a Nicolas Roy feed from the left circle midway through the second period. Edmonton’s only response came off the stick of Connor McDavid later in the frame, but the Avalanche locked things down from there—killing off every Oilers power play and allowing little in the way of second chances.
That defensive commitment has quietly become one of Colorado’s defining traits down the stretch. Since April 4, they’ve allowed just 1.50 goals per game—the best mark in the league over that span—while also owning the NHL’s top penalty kill at 84.3 percent.
Still, the team continues to operate under unusual circumstances behind the bench.
Head coach Jared Bednar remains away from the club as he recovers from facial fractures and a corneal abrasion suffered in a recent game against Vegas. In his absence, Nolan Pratt and Hakstol have taken over bench duties, guiding the Avalanche through this final stretch of the regular season with a steady hand.
MacKinnon Driving The Push
Offensively, the story remains familiar.
MacKinnon continues to drive everything. His 52 goals lead the NHL, and his 126 points place him firmly among the league’s elite. Nečas isn’t far behind in overall production, sitting at 99 points, while contributions from players like Malinski have added unexpected depth—particularly from the blue line, where his recent scoring surge has stood out.
Calgary, meanwhile, enters Tuesday’s matchup coming off a 4–1 win over Utah. Matt Coronato and Connor Zary struck early to set the tone, while Mikael Backlund and Brayden Pachal extended the lead in the third period. The Flames have leaned on a balanced attack at home, with Coronato leading the team in points and Morgan Frost pacing them in goals.
Historically, the matchup has been competitive. In 136 regular-season meetings, Colorado holds a 68-54-8-6 edge, and the two teams last met in the playoffs in 2019, when the Avalanche dispatched Calgary in five games.
But this version of Colorado looks different—tighter defensively, confident in goal, and still powered by one of the most dynamic players in the sport.
With one final road test before the postseason, the Avalanche aren’t just trying to complete a season sweep. They’re sharpening the identity that could carry them into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: Cullen Potter poses with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by the Calgary Flames with the 32nd overall pick during the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft at the Peacock Theater on June 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The disappointment that was the finality of MSU hockey this season has still not taken its root to the depth of where my disappointment lingers. While we are glad we weren’t forced into throwing up again as Ann Arbor celebrated another title, we did get to sit in our misery and watch Porter Martone score goals for the Flyers. With that being said, here’s a quick update on the comings and goings of MSU hockey players and the massive roster overhaul that will be taking place in East Lansing.
First, let us congratulate some award winners. First team All-American nods go to Trey Augustine, Porter Martone and second team, Charlie Stramel. Martone is the first freshman in school history with the honor and Augustine secured his second. Adam Nightingale was also announced as the head coach of the 2027 U.S. National Junior Team for the World Junior Championships.
Of course we have our outgoing seniors. Tiernan and Travis Shoudy, Dolan Gilbert, Daniel Russell, Charlie Stramel and Matt Basgall. Gilbert has entered the transfer portal and looks to play as a 5th year senior somewhere. Now that the portal is open, let’s see who’s in, who’s out, who’s where in MSU hockey.
DEPARTURES
Tiernan Shoudy
Signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 2026-2027 and signed with the Wheeling Nailers, the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the rest of 2025-2026.
Daniel Russell
Signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Matt Basgall
Signed with San Diego Gulls, AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks.
Porter Martone
Signed with the Philadelphia Flyers and is already scoring goals.
Trey Augustine
Signed with Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.
Maxim Strbak
Signed with the Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres and joins former teammates Red Savage and Jagger Joshua.
Charlie Stramel
Signed with the Minnesota Wild. He is out for the remainder of this season with a broken ankle.
Colin Ralph
Signed with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.
Melvin Strahl
Transfer Portal to Minnesota. This implies that the freshman Joshua Ravensbergen was set to get the majority of playing time in East Lansing.
Austin Baker
Transfer Portal to Miami of Ohio
Nathan Mackie
Entered the Transfer Portal
ARRIVALS
Cullen Potter
Potter has committed to MSU after two seasons at Arizona State. Potter is a center who is very quick. Here is an in-depth highlight reel prior to the 2025 NHL Draft where he was drafted by Calgary. This past season he had 12 goals and 26 points in 24 games.
What are your thoughts TOC on the comings and goings? Minnesota has already had a successful portal haul, Michigan seems to be staying strong and Wisconsin has added. What are your wishes for MSU hockey? Are the Spartans keeping up? Let’s discuss in the comments and we’ll continue to update with any new news.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their final game of the regular season against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The Penguins will be looking to finish off the regular season with a win before they kick off their first round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Penguins have now called up one of their depth forwards from the AHL ahead of their season finale against the Blues.
The Penguins have announced that they have recalled forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Harvey-Pinard has not played in a game for Pittsburgh this season. Instead, he has spent all of this campaign in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he has recorded 19 goals, 17 assists, and 36 points in 64 games. This is after he had five goals and 19 points in 40 games last season with the Laval Rocket.
In 84 career NHL games over four seasons, Harvey-Pinard has recorded 17 goals, 14 assists, and 31 points. This includes when he set career highs with 14 goals and 20 points in 34 games with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2022-23 season.
The Conn Smythe Trophy is one of the most volatile awards in hockey betting because a player’s path to playoff MVP depends on both performance and team success.
The 2026 odds are not available just yet, but with the Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning in less than a week, that market should open soon. When it does, expect the board to be led by stars from the top Cup contenders, with a few high-upside longshots lurking behind them.
🏆 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy odds
Sportsbooks have yet to release official Conn Smythe Trophy odds for the 2026 postseason, but this market typically opens after we know the full first round schedule.
There have only been five players to win the Conn Smythe without winning the Stanley Cup.
Skaters have won the Conn Smythe over a goalie 74% of the time.
There have been seven repeat winners of the Conn Smythe since its establishment.
Only one player has won the Conn Smythe more than twice. Patrick Roy won it three times.
📜 Conn Smythe Trophy history
A quick look at recent NHL Conn Smythe Trophy winners and the teams they played for.
Season
Player
Team
2024-25
Sam Bennett
Florida Panthers
2023-24
Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers
2022-23
Jonathan Marchessault
Vegas Golden Knights
2021-22
Cale Makar
Colorado Avalanche
2020-21
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Tampa Bay Lightning
2019-20
Victor Hedman
Tampa Bay Lightning
2018-19
Ryan O'Reilly
St. Louis Blues
2017-18
Alex Ovechkin
Washington Capitals
2016-17
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
2015-16
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
2014-15
Duncan Keith
Chicago Blackhawks
2013-14
Justin Williams
Los Angeles Kings
2012-13
Patrick Kane
Chicago Blackhawks
2011-12
Jonathan Quick
Los Angeles Kings
2010-11
Tim Thomas
Boston Bruins
2009-10
Jonathan Toews
Chicago Blackhawks
2008-09
Evgeni Malkin
Pittsburgh Penguins
2007-08
Henrik Zetterberg
Detroit Red Wings
2006-07
Scott Niedermayer
Anaheim Ducks
2005-06
Cam Ward
Carolina Hurricanes
2003-04
Brad Richards
Tampa Bay Lightning
Understanding Conn Smythe Trophy odds
Sportsbooks will post Conn Smythe Trophy odds as early as the beginning of the playoffs. These NHL futures are constantly adjusted throughout the postseason depending on how well players perform as well as their team success. Sportsbooks will also adjust the NHL awards odds based on handle and liability to certain players.
Conn Smythe Trophy odds will usually look like this:
Nathan MacKinnon +290
This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to win $290 if MacKinnon takes home the Conn Smythe Trophy. If it's close to the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs and a player has stood out as the obvious MVP of the series they might have a minus sign (-) ahead of their odds like this:
Connor McDavid -175
This means that if you bet on McDavid to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, you would have needed to bet $175 to profit $100.
All of the odds listed above are in American format, but if you prefer decimal or fractional odds, simply plug them into our odds converter tool.
Florida Panthers
Edmonton Oilers
Vegas Golden Knights
Colorado Avalanche
Tampa Bay Lightning
St. Louis Blues
Washington Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins
Chicago Blackhawks
Los Angeles Kings
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
Anaheim Ducks
Carolina Hurricanes