The Pittsburgh Penguins are hoping that goaltender Sergei Murashov will be a big part of their roster in the future. It is understandable, as the 22-year-old has plenty of potential.
Murashov has certainly shown off his upside this season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, as he has a 23-8-4 record, a .918 save percentage, a 2.24 goals-against average, and three shutouts in 36 games.
In his first five career regular-season games with Pittsburgh this season, Murashov had a 1-1-2 record, an .897 save percentage, and a 2.56 goals-against average. He also had a 21-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 16.
When looking at Murashov's play at the AHL level, it is entirely understandable that he is being considered one of the best goalie prospects in the league. He has the skill to be a good goaltender for Pittsburgh, and it is going to be very fascinating to see how he continues to grow his game from here.
The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs are considered the most grueling postseason in all professional sports, and that intensity really gets ramped up for the Stanley Cup Final.
Discover the latest NHL odds as well as all the key resources you need to navigate the 2026 NHL Playoffs with our helpful links and information below.
2026 Stanley Cup odds
Stanley Cup odds are a form of NHL futures. These are long-running odds markets that release before the start of the regular season and take action over the course of the schedule, adjusting to results, betting handle, and injuries.
📅 2026 NHL Playoffs schedule
Event
Date
First Round
April 18-May 3
Second Round begins
May 6
Conference Finals begin
May 22
Stanley Cup Finals
June 3-21
🏒 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy Odds
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sportsbooks begin offering Conn Smythe odds at the start of the playoffs, updating them as the rounds go on and teams are eliminated.
In the NHL's best-of-seven postseason, the first team to win four games advances to the next round, while the loser is eliminated. To ensure fairness, the league utilizes a 2-2-1-1-1 home-ice format, which allocates hosting duties based on regular-season performance.
This structure guarantees that the team with the superior regular-season record enjoys home-ice advantage, meaning they host the series opener and, most crucially, the decisive seventh game.
📺 How to watch the Stanley Cup
In Canada, fans can catch Stanley Cup Final games on Sportsnet and CBC, while fans in the United States can find Stanley Cup Final action exclusively on ABC. Cord cutters can stream the games on ESPN+.
Where to bet on the Stanley Cup
Hockey betting is on the rise in North America. The NHL’s popularity provides fun and unique ways to wager on hockey action all season long. Where you bet on hockey is just as important as what you bet, and Covers has reviewed the best betting sites available in your region.
Hockey is one of the most exciting sports to bet on due to the fast-paced action and swings in momentum. And the Stanley Cup playoffs dial up the drama, with plenty of unpredictable outcomes and thrilling underdog stories. Learn how to bet on hockey and make smarter NHL bets with Covers.
The Stanley Cup Final is one of the longest-running championship events in North American sports with a rich history of memorable competition and outstanding players
Origins
The Stanley Cup is named after Lord Frederick Stanley, the 16th Earl of Derby, who donated the trophy to honor the best amateur hockey team in Canada.
The Stanley Cup was first awarded to the winner of the Canadian Challenge Cup (1893-1914) and later used as the top prize in a championship series between the winner of the National Hockey Association and the winner of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (1915-1926).
It wasn’t until 1927 that the National Hockey League adopted the Stanley Cup as its championship trophy.
The first Stanley Cup
The first winner of the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Hockey Club, which won the Challenge Cup in 1893. The first NHA vs. PCHA winner was the Vancouver Millionaires in 1915. The first NHL champion to hoist Lord Stanley was the Ottawa Senators in 1927.
Apr 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (27) and defenseman Oliver Bonk (59) celebrate win against the Montral Canadiens at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Eric Hartline/Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA — Flyers fans could have been excused for thinking they entered some kind of time warp as they grabbed their “Let’s Go Flyers” rally towels on their way into the arena.
The Grateful Dead cover band Splintered Sunlight jammed out to hits from the 1970s and graybeards old enough to remember the Flyers’ Stanley Cup victories swayed in their tie-dyed T-shirts. Just down the concourse, Flyers Hall of Famer Joe Watson signed copies of his autobiography and all-time great Bobby Clarke was all smiles as he filled his cup — soda, not Stanley — at the press box fountain station.
The good old days.
The Flyers remained tethered for decades to the glory days like a dog on a leash because, well, what was there to really celebrate?
At last, plenty — and an unbridled optimism that even better seasons were ahead.
The youth moment skated at full blast on the ice in a 4-2 win over Montreal a day after the Flyers clinched their first playoff berth since 2020 and their first home playoff series since 2018.
Philadelphia’s first goal was scored by 19-year-old sensation Porter Martone, who just weeks ago starred at Michigan State and now could be a dangerous weapon in the first-round series against Pittsburgh. Martone deflected a point shot from Matvei Michkov, the 21-year-old Russian who navigated an uneven first half of the season only to heat up as the games heightened in importance down the stretch.
Michkov scored the Flyers’ third goal unassisted (20th overall) as one fan raised a “We Want More!” sign.
Architects of the lengthy rebuild, general manager Danny Briere and team president Keith Jones, could bask in the credit tossed their way from social media to talk radio to even the written word for never wavering from their plan to build a playoff team through the draft and shrewd acquisitions for 20-somethings over making moves for quick-fix veterans with no long-term fit.
Take a look at the clincher against Carolina: 2020 first-round pick Tyson Foerster, still just 24, scored the shootout winner that ignited pandemonium on the ice and in the stands.
Just how young are the Flyers?
Their last home playoff series came in the Year 2018 BG.
Before Gritty.
Gritty, the wild-haired, googly-eyed, fuzzy faced mascot, got his playoff reps in when he hurled a cake into the face of an unsuspecting (ahem) fan dressed in Penguins gear.
Gritty smashed dessert. Dan Vladar, the goalie who won the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the team’s most valuable player, spilled the tea.
Briere, who sparked the Flyers to their last Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2010, publicly had downplayed playoff possibilities all season.
He had a more upbeat message inside the Flyers’ locker room.
“He told us at the beginning of the year, I hope he’s not going to get mad at me, but he said the goal is to make the playoffs,” Vladar said. “There was always a belief in this room. Obviously, we knew that, even if it was the media or outsiders who didn’t really believe in us, we always had the belief here since Day 1.”
Flyers captain Sean Couturier was once a key cog in rebuilding — back when he was the eighth overall pick in the 2011 draft. Couturier made his debut that season and largely has remained a steady presence in the lineup — save for injuries that cost him the 2022-2023 season — and is the only Flyer still here from their last home playoff series victory against, yes, the Penguins in 2012.
“You want things to turn around,” Couturier said. “I think that the management, the organization has done a great job of being patient and building assets and putting us in a great spot here for now and the future.”
The now actually seemed dire before the Olympic break when the Flyers lost 11 of their last 14 games before the shutdown and dropped one more once play resumed.
Whatever defensive adjustments coach Rick Tocchet made during the layoff worked.
The Flyers’ season caught fire when they won three straight road games against the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks and they ended the season on an 18-6-1 tear that propelled them to 98 points and into third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Who knows, maybe it was the suburban Philadelphia family that gifted Pope Leo XIV his own customized Flyers jersey that truly the blessed the team.
The regular-season finale served more as a joyous pep rally than a game with any real consequences. The fans dancing to the Dead cover band cheered as the singer paused during “Jack Straw” after he hit the lyric “sun so hot, the clouds so low, the eagles filled the sky” in appreciation of the NFL team across the street.
The rest of the night belonged to the orange and black.
Gritty once issued a warning to the Penguins: “Sleep with one eye open tonight, bird.”
Led by one of the youngest teams in the NHL, the Flyers are going into the playoffs with eyes wide open and ready to prove to their fans, don’t you worry any more.
The Montreal Canadiens’ second-round pick at the last draft, Alexander Zharovsky, saw his KHL season come to an end yesterday when the Ufa Salavat Yulaev crashed out of the playoffs. The underdogs were swept in four games by Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, which featured former Hab Alexander Radulov.
In the fourth and final game of the duel yesterday, Lokomotiv won 4-0, with Radulov scoring a goal and recording two assists. As for Zharovsky, he spent just over 16 minutes on the ice across 19 shifts, had two shots and two blocked shots.
In 10 playoff games, the 19-year-old only put up a pair of assists. That’s nothing to write home about, but it’s important to remember that he’s still very young and playing against seasoned players in Russia’s top league. Just like in the NHL, the level of play goes up in the postseason.
The right wing put up 16 goals and 26 assists for 42 points in his first complete season in the KHL. The 6-foot-2 and 176-pound player still needs to fill up before he’s ready to face North American professional hockey.
Speaking on BPM Sports earlier this week, former NHL coach Bob Hartley, who’s now at the helm of Lokomotiv, was asked about the Canadiens’ prospect. He explained:
We know the playoffs are a different animal; they beat their first-round rival in six games, and we shut them out in our first two games at home. There’s not much room on the ice against us. We have an experienced defence corps that’s robust as well, and we’ve kept a close eye on him. [..] The kid is only 19, and he’s coming to terms with the reality of the playoffs, but he’s always dangerous, he works very hard, and he’s an excellent skater. He sees the game well, he’ll keep on improving, and the Canadiens definitely have a jewel there. He’s an excellent hockey player, and from what I hear, he’s a hard worker with an A1 attitude and a kid who, off the ice, is a great deal like [Ivan] Demidov.
- Bob Hartley on Zharovsky
That sounds very promising, and it looks like Zharovsky, just like Demidov, will be worth the wait. Martin St-Louis has shown time and time again what he can do with young players who have a knack for reading the game. The end of next season could be very interesting for Canadiens’ fans when both Zharovsky and Michael Hage turn pro.
The Florida Panthers are about to cross the finish line of frustrating, injury-filled season.
Despite coming into the year as the NHL’s defending, back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions, the Panthers couldn’t stay healthy and constantly found themselves behind the proverbial eight ball.
Now, with their playoff hopes long gone and the focus shifting to the future, Florida is looking to the upcoming offseason with a potential major bargaining chip in their back pocket.
That’s because the Panthers’ 2026 first-round pick, which was previously included in the 2025 Trade Deadline deal that brought Seth Jones to Florida from the Chicago Blackhawks, was top-10 protected.
Entering play Wednesday, Florida holds the eighth-worst record in the NHL. A finish anywhere in the bottom eight will guarantee they keep their pick, regardless of what happens at the NHL Draft Lottery.
There are two draws at the Draft Lottery, one for the first overall pick and one for the second overall pick, meaning there is a chance that two teams could move up and bump Florida backwards.
A loss to Detroit in any fashion will guarantee the Panthers a bottom-eight finish.
If the Panthers collect two points, they would need the San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues to each pick up at least one more point (San Jose has two games remaining, St. Louis has one) in order to guarantee the bottom-eight finish.
The Panthers are expected to welcome forward Matthew Tkachuk back into the lineup for the finale.
Tkachuk has missed Florida’s past four games to be with his wife Ellie for the birth of their first child, a baby girl named Camille.
He told media members after the Panthers’ morning skate that he would be playing on Wednesday night.
In addition to the bevy of injured players who are already out of the lineup, Florida will be without Tomas Nosek, who broke his leg on Monday, and Gus Forsling, due to several ailments he’s been nursing.
Needless to say, Florida’s defensive corps will be on the younger side when they suit up to battle the Red Wings.
The average age of the six blueliners dressing for the Cats will be 23.5 years old.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Wednesday’s season finale against Detroit:
Photo caption: Oct 15, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save on Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena. (Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Based on preseason expectations there might not be a more improbable first-round matchup in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs than the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. Neither of these teams were expected to be here. Up until about three weeks ago, I am not sure the Flyers were expected to be here. But none of that matters now, and starting this weekend the battle of Pennsylvania gets renewed, with Sidney Crosby having a chance to deliver another punch to the Penguins’ cross-state rivals.
We know who the main players in this series and playoff run are going to be for the Penguins.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson are going to be at the top of the list, and their play will obviously have a major role in what the Penguins do and how far they can go. But no matter how well they play, they can not do it all for the Penguins. The team’s success or failure will also come down to the secondary and support players on the team and a few potential X-factors.
Let’s talk about some of them.
Ben Kindel
Every Penguins team that won the Stanley Cup or reached the Stanley Cup Final in the Sidney Crosby era has done so with a third-line that can carry play and swing games. A lot of times in the playoffs each team’s top players can cancel each other out due to the aggressive line-matching that tends to take place, and it can then come down to which team has the better support players.
In 2008 and 2009 it was the Jordan Staal line.
In 2016 and 2017 it was the HBK line.
Can the Penguins get something similar from the Kindel line?
It is going to be fascinating to see how his first playoff experiences goes. He is, after all, only 18 years old and will be getting his first taste of playoff hockey. He also seems to have hit another rookie wall over the past month with his offense going cold and some of his underlying metrics regressing a bit. From a big picture perspective, it is nothing to be overly concerned about. There is a reason most 18-year-olds do not get a full-season in the NHL. It is a huge adjustment and there are going to be some growing pains.
But everything resets now going into the playoffs, and regardless of who the Penguins put around him on a line they are going to need a big showing from his trio if they are going to advance and go on a potential run.
He has exceeded expectations and rose to the occasion all season. This is going to be his biggest test yet.
Sam Girard
You can include Kris Letang in this category as well, because their defense pairing is going to be significant.
When they were first put together following the trade with Colorado, they looked like an absolute disaster, with Girard especially struggling in his new environment. He seemed to lack confidence, was indecisive and just not playing well.
And then, about 10-12 games ago, something clicked.
It clicked for him.
It clicked for Letang.
It clicked for both of them together.
In their total time together, including the initial rocky games, the Girard-Letang pairing has outscored teams by a 13-9 margin with a 52.5 percent expected goals share during 5-on-5 play. Very solid numbers.
Over their past 10 games, however, those numbers go to an 11-5 goal advantage and a 57.8 percent expected goal share.
They are now carrying play.
Girard especially looks completely different and like a player that is oozing with confidence. Everything is being done with a purpose, there is no hesitation, he is joining the rush smartly and moving the puck well.
You know the Karlsson-Parker Wotherspoon pairing is going to give you a chance.
Having reliable pairings beyond them was always going to be the concern. If Letang and Girard can continue playing the way they have over the past month the Penguins are going to have a second pairing they can lean on. That is a game-changer, both in terms of their chances in this series, and their potential ceiling in the playoffs.
Connor Clifton
Sticking with the defense, the third-pairing is also going to be significant because at some point they are going to have to play. Even if you lean on the top-two pairings for more than 40 minutes, that still leads nearly a full period’s worth of hockey that the third-pairing has to log.
Sometimes playoff success or failure is not necessarily about what you do well or your strengths, but what you don’t do well and your flaws. The things that can be exploited in a best-of-seven series when opposing coaches are doing more in-depth game-planning and can drill down to weaknesses.
Clifton is one of those players that I fear being exploited.
I will say this: I think he’s played a lot better down the stretch, and a lot of his underlying numbers over the past month have, at times, been REALLY good. But over the course of a season his pairing has at times been the one that gets pinned in the defensive zone and has a tendency to lose the territorial and possession battle. That could be a problem. They do not need Clifton and Ryan Shea to be game-changers. They just need them to play to a 0-0 tie.
Stuart Skinner
Then we have the biggest X-factor on the entire team.
It is the goaltending. It is always the goaltending. It can lift a struggling team or sink a good team, and there might not be a more important player for the Penguins this postseason than Skinner.
It is just a matter of which version of him they are going to get.
He has big-game experience and backstopped the Edmonton Oilers to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals in each of the past two seasons. He is capable of putting together a good stretch of play, and we have seen signs of it down the stretch. He has clearly taken the No. 1 spot and at least earned the right to go into the playoffs as the Penguins’ starting goalie.
But can he do enough to give the Penguins a chance?
Over the past 20 games he has saved four goals above expected for the Penguins, which is good enough to give them a chance. The Penguins have the potential to score enough goals to win, and in at least the first round the Flyers do not have an overly potent offense. They are probably not going to need Skinner to steal many games. They just need him to not lose any.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler ranked the top 20 NHL-drafted goalie prospects. A Chicago Blackhawks prospect made the cut, as Drew Commesso was given the No. 18 spot.
Commesso is a goaltender who the Blackhawks are certainly hoping will become a solid part of their future, as he has good upside. The 2020 second-round pick is continuing to work on his development and has shown promise.
Commesso has played in 36 games with the Rockford IceHogs this season, where he has a 13-19-2 record, a .903 save percentage, and a 3.00 goals-against average. This is after he had an 18-15-4 record, a .911 save percentage, a 2.54 goals-against average, and four shutouts for Rockford in 2024-25. With this, he has certainly been solid at the AHL level.
However, more importantly, Commesso played very well when given the chance to play for the Blackhawks this season. In three games for Chicago this campaign, he has a 2-1-0 record, a .918 save percentage, and a 2.31 goals-against average. He also notably had a 36-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 10. Furthermore, in his most recent appearance for Chicago on March 9 against the Utah Mammoth, he stopped 23 out of 25 shots.
With this, Commesso certainly has the potential to become a good part of the Blackhawks' roster in the future. He should see more NHL action next season because of it.
Apr 14, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) defends the net against the Anaheim Ducks in the third period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Matt Blewett/Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Jesper Wallstedt let in a goal on a power play against the Minnesota Wild in the first period, looked up at the scoreboard to quickly analyze the replay, and realized something wasn’t right.
The name on the back of his green jersey was misspelled: W-a-l-l-s-t-e-a-d.
“An April Fool’s joke,” Wallstedt said after beating the Anaheim Ducks, “but a little late.”
So he’s sure this was a classic rookie prank and not an honest manufacturing mistake?
“Yeah, 100%. I don’t know exactly who it is, but obviously I have a feeling of who it could be,” said Wallstedt, suggesting fellow goalie Filip Gustavsson was the culprit.
When Marc-Andre Fleury retired last spring, he left behind quite the legacy as a prankster. Though Fleury turned over the net to Gustavsson and Wallstedt on the ice, the 41-year-old with the second-most wins in NHL history has stayed around the team this season as a practice goalie and with an informal front office role as a player development advisor.
Was it possible Fleury found his way in on the joke too?
“Oh, I didn’t think that Flower could be involved,” Wallstedt said. “Then I definitely think it’s a team job. Well done for them. Yeah, I’d rather take it that way than having my car on cinder blocks or something. I’d rather have my name a little misspelled.”
For the record, Wallstedt had his proper spelling restored for the second period. He had 34 saves in the 3-2 win over the Ducks and finished his rookie season 18-9-6 with the NHL’s second-best save percentage (.915).
“I hope they threw that nameplate away,” Wallstedt said. “I have no idea where it went.”
Since starting his career 8-0-2 with four shutouts, Wallstedt has continued to give the Wild confidence in their tandem of Swedish Olympians — and a decision to make with the playoffs approaching.
Gustavsson has more experience and enjoyed plenty of strong stretches this season, but he’s only 2-4 in his last six starts with 25 goals allowed. Wallstedt might have forced his way into some type of rotation in the first-round series against the Dallas Stars.
“I like the way I’ve been playing lately, especially after the Olympics. I thought I was in a good spot going into the Olympics, too,” Wallstedt said. “Obviously I was a little bit bummed that I didn’t get to play anything there, and maybe that gave some extra motivation for the games after. And ever since, I’ve felt like I’ve been in a good spot and given our team a good chance to win.”
The 100th season of the Detroit Red Wings comes to a close on Wednesday as they take on the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
It has been an emotional year for Red Wings fans, as the team will miss the playoffs for a tenth straight season, and in especially heartbreaking fashion.
Turning the page will not be easy for Detroit fans, but it will be necessary. Even if it is not what many want to hear, the future remains bright, and there will be glimpses of it on display in Sunrise.
Rookies Emmitt Finnie and Axel Sandin-Pellikka will look to finish their first NHL seasons on a strong note, while recent call-ups Carter Mazur and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård aim to make lasting impressions as they push to secure full-time roster spots next season.
Pending free agents and veteran players in Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk, and David Perron are also looking to make an impact as they head toward potential new contracts this July.
Although the Red Wings are out of the playoff race, this game still carries significance for the future of the franchise.
Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Tampa Bay (Monday)
Finnie – Larkin – Raymond
DeBrincat – Copp – Kane
Mazur – Compher – Perron
van Riemsdyk - Kasper - Brandsegg-Nygård
Edvinsson – Seider
Chiarot – Faulk
Johansson - Sandin-Pellikka
Gibson
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Apr 14, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) salutes the fans as he leaves the ice after the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Russell LaBounty/Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Alex Ovechkin hasn’t decided if his final NHL game already happened.
If it did, the Russian superstar made sure he got on the scoresheet.
Ovechkin assisted on Jakob Chychrun’s go-ahead goal during the third period of the Washington Capitals’ 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“It’s pretty cool. We tried to win, and we tried to finish the season on a good note,” he said.
Ovechkin — who led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018 — is in the final season of his contract. He has continued to reiterate that he will take some time to ponder if he will retire after 21 seasons and 1,573 regular-season games.
“I’m going to stay a little bit in D.C. I don’t know when we’re going to fly (back to Russia). ... I’ll talk with Carbs (coach Spencer Carbery), CP (general manager Chris Patrick), my family and go from there,” Ovechkin said during his 3-minute postgame remarks.
A large contingent of Capitals fans made the trip to Columbus and chanted “One more year” and “Ovi! Ovi!” during the final minute. He also got a standing ovation as he left the ice.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. The fans who came here from D.C. and different spots to watch the game which was very nice,” Ovechkin said. “I could hear them cheering for me and screaming one more year.”
Ovechkin was on the ice for final 1:49 after the Blue Jackets pulled their goalie. His teammates tried to get him the puck for one final goal, but he was unable to control the puck when he had a clean look at the empty net.
“I wanted him maybe if this is it, to ice it with one more empty net. He had a good look at it. The puck just was rolling,” Carbery said.
If Ovechkin’s final game was against the Blue Jackets, it would be fitting. His NHL debut came on Oct. 5, 2005, against Columbus where he scored the first two of his record-setting 929 goals.
Washington got its third power play after Columbus’ Miles Wood was sent off for high sticking at 14:06 of the third period. Ovechkin had a couple chances for his favorite spot inside the left faceoff circle, but Blue Jackets’ goaltender Jet Greaves was able to make a great save on the first attempt.
The Capitals took the lead with 4:07 remaining on Chychrun’s shot from the slot. Ovechkin got the second assist, his 32nd of the season.
“It’s an honor. I think we all are trying to soak up everything we can all the time we have with him. We don’t know what’s in store, but it’s special to have these memories with him,” Chychrun said. “We all know what he does out there on the ice, but getting to know him off the ice has been even more special.”
On his opening shift, Ovechkin became the fifth player age 40 or older in NHL history to play in all 82 regular-season games. The last person to do it was Jaromir Jagr with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17. The others were Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom (2010-11), Anaheim’s Teemu Selanne (2011-12) and Tampa Bay’s Dave Andreychuk (2003-04). Jagr also did it with the New Jersey Devils in 2013-14.
It was the fifth time in 21 seasons Ovechkin has not missed a regular-season game.
Ovechkin led the Capitals this season with 32 goals and 64 points. He ended the season with a point in three straight games with one goal and two assists.
Washington finished two points shy of a playoff spot, the fifth time it has failed to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs since Ovechkin was the top pick in 2004.
For those hoping Ovechkin goes at least one more year, he did leave a glimmer of hope.
“I hope it’s not my last game. I don’t know how exactly it’s going to happen, so we’ll see,” he said.
Immediately after Tuesday's regular season finale, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer sounded open to scoring more goals and coming back for a 22nd season.
"I hope it’s not my last game," Ovechkin told reporters after the Capitals' 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, April 14.
Ovechkin, 40, reiterated his ultimate decision to continue playing in the NHL will occur this offseason, beginning with meetings after the season with coach Spencer Carbury, the Capitals' front office and owner Ted Leonsis. Ovechkin just completed the final season of a five-year, $47.5-million contract that he signed in 2021.
This is the first time since 2023, and just the fifth time in Ovechkin's career, that the Capitals did not qualify for the NHL's postseason. Though Tuesday's finale had no playoff implications by the time the puck was dropped, Capitals fans in attendance in Columbus, Ohio in case it was Ovechkin's final game chanted, "One more year," and "O-Vi."
Ovechkin waved off the Pittsburgh Penguins when they attempted to do a postgame handshake line to honor their rival after the Capitals' home finale on Sunday, April 12.
"I don’t know what’s going to happen," Ovechkin told reporters on Tuesday, according to NHL.com. "The fans that came here from D.C. and from different spots to watch the game, it was very nice. I can hear their cheering for me and scream 'One more year!' So, that’s important, too. It shows lots of respect. So, thanks for the support."
Ovechkin appeared in all 82 games this season and once again led Washington with 32 goals and 64 points.
Carbury said there was a discussion in the Capitals' locker room Tuesday after the game about Ovechkin's uncertain future, but declined to discuss the details. Longtime teammate Tom Wilson got emotional while explaining Ovechkin has kept everyone in the dark at this point.
"He's doing his best job just to keep it normal," Wilson said. "He definitely doesn't want any extra attention. I mean, he's the man. However he wants to do it, I think he's going to let it go down. But right now, he's not tipping us. He's not telling us what's going on."
The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have assigned forward Vinzenz Rohrer to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
Rohrer was selected by the Canadiens with the 75th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent each of the last three seasons overseas with ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League. Yet, with this news, Rohrer is set to begin his AHL career with Laval.
Rohrer appeared in 41 regular-season games this season with the ZSC Lions, where he had four goals and 12 points. He also had one goal and 33 penalty minutes in nine playoff games for the club this spring.
Rohrer's best season with the ZSC Lions was in 2024-25, as he had 15 goals, 10 assists, and 25 points in 52 games.
Rohrer will now be looking to impress with Laval. The 21-year-old forward has good upside, and it will be interesting to see how he performs at the AHL level from here.
The quest for the Lord Stanley’s Cup is about to be renewed! The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs promise to deliver heart-stopping drama, from overtime heroics to bracket-busting upsets that can alter the momentum of a series in a single shift.
Whether you're tracking every grueling first-round battle, checking the latest scores, or scouting the road to the Finals, our NHL playoff bracket hub has you covered.
Follow along for live updates, updated series schedules, and postseason format details to help guide your NHL picks and playoff pools.
NHL playoff bracket if the playoffs started today
Follow along with our up-to-date bracket below as we track each series through to the end of the Stanley Cup Final, and make sure you keep up on which teams have the bestStanley Cup odds.You can also track the progress of individual players with ourConn Smythe Trophy oddspage.
2026 NHL Playoff matchups
Check back soon once all matchups have been confirmed for the 2026 NHL Playoffs.
2026 NHL Playoffs schedule
Event
Date
First Round
April 18-May 3
Second Round begins
May 6
Conference Finals begin
May 22
Stanley Cup Finals
June 3-21
NHL playoff format
The NHL playoffs are a 16-team, four-round, best-of-seven tournament used to determine the Stanley Cup champion. Eight teams qualify from each conference: the top three teams in each division plus two wild-card teams in each conference.
In the First Round, the division winner with the better record in each conference plays the lower-ranked wild card, the other division winner plays the other wild card, and the second- and third-place teams in each division face each other.
The NHL uses a fixed bracket, so teams are not re-seeded after each round. First-round winners advance to the Second Round, then to the Conference Finals, and finally to the Stanley Cup Final, where the Eastern Conference champion plays the Western Conference champion.
Every playoff round is a best-of-seven series, and the first team to win four games advances or, in the Stanley Cup Final, wins the championship.
The Toronto Maple Leafs sent the Ottawa Senators packing last spring in the first round of the playoffs, and now Toronto will call it a season following its game against Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday, April 15.
Here are my top Maple Leafs vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks for their season finale tonight.
Maple Leafs vs Senators prediction
Maple Leafs vs Senators best bet: Senators -1.5 (+135)
The Ottawa Senators rested regulars during Sunday’s overtime loss, so I’m anticipating Wednesday’s tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs to serve as a postseason tune-up.
Ottawa No. 1 goaltender Linus Ullmark has been solid down the stretch with seven wins, a .909 save percentage, and 7.21 goals saved above expected across his past 10 starts, and the Sens have beaten the Maple Leafs 5-2 in both prior meetings this season.
Toronto has also dropped six straight and has only covered the puck line in 11 of its past 25 games (-10.75 Units / -27% ROI).
Maple Leafs vs Senators same-game parlay
Ullmark’s highlighted strong stretch includes going 5-1-1 at home with a 2.26 GAA, and the Sens have also allowed the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 at the Canadian Tire Centre.
As a result, I’m anticipating Ottawa to batten down the defensive hatches again to do the heavy lifting in keeping this total Under the number.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Toronto winger William Nylander has recorded three or more shots in five of his past seven games, for 25 on 51 attempts while logging a monster 21:32 of ice time per night.
Maple Leafs vs Senators SGP
Senators -1.5
Under 6.5
William Nylander Over 2.5 shots
Maple Leafs vs Senators odds
Moneyline: Maple Leafs +155 | Senators -180
Puck Line: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-155) | Senators -1.5 (+135)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Maple Leafs vs Senators trend
The Toronto Maple Leafs have only covered the puck line in 11 of their last 25 games (-10.75 Units / -27% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Senators.
How to watch Maple Leafs vs Senators
Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet
Maple Leafs vs Senators latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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