If we are being honest with ourselves, and if the Pittsburgh Penguins are being honest with themselves, forward Anthony Mantha was never supposed to be on the team at this point in the 2025-26 season. The plan with him was pretty obvious from the start. At least it seemed to be obvious.

• This was anticipated to be more of a rebuilding year for the Penguins.
• Mantha looked like he was going to be this year’s version of Anthony Beauvillier, a reclamation project veteran signed to a cheap one-year contract.
• The Penguins would then give him top-six ice-time, let him score some goals and pad some stats and ultimately rebuild his value.
• Trade him at the NHL Trade Deadline for a second-round pick to add to the pile of draft picks they have been accumulating.

That is what we all expected, right? That has to be what the Penguins expected.

But then a bunch of things started happening that maybe even the Penguins themselves did not fully anticipate.

Not only did the team start winning a lot of hockey games and play itself into playoff contention, but Mantha also ended up playing a major part in that success.

With his assist on Thursday he has already set a new career high in points. His next goal will match his career high (25) and there is a very good possibility that he ends up scoring 30 goals before this season is finished. He has been the best value free agent signing in the NHL this season. Given the way he has played, as well as the way the Penguins have played their way into contention, there is no way the Penguins were going to take that away from the locker room unless they were getting something significant back in return to help this season.

Obviously, that did not happen.

That now leaves the Penguins in a situation where Mantha is a pending unrestricted free agent after this season.

What do you do with him?

There is still a lot of hockey to be played between now and July, but given the way Mantha is playing, and with the way he has stepped up recently with some top players out of the lineup, it is a discussion worth having.

Do you shake his hand, thank him for his services, and wish him well in his next step?

Or do you do what would have been unimaginable at the start of this season and try to re-sign him and keep him?

As good as he has been, there is a definite risk with the latter approach.

While Mantha has been sneakily productive throughout his career, averaging around 24 goals and 50 points per 82 games, there is one big caveat that comes with it. It is the classic, “when healthy” line.

Health has been a big problem for Mantha throughout his career with pretty much every stop prior to Pittsburgh. This is quite honestly one of the first times he has really had an opportunity to play a regular role over the course of a full season (knock on wood) and that has to be taken into account. As does the fact he is going to be 32 years old.

There is also the fact he might actually be one of the top free agents available, coming off a career year, in a rising salary cap environment.

Somebody is going to pay him.

If you look at the potential unrestricted free agents going into this summer, the only player on the list that has more goals than Mantha is Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch with 28. Alex Ovechkin has the same number of goals, but his options are returning to the Washington Capitals, returning to Russia, or retiring. I can not imagine he is going to be a serious option for anybody else.

After those guys, no other pending free UFA has scored more than 19 goals this season.

Salary cap space is not an issue for the Penguins. They are going to have to spend money on somebody, and given the current state of the open market I am not sure there is going to be a better player that comes in at a comparable price. They are also going to need at least one or two top-nine wingers. While you would like to see Rutger McGroarty or Ville Koivunen get more permanent roles, neither player is a lock to become an NHL regular. And even if they do next season, there would still be a potential need for another top-nine winger on the roster.

The obvious alternative — and perhaps the more likely path for the Penguins to follow — is the trade route. With their draft-pick capital, as well as an improved prospect pool, they could fill some of their needs via trade, and perhaps their biggest need (another young impact scorer).

I would not be opposed to another short-term deal (one or two years), even if it came with a high price tag. I would not go beyond that. But I am not sure a short-term gets it done given what the free agent market looks like and how it only takes one team to lose their minds and do something outrageous

The most likely path here is the one where the Penguins shake his hand, thank him for his services, and let another team take the risk with a long-term contract extension.

What would you do if you were Kyle Dubas? Try to sign him? And at what price and for how many years? Or let him walk?

The NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas will have a hearing to address a knee-on-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews.

Based on the fact that the hearing will not be in-person, the maximum disciplined that can be levied will be five games.

The incident occurred at 15:47 of the second period during the Maple Leafs’ 6-4 victory over the Ducks at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday. As Matthews attempted to navigate through the slot, Gudas extended his leg, making direct contact with Matthews’ left knee.

Matthews, who had snapped a 12-game goal drought earlier in the frame with his 27th of the season, remained on the ice for several minutes in visible distress. He was eventually assisted to the dressing room by the training staff and did not return to the game.

Gudas was assessed a five-minute major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct following an official review on the ice. Under NHL rules, a hearing indicates that the Department of Player Safety believes the hit warrants more than the automatic fine or one-game suspension that can accompany such penalties.

“It’s a dirty play,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said following the win. “The league is obviously going to look at it. We’ll see what happens from there.”

Gudas, the Ducks’ captain, has a well-documented history with the league’s disciplinary office. Over his 14-year career, he has been suspended four times, though his most recent ban dates back to 2019. The veteran defenseman also drew scrutiny earlier this year for a hit that sidelined Sidney Crosby during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Leafs’ Response Questioned

While Toronto managed to score twice on the ensuing power play to ignite a comeback victory, snapping an eight-game skid, the immediate lack of physical response on the ice was a point of contention for Berube.

"We should have had four guys in there doing something about it," Berube noted. "I thought they responded in the third... but we all would have liked everyone to get in there right away."

Defenseman Morgan Rielly echoed his coach’s sentiment, taking personal responsibility for not engaging Gudas immediately after the hit.

"It’s on me for not responding earlier," Rielly said. "I didn’t understand how bad he got him in the moment, but it’s a dirty hit."

The Maple Leafs have not yet provided a definitive timeline for Matthews’ recovery, stating only that he will undergo further evaluation on Friday. The 28-year-old center has 53 points in 60 games this season..

The result of Gudas' hearing is expected to be announced later this afternoon.

On Friday, the National Hockey League announced that the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will battle for two games in Düsseldorf, Germany, as a part of the NHL’s Global Series.

The games will take place on December 18th and 20th, 2026. These will be the first NHL games played in Germany in over 15 years and will begin a run of at least three consecutive years for the league there. 

There is a new initiative to continue growing the game in Germany, which has become one of the fastest-growing hockey nations over the last decade. 

“Our deepened commitment to Germany as an important hockey country marks a critical next chapter for the NHL,” said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daley. “By further investing in one of Europe’s most dynamic sports markets – both through the execution of major events and the development and implementation of grassroots initiatives – we intend to strengthen our presence and build stronger connections with German fans, partners, and local communities. In prioritizing our efforts here, we hope to accelerate hockey’s growth across the region, creating meaningful impact from the ground up.”

For a while, the Blackhawks had Lukas Reichel, who was a highly drafted German prospect. He is with the Boston Bruins now, but his time in Chicago helped make the Hawks a popular team in his homeland. 

Their opponent in this event, the Ottawa Senators, has Tim Stutzle, one of the greatest German players of all time, and he’s still very young. He will play a key role in promoting this year’s Global Series. 

Across the NHL, superstars like Leon Draisaitl and Moritz Seider have helped put German hockey on the map, driving the game's growth in their home country through their exceptional play.

For Draisaitl specifically, he is one of the most decorated German athletes of all time, so you can expect the Edmonton Oilers to be a big part of this three-year project. 

German hockey fans will also have the opportunity to see other NHL stars like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Jake Sanderson, and Brady Tkachuk. A new wave of German hockey players will see these elite players up close, enhancing their interest in the game. 

The NHL will continue to support long‑term hockey development and participation throughout Europe through grassroots programs and community initiatives. This will be the 13th season and the 5th consecutive in which NHL games are played in Europe. 

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

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It's scoreboard-watching season, and the New York Islanders got some favorable results on Thursday night ahead of their back-to-back against the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames Friday and Saturday at UBS Arena.

The Pittsburgh Penguins fell 6-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights, leaving them tied with the Islanders for points at 79.  After Friday night, the Islanders will have played one more game but will have the chance to be alone in second place in the Metropolitan Division with a point or a win against Los Angeles. 

Although the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets did earn a point in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers to extend their point streak to eight games (4-0-4), they still remain two points back of the Islanders with 65 games played.

The Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins -- the No. 1 and No. 2 wild-card teams in the Eastern Conference currently -- both lost in regulation, keeping them at 79 and 78 points, respectively. 

While the Islanders hope to make the playoffs as either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the Metro, it's important that finishing in a wild-card spot is a possibility. A few months ago, it looked like it was a lock that two Atlantic Division teams were taking those two spots. 

The Washington Capitals lost 2-1 to the lethal Buffalo Sabres, keeping them four points back of the Islanders with two more games played. 

The Islanders control their own destiny with 17 games to go. Puck drop against the Kings comes your way at 7 PM ET.  

Adam Fantilli(19) scored the only goal for Columbus, and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 19 of 21 Panther shots, including 4 of 6 on the power play, but Florida would win in OT by a score of 2-1. 

The story of this game was goaltending. On both sides of the ice, Elvis Merzlikins and Sergei Bobrovsky both played very well. But it was Bobrovsky, it typical fashion, who would steal the show. For some reason, when he plays Columbus, he plays with pure hatred towards his former team. His record is now 15-2-1 against his former team. 

After the game, Adam Fantilli called it "disappointing" that the referees missed the dive by Matthew Tkachuk in the OT period. 

First Period - SOG 14-3 CBJ - No CBJ Goals

The first six minutes of the game were fairly uneventful. Both goalies had to make a couple good stops due to their defense coughing up pucks in their respective D-zones. Both teams had good energy, too, with lots of players flying up and down the ice. 

Eetu Luostarinen gave the Blue Jackets their first power play when he was called for interfering with Isac Lundestrom with 2:47 left in the first period. The Panthers, with their 6th ranked penalty kill, allowed only one shot on the CBJ power play, and killed it with ease. 

The Blue Jackets dominated on the forecheck and won puck battles in their O-zone in the entire period. Sergei Bobrovsky made some huge stops on his former club, as the CBJ had 15 scoring chances in the first period.

"I thought our forecheck was unbelievable," Adam Fantilli said during the intermission interview on the TV broadcast.  

Second Period - SOG 10-6 CBJ - CBJ Goal - Fantilli

The second period, nine minutes in, went much like the first period in terms of the Blue Jackets forecheck. They seemed to always have possession of the puck and were throwing pucks at Sergei Bobrovsky as much as they could. 

Ten minutes into the period, and the Panthers only have 5 shots on goal, and a total of eight for the game. The Jackets had 5 shots of their own but could've had a few more had it not been for all the blocked shots by Florida. To this point in the game, the Cats have 13 blocked shots. 

The Blue Jackets were awarded their second power play when Donovan Sebrango interfered with Mathieu Olivier. The Panthers killed the penalty, but just seconds after Sebrango came out of the box, Adam Fantilli blistered a wrist shot by Sergei Bobrovsky to put the CBJ up 1-0. 

To end the period, Damon Severson was called for a penalty on A.J. Greer. The Panthers will start the third with a full two-minute power play. 

Third Period - SOG 7-6 CBJ - NO CBJ Goals

Sam Bennett scored 1:28 into the period and power play to tie the game at one. A bad luck bounce off the crossbar put the puck right into Bennett's stomach, which then fell right down to his feet, where he could bury it by Merzlikins. 

With 13 minutes left in the third period, the Panthers seemed to have finally found themselves. To this point, they have dominated the period and lead the shots on goal counter at 3-1. Sergei Bobrovsky has stood on his head to keep the Cats around long enough to make their push. 

With 6:13 left in regulation, Bobrovsky continues to keep his team in the game with some big saves. One might think he's upset with Columbus by the way he plays against his former club. The Panthers have dominated Columbus to this point, and the Jackets seemed to have lost a step as well. 

The game would go to overtime after both Merzlikins and Bobrovsky played unbelievable games. 

In the OT, Matthew Tkachuk fooled the refs by diving, sending Adam Fantilli to the box for tripping. It was 100% not a trip, but the refs saw it differently. The Panthers promptly scored the game winner at the hand of Sam Reinhart.

Not saying the Blue Jackets would've won but missing that dive by Tkachuk was crucial. 

Final Stats

Player Stats

• Adam Fantilli scored his 19th goal of the season.
• Mason Marchment collected his 18th assist.

Team Stats

• The Jackets went 0/2 on the power play.
• The Columbus PK was unable to stop the Panthers power play on two chances.
• Columbus won 58.5% of the faceoffs - 24/41
• The Blue Jackets had 13 hits and 10 blocks.

Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets continue their road trip in Philadelphia to take on the Flyers on Saturday night. 

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While the Montreal Canadiens have yet to book their place in the Stanley Cup playoffs, they look well on their way to qualifying, and barring a disaster of epic proportion, they should get their ticket to the spring dance, despite going through most of the season with questionable goaltending. This shows just how much this team has progressed offensively. The Canadiens have scored 236 goals so far this season, the fourth-highest offensive output in the league behind the offensive juggernauts the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, and the surprising Buffalo Sabres. Montreal is third in goals-per-game average with 3.53, hot on the trail of the Avalanche (3.78) and the Oilers (3.55).

That productive offence is the reason why the Canadiens are where they are in the standings. Still, as the postseason approaches, games get tighter, goals scored go down, and offensive picnics are a thing of the past, which means that goaltending becomes that much more important. This is the reason why the Habs called up Jacob Fowler. Samuel Montembeault is dealing with serious issues in his game right now, and his confidence is shaken, just like the team’s confidence in him. As for Jakub Dobes, he generally finds a way to win, but often benefits from a lot of support from his teammates filling up the net at the other end. Still, right now, it appears that Fowler and Dobes are ahead of Montembeault in the hierarchy.

Canadiens Prospect Makes Big 10 Semifinals
Canadiens: Steal Two Points From Red Hot Senators
Juraj Slafkovsky Makes Montreal Canadiens History

In 11 games this season, Fowler has a 5-4-2 record with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Meanwhile, Dobes is 21-6-4 with a 2.97 GAA and a .892 SV, and Montembeault is 10-8-4 with a 3.43 GAA and a .872 SV. As things stand, both the eye test and the stats test point to the Habs entering the playoffs with a tandem of rookie goaltenders.

Over the years, we’ve often heard that you need experience to win in the postseason. Still, despite being a 7-season veteran and 29-year-old, Montembeault has played only parts of three playoff games, leaving the third after being injured. That totals 152 minutes of playoff action; Dobes has played the same number of postseason games, for a total of 144 minutes. Of course, Fowler has yet to see any playoff action in the NHL, but he did play in the AHL postseason last year. He appeared in eight games or 387 minutes for the Laval Rocket, posting a 3-3-0 record, a 2.48 GAA, a .902 SV and a shutout.

Historically, the Canadiens have not fared too badly with a rookie goaltender in net. You don’t have to look any further than the 1986 Stanley Cup conquest to see that a rookie can do it. That year, Patrick Roy won both the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' MVP. League-wide, Cam Ward also led the Carolina Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup championship as a rookie in 2005-2006, and Matt Murray did it with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16.

Hockey is increasingly becoming a young players’ game; why should it be any different with goaltenders? Talent and confidence will take you much further in the postseason than experience, especially if it’s not positive experience. Montembeault has struggled all year, and he looks lost in the crease right now. Unless he miraculously rebounds, the Canadiens will and should go full speed ahead with their two rookies. If the puck were to drop in the postseason today, they’d give Fowler the net, and Dobes would act as his backup. It’s a shame for Montembeault, but hockey is a results game, and you’re only as good as your last performance.

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

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Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Former Devils Kevin Bahl and Yegor Sharangovich scored for the Flames Thursday as Calgary took a 5-4 win. [Devils NHL]

“It’s been a trying season for the New Jersey Devils. Much of it is general manager Tom Fitzgerald’s fault for not assembling a strong enough roster. Sheldon Keefe deserves some blame as well, though it does appear he’s changed how the team plays since the Olympic break. That’s left the Devils in a position where their final 18 games don’t have significant meaning since they’re highly unlikely to make the playoffs. Still, there are a few things I’d like to see to build momentum heading into the offseason and the 2026-27 campaign.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]

Hockey Links

An unreal goal:

Radko Gudas gets ejected:

Nick Schmaltz gets an eight-year deal:

“Yes, it required a double-take. After Nick Schmaltz removed himself from the already thin July 1 free-agent market with his contract extension with the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday, I glanced at the remaining pending UFA class. As of Thursday morning, your leading point-getter among pending UFA players was … drumroll … Darren Raddysh!” [The Athletic ($)]

“In a surprising reversal, the NHL has decided the Ottawa Senators will no longer forfeit a first-round draft pick for their role in the canceled 2022 trade between Vegas and Anaheim involving winger Evgenii Dadonov. Rather than giving up their first-round pick in June’s NHL draft, the Senators will select last (32nd overall) in the round and pay a $1 million fine in Canadian dollars, the league announced Thursday. That money will go to the NHL Foundation Canada, a league-sponsored charitable organization.” [ESPN]

A look around the league at the draft capital situation following the trade deadline: [Sportsnet]

“O’Reilly, Benn, Reaves and Bogosian bring the NHL’s visor-less population to 0.46 percent of current skaters. That number stood at 32 percent of players during the 2011-12 season and 27 percent in February 2013, according to numbers provided by the NHL Players’ Association at the time.” [The Athletic ($)]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…

The Pittsburgh Penguins lost 6-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night. Defensive breakdowns from the Penguins and opportunistic scoring from Vegas helped the home team pull away in the third period. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can’t return soon enough. [Recap]

The Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County approved the $1.7 billion sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Hoffmann Family of Companies on Thursday, but not before criticizing Fenway Sports Group for “profiteering” on the sale, noting the group could stand to make about $800 million (an 89% return) after only four years of ownership. Board members also said FSG failed to fulfill promised investments in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill neighborhood. [Trib Live]

One of the many reasons the Penguins have found success this season lies in the quality and contributions of the team’s depth players. Players and coaches say the team’s depth and chemistry have allowed different lines and players to step up on any given night. [Trib Live]

The Penguins shuffled around their defense corps on Thursday, recalling defenseman Alexander Alexeyev from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins while reassigning fellow blueliner Ryan Graves. [Trib Live]

News and updates from around the NHL…

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was injured on Thursday night after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas. Gudas received a five-minute major and game misconduct for the hit and is likely to face discipline from the league. [TSN]

Carolina Hurricanes majority owner Tom Dundon has sold a portion of his team to three new minority owners, including former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bobby Farnham. [TSN]

The NHL will not require the Ottawa Senators to forfeit a first-round draft pick for their involvement in a 2021 trade that was later voided. Instead, the team will receive the 32nd overall pick in this year’s draft. The team will also pay a $1 million fine to NHL Foundation Canada, with the league citing the franchise’s change in ownership when determining the revised punishment. [Sportsnet]

The Islanders are back home for a back-to-back, starting with what will hopefully be a vengeance match against the Los Angeles Kings. Coach Patrick Roy has made some line adjustments, putting newcomer Brayden Schenn with Mathew Barzal instead of with Calum Ritchie, the center who his arrival bumped to the wing.

Personally, it’s the Palat-Schenn combo I’d be breaking up as neither exactly brings the speed that they brought a decade ago. But we’ll see how this goes; Schenn has lots of experience with high-end talents and he can be the defensive conscience that allows a guy like Barzal to push forward.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

• More on those line changes, and Barzal talking about his new old-men running mates. [Isles]
• Brayden Schenn brings the “defend your teammates” ethic. [Newsday]
• Five Islanders prospects to keep an eye on. [Newsday]
• Here’s hoping Cal Ritchie learns a thing or two from Schenn. [Po$t]
• Schenn is excited to settle in on Long Island. [THN]
• Speaking of which, J-G Pageau talks a little more about his extension to stick around. [THN]
• Stan Fischler and Ken Morrow on Schenn and other deadline acquisitions of yore. [NHL]
• Speaking of tonight’s opponent, the Kings have jettisoned to Ottawa former Isle Samuel Bolduc, who never played an NHL game with the franchise. [TSN]

Elsewhere

Lots of games last night, including a win for the Capitals and losses for the Penguins and Red Wings and an OTL loss for the Blue Jackets.

• Auston Matthews left the game after a knee-on-knee hit from Radko Gudas, who also left the game with an ejection for that infraction. [Sportsnet]
• The Leafs weren’t happy, though they didn’t do much about it. [TSN]
• Connor McDavid got in a fight, sort of, defending his buddy Leon Draisaitl. [Sportsnet]
• The league rescinded Nathan MacKinnon’s game misconduct from his collision with Edmonton goalie Connor Ingram. [TSN]

Bruins on pace to get lottery pick in 2026 NHL Draft from Maple Leafs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The NHL resumed play on Feb. 25 after taking about three weeks off for the Winter Olympic break, and up until Thursday, 31 of 32 teams had won at least one game over that span.

The only winless squad? The Toronto Maple Leafs.

Even the Seattle Seahawks, who last played in Super Bowl LX more than a month ago, had won a game more recently than Toronto.

The Leafs finally won Thursday night when they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6-4 to end an eight-game losing streak. But the positive result will do nothing to quell the frustration of fans in Toronto.

The 2025-26 season has been an unmitigated disaster for the Leafs. They entered the campaign with expectations of extending their playoff appearance streak to a league-best nine seasons. But not only will Toronto miss the playoffs, it might not even get the chance to make its own first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

That’s because the pick is owned by the rival Boston Bruins as a result of the Brandon Carlo trade from March of 2025. The B’s got the Leafs’ 2026 first-rounder (top-five protected), a 2026 fourth-rounder (via Flyers) and young center Fraser Minten in exchange for Carlo.

Here are the full conditions of the 2026 first-round pick from Toronto, per PuckPedia:

“Top 5 protected, slides to 2027. The 2027 pick goes to Philadelphia (as part of Laughton trade) if it is outside the top 10, which converts this pick to Boston to a 2028 unprotected 1st Round Pick. If this Pick slides to 2027 and is in the top 10, TOR can either transfer it to BOS to satisfy this trade and then give PHI the 2028 unprotected, or transfer it to PHI and give BOS the 2028 unprotected 1st Round Pick.”

The TL;DR explanation that fans need to know right now is the pick is top-five protected in 2026, and based on the current standings and projections, there’s a good chance the pick conveys to the Bruins this year.

The Maple Leafs enter Friday with the eighth-worst record in the league based on points percentage. HockeyStats.com projects Toronto to finish with 85 points and the 10th-worst record. MoneyPuck’s analytics model projects the Leafs to finish with 82 points and the seventh-worst record.

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

If the Leafs finish with the seventh- or eighth-worst record, they’d have less than a 14 percent chance of jumping into one of the top two picks in the NHL Draft Lottery in May and keeping their pick. The Maple Leafs do have a chance to finish in the bottom-five of the league standings and keep their pick. It’s not inconceivable, especially when you consider they have the eighth-toughest remaining schedule, per Tankathon.

That said, unless the Maple Leafs continue to lose games at a rapid pace, combined with teams below them in the standings improving a bit, we could be looking at another top-10 pick going from Toronto to Boston.

Fans will remember the Phil Kessell trade from 2009 that resulted in the Bruins getting two first-rounders from the Maple Leafs that ended up being the No. 2 overall selection (Tyler Seguin) in 2010 and the No. 9 overall selection (Dougie Hamilton) in 2011.

History is likely to repeat itself for these Original Six rivals.

This lottery pick would be a huge boost to the Bruins as they continue their retool. The Bruins’ prospect pool is stronger than it’s been in a long time, with Boston College stars James Hagens (No. 7 overall, 2025) and Dean Letourneau (No. 25 overall, 2024) headlining the group. Boston also has an impressive stash of draft picks, including four first-rounders in the next two drafts and three fourth-rounders in 2026.

Adding another high-end prospect in what should be a strong 2026 draft would bolster the Bruins’ future and give them a chance to develop another franchise cornerstone player.

The Bruins have a good chance of returning to the playoffs in 2026. They occupy the second wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 17 games to go.

The B’s could be in the unusual spot of reaching the postseason and having a lottery pick. But they need the Leafs to do their part. If history is any indication, Toronto will come through for Boston.

Boston Bruins (36-23-6, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Washington Capitals (33-27-7, in the Metropolitan Division)

Washington; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins will attempt to break a seven-game road slide when they play the Washington Capitals.

Washington has a 20-11-3 record at home and a 33-27-7 record overall. The Capitals are 12-15-6 in games they have more penalties than their opponent.

Boston is 11-14-5 in road games and 36-23-6 overall. The Bruins have a 14-6-3 record in games decided by one goal.

Saturday's game is the third time these teams meet this season. The Bruins won 3-1 in the previous meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jakob Chychrun has 23 goals and 28 assists for the Capitals. Ryan Leonard has four goals and one assist over the past 10 games.

Morgan Geekie has 34 goals and 23 assists for the Bruins. Viktor Arvidsson has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Capitals: 5-5-0, averaging 2.7 goals, four assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

Bruins: 4-3-3, averaging three goals, 5.2 assists, 4.4 penalties and 10.8 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.

INJURIES: Capitals: None listed.

Bruins: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Chicago Blackhawks (25-29-11, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (30-22-14, in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Saturday, 10 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Chicago Blackhawks after Pavel Dorofeyev's two-goal game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Golden Knights' 6-2 win.

Vegas has a 15-10-7 record in home games and a 30-22-14 record overall. The Golden Knights are 29-6-8 when scoring at least three goals.

Chicago has a 25-29-11 record overall and a 12-14-6 record in road games. The Blackhawks have a -32 scoring differential, with 172 total goals scored and 204 conceded.

Saturday's game is the third time these teams meet this season. The Blackhawks won the previous meeting 3-2 in overtime. Tyler Bertuzzi scored three goals in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jack Eichel has 24 goals and 50 assists for the Golden Knights. Dorofeyev has seven goals and five assists over the past 10 games.

Connor Bedard has 27 goals and 34 assists for the Blackhawks. Ryan Donato has scored three goals and added three assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 4-6-0, averaging 2.9 goals, five assists, 4.2 penalties and 9.9 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.

Blackhawks: 4-4-2, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.8 assists, 2.9 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: None listed.

Blackhawks: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Forwards

Pavel Zacha, BOS (Yahoo: 32%)

The Golden Knights got more than a much-needed win on Thursday night; they got a long-overdue offensive burst in a 6-2 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.

Five different Knights scored, including Pavel Dorofeyev's 31st and 32nd goals, as Vegas ended a three-game skid and took sole possession of second place in the Pacific Division.

Colton Sissons, Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel and Brayden McNabb also scored for Vegas. Goaltender Adin Hill made 24 saves.

The six goals were the most the Golden Knights scored since a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 25, and the 10th time they've scored six or more goals this season. They scored six or more just nine times last season.

Rickard Rakell and Ben Kindel scored for the Penguins while Arturs Silovs stopped 11 shots.

Marner, who moved back to the wing with the return of captain Mark Stone after a five-game absence, had the highlight of the night when he initiated a give-and-go with Dorofeyev before going airborne in the crease as he buried his 19th goal of the season.

"He was good tonight, moving over to the wing," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He's been open to whatever we use him for. So, hell of a goal, nice goal."

HOLY MITCH 🤯 pic.twitter.com/pUhDYt5kWO

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 13, 2026

KEY MOMENT

Cassidy stressed the importance of extending leads, and his team answered in the third period. Over a span of 1:45 in the final stanza, Dorofeyev and Eichel essentially put the game out of reach, as they gave the Golden Knights a three-goal lead.

KEY STAT

0-for-2 ... With a third-period power play opportunity for Pittsburgh, the Golden Knights held the Penguins to just two shots on goal during a 6-on-4 advantage. With nothing to lose, Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse pulled goaltender Silovs, but the Penguins couldn't capitalize.

WHAT A KNIGHT

Dorofeyev finished with two goals and an assist, and now has a career-high in points with 54. The 25-year-old now has 17 goals since Jan. 1, second most in the NHL.

UP NEXT: The Golden Knights continue their four-game homestand against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights center Colton Sissons (10) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at T-Mobile Arena.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks scored a pair of third-period goals to erase a two-goal deficit then got a shootout goal from Jake DeBrusk to beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 on Thursday night.

The Canucks trailed 3-1 after two periods, but Marco Rossi scored with 4:05 to play to make it 3-2 and Filip Hronek tied it at 3-all with 1:01 left in regulation.

Brock Boeser also scored in regulation for Vancouver.

Tyson Jost scored twice for Nashville, and rookie Matthew Wood added a goal.

Juuse Saros made 24 saves for the Predators. Nikita Tolopilo stopped 16 shots for Vancouver.

The Canucks opened the scoring at 8:40, when the double-tip of Hronek's point shot — first Marco Rossi and then Boeser — beat Saros. But the teams went to the dressing room tied 1-1 after Justin Barron snapped up a turnover by Tolopilo before Jost scored on the rebound.

In the second, Jost gave the visitors their first lead of the night, corralling the puck after Roman Josi's blast from the blue line went wide of the net, then depositing it past Tolopilo. Wood followed, his centering pass deflecting into the net off the skate of Canucks forward Liam Ohgren.

Rossi snapped a rebound past Saros and with Tolopilo on the bench, Hronek sent the game to overtime.

DeBrusk scored the only goal of the shootout as Tolopilo stopped all three shooters he faced.

Boeser’s goal was his 16th of the year, and fourth in five games. Evander Kane returned to the lineup after missing one game while dealing with upper-body discomfort.

With 17 games remaining, the Predators remain locked in a race for a wild-card spot with three other Western Conference teams. Saros became the second NHL goalie to reach 50 starts this season. Wood has four goals in his last four games.

Up next

Predators: At Edmonton on Sunday.

Canucks: Host Seattle on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL