After the Ottawa Senators defeated the Seattle Kraken 7–4 on Saturday night, the Sportsnet panel got into a discussion about Senators defenceman Tyler Kleven and whether he should be suspended for cross-checking Seattle’s Jared McCann in the third period.
A couple of the panelists suggested Kleven might be looking at a suspension. They argued that “You can’t cross-check guys in the face.”
But there wasn’t much discussion about where the initial contact actually occurred.
Steve Staios addresses the media after the NHL Trade Deadline came and went.
Kleven’s stick appeared to make contact with McCann’s chest, and it only rode up higher because McCann was simultaneously delivering a cross-check of his own. As Kleven’s stick came up toward McCann’s chin, if it made contact there at all, McCann snapped his head back dramatically.
Tyler Kleven received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for cross-checking on Jared McCann 😳 pic.twitter.com/pptY7PX7ca
After a review, Kleven was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct.
But the NHL Department of Player Safety didn't see enough there to warrant a suspension. Instead, the league fined Kleven $4,166.67 on Sunday, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, essentially a reminder to Kleven to be more careful.
Kleven had already been in a foul mood since the second period, particularly after the Kraken cut Ottawa’s lead to 4–2. Seattle rookie Jacob Melanson celebrated the goal by getting directly in Kleven’s face, staring him down and yelling at him, “Let’s go!”
The two exchanged shoves and continued to smash into each other for much of the rest of the night.
Under normal circumstances, losing Kleven for any amount of time wouldn’t be ideal, but the Senators could probably manage. However, with Jake Sanderson leaving Saturday’s game with what looked like a right shoulder injury and no update yet from the team, Ottawa may now need Kleven to take on a larger role down the stretch.
It’s also worth noting that the Kleven incident wasn’t the first time McCann drew attention for a dramatic reaction in the game. Late in the first period, Shane Pinto was called for a cross-check along the end boards and immediately protested that McCann had embellished. Cameras later caught Pinto in the press box laughing as he watched the replay on the scoreboard.
The Senators return to action Monday night in Vancouver.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News. Read more great Senators coverage and bookmark TheHockeyNews.com/Ottawa-Senators
During the Montreal Canadiens’ west coast trip, Martin St. Louis tweaked his lines, and it benefited some of his players. Juraj Slafkovsky took to the first line like a fish to water; it’s like he never left it. As for Kirby Dach, he has looked better on the third line alongside Jake Evans and Zach Bolduc, which is largely due to the Trois-Rivieres native.
After being scratched for one game when Alex Newhook returned to the lineup, Bolduc has bounced back nicely. Playing with more drive and intensity. On Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks, he spent nearly 16 minutes on the ice and had an assist on Alex Carrier’s goal on top of taking two shots, blocking one, and landing five hits. The physicality he brings makes up for the fact that on most days, Dach isn’t very physical; it’s not in his DNA to fight those board battles for the puck.
Then, on Saturday night, against the Los Angeles Kings, Bolduc used his speed to keep up with Lane Hutson on the zone entry, skated along the boards, and swung the puck around to Dach, who then fed it to Evans, who was at the blueline covering for Hutson and took a shot that beat Kuemper. That’s two goals in two games coming from the third line, and in 13:39 of ice time, Bolduc added another two hits to his season total. He’s second in that department on the team with 129, 15 behind team leader Arber Xhekaj.
This is the kind of game Bolduc needs to play. As Martin St-Louis often says, some things aren’t fun to do on the ice, like forechecking, but doing those things will lead to opportunities to do the fun things like producing offensively.
Of course, when the Canadiens traded for Bolduc, they wanted more than strong forechecking and hits, but he’s still only 23 years old, and you can’t learn to play the St-Louis brand of hockey overnight. The Habs’ bench boss asks a lot of his players when it comes to reading the play and making the right decisions, rather than putting them in a predetermined, strict system.
With 26 points in 62 games, Bolduc is on pace for 35 points. Last season, he put up 36 points with the St. Louis Blues, but he did it in 72 games. That’s far from alarming totals for a player who had to adapt to a new way to play and who’s seen his power play production cut in half (12 power play points with the Blues last season and six with the Habs so far), playing on the Canadiens’ second unit.
If Bolduc keeps playing that way, he shouldn’t be a healthy scratch again anytime soon. On Saturday night, someone like Brendan Gallagher looked like a much more likely candidate for the chop, despite what he can bring in leadership and his chase for 1,000 games with the Canadiens.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 3: Casey Mittelstadt #11 of the Boston Bruins scores against Stuart Skinner #74 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the TD Garden on March 3, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) | Getty Images
4:30 on a Sunday would seem more normal a start time for a Boston-Pittsburgh game in the NFL, but here we are!
The Bruins and Penguins face one another for the second time this week, with Tuesday’s Bruins win coming at TD Garden.
While the Penguins appear to be in relatively comfortable playoff position at 3rd in the Metropolitan Division, they’re only three points ahead of Columbus.
The Pens have also lost three games in a row and four of five, so the Bruins should be facing a pretty desperate team today.
Is today the day David Pastrnak ends his goal drought? I say yes, but I don’t know anything.
Bruins! Penguins! LIIIIIIIIIIIIVE FROM PENNSYLVANIA!
The Avalanche earned a power play just 1:20 into the game after Quinn Hughes cross-checked Valeri Nichushkin from behind, sending him crashing into the boards.
Colorado failed to capitalize on the opportunity, and when Minnesota forward Zach Bogosian was later penalized for hooking, the Avalanche were unable to convert on their second man advantage as well. As a result, Colorado went 0-for-2 on the power play to start the contest.
With under four minutes remaining in the period, Nathan MacKinnon carried the puck down the left wing on a breakaway, but Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt denied the attempt. Colorado’s depth players also showed promise late in the frame. Sam Malinski’s point shot bounced off Wallstedt’s chest protector, and the rebound presented another chance, but Kiviranta’s follow-up attempt was also stopped.
The first period ended scoreless, with Colorado holding a 14-8 advantage in shots on goal.
Leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, the Vancouver Canucks made a total of five moves. Outside of the organization, five of their former players found themselves on the move.
Jason Dickinson
When the Canucks offloaded Jason Dickinson’s contract to the Chicago Blackhawks back in 2022, they couldn’t have anticipated the fact that the forward would net Chicago a first-round pick four years later. Shipped to the Edmonton Oilers alongside Colton Dach, Dickinson ended up fetching the Blackhawks Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Chicago will retain 50% of Dickinson’s $4.25M AAV deal.
Since parting ways with the Canucks, Dickinson has found some success with the Blackhawks as a middle to bottom-six forward, though he did play as their top-line centre at one point in time. The centre’s most impressive season came in 2023–24, when he scored a career-high 22 goals and finished the season with 35 points. With Curtis Lazar sidelined long-term for the Oilers, Dickinson will provide Edmonton with extra depth down the middle.
Nic Dowd
After eight seasons with the Washington Capitals, former Canuck Nic Dowd is now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights. Dowd managed to net the Capitals a pretty sizable package, with Washington acquiring goaltender Jesper Vikman, a second-round pick in 2029, and a third-round pick in 2028.
Dowd was only a Canuck for 40 games in 2017–18, during which he scored three goals. Vancouver acquired him in exchange for goaltender Jordan Subban back in 2017, though after that season, Dowd chose to sign with the Capitals in free-agency. Since joining Washington, Dowd has consistently put up 20+ points in all seasons except 2019–20 and 2020–21, both of which were shortened due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Mar 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Nic Dowd (62) skates against Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Luke Schenn
Schenn is a player that pretty much encapsulates the concept of an NHL journeyman. He has been traded a total of seven times in his NHL career and, once he dresses for the Buffalo Sabres, will have played on 10 different teams. In the trade that sent him to the Sabres this year, it was himself and Logan Stanley who were sent to Buffalo in exchange for Isak Rosen, Jacob Bryson, a 2026 fourth-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick.
A solid veteran depth defenceman, Schenn played with the Canucks on two separate occasions — for 18 games in 2018–19 and 121 games through 2021 to 2023. Despite playing in less than 20 games for Vancouver during his first stint, Schenn made an impression on fans based on his demeanour and willingness to make big hits. Vancouver parted ways with the defenceman for the second time when they traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. This pick was ultimately used to select defenceman Sawyer Mynio.
Derrick Pouliot
A member of the Canucks for two seasons, Pouliot has played for the St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars since moving on from Vancouver. He was traded to the Blackhawks on trade deadline day in exchange for forward Aidan Thompson.
In his time with the Canucks, Pouliot scored six goals and 28 assists in 133 games played. He spent the entirety of the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons in the AHL, putting up seven goals and 46 assists in 70 games with the Syracuse Crunch and two goals and 26 assists in 52 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack respectively.
Tanner Pearson
Pearson was involved in the fourth trade of his NHL career on Friday, as he was flipped to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2026 seventh-round pick after spending 52 games with the Winnipeg Jets. Prior to that move, the last time Pearson was traded was when Vancouver sent him and a 2025 third-round pick to the Montréal Canadiens for goaltender Casey DeSmith in September of 2023.
A Canuck for a total of 221 games, Pearson was first acquired by Vancouver back in February of 2019 in exchange for Erik Gudbranson. In his first full season with Vancouver, he scored 21 goals and 24 assists for a career-high 45 points in 69 games. While he did put up 34 points in 2021–22, Pearson has yet to repeat a similar offensive output.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights face off in a Pacific Division matchup tonight as both clubs jostle for playoff positioning.
Connor McDavid looks to maintain his lead in the NHL scoring race, and I’m predicting another big night on the score sheet for the Edmonton captain in my Oilers vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks below.
Oilers vs Golden Knights prediction
Oilers vs Golden Knights best bet: Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points (-110)
Tonight’s game is a big one for Connor McDavid, who looks to protect his lead as the NHL’s scoring leader and help his Edmonton Oilers get closer to the top spot in the Pacific.
McDavid enters Sunday on a six-game point streak, with Over 1.5 points in four of his last five outings. The Oilers captain has been a multi-point machine, co-leading the NHL with 34 two-point games in 63 appearances.
Edmonton is averaging 4.67 gpg over its past six games, so McDavid will have plenty of chances to find the score sheet.
Oilers vs Golden Knights same-game parlay
Leon Draisaitl has found the back of the net in three of his last four games and six of his last nine. He’s also done well against Vegas, scoring eight times in his last 12 meetings vs. the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vegas has lost four of its last five and is without captain Mark Stone. McDavid and Draisaitl will lead the Oilers to a win tonight.
Oilers vs Golden Knights SGP
Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points
Leon Draisaitl anytime goalscorer
Oilers moneyline
Oilers vs Golden Knights odds
Moneyline: Oilers -110 | Golden Knights -110
Puck Line: Oilers +1.5 (-200) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+210)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-140) | Under 6.5 (+120)
Oilers vs Golden Knights trend
The Oilers have won seven of their last eight games against the Golden Knights. Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Oilers vs Golden Knights
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Date
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, Sportsnet West
Oilers vs Golden Knights 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.
May 25, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche fans hold up signs in support of center Nazem Kadri (91) before game five of the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche, boasting the most formidable lineup in the NHL this season, just got a little nastier coming out of the NHL trade deadline.
Or, perhaps more fittingly, Naz-tier.
Nazem Kadri begins his second stint as a member of the Avs today, who face the newly reconfigured Minnesota Wild in a high stakes matchup at Ball Arena.
Colorado Avalanche (42-10-9)
The Opponent: Minnesota Wild (37-16-10)
Time: 12:00 P.M. MST/2:00 P.M. EST
Watch: HBO MAX/TNT/truTV (U.S. National Broadcast), TVAS/TVAS+ (Canadian National Broadcast), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Outside Avalanche and Wild Broadcast Region – Canada)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche return home on the heels of their most challenging stretch of hockey in the wake of the Olympic break. They defeated the Dallas Stars by a 5-4 shootout decision after coming back from separate 3-1 and 4-2 deficits on Friday evening at American Airlines Center. After Stars captain Jamie Benn botched an empty net play that would have secured a key regulation victory for Dallas, Valeri Nichushkin tied the game with 13.2 seconds remaining in the third period. Scott Wedgewood, who replaced Mackenzie Blackwood after he surrendered four goals on eleven shots, was sensational in relief, stopping everything that came his way in regulation, and made brilliant saves on Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen in overtime and both Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene in the shootout. Martin Nečas scored what proved to be the shootout winner on Jake Oettinger, and Nichushkin added another shootout goal to ice the comeback, salvaging two critical points in the standings from falling into Dallas’ hands. The victory completed a sweep of the Avs’ three game road trip, and was their fifth win in six games, while snapping Dallas’ franchise record ten game winning streak.
Coach Jared Bednar said this of Nichushkin’s performance on Friday: “I feel like he’s been playing a lot better right before the break, coming out of the break, he’s starting to using his legs like we’re used to seeing. He had been fighting the puck for a little bit, had a little bit of an injury that was bothering him; he was playing through that, and he’s been snakebit […] hopefully this sparks him here, and he starts feeling it a little bit, because he deserves to put a few more back in the net.”
In their win over Dallas, the Avalanche further solidified their position as the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. Coming into today’s game against Minnesota, they have a six point lead over Dallas with a game in hand, and a nine point lead over Minnesota with two games in hand. While the Avs trail the season series as a result of their 5-2 defeat on home ice by Minnesota on February 26, this version of the Avalanche roster will look markedly different from the one that Minnesota faced previously with the return of Nazem Kadri—a reunion that many Avs fans felt was nearly impossible—after being re-acquired from the Calgary Flames on Friday afternoon.
Despite having just a twelve goals to this point in this year, his lowest since the COVID-shortened 2020-2021 season, Kadri’s physicality, face-off prowess, and penchant for drawing penalties will be huge as the Avs close in on that coveted top seed for the playoffs. He should have no problem getting re-acquainted with Bednar’s system, and his chemistry within the locker room speaks for itself. Kadri will undoubtedly receive a hero’s welcome from Avs fans for his first game in a Colorado sweater in over three years.
Today marks the final game of the four game series with Minnesota, but a win by the Avalanche this afternoon could all but put the top spot in the Central Division out of Minnesota’s reach.
(Let’s try not to launch any pucks from the defensive zone on the penalty kill today.)
Nathan MacKinnon still leads the NHL with a League-best 42 goals and has closed the points gap with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (MacKinnon has 103 points; McDavid leads the League with 106). Nečas, who tied his career high in goals (28) this past Friday in Dallas, is two goals away from a tie for second place in goal scoring with Brock Nelson (30). Cale Makar is one goal away from his fourth season of reaching the 20 goal marker.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Gabe Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Parker Kelly – Nazem Kadri – Nicolas Roy Joel Kiviranta – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Josh Manson – Brent Burns Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota came out of the Olympic break with a huge opportunity to gain ground in the hotly contested Central Division with their victory over Colorado. However, two consecutive losses to division opponents (ironically, a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Utah Mammoth on February 27—the night after they defeated Colorado by the exact same score—and a 3-1 loss to the St Louis Blues on March 01) allowed Dallas to reclaim second place, dropping Minnesota to third in the division. Coming into today’s game, Minnesota pulled within two points of Dallas, having defeated the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena this past Friday, so a win in Denver today would be pretty massive. However, since Dallas holds a game in hand on Minnesota, they would still retain second place in the division. With less than twenty games left in the regular season, Minnesota may need to start getting help from other teams in order to position themselves more favorably as teams hit the final stretch of the season.
While Minnesota landed its biggest trade piece earlier this season in the Quinn Hughes deal last November, GM Bill Guerin was very active leading up to the NHL trade deadline. He claimed center Robby Fabbri off waivers from the St. Louis Blues, and acquired defenseman Jeff Petry from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Minnesota’s seventh round pick in this year’s draft. He also acquired center Michael McCarron in exchange for Minnesota’s second round pick in 2028.
Guerin wasn’t done there: at the deadline, he acquired right wing Bobby Brink from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman David Jiříček. Brink made his debut for Minnesota this past Friday, but is no stranger to playing in Colorado, having won several awards at the collegiate level, including the NCAA championship in 2022, with the University of Denver Pioneers. Guerin also acquired Nick Foligno, the brother of Minnesota assistant captain Marcus Foligno, from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations. Marcus Foligno is currently out with injury, but could return to the lineup against Colorado. Vinnie Hinostroza was also dealt to the Florida Panthers in exchange for future considerations.
Minnesota’s retooled lineup will give them a much different appearance in this final regular season matchup against Colorado. The addition of Brink will give them another option on offense; while his thirteen goals would tie him for seventh place among Minnesota skaters, this figure is a career high for him in his short NHL career and could see a bump in his new surroundings, especially if he continues to see top six ice time like he did this past Friday against Vegas. Foligno and McCarron add a veteran presence that playoff-bound clubs find irrisitible for playoff runs, and while Fabbri has struggled in recent seasons, having roster depth—especially at center—is a must have at this time of year as teams gear up for postseason play.
Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy currently share the team lead in goals (35). Kaprizov leads all skaters in points (75), while Boldy is three points behind in second place (72). Filip Gustavsson got the start Minnesota’s previous victory in Colorado, but was unable to finish the game due to illness. With Gustavsson getting a majority of the starter’s workload since coming back from the Olympics, it’s possible Jesper Wallstedt starts today to give Gustavsson a breather prior to Minnesota’s upcoming four game homestand starting on Tuesday.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Mats Zuccarello Matt Boldy – Joel Eriksson Ek – Bobby Brink Vladimir Tarasenko – Danila Yurov – Yakov Trenin Robby Fabbri – Michael McCarron – Nico Sturm
Defense: Quinn Hughes – Brock Faber Jonas Brodin – Jared Spurgeon Jake Middleton – Zach Bogosian
Between the Pipes: Jesper Wallstedt Filip Gustavsson
The Winnipeg Jets are doing everything they can to remain in the playoff race, and since returning from the Olympic break the results have been encouraging. If the Jets had been given a clear blueprint for staying in contention, they have followed it closely.
Winnipeg currently sits on a three game winning streak, earning victories over the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks, two teams that rank among the NHL’s bottom three this season. The most impressive result of the stretch came in a decisive 4–1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, who currently hold the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
The strong play extends beyond the current streak. Since the start of February, Winnipeg has compiled a 4-1-3 record, giving the club renewed life in the standings. The Jets now sit five points behind the Seattle Kraken for the final wild card position in the Western Conference.
Winnipeg also made notable adjustments at the trade deadline in hopes of sparking its lineup. The Jets moved out defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn in a deal with the Buffalo Sabres. In return, the team acquired defenseman Jacob Bryson and promising young forward Isak Rosen.
Bryson is expected to step into a depth role on the blue line, potentially filling the seventh defenseman spot previously held by Schenn. Rosen, meanwhile, represents a more intriguing long term addition.
The 22-year-old winger was selected 14th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft and has developed into a point-per-game producer with the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League this season, recording 43 points in 37 games.
Both Bryson and Rosen debuted with Winnipeg in bottom of the lineup roles, and it remains to be seen how much of an impact they will have down the stretch. Up front, the Jets’ top line has continued to carry the offensive load. The trio of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Gabriel Vilardi has combined for 11 goals during the team’s recent eight-game surge.
Scheifele has been particularly effective as a playmaker, leading the group with 10 assists during that span. Secondary scoring has also helped fuel the run. Cole Perfetti has produced six points over the stretch, while Alex Iafallo has added four.
Despite the improved play, the odds still present a challenge. Analytics site MoneyPuck currently gives Winnipeg a 15.1 per cent chance of reaching the playoffs and a 5.5 per cent chance of not only qualifying but advancing past the first round.
Winnipeg faces a demanding schedule that includes three games against the current Presidents’ Trophy favorites, the Colorado Avalanche. The Jets will also take on strong competition in single game matchups against the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, and Boston Bruins.
With 20 games remaining, every point will matter. If the Jets can maintain their current form through the final stretch, a late season playoff push may not be out of reach. For a team fighting to extend its season, the coming weeks will define Winnipeg’s year.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Penguins are 1-9 in shootouts this season and have scored on only four of their last 25 shootout attempts. For as bad as the goaltending has been in shootouts, the skaters have been even worse.
Saturday's loss was the Penguins' third in a row, and they'll try to snap that streak against the Boston Bruins on Sunday. This will be the second time that these two teams will meet this week, after the Bruins won 2-1 in Boston on Tuesday.
The Bruins have won both matchups against the Penguins this season, outscoring them 3-1. They give the Penguins fits due to their stingy defensive play, but the Penguins will try to change that on Sunday.
The Bruins have gone 1-1 since Tuesday's win, while the Penguins are 0-1-1. Like the Penguins, the Bruins played at home on Saturday and will be in the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman started that game, meaning Joonas Korpisalo is in line to start against the Penguins.
David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie continue to have outstanding seasons for the Bruins. Pastrnak has 22 goals and 74 points in 57 games, while Geekie leads the team in goals with 34 and also has 56 points in 61 games.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if Penguins head coach Dan Muse makes any line changes for this game. If I were him, I'd split the Girard-Letang defensive pair and move Ryan Shea up to play with Letang. Shea has been really good as of late and could help stabilize Letang's game since the latter has been really rough in recent games.
Here are what the lines looked like on Saturday:
Forwards
Chinakhov-Rakell-Rust
Mantha-Novak-Brazeau
Koivunen-Kindel-A. Hayes
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Girard-Letang
Shea-Clifton
Arturs Silovs is set to start in goal after backing up Stuart Skinner on Saturday.
Puck drop is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on TNT and HBO Max. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
Playing in a second game in as many nights against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night, Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Arber Xhekaj was limited to just over nine minutes of ice time once again. Granted, he’s not perfect defensively, far from it, but he can be a difference maker from a physicality standpoint.
At the time of writing, Xhekaj was second among all NHL defensemen who have played at least 30 games in hits per 60 minutes with 14.42 mere decimals between Connor Clifton, who leads the league with 14.59.
When he spoke to the media on Friday, Kent Hughes said he didn’t acquire any players because he wants to see the organization’s young players get some experience. That’s all well and good, but the 6-foot-4 and 240-pound defenseman cannot get the experience he needs if he’s not allowed to play.
On Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings, captain Nick Suzuki was rocked by a hard hit along the boards, and the Antichambre panel on RDS lamented the lack of a fight for him. They pointed out that Xhekaj wasn’t on the ice then, but he could have taken the number and addressed it later, before asking whether he was allowed to do so under Martin St-Louis. That’s the issue right there, Xhekaj is playing scared and wondering if he’s going to get the chop if he does what his nature dictates.
In press conferences, St-Louis has often said that he doesn’t want to overcoach his skill players by telling them when they should have shot rather than passed the puck, but from the outside looking in, it looks like he doesn’t mind overcoaching the gritty defenseman. Granted, Xhekaj needed to be reeled in initially because he was getting himself out of the play too much, seeking the big hits, but he’s adjusted that side of his game.
In the playoffs, where big hits and physicality are a regular occurrence, Xhekaj needs to play and do it without worrying about being scratched for the smallest mistake. He’ll never play as sound a game as a player who was drafted in the first round, but he brings something those players can’t bring. To benefit from that, though, the Canadiens need to learn to live with the occasional mistake.
Furthermore, when the Canadiens hold their annual skills contest, he’s always the leader in the hardest shot category. Last month, he set a net personal best with a 107.3 mph rocket. Of course, there’s a difference between doing it in a skills competition and in a game, but if he had more confidence, he might be more inclined to try some shots out there.
The Boston Bruins have had a miserable time getting road wins when facing quality defensive teams — and they’re facing a very good one in Pittsburgh today.
Even without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, my Bruins vs. Penguins predictions see the home team taking care of business.
Bruins vs Penguins best bet: Penguins moneyline (-125)
The Boston Bruins have struggled mightily on the road against good defensive teams. They've played 12 away games against teams ranking in the Top 10 in shot suppression, goal suppression, or both. Only two resulted in wins.
Boston posted an average goal differential of -1.92 and shot differential of -4.58 in those 12 contests. A lot of them were not close.
The Pittsburgh Penguins sit second in penalty-kill percentage, sixth in goals against, and 10th in shot suppression, so — even missing key players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin — they’re positioned well to cause the Bruins problems and get a win.
Bruins vs Penguins same-game parlay
Ben Kindel has played a bigger role without Sidney Crosby in the lineup and made the most of it. He's averaged 2.7 shots and 5.0 attempts through six games, recording four or more attempts in five of them.
Yegor Chinakhov has cleared 2.5 shots in eight of his past 10 appearances. He played more than 21 minutes in his first game without Crosby and Malkin in the lineup and figures to be heading for another big workload against the Bruins.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have hit the moneyline in 15 of their last 25 games (+4.50 Units / 14% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Penguins.
How to watch Bruins vs Penguins
Location
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Puck drop
4:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Bruins vs Penguins 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.
The Detroit Red Wings are in New Jersey on Sunday for an evening matchup with the New Jersey Devils, setting the stage for a memorable night as newly acquired defenseman Justin Faulk is expected to make his debut with the club.
Detroit acquired Faulk with minutes remaining before the NHL trade deadline, adding an offensive defenseman and a much needed right shot to their blue line. The Red Wings sent defenseman Justin Holl, blue chip prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov, a 2026 first round pick, and a 2026 third round pick originally belonging to the San Jose Sharks to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the veteran blueliner.
The South St. Paul, Minnesota native has continued to produce even at age 33 with 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points in 61 games with St. Louis this season prior to the trade, continuing his long standing reputation as a defenseman capable of contributing offensively while playing heavy minutes.
Across his NHL career, Faulk has been one of the more consistent offensive defensemen in the league. Since entering the NHL after being selected in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, he has appeared in 1,041 career games between the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues and now the Red Wings.
Faulk will wear number 72 with Detroit, marking the first time the number has been used by the franchise since it was worn by Andreas Athanasiou during his tenure with the Red Wings from 2015 to 2020.
Over the course of his career, Faulk has recorded 141 goals and 349 assists for 490 points while also building a reputation for his physical style of play. The former U.S. National Development program product has established himself as a strong physical presence, registering 1,621 career hits, which ranks 33rd all-time among NHL defensemen, along with 1,426 blocked shots, placing him 57th all-time among defensemen. His track record has shown that he is a reliable secondary scoring option while remaining a dependable two-way presence on the blue line.
Faulk built his reputation during his time in Carolina, where he developed into the Hurricanes' top offensive defenseman and earned three appearances in the NHL All-Star Game in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
He joined St. Louis for the 2019-20 season, one year removed from the Blues historic Stanley Cup win and Faulk became a steady top-four presence, helping log heavy minutes as well as depth scoring.
For the Red Wings, the move signals a clear intention to end their near decade long playoff drought while still avoiding a full sacrifice of future assets. GM Steve Yzerman made it clear he wanted to reward the group for its efforts this season, doing so by adding an experienced and highly capable defender who could help push Detroit’s young roster toward a postseason berth.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Chicago Blackhawks were defeated by the worst team in the National Hockey League, the Vancouver Canucks, on Friday. This capped off a tough trade deadline week for Chicago, so it’s a loss to throw in the garbage and move on from.
Next up is one of the hottest teams in the NHL. The Dallas Stars are 9-0-1 in their last ten games. That one loss came in the shootout against the Colorado Avalanche, the only team ahead of them in the NHL standings, on Friday night.
Scouting Dallas
The Dallas Stars win all of these games, but they can’t gain any ground because of how good the Central Division is at the top. The Colorado Avalanche are 7-3-0 in their last ten, including four straight wins, and the Minnesota Wild are 8-2-0 in their last ten. They make up three of the top four teams in the league.
A game against the Blackhawks is a big one for the Stars, because they come in expecting to get two points in the tight race. That is especially true knowing that the Wild and Avalanche play each other on the same day, presenting an opportunity to gain ground on one of them.
Dallas, more than any team in the NHL, has the best mix of older veterans, elite players in their prime, and young budding stars. They get contributions offensively and defensively from up and down their lineup.
Robertson-Hintz-Johnston
Steel-Duchene-Benn
Erne-Hryckowian-Bourque
Blackwell-Bäck-Bastian
Lindell-Heiskanen
Harley-Lundkvist
Bichsel-Lyubushkin
Oettinger
DeSmith
Mikko Rantanen, their best forward, is out for the Stars. He was injured while representing Team Finland in Milano Cortina. He will be back soon, but not against the Blackhawks on Sunday.
It is on Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, Matt Duchene, and others to pick up the pace offensively. Rantanen is a superstar, but they have the firepower needed to win, as proven by their great play since the Olympics without Rantanen.
Their defense is incredibly notable, led by Olympians like Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, and Thomas Harley. Whether it’s their star number one, Jake Oettinger (also an Olympian) in net, or their solid backup, Casey DeSmith in net, Dallas is hard to score goals against. This well-rounded game on both sides of the puck is why they are 38-14-10.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks are looking to bounce back from that tough defeat at the hands of the Canucks. They’ve played better against good teams for some reason, and this game against the Stars is a nice opportunity to get back in the win column in a big way.
The Blackhawks have won each of the two meetings between them, both by a score of 4-3. This will be their last match against one another in 2025-26, so it’s a chance for Chicago to sweep the three-game season series.
Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky
Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teravainen
Mangiapane-Moore-Mikheyev
Slaggert-Donato-Lardis
Vlasic-Crevier
Kaiser-Rinzel
Grzelcyk-Levshunov
Commesso
Soderblom
The Blackhawks appear to be running the Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore trio down the middle again, but the wings have been switched up a bit. Ryan Donato looks to be the fourth-line center.
On Donato’s wing in practice were Landon Slaggert and Sam Lafferty. However, the Blackhawks called up Nick Lardis from the Rockford IceHogs after practice, so he’s sure to dress. Sam Lafferty has been scratched for most of the season, so that’s likely the guy to sit again.
Last time out, they went with an 11-forward, 7-defensemen strategy. Going in as the extra defenseman was Ethan Del Mastro. If they go that route again, it is fair to assume that Landon Slaggert would come out. They didn’t call up Lardis to sit him.
Spencer Knight fell ill on Friday afternoon, so an emergency backup goalie was used to back up Arvid Soderblom. On Saturday, before leaving for Dallas, they called up Drew Commesso, and Spencer Knight is staying home. Who starts in Dallas on Sunday and at home vs Utah on Monday remains to be seen
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 5:00 PM CT.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Detroit Red Wings have recalled forward John Leonard from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, marking the third time this season the 27-year-old has been promoted to the NHL roster.
Leonard has been one of the AHL’s most productive forwards this season, posting 27 goals and 14 assists for 41 points in just 34 games with Grand Rapids. His scoring pace has made him a key contributor for the league-leading Griffins and one of the standout performers in the AHL.
During his previous stints with the Red Wings this season, Leonard has shown flashes of offensive ability with two goals and two assists for four points in nine games. While Leonard’s latest recall could be temporary depending on Larkin’s recovery, strong play could give the Red Wings reason to keep him in the lineup. His performance at the AHL level suggests a player continuing to grow into a reliable depth option capable of contributing offense when called upon.
Leonard’s rise has been steady over the past few seasons. Last year, he recorded 61 points in 72 games while helping the Charlotte Checkers reach the Calder Cup Finals. Originally selected by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Leonard has gradually worked his way toward carving out a role at the NHL level.
If he can translate his AHL success during this latest opportunity in Detroit and continue his slow growth over time, he may be able to become an NHL regular in the near future.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
After losing a handful of forwards at the NHL trade deadline, the Philadelphia Flyers organization suffered another loss at the position through injury.
On Saturday night, Lehigh Valley Phantoms communications director Bob Rotruck shared that Flyers forward prospect Devin Kaplan had undergone surgery to address an upper-body injury, sidelining him for seven to 10 weeks.
Kaplan, 22, had produced five goals, eight assists, and 13 points in 49 games for the Phantoms in his first year playing pro this season.
The former third-round pick also made his NHL debut for the Flyers last season, playing 12:12 in a 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Game 82.
Kaplan hasn't played for the Phantoms since a 5-4 shootout loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Feb. 28; he scored in the game and recorded 12 penalty minutes for roughing and abuse of officials penalties.
The injury is bad news for the Phantoms, who just lost Alex Bump to an NHL call-up, have been without Denver Barkey for quite some time now, and saw Alexis Gendron get traded to Boston at the NHL trade deadline.
Aside from Karsen Dorwart, and perhaps Phil Tomasino, the Phantoms are now completely devoid of young forward talent coming up through the NHL pipeline.
They'll get some reinforcements from the Flyers at the end of their season when Bump and Denver Barkey return, but until then, surviving is looking like an increasingly difficult task for Lehigh Valley.
The Phantoms are currently 24-25-6 on the season, sitting sixth in the Atlantic Division with 54 points. A meager three-point buffer separates them from the Springfield Thunderbirds and missing the postseason, so they'll have to hold onto their playoff spot without Kaplan.
