After two consecutive defeats over the weekend, the Montreal Canadiens had put themselves in a bit of a pickle, and on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre, they needed to get the two points against archrivals Boston Bruins. As if the game weren’t important enough already, it was also Brendan Gallagher’s 900th, a feat highlighted on the jumbotron, prompting the fans to give the Canadiens’ warrior a standing ovation, which was cut short by the linesman dropping the puck. Given the occasion, he could have waited a little longer.

GALLY! GALLY! GALLY!#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/FGxkgGN5lF

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 17, 2026

The game didn’t start like the Canadiens had intended, with Alexandre Carrier getting assessed a four-minute high-sticking penalty, which led to the Bruins taking a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard and an 8-1 lead in shots. The Sainte-Flanelle didn’t panic, however, and once they were back at even strength, they turned on the attack, but without being careless with the puck.

Canadiens: Friedman Believes The Door Is Wide Open For Fowler
Heartbreaking News For Canadiens’ Forward
Canadiens Must Come Up Big This Week

The First Line Was Cooking

When the Canadiens need a win, you can always count on captain Nick Suzuki to rise to the challenge, and that’s exactly what he did. In the first 20 minutes, he had three shot attempts and was a constant nuisance for the Bruins’ defence, finding ways to get in close to Jeremy Swayman.

That’s how he tied up the game with assists from Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield, who looked like he really wanted that goal number 40 tonight. As for the Slovak, he made better decisions with the puck and limited the no-look back passes, which were regular occurrences over the weekend.

The three players combined for 24 shot attempts on the night, 10 of which made it to the Swayman. Watching them buzz around the offensive zone, it wasn’t surprising to see Caufield score the game-winner, his 40th goal of the season, a feat last accomplished 32 years ago in Montreal by Vincent Damphousse.

COLE CAUFIELD.

40 BUTS • 40 GOALS #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/909kUvvTl8

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 18, 2026

Gallagher Doing His Thing

It’s been established that Gallagher cannot be as effective as he once was, but with a limited role and load management, he can still deliver. After 40 minutes on Tuesday night, he had only seen 6:01 of action across nine shifts and had delivered a game-leading five hits on top of getting an assist on Anderson’s game-tying goal in the second frame.

In his own way, he can still be the spark plug that he once was, but you have to use him at the right time and in the right situation, which Martin St-Louis appears to be doing right now. Getting a point in his 900th game, against the Bruins as well, was the perfect way to mark the occasion.

The diminutive player with a big heart ended his work night with 10:37 of ice time, 6 hits, 2 shots, and a blocked shot. The perfect proof of the heart he has on the ice came in the third frame when he landed a hit on Hampus Lindholm. The 6-foot-4 and 217-pound blueliner ended up on his backside behind the net as if a giant had hit him. But no, it was the 5-foot-9 and 185-pound alternate captain that took him down. When you play like Gallagher, size does not matter.

Asked about Gallagher’s big milestone after the game, Martin St-Louis explained:

When you play somewhere for that long, it says a lot about your character, the human side, the presence you bring; it’s about more than just what you do on the ice. You look at how he entered the league (a fifth-round pick), how he found a spot, and the way he plays, it’s galvanizing. He has a galvanizing energy; he gives his all, and he deserves it. It’s not easy to play 900 games in the NHL; not many do it (Gallagher is the 13th player to play 900 games with the Habs). And the way he has played those 900 games? It’s a lot of effort; he doesn’t stay on the perimeter; he’s right there in the blue paint, he takes the big hits, he’s a warrior…the way he plays, it’s not easy to make it to 900 games. I tip my hat to him, and I’m really proud of him.

Two Game Savers

While the Canadiens skated away with the two points tonight, they easily could have gone home empty-handed if Jakub Dobes didn’t make some big, timely saves. The Czech netminder faced 28 shots and saved 26 of them for a .929 save percentage. Late in the third, after a bad change at the Canadiens’ bench, he had to pull off a tough breakaway save.

Over the weekend, Lane Hutson didn’t play his best hockey, but on Tuesday night, paired with Jayden Struble, he looked much better. He spent 21:41 on the ice, had seven shot attempts, even though only one made it to Swayman, and finished the night with a pair of assists, including one on the overtime game-winner.

However, one of his defensive plays saved the day. During extra time, he had to defend a two-on-one, and he slid at just the right time to poke the puck and kill the play. Had he not done that, the Canadiens might not have had two points.

Lane Hutson with a game-saving defensive play in OT at the end of a 2:20 mins shift tonight for the Habs pic.twitter.com/ssqyIMqHUq

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) March 18, 2026

The Habs will be back on the ice in Brossard on Wednesday before heading to Michigan to take on the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

---

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Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-15, 83 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ Carolina Hurricanes (42-19-6, 90 points, 1st place Metropolitan Division)

When: 7 p.m. ET

How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and FanDuel Sports Network South, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins are coming back to Pittsburgh for a three-game homestand, starting with a weekend back-to-back (Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, Sunday against the Hurricanes, again) followed by a Tuesday rematch with the Avalanche (again).

Opponent Track: The Hurricanes had won four of their last six games before dropping a 5-1 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.

Season Series: The Pens and Canes have split this season series so far, with the Pens taking a 5-1 win at home on Dec. 30 before their 5-4 shootout loss back last week in Raleigh. This season wraps up with a rematch in four days in Pittsburgh.

Hidden Stat: The Penguins lead the NHL in goals from players who were new to the team this season with 81. The next closest is the Anaheim Ducks with 63. 

Kyle Dubas' additions to the @penguins this season have been a key part of the team's success 🙌

Pittsburgh has 81 goals by players in their first season with the team – a mark that ranks first in the NHL by an 18-goal margin. pic.twitter.com/kof1ChM2Qq

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) March 17, 2026

Getting to know the Hurricanes

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikloaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Nicolas Deslauriers

DEFENSEMEN

Jaccob Slavin / Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller / Sean Walker

Mike Reilly / Alexander Nikishin

Goalies: Brandon Bussi / Frederik Andersen

Potential scratches: Shayne Gostisbehere (lower body injury), Eric Robinson, Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Injured Reserve: Pyotr Kochetkov

• Brandon Bussi started last night against the Blue Jackets (he had 25 saves in the 5-1 loss), so it seems likely the Pens could be facing Frederik Andersen tonight.
• Andersen is riding a three-game win streak, most recently making 17 stops in the Canes’ 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. He has an 8-6-0 record in 16 career matchups against the Penguins, with a .919 save percentage, 2.53 GAA and two shutouts.
• Trade acquisition Nicolas Deslauriers made his Hurricanes debut on Tuesday night against the Blue Jackets. He lead the Canes with six hits and recorded a fight in the loss.
• Shayne Gostisbehere suffered a lower-body injury on March 6 and has yet to return to the Canes’ lineup.

Season stats
via hockeydb (does not include last night’s game)

• Andrei Svechnikov, who recorded the shootout winner last week against the Pens, has also scored in two straight games heading into Wednesday. He’s six goals shy of a new career goalscoring high.

SVECH TURNS ON THE JETS 🚀 pic.twitter.com/fULYbQlkTh

— NHL (@NHL) March 18, 2026

• The Canes took a few early penalties and conceded a pair of power-play goals early in Tuesday night’s matchup with the Blue Jackets and were never able to recover from that early deficit. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said after the game the Canes needed to do “everything” different against the Penguins.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Anthony Mantha – Rickard Rakell – Bryan Rust

Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Ville Koivunen – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea / Kris Letang

Ilya Solovyov / Connor Clifton

Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner

Potential Scratches: Sam Girard, Ryan Graves, Kevin Hayes, Jack St. Ivany

IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Blake Lizotte

• A few bad pieces of news for the Penguins on Tuesday. First, that Blake Lizotte will miss the rest of the regular season:

UPDATE: Forward Blake Lizotte will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks. https://t.co/cTSJxfJVt3

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) March 17, 2026

• Second piece of bad news: the out-of—town scoreboard. The Columbus Blue Jackets won, the New York Islanders won, and the Boston Bruins went to overtime with the Montreal Canadiens.

• Sidney Crosby traveled with the team on this trip, so there’s still some hope he could get back in the lineup for the last game of the road swing tonight. Keep an eye out for who he’s taking line rushes with today in Raleigh.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

“Jack Hughes wants the Hockey Hall of Fame to give him the puck from his gold-medal-winning overtime goal for Team USA in the Milan Cortina Olympics, which is currently on display in Toronto. ‘I’m trying to get it. Like, that’s bulls— that the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck?’ Hughes told ESPN in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.” [ESPN]

Paul Cotter scored with just a few ticks left on the clock in overtime to push the Devils to a 4-3 win over the Bruins on Monday. [Devils NHL]

A look at a few of the positives that can be drawn from this mess of a season: [Devils’ Advocates]

Hockey Links

“George Parros stands by his decision on the Radko Gudas suspension, saying Tuesday he was ‘confident’’ in the outcome. ‘We came to it for good reason,’ the head of the Department of Player Safety said in a media availability before Day 2 of the NHL GM meetings. ‘When we evaluate these plays, we look at the play and not the players. If we determine that play was worthy of supplemental discipline, we then look at history of the players involved and if there is an injury or not. This is how we come to make all of our decisions. We did this and made this decision under those circumstances, felt that this was the appropriate response and so I stand by it.’” [The Athletic ($)]

“This was George Parros standing up for himself and his teammates, which he has commendably made a career of doing. The former pugilist, who’s now in his eighth season as senior vice president of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, had no choice but to do it after the league’s biggest superstar, Connor McDavid, justifiably called into question the process of how supplemental discipline is meted out.” [Sportsnet]

Brutal news for the Oilers:

Leon Draisaitl has been ruled OUT for the remainder of the regular season, the Oilers announced.

Draisaitl suffered a lower-body injury over the weekend pic.twitter.com/qkJQwjXsoG

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 17, 2026

Speaking of the Oilers: “It was supposed to be Tristan Jarry starting critical games for the Oilers, who traded for him in December under the premise that he was an upgrade over Stuart Skinner. Instead, it has backfired spectacularly. Jarry, who allowed a career-worst seven goals against the Dallas Stars in his most recent start, has been the NHL’s worst goaltender over the past three months.” [Sportsnet]

“Whether Russia and its collection of NHL stars will be invited to the 2028 World Cup of Hockey remains very uncertain. ‘We’re going to see how things develop. Time will tell,’ NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday at the GM meetings in Florida. ‘There isn’t an immediate need or urgency to make that decision, so let’s see how things play out.’” [ESPN]

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

Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

The Pittsburgh Penguins have fared surprisingly well in the absence of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. One of the main forces behind this recent run of form is coming from defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has been playing his best hockey to date in a Pittsburgh sweater. [PensBurgh]

Evgeni Malkin said he and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas plan to revisit his contract situation after the season, with both sides agreeing to wait until the summer while focusing on finishing the current campaign. Malkin said after Monday’s 7-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche that he intends to keep playing, perhaps even for another two seasons beyond this one. [PensBurgh]

The Penguins’ depth at forward will be tested with a key cog in the bottom-six to miss an extended period. Forward Blake Lizotte has been injured and will be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks, the team said on Tuesday afternoon. [PensBurgh]

NHL news and notes…

Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after sustaining a lower-body injury, the team announced on Tuesday. [ESPN]

Noted goon George Parros was given the microphone on Tuesday morning at the NHL General Managers’ meetings to give his rationale and explain why the Department of Player Safety is doing a bang-up job with the process it follows when determining player discipline. [NHL]

Doug Armstrong has stepped down as general manager of Canada’s men’s national hockey team after serving in the role through the 2026 Olympics. He will also cede control of the St. Louis Blues to Alexander Steen following the 2026 NHL Draft. [Sportsnet]

NHL general managers are discussing a potential rule change that would allow some 19-year-old players from the Canadian Hockey League to play in the American Hockey League. The proposal would require changes to the NHL-CHL agreement and could take effect as early as next season if approved. [NHL]

TORONTO -- New York Islanders franchise goaltender Ilya Sorokin recorded 26 saves on 27 shots in a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs to secure career win No. 150. 

Sorokin is seven wins from tying Chico Resch (157) for the second-most in franchise history. 

Hockey Hall of Famer Billy Smith sits in first with 304. 

Sorokin also recorded his 25th win of the season, accomplishing that feat for a fifth straight season. 

Per Islanders statistician Eric Hornick, Sorokin was 2-4-1 (.868 and 3.75) in his first seven games this season; he is 23-11-1 (with an NHL-best .923 save percentage, and a 2.24 goals-against average) and an NHL-leading six shutouts since then.

Through 42 games this season, Sorokin is 25-15-2, with a 2.58 GAA, a .918 SV%, and an NHL-leading six shutouts.  

There is a lustrous bounce to Chase Pearson's hair that you can only get from an egg yolk treatment.

When the 28-year-old Canadian forward flicks his locks back absent-mindedly, it's almost distracting as he seamlessly shifts between talking about hair care, a career that took him briefly to the NHL, the loss of his mother and the prospect of helping Nottingham Panthers reclaim the Challenge Cup for the first time in a decade when they face Coventry Blaze on Wednesday (19:30 GMT).

It is with the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) side that Pearson says he has "enjoyed playing hockey more than ever" and where he feels he has been able to be his most authentic self away from the game - quirky social media presence and all.

Pick through his posts and you are greeted with a step-by-step guide to getting "eggstremely nice hair", the benefits of red lights at night, and streams of healthy living and mindfulness advice.

"I like to be myself, obviously," he told BBC Sport.

"I'm not for everyone and don't want to be for everyone. Being different is a good thing, right? Or I'd like to think so."

• Continental Cup 'means everything' to Panthers

When Pearson got on the ice in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings in 2022, he emulated his father Scott by playing in the world's most illustrious ice hockey competition.

His father played 292 times in the competition across 13 years, featuring for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.

"He was my North Star," Pearson said of his father's influence on his sporting aspirations.

"I always knew that I wanted to play in the NHL and that was my aim from age eight or nine. Most kids do, but I was steadfast on it.

"I would have loved to play a 300-game career in the NHL. I think every hockey player wants to be the 1,000-game superstar, and it just didn't work out. And that's the way it goes for most guys.

"Most players are never going to be able to even get to the NHL, let alone have a career and stick there. So the fact that I got there was something huge for me."

'Losing a parent like that, it's difficult'

It was on his arrival as an NHL player that Pearson reflected on what it took to reach that level - the years spent playing for the University of Maine, the seasons with Detroit's minor-league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins and, most poignantly, the devotion of his mother Laura along the way.

She didn't get to see him play on that stage, having taken her own life years earlier. But getting there was always for her.

"As a child if you've been through that, losing a parent like that, it's difficult. There is a lot of stuff that goes through your mind," Pearson said.

"I wanted to do it [get to the NHL] to be financially secure so I could help take care of her.

"I never got that chance, but when I did get there, a lot of that moment I was absorbed in thinking 'wow, I'm here and this is cool'. And if you're religious, then she would have been watching down.

"That was special. She meant a lot to me and still means a lot."

The memories of losing his mum continue to stir powerful emotions in Pearson. "It's hard for me to talk," he says, as he steadies himself.

But the career he has built after his time in the NHL, his European excursion with spells in Slovakia and Austria before landing in the EIHL with Nottingham and how he has treasured each experience and opened himself up to the world with unflinching frankness online, is linked to that loss.

"A lot of what I post about comes through the lens of someone who's been through that and dealt with a lot of stuff," he said.

"I've unhealthily dealt with it in ways that aren't productive for myself or people around me. I've hurt a lot of people that I didn't want to.

"And sometimes when I post I can be polarising, but most of what I do post is coming from a place of genuinely trying to put my thoughts out in the world in a way that I would like to have heard it from my position looking back."

'I don't think about the medals'

The value placed on success, the endless effort it demands and "fleeting" joy it brings, is something he has grappled with along the way.

The European Continental Cup he helped Panthers win earlier this season, and the Challenge Cup up for grabs when they play the Blaze, are moments of his career he has learned to cherish.

Being sat on a private jet as an NHL player for the first time taught him that.

"On that plane back after the first game I was like 'wow, this is incredible', but what's next?" he reflected.

"I didn't realise I'd feel like that, and I thought 'dang I've just spent 15 years to get here and now I'm thinking now what?'

"That moment made me realise it wasn't even about getting there, but more about proving to myself I can do it and all the moments in between.

"We talked about this in the locker room today, about getting so caught up in chasing this, chasing that, trying to achieve this and that, you sometimes forget to sit down to just enjoy it and be present with everyone.

"There are not many moments in your life or career where you actually get to remember winning something. I don't think about the medals or silverware; it's about doing something that no-one can ever take away from you.

"Understanding that helps you forge those connections with your team-mates and people in the organisation, not the medal you get to put up on your wall or eventually down in your basement where no-one ever sees it."

Chicago Blackhawks (25-30-12, in the Central Division) vs. Minnesota Wild (39-18-12, in the Central Division)

Saint Paul, Minnesota; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Wild host the Chicago Blackhawks after the Wild knocked off the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime.

Minnesota has gone 39-18-12 overall with a 12-6-3 record against the Central Division. The Wild are ninth in NHL play with 226 total goals (averaging 3.3 per game).

Chicago is 25-30-12 overall and 10-6-5 against the Central Division. The Blackhawks have gone 9-10-6 in games they have more penalties than their opponent.

The matchup Thursday is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. The Wild won 4-3 in overtime in the previous matchup.

TOP PERFORMERS: Matthew Boldy has 38 goals and 37 assists for the Wild. Kirill Kaprizov has six goals and two assists over the past 10 games.

Frank Nazar has 11 goals and 23 assists for the Blackhawks. Connor Bedard has four goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wild: 4-4-2, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.8 penalties and 9.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

Blackhawks: 3-4-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.3 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

INJURIES: Wild: None listed.

Blackhawks: None listed.

___

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

Winnipeg Jets (28-28-11, in the Central Division) vs. Boston Bruins (37-23-8, in the Atlantic Division)

Boston; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins host the Winnipeg Jets after Pavel Zacha scored two goals in the Bruins' 3-2 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Boston is 37-23-8 overall and 25-9-1 at home. The Bruins have a 30-9-6 record when scoring three or more goals.

Winnipeg has gone 11-15-5 on the road and 28-28-11 overall. The Jets have a -13 scoring differential, with 190 total goals scored and 203 conceded.

Thursday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Bruins won the previous meeting 6-3. David Pastrnak scored two goals in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Morgan Geekie has 34 goals and 23 assists for the Bruins. Zacha has seven goals and five assists over the last 10 games.

Mark Scheifele has 31 goals and 52 assists for the Jets. Kyle Connor has scored five goals with eight assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 4-3-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.1 assists, 3.7 penalties and 9.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

Jets: 5-2-3, averaging 2.8 goals, five assists, 1.9 penalties and 4.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

INJURIES: Bruins: None listed.

Jets: None listed.

___

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

Montreal Canadiens (37-20-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Detroit Red Wings (37-23-8, in the Atlantic Division)

Detroit; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens visit the Detroit Red Wings after the Canadiens knocked off the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime.

Detroit has an 11-7-2 record in Atlantic Division games and a 37-23-8 record overall. The Red Wings have a 19-8-2 record in games they convert at least one power play.

Montreal is 37-20-10 overall with a 13-8-1 record in Atlantic Division games. The Canadiens have committed 278 total penalties (4.1 per game) to rank fourth in the league.

Thursday's game is the third time these teams match up this season. The Red Wings won the previous meeting 4-0.

TOP PERFORMERS: Dylan Larkin has 28 goals and 27 assists for the Red Wings. Patrick Kane has four goals and four assists over the last 10 games.

Cole Caufield has 40 goals and 28 assists for the Canadiens. Nicholas Suzuki has six goals and nine assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Red Wings: 4-4-2, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.6 assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.4 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.

INJURIES: Red Wings: None listed.

Canadiens: None listed.

___

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

Utah Mammoth (35-27-6, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (31-23-14, in the Pacific Division)

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

BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights take on the Utah Mammoth in Western Conference action.

Vegas has a 31-23-14 record overall and a 16-11-7 record on its home ice. The Golden Knights have allowed 205 goals while scoring 219 for a +14 scoring differential.

Utah is 35-27-6 overall and 17-16-3 on the road. The Mammoth have a 17-8-1 record when scoring a power-play goal.

The matchup Thursday is the third time these teams square off this season. The Mammoth won 5-1 in the last matchup. Logan Cooley led the Mammoth with four goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell Marner has 19 goals and 50 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has six goals and five assists over the last 10 games.

Dylan Guenther has 32 goals and 26 assists for the Mammoth. Cooley has three goals and three assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 3-7-0, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.9 assists, 4.4 penalties and 10.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

Mammoth: 5-3-2, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.4 assists, four penalties and 10.3 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: None listed.

Mammoth: None listed.

___

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

Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-15, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (42-19-6, in the Metropolitan Division)

Raleigh, North Carolina; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hurricanes -159, Penguins +134; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Carolina Hurricanes after Evgeni Malkin scored two goals in the Penguins' 7-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche.

Carolina is 13-4-1 against the Metropolitan Division and 42-19-6 overall. The Hurricanes are seventh in NHL play with 230 total goals (averaging 3.4 per game).

Pittsburgh is 34-18-15 overall and 11-1-8 against the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins have scored 229 total goals (3.4 per game) to rank eighth in league play.

Wednesday's game is the third meeting between these teams this season. The Hurricanes won the last matchup 5-4 in a shootout.

TOP PERFORMERS: Andrei Svechnikov has 25 goals and 34 assists for the Hurricanes. Nikolaj Ehlers has six goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

Malkin has 16 goals and 34 assists for the Penguins. Bryan Rust has six goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 6-4-0, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.4 assists, 3.5 penalties and eight penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

Penguins: 4-3-3, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.9 assists, 4.2 penalties and 10.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.

INJURIES: Hurricanes: None listed.

Penguins: None listed.

___

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

After opening their four-game homestand on an offensive tear with 10 goals in two wins, the Golden Knights ran into a buzzsaw Tuesday night.

Buffalo, the league's hottest team since Dec. 9, stayed red hot with its 10th win in 11 games since the Olympic Break, winning 2-0.

It was Vegas' third shutout loss of the season and its first at home.

While Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves to keep his stat line clean, the Golden Knights misfired on 22 shots

"I thought we got lots of pucks there, some rebounds," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We just misfired on them. I thought Mitch (Marner) had a chance late. (Nic) Dowd had a rebound with an open net that ended up off net. (Mark) Stoney had a rebound on the power play.

"There were some rebounds there that we just didn't finish."

KEY MOMENT

With 16:35 left in the game, Pavel Dorofeyev took a pass from Marner and fired a wicked wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle, but was stymied by Luukkonen, setting the tone for a resilient finish by Buffalo's netminder, who improved to 6-1 since Jan. 22.

KEY STAT

0 for 3 ... For the fourth time in five games the Golden Knights couldn't score a power-play goal. From Jan. 31 through March 6, the Golden Knights ranked tied for fifth in the NHL with their 33.3% power-play clip. Since then, the Knights rank 26th with a 13.3% conversion rate.

WHAT A KNIGHT

Goalie Adin Hill allowed one goal after turning in another strong performance, outside of the lone goal he let in. After Hill failed to clear the puck behind the net, Buffalo's Josh Doan fired his shot off the back of the Knights' netminder's right pad and the puck ricocheted into the net. Otherwise, Hill was the best Knight on the ice, stopping 23 shots.

Sneaky, sneaky... 😯#LetsGoBuffalo | #sabrehoodpic.twitter.com/C8SWV7dnRA

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 18, 2026

UP NEXT

The Golden Knights conclude their four-game homestand against the Utah Mammoth on Thursday.

PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) makes a save against Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund (86) during the first period at T-Mobile Arena.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned aside 27 shots to record his first shutout of the season and eighth in his NHL career, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 2-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday.

Josh Doan and Josh Norris scored for Buffalo (42-20-6), who have surged to a 10-1-0 record since returning from the Olympic break. With the win, the Sabres are now tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Eastern Conference. Carolina, however, holds a game in hand after a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

Adin Hill stopped 23 shots in the loss for Vegas (31-23-14), snapping a two-game winning streak. The Golden Knights fell to third place in the Pacific Division, trailing the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks by a single point. Edmonton, which has played one more game, defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-3 on Tuesday.

The game's opening goal came late in the first period. At 18:02, Doan capitalized on a miscue behind the net by Hill, banking a shot off the goaltender’s right pad to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead. Norris sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:02 of the third period, finalizing the 2-0 scoreline.

With Luukkonen’s standout performance and the Sabres’ continued dominance post-Olympics, Buffalo is asserting itself as a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference heading down the stretch.

The Sabers were coming off a 3-2 shootout victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. 

Jack Quinn was the hero for the Buffalo Sabres in that game, scoring the game-tying goal in the second period and delivering another crucial goal in the shootout.

In the shootout, Quinn started wide on the right wing before cutting to the middle and firing a precise wrist shot under Joseph Woll’s blocker to open the scoring for Buffalo.

Owen Power also contributed a goal in regulation, while Alex Lyon made 16 saves to secure the win for the Sabres. 

Alex Tuch added a goal in the shootout, with Lyon coming up big by stopping one attempt and forcing another to miss the net, sealing the victory for Buffalo.

The Golden Knights, however, have been struggling as of late as they've dropped seven of their last 10 games. 

The Vancouver Canucks have their second win in their past three games, having taken a 5–2 win against the Florida Panthers tonight. Elias Pettersson led the way with two power play goals, Marco Rossi scored in his third-straight game, and Aatu Räty and Drew O’Connor also found the back of the net. In goal, Kevin Lankinen recorded his first win since January 21, stopping 21 shots on 23 faced. 

One of a few positive outcomes from tonight’s game was the fact that the Canucks broke a four-game goalless streak on the power play by scoring two on the man-advantage thanks to Pettersson. Both of the forward’s goals came as a result of hard shots fired from the faceoff dot, with the first flying powerfully past Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and the second trickling behind him on a similar shot. 

“It was nice to get a bounce to go the right way, but I’m trying to play the right way. I know I still have a lot to do to be where I want to be, but definitely nice to see it go in tonight,” Pettersson said after the win. 

Even Vancouver’s second-unit power play got some good looks. During the Canucks’ third man-advantage of the game, Linus Karlsson got some good tip-attempts off on Bobrovsky. While the goal didn’t technically take place on the power play, as it had just expired prior to it, O’Connor scored Vancouver’s fifth of the game to tie a career-high in goals with 16 on the season.  

Vancouver’s third goal of the first period came off a lapse in defensive coverage for the Panthers. An ill-timed pinch left Rossi all alone in the slot in front of Bobrovsky, with the Canucks centre making a quick move before flicking the puck past the goaltender’s blocker. Rossi and his line of Brock Boeser and Liam Öhgren had yet another solid game, with the former two each registering three points and all three putting up at least one. 

Despite having a solid response to Vancouver’s performance in the first period, Florida’s defensive lapses took place yet again on Vancouver’s fourth goal of the game. This time it was Räty who managed to work his way into Florida’s slot, not giving his shot a second thought as he put it past Bobrovsky to put the Canucks up 4–2. 

When Vancouver needed him most in order to secure the win, Lankinen shut things down excellently. He made a flurry of saves with the Panthers fighting to invade the crease and made some big stops on Florida during their third-period power play. Even within the final minute, with the Panthers crowding him in an attempt to score their third, Lankinen stood tall. 

“I was just happy to keep the puck out of the net,” Lankinen said after the game. “Obviously, I thought our team as a whole played a great game. Petey, Brock, Marco — they stepped up in a big way and led the way, and it was fun to watch.” 

One other aspect of tonight’s game that should be noted is the team’s willingness to stand up for one-another. On multiple occasions, such as when Florida prodded at Lankinen after whistles or Zeev Buium was tripped up, the Canucks — particularly young players like Räty, Nils Höglander, and defenceman Elias Pettersson — weren’t afraid to go after the Panthers. Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote spoke on the change in energy around his team's room through the past few games. 

“The last four or five games, we’ve been right there [...] I’d say we are consistent the last four or five, you feel the momentum change, you feel in the locker room, it’s different. The energy on the ice at practice is different."  

Stats and Facts: 

• Kevin Lankinen takes part in his 200th career NHL game 
• Canucks’ record on March 17 increases to 10–4–0
• Elias Pettersson scores his 200th career NHL goal 
• Marco Rossi increases his goal-streak to three-straight games 

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period: 

3:49 - VAN: Elias Pettersson (14) from Marco Rossi and Brock Boeser (PPG) 

11:41 - FLA: Matthew Tkachuk (9) from Carter Verhaeghe 

13:40 - VAN: Elias Pettersson (15) from Brock Boeser and Marco Rossi (PPG) 

17:46 - VAN: Marco Rossi (9) from Brock Boeser and Liam Öhgren 

2nd Period: 

11:28 - FLA: Sam Bennett (25) from Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe 

14:27 - VAN: Aatu Räty (4) from Evander Kane and Elias Pettersson (D) 

3rd Period: 

14:25 - VAN: Drew O’Connor (16) from Linus Karlsson and Tom Willander 

Up Next: 

With the Canucks now halfway through their eight-game home stand, their next match will take place on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

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.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Elias Pettersson scored twice, including the 200th goal of his NHL career, and the Vancouver Canucks held on for a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

The Swedish center opened the scoring at the 3:49 mark of the first period, blasting a one-timer in from inside the faceoff circle during an early power play. It was his 14th tally of the season and his first goal in 21 games.

Marco Rossi also scored and contributed a pair of assists for the Canucks, who rebounded from a lopsided 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

Vancouver center Aatu Raty and Drew O’Connor also scored and Brock Boeser added three assists. Kevin Lankinen — playing in his 200th NHL game — stopped 21 of the 23 shots he faced for his first win since Jan. 21.

The Panthers got a goal and an assist from Matthew Tkachuk. Sam Bennett also scored and Carter Verhaeghe had two assists.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 17 saves for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who lost their second straight game.

Panthers defenseman Seth Jones returned to the lineup after missing 26 games with an upper-body injury. Bennett also played after an undisclosed ailment kept him out of Florida’s 6-2 loss to the Kraken in Seattle on Sunday.

Winger Nolan Foote played his first game for the Panthers after getting called up from the AHLs Charlotte Checkers on Sunday. His dad is Canucks head coach Adam Foote.

Up next

Panthers: Visit Edmonton on Thursday.

Canucks: Host Tampa Bay on Thursday.

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