All year, the Vegas Golden Knights have struggled to live up to preseason expectations. The results speak for themselves– this will be the first season in franchise history that the team will finish with more losses than wins. And with a 5-10-2 record since returning from the Olympic break, it was time to do something drastic.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. On Sunday, the Golden Knights announced that they’d relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties and named John Tortorella head coach.
Firing a head coach with eight games remaining in the regular season isn’t unprecedented, but it is highly irregular. But this is a business that prioritizes results, and the Golden Knights weren’t getting the results they needed. General manager Kelly McCrimmon said so himself when he spoke to the media on Monday following the coaching change.
Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon coaching change press conference 3/30/2026
“We went into the Olympic break in first place,” said Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon. “We’d been in first place for 96 days. Since then, we’re 5-10-2. We’ve gone from first to second to third to fighting for a playoff spot. We waited as long as we could on this; we see lots of positive signs in spurts in our game. But we just felt that we needed to bring a different person in to lead our team at this time.
“If we didn’t have the expectations and the belief in our team that we do, we probably would’ve let this thing ride out,” McCrimmon finished. “We like our team a lot. We think our team has a chance to win, and we needed to make this change to help that happen.”
McCrimmon attested that he didn’t speak to the players before making the change, and shut down the idea that Cassidy ‘lost the room.’
“You know, ‘lost the room’ is something I’ve been seeing and reading, but no, I don’t think that. I think that the energy level, for me, wasn’t there,” said McCrimmon. “I think somewhere along the way, we lost our spirit. And we lost our energy as a team.”
McCrimmon feels that the Golden Knights are a better team than their results would show, but reiterated that this is a ‘results business.’ And, historically, this is a team that only accepts the best results.
“You need to make hard decisions,” McCrimmon said. “And the easiest thing in the world to do is nothing, right?”
The Kings have had a rough week and a half, losing five of their six games. However, the teams above them have also struggled: the Predators lost three straight after winning five in a row, and the Golden Knights fired their coach after losing six of their seven games, including three in a row.
So, while LA has been terrible over its last six games, the race still remains tight for a possible playoff berth.
Here’s a look at the current teams in the hunt and the wild card positions in the middle of the conference:
Vegas Golden Knights - 32-26-16, 80 points
Nashville Predators - 34-31-9, 77 points
Los Angeles Kings - 29-26-18, 76 points
Seattle Kraken - 32-29-11, 75 points
Winnipeg Jets - 31-30-12, 74 points
San Jose Sharks - 33-31-7, 73 points
The Golden Knights have only a four-point lead over the fourth-place Kings in the Pacific Division; every other team in this race is separated by just one point, making for a very tight finish to the regular season.
If Vegas and Nashville continue to lose, it'll put pressure on LA and the rest of the teams in the hunt to capitalize on their struggles, which hasn't happened yet for any team in the Pacific Division's laughing stock.
Anything can still happen, so let's take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who Kings fans should be rooting for.
Monday
Canucks at Golden Knights
The Golden Knights will probably end their cold streak after they play Vancouver. The Canucks have no chance of winning, unless a miracle win over an already struggling Vegas team doesn't show up with pride after firing its head coach.
Blues at Sharks
Both these teams have been trending in different directions; the St. Louis Blues have won four straight games and are right in the middle of the playoff hunt, while the San Jose Sharks snapped their six-game losing streak on Saturday, defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both teams are tied with 73 points, so it doesn't matter who wins this game for Los Angeles, but the red-hot Blues are in a good position to steal this road game over the struggling Sharks.
Tuesday
Jets at Blackhawks
Like the Blues, Winnipeg is another team that's in the hunt for a playoff spot, only three games back of Nashville, and can move within one point of the Predators when they beat Chicago, where the Blackhawks have no incentive to win this game.
Kraken At Oilers
Despite the injuries to the Oilers, Edmonton is still finding a way to win, just three points behind the No. 1 seed, the Anaheim Ducks, in the Pacific Division. This is the one time Kings fans will root for Edmonton to win, especially since Seattle has lost five of its last six games and this game is in Edmonton, where the Oilers will have a good chance to win.
Wednesday
Ducks at Sharks
Anaheim is trying to hold on to that No. 1 seed, especially with the Oilers finding a way to win with their injuries. With San Jose struggling, they don't have much firepower to compete with the Ducks, even at home.
Thursday
Jets at Stars
Dallas has lost five of their last six games. The Jets, meanwhile, are fighting for their playoff lives, and this could be a big momentum boost if they somehow steal this game on the road.
Flames at Golden Knights
Another game, Vegas should win at home, but Calgary has been playing well over the last week and a half, winners of five in their last six games. This could be a trap game for Vegas.
Mammoth at Kraken
After Los Angeles got embarrassed at home by Utah, you know, the last thing they want is to root for the Mammoth, but that's exactly what they should want. Utah keeps climbing in the standings, and beating Seattle will help the Kings try to create separation in the Pacific Division.
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The Vancouver Canucks continue their road trip on Monday when they battle the Vegas Golden Knights. Monday will be a historic game for Evander Kane, who will play his 1,000th regular-season game in the NHL. Here are the lineup notes for March 30, 2026.
In net for the Canucks will be Kevin Lankinen, who will be making his 39th start of the season. This will be the seventh straight game Lankinen plays in, with six of those being starts. So far this season, Lankinen has played in 42 games, with a record of 8-25-5 and a save percentage of .876.
As for the skaters, only one change is expected on the blue line. Pierre-Olivier Joseph will be coming out of the lineup, while Elias Pettersson returns after being healthy-scratched. The other healthy scratch will be Max Sason as the forward lines are not expected to change.
Feb 4, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Buium-Hronek M. Pettersson-Willander E. Pettersson-Mancini
Lankinen Tolopilo
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: T-Mobile Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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DENVER — Nicolas Roy will not be in the lineup tonight when the Colorado Avalanche face the Calgary Flames, but there is growing optimism his absence will be short-lived.
Encouraging Update on Injury Status
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar confirmed that Roy is expected to return to skating this week and should be back in game action well before the start of the playoffs. The update offers a positive outlook after Roy exited the lineup with an injury on March 22 against the Washington Capitals.
Are the Colorado Avalanche back to being the juggernaut?
Roy has appeared in just nine games since joining Colorado, providing an immediate offensive spark with three goals over that span. His production has mirrored flashes of the scoring touch he showed earlier in his career, particularly after being acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights, where he spent several seasons before moving on from the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of a sign-and-trade involving Mitch Marner.
Nic Roy has been injured, but when he's been healthy for Colorado, he's been clutch. Credit: Amber Searls
Originally selected 96th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, Roy’s career path included time in the AHL before establishing himself as a reliable NHL contributor in Vegas. He also brings championship pedigree to Colorado, having been part of the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup-winning roster.
The Avalanche, sitting at 48–14–10, continue to pace the league standings and have already secured a playoff berth. With ten regular-season games remaining, they are focused on maintaining their lead in the Central Division over the Dallas Stars, who trail by six points. Falling into second place could alter their first-round matchup, potentially setting up a series against the Minnesota Wild.
Colorado will look to stay on track Monday night against the Flames, even as they remain without Roy for the time being.
Since being acquired by Avalanche on March 5 in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Roy has recorded three goals in nine games with Colorado—nearly matching his total output from his entire tenure with Toronto. He finished with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 59 games with the Maple Leafs this season.
Heading into Monday, the Anaheim Ducks have nine games left on their schedule as they chase down their first playoff appearance since 2017-18 and potentially their first division title since 2016-17.
They have a three-point lead and a game in hand on the Pacific’s second-place team, the Edmonton Oilers, who are surging, having won each of their last three games. Relatively, the Ducks have one of the easier remaining schedules in the NHL, but with how unpredictable the team’s play style is, taking two points for granted is a fool’s errand.
Per the league standings, Monday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is a game the Ducks should win, as the Leafs are having their worst season since they entered their playoff-contending window in 2016-17. They have 75 points through 74 games this season, sit eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, and 24th in the overall NHL standings.
For the Leafs, they have eight games left on their schedule before their season will mercifully conclude. However, none of their remaining games will have the emotional charge as Monday’s against Anaheim.
The previous time the Ducks and Leafs met was on March 12 in Toronto, a 6-4 win for the Leafs that would be overshadowed by the events that led to and took place after their franchise player and captain, Auston Matthews, was forced out of the game after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks captain Radko Gudas.
“I think it’s going to be an intense game,” Gudas said after Monday’s morning skate. “(It’s) one of the reasons I wanted to play. You know, address things.”
The hit caused a grade-three tear of Matthews’ MCL and a quad contusion. He’s since had surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season. His expected recovery time is 12 weeks from March 19, the date of his surgery.
Gudas received a five-game suspension and returned to the Ducks lineup on March 24. Many questioned the NHL Department of Player Safety’s sentence, feeling that reckless of a play and severe injury to a star player deserved a longer suspension.
Another factor playing into Monday’s game that dates back to the seconds following the hit was the Leafs’ apparent lack of physical response to losing their captain in such a devastating way.
Typically, when a star player is seemingly wronged or is on the receiving end of a sizable hit, whether clean or not, the hitting player is typically forced to answer with pushes, face washes, punches, etc. from the other four skaters on the ice. Gudas didn’t receive such a response and left the ice unscathed.
“I don’t have a comment on this,” Gudas said. “It’s very hard for them to react. They don’t know what happened.”
The score at the time of the hit was 3-2 in favor of Anaheim. Toronto answered on the scoreboard with two tallies on the ensuing five-minute power play they were awarded, leading to them earning the two points, but still leaving many with a sour taste in their mouths.
The Leafs physically engaged Anaheim after and between whistles for the remainder of the game. However, many are expecting the physicality to continue and even ramp up on Monday when the two teams face off for a final time this season.
Typically, Gudas would be at the receiving end of much of the ire from the Leafs’ players, but many roster players, including the youngest and most talented, could face some of the repercussions as well.
“That’s another thing, standing behind my own mistakes,” Gudas continued. “I want to address it myself. That’s one of the reasons, 100%.”
Gudas sustained a lower-body injury in the Ducks in the second period of the Ducks 3-2 overtime victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday, forcing him from the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Oilers. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported Gudas would play on Monday “no matter what.”
Gudas was a full participant in the Ducks’ morning skate on Monday and said he’s “good to play.”
It’s also been reported that the head of the Department of Player Safety, George Parros, will be in attendance in Anaheim for Monday’s tilt, in an apparent attempt to oversee what transpires throughout.
ELMONT, NY -- For a fifth straight game, the New York Islanders are rocking with the same forward group as they continue their push toward a postseason berth.
#Isles morning skate lines are brought to you by Bull Smith's Tavern:
The Islanders, who are holding down the second seed in the Metropolitan Division, battle the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night, the team that sits just a point behind them.
However, there is one change: The power play.
Mathew Barzal, who had been manning the left flank on the top power-play unit, will fill that role on the second unit while Simon Holmstrom takes No. 13's spot.
This shouldn't come as a shock.
Last game against the Florida Panthers, at 13:40 of the second period, defenseman Gustav Forsling tripped Barzal.
With Barzal having just been out there, working hard down low, head coach Patrick Roy elected to throw Holmstrom out there in his spot.
It was a quick decision that worked right away as Holmstrom scored the go-ahead goal with a simple point shot at 14:52 of the second in a 5-2 win:
Holmstrom earned the opportunity to remain there on Tuesday night, at least to start.
"I mean, I think it gives a different look, and sometimes teams have to play differently," Roy said. "This gives us two very good power plays. But I mean, they scored last game, and I'm curious to see how they play tonight."
The Hockey News asked about Barzal's breather panning out.
"Fortunately for us, we scored," Roy said after admitting he was giving Barzal a quick breather. Simon's playing so well for us. He deserves this as well. So, the power play has been playing well, and we just want to continue that and show with different things. And like I said, we're gonna try a lot of things. All year, you're trying different things. And sometimes it pays off at the right time, because guys...they know, and they are used to trying those different things. So, I'm comfortable with that."
The Islanders' power play, which is 1 for their last 11, currently ranks second-worst in the NHL at 16.4 percent.
VOORHEES, N.J. — A contingent of fans and television cameras lined up along the glass Monday morning at Flyers Training Center.
This was not your typical skate for a handful of Flyers on an off day for the team.
The force behind the crowd: Porter Martone.
Just two days after his freshman season at Michigan State ended with a loss in the regional final of the NCAA Tournament, the 19-year-old was on the ice with some of his new Flyers teammates.
A look at Porter Martone, the sixth overall pick in 2025 who signed his ELC with Flyers. pic.twitter.com/GcouhbZmyo
“Ever since you were a kid, this is the dream,” Martone said Monday. “It’s kind of surreal that it’s here.”
The Flyers’ top prospect signed his entry-level contract Sunday afternoon, officially turning pro and joining the big club for its final two-plus weeks of the season. The night before, Martone and the Spartans were upset in overtime, 4-3, by Wisconsin.
“I felt like we really created a brotherhood there at Michigan State, I love that place so much,” Martone said. “But then when I woke up in the morning, you get thinking of what’s the next step. To have the opportunity to come here with the Flyers and help them in a playoff push I think was a no-brainer for me. I’m really excited to be here.”
Martone, sporting No. 94 on his helmet, went through his on-ice workout with Tyson Foerster, Garrett Wilson, Noah Juulsen and a fill-in goalie. Martone departed before the rest of the players, perhaps a sign that his NHL debut is coming Tuesday when the Flyers visit the Capitals (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). But that is not a definite, at least not yet publicly.
“We’re not closing down the window for Tuesday, assuming that everything goes according to plan,” general manager Danny Briere said Sunday. “There’s paperwork to be done, there’s a doctor’s appointment to be done, as well. We’re hopeful that Tuesday could be a game, but we’ll see. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.”
Martone, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft, had a standout season at Michigan State. The 6-foot-3 winger put up 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) in 35 games. He had no points in just six of those 35 games. He finished with 15 multi-point games, 124 shots and a plus-24 rating.
“It was a good stepping stone for him,” Briere said. “We feel he has developed nicely both physically and mentally and is close to almost being ready to be in the NHL. We’ll see in the next few weeks.”
A reason why Martone left junior hockey to play collegiately was the opportunity to gain strength and face older competition. He had high praise for the Spartans’ staff and head coach Adam Nightingale. Martone said his InBody scans this season showed he went from around 198 pounds to 210 and he lost three percent body fat.
“I think I just really found my identity as a player and who I need to be to be successful,” Martone said. “Coach Nightingale really forced on me to play below the hash marks, play in front of the net. Another thing that he told me when I got there, and it was the truth, was that if I want to play at the NHL level, I’m going to have to play at a faster pace, I’m going to have to get faster. That was something that I really worked on there.”
The Flyers had Martone and 2025 second-rounder Shane Vansaghi to watch at Michigan State. The club was in consistent contact with the prospects, from director of player development Riley Armstrong to special advisors John LeClair and Patrick Sharp and player development coach Chris Stewart.
“The Flyers were great with me when I was there,” Martone said. “The whole development staff, I think they made probably 10 different trips to see me and Shane play there. I did video with Riley Armstrong every single week, just kind of what they wanted to see, what they wanted me to improve on. I think both sides, the Michigan State Spartans and Philly, did a great job for my development.”
Porter Martone skating here in Voorhees, New Jersey. We’ll see if his NHL debut comes Tuesday or later this week. pic.twitter.com/CjOQRW2LN6
Martone joins a Flyers team that is fueling a playoff push with some of its best hockey. The Flyers entered Monday just two points back of both third place in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. They’ve gone 12-3-1 over their last 16 games and have nine games to go.
“Other than on TV, I’ve never really seen him play, but there’s a lot of hype around him, it’s exciting to have him around,” Sean Couturier said Sunday. “To have a young, talented guy like that that’s going to help us in the future and can help us right now is huge.”
The Flyers on Monday started to get Martone up to speed. He knows his transition to the highest level will require work.
“I’m going to have to keep an open mind and continue to learn every single day,” Martone said. “I’m coming into a room full of NHL players, NHL coaches, so I don’t think it’s just going to happen overnight. I think I’m going to have to learn and I think that this group is going to be perfect for me to kind of teach me the ropes.”
The Flyers will need more answers down the middle of the ice. Time will tell if some of their prospects turn into difference-makers or if Briere finds it necessary to get creative for addressing the center position.
But the GM sounded intrigued by his team’s outlook up front. Just on the wing, the Flyers have Martone, Foerster, Matvei Michkov, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump and Nikita Grebenkin all under the age of 25.
“You look at the development of Barkey and Bump lately — being honest, we didn’t think they’d give us as much as they’ve given us lately, so that’s encouraging,” Briere said. “Martone in the future. Tyson Foerster we’ve barely seen this year, another big piece of the future, on top of the guys that are already playing. There’s no doubt that our group of forwards is an exciting one.
“We’ll tinker and try to fill out all positions. Almost all the teams in the NHL, everybody has holes somewhere that they’d like to improve. We know what ours are and we’ll try to tinker with that along the way.”
Last summer, the Chicago Blackhawks announced their “Blackhawks Hall of Fame”, a new way of honoring the great people who have come through the organization as players or builders. The first class of inductees was announced as all players whose jerseys have already been retired, plus two players voted on by fans and media.
The vote was conducted to elect a modern alumnus and a heritage alumnus. Duncan Keith and Steve Larmer were selected out of their respective groups. The public ceremony to celebrate all of these players will take place ahead of Chicago’s game on April 11th vs the St. Louis Blues.
On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks organization made a special announcement regarding this new Hall of Fame. In addition to those that have already committed to inducting, Troy Murray will also be added.
Murray passed away in early March at the age of 63 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. The former player and broadcaster was synonymous with the organization and has been celebrated as the franchise icon he is. This news will take the celebration of his life to another level.
“Troy was a consummate professional, both through his exceptional play and in the way he represented the Blackhawks long after his playing days,” Blackhawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said. “Known by fans and among his fellow players as an elite, two-way forward, he played the game with toughness and pride, while his contributions off the ice as a Blackhawks broadcaster and ambassador have left a profound and lasting impact on the entire Blackhawks community. Troy’s courage, perseverance, and unwavering fight will be remembered and cherished forever.”
Wirtz’s comments reflect the respect that everyone in the Blackhawks organization had for Murray as a person, player, and broadcaster. A permanent recognition of Murray and all of their Hall of Fame members will be part of Centennial Hall inside Blackhawks Ice Center.
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These two teams are separated by one point in the standings, but the Penguins do have a game in hand on the Islanders. A regulation win for the Penguins moves them up to second place in the Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, a regulation win for the Islanders would put them three points clear of the Penguins.
The Islanders are coming off a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday, while the Penguins lost 6-3 against the Dallas Stars on the same day. The Islanders have won six of their last 10 games and are led by star goaltender Ilya Sorokin and star defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
Sorokin should easily win the Vezina Trophy this season, considering his numbers. He leads all NHL goaltenders in goals saved above expected with 32.5. He also has a .914 save percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average. Sorokin is always there to bail the Islanders out since they've given up the second-most high-danger chances of any team at 5v5 this year.
Schaefer should easily win the Calder Trophy this year, given how elite he already is. He's the type of player who changes the short-term and long-term view of a franchise and has been everything the Islanders have needed, and more. He has 22 goals and 56 points in 74 games and continues to see his minutes increase.
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy is deploying him in almost every situation, and Schaefer is passing each test beautifully. He's unbelievable.
Penguins fans should also be on high alert for Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. Horvat has 30 goals and 52 points in 60 games, while Barzal has 18 goals and 65 points in 73 games.
The Penguins' lineup might look a bit different since Sidney Crosby is a game-time decision. If he can go, he'll center the top line with at least one, if not both of Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
Avery Hayes also might return to the lineup after he was called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before Monday's morning skate.
Evgeni Malkin was ruled out for the game as he continues to rehab his lower-body injury.
Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins before Stuart Skinner starts on Tuesday. Not only is this the biggest Penguins game of the season to date, but it's their biggest game in two years.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes had a fantastic week, and he has now been rewarded for it in a big way.
Dobes has been announced as the NHL's First Star of the Week, and when looking at how well he played, it makes all the sense in the world.
Dobes had an excellent week for the Canadiens, and the truth is in his stats. In three games for the Canadiens during it, he had a 3-0-0 record, a 1.33 goals-against average, and a .962 save percentage. With numbers like these, there is no question that he stepped up big time for the Canadiens this past week, and at an incredibly important time of the season.
Dobes kicked off his week by stopping 41 out of 43 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 24. He then had 25 saves on 26 shots against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 26. Then, to end the week, he had 34 saves on 35 shots against the Hurricanes in his most recent start.
With this, there is no question that Dobes was the NHL's biggest star this past week. It will now be interesting to see if he can stay hot from here.
Jakub Dobes, Pavel Zacha and John Carlson named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 29. #NHLStats
Mike and Dan recap a week in which the Islanders made us mad, then happy, then both in the same day before celebrating the Rangers elimination with a new Ranger Piece Theatre.
The pendulum swung every way possible last week for the Islanders. An inexcusable loss to the lowly Blackhawks made the season look over. A gritty win over Dallas wasn’t perfect, but it was a relief. And a Saturday matinee that started in the pit of despair rose to euphoric heights, as the out-of-town scoreboard broke their way after a huge win over the Panthers. The week was nerve-wracking and encouraging at the same time, and it felt good to be an Islander, which can happen from time to time.
They’re going to need some more of that energy this week as, once again, the season hangs in the balance. Two sets of back-to-backs, all featuring Eastern Conference foes that are either chasing them or could stand in their way later. Monday’s game against the Penguins is the most massive, but the Sabres remain a threat, the Flyers have inserted themselves in the conversation again and the Hurricanes could be a playoff opponent for the millionth time in a row. There is no room for letdowns, mistakes or periods playing like assholes.
After all that, we find the time to sneak in a quick Ranger Piece Theater that examines the wearing off of some once-powerful nostalgia and how Rangers fans see their almost-great seasons and cult favorite players. It’s a good way to kick one final mound of dirt on their most recent miserable season.
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Nazem Kadri’s return to the Colorado Avalanche was so seamless, it feels like it happened forever ago, but really, it’s only been 24 days since Calgary dealt Naz back to his old club in exchange for Victor Olofsson, Max Curran, a 2028 2nd, and 2027 first. Just a few weeks later, Kadri will face his former teammates and coaches of the Calgary Flames tonight at Ball Arena.
Colorado suffered defeat at the hands of Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets, but were winners of four straight ahead of that contest. The Flames are at the bottom end of a Pacific Division that’s been described as “a pillow fight.”
Can the Avalanche assert its will, or does Calgary rise to the occasion?
Colorado Avalanche: 48-14-10
The Opponent: Calgary Flames (31-34-8)
Time: 6:30 p.m. MT
Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, ESPN+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
I don’t think the Avalanche need to trigger a rebuild after losing to Winnipeg, but the style of play, and the eventual outcome can yield some lessons.
It does appear that, although the hockey landscape has changed over the years, the best approach to beating the Avalanche (albeit the most boring) is to establish an early lead and hunker down/muddy up the neutral zone to limit clean entries and effective possession.
Couple that with stout goaltending, and you just might hang on and beat this Avalanche squad.
The strategy described above isn’t new, but this version of the Avalanche is likely the deepest it’s been since the 2022 team that broke through and captured ultimate glory.
There are subtle differences between the two teams, with the 2022 juggernaut having that same competitive advantage on the back-end with decent net-minding, and the 2026 Avalanche harbouring great net-minding but less of an overarching advantage on the back-end.
Let’s see if Calgary attempts to implement the strategy we saw from Winnipeg, but some teams are much better at executing this approach than others.
The downside to this approach? You risk getting down early and might have to abandon it altogether if things get out of hand.
The Flames did Naz a solid with likely plenty of suitors on the open market, and they landed him in Colorado. The mutual interest in having him move on stemmed from the lack of playoff potential in Calgary. Kadri is nearing the end of his career, and the Flames are in no position to fulfill Stanley Cup aspirations any time soon.
That doesn’t mean the Flames aren’t working toward something. They will have 5 picks in the top 3 rounds of this upcoming and next year’s NHL Draft. We know firsthand how that sort of capital can thrust a team into the limelight.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have made a roster move ahead of their Monday night contest against the New York Islanders.
The Penguins have announced that they have recalled forward Avery Hayes from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Hayes has played in his first 11 career NHL games this season with Pittsburgh, where he has recorded two goals and 12 penalty minutes. Now, he will be aiming to impress after getting this latest call-up to Pittsburgh's roster.
Down in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hayes has posted 22 goals, 13 assists, 35 points, 48 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating. This included him recording three goals and five points in his last two games alone for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
With this, there is no question that Hayes has earned this latest chance on Pittsburgh's roster. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact he can make with the NHL club from here.
Six of the last nine head-to-head meetings between the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights have featured six goals or fewer.
These Pacific Division foes consistently play lower-scoring games, and my Canucks vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks see that trend continuing.
Canucks vs Golden Knights prediction
Canucks vs Golden Knights best bet: Under 6.5 (-115)
Kevin Lankinen has played better of late. He's allowed three goals or fewer in five of his last seven starts, with the exceptions coming against Tampa Bay and Anaheim — two high-tier offenses.
Lankinen stopped 1.13 goals more than expected during that sample, showcasing the ability to hold the fort despite a hefty workload.
He should have an easier time slowing down a Vegas Golden Knights squad that has scored just 12 goals over its last seven games and is lacking confidence offensively.
On the other side, the Golden Knights rank third in shot suppression and sixth in penalty kill percentage. That should help them keep the puck out.
Canucks vs Golden Knights same-game parlay
Marcus Pettersson has averaged 2.2 blocks and cleared this line in 61% of his away games against Top-16 shot generation teams, including six of the past seven.
Jake DeBrusk has generated 19 shots on target over his last seven games. He lives around the net and has a higher on-target rate due to his proximity to the paint, meaning he doesn’t need much volume to go Over his total. That’s important as Vegas is buttoned up defensively.
Canucks vs Golden Knights SGP
Under 6.5
Marcus Pettersson Over 1.5 blocked shots
Jake DeBrusk Over 1.5 shots
Canucks vs Golden Knights odds
Moneyline: Canucks +245 | Golden Knights -310
Puck Line: Canucks +1.5 (+105) | Golden Knights -1.5 (-125)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5
Canucks vs Golden Knights trend
The Golden Knights have cashed the Under in 11 of their last 15 games for +6.65 units and a 40% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Canucks vs Golden Knights
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV
Date
Monday, March 30, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet Pacific, SCRIPPS
Canucks 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.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche open a pivotal final stretch Monday night against the Calgary Flames, with playoff positioning tightening and little margin for error.
The Avalanche enter a critical stretch of their season, beginning their final 10 games with this matchup against Calgary. Every point carries added weight—and this three-game season series could prove pivotal. The teams will meet again in Denver on April 9 before closing out their regular-season meetings in Calgary on April 14.
Colorado comes into the contest looking to rebound from a 4–2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena on Saturday.
Despite the defeat, there were notable moments. Cale Makar reached a major milestone, recording his 500th career NHL point with an assist—further cementing his place among the league’s elite defensemen.
Goals from Brock Nelson and Parker Kelly kept the Avalanche within reach, but Winnipeg pulled away late with a third-period surge, including an empty-netter from Kyle Connor.
Nazem Kadri following his first game back with the Avalanche.
Star Power Driving Colorado
Even in the loss, Colorado’s offensive firepower remains undeniable—largely driven by Nathan MacKinnon. The superstar center continues to lead the NHL in goals with 48 while sitting near the top of the league in both points and assists. Alongside him, Makar’s production from the blue line remains among the best in hockey, and Martin Necas has emerged as another key contributor, ranking among the league’s top scorers.
Victor Olofsson may bring some more steam with the Flames. Credit: Sergei Belski
It will mark Nazem Kadri’s first game against Calgary since being traded on March 6. On the other side, Victor Olofsson will face Colorado for the first time since being dealt to Calgary as part of that same trade, giving both teams a firsthand look at familiar faces in new roles.
Historically, the Avalanche have held the edge in this matchup, posting a 66-54-8-6 record over 134 regular-season meetings. The two teams have only met once in the playoffs, when Colorado defeated Calgary in five games during the 2019 Western Conference First Round.
Flames Finding Their Offense
The Flames, meanwhile, enter Monday’s game riding momentum after a dominant 7–3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Calgary erupted offensively, scoring seven goals from seven different players in a balanced attack. Matt Coronato and Joel Farabee helped set the tone early, while contributions continued throughout the lineup, including tallies from Morgan Frost and Ryan Strome.
Calgary’s offense has been more by committee this season. Mikael Backlund leads the team in points and assists, while Frost paces the club in goals. Coronato has also been a steady presence, ranking near the top of the roster in multiple offensive categories.
Special Teams Could Be The Difference
Special teams could end up swinging this game. Colorado’s power play has found a real rhythm lately, clicking at 26.7 percent since early March—one of the hottest stretches in the league. But what’s been even more impressive is their work on the penalty kill, shutting things down at a 95 percent success rate. It’s the kind of efficiency that not only keeps opponents off the board, but can completely shift momentum when the game tightens up.
For Colorado, it usually starts with MacKinnon, who’s made a habit of stepping up against Calgary over the years. But it’s not just him—Makar and Necas have also found ways to make an impact in this matchup, giving the Avalanche multiple threats who can tilt the game offensively.
Necas has been particularly explosive since the Olympic break, tallying 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 17 games.
The Avalanche are fighting to lock in momentum and sharpen their game for the postseason, while the Flames are pushing to close their season with purpose and pride. Layer in the emotion of familiar faces meeting again, and this becomes more than just another game—it’s a high-stakes clash with edge, intensity, and something to prove on both sides.
