The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have assigned forward Avery Hayes to 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 two goals, 12 penalty minutes, and 13 hits. His two goals came in his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 5.
Now, after being re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hayes will be looking to make a big impact. The 23-year-old forward has played in 36 games this season with the AHL club, where he has 19 goals, 11 assists, 30 points, and 46 penalty minutes. He also has 10 goals and 13 points in his last 11 AHL games.
It will now be interesting to see how Hayes performs after being sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's roster from here.
The Florida Panthers have arrived in Alberta and are set to continue their final western road trip of the season with a quick back-to-back set.
Before heading to Calgary, the Panthers will make a stop in a familiar barn on Thursday night when they face the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.
Those good memories will likely be welcomed by the Cats.
It’s been a tough season for the Panthers, both overall and recently, with Florida having lost each of the first two games on their four-game trip by a combined score of 11-4.
Standings-wise, the focus has shifted from looking up at the playoff race to looking down toward the lottery battle.
Entering play Thursday, there are six teams with fewer points than Florida’s 69, and one (Nashville) with the same amount. There are also four teams just ahead of the Panthers who are within two points of Florida.
This is all significant because the Panthers 2026 first-round pick, which they initially traded last March to Chicago in the Seth Jones deal, is top-10 protected and will stay with Florida if they finish in among the league’s 10 worst teams.
That may be what we’re keeping tabs on in South Florida, but up in Edmonton they’re still very much alive in their quest to finally get over the hump and win a Stanley Cup after coming up just short in each of the past two years.
The Oilers are currently in second place in the Pacific Division, sandwiched between the first-place Anaheim Ducks, who hold a one-point edge over Edmonton, and the always-dangerous Vegas Golden Knights, sitting one point back in third.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s tangle with the Oilers:
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Mackie Samoskevich
A.J. Greer – Tomas Nosek – Cole Reinhardt
Nolan Foote – Luke Kunin – Vinnie Hinostroza
Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Dmitry Kulikov – Mike Benning
Extras: Jesper Boqvist, Uvis Balinskis, Evan Rodrigues, Donovan Sebrango Sam Reinhart (not on trip)
Photo caption: Jun 14, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Opening face-off between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers during the first period in game five of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
The Chicago Blackhawks put Artyom Levshunov on a development plan in the handful of games leading up to the Olympic Break.
That included sitting him out of NHL games without sending him down to the AHL. This allowed him to work with the coaching staff and practice with his NHL teammates without subjecting him to discouraging performances.
They also didn’t bruise his confidence, which can happen to a highly touted prospect if they are back and forth between the NHL and AHL. It was a somewhat risky move, but the early returns have been good for the player and the team.
Since coming back from break, Levshunov has been much better. Between his being scratched and the Olympics, he had close to a month without game action.
Although +/- is an extremely flawed metric in today’s world, being -5 in his last game played was not a good sign. He is still a minus in almost every game since returning, but his overall play has improved.
There is still work to be done with his game, both offensively and defensively. He has three assists in the 10 games since returning, and one waved-off goal.
One of the assists was a sensational pass to spring Connor Bedard into the offensive zone on Monday night against the Minnesota Wild. After receiving the puck from Levshunov, Bedard made a play to hit Frank Nazar for a game-tying goal that forced overtime.
Levshunov is becoming one of the most relied-upon players. Against the Wild, he led the Blackhawks with 26:29 of ice time. Only Quinn Hughes played more in the game for either side.
Levshunov plays big minutes at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill. His ability to be a factor in every facet of the game makes him worth being patient with when it isn’t going as well.
After the OTL to the Wild, Jeff Blashill said that the young defenseman still needs some decision-making growth, but overall, there was a lot of good.
"Obviously a great play on the game-tying goal to get it up to [Bedard]," Blashill said. "He is making progress on things like deception with the puck. He defended hard, out there a lot against Kaprizov and Boldy. He defended really hard and did a good job with it."
Young defensemen very rarely make it to the NHL and dominate right away. It is the position that takes the most time to develop. For Levshunov, there have been significant flashes of brilliance to go with his warts.
The issues have all been coachable, and he is willing to get better every day instead of complaining about tough coaching. The organization clearly has a lot of faith in his potential, and his winning attitude makes it easier.
The nice thing for the Blackhawks is that they have other great young defensemen developing alongside Levshunov. Every player who dressed on defense against the Wild was 24 or younger.
Jeff Blashill attributed that decision to getting Ethan Del Mastro some consecutive games, as he believes it was earned by his play in Rockford.
"It's something that we talked about at the trade deadline," Blashill said on that decision to dress a younger blue line. "We decided to go that route. I thought Kaiser was excellent; the group had moments of good and moments of not good enough. We just have to continue to throw them in the fire and watch them grow."
The Blackhawks have Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Anton Frondell, amongst other really good forwards who can make plays, but building from the net out has been important to Kyle Davidson and his staff.
As these young defenseman start to get even better in the coming years, the team will be extremely difficult to play against. A guy like Artyom Levshunov is expected to be one of the leaders in that area.
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 Buffalo Sabres have been the NHL's biggest surprise this season. After a shaky start to the campaign, the Sabres now have a 42-20-6 record and are at the top of the Atlantic Division standings. With this, they should make the playoffs for the first time since 2011 this year.
A former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender has been one of the reasons for the Sabres' dramatic turnaround, as Alex Lyon is having a great season for Buffalo.
In 32 games this season with the Sabres, Lyon has a 19-8-3 record, a .913 save percentage, a 2.62 goals-against average, and two shutouts. With numbers like these, Lyon has been thriving with the Sabres and has undoubtedly made a positive impact with the Atlantic Division club.
Lyon is also having this kind of season with a bargain $1.5 million cap hit. With this, he is providing the Sabres with fantastic value. The former Flyers goalie is also signed until the end of next season, which is great news for Buffalo.
Lyon spent the first four seasons of his NHL career with the Flyers. In 22 games with Philadelphia over that span, he had a 6-7-2 record, a .893 save percentage, and a 3.21 goals-against average.
The Ottawa Senators have been one of the league’s best goal suppression teams over the past two months, while the New York Islanders sit third in goals against this season.
Add in high stakes between two teams fighting for a playoff spot, and my Islanders vs. Senators predictions expect a low-scoring matchup.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Thursday, March 19.
Islanders vs Senators prediction
Islanders vs Senators best bet: Under 5.5 (+115)
The Ottawa Senators are an exceptional defensive team, ranking Top 3 in limiting shots, scoring chances, and expected goals at 5-on-5.
Their stout play has led to great results of late, with only the powerhouse Dallas Stars having conceded fewer goals over the last two months.
Ottawa is pairing improved goaltending with strong defensive play, setting them up to slow down the league’s 22nd-ranked offense.
Scoring will also be a challenge against the New York Islanders, who rank third in goals against and will trot out Vezina candidate Ilya Sorokin.
Islanders vs Senators same-game parlay
Thomas Chabot has blocked 11 shots over the past four games, clearing his 1.5 line in three of them. This is par for the course without Jake Sanderson in the lineup.
Dating back to last season, Chabot recorded multiple blocks in eight of the last 11 games Sanderson missed — and all three Unders were against non-playoff teams.
Shane Pinto always ups his volume against the Islanders. He's averaging 3.1 shots through six head-to-head meetings and has gone Over 2.5 shots in all four on home soil.
The New York Islanders have hit the game total Under in 16 of their last 25 away games (+8.45 Units / 30% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Senators.
How to watch Islanders vs Senators
Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Date
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5
Islanders vs Senators latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Since getting drafted ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Zayne Parekh has carried significant expectations as a cornerstone of the Calgary Flames’ rebuild. His offensive pedigree made him one of the most intriguing defense prospects in recent years, but his first professional season has exposed the gap between junior dominance and NHL readiness.
Parekh has his moments.
Junior Dominance Created High Expectations
Parekh’s numbers in the OHL made the hype understandable. He recorded back-to-back 33-goal seasons with the Saginaw Spirit, including a 107-point campaign in 2024–25. That level of production from a defenseman suggested elite offensive upside, and many believed he was prepared to make the jump to professional hockey immediately.
However, development circumstances complicated that transition. Due to age restrictions preventing him from playing in the AHL, Parekh was placed directly on the Flames’ roster for the 2025–26 season. While this decision generated excitement, it has not yielded great results.
Difficult Transition
Parekh has struggled to establish himself at the NHL level. Early in the season, he saw limited ice time and was frequently a healthy scratch. Despite his offensive strengths, he received minimal power-play usage—an area where he could have potentially made an impact. His defensive game, meanwhile, has proven to be a significant weakness, particularly against the speed and physicality of NHL competition.
At 6-foot, 179 pounds, Parekh has also had difficulty handling the league’s physical demands. A notable hit sidelined him for over two months, further disrupting his development. While he showed flashes of his potential during the World Junior Championship—recording 13 points in seven games—those performances have not translated to the NHL. Since returning, he has struggled to secure consistent playing time and has produced minimal offense.
Through 22 games this season, Parekh has recorded just two assists, underscoring the challenges he’s faced adjusting to the professional level. While his offensive instincts remain promising, his all-around game is not yet refined enough to succeed in the NHL.
Back to the AHL
If sent down to the Wranglers, Parekh will have the opportunity to play regular minutes in a structured environment better suited for growth. This should allow him to address defensive shortcomings while continuing to build confidence offensively.
It’s important to note that defensemen often require more time to develop, and Parekh is no exception. While his rookie season has been underwhelming, it is far from definitive. The Flames’ handling of his development moving forward will be critical, as both the organization and Parekh himself look to reset and refocus for the future.
In a ridiculous back-and-forth affair against the first-place Carolina Hurricanes, the Penguins ultimately fell 6-5 in overtime in Sidney Crosby's return, moving just one point ahead of Long Island.
That gives the Islanders the opportunity to leapfrog Pittsburgh on Thursday night when they battle the Ottawa Senators, who lost 5-1 Wednesday night to the Washington Capitals in Cole Hutson's NHL debut.
After Thursday, the Islanders will have played one more game than Pittsburgh, which doesn't play again until Saturday night, when they host the Winnipeg Jets.
The Vancouver Canucks (21-38-8) welcome another Eastern Conference team to Rogers Arena on Thursday as the Tampa Bay Lightning (41-21-4) visit for the only time this season. Tampa Bay is firmly in a playoff spot, but has struggled of late with a 3-7-1 record over its last 10. As for Vancouver, the team is starting to find some consistency as they enter Thursday night with two wins in their last three games.
Off the ice, Thursday is a big night on the calendar as it is the annual Canucks For Kids Fund Telethon. Fans can donate both at the game and online. The Canucks are also offering a promotion in which every donation over $100 comes with a photo featuring Filip Hronek, Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser.
Shifting focus back to the ice, Vancouver has the chance to pick up back-to-back wins for the first time since December. As for back-to-back home wins, that hasn't happened for the Canucks all season. Ultimately, with a strong performance, Thursday could become a special night for the fans at Rogers Arena
Players To Watch:
Liam Öhgren:
Liam Öhgren has found a home as a key member of the BRÖ line. The 22-year-old has two assists in his last three games and has at least one shot on goal in six straight. Whether it is getting in on the forecheck or finding teammates in open space, Öhgren is showing he can be an impactful player in the top six.
Nikita Kucherov:
Nikita Kucherov remains one of the best players in the NHL. He is coming off a five-point night on Tuesday and is up to 111 points in 62 games. A potential Hart Trophy finalist this year, Kucherov will most likely feature on the scoresheet on Thursday night.
Dec 8, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (86) stick checks Vancouver Canucks forward Max Sasson (63) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (21–38–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–25–40
Filip Hronek: 7–31–38
Brock Boeser: 16–19–35
Jake DeBrusk: 14–18–32
Linus Karlsson: 12-17-29
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 8–21–5
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–6–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Tampa Bay Lightning (41-21-4)
Points:
Nikita Kucherov: 37-74-111
Jake Guentzel: 29-41-70
Brandon Hagel: 31-32-63
Darren Raddysh: 17-41-58
Brayden Point: 16-28-44
Goaltenders:
Andrei Vasilevskiy: 31-12-3
Jonas Johansson: 10-9-1
Brandon Halverson: 0-0-0
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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.
After rising to the challenge against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, the Montreal Canadiens will play another do-or-die game on Thursday night, this time on the road against the Detroit Red Wings. As things stand, the Wings have the second and last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 82 points.
The Bruins have the same number of points and games played, but hold the first tiebreaker with 27 regulation wins to Detroit’s 26. The hosts put an end to a three-game losing streak when they beat the Calgary Flames 5-2 on Monday. Todd McLellan’s men are 4-2-2 in their last 10 games, while the Canadiens are now 5-3-2.
Neither coach has yet confirmed who will start in net, and the Canadiens will not hold a morning skate. Martin St-Louis will speak to the media at 11:45, when we should find out. Jakub Dobes was great in the last game, and it will be interesting to see if that earned him another tour of duty. The Czech netminder has only played one game against the Wings so far, which he won. He has a 1.00 GAA and a .968 save percentage. Meanwhile, Jacob Fowler has also played one game against Detroit, but he lost it and has a 3.18 GAA with a .870 SV%. As for Samuel Montembeault, who still seems to be on the sidelines, he has a 4-1-2 record, a 2.67 GAA, and a .914 SV%.
At the other end of the ice, John Gibson and Cam Talbot both have winning records against the visitors. The former has seen the lion’s share of the work this season and was in the net on Monday for the Wings’ win over the Flames. He’s 8-3-1 against the Habs with a 2.40 GAA and a .922 SV%. As for the latter, he’s 9-4-1 with a 1.60 GAA and a .939 SV%. Needless to say, whoever is in net, it won’t be an easy game for the Canadiens.
After the win over Boston and with Kirby Dach sidelined, it would be surprising to see Martin St-Louis make any changes. Brendan Gallagher is the Canadiens’ top point producer against the Wings with 34 points in 39 games, including two points in as many games this season. Captain Nick Suzuki comes in second place with 18 points in just 21 games, while Phillip Danault also has 18 points in 27 games. Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky are currently running four-game point streaks, while Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson are both on three-game point streaks.
James Van Riemsdyk leads the Wings in points against the Habs with 35 points in 50 games, followed by Patrick Kane, who has 25 points in just 29 games, and captain Dylan Larkin, who also has 25 points, but in 36 games. Unfortunately for the Wings, however, Larking is currently sidelined and won’t be ready to return for at least another week. It’s worth mentioning that Alex DeBrincat has 22 points in just 21 games, and the diminutive winger is currently on a four-game point streak.
Each team has won one of the two duels they’ve played so far this year, and they’ve split the last 10 games evenly, winning five each. The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on FDSNDET, TSN2, and RDS. TJ Luxmore and Kelly Sutherland are set to officiate, while Tyson Baker and CJ Murray will be the linemen.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 18: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a save against Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at Lenovo Center on March 18, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
A long five game road trip that began in Raleigh, North Carolina eight days prior and featured stops in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Denver came to a close last night right back where is started with a familiar result that has become all too routine for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season.
Trailing on four different occasions last night against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Penguins battled back each time and even pulled ahead briefly in the third period before ultimately falling in overtime by a score of 6-5 at the Lenovo Center. Sidney Crosby returned to the lineup for the first time since the Olympics and scored the Penguins opener, followed up by a pair of goals from Erik Karlsson, along with additional tallies by Bryan Rust and Ben Kindel. Ultimately the five goals were not enough as the Hurricanes posted six to claim the overtime victory and further cement their Metro division lead over the Penguins and Islanders. [Pensburgh]
Even with the loss, the Penguins will still be feeling good, going 2-1-2 on the trip despite missing key players for the majority of this stretch. They now get consecutive days off for the first time post-Olympic break before returning to action this weekend with a back-to-back set against the Winnipeg Jets and yet another date with the Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon.
Pens Points…
Caught in their worst losing stretch of the season heading into Sunday night, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were desperate for a victory and thanks to Rutger McGroarty, the Baby Penguins snapped the losing skid with a 3-1 victory over Lehigh Valley and remain comfortably in a playoff bye position. [Pensburgh]
Tommy Novak has been a jack of all trades for the Penguins this season, moving up and down the lineup to fill in wherever he is needed. What allows him to do that is how malleable his game can be and when he’s playing in a top six role, his skill with the puck really stands out on the ice. [PPG]
NHL News and Notes…
Jack Hughes has spoken openly about his frustration towards the Hockey Hall of Fame for staking ownership to his gold medal winning puck from the Olympics. Despite his pleas to get it for himself, the Hockey Hall of Fame has no plans on surrendering the puck back to Hughes anytime soon. [ESPN]
Russis or No Russia? That is the biggest question surrounding the 2028 World Cup of Hockey which was a central focus of the ongoing GM meetings this week. No formal decision on Russian participation is imminent, but should the war in Ukraine still be ongoing, it’s unlikely Russia will be included. [Sportsnet]
If the jersey fits, you must acqu—, erm, uh, sign here. | Getty Images
Cole Eiserman has decided to make the leap, signing an NHL entry level contract with the Islanders rather than sticking around NCAA Boston University to enjoy the finer perks of college life. The USNTDP product and 2024 first-rounder finished his sophomore year at BU with continued demonstration of his NHL-plus-caliber shot and continued speculation about if and when the rest of his game will reach the level needed to unleash that shot in the orange and blue.
As a first step, he’ll try that in the orange and blue of the AHL (still as of now) Bridgeport Islanders. He can join them ASAP, whereas fellow ELC signer Kashawn Aitcheson will have to wait until his OHL Barrie season is over.
Returning back to the NCAA though, it sounds like Danny Nelson will stick with Notre Dame for his senior season to potentially play two brothers, accomplishing in South Bend what the Hughes could not accomplish in Newark.
Oh, but that’s all Future (maybe) Islanders! We are about Present Islanders. They are in Ottawa (or Kanata, whatever) tonight to face the Senators, who are still pushing for their playoff lives but suffered a damaging loss to the Capitals in a North American Capital Derby last night. I’m not entirely sure of this, but it definitely looks like had the Senators received halfway competent goaltending through the first three quarters of the season, they’d be in a more secure position than they are now.
Matthew Schaefer made hundreds of friends and family (and his ol’ grandma) proud in his return to Toronto, while Brayden Schenn marvels at how good the kid is. [NHL | Post]
Cal Ritchie also put on a show in his homecoming, though. [LHH | Newsday]
Schaefer is dominating at 18, while Eiserman is hoping to inch his way into the pros at 19. [NHL | Isles]
It’s eight games in 13 nights, but the Islanders are in the right frame of mind to tackle it. [Newsday]
The Skinny from the win in Toronto: “The Isles are 15 games over NHL- .500 for the first time since the end of 2021.” (Thank you, 10-0 OT record.) [Isles]
Periodic reminder that planning on having a Schaefer land in your laps is not, actually, much of a plan. [Athletic]
Approached about his Iron Man mask after three assists, Mathew Barzal talked about the importance of each game. [Isles]
The narrative around Adin Hill has shifted dramatically—and not without reason.
Not long ago, the Vegas Golden Knights netminder was a focal point of fan frustration, his inconsistent play fueling calls for a change in goal. But over the past five games, Hill has delivered a composed and technically sound stretch that has stabilized Vegas in a meaningful way. His recent shutout performance against the Chicago Blackhawks underscored a growing sense of confidence in his game—one that had been notably absent earlier in the season.
This resurgence is not occurring in isolation. Vegas has made subtle but important adjustments to its defensive structure, prioritizing responsibility and puck management in its own zone. The additions of players like Cole Smith and Nic Dowd have helped reinforce a more disciplined, stay-at-home presence. As a result, high-danger scoring chances have been limited, sightlines have improved, and Hill has been able to play with greater composure rather than reacting to breakdowns.
Hill looks more settled, more controlled, and far less exposed.
Ironically, as the defensive side has tightened, the Golden Knights’ offensive consistency has wavered. Earlier in the season, Vegas relied on its ability to outscore mistakes. Now, despite flashes—such as decisive wins over the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago—the attack has lacked the same reliability on a night-to-night basis. It has created a role reversal of sorts: where goaltending once lagged behind, it is now helping to mask offensive inefficiencies.
Hill’s recent form matters because it rebalances the identity of this team.
Why This Stretch Matters
For much of the season, instability in net—whether due to injury or underperformance—undermined an otherwise capable roster. Now, with Hill providing dependable minutes, the Golden Knights have a foundation they can trust. While his season-long numbers (a 2.95 goals-against average and .875 save percentage) remain underwhelming on paper, they no longer fully reflect his current trajectory.
It’s also worth remembering that Hill has delivered in high-leverage moments before. During Vegas’s championship run in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, he stepped in following an injury to Laurent Brossoit and provided stability at a critical juncture. With offensive leaders like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone driving play, Hill’s timely saves helped tilt momentum and ultimately contributed to the franchise’s first title.
That version of Hill—the one capable of elevating his play when it matters most—appears to be re-emerging.
If Vegas can pair this level of goaltending with a more consistent offensive attack, the implications are significant. The Golden Knights may not yet be a fully formed contender, but with improved health and a clearer defensive identity, they are trending toward becoming a far more complete team.
And if Hill continues on this path, the conversation around him won’t just change—it already has.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Noah Cates scored on a deflection off goalie Lukas Dostal's skate at 2:17 of overtime and — after a review for offsides on the play — the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Pacific Division-leading Anaheim forced overtime on Leo Carlsson's goal with 1:54 left in regulation.
Dan Vladar made 34 saves to help Philadelphia rebound from a 2-1 shootout loss to Columbus at home Saturday night. The Flyers are six points behind Boston and Detroit for the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots.
Luke Glendening had his first goal of the season and Owen Tippett also scored for Philadelphia. Trevor Zegras was held off the scoresheet in his first game in Anaheim since his offseason trade. He scored twice in Philadelphia’s 5-2 home victory over the Ducks on Jan. 6.
Cutter Gauthier also scored for Anaheim, and Dostal stopped 24 shots. The Ducks beat Montreal 4-3 on Sunday night to finish 2-2 on a Canadian swing.
Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas served the third game of a five-game suspension for kneeing Auston Matthews in a loss at Toronto on March 12. Matthews tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season.
Defenseman John Carlson played his second straight game for the Ducks after a trade-deadline deal with Washington. His Anaheim debut was delayed by a lower-body injury.
Glendening opened the scoring at 2:50 of the first period, his first goal in 57 games this season with New Jersey and Philadelphia. Tippett made it 2-0 at 7:53 of second with his 23rd of the season. Gauthier cut it to 2-1 on a power play with 38 seconds left in second with his 35th goal of the season.
Philadelphia's Nick Seeler fought Jansen Harkins in the third period.
The Calgary Flames returned home on Wednesday night and picked up a hard-earned 2-1 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues to kick off their homestand on the right note.
It didn’t take long for the Flames to get going. Just 2:34 into the first, Connor Zary drove the net and finished off a slick feed from Ryan Strome, lifting it past Joel Hofer to open the scoring. That makes goals in back-to-back games for Zary, who continues to be a noticeable presence.
From there, it turned into a night of what could have been.
The Flames thought they had doubled their lead midway through the period when Martin Pospisil buried a one-timer after a turnover at the blue line, but the Blues challenged for offside and won, wiping it off the board.
Later in the period, it looked like Calgary had finally restored that two-goal cushion. Zary knocked down a bouncing puck and fed Yegor Sharangovich, who snapped it home cleanly. Once again, though, a challenge from St. Louis overturned it, this time due to a high stick on the initial touch.
Despite carrying the 1-0 lead into the second, the game quickly evened out. At 3:47, the Blues capitalized on a partial odd-man rush, with Jimmy Snuggerud setting up Dylan Holloway, who found a way to beat Devin Cooley to tie it 1-1.
Calgary thought they had an answer.
Mikael Backlund led the rush and spotted Joel Farabee alone across the line, threading a perfect pass for what looked like the go-ahead goal. But for the third time on the night, the Blues challenged and for the third time, it was called back after being ruled offside.
The third period came and went without a goal, sending things to overtime.
In the extra frame, Zary drew a high-sticking penalty to give the Flames a golden chance on the power play, but they couldn’t convert, pushing the game to a shootout.
That’s where the Flames finally got their reward.
Farabee converted on his attempt, and then Matvei Gridin stepped in and snapped a confident shot top corner to seal it, giving Calgary the 2-1 win.
Three disallowed goals could’ve derailed the night, but the Flames stuck with it. They kept their pace, stayed engaged, and eventually found a way to get the extra point.
2. Zary driving the play
Another strong showing from Zary. He was involved early, created chances, and even drew a key penalty in overtime.
3. Youth stepping up
Gridin showed confidence and swagger in the shootout, and Zayne Parekh was active throughout, calling for pucks, jumping into plays, and looking comfortable running the power play. Signs the young group is gaining trust.
It seems that on a nightly basis, the no-quit attitude of the Pittsburgh Penguins is on full display, even when they're pretty much down and out of a hockey game.
Well, that was certainly the case on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Penguins - with captain Sidney Crosby in their lineup for the first time since before the Olympic break - had absolutely nothing in the first two periods of this game. They were turning pucks over left and right, getting completely caved in by Carolina's forecheck, and leaving goaltender Stuart Skinner out to dry.
By all measures, it was nothing short of a miracle that the Penguins were only down by a goal - a 2-1 score - heading into the third period. Skinner was responsible for that, as he was brilliant when he had to be in this game to give his team a chance.
And even if the Penguins ended up on the wrong side of an overtime result yet again, the third period was one for the ages - and just another example of the character present in this group of players.
Pittsburgh lost to Carolina, 6-5, on an overtime goal by defenseman Sean Walker with just 29 seconds remaining in the extra frame. However, this was only after a third period that saw the Penguins finally come to life, as they registered five goals and kept finding ways to bounce back, even when Carolina struck.
To say things started out messy and awful for the Penguins is an understatement. After coming out of the gate pretty strong, Pittsburgh was rewarded with a power play opportunity approaching the midway point of the first, and almost right away, Carolina forward Jordan Martinook took it back the other way and scored a shorthanded goal to give the Canes a 1-0 lead.
The Penguins were awful the rest of the period, and the second was no different. Crosby did score halfway through the second to even the score at 1-1, but Carolina kept coming, and they got it back seven minutes later when Jackson Blake put one home to restore a one-goal lead for the Hurricanes.
Then, at the end of the second, Crosby and Andrei Svechnikov were going at it, and Svechnikov got the extra penalty for holding the stick. Jordan Staal took a tripping penalty less than 30 seconds into the third, and the Penguins found themselves on a five-on-three opportunity for a minute and a half.
And that's when the Penguins' best player since at least the Olympic break really took over. Erik Karlsson scored the equalizer with a slapshot bomb from the point for his second point of the game, but Carolina's Taylor Hall got the lead back for the Canes less than three minutes later to make it 3-2.
That was only the beginning of the crazy, too. Less than four minutes later, Bryan Rust found himself on a breakaway opportunity, and he buried it to knot things up yet again. But, again, Logan Stankoven scored on the power play with seven minutes to go in regulation to put Carolina up, 4-3.
But Karlsson struck again. Less than two minutes after the Stankoven goal, Karlsson made a fantastic keep with his foot at the offensive blue line, and the puck found its way back to his stick off a feed from defense partner Parker Wotherspoon. Karlsson undressed Sebastian Aho before finding his way to the slot, where he buried a scorching wrister to tie the game at 4-4.
Then, just 23 seconds later, Anthony Mantha found rookie Ben Kindel breaking into the offensive zone, and with Shayne Gostisbehere on his heels, he was able to beat Frederik Andersen and give the Penguins their first lead of the game at 5-4 with 4:51 remaining in regulation.
It was definitely setting up to be a feel-good win for the Penguins, who came back resoundingly after starting the game with one of their worst efforts of the season. Skinner made another unbelievable save Superman-style shortly after to preserve the one-goal lead for the Penguins.
Unfortunately, the craziness continued, but this time, not to the Penguins’ benefit. With under three minutes to go in regulation, K’Andre Miller found the back of the net in the form of a deflection to tie it up at 5-5 and force overtime, where both teams controlled at various points but the Canes got the last laugh with the Walker goal.
Of course, getting two points at this time of year is paramount, especially with the Columbus Blue Jackets just three points behind and out of the playoffs and the New York Islanders just one point back. However, it’s tough to be disappointed in the result, especially in a game where the Penguins probably had no business earning any points.
Win, lose, it doesn’t matter - these Penguins fight to the death, and they aren’t going away.
Here are just a few quick thoughts and takeaways from this entertaining slugfest of a game:
_ I don’t know what else to say about Karlsson right now.
This guy is fourth in the NHL in points (17 points in 11 games) since the Olympic break behind only Nikita Kucherov, Martin Necas, and Connor McDavid. Yes, you read that right.
And if you’re watching Karlsson, the points don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what he’s meant to the Penguins this season and down the stretch run. He’s making defensive plays. He’s been outstanding on the penalty kill. He’s unchained and allowing himself to play to his ability to create offense and use his skating and vision to his advantage.
Karlsson has been magnificent, and I do not think the Penguins are a playoff-bound team without him this season. He’s been the best version of himself since 2017 with the Ottawa Senators, and he has been this team’s MVP this season.
Put your hand up if you're grateful for Erik Karlsson 🖐️
Most Points Since Olympic Break: Nikita Kucherov - 20 Martin Necas - 19 Connor McDavid - 19 Erik Karlsson - 17
_ As for the MVP of this game? Karlsson has a case. But I’ve got to give this to Skinner.
It’s not often that you say a goaltender was outstanding when they surrender six goals. But he was. In fact, the Hurricanes would have put up double digits had he not been spectacular.
Carolina scored six times because the Penguins’ defense was that atrocious in front of Skinner. Not because of Skinner. He was great in this game, and he continues to be serviceable for the Penguins.
_ Crosby didn’t look the least bit rusty in this game. There were a few instances of misplays defensively - which, to be honest, has been an issue for his entire line this season - but he, by and large, looked 100 percent in this one.
The Penguins were actually playing well without Crosby, but having him back in the lineup sure was noticeable. It allowed 26-goal Mantha to slide back down to the third line, and he, Kindel, and Justin Brazeau clicked again immediately.
The depth of this lineup is much more evident with its best player back, and it certainly makes the Penguins a four-line matchup nightmare for most teams.
_ Kris Letang’s play as of late has been concerning. He simply cannot do very much right at the moment, and it is hurting the Penguins.
He was only credited with one giveaway against the Hurricanes, but it went beyond that. He was losing puck battles all night. His passes were errant. His decision-making was slow, and a processing delay was evident. It’s been like this for most of the season, aside from a stretch with left-side blueliner Brett Kulak, who was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers but sent to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Sam Girard and a second-round pick later on.
Honestly, yes, the trade made sense. Girard is younger, has more offensive upside, and the Penguins recouped that second-rounder out of it, too. But Kulak was getting the best out of Letang we’ve seen this season, and they’re a pairing that just clicked.
I think that trade is the only thing that may come close to a bit of a blip on Kyle Dubas’s radar this season.
Mar 18, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) skates with the puck past Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
_ Well, the Penguins ended their hardest road trip of the entire 2025-26 season with six out of 10 points.
Not bad at all.
But things don’t get any easier for the rest of the month. The Penguins will take on the climbing Winnipeg Jets, then the Hurricanes again, and then the Avalanche again before playing the Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars, Islanders, and Detroit Red Wings to close out March.
The Islanders are just one point back of the Penguins, and the Jackets are three points behind. They both play Thursday, and the Penguins don’t. This race is tight. Very tight. But, for Penguins’ fans, I’m sure it’s nice to care about the outcomes of each of these games at this time of year again.
This team has something special about it, and I do believe they can make a run if they can get to the dance. But, alas, they still have to get there first, and - even if they have the tiebreakers and are in the advantageous position right now - it’s still going to be an adrenaline-rushed race to the finish line.
