The Senators signed a pair of their drafted NCAA prospects on Monday, bringing both into the organization after their school's hockey seasons recently came to a close.
Penn State goaltender Kevin Reidler has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Sens. The 6-foot-6, 206-pound netminder will report to the Belleville Senators on an amateur tryout for the rest of this season.
Reidler went 11-7-0 for the Nittany Lions this season, posting a 3.31 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. The big Swede was originally selected by Ottawa in the fifth round (151st overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Meanwhile, Cornell defenceman Hoyt Stanley has also turned pro, signing a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa. Stanley was a finalist for ECAC Hockey's best defensive defenceman award, which the NHL continues to overlook during its own awards season.
Like Reidler, Stanley will join Belleville on an ATO for the rest of the season.
Because the Sens dealt away their top three picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, Stanley was the first player they selected that year. He was drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) and has attended the last three development camps.
Stanley could make his professional debut as early as Friday, when Belleville visits Rochester to face the Americans. The B-Sens have seven games remaining in their regular season.
Maybe someday in Ottawa, Hoyt Stanley will hoist Stanley (I'll see myself out).
The Vegas Golden Knights continue to be an anomaly of an NHL franchise. Last week, they fired Head Coach Bruce Cassidy after four years as bench boss. They added to the already massive headline by hiring John Totorella for the remainder of the season.
After their Pacific division rival made a big change, a potential new candidate has emerged for the Los Angeles Kings head coaching job next season.
As time goes on, it seems increasingly more likely that current interim head coach DJ Smith will not end up winning the job as more accomplished candidates continue to become available.
On March 1st, the Kings fired Jim Hiller after parts of three seasons as bench boss. Assistant coach DJ Smith was awarded the roll as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Since Smith has been in charge, L.A. has gone 5-5-4 and currently find themselves one point out of the Western conference's final wild card spot with 76 points.
Not much has changed during Smith's tenure and if the Kings fail to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it's not out of line to assume the organization will go another route for their head coach opening, and some very established names are available.
Bruce Cassidy
When a coach of Bruce Cassidy's status gets fired, the speculation on who they may coach next begins almost immediately. The 2023 Stanley Cup Champion will surely garner tons of interest when the next hiring cycle begins, and the Kings could be a team to look in Cassidy's direction.
The 60-year-old has coached 830 regular season games for three different teams. He began his head coaching career with the Washington Capitals from 2002-2004.
After his time in Washington, his next head coaching job came in the middle of the 2016-17 season when the Boston Bruins hired him after letting go of Claude Julien. Cassidy was incredibly successful in Boston. He led the Bruins for six seasons, and they made a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2019.
In 2022 the Bruins moved on from their 2020 Jack Adams winning coach and he was almost immediately hired by Vegas where he would finally reach the summit as he and the Golden Knights raised Lord Stanley in 2023.
Cassidy is one of the most established available coaches and would certainly make an instant impact in the Kings locker room.
The other name that is expected to get another crack at behind the bench is Pete DeBoer. After the Dallas Stars surprising fired him last summer, the 57-year-old shockingly remains without a job.
With the Kings having an opening behind their bench, hiring DeBoer becomes a real possibility. His over 1200 games of NHL experience should speak for itself and although his teams haven't been able to get over the hump, he has had an incredibly successful career.
Having coached for five different franchises (FLA/NJD/SJS/VEG/DAL) DeBoer has reached the Stanley Cup Final twice, once with the New Jersey Devils in 2012 (Lost to Kings) and with the San Jose Sharks in 2016 (Lost to Penguins).
Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment of his career is his game seven record. DeBoer is undefeated as head coach in do-or-die games with a 9-0 record. It's hard to believe a coach with that type of success remains without a championship. Maybe the sixth time is the charm.
Other Notable Names
Peter Laviolette
DJ Smith
Dean Evason
Jay Woodcroft
Marc Savard
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Jets vs Blackhawks best bet: Blackhawks team total Under 2.5 (+100)
The Chicago Blackhawks are a dismal 5-12 SU since the Olympic break ended, and their offense — or lack thereof — a big reason why.
Chicago is dead-last at 2.34 goals per game since February 24. They're also 23rd in goals allowed per game in this stretch because they're constantly chasing the puck.
The Blackhawks are second-worst in both shots for and shots against per game since the Olympics ended.
The Winnipeg Jets are 10th in goals allowed per game in March, getting their usual good goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck. This is playable down to -120.
Jets vs Blackhawks same-game parlay
The Blackhawks have been more than kind to opposing defensemen this season, which is why I'm backing both Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk in this +700 SGP.
Morrissey has notched an assist in four straight games, and Chicago has served up the seventh-most points per game to the position.
Pionk has had multiple shots on goal in four of five games since returning to the lineup. The 'Hawks allow the third-most shots per game to blueliners.
Jets vs Blackhawks SGP
Blackhawks team total Under 2.5
Josh Morrissey Over 0.5 assists
Neal Pionk Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jets vs Blackhawks odds
Moneyline: Jets -152 | Blackhawks +126
Puck Line: Jets -1.5 | Blackhawks +1.5
Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Jets vs Blackhawks trend
The Jets have hit the Under in 16 of their last 25 games (+8.45 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Blackhawks.
How to watch Jets vs Blackhawks
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Puck drop
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, CHSN
Jets vs Blackhawks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Florida Panthers will welcome Sam Bennett back to their lineup tonight against the Ottawa Senators.
The 29-year-old missed both games over the weekend due to the birth of his first child. The Panthers fell to the New York Islanders on Saturday before being nearly shut out against the New York Rangers on Sunday.
At today’s practice, Bennett skated as the top line center with Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk on his wings.
Bennett’s season started slowly, as he struggled to produce offensively. But he turned the corner pretty quickly and has posted 25 goals and 54 points in 70 games. His 54 points are a career high, and his 25 goals are just three shy of his previous career high of 28, which he set in his first year as a Panther.
The Panthers have nine games remaining, giving Bennett some time to chase down his goal-scoring record.
Tonight’s fixture is of little meaning for the Panthers, but it means everything for the Senators. A win moves the Panthers from 27th place to 24th place in the NHL standings, and the Panthers would still sit 13 points out of a playoff spot.
For the Senators, a win puts them even with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. A loss, coupled with wins by the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and the Blue Jackets, would greatly affect their playoff hopes.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST at Amerant Bank Arena.
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Drake Batherson is having a career year offensively, trailing only Tim Stutzle in goals and points among Ottawa skaters.
My Senators vs. Panthers predictions expect Batherson to build on his totals with another productive outing against a struggling Florida team.
Let’s get into my NHL picks for Tuesday, March 31.
Senators vs Panthers prediction
Senators vs Panthers best bet: Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points (-140)
Drake Batherson has produced at least one point in 60% of his appearances this season. That strong hit rate jumps significantly when facing Bottom-10 defenses, such as the Florida Panthers.
Batherson has picked up a point in 17 of 22 games fitting the criteria, good for a 77% success rate. That includes a productive meeting with the Panthers back in January.
The Panthers are more focused on improving their draft position than winning games, and that shows in their recent results. They have dropped six of the last eight and allowed 3+ goals seven times.
Senators vs Panthers same-game parlay
Tim Stutzle leads the Ottawa Senators in assists. He forms a formidable duo alongside Batherson on the top line, and also has exposure to other top scoring threats — like Brady Tkachuk and Dylan Cozens — when skating on the top power play unit.
The Senators sit third in points percentage since February 1, and their underlying numbers are exceptional. Led by Batherson and Stutzle, they should handle business against a Panthers team playing out the string of a disappointing, injury-plagued season.
Drake Batherson has points in three consecutive games against Florida. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Panthers.
How to watch Senators vs Panthers
Location
Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5, SCRIPPS
Senators vs Panthers 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.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Anthony Mantha #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
In terms of the standings and the shift in their odds of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins 8-3 win over the New York Islanders on Monday night is one of their biggest wins of the 2025-26 season. It might be the biggest win. It was also one of the most impressive as they went on the road, against a team they are fighting with for a playoff spot and playoff positioning, in a place they have historically struggled, and completely dominated the game. They chased the Vezina Trophy front-runner, they had a 23-6 edge in high-danger scoring chances during 5-on-5 play, and they overcame multiple two-goal deficits (2-0, 3-1) to win in a laugher.
There were a lot of important contributors in that game.
Rickard Rakell continued his recent surge with a two-goal game.
Ryan Shea, Elmer Soderblom and Avery Hayes provided some unexpected scoring depth.
Sidney Crosby returned with two points while Bryan Rust scored another goal.
Then there was Anthony Mantha. On a night where a lot of Penguins players shined, Mantha seemed to stand out more than anybody and played what might have been not only his best game of the season, but one of the most dominant individual games any Penguins forward has had this season.
The numbers on the night are incredible.
He scored two huge goals in the second period to not only give the Penguins their first lead of the game, but also extended it before the end of the period. Prior to that he set up Ryan Shea’s game-tying goal. All of that happened in a span of less than four minutes of game-time, a stretch that not only completely changed the game but also perhaps the Penguins entire playoff push.
Along with the production and big goals, the Penguins outscored the Islanders 4-0 with Mantha on the ice, while they also had an 88 percent expected goals share.
He dominated.
He also completely redeemed himself from a tough start to the game that included a couple of defensive zone turnovers, including one on a power play that led to a Penguins penalty, resulting in Anders Lee’s goal to open the scoring. From that point on he played like a man possessed and was a central part of their comeback win.
If Kyle Dubas ends up winning the NHL’s general manager of the year award the Mantha signing is going to be at the top of the list for the reasons why. In terms of production and value, it is one of the best free agent signings any team made this past offseason. The only free agents that have come close to producing on Mantha’s level are Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights) and Nikolaj Ehlers (Carolina Hurricanes), but Mantha has more goals than both of them and has a significantly cheaper and smaller contract.
Getting this production for $2.5 million on a one-year deal is the type of thing that just does not typically happen in free agency.
This is also not a case of him simply being a passenger for Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.
The majority of his 5-on-5 ice-time has come away from both players, while the Penguins are outscoring teams 31-25 with a 53.2 expected goals share when Mantha is on the ice without Crosby and Malkin. Only seven of his 29 goals have been set up by one of those two players. He has just independently, on his own merit, been a wildly productive (and good) player.
There are moments where he makes some, let’s call them, curious decisions with the puck, but the positives have far outweighed the negatives and the production is impossible to ignore.
The expectation for Mantha at the start of the season, at least for me, was that he would be the new version of Anthony Beauvillier. Veteran player signed to a cheap, one-year contract as a reclamation project so the Penguins could juice his value back up and flip him at the trade deadline for a second-round pick. Instead he has become one of their best and most important players on a team that has far exceeded every preseason expectation.
He has also potentially played his way into an even bigger contract this summer, whether it comes from the Penguins or somebody else. Given how well he has fit here, how much salary cap space the Penguins have to work with, and how thin the free agent class is this summer (Mantha’s 29 goals are tied with Alex Ovechkin for the most goals among pending unrestricted free agents; and Ovechkin is not realistically available to any other team) it is starting to look more and more like the Penguins should just make him an offer and see what it would take to stay.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates after they beat the St. Louis Blues at SAP Center on March 30, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To call Macklin Celebrini a “phenom” would be a gross understatement. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft was highly touted, but his selection was definitely viewed as a bit of a letdown following the enormous hype that accompanied Connor Bedard the year prior. Two years later everything has flipped, as Bedard is a extremely good, but languishing on a horrific Blackhawks roster — while Celebrini is making history.
Celebrini became just the 7th teenager in NHL history to record 100 points in a season before turning 20. Scoring two goals and registering one assist in a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues, he now has 38 goals and 63 assists on the year for 101 points with 10 games remaining. It puts Celebrini in some of the NHL’s rarest company, a laundry list of NHL legends — and one guy who never managed to live up to his early hype.
Let’s look at the list Celebrini is now a part of:
Wayne Gretzky (137 points in 1979-80): The Great One. Without question the best player in NHL history, with records that will likely never fall.
Sidney Crosby (102 points in 05-06): A guaranteed Hall of Fame lock with over 1,700 career points, who led the Pittburgh Penguins to three Stanley Cup wins
Mario Lemieux (100 points in 1985-56): Hall of Fame legend with over 1,700 career points, two Stanley Cup wins, and nine All-Star appearances
Connor McDavid (100 points in 16-17): Arguably the best player in the NHL right now. A seven-time All-Star who hasn’t yet reached the age of 30. McDavid has only failed to reached 100 points one season in his career, and that was only due to injury.
Dale Hawerchuk (103 points in 1981-82): Hall of Fame two-way forward with over 1,400 career points and five All-Star appearances
Jimmy Carson (107 points in 1986-87): The only player on the list who never really panned out. Carson had an incredible start to his career, but was traded from the Kings as part of the Gretzky trade. Carson never managed to develop further, regressing to become and oft-injured 73 point player over an 82 game season — largely bolstered by his early success.
It’s tough to imagine Celebrini will backslide with modern hockey conditions, training, and coaching. This is the rise of the next great player in hockey, and we’re witnessing it.
The Atlantic Division foes have seen eight of the last nine head-to-head meetings go Over 6.5, including both matchups this season. An average of 7.66 goals have been scored along the way.
The numbers indicate we should expect more of the same. Montreal sits fourth in scoring rate at 5-on-5 and second on the power play over their last 10 games.
The Bolts top the league in 5-on-5 efficiency and rank sixth on the man advantage during the same period.
Canadiens vs Lightning same-game parlay
Tough opponents don’t hinder Lane Hutson in the slightest. He has picked up a helper in eight of his last 10 games against Top-10 teams in limiting goals against, tallying 10 in total.
Noah Dobson generated eight shots on 15 attempts over the first two meetings this season. Routinely playing 22+ minutes and active in the offensive zone, he should be plenty involved in this marquee clash.
Canadiens vs Lightning SGP
Over 6.5
Lane Hutson Over 0.5 assists
Noah Dobson Over 1.5 shots on goal
Canadiens vs Lightning odds
Moneyline: Montreal +145 | Tampa Bay -170
Puck line: Montreal +1.5 (-160) | Tampa Bay -1.5 (+140)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)
Canadiens vs Lightning trend
The Lightning have hit the Over in 13 of their last 20 games (+8.75 Units / 40% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Lightning.
How to watch Canadiens vs Lightning
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN2, The Spot
Canadiens vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Montreal Canadiens will be without one of their key defenseman for at least the final stretch of the regular season.
The Canadiens have announced that blueliner Alexandre Carrier will be out for the next two to four weeks due to an upper-body injury.
With this update, there is a chance that Carrier could be out for the start of the postseason. This would certainly be tough news for the Canadiens, as he is one of their important defenders.
Carrier has seven goals, 15 assists, 22 points, 155 blocks, and a plus-2 rating in 73 games this season with the Canadiens. This is after he had three goals and 25 points in 79 games this past campaign split between the Nashville Predators and Canadiens.
The Canadiens recently called up prospect defenseman Adam Engstrom from the Laval Rocket, and this Carrier injury news explains it.
In 369 career NHL games over eight seasons, Carrier has recorded 20 goals, 89 assists, 109 points, and a plus-31 rating.
There’s no shortage of star power taking the ice tonight, with 10 games scheduled across the National Hockey League. My NHL player props will focus on Connor McDavid, Rickard Rakell, and Brandon Hagel.
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Our best NHL player props for Tuesday, March 31
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points
-135 at BET99
Connor McDavid leads the NHL with an astounding 124 points. He’s cashed the Over in three straight appearances, and the Edmonton Oilers superstar has notched three points in back-to-back games. McDavid has eight points during this span.
The Oilers face the Kraken tonight, and McDavid has registered six points against them across three meetings, scoring four and assisting two.
Edmonton is also at home for this contest, where the three-time Hart Trophy winner has 65 points in only 36 games. He’ll deliver.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: KHN, SNW
Prop #2: Rickard Rakell anytime goal
+205 at BET99
I took Rickard Rakell to find the back of the net in Monday’s picks, and he delivered, scoring twice.
The 32-year-old has been on fire, scoring nine of his 19 goals on the season in March. Rakell has found the back of the net in four of his last six, and he has a pair of multi-goal games during that run.
The Pens take on the Red Wings tonight, and Rakell has already scored once against them in 2025-26 across two matchups. The Wings also just allowed five goals in their last game, and the Pens are thriving offensively, with Rakell playing a key part.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FDSN DET, SN-PIT
Prop #3: Brandon Hagel Over 0.5 assists
+120 at BET99
Brandon Hagel is an integral piece for the Stanley Cup-chasing Tampa Bay Lightning, serving as one of their top producers. He’s scored 35 goals and tallied 38 assists this season, and Hagel has notched an impressive 18 helpers this month.
The 27-year-old has cashed the Over in assists in six of his last eight, and he had a helper in three straight before scoring a goal instead in Sunday’s win over the Nashville Predators.
The Bolts face the Montreal Canadiens tonight, and while he’s yet to register an assist against them across two meetings, Hagel is red-hot.
When they do produce offensively, he’s often involved. He’s also hit the Over in three in a row at home.
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.
If the Montreal Canadiens swept their season series against the Carolina Hurricanes, their results have been far less satisfying against Tuesday night’s opponents, the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the first two duels between the two sides this season, the Habs have been beaten by a combined score of 11-5. Once with Jakub Dobes in the net and the other with Jacob Fowler between the posts.
The Bolts now sit atop the Atlantic Division with 98 points, the same total as the Buffalo Sabres, but the Florida outfit has a game in hand. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are still in third place with 94 points, and they also have a game in hand on the Sabres. Montreal now has a six-point lead over the eighth-place team in the Eastern Conference and an eight-point lead over the ninth-place team, the Ottawa Senators. While the Sainte-Flanelle has yet to clinch a playoff spot mathematically, Moneypuck now gives Martin St-Louis and his men a 99% chance of making the spring dance.
Neither team has confirmed who will be manning their net tonight, but all signs point to Jakub Dobes being back in the crease for the Canadiens. The Czech netminder has started two games against Jon Cooper’s men but has a 0-1-0 record with an 8.80 goals-against average and a .727 save percentage. While these are far from reassuring numbers, the Dobes that is playing for the Habs now is very different from the one who struggled at times this season. Since the trade deadline, he has a 6-2-0 record, a 1.88 GAA, and a .937 SV. Meanwhile, Fowler has a 0-0-1 record with a 3.77 GAA and a .810 SV.
At the other end of the ice, it would be surprising if Andrei Vasilevskiy wasn’t between the posts. The Russian netminder has an excellent record against the Canadiens with a 16-3-2 record, a 2.08 GAA, and a .931 SV. As for backup Jonas Johansson, he’s 4-2-0 when facing Montreal with a 3.79 GAA and a .875 SV.
The Canadiens had a day off yesterday, so there’s no indication as to what their lineup could look like on Tuesday night, but they will hold a morning skate at 11:30. While Martin St-Louis no longer divulges his lineup ahead of games, we’ll at least know if Josh Anderson is over his virus if he is present. The Habs also called up Adam Engstrom on Monday, and he joined the team in the evening. The Canadiens announced on Tuesday morning that Alexandre Carrier would be out for two to four weeks with an upper-body injury, which explains the move. Montreal has now used two of its five available call-ups for the rest of the season. It will be interesting to see who plays between Arber Xhekaj and Engstrom.
Brendan Gallagher is the Canadiens’ most productive forward against the Bolts with 19 points in 39 games, but none of those points came this season. Phillip Danault has 14 points in 28 games, and Nick Suzuki wraps up the top three with 13 points in 20 games. The team’s top scorers against Tampa this season have, however, been Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov, who both notched three points in two games.
As for Cole Caufield, he has seven points in 14 duels with Tampa, but he is on fire right now and is eyeing the 50-goal mark and perhaps even a Rocket Richard Trophy win. The sniper now has 46 goals on the season and only trails Nathan MacKinnon by three goals since the Colorado Avalanche superstar added a 49th goal to his tally in the Avs’ 9-2 triumph over the Calgary Flames on Monday night.
Meanwhile, Victor Hedman leads the Lightning with 51 points in 52 games against the Canadiens, but he stepped away from the team for personal reasons on March 25, and he has yet to return. Nikita Kucherov is not far behind with 48 points in 40 games, but he has missed the last two games with an illness. Should he be unable to suit up, the Canadiens certainly wouldn’t complain, as he also has four points in two games against them this season. Brayden Point comes in third with 27 points in 31 games, and the top line center is healthy and ready to go.
The Bolts are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and are on a two-game winning streak, while the Canadiens are 7-3-0 and have a five-game regulation winning streak going. The Bolts have won seven of the last ten games between the two sides, including the last three tilts, and the Canadiens’ last win in Tampa dates back to December 29, 2024.
The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on The Spot, TSN2, and RDS. Jean Hebert and Brandon Blandina will officiate, while Jonny Murray and Jonathan Deschamps will be the linemen. The Habs and Bolts will meet one last time this season on April 9 in Montreal.
ELMONT, NY -- On Monday night, in the New York Islanders' first game of their back-to-back, starting netminder Ilya Sorokin was chased from his goal after allowing seven goals on 29 shots in an eventual 8-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He played 47:54.
The loss was a damning one, given that the Islanders could have padded their lead for second place in the Metropolitan Division to three points with seven games to go.
Instead, the Islanders watched the Penguins leap over them in the standings by one point and a game in hand, dropping them to third place, with the Columbus Blue Jackets just one point back in the second wild-card spot.
Sorokin had only been pulled once this season, in the finale of a three-game road trip, a 7-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, March 21.
He allowed six goals on 26 shots through 50:47 minutes.
That game was also the first of a back-to-back, with Roy citing that pulling Sorokin was to keep him fresh for a pivotal Sunday night game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The move paid off as Sorokin stopped all 26 shots that came his way for a critical 1-0 shutout win.
Will Roy do the same against a Buffalo Sabres team that has just one win in their last four games?
That's likely -- but not confirmed.
"We're going to talk about this one and see where we're at," head coach Patrick Roy said postgame. "I mean, I haven't talked with Sergei (Naumovs) or even Ilya after the game just to see how he feels and what their thought are. We'll let you know tomorrow who will play against Buffalo."
If the Islanders had beaten the Penguins, one would think David Rittich would have received the start for Buffalo, potentially his last start of the season, with Sorokin getting both games of the back-to-back -- Philadelphia on Friday at home and then Carolina in Raleigh on Saturday.
This Buffalo game is a tremendous opportunity for the Islanders to rebound from what was an atrocity of a second period at UBS Arena. That includes Sorokin, who probably doesn't want to sit three days before getting another crack at it.
"We know what we did. We know what's wrong. We know what we need to do to play the right way. And that's regrouping mentally for tomorrow," Ryan Pulock said postgame. "That's all that matters right now, is regrouping for tomorrow. Understand what went wrong. Understand what we did. I feel like that's not us. Obviously, it was a big game, and we didn't do it the right way, but tomorrow's a chance to make up for it."
We'll be talking with Roy at 5:35 to get the latest on his starting goaltender and any lineup changes ahead of their 7 PM ET puck drop.
The Islanders are 9-3-1 on the second legs of back-to-backs this season. Sorokin is 5-1-0 and has not faced the Sabres this season.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Canucks struggled to generate scoring chances in this game. At even-strength, the Golden Knights held a 34-11 scoring chance advantage while also winning the high-danger scoring chances battle 11-9. Ultimately, it was the Kevin Lankinen show for Vancouver as he kept his team in the game until the end.
The heat map from this game shows Vegas' willingness to fire pucks from all over the ice. The Canucks big issue was the second period, where they were outshot 14-6 at even strength. It is hard to explain why the second period has been such an issue for Vancouver this season, as the Canucks are giving up goals in the middle frame almost every night.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden Knights, March 30, 2026, Natural Stat Trick.
To wrap this game up, Tom Willander led the team with an xGF% of 51.55. Vancouver also held an 11-8 shots advantage during his 21:01 of even-strength time. Willander is making the most of his opportunities late in the season and is showing he can develop into a solid top-four defender in the NHL.
The Canucks will start a back-to-back on Wednesday when they take on the Colorado Avalanche. These teams have played twice already this season, with the Avalanche picking up two victories. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 pm PT.
Mar 30, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) makes a save against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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The Buffalo Sabres have several pending free agents heading into the summer. Due to this, let's look at four specific players who the Sabres could end up signing to a contract extension.
Alex Tuch
The Sabres' biggest contract extension candidate to watch is Alex Tuch. The star winger is this year's best pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), but if the Sabres have it their way, they will get him locked up before he hits the market.
Tuch is due for a major raise, as he has been one of Buffalo's top forwards for several years now. In 71 games this season, he has recorded 29 goals, 30 assists, and 59 points.
Zach Benson
Zach Benson is a pending restricted free agent (RFA), as he is in the final year of his entry-level deal. The 20-year-old forward is having a nice third season in the NHL, as he has 10 goals and has set new career highs with 26 assists and 36 points.
With Benson being one of the Sabres' most exciting young players, he should land himself a nice new contract from the Atlantic Division club.
Peyton Krebs
The 2025-26 season has certainly treated Peyton Krebs now, as he is having the best year of his career. In 74 games, he has scored 10 goals and has set new career highs with 25 assists, 35 points, and 173 hits. With numbers like these, the Sabres should certainly be looking to keep the pending RFA around.
Logan Stanley
Logan Stanley is a pending UFA who the Sabres could look to keep around beyond this season. The 6-foot-7 defenseman has played in 10 games since being acquired by the Sabres, where he has recorded two assists, 10 hits, and 22 penalty minutes.
With playoff teams always valuing big defenseman who play with an edge, it could make sense for the Sabres to keep Stanley around at the right price. This is especially so when noting that he is right in his prime at 27 years old.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for the final of three straight games in the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena. This game features the Carolina Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes - 46-21-6 - 98 Points - 6-4-0 in the last 10 - Lost 1- 1st in the Metro
Columbus Blue Jackets - 38-24-12 - 88 Points - 5-3-2 in the last 10 - OTL 1 - 4th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
The Blue Jackets have earned points in 13 of their last 14 home games (9-1-4) as well as in 17-of-19 contests played at Nationwide Arena in 2026 (12-2-5, .763 points pct.). The club ranks in the top-10 at home in the calendar year in goals-for per game (2nd, 4.00), wins (3rd-T), points pct. (4th) and goals-against per game (7th, 2.74).
The club has earned points in 25 of its last 30 contests (20-5-5, 45 pts) to lead the league points pct. (.750), rank second in wins (tied), points and goals against per game (2.47) and eighth in goals-for per game (3.43) since Jan. 11.
Columbus has allowed two goals or less in eight of the last 11 games since Mar. 10 (2.00 GA/GP, 3rd in NHL].
The Jackets lead the NHL with a franchise-record 55 goals scored by defensemen in 2025-26 (55-132-187, 74 GP].
CBJ has collected points in 10 of the last 11 games against Metropolitan Division opponents since Jan. 4 (8-1-2).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli, who leads the club in scoring in March with 6-9-15 in 16 games, has set a single-season career high in assists and points (tied) with 21-33-54 in 74 contests.
Jet Greaves has earned points in 15 of his last 17 starts since Jan. 11 (12-2-3, 2.26 GAA, .915 SV% in 18 GP), ranking fourth among NHL goaltenders in GAA and SV% (min. 6 GP].
Elvis Merzlikins has recorded points in 10 of his past 13 starts since Jan. 11 (8-3-2, 2.54 GAA in 14 GP].
Boone Jenner has registered 2-3-5 in the last seven games, including scoring a goal in his 800th career contest on Sunday vs. the Bruins (210-207-417, 800 GP].
Mason Marchment notched his sixth multi-point game as a Blue Jacket on Sunday (1-1-2). He ranks second on the team in goals since making his CBJ debut on Dec. 20, 2025 (14-11-25 in 32 GP].
Zach Werenski has notched 21-56-77 and 25 multi-point efforts in 66 games in 2025-26 to lead NHL blueliners in multi-point efforts and shots on goal (229) and sit second in points and points-per-game (1.15) and third in goals.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 20.2% - 17th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 77.3% - 25th in the NHL
Goals For - 231 - 14th in the NHL
Goals Against - 224 - 20th in the NHL
HurricanesStats
Power Play - 23.7% - 9th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 80.2% - 13th in the NHL
Goals For - 253 - 6th in the NHL
Goals Against - 213 - 7th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheHurricanes
Columbus is 30-31-0-5 all-time, and 17-14-0-2 at home vs. Carolina.
The home team has won eight-straight meetings and 12 of the last 14 games dating back to Feb. 25, 2022.
Columbus has won four consecutive games at Nationwide Arena and five of the past seven in Ohio since Jan. 7, 2023.
The winning team has scored four-plus goals in each of the past seven contests (including SO goals) and 15 of the past 17 since Oct. 23, 2021.
The winning team has also scored four or more goals in each of the last ten at Nationwide Arena (including SO goals).
The winning team has won by three-plus goals in six of the past eight meetings overall with Columbus earning two shootout victories in the other two.
CBJ have scored a power play goal in three-straight home games vs. the Canes (4-of-13; 30.8 pct.) and seven of the past ten meetings at Nationwide Arena (9-of-35; 25.7 pct.).
The Blue Jackets have registered four shutouts and hat tricks in the all-time series.
Who To Watch For TheHurricanes
Seth Jarvis leads the Canes with 30 goals.
Sebastian Aho leads the team with 49 assists and 74 points.
Goalie Brandon Bussi is 27-6-1 with a SV% of .896.
CBJ Player Notes vsHurricanes
Boone Jenner has 13 points in 25 career games against Carolina.
Zach Werenski has 16 points against the Hurricanes.
Mason Marchment has 8 points in 10 games vs. Carolina.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 36 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Damon Severson - Missed 2 Games - Upper Body - Week-to-week
Dmitri Voronkov - Upper Body - Left game early against San Jose
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 185
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on ESPN+ & HULU featuring John Buccigross. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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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.
McDavid Over 1.5 points 
Rakell anytime goal 
Hagel Over 0.5 assists 
