Feb 6, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (70) against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images | Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Sam Malinski has been nothing short of outstanding this season, quietly graduating from a fringe seventh defenseman to a bona fide NHL defenseman. Yet beyond that quiet rise, he has emerged as one of Colorado’s most dependable and impactful players in the biggest games since the puck first dropped on the 2025-26 regular season in October.
I like the trend of Sam Malinski having his best performances in the most important contests. #GoAvsGo
Malinski’s remarkable arrival has been widely chronicled across the Avalanche media landscape, and the story is vividly told through both basic and advanced statistics. He leads all NHL defensemen (minimum 500 minutes played) in on-ice goals percentage at 68.2%, while ranking 30th among blueliners in shots on goal. He has already tallied 30 points from the back end — obliterating his previous career high in just his third NHL season. His ceiling continues to climb, and it feels entirely reasonable to dream that one day he could line up alongside Cale Makar, or at the very least become a steadfast fixture in the top-four group.
One of the key ingredients in Malinski’s ascent has been the four-year deal he signed in January — a heartfelt commitment from the Avalanche and a well-deserved tribute to his relentless hard work and steady development.
“So, just really excited and happy to get it done with kind of earlier rather than later. … Any time you’re playing in this business, you don’t really have that stability in knowing where you’re going to play and where you’re going to live each year. Now that I’m kind of signed to a little bit of term, it’s really nice to have that stability.”
Speaking of stability, that very quality is precisely what has made Malinski worthy of a $19 million contract. He has found it in Colorado, and Avalanche management has clearly found it in him.
“I knew right away. I love Colorado. I love all the guys on this team. The way the coaching staff has treated me, management, and just everyone in Colorado. I’ve had nothing but good experiences here. I always knew I wanted to stay here.” Malinski told the Denver Gazette.
Sam has pointed to hard work and accumulated experience when asked how he has elevated his game and discovered this new level of success, “We all come here and try to get better, just a little bit better every day. I’ve just gained so much more confidence from the experience I’ve gotten throughout the 150 games. Just growing a ton as far as poise with the puck and the way I defend, too,” he told Colleen Flynn in an article with Mile High Sports.
Whatever Sam has been doing, it’s clearly working — and it was on display against Dallas in Colorado’s OT loss earlier in the week. Despite the outcome, his usage spoke volumes: Bednar has deep trust in him and believes in his offensive gifts, as evidenced by icing him during the 3-on-3 overtime period.
Sam Malinski just made a sick play to get the puck off the wall and into a scoring position. The #Avs then made two great passes to get the NHL's leading goal scorer a shot from point blank range.
Jake Oettinger robbed him. It's hard to score goals in this league sometimes.
Now, as the playoffs draw near, the tantalizing question remains: how will this rising star show up when the lights burn brightest? He appears to be a player who rises to the occasion — and this season, he will receive more playoff opportunities than ever before.
Let us know what you think of Sam Malinski’s play this season!
Most ardent Senators fans could easily quote their team's position in the NHL wild card standings without even looking.
That's because most fans have been engaged in, since at least the end of the Olympic break, the time-honoured tradition of scoreboard watching.
Those same ardent fans also know that the Sens have gone 7-2-2 in that timeframe yet they've barely put a dent in closing the wild card gap.
Part of the reason for this is the dreaded three-point games, where the overtime winner gets two points, and the loser gets one. It's the foundation for some teams being in a playoff spot. Except for teams like Tampa Bay, which have only lost in overtime or a shootout four times all season, the majority of teams are relying on these “loser points," and it's almost impossible to make the playoffs without them.
In addition to scoreboard watching, Senators fans are also watching opponents' games live, and the Boston Bruins OT loss to the Montreal Canadiens on St. Paddy’s Day gave rise to the need for a solution.
In watching this game, it was hard not to notice how each team played a very passive game where each wanted to win. But they didn't play with a “risk vs reward” approach because there was no incentive to do so. Making sure their respective teams got at least one point was more important than getting two in regulation.
Would the league, and not just the Ottawa Senators, not benefit from adopting the 3-2-1-0 scoring system that is used in the World Championships, World Juniors, Olympics, and the PWHL?
- 3 points for regulation win - 2 points for OT/SO win - 1 point for OT/SO loss - 0 points for regulation loss
Here are a few reasons that the board of governors might want to at least table the discussion, if they haven’t already.
1) Rewards Regulation Winners
Selfishly, this would benefit this year’s version of the Senators as they are ahead of most of their division and conference foes in this tie-breaking stat.
That said, teams that push the envelope are more exciting. Why not reward that?
It also stands to reason that the better teams will succeed more often in the endeavour for the extra point.
2) Keep teams in the hunt longer
In a world which is increasingly dominated by analytics, what would this to do in-game decision making if there was an extra point to be had?
If you were a team on the outside looking in and seemingly out of the race, wouldn't it be easier to bridge the gap?
If you're chasing a team that would be happy to play for the minimum point and then shoot for the extra point, but your team had a chance to take three points, wouldn't teams and their fans want them to go for that in regulation?
Imagine pulling your goalie late in a tie game because two points isn’t going to cut it. Yes, you might lose and get nothing. You also might gain three points instead of one.
Risk vs Reward is a big part of analytics.
3) Television Ratings
Games like the Montreal/Boston clash mentioned earlier are not unique. It is not uncommon for games that are tied in the third period to remain so.
The third period should be the most exciting period of a close game. If teams are going for it more in the first and second periods because there is more time to make up a gap or deficit, then the third period becomes the pre-cursor to the overtime period where teams open up again.
It was this style of play in the former OT format that gave rise to the loser point in the first place as even overtime periods weren’t exciting.
If the league is looking for people to stay up a bit later or watch games where their favourite teams aren’t playing, they need to give them a reason.
4) Health and Safety
Overtime games are great for the fans. They also take a toll on the players. And not just any players, the star players. Reducing the number of overtime games by having more exciting third periods and ending games in regulation could have long-term benefits to teams and their players.
Granted, three on three is not the most physically taxing part of the game. But it's still extra time, playing at high pace, with dead legs and tanks almost empty.
There is always a tipping point.
This would not be an easy decision to make and it would likely require testing the outcome in the AHL and ECHL to see if there's any benefit.
The number of three-point games has been noticed. The way teams play in the last half of the third period has been noticed.
If the NHL can adopt a loser’s point, they can certainly adopt a winner’s point as well.
Pat Maguire The Hockey News
This article was originally published at The Hockey News. For more Senators news, analysis, and features, visit the Ottawa Senators site at The Hockey News.
Moritz Seider is having a spectacular offensive season, and yet he’s found a way to ramp things up a notch without Dylan Larkin in the lineup.
My Bruins vs. Red Wings predictions expect Seider to get plenty of shots off in a high-stakes matchup against a poor shot suppression team.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Saturday, March 21.
Bruins vs Red Wings prediction
Bruins vs Red Wings best bet: Moritz Seider Over 2.5 shots (+140)
Moritz Seider has seen his volume skyrocket without Detroit Red Wings teammate Dylan Larkin. Seider has averaged 3.7 shots on goal and 7.3 attempts per game, well above his season averages of 2.2 shots and 4.9 attempts.
He’s in a great spot to build on those outputs against the Boston Bruins. They rank 27th in shots allowed to Seider’s primary shooting zone (the right point) and 28th over the last 10 games.
This game also has massive playoff implications. Seider is likely heading for 25+ minutes, and he has cleared 2.5 shots in four of the last five he’s seen that usage.
Bruins vs Red Wings same-game parlay
Ben Chiarot has blocked multiple shots in six consecutive games. He’s done so in 72% of his appearances against Top-16 shot generation teams, and the Bruins fit that criteria.
Much like Seider, Charlie McAvoy will see heavy usage as the No. 1 defenseman in a game carrying such weight. He has blocked multiple shots in 69% of road games and 83% against teams ranking in the Top-16 in shots.
Bruins vs Red Wings SGP
Moritz Seider Over 2.5 shots
Ben Chiarot Over 1.5 blocked shots
Charlie McAvoy Over 1.5 blocked shots
Bruins vs Red Wings odds
Moneyline: Bruins +100 | Red Wings -120
Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-240) | Red Wings -1.5 (+195)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (-110)
Bruins vs Red Wings trend
Moritz Seider has registered 3+ shots in six of his last eight games. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Red Wings.
How to watch Bruins vs Red Wings
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Bruins vs Red Wings 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.
Jets vs Penguins best bet: Mark Scheifele Over 0.5 assists (-125)
Mark Scheifele leads the Winnipeg Jets in basically every major offensive category, including assists. He’s tallied 52 of them, and in March, the veteran has nine helpers.
Scheifele has cashed the Over in three of his last five appearances, and he’s collected 20 of his assists on the road across 32 games. Most notably, he already made his presence felt against the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier in the campaign, handing out two helpers.
Pittsburgh also just allowed six goals in its last game. Scheifele will help Winnipeg make some noise here.
Jets vs Penguins same-game parlay
Kyle Connor is one of the best players in the NHL, and he’s lived up to the hype this season after signing a massive contract extension in the offseason. The Team USA gold medalist has 78 points in total, including 31 goals and 47 assists.
He’s cashed the Over in points in four of his last five outings, and Connor even had three points on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. He’s compiled 32 points in 32 road contests this season as well, scoring twice against the Pens already.
Winnipeg has won four straight against Pittsburgh, outscoring them 15-6 across the last three meetings. While the Jets do have a record five games below .500 on the road, and the Pens are set to be in the playoffs, it’s hard to ignore Winnipeg’s recent success against them.
The Winnipeg Jets have hit the Game Total Under in 13 of their last 20 games (+6.45 Units / 29% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Penguins.
How to watch Jets vs Penguins
Location
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Puck drop
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, SN-PIT
Jets vs Penguins latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
After losing a must-win game in regulation against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens’ lead over the Wings and the Boston Bruins has disappeared. All three teams have 84 points, but the Habs remain in third place in the Atlantic Division since they have a game in hand. However, Detroit and Boston will face off tonight, meaning one of them will have two more points, and the other could have one as well, should the game not finish in regulation.
In other words, Montreal needs the two points, but Saturday night’s visitors do as well. The New York Islanders are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind the Wings and Bruins, meaning Patrick Roy’s men should be playing with desperation tonight. The team that wants it more will come out on top, and if the Canadiens can’t play with urgency in those circumstances, one can wonder when they will.
The Isles are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, while the Habs are 5-4-1 and both teams have lost their last game. New York has won the only game between the two sides this season, a 4-3 overtime win thanks to a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal. Samuel Montembeault and Ilya Sorokin were in the net for their respective team.
Neither team has confirmed who will get the start in net, but given the importance of the tilt, it would be shocking if Roy didn’t elect to go with Sorokin. The Russian netminder has a 6-0-2 record against the Habs with a 1.83 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage, including a shutout. As for backup, David Rittich has a record of 2-3-1 with a 2.47 GAA and a .925 SV.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see who Martin St-Louis will give the nod to. Jakub Dobes started the last two games, and while he lost against Detroit, he played another great game, finishing the night with a .926 SV. Whoever St-Louis picks will be taking on the Islanders for the first time since Dobes and Jacob Fowler have never faced the Long Island outfit. Fowler last played on Sunday, in a 4-3 loss against the Anaheim Ducks. Given how well Dobes has done this week and the fact that he finds a way to win more often than not, the Czech netminder could get a third game in a row.
Brayden Schenn, who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline in return for Jonathan Drouin, goaltending prospect Marcus Gidlof, and two picks at the next draft (a first and a third-round), leads the Isles in points against the Habs with 31 in 33 games. Ondrej Palat is in second place with 24 points in 37 games, and Bo Horvat wraps up the top three with 23 points in 31 games. As for the aforementioned Pageau, he has 20 points in 37 duels, including three shorthanded goals and four game-winning ones.
As for the Canadiens, Brendan Gallagher has the most points with 19 in 32 games, followed by captain Nick Suzuki, who has 16 points in just 15 games and is on a five-game points streak right now, just like Juraj Slafkovsky. Mike Matheson comes in third place with 15 points in 31 games. It’s worth mentioning that Cole Caufield has 10 points in 10 games and is currently on a four-game point streak.
The Islanders have won six of the last 10 duels between the two teams, including the last two. The Canadiens’ last win over the Isles came in March 2024.
The last time the two teams met, Matthew Schaefer showed just why he is the Calder Trophy favourite. The rookie blueliner trails Ivan Demidov and Becket Sennecke by two points in the rookie scoring race; he has 50, while they are both on 52. Demidov and fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen have been somewhat quiet of late, and they appear to be missing Slafkovsky on their line.
Montreal will hold a morning skate at 10:30, and we’ll know then if St-Louis is making changes to the lineup. The game is scheduled for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on TVAS, CITY, SNE, and MSGSN. Chris Rooney and Peter MacDougall are set to officiate, while Matt MacPherson and Ryan Daisy will be the linemen.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ social media team has earned their keep once again. Following their 4-3 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on at Scotiabank Arena on Friday, the Canes posted a meme on X that cut right to the chase with two simple words: “Say less.”
Accompanying the post was a cleverly edited image showing a Hurricanes representative on the ice directing a Simon Says game with several Maple Leafs players following suit. The text overlay reads “Simon says lose,” punctuated by the Canes logo.
What makes the troll even more biting is the origin of the base photo. It was captured during the Maple Leafs’ first-ever Fan Day event held the day before the game. The interactive afternoon at Scotiabank Arena featured on-ice activities, player meet-and-greets, and fun games for loyal supporters. In one highlight, players and staff took part in Simon Says, with goaltender Joseph Woll reportedly winning the light-hearted contest. It was a moment of levity amid what has been a trying 2025-26 campaign for a team sitting near the .500 mark and all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each notched two points, setting the stage for Alexander Nikishin’s game-winning goal just 41 seconds into the extra frame. The Maple Leafs battled back from deficits, with William Nylander potting the equalizer late in the third period. However, for the umpteenth time this season, Toronto came up short in overtime, collecting just one point in a game where collecting zero could have done more to help their chances of keeping their 2026 NHL Draft Pick (top-five protected).
Professional Simon Says Caller Steve Max is in the house for Leafs Fan Day.
While social media wars are nothing new in the NHL, this one stings a bit more for Leafs faithful because it weaponized their own fan event. The Hurricanes have now taken points in recent matchups, and their social team isn’t shy about reminding Toronto of it.
The Hurricanes have had many memorable moments at Scotiabank Arena over the years, including six years ago when David Ayres suited up as an emergency backup goaltender for the Canes and picked up his first NHL victory. Ayres, at one point, was a Zamboni driver for the organization.
The Florida Panthers played their final game of the season that will start outside of the Eastern Standard time zone on Friday night in Calgary.
Playing their fourth road game in six night, the Panthers put up an admirable fight, but ultimately they lost the game and possibly another key player, falling 4-1 to the Flames.
It wasn’t until nearly midway though the game that someone finally tickled the twine.
On what seemed like an innocent zone entry, a wrist shot from the half boards by Joel Farabee found its way through a screen and past Daniil Tarasov, giving Calgary a 1-0 lead with 12:16 left in the second period.
It took a little over two minutes for the Flames to double their advantage.
A nice backhand pass from below the goal line by Adam Klapka found a wide-open Victor Olofsson, and his one-timer sailed past Tarasov to make it 2-0 with 9:50 on the clock.
Florida finally got on the scoreboard early in the third, when A.J. Greer scored for the second consecutive game, sending a wrist shot from the right circle over the glove of Dustin Wolf to cut Calgary’s lead to 2-1.
That would be as close as the Cats would come.
Later in the period, with Florida killing a long Flames power play, Niko Mikkola was trailing as the Panthers entered Calgary’s zone on a shorthanded odd-man rush.
As Mikkola began to quick turn around to defend after Evan Rodrigues lost the puck, Mikkola collided with Calgary’s Ryan Strome and went down, clutching at his left leg/knee area afterward.
Mikkola hurt, grabbing his left knee after this knee-on-knee collision.
He would need help off the ice and did not return to the game.
Afterwards, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice did not seem particularly optimistic about Mikkola's injury.
"We'll get him looked at when we get back (to South Florida)," Maurice said. "He plays and competes so hard for us every night, but he's been incredibly durable for us, but that's clearly the story of our season.
"They need him. We're in a tough one right now, so you need those veteran guys around, playing and leading. He's been a dominant man for us all year with the injuries we've had. He's played great for us so we're going to miss him. He's going to miss some time, I believe."
Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato added a pair of late power play goals to cement the victory for the Flames and send Florida home with a 1-3-0 road trip and tied for the ninth-worst record in the league.
Photo caption: Mar 20, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) get help off the ice after colliding with Calgary Flames center Ryan Strome (22) during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime on Friday. The result was flattering, considering the Hurricanes fired 78 shot attempts at Toronto’s net compared to just 43 from Toronto, requiring Joseph Woll to make 32 saves.
But that didn’t stop Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube from giving a rather poignant assessment of his goaltender’s play. "He's played well, but tonight in the end, I don't think—I know—we need a save, whether it's the OT or it's one of the breakaways. We need a big save there".
Berube was referring to three of the Hurricanes’ four goals. In the second period, Eric Robinson beat Woll on a penalty shot to give Carolina a 3-1 lead. K’Andre Miller restored a one-goal lead later in the frame when he stripped Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly of the puck and beat Woll for a shorthanded breakaway goal.
It’s tough to put a lot of blame on Woll, considering the goaltender has inexplicably started in five of the club’s last six games while Anthony Stolarz remained fully healthy and available. Since March 8, Woll has faced 175 shots, more than any other goaltender in the NHL. Could he have made one or two more saves? Sure. But putting the game on Woll hides the bigger picture: the Leafs were simply not good enough to win this game.
"I feel pretty solid, pretty solid in net,” Woll offered regarding his game as of late. Had it not been for William Nylander’s equalizer late in regulation, the Leafs would have ended the night with no points. Given where they are in the standings, not getting that point certainly would have helped their positioning for the NHL Draft.
Stolarz is expected to get the start against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in a game that has far more meaning for them than the Leafs, who remain seventh-worst in the NHL based on points percentage (.507). To be fair, finishing with no points would have left them in the same position. However, the loss could come back to bite them if they continue to slide.
Who:Winnipeg Jets (28-29-11, 67 points, 6th place Central Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-16, 84 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)
When: 1 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and TSN3, national feed on NHL Network
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins have two brutal rematches coming up during this three-game homestand, starting with meeting the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday for the second half of a back-to-back. The Pens then get a day off before reuniting with the visiting Carolina Hurricanes next Tuesday.
Opponent Track: The Jets are heading into Saturday’s matinee on a two-game losing streak after dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday before getting blown out 6-1 by the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
Season Series: The Jets opened the Nov. 1 matchup between these teams with four straight goals, capped off by Kyle Connor’s short-handed penalty shot, on their way to claiming a 5-2 win over the visiting Pens.
Getting to know the Jets
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti – Adam Lowry – Gabriel Vilardi
Gustav Nyquist – Jonathan Toews – Isak Rosen
Cole Koepke – Morgan Barron – Brad Lambert
DEFENSEMEN
Josh Morrissey / Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg / Elias Salomonsson
Haydn Fleury / Jacob Bryson
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck / Eric Comrie
Potential scratches: Vladislav Namestnikov, Ville Heinola
Injured Reserve: Neal Pionk, Colin Miller, Nino Niederreiter
The Jets have just three players this season with more than 15 goals, and they’re all in their top six (Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi).
Connor Hellebuyck is coming off one of the worst starts of his recent regular-season career after allowing six goals in Thursday’s blowout loss to the Boston Bruin.
Connor Hellebuyck allows 6 goals in a regular season game for the first time since January 10, 2023
The Jets are in a tough spot. They’re technically still in the playoff race (five points back, 14 games remaining). They’re also currently projected to select sixth in the NHL draft lottery by Tankathon. Angling for better lottery odds could be a good move for a franchise theoretically hoping to take advantage of the remaining competitive window around their core of Mark Scheifele (33 years old), Kyle Connor (29) and Connor Hellebuyck (32) by bouncing back next season.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Ryan Graves, Kevin Hayes, Jack St. Ivany, Ville Koivunen
IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Blake Lizotte
Looks like Sam Girard, who has missed five games with a lower-body injury, could draw back into the lineup after taking regular line rushes during Friday’s practice. That’s set to place him back on the second pairing alongside Kris Letang while bumping Ilya Solovyov from the lineup.
Ryan Graves and Jack St. Ivany were both participating in Friday’s practice as well, although they were doing so on the extra pairing.
Erik Karlsson was named the NHLPA’s Player of the Week on Friday for his efforts to keep the Pens afloat on their recent road trip.
👑 Erik Karlsson’s 3 consecutive multi-point outings saw the @penguins defenceman move into the top 10 among all blueliners in points this season, earning himself the honour of NHLPA Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/NyeZwYLioA
Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls just won’t stop winning. The race is so tight that a regulation loss for the Penguins could mean not only falling out of the top three in the Metro but all the way out of a postseason spot altogether. Here’s a look at the out-of-town schedule to keep an eye on tonight.
Seattle Kraken at Columbus Blue Jackets: 5 p.m. ET
New York Islanders at Montréal Canadiens: 7 p.m. ET
After the Islanders spent 60 minutes in Ottawa trying to shoot themselves in the foot — only to finally hit the mark with 11 seconds to go — they’ve got a pretty significant back-to-back here to finish the Canada road trip in Montreal and then return home for a pivotal Sunday meeting with the surging Blue Jackets.
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Dustin Wolf made 24 saves, Victor Olofsson scored his first goal for Calgary and the Flames beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Friday night for their second straight victory.
Olofsson came over from Colorado at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Nazem Kadri back to the Avalanche.
Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato also scored for Calgary, each moving into a tie with Blake Coleman for the team lead with 16.
A.J. Greer scored for two-time defending champion Florida. Daniil Tarasov made 32 saves in losing for sixth time in his last seven starts.
Trying to avoid becoming the first Cup-winning team to miss the playoffs the following season since Los Angeles in 2014-15, the Panthers remained 13 points behind the final wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference.
Greer was ejected with 8:46 left in the third period after hooking Connor Zary and shoving him head-first into the boards.
Zary remained down for a few minutes before slowly skating off accompanied by the club’s trainer. Greer was assessed a hooking minor, an interference major and a game misconduct. Frost and Coronato scored on the extended power play to put the game away.
After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Calgary took the lead for good at 7:44 of the second period when Farabee’s shot deflected in off the stick of Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola.
Late in the third, Mikkola sustained what appeared to be a serious injury when he locked knees in an accidental collision with Calgary’s Ryan Strome, who was looking the opposite direction. Mikkola was down on ice writhing in pain as he clutched at his left knee.
Calgary has won seven straight home games against Florida. The Panthers’ last victory in the Scotiabank Saddledome was Feb. 17, 2018.
Many people who have been associated with hockey for a long time understand that NHL goalies are simply a different breed.
It takes an insane level of mental fortitude to play the toughest position at the highest possible level, so being a netminder in the NHL is not for the faint of heart. It also helps to have a tandem partner who you work well with on and off the ice to help you navigate the highs and lows of a season and keep pushing you.
Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltender Artūrs Šilovs has been one half of the team’s goaltending tandem all season long, whether it has been alongside Sergei Murashov, Tristan Jarry, or - most recently - Stuart Skinner, who was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers as part of the deal that sent Jarry there in mid-December.
And, lo and behold, it didn’t take long for Šilovs and Skinner to get along pretty well. In fact, they’ve developed a pretty good relationship both on and off the ice.
“Yeah, I like the guy. Really nice guy,” Šilovs said of Skinner. “I think we have a good relationship. Went for a couple dinners together. It’s been pretty good. I like him a lot. I think it’s nice to have him here.”
“Especially where he played [before], there’s a lot of pressure. A lot of Canadian markets. I think he did a good job managing it. It’s not easy. If things don’t go your way, you get eaten alive there. And I think he looks happier here, so I’m happy for him.”
Asking Skinner about Šilovs actually garnered a pretty similar response in the beginning, as both mentioned that they’ve already gone to dinner a few times. And Skinner, 27, said that being close in age with the 24-year-old helps a lot with their off-ice relationship, too.
“It’s been great. Right from day one, we were texting, and we were able to get to a couple of dinners together,” Skinner said. “So, we were able to connect really well right off the bat.
“He’s a great guy, very good goalie, very talented, and we’re somewhat close in age. He’s a little younger than me, but we have that similar age kind of energy, you could say. So, it’s been a lot of fun getting to know him.”
And part of that process has involved the pretty common practice of largely avoiding hockey talk away from the rink. Skinner thinks that there is a time for hockey whenever it becomes relevant to discuss, but he and Šilovs have been able to connect by being present with their human side rather than by just being hockey players.
“Nothing really on the hockey side, to be honest,” Skinner said. “We’ve learned a lot from each other just from a personal perspective and hanging out with each other. I feel like, as hockey players, you tend to talk about things other than hockey just because your life is basically centered around hockey.
“So, it’s a good opportunity for him and I just to chat and be human beings. I’m sure we’ll talk if things come up. That’s kind of what ends up happening, I feel like, even for myself [and] some of the older goalies I’ve played with, you normally talk to them and ask them questions when things kind of come up. So, yeah, I’m always open to hearing anything that he’s got to say, and I’m sure he is with me as well. And we’re still waiting for that moment.”
Speaking of the hockey side of things, the truth of the matter is that not all goaltending tandems are smooth-sailing, especially when each netminder is trying to separate himself. No matter who Šilovs - who is 15-9-8 with an .895 save percentage in 32 games for the Penguins this season - has shared the net with, it has pretty much been a 50-50 split of the playing time, which has been the theme for the Penguins’ goaltending situation all season long.
For Pittsburgh, it’s a strategy that has worked. And for Šilovs and Skinner - one technically still a rookie but with ample big-game experience, and one still young but with plenty of NHL playoff experience - they are both finding some benefits of continuing to split games, especially with the busy schedule to close out the regular season.
“I think it helps us,” Šilovs said. “I feel like [both guys] have an opportunity to show up on any night. I think you have time for practice, time to improve yourself. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. So, I think it’s a good opportunity to prepare, be healthy. If you have something, you have time to recover, and just prepare for the next one.”
He also pointed to how he and Skinner are able to build off of each other’s performances with the way things have been set up as far as their tandem.
“I think it’s a big morale boost,” Šilovs said. “You know, we both want to help the team to win. If he wins a game, I’m happy for him. I’m happy for the team. Especially now, it’s so crucial to get points, it’s like, you want to have success for both guys. And I think that’s going to help us to be in a better spot.”
Even if Šilovs is pretty used to the goaltending split by now since he’s been doing it all year, Skinner is in a bit of a different situation. Prior to arriving in Pittsburgh, he was Edmonton’s No. 1 goaltender - posting 23 appearances with an .891 save percentage with the Oilers this season, which is his fifth full season in the NHL - and getting the bulk of the starts, so cutting some of that playing time has been a bit of an adjustment for him, especially since he’s never been part of a 50-50 tandem before.
For the first time in his NHL career, Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Stuart Skinner is working as part of a 50-50 goalie tandem split. Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
But the timing of it all actually added up, especially with the Olympic break and the schedule being condensed. Skinner - who is 9-5-5 with an .889 save percentage in 19 appearances with Pittsburgh since the trade - said the decision to split time between the two goaltenders has definitely been the right one for this time of year.
“I mean, it’s the first time I’ve ever had to do it, but I think it’s been working for the team really well,” Skinner said. “We’ve been able to get a solid amount of starts from both of us, been able to get some really good quality starts from both of us. Obviously, we’ve been getting points, we’ve been getting wins, so things have been pretty good.
“If you look at March right now, we’ve definitely had to make sure that we’re doing our best to keep everybody healthy and not exhausted. Even just coming into March, if you look at it, it was the best game plan either way. I think everything that this organization has been doing ever since I’ve been here has been very intelligent, very smart, and it’s working.”
And even if the numbers for either guy don’t stand out like crazy, it is certainly working for the Penguins, as each of them seems to be able to come up with big saves in big moments of the game. This happened with Šilovs against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday, as he made 18 saves in the first period alone to preserve the Penguins’ 4-2 lead heading into first intermission - and he didn’t allow any past him after that.
Then, on Wednesday in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, it would be easy to point to the six goals that Skinner surrendered and claim he didn’t have his best. But he faced 44 Carolina shots and was hung out to dry by the Penguins’ defense for much of the night - plus, he made some huge saves throughout the game, especially in the first two frames to keep the Penguins to within one goal at each intermission. And he made a phenomenal save in the third, too, when his team had just stormed back and taken their first and only lead of the game.
Every time one performs well, the other one responds the same way. And the pattern repeats. So, if the 50-50 split is not broken, head coach Dan Muse won’t figure to fix it - at least, for now.
“Yeah, if things continue to work, then we’ll keep doing it,” Muse said. “I didn’t walk into the season saying we have to do this, we have to do that. I think you’ve got to see your group and what’s the best fit for your group. And I think both guys have earned the opportunity to be in a situation where they’ve been splitting games.
“As I’ve said all year, it’s not something that I’m saying I’m totally locked into. I think you continue to take things a game at a time, but it has worked for both guys. I think the guys have been great working with each other. I think [they’ve been] great pushing each other, whether it’s practices or in games, and I think that’s a good thing to have.”
And if Šilovs and Skinner continue to one-up each other, Muse and company will have some difficult decisions ahead if the team makes the postseason. It’s not common in the slightest to see a 50-50 tandem last throughout the entirety of the season, and it’s certainly unorthodox to see that split continue into the postseason.
But, given how this team has found success doing just that this season - and, especially, with Šilovs and Skinner - splitting in the playoffs, should the Penguins make it, isn’t entirely out of the question, however unlikely.
“I’m not too sure how well that would work,” Skinner smiled. “But, who knows, though?”
Mar 20, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) celebrates after scoring the winning goal in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
For the second game in a row, a defenseman won the game for the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime, this time by rookie Alexander Nikishin, who notched his 10th goal of the season just 41 seconds into the extra period.
The Canes started off their road trip with a tight, 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night.
Brandon Bussi was the happiest to congratulate Nikishin as he got back into the win column, bringing his record to 26-6-1 for the season.
The Leafs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period but Jordan Staal tipped in a shot to tie the score during a powerplay early in the second.
Later in the second period, Eric Robinson was awarded a rare penalty shot and the fourth liner made no mistake.
His score gave the Hurricanes a short-lived, 2-1 lead because just a minute later, John Tavares muscled past Jaccob Slavin to the front of the net and he was able to slip the puck under Bussi to tie the score.
A couple of minutes after this the Canes took the lead again, this time on K’Andre Miller’s first career shorthanded goal.
Miller made a nice steal near center ice and took the puck in alone then lit the lamp on a slick move which faked out goalie, Joseph Woll.
The Canes held the lead until 13:50 into the third period when William Nylander skated through two Carolina players to beat Bussi and make it 3-3.
The game eventually went to overtime where the Canes got the game-winner.
The Canes outshot the Leafs, 36-26. The Leafs also blocked 21 shots.
Next up, they travel to Pittsburgh where they will battle the Penguins once again, this time on Sunday afternoon.
After a really great performance against the Dallas Stars that still ended up with a 2-1 loss in the shootouts, the Avalanche need a bounce back to snap their three-game losing streak, and there's no better team than the Chicago Blackhawks.
It was a dominant performance all around: production on the power play, even strength, and 100% on the penalty kill secured the two points and the first team to secure a playoff spot.
Period 1:
It was a great start for the Avalanche, keeping the Hawks on their heels and creating most of the chances early on. A lot of close shots within the crease, nothing too far out. Getting bodies in front of the net to try and get the eyes of Soderblom and slap in the rebounds, but he has been doing a good enough job getting enough on these shots to keep them out.
The Hawks' best chance came from an early breakaway opportunity by Andre Burakovsky, but Mackenzie Blackwood did a great job on the read and the shot and saved it. It's Martin Necas who opens the scoring as he rockets a shot just past the hash marks from a great play from Valeri Nichushkin. It's a forehand-backhand pass to Necas as the shot hits Soderblom's shoulder and bounces in, 1-0.
Dominic Toninato is called for slashing, and the Avalanche capitalize on their first power play of the game as Brock Nelson redirects Makar's slap pass just past the blue line, and hits the top shelf and in, making it 2-0. Jack Drury is called for hooking, but the Avalanche kill off their first penalty kill of the game, ending the period 1-0, and shots 19-5 in the Avalanche’s favour by the end of the first period.
Period 2:
It was another good start to the period for the Avalanche, who continued their pace and forced the Hawks to adjust. The Hawks capitalize on a defensive break as Ryan Greene finds Wyatt Kaisder behind the defense and beats Blackwood five-hole to make it 2-1.
Brock Nelson is called for hooking, but the Avalanche kills off the second penalty kill of the night. Despite another strong period, just keeping the Hawks to six shots on goal in the period, Soderblom is keeping them in the game, despite coming into the game with a .876 SV%, but stopping 32 of the 34 shots he has seen
Period 3:
Ryan Donato is called for tripping, and the Avalanche capitalizes on their power play opportunity once again. Necas finds Nathan MacKinnon right in front of the net, who quickly sends a backhand pass to Nazem Kadri near the right hash marks and blasts it in to make it 3-1.
Sam Rinzel is called for a delay of game as he sends the puck over the glass in his own zone, but the Avalanche can’t go three straight on the power play. Though it's going to be Valeri Nichushkin capitalizing on MacKinnon stealing a bobbling puck from Levshunov and quickly shoveling it off Nichushkin to make it 4-1.
Levshunov, not too long after, takes a high-sticking penalty, just two minutes. Still, the Avalanche can’t convert on this power play either. Blackwood with another breakaway save, this time on Levshunov.
The Avalanche hold on with the 4-1 lead and secure the victory over the Blackhawks, securing their 100th point and becoming the first team to lock in a playoff spot. Also, with their 100th point this season, it is the fifth consecutive season with a 100+ point season, which set a franchise record.
The Avalanche are back in action on Sunday, March 22, against the Washington Capitals.
The Chicago Blackhawks had their second leg of a back-to-back on Friday night. After a narrow 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, they returned home to take on the Colorado Avalanche.
Consecutive days with games against two of the top five teams in the NHL is never an easy stretch, but it’s a good measuring stick for the young Blackhawks.
Before the game began, Jeff Blashill announced that Andrew Mangiapane and Louis Crevier would be out with short-term injuries that they suffered in St. Paul against the Wild.
Wearing their black alternate sweaters for the last time in 2025-26, the Blackhawks started Arvid Soderblom in net for the first time since Spencer Knight’s illness ended.
In the first period, the Blackhawks were caved in by the Avalanche. Colorado outshot Chicago 20-5 and took a 2-0 lead into intermission thanks to goals by Marty Necas and Brock Nelson.
At that point, it started to seem like it was going to be a tough night for the Blackhawks against the team that's been at the top of the NHL standings all season.
The second period was somewhat of a different story. The Blackhawks came out and looked like an entirely different team for a while.
After a handful of golden opportunities for the Hawks early in the middle frame, Wyatt Kaiser split the defense, accepted a pass from Ryan Greene, and scored to get his team on the board.
Following the goal, the Blackhawks started to look more like their first-period selves. In the second period, the Avalanche outshot them 15-6.
That's a 35-11 advantage through 40 minutes. Without Arvid Soderblom, they would not have been within one goal at that point.
In the third period, the Avalanche were awarded a power play within the first minute. Nazem Kadri, their last acquisition ahead of the trade deadline, made it 3-1 with the man-advantage. At 11:26 of the third, for good measure, Valeri Nichushkin made it 4-1 in favor of the Avalanche.
The 4-1 score would hold as the final of Colorado. The final shot count was 49-20 Colorado, which is not a recipe for victory from Chicago's perspective.
The Blackhawks relinquished two power-play goals to the Avalanche in the loss. They will wake up on Saturday outside of first place in the penalty kill rankings for the first time in months.
Colorado came in with the 29th ranked power play percentage (despite all of their firepower), but they made easy work of the Blackhawks' PK. It has been more of a struggle to kill penalties since trading Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, and Connor Murphy.
In the win, Colorado became the first team in the NHL to reach 100 points in the standings. That was also good enough to make them the first team to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It's been a good month for the Blackhawks with all things considered, but games like this show how much more development is needed for them to be a legitimate playoff threat.
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