RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sidney Crosby is back.

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain will return to the lineup on Wednesday night against Carolina after missing nearly a month with a lower-body injury sustained while competing for Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

“Excited to get back in it,” Crosby told reporters after the team's morning skate.

Crosby hasn't played since his right leg buckled during a collision with Czechia's Radko Gudas during Canada's quarterfinal win at the Olympics. The Penguins placed the 38-year-old on injured reserve after the Olympic break ended.

Pittsburgh, one of the league's biggest surprises this season, went 5-3-3 during Crosby's 11-game absence and is in second place in the Metropolitan Division with less than a month to go. The Penguins are eyeing a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

“It’s never easy watching, but I think you gain even more appreciation when you’re up top, and you just see on a nightly basis, the way we compete, the way we work," Crosby said.

Crosby has 27 goals and 32 assists in 56 games this season, putting him on pace to extend his NHL record for most consecutive years averaging at least a point a game.

His return comes four weeks to the day since he was injured. He had been skating with the team recently and his comeback comes during a busy stretch in which Pittsburgh faces a series of quality opponents, including the division-leading Hurricanes.

Penguins coach Dan Muse credited Crosby's leadership even when he's out of the lineup as one of the reasons Pittsburgh has been able to hang in there.

Crosby's return comes a game after teammate Evgeni Malkin scored two goals in a romp over Colorado after serving a five-game suspension for slashing Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin.

“To see him come in like that after missing five games was huge,” Crosby said of Malkin. "He set the bar high.”

___

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

The Pittsburgh Penguins will finish their five-game road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.

The road trip started in Raleigh last Tuesday and will end with another game against the Canes. This will be the third of four matchups between the two teams this season. The Penguins won the first game back on Dec. 30 before the Hurricanes won the second game in a shootout last Tuesday. 

The Penguins have won two in a row coming into this contest, while the Hurricanes lost 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. They'll be playing the second half of a back-to-back with travel, while the Penguins had Tuesday off. 

Sebastian Aho is having another strong season for the Hurricanes, compiling 24 goals and 68 points in 67 games. Andrei Svechnikov, who scored in the shootout against the Penguins last Tuesday, is also having a good season, racking up 25 goals and 59 points. 

Seth Jarvis was on the Team Canada Olympic roster and has been fantastic this year,  leading the Hurricanes with 28 goals. He also has 53 points and is steady every time he's on the ice. 

Jaccob Slavin is one of the best defenseman in the NHL and is elite at suppressing chances in his own zone. He'll see a healthy amount of time against the Penguins' top line, which will look a bit different for this game (and going forward). 

Brandon Bussi started in goal for the Hurricanes on Tuesday, meaning Frederik Andersen will likely replace him on Wednesday.

As mentioned above, the Penguins' top line will look a bit different because Sidney Crosby is officially back. He skated on a line with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust during the morning skate and will return after missing 11 games. 

Here's a look at the projected lineup: 

Forwards

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau

Soderblom-Dewar-Acciari

Defensive pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Solovyov-Clifton

Stuart Skinner will start in goal after Arturs Silovs started on Monday. 

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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Junior coach sees ‘the long game' with Flyers prospect Luchanko originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Not even two months after turning 18 years old, Jett Luchanko became the youngest player in the Flyers’ history to make his NHL debut.

It was his first of four games with the big club last season. This season, he played four more after making the opening roster again.

That early NHL arrival can naturally heighten expectations and obliterate patience, especially in a market like Philadelphia. The Flyers have asked for plenty of patience from their fans over the last decade-plus as they’ve tried to accrue more talent. And the center position has been one of great need.

Inevitably, there might not be much of an appetite for waiting and seeing. But Jay McKee, once a first-round pick and an NHL player, can understand the development process for a prospect like Luchanko.

“When you have a player with Jett’s abilities and potential,” he said, “you’re playing the long game.”

The head coach of OHL-leading Brantford has had Luchanko for parts of four months. The Bulldogs acquired the 19-year-old center in a November trade with Guelph. McKee is someone the Flyers know well. He was teammates with Danny Briere for parts of three seasons when they played on the Sabres.

The Flyers’ general manager drafted Luchanko at No. 13 overall in 2024.

“He’s obviously very high on the player, I think that’s fair to say,” McKee said March 2 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Jett’s a very dynamic player that can play the 200-foot game. When you’re traded at any level of hockey, there are challenges of adjusting to a new team, new teammates, new systems, new arena. At this level, a new billet family. There are a lot of adjustments. It usually takes players a little bit of time to settle in as I’ve seen over the years.”

Luchanko was starting to settle in with 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) through 27 games for Brantford. But now he’s recovering from a fractured jaw, according to a source, and the hope is he can return during the first round of the OHL playoffs.

If Luchanko can fall back on anything, it’s that he has adapted to stopping and restarting. Over the last two seasons, he has played in the NHL, AHL, OHL and the IIHF World Junior Championship. In each of those seasons, he has played on four separate teams.

“They’ve all been fantastic opportunities for him, it has allowed him to grow,” McKee said. “It’s certainly challenging. I don’t think he would trade up all those opportunities for the world, but when you’re a player, having consistency in your routines, in your systems, in your linemates, in the coaching — there are a lot of variables that he has had to balance with all of these moves.

“As a former player, I can see that there would be a lot of challenges in that. That said, to have his opportunity to get his feet wet in the NHL the last couple of seasons, that’s incredible for his growth. It allows him to feel out the league, see where he’s at, what he needs to improve on — it builds his confidence. And the same thing for the AHL and the world juniors, all fantastic experiences for him.”

Between Guelph and Brantford this season, Luchanko has put up seven goals and 36 assists in 38 games. The goal total is down from last season, when he had 21 in 46 games for the Storm.

The Flyers like how fast he can skate, the way he thinks the game and his ability to win faceoffs, but they’ll need him to shoot much more down the road. Can he drive offense in the top six of a lineup? Is he more of a bottom-six piece? Luchanko’s NHL ceiling will hinge on how much playmaking he can provide.

“He’s going to play in the NHL, there’s no doubt about that,” Briere said in October. “Now, how high does he get? That’s really up to him. But it’s in there. The speed alone is going to scare a lot of teams eventually when he gets more comfortable, when he gets more assertive out there.

“Believe me, I’ve been part of it, it took me a while to feel comfortable enough to make those plays. So I know exactly what he’s going through, it takes time. From our end, we need patience, we need to give him time to find that comfort. On his end, his job is to find a way to break through.”

In his last nine games, Luchanko had an offensive surge for the Bulldogs with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) and 24 shots. The scoring was sparked by an opportunity to play on the wing alongside 2025 eighth overall pick Jake O’Brien. Luchanko eventually shifted back to center.

“There were a lot of moving parts to Jett’s season — being in Philly, being in Guelph, coming here for a very short period of time, going to the world juniors, coming back,” McKee said. “I wanted him to get settled in. When I moved him to wing, it was to give him an opportunity to succeed and build the confidence.

“When you go to a new team, when your point production goes up, the confidence goes up and you feel like you’re helping the team. I wanted to give him that opportunity. I see Jett as a center and he’s a guy that I’m going to be matching up against top lines because he has got such a fantastic 200-foot game and he’ll still have the opportunity to produce offense.”

This is Luchanko’s final season at the junior level. If and when healthy, he should have a shot at a deep playoff run with Brantford.

“We’re grateful to have him,” McKee said, “and the future is incredibly bright for Jett Luchanko.”

McKee, who had a 14-year career in the NHL as a defenseman, knows the importance of having a speedster like Luchanko up front.

“The way he can track, the way he can backcheck and pressure pucks from behind, he’s very hard to play against for the opposition,” McKee said. “He can disrupt the opposition’s rush before he even gets to your blue line and that is such a strong attribute in being a 200-foot player.

“His speed is incredible. You put him on the ice with NHL players, he’s going to look fast. It’s such a gift that he has and it’s an attribute that once you get to the NHL level, it can’t be taught. It’s not a part of the game that we can teach players. … When I played in the NHL, you were never going to teach me how to skate as fast as Jett Luchanko.”

The speed is Luchanko’s most obvious, high-end strength, one that already translates to the NHL. How quickly and how well will the other parts develop? That’s where the Flyers are hoping the long game pays off.

Since taking over for the fired Jim Hiller on March 1, interim head coach D.J Smith has injected energy and purpose into the Los Angeles Kings' lineup. However, has he done enough to be given the permanent head coach role beyond this season?

Smith has coached the Kings for eight outings, picking up victories in half of them, and one of the four losses was in overtime. That comes out to a 4-3-1 record and nine points from a possible 16.

The Kings certainly haven't lit the world on fire with their play since the coaching change, but you can see some improvements in how they approach the game, and they're a lot more competitive and threatening.

That jolt of energy comes in the hands of Smith. But, there's a difference between a coach fixing the systemic and tactical issues on the ice and a coaching bump. And with that, Smith may need to prove a little bit more before Kings GM Ken Holland hands him a contract.

So, what else does Smith have to do to prove that he's the man for the permanent head coaching role in Los Angeles?

Why Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland Had An Underrated NHL Trade DeadlineWhile it wasn't a loud deadline, GM Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings made some sensible moves that make the team better for the playoff push and the future.

One accomplishment that would likely make D.J. Smith the official head coach of the Kings next season would be to make the playoffs. It's a no-brainer situation, but it would truly speak volumes if Smith were able to steer the ship around and get Los Angeles into the post-season.

That was the goal for the Kings going into this season, and despite Hiller failing to put the team in a prime position to reach the post-season, if Smith can clean up the mess, that should be enough to land him the permanent job.

Another thing that management will be looking for during the rest of this regular season is how some of the organizations' young key players perform or grow.

Some of those cornerstones include 23-year-olds, defenseman Brandt Clarke and center Quinton Byfield. And to a lesser extent, in terms of potential and expectations, Alex Laferriere, Alex Turcotte and Sam Helenius.

The Kings Young Talent Could Benefit From The Coaching ChangeThe Los Angeles Kings have parted ways with Head Coach Jim Hiller, which could pave the way for players like Brandt Clarke, and Quinton Byfield to finally flourish.

It's a good sign that Smith immediately found opportunities for AHL players such as Kenny Connors, Angus Booth and Jared Wright. It shows that the coach is willing to give the organization's youth a chance, which is crucial for the team's future.

While it's nice to dabble in the franchise's youth, the most important pieces of the Kings' future would be Clarke and Byfield. Once captain and center Anze Kopitar retires at the end of this season, and defenseman Drew Doughty will eventually be next, Byfield and Clarke are next in line. 

Another aspect that would factor into Smith sticking around for the long term is the coaching market.

Whether or not Smith checks off all the boxes for Holland and the team's brass, if there's an appealing bench boss available, it may not matter.

Former Oilers Coach Woodcroft May Be Next In Line As Kings Coach, Per InsiderWhile D.J. Smith is the current interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, there's no guarantee he'll remain past this season. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said to look out for former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has reported before that former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft could be on the Kings' radar. He was a former hire by Holland with Edmonton, so that could be a possibility.

There are other proven head coaches out there, including Peter DeBoer, Peter Laviolette, John Tortorella, Bruce Boudreau, and several more. Not to mention others who could potentially be let go by different teams around the NHL.

Smith's destiny with the Kings may be out of his hands, depending on the thought process of the front office. But he can certainly help his case one game at a time, and fight to get Los Angeles to the post-season.

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The Calgary Flames host the St. Louis Blues at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight, with both teams well outside the playoff picture and already looking ahead to the 2026–27 season.

Rookie Matvei Gridin has provided a spark for Calgary, and he headlines my top Blues vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks for Wednesday, March 18. 

Blues vs Flames prediction

Blues vs Flames best bet: Matvei Gridin Over 0.5 points (+120)

Calgary Flames rookie Matvei Gridin is finding his NHL footing and has marked the scoresheet in four of his past six games.

The Russian cracked the CHL All-Rookie Team last year while averaging 1.41 points per game in the QMJHL, and he followed it up with 30 points across 37 AHL games this season before being promoted to the highest level.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues have surrendered a healthy 3.39 goals per road game and rank 23rd in expected goals percentage at five-on-five on the highway.

Blues vs Flames same-game parlay

Calgary is a respectable 16-12-4 at home, and the Flames have covered the puck line in 16 of their last 25 home games (+7.50 Units / 17% ROI), while the Blues sport a 12-18-3 road record.

In addition to both teams trending to the Under recently, Calgary has scored the fewest goals per game (2.46), and St. Louis sits 28th (2.63).

As a result, I'm anticipating a close, low-scoring game tonight.

Blues vs Flames SGP

• Flames +1.5
• Under 5.5
• Matvei Gridin Over 0.5 points

Blues vs Flames odds

• Moneyline: Blues -125 | Flames +105
• Puck Line: Blues -1.5 (+195) | Flames +1.5 (-240)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)

Blues vs Flames trend

Calgary has covered the puck line in 16 of its last 25 home games (+7.50 Units / 17% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Flames.

How to watch Blues vs Flames

Blues vs Flames latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Back in late December, the Philadelphia Flyers acquired forward Philip Tomasino from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Egor Zamula. Zamula's time in Pittsburgh ended up being incredibly short, though, as he had his contract terminated and signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in early January.

Since being acquired by the Flyers, Tomasino has played for their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In 28 games with the AHL club so far, he has recorded five goals, 13 assists, and 18 points. 

Yet, as the season carries on, it is clear that Tomasino has been heating up with Lehigh Valley. 

Tomasino is currently on a four-game point streak with the Phantoms, where he has one goal and three assists over that span. He also has 11 points over his last 12 games with Lehigh Valley, so there is no question that he has been making an impact offensively. 

If Tomasino can continue to produce solid offense like this for the Flyers, perhaps it could open the door for the 2019 first-round pick to get a chance on their NHL roster. Just last season, he had 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games with the Penguins after being acquired from the Nashville Predators, so he has shown that he can produce some decent secondary offense at the NHL level. 

Bruins must ride Swayman to bolster chance at making playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins entered Wednesday in the first wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference thanks to a regulation wins tiebreaker advantage over the Detroit Red Wings. Both teams have earned 82 points from 68 games.

Keeping that postseason spot could prove very difficult for the B’s from now through the April 14 regular season finale.

The Bruins have a slim one-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets and a five-point edge on the Ottawa Senators in the wild card race. The Blue Jackets have one game in hand on Boston, while the Senators have two.

Boston’s margin for error in this tightly contested playoff battle is extremely small. The Blue Jackets and Senators aren’t going away. Columbus has taken at least a point from 10 straight games. Ottawa is 7-1-2 in its last 10 games.

With points at an absolute premium, the Bruins need to rely on their No. 1 goalie to carry them back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Bruins have 14 games remaining, including two back-to-backs, and Jeremy Swayman should start almost every single one of them.

Swayman has been the Bruins’ best player this season. He has bounced back nicely from a difficult 2024-25 campaign. The 27-year-old netminder has a 26-14-4 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.77 GAA.

Those numbers don’t look elite, but if you dig deeper, it’s easy to see how impressive he has played this season.

The Bruins have given up the second-most high-danger scoring chances in the league, per Natural Stat Trick. They also rank 30th in shots allowed and 26th in scoring chances allowed. Swayman has faced 376 high-danger shots this season, which is the third-most of any goalie. He has an impressive .827 save percentage on those shots.

Swayman ranks third among all goalies with 22.8 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck. His 3.80 wins above replacement is also third-best among netminders. His 30 quality starts are the third-most and trails the league leader, Andrei Vasilevskiy, by two.

The bottom line is the Bruins are defending poorly, which has forced Swayman to thwart a ton of Grade A scoring chances by the opposition, and so far he has more than stepped up to the challenge.

If Swayman played on a team that defended at a high level, he might be the Vezina Trophy favorite right now. And honestly, he’s still making a case to be a finalist for the award despite playing on a bad defensive team.

Look at Tuesday night’s loss in Montreal, for example. The Canadiens tallied 25 high-danger chances — the most the Bruins have allowed in any game this season. Montreal’s expected goals scored was five, but Swayman allowed only three (two in regulation).

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

There’s not much to suggest the Bruins will suddenly become a consistently good defensive team over the final 14 games, and that’s a huge reason why Swayman needs to play almost all of the remaining matchups. He set a career-high last year with 58 starts. He’s made 44 starts this season, so it’s not like he’s been overworked. And after playing only one game for Team USA during the three-week Olympic break in February, he shouldn’t be fatigued.

Another reason to play Swayman most of the remaining games is backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo cannot be trusted to give the Bruins a chance to win on a consistent basis. Korpisalo has allowed four or more goals in four of his last five starts, and he’s on pace to finish with a save percentage below .900 for the third consecutive season. He has a .888 save percentage with 27 goals allowed in his last seven games.

The Bruins have the league’s toughest remaining schedule, per Tankathon. Seven of their last 14 games are against playoff teams and eight are on the road. The Bruins play the Red Wings on Saturday and the Blue Jackets twice more in Columbus. They also play the Atlantic Division-leading Lightning twice.

The Bruins need to play their best hockey of the season over the next month to secure a playoff spot. Every point is critical.

Swayman is the sixth-highest paid goalie in the league and he’s performing at an elite level. It’s time for the Bruins to rely on him almost every game the rest of the way. If that means starting 12 (or more) of the last 14 games, so be it.

Recently, the Montreal Canadiens’ defensive woes have been at the forefront of their press coverage. Not that it’s a new issue, it’s been there all season long, but when you’re winning, or you can pin the loss on the goaltender, it’s not as obvious.

In their two losses against the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks over the weekend, Martin St-Louis’ men committed a whopping 40 giveaways. When you turn the puck over to the opponent and find yourself having to flip to defence mode in an instant, you’re more likely to commit mistakes in your reads or your coverage, and that’s exactly how the Canadiens lost those two games.

Canadiens’ Caufield Scores 40 And Makes History
Canadiens Score Big Win Against Divisional Rivals
Heartbreaking News For Canadiens’ Forward

On Tuesday night, the Canadiens cut down on turnovers. Through 40 minutes, they had only committed six, and they ended the game with 11. Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle were separated after being on the ice for the Ducks’ game-winner on Sunday, with the sophomore skating with Jayden Struble while Guhle was paired with Alexandre Carrier.

While the defensive play was better, it wasn’t perfect. The Habs’ difficulty with the man-to-man defensive coverage was particularly evident on the Boston Bruins’ second goal. Struble had his man, but Hutson and Oliver Kapanen went for the same man, Viktor Arvidsson, leaving Pavel Zacha, who had scored the Bruins’ first goal, to skate unhindered to Jakub Dobes’ net and be in perfect position to convert on Arvidsson’s pass.

Confused defensive coverage is once again at the heart of a goal against.

Bruins are up 2-1. pic.twitter.com/vSi4XUmCGz

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) March 18, 2026

Throughout the season, the Canadiens have outscored their issues. They simply scored so many goals that it didn’t matter that they allowed so much because they were able to run up the score. The problem with that is when you get to the playoffs, or even nearer to the playoffs, as we are now, teams tighten up, and they play a more defensive game. You can’t outscore fundamental defensive flaws in the playoffs.

At this stage of the season, it’s too late for a complete overhaul of the defensive system, but Martin St-Louis has to be aware that there’s a lot of work to be done there. While on paper the system works, it means that on the ice, players need to make the right reads in a split second. That’s easier said than done, and if a player like Oliver Kapanen with such a high hockey I.Q. can make a mistake, anybody can. On Tuesday, instead of sticking with his man, the Finn stopped and was drawn to the puck carrier who Hutson already had. 

Of course, it’s impossible to play a perfect game in which you make no mistakes, but if the Canadiens want to get to the playoffs and play more than the five games they had last season, they need to tidy things up as a matter of urgency. 

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The Ottawa Senators are playing their best hockey of the season and look to inch closer to a playoff berth with a win over the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Wednesday, March 18.

My top Senators vs. Capitals predictions and NHL picks are calling for Ottawa to do just that and top Washington tonight.

Senators vs Capitals prediction

Senators vs Capitals best bet: Senators moneyline (-125)

The Ottawa Senators are putting together a postseason push with an active 11-2-2 record while ranking fourth in Corsi For percentage and second in expected goals percentage at 5-on-5.

It’s a different story for the Washington Capitals, with respective ranks of 25th and 20th during the same stretch.

Additionally, I also value Sens starter Linus Ullmark going 7-1-2 with a respectable 4.12 goals saved above expected since returning to action.

Senators vs Capitals same-game parlay

A key to success during Ottawa's heater has been excellent defense, with the Sens allowing the fewest goals per game (2.13) and third-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5. 

Plus, the Capitals have played to the Under in 10 of their last 12 games (+7.95 Units / 61% ROI).

Sens winger Drake Batherson rounds out the same-game parlay, as he continues to be mispriced in the points market. He’s found the scoresheet in six of his past eight games to climb to an impressive 3.19 points per 60 minutes.

Senators vs Capitals SGP

• Senators moneyline
• Under 6.5
• Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points

Senators vs Capitals odds

• Moneyline: Senators -125 | Capitals +115
• Puck Line: Senators -1.5 (+185) | Capitals +1.5 (-225)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Senators vs Capitals trend

The Washington Capitals have hit the Under in 10 of their last 12 games (+7.95 Units / 61% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Capitals.

How to watch Senators vs Capitals

Senators vs Capitals latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

March 16th, 2002, started just like any other day. That night, the Columbus Blue Jackets were playing the Calgary Flames at Nationwide Arena, and I would be there. Little did we know how bad the day would turn out for one family though.  

The Jackets would beat the Flames 3-1 that night. Geoff Sanderson scored, Cole Sillinger's dad Mike would score, and Ray Whitney would put on a show, scoring a goal and getting two assists. 

The game also had some legends playing. Players like Bob Boughner, Jarome Iginla, Marc Savard, Craig Conroy, and Craig Berube were playing for the Flames. The Jackets had Jody Shelley, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Kevin Dineen, Mike Sillinger, and Rusty Klesla playing. It was the O.G. days of CBJ hockey for sure. 

That night I sat in section 219, staring down at the attack twice net for the Flames. Midway through the second period, Norwegian forward Espen Knutsen took a harmless shot that was deflected way up into the stands behind Columbus goalie Ron Rugnutt. That happened a lot, with pucks flying into the stands. You can usually see the ushers walking down to where the puck landed and giving a thumbs-up if everyone is okay. 

But on this one, someone was hurt. A few minutes later, you could see what looked to be a teenage girl walking with a coat pressed to her head, and leaving. Usually, that means the puck drew blood and that they were going to get patched up. The game continued, the Jackets won, and fans went home happy. 

Little did we know though, that the young girl who was struck, suffered a skull fracture and had been taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital in downtown Columbus. Reports say that she suffered a seizure and was kept for observation. She seemed to be doing fine according to reports, even still holding the puck that hit her while sitting in her hospital bed. 

The hospital performed a CT Scan on Brittanie but failed to see that she had a torn vertebral artery, which resulted in severe clotting, causing her brain to swell. On March 18, 2002, young Brittanie Cecil passed away at 5:15 PM after developing a high fever and losing consciousness. She was just 13 years old. She died two days before her 14th birthday. 

When the local news and newspapers reported Brittanie's passing, fans in Columbus and around the league were shocked. How could this happen? What could be done to prevent this? 

Jackets forward Espen Knutsen said about the incident, "I think about it all the time. It was a terrible accident, and I cannot get it off my mind." Knutsen was given the option of sitting out the next game but chose to play. Reports say that Knutsen was sobbing in the Columbus locker room after he heard of Cecil's passing. 

"I'm not sure what being haunted by something really means, but if it means feeling the pain of what happened to that little girl all these years, feeling so bad for her family, wanting to tell them how sorry I am, then I guess that's what this is for me," Knutsen told the Columbus Dispatch in 2010. Former CBJ head coach Dave King said, "That incident ended his career. Espen was a wonderful person, and he had talent. But he was never the same player after that." King also said, "He was beyond consoling, and that was for weeks and weeks."

Knutsen, who had two stellar seasons for the expansion Jackets, scoring 22 goals and totaling 95 points, was never the same. In the next two seasons, he played just 45 games, mainly due to injury. He would retire in 2005 after playing just 211 NHL games. 

Flames defenseman Derek Morris said, "You try to say, 'It happens all the time,' but you can't. I don't know how many times pucks get deflected over the glass, but it doesn't make it any better. You can always say, 'It's not my fault,' but you always feel like it is, a little." Morris would go on to play 1107 NHL games over 16 seasons. 

In the aftermath of Cecil's death, the NHL implemented certain safety measures to prevent something like this from happening ever again. Gary Bettman ordered that glass be a standardized height in all arenas, and also protective netting be added to prevent high-speed pucks from going into the stands. Nowadays, most fans don't even notice the netting, as it has just become part of the experience. 

Cecil's family would set up The Brittanie Nichole Cecil Memorial Scholarship Fund. Per their website -  "The Fund will award scholarships to graduating seniors of Hilliard Darby and Twin Valley South High Schools who wish to become the best person they can be."

On this date, March 18th, we remember young Blue Jackets fan Brittanie Cecil, who would be 38 years old on March 20th.

Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets are back at home to face off against the New York Rangers on Thursday. 

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Nathan MacKinnon leads all players in shot attempts and shots on target, making it no surprise he’s also pacing the league in goals.

He scored in both games against Dallas this season, and my Stars vs. Avalanche predictions have him finding the back of the net again.

Let’s get into my NHL picks for Wednesday, March 18.

Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver, with the game airing on TNT. 

Stars vs Avalanche prediction

Stars vs Avalanche best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (+100)

Nathan MacKinnon lives to play the Dallas Stars. They have been a top-tier contender for years, and yet MacKinnon has still found a way to score in eight of the past nine head-to-head meetings, including six straight.

MacKinnon has generated 45 shots on goal and 78 attempts over those nine games. That’s an average of 5.0 shots and 8.66 attempts, better than his normal outputs, which were already elite.

With the last change in the Colorado Avalanche's back pocket, head coach Jared Bednar will get MacKinnon extra shifts away from Dallas’ top defensive personnel.

Stars vs Avalanche same-game parlay

Cale Makar has logged 26+ minutes in five straight against Dallas and should be heading for another massive workload, given the stakes of this Central Division battle.

He has an assist in seven of the past 10 games MacKinnon has scored, and heavily correlates at 5-on-5 and on the power play.

Thomas Harley blocked multiple shots in 16 of 20 games vs. Top-10 shot-generation teams. He has also blocked two or more in seven straight against Colorado.

Stars vs Avalanche SGP

• Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal
• Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists
• Thomas Harley Over 1.5 blocked shots

Stars vs Avalanche odds

• Moneyline: Stars +125 | Avalanche -145
• Puck Line: Stars +1.5 (-190) | Avalanche -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)

Stars vs Avalanche trend

Nathan MacKinnon has scored nine times over the last nine games against Dallas. Find more NHL betting trends for Stars vs. Avalanche.

How to watch Stars vs Avalanche

Stars vs Avalanche latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

By Michael Finewax, RotoWire.com

Welcome to the Yahoo fantasy hockey playoff primer to help prepare those who have made it into the postseason in your head-to-head leagues. I'm going to break down the schedule in all three rounds, as well as give you some tips.

Best of luck!

Maximizing Quarterfinal Matchups and Transactions

Week of March 23-29

4 Games - Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Florida, Montreal, Nashville, New Jersey, New York Rangers, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay

3 Games - Anaheim, Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Detroit, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver, Vegas, Washington, Winnipeg

—Chicago plays all four games on the road, while the New York Rangers play all four games at home.

—Anaheim, Dallas, Minnesota, New Jersey, San Jose, Seattle and Toronto play three games at home.

—Buffalo, Calgary, Nashville, the New York Islanders, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Tampa Bay play three games on the road.

If you play in a league with weekly transactions, there isn't much strategy this week, as everyone plays three or four times. Playing the home schedule could work, but with such an even slate, it makes the most sense to just play your best players.

In daily transaction leagues, there is plenty that can be done this week. There are 64 games being played, with 53 occurring on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Chances are that most of your players are only playing on those three days.

The Rangers play all four games on off-days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, giving you a huge advantage if you can add extra Rangers to your lineup. One example is Braden Schneider, who is rostered in 9% of Yahoo leagues. Picking him off waivers should, on average, gain 19 points on the week, and that could be enough to put you over the top. Other Rangers to consider are Noah Laba (1% rostered) and Tye Kartye (1% rostered).

The Edmonton Oilers beat the San Jose Sharks 5-3 Tuesday night at Rogers Place, and here are the standings explained.

Going into the game, Edmonton sat five points and two places above San Jose in the Pacific. Sounds comfortable, but the catch is the Sharks still have three games in hand, and that gap can close quickly. Kris Knoblauch put it plainly before puck drop.

"It's a four-point game. If we can win tonight, we're up seven. If they win, (we're up) three, that's quite a difference in the standings. And you know, if we're up seven, it's a nice cushion for us. We have to keep them behind us."

So now it's seven. But holding that lead is going to be a challenge, and the schedule is a big reason why.

 The Sharks have a better schedule than the Oilers down the stretch. The Oilers calendar reads as follows: Panthers, Lightning, Mammoth, Golden Knights, Ducks, Kraken, Blackhawks, Golden Knights again, Mammoth again, Sharks again, and finally the Kings on April 11. They can’t win them all (we think), but they have to win enough.

Conversely, the Sharks face a much more optimistic Sabres, Flyers, Predators, Blues, Blue Jackets, Blues again, Ducks, Maple Leafs, Predators again, Blackhawks, Oilers again, Ducks again, Canucks, Predators again, Blackhawks again, and Jets on April 16th. That’s 2 games against teams in the bottom 10 compared to nine for the Oilers and Sharks, respectively.

"Checking Our Way To Wins:" Oilers Game Plan In The Absence Of DraisaitlThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> don’t have the luxury of easing into this one.

That's the situation without Leon Draisaitl, who is out for the remainder of the regular season as the Oilers announced Tuesday afternoon.

"We're not gonna be able to score five every night, but it's nice when guys are feeling a part of it," began Zach Hyman post-game. "Nobody's gonna replace Leon. He's one of the best players in the world, so collectively as a group, everybody's got to raise their game, be a little bit better."

The Oilers managed fine on Tuesday. They outshot San Jose 37-30 and won over 54 percent of faceoffs, but the schedule ahead is considerably harder than the Sharks'.

Leon Draisaitl Out for the Remainder of the Regular SeasonThe Edmonton Oilers will have to play the remainder of the regular season without Leon Draisaitl.

San Jose also sits a point behind Seattle in the Wild Card race with a game in hand, and now sits behind the Oilers, Kraken, and LA Kings in the standings. That'll make Oilers fans feel better, but there's still plenty of time for things to change.

The Sharks have every reason to keep pushing, but the Oilers just made the remainder of the regular season slightly less dramatic.

The Wilkes-Barre Penguins endured a season-long losing streak of five games, which they finally put to an end by defeating Lehigh Valley last Saturday. Rutger McGroarty scored the opening goal in the 3-1 win to set the tone. McGroarty has produced five points in the five games during month of the March.

Sunday’s win was much needed to get back on the right track after previous losses last week to Hershey and those same LV Phantoms. From WBSPenguins.com:

Friday, Mar. 13 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hershey 4
A five-minute lapse in the second period allowed the Bears to seize a 3-0 lead. The Penguins turned up the heat in the third, nearly staging an electrifying comeback. However, a tying tally never arrived after goals by Aidan McDonough and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard inspired hope.

Saturday, Mar. 14 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Lehigh Valley 4 (OT)
Lehigh Valley pulled off a stunning rally, erasing the Penguins’ 3-1 lead in the last 5:13 of regulation, then winning the game on a power-play in overtime. Both Joona Koppanen and Tanner Howe had two-point games relegated from the headlines as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dropped its fifth game in a row.

Sunday, Mar. 15 – PENGUINS 3 at Lehigh Valley 1
The Penguins found redemption by clapping back against the Phantoms fewer than 24 hours later. Rutger McGroarty, Gabe Klassen and Owen Pickering all found the net for the Black and Gold to improve to 7-0-1-1 in its season series with Lehigh Valley.

Pickering’s empty net goal marked his sixth tally of the season, he had only two goals in 47 games last year with Wilkes. While not known for his offense, that’s a healthy uptick in goals this season for the 22-year old.

The games against Lehigh Valley were a nice reset from WBS’s recent trend of falling behind in games, as touched upon here last week, a trend that continued with falling behind against Hershey.

Here were the lines from the last game, Jack St. Ivany is back in Pittsburgh following his latest conditioning stint and Alexander Alexeyev has been returned to WBS after a short time on the NHL roster where he did not appear in any games with Pittsburgh. Tristan Broz remains out with an injury. A potentially good developing situation for Wilkes is that Avery Hayes was a healthy scratch in the NHL and could be further from playing after Sidney Crosby returns from his injury to boost the numbers of the Pittsburgh forward group. Pittsburgh made a paper move on deadline day to put Hayes on the AHL roster and maintain his eligibility to play in that league if they want him to send him back that option is open.

Clinching a playoff spot is all but a formality at this point, the magic number for WBS sits at one point gained by them or lost by Springfield and Bridgeport to officially punch their ticket. The bigger magic number to chase is 19 – any combination of those points gained by Wilkes or lost by Charlotte ensures a second place finish with 12 games remaining in WBS’s regular season.

The Penguins are waiting to see if Cruz Lucius will be signing with them and joining Wilkes for the remainder of the season. Lucius, named to the first team of the NCHC, had his college career wrap up recently with Arizona State after finishing 2025-26 as one of the nation’s top scorers with 46 points (15G+31A) in 36 games. Two of his teammates have signed contracts and turned pro but as of yet he has not. His options include staying to finish a degree and turning pro later this summer, either with the Penguins or waiting to become a summer free agent where he could sign with any NHL organization.

Up next is a rare Canadian road trip for the WBS Pens, with upcoming games against three North Division opponents in Laval, Belleville and Toronto. They should be clinching a playoff spot at some point on this trip and have the opportunity to get to work to solidify the important second seed.

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche close out a brief two-game homestand Wednesday night against the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena, with both teams arriving in Denver looking to respond after lopsided losses earlier in the week.

This marks the third of four regular-season meetings between the Central Division contenders. The season series has already produced two tightly contested matchups—Dallas edged Colorado 5–4 in a shootout on October 11, while Colorado returned the favor with a 5–4 shootout win in Texas on March 6.

Avalanche Searching for Response After Defeat

Colorado enters the matchup following a disjointed 7–2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, a game that unraveled quickly and exposed rare defensive lapses for one of the league’s most structured teams.

Nathan MacKinnon provided one of the few bright spots, scoring his 45th goal of the season to briefly tie the game early in the first period. The tally further cemented his place among the NHL’s elite, making him just the sixth player in league history to record at least four consecutive 110-point seasons.

However, Colorado’s defensive breakdowns proved costly. Evgeni Malkin led the Penguins’ charge with two goals, while Pittsburgh capitalized on turnovers and coverage lapses to build a commanding lead before the first intermission.

Veteran defenseman Brent Burns reached a historic milestone in the loss, scoring his 271st career goal to pass Bobby Orr for seventh-most by a defenseman in NHL history. Still, the achievement was overshadowed by a game in which Colorado allowed seven goals on home ice—an outcome that sharply contrasts with the club’s typical defensive standard.

Despite the setback, the Avalanche remain driven by elite production across their core. MacKinnon continues to lead the NHL in goals (45) while sitting among the league leaders in both assists and total points. On the blue line, Cale Makar remains one of the most dynamic defensemen in hockey, ranking near the top of the position in goals, assists, and overall scoring. Meanwhile, Martin Nečas has been a consistent offensive force, sitting among the league’s top scorers with 81 points.

It will be worth monitoring how the Colorado Avalanche respond on the ice following the public comments from Nathan MacKinnon, who expressed clear frustration with how head coach Jared Bednar has recently structured the lines.

This is hardly an ideal moment for internal tension to surface, particularly with the Central Division race tightening and the Dallas Stars arriving in strong form. Dallas has been one of the league’s hottest teams, with just one regulation loss in its last 10 games, adding further weight to an already high-stakes matchup.

Stars Also Reeling After Defensive Breakdown

Dallas arrives in Denver facing similar urgency after a 6–3 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday. Like Colorado, the Stars struggled defensively, surrendering four third-period goals in a game that slipped away late.

Jason Robertson continues to pace Dallas offensively, leading the team with 80 points while maintaining his role as one of the league’s most consistent scoring threats. Wyatt Johnston has emerged as a major contributor as well, leading the club in goals and providing secondary scoring depth that has been critical throughout the season.

On the back end, Miro Heiskanen anchors the Stars’ blue line, combining high-end playmaking ability with heavy minutes in all situations.

High-Stakes Meeting Between Contenders

The matchup presents a pivotal opportunity for both teams to reestablish momentum as the regular season enters its final stretch. Colorado has historically held the edge in the series, owning a 56-40-8-12 record in 116 regular-season meetings, though recent matchups have been tightly contested and often decided beyond regulation.

MacKinnon, in particular, has consistently produced against Dallas, totaling 51 points in 46 regular-season games, while Makar has also been highly effective in the matchup from the blue line. Nečas has added steady contributions of his own, further underscoring Colorado’s offensive depth against a familiar opponent.

With both clubs positioned as legitimate postseason contenders and separated by little in terms of overall talent, Wednesday’s game carries the intensity of a potential playoff preview. Clean execution, defensive structure, and discipline—areas both teams struggled with in their most recent outings—will likely determine which side regains its footing.