Category: NHL

The Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild are set to square off for the third time this season. Each of the first two went beyond regulation, but the Wild won both 4-3. 

The Blackhawks were beaten soundly by the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night, and this is their opportunity to bounce back against another good team. Although the Wild have had a magical season so far, they are currently in a slump, going just 4-4-2 in their last 10. 

As an angry team also looking to get back on track, the Wild presents a great challenge to a young Blackhawks team trying to have a strong finish to another developmental year.

Scouting Minnesota 

The Minnesota Wild are making their first visit to the United Center with Quinn Hughes. Hughes was on the team when the two met up in St. Paul in January, but this will be his first trip to Chicago since the trade. 

Kaprizov - Yurov - Boldy

Zuccarello - Hartman - Tarasenko

Johansson - McCarron - N Foligno

Trenin - Sturm - Fabbri

Hughes-Faber

Brodin-Spurgeon

Middleton-Petry

Gustavsson

The Minnesota Wild are going to start Filip Gustavsson in net against the Blackhawks. They run an elite duo in goal, and Gustavsson will get the nod in this one. 

Their top center, Joel Eriksson Ek, is out with a lower-body injury. This gives the Blackhawks an edge down the middle of the ice. 

The problem for the Blackhawks will be the stars, including Hughes, that the Wild have elsewhere. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy drive the bus offensively, and Vladimir Tarasenko, Mats Zuccarello, Ryan Hartman, and Marcus Johansson provide depth. 

Nick Foligno, projected to play on the fourth line, will make his first return to Chicago since being traded to Minnesota. As a guy who played with the Hawks for just a few years, he will get a warm welcome for the impact he had. 

Paired with Hughes will be Brock Faber, also a US Olympian who won gold in Milan. He can shut people down, create offense, and impact the game up and down the ice. Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin are the veterans on the blue line to support them, so creating a strong forecheck will be a key to victory. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks had an optional morning skate on Tuesday, so we will see if they go with 11/7 or a traditional lineup during warmups. 

Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky

Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teravainen

Mangiapane-Donato-Mikheyev 

Lardis-Lafferty-Slaggert

Vlasic-Levshunov

Kaiser-Rinzel

Del Mastro-Crevier

Grzelcyk

Knight 

Soderblom

Based on the way practice was conducted, Matt Grzelcyk may be the healthy scratch if they dress 12 forwards. If they go with 11 forwards, Sam Lafferty is the best bet for the scratch. 

Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom are each rested enough to start, so we will also see what they decide there during warmups. 

Sacha Boisvert is not ready to make his NHL debut yet due to visa issues. If he is able to clear that before their next game, also against the Wild, he should be ready to play if he gets a practice in.

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on TNT and HBO MAX. The puck will drop shortly after 6:30 PM CT. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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The Vancouver Canucks continue their homestand on Tuesday against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. Like the Canucks, the Panthers are set to miss the playoffs this year as the organization has dealt with injuries all season. Here are the lineup notes for March 17, 2026. 

Kevin Lankinen is the projected starter against Florida. If he does play, Tuesday will be the 200th appearance of his NHL career. This year, Lankinen has a record of 7-21-5 with a save percentage of .877. 

As for the rest of the lineup, Vancouver will be changing up their forward group on Tuesday. That includes Nils Höglander coming in for Curtis Douglas. Jake DeBrusk is also projected to jump up to the first line while Evander Kane drops to the fourth line. 

Projected Lineup:

DeBrusk-Pettersson-O'Connor
Öhgren-Rossi-Boeser
Sasson-Blueger-Karlsson
Kane-Räty-Höglander

E. Pettersson-Hronek
M. Pettersson-Willander
Buium-Mancini

Lankinen
Tolopilo

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:00 pm PT 

Venue: Rogers Arena

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Montreal Canadiens will face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, March 17, in a game with massive playoff implications as both teams attempt to hold on in a competitive Atlantic Division.

My Bruins vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks suggest Cole Caufield will continue his torrid pace this calendar year as the league's hottest goal scorer.

Bruins vs Canadiens prediction

Bruins vs Canadiens best bet: Cole Caufield anytime goal scorer (+125)

No one has scored more goals in 2026 than Cole Caufield.

His 18 goals in 24 games this calendar year lead all skaters, and he's scored in all three games against the Boston Bruins this season, culminating in a hat trick on January 24.

He enters tonight on a two-game goal streak and faces a penalty-prone Boston team with a moderately weak defense (18th in goals allowed) and a poor penalty kill (T-23rd).

Bruins vs Canadiens same-game parlay

Unsurprisingly, Caufield isn't the only Montreal Canadiens winger who has seen an uptick in production.

Rookie phenom Ivan Demidov, typically a pass-first player, has 16 shots on goal in seven games since March 1. He's hit the Over in three straight and in four of the last six. Additionally, Boston ranks 29th in shots allowed.

Two of three meetings between these teams this season have hit the Over, as these teams rank second and T-10th in goals scored. Both teams are coming off 4-3 losses and will look to turn it around at the Bell Centre.

Bruins vs Canadiens SGP

• Cole Caufield anytime goal scorer
• Ivan Demidov Over 1.5 shots on goal
• Over 6.5

Bruins vs Canadiens odds

• Moneyline: Bruins +135 | Canadiens -155
• Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-175) | Canadiens -1.5 (+150)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)

Bruins vs Canadiens trend

Two consecutive meetings and four of the last six have hit the Over. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Canadiens.

How to watch Bruins vs Canadiens

Bruins vs Canadiens latest injuries

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On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman spoke about the Montreal Canadiens’ tough weekend and about the way forward for Jacob Fowler. The insider believes that while the masked men will have been disappointed with the loss, he still played pretty well and that the door is wide open for him to remain with the team until the end of the season.

Friedman considers that the acquisition of Hunter Shepard from the Ottawa Senators is a clear sign that Montreal is preparing for the rookie netminder to stay in the NHL. Friedman adds that as of the weekend, they hadn’t told Fowler that he would remain in the NHL, but given the fact that you only have five callups after the deadline and they’ve used one for him, it wouldn’t make sense to play yoyo with the organization’s prized prospect.

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Despite being in the net for Sunday’s loss against the Anaheim Ducks and the fact that there will be a tough battle in the Eastern Conference to get into the playoffs, he believes Fowler will be given every opportunity to show he deserves to be there. Given how many opportunities Samuel Montembeault has had to bounce back and the precarious position the Canadiens find themselves in the standings, that would be the most logical course of action.

At this stage of the season, with every point meaning so much, you can’t go back to a goaltender whose confidence is shot and is trying to find his game. It’s not that the Canadiens ran out of patience with Montembeault, but they ran out of runway. It’s a shame for the Becancour native, but hockey is a game of results, and you’re only as good as your latest performance.

Regardless of whether Fowler sticks with the Canadiens until the end of the season, he’s already shown that he’s ready for the NHL, and that means Kent Hughes will have interesting decisions to make in the offseason. Both Montembeault and Jakub Dobes are signed for another season, after which the Quebecois will be a UFA and the Czech a RFA with arbitration rights.

Of the two, Dobes has had the better results this season. He leads all rookie netminders with 21, is fourth in goals-against average amongst rookie goalies with at least 15 starts at 2.97 GAA, and fifth in save percentage in the same pool of goalies with .891 SV. Will the Habs be willing to go forward with so much youth in net? That remains to be seen.

Back in 2009-10, the Canadiens had two youngsters in net in Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak, but by the start of the next season, Halak had been traded, and veteran Alex Auld was brought in. The situation this time around is different, though. Back then, it was felt that Halak had to be moved out so Price could have room to grow into his starter role, but I don’t see that happening for Fowler.

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Toronto Maple Leafs games have featured significantly less offense without Auston Matthews in the lineup.

With an excellent goaltending matchup between Ilya Sorokin and Joseph Woll, my Islanders vs. Maple Leafs predictions expect goals will once again be hard to come by.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Tuesday, March 17.

Islanders vs Maple Leafs prediction

Islanders vs Maple Leafs best bet: Under 5.5 (+115)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have played in much lower scoring games with Auston Matthews sidelined. Those contests have averaged 5.37 goals, well below the 6.78 when Matthews is in the lineup.

That trend should continue against the New York Islanders, who slot 4th in goals allowed and will be starting Vezina candidate Ilya Sorokin.

He sits atop the league in Goals Saved Above Expected (+26.2) and allows just 2.5 goals per game.

Joseph Woll is also in good form. He has posted a .900+ save percentage in six of eight, setting him up nicely heading into a matchup with the 22nd ranked offense.

Islanders vs Maple Leafs same-game parlay

John Tavares has averaged 3.8 shots on 7.4 attempts through four home games without Auston Matthews this season. Those are Matthews-like outputs. Playing the 1C role against his former team, Tavares is a strong candidate to lead the Leafs in shots.

Brandon Carlo blocked multiple shots only once over his first six games. Since that point, he has averaged 2.1 and managed a 62% hit rate. The Islanders rank Top-10 in 5-on-5 shot generation over their past 10, giving Carlo plenty of pucks to jump in front of.

Islanders vs Maple Leafs SGP

• Under 6
• John Tavares Over 2.5 shots
• Brandon Carlo Over 1.5 blocks

Islanders vs Maple Leafs odds

• Moneyline: New York -135 | Toronto +115
• Puck Line: New York -1.5 (+175) | Toronto +1.5 (-215)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Islanders vs Maple Leafs trend

The New York Islanders have hit the Game Total Under in 16 of their last 25 away games (+8.45 Units / 30% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Maple Leafs.

How to watch Islanders vs Maple Leafs

Islanders vs Maple Leafs latest injuries

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The Montreal Canadiens announced on Tuesday morning that forward Kirby Dach would be out for two to four weeks because of an upper-body injury. The Albertan sustained the injury early in Sunday night’s game against the Anaheim Ducks when he was blindsided by forward Jeffrey Viel.

This is just the latest in a long series of setbacks for the 25-year-old, who recently played in his 300th NHL game during his seven seasons in the league. The team’s announcement doesn’t delve into details of the injury. Given the nature of the hit, it was thought to perhaps be a concussion, but players who deal with concussions are often listed as day-to-day.

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If Dach ends up missing four weeks, he will miss the rest of the regular season, which is a huge blow to a player trying to earn a contract for next season. The 6-foot-4 forward has already missed 34 games in this campaign, resuming play on January 20 after being injured on November 15.

While some may say this is just bad luck striking once again, there has to be a concern for the Canadiens about his body’s ability to sustain the grind of the NHL’s physical play. The injury will take some of the heat off Martin St-Louis’ lineup decisions since he now finds himself with an extra chair on the third line, which will be occupied tonight by Zachary Bolduc.

---

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Darren Raddysh is an elite shot-generator from the back end, ranking ninth among defensemen in shots on goal.

My Lightning vs. Kraken predictions and NHL picks expect Raddysh to be front and center in an advantageous matchup against a team that gives up a ton of point shots.

Lightning vs Kraken prediction

Lightning vs Kraken best bet: Darren Raddysh Over 2.5 shots (+100)

The Seattle Kraken are a dream opponent for volume shooting blueliners. They’ve allowed the fifth-most shots to defensemen over the past 10 games and have played at a Top-10 pace at 5-on-5 during that span, creating high-event environments.

They also sit dead last in shots allowed to the right point this year, which is Darren Raddysh’s primary shooting zone.

Raddysh has seen massive upticks in shot volume against teams that bleed shots to defensemen. He's averaged 3.7 shots on 7.5 attempts, clearing 2.5 shots in 12 of his 16 games.

Lightning vs Kraken same-game parlay

Raddysh hasn’t scored in 10 games, his longest drought of the season. The Kraken not only rank near the basement in shots allowed to defensemen, but also in scoring chances allowed to the position. We should see plenty of volume from Raddysh, making him a strong candidate to find the net.

The Kraken have only won seven of 22 games against teams that rank Top 10 in preventing goals on a per-game basis. They lack the high-end talent to score consistently, and that should be problematic in this matchup. 

Lightning vs Kraken SGP

• Darren Raddysh Over 2.5 shots
• Darren Raddysh anytime goalscorer
• Lightning moneyline

Lightning vs Kraken odds

• Moneyline: Lightning -180 | Kraken +155
• Puck Line: Lightning -1.5 (+135) | Kraken +1.5 (-155)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Lightning vs Kraken trend

The Lightning are tied for second in the NHL with 20 road wins. Find more NHL betting trends for Lightning vs. Kraken.

How to watch Lightning vs Kraken

Lightning vs Kraken 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.

The Winnipeg Jets enter Tuesday night in a do-or-die situation, sitting at 28-28-10 and clinging to fading playoff hopes as they prepare to face the Nashville Predators in a pivotal showdown.

Separated by just a single point in the standings, the stakes could not be higher. Nashville holds 67 points, narrowly ahead of Winnipeg’s 66, making this head-to-head clash a critical swing game in the wild-card race. For the Jets, even a single dropped point could prove costly with time running out.

The playoff picture remains tightly packed with the Seattle Kraken currently hold a slim edge with 71 points, tied with the Los Angeles Kings. Just behind them sit the San Jose Sharks at 70 points, while Nashville and Winnipeg round out the chase pack.

Winnipeg faces the steepest climb of the contenders, with the 12th-hardest remaining schedule in the league. Their path includes two daunting matchups against the Colorado Avalanche, along with games versus the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets.

By comparison, Seattle’s remaining slate ranks 18th in difficulty, featuring two contests against the Tampa Bay Lightning and additional tests against Colorado, the Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild and Columbus.

The other contenders appear far better positioned as Nashville benefits from the 11th-easiest remaining schedule, while San Jose has the fourth-easiest. The Kings may hold the inside track, boasting the NHL’s easiest closing schedule with only a handful of challenging matchups remaining against Buffalo and Seattle before facing more manageable opponents like the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues.

The Jets’ playoff push has long been considered a long shot and the margin for error continues to be razor thin. A winning streak is no longer a luxury but a necessity. And it must begin Tuesday night against a direct rival with identical aspirations. Puck drop could mark the turning point of their season or the beginning of the end.

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The Detroit Red Wings picked up a badly-needed two points on Monday evening, securing a 5-2 victory over the lowly Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena. 

Future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane scored twice, while the Red Wings also got goals from Emmitt Finnie, Moritz Seider, and Dominik Shine (empty-net). 

They also got 25 saves from goaltender John Gibson, who turned in another strong performance for Detroit, who can now turn their attention toward the impending divisional clash against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. 

"It's nice, enjoy it, and get ready for Thursday; you can't dwell on any games," Gibson said afterward of the win. "It's too close. But it's exciting. You ask anybody, and this is what you want to be playing for; you can't be nervous (about) the pressure. You have to take it head-on and have fun with it."

Gibson had to be sharp early after a turnover in Detroit's own defensive zone led to a direct chance in front of the net from Joel Farabee; he robbed his golden chance with a windmill-style glove save. 

John Gibson robs Joel Farabee with the glove. Good start for the Flames early in the 1st.

🎥: Prime Video | #Flamespic.twitter.com/yBqeTEPL21

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) March 16, 2026

Had Calgary scored in the first minute of the contest, it may have turned out completely different. 

"It's my job, doesn't matter if it's a breakaway or a shot from the red line," Gibson said of his key early save. "You gotta make the saves." 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Gibson has been one of the NHL's best goaltenders since the beginning of January, and his swagger between the pipes has aided the Red Wings.

Head coach Todd McLellan made special note of not only how well Gibson has played, but the communication he provides to the team at the bench during television timeouts. 

“I don't know if you could put a number on how big it is, but you can just feel it, Gibby does have that swagger," McLellan said. "When he comes to the bench during the timeouts, and he's in total control and command of the game, and he sees things that the forwards and D need as reminders, he's barking, and they're listening."

“Once that started, his game really started to go. It's still like that, and it's huge. You have to have goaltending at this time of the year.”

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Modern sports media lends itself to hyperbole.

Every play is the “Play of the Year.” Every new prospect or rookie is a generational talent. And every great player gets inevitabely put into the discussion of “Greatest of All Time.”

But trust us, it might be tough to top this goal as far as the title of “Goal of the Year.”

It comes to us from the KHL, and the clash between Moscow heavyweights Dynamo Moscow and Spartak Moscow. The game advanced to a shootout, and that is when former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Semyon Der-Arguchintsev lined up for his attempt.

And did this:

🤯 OH NO HE DIDN'T 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZmJVt4H4Sp

— KHL (@khl_eng) March 16, 2026

Der-Arguchintsev breaks towards Spartak goalie Artyom Zagidulin, before slowing the play and getting Zagidulin to drop down to his pads. That’s when Der-Arguchintsev pulls the puck around his back, lifting a shot around his back and into the top shelf for the game-winning goal.

Toronto drafted Der-Arguchintsev in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft, and the forward worked his way through the team’s developmental system. He spent three seasons with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring 25 goals. He appeared in one game with the Maple Leafs, but did not score a goal.

He opted to return to Russia for the 2023-2024 season, joining Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL.

But this shootout goal is good enough, that it might just get him another look.

Semyon Der-Arguchintsev delivered a moment that had hockey fans buzzing on Monday. During a shootout between Dynamo Moscow and Spartak Moscow at Megasport Sport Palace, the former Toronto Maple Leafs forward delivered a highlight-reel, jaw-dropping goal that sealed a thrilling victory for Dynamo.

Skating in with speed from center ice, the 25-year-old forward approached Spartak goaltender Artyom Zagidulin. What followed was pure audacity: Der-Arguchintsev feinted to his forehand, then in a flash, flipped the puck between his own legs while spinning, threading it past a sprawling Zagidulin into the top corner. 

Born in Moscow and known for his slick hands and vision, he has thrived back home, tallying points consistently for Dynamo after stints with Traktor Chelyabinsk. In the 2025-26 season, he’s been a key contributor, with his shootout prowess adding to Dynamo’s depth. But for Toronto fans, this viral moment serves as a reminder of what might have been,a prospect who flashed promise but never fully cracked the NHL roster.

🤯 OH NO HE DIDN'T 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZmJVt4H4Sp

— KHL (@khl_eng) March 16, 2026

Der-Arguchintsev’s journey with the Maple Leafs began at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, where Toronto selected him in the third round, 76th overall. The pick was a nod to his junior success, and he quickly signed a three-year entry-level contract on September 22, 2018, after impressing at rookie camp. That first season, 2018-19, saw him dominate with the Peterborough Petes in the OHL, racking up 46 points in 62 games. He also dipped his toes into pro hockey with the Newfoundland Growlers, the Leafs’ ECHL affiliate at the time, notching two points in three regular-season games and contributing during their playoff run.

Why Semyon Der-Arguchintsev will make his NHL Debut with the Maple Leafs Against the StarsWith 18 points in 20 games with the Toronto Marlies, the Toronto Maple Leafs forward has done everything that was asked of him to earn his opportunity at the NHL level.

The following year, 2019-20, he elevated his game further with the Petes, amassing 75 points in 55 games before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season. He was Peterborough’s second-leading scorer behind current Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson (86 points in 36 games). Adapting to the disruptions, Der-Arguchintsev was loaned to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL for 2020-21, gaining valuable experience abroad. He returned to North America briefly, suiting up for six games with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL and collecting four points. By 2021-22, he was a full-time Marlie, posting 32 points in 51 games as he honed his two-way play.

His breakthrough came in 2022-23, where he tallied 40 points in 50 AHL games with the Marlies. That performance earned him a call-up to the big club, and on December 6, 2022, Der-Arguchintsev made his NHL debut in a 4-0 shutout win over the Dallas Stars. Logging limited ice time and no points in that lone appearance, he was reassigned shortly after, a common fate for bubble prospects in Toronto’s stacked lineup.

Maple Leafs Send Semyon Der-Arguchintsev Back to the MarliesThe Russian forward made his NHL debut against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. His return to the Toronto Marlies opens up a roster spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As a pending restricted free agent after that season, Der-Arguchintsev opted to return to Russia, signing a two-year deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk on July 4, 2023. He later moved to Dynamo Moscow, where he’s continued to develop. Notably, the Leafs still retain his NHL rights, leaving the door ajar for a potential return if circumstances align.

After Saturday night’s defeat at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis said he was disappointed with the way his team managed risks in the game, but he also looked frustrated because that’s been a recurring issue this season. To use St-Louis’ own metaphor, who once likened himself to a dad for his players, a huge part of being a parent is repeating the same thing until the kid finally understands what you want them to do and why, and it’s what he’s going through right now.

On Tuesday night, the Canadiens will host the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre for one last time this season, and the stakes are as high as they could be. Montreal’s lead over the Bruins has melted to just one point. While most pundits thought the Massachusetts outfit would miss the playoffs this season, they’ve been having a very respectable season, and they even lead the season series 2-1. The Habs' sole win this season came in December, when they vanquished the Bruins 6-2, but Boston won the last time the two teams faced off, 4-3 in regulation.

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Samuel Montembeault was in the net for the two defeats, while Jacob Fowler manned the net in the only win. The Canadiens have yet to confirm who will be on duty tonight, but it’s likely to be a choice between Fower and Jakub Dobes. Montembeault has faced the Bruins 13 times and has a 3-8-1 record with a 3.81 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage. Meanwhile, Dobes has never faced them, while Fowler won his only outing against the divisional rival, posting a .929 SV. The Tricolore will hold a morning skate at 10:30, and we should know then who St-Louis chose as his starter.

Jonas Korpisalo was in the net on Monday night when the Bruins took on the New Jersey Devils and lost 4-3 in the shootout, so Jeremy Swayman should be on duty, just like he was for the first three games against the two sides this season. He has a 11-2-1 record against the Habs with a 2.92 GAA and a .893 SV. As for backup, Korpisalo he’s 8-2-0 with a 2.49 GAA and a .916 SV when facing the Sainte Flanelle.

Up front, there are question marks about the Canadiens’ lineup. Brendan Gallagher was a healthy scratch on Saturday night, while Zach Bolduc got the chop on Sunday night, but Kirby Dach was hurt early in the game against the Ducks, and we have yet to get an update on his status. If he can’t play, Bolduc should draw back in. If Gallagher plays, he will be skating in his 900th game with the Canadiens. On the backend, Arber Xhekaj played well on Sunday but only had one shift in the third frame, and one has to wonder what that means for tonight.

Gallagher is historically the Canadiens’ most productive player against the archrivals with 30 points in 46 games, but he’s been held off the scoresheet in the three duels this season. Nick Suzuki is second with 18 points in just 21 meetings, while both Josh Anderson and Noah Dobson have 13 points in 23 games. The Bruins should definitely keep an eye on Lane Hutson, though. The blueliner has eight points in just six duels, and after having a couple of tough games, he will want to bounce back. Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky both have three-game point streaks going, and the Habs will need them to keep it up if they are to come out on top Tuesday night.

As for the Bruins, David Pastrnak has always been a thorn on the Canadiens’ side; he has 46 points in 35 games against Montreal, and he’s on a six-game point streak. Ellias Lindholm comes in second place with 25 points in 37 games, followed by blueliner Charlie McAvoy, who's on a seven-game point streak, with 19 points in 26 games.

Boston has a 5-3-2 record in its last 10 games but is still catching up to the Canadiens. The Habs are third in the Atlantic division with 82 points, just one point ahead of the Bruins. Meaning a win for the visitors would drop the Habs into a wild-card spot. The Canadiens also have a 5-3-2 record in their last 10 games, but have lost their last two. The Bruins have won seven of the last 10 matches between the divisional rivals and have outscored the Canadiens 40-32 in the process.

The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on RDS, TSN2, and NESN. Furman South and Wes McCauley are set to officiate, while Jesse Marquis and Brandon Grillo will be the linemen. The Canadiens will travel to Michigan on Wednesday, where they’ll take on the Detroit Red Wings in another crucial tilt on Thursday night.

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The Vancouver Canucks will take part in their fourth game of an eight-game home stand when they face the Florida Panthers later tonight. Both the Canucks and the Panthers’ last matchups came against the Seattle Kraken, with Vancouver losing by a score of 5–2 on Saturday and Florida losing by 6–2 in Seattle the day after. 

Today’s matchup falls in Vancouver’s favour for a couple of reasons. First is the fact that the Panthers will be without their top-scorer in Sam Reinhart tonight. The Vancouver local leads his team with 29 goals and 32 assists but did not travel with the team on their current western conference road trip. Second is the fact that the Panthers only had one day between their two games, while the Canucks had two. 

Vancouver’s power play has been fairly cold as of late, as their last goal on the man-advantage came on March 6 thanks to Brock Boeser. To make matters more difficult for their power play, Florida currently sits at seventh in the NHL in penalty kill percentage with 82.2%. If they are unable to convert on the man-advantage tonight, the Canucks’ power play goal drought will increase to five straight games. 

Another interesting tidbit about tonight’s game is the fact that Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote could be coaching against his son, Nolan Foote, who is currently with the Panthers. The Florida forward did not play on Sunday but could dress against Vancouver tonight. 

Players To Watch: 

Kevin Lankinen 

With Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote confirming that Lankinen will start tonight at yesterday’s practice, the goaltender will officially play in his 200th-career NHL game. The goaltender has had a run of rough results recently, having not won a game since January 21 against the Washington Capitals. Despite this, he has not entirely been to blame, as Lankinen has put up impressive efforts as of late — specifically against the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets.  

Matthew Tkachuk

Since returning to Florida’s lineup on January 19, Tkachuk has played well for the Panthers. He currently has eight goals and 12 assists in 19 games played as well as seven points in his last five games. The forward is also coming off his sixth-career NHL hat trick after a three-goal performance against the Detroit Red Wings on March 6.  

Vancouver Canucks (20–38–8): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 13–25–38

Filip Hronek: 7–31–38

Brock Boeser: 16–16–32

Jake DeBrusk: 14–18–32

Evander Kane: 12–16–28

Goaltenders: 

Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1 

Kevin Lankinen: 7–21–5

Nikita Tolopilo: 5–6–2

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

Florida Panthers (33–30–3): 

Points: 

Sam Reinhart: 29–32–61

Brad Marchand: 27–27–54

Sam Bennett: 24–26–50

Carter Verhaeghe: 19–27–46

Anton Lundell: 17–26–43

Goaltenders: 

Sergei Bobrovsky: 24–19–1

Daniil Tarasov: 9–11–2

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:00 pm PT 

Venue: Rogers Arena

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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With their two losses against the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks this weekend, the Montreal Canadiens have put themselves in quite a pickle. They are still third in the Atlantic with 82 points, but now, the Boston Bruins, who are in the first wildcard spot, are catching up. They now sit just one points behind the Habs, while the Detroit Red Wings, who are in the second wild card spot, also have 80 points, but they’ve played more games.

This week, the Canadiens will be facing the Bruins in Montreal on Tuesday night and the Red Wings in Detroit on Thursday night. Needless to say, those games will be do-or-die affairs. Montreal absolutely cannot afford another debacle against divisional rivals. Back in January, the Habs lost three of four games to divisional rivals over two weeks, and that had serious repercussions for the standings.

Canadiens: Fail To Manage Risk And Drop Two Big Points
Canadiens Top Prospect Comes Up Big
Canadiens: Mister Saturday Night Sets New Career High

Given how the Canadiens have played since returning from the Olympic break, it’s hard to believe that they will be able to take care of business. Thankfully for Martin St-Louis and his men, the two teams don’t exactly have great records over their last 10 games. Still, if the Canadiens put on the same display we’ve witnessed on defence over the weekend, it will be hard for them to come away with the much-needed four points.

While Jacob Fowler has already shown that he can have a great impact, even he cannot stop everything when the defence is hemorrhaging scoring chances. With the Canadiens having a day off on Monday and a simple morning skate on Tuesday, it’s hard to imagine that many adjustments will have been made.

For a long while, it looked like the Canadiens would easily qualify for the postseason, but with their recent performances, they are letting other teams catch up, including the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are currently ninth in the conference and only three points behind the Habs. If this doesn’t give you a sense of déjà vu, I don’t know what will.

It’s time for the Canadiens to buckle up and get to work the right way, before they fall out of playoff contention.

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If the Philadelphia Flyers have gotten one thing right in their rebuild, it's been their pro scouting and ability to buy low on struggling players. It might be time to check in with the Anaheim Ducks once again.

Trevor Zegras and, against the odds, Jamie Drysdale, have been success stories for the Flyers since arriving from the Ducks in the last two seasons, respectively.

Zegras was their first attempt at going out of their way to add a proven talent to the roster, and now the Flyers will have the opportunity to do something similar.

On Monday, the Ducks made center Mason McTavish a healthy scratch for their game against the Montreal Canadiens, which inevitably raised questions about his role and future with the team.

McTavish, 23, has just 13 goals and 32 points in 61 games for the Ducks this season and is a -11, and considering he had a career-high 22 goals and 52 points last year, the 2021 No. 3 overall pick is now going in the wrong direction amidst the worst season of his career.

Top Flyers Prospect Already Cooking in New EnvironmentThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> have only one post-NHL trade deadline call-up remaining, and it is becoming increasingly clear which prospect they are going to use it on come the final days of the season.

If the Ducks do wish to move on from McTavish just as they did Zegras, who also started strong before being forced out, nothing will prohibit them from doing so.

McTavish is in the first year of the six-year, $42 million ($7 million AAV) contract he signed with the Ducks on Sept. 17, but he won't see his 15-team no-trade list kick in until 2029-30.

So, if the Flyers were to reunite the talented center with one of his old Ducks teammates, nothing is stopping them aside from a potential bidding war and meeting Anaheim's asking price, if there is one.

From 2022-23, Zegras and McTavish held an expected goals-for percentage of 47.5% at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick, and while that is objectively a bad number, the Ducks were a bad team. The bottom line is that the two were better together.

McTavish, without Zegras, was at an even lower 44.57%. Zegras without McTavish was a tad lower at 43.74%. The Ducks without either of those two at 5-on-5? Just a dreadful 42.75%.

Flyers Can't Meet Reported Ducks Trade Price for Mason McTavishFollowing a new report, it would appear the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> don't have much of a chance of landing Mason McTavish in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks at all.

It's worth noting, too, that when paired together, McTavish, Zegras, and the Ducks scored 14 high-danger goals to their opponents' 12. There's untapped potential there if the Flyers can reunite the two former top draft picks in a better, fresher, and friendlier environment.

In the summer, when McTavish was an RFA, I advocated against the Flyers trading for him due to his lack of speed and production. These are still true, as McTavish is not particularly useful in the transition game and is now scoring points at the worst rate of his career.

At the same time, though, his $7 million cap hit is modest enough to make the risk worth the trouble for the Flyers, especially as they continue to drift towards another middling draft pick and may or may not make the playoffs.

The Flyers will need to find talented top-six centers one way or another, and it sure would be fun to see McTavish reaching his full potential playing with agitators like Zegras and Porter Martone, Travis Konecny, or Matvei Michkov.

More than likely, the Flyers have assets to make a potential deal worth Anaheim's while,