TORONTO — It’s been over three months since the Islanders were out of a playoff spot, allowing for the illusion of security.

This Islanders team is, plainly, much better than the last two that made the playoffs and which took until Games 81 and 82 to secure passage into the tournament, respectively, before bowing out quietly in the first round. Nevertheless, it may take this year’s outfit just as much time to clinch a spot.

As they flew north to start a three-game road trip with stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal on Monday, the Islanders were mired in a five-team race for four spots — two in the Metropolitan Division and both wild-card spots — with the Penguins, Blue Jackets, Bruins and Red Wings.

With 81 points, the Islanders were one spot below the Penguins, who started the day with just as many points before playing the Avalanche, but guaranteed to stay ahead even with a loss, as they have four more regulation wins. Columbus was two points back and out of a spot; the Bruins and Red Wings were both on 80 points and occupying the two wild-card spots. Montreal, it’s worth noting, could easily fall into this race as well; currently, the Canadiens are in third in the Atlantic Division, but just two points ahead of Boston and Detroit.

The most important teams for the Islanders to watch are the Penguins and Blue Jackets, as whoever finishes first of those three will have home-ice advantage in the first round. In that respect, the Islanders do have a schedule advantage.

Pittsburgh — which has been without the injured Sidney Crosby since the Olympic break, though he is on the Penguins’ current road trip and could return soon — has the hardest remaining strength of schedule out of any team in the league. The Blue Jackets have the third toughest and, just for good measure, the Bruins are in between them.

It’s not all good news though. The Islanders are right behind that trio with a .595 remaining strength of schedule.

The Red Wings, at .575, have by far the easiest strength of schedule out of the quintet, but they’re also dealing with the toughest injury situation. Their top two centers, captain Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp, both got hurt right after the trade deadline and were expected to miss at least two weeks.

Remaining strength of schedule, though, does omit a key bit of context: once they get back from Canada, the Islanders have just two road games in their last 12 to close out the season. So, yes, they’ll face some tough opposition, but given the frantic pace of their travel schedule since January, the Isles are probably OK with the trade-off. Their remaining games against the Blue Jackets (March 22) and Penguins (March 30) are also both at UBS.

Even going into this road trip, the Islanders had the most remaining home games left in the league, a considerable advantage, if they can just get through their last few road games unscathed.

If the Islanders do close out strong and make the playoffs, the ideal scenario is anything that gets them home ice in the first round. Beyond that, the Blue Jackets might be the opponent they’d most like to face, though there’s certainly no such thing as an easy matchup.

Pittsburgh has played the Islanders tough in two games they’ve split, plus Crosby would be an intimidating first-round opponent, especially with the potential of this being Evgeni Malkin’s last season. Carolina beat the Islanders in 2019, 2023 and 2024 — there’s no way the Islanders want any part of the ’Canes and a raucous Lenovo Center in another first-round series.

Buffalo doesn’t have any playoff experience, a plus for any potential opponent, but the Sabres are red-hot and being on the Atlantic side of the bracket, with Tampa or Montreal looming in the second round, isn’t exactly ideal.

The Isles are 2-1 against Columbus through three games and it’s been six years since the Blue Jackets have been in the playoffs. That wouldn’t be an easy series either, but it’s one the Isles could reasonably expect to get through.

First, though, they have to actually make it.

DENVER — Can virtual NHL officiating be worse than real life? Let's dive in, shall we?

Jokes aside, the Pittsburgh Penguins skated away with a 3–2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in our latest NHL 26 experiment, and the game was actually — gasp — fun to watch. If you missed it, you can check out the full simulation here.

Nathan MacKinnon and Parker Kelly provided the offense for Colorado, while Scott Wedgewood delivered a stellar performance between the pipes with 24 saves that bordered on video game legend territory.

For Pittsburgh, Bryan Rust scored twice and Justin Brazeau netted the late game-winner. Stuart Skinner was excellent as well, turning aside 33 shots to help secure the victory.

First Period

The Avalanche wasted no time electrifying the crowd at Ball Arena.

Just 29 seconds into the game, MacKinnon pounced on a loose puck along the boards, snapped it toward the net, and beat Skinner cleanly to give Colorado a 1–0 lead before many fans had even settled into their seats.

Pittsburgh quickly responded by cranking up the physicality. On the next sequence, Evgeni Malkin — appearing in his first game after serving a five-game suspension — leveled Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson during a gritty battle along the boards.

Manson bounced right back into the play. Moments later, off a faceoff win from Brock Nelson in Pittsburgh’s zone, the defenseman blasted a point shot that Skinner snatched out of the air with a spectacular glove save.

Nearly eight minutes into the period, Manson returned to the exact same patch of ice and fired another wrister toward the net. This time it beat the goalie but rang squarely off the post, drawing a loud, collective “Ohhh!” from the crowd.

About a minute later, Colorado went to the power play after Noel Acciari was whistled for holding Nelson. The man advantage generated chances, including a slap shot from Martin Nečas, but Skinner stood tall and kept the puck out.

Pittsburgh eventually found its breakthrough with 6:12 remaining in the period.

The sequence began when Parker Kelly mishandled the puck in the defensive zone, allowing Rickard Rakell to intercept the pass and quickly slide the puck into the slot. Rust took it from there, firing a precise shot past Wedgewood to tie the game 1–1.

The Penguins struck again almost immediately.

After crashing the net and forcing chaos around the crease, Parker Wotherspoon worked the puck free and sent it back to Rust in nearly the same shooting lane. Once again, he made no mistake, wiring it past the goaltender to give Pittsburgh a 2–1 lead.

Then came one of those classic EA Sports officiating moments.

Nicolas Roy was called for interference despite Anthony Mantha essentially skating directly into him. Thanks, EA. Fortunately for Colorado, the penalty kill held strong.

Late in the period, Wedgewood produced the save of the night.

With 1:29 remaining, Malkin uncorked a dangerous one-timer that looked destined for the net. Falling backward, the Avalanche goaltender somehow flashed the glove and robbed him in dramatic fashion.

After twenty minutes, the Penguins held a 2–1 lead and a 14–10 edge in shots.

Second Period

Colorado clawed its way back midway through the frame.

Nearly seven minutes into the period, Kelly capitalized on a quick passing play when Sam Malinski fed him in tight. Kelly attempted a backhand that caught Skinner’s blocker and fluttered awkwardly into the net, tying the game 2–2.

It was the kind of opportunistic scoring that highlights Colorado’s depth — the players who quietly deliver when the stars are tied up.

Nečas nearly pushed the Avalanche ahead later in the period with a booming slap shot from the top of the right circle, but the puck was partially deflected before Skinner calmly plucked it out of the air.

Neither team could break the deadlock before the intermission, sending the game to the third period tied 2–2. Pittsburgh held a razor-thin shots advantage at 22–21.

Third Period

The final frame opened with a little bit of everything — pressure, frustration, and plenty of iron.

About three minutes in, Mantha broke through Colorado’s defense and fired a wrist shot from the top of the left circle.

Doink.

Off the post.

Colorado controlled possession through much of the first half of the period, outshooting Pittsburgh 8–0 during one extended stretch. A turnover at the blue line created a chance for Gavin Brindley to drive the net, but his shot glanced off Skinner’s glove and stayed out.

Then came another moment of metallic misfortune.

With nine minutes remaining, MacKinnon received a slick pass from Nazem Kadri in the slot and quickly snapped a backhand toward the net.

Doink.

Right off the post again as Skinner sprawled across the crease stacking the pads.

Mantha later joined the unofficial “post club.”

On a clean 2-on-1 rush with 4:30 left, Kris Letang fed him perfectly in stride. Mantha ripped the shot…

Doink.

Again.

The forward covered his face before throwing his arms skyward in disbelief, seemingly wondering what kind of hockey spirits had cursed him.

Unfortunately for Colorado, the cruelest bounce of the night was still coming.

With just 35 seconds left in regulation, Brazeau snapped a shot from the slot that deflected off Zakhar Bardakov’s stick and fluttered past Wedgewood into the net.

An own goal.

A brutal break.

And a 3–2 Penguins lead.

Colorado pulled the goalie for a final push, but the rally never materialized. Pittsburgh held firm in the closing seconds to secure the virtual victory.

Now the only question left is simple:

What happens when these teams meet in real life tonight?

The popularity of the Florida Panthers has grown quite a bit in recent years.

Three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final and back-to-back championships will do that.

Even throughout their current season, which has seen the Panthers struggle to find the same kind of success they’ve seen over the past several years, fans have been showing up and showing out, wherever the Cats might be hitting the ice.

That included Sunday in Seattle, when a plethora of Panthers fans were seen in the building and on the glass at Climate Pledge Arena.

“We get traveling fans who come out and follow us on a road trip, and it is great,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said Sunday.

It’s no surprise that Florida’s average attendance at home has seen a big boost.

This season, even with all of the Panthers struggles, they are still averaging the third-highest home attendance in the league, behind only Montreal and Tampa Bay.

But to see all the Panthers fans on the road has been great.

They’re not only showing up along the glass for pregame warmups, either.

Fans are at the practice rinks, they’re outside the team bus wherever it goes, they’re waiting outside arenas after games.

Panthers popularity is a real thing, ya’ll.

“There’s far more people looking for autographs at the hotel, a lot more Panthers jerseys in the fans in road buildings,” Maurice said.

Look for this trend to continue building momentum, as the Panthers should resume their run of Stanley Cup contending seasons in short order.

Florida’s roster is full of elite players who are locked up for several seasons, meaning the team is expected to maintain its spot as one of the top teams in the league.

Seeds that were planted long ago are now finally starting to bear fruit.

Enjoy it, Cats fans. You’ve earned it.

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Dec 13, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; The Florida Panthers and their fans celebrate and empty net goal by left wing Brad Marchand (not pictured) against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Artemi Panarin returns to Madison Square Garden with his emotions still raw, just a few weeks after he was traded from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings. 

The Rangers are set to play against the Kings on Monday night, marking the first time Panarin will face off against the Blueshirts since being traded. 

Panarin admitted to potentially being emotional, but knows the magnitude of the game, given the Kings’ playoff push in the Western Conference.

"We'll see,” Panarin said about how emotional it will be playing the Rangers. “I'll try not crying. I guess battling for playoffs, I don't have time for that emotion"

There was a lot of buildup to Panarin’s departure from New York, yet everything seemed to reach a boiling point and move quickly in January, less than a month before he ultimately was traded. 

The 34-year-old forward entered the 2025-26 campaign without a long-term contract extension in place, as his seven-year, $81.5 million contract extension was going to expire during the 2026 offseason. 

Both Rangers’ president and general manager Chris Drury and Panarin spoke vaguely about contract negotiations, not revealing what may transpire in the future, which brought even more uncertainty to the situation. 

Ultimately, Drury issued a letter to fans on Jan. 16 outlining the Rangers’ plan to retool the roster, and it was reported shortly after that the Rangers did not plan to re-sign Panarin and would look to trade him ahead of the March 6th NHL Trade Deadline.

Upon being held out of the Rangers’ lineup starting on Jan. 28 due to roster management, Panarin and his agent, Paul Theofanous, were able to explore the market and determine which teams would be willing to give a contract extension that met their demands. 

Panarin zeroed in on the Kings as his preferred destination and waived his no-move clause to go to Los Angeles. Almost immediately after being traded, Panarin signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Kings. 

“I feel weird actually. It’ll be in my head, and stay in my head and just walk around. I feel like this ended very quick — I was not expecting that, but I also had seven years here, so it was a great time for me,” Panarin said about how everything unfolded with the Rangers. 

Now, everything is in the past, and Panarin will enter the world’s most famous arena as an opponent. 

The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (33-31-2) versus the Boston Bruins (37-23-6)

The Time: 7:00 pm EST

The Broadcast: TV — ESPN; Radio — Devils Hockey Network

The Game Preview: Matt had it here.

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

DENVER — Ilya Solovyov didn’t spend long in Denver, but his brief stint with the Colorado Avalanche still produced a moment he’ll remember for the rest of his career — the first NHL goal of his career.

The 25-year-old defenseman scored that milestone marker on Jan. 10 in a 4–0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. With 9:30 remaining in the second period, Solovyov accepted a rink wide pass from Parker Kelly, stepped into the play, and ripped a wrist shot from the top of the left circle past the goaltender. The celebration was instant and emotional as he leapt into the arms of teammate Brent Burns.

Ilya Solovyov buries his first NHL goal 😤 pic.twitter.com/O9ryTQaBIU

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 10, 2026

Even months later, the memory still resonates.

"It's good to score when we play at home," Solovyov told The Hockey News. "Yeah, it was a fun (moment), fun memory, so I'll try to (score some more) tonight."

Solovyov’s path to that moment in Denver was far from straightforward. The Belarusian defenseman was claimed off waivers by Colorado in October after spending most of the 2024–25 season with the Calgary Wranglers, the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames.

During that AHL campaign, Solovyov produced 28 points — six goals and 22 assists — tying for the team lead in goals among defensemen. He also appeared in five NHL games with Calgary, recording one assist.

But the move to Denver came with challenges beyond the ice, particularly for his family, who remained behind in Calgary while the logistics of another relocation were sorted out.

“I left my family back in Calgary for a bit. It’s been almost two weeks right now,” Solovyov said shortly after arriving in Colorado. “We have a house over there, so they’re not able to jump in right away. We have to clean everything; we have to call a moving company to pick up all the stuff. We’ve got a bed, a lot of kid stuff, so they’re not able to come right away. Now we’re trying to figure out everything else. The next day I’m flying to Colorado, and the day after that I’m skating by myself.”

Another Move, Another Opportunity

Just 10 days after scoring his first NHL goal, Solovyov’s whirlwind season took another turn. Colorado traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Valtteri Puustinen and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick.

Given those circumstances, it was only natural to ask how his family has handled yet another move.

"It's maybe a little bit easier for me than for (my) family, especially my wife and son," he added. "Moving from Calgary to Denver, like you said, it was a little hard for them, but they try to manage it, and help me as much as they can."

On the ice, Solovyov appears to be settling in with his new club. In 16 games with Colorado, he recorded one goal and two assists for three points. Since joining Pittsburgh, however, his offensive production has already picked up. Through nine games with the Penguins, Solovyov has registered four assists — already surpassing his point total with the Avalanche, aside from the lone goal.

Now, he’ll have an opportunity to show his former team what they may have lost when the Penguins face the Avalanche tonight.

"I'm just trying to play solid, that's it. The last few games haven't been good for me, so I'll just try to (play better)."

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made some changes to their roster ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Penguins have announced that they have recalled defenseman Jack St. Ivany from his conditioning stint with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In addition, Pittsburgh shared that blueliner Alexander Alexeyev has been sent back down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. 

St. Ivany played in three games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during his conditioning loan, where he had one assist and a plus-1 rating. Now, after getting called back up to Pittsburgh's roster, he will be looking to make an impact. 

St. Ivany has not played in a game for Pittsburgh since Jan. 25 due to injury. Yet, he is now ready to return for the Penguins and will look to build on his strong season with the Metropolitan Division club. In 17 games this season for Pittsburgh, he has a career-high seven assists and 40 hits.

As for Alexeyev, he did not make his Pittsburgh debut during his call-up. In 29 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has three goals, seven points, 15 penalty minutes, and a plus-4 rating. 

The Montreal Canadiens lost more than the game when they were beaten 4-3 by the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night; they also lost forward Kirby Dach, once again. In the very early stages of the game, forward Jeffrey Viel blindsided Dach with a solid hit. The Canadiens’ player did not see the hit coming at all. He got back up, skating gingerly and headed to the bench; that was his second and last shift of the game.

During the first intermission, the Canadiens announced that he would not be back in the game because of an upper-body injury. The media asked for an update after the game, but there was no news to share. With the Habs benefiting from a day off on Monday, it’s unlikely that we’ll hear anything before morning skate on Tuesday ahead of the evening’s duel with the Boston Bruins.

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Ever since he entered the NHL, Dach has been plagued by rotten luck with injuries. From the wrist injury at the World Junior Championships to the concussion with the Chicago Blackhawks and the two knee injuries with the Canadiens, he’s been through a lot. As if that wasn’t enough, he also suffered a broken leg earlier this season.

The Canadiens have not confirmed that he’s dealing with a concussion, but given how the play unfolded, it wouldn’t be surprising. The timing of this latest setback couldn’t have been worse for Dach, who is currently playing the last year of the four-year deal he signed when the Canadiens acquired him.

Kirby Dach left for the dressing room after taking a hit from Jeffrey Viel. pic.twitter.com/zGYapPnAtf

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 15, 2026

Of the 312 games the Habs have played since then, Dach has only played 149, for just 48% of the matches. As harsh as it seems to write this, it’s hard to see the Habs committing long-term to the 6-foot-4 and 221-pound forward. While there’s definitely some talent there, his body seems unable to sustain the rigours of an NHL career.

Montreal already signed Kaiden Guhle to a six-year deal, and the defenseman keeps missing time, putting the defence corps under pressure. In four seasons, he has played 195 games, out of a possible 328, which means the Canadiens have had him only 60% of the time.

It’s tough to build a team and need to have a plan B scenario ready at all times, especially given the constraints of the salary cap. Montreal already has to do that with Guhle, and doing it with Dach as well could hurt the team. At the end of the season, Dach will be an RFA but will become a UFA at the end of the 2026-27 season. If the Canadiens choose to give him yet another chance, I would be surprised if the contract had much term on it. It’s hard not to feel for Dach, but hockey is first and foremost a business at the professional level.

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With the Ottawa Senators down two of their regular defensemen due to injury, Carter Yakemchuk is making a loud statement in the AHL about what he'd like to see happen next. 

The American Hockey League announced on Monday that Yakemchuk has been selected as the AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 15, 2026. In his past three games for Belleville, Yakemchuk has a goal, eight points and a plus-8.

Yakemchuk assisted on six goals in his two games last week, helping the Senators to a sweep of their weekend visit to Hershey.

He becomes only the seventh Belleville Sens player to earn the player of the week honours. The others are Drake Batherson (October 28, 2019), Logan Brown (November 4, 2019), Josh Norris (April 19, 2021), Michael Carcone (December 6, 2021), Egor Sokolov (February 7, 2022), and Angus Crookshank (January 22, 2024).

Yakemchuk, the seventh overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, is still waiting to make his NHL debut for Ottawa, even though both Jake Sanderson and Nick Jensen are out with injuries. Their spots on the everyday roster have been taken by Yakemchuk's Belleville teammate, Dennis Gilbert, and Ottawa's seventh defenseman, Nik Matinpalo.

But that still left a need for a seventh defenseman in Ottawa, and the Sens also chose to bypass Yakemchuk for that role, calling up Lassi Thomson. 

At the start of the season, if you told a Sens fan that the club would need nine defensemen in Ottawa at some point, they probably would have assumed Yakemchuk would be one of them.

But the fact of the matter is that the Senators want Yakemchuk to keep developing, keep playing big minutes, and come up to the NHL only when the time is right. 

So far, so good.

On Saturday, Yakemchuk recorded four assists to help Belleville to a 6-3 victory. Then on Sunday, he added two more helpers in another three-goal Belleville win, this time, 5-2. Yakemchuk was named the First Star in both games.

On the season, Yakemchuk has recorded 35 points in 47 games, good for second among all AHL rookie defensemen.

When the Sens drafted him, he had just come off a 30-goal season with the Calgary Hitmen in 2023-24. But when he returned to the WHL last season to work on skating and his defensive game, his offensive numbers took a hit, but it looks like things are starting to trend back in a positive direction.

He did get a recent NHL taste, which he loved, coming up to practice with Ottawa during the Olympic break last month. Based on his recent performances, the kid looks like he's hungry for a lot more.

Steve Warne
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.

More from The Hockey News:
- Linus Ullmark's Post-Game Media Availability Lasts 25 Seconds
- League Announces Senators Will Get A First-Round Pick In 2026 After All
- There’s No Replacing Jake Sanderson, But Senators Must Step Up In His Absence
- Were the Senators Chasing Robert Thomas At The Trade Deadline?
- Senators Acquire Former 67s Star At Trade Deadline

The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off a monstrous win over the Utah Mammoth on Saturday night.

They played a horrendous first 30 minutes and were down 2-0 late in the second period before rallying to win 4-3. The win snapped the Penguins' two-game losing streak and kept them in second place in the Metropolitan Division. 

The Penguins will try to make it two wins in a row on Monday night when they play the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche are in first place in the Central Division with a 44-12-9 record, good for 97 points. They have won seven of their last 10 games and have only lost in regulation five times at home this year. 

Nathan MacKinnon is one of the best players on the planet and is having another outstanding season, compiling 44 goals and 109 points in 64 games. He does it all, and once he gets a burst of speed, it's usually game over. 

Martin Necas is second on the team in goals (31) and points (80). He has been a perfect fit for the Avalanche since they acquired him last season.

Cale Makar is elite on the backend for the Avalanche, racking up 19 goals and 67 points in 65 games this year. He's hit the 90-point mark for two seasons in a row and is trying to make it three this year. 

This is also an Avalanche team that is very deep at center. They can run MacKinnon-Nelson-Kadri down the middle for their first three lines. 

Scott Wedgewood will start in goal for the Avalanche. He has a 25-4-5 record to go along with a .918 save percentage. 

The Penguins will get Evgeni Malkin back from his five-game suspension and Justin Brazeau back from injury. They both took line rushes during the morning skate. 

Sidney Crosby participated in the skate, but didn't take line rushes, meaning he will likely still be out for this game. Blake Lizotte will also be out with an upper-body injury. 

Here's the projected lineup: 

Forwards

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

Mantha-Rakell-Rust

Koivunen-Kindel-Brazeau

Soderblom-Dewar-Acciari

Defensive pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Solovyov-Clifton

Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins after Stuart Skinner started against the Mammoth.

Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and ESPN. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a three-year contract with Sacha Boisvert, one of the team's top prospects.

The Blackhawks announced the entry-level deal with the Canadian forward on Monday. The contract carries a $974,167 salary-cap hit and runs through the 2027-28 season.

Boisvert, who turns 20 on Tuesday, could make his NHL debut this week. He won't play Tuesday against Minnesota while he waits for immigration clearance, but the Blackhawks visit the Wild on Thursday and host the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

Coach Jeff Blashill said he plans to go slowly with Boisvert in terms of playing time.

“I think he's going to need to have a physical impact on the game on a night-to-night basis, and if he can do that, he becomes a real commodity,” Blashill said.

“He can add something to our team I don't know that we have enough of, and that's that kind of hard skill. And if he can do that, it'll be a real positive for us.”

Boisvert, a Quebec native, was selected by the Blackhawks with the No. 18 pick in the 2024 draft. He had three goals and 14 assists in 26 games with Boston University this year.

Boisvert was scratched from BU's 4-1 victory over Vermont in the opening round of the Hockey East Tournament for an undisclosed reason. He returned to the lineup for Saturday's season-ending loss to UConn.

He was suspended for two games in January after getting into a fight during a 4-3 loss to UMass Lowell.

The 6-foot-3 Boisvert played for North Dakota for one season before transferring to Boston. He had 18 goals and 14 assists in 37 games for the Fighting Hawks.

___

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

The NHL and NHL Players' Association announced the host cities for the next big best-on-best international tournament.

The 2028 World Cup Hockey will be played in February 2028 in both Europe and North America. The European site is Prague, Czechia. The North American phase will be held in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.

Calgary will have a new arena, Scotia Place, by then and will host seven round robin games and one elimination game. The same will occur at the O2 Arena in Prague.

Edmonton's Rogers Place will host both semifinals and the final.

Here's what to know about the 2028 World Cup of Hockey after details announced on Monday, March 16:

How many countries will take part?

There will be eight countries participating. Those countries will be announced later.

Where will the World Cup of Hockey be played?

Round robin games and one elimination game will be played in Calgary, Alberta and Prague, Czechia. Edmonton will host the semifinals and final.

When is the World Cup of Hockey?

It will be held in February 2028, but the dates and schedule will be announced later. There will be 17 games played.

When was the last World Cup of Hockey?

The World Cup of Hockey has previously been held in 1996 (USA victory), 2004 (Canada) and 2016 (Canada).

The 2028 event continues a recent stretch of international tournaments involving NHL players.

The 4 Nations Face-Off got things started in 2025 and NHL players returned to the Olympics in 2026 for the first time since 2014. Both tournaments ended up with USA-Canada finals. Canada beat the Americans in overtime at the 4 Nations on a Connor McDavid goal. Jack Hughes and the USA prevailed in overtime in Milan last month.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup of Hockey 2028 sites announced by NHL, NHLPA

More details have emerged about the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. On Monday, the NHL announced the three host cities for the event, which will be Calgary, Edmonton and Prague. The eight-team tournament will be held in February 2028.

As per the NHL, Calgary and Prague will each host seven games. Six of them will be round-robin games, while the final will be an elimination game. As for Edmonton, they will host the two semifinal games and the championship.

In a press release, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "There is no international competition in sports that matches the passion, skill, and excitement of hockey’s best-on-best coming together to represent their countries -- last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off and the recent Winter Olympics were just the latest examples. We at the National Hockey League and our partners at the National Hockey League Players' Association can’t wait to bring the World Cup of Hockey 2028 to three spectacular venues in three cities that shine when staging big events. We know Calgary, Edmonton and Prague will serve as fantastic hosts for hockey fans from all over the globe, and that the greatest hockey players in the world will compete on a level that will make this event truly memorable."

2028 will be the fourth World Cup of Hockey. Canada won in 2004 and 2016, while Team USA picked up a victory in 1996. Based on the Vancouver Canucks' current roster, the organization should have a few players at the event. 

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The Calgary Flames will look to play spoiler when they visit the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena tonight.

My top Flames vs. Red Wings predictions and NHL picks are headlined by promising Calgary rookie Matvei Gridin.

Flames vs Red Wings prediction

Flames vs Red Wings best bet: Matvei Gridin Over 1.5 shots (-130)

Calgary Flames winger Matvei Gridin is receiving a late-season audition in an offensive role and has recorded 2+ in 10 of his past 13 games while piling up an impressive 61 attempts.

The 2024 first-round selection averaged a healthy 2.78 shots per game during his AHL stint this season, and the high-volume shooting dates back to putting up 4.21 per game in the QMJHL while making the CHL All-Rookie Team last year.

Finally, the Detroit Red Wings have allowed a healthy 28.1 shots per game out of the Olympic break, too.

Flames vs Red Wings same-game parlay

The Flames have scored the fewest goals per road game (2.18), and the Red Wings have only averaged 2.33 per game out of the Olympic break, so I’m expecting the two teams to continue their trends of low-scoring tilts tonight.

Turning to the final leg of this SGP, Calgary starter Dustin Wolf sports an elite .933 SV% and 2.17 GAA across his past five road starts, and the Flames have allowed 29.2 shots per game since the NHL Trade Deadline.

Flames vs Red Wings SGP

• Under 5.5
• Dustin Wolf Over 25.5 saves
• Matvei Gridin Over 1.5 shots

Flames vs Red Wings odds

• Moneyline: Flames +155 | Red Wings -180
• Puck Line: Flames +1.5 (-155) | Red Wings -1.5 (+135)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-125) | Under 5.5 (+105)

Flames vs Red Wings trend

The Flames have cashed the Under in 11 of their last 14 road games for +7.70 units and a 49% ROI, and the Red Wings have played to the Under in 15 of their last 25 games for +6.40 units and a 23% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Red Wings.

How to watch Flames vs Red Wings

Flames vs Red Wings latest injuries

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The end of the NHL regular season is one month away, and there is a lot of be decided.

No team has clinched and no team has been officially eliminated, though the Vancouver Canucks are getting close.

The scoring race looks like it might come down to the wire.

And the playoff field has a chance to look radically different from last season.

As of the morning of Monday, March 16, eight teams that are sitting in a playoff position – the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth and San Jose Sharks – had missed the postseason in 2024-25. Some of the those teams are looking to end lengthy playoff droughts.

Here are questions to be answered before the 2025-26 regular season ends on April 16:

Can the Buffalo Sabres end their playoff drought?

It sits at 14 seasons, an NHL record, but the Sabres lead the Atlantic Division with 15 games left. The closest non-playoff team is nine points back. It would take a major collapse for Buffalo to miss the playoffs again, but the Sabres show little sign of doing that, going 30-6-2 since Dec. 8. A big reason for the turnaround was the firing of general manager Kevyn Adams and the promotion of Jarmo Kekalainen on Dec. 15. The new general manager took steps at the trade deadline to keep the run going. After defenseman Colton Parayko vetoed a trade, Kekalainen pivoted to defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, plus forward Tanner Pearson. Schenn and Pearson have won Stanley Cup titles, important for a core making a rare step into postseason play.

Can the Detroit Red Wings end their playoff drought?

Their situation is precarious. They hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference but have played one more than game than their closest pursuers. The Columbus Blue Jackets are surging since making a coaching change to Rick Bowness and sit one point back. The Red Wings are in a 1-3-2 slide and are without forwards Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp. Eight of their final 15 games are against non-playoff teams, including the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 7. Detroit, which last made the playoffs in 2016, added David Perron and Justin Faulk at the deadline.

Can the Anaheim Ducks end their playoff drought?

Their drought is seven seasons but they're first in the Pacific Division. They have a good mix of youngsters and veterans, including trade deadline acquisition John Carlson, and an experienced coach in Joel Quenneville. They'll be without suspended defenseman Radko Gudas for another three games after his knee-on-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. But forward Troy Terry has returned from an injury.

Will we see another Panthers-Oilers Stanley Cup Final?

Doubtful. The two-time defending champion Florida Panthers have been crushed by injuries, including captain Aleksander Barkov tearing his ACL on his first day of training camp and Matthew Tkachuk not playing until January after hernia surgery. And with the team sitting 11 points out of a playoff spot, it has been resting other banged-up players.

The Edmonton Oilers are in a good position for a third consecutive run to the Final. They currently sit in a playoff spot, though Leon Draisaitl left Sunday's game with an injury. He was hit by Nashville Predators' Ozzy Wiesblatt, came back for one shift and didn't feel well so he missed the rest of the game.

Who will win the Central Division title?

Early in the season, the answer was easy: the Colorado Avalanche. They had only two regulations losses on Jan. 1 and that figure is up to 12. Gabriel Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen are out with injuries. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars are on a franchise-record 15-game point streak and are three points back. The teams meet Wednesday, March 18, in Denver (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT). Both teams beefed up at the trade deadline.

Who will win the scoring title?

There are three 100-point scorers: Edmonton's Connor McDavid (114), Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon (109) and Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov (106). Kucherov, who won the last two titles, is the hottest player with 55 points since Jan. 1 (McDavid has 44 and MacKinnon has 39). But the eight-point gap might be hard for Kucherov to make up until McDavid's point totals are affected by the injury to Draisaitl.

Who will have the best draft lottery odds?

The Vancouver Canucks are last in the league with 48 points and the 31st overall Calgary Flames have 59. But the 2025 draft lottery showed that might not have matter as the Islanders moved up from 11th to first and selected Matthew Schaefer. Utah won the second drawing and moved up to fourth. Penn State's Gavin McKenna and Sweden's Ivar Stenberg are expected to be the top two picks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff races breakdown with one month left in regular season