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.
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.
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.
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
Location
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Date
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, HBO Max
Lightning vs Kraken latest injuries
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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.
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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dec 12, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander (21) and Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (17) and defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) and defenseman Uvis Balinskis (26) watch as forward Brock Boeser (6) scores during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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,
Mar 16, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) controls the puck in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Evgeni Malkin returned from his five-game suspension Monday night with a stellar game against the Colorado Avalanche and after the game, the veteran Penguins center said he and Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas are expected to talk this summer about his contract situation.
After Monday’s 7-2 throttling of the Colorado Avalanche, Malkin spoke at length about his return from being suspended and also addressed his contract situation, but wasn’t able to provide many specifics outside of when the two camps might meet again.
“I can’t say anything,” Malkin told The Athletic’s Josh Yohe.
Malkin said that he and Dubas talked a couple of weeks ago with Dubas telling Malkin the two would talk this summer.
Geno on his contract situation: "I can't say anything. We (Malkin and Dubas) talked probably two weeks ago. He told me we would talk this summer. I'm OK with that. We have 15 games left, I hope playoffs. I want to just play. He asked if I wanted to play next year. I said yes. He…
According to Moneypuck, the Penguins have an 85.3% chance of making the postseason for the first time since 2022, when the team lost to the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 24: Viktor Arvidsson #71 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his goal with Kaiden Guhle #21 during the second period against the Montréal Canadiens at TD Garden on January 24, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nick Suzuki: 23G-55A-78PTS; Lane Hutson: 11G-56A-67PTS; Cole Caufield: 39G-27A-66PTS
Jakub Dobes: 21-7-4, 2.97 GAA, .891 save percentage
Game notes
It’s a March hockey game between the Bruins and Canadiens with big playoff implications! Feels like it’s been quite a while since we had one of these.
This is the final regular season meeting between these two teams, with the Bruins winners of two out of three thus far. The B’s won the last match-up, 4-3 at TD Garden in late January.
Montreal has lost two games in a row, but they won three in a row before that. Ups, downs, etc.
After sneaking into the playoffs as the second wild card last season, the Canadiens have spent most of this season comfortably in playoff position. While they’re still a good bet to make it, it’s worth pointing out that they’re currently closer to the wild card chaos than they are to first in the division. They’re tied in points with Detroit and just a point ahead of the Bruins.
Montreal has employed a pretty healthy goalie rotation this year, with some of that due to injuries. Jakub Dobes leads the way with 32 GP, but Samuel Montembeault has played 25 games and Jacob Fowler has played 12.
The Habs have been pretty good at Bell Centre this season, posting an 18-13-2 record.
Occasionally maligned first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky is having his best season as a pro, with 25 goals and 55 points. He has already exceeded his previous career best by four points.
Speaking of career bests, Cole Caufield is on the cusp of being a 40-goal scorer for the first time, with three of those goals coming in his last five games.
Speaking speaking (2x) of career bests, Oliver Kapanen has burst onto the scene for Montreal this season. He jumped right from the Swedish Hockey League to the NHL for a cup of coffee last season, but has been excellent in his first full NHL season, putting up 20 goals and 13 assists in 66 games.
The Canadiens have the league’s second-most potent offense, putting up 3.5 goals per game.
For the Bruins, they’ll be looking to bounce back after an entertaining but ultimately damaging OT loss in New Jersey on Monday night. Jeremy Swayman will be back in net for the B’s.
If you’re planning to head out and enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day, don’t forget to mix in a water or two so you make it to game time.
Not sure we can rebuild him, actually. | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Is Lou Lamoriello still around? Because only learning now that Semyon Varlamov’s two-season-long “lower body injury” is TWO KNEE REPLACEMENTS — and thanks to Patrick Roy mentioning it (likely off script) in a media scrum — feels very Lou-esque. He hasn’t played since late November 2024, so you knew there were serious issues, but still…
Anyway, the big Canadian road trip begins tonight in Toronto, where the Leafs are without Auston Matthews and may have a coach and GM who are dead men walking. Maybe. Of the three games on this trip, tonight has the opponent with little to play for, though we know sometimes that’s a dangerous recipe. The Leafs have won twice in their last 10 and are battling Florida for second-worst/not-Rangers in the conference.
Aww, hell, this needs to be the lead any time it happens: a reunion of 1980-83 Islanders, the NHL’s last true dynasty:
This is a rare opportunity to have 28 Stanley cups at the dinner table. Doesn’t get any better than this ,1980-1983 the most dominant team to ever play pic.twitter.com/DAjMl2RMsI
Matthew Schaefer is focused on the playoff race, not a return to the GTA, where he’s expecting “close to 1,000” people who know him or the family. [Newsday | THN]
The official site update notes Varlamov skating with the team (but is in no way a candidate to return this season) but it does not mention the double-knee replacement. [Isles] But others quote Roy noting it. [Post]
On the Islanders Anxiety podcast, Dan and Mike discuss Brayden Schenn’s transition, an up-and-down week for the Isles and a look ahead to a week in Canada. [LHH]
Prospect Report: Eklund The Greater builds another points streak “playing with men,” plus other updates across multiple leagues (including Cole Eiserman’s season ending). [Isles]
Elsewhere
Last night in the NHL was a disappointing one, with Detroit winning in regulation over Calgary (no surprise), the still Crosby-less Penguins beating Colorado, and Boston picking up a consolation point.
Injury roundups, including Leon Draisaitl being out for “some time” and Varly receiving “some new knees.” [NHL]
Auston Matthews’ USA teammates, the Tkachuk brothers, use their podcast to say they would not have stood for the Radko Gudas hit. [Sportsnet]
Once a decade or thereabouts, the NHL gets around to hosting a World Cup. The next one is in 2028 and will be in Alberta and Prague. [NHL]
Jarmo Kekalainen, who actually hasn’t done all that much yet as Buffalo GM other than have brilliant timing, believes the Sabres have what they need to win it all. [Sportsnet]
The Capitals are preparing for life after Alex Ovechkin (who is not preparing for life as cannon fodder in Ukraine, I reckon). [Sportsnet]
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 16: Evgeni Malkin #71 and Egor Chinakhov #59 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate after a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on March 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Evgeni Malkin returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup for the first time since being suspended five games for slashing earlier this month and he made his presence known early and often in a 7-2 Penguins victory over the NHL leading Colorado Avalanche. Malkin was hardly the only Penguins player to show out in a big way last night with six others recording multipoint games, including defenseman Erik Karlsson who was noticeable every time he stepped on the ice himself. In goal, Artur Silovs fended off 25 from the Avalanche, holding the NHL’s highest scoring offense to just two first period goals. [Pensburgh]
Pens Points…
It’s another big time week for the Penguins with the end of this long five-game road trip in sight then a return home for a weekend back-to-back set that will kick off a stretch of five of the next seven games being at PPG Paints Arena to wrap up the month of March. [Pensburgh]
Despite the Penguins being without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, they have kept their heads above water in their absence and the standings have tightened little, if at all depending on the opponent. With 16 games left to be played, the Penguins remains in good position to make a postseason return. [Pensburgh]
Jack St. Ivany has completed his conditioning stint in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has been recalled to the NHL. In a corresponding move, fellow defenseman Alexander Alexeyev was sent back down to the Baby Pens to make room on the roster. [The Hockey News]
When Ben Kindel was drafted back in June, most figured he was a couple years away from being an impact player in the NHL. Then he impressed enough to earn a roster spot to open the season, but most figured it was only for nine game. Now almost through a complete season, Kindel remains in Pittsburgh, learning at a rapid rate. [Trib Live]
NHL News and Notes…
It’s official, the World Cup of Hockey will make it’s return in February 2028 with an eight team best-on-best tournament to be hosted in Edmonton and Calgary along with games being played in Prague, Czechia. This will be the first World Cup of Hockey since 2016 when Canada claimed the crown. [NHL]
It was a big week for Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers and he takes home First Star of the Week honors from the NHL for his efforts. Joining Lafreniere being recognized for their play over the last week was goaltender Jake Oettinger and forward Jimmy Snuggerud. [NHL]
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins visit the Montreal Canadiens after David Pastrnak's two-goal game against the New Jersey Devils in the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss.
Montreal is 12-8-1 against the Atlantic Division and 36-20-10 overall. The Canadiens rank third in NHL play with 231 total goals (averaging 3.5 per game).
Boston is 37-23-7 overall and 9-8-2 against the Atlantic Division. The Bruins have gone 30-9-6 in games they score three or more goals.
Tuesday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. The Bruins won 4-3 in the last meeting. Morgan Geekie led the Bruins with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nicholas Suzuki has scored 23 goals with 55 assists for the Canadiens. Cole Caufield has seven goals and two assists over the past 10 games.
Charlie McAvoy has nine goals and 41 assists for the Bruins. Pavel Zacha has five goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.8 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.
Bruins: 5-3-2, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.3 assists, 3.7 penalties and 9.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
INJURIES: Canadiens: None listed.
Bruins: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
