On Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks took on the Philadelphia Flyers at United Center. It was a barn-burner as the Blackhawks defeated the Flyers 7-4 to end a seven game losing streak.
One of the most impressive players during the game was Joe Veleno. This makes it two straight games that he has played well but this one saw him collect a couple of points for the first time in a Blackhawks sweater.
It started with Veleno’s first goal since being acquired by the Blackhawks. He came down the wing and placed a perfect shot into the net to give Chicago a 2-1 lead at the time.
Later on, Veleno added an assist, also his first with the Hawks, on a goal scored by Tyler Bertuzzi. This one gave the Blackhawks a 4-3 lead which eventually led to the aforementioned victory.
Interim head coach Anders Sorensen spoke about Veleno after the game. After talking about how difficult it is to switch systems, and mentioning how different Chicago is from Detroit in terms of style, he made it clear that he likes what he sees from Veleno.
"His last two games [were] really good.” Sorensen said in his media availability. “It started in St. Louis there. We got him on the PK again and he was really aggressive and created some turnovers, made some plays. Him and [Bertuzzi] have found something. They've been playing well together."
This is great praise for Veleno from Sorensen. This isn’t a player coming in to be an offensive star but he has the talent as a former first round pick to contribute every now and again. He’s there to play the right way and help the team in other areas.
This game against the Flyers is a great example of how offense can come if the other areas of your game are strong. His chemistry with Bertuzzi, as coach Sorensen alluded to, has helped him get going in Chicago.
If Veleno can play as he has over the last two games, the Blackhawks will certainly consider him in a bottom-six role going forward. A guy who can kill penalties, play the right way at even strength, and contribute some offense here and there, will be valuable to a team learning to win.
For anyone who has been following the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, it's been a pretty remarkable campaign for their top-line trio of Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust.
The trouble is that - in comparison to the rest of their teammates - it's been a bit too remarkable.
Crosby (25 goals, 53 assists, 78 points): Crosby is just two points shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky's point-per-game seasons record, which he figures to clinch at 20. He also has a chance to register his 13th season at 30 or more goals, as he has six goals in his past seven games.
Rakell (32-30-62): Rakell's 32 goals is just two below his career-high mark of 34, which he set in 2017-18. He is also just seven points shy of his career-high of 69 points set that same season.
Rust (25-29-54): With two goals in Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers, Rust is just three goals shy of 200 for his career. The six-time 20-goal scorer - all in succession over the last six seasons - would be just the ninth player in franchise history to reach the 200-goal plateau with the organization.
But the success of the first line has really exposed the Penguins as a true one-line team this season. Of the 212 total goals the Penguins have scored this season, at least one of Crosby, Rust, and Rakell has factored in on 56.6 percent of them, and they have scored 38.7 percent of the team's goals this season.
In addition, Crosby (20:21), Rust (19:43), and Rakell (19:22) are, on average, playing two minutes more per game than the next-closest forward, Evgeni Malkin (17:54).
For a frame of reference, there are very good NHL teams that get very top-heavy production, such as the Edmonton Oilers. The difference is that Edmonton - in addition to scoring more goals than the Penguins - have arguably the best player in the NHL this season in Leon Draisaitl.
His 49 goals lead the NHL - he is also the only player in hockey this season with more than 40 goals - and his 101 points are second to only Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon's 105. Connor McDavid, the consensus best player in the world, also has 26 goals and 90 points for the Oilers this season.
Teams with a one-two punch like that can afford to have most of their production come from those players because they're simply producing more than guys like Crosby - the Penguins' best player - at this juncture. Their respective teams typically have a higher goal output, too, and McDavid and Draisaitl - both in their primes - mostly play on separate lines.
The best NHL teams need at least two high-end lines in terms of production, and Pittsburgh simply doesn't have that luxury anymore. Penguins second-line center Malkin, 38, has just 15 goals and 46 points in 62 games, which can be partially explained by injuries and lack of talent on his wings.
He is also aging, as is Crosby. The Penguins' captain has showed less age than Malkin the last few seasons, and the Penguins have discovered throughout the course of this season that it's better to load up their top line and hope for the best with the rest rather than try to weaken the top line for the benefit of more balance in the lineup.
The fact of the matter is that the Penguins cannot simply rely on those two to completely carry their production anymore. And if they're going to compete, they can't rely on an entire first line of players age 31 or older carrying their production, either.
After an embarrassing loss in Salt Lake City and a listless effort against Minnesota on Saturday, the Buffalo Sabres responded with an excellent effort in a 5-3 victory over the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets to split their four-game road swing. The Sabres got top performances from a pair of Manitobans, as Souris native Tyson Kozak scored his second goal of the season and Morweena’s James Reimer made 33 saves for his third win of the campaign.
“(Reimer) gave us a heck of a game.” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “(Kozak) had a lot of people here, and he gets to play in front of a lot of family. I couldn't be happier for him. I thought he played hard, he played well. At that time, it was a big goal for us."
Buffalo got a season-best four-point outing from Ryan McLeod (1 goal, 3 assists) and goals from the usual suspects (Rasmus Dahlin, JJ Peterka, and Alex Tuch), but also got contributions from the unexpected in Jacob Bernard-Docker, who assisted on the first two Sabres goals.
It was not all good news for Buffalo, as Jordan Greenway suffered a lower-body injury late in the first period and did not return. Ruff could not provide any update on the big winger after the game, other than to say that he would be looked at by team doctors. The Sabres did not practice on Monday after back-to-back weekend matinees, so Greenway’s status will be updated after the morning skate in preparation for the club’s first meeting with former teammate Dylan Cozens and the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
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As the NHL approaches the post-season, one team is progressively asserting itself as a dark horse in the Western Conference: the Los Angeles Kings. Though heavyweights such as the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Dallas Stars tend to draw attention, the Kings have quietly become one of the most formidable teams in the league.
With a recent surge marked by victories over Stanley Cup contenders like the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and the Vegas Golden Knights, the Kings have a roster built on depth, experience, and defensive stoutness. Los Angeles possesses all the pieces of an outfit with the potential to make a deep postseason push.
A Dominant Second Half
The Kings' strong second half of the season has been the best proof that the team is prepared to play with the NHL elite. Their recent offensive outburst only strengthens their case. LA scored 14 goals in back-to-back games against Carolina and Boson, earning matching 7-2 wins.
The Kings' repeatedly rising to the challenge against Western Conference rivals has been awe-inspiring. They've demonstrated a remarkable ability to stand their ground against some of the NHL's most talented clubs.
Also, the Kings' offense reached all-time highs. For the first time since 1995, the Los Angeles team scored seven goals in back-to-back games, demonstrating their new scoring depth and ability to overwhelm teams.
This is the first time the Kings have scored at least seven goals in two straight games since April 1995.
But there have been times when the Kings’ have played down to their competition, losing to teams that are sub .500 or barely above .500. Compared to their success over the contenders in the Western Conference, the Kings have struggled against Eastern Conference foes, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning.
These head-to-head performances in the West are especially noteworthy given the physicality and playoff-like intensity. But it is all about matchups because specific teams would struggle against the teams that the Kings have had success over, but with their offensive and defensive depth, they can go toe-toe with any team in the league.
Balanced Scoring Depth
The Kings' most significant asset has been their ability to produce from all four lines. In Saturday's 7-2 romp of Carolina, all 12 forwards earned a point—a rare accomplishment indicating the team's superior depth.
This scoring balance is a central focus for those teams hoping to make a profound playoff run. Most Stanley Cup teams employ all-stars to do a large chunk of the scoring, but the Kings have assembled a group of forwards that evenly distributes offense across the lineup.
Veterans such as Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar provide leadership and scoring punch, while young stars such as Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke step up to take the pressure off those veteran players.
Goaltending Stability
During an injury-plagued and uneven season across the NHL's goalie pool, the Kings have found reliability in goal at the best possible time. Darcy Kuemper's experience as a proven postseason goaltender provides some confidence if the Kings are compelled to rotate their goaltenders through a series of playoff games.
David Rittich has emerged as a calming presence, making strong efforts as part of the team's current winning streak. Rittich's sound positional play and level-headed demeanor have allowed the Kings to stay competitive in low-scoring, close games—an essential aspect of playoff hockey.
Goalies are primarily the most significant pieces during a playoff run because their ability to defend the opponent's offense at an elite level gives your team a chance to win every game.
With their rugged goalie tandem between the pipes, the Kings feel secure shutting down potent, attack-minded offenses, and they do so most effectively when paired with their steady defense.
Defensive Toughness
The Kings' blue line has silently emerged as one of the most underrated collections of players in the NHL. Drew Doughty's experience still calms down the blue line, and Joel Edmundson’s scoring and toughness should help the Kings be formidable with his two-way play. The Kings' defense is especially good at shutting down high-danger scoring opportunities, excelling at neutralizing some of the Western Conference's top scorers.
The Kings have four different defensive pairings ranked in Money Puck’s top ten for expected goal share (minimum 150 minutes).
Their penalty kill has also been a key factor in their recent run, shutting down power plays with an aggressive but disciplined style. Improved special teams play might be a game-changer in close playoff contests, where the special teams have a way of shifting momentum.
Veteran Leadership and Experience
Having veteran stars on the frontline is a massive boost for the Kings. Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Trevor Lewis possess multiple years of postseason experience and have won Stanley Cup titles, having won the championship in 2012 and 2014.
The foundation knows about playing with a playoff intensity level, strategy, and mental toughness to perform in the postseason. Leadership provides stability when games are on the line, as younger skaters like Quinton Byfield and Arthur Kaliyev learn alongside them.
This blend of old-school smarts and youthful energy gives the Kings a unique balance few Western Conference clubs can equal.
Key Matchups Favor the Kings
One of the most promising signs of the Kings' playoff chances is their strong record against the Western Conference Titans. Los Angeles has regularly gained points against top teams like the Golden Knights, Oilers, Jets, and Stars. These contests have provided a preview of how the Kings' defensive accountability, goaltending depth, and balanced scoring can frustrate elite teams.
For instance, the Kings' ability to quiet the Oilers' potent offense and capitalize on defensive blunders has been critical in their head-to-head games. Similarly, their stout defense has neutralized the Golden Knights' heavy forecheck and physicality. This trend of success against conference opponents suggests that the Kings are built to thrive in the Western Conference playoff series and will be much better because they will have time to adjust and figure out their opponents in a seven-game series.
The Road Ahead
With their blend of veteran leadership, depth scoring, defensive solidity, and recent play, the Los Angeles Kings want to become the Western Conference's most potent dark horse. If they keep winning against playoff teams as they have recently and stay with their balanced style, they might be a threat to win their first championship in over a decade.
In a division where momentum all too often defines postseason success, the Kings have quietly built a foundation that could carry them into June. While not receiving the same hype as Edmonton or Winnipeg, their current stretch shows they can dash the NHL's best hopes and make a deep playoff run again.
For as long as anyone can remember, the Philadelphia Flyers have been trying to solve their goaltending puzzle.
It’s a tale as old as time: the Flyers are looking for stability in net, and somehow, despite their best efforts, it always seems just out of reach.
This season, the plan—at least to start the season—was to have a No. 1 and No. 2 system. Sam Ersson was expected to start the majority of the games, while Ivan Fedotov was slated to be the reliable backup that Ersson didn’t have least season.
But in reality? The system has been, at best, a mixed bag, and at worst, an ongoing source of frustration.
Ersson, in his first full season as the presumed starter, has held onto that role for much of the year, even through injuries and rough patches.
Fedotov, after an impossible-to-judge three-game stint last season, has looked stronger—but not strong enough to erase all doubts. And now, with just a handful of games left, and trying to embrace a more equal tandem approach, the Flyers still don’t have a clear answer.
A Tandem in Name, but Not in Practice
Head coach John Tortorella is about as forthright as they come, especially when it comes to what his team needs to improve on if they want to be a competitive team. The goaltending struggles have been no exception.
When asked about if Fedotov was still having to prove himself as an NHL goaltender, Tortorella simply told reporters, “S— yeah.”
It was a blunt assessment, one that cuts to the core of the Flyers’ current predicament. They want to run a tandem, but they don’t have two goalies they fully trust.
The idea behind a tandem is balance. The modern NHL leans away from the 65-game workhorses of the past and instead relies on two goalies splitting the load. It makes sense on paper, especially for a team like the Flyers, who aren’t built around an elite No. 1 netminder.
But a true tandem means confidence in both guys. It means alternating starts without hesitation, knowing that either goalie can give you a solid game. It means allowing both to play enough to stay sharp without running one into the ground.
That’s not really what’s happening here. Ersson has shouldered the bulk of the responsibility, and for good reason. He’s had stretches of truly excellent play, and even when he’s struggled, he’s never lost his status as the de facto starter.
Fedotov, meanwhile, has been given opportunities, but there’s an underlying sense that every start is still an audition. If the team truly trusted him, Tortorella wouldn’t have made a point to say he still had something to prove.
Sam Ersson: The Starter
There’s a lot to like about Sam Ersson. He’s poised, technically sound, and has shown he can handle the mental grind of being an NHL goalie. Given that this is his first full season in a starting role—and how much he had to handle when he unexpectedly took over starting duties last season—his performance has been impressive overall.
But the reality is, he hasn’t run away with the job.
His highs have been high, but his lows have been noticeable. He’s had moments where he’s singlehandedly kept the Flyers in games and others where the puck has seemed to find the back of the net a little too easily. His numbers, while respectable, aren’t elite.
"Sam has been thrusted into a spot that I just think it has been unfair for him," Tortorella said earlier in March. “This organization was set back when things changed with our goaltending situation, especially Sam, not allowing him to develop. So he has been force-fed a little bit here."
It’s also worth noting that Ersson has dealt with injuries this season. That’s not a knock against him—it’s just a reminder that when you’re relying on a goalie who hasn’t had a full NHL workload before, durability is always a question.
And with the Flyers still in the midst of a rebuild, this year was meant to be about finding out what they had in him.
The answer?
He’s good. Considering what he’s had to deal with since last season, he’s been very good. But it’s just too soon to accurately evaluate whether or not he’s truly the franchise starting goalie the organization believes he can be.
"I think with Sam, as we move forward, we're hoping it's going to be a tandem," Tortorella continued. "We're not going to ask Sam to play 55, 60 games if he's the guy. I think it's going to be a tandem. We're still evaluating. He has been inconsistent. Sometimes you watch him play and you think he has got it but then he falls off. It happens to a lot of goalies.”
Ivan Fedotov: The Wild Card
It’s hard to know exactly what the Flyers have in Ivan Fedotov.
His first real NHL season has been a mixed bag. There have been flashes of potential, moments where he’s looked calm, structured, and reliable. There have also been games where the cracks have shown—moments where his positioning looks off, or where the pace of play seems just a little too much.
The organization has acknowledged the unimaginable journey Fedotov has taken to get to North America, and they’ve never shied away from being transparent about his needing to adjust to the NHL, especially in the more limited backup role.
"I think it's a hell of a story for [Fedotov],” Tortorella said back in January. “On a personal note, in my heart, I'm happy for the guy. He went through some stuff just to get here, and he's battled. You guys don't even know what happened last year in a couple of situations that I came down on a certain time...He's been a really good pro."
Fedotov’s situation got even more complicated when 22-year-old netminder Aleksei Kolosov had an extended stay with the Flyers before being loaned back out to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms—demoting Fedotov to the No. 3 spot.
"He got kicked to the curb at number three, shut his mouth—I remember I had one conversation with him; I said, 'I don't know where it goes,'" Tortorella said. "And he spent I don't know how many weeks just skating up and down the boards, hoping to get in the net if one of the other goalies needed a spell during practice...He ate it and continued to work at his game."
But a goalie can’t prove himself sitting on the bench. And while that’s an unavoidable downside of a tandem setup, it’s particularly frustrating in Fedotov’s case because he needs games. He needs to show that he can be more than just an occasional backup.
But in a season where he once went an entire month without a game because of a bad performance against the Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers, one has to wonder just how long the leash is for the 28-year-old if he’s not standing on his head in every start he gets.
It’s not a great way to build confidence—for him or for the team.
So… What Now?
If the Flyers don’t fully trust either guy to carry the load, and they don’t want to run a three-goalie system (for good reason), the natural question is: What’s next?
The problem is, there’s no clear answer waiting in the wings.
Aleksei Kolosov? Not ready. He needs time in the AHL.
Yegor Zavragin? Don’t even think about it—he’s not coming over from the KHL any time soon.
Carson Bjarnason? Maybe the most intriguing long-term option, but he’s still developing in the WHL and will need AHL seasoning before he’s thrown into the fire.
There’s no magic solution. No clear-cut top prospect waiting to come in and save the day.
That means the Flyers have a decision to make.
Do they give this tandem another go next season, hoping for growth from both goalies? Do they bring in a veteran to stabilize things, even if it means taking starts away from Ersson? Or do they just accept that this is how things are for now—far from perfect, but not catastrophic?
The Big Picture: A Problem That’s Nothing New
The Flyers have been here before.
Goaltending has been the franchise’s Achilles’ heel for decades, cycling through a revolving door of “the next guy” only to find out, time and time again, that he wasn’t the answer.
And it’s not that Ersson or Fedotov are failures—far from it. But when you’re starting your NHL careers as the last line of defense on a team still in the early stages of a rebuild, people can conveniently forget to contextualize the growing pains that come with that.
And that’s frustrating, because the rest of the Flyers’ rebuild is starting to take shape. The young core is promising. The team plays with structure. There’s a clear identity forming. But if they can’t solidify their goaltending situation, none of that will matter as much as it should.
This tandem was supposed to work. And maybe, in a different world, with different circumstances, it could have. But right now, it’s a system that exists more out of necessity than out of choice.
The Flyers need to figure out where they go from here. Because as they push forward in their rebuild, the one thing they can’t afford is to be stuck in the same goaltending limbo they’ve been trapped in for years.
Seattle Kraken forward Chandler Stephenson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, head coach Dan Bylsma announced on Monday.
The 30-year-old exited the Kraken's 4-0 defeat against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday with an injury and did not return. He played just 15 shifts and 11:33 of ice time before leaving. He also did not participate in their 5-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
Stephenson signed a long-term contract with the Kraken in the offseason in hopes of helping the team push for a playoff spot. Although it seems very likely the Kraken won't make it to the postseason, Stephenson has still been able to produce a fairly positive output.
In 69 games, the playmaking center has scored 11 goals and 48 points in 69 games, three fewer points than he recorded last season with the Vegas Golden Knights.
With Stephenson out, Tye Kartye jumped back into the lineup, shifting John Hayden into a center role. Hayden has spent most of the season with the Firebirds in the AHL and when he has been up with the Kraken, he's played on the fourth line.
Stephenson practiced on a separate rink in a non-contact jersey today, but the Kraken have not revealed if he'll travel with the team to Calgary. The Kraken return to Seattle on Thursday when they take on the Oilers.
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The Reading Royals announced Monday that they will rebrand their name and colors (red & black) to the Reading Red Knights for their Reading Red Knights Night on Saturday, April 12 against the Worcester Railers at Santander Arena.
The Reading Red Knights promotional game, presented by Members 1st Federal Credit Union, is dedicated to celebrating the Reading School District, as well as the Latin community with a La Noche de Los Royales promotion.
"We are happy to partner with the Reading School District for a second consecutive season on this great event to celebrate our community," Chris Hazel, Director of Ticketing said in a statement. "We are excited to bring together two organizations in the city and provide students the opportunity to attend a game for free in a night dedicated to their school district. We look forward to becoming the Red Knights for a game.”
The promotional game will feature the Royals wearing specialty Reading Red Knights jerseys on the ice! Proceeds from the Red Knights Jerseys and other Red Knights Merchandise will benefit the Reading School District.
Fans can support by ordering their Reading Red Knights jersey or Reading Red Knights puck at RoyalsTeamStore.com.
Reading School District members can each enjoy the following deals for the Apr. 12 game:
Students Receive:
Two Free tickets through the link. Must purchase tickets after 2 have been claimed for free.
Student ID can be shown at the box office for 2 free tickets, as well.
Staff/Admin Receive:
One Free ticket for Staff with the purchase of additional tickets.
Additional tickets available at discounted rate.
Alumni Receive:
Special discounted ticket offer for alumni to come out and support the game, with a chance to grab some Red Knights merch while they're there.
Links to access special Reading SD deals will be provided through the Reading School District. Students and Faculty are encouraged to reach out to their school building administrators for the above offers.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (35-18-7-1) had a wild weekend, which was capped off with a 5-2 win over the Bridgeport Islanders on Sunday afternoon.
After a thrilling overtime win on Saturday, the visiting Penguins kept the momentum rolling with four first-period goals against the Islanders. Valtteri Puustinen's tally at 17:26 winded up as the game-winner.
After setting a franchise record for consecutive wins, Sergei Murashov had the night off, allowing another outstanding rookie netminder, Filip Larsson, to pick up his 11th win of the season with just 22 saves.
Five players scored for WBS, including Sam Poulin, Matt Nieto, Boris Katchouk, Chase Stillman, and Puustinen. Poulin (goal, two assists) and defenseman Sebastian Aho (three assists) had three points to lead all scorers.
Regarding special teams, the Penguins converted on their single power-play opportunity (Puustinen), while the Islanders went 0-for-3 on the man advantage. It was a low-shot contest, with Bridgeport collecting 24 and WBS registering 21.
Interestingly, the Penguins were blown out by the Providence Bruins on Friday night 10-2. Still, with an overtime win over the Hershey Bears on Saturday and another over the Islanders on Sunday, WBS leapfrogged the Bruins into second place in the Atlantic Division.
With 11 games left on the schedule, the Penguins are five points behind the Bears for the top spot in the division. Overall, WBS has the fifth most points (78) in the AHL. They return home to host the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday night.
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
Since Jan. 20, Smith’s homecoming game in Boston, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft’s 14 assists and 21 points lead all rookies. His seven goals are tied for third.
What’s behind Smith’s offensive explosion?
Microstats from Stathletes, NHL scouts, Smith, and Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky tell the story.
It all might have started … with a benching?
On Jan. 11, Smith was benched in the middle of a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild because of his puck management and defensive engagement, among other reasons.
“I’m not going to talk about it too much,” Smith said in late February, when asked about that benching. “But I keep stuff in my head.”
Safe to say getting benched got his attention?
“Oh, yeah,” he said. “Obviously, I don’t want to get benched.”
So he took that … personally?
“I’ve always kind of been that way,” Smith said. “I don’t forget about too much, so I’ll tell you about plays that happened three years ago that I don’t forget about.”
Of course, it’s not as simple as getting mad to succeed in the NHL.
For a remarkable talent like Smith, maybe it was just a matter of time.
After all, Smith, who just turned 20, was taking on the best league in the world as a teenager.
An up-and-down campaign for a rookie is normal, especially one so young: Smith started the 2024-25 NHL season with zero points in his first eight games, followed by an 11-points-in-14-games run. Then in 15 appearances, up to his Jan. 11 benching, he had just three points. Since then, he has 22 points in his last 25 games.
“I feel more comfortable,” Smith said.
Here’s an example of Smith looking comfortable, and how he’s learned to not just survive NHL pace, but control it.
For about 30 seconds on the power play, Smith (No. 2) sets up along the left wall, takes what the Calgary Flames give him, mostly short perimeter passes to point man Jake Walman (No. 96) or low man Tyler Toffoli (No. 73). But when bumper William Eklund (No. 72) returns a short pass, Smith sees a passing lane and one-times a hard pass to Macklin Celebrini (No. 71) on the right flank.
That pass sends the Flames PK scrambling, and Celebrini takes advantage by feeding Toffoli in front for a dangerous scoring chance.
Smith and the Sharks almost lull the Flames PK to sleep before the rookie steps on the gas.
— San Jose Hockey Now GIFs (@sjhockeynowGIFS) March 25, 2025
Smith gains the zone before slowing it down at the point. He knows a hard-charging Celebrini is likely to beat his check down the slot. He also knows the puck is faster than the feet.
Smith’s patience, vision and touch all come together for a Grade-A chance.
Another expression of the 6-foot center-winger really processing NHL pace?
He isn’t getting stuck as often in puck battles that he can’t win as a teen in a man’s league. Per Stathletes, in the last 20 games, he has gotten into the second-least puck battles among Sharks forwards with 4.4 Puck Battles at 5-on-5 Per 60. That’s about half the Puck Battles he was getting in earlier this season.
This isn’t a bad thing: Around the NHL, the bottom-five forwards in Puck Battles are Patrick Kane, Toffoli, Alexander Ovechkin, Mark Stone and Kyle Connor.
Offensive wizard Kane, a hero of Smith’s, is a fantastic example of a smaller skill forward who’s able to dart in and out of tight spaces to win pucks and keep it away from bigger players with his skating and stickhandling. If you can’t catch him, you can’t battle him for the puck.
As for teammate Toffoli, because of his unremarkable foot speed, he’s smart enough to move the puck instead of losing it in an unnecessary battle.
So to quote Kenny Rogers, Smith has learned better when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em.
Here’s another example of Smith keeping the puck away from his opponents with his poise and skill, which leads to a Sharks goal post.
Smith, in the corner, is able to keep the puck away from Joel Hanley (No. 44) and Nazem Kadri (No. 91), getting it back to the point. Eventually, Smith makes a play, hitting Fabian Zetterlund (No. 20) with a long, surprising pass.
“I’ve been holding onto it more, the corners, coming out there with more speed. Trying not to get held up [at] the glass is something that I’ve been trying to try to work on,” Smith said. “Definitely trying to move my feet more.”
“He’s putting himself in better positions,” Warsofsky said.
“Opportunistic” is how one NHL scout described Smith’s recent play.
Of course, Smith has to win the battles that he gets in, like Stone does, but that’ll come with time. He appears to be demonstrably stronger and quicker than Day 1 of the season, perhaps a small credit to the development days, i.e. healthy scratches, that he went through, mostly for back-to-back games, in the first half of his rookie year.
Smith has gained about 15 pounds from where he was at the end of last season in the NCAA, a lot of that seemingly muscle.
“He’s not playing with fear. The game’s slowed down. He’s not chucking pucks all over the ice. He’s holding onto pucks when he’s got time and space. He’s starting to understand when he can’t make a play, what he needs to do with it,” Warsofsky said. “You got to have that feel [of] when to make a play and when to live to fight another day.”
More comfort, strength and quickness seemingly have upped Smith’s willingness to attack the middle of the ice.
In the last 20 games, he’s fifth among Sharks forwards with 1.93 High-Danger Chances in All Situations Per 60, more than double his rate than earlier this season.
“Definitely want to shoot more. Shooting more obviously creates more, and definitely getting more inside is something I’ve been focusing on,” Smith said.
He’s no Zach Hyman, the net-front warrior who’s league leader in High-Danger Chances, and he’s never going to be, but Smith is getting his nose dirtier.
“You watch the 4 Nations. We’ll watch these playoffs in a couple months, and everything is done in the inside of the ice. If you don’t have the courage to go there, you’re just going to be another … good NHL player. We want him to be a great NHL player,” Warsofsky stressed. “How do you do that? You got to do all the little things. Well, you got to get to the inside of the ice. You got to play with courage.”
Speaking of those little things, Smith has improved in that regard too. The recent point-per-game pace, of course, is obvious. But also?
“His D and compete are better,” another NHL scout said.
Credit to Smith, his camp and Sharks management, who both were firm and flexible in their development plan with the teen phenom this season.
They stuck to their guns, when many pundits thought Smith was better served developing in the AHL.
“He’s come a long way since Day 1. Still got a ways to go, but we’re seeing some improvement,” Warsofsky said.
No doubt, Smith is playing NHL-caliber hockey right now.
The Sharks also were flexible, moving Smith from center to wing, benching him when necessary and giving him development days.
They were confident that Smith would get much better over the course of the NHL season, and he has.
Between Smith and Leo Carlsson, who followed a similar development plan in his rookie 2023-24 campaign, this might be the way of the future for top teenage prospects in the NHL.
Of course, Smith isn’t done. Like Warsofsky says, he’s still got a ways to go.
Ex-Shark Nico Sturm summed up Smith’s next step.
“He has all the tools that the best players in the world have — his shot, his vision,” the veteran’s veteran said last month. “He’s gonna have to get stronger in the offseason. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Los Angeles, CA — The Los Angeles Kings (39-21-9) defeated the Boston Bruins (30-33-9) with an impressive 7-2 victory at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, March 23.
With the victory, the Kings continue their latest winning record, beating eight of the nine opponents they’ve faced so far as they inch closer towards the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Notably in tonight’s victory, seven different Kings players scored goals for the team, Additionally, sixteen players registered points for LA, establishing a franchise record for the most players on a scoresheet. Their back-to-back blowout wins were also the first time the team has scored seven or more goals in consecutive games since 1995.
In the beginning of the first period, the Bruins drew first blood with a backhand goal by Boston center Elias Lindholm to start off the game, 1-0.
Not long after, LA Kings team captain and center Anze Kopitar flew down the left wing to tie the game for Los Angeles with a backhand shot of his own into the Boston net, 1-1. Kings left wing forward Warren Foegele followed up with another goal of his with a wrist shot off of a Phillip Danault pass to give the Kings their first lead of the night, 2-1.
Foegele’s goal also happened to be his 20th goal of the season, as well as his 100th goal made throughout his NHL career.
During the beginning of the second period, Boston tied the game as Bruins center Morgan Geekie was left all alone in front of the Kings goal, allowing him to outwait Darcy Kuemper and beat him to the glove side. As the period progressed, Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty fired a slap shot from the right circle and past Jeremy Swayman to once again give the Kings the lead 3-2.
Notably, throughout the second period while the Kings originally drew a penalty for tripping one of the Boston hockey players, the overall body language of the Bruins’ players began to get more heated and angry. Tempers flared up, and at one point LA Kings’ Darcy Kuemper and Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman had inched closer and closer until a breaking point had nearly been reached. They were about to throw their gear down and fight, but at the last second the referees had stepped in to avoid such a thing.
Each team drew two penalties from this incident, but this became nothing more than a close call.
The Kings’ newest winger, Andrei Kuzmenko scored an insurance goal t late in the period to increase the lead to 4-2. For Kuzmenko, that’s goals in back to back games and 3 points in two nights. He had previously gone scoreless in the seven games since LA acquired him.
Boston never recovered afterward.
Once the third period rolled around, the Kings blew open the floodgates when Quinton Byfield continued his hot streak with a wrist shot to extend the LA lead to 5-2. The fourth line joined the frenzy to cap the scoring for the Kings as Tanner Jeannot and Samuel Helenius put the game completely out of reach..
With this victory, the Kings take that momentum with them as they face the New York Rangers on Tuesday, March 25.
During this past off-season, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Ryan McLeod and prospect Tyler Tullio from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for 2022 ninth-overall pick Matthew Savoie. With Savoie being one of the Sabres' top prospects at that time, there was understandable concern following this move.
However, since his arrival to Buffalo, McLeod has been everything the Sabres had hoped for and more. Due to his strong all-around play, the Mississauga, Ontario native has blossomed into an incredibly important part of the Sabres' forward group. Right now, he is seeing time in their top six and is also used on both their power play and penalty kill.
McLeod has certainly taken advantage of his more significant role with the Sabres, too. In 66 games, he has set new career highs with 17 goals, 25 assists, and 42 points. However, what's more encouraging is that he is only getting better as this season rolls on.
McLeod is on fire right now, posting three goals and 11 points in his last nine contests. This includes scoring a goal and recording three assists in the Sabres' last matchup against the Winnipeg Jets on March 23.
Overall, McLeod has been a great addition to the Sabres, and he is only continuing to prove that the Atlantic Division club made the right call acquiring him. It will be intriguing to see how he builds on his strong play from here.
For the third time this season, a matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers went beyond regulation.
And for the second time, things didn't go their way.
On Sunday, the Penguins surrendered a two-goal lead and lost to the Panthers, 4-3, in a shootout for the second time this season. Pittsburgh couldn't muster a shootout goal, while Aleksander Barkov scored on the very first attempt for Florida to earn the win.
The Penguins are now 1-6 in the shootout this season in comparison to their 8-5 record in overtime. They have converted on just 28 percent of total shootout opportunities this season, which ranks 22nd in the league.
"I've tried it a million ways to try to get better at it, with just different teams that I've coached throughout the years," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "My experience has been [that] you've got guys that tend to be inclined, or you don't."
Even though the Penguins did ultimately surrender the two-goal lead, the game was back-and-forth for much of the evening. Sam Reinhart opened the scoring for Florida midway through the first period with his 34th of the season.
A few minutes later, Penguins forward Bryan Rust capitalized on a power play opportunity for his 24th goal of the season with a slick forehand-to-backhand move near the net front that fooled Florida defenseman Nate Schmidt.
Rust scored again five minutes later, when Sidney Crosby dished a beautiful elevated pass to him while breaking to the net. Rust was able to catch the puck with one hand on his stick to redirect it into the net and behind Sergei Bobrovsky to put the Penguins up, 2-1. Crosby's assist on the goal - his second of the game - put him just two points shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky's point-per-game seasons record, which he would clinch at 20.
And continuing into the next frame, the Penguins kept their foot on the gas. Pittsburgh got another power play six and a half minutes into the second, when ex-Penguin Evan Rodrigues went to the box for hooking. Twenty seconds later, Evgeni Malkin blasted home a one-timer from the right circle for his 15th goal of the season, giving his team the 3-1 lead.
Reinhart added his second tally of the game on the power play not even three minutes later, however, and things started to slide a bit from there. Although the Penguins had their chances later in the game, the Panthers did take over for large stretches in the third period, and they finally broke through with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, as Anton Lundell scored to even the score at 3-3 and force overtime.
And after an exciting overtime period with chances exchanged - and the Penguins controlling most of the possession, as has largely been the case in overtime for them this season - the shootout was forced, and Florida took it from there.
"I think it shows about the character and leadership of this room is that we're in here to keep fighting hard and still play really hard," Rust said. "It doesn't really matter where we are, we're in here to still prove something and still be a good hockey team."
LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights lost red-hot Tomas Hertl to an upper-body injury during Sunday's 4-2 win over the Lightning, and while coach Bruce Cassidy said he was hoping for good news Monday morning, one early report said otherwise.
"It's the shoulder ... I didn't like what I was hearing on Sunday night, but I am hoping that is wrong," Elliotte Friedman said during the 32 Thoughts podcast. "Initially, the word wasn't great. I'm just hoping that's wrong.
"I don't know what to say here except that I heard they were a little bit concerned about it."
Understandably, too, considering Hertl has been on a heater of late.
Hertl suffered the injury when he was pushed from behind by Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg after a breakaway opportunity was stopped by Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Hertl went to gather the rebound when Lilleberg grabbed Hertl's hips and shoved him.
Hertl slammed into the end boards shoulder first and did not return. Originally a five-minute major, the call was reduced to a two-minute boarding penalty.
"That is a dirty hit in that area when a player is in that position," Golden Knights broadcaster Shane Hnidy said during the broadcast. "That's gotta be a five-minute major). I'm all for physical play but there's gotta be awareness."
The Knights left for a three-game road trip on Monday, starting in Minnesota, so no update was provided. Vegas' trip begins Tuesday against the Wild, whom the Knights would face if the playoffs began now.
A message for Hertl's agent, Craig Oster, went unreturned.
A long-term loss could prove devastating for a Golden Knights offense that has come alive, ranking second with 3.92 goals-for per game during an 8-2-2 run since Feb. 27.
Hertl has been a big part of that, as he followed up Saturday's hat trick against the Red Wings with a goal against Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Hertl, whose 14 power-play goals are a franchise record, now has two hat tricks in his last eight games and leads the league with 19 goals since Jan. 17. His 28 points in the same span are tied with three others for 15th in the league.
"He’s playing some of his best hockey he’s probably played in his career, never mind with us," Cassidy said Sunday night.
The Colorado Avalanche continued their hot streak Saturday night in Montreal, beating the upstart Canadiens 5-4 in the shootout. With the victory, the Avs have won 10 of their past 12 games, holding off the surging Minnesota Wild for third place in the hyper-competitive Central Division.
Here are three key takeaways from Colorado's win over the Habs:
1. Nelson Continues Hot Streak, Posts One-Goal, Two-Point Game Against Canadiens
Avalanche center Brock Nelson took some time to find his stride since being acquired by Colorado at the NHL trade deadline -- but in his past two games, Nelson has posted three goals and four points, including a one-goal, two-point night against the Canadiens. And capping things off, Nelson had the shootout winner to improve the Avalanche's record this year to 43-25-3 this season.
With Saturday's totals, Nelson now has 23 goals and 49 points in 69 games this year. The 33-year-old still projects to be a pure rental player this season, but Avs management knew that when they acquired him from the New York Islanders. The price to land him was high, but the Avalanche and Nelson are proving to be a great fit. And as the Stanley Cup playoffs approach, Nelson will need to be a needle-mover to get his team where it aims to be.
2. Avs Blow Three-Goal Lead, Rebound To Earn Second Straight Win, Stay Ahead Of Minnesota In Tight Central Race
The Avalanche went up 4-1 at the 3:58 mark of the third period, but the desperate Canadiens potted three straight goals the rest of the way in regulation to send the game to extra time. However, Colorado did not give up Saturday, and they were rewarded for it with their second straight win and their fourth win in their past five games.
The win allowed the Avs to maintain a four-point lead over the Wild (although Minnesota has one game in hand on Colorado). The Avalanche now have only 11 regular-season games to play, and the way things are shaping up, the Avs will have to be just as dominant if they're to have any hope at challenging the Dallas Stars for home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
3. Blackwood Struggles For Second Time In Past Four Games, But Still Finds Way To Win Three Of Past Five
Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood hasn't been at his best of late, posting a save percentage of .862 or worse in two of his past four games. But Blackwood figured out how to hang tough Saturday to post wins in three of his past five games.
Blackwood still is Colorado's No. 1 netminder, but like all NHL goalies, he's going to go through his tough stretches. The ability to battle through issues is going to be key for Blackwood and his Avs teammates, and in this final push in the regular-season, he's going to have to thrive to gve the Avalanche a chance at home-ice advantage.
