Category: NHL

All good things must come to an end, and for the St. Louis Blues, a franchise record came to an end on Monday.

The Winnipeg Jets ended the Blues' record 12-game winning streak with a defensive clinic, winning a knock-em-out, drag-em-out 3-1 victory at Canada Life Centre.

Alex Iafallo's rebound goal at 7:05 of the third period snapped a 1-all tie and enabled the Jets (53-21-4) to end the Blues' streak and keep them from clinching a playoff spot in the process and dropping their record to 43-29-7.

Pavel Buchnevich scored for the fourth time in five games, and Joel Hofer had himself a steady performance with 23 saves.

The Blues' lead on the Minnesota Wild remains two points, but the Wild now have a game in hand and hold the tie-breaker with regulation wins (33-31), so the Blues will all but likely need to have more points than Minnesota in the battle for the first wild card.

Let's dive into Monday's Three Takeaways:

* Blues didn't handle Jets pressure -- For the first time in quite some time, the Blues seemed a bit overwhelmed.

The Jets came out with a plan of attack with a forechecking style and had the Blues hemmed in the zone for large swaths of the game.

The Blues have been good at puck retrievals and moving it out of the zone effectively, especially during this 12-game run, but the Jets seemed to be a step ahead and disrupted a lot of the play, hemmed the Blues in their own end, retrieved pucks and kept pressure on, especially in the first period when shots were 8-3 and 31-8 on attempts.

What the Blues did do well was block shots (14 in the first period) and kept the Jets away from Grade A scoring opportunities, and when Hofer was called upon, he stood his ground.

The Blues pushed back in the second period and played pretty evenly there, and got an equalizing goal from Buchnevich on what amounted to be the line with Robert Thomas and Jimmy Snuggerud, their best shift of the game to that point, but the Jets were able to get back on the front foot again in the third and limited the Blues to four shots while putting on pressure in all three zones and again clogging the middle of the ice.

On the Buchnevich goal, Thomas, who was named the NHL's third star of the week last week, did extend his point streak to nine games (four goals, 16 assists).

St. Louis goal!

Scored by Pavel Buchnevich with 12:33 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Robert Thomas and Philip Broberg.

Winnipeg: 1
St. Louis: 1#STLvsWPG#GoJetsGo#stlbluespic.twitter.com/ZeMKB6EUud

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 8, 2025

The Blues just had trouble for large portions of the game moving through the three zones and when they did, the Jets were right in their face to disrupt the flow. There simply wasn't any time or space out there.

* Two costly mistakes; in a game like this, Blues didn't KISS -- In what amounted to be a playoff type of feel to it, this game had all the earmarks of just playing a simple, play-it-safe, chip pucks and go on the hunt, not risky types of plays.

And it amounted to be just that, but two costly errors in a game where scoring chances were going to be limited proved to be the fatal pills to swallow for the Blues.

On the first, the Blues had, for one of the few times after being overwhelmed in the first period, possession of the puck in the offensive zone and near the blue lineCam Fowler gave the puck to Mathieu Joseph, and instead of making a 'KISS' play (Keep It Simple Stupid), perhaps just whipping it down low and allow the forecheckers to go to work, Joseph tried a return flip pass, and a stick from Josh Morrissey broke it up and Morgan Marron was off to the races down the right side.

Joseph was in pursuit, but Barron fought off Joseph and cut to the net and buried a shot low to the far side at 2:34 of the second period for a 1-0 Winnipeg lead.

Winnipeg goal!

Scored by Morgan Barron with 17:26 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Josh Morrissey.

Winnipeg: 1
St. Louis: 0#STLvsWPG#GoJetsGo#stlbluespic.twitter.com/IukgnJgIOC

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 8, 2025

And despite being outplayed for a good stretch, in a 1-1 game in the third period, the Jets had a hard forecheck in progress again, but the Blues were able to move the puck to the wall and get it away from danger and onto the stick of Buchnevich. Again, 'KISS' ... flip it out of the zone and reload, move it along the wall, not make that flip pass towards the middle of the ice. Well, that's what he tried to do, it got picked off and Iafallo knocked in a rebound at 7:27 for a 2-1 lead.

Winnipeg goal!

Scored by Alex Iafallo with 12:55 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Kyle Connor.

Winnipeg: 2
St. Louis: 1#STLvsWPG#GoJetsGo#stlbluespic.twitter.com/3LZCianTU8

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 8, 2025

This game had all the earmarks that it needed to be a safe kind of a period, manage the game properly, get it to overtime, get a crucial point and fight for a second one, which they've been able to do.

Once the Jets got that go-ahead marker, it just felt like they would lock the remainder of the game down and that's what they did.

When the Blues did pull Hofer, they did have some good sustained zone time, but there were simply no shooting lanes. The Jets clogged the middle and made the ice as mucky as possible. Buchnevich did have a big chance late but hit Connor Hellebuyck in the chest with the chance to tie.

* Faksa line provided consistent forecheck -- On a positive note, I liked the play of Radek Faksa, Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker in this game and coach Jim Montgomery rewarded that trio with 14:27, 14:38 and 16:06 of ice time, respectively.

The Blues had just 15 shots on goal in the game, which matched a season low, and that group had 33 percent of them.

The first period in particular, when the Blues could not generate anything offensively, when the Faksa line stepped onto the ice, it played the game to its strengths: get pucks deep, go to work, play below the goal line, force the Jets to work and they did.

Faksa had an early two-shot chance early in the second period to actually put the Blues ahead by driving the net but was stopped. The game was played to this line's strengths and I thought this trio played it to a tee and did exactly what it needed to do to have success.

* Hear what Montgomery and Buchnevich and Brayden Schenn had to say after the game:

“We have to dig in a little deeper here for the next three games… but it’s on to the next one now.”

Brayden Schenn, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jim Montgomery speak on the franchise-record win streak coming to an end in Winnipeg. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/0jsAq5mC15

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 8, 2025

NHL goaltender-turned-broadcaster Greg Millen died at 67 years old on Monday, the NHL Alumni Association announced.

No cause of death was announced.

“It is with heavy hearts we share the sudden passing of Greg Millen today,” the NHL Alumni Association wrote in a statement. “He was known and loved by all in the broadcasting world.”

It is with heavy hearts we share the sudden passing of Greg Millen today. He played 14 seasons between the pipes in the National Hockey League for six teams: the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks, and Detroit Red Wings.… pic.twitter.com/8bW05zgSx6

— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) April 7, 2025

Millen played for six teams across 14 seasons from 1978 to 1992. He stood between the pipes for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings.

After his NHL playing days, Millen became a broadcaster and covered the Ottawa Senators for 11 seasons, beginning with their inaugural campaign in 1992-93. He joined Hockey Night in Canada in 1995 and worked alongside familiar voices in Bob Cole, Jim Hughson, Don Cherry and Harry Neale.

Millen covered 12 Stanley Cup finals, 12 NHL All-Star Games, three Olympic Games and two World Cups of Hockey, NHL Alumni wrote.

He also covered the NHL on Sportsnet, including Toronto Maple Leafs regional games. Most recently, he covered the Calgary Flames on Hockey Night in Canada.

"Greg left an indelible mark on the sport as as everyone who had the pleasure to know him, watch him, and listen to him," Sportsnet PR said in a statement. "With his infectious passion for the game, sharp insights, and quick wit, Greg was a trusted and familiar voice in the homes of millions of Canadians for more than 30 years."

The hockey community and old colleagues of Millen remembered him on Monday.

Former NHL goaltender Mike McKenna shared how much Millen meant to him and the impact he had on his life. 

“Greg Millen was my first hockey hero,” McKenna wrote on social media. “He's the reason why I became a goaltender. One day, Grandpa Bill took me to the St. Louis Arena for practice and took this picture. Years later we became friends. Thank you, Millsy. You gave me a reason to dream.”

Added Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on social media: “Awful day for everyone who worked with Greg. Loved hockey and his role in it. The only thing he loved more was his growing family: wife, children and, now, grandchildren. Very, very sorry for their loss.”

Analyst John Shannon said many people in the hockey and broadcast community lost a great friend who put family above everything else but was so passionate about the sport.

“As a player, Greg Millen accomplished something every Canadian kid aspires to do. He played in the NHL,” Millen wrote. “In fact, he played 14 seasons in the greatest league in the world. Greg worked hard every day at his craft, and that carried on when he became a broadcaster. I was proud to work alongside him in every NHL arena and at the Olympics.”

This is a sad day around here.

Many of us in the broadcast and hockey community lost a great friend today. Greg Millen worked hard to stay in the NHL for 14 seasons, and worked even harder on his craft as a broadcaster.

He loved the game so much. pic.twitter.com/NuIzOFk2a9

— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) April 8, 2025

The Senators also paid their respects to the longtime former commentator. 

“The Ottawa Senators were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Greg Millen, the first ever Sens TV color commentator and a beloved national broadcaster,” the team said on social media.

The team remembered his memorable call in the 2017 playoffs when Erik Karlsson made a long stretch pass to Mike Hoffman, who completed "the ol' hockey school move," a one-handed tuck past Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask.

The Flames said they were fortunate to have him as part of the Flames on Sportsnet community.

Millen is survived by his wife and four children.

“To Ann and Caroline, Emily, Allison and Charlie, I am so sorry,” Shannon said. “You lost the greatest of husbands and the greatest of fathers. To the rest of Greg’s friends, I feel your pain on this day. I will miss his laugh, his stories and above all, his loyalty.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Brayden Point had two goals an an assist, Nikita Kucherov added a goal and two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Rangers 5-1 on Monday night.

Yanni Gourde and Brandon Hagel also scored, and Jake Guentzel had three assists for playoff-bound Tampa Bay, which was 3 for 4 on the power play. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 38 shots.

Mika Zibanejad scored for the Rangers, who lost their second straight and remain six points behind Montreal for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have five games remaining. Igor Shesterkin finished with 18 saves.

Kucherov opened the scoring on the power-play with 6:51 left in the first period, sliding the puck past Shesterkin for his 34th goal.

Gourde made it 2-0 just 36 seconds later, and Point scored on the power play with 5:06 remaining.

Zibanejad scored his 17th goal of the season the power-play at 3:16 of the second, just the third power-play goal by the Rangers in the 45 chances.

Point scored his second of the game and team-best 41st goal on another power play with 4:20 left in the third to make it 4-1, and Hagel had an empty-netter with 2:42 remaining.

Takeaways

Rangers: New York is 3-5-1 in its last nine games overall and fell to 18-18-3 at home one year after finishing with 30 wins at Madison Square Garden.

Lightning: Tampa Bay got its 45th victory to reach that mark for an NHL-leading eighth time in 11 seasons. The Lightning are two points behind Toronto for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Key moment

Kucherov’s first-period goal with the man advantage set the tone for Tampa Bay. The 31-year-old Russian forward has 115 points, tied for the league lead with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon.

Key stats

With his assist on Point’s first goal, Kucherov became the fourth player in NHL history with 80 assists in three consecutive seasons — joining Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Bobby Orr.

Up next

Lightning host Toronto on Wednesday, and Rangers host Philadelphia.

The Los Angeles Kings are returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs—again. With their latest 3-0 shutout victory over Edmonton on Saturday and a Calgary Flames loss to the Vegas Golden Knights later in the night, the Kings secured their playoff spot for the fourth consecutive year. 

WE’RE IN ‼️

📲 https://t.co/GBuBWqCo9w#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/1F3s8KPoFc

— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 6, 2025

Despite the Kings beating the Oilers on Saturday, the game still shouldn't mean much to the Kings or their fans because it was without arguably their two best players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who have been out with injuries. The last time the Kings played a healthy Oilers team was on Jan.13, when they were held to zero points and lost the game with McDavid and Draisaitl healthy. 

The game will mean much more in a week when they meet again for the final time this season at Edmonton when, most likely, McDavid or Draisaitl will be back for that game, which will be very crucial in who will get home ice in this potential first-round matchup. 

But as the team seeks to possibly repeat the last three year's first-round series against the Oilers, fans and analysts ask: Will this year be different?

The Kings are no strangers to postseason disappointment the past few years. If they play Edmonton, it will be the fourth year the two clubs meet in the first round. Connor McDavid and his team shipped L.A. home in all three of the last series. 

The Kings' pattern of first-round eliminations is beginning to sound like a tough patch in franchise history between 1978 and 1981, during which the team did not get beyond Round 1 for four consecutive postseasons.

But there is an increased feeling around the NHL—and among the Kings themselves—that 2025 might be different.

A More Balanced, Battle-Tested Group

One of the most significant differences this season is the Kings' depth and experience. Having ridden out a rocky midseason stretch that included a change in coaches—firing Todd McLellan and promoting Jim Hiller—the Kings have caught fire. Under Hiller, L.A. has played a more physical, disciplined game, and the results are evident. The team has won four straight, outscoring opponents 19-3 in the process, and is now positioned for home-ice advantage in the first round.

Offensively, the Kings are getting good play out of their top six forwards. Kevin Fiala has restored his goal-scoring skills, Anže Kopitar is the pulse of the franchise, their newly acquired players in Warren Foegle and Andrei Kuzmenko have started to fit in very well, and young guns like Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere have become reliable contributors. Meanwhile, the blue line—led by Drew Doughty and Darcy Kuemper—is physical and disciplined.

The Kings current top nine is outscoring opponents 45-16 during 5-on-5 play.

Easily the most balanced forward group in the Rob Blake era. pic.twitter.com/kRBbv4koOG

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) April 8, 2025

Rob Blake's Best Roster Yet?

General Manager Rob Blake has received criticism since assuming the position in 2017. The Kings' rebuild has not been seamless, but Blake has built what could be his best roster to date through diligent drafting and impactful free-agent signings.

The franchise's pipeline—once one of the strongest in the NHL—is now producing as expected. Byfield and Adrian Kempe are receiving heavy minutes and have been making at a high level this season, especially Kempe, who scored over 30 goals, joining only Fiala in that feat. 

Kevin Fiala joins Adrian Kempe as the second 30-goal scorer for the @LAKings this season. It marks the first season since the 2007-08 campaign the team has had multiple 30-goal scorers. pic.twitter.com/QaUJfs1Cv3

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) April 5, 2025

Blake opted for tweaks at the trade deadline rather than a splash, showing confidence in the current core. That confidence may be worth it, especially if the Kings' depth on defense can contain a high-powered offense come playoff time. 

Can They Beat the Oilers?

That's the million-dollar question.

The Kings have been the punching bag of the Oilers, a lot of which is because of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's tee-for-towing. Last season, the series saw Edmonton assert itself in the final two games by exploiting the mismatches and special teams' failures of L.A. 

Every year, the Oilers get rid of the Kings quicker in the playoffs because of their adjustments and rotations that exploit them. The Kings believe they've learned from those losses, however.

The Kings may also take advantage of Edmonton's injury concerns, which remain a question mark with six games remaining. Draisaitl and McDavid, who missed some time, are expected to return from injury before the playoffs, but if both are not 100%, it will be hard to ask them to beat a healthy Kings team. Still, a 75% McDavid and Draisaitl will be hard to beat in the playoffs, so the Kings must do everything possible to get the home-ice advantage over the Oilers. 

Los Angeles can stay disciplined, win the special teams game, and control possession, and it has a shot at reversing the script.

Why Could This Year Be Different?

There are several reasons to believe the Kings can avoid another early-season playoff exit:

Coaching Clarity: Jim Hiller has brought structure and clarity to the team in its systems. The Kings play faster and with purpose under his direction.

Defensive Identity: L.A. is one of the league's top teams in goals against per game, with a renewed focus on team defense and responsible puck management.

With his 27-save shutout victory, Darcy Kuemper has allowed two or fewer goals in 13 consecutive starts and is just the fifth goaltender in the NHL’s expansion era to accomplish such feat, per @NHLPR. pic.twitter.com/scQ7Itst7Y

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) April 5, 2025

Depth Success in April: From Byfield to Fiala, the Kings' forward depth is more balanced than in past playoff forays. They're not relying on Kopitar, Danault, and Doughty alone to carry the load. It's easily the most balanced forward group in the Rob Blake era. 

Motivation and Maturity: With three straight heartbreaks behind them, this team isn't satisfied with just making the playoffs. The window is open now—and they know that.

Looking Ahead 

With only a few regular-season games left, the Kings are in charge of their playoff fate. They'll finish the season playing Seattle twice, the Ducks, Oilers, Avalanche, and Flames—games that will decide whether they begin Round 1 at home.

Whomever they face, the bar is raised: anything less than advancing past the first round would be a letdown. But if this truly is Rob Blake's best team, they'll have an opportunity to prove it—to a familiar foe, in the largest of stages.

Sad news broke late Monday afternoon that former Pittsburgh Penguins goalie and Sportsnet broadcaster Greg Millen had suddenly passed away at the age of 67. 

Initially drafted by the Penguins in the sixth round (102nd overall) in the 1977 Amateur Draft, he would debut with the club during the 1978-79 season at 21 years old, appearing in 28 games. 

Millen spent 14 seasons in the NHL, earning a 57-56-18 record with Pittsburgh while skating with the Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks, Quebec Nordiques, and Detroit Red Wings. 

In 604 games, Millen's record was 215-284-89 with 17 shutouts. He compiled a career 3.88 GAA and .877 SV%. Meanwhile, Millen produced a 27-29 record in the postseason and never played in the Conference Final. 

pic.twitter.com/V6jRqrSLZ3

— Sportsnet PR (@SportsnetPR) April 7, 2025

After retiring in 1992, Millen became a broadcaster with the Ottawa Senators, joining CBC and Hockey Night in Canada in 1995. Eventually, he worked exclusively for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Senators until joining Rogers in 2014 to rejoin the Hockey Night team. 

Under Rogers, Millen continued to work with the Maple Leafs before joining the Calgary Flames broadcast team, where he provided color commentary for the past few seasons. 

How Celebrini made Sharks franchise history vs. Flames originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 2024-25 NHL regular season might not be going well on paper for the league-worst Sharks.

But there’s a clear silver lining in rookie center Macklin Celebrini.

With his first-period assist — his 35th of the season — against the Calgary Flames on Monday, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft set a franchise rookie record for San Jose.

Nikolai Kovalenko and Macklin Celebrini tally assists on the score. With his 35th assist of the season, Celebrini has set a #SJSharks rookie record. https://t.co/nWfFsE6Aqi

— San Jose Sharks PR (@SanJoseSharksPR) April 8, 2025

Will Smith buries one in front of the crease to put the Sharks in front 😤 pic.twitter.com/5QgHT7HOEK

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 8, 2025

Celebrini overtook former winger Pat Falloon, who tallied 34 assists in the Sharks’ inaugural 1991-92 season.

The 18-year-old finished Monday’s 3-2 loss at SAP Center with two assists, both on goals by fellow promising youngster Will Smith.

That second point for Celebrini gave him a season total of 57 in his quest for the Calder Trophy. As a result, he moved ahead of Logan Couture for No. 2 on the Sharks’ all-time leaderboard for points by a rookie; Celebrini has five more games to eclipse another Falloon franchise record at 59 points.

Will Smith's second of the night brings the Sharks within one 👀 pic.twitter.com/v5UxB3m4Nr

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 8, 2025

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Monday marks Corey Perry's 11th time facing his old team and his fifth time coming back to Honda Center. Perry is 2-2-0 in his career against the Ducks at the arena he called home for 14 seasons.

He's seen and done a lot since being bought out by the Ducks during the summer of 2019. He's appeared in 97 Stanley Cup Playoffs games––including four consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances––and played alongside some of the best players in the world, all while continuing to play that classic Corey Perry-style of hockey.

"The Worm," as he is known by many in the hockey community, is just a couple of months shy of his 40th birthday. Perry has said in the past that he would like to play until age 40, at least. Beyond that is just a question of whether he feels his body can keep playing––or if the offers will keep coming from NHL teams.

"I said last year in the playoffs, five more years, so (this season) puts this (at) four more," Perry said. "One season at a time, one game at a time. I still love every single day being a part of the team, being around the guys, being in the dressing room, on the ice. Just that camaraderie that you bond with as a team, it's still special."

14 years and a day ago, Perry scored his 50th goal of the season, a campaign which concluded with him winning the Hart Memorial Trophy, the NHL's version of the MVP award. His 50th goal was a hat trick marker, the cherry on top for an eventual 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. While Perry remembers that season going well for himself, the Ducks did not make it past the first round of the playoffs, falling to the Nashville Predators in six games.

"The second half of the season was pretty good," Perry said. "It was kind of like everything I was shooting was going in the net. It was a good feeling, but at the end of the day, you don't get it done. The goal is to win a Stanley Cup and that didn't happen. But, personally, that's a season that I'll never forget."

Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks' longest-tenured captain in franchise history and Perry's longtime friend and linemate for many seasons, will be eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame this upcoming summer. In Perry's mind, there is no doubt that Getzlaf will be a first-ballot choice.

"He was one of the best two-way forwards in the game for a long, long time," Perry said. "Over 1,000 points, played many games for one organization. The things he's done for the game of hockey and the style he played, you don't see that too often. He was my running mate for a long time and I benefited off of him for sure."

Perry's first NHL game was nearly two decades ago now. His career is coming to a close, but Olivier Rodrigue's is just beginning. The 24-year-old will make his first NHL start against the Ducks after his first NHL appearance came in relief on Mar. 27. What does Perry remember about his first NHL "start"?

"(I was) a little nervous," Perry said. "But, once the puck drops, it's just hockey. It's what you do, it's what you're born to do. Everything just comes back to you. You're gonna have some butterflies and some excitement, that's the whole experience of it."

It's been seven seasons since Perry called Honda Center home, but to him, it's still special to come back every time. 14 seasons and nearly 1,000 games played will do that.

"Every time I walk in, get in the arena, see all the signs, the accomplishments... it was home. 14 years played here, almost over 1,000 games. It's a special place and always will be."

Over the weekend, Alex Ovechkin became the NHL's all-time leader in goals. The Washington Capitals captain scored his 895th on Sunday against the New York Islanders, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record. Over his 20-year career, Ovechkin has scored on almost every goaltender he faced, except a select few, who are now being recognized. 

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In honour of Ovechkin's record-setting goal, Budweiser Canada will be sending commemorative cans to the 28 goaltenders who have denied Ovechkin goals. The zero alcohol cans will have the number of shots each goaltender faced, along with the phrase "The Greatest Goal Scored Of All Time Couldn't Score On You". Among the list of goaltenders are plenty of familiar names for Vancouver Canucks fans, including Kevin Lankinen, who has stopped all 14 shots Ovechkin has fired on him. 

All Of Alex Ovechkin’s Goals Against The Vancouver Canucks The NHL officially has a new leader in all-time goals scored. On April 6, 2025 Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th career NHL goal, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record nearly 26 years later. The goal scorer has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy nine times in his career and has now surpassed the 40-goal mark 14 times. Of his 895 NHL goals, 16 were scored against the Vancouver Canucks. Here’s a list of all of Ovechkin’s goals against the Canucks. 

Lankinen is one of nine goaltenders who has stopped at least ten shots from Ovechkin and not allowed a goal. Overall, he ranks tied for fourth, with the only goaltenders ahead of him being Mike Condon, Mathieu Garon, and Vítek Vaněček. Over his career, Lankinen has faced the Capitals three times, posting a 2-0-1 record and a .940% save percentage. 

As mentioned, the list features a few other goaltenders who have suited up for Vancouver. Braden Holtby has stopped all two shots he faced against his former teammate, while Collin Delia has also gone two for two. Over his career, Ovechkin has scored 16 times against the Canucks, but was held off the scoresheet in each of the two matchups this season. 

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, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Buffalo Sabres have six games remaining after a 6-3 comeback victory over the Boston Bruins on Sunday, and in spite of playing much better over the last few weeks, the players’ pursuit of personal goals has taken precedence over the club’s near-impossible chances of making the postseason.

Sabres leading scorer Tage Thompson reached the 40-goal mark for the second time in his career on Saturday with a tally against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and on Sunday, the big forward notched his second hat trick of the season and moved within range of his career-high 47 goals and possibly with a chance of his first 50-goal campaign.

"He's 6'7", with the poise of a Norris candidate and the hands of a little skill guy, and it's awesome to see, and obviously the shot is like none other I've ever seen." Sabres winger Alex Tuch said after the game. "It's been awesome to see how far he's come and how much of a complete game he's been playing. The goals are happening right now, but I think he's been playing really well all season, and his production is jumping."

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Thompson played most of the season up the middle, but after the Four Nations break, he has primarily played on the wing. Head coach Lindy Ruff believes playing the right side and gelling with linemates Zach Benson and rookie Jiri Kulich has freed him up.

"I really think he's skating well right now. I think that line has had some good chemistry. I think that Kulich's game is really back toward where needs to be. It's freed (Tage) up to take off." Ruff said. "You don't get a breakaway like that if you're playing center on your own end. There's a lot of pluses to being on the wing, and (Jiri's) done a really nice job, and I thought the other part is Benson had a heck of a night with the puck down low."

The Sabres finish up their three-game homestand on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes before heading out for three straight on the road in Columbus on Thursday, and back-to-back weekend games in Florida against the Panthers on Saturday and Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Chicago Blackhawks won a big game on Sunday night over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was a strong performance by the young Blackhawks, who have had trouble holding a lead late in games.

The Penguins played a night prior, which had them fatiguing a bit but they did beat an elite Dallas Stars team on the road. Stars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson bring it every night, but they were outskated hard by the Hawks on the second half of a back-to-back. 

The context of the situation is important to keep in mind when evaluating, but it is becoming more clear every day that the young players on the Blackhawks are taking charge now. 

Connor Bedard, the most important player in the organization, earned his 60th point, which made some NHL history. He became just the 11th player to ever have two 60+ point years as a teenager. 

On the same goal that Bedard earned the assist on, Sam Rinzel earned his first career NHL point. To say he’s been playing well would be an understatement. He finally has his first of many career points, which will go well with his great defensive play. 

"He’s mature," Interim head coach Anders Sorensen said of Rinzel after the game. "We really like the fact that he wants to have the puck."

Sorenensen went on to talk about how Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov both "take control in shifts". He compared it to what Karlsson and Letang (two future Hall of Famers) do with the Penguins. 

That's just what you want from these young defensemen as they develop. Their ice time is going to increase as the season winds down and their level of play seems to be rising to the occasion. 

Rinzel spoke about feeling "snakebitten" when talking about finally getting his first career point despite having a ton of good chances. He's a guy that likes to stick with it knowing that good habits will lead to production on the ice. 

The first goal of the game was a short handed goal scored by Frank Nazar. This was the first shorty of his career and his speed/motor allowed it to happen. He seems to be a player who will play a big role on the team going forward. 

Spencer Knight, although he is a Stanley Cup champion from his time with the Florida Panthers, is still just 23 years old. He fits in with all of the young guys that are starting to make up Chicago’s core. 

"You just have to stick with it and bring your good attitude and good work ethic every time." Knight said of his play. For being 23, he has a winning attitude, which is incredibly important to see from the young guys. 

"I really look at every game as an individual set". Knight said when asked about feeling relief getting the win. "For me, each game is different. You're going through stretches of good and bad throughout the season. It doesn't matter if you're in first place or last place. That's just the way it is." 

This is a guy who knows what it takes to win despite his young age. He will be one of the players relied on to be a leader.

Against Pittsburgh, Knight made 28 saves on 29 shots to win the game. He would have had a shutout if it weren’t for a bad penalty taken late in the game that led to a Penguins power play goal. 

"We just kind of stuck with it. No one pouted. Everyone just kind of stuck to the script and battled. You got the nice empty-netter and a nice win." Knight continued when talking about letting up that late goal and still holding the lead. That mentality will go a long way with this group going forward. 

The Blackhawks are not going to be a contender or anything next season but they should see a significant climb in the standings if these young players continue to evolve. They need more depth at forward but from the goalie out, something special is brewing. You can feel the youth changing the vibes around the room. 

Chicago will battle Pittsburgh again on Tuesday in the second half of a home-and-home. Each team will be on equal rest, so it will be interesting to see if the Hawks can outskate the Penguins again the way they did in Chicago. With all of those young players, they should be able to. 

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

Victor Olofsson possesses one of the better shots in the NHL but finding ways to utilize it has been something he's struggled to consistently do. Over the past two games, the Vegas Golden Knights have found ways to make him as effective as possible. 

The 29-year-old scored the game-winner late on Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks, recording his 14th goal and 27th point in 53 games. He began the season on the first power play unit, playing on his off-wing and opening up for one-timers, but an early injury threw him in the rear-view mirror.

Pavel Dorofeyev was elevated to the first unit and hasn't looked back. His size and heavy shot have complimented Jack Eichel's shot and playmaking, making him a perfect match on the top unit. 

Despite the demotion, Olofsson has found ways to be an effective depth scorer. He's doubled his goal output from his previous season with the Buffalo Sabres and is firing the puck at the net more frequently, averaging 1.9 shots per game. The 1.9 shots he's averaging are still the second-lowest total of his career.

The previous two games against the Canucks and the Calgary Flames could serve as a sign that he is changing his approach. In the pair of games, he fired 14 shots on goal, nine came against the Flames, and five came against the Canucks. Some of his success is self-driven, but some credit should be given to his fellow countryman and linemate William Karlsson.

“It was nice to get it finally. I think I had about 15 chances these last couple games, and it was a perfect play by [Karlsson] skating in up the ice and found me right in front of the net,” Olofsson said. “I know he's a great playmaker, and he will definitely find me in the slot, so I just tried to find some open ice, and a perfect pass by [Karlsson] and that one I fortunately didn't miss.”

In the playoffs, the stars need to shine the brightest in order to succeed, but depth scoring is critical late in games and series. Olofsson has shown throughout the regular season that he can come up with decisive goals and if he can enter the playoffs with his confidence high, the Golden Knights can be increasingly dangerous. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

The Ducks look to bounce back from a tough two-game Canadian road trip with a matchup against the shorthanded Edmonton Oilers. The Ducks are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday while the Oilers are coming off a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

"We were terrible against Calgary," Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said. "We had an off-night, those happen. We hadn't had one, I think, since the St. Louis game (last month). Vancouver, believe it or not, I liked the way we played. There were five or six minutes there where the game got away. I think three of those were just kind of seeing-eye shots that found their way through to the net.

Takeaways from the Ducks' 4-1 Loss to the FlamesWith the number of games remaining in the 2024-25 season down to single digits, the Anaheim Ducks took to the road for a two-game trip to Western Canada, starting on Thursday with a matchup against the Calgary Flames.

"I think we hit four or five posts that game, and four were direct post shots. That game could have gone either way if the posts that we hit in the first period had gone in and their deflections hadn't gone in. But, would have, could have, should have. I liked the way we played."

"(Those games) were tough," Trevor Zegras said. "Calgary, we weren't very sharp. Them scoring on the first shift was a good precursor for the rest of the game. Vancouver, I thought we actually played pretty well. They just scored five quick ones and then it was pretty much over. But I thought our effort was pretty good and I thought we played better that day than Calgary."

Takeaways from the Ducks 6-2 Loss to the CanucksThe Anaheim Ducks wrapped up their brief two-game Western Canada road trip with a Saturday matinee against the Vancouver Canucks. The Ducks were coming off of a decisive 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Calgary Flames on Thursday and fared even worse on Saturday, as they dropped their third game of their last four by a score of 6-2.

The Oilers will be without Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who both missed the Kings' matchup due to injury. McDavid has been out of the lineup since Mar. 20 with a lower-body injury, while Draisaitl's ailment is undisclosed. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch will have to dress a shorthanded lineup of 11 forwards and six defensemen due to injuries.

This game marks Max Jones' return to Anaheim for the first time since he departed the team last summer in free agency. After signing with the Boston Bruins, Jones spent most of the season in AHL Providence before being acquired by the Oilers via trade on Mar. 4.

"It's nostalgic," Jones said about coming back to Honda Center. "A lot of memories, a lot of lifetime relationships that I've built––me and my wife––in this city, so definitely nostalgic coming back. It's a cool feeling and it was really nice to see all the guys yesterday and this morning.

"It was a really tough situation in Boston. (The) team struggled all year, a lot of moving parts there. It was part of the road you've got to travel that takes you somewhere like Edmonton (with) a great hockey team and trying to win a Stanley Cup. It's definitely a weird year. Still trying to come to the realization that I'm in Edmonton now and play for these guys. It's very cool."

This will be Adam Henrique's second time back to Honda Center since being traded to the Oilers just before the trade deadline last season. Henrique was honored with a video tribute in his first time back earlier this season.

"It's always nice (coming back)," Henrique said. "So many great memories here, so many great people, too, that meant a lot to me during my time (in Anaheim) and still (do). It's nice to come back and see some familiar faces and say hi, catch up, those sorts of things. But, when it comes to game time, it's all business. But, certainly nice to (catch up)."

Jacob Trouba and John Gibson, who both missed the Ducks' game on Saturday with lower-body injuries, were not present at morning skate and will not play against the Oilers. Cronin did not have an update on either player.

Ducks Projected Lines

Cutter Gauthier - Leo Carlsson - Alex Killorn
Frank Vatrano - Ryan Strome - Troy Terry
Trevor Zegras - Mason McTavish - Sam Colangelo
Nikita Nesterenko - Isac Lundeström - Brett Leason

Jackson LaCombe - Radko Gudas
Oliver Kylington - Olen Zellweger
Pavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson

Lukáš Dostál (projected)

Oilers Projected Lines

Vasily Podkolzin - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Viktor Arvidsson
Zach Hyman - Adam Henrique - Corey Perry
Jeff Skinner - Mattias Janmark - Connor Bornw
Max Jones - Kasperi Kapanen

Darnell Nurse - Jake Walman
Brett Kulak - Evan Bouchard
Troy Stecher - Ty Emberson

Olivier Rodrigue (confirmed)

Welcome to a new episode of The Hockey News Wraparound Show, featuring rapid-fire topics after a historic weekend in the NHL.

Is This The Year The Kings Eliminate The Oilers? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: Is Alex Ovechkin’s all-time NHL goals record one of the most impressive feats in professional sports?

6:58: Could Nick Suzuki be one of the top centers in the NHL in the near future?

9:30: Does Nick Roberston deserve a spot in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff lineup?

11:32: What is the Nashville Predators’ biggest need at the NHL draft?

15:28: Will Brock Nelson stick with the Colorado Avalanche beyond this season?

17:48: Should the Florida Panthers be resting players already?

19:52: Could this be the year that the Los Angeles Kings take down the Edmonton Oilers?

22:01: Have the St. Louis Blues shifted from being a feel-good story to a playoff threat?

24:30: Could Cale Makar end up hitting 100 points next season?

26:26: Should people think differently about the Buffalo Sabres’ future after the team’s hot streak at the end of the season?

29:34: Could we see Mitch Marner stick with the Toronto Maple Leafs long-term like Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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iHeartRadio

Amazon

After eight long years, the magic number is down to one for the Ottawa Senators.

As of Monday morning, any combination of one point gained by the Senators or single points lost by the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings will officially clinch Ottawa’s ticket to the postseason for the first time in eight years.

Even the most pessimistic of fans and pundits can finally breathe a sigh of relief after a three-game stretch where the Senators took down both Florida teams and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 9-1. Thanks to some hot goaltending, a few bounces, and commitment to defence, the Senators are not only virtually assured of a playoff spot, but they’re only 2 points behind the defending Cup champion Florida Panthers for 3rd place. Even Tampa in second place isn’t unreachable as the schedule winds up.

This means that there’s still plenty for the Senators to play for in the last five games, but there are also key decisions to make and scenarios to hope for. It’s been a long time since this town has had the chance to look beyond game 82.

Many pundits and fans seem to think that the Toronto Maple Leafs would provide the most favorable matchup for the Senators. I’m sure the NHL itself wants this matchup which would draw millions of eyeballs. The Leafs would have the edge on offense, but Ottawa has the superior defensive numbers and a Vezina winner compared to the Leafs’ platoon that has played well all season long but next to zero playoff experience.

All the pressure would be on the Leafs to avoid the rock-bottom scenario of losing to their smaller brother in the province. Of course, Ottawa swept the season series with the Leafs 3-0-0, which makes the Senators a pretty daunting first-round matchup for a historically fragile group at playoff time.

Regardless of the stats, do Ottawa fans really want their first playoff game on Canadian Tire Centre ice in eight years to be taken over by the fans of the blue team? Team president Cyril Leeder and his team are doing what they can to mitigate the big blue wave, but they still tend to find a way. The city and fanbase deserve a packed house, cheering loudly for the home team, a simple goal made much more complicated if the Leafs are the matchup.

The other possible opponents in Florida, Tampa Bay, and (unlikely) Washington all come with both significant challenges and championship pedigree. However, the Senators have played all of these opponents well this season and have avenues to victory against any of them.

Florida has faded down the stretch with a 3-6-1 record in their last ten games, including a shutout loss to Ottawa, and has been bitten hard by the injury bug. The Senators have played the Capitals tough all season as well, and perhaps there’s a letdown in energy now that Alex Ovechkin is the all-time NHL goals leader. The Lightning are always an intimidating opponent, but one that Ottawa has managed a 2-2 record against this season.

In other words, the playoffs are about proving you’re the best team, so it’s not in the team’s interest to get selective about which opponent the Senators will play. These teams could be just as eager to avoid the Senators as the Senators are to avoid them.

The best strategy is going into the playoffs hot, and letting the standings take care of themselves. No opponent will be an easy out, and while fans may be thrilled just by making it, it’s clear the organization has no interest in being first-round cannon fodder.

This is where Ottawa has decisions to make. Their decision to rest captain Brady Tkachuk seems to have been the wise choice as he deals with multiple injuries. Tkachuk is the team’s most terrifying weapon in the playoffs, so ensuring he’s fresh and gambling on the rest of the roster to get the necessary points has paid off. There should be no rush for Tkachuk now, and he'll likely bank even more rest and recovery time before getting back up to game speed.

What about the goaltending? Both Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg have been excellent over the last few games. Do you rest Ullmark up over the last few games, or do you keep him at his usual workload to keep his routine going? Given Ullmark’s injury history, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to give Forsberg two or three starts in the final five games.

Ottawa also has a much better veteran presence than in years past, but those players have significant miles on their bodies. Would it be the worst thing to rest Claude Giroux and David Perron as well? Some players, like the snakebitten Fabian Zetterlund, could use some extra ice time to try and pad their stats and confidence heading into the big dance while the older or injured players lick their wounds.

Coach Travis Green has some interesting roster decisions to make, and going into the playoffs hot while avoiding injuries is paramount. It will be fascinating to see what he does with the lineup. The panic button has been safely put away for the rest of the season, but it would be very tempting to break that "in case of emergency” glass if the Senators went into the playoffs on a losing streak.

This team has proven all season long that they approach every game one shift at a time, and there’s a composure, calmness, and professional competitiveness that’s been missing for years. Now, as they venture further into uncharted territory, it's time to see how they approach the next level.

More Sens Headlines:

Top 10: Jake Sanderson Takes His Offensive Production To A New Level

One On One: GM Steve Staios' Additions Help To Reset The Ottawa Senators

What's Going On With The Injury To Brady Tkachuk?

Battle of Ontario: Debating Who Would Win A Senators-Leafs Playoff Series