Following a four-game road trip to face the NHL’s eastern-most Canadian teams, the Anaheim Ducks will briefly return to Orange County for a matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.

The Ducks’ trip wasn’t short on storylines. Their 6-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday was the epicenter of controversy, as Ducks captain Radko Gudas received a five-game suspension for delivering a knee-on-knee hit to Leafs captain Auston Matthews, a knee that caused a grade-three MCL tear and a quad contusion, which will force the Leafs superstar out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Game #68: Ducks vs. Flyers Gameday Preview (03/18/26)

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Win over the Canadiens

To end the trip, the Ducks won a high-octane matchup with the Montreal Canadiens 4-3, which saw the return of star forward Troy Terry and the debut of newly-acquired veteran defenseman John Carlson.

That game also saw the Ducks’ coaching staff healthy scratch fourth-year center Mason McTavish (23), whose struggles this season, and especially recently, have been understated due to the team’s relative success, as they make their final push toward their first playoff appearance in eight years.

"Sometimes you got to make hard decisions, and sometimes change might be healthy for the player individually,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville told the media following Sunday’s game. “You try different things along the way to give them an opportunity to go.

Hey, let's fight our way back into the lineup and push to get in there and be back to where you're expected to be. That's what we're looking for.”

After producing .54, .66, and .68 points per game in his first three seasons in the NHL, McTavish has only accounted for 32 points (13-19=32) through his first 61 games in 2025-26, a .52 points/game pace.

His struggles had reached a new low heading into Sunday’s scratch, as he’d only found the scoresheet for two assists in his last 12 games, including one in his last nine and having gone without a point in his last five games.

McTavish has always been a streaky player, but even when going through relative dry spells, he’s been able to impact games on forechecks and winning small-area puck battles along the walls. In the past, he’d done well to remain involved in plays, game-to-game, period-to-period, and shift-to-shift. Through this latest stretch, even those aspects have been neutralized, and pinpointing one specific area can prove a fruitless act.

“I think nothing seems to be connected right now. Not getting the puck with speed, not getting the puck much, not skating as much,” McTavish said after practice on Tuesday. “Just thinking a lot out there, I would say, is the biggest thing. I'm very confident, I'll be right, be right back with the guys, and playing a lot in a big role with this team. I have no doubt about that, and just a bump in the road.”

McTavish missed roughly half of Anaheim’s training camp this season due to contract negotiations. It’s possible that could have been a contributing factor. It’s also possible that head coach Joel Quenneville and his coaching staff have implemented a high-octane, puck possession-based system that hasn’t been easy for McTavish to adjust to or that isn’t particularly conducive to his play style.

“Yeah, I mean, who knows, right?” McTavish said when asked if missing part of camp had any effect on his play. “Obviously, we want to be at camp every time, but it’s just the way things worked out. Nobody really knows. Obviously, it’s a little trend, but it’s hard to put your finger on it, I guess.”

Lastly, it’s perceivable that this is a stall in McTavish’s development. He’s yet to round out his 200-foot game, as he’s been one of the NHL’s most negatively-impacful players on the defensive side of the puck this season.

His skating, in terms of foot speed, four-way mobility, and balance, isn’t optimal for top-six centers in the NHL. With his substandard skating, he will be forced to adapt and adjust his game to playing down the middle against the best players in the world. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a considerable weakness if a player can make up for it in other areas of their game.

“It's tough news for the player, and I think that he handled it well,” Quenneville said after Wednesday’s morning skate of McTavish’s reaction to being a healthy scratch. “We see him playing, so it's just a matter of time that we'll get him back in there and he'll be doing his thing.”

McTavish will serve his second straight game as a healthy scratch on Wednesday, as the Ducks host the Philadelphia Flyers. The Ducks remain in first place in the Pacific Division standings and will need McTavish to turn his performance around if he’s to assume an impact role for their upcoming (projected) playoff run.

The young center is in his first year of a newly signed six-year contract carrying an AAV of $7 million. The contract extension and his selection with the third-overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft represent considerable assets spent by the Ducks on McTavish, and as recently as October (if they don’t still), they considered him a significant part of their present and future.

In any regard, these healthy scratches have likely deflated a sizable percentage of any potential trade value. For the Ducks’ and McTavish’s sakes alike, the hope is that this stretch is simply a speed bump and not a sign of things to come moving forward.

Takeaways from the Ducks 2-0 Loss to the Senators

Ducks’ Gudas Suspended 5 Games For Hit On Auston Matthews

Takeaways from the Ducks 6-4 Loss to the Maple Leafs

The lingering feeling that followed Jaroslav Chmelar from the Rangers back to AHL Hartford gnawed at him.

He tried not to think about it too much — he did have AHL games to play, after all, to try and earn another call-up — in the moment, but Chmelar wasn’t thrilled with how his four-game stint with the Blueshirts went in December.

He’d still been nervous.

Before that, the Rangers’ fifth-round pick in 2021 had appeared in just two NHL games since signing out of Providence College. Those cameos were entirely different from anything he experienced with the Wolf Pack. So Chmelar reset his mindset.

He used his frustration — and the thinking that he could’ve given more — as fuel and motivation.

After a third chance arrived two weeks ago, right before the trade deadline, Chmelar became a piece that head coach Mike Sullivan publicly stated he didn’t want to take out of the Rangers’ lineup.

The 6-foot-4, 226-pound winger has carved out a physical role on the fourth line while flashing glimpses of a scoring touch, too. He tallied his first goal March 5. He added another one Friday and nearly a third Monday, missing a chance near the net that ultimately turned into a learning moment.

And most of all, Chmelar and Sullivan both said, the game has started to slow down for him.

“When I got this [call-up], I was like, I gotta put more on the line,” Chmelar told The Post after the Rangers’ morning skate Wednesday before their game against the Devils at the Garden. “Be everywhere. The one step ahead. Give a little more effort to be happy with my game, and I’m glad it’s showing.”

With Chmelar adjusting to the speed of the NHL level, that has allowed him to play with more pace, Sullivan said.

One layer of that revolves around anticipation. Another includes “physical foot speed,” Sullivan added.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS

Midway through the second period against the Wild on Friday, Chmelar finished his check along the boards as Minnesota cleared the puck, and moments later, following a turnover in the neutral zone, he ended up on a breakaway — shifting the puck to his backhand and flipping it into the net.

Chmelar’s ice time has still been limited, given his lack of a penalty-killing role. He only topped 10 minutes in a game once. But his role in Hartford — where he collected 25 points across 46 games, with both on pace to shatter his AHL-bests in a full season — paired with his recent Rangers impression has given Chmelar a foundation to build on during the offseason, with roster spots and roles available on a retooling team.

“When he finishes checks, he can create anxiety,” Sullivan said. “He can unnerve the opponent.”

There are still plenty of areas for growth. Chmelar noticed that he’ll rush into trying to make a play on offense instead of taking a breath, making one more move and then attempting something with the puck. That happened again Monday, when he ended up with a bouncing puck near the post but watched as it hit his stick’s heel and went wide of an open net.

“I think I could’ve waited there for a little bit,” Chmelar said. “I thought I had more pressure on myself than I had, and yeah, I mean, to be honest, I was pissed. … That haunts me a little bit, but I gotta put it behind, and hopefully the next one can go in.”

Chmelar planned to dive into plenty of video this upcoming offseason, preparing for any situation he ends up in next year. He wants to seek out advice from NHL players. There’s more to develop with maximizing his size, too, he said.

That, always, will remain at the crux of his skill set. It’s what allowed that goal in Minnesota, placing him in the right place at the right juncture. It’s what allowed him to secure a place in Sullivan’s lineup. And if he can add strength, Chmelar knows that’ll only make it more difficult for opposing defensemen.

“I think they gotta know that I’m coming, pretty much,” Chmelar said.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

The last time that the Detroit Red Wings took on the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena, things didn't work out so well for the host Red Wings. 

By the time the first period was over, the Red Wings had not only surrendered multiple odd-man rushes but allowed Montreal to score three times en route to what was an eventual 5-1 victory. 

The good news is that Detroit was able to figure Montreal out in their next matchup in Quebec, a 4-0 Red Wings win on January 10. 

But their third and final matchup of the season takes place at a most critical time for the Red Wings, who trail the Canadiens by two points in the standings in the ultra-tight Atlantic Division standings. 

For the Red Wings, their season-opening setback against the Canadiens serves as a blueprint for avoiding a similar fate.

"We've gotta stay above them," said Alex DeBrincat on how to counter Montreal's quick and active forwards. "I think that first game of the year, we made a lot of mistakes, and it was kind of maybe a good thing that we learned from early. I thought we played better when we went into their building, so hopefully we can play more of that game than our first game."

"They're a fast, skilled team," he continued. "We know they want to get behind us, and they can make plays on that, so I think for the most part, staying above their forwards and making them go through five guys will be tough on them." 

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

The Red Wings didn’t receive any help from around the NHL on Tuesday night.

Not only did the Columbus Blue Jackets defeat the Metropolitan Division–leading Carolina Hurricanes, but both the Canadiens and the Boston Bruins also picked up a point in Montreal’s overtime victory.

Detroit currently occupies the second and final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference, tied in points with the Bruins and two points behind Montreal, currently in third place in the Atlantic Division. 

"Every point is big now, the whole East is pretty close right now," DeBrincat continued. "We need to find a way to try and win some games and pull away a little bit, and hopefully we can play some good games at home here and go on from there." 

"It's Huge": Todd McLellan Praises 'Swagger' Of Goaltender John Gibson Thanks to another strong performance in net by goaltender John Gibson, the Detroit Red Wings picked up two huge points in the standings on Monday evening.

While the Red Wings will remain shorthanded without team captain Dylan Larkin, head coach Todd McLellan said there's no choice but to continue with the players available and apply the standard that helped make them successful. 

"All the work we've put in this year puts us in a spot where we have to continue to apply our game," McLellan said. "We've had to make adjustments due to injuries, but throw our best game out there night after night, and we're in control." 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Once you're inside the final month of the NHL regular season, which we are, it's generally desperation time.

Either you're facing desperate teams fighting for a playoff spot or better positioning, or you're facing an also-ran filled with players desperate to stay in the league next season.

Desperation is a fine label for the Ottawa Senators' latest biggest game of the year on Wednesday night when they face the Capitals in Washington.

The Senators' desperation is well-documented. By his own admission, GM Steve Staios says he felt like the Senators "pissed away a lot of points early on." Now they're paying for that, forced to make a late-season charge.

They're winning a lot these days, rocking an 11-2-2 mark since January 25. With the out-of-town scoreboard so consistently working against them, it may be feel like they've been sprinting on a treadmill on the standings.

But when they started this run, they were seven teams and nine points out of the playoffs. Now they're two teams and five points out, with two games in hand on both of the wild card holders, Boston and Detroit.

The Blue Jackets are wedged into the mix, too, just one point out of a wild card.

One of the teams the Senators have managed to put behind them in the standings is the Washington Capitals, who will host them on Wednesday night (7;30pm SN, TVAS).

The Capitals are not only eight points out of a playoff spot, but they have to climb over four teams to get there, one of them being the Senators. So any slim hope of a comeback will all but evaporate if they don't get two points on Wednesday.

In the face of all that desperation, Sens head coach Travis Green isn't tinkering with anything, same lineup, same starting goalie.

"Our approach isn't really changing," Green told the media. "We're gonna play a desperate team (on Wednesday night), so our desperation level needs to be high as well."

The Senators will again be without Jake Sanderson and Nick Jensen. Sanderson is expected to start skating within the week, while Jensen is out for at least six weeks with a knee injury.

For Washington, Cole Hutson, brother of Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson, will make his NHL debut. He's expected to play alongside. Matt Roy and on the second power-play unit.

The Capitals figure he's mentally and physically ready to jump right into a near must-win NHL game for the Capitals.

Hutson was chosen 36 picks after Carter Yakemchuk in the 2024 NHL Draft. Despite the Senators recently losing two defensemen to injury, Yakemchuk, the reigning AHL player of the week, remains in Belleville, still waiting to make his NHL debut.

Here are Wednesday's line combinations and pairings, as per NHL.com.

Senators projected lineup

Drake Batherson -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux

Brady Tkachuk -- Dylan Cozens -- Ridly Greig

Nick Cousins -- Shane Pinto -- Michael Amadio

Warren Foegele -- Lars Eller -- Fabian Zetterlund

Thomas Chabot -- Artem Zub

Tyler Kleven -- Jordan Spence

Dennis Gilbert -- Nikolas Matinpalo

Linus Ullmark

James Reimer

Scratched: Stephen Halliday, Kurtis MacDermid, Lassi Thomson

Injured: Jake Sanderson (upper body), Nick Jensen (lower body)

Capitals projected lineup

Anthony Beauvillier -- Dylan Strome -- Alex Ovechkin

Aleksei Protas -- Hendrix Lapierre -- Tom Wilson

Connor McMichael -- Pierre-Luc Dubois -- Ryan Leonard

Brandon Duhaime -- Justin Sourdif -- Ethen Frank

Martin Fehervary -- Rasmus Sandin

Jakub Chychrun -- Trevor van Riemsdyk

Cole Hutson -- Matt Roy

Logan Thompson

Charlie Lindgren

Scratched: David Kampf, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Timothy Liljegren, Declan Chisholm, Dylan McIlrath

Injured: None

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

DENVER — Two decades after his highly controversial departure from the Detroit Red Wings, Sergei Fedorov stood on the podium at his jersey retirement ceremony and openly admitted that the way he handled his exit was "a huge mistake."

At the ceremony, Fedorov hinted that his perspective had shifted since leaving the Red Wings, the team with which he won three Stanley Cups. He credited his personal life for grounding him, saying that meeting the love of his life, Corinna, helped reshape his outlook. Today, the couple shares two children: a daughter, Aleksandra, and a son, Viktor.

Matt Duchene may not command the same legendary status as Fedorov, but for the Colorado Avalanche, he was undeniably a cornerstone of the franchise’s modern era. Drafted third overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Duchene spent more than eight seasons with the Avs, producing some of the most memorable years of his career.

His best season came in 2013–14, when he recorded 23 goals and 47 assists in 71 games. He followed that with a career-high 30 goals the following year, though by his final full-time campaign with the team, his production had dipped to 18 goals, 23 assists, and 41 points.

Nearly a decade has passed since Duchene was traded to the Ottawa Senators as part of a three-way deal that also involved the Nashville Predators. Colorado received a substantial return, including then-rookie defenseman Samuel Girard, forward prospect Vladislav Kamenev, and a second-round pick from Nashville, along with center Shane Bowers (a 2017 first-round selection), goalie Andrew Hammond, and both a first- and third-round pick from Ottawa.

A Difficult Departure

Duchene had been on the block for some time after requesting a trade from the Avalanche the previous year. While he clearly showed frustration at still being in Colorado at the start of the 2017–18 season, he reported to camp and worked hard—though his expressions betrayed a player ready to move on.

Since the trade, Duchene has played for three other NHL organizations, landing with the Dallas Stars in the 2023–24 campaign. Despite appearing in 69 career playoff games, a Stanley Cup has eluded him—unlike several Avalanche teammates who stayed in Denver long enough to hoist the trophy in 2022.

Like Fedorov, Duchene is now a devoted family man. He is married to his wife, Ashley, and together they have three children: a son, Beau, and two daughters, Jayme and Ellie.

After some light-hearted clarification from The Hockey News about how having a family can change your perspective, Duchene was asked if there was anything he would have done differently regarding his departure from the Avalanche.

Being the straightforward person that he is, Duchene said he had no regrets with the way he handled things.

"No," Duchene said. "I think at that point in my career, it was best for me to (move on). Obviously, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done; I grew up idolizing this team. When you have to ask your hero for a trade, it's tough.

"That's a part of my history playing for this team that I'm super proud of and it's amazing that I got to live that childhood dream...I wanted a new opportunity and I felt like I needed it personally and it was nothing personal against (anyone). I think I handled it fine; I showed up to camp; I worked hard; I played hard; I played well."

Stars vs. Avalanche: Division on the Line

Duchene led the Stars in points last season with 82, tallying 30 goals and 52 assists. His numbers are a bit down this year due to an early-season injury, but through 42 games, he has posted 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points.

Tonight’s matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena carries high stakes. The Central Division is red-hot, and this game could go a long way in determining not only the division champion but also a frontrunner for the Presidents’ Trophy. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:50 p.m. local time.

There have not been many bright spots for the New Jersey Devils this season.

With a record of 34-31-2, the 2025-26 season can be easily labeled a disappointment. With only 15 games remaining, the one player having a career season is Cody Glass.

On Saturday night, against the Los Angeles Kings, Glass scored his 15th goal of the season. At the 7:58 mark of the first period, his snap shot from the left hash marks deflected off Kopitar and in to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead.

It marked the first time in his professional hockey career that he had scored over 14 goals.

“It is an awesome feeling," Glass said. "The puck has been finding me, and it is a good feeling when that happens."

The 26-year-old has been on a line with rookies Arseny Gritsyuk and Lenni Hämeenaho, prioritizing defense and allowing the youngsters to play their game.

“I let (Gritsyuk) and (Hämeenaho) do their offensive skill type thing, and just find the right areas,” he continued. “(...) I keep trying to tell them to do their thing. I will be the responsible one, I don’t care. You guys turn over pucks, I will backcheck for you.”

Glass was traded to New Jersey by the Pittsburgh Penguins with Jonathan Gruden for Chase Stillman, Max Graham, and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft on Mar. 7, 2025. He has played 69 games for the Devils and has earned 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists).

A first-round pick in 2017, Glass has taken hold of the Devils' third-line center position this season. Showcasing a hardworking, positive attitude, he appreciates every opportunity he has to play in the NHL.

“The mindset I have always had is to work as hard as you can because you never know when your last game is going to be.”

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Pittsburgh Penguins added multiple players to their roster during the 2026 NHL off-season. Forward Anthony Mantha was among them, as the Penguins signed him to a one-year, $2.5 million contract in free agency. This was after Mantha was limited to only 13 games with the Calgary Flames in 2024-25, where he had four goals and seven points.

Now, fast-forward to today, and it is clear that the Penguins' decision to sign Mantha has been a real home run.

Mantha is currently in the middle of a career year with the Penguins. In 67 games with the Metropolitan Division club, he has already set new career highs with 26 goals, 26 assists, and 52 points. With the Penguins having 15 games left, the 6-foot-5 winger still has a decent amount of time left to build on his offensive totals, too.

Mantha is only getting better as the season rolls on, too. He is currently on a five-game point streak for the Penguins, where he has five goals and two assists over that span. With this, he has simply been playing some excellent hockey for the Penguins as they maintain their spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Given how well Mantha has played this season with the Penguins, they should be working hard to sign him to a contract extension. The fit between Mantha and the Penguins has been amazing, and it will be fascinating to see if they can lock him up to a new deal because of it. 

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is scheduled to return to the lineup on Wednesday, March 18 for the first time since he was injured at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Crosby has missed 11 NHL games since he suffered a lower-body injury on a Radko Gudas check during Canada's quarterfinal win against Czechia. He also missed the semifinal and the gold medal game loss to the United States.

The Penguins have gone 5-3-3 in Crosby's absence to remain in a playoff position, and during five of those games, they were without suspended Evgeni Malkin.

"When you see on a nightly basis the way we compete, the way we work, just coming back in games ... I just want to jump in there and contribute the best I can," Crosby told reporters.

Malkin had two goals and an assist when he returned from his suspension in the Penguins' last game.

"He set the bar high," Crosby said.

To say the St. Louis Blues have the Calgary Flames' number is an understatement.

Heading into the third and final head-to-head matchup of the season between the Blues (27-30-10) and Flames (26-34-7), St. Louis has won eight straight dating back to Oct. 26, 2023, the longest current winning streak against any opponent and tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the NHL.

The Blues, who won at Scotiabank Saddledome, 4-2, on Oct. 11, then beat the Flames 3-2 on Nov. 11 in St. Louis, look to make it a clean sweep of the season series on Wednesday in Calgary at 8:30 p.m.

Dating to Dec. 22, 2018, the Blues have won 16 of the past 18 matchups (16-2-0) against the Flames.

But these two teams, currently on the outside looking in at the Western Conference playoff race, seem to be jockeying more for who will have a better chance at the lottery odds for the 2026 NHL Draft to be held in Buffalo June 26-27.

Currently, the Flames (59 points) are 31st in the league standings, which would give them the second-best odds of landing the No. 1 pick behind the Vancouver Canucks, who have 50 points and barring a late-season surge, would have the best odds at landing the top pick. The Blues (64 points), who have won five of six away from home and are 6-1-1 in March, are 28th overall but on the flip side, are seven points behind the Seattle Kraken for the second wild card in the West.

Each team has 15 games remaining, so how do you handle the situation of wanting to compete and play well, compared to giving yourself the best chance at possibly landing one of the top picks by finishing as low or near the bottom of the league standings.

Meanwhile, the Flames are coming off a road trip in which they lost four of five and are 2-7-1 their past 10 games, while the Blues are 7-2-1 since the Olympic break.

- - -

Dylan Holloway continues to lead the way with nine points (three goals, six assists) in his last seven games, including his 14th goal on Sunday in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 10 games since returning from his right high ankle sprain injury on Feb. 26. Jimmy Snuggerud, named the NHL's Third Star of the Week on Monday with six points (three goals, three assists) and a plus-5 rating in four games, and Robert Thomas, who had his personal nine-game point streak snapped on Sunday, has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his past 10 games. That top line has been an offensive driver.

- - -

The Blues are making three changes to their lineup, with Jonathan Drouin and Otto Stenberg returning along with Tyler Tucker on defense, and making way out are Jonatan Berggren, Oskar Sundqvist and Justin Holl coming out.

With a plethora of bodies and no injuries to report, the team can afford to make changes and look at everyone.

- - -

The Blues have allowed 1.88 goals against per game in March, the fewest in the NHL, and they lead the league with five wins and 10 points on the road in March.

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Dylan Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud

Jake Neighbours-Pavel Buchnevich-Jordan Kyrou

Jonathan Drouin-Dalibor Dvorsky-Otto Stenberg

Alexey Toropchenko-Jack Finley-Pius Suter

Philip Broberg-Logan Mailloux

Theo Lindstein-Colton Parayko

Cam Fowler-Tyler Tucker

Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Nathan Walker, Matthew Kessel, Jonatan Berggren. The Blues report no injuries.

- - -

Flames Projected Lineup:

Blake Coleman-Mikael Backlund-Joel Farabee

Matvei Gridin-Morgan Frost-Matt Coronato

Yegor Sharangovich-Ryan Strome-Connor Zary

Victor Olofsson-Martin Pospisil-Adam Klapka

Kevin Bahl-Zach Whitecloud

Olli Maatta-Hunter Brzustewicz

Joel Hanley-Zayne Parekh

Devin Cooley will start in goal; Dustin Wolf will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Ryan Lomberg, John Beecher, Brayden Pachal,Yan Kuznetsov and Tyson Gross. Jake Bean (undisclosed), Samuel Honzek (upper body) and Jonathan Huberdeau (hip) are out.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sidney Crosby is back.

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain will return to the lineup on Wednesday night against Carolina after missing nearly a month with a lower-body injury sustained while competing for Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

“Excited to get back in it,” Crosby told reporters after the team's morning skate.

Crosby hasn't played since his right leg buckled during a collision with Czechia's Radko Gudas during Canada's quarterfinal win at the Olympics. The Penguins placed the 38-year-old on injured reserve after the Olympic break ended.

Pittsburgh, one of the league's biggest surprises this season, went 5-3-3 during Crosby's 11-game absence and is in second place in the Metropolitan Division with less than a month to go. The Penguins are eyeing a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

“It’s never easy watching, but I think you gain even more appreciation when you’re up top, and you just see on a nightly basis, the way we compete, the way we work," Crosby said.

Crosby has 27 goals and 32 assists in 56 games this season, putting him on pace to extend his NHL record for most consecutive years averaging at least a point a game.

His return comes four weeks to the day since he was injured. He had been skating with the team recently and his comeback comes during a busy stretch in which Pittsburgh faces a series of quality opponents, including the division-leading Hurricanes.

Penguins coach Dan Muse credited Crosby's leadership even when he's out of the lineup as one of the reasons Pittsburgh has been able to hang in there.

Crosby's return comes a game after teammate Evgeni Malkin scored two goals in a romp over Colorado after serving a five-game suspension for slashing Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin.

“To see him come in like that after missing five games was huge,” Crosby said of Malkin. "He set the bar high.”

___

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

The Pittsburgh Penguins will finish their five-game road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.

The road trip started in Raleigh last Tuesday and will end with another game against the Canes. This will be the third of four matchups between the two teams this season. The Penguins won the first game back on Dec. 30 before the Hurricanes won the second game in a shootout last Tuesday. 

The Penguins have won two in a row coming into this contest, while the Hurricanes lost 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. They'll be playing the second half of a back-to-back with travel, while the Penguins had Tuesday off. 

Sebastian Aho is having another strong season for the Hurricanes, compiling 24 goals and 68 points in 67 games. Andrei Svechnikov, who scored in the shootout against the Penguins last Tuesday, is also having a good season, racking up 25 goals and 59 points. 

Seth Jarvis was on the Team Canada Olympic roster and has been fantastic this year,  leading the Hurricanes with 28 goals. He also has 53 points and is steady every time he's on the ice. 

Jaccob Slavin is one of the best defenseman in the NHL and is elite at suppressing chances in his own zone. He'll see a healthy amount of time against the Penguins' top line, which will look a bit different for this game (and going forward). 

Brandon Bussi started in goal for the Hurricanes on Tuesday, meaning Frederik Andersen will likely replace him on Wednesday.

As mentioned above, the Penguins' top line will look a bit different because Sidney Crosby is officially back. He skated on a line with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust during the morning skate and will return after missing 11 games. 

Here's a look at the projected lineup: 

Forwards

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau

Soderblom-Dewar-Acciari

Defensive pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Solovyov-Clifton

Stuart Skinner will start in goal after Arturs Silovs started on Monday. 

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

Junior coach sees ‘the long game' with Flyers prospect Luchanko originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Not even two months after turning 18 years old, Jett Luchanko became the youngest player in the Flyers’ history to make his NHL debut.

It was his first of four games with the big club last season. This season, he played four more after making the opening roster again.

That early NHL arrival can naturally heighten expectations and obliterate patience, especially in a market like Philadelphia. The Flyers have asked for plenty of patience from their fans over the last decade-plus as they’ve tried to accrue more talent. And the center position has been one of great need.

Inevitably, there might not be much of an appetite for waiting and seeing. But Jay McKee, once a first-round pick and an NHL player, can understand the development process for a prospect like Luchanko.

“When you have a player with Jett’s abilities and potential,” he said, “you’re playing the long game.”

The head coach of OHL-leading Brantford has had Luchanko for parts of four months. The Bulldogs acquired the 19-year-old center in a November trade with Guelph. McKee is someone the Flyers know well. He was teammates with Danny Briere for parts of three seasons when they played on the Sabres.

The Flyers’ general manager drafted Luchanko at No. 13 overall in 2024.

“He’s obviously very high on the player, I think that’s fair to say,” McKee said March 2 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Jett’s a very dynamic player that can play the 200-foot game. When you’re traded at any level of hockey, there are challenges of adjusting to a new team, new teammates, new systems, new arena. At this level, a new billet family. There are a lot of adjustments. It usually takes players a little bit of time to settle in as I’ve seen over the years.”

Luchanko was starting to settle in with 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) through 27 games for Brantford. But now he’s recovering from a fractured jaw, according to a source, and the hope is he can return during the first round of the OHL playoffs.

If Luchanko can fall back on anything, it’s that he has adapted to stopping and restarting. Over the last two seasons, he has played in the NHL, AHL, OHL and the IIHF World Junior Championship. In each of those seasons, he has played on four separate teams.

“They’ve all been fantastic opportunities for him, it has allowed him to grow,” McKee said. “It’s certainly challenging. I don’t think he would trade up all those opportunities for the world, but when you’re a player, having consistency in your routines, in your systems, in your linemates, in the coaching — there are a lot of variables that he has had to balance with all of these moves.

“As a former player, I can see that there would be a lot of challenges in that. That said, to have his opportunity to get his feet wet in the NHL the last couple of seasons, that’s incredible for his growth. It allows him to feel out the league, see where he’s at, what he needs to improve on — it builds his confidence. And the same thing for the AHL and the world juniors, all fantastic experiences for him.”

Between Guelph and Brantford this season, Luchanko has put up seven goals and 36 assists in 38 games. The goal total is down from last season, when he had 21 in 46 games for the Storm.

The Flyers like how fast he can skate, the way he thinks the game and his ability to win faceoffs, but they’ll need him to shoot much more down the road. Can he drive offense in the top six of a lineup? Is he more of a bottom-six piece? Luchanko’s NHL ceiling will hinge on how much playmaking he can provide.

“He’s going to play in the NHL, there’s no doubt about that,” Briere said in October. “Now, how high does he get? That’s really up to him. But it’s in there. The speed alone is going to scare a lot of teams eventually when he gets more comfortable, when he gets more assertive out there.

“Believe me, I’ve been part of it, it took me a while to feel comfortable enough to make those plays. So I know exactly what he’s going through, it takes time. From our end, we need patience, we need to give him time to find that comfort. On his end, his job is to find a way to break through.”

In his last nine games, Luchanko had an offensive surge for the Bulldogs with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) and 24 shots. The scoring was sparked by an opportunity to play on the wing alongside 2025 eighth overall pick Jake O’Brien. Luchanko eventually shifted back to center.

“There were a lot of moving parts to Jett’s season — being in Philly, being in Guelph, coming here for a very short period of time, going to the world juniors, coming back,” McKee said. “I wanted him to get settled in. When I moved him to wing, it was to give him an opportunity to succeed and build the confidence.

“When you go to a new team, when your point production goes up, the confidence goes up and you feel like you’re helping the team. I wanted to give him that opportunity. I see Jett as a center and he’s a guy that I’m going to be matching up against top lines because he has got such a fantastic 200-foot game and he’ll still have the opportunity to produce offense.”

This is Luchanko’s final season at the junior level. If and when healthy, he should have a shot at a deep playoff run with Brantford.

“We’re grateful to have him,” McKee said, “and the future is incredibly bright for Jett Luchanko.”

McKee, who had a 14-year career in the NHL as a defenseman, knows the importance of having a speedster like Luchanko up front.

“The way he can track, the way he can backcheck and pressure pucks from behind, he’s very hard to play against for the opposition,” McKee said. “He can disrupt the opposition’s rush before he even gets to your blue line and that is such a strong attribute in being a 200-foot player.

“His speed is incredible. You put him on the ice with NHL players, he’s going to look fast. It’s such a gift that he has and it’s an attribute that once you get to the NHL level, it can’t be taught. It’s not a part of the game that we can teach players. … When I played in the NHL, you were never going to teach me how to skate as fast as Jett Luchanko.”

The speed is Luchanko’s most obvious, high-end strength, one that already translates to the NHL. How quickly and how well will the other parts develop? That’s where the Flyers are hoping the long game pays off.

Since taking over for the fired Jim Hiller on March 1, interim head coach D.J Smith has injected energy and purpose into the Los Angeles Kings' lineup. However, has he done enough to be given the permanent head coach role beyond this season?

Smith has coached the Kings for eight outings, picking up victories in half of them, and one of the four losses was in overtime. That comes out to a 4-3-1 record and nine points from a possible 16.

The Kings certainly haven't lit the world on fire with their play since the coaching change, but you can see some improvements in how they approach the game, and they're a lot more competitive and threatening.

That jolt of energy comes in the hands of Smith. But, there's a difference between a coach fixing the systemic and tactical issues on the ice and a coaching bump. And with that, Smith may need to prove a little bit more before Kings GM Ken Holland hands him a contract.

So, what else does Smith have to do to prove that he's the man for the permanent head coaching role in Los Angeles?

Why Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland Had An Underrated NHL Trade DeadlineWhile it wasn't a loud deadline, GM Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings made some sensible moves that make the team better for the playoff push and the future.

One accomplishment that would likely make D.J. Smith the official head coach of the Kings next season would be to make the playoffs. It's a no-brainer situation, but it would truly speak volumes if Smith were able to steer the ship around and get Los Angeles into the post-season.

That was the goal for the Kings going into this season, and despite Hiller failing to put the team in a prime position to reach the post-season, if Smith can clean up the mess, that should be enough to land him the permanent job.

Another thing that management will be looking for during the rest of this regular season is how some of the organizations' young key players perform or grow.

Some of those cornerstones include 23-year-olds, defenseman Brandt Clarke and center Quinton Byfield. And to a lesser extent, in terms of potential and expectations, Alex Laferriere, Alex Turcotte and Sam Helenius.

The Kings Young Talent Could Benefit From The Coaching ChangeThe Los Angeles Kings have parted ways with Head Coach Jim Hiller, which could pave the way for players like Brandt Clarke, and Quinton Byfield to finally flourish.

It's a good sign that Smith immediately found opportunities for AHL players such as Kenny Connors, Angus Booth and Jared Wright. It shows that the coach is willing to give the organization's youth a chance, which is crucial for the team's future.

While it's nice to dabble in the franchise's youth, the most important pieces of the Kings' future would be Clarke and Byfield. Once captain and center Anze Kopitar retires at the end of this season, and defenseman Drew Doughty will eventually be next, Byfield and Clarke are next in line. 

Another aspect that would factor into Smith sticking around for the long term is the coaching market.

Whether or not Smith checks off all the boxes for Holland and the team's brass, if there's an appealing bench boss available, it may not matter.

Former Oilers Coach Woodcroft May Be Next In Line As Kings Coach, Per InsiderWhile D.J. Smith is the current interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, there's no guarantee he'll remain past this season. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said to look out for former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has reported before that former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft could be on the Kings' radar. He was a former hire by Holland with Edmonton, so that could be a possibility.

There are other proven head coaches out there, including Peter DeBoer, Peter Laviolette, John Tortorella, Bruce Boudreau, and several more. Not to mention others who could potentially be let go by different teams around the NHL.

Smith's destiny with the Kings may be out of his hands, depending on the thought process of the front office. But he can certainly help his case one game at a time, and fight to get Los Angeles to the post-season.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Calgary Flames host the St. Louis Blues at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight, with both teams well outside the playoff picture and already looking ahead to the 2026–27 season.

Rookie Matvei Gridin has provided a spark for Calgary, and he headlines my top Blues vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks for Wednesday, March 18. 

Blues vs Flames prediction

Blues vs Flames best bet: Matvei Gridin Over 0.5 points (+120)

Calgary Flames rookie Matvei Gridin is finding his NHL footing and has marked the scoresheet in four of his past six games.

The Russian cracked the CHL All-Rookie Team last year while averaging 1.41 points per game in the QMJHL, and he followed it up with 30 points across 37 AHL games this season before being promoted to the highest level.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues have surrendered a healthy 3.39 goals per road game and rank 23rd in expected goals percentage at five-on-five on the highway.

Blues vs Flames same-game parlay

Calgary is a respectable 16-12-4 at home, and the Flames have covered the puck line in 16 of their last 25 home games (+7.50 Units / 17% ROI), while the Blues sport a 12-18-3 road record.

In addition to both teams trending to the Under recently, Calgary has scored the fewest goals per game (2.46), and St. Louis sits 28th (2.63).

As a result, I'm anticipating a close, low-scoring game tonight.

Blues vs Flames SGP

• Flames +1.5
• Under 5.5
• Matvei Gridin Over 0.5 points

Blues vs Flames odds

• Moneyline: Blues -125 | Flames +105
• Puck Line: Blues -1.5 (+195) | Flames +1.5 (-240)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)

Blues vs Flames trend

Calgary has covered the puck line in 16 of its last 25 home games (+7.50 Units / 17% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Flames.

How to watch Blues vs Flames

Blues vs Flames latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.