Heading into Monday, the Anaheim Ducks have nine games left on their schedule as they chase down their first playoff appearance since 2017-18 and potentially their first division title since 2016-17.

They have a three-point lead and a game in hand on the Pacific’s second-place team, the Edmonton Oilers, who are surging, having won each of their last three games. Relatively, the Ducks have one of the easier remaining schedules in the NHL, but with how unpredictable the team’s play style is, taking two points for granted is a fool’s errand.

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 OT Win over the Flames

Ducks Forward Prospect Nathan Gaucher Recalled from AHL

Per the league standings, Monday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is a game the Ducks should win, as the Leafs are having their worst season since they entered their playoff-contending window in 2016-17. They have 75 points through 74 games this season, sit eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, and 24th in the overall NHL standings.

For the Leafs, they have eight games left on their schedule before their season will mercifully conclude. However, none of their remaining games will have the emotional charge as Monday’s against Anaheim.

The previous time the Ducks and Leafs met was on March 12 in Toronto, a 6-4 win for the Leafs that would be overshadowed by the events that led to and took place after their franchise player and captain, Auston Matthews, was forced out of the game after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks captain Radko Gudas.

“I think it’s going to be an intense game,” Gudas said after Monday’s morning skate. “(It’s) one of the reasons I wanted to play. You know, address things.”

The hit caused a grade-three tear of Matthews’ MCL and a quad contusion. He’s since had surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season. His expected recovery time is 12 weeks from March 19, the date of his surgery.

Gudas received a five-game suspension and returned to the Ducks lineup on March 24. Many questioned the NHL Department of Player Safety’s sentence, feeling that reckless of a play and severe injury to a star player deserved a longer suspension.

Another factor playing into Monday’s game that dates back to the seconds following the hit was the Leafs’ apparent lack of physical response to losing their captain in such a devastating way.

Typically, when a star player is seemingly wronged or is on the receiving end of a sizable hit, whether clean or not, the hitting player is typically forced to answer with pushes, face washes, punches, etc. from the other four skaters on the ice. Gudas didn’t receive such a response and left the ice unscathed.

“I don’t have a comment on this,” Gudas said. “It’s very hard for them to react. They don’t know what happened.”

The score at the time of the hit was 3-2 in favor of Anaheim. Toronto answered on the scoreboard with two tallies on the ensuing five-minute power play they were awarded, leading to them earning the two points, but still leaving many with a sour taste in their mouths.

The Leafs physically engaged Anaheim after and between whistles for the remainder of the game. However, many are expecting the physicality to continue and even ramp up on Monday when the two teams face off for a final time this season.

Typically, Gudas would be at the receiving end of much of the ire from the Leafs’ players, but many roster players, including the youngest and most talented, could face some of the repercussions as well.

“That’s another thing, standing behind my own mistakes,” Gudas continued. “I want to address it myself. That’s one of the reasons, 100%.”

Gudas sustained a lower-body injury in the Ducks in the second period of the Ducks 3-2 overtime victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday, forcing him from the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Oilers. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported Gudas would play on Monday “no matter what.”

Gudas was a full participant in the Ducks’ morning skate on Monday and said he’s “good to play.”

It’s also been reported that the head of the Department of Player Safety, George Parros, will be in attendance in Anaheim for Monday’s tilt, in an apparent attempt to oversee what transpires throughout.

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-3 Win over the Canucks

Takeaways from the Ducks 6-5 OT Win over the Sabres

Ducks Sign Herman Träff to Entry-Level Contract

ELMONT, NY -- For a fifth straight game, the New York Islanders are rocking with the same forward group as they continue their push toward a postseason berth.

#Isles morning skate lines are brought to you by Bull Smith's Tavern:

Lee-Horvat-Heineman
Ritchie-Schenn-Barzal
Palat-Pageau-Holmstrom
MacLean-Cizikas-Gatcomb
E: Duclair, Shabanov

Schaefer-Pulock
Pelech-Soucy
Mayfield-Boqvist
E: Romanov-George

Sorokin
Rittich

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) March 30, 2026

The Islanders, who are holding down the second seed in the Metropolitan Division, battle the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night, the team that sits just a point behind them.

However, there is one change: The power play.

Mathew Barzal, who had been manning the left flank on the top power-play unit, will fill that role on the second unit while Simon Holmstrom takes No. 13's spot. 

This shouldn't come as a shock.

Last game against the Florida Panthers, at 13:40 of the second period, defenseman Gustav Forsling tripped Barzal. 

With Barzal having just been out there, working hard down low, head coach Patrick  Roy elected to throw Holmstrom out there in his spot.

It was a quick decision that worked right away as Holmstrom scored the go-ahead goal with a simple point shot at 14:52 of the second in a 5-2 win:

92 Holmström🚨3-2 #Islespic.twitter.com/1t1I73PsEL

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 28, 2026

Holmstrom earned the opportunity to remain there on Tuesday night, at least to start. 

"I mean, I think it gives a different look, and sometimes teams have to play differently," Roy said. "This gives us two very good power plays. But I mean, they scored last game, and I'm curious to see how they play tonight."

The Hockey News asked about Barzal's breather panning out. 

"Fortunately for us, we scored," Roy said after admitting he was giving Barzal a quick breather. Simon's playing so well for us. He deserves this as well. So, the power play has been playing well, and we just want to continue that and show with different things. And like I said, we're gonna try a lot of things. All year, you're trying different things. And sometimes it pays off at the right time, because guys...they know, and they are used to trying those different things. So, I'm comfortable with that."

The Islanders' power play, which is 1 for their last 11, currently ranks second-worst in the NHL at 16.4 percent.

Martone draws spectators, has Flyers excited about young forwards originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — A contingent of fans and television cameras lined up along the glass Monday morning at Flyers Training Center.

This was not your typical skate for a handful of Flyers on an off day for the team.

The force behind the crowd: Porter Martone.

Just two days after his freshman season at Michigan State ended with a loss in the regional final of the NCAA Tournament, the 19-year-old was on the ice with some of his new Flyers teammates.

A look at Porter Martone, the sixth overall pick in 2025 who signed his ELC with Flyers. pic.twitter.com/GcouhbZmyo

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) March 30, 2026

“Ever since you were a kid, this is the dream,” Martone said Monday. “It’s kind of surreal that it’s here.”

The Flyers’ top prospect signed his entry-level contract Sunday afternoon, officially turning pro and joining the big club for its final two-plus weeks of the season. The night before, Martone and the Spartans were upset in overtime, 4-3, by Wisconsin.

“I felt like we really created a brotherhood there at Michigan State, I love that place so much,” Martone said. “But then when I woke up in the morning, you get thinking of what’s the next step. To have the opportunity to come here with the Flyers and help them in a playoff push I think was a no-brainer for me. I’m really excited to be here.”

Martone, sporting No. 94 on his helmet, went through his on-ice workout with Tyson Foerster, Garrett Wilson, Noah Juulsen and a fill-in goalie. Martone departed before the rest of the players, perhaps a sign that his NHL debut is coming Tuesday when the Flyers visit the Capitals (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). But that is not a definite, at least not yet publicly.

“We’re not closing down the window for Tuesday, assuming that everything goes according to plan,” general manager Danny Briere said Sunday. “There’s paperwork to be done, there’s a doctor’s appointment to be done, as well. We’re hopeful that Tuesday could be a game, but we’ll see. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.”

Porter Martone scores and then sets one up here for Tyson Foerster. pic.twitter.com/aKOvrv1RaA

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) March 30, 2026

Martone, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft, had a standout season at Michigan State. The 6-foot-3 winger put up 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) in 35 games. He had no points in just six of those 35 games. He finished with 15 multi-point games, 124 shots and a plus-24 rating.

“It was a good stepping stone for him,” Briere said. “We feel he has developed nicely both physically and mentally and is close to almost being ready to be in the NHL. We’ll see in the next few weeks.”

A reason why Martone left junior hockey to play collegiately was the opportunity to gain strength and face older competition. He had high praise for the Spartans’ staff and head coach Adam Nightingale. Martone said his InBody scans this season showed he went from around 198 pounds to 210 and he lost three percent body fat.

“I think I just really found my identity as a player and who I need to be to be successful,” Martone said. “Coach Nightingale really forced on me to play below the hash marks, play in front of the net. Another thing that he told me when I got there, and it was the truth, was that if I want to play at the NHL level, I’m going to have to play at a faster pace, I’m going to have to get faster. That was something that I really worked on there.”

The Flyers had Martone and 2025 second-rounder Shane Vansaghi to watch at Michigan State. The club was in consistent contact with the prospects, from director of player development Riley Armstrong to special advisors John LeClair and Patrick Sharp and player development coach Chris Stewart.

“The Flyers were great with me when I was there,” Martone said. “The whole development staff, I think they made probably 10 different trips to see me and Shane play there. I did video with Riley Armstrong every single week, just kind of what they wanted to see, what they wanted me to improve on. I think both sides, the Michigan State Spartans and Philly, did a great job for my development.”

Porter Martone skating here in Voorhees, New Jersey. We’ll see if his NHL debut comes Tuesday or later this week. pic.twitter.com/CjOQRW2LN6

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) March 30, 2026

Martone joins a Flyers team that is fueling a playoff push with some of its best hockey. The Flyers entered Monday just two points back of both third place in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. They’ve gone 12-3-1 over their last 16 games and have nine games to go.

“Other than on TV, I’ve never really seen him play, but there’s a lot of hype around him, it’s exciting to have him around,” Sean Couturier said Sunday. “To have a young, talented guy like that that’s going to help us in the future and can help us right now is huge.”

The Flyers on Monday started to get Martone up to speed. He knows his transition to the highest level will require work.

“I’m going to have to keep an open mind and continue to learn every single day,” Martone said. “I’m coming into a room full of NHL players, NHL coaches, so I don’t think it’s just going to happen overnight. I think I’m going to have to learn and I think that this group is going to be perfect for me to kind of teach me the ropes.”

Porter Martone with No. 94 on his helmet. pic.twitter.com/dXibuKXbyv

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) March 30, 2026

The Flyers will need more answers down the middle of the ice. Time will tell if some of their prospects turn into difference-makers or if Briere finds it necessary to get creative for addressing the center position.

But the GM sounded intrigued by his team’s outlook up front. Just on the wing, the Flyers have Martone, Foerster, Matvei Michkov, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump and Nikita Grebenkin all under the age of 25.

“You look at the development of Barkey and Bump lately — being honest, we didn’t think they’d give us as much as they’ve given us lately, so that’s encouraging,” Briere said. “Martone in the future. Tyson Foerster we’ve barely seen this year, another big piece of the future, on top of the guys that are already playing. There’s no doubt that our group of forwards is an exciting one.

“We’ll tinker and try to fill out all positions. Almost all the teams in the NHL, everybody has holes somewhere that they’d like to improve. We know what ours are and we’ll try to tinker with that along the way.”

Last summer, the Chicago Blackhawks announced their “Blackhawks Hall of Fame”, a new way of honoring the great people who have come through the organization as players or builders. The first class of inductees was announced as all players whose jerseys have already been retired, plus two players voted on by fans and media. 

The vote was conducted to elect a modern alumnus and a heritage alumnus. Duncan Keith and Steve Larmer were selected out of their respective groups. The public ceremony to celebrate all of these players will take place ahead of Chicago’s game on April 11th vs the St. Louis Blues. 

On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks organization made a special announcement regarding this new Hall of Fame. In addition to those that have already committed to inducting, Troy Murray will also be added. 

With Deep Sadness And A Heavy Heart, The Blackhawks Mourn Passing Of Legendary Troy MurrayThe Chicago Blackhawks mourn the passing of legendary broadcaster and former player Troy Murray.

Murray passed away in early March at the age of 63 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. The former player and broadcaster was synonymous with the organization and has been celebrated as the franchise icon he is. This news will take the celebration of his life to another level. 

“Troy was a consummate professional, both through his exceptional play and in the way he represented the Blackhawks long after his playing days,” Blackhawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said. “Known by fans and among his fellow players as an elite, two-way forward, he played the game with toughness and pride, while his contributions off the ice as a Blackhawks broadcaster and ambassador have left a profound and lasting impact on the entire Blackhawks community. Troy’s courage, perseverance, and unwavering fight will be remembered and cherished forever.”

Wirtz’s comments reflect the respect that everyone in the Blackhawks organization had for Murray as a person, player, and broadcaster. A permanent recognition of Murray and all of their Hall of Fame members will be part of Centennial Hall inside Blackhawks Ice Center. 

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

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their biggest game of the 2025-26 season to date on Monday against the New York Islanders.

These two teams are separated by one point in the standings, but the Penguins do have a game in hand on the Islanders. A regulation win for the Penguins moves them up to second place in the Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, a regulation win for the Islanders would put them three points clear of the Penguins.

The Islanders are coming off a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday, while the Penguins lost 6-3 against the Dallas Stars on the same day. The Islanders have won six of their last 10 games and are led by star goaltender Ilya Sorokin and star defenseman Matthew Schaefer.

Sorokin should easily win the Vezina Trophy this season, considering his numbers. He leads all NHL goaltenders in goals saved above expected with 32.5. He also has a .914 save percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average. Sorokin is always there to bail the Islanders out since they've given up the second-most high-danger chances of any team at 5v5 this year. 

Schaefer should easily win the Calder Trophy this year, given how elite he already is. He's the type of player who changes the short-term and long-term view of a franchise and has been everything the Islanders have needed, and more. He has 22 goals and 56 points in 74 games and continues to see his minutes increase. 

Islanders head coach Patrick Roy is deploying him in almost every situation, and Schaefer is passing each test beautifully. He's unbelievable. 

Penguins fans should also be on high alert for Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. Horvat has 30 goals and 52 points in 60 games, while Barzal has 18 goals and 65 points in 73 games. 

The Penguins' lineup might look a bit different since Sidney Crosby is a game-time decision. If he can go, he'll center the top line with at least one, if not both of Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. 

Avery Hayes also might return to the lineup after he was called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before Monday's morning skate. 

Evgeni Malkin was ruled out for the game as he continues to rehab his lower-body injury.

Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins before Stuart Skinner starts on Tuesday. Not only is this the biggest Penguins game of the season to date, but it's their biggest game in two years. 

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

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Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes had a fantastic week, and he has now been rewarded for it in a big way.

Dobes has been announced as the NHL's First Star of the Week, and when looking at how well he played, it makes all the sense in the world.

Dobes had an excellent week for the Canadiens, and the truth is in his stats. In three games for the Canadiens during it, he had a 3-0-0 record, a 1.33 goals-against average, and a .962 save percentage. With numbers like these, there is no question that he stepped up big time for the Canadiens this past week, and at an incredibly important time of the season.

Dobes kicked off his week by stopping 41 out of 43 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 24. He then had 25 saves on 26 shots against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 26. Then, to end the week, he had 34 saves on 35 shots against the Hurricanes in his most recent start.

With this, there is no question that Dobes was the NHL's biggest star this past week. It will now be interesting to see if he can stay hot from here. 

Jakub Dobes, Pavel Zacha and John Carlson named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 29. #NHLStats

3 Stars of the Week presented by @GEICO#NHLStats: https://t.co/V0EVfQI8Oipic.twitter.com/EFUDDoFe97

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 30, 2026

Mike and Dan recap a week in which the Islanders made us mad, then happy, then both in the same day before celebrating the Rangers elimination with a new Ranger Piece Theatre.

The pendulum swung every way possible last week for the Islanders. An inexcusable loss to the lowly Blackhawks made the season look over. A gritty win over Dallas wasn’t perfect, but it was a relief. And a Saturday matinee that started in the pit of despair rose to euphoric heights, as the out-of-town scoreboard broke their way after a huge win over the Panthers. The week was nerve-wracking and encouraging at the same time, and it felt good to be an Islander, which can happen from time to time.

They’re going to need some more of that energy this week as, once again, the season hangs in the balance. Two sets of back-to-backs, all featuring Eastern Conference foes that are either chasing them or could stand in their way later. Monday’s game against the Penguins is the most massive, but the Sabres remain a threat, the Flyers have inserted themselves in the conversation again and the Hurricanes could be a playoff opponent for the millionth time in a row. There is no room for letdowns, mistakes or periods playing like assholes.

After all that, we find the time to sneak in a quick Ranger Piece Theater that examines the wearing off of some once-powerful nostalgia and how Rangers fans see their almost-great seasons and cult favorite players. It’s a good way to kick one final mound of dirt on their most recent miserable season.

REFERENCES:

• This week’s Ranger Piece Theater. The comments are good, too.

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Nazem Kadri’s return to the Colorado Avalanche was so seamless, it feels like it happened forever ago, but really, it’s only been 24 days since Calgary dealt Naz back to his old club in exchange for Victor Olofsson, Max Curran, a 2028 2nd, and 2027 first. Just a few weeks later, Kadri will face his former teammates and coaches of the Calgary Flames tonight at Ball Arena.

Colorado suffered defeat at the hands of Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets, but were winners of four straight ahead of that contest. The Flames are at the bottom end of a Pacific Division that’s been described as “a pillow fight.”

Can the Avalanche assert its will, or does Calgary rise to the occasion?

Colorado Avalanche

I don’t think the Avalanche need to trigger a rebuild after losing to Winnipeg, but the style of play, and the eventual outcome can yield some lessons.

It does appear that, although the hockey landscape has changed over the years, the best approach to beating the Avalanche (albeit the most boring) is to establish an early lead and hunker down/muddy up the neutral zone to limit clean entries and effective possession.

Couple that with stout goaltending, and you just might hang on and beat this Avalanche squad.

The true stars of the show 👏 (plus our players) pic.twitter.com/hg96WWeHQY

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 29, 2026

The strategy described above isn’t new, but this version of the Avalanche is likely the deepest it’s been since the 2022 team that broke through and captured ultimate glory.

There are subtle differences between the two teams, with the 2022 juggernaut having that same competitive advantage on the back-end with decent net-minding, and the 2026 Avalanche harbouring great net-minding but less of an overarching advantage on the back-end.

Let’s see if Calgary attempts to implement the strategy we saw from Winnipeg, but some teams are much better at executing this approach than others.

The downside to this approach? You risk getting down early and might have to abandon it altogether if things get out of hand.

Projected Lineup:

Gabriel Landeskog — Nathan MacKinnon — Artturi Lehkonen
Valeri Nichushkin — Brock Nelson — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Nazem Kadri — Logan O’Connor
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Joel Kiviranta

Brett Kulak — Cale Makar
Devon Toews — Sam Malinski
Josh Manson — Brent Burns

Scott Wedgewood
MacKenzie Blackwood

Calgary Flames

The Flames did Naz a solid with likely plenty of suitors on the open market, and they landed him in Colorado. The mutual interest in having him move on stemmed from the lack of playoff potential in Calgary. Kadri is nearing the end of his career, and the Flames are in no position to fulfill Stanley Cup aspirations any time soon.

It is ALL Flames out in Calgary 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EkLeBAZBCy

— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) October 27, 2025

That doesn’t mean the Flames aren’t working toward something. They will have 5 picks in the top 3 rounds of this upcoming and next year’s NHL Draft. We know firsthand how that sort of capital can thrust a team into the limelight.

Projected Lineup:

Blake Coleman — Mikael Backlund — Joel Farabee
Matvei Gridin — Morgan Frost — Matt Coronato
Yegor Sharangovich — Ryan Strome — Victor Olofsson
Brennan Othmann — Tyson Gross — Adam Klapka

Kevin Bahl — Zach Whitecloud
Olli Maatta — Hunter Brzustewicz
Brayden Pachal — Zayne Parekh

Dustin Wolf
Devin Cooley

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made a roster move ahead of their Monday night contest against the New York Islanders.

The Penguins have announced that they have recalled forward Avery Hayes from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 

Hayes has played in his first 11 career NHL games this season with Pittsburgh, where he has recorded two goals and 12 penalty minutes. Now, he will be aiming to impress after getting this latest call-up to Pittsburgh's roster. 

Down in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hayes has posted 22 goals, 13 assists, 35 points, 48 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating. This included him recording three goals and five points in his last two games alone for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

With this, there is no question that Hayes has earned this latest chance on Pittsburgh's roster. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact he can make with the NHL club from here. 

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Six of the last nine head-to-head meetings between the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights have featured six goals or fewer.

These Pacific Division foes consistently play lower-scoring games, and my Canucks vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks see that trend continuing.

Canucks vs Golden Knights prediction

Canucks vs Golden Knights best bet: Under 6.5 (-115)

Kevin Lankinen has played better of late. He's allowed three goals or fewer in five of his last seven starts, with the exceptions coming against Tampa Bay and Anaheim — two high-tier offenses.

Lankinen stopped 1.13 goals more than expected during that sample, showcasing the ability to hold the fort despite a hefty workload.

He should have an easier time slowing down a Vegas Golden Knights squad that has scored just 12 goals over its last seven games and is lacking confidence offensively.

On the other side, the Golden Knights rank third in shot suppression and sixth in penalty kill percentage. That should help them keep the puck out.

Canucks vs Golden Knights same-game parlay

Marcus Pettersson has averaged 2.2 blocks and cleared this line in 61% of his away games against Top-16 shot generation teams, including six of the past seven.

Jake DeBrusk has generated 19 shots on target over his last seven games. He lives around the net and has a higher on-target rate due to his proximity to the paint, meaning he doesn’t need much volume to go Over his total. That’s important as Vegas is buttoned up defensively.

Canucks vs Golden Knights SGP

• Under 6.5
• Marcus Pettersson Over 1.5 blocked shots
• Jake DeBrusk Over 1.5 shots

Canucks vs Golden Knights odds

• Moneyline: Canucks +245 | Golden Knights -310
• Puck Line: Canucks +1.5 (+105) | Golden Knights -1.5 (-125)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Canucks vs Golden Knights trend

The Golden Knights have cashed the Under in 11 of their last 15 games for +6.65 units and a 40% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Golden Knights.

How to watch Canucks vs Golden Knights

Canucks vs Golden Knights 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.

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche open a pivotal final stretch Monday night against the Calgary Flames, with playoff positioning tightening and little margin for error.

The Avalanche enter a critical stretch of their season, beginning their final 10 games with this matchup against Calgary. Every point carries added weight—and this three-game season series could prove pivotal. The teams will meet again in Denver on April 9 before closing out their regular-season meetings in Calgary on April 14.

Colorado comes into the contest looking to rebound from a 4–2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena on Saturday.

Despite the defeat, there were notable moments. Cale Makar reached a major milestone, recording his 500th career NHL point with an assist—further cementing his place among the league’s elite defensemen.

Goals from Brock Nelson and Parker Kelly kept the Avalanche within reach, but Winnipeg pulled away late with a third-period surge, including an empty-netter from Kyle Connor.

Star Power Driving Colorado

Even in the loss, Colorado’s offensive firepower remains undeniable—largely driven by Nathan MacKinnon. The superstar center continues to lead the NHL in goals with 48 while sitting near the top of the league in both points and assists. Alongside him, Makar’s production from the blue line remains among the best in hockey, and Martin Necas has emerged as another key contributor, ranking among the league’s top scorers.

It will mark Nazem Kadri’s first game against Calgary since being traded on March 6. On the other side, Victor Olofsson will face Colorado for the first time since being dealt to Calgary as part of that same trade, giving both teams a firsthand look at familiar faces in new roles.

Historically, the Avalanche have held the edge in this matchup, posting a 66-54-8-6 record over 134 regular-season meetings. The two teams have only met once in the playoffs, when Colorado defeated Calgary in five games during the 2019 Western Conference First Round.

Flames Finding Their Offense

The Flames, meanwhile, enter Monday’s game riding momentum after a dominant 7–3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Calgary erupted offensively, scoring seven goals from seven different players in a balanced attack. Matt Coronato and Joel Farabee helped set the tone early, while contributions continued throughout the lineup, including tallies from Morgan Frost and Ryan Strome.

Calgary’s offense has been more by committee this season. Mikael Backlund leads the team in points and assists, while Frost paces the club in goals. Coronato has also been a steady presence, ranking near the top of the roster in multiple offensive categories.

Special Teams Could Be The Difference

Special teams could end up swinging this game. Colorado’s power play has found a real rhythm lately, clicking at 26.7 percent since early March—one of the hottest stretches in the league. But what’s been even more impressive is their work on the penalty kill, shutting things down at a 95 percent success rate. It’s the kind of efficiency that not only keeps opponents off the board, but can completely shift momentum when the game tightens up.

For Colorado, it usually starts with MacKinnon, who’s made a habit of stepping up against Calgary over the years. But it’s not just him—Makar and Necas have also found ways to make an impact in this matchup, giving the Avalanche multiple threats who can tilt the game offensively.

Necas has been particularly explosive since the Olympic break, tallying 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 17 games.

The Avalanche are fighting to lock in momentum and sharpen their game for the postseason, while the Flames are pushing to close their season with purpose and pride. Layer in the emotion of familiar faces meeting again, and this becomes more than just another game—it’s a high-stakes clash with edge, intensity, and something to prove on both sides.

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Zach Whitecloud has been a blocked shot machine for the Calgary Flames.

His ability to clog up the shooting lanes has been evident nightly, and my Flames vs. Avalanche predictions expect that to remain the case against a Colorado team that generates shots at an elite clip.

Let’s get into my NHL picks for Monday, March 30.

Flames vs Avalanche prediction

Flames vs Avalanche best bet: Zach Whitecloud Over 2.5 blocked shots (+140)

Zach Whitecloud ranks 14th among defensemen in blocked shots since the trade deadline. He soars up the leaderboard on a per-game basis, ranking first with an average of 2.77 blocks.

Whitecloud has blocked at least three shots in four of his last five games, with the lone Under coming against a weak Canucks team that doesn’t threaten offensively.

It should be a different story against the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado leads the NHL in shot attempts per 60 minutes on home soil and plays with a ton of pace.

That should create a high-event game environment in which Whitecloud has plenty of opportunity to get in shooting lanes.

Flames vs Avalanche same-game parlay

Mikael Backlund has generated multiple shots on goal in seven of his last nine games and leads Flames forwards in ice time since the deadline. His high usage is leading to plenty of shot volume.

I’ll round out the parlay with an Under on the total. Devin Cooley has allowed three goals or fewer in all but one start since December 20. Meanwhile, the Avalanche have conceded a league-low 2.46 goals per game.

Flames vs Avalanche SGP

• Zach Whitecloud Over 2.5 blocked shots
• Mikael Backlund Over 1.5 shots
• Under 6.5

Flames vs Avalanche odds

• Moneyline: Flames +310 | Avalanche -400
• Puck Line: Flames +1.5 (+125) | Avalanche -1.5 (-145)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Flames vs Avalanche trend

The Calgary Flames have hit the game total Under in 11 of their last 15 away games (+6.70 Units / 40% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Avalanche.

How to watch Flames vs Avalanche

Flames vs Avalanche latest injuries

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Five games are on the NHL schedule this evening, and I’ve done my research to find the top NHL player props.

I’ll highlight John Carlson, Martin Necas, and Rickard Rakell in today's NHL picks below.

Best NHL player prop bets today

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(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Monday, March 30

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: John Carlson Over 0.5 assists

-115 at BET99

John Carlson is lighting up lately for the playoff-bound Anaheim Ducks. He’s cashed the Over in helpers in three straight games and has notched seven assists over that span. He’s collected 44 helpers overall this season. 

The 36-year-old has handed out two assists in each of the last two contests, and he has 17 helpers in 30 home games as the Ducks welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs to town tonight. Carlson has also produced against the Leafs, posting two assists in two meetings in 2025-26.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet Ontario, TVA Sports

Prop #2: Martin Necas Over 0.5 assists

-140 at BET99

Martin Necas is having a marvelous campaign for the Colorado Avalanche, scoring 34 goals and tallying 55 assists. He’s a terrific player who can do it all offensively. The Czech native has logged an assist in three of his last five games.

Necas has a pair of multi-assist games during that span, and he’s really produced at home. Necas has 26 assists in 33 outings at Ball Arena, and the Avs host the Calgary Flames this evening, a team that's not great defensively. 

The 27-year-old is a big piece of this electric offense, and he’s usually playing his part. I’ll take him to notch a helper.

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime

Prop #3: Rickard Rakell anytime goalscorer

+205 at BET99

Rickard Rakell is not exactly a household name, but he’s a key piece for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old has 17 goals this season, and he’s scored seven times in March. In fact, Rakell has found the back of the net in three of his last five. 

The veteran scored twice on Thursday against the Senators, and he also had a goal last Tuesday against the Avalanche. Tonight, the Pens take on the New York Islanders, and Rakell has a goal against them across two meetings. 

He’s also generated 11 SOG across the last three games, which is above his average. More chances equal a higher likelihood of him lighting the lamp.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: TVA Sports

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

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The Vancouver Canucks (21-43-8) continue their road trip on Monday as they visit the Vegas Golden Knights. Both teams have struggled as of late and have combined for just five wins over their last 20 games. Based on the standings, Monday is a must-win for Vegas as they are dangerously close to the playoff bar. 

Monday will feature a debut from the Golden Knights side as John Tortorella will be behind the bench for the first time. Vegas announced on Sunday that they had fired Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with Tortorella. Earlier this year, Tortorella helped Team USA win Gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics and brings over 1,500 games of experience behind the bench. 

Shifting to the Canucks, all the focus remains on whether they can sort out their second-period issues. Vancouver is the only team that has allowed over 100 goals against in the second, as they enter Monday's game with 103 against in 72 games. At this stage of the season, the team needs to show some level of progress, which could be as simple as not allowing a goal in the middle frame against the Golden Knights.  

Players To Watch:

Evander Kane:

Monday will feature a milestone moment for Evander Kane as he skates in his 1,000th career regular-season game. In 999 career games, the 34-year-old has 338 goals along with 647 points. As for this season, Kane has played 69 games and recorded 30 points. 

Mitch Marner:

All eyes will be on Mitch Marner and how he responds to Tortorella taking over as coach. The 28-year-old has not lived up to expectations in his first year with Vegas, but he does sit second on the team with 71 points in 73 games. The question now is, can Tortorella help Marner unlock another level, or will personalities clash over the next few weeks?

Vancouver Canucks (21–43–8): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 15–30–45

Filip Hronek: 8–33–41

Brock Boeser: 17–21–38

Jake DeBrusk: 16–18–34

Linus Karlsson: 13–18–31

Goaltenders: 

Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1

Kevin Lankinen: 8–25–5

Nikita Tolopilo: 5–7–2

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

Vegas Golden Knights (32–26–16): 

Points: 

Jack Eichel: 25-53-78

Mitch Marner: 20-51-71

Mark Stone: 23-41-64

Pavel Dorofeyev: 34-26-60

Tomas Hertl: 24-30-54

Goaltenders: 

Akira Schmid: 16-10-6

Adin Hill: 9-9-5

Carter Hart: 5-3-3

Carl Lindbom: 2-4-2

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:00 pm PT 

Venue: T-Mobile Arena

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650

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The Penguins could be getting a big boost ahead of their pivotal game against the New York Islanders that has heavy playoff implications.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who each missed Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars with injuries, returned to practice yesterday and Crosby will be traveling with the team for tonight’s game. Malkin’s status to travel is unknown.

Both players were full participants in practice and were in their usual spots in the lineup, but it’s unclear whether or not either are expected to play against the Islanders.

#LetsGoPens lines and D-pairs with Crosby/Malkin, and without Rust/Acciari:

Mantha-Crosby-Rakell
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
McGroarty-Kindel-Brazeau
Soderblom-Dewar-Koivunen/Hayes

Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Girard-Letang
Shea-Clifton
(Graves/Solovyov-St. Ivany)

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) March 29, 2026

“Obviously, it’s very encouraging,” Erik Karlsson said. “Whether they play or not, I don’t know. They’re out there grinding away and trying to keep up the speed and staying in it for when they are ready to return.”

Crosby returned from his injury suffered during the Olympics and played five games for the Penguins before leaving the team’s game against Ottawa last week with a lower-body injury, missing Saturday’s game against Dallas.

Malkin, meanwhile, has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury.

Heading into tonight’s game, the Penguins sit in third place in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division and trail the second-place Islanders by one point.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are tied with the Penguins with 88 points and sit in the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot.

According to MoneyPuck, the Penguins have a 70.7% chance of making the playoffs and with just nine games remaining in the regular season, a win would be a big boost to those chances.

MoneyPuck has the Penguins’ playoff chance jump to 83.3% with a regulation win. A regulation loss would have the Penguins’ chances fall to 57%.