While the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the midst of a playoff push, one young defensive prospect finds himself on the outside looking in.

But all the while, he's taking care of business in the Western Hockey League - and he's leadong the charge of his team into a playoff push of their own.

Penguins' top defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke has been having his way as of late for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, as he registered two goals and 15 points in the final 11 games of his team's regular season. The 19-year-old blueliner from Johanessberg, South Africa finished his 2025-26 regular season at point-per-game with the Blazers, putting up 24 points in 24 games in what will be his final junior season.

And his timing to catch fire couldn't have been better, as fifth-ranked Kamloops begins its first-round series against the fourth-ranked Kelowna Rockets on Friday in Kelowna.

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Brunicke - one of the Penguins' top prospects - broke the Penguins' NHL roster out of training camp, and he registered his first NHL goal in his second NHL game, which came against the New York Islanders - the team chasing the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division standings. Brunicke's defensive game left a bit to be desired, though, so after nine NHL games, an AHL conditioning stint, and an appearance at the World Junior Championship, Brunicke was sent back to Kamloops in January.

SERIES PREVIEW: (5) Kamloops Blazers vs. (4) Kelowna Rockets - Kamloops BlazersWhat a way to return to the playoffs. The Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers are back in the battle for the Ed Chynoweth Cup- but to have a shot at the WHL’s top prize, the teams have to go through their bitterest rival. The 2026 Memorial Cup host Rockets return to the postseason after a…

And, there, he has become the Blazers' most relied-upon shutdown defenseman, playing at all strengths and being deployed in key situations. Brunicke's defensive game is something the Penguins' organization wanted him to work on upon being sent back to junior hockey, and they've kept a close eye on his progress in that area, which has been tangible.

Brunicke turns 20 in June, so he will be AHL-eligible next season. He also figures to make a serious push for a full-time spot on the NHL roster next season.

However, there is a small chance Penguins' fans may get to see him sooner. Should Kamloops be eliminated while the AHL and NHL seasons and/or playoffs are still going on, Brunicke is eligible to be recalled or loaned to the AHL. If he were to appear in one more NHL game in the regular season or the playoffs this year, it would be his 10th, meaning his entry-level contract would be triggered.

Penguins' First-Rounder Makes Top NHL Prospects ListThis Penguins first-round pick has been ranked among the best NHL-affiliated prospects.

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The Vancouver Canucks have been presented with an interesting opportunity over their final 12 games of the 2025-26 season. On Thursday, the Canucks will face the Los Angeles Kings, who are desperate for points as they fight for a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thursday is not the only time Vancouver and Los Angeles will play three more times before the end of the regular season. 

In a way, the Canucks hold the Kings' playoff fate in their hands. With Los Angeles currently three points plus the tie-breaker below the playoff bar, the Kings will need to take all six points for Vancouver over the next few weeks. Even one slip-up could mean the end of their playoff hopes, as Los Angeles only has 11 games remaining on their schedule. 

Overall, the Kings have struggled as of late, which is why they have dropped below the playoff bar. Los Angeles is 3-3-3 in its last 10, but has picked up a single point in three of their previous four games. Ultimately, the Kings should be motivated heading into all three games against the Canucks, which means Vancouver must be ready for the opening puck drop if they want to play spoiler this season. 

After Thursday, the next meeting will be in Los Angeles on April 9. As for the final meeting, that will be held at Rogers Arena on April 14. So far this season, the Canucks and Kings have played once, with Los Angeles picking up a 2-1 overtime win in November. 

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The Detroit Red Wings are once again facing a critical juncture in their ongoing rebuild, with the team teetering on the edge of missing the playoffs and potentially extending their postseason drought to a decade.

Frustration among the fan base has been building for years, as many feel that Steve Yzerman’s careful, long-term approach has taken far too long to bear fruit. That sentiment is starting to be echoed by NHL insiders as well.

On Wednesday, David Pagnotta told Daily Faceoff’s The Sheet that this offseason could be pivotal for Yzerman’s job security.

“This is a, I don’t wanna say last kick at it, but this is a you-know-what or get off the pot here for Steve Yzerman this offseason,” Pagnotta said.

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David Pagnotta: Re Red Wings: This is a, I don't wanna say last kick at it, but this is a you-know-what or get off the pot here for Steve Yzerman this offseason - The Sheet (3/25)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) March 26, 2026

Since taking over the GM role in the 2019-20 season, Yzerman’s teams have gone 221-245-60, the seventh-worst record in the NHL over that span. Critics point to the slow pace of the rebuild, though it should be noted that Yzerman inherited a franchise in rough shape.

He has also drafted a series of highly touted prospects, including Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson, Sebastian Cossa, and Marco Kasper, with hopes that 2025 first-round pick Carter Bear will continue that trend.

Finding draft gems has historically been the foundation of Detroit’s Stanley Cup success, with past cornerstones like Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg emerging outside of the first round.

While Yzerman has shown skill in the draft, he hasn't been able to find gems like Red Wings teams of the past with Yzerman's best find in recent years being 2023 seventh round pick Emmitt Finnie. Minimal additions at the deadline like Justin Faulk and David Perron this season, have limited Detroit’s depth at the most important time of the season as injuries struck key players like Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp.

Despite these challenges, the rebuild appears to be nearing its finish line. The Red Wings are just a piece or two away from becoming a legitimate playoff contender and potentially a dark horse for the Stanley Cup.

What remains uncertain is whether that push will happen under Yzerman’s leadership or if the organization will look for a new voice to guide the team forward. Time, performance, and the upcoming offseason will likely determine the next chapter for the Motor City franchise.

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On Thursday, ahead of their game against the Calgary Flames, the Anaheim Ducks announced they’ve recalled center Nathan Gaucher from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL.

This call-up comes on the heels of an upper-body injury sustained by Ducks forward Jansen Harkins, who left Tuesday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks after just 2:05 TOI.

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-3 Win over the Canucks

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

Gaucher (22) is in his third full season in the AHL and has produced a career-best 26 points (12-14=26) in 57 games. After scoring just eight points (4-4=8) through the first 36 games in 2025-26, Gaucher’s offense has turned a corner, and he’s tallied 18 points (8-10=18) in his last 21 games, including a hat trick and five points (3-2=5) in his last two.

Dating back to his draft year, Gaucher (22nd overall in 2022) never projected as a traditional top-six producer or contributor, but instead, displayed more of a traditional middle-six, 200-foot center skillset.

He assumed similar duties on back-to-back Canadian World Junior Championship teams, winning gold medals in 2022 and 2023 and scoring a total of six points (2-4=6) in 14 games.

Throughout his professional career, and even dating back to his final year in the QMJHL, Gaucher has suffered injuries or slow starts, potentially hindering his development.

This season, he’s taken on a larger role with the Gulls, earning more ice time at 5v5 and playing a key role on their penalty kill.

Once a pure force of nature with an NHL-ready frame and motor, Gaucher has now refined many of the details in his offensive and defensive games alike. He now recognizes how to efficiently pressure, engage, and utilize his 6-foot-3, 227-pound frame to win pucks on the forecheck or in his end.

Offensively, with his powerful stride, he’s causing turnovers, winning races to loose pucks, and is becoming more calculated and confident with the puck on his stick, letting plays develop before effectively continuing a cycle. Much of his recent stretch of goalscoring has come off clever off-puck reads to find soft ice on the weak side or cutting into the slot to make himself a premium passing option.

If he were to find himself in the Ducks’ NHL lineup in any of their games down the stretch, one could expect him to provide much of what Harkins brought to the fourth line: energy, tenacity, and a disruptive forechecking presence. He can add layers of defensive impact with his open-ice speed, positioning, and willingness to physically engage opponents.

His play style is endearing to teammates, fans, and coaches alike, and he fits the mold of an important piece to the bottom six of a championship team should he continue building on his recent form.

The Ducks spent a relatively high pick on him in 2022, a pick acquired as part of a package in exchange for longtime Anaheim defenseman Hampus Lindholm, with the expectation that he would become a complementary player to the supreme offensive talents they would soon come to acquire when the team was eventually in playoff contention.

That time has now come for the Ducks, and at 22-years-old, Gaucher seems to have marinated in the AHL enough for the front office to be comfortable giving him an opportunity to earn his way onto the ice down the stretch, given the state of their current roster and position in the standings.

Ducks Sign Herman Träff to Entry-Level Contract

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The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (36-32-2) at the Nashville Predators (34-28-9)

The Time: 8:00 PM EST

The Broadcast: TV — MSGSN; Radio — Devils Hockey Network

The Game Preview: I had it here.

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

Talk about the game with Pens fans here!

The Buffalo Sabres have made a roster move, as they have assigned defenseman Zach Metsa to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

Metsa has been a nice surprise for the Sabres this season, as the 27-year-old blueliner has been making an impact when called upon. In his first 38 career NHL games this season with Buffalo, he has recorded two goals, four assists, six points, 28 blocks, and a plus-20 rating. However, with the Sabres' blueline being crowded, Metsa is now heading back to Rochester for the time being. 

Metsa has played in 16 games this season with the Amerks, where he has recorded two goals, 13 assists, 15 points, and a plus-4 rating. With this, the AHL club will certainly be happy to have him back on their roster. 

Metsa's most recent appearance for the Sabres was on March 22 against the Anaheim Ducks. The 5-foot-9 defenseman had two assists and a plus-3 rating over his last three games with the Sabres before being sent back down to Rochester. 

As the New Jersey Devils head into their final 12 games of the season, the team is currently holding several records and accomplishments. ​

Jack Hughes has been a key player since returning from the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games. The forward is tied for fifth in the NHL in points since returning with 21. ​He is also tied for goals since returning, with eight, further boosting the team's offensive momentum. ​

Building on these strong individual performances, the team has gone 4-1-0 in their last five games and 7-3-0 in their last 10.

​In addition to their recent success, the Devils are 16-8-0 when outshot and remain the least-penalized team in the NHL. ​

Consistent play has also helped; when leading after two periods, the Devils are 22-0-0.

Finally, the team is 12-2 in overtime this year.

​There are 12 games left in the season, with the Devils playing the Predators today, the Hurricanes on Saturday, and the Blackhawks on Sunday. ​

The remaining schedule is available below. ​

Tuesday March 31st @ New York Rangers 7:00PM

Thursday, April 2nd vs Washington Capitals 7:30PM

Saturday, April 4th vs Montreal Canadiens 7:00PM

Sunday April 5th @ Montreal Canadiens 7:00PM

Tuesday, April 7th vs Philadelphia Flyers 7:00PM

Thursday, April 9th vs Pittsburgh Penguins 7:00PM

Saturday, April 11th @ Detroit Red Wings 5:00PM

Sunday, April 12th vs Ottawa Senators 7:00PM

Tuesday April 14th @ Boston Bruins 7:00PM​

Looking at the full slate ahead, six of the remaining 12 games will be on the road while six will be at home.

The team will face off against seven current playoff teams, making for a demanding finish. ​

As for tonight's game, the puck will drop at 8:08 pm as the team heads into the final stretch of their season. 

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Flyers heed Tocchet's advice in blowout of Blackhawks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers broke out offensively with a 5-1 win Thursday night over the Blackhawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Alex Bump, Sean Couturier, Denver Barkey, Noah Cates and Christian Dvorak all found the back of the net for the Flyers, who had nine players record at least a point.

Rick Tocchet’s club, which was starting a stretch of six games in nine days, improved to 10-3-1 over its last 14 games.

“Great win, getting five goals, we should feel good about each other, but tomorrow’s a different day,” Tocchet said. “We’ve got to lock it in. It’s maturity. We can’t be the roller coaster after wins and losses. Hopefully we can string another two, three or four [wins together].”

The Flyers (35-24-12) were desperate for a win on home ice. With their 3-2 loss Tuesday night to the Blue Jackets, they had dropped to 1-3-1 at home in March, while scoring just 1.80 goals per game. And these were big games.

But on Thursday night, they raced out to an early lead and kept their foot on the gas.

“We came out strong and stuck with it the rest of the game,” Dvorak said. “All four lines were clicking, playing a simple and smart game. I thought that was the key tonight.”

The Flyers swept their two-game regular-season series with the Blackhawks (27-32-13). They beat Chicago, 3-1, at United Center right before the holiday break.

• Tocchet had been pleading for more shots and guys driving to the net.

The Flyers gave him that against the Blackhawks.

“The one thing with the team, they take the information,” Tocchet said. “We had a good presentation on it, we talked about things that we have to get better at and stuff like that. I thought we played in the interior tonight.”

Their second, third and fifth goals came right around the blue paint, with pucks going toward the net.

“It’s usually that inside stuff that really wins playoff series,” Tocchet said before the game. “It’s talking about it, we have a young team, just keep talking about it.”

His players clearly heard him.

Couturier made it 2-0 in the first period when he scored in close off a feed from Luke Glendening.

In the second period, Barkey cushioned the Flyers’ lead to 3-0 by flushing a rebound after Trevor Zegras attacked the net.

Dvorak scored at the doorstep in the final minute of the middle stanza when Owen Tippett found him. That made it 5-1 as the Flyers were in complete control.

“We have to build on it, though,” Tocchet said. “You’ve got to do it every night if you can.”

• Samuel Ersson has been giving the Flyers what they need when his number is called.

The 26-year-old was sharp, converting 25 saves on 26 shots.

He made an excellent first-period stop to bail out the Flyers’ power play, which allowed an odd-man break. That save kept the Flyers’ lead at 2-0.

“He came up with huge saves,” Tippett said. “That one on the power play that we had, him sliding across. He gave us a chance to win early.”

Chicago cracked Ersson over halfway through the game when Connor Bedard trimmed the Flyers’ lead to 3-1. But the Flyers countered with two more goals before second intermission.

In five appearances (four starts) since the Olympic break, Ersson has recorded four wins, a 1.58 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

“He has got a good swagger, he has had a bunch of really good games,” Tocchet said. … “He looks rock solid.”

The Flyers jumped on Spencer Knight with two goals in the opening 2:33 minutes. The Blackhawks’ netminder finished with 37 saves on 42 shots.

Bump opened the scoring just 48 seconds into the game after Dvorak forced Knight into a turnover. Bump, a 22-year-old rookie, has three goals and six points in his first 10 games with the Flyers.

“I think it has kind of been a little bit of a roller coaster,” Bump said. “I’ve definitely had some tough games, but I’ve definitely also had some good games, too. I think right now, for me, it’s just come into each game and bring my best game. Don’t worry about anything else. I’m still trying to solidify myself here, so I think that’s the biggest part.”

• Tocchet’s club didn’t get a whole lot of help on the out-of-town scoreboard.

With 11 games left, the Flyers are five points back of both third place in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.

• Cates has 40 points, which is a new career high.

His 16th goal restored some order for the Flyers in the second period. It came a minute and a half after Bedard scored. Cates received a superb pass from Matvei Michkov, who was being checked along the side boards.

“We did a video session and he has been very active in these meetings, talking about that, body position and stuff,” Tocchet said of Michkov. “That was a hell of a play. All of our young guys, the body position is everything. We’ve been really wanting to teach that sort of stuff and he did a nice job with it.”

• The Flyers didn’t have Nikita Grebenkin, who will be out for at least seven to 10 days with an upper-body injury.

On the back end, Emil Andrae drew into the lineup for Noah Juulsen. In the first period, Andrae and Nick Seeler made a heads-up play right at the Flyers’ net to help prevent a goal.

Tocchet said Juulsen was banged up. The third-pair defenseman didn’t practice Wednesday after playing the night before in the Flyers’ loss.

• The Flyers are back in action Saturday when they visit the Red Wings (8 p.m. ET/ABC).

It’s their first of three matchups with Detroit, a team they’re trying to jump in the wild-card race.

The Edmonton Oilers released a statement saying Leon Draisaitl would miss the remainder of the regular season. However, one analyst points to an intriguing move by the team that hints their superstar might be back a bit sooner. 

Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 believes there's a chance that Draisaitl is not only back by the playoffs, but he could be back before. 

Gregor said:

“Now, Leon Draisaitl, I fully expect Draisaitl to be ready for the playoffs, and I think there’s a chance that you might see him for one of the final regular-season games. Because A, his LTIR would finish before then—they strategically put him on LTIR when they had a few games left in the regular season that he could make. So, not saying he will, but I think I’ve been hearing there’s a chance that that’s possible for him. It all depends on the rehab and healing, everything else like that.”

Interesting. 

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To activate a player off LTIR and have him play again, he must first meet the minimum requirement: 10 games + 24 days on LTIR. With 10 games remaining in the season and with Draisaitl already having missed four games, he could be back as early as April 8th against the San Jose Sharks. That's not to say Draisaitl will be ready, but he'll be eligible if he is ready. 

Nothing is confirmed, but this would be a pleasant surprise for the Oilers, assuming Draisaitl is ahead of schedule. Right now, there's no need to rush him back. That said, if things turn south and Edmonton loses a few games in a row, finding themselves in the unfavorable position to make the playoffs, Draisaitl could make an impact down the stretch. 

Oilers Take on the Golden Knights

Edmonton will face the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night, a game that has extra meaning. Not only can the Oilers keep things going with a win, but they can put a little breathing room between them and Vegas in the standings. 

Edmonton is one point up with 79 points to the Golden Knights' 78. Both have played the same number of games, so this essentially represents a four-point swing. 

It's a game the Oilers would love to have Draisaitl for, but if they can win it without him, that's a huge boost for the roster. 

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As expected, the official news on Thomas Chabot's injury isn't good.

Senators head coach Travis Green announced on Thursday that Chabot has a broken arm that required surgery, and he'll be lost to the Senators for four to eight weeks.

Chabot was injured on a cross-check by Rangers captain J.T. Miller on Monday night.

The play went unpenalized, and while some Sens fans hoped there might be some supplemental NHL discipline for Miller for breaking a guy's arm with his stick, the league didn't see it that way. In fairness, that kind of cross-check happens twenty times every night in every game. This one happened to strike a vulnerable spot at just the wrong time.

Chabot had his surgery today on "his forearm or something," as Green described it, and if the 29-year-old defenseman misses four weeks, that takes us to April 26, or eight days into the first round of the playoffs. If he misses the max, eight weeks, then his return would be sometime during the Conference Final.

But while the Senators have just arrived in a playoff position, they're a long way from clinching one. And with Chabot out for the rest of the regular season, the Sens could use some reinforcements to stay in this spot.

So on Thursday morning, as you might expect, Green was peppered with media questions about his four recently injured defencemen. 

Jake Sanderson?

"He's skating, so that's a good sign. He'll come with us on the road trip, so that's another good sign."

Thomas Chabot"

"He'll be out for a while... I'm not sure; four, six, eight (weeks)."

Dennis Gilbert?

"He'll be out probably another three weeks... two to three weeks."

Lassi Thomson?

"Lassi skated today. I don't want to say day-to-day, but I don't think he'll be too long."

Green admitted that Thomson's prognosis is better than originally expected. After Monday's game in New York, Green originally said that both Chabot and Thomson would be "out for a while."

Nick Jensen underwent knee surgery (meniscus) last week, and it sounds like his recovery timeline resembles Chabot's.

For the time being, as the Senators get ready for another big game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night at CTC, they'll line it up just as they did in Detroit, where Carter Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan made their NHL debuts.

Sens projected defencemen vs Pittsburgh (listed by ice time in Detroit)

1. Tyler Kleven (28:11)
2. Jordan Spence (26:24)
3. Artem Zub (25:10)
4. Nikolas Matinpalo (19:57)
5. Carter Yakemchuk (12:46)
6. Jorian Donovan (4:42)

After so many people left them for dead, the Senators clawing their way back into the playoff mix is an outstanding accomplishment. But staying there with a patchwork blue line will be just as impressive.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:

Road To The Playoffs: Wait... Are the Senators Really Doing This?
Injury-Ravaged Senators Bring Up Top Prospect For Battle With Red Wings
Senators Lose Two More Defensemen To Injury
Former Senator Mika Zibanejad Faces Ottawa In 1000th NHL Game
Five Years Later, Stützle Still Puzzled By Senators' Decision To Let Amadio Get Away
'I Just Needed to Get Some Anger Out': Tkachuk Delivers Statement Game

The Kings are 0-0-2 on their road trip so far, and they play their final road game of this 3-game trip tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. The Kings are coming into this game after a 3-2 shootout loss against the Calgary Flames. The Kings are currently on a 2-game point streak, having lost to Utah and Calgary in overtime. The Canucks, on the other hand, are coming into this game having lost 5-3 against the Anaheim Ducks. 

Kings Projected Lines

Here are the projected lines for the Kings tonight: 

Artemi Panarin - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe

Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Alex Laferriere

Joel Armia - Scott Laughton - Jared Wright

Jeff Malott - Samuel Helenius - Mathieu Joseph

Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty

Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke

Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci

Darcy Kuemper

Anton Forsberg

Canucks Projected Lines 

Here are the Canucks projected lines tonight: 

Liam Ohgren - Marco Rossi - Brock Boeser

Drew O’Connor - Elias Pettersson - Evander Kane

Max Sasson - Teddy Blueger - Linus Karlsson

Jake DeBrusk - Aatu Raty - Nils Hoglander

Elias Pettersson - Filip Hronek

Marcus Pettersson - Tom Willander

Zeev Buium - P.O Joseph

Kevin Lankinen

Nikita Tolopilo

Line Changes and Injuries 

King's defenseman Drew Doughty did take part in the optional skate this morning and is expected to play after he missed practice for maintenance on Wednesday. Adrian Kempe is also expected to play today after he missed practice on Wednesday. 

The Kings are likely to start Darcy Kuemper for the 2nd straight game, and the Canucks are likely to start Kevin Lankinen, who is also set to play his 2nd straight game. 

Key Factors 

With the Kings sitting 3 points back of the final wildcard spot, this is a must-win game for them as they cannot afford to lose any points. The Kings have to get depth scoring from their bottom 6. Recently, Artemi Panarin has been the consistent offensive threat for the Kings in the last couple of games, and while that is a major positive, the other forwards have to step up as well if they want to make the playoffs. 

The Kings and Flames game was another example of the Kings failing to hold a lead when it mattered. Against a team like the Flames, if the Kings end up missing the playoffs by a point or 2, this game will be one that Kings fans look back on. 

The Kings cannot take the Canucks lightly; just because they are 32nd in the NHL does not mean they will roll over and let the Kings win. The Kings need their goaltending to be more consistent, and their defence needs to return to the form it showed throughout the season. 

Overall, the Kings need to win this game to stay within a game of the playoff race. My prediction for tonight's game is a 4-1 Kings win. 

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In a scene that has become all too familiar for the Detroit Red Wings over the past two seasons, March has been a struggle, marked by costly losses to divisional opponents and the evaporation of a once-comfortable postseason cushion.

The most recent setback was a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday evening, a club that had not only played the previous night but was also missing its top two defensemen. 

For large stretches of the game, the Red Wings were sluggish and turnover-prone, and while they managed to cut the deficit to one, they struggled to even gain the zone during a critical power-play chance with five minutes left. 

Afterward, team captain Dylan Larkin said that the entire dressing room was "mad" about the result, and that they needed to channel that emotion toward the equally critical stretch of play that will ultimately determine whether or not they return to the postseason for the first time since 2016. 

Following practice Thursday afternoon, head coach Todd McLellan discussed what he believes the team’s identity must be, beginning with the importance of playing with pace.

“During the year, and throughout the year, we talked about our pace,” McLellan explained. “When we play with pace, which I thought we did against Boston — not always with the puck, but sometimes without it when we get in and forecheck and create turnovers and play with some type of pace, we’re a better team."

The Red Wings had no problem putting pucks on net during their 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday evening, finishing with 43 shots but getting stymied by the dynamic play of goaltender Jeremy Swayman. 

But among the mistakes that have caused problems for the Red Wings in recent losses to the Senators and Florida Panthers were failing to clear the puck out of their own zone, resulting in goals against along with power-play opportunities that went for naught.

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“Obviously, special teams come into play, but the big thing — and we talked about it today — but some of the moments in the game, it either goes for or against you, and at the end of the night, we tally," he said. "We’ve got to get individuals ending up on the plus side rather than the negative side. A little over 50, not to 100, but just a little over 50. Right now, we may be at 48. It’s such a fine line." 

“You can go back to Ottawa - we cleared a puck, got it outside the blue line, we took the puck back into our own end carelessly, and it’s in our net," he continued. "There’s a moment. The night before against Boston, we’re penalty killing, and we shoot a puck from one end of the rink to the other.

We can clean those moments up, turning them from negatives to positives. Just flip those moments into a positive one, and it will go a long way for all of us.”

The Red Wings head onto the road to face the playoff-bound Buffalo Sabres, who have been the hottest team in the NHL since mid-December. 

It’s not official yet, but the Sabres are on the verge of ending their lengthy postseason drought, which dates back to 2011. If that happens, the Red Wings will inherit the NHL’s longest active drought, which is already the longest in franchise history.

The next 11 games will determine whether that fate befalls them and will also go a long way in defining Detroit’s identity.

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Despite thoughts that he would likely be done for the remainder of the 2025–26 season, Vancouver Canucks centre Filip Chytil was seen at his team’s practice ahead of their matchup against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. The forward sported a full bubble cage during Vancouver’s optional morning skate today. 

Chytil has played in just 12 games for the Canucks this season, having missed the first three months of play after taking a hit from Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals on October 19. He made his return to the lineup on January 23 but departed from a game on February 2. While he did return to practice after the Olympic break, Chytil ended up taking an errant shot to the face and has not played since. 

With Chytil’s appearance at practice today, there’s, of course, speculation on whether he could play again at some point during the tail-end of Vancouver’s 2025–26 season. Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote noted post-skate that any return for Chytil won’t be determined right now. 

“I’m sure he wants to. Our training staff is probably pushing for him not, to be honest. We’ll see what happens.”

Foote also elaborated that, while it’s a good sign that the forward is back to skating, that ultimately, Chytil will need to work with the team’s staff to determine when he gets to a good stage where he appears fit to return. 

Chytil is currently in the third year of a four-year contract that pays $4.437M annually. The 2026–27 season will be the final year of his contract, after which he’ll become a UFA if not extended. 

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