Ryan Johansen has announced he is retiring from the NHL and professional hockey at the age of 33. Drafted in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Johansen would go on to play over 900 games in the NHL, scoring 202 goals, 376 assists, and 578 points.
Johansenâs last season in the NHL was with the Colorado Avalanche in 2023-24, where, in 63 games, he scored 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points, six of which were power-play points, while averaging over 13 minutes of ice time per game.
His time with the Avalanche was not one to remember much fondly, as the team desperately needed a second-line center after Nazem Kadri left for the Calgary Flames, and J.T. Compher left as well.
He just came off a down season, scoring 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 55 games with the Nashville Predators, a significant drop from his 2021-22 season, when he scored 26 goals and 37 assists for 63 points.
A change in scenery was supposed to do good for Johansen, joining an Avalanche team coming off a Stanley Cup, despite losing some players to free agency and only having to move off Alex Galchenyuk in exchange. However, it did come with his hefty $8 million cap hit, but if he could bounce back more offensively and remain strong defensively, it could fill a massive hole as the cap could continue to rise, and the team could focus on other areas to improve.
Though his time with the Avalanche wouldnât last long, as he was traded mid-way through the season to the Philadelphia Flyers in a package that saw Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Avalanche in exchange for Johansen and a 2025 first-round pick.
It was a cap dump the Avalanche had to make; the production wasn't there, and his defensive game couldn't keep up with the cap hit he brought along, though getting Sean Walker was a great addition.
It got messy for Johansen with the Flyers as they tried to move him down to the AHL. After a âmaterial breach,â the Flyers opted to terminate his contract, but that only opened up a whole can of worms among him, the NHLPA, and the organization for trying to get his contract off the books.
Center Ryan Johansen, who played eight seasons with the Nashville Predators from 2015 to 2023, announced his retirement on Thursday.Â
During his time in Nashville, Johansen tallied 362 points (110 goals and 252 assists) in 533 games played and 48 points (17 goals and 31 assists) in 61 playoff games, helping the Predators reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history in 2017.
Over his NHL career, Johansen played in 905 games, recording 578 points (202 goals and 376 assists) with three teams: Columbus, Nashville and Colorado.Â
His Predators' point and assist totals both rank sixth all-time. Johansen also owns the record for fastest goal scored in franchise history, tied with David Legwand at 11 seconds.Â
Johansen played in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game and earned All-Star MVP honors, tallying two goals and two assists. That season, with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Johansen had a career-best 71 points in 82 games.Â
He was drafted fourth overall in the 2010 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Johansen spent four and a half seasons in the Blue Jackets organization before he was traded during the 2015-16 season for defenseman Seth Jones.Â
Johansen was traded by the Predators to the Colorado Avalanche following the 2022-23 season for the rights to Alex Galchenyuk. He played 63 games in Colorado before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline and then placed on waivers.
He'd remain on the Flyers roster due to an unreported injury when he was acquired. Johansen was then placed on unconditional waivers following a breach of contract in the 2024 offseason.Â
Johansen had not played a game since the 2023-24 season.Â
The New York Islanders officially announced on Thursday that they intend to move their AHL affilaite, the Bridgeport Islanders, to Hamilton, Ontario, following the 2025-26 season.Â
TheÂ
The team will be set to play in the newly renovated TD Coliseum, which just underwent a $300 million renovation and seats 18,000 fans. The hope is to attract more talent to the Islanders organization, as the team will play in a more promising hockey environment, which Bridgeport could not compete with.
Hamilton offers a much better venue and a stronger hockey market.
The move will have to wait for approval from the AHL board of governors.
Here's the release:Â
"On behalf of the entire New York Islanders organization, I want to extend our deepest thanks to the City of Bridgeport and the incredibly loyal fans who have supported this team for the past 25 years," said Kelly Cheeseman, President of Business Operations for the Islanders and UBS Arena. "From the early days of the Sound Tigers to our time as the Bridgeport Islanders, this community has been the heart of our AHL operations. We are grateful for the memories, the partnerships, and the passion the fans in Connecticut have shown our players and staff."
"We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the American Hockey League," said Mathieu Darche, General Manager and Executive Vice President of the Islanders. "The support the city has shown our organization throughout this transition has been incredible. We look forward to having our top young talent play in front of such a strong fanbase inside the newly renovated, world-class TD Coliseum and we are committed to establishing ourselves in the community to engage a new generation of hockey fans."
The Chicago Blackhawks traded multiple players leading up to the deadline, as Nick Foligno, Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, and Colton Dach were all moved. The Blackhawks being sellers was not surprising, as they are still rebuilding and are on the wrong side of the playoff line.
While this is the case, they also reportedly were interested in making a major addition to their roster ahead of the deadline.
In his most recent 32 Thoughts column, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Blackhawks were among the teams that had "serious interest" in Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Matthew Knies.
"Teams that showed serious interest in Matthew Knies included Anaheim, Chicago, Montreal, New Jersey and Utah," Friedman wrote.
Hearing that the Blackhawks had Knies on their radar is not necessarily surprising. At just 23 years old, he would have been an excellent addition for a team on the rise like the Blackhawks. This is especially so when noting that the Blackhawks could use more skilled wingers to help Connor Bedard.Â
Furthermore, at this point in his young career, Knies is already a proven top-six power forward. His stats this season effectively show this, as he has 18 goals, 39 assists, 57 points, and 132 hits in 66 games. This is after the 6-foot-3 forward had 29 goals and 58 points in 78 games last season for Toronto.Â
Knies would have also been a long-term addition for the Blackhawks if acquired, as he has a $7.75 million cap hit until the end of the 2030-31 season.Â
While the Montreal Canadiens are still involved in a no-holds-barred fight to make the NHL playoffs, its AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, punched its ticket to the spring dance last night with a convincing 5-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen, who has been elevated to the role of starter with Jacob Fowlerâs callup, made 29 saves on the 30 shots he faced. Meanwhile, Sean Farrell was named the first star of the game with a goal and an assist.
The Rocket still has 10 games left in the regular season before the Calder Cup playoffs kick off, but itâs nice to put that question to bed before things become stressful; last year, they only qualified on March 28. This is the fourth time in the last five years that the Place Bell-based outfit qualifies for the playoffs.
The playoffs will feature six of the eight teams from the Atlantic Division, the first five teams from the North and the Central Division, and the top seven teams from the Pacific Division. The first round of the tournament will be a best-of-three format, but the two highest seeds in the Atlantic, the three highest seeds in the North and Central, and the first-place team in the Pacific will receive byes and go straight to the best-of-five Division Semifinal. The Division Finals will also be a best-of-five series, but the Conference Finals and the Final itself will be best-of-seven.
In other words, qualifying for the playoffs is one thing, but Pascal Vincentâs men will now be working towards getting a bye for the first round. While the Rocket is currently first in the North Division, all of its rivals have games in hand, and nothing is set in stone right now. Vincent will be glad to have Adam Engstrom at his disposal. The young blueliner recently came back from injury, and heâs having a great sophomore season with 33 points in 41 games.
One has to wonder if the Laval outfit will be able to rely on all its players going forward, though. Given how little ice time Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj generally get, it wouldnât be overly surprising to see Montreal call up David Reinbacher. It would allow them to see where he is in his development, and it would also mean that Lane Hutson could go back to playing on his strong side.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild are going to match up for the second time this week and the third time this month. All three results between these two teams so far this season have been Minnesota Wild wins in extra time by a score of 4-3.
On Tuesday, Mats Zuccarello scored the overtime winner after the Blackhawks battled back to get it tied late in the third period. Now, the Blackhawks have one final chance to get a win over their Stanley Cup-contending rivals.
Scouting Minnesota
The Minnesota Wild, despite winning on Tuesday, are not too happy with the way they've played over the last couple of weeks.
They aren't likely to catch the Dallas Stars ahead of them, and they aren't in any danger of falling into the Wild Card spot held by the Utah Mammoth, so it's easy to get complacent, but that can't be how they go into the playoffs.
This game against the Blackhawks is a chance for them to continue working to get back on track with another win over a pesky young team.
Kaprizov - Yurov - Boldy
Zuccarello - Hartman - Tarasenko
Johansson - McCarron - N Foligno
Trenin - Sturm - Brink
Hughes-Spurgeon
Brodin-Faber
Middleton-Petry
Wallstedt
Jesper Wallstedt is going to start in goal for the Wild. Filip Gustavsson was in goal during the win on Tuesday, and now they will go with their other Swedish Olympian.
Bobby Brink will draw into the lineup in place of Robby Fabbri. Other than that, their deep forward group will remain mostly the same.
On defense, the pairs are getting a bit of a makeover compared to the last game. The bottom pair will remain the same, but there will be two new pairs in the top four. Quinn Hughes will get Jared Spurgeon, while Brock Faber will move down to play with Jonas Brodin.
Brodin and Spurgeon are very good defensive defensemen who play a strong leadership role in the locker room, while Hughes and Faber are the younger, more skilled players. This could give them more depth on the back end.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks scratched Matt Grzelcyk on Tuesday in favor of Ethan Del Mastro. That meant that all six defensemen in the lineup were 24 or under. That could be the case again on Thursday in Minnesota.
Sacha Boisvert is not ready to join the team yet due to visa issues, so his NHL debut will have to wait.
Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky
Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teravainen
Mangiapane-Donato-Mikheyev
Lardis-Lafferty-Slaggert
Vlasic-Levshunov
Kaiser-Rinzel
Del Mastro-Crevier
Grzelcyk
Soderblom
Arvid Soderblom hasn't started since Spencer Knight returned from his illness. Project him to get the nod in this one. With the second half of a back-to-back looming on Friday, expect Spencer Knight to get that game against the Colorado Avalanche, who are one of the few teams ahead of the Minnesota Wild in the overall NHL standings.
UPDATE: Spencer Knight started in goal. They went 11/7 with their skaters. Sam Lafferty came out, Matt Grzelcyk went in.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on ESPN+ and Hulu. The puck will drop shortly after 6:30 PM CT.
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.
It was another crazy, back-and-forth game, but the Carolina Hurricanes got back in the win column Wednesday night with a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The win got the Canes back into the win column and helped to build on their division lead.
Here are five takeaways from the win:
Sean Walker postgame (3/18/26)
1. A Historic Back-And-Forth
According to the NHL, Wednesday's game featured four third-period, game-tying goals, which matches the most ever in a single game in league history.
The game went from 2-1 heading into the third, to a 5-5 game after the 20 minute frame, so it was certainly a wild one.
"Going into the third it was 2-1 and then it ended up 6-5," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "You would never have thought that the way the game was going."
Fans certainly got their moneys worth and in the end, the Canes still won anyway.
2. For The First Time Ever, Sean Walker Called Game In OT
Sean Walker has played a good bit of overtime hockey throughout his career.
The 31-year-old defenseman has just under 60 total minutes of career, 3v3 OT experience under his belt, but before Wednesday, he had never once scored beyond regulation.
However, that all changed last night though as he put home a Sebastian Aho feed for his first career OT goal.
"Walks getting that OT winner, you love seeing that for guys that maybe don't get them all the time," said Jordan Martinook, who himself has never scored at OT winner. "Those ones feel a little better sometimes."
It was also, in fact, Walker's first game-winning goal as a Hurricane and just the third total of his career.
On that note though, Hurricanes assistant coach Tim Gleason actually holds the record for the most career games played (727) without a single game-winning goal.
3. Jackson Blake Hits The 20-Goal Mark
Ain't no sophomore slump for Jackson Blake it seems.
In Year 2, the 22-year-old winger has continued to take big steps in his development, already setting new career highs in goals, assists and points with still 14 games to go in the year.
And last night against the Penguins was just another example of his ability to take over a game.
Blake had three points in the win, contributing on three straight go-ahead goals for the Canes.
He also registered his 20th goal of the season, becoming the team's fifth 20 goal scorer this season and also just the second Hurricanes fourth-round or later draft pick to ever register 20 goals in a season (credit Cory Lavalette for that stat)
His line with Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall has been Carolina's best since returning from the Olympic break.
"Those two are unbelievably good players and they came up big for us tonight," Blake said on his linemates. "I love playing with those guys because you know what you can get from them. It's awesome. We've had chances, but tonight, fortunately they went in."
4. Penalty Kill Steps Up
Since returning from the Olympic break, the Hurricanes' penalty kill has really struggled, operating at just around a 70% success rate.
And after giving up two against the Columbus Blue Jackets the day before, Carolina knew they needed to be better against the Penguins.
Well, you can't draw up any better of a start to the penalty killing then scoring a goal nine seconds into your very first opportunity.
After winning the opening draw, Jordan Staal got to a loose puck and sent it up the boards to a streaking Jordan Martinook, who then ripped it past Stuart Skinner.
Overall, the Canes did very well on the PK, killing off around seven minutes of shorthanded time.
The only time they got burned was when Pittsburgh was handed a 5-on-3 power play, but those scenarios are very challenging for any team.
"When you go down 5-on-3, it's tough to kill that one off, but I think we battled hard," Martinook said. "They have dynamic players over there. But I felt like we were on it pretty good. When you go down 5-on-3, it's tough, but overall, we were pretty good out there."
5. Goaltending
Even though he gave up five goals, I really liked Frederik Andersen's game.
He made quite a few big saves for the Canes, including a huge stop on Ben Kindel in overtime right before Sean Walker's winner.
I get that fans are going to be upset at any netminder when they see goals go past them, but you have to look at these things with a bit more context.
Of Pittsburgh's five goals, two were from breakaways, one was a backhander by Sidney Crosby alone in front of the net, one was a post-and-in rocket at 5-on-3 through a screen and the fifth one was also a top corner snipe through heavy traffic.
The Penguins are a good finishing team and the expected goals at the end of that game for them was over four, so, in my opinion, Andersen wasn't poor by any stretch.
He's been pretty good overall since returning from the Olympics and it seems that that event was a good reset for him.
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The Vancouver Canucks welcome the slumping Tampa Bay Lightning to Rogers Arena on Thursday, March 19.
My top Lightning vs. Canucks predictions and NHL picks are headlined by Vancouver winger Liam Ohgren tonight.
Lightning vs Canucks prediction
Lightning vs Canucks best bet: Liam Ohgren Over 1.5 shots (+100)
Winger Liam Ohgren has been a rare bright spot for the Vancouver Canucks, rankingsecond in shots and third in attempts at 5-on-5 across the past 12 games.
Ohgren and the Canucks are drawing the Tampa Bay Lightning at the right time, too.
The Lightning have lost seven of their past 10 while allowing the fourth-most shots per game (30.1) and ninth-most shots per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.
Lightning vs Canucks same-game parlay
This is a slump-busting spot for Tampa Bay, and I fully expect them to have a solid defensive showing, with Vancouver scoring just 2.6 goals per game since the Olympic break.
Simply put, I don’t anticipate the Canucks doing enough offensively to push this total Over.
The final leg of this same-game parlay turns for Vancouver center Elias Pettersson, as he's registered two or more shots in six of his past seven games for 16 total on 31 attempts.
The Vancouver Canucks have covered the first-period puck line in eight of their last nine home games (+5.95 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Lightning vs. Canucks.
How to watch Lightning vs Canucks
Location
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
Date
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet Pacific
Lightning vs Canucks latest injuries
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Edmonton Oilers' captain Connor McDavid was asked about the response to his comments on NHL player safety and how suspensions are handled. A few days ago, he was fairly vocal about not liking the process and about players being frustrated. He believed it was time to revisit the way things work.Â
Head of the NHL Department of Player Safety, George Parros, stood his ground in the face of criticism.
Following a controversial decision to only suspend Radko Gudas for five games after a knee-on-knee hit, Parros said:
âWe sweat over these decisions and pore over these decisions every night, all season long. We have a process in place thatâs consistent, and we have a team that works for me, and together with me, that evaluates all these plays. A very experienced team, a veteran team. Guys who have been there since the beginning of the department. Not to mention all the former players who have a large set of experiences playing NHL games and accolades. Some of the best guys who have played the game work for this department, helping make decisions. So, our process, I feel very confident in. Weâve got great guys who make these decisions, and I think the players should be confident in this team to do so.â
-
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman backed Parros and added that if the players wanted something different, it should have been mentioned in the recent CBA renegotiation. It wasn't. Bettman seemed to hint that it was on the players.
McDavid was asked if he was OK with Parros' comments.
"Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, I said what I said a couple days ago. Obviously, the league disagrees, and thatâs fine. But, you know, as I said, thereâs obviously frustration from the players. Every single time one of these things comes up, I think everyone kind of voices that."
-
He added, "So the status quo doesnât matterânothing has to changeâbut, you know, I think things like this leave an opportunity to have those discussions. And obviously, if thereâs a better way, thereâs a better way. If thereâs not, thereâs not. But weâll never know if we donât have that conversation."
"It takes all of us to be a bit more dangerous, shoot the puck a little bit more."
McDavid was also asked about Leon Draisaitl's injury and losing the team's star for the rest of the regular season. He said it was unfortunate but called it another opportunity for players to step up. Understanding what Draisaitl brings, he'll never be replaced. But, when it comes to goal scoring, maybe the Oilers can do it by committee.Â
"It takes all of us to be a bit more dangerous, shoot the puck a little bit more."
The Oilers will take on the Florida Panthers Thursday night, looking for some retribution after two consecutive Stanley Cup Final losses. The Oilers have played better hockey of late and are looking to win three in a row for the second time this season.Â
The Panthers are not the team they were last season, but the Oilers will need to be cautious not to take them too lightly.Â
After their tough 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Ottawa Senators weren't knocked out on Wednesday night, but it was a body blow that landed hard. The loss keeps the Senators five points out of a playoff spot, and now they face the New York Islanders on Thursday.
Boston (WC 1, 82 pts), Detroit (WC 2, 82 pts), and Columbus (81 pts), the teams the Senators (77 pts) are trying to catch, were all off on Wednesday. So, as all four teams play on Thursday night, the Senators are the only team in a back-to-back situation.
Image: NHL.com
Sens fans probably don't bother to notice the Islanders' standing because it seems like they've been out of the wildcard jam for a while. But they're anything but home free. They're only one point up on the wild card teams and two points up on the Blue Jackets, who could force an early spring on Long Island.
So, as many games are this time of the year in this parity-laced league, this game in Ottawa on Thursday has heavy playoff implications for both teams.
It will be interesting to see if Travis Green will, for the second time in a week, go to Linus Ullmark in a back-to-back. He allowed just two goals in the loss to Washington, and while the Sens' inability to score was the sole reason they lost, Tom Wilson's game-winner was a shot Ullmark had to stop. If he's not in, James Reimer is ready to take his ballcap off.
The Senators and Islanders haven't played since last October when Anders Lee broke a tie with 1:03 remaining in the third period to give the Islanders a 5-4 win. It wasn't a great early first impression for newcomer Jordan Spence, who, as last man back, coughed up the puck to Lee, just as the game appeared headed to overtime.
Spence has been one of the bright spots for the Senators in Jake Sanderson's absence. Whether it's causation or correlation, the Sens have scuffled offensively in four of the five games since Sanderson went down, scoring two goals or less in four of those games.
As the NHL regular season nears its conclusion, the scoring trouble might also be a case of squeezing the sticks too hard. The Senators know what they might be capable of if they can manage to sneak into the playoffs, and the worry about missing out on that chance may be starting to create some pressure.
The Islanders are led, in part, by rookie Matthew Schaefer, who's a good bet to win the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. He's been right at home in the NHL, scoring 20 goals and 49 points, good for second on the team in both categories. But he might not be at his best for this one. Schaefer is under the weather and didn't take part in the game day skate on Thursday, but Patrick Roy said he expects him to be ready for game time.
The Isles will look a little different than the last time they were here five months ago. They acquired Brayden Schenn at the NHL trade deadline, along with fellow Stanley Cup winner Ondrej Palat.
But there are some familiar faces, too. It's a return home for former Senator J.G. Pageau, and it's hard to believe he's already been gone for six years. Pageau recently signed a three-year extension with the Isles with a cap hit of $4,850,000 per season.
Here are the lineups, 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
James Reimer
Linus Ullmark
Scratched: Stephen Halliday, Kurtis MacDermid
Injured: Jake Sanderson (upper body), Nick Jensen (lower body)
Islanders projected lineup
Emil Heineman -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal
Anthony Duclair -- Brayden Schenn -- Simon Holmstrom
Anders Lee -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Calum Ritchie
Ondrej Palat -- Casey Cizikas -- Kyle MacLean
Matthew Schaefer -- Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech -- Tony DeAngelo
Carson Soucy -- Scott Mayfield
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich
Scratched: Max Shabanov, Marc Gatcomb, Adam Boqvist
This article was originally published at The Hockey News. For more Senators news, analysis, and features, visit the Ottawa Senators site at The Hockey News.
Itâs a busy night on the ice on Thursday, March 19, and Iâve got a trio of NHL player props to cover you for all the action.
My top NHL picks feature three Russian standouts and are headlined by New York Islanders star netminder Ilya Sorokin.
Best NHL player prop bets today
Player
Sorokin Over 25.5 saves
-115
Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots
-130
Kucherov Over 1.5 points
-120
img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL. (not available in Ontario)
Our best NHL player props for Thursday, March 19
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Ilya Sorokin Over 25.5 saves
-115 at BET99
New York Islanders star Ilya Sorokin is building a Vezina Trophy case with a rock-solid .914 save percentage and league-high 51.5 goals saved above expected, and heâs set to see plenty of rubber against the Ottawa Senators.
The Sens have averaged 30.1 shots per game while ranking fourth in Corsi For percentage during their active 11-3-2 run.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MSGSN, TSN5
Prop #2: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots
-130 at BET99
Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev has picked up three or more shots in nine of 11 games out of the Olympic break. His 11.45 shots per 60 minutes during the run also rank 11th in the league.
Although the matchup is tough against the Utah Mammoth, itâs more than built into this price, and I also value Vegas having the last-change advantage on home ice to find favorable opportunities for Dorofeyev and linemates Tomas Hertl and Mitch Marner.
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
Prop #3: Nikita Kucherov Over 1.5 points
-120 at BET99
The Vancouver Canucks have allowed the second-most goals per game (3.8) out of the Olympic break, and Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov is on an all-time heater with 30 multi-point showings across his past 44 games.
Kucherov is up to 6.25 points per 60 minutes during the run, and to further put the dominance in perspective, only Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have a higher points per 60 mark than Kucherovâs 4.35 assists per 60 minutes.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
We are now two weeks removed from the NHL's Trade Deadline, which has given us plenty of time to evaluate how players have fit in with their new clubs.
During the trade season, the Los Angeles Kings made some notable splashes by acquiring Artemi Panarin and Scott Laughton, but they also shipped out two pieces that have gone under the radar since.
The Kings traded veteran Corey Perry to the Tampa Bay Lightning and also dealt Warren Foegele to the Ottawa Senators, assisting each team with their respective playoff pushes while also accumulating assets.
Corey Perry (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Prior to the deadline, it seemed as if the Kings were going to get a contract extension done with the pending UFA but on the afternoon of deadline day, Perry was suddenly traded to the Lighting in exchange for a 2nd round pick in the 2028 NHL draft. Incredible value for a 40-year-old bottom six forward on an expiring contract.
So far the move has seemed to be a win-win for all parties. Although the Lightning have cooled off a bit lately, Perry has made a positive impact in his second stint with the franchise.
Perry played in Tampa Bay for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons where he played his role perfectly and became a fan favourite. In his second stint, the former MVP has scored two goals and one assist for three points in six games. He also continues to be a pest for other teams with his physical presence.
As the season went on, it became clear that Warren Foegele was the most likely King to be traded, and that became true on the night before deadline day.
The Kings and Senators agreed on a deal that sent Foegele to Ottawa along with a 2026 3rd round pick in exchange for a 2026 2nd round pick, as well as 2026 3rd round pick.
Although the 3rd round picks seemingly cancel each other out, this was another solid move by Ken Holland who managed to acquire a 2nd round pick for a guy who had just nine points prior to the trade.
In 47 games with L.A. this season, the 29-year-old scored just seven goals with two assists. In six games in Ottawa, he has already produced a third of his point total in Los Angeles with two goals and one assist.
Foegele has provided Ottawa with some very crucial secondary scoring as they try to claw their way into a playoff spot as the regular season dwindles down.
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 Montreal Canadiens will meet the Detroit Red Wings in a monumental Atlantic Division matchup on Thursday, March 19. This marks the third meeting between these teams this season after they split the first two.
My Canadiens vs. Red Wings predictions and NHL picks suggest that Habs fans will go home happy, with Nick Suzuki finding the stat sheet yet again.
Canadiens vs Red Wings prediction
Canadiens vs Red Wings best bet: Nick Suzuki 1+ assists (-155)
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki paces the team in points (80) and has been riding an extra-generous streak as of late. He's posted back-to-back multi-point outings and has nine assists in his last nine games.
He's averaging 0.89 assists per game in 2026, and has two in two games against the Detroit Red Wings this season.
Furthermore, he has 22 assists in his last 22 games overall, and 10 in his last eight against Atlantic Division opponents.
Canadiens vs Red Wings same-game parlay
The winger Suzki's grown accustomed to feeding is Cole Caufield, who is on an absolute tear. He has scored in three straight games and has more goals than any other player in 2026.
He just became the first Canadien to score 40 goals in a season in over three decades, and will now make a push for the half-century mark. Both he and Suzuki have benefited from Juraj Slafkovsky's return to the top line in place of Kirby Dach, who will rehab yet another injury.
Montreal has won four of the last six against Detroit and sport an impressive 18-7-8 record on the road. They're fresh off a massive divisional win in overtime against the Boston Bruins, where all three of these legs hit in one play in the final minute of overtime.
Canadiens vs Red Wings SGP
Nick Suzuki 1+ assists
Cole Caufield anytime goal
Canadiens moneyline
Canadiens vs Red Wings odds
Moneyline: Canadiens -110 | Red Wings -110
Puck Line: Canadiens -1.5 (+215) | Red Wings +1.5 (-270)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)
Canadiens vs Red Wings trend
Montreal has won four of the last six against Detroit. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Red Wings.
How to watch Canadiens vs Red Wings
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN2
Canadiens vs Red Wings latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
We’ve got 11 games on tonight’s NHL betting slate, including a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final as the Florida Panthers head north to face the Edmonton Oilers.
Evan Bouchard has increased his shot volume lately, and my Oilers vs. Panthers predictions expect that trend to continue against a leaky Florida defense.
Find out more in my free NHL picks for Thursday, March 19.
Panthers vs Oilers prediction
Panthers vs Oilers best bet: Evan Bouchard Over 2.5 shots (-130)
Evan Bouchard has been a shooting machine over his last five games.
The Edmonton Oilers defensemanleads the team with 18 shots on goal in that span, averaging 3.6 per game. Bouchard's total tonight is set at 2.5, a mark he’s surpassed in four of his last five games.
Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers' defense has been porous since the “tank” began, allowing an average of 29.1 shots per game. That should give Bouchard plenty of opportunities to hit the Over.
Panthers vs Oilers same-game parlay
Bouchard leads all NHL blueliners with 78 points, 59 of which are assists. He’s also recorded 1+ assists in 10 of his last 12 games.
The Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams and stands at 40-26-3 overall for Edmonton this season. It has also hit in both games for Florida during its current road trip.
Edmonton is 3-7 SU in its last 10 matchups against Florida. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Oilers.
How to watch Panthers vs Oilers
Location
Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
Date
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet
Panthers vs Oilers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Winnipeg Jets have to string together wins to make a playoff push, and they’ll look to do just that against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Thursday, March 19.
My top Jets vs. Bruins predictions and NHL picks call for a low-scoring game, with Winnipeg starter Connor Hellebuyck standing tall tonight.
Jets vs Bruins prediction
Jets vs Bruins best bet: Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves (-115)
Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck has built off the Olympics with a respectable .902 save percentage and 5.43 goals saved above average across nine games, and he should see enough volume to clear his saves total tonight.
The Boston Bruins have averaged 27.9 shots per game out of the break, with the Jets allowing 27.3 while treading water at five-on-five with a 49.5 Corsi For percentage.
Winnipeg is also without multiple veterans and dealt multiple blueliners at the trade deadline, while Boston has a healthy lineup pushing for a postseason berth.
Jets vs Bruins same-game parlay
Winnipeg continues to mount its own playoff push, sporting an active 5-2-1 run while allowing just 2.63 goals per game. With Boston scoring just 2.56 per during the same stretch, I like the Under to cash.
The final leg of this SGP turns to Winnipeg winger Gabriel Vilardi, and he’s recorded two or more shots in eight of his past 14 games, including piling up six last time out. Vilardi's also receiving consistent top-six minutes and jumps the boards with the No. 1 power-play unit.
Jets vs Bruins SGP
Under 5.5
Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves
Gabriel Vilardi Over 1.5 shots
Jets vs Bruins odds
Moneyline: Jets +115 | Bruins -135
Puck Line: Jets +1.5 (-215) | Bruins -1.5 (+175)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)
Jets vs Bruins trend
Winnipeg has hit the Under in 14 of its last 20 contests (+8.55 Units / 38% ROI), while Boston has played to the Under in each of its past five home games (+5.00 Units / 90% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Bruins.
How to watch Jets vs Bruins
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3
Jets vs Bruins latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Report: Ryan Johansen Flyers Saga Ends with Philadelphia VictoryAccording to multiple reports, the months-long legal battle between forward Ryan Johansen and the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> is now over.
Sorokin Over 25.5 saves
Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots
Kucherov Over 1.5 points
