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Nathan MacKinnon leads all players in shot attempts and shots on target, making it no surprise he’s also pacing the league in goals.

He scored in both games against Dallas this season, and my Stars vs. Avalanche predictions have him finding the back of the net again.

Let’s get into my NHL picks for Wednesday, March 18.

Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver, with the game airing on TNT. 

Stars vs Avalanche prediction

Stars vs Avalanche best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (+100)

Nathan MacKinnon lives to play the Dallas Stars. They have been a top-tier contender for years, and yet MacKinnon has still found a way to score in eight of the past nine head-to-head meetings, including six straight.

MacKinnon has generated 45 shots on goal and 78 attempts over those nine games. That’s an average of 5.0 shots and 8.66 attempts, better than his normal outputs, which were already elite.

With the last change in the Colorado Avalanche's back pocket, head coach Jared Bednar will get MacKinnon extra shifts away from Dallas’ top defensive personnel.

Stars vs Avalanche same-game parlay

Cale Makar has logged 26+ minutes in five straight against Dallas and should be heading for another massive workload, given the stakes of this Central Division battle.

He has an assist in seven of the past 10 games MacKinnon has scored, and heavily correlates at 5-on-5 and on the power play.

Thomas Harley blocked multiple shots in 16 of 20 games vs. Top-10 shot-generation teams. He has also blocked two or more in seven straight against Colorado.

Stars vs Avalanche SGP

• Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal
• Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists
• Thomas Harley Over 1.5 blocked shots

Stars vs Avalanche odds

• Moneyline: Stars +125 | Avalanche -145
• Puck Line: Stars +1.5 (-190) | Avalanche -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)

Stars vs Avalanche trend

Nathan MacKinnon has scored nine times over the last nine games against Dallas. Find more NHL betting trends for Stars vs. Avalanche.

How to watch Stars vs Avalanche

Stars vs Avalanche 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.

By Michael Finewax, RotoWire.com

Welcome to the Yahoo fantasy hockey playoff primer to help prepare those who have made it into the postseason in your head-to-head leagues. I'm going to break down the schedule in all three rounds, as well as give you some tips.

Best of luck!

Maximizing Quarterfinal Matchups and Transactions

Week of March 23-29

4 Games - Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Florida, Montreal, Nashville, New Jersey, New York Rangers, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay

3 Games - Anaheim, Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Detroit, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver, Vegas, Washington, Winnipeg

—Chicago plays all four games on the road, while the New York Rangers play all four games at home.

—Anaheim, Dallas, Minnesota, New Jersey, San Jose, Seattle and Toronto play three games at home.

—Buffalo, Calgary, Nashville, the New York Islanders, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Tampa Bay play three games on the road.

If you play in a league with weekly transactions, there isn't much strategy this week, as everyone plays three or four times. Playing the home schedule could work, but with such an even slate, it makes the most sense to just play your best players.

In daily transaction leagues, there is plenty that can be done this week. There are 64 games being played, with 53 occurring on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Chances are that most of your players are only playing on those three days.

The Rangers play all four games on off-days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, giving you a huge advantage if you can add extra Rangers to your lineup. One example is Braden Schneider, who is rostered in 9% of Yahoo leagues. Picking him off waivers should, on average, gain 19 points on the week, and that could be enough to put you over the top. Other Rangers to consider are Noah Laba (1% rostered) and Tye Kartye (1% rostered).

Boston, Buffalo and Chicago play on two off-days. Pavel Zacha (38%), Viktor Arvidsson (19%), Jack Quinn (8%), Josh Doan (29%), Jason Zucker (14%) and Frank Nazar (17%) are others to consider, especially if you are able to pick up more than one player off waivers.

There is one more strategy this week. If you have a bye into the semifinals, take Pittsburgh players. The Penguins play five times during the week of the semifinals, and you can take advantage of finishing atop the regular-season standings by loading up on Pittsburgh players. Anthony Mantha (41% rostered), Ben Kindel (5%) and Kris Letang (28%) should all be available in most leagues.

Semifinals Roster Strategy: Target Players on Hot Streaks

Week of March 30-April 5

5 Games - Pittsburgh

4 Games - Anaheim, Boston, Carolina, Colorado, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa, Philadelphia, San Jose, St. Louis, Vancouver, Washington

3 Games - Buffalo, Calgary, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Vegas, Winnipeg

2 Games – Nashville, Utah

— St. Louis plays all four games on the road, while the New York Rangers and San Jose play all four games at home.

— Anaheim, Colorado, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay play three games at home.

— Boston, Calgary, Detroit, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg play three games on the road.

As noted above, it's beneficial to roster Penguins for the semifinals. Another team to look at is the Blues, who play Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday during the semifinals. St. Louis has been hot late in the season, and that will help. Some players to consider are Colton Parayko (41% rostered), Jake Neighbours (7%), Philip Broberg (9%) and Pius Suter (1%).

Colorado plays four times, with three games coming on off-nights. Josh Manson (46%), Parker Kelly (2%) and Ross Colton (4%) are players who could pick up 15 points, possibly putting you over the top and into the finals.

Anaheim should also be a consideration, as the team plays on three off-nights, as well as Saturday. Beckett Sennecke is rostered in 47% of leagues and is averaging 7.03 points per game, giving you an extra average of 21 total points on off-nights. He could be the best pickup of the week. Don't forget, you should drop a player who won't play at all for you this week, or perhaps once, giving a big boost to your roster.

Finals Strategy: Schedule Planning and Risk of Resting Stars

April 6-12

4 Games – Calgary, Columbus, Montreal, Nashville, New Jersey, Ottawa, San Jose, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Utah, Vancouver

3 Games - Anaheim, Boston, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Florida, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York Islanders, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Toronto, Vegas, Washington, Winnipeg

2 Games – New York Rangers

— Tampa Bay plays all four games on the road, while New Jersey plays all four games at home.

— Anaheim, Dallas, Los Angeles, Montreal, the New York Islanders, San Jose and Utah play three games at home.

— Calgary, Columbus, Edmonton, Florida, Nashville, Philadelphia, Vancouver and Vegas play three games on the road.

April 13-17

3 Games - Colorado, Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, Winnipeg

2 Games - Anaheim, Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Florida, Minnesota, Nashville, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver, Vegas

1 Game – Boston, Columbus, Montreal, New Jersey, New York Islanders, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Washington

—Los Angeles and San Jose play all three games on the road.

The finals are spread over 11 days, and there are definite ways to benefit. There are 11 teams that play four games in the opening week and six teams that play three times in the final week. While no team plays more than six total times, you could mix and match, getting you to seven games in some spots.

Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem: Make your picks for $50K in total prizes

If you are playing in a league with weekly transactions, you can benefit by adding players from the Kings, Sharks and Kraken in the second week, as they are likely to still be in the playoff chase, and all three teams play three games.

A big factor in the final week is that teams that have clinched their position tend to rest their stars. Therefore, look for players like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Sebastian Aho, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Victor Hedman to miss at least one game in the final week. Top goaltenders whose teams have clinched their spot in the playoffs tend to be rested in the final week, giving some playing time to the backup, who may not see any action in the playoffs. Tampa Bay, with Andrei Vasilevskiy and backup Jonas Johansson, is a good example of this.

A big factor in redraft leagues is that you can easily drop a player who is done for the season. Leon Draisaitl was injured Monday and is done for the regular season, so there is no reason to keep him on your fantasy roster.

Once again, best of luck in winning your league!

The Edmonton Oilers beat the San Jose Sharks 5-3 Tuesday night at Rogers Place, and here are the standings explained.

Going into the game, Edmonton sat five points and two places above San Jose in the Pacific. Sounds comfortable, but the catch is the Sharks still have three games in hand, and that gap can close quickly. Kris Knoblauch put it plainly before puck drop.

"It's a four-point game. If we can win tonight, we're up seven. If they win, (we're up) three, that's quite a difference in the standings. And you know, if we're up seven, it's a nice cushion for us. We have to keep them behind us."

So now it's seven. But holding that lead is going to be a challenge, and the schedule is a big reason why.

 The Sharks have a better schedule than the Oilers down the stretch. The Oilers calendar reads as follows: Panthers, Lightning, Mammoth, Golden Knights, Ducks, Kraken, Blackhawks, Golden Knights again, Mammoth again, Sharks again, and finally the Kings on April 11. They can’t win them all (we think), but they have to win enough.

Conversely, the Sharks face a much more optimistic Sabres, Flyers, Predators, Blues, Blue Jackets, Blues again, Ducks, Maple Leafs, Predators again, Blackhawks, Oilers again, Ducks again, Canucks, Predators again, Blackhawks again, and Jets on April 16th. That’s 2 games against teams in the bottom 10 compared to nine for the Oilers and Sharks, respectively.

"Checking Our Way To Wins:" Oilers Game Plan In The Absence Of DraisaitlThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> don’t have the luxury of easing into this one.

That's the situation without Leon Draisaitl, who is out for the remainder of the regular season as the Oilers announced Tuesday afternoon.

"We're not gonna be able to score five every night, but it's nice when guys are feeling a part of it," began Zach Hyman post-game. "Nobody's gonna replace Leon. He's one of the best players in the world, so collectively as a group, everybody's got to raise their game, be a little bit better."

The Oilers managed fine on Tuesday. They outshot San Jose 37-30 and won over 54 percent of faceoffs, but the schedule ahead is considerably harder than the Sharks'.

Leon Draisaitl Out for the Remainder of the Regular SeasonThe Edmonton Oilers will have to play the remainder of the regular season without Leon Draisaitl.

San Jose also sits a point behind Seattle in the Wild Card race with a game in hand, and now sits behind the Oilers, Kraken, and LA Kings in the standings. That'll make Oilers fans feel better, but there's still plenty of time for things to change.

The Sharks have every reason to keep pushing, but the Oilers just made the remainder of the regular season slightly less dramatic.

The Wilkes-Barre Penguins endured a season-long losing streak of five games, which they finally put to an end by defeating Lehigh Valley last Saturday. Rutger McGroarty scored the opening goal in the 3-1 win to set the tone. McGroarty has produced five points in the five games during month of the March.

Rut tips one in to tie it! pic.twitter.com/kL6rngrZUM

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 15, 2026

Sunday’s win was much needed to get back on the right track after previous losses last week to Hershey and those same LV Phantoms. From WBSPenguins.com:

Friday, Mar. 13 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Hershey 4
A five-minute lapse in the second period allowed the Bears to seize a 3-0 lead. The Penguins turned up the heat in the third, nearly staging an electrifying comeback. However, a tying tally never arrived after goals by Aidan McDonough and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard inspired hope.

Saturday, Mar. 14 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Lehigh Valley 4 (OT)
Lehigh Valley pulled off a stunning rally, erasing the Penguins’ 3-1 lead in the last 5:13 of regulation, then winning the game on a power-play in overtime. Both Joona Koppanen and Tanner Howe had two-point games relegated from the headlines as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dropped its fifth game in a row.

Sunday, Mar. 15 – PENGUINS 3 at Lehigh Valley 1
The Penguins found redemption by clapping back against the Phantoms fewer than 24 hours later. Rutger McGroarty, Gabe Klassen and Owen Pickering all found the net for the Black and Gold to improve to 7-0-1-1 in its season series with Lehigh Valley.

Pickering’s empty net goal marked his sixth tally of the season, he had only two goals in 47 games last year with Wilkes. While not known for his offense, that’s a healthy uptick in goals this season for the 22-year old.

The games against Lehigh Valley were a nice reset from WBS’s recent trend of falling behind in games, as touched upon here last week, a trend that continued with falling behind against Hershey.

Here were the lines from the last game, Jack St. Ivany is back in Pittsburgh following his latest conditioning stint and Alexander Alexeyev has been returned to WBS after a short time on the NHL roster where he did not appear in any games with Pittsburgh. Tristan Broz remains out with an injury. A potentially good developing situation for Wilkes is that Avery Hayes was a healthy scratch in the NHL and could be further from playing after Sidney Crosby returns from his injury to boost the numbers of the Pittsburgh forward group. Pittsburgh made a paper move on deadline day to put Hayes on the AHL roster and maintain his eligibility to play in that league if they want him to send him back that option is open.

Game #️⃣6️⃣0️⃣ on tap today, and here’s how we’re rolling ⬇️

Catch the action on AHLTV on FloHockey: https://t.co/CrNDVVHuPjpic.twitter.com/RmYYmPSzON

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 15, 2026

Clinching a playoff spot is all but a formality at this point, the magic number for WBS sits at one point gained by them or lost by Springfield and Bridgeport to officially punch their ticket. The bigger magic number to chase is 19 – any combination of those points gained by Wilkes or lost by Charlotte ensures a second place finish with 12 games remaining in WBS’s regular season.

The Penguins are waiting to see if Cruz Lucius will be signing with them and joining Wilkes for the remainder of the season. Lucius, named to the first team of the NCHC, had his college career wrap up recently with Arizona State after finishing 2025-26 as one of the nation’s top scorers with 46 points (15G+31A) in 36 games. Two of his teammates have signed contracts and turned pro but as of yet he has not. His options include staying to finish a degree and turning pro later this summer, either with the Penguins or waiting to become a summer free agent where he could sign with any NHL organization.

Up next is a rare Canadian road trip for the WBS Pens, with upcoming games against three North Division opponents in Laval, Belleville and Toronto. They should be clinching a playoff spot at some point on this trip and have the opportunity to get to work to solidify the important second seed.

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche close out a brief two-game homestand Wednesday night against the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena, with both teams arriving in Denver looking to respond after lopsided losses earlier in the week.

This marks the third of four regular-season meetings between the Central Division contenders. The season series has already produced two tightly contested matchups—Dallas edged Colorado 5–4 in a shootout on October 11, while Colorado returned the favor with a 5–4 shootout win in Texas on March 6.

Avalanche Searching for Response After Defeat

Colorado enters the matchup following a disjointed 7–2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, a game that unraveled quickly and exposed rare defensive lapses for one of the league’s most structured teams.

Nathan MacKinnon provided one of the few bright spots, scoring his 45th goal of the season to briefly tie the game early in the first period. The tally further cemented his place among the NHL’s elite, making him just the sixth player in league history to record at least four consecutive 110-point seasons.

However, Colorado’s defensive breakdowns proved costly. Evgeni Malkin led the Penguins’ charge with two goals, while Pittsburgh capitalized on turnovers and coverage lapses to build a commanding lead before the first intermission.

Veteran defenseman Brent Burns reached a historic milestone in the loss, scoring his 271st career goal to pass Bobby Orr for seventh-most by a defenseman in NHL history. Still, the achievement was overshadowed by a game in which Colorado allowed seven goals on home ice—an outcome that sharply contrasts with the club’s typical defensive standard.

Despite the setback, the Avalanche remain driven by elite production across their core. MacKinnon continues to lead the NHL in goals (45) while sitting among the league leaders in both assists and total points. On the blue line, Cale Makar remains one of the most dynamic defensemen in hockey, ranking near the top of the position in goals, assists, and overall scoring. Meanwhile, Martin Nečas has been a consistent offensive force, sitting among the league’s top scorers with 81 points.

It will be worth monitoring how the Colorado Avalanche respond on the ice following the public comments from Nathan MacKinnon, who expressed clear frustration with how head coach Jared Bednar has recently structured the lines.

This is hardly an ideal moment for internal tension to surface, particularly with the Central Division race tightening and the Dallas Stars arriving in strong form. Dallas has been one of the league’s hottest teams, with just one regulation loss in its last 10 games, adding further weight to an already high-stakes matchup.

Stars Also Reeling After Defensive Breakdown

Dallas arrives in Denver facing similar urgency after a 6–3 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday. Like Colorado, the Stars struggled defensively, surrendering four third-period goals in a game that slipped away late.

Jason Robertson continues to pace Dallas offensively, leading the team with 80 points while maintaining his role as one of the league’s most consistent scoring threats. Wyatt Johnston has emerged as a major contributor as well, leading the club in goals and providing secondary scoring depth that has been critical throughout the season.

On the back end, Miro Heiskanen anchors the Stars’ blue line, combining high-end playmaking ability with heavy minutes in all situations.

High-Stakes Meeting Between Contenders

The matchup presents a pivotal opportunity for both teams to reestablish momentum as the regular season enters its final stretch. Colorado has historically held the edge in the series, owning a 56-40-8-12 record in 116 regular-season meetings, though recent matchups have been tightly contested and often decided beyond regulation.

MacKinnon, in particular, has consistently produced against Dallas, totaling 51 points in 46 regular-season games, while Makar has also been highly effective in the matchup from the blue line. Nečas has added steady contributions of his own, further underscoring Colorado’s offensive depth against a familiar opponent.

With both clubs positioned as legitimate postseason contenders and separated by little in terms of overall talent, Wednesday’s game carries the intensity of a potential playoff preview. Clean execution, defensive structure, and discipline—areas both teams struggled with in their most recent outings—will likely determine which side regains its footing.

Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield wasn’t on goal-40 watch for long. After scoring his 39th goal of the season on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks, the talented winger notched his 40th of the season in overtime to give the Habs a much-needed win over the Boston Bruins.

The diminutive winger is the first player to score 40 goals in a season with the Sainte-Flanelle since Vincent Damphousse did it in 1993-94, back when seasons had 84 games. The Quebecer only managed to reach that number once over the course of his career, and in an interview with The Gazette, he explained:

I’m surprised it has taken that long. I thought I was going to do it again. I did it in ’94, and I thought it was going to be more of a trend for me. It’s difficult, and it just shows how hard it is. You’ve got to be in good health. You’ve got to be consistent throughout the year. You can’t have too many slumps. You’ve got to go on hot streaks once in a while because there’s going to be some cold spells. But if you limit your time when you’re struggling, you can get it done. Consistency is the key.

-

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As for coach Martin St-Louis, he said:

Cole is able to score goals, but I really liked the rest of his game tonight. When he plays like that, he can have more scoring opportunities. […] All of his life before he got here, he played with the puck. In the NHL, the game is played without the puck; there are defensive moves you have to make, and you defend not with one or two players, but as a group. There are actions you have to take on the ice so that your team sees more of the puck. When you do that, your team has the puck more when you’re on the ice, you’re going to get more touches, and it creates a domino effect. There’s a hockey game to play, and it’s more than just scoring goals.

-

Asked what has to happen in a season for a player to score 40 goals, the coach explained:

It’s not just one thing. Sometimes, things start way before the season, and what you do to prepare yourself for a season, especially in today’s game, is crucial. If you want to have the opportunity to score that many goals, you need to have a certain amount of ice time, and it’s hard to get that ice time if your coach doesn’t feel confident when you’re on the ice on the other side of the puck. It takes a certain level of commitment for a player to understand that. Cole understood that. “ It’s been a while since we got a 40-goal scorer," I was 18 years old, St-Louis said, giving the media a wink. It doesn’t make me feel any younger, but I’m proud to be able to see it with my own eyes from the bench. […] I’m very happy for him, for the fans, for the organization.

-

While he was talking about Caufield, you can also find the rationale behind not playing Patrik Laine in that quote. Whichever way you look at it, the Canadiens’ game has progressed to such an extent that they now want to win and can no longer allow a player who can’t play up to those defensive standards to make the lineup. It's a shame for the big Finn, but that's the reality of it, and Kirby Dach being out for two to four weeks won't change that. 

As for the man of the hour, Caufield got a bit emotional as he was interviewed by Marc Denis on the ice after the game and received a raucous ovation, you could see it hit him right in the feels and when Denis asked him what his next target was now that he had 40-goal, whether he would go for 50, he said that 41 was the next target.

Speaking to the media in the dressing room, he stayed humble, saying that his scoring 40 says a lot about the direction the team is headed and that it’s the right direction.

He also added:

A lot of work goes into that, a lot of great teammates and coaches, so it’s obviously a team sport, and that doesn’t happen without the guys in the room. I’m just lucky enough to be part of this group.

-

Speaking about his coach, he said:

It means a lot to have him on your side of things; it’s pretty special to have a guy like that be your coach and your mentor. He’s hard on us, and he wants the most out of us. It means a lot to see how much work he puts in with the coaching staff to get us heading in the right direction and give us a chance every night. Obviously, he’s done a lot for my full 200-foot game, I think maybe without that, you don’t get as many chances

-

By scoring that goal in overtime, Caufield also established a franchise record with 13 overtime goals (in both regular season and the playoffs), which belonged to Howie Morenz since 1936-37. And yes, there was regular-season overtime in Morenz’s days; the NHL discontinued regular-season overtime only in November 1942. The historical figure scored 13 overtime goals in 493 games with the Canadiens; Caufield needed only 378 games, which is rather impressive.

Cole Caufield

Sets Canadiens record for career Overtime goals (Regular season & playoffs) with 13, surpassing Howie Morenz#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/KlA76Bb15h

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 18, 2026

The Canadiens still have 15 games left in the regular season, and if we project his scoring pace over 81 games (since he missed one), it comes to 49 lamplighters, meaning the 50-goal mark is far from impossible.

Caufield still has five more years left on his contract with the Canadiens, meaning he could play another 420 games with the Habs (the season will be 84 games long starting next campaign). One has to wonder just how many goals he will have scored by then.

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After two consecutive defeats over the weekend, the Montreal Canadiens had put themselves in a bit of a pickle, and on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre, they needed to get the two points against archrivals Boston Bruins. As if the game weren’t important enough already, it was also Brendan Gallagher’s 900th, a feat highlighted on the jumbotron, prompting the fans to give the Canadiens’ warrior a standing ovation, which was cut short by the linesman dropping the puck. Given the occasion, he could have waited a little longer.

GALLY! GALLY! GALLY!#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/FGxkgGN5lF

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 17, 2026

The game didn’t start like the Canadiens had intended, with Alexandre Carrier getting assessed a four-minute high-sticking penalty, which led to the Bruins taking a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard and an 8-1 lead in shots. The Sainte-Flanelle didn’t panic, however, and once they were back at even strength, they turned on the attack, but without being careless with the puck.

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The First Line Was Cooking

When the Canadiens need a win, you can always count on captain Nick Suzuki to rise to the challenge, and that’s exactly what he did. In the first 20 minutes, he had three shot attempts and was a constant nuisance for the Bruins’ defence, finding ways to get in close to Jeremy Swayman.

That’s how he tied up the game with assists from Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield, who looked like he really wanted that goal number 40 tonight. As for the Slovak, he made better decisions with the puck and limited the no-look back passes, which were regular occurrences over the weekend.

The three players combined for 24 shot attempts on the night, 10 of which made it to the Swayman. Watching them buzz around the offensive zone, it wasn’t surprising to see Caufield score the game-winner, his 40th goal of the season, a feat last accomplished 32 years ago in Montreal by Vincent Damphousse.

COLE CAUFIELD.

40 BUTS • 40 GOALS #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/909kUvvTl8

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 18, 2026

Gallagher Doing His Thing

It’s been established that Gallagher cannot be as effective as he once was, but with a limited role and load management, he can still deliver. After 40 minutes on Tuesday night, he had only seen 6:01 of action across nine shifts and had delivered a game-leading five hits on top of getting an assist on Anderson’s game-tying goal in the second frame.

In his own way, he can still be the spark plug that he once was, but you have to use him at the right time and in the right situation, which Martin St-Louis appears to be doing right now. Getting a point in his 900th game, against the Bruins as well, was the perfect way to mark the occasion.

The diminutive player with a big heart ended his work night with 10:37 of ice time, 6 hits, 2 shots, and a blocked shot. The perfect proof of the heart he has on the ice came in the third frame when he landed a hit on Hampus Lindholm. The 6-foot-4 and 217-pound blueliner ended up on his backside behind the net as if a giant had hit him. But no, it was the 5-foot-9 and 185-pound alternate captain that took him down. When you play like Gallagher, size does not matter.

Asked about Gallagher’s big milestone after the game, Martin St-Louis explained:

When you play somewhere for that long, it says a lot about your character, the human side, the presence you bring; it’s about more than just what you do on the ice. You look at how he entered the league (a fifth-round pick), how he found a spot, and the way he plays, it’s galvanizing. He has a galvanizing energy; he gives his all, and he deserves it. It’s not easy to play 900 games in the NHL; not many do it (Gallagher is the 13th player to play 900 games with the Habs). And the way he has played those 900 games? It’s a lot of effort; he doesn’t stay on the perimeter; he’s right there in the blue paint, he takes the big hits, he’s a warrior…the way he plays, it’s not easy to make it to 900 games. I tip my hat to him, and I’m really proud of him.

Two Game Savers

While the Canadiens skated away with the two points tonight, they easily could have gone home empty-handed if Jakub Dobes didn’t make some big, timely saves. The Czech netminder faced 28 shots and saved 26 of them for a .929 save percentage. Late in the third, after a bad change at the Canadiens’ bench, he had to pull off a tough breakaway save.

Over the weekend, Lane Hutson didn’t play his best hockey, but on Tuesday night, paired with Jayden Struble, he looked much better. He spent 21:41 on the ice, had seven shot attempts, even though only one made it to Swayman, and finished the night with a pair of assists, including one on the overtime game-winner.

However, one of his defensive plays saved the day. During extra time, he had to defend a two-on-one, and he slid at just the right time to poke the puck and kill the play. Had he not done that, the Canadiens might not have had two points.

Lane Hutson with a game-saving defensive play in OT at the end of a 2:20 mins shift tonight for the Habs pic.twitter.com/ssqyIMqHUq

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) March 18, 2026

The Habs will be back on the ice in Brossard on Wednesday before heading to Michigan to take on the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

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Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-15, 83 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ Carolina Hurricanes (42-19-6, 90 points, 1st place Metropolitan Division)

When: 7 p.m. ET

How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and FanDuel Sports Network South, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins are coming back to Pittsburgh for a three-game homestand, starting with a weekend back-to-back (Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, Sunday against the Hurricanes, again) followed by a Tuesday rematch with the Avalanche (again).

Opponent Track: The Hurricanes had won four of their last six games before dropping a 5-1 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.

Season Series: The Pens and Canes have split this season series so far, with the Pens taking a 5-1 win at home on Dec. 30 before their 5-4 shootout loss back last week in Raleigh. This season wraps up with a rematch in four days in Pittsburgh.

Hidden Stat: The Penguins lead the NHL in goals from players who were new to the team this season with 81. The next closest is the Anaheim Ducks with 63. 

Kyle Dubas' additions to the @penguins this season have been a key part of the team's success 🙌

Pittsburgh has 81 goals by players in their first season with the team – a mark that ranks first in the NHL by an 18-goal margin. pic.twitter.com/kof1ChM2Qq

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) March 17, 2026

Getting to know the Hurricanes

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikloaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Nicolas Deslauriers

DEFENSEMEN

Jaccob Slavin / Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller / Sean Walker

Mike Reilly / Alexander Nikishin

Goalies: Brandon Bussi / Frederik Andersen

Potential scratches: Shayne Gostisbehere (lower body injury), Eric Robinson, Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Injured Reserve: Pyotr Kochetkov

• Brandon Bussi started last night against the Blue Jackets (he had 25 saves in the 5-1 loss), so it seems likely the Pens could be facing Frederik Andersen tonight.
• Andersen is riding a three-game win streak, most recently making 17 stops in the Canes’ 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. He has an 8-6-0 record in 16 career matchups against the Penguins, with a .919 save percentage, 2.53 GAA and two shutouts.
• Trade acquisition Nicolas Deslauriers made his Hurricanes debut on Tuesday night against the Blue Jackets. He lead the Canes with six hits and recorded a fight in the loss.
• Shayne Gostisbehere suffered a lower-body injury on March 6 and has yet to return to the Canes’ lineup.

Season stats
via hockeydb (does not include last night’s game)

• Andrei Svechnikov, who recorded the shootout winner last week against the Pens, has also scored in two straight games heading into Wednesday. He’s six goals shy of a new career goalscoring high.

SVECH TURNS ON THE JETS 🚀 pic.twitter.com/fULYbQlkTh

— NHL (@NHL) March 18, 2026

• The Canes took a few early penalties and conceded a pair of power-play goals early in Tuesday night’s matchup with the Blue Jackets and were never able to recover from that early deficit. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said after the game the Canes needed to do “everything” different against the Penguins.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Anthony Mantha – Rickard Rakell – Bryan Rust

Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Ville Koivunen – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea / Kris Letang

Ilya Solovyov / Connor Clifton

Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner

Potential Scratches: Sam Girard, Ryan Graves, Kevin Hayes, Jack St. Ivany

IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Blake Lizotte

• A few bad pieces of news for the Penguins on Tuesday. First, that Blake Lizotte will miss the rest of the regular season:

UPDATE: Forward Blake Lizotte will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks. https://t.co/cTSJxfJVt3

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) March 17, 2026

• Second piece of bad news: the out-of—town scoreboard. The Columbus Blue Jackets won, the New York Islanders won, and the Boston Bruins went to overtime with the Montreal Canadiens.

• Sidney Crosby traveled with the team on this trip, so there’s still some hope he could get back in the lineup for the last game of the road swing tonight. Keep an eye out for who he’s taking line rushes with today in Raleigh.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

“Jack Hughes wants the Hockey Hall of Fame to give him the puck from his gold-medal-winning overtime goal for Team USA in the Milan Cortina Olympics, which is currently on display in Toronto. ‘I’m trying to get it. Like, that’s bulls— that the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck?’ Hughes told ESPN in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.” [ESPN]

Paul Cotter scored with just a few ticks left on the clock in overtime to push the Devils to a 4-3 win over the Bruins on Monday. [Devils NHL]

A look at a few of the positives that can be drawn from this mess of a season: [Devils’ Advocates]

Hockey Links

“George Parros stands by his decision on the Radko Gudas suspension, saying Tuesday he was ‘confident’’ in the outcome. ‘We came to it for good reason,’ the head of the Department of Player Safety said in a media availability before Day 2 of the NHL GM meetings. ‘When we evaluate these plays, we look at the play and not the players. If we determine that play was worthy of supplemental discipline, we then look at history of the players involved and if there is an injury or not. This is how we come to make all of our decisions. We did this and made this decision under those circumstances, felt that this was the appropriate response and so I stand by it.’” [The Athletic ($)]

“This was George Parros standing up for himself and his teammates, which he has commendably made a career of doing. The former pugilist, who’s now in his eighth season as senior vice president of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, had no choice but to do it after the league’s biggest superstar, Connor McDavid, justifiably called into question the process of how supplemental discipline is meted out.” [Sportsnet]

Brutal news for the Oilers:

Leon Draisaitl has been ruled OUT for the remainder of the regular season, the Oilers announced.

Draisaitl suffered a lower-body injury over the weekend pic.twitter.com/qkJQwjXsoG

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 17, 2026

Speaking of the Oilers: “It was supposed to be Tristan Jarry starting critical games for the Oilers, who traded for him in December under the premise that he was an upgrade over Stuart Skinner. Instead, it has backfired spectacularly. Jarry, who allowed a career-worst seven goals against the Dallas Stars in his most recent start, has been the NHL’s worst goaltender over the past three months.” [Sportsnet]

“Whether Russia and its collection of NHL stars will be invited to the 2028 World Cup of Hockey remains very uncertain. ‘We’re going to see how things develop. Time will tell,’ NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday at the GM meetings in Florida. ‘There isn’t an immediate need or urgency to make that decision, so let’s see how things play out.’” [ESPN]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

The Pittsburgh Penguins have fared surprisingly well in the absence of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. One of the main forces behind this recent run of form is coming from defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has been playing his best hockey to date in a Pittsburgh sweater. [PensBurgh]

Evgeni Malkin said he and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas plan to revisit his contract situation after the season, with both sides agreeing to wait until the summer while focusing on finishing the current campaign. Malkin said after Monday’s 7-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche that he intends to keep playing, perhaps even for another two seasons beyond this one. [PensBurgh]

The Penguins’ depth at forward will be tested with a key cog in the bottom-six to miss an extended period. Forward Blake Lizotte has been injured and will be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks, the team said on Tuesday afternoon. [PensBurgh]

NHL news and notes…

Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after sustaining a lower-body injury, the team announced on Tuesday. [ESPN]

Noted goon George Parros was given the microphone on Tuesday morning at the NHL General Managers’ meetings to give his rationale and explain why the Department of Player Safety is doing a bang-up job with the process it follows when determining player discipline. [NHL]

Doug Armstrong has stepped down as general manager of Canada’s men’s national hockey team after serving in the role through the 2026 Olympics. He will also cede control of the St. Louis Blues to Alexander Steen following the 2026 NHL Draft. [Sportsnet]

NHL general managers are discussing a potential rule change that would allow some 19-year-old players from the Canadian Hockey League to play in the American Hockey League. The proposal would require changes to the NHL-CHL agreement and could take effect as early as next season if approved. [NHL]

TORONTO -- New York Islanders franchise goaltender Ilya Sorokin recorded 26 saves on 27 shots in a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs to secure career win No. 150. 

Sorokin is seven wins from tying Chico Resch (157) for the second-most in franchise history. 

Hockey Hall of Famer Billy Smith sits in first with 304. 

Sorokin also recorded his 25th win of the season, accomplishing that feat for a fifth straight season. 

Per Islanders statistician Eric Hornick, Sorokin was 2-4-1 (.868 and 3.75) in his first seven games this season; he is 23-11-1 (with an NHL-best .923 save percentage, and a 2.24 goals-against average) and an NHL-leading six shutouts since then.

Through 42 games this season, Sorokin is 25-15-2, with a 2.58 GAA, a .918 SV%, and an NHL-leading six shutouts.  

There is a lustrous bounce to Chase Pearson's hair that you can only get from an egg yolk treatment.

When the 28-year-old Canadian forward flicks his locks back absent-mindedly, it's almost distracting as he seamlessly shifts between talking about hair care, a career that took him briefly to the NHL, the loss of his mother and the prospect of helping Nottingham Panthers reclaim the Challenge Cup for the first time in a decade when they face Coventry Blaze on Wednesday (19:30 GMT).

It is with the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) side that Pearson says he has "enjoyed playing hockey more than ever" and where he feels he has been able to be his most authentic self away from the game - quirky social media presence and all.

Pick through his posts and you are greeted with a step-by-step guide to getting "eggstremely nice hair", the benefits of red lights at night, and streams of healthy living and mindfulness advice.

"I like to be myself, obviously," he told BBC Sport.

"I'm not for everyone and don't want to be for everyone. Being different is a good thing, right? Or I'd like to think so."

• Continental Cup 'means everything' to Panthers

When Pearson got on the ice in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings in 2022, he emulated his father Scott by playing in the world's most illustrious ice hockey competition.

His father played 292 times in the competition across 13 years, featuring for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.

"He was my North Star," Pearson said of his father's influence on his sporting aspirations.

"I always knew that I wanted to play in the NHL and that was my aim from age eight or nine. Most kids do, but I was steadfast on it.

"I would have loved to play a 300-game career in the NHL. I think every hockey player wants to be the 1,000-game superstar, and it just didn't work out. And that's the way it goes for most guys.

"Most players are never going to be able to even get to the NHL, let alone have a career and stick there. So the fact that I got there was something huge for me."

'Losing a parent like that, it's difficult'

It was on his arrival as an NHL player that Pearson reflected on what it took to reach that level - the years spent playing for the University of Maine, the seasons with Detroit's minor-league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins and, most poignantly, the devotion of his mother Laura along the way.

She didn't get to see him play on that stage, having taken her own life years earlier. But getting there was always for her.

"As a child if you've been through that, losing a parent like that, it's difficult. There is a lot of stuff that goes through your mind," Pearson said.

"I wanted to do it [get to the NHL] to be financially secure so I could help take care of her.

"I never got that chance, but when I did get there, a lot of that moment I was absorbed in thinking 'wow, I'm here and this is cool'. And if you're religious, then she would have been watching down.

"That was special. She meant a lot to me and still means a lot."

The memories of losing his mum continue to stir powerful emotions in Pearson. "It's hard for me to talk," he says, as he steadies himself.

But the career he has built after his time in the NHL, his European excursion with spells in Slovakia and Austria before landing in the EIHL with Nottingham and how he has treasured each experience and opened himself up to the world with unflinching frankness online, is linked to that loss.

"A lot of what I post about comes through the lens of someone who's been through that and dealt with a lot of stuff," he said.

"I've unhealthily dealt with it in ways that aren't productive for myself or people around me. I've hurt a lot of people that I didn't want to.

"And sometimes when I post I can be polarising, but most of what I do post is coming from a place of genuinely trying to put my thoughts out in the world in a way that I would like to have heard it from my position looking back."

'I don't think about the medals'

The value placed on success, the endless effort it demands and "fleeting" joy it brings, is something he has grappled with along the way.

The European Continental Cup he helped Panthers win earlier this season, and the Challenge Cup up for grabs when they play the Blaze, are moments of his career he has learned to cherish.

Being sat on a private jet as an NHL player for the first time taught him that.

"On that plane back after the first game I was like 'wow, this is incredible', but what's next?" he reflected.

"I didn't realise I'd feel like that, and I thought 'dang I've just spent 15 years to get here and now I'm thinking now what?'

"That moment made me realise it wasn't even about getting there, but more about proving to myself I can do it and all the moments in between.

"We talked about this in the locker room today, about getting so caught up in chasing this, chasing that, trying to achieve this and that, you sometimes forget to sit down to just enjoy it and be present with everyone.

"There are not many moments in your life or career where you actually get to remember winning something. I don't think about the medals or silverware; it's about doing something that no-one can ever take away from you.

"Understanding that helps you forge those connections with your team-mates and people in the organisation, not the medal you get to put up on your wall or eventually down in your basement where no-one ever sees it."

Chicago Blackhawks (25-30-12, in the Central Division) vs. Minnesota Wild (39-18-12, in the Central Division)

Saint Paul, Minnesota; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Wild host the Chicago Blackhawks after the Wild knocked off the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime.

Minnesota has gone 39-18-12 overall with a 12-6-3 record against the Central Division. The Wild are ninth in NHL play with 226 total goals (averaging 3.3 per game).

Chicago is 25-30-12 overall and 10-6-5 against the Central Division. The Blackhawks have gone 9-10-6 in games they have more penalties than their opponent.

The matchup Thursday is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. The Wild won 4-3 in overtime in the previous matchup.

TOP PERFORMERS: Matthew Boldy has 38 goals and 37 assists for the Wild. Kirill Kaprizov has six goals and two assists over the past 10 games.

Frank Nazar has 11 goals and 23 assists for the Blackhawks. Connor Bedard has four goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wild: 4-4-2, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.8 penalties and 9.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

Blackhawks: 3-4-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.3 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

INJURIES: Wild: None listed.

Blackhawks: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Winnipeg Jets (28-28-11, in the Central Division) vs. Boston Bruins (37-23-8, in the Atlantic Division)

Boston; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins host the Winnipeg Jets after Pavel Zacha scored two goals in the Bruins' 3-2 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Boston is 37-23-8 overall and 25-9-1 at home. The Bruins have a 30-9-6 record when scoring three or more goals.

Winnipeg has gone 11-15-5 on the road and 28-28-11 overall. The Jets have a -13 scoring differential, with 190 total goals scored and 203 conceded.

Thursday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Bruins won the previous meeting 6-3. David Pastrnak scored two goals in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Morgan Geekie has 34 goals and 23 assists for the Bruins. Zacha has seven goals and five assists over the last 10 games.

Mark Scheifele has 31 goals and 52 assists for the Jets. Kyle Connor has scored five goals with eight assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 4-3-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.1 assists, 3.7 penalties and 9.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

Jets: 5-2-3, averaging 2.8 goals, five assists, 1.9 penalties and 4.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

INJURIES: Bruins: None listed.

Jets: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Montreal Canadiens (37-20-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Detroit Red Wings (37-23-8, in the Atlantic Division)

Detroit; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens visit the Detroit Red Wings after the Canadiens knocked off the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime.

Detroit has an 11-7-2 record in Atlantic Division games and a 37-23-8 record overall. The Red Wings have a 19-8-2 record in games they convert at least one power play.

Montreal is 37-20-10 overall with a 13-8-1 record in Atlantic Division games. The Canadiens have committed 278 total penalties (4.1 per game) to rank fourth in the league.

Thursday's game is the third time these teams match up this season. The Red Wings won the previous meeting 4-0.

TOP PERFORMERS: Dylan Larkin has 28 goals and 27 assists for the Red Wings. Patrick Kane has four goals and four assists over the last 10 games.

Cole Caufield has 40 goals and 28 assists for the Canadiens. Nicholas Suzuki has six goals and nine assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Red Wings: 4-4-2, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.6 assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.4 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.

INJURIES: Red Wings: None listed.

Canadiens: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.