ELMONT, NY -- The New York Islanders have been eliminated from playoff contention following their 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.
After a scoreless first period, the Islanders allowed three goals in 55 seconds to go down 3-0, the last of the three coming at 16:51 of the middle frame.
Casey Cizikas did score at 8:45 of the second period after he deflected a Scott Mayfield point shot to stop the Islanders from being shut out for a second straight night after falling 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.
Zachary Bolduc scored with 13.2 seconds to play for the 4-1 final.
With the loss, the Islanders have now missed the playoffs for a second straight season.
The last time that happened was in 2016-17 and 2017-18, the last two seasons of the Garth Snow-Doug Weight Era.
The Islanders, who conclude their season on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, are 1-2-0 through their first three games under new head coach Pete DeBoer.
It’s been a roller coaster of a season for the Vegas Golden Knights.
They acquired Mitch Marner in the offseason. They entered the Olympic Break leading the Pacific Division. Then, just 52 days later, they fired head coach Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with John Tortorella. But despite all the chaos, they officially punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche last night.
There is still much to be determined. Per hockeystats.com, the Golden Knights still have five potential round one opponents with less than a week remaining in the regular season. However, a frontrunner is finally emerging from the rest of the pack.
Let’s take a look at the Golden Knights’ five potential playoff opponents and run the numbers.
The Golden Knights' Potential Round 1 Opponents, per hockey stats.com
Utah Mammoth
Matchup Probability: 64%
Regular Season Record: 1-2
Scoring Edge: 10-5, Mammoth
In their second year as a Salt Lake City-based franchise, the Mammoth clinched a playoff berth. The Pacific Division isn’t settled yet, but the Mammoth are locked into WC1 and set to play the winner. They’re a fast, versatile team with high offensive upside and a new mammoth-themed fanboni titled the ‘Zammoth.’
While the Golden Knights are certainly the more experienced of the two teams, the Mammoth are young and hungry with something to prove. They’ve also gotten hot at the right time with a five-game winning streak, where they outscored their opponents 30-18 and boasted a power play with a 39.1% success rate.
Anaheim Ducks
Matchup Probability: 17%
Regular Season Record: 0-1-2
Scoring Edge: 12-9, Ducks
Right now, the Ducks look increasingly vulnerable. They’re fresh off a six-game losing streak and are 1-5-1 in their last seven games. During that six-game losing streak, they were outscored 29-15. The Ducks have a very young core, which is something a team of seasoned veterans could take advantage of.
On the other hand, Anaheim also has Joel Quenneville behind the bench. Quenneville is the second-winningest coach in NHL history, with three Stanley Cups to his name. And he’s certainly had success with young teams before.
Edmonton Oilers
Matchup Probability: 11%
Regular Season Record: 1-2-1
Scoring Edge: 13-13
On paper, the Oilers look like the easiest of the three most likely playoff matchups. Their depth scoring is streaky, and their penalty kill is below average. And after downgrading in net, their goaltending might be even worse than it has been in recent years.
But at the end of the day, Connor McDavid is Connor McDavid. And injured or not, Leon Draisaitl is still a top-five skater in the league. There’s also the fact that the Oilers would have home ice advantage. They have the edge in every single tiebreaker procedure.
Los Angeles Kings
Matchup Probability: 8%
Regular Season Record: 3-0-1
Scoring Edge: 18-13, Golden Knights
The Kings are a bit of a conundrum. Their -21 goal differential is the worst among all playoff hopefuls, and they set the NHL record this season for the most overtime appearances with 32. They have just 21 regulation wins; if not for their 19 overtime losses, they would likely be dead in the water.
But these Kings refuse to die. They’ve won four in a row and are 6-1-1 in their last eight games. The Golden Knights have had the Kings’ number this season, and would have an edge in a potential series. However, a team playing with house money is a dangerous team indeed. And if you couple that with this being Golden Knights-killer Anže Kopitar’s last season, well…
Colorado Avalanche
Matchup Probability: 1%
Regular Season Record: 1-1-1
Scoring Edge: 12-10, Avalanche
The Avalanche are the least likely playoff opponents for the Golden Knights, and that’s probably how they like it. Presidents’ Trophy curse or not, the Avalanche are the best team in the NHL this season. They lead the league in goals scored and fewest goals allowed, and boast the #1-ranked penalty kill.
The Golden Knights won their final meeting against the Avalanche, but Colorado was without Nazem Kadri and Cale Makar. Simply put, this is a matchup that the Golden Knights should hope to avoid.
There's a chance that Sunday was Alex Ovechkin's final game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He recorded an assist in the Washington Capitals' 3-0 win, keeping their faint playoff hopes alive.
Ovechkin's rivalry with Sidney Crosby has been one of the best in NHL history, producing unforgettable moments. They've now played against one another 100 times and have played four crazy playoff series over the years.
The Penguins won the first three before the Capitals won the last one in 2018. Whoever won each series went on to win the Stanley Cup.
With all of that in mind, let's take a look at Ovechkin's top-five goals against the Penguins throughout his career.
The Dueling Hat Trick Goal
Let's go back to May. 4, 2009. It was Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Penguins and Capitals, with the Capitals taking Game 1, 3-2.
The two teams played an instant classic, with both Crosby and Ovechkin recording dueling hat tricks. Ovechkin's third goal was credited as the game-winner, making it a 4-2 game with 4:38 left in the third period. He blew the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury, giving the Capitals a big insurance goal.
Yes, the Penguins went on to win the series in seven games before winning the Stanley Cup, but this was still an unbelievable goal.
Game 3 winner in 2018
2018 was the third consecutive year that the Penguins and Capitals met in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Penguins won the two previous matchups in 2016 and 2017 and were the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions going into this series.
The two teams split the first two games in D.C. before the series shifted to Pittsburgh for Games 3 and 4. It looked like Game 3 was headed to overtime before Ovechkin scored the game-winner with 1:07 left in the third period. The goal stunned the Pittsburgh crowd.
This gave the Capitals a 2-1 series lead, and for the first time, some belief that they could actually beat the Penguins in a series. They'd end up winning the series in six games, thanks to Evgeny Kuznetsov's overtime winner.
Ovechkin Hat Trick in 2010
Back on Feb. 7, 2010, the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, but there was a big hockey game that preceded that contest.
The Penguins played the Capitals in D.C. and raced out to a 4-1 lead in the second period before Ovechkin tied the game with a hat trick in the third period. Nicklas Backstrom won a draw before the puck got to Ovechkin's blade, and he made no mistake with it.
The Capitals would go on to win 5-4 in overtime, thanks to Mike Knuble.
Ovechkin's 1,000th point
As fate would have it, Ovechkin's 1,000th point came against the Penguins on Jan. 11, 2017. The Penguins were in D.C. for the game, and Ovechkin reached the milestone with a nasty goal.
He had a nifty toe-drag in the offensive zone before burying the puck past Fleury. He was mobbed by some of his teammates before being honored by the team.
Ovechkin's 1,001st point
I know that this goal came in the same game as Ovechkin's 1,000th point, but it was also a great goal.
After opening the scoring in the first period, the Caps took a 1-0 lead into the second period before they got a power play with a little less than 12:30 remaining in the period.
The Caps won the draw before John Carlson fed Ovechkin a one-timer from his signature spot. Fleury had no chance on the shot.
The Capitals won the game by three, 5-2.
Time will tell if Ovechkin returns for the 2026-27 season. He's expected to make a decision this summer.
WASHINGTON — Logan Thompson stopped 24 shots, and the Washington Capitals kept their slim playoff hopes alive by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 Sunday in perhaps the final home of Alex Ovechkin’s brilliant career.
To reach the postseason, the Capitals must defeat Columbus in the season finale Tuesday night, and hope Philadelphia fails to win either of its last two games.
The 40-year-old Ovechkin intends to wait until the offseason to decide whether to retire or return for a 22nd season. The all-time NHL leader in goals with 929, Ovechkin has played in every game this season and leads the Capitals in goals (32) and points (63).
The spirited, sellout crowd saluted Ovechkin during the game with chants of “One more year!” and “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!”
Ovechkin helped seal the victory by picking up an assist on an empty-net goal by Connor McMichael, who scored earlier in the third period.
Pittsburgh last week clinched a postseason berth and home-ice advantage in the opening round. But the rivalry between these teams runs deep, and the Penguins tried hard to throw a wet blanket on the Capitals’ playoff hopes and Ovechkin’s big day.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was back on the ice after he and several teammates received a day off Saturday when Washington won in Pittsburgh 6-3. This was the 100th — and perhaps final — matchup between Ovechkin and Crosby, two of the game’s biggest names.
To mark the occasion, the two stars lined up at center ice for the opening faceoff. It was only the 175th career faceoff for Ovechkin, counting playoffs, compared to No. 32,131 for Crosby.
The game was scoreless until Trevor van Riemsdyk jammed the puck under Pittsburgh goalie Stuart Skinner’s right leg at 12:22 of the second period.
That was enough offense for Thompson, who notched his fourth shutout of the season.
Up next
Penguins: Close the regular season at St. Louis on Tuesday night.
The Stanley Cup will have a new home this year after the back-to-back champion Florida Panthers had their season derailed by injuries.
They’re not the only perennial contender to miss the playoffs, either, with the Buffalo Sabres among the roughly half dozen newcomers in the 16-team field. The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the dance, too.
The Colorado Avalanche have been dominant since October and go in as the favorite after clinching the best regular-season record in the NHL. That has rarely been an indicator of who hoists the Cup at the end of four rounds, and it’s anyone’s guess who comes out of the Eastern Conference, as well as the West.
“Every team in the playoffs can win,” Dallas Stars defenseman Tyler Myers said. “Every series is a tough series. That’s what’s so amazing about the NHL playoffs: It brings out the best in everybody, in every team, and it creates an unbelievable battle no matter who’s playing.”
New blood in the NHL playoffs
Buffalo ended the longest postseason drought in league history at 14 seasons and did so after losing 18 of its first 29 games.
“It’s something that we strived for from Day One,” said Lindy Ruff, who is among the favorites to be coach of the year. “You’ve got to feel good about getting there. It’s hard. We’re in a division that’s been extremely hard to get there. You’ve got to look back and say that we did a lot of good things to get to this point.”
The Sabres also look as if they can do some damage in the wide-open East without Florida. They’ve been the best team since the Olympic break.
Also hot down the stretch was Pittsburgh, which qualified for the first time since 2022 in new coach Dan Muse’s first season. The Penguins were 6-1 long shots on BetMGM Sportsbook in October to make it, but now the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang gets another chance.
“A lot of people doubted us and I guess counted us out, and it just put fuel on the fire for us,” said defenseman Ryan Shea, who’s set to make his NHL playoff debut at 29. “I’ve been in the playoffs in the AHL, which was fun, but this is the best league in the world.”
The Utah Mammoth made it in the franchise’s second season in Salt Lake City. The Anaheim Ducks are also back with a young core coached by three-time Cup-champion Joel Quenneville.
The Central Division path is the toughest
Colorado is justifiably the best bet to win it all. Nathan MacKinnon could be the MVP, Cale Makar the top defenseman, and the reacquisition of Nazem Kadri at the trade deadline gives the Avalanche the depth to envision another parade in Denver this summer, four years since the previous one.
To do so, they’ll have to go through either Dallas or the Minnesota Wild in the second round just to reach the West final.
“Confident for sure: Believe in this group. I know we have what it takes,” captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “It’s going to be a long, tough road and mentally, physically grinding. I think we’re ready for it.”
Stars versus Wild opens the playoffs with a bang, pitting two of the top seven teams in the league in a best-of-seven series that ensures one of them will be golfing by mid-May. It’s the result of a division-focused format that Commissioner Gary Bettman has said leads to the best first round in sports.
“That makes for great matchups,” Bettman said. “If you’re a fan of the game and you’re looking for excitement, you’re looking to be entertained, you’re looking for intriguing stories, this format does it.”
From going for gold to chasing the silver chalice
Several players who won gold with the U.S. at the Olympics have the chance to add a Stanley Cup ring to their trophy case for the year.
Colorado’s Brock Nelson scored 30 goals after being a difference-maker in Milan. Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin, Buffalo’s Tage Thompson, Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel, Minnesota’s Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber, Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson are all in the running, as are two goaltenders: Boston’s Jeremy Swayman and Dallas’ Jake Oettinger.
The same goes for some Canadian stars who see their silver medals as a symbol of losing and get an opportunity to make up for it. That includes Edmonton’s Connor McDavid following two consecutive losses in the final, and Crosby after an injury kept him from playing in the gold medal game and is chasing a fourth NHL title.
“That’s the best time of year,” Crosby said. “That’s why you play.”
Entering Sunday’s slate of games, four teams that didn’t compete last postseason — the Sabres, Mammoth, Penguins and Bruins — already qualified for this year’s dance. The Ducks, Flyers and Blue Jackets are still in the running to join them, with Anaheim having a chance to clinch Sunday night with a win against the Canucks.
Buffalo ended a historic playoff drought of 14 seasons. Utah made it in (technically) the organization’s second season of existence.
The Rangers are caught somewhere in the middle as they inch closer toward their second early summer in a row.
The Post’s Mollie Walker analyzes three turnarounds and what the Blueshirts could learn from them:
Bruins
Boston general manager Don Sweeney made a lot of home run decisions that turned his team around from 76 points last season to the 96 they carried into their matchup in Columbus on Sunday. This after coming off a tumultuous 2024-25 campaign, in which captain Brad Marchand was traded to Florida as part of a considerable deadline sell-off.
New Rangers (re)hire Kevin Maxwell can look at the fact that 10 of the players on the current Bruins roster were acquired via trade. A smashing success with Sweeney’s offseason signings — including Tanner Jeannot and Jonathan Aspirot — also filled organizational needs. Aspirot is now Charlie McAvoy’s top-pair partner.
Even if several players overperformed, the Bruins deployed a much more balanced offense this season. Depth scoring was pivotal in their push to clinching a playoff berth. The Rangers have been a top-heavy lineup for years. The Rangers know better than most that game-changing goaltending makes anything possible. Jeremy Swayman not only improved as the Bruins’ clear-cut No. 1 goalie when it mattered, but he was a real difference-maker down the stretch.
General manager Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins speaks with the media before the first round of the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Sphere on June 28, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NHLI via Getty Images
Boston’s return to the playoffs certainly wasn’t picture perfect. They’ve had three separate losing streaks of five or more games this season. It was still a process, which is what Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan references frequently. The Rangers had two really strong seasons that preceded their runs to the Eastern Conference Final in 2022 and 2024. It won’t always be that way, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be.
Utah
The Mammoth were on a five-game winning streak when they clinched the organization’s first playoff berth. Without rehashing the disaster that was the Arizona Coyotes, a commitment was made to a trio of first-round draft picks — Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther — that has significantly paid off. They were nurtured. Cooley and Guenther have enjoyed breakout seasons and the young Utah core seems to be clamoring for a crack at the playoffs.
The Rangers’ largely failed track record with their organizationally grown prospects is well documented. Special circumstances surrounding the transition from the desert to Salt Lake City meant the club had to be patient, but with the geographical shift came a cultural one. Most of that came with a change in ownership. Ryan Smith has been lauded for his handling of the players and staffers during the move.
There is no indication MSG sports executive James Dolan, who owns the Rangers and Knicks, is going anywhere, but Utah is proof the most significant changes can stem from the very top down.
Logan Cooley of the Utah Mammoth celebrates a goal by Dylan Guenther against Seattle on April 2. Getty Images
Penguins
Projected to face-plant coming into this season, the Penguins proved a lot of people wrong. Pittsburgh, which hasn’t reached the postseason since 2022 and hasn’t won a single series since 2018, was rejuvenated by a new coach, remarkable play from the Big Three and the players GM Kyle Dubas surrounded them with. The Penguins probably emulated the closest process to a “retool,” which is what the Rangers are striving for.
Never underestimate the power of impactful leaders. Captain Sidney Crosby is one of a kind. His trio with Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang is one of the greatest to do it in all of professional sports history. The fact that they have each had strong individual seasons at ages 38 and 39, respectively, has been nothing short of incredible.
So much of what the Rangers become will hinge on captain J.T. Miller and what he brings both on and off the ice. This is who Blueshirts president and general manager Chris Drury chose to be the guy. Miller has had his moments this season, both positive and negative, but it was all hindered by injuries throughout the season. Ex-Rangers assistant Dan Muse provided a fresh voice and presence behind the Penguins bench as well.
Dubas was able to rebalance and restructure the lineup, which benefited the most from the additions of Anthony Mantha, Egor Chinakhov and rookie Ben Kindel.
The late-season roster shuffle continues. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Parker Wotherspoon all dress for this game after sitting out yesterday. Noel Acciari, Anthony Mantha, Ryan Shea and Connor Clifton all rotate out with official ‘undisclosed day-to-day injuries’.
Ovechkin and the Pens’ crew get a pregame faceoff. No official announcements or anything but it sure looks like a lot of signs pointing to this being it for the Great 8.
Dylan Strome gets himself kicked out of the opening faceoff so that Ovechkin can line up for a faceoff against Crosby. The Penguin captain wins it cleanly and the game is on.
The improved Penguins surpass yesterday’s one shot in the first period very easily. Karlsson draws the first power play of the game but Pittsburgh doesn’t score.
Crosby takes a penalty late in the period. The Capitals cash in quickly, Ovechkin makes a pass down to Justin Sourdif that gets tipped off the crossbar and then Sourdif finished it off by tapping the puck into the empty net. But wait, a coach’s challenge for offsides and Ilya Protas was very clearly a step ahead of the play at the blueline wipes out the goal.
The first ends with no goals that count, the Pens were better in the earlier parts of the start, the Capitals came on stronger as play went along.
Second period
Washington starts the second still on the power play, Pittsburgh kills it off.
Both teams skate back and forth, the Caps score for real this time. Trevor van Riemsdyk pokes at a puck in the crease about three times, it finally gets over the line. 1-0 Washington with 7:36 to go in the period.
The Pens wake up a little, Logan Thompson denies Tommy Novak on a great chance from in front off a pass from Rickard Rakell, then Novak is sprung for a breakaway but lets the puck slide off his stick to negate a scoring chance. Pittsburgh gets their second power play of the game soon after. Erik Karlsson slams a slap shot off Tom Wilson’s foot, otherwise nothing happening.
The Caps take a 1-0 lead into the last frame.
Third period
The Pens get their chance to pin the Caps in their zone for a long time, their pinch fails and the Caps go the other way on a 2-on-1 where forward Egor Chinakhov is the last player back. Next up, Connor McMichael scores, beating Skinner on backhand deke. 2-0 with just 4:10 to go.
Pittsburgh pulls the goalie with over 3 minutes to play, apparently wanting Ovechkin to get career goal No. 930 to send the people home happy. Ovechkin gets the assist to spring McMichael into space and score on the unguarded cage. 3-0 game.
Some thoughts
I think the Penguins really missed the mark with the decisions of playing/sitting players before the playoffs. Namely, how are you going to hold all the star players and key players out from ‘fan appreciation day’ to play them on the road the next day? Awful. And why play them at all today? Ovechkin nailed Letang, Karlsson took a high-stick and Rust blocked an Ovechkin shot in the foot in the first period alone. If you’re going to rest them, then go all the way and rest them all weekend. If you’re going to play them in games after being clinched then it shouldn’t have been today.
That said, it is what it is. Not like it’s wise to put hockey players on the shelf for 10 days and pick right up for the playoffs. Rotating almost every key player out either today or yesterday (besides Rakell, Chinakhov, Novak, Girard and maybe Brazeau if giving him the honor of being a ‘key player’) is a nice boost at this time of year to pick a spot for a day off for the crew.
Crosby/Ovechkin head to head 100 times. 56 wins for Crosby, point battle is 127-103 (48 goals, 79 assists for Crosby, 53 goals and 50 assists for Ovechkin).
Not too much going on in this game, Skinner was pretty good, Thompson was great. Everyone else was just kinda there. The game had an odd feel to it almost as a wake for the career of Ovechkin hanging over all of the proceedings.
The Pens wrap up the regular season on Tuesday night in St. Louis.
The Flyers have a clearer picture of how they can clinch their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 season.
With the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 regulation loss Sunday night to the Bruins, the Flyers can punch their ticket to the postseason if they win one of their final two games. Their magic number is two points, so a pair of overtime/shootout losses would also do the trick.
Their first chance will come Monday when they host Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). They then welcome the Canadiens on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
The Flyers can also make the playoffs if they pick up one point over their last two games and the Blue Jackets beat the Capitals on Tuesday night. But their easiest way to get in is to win one more game.
The Flyers (41-27-12) hold the final playoff spot (third place) in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points. Two points in some fashion over the next two days would put them at 96, a total the Capitals, Blue Jackets and Islanders can’t reach.
The Capitals (42-30-9) have 93 points and can finish with a max of 95. They blanked the Penguins, 3-0, Sunday afternoon.
The Blue Jackets (40-29-12) have 92 points and can finish with a max of 94. They host the Capitals in the regular-season finale for both clubs.
The Islanders (43-33-5) were eliminated from the race Sunday with a 4-1 loss to the Canadiens.
The fate of the Detroit Red Wings was sealed on Saturday evening with their regulation loss to the New Jersey Devils, confirming that they would miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a 10th consecutive season.
However, there are still two games left on their regular season schedule before they break for the offseason, starting with a tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday evening, followed by their finale against the Florida Panthers, both on the road.
Before those matchups take place, the Red Wings have announced an emergency call-up from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, who initially made the roster out of Training Camp, has been called up.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Michael Brandsegg-Nygard from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. pic.twitter.com/80HStaHnQf
Brandsegg-Nygård, whom the Red Wings selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, played in 12 games in the NHL this season, registering an assist.
He's been a key contributor to the Griffins this season, who became the first AHL club in decades to clinch a playoff spot in February.
In 58 games played with the Griffins, he's tallied 20 goals with 24 assists, and also has posted an impressive plus-19 rating.
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With their spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs all locked up, the Senators now begin the process of deciding how to approach their final two games of the regular season. No matter what, the Sens will finish with one of the two wild-card spots.
"Sticking to the process" will most assuredly remain Travis Green's message to his team. With the playoffs less than a week out, the last thing he wants is for bad habits to creep out.
But he's also in a position to rest some of his players, the ones who really need it.
The Sens Nation Podcast discusses the rise of defenseman Jordan Spence and what he'll cost the Senators this summer as an RFA.
As for wins, losses, and playoff positioning, they no longer matter very much. Since the Senators have no control over what's going on at the top of the Eastern Conference, there's really no advantage to busting their tails to maintain the top wild-card spot.
The top spot in the Eastern Conference is still up for grabs, as is first place in the Atlantic Division. So if the Senators happened to have a preferred opponent (which is unlikely), there's nothing they can do on Sunday, good or bad, that would help guarantee that matchup.
So as they prepare for Sunday's game with the New Jersey Devils (7 pm), it's a good bet that some of their regulars will get the night off to heal up or rest.
On Sunday morning, the Senators called Belleville for reinforcements, but only asked for one name: rugged forward Hayden Hodgson. AHL goal-scoring leader Arthur Kaliyev must be wondering what he has to do to get a call-up around here. As an RFA, it's hard to believe Kaliyev will be back with the organization this fall.
Hodgson, a 221-pound forward, will join the team in New Jersey ahead of the final road game of the regular season. Exclusively a fourth-line option, his recall would suggest that at least one of the fourth-line regulars may get a day of rest on Sunday.
The Senators could also turn to their healthy scratches from Saturday. Enforcer Kurtis MacDermid has been a healthy scratch for all but one game in 2026, and he'd probably like a shot against his former team.
Forward Stephen Halliday would also like to knock off some rust. He hasn't played since the trade deadline. And Ottawa native Cam Crotty might see some action too, along with backup goalie James Reimer.
Hodgson played nine games with the Sens between November 9 and December 6, 2025. He's on track to complete his second season with Belleville, which will miss the AHL playoffs this season.
Like MacDermid, he also doesn't mind the odd tussle, so the presence of both men may be welcome on Wednesday in the season finale when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit.
The Leafs have nothing to lose, so if players like Michael Pezzetta or Max Domi try to leave a mark and run around before their terrible season officially ends, the Sens will have an answer.
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:
However, it might not be the last time that the Kings would need to record a big win against the Oilers in April.
The way the standings currently shape up, Los Angeles isn't set to face Edmonton in the first round of the upcoming playoffs. But that hypothetical situation isn't far from becoming a reality.
As it stands, the Kings would face the mighty Presidents' Trophy winners, the Colorado Avalanche, in the opening round. But even with just three games left for Los Angeles, change is still possible in terms of seeding in the Western Conference, specifically the Pacific Division.
The Kings are just a pair of points behind the Anaheim Ducks, who are third in the Pacific. If Los Angeles can overtake Anaheim, and Edmonton remains in the second spot of the division, those two would face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth straight season.
There is another possibility for these two familiar foes to meet in the first round for the fifth consecutive post-season. If the Oilers win the division, which is very possible considering they are just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot, the Kings would need to overtake the Utah Mammoth for the first wild-card position in the West.
But because the Mammoth are in the Central Division and have more points than the Ducks, it's more likely for the Kings and Oilers to meet as the third and second seed in the Pacific Division.
Of the last four meetings between the Kings and Oilers in the post-season, Edmonton has owned Los Angeles, winning all four series.
Last year, it looked like Los Angeles was finally going to advance past the first round. They had a 2-0 series lead and a 4-3 lead in Game 3, but the Oilers went on to win the best-of-seven series in six games.
This time around, Los Angeles might get another shot at slaying Edmonton, and on its fifth attempt, the result might be different.
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It appears that the Abbotsford Canucks are dealing with yet another injury. As reported by Rick Dhaliwal of "Donnie and Dhali", forward Nils Åman, "broke his toe over the weekend, his season is over." Abbotsford has two games remaining this year, with both on the road.
Åman has spent the last four seasons with the Canucks organization. This year, he played two games in the NHL, while suiting up for 55 in the AHL. Åman leads Abbotsford with 41 points, while his 35 assists are tied for 22nd in the league.
This season was the second of a two-year deal Åman signed in 2023. He will enter the off-season as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. In 132 career NHL games, Åman has scored eight goals while recording 29 points.
As for his time with Abbotsford, Åman has recorded 95 points in 123 games. He ranks in the top 10 for points and top five for assists. Åman was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2020 and signed with the Canucks in 2022 as a free agent.
Feb 22, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Nils Aman (88) skates against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Alex Ovechkin #8 and John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals talk to the referees along side Sidney Crosby #87 and Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during a game at Capital One Arena on January 18, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 11: Head coach Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche watches as his team plays the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period at Ball Arena on April 11, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Avalanche have suffered a litany of injuries this season, but I didn’t expect that trend to strike the coaching staff. Here we are, though, as the Avalanche made a concerned comeback effort that fell short in a game where a stray puck caught their lead bench boss up-high.
Following the game, the Avalanche informed the public that Bednar was “fully alert and conscious” but was heading for a CT scan. Now we know the loose puck resulted in an orbital abrasion and facial fractures that will not require surgery, but will keep him from traveling with the team on their upcoming two-game road trip.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar will not accompany the team on their upcoming two-game road trip due to facial fractures and a corneal abrasion. He will not require surgery at this time and is expected to make a full recovery.
As far as the rest of the game went, Vegas clinched a playoff birth on the back of a Jack Eichel OT winner in what played out as a back-and-forth slugfest.
The Game
Establishing a lead has been a common goal for the Avalanche this season, and last night’s game started with a goal from none other than Devon Toews.
His tally at the 9:17 mark was the result of a point wrister that was screened beautifully by Gabe Landeskog and went right through the seven-hole. 1-0 good guys.
The Golden Knights would only need four and a half minutes to log an equalizer.
Mark Stone scored on the power play on an odd-bounce play where Mitch Marner threw the puck toward the net. It bounced off two players (including Mark Stone himself), fell to Stone’s feet, and he was able to tuck it past Blackwood, and we were tied at one a side after one period of play.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored his 36th goal of the season by picking the top corner over Blackwood’s right shoulder just two minutes and nine seconds into the second period, and the Knights took the 2-1 lead.
It was Nicolas Roy and Nick Blankenburg combining on a tying goal, Colorado style, as Blankenburg’s shot from the blue line hit the post, went off of Carter Hart, and into the net.
That was Nick Blankenburg’s 7th of the season, and although I’ve been critical of his defensive play in the past, I do see him making strides inside this system. His first goal as an Avalanche should propel that even further.
The third period would come and go all knotted at two a side, and this contest would require OT.
Jack Eichel would prove the OT hero for the Vegas Golden Knights after Martin Necas and Devon Toews nearly combined on a game-winner. The puck fluttered off of Toews’ stick on a grade A chance, which resulted in an odd man rush the other way.
With Mark Stone on his left, Jack Eichel broke in and decided he’d go with the shot rather than the pass and beat Blackwood for the win.
Takeaways
I think it’s safe to say most fans are cool with not seeing the Avalanche in those Nordiques jerseys. They haven’t had much success in them, and now they’ve seen their Head Coach leave the game during a Nords night. It might seem silly, but humans are superstitious, and hockey fans and players take that to a whole other level.
As previously mentioned, it’s nice to see Blankenburg taking steps in the right direction, and moreover, Devon Toews play in the absence of Cale Makar has noticeably improved.
Obviously, not having Makar is less than ideal, but the added pressure has fallen on the remaining defense, and it’s brought out the best in Toewser. Sure, he’d likely want that two-on-one potential game-winner back, but we know about bounces here in Colorado.
Not sure what is happening on home ice for the Avalanche of late, but I’m not going to get too worked up about it. When playoff hockey comes around, having the crowd on your side will go a long way, and if the Avalanche can establish early leads at home, it will prove tough for any opposition to stage a comeback.
One last thing, Erik Johnson is quickly becoming my favorite hockey media personality. Obviously, I have my bias, but putting that aside, he’s been really good at his job and appears more than capable of providing answers we might not get if the questioner were different.
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was rushed to the hospital after taking a puck to the face on Saturday, which resulted in facial fractures and a corneal abrasion.
Bednar, 54, will now miss the Avs’ upcoming two-game road trip, at the very least, due to the injuries suffered.
The freak accident took place during Colorado’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
Bednar was admitted to a nearby hospital following the incident and was fully conscious, according to a spokesman for the Avalanche, and underwent a CT scan for an advanced evaluation of the injuries.
Avs head coach Jared Bednar took an attempted dump-in from Keegan Kolesar to the side of the head and has left the bench pic.twitter.com/Qh0uQQSXgd
Bednar was standing behind the Colorado bench as a puck bounced off Knights defenseman Keegan Kolesar’s stick, flying over the boards and hitting the Avs head coach in the face as 16:39 remained in the third period.
He was ultimately aided to the locker room by one of the team’s athletic trainers and replaced in the interim by Avs assistant coach Dave Hakstol.
With three games to go, Colorado has and will finish with the top spot in the NHL’s regular season, currently at 115 points on the year.
Head coach Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche watches as his team plays the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period at Ball Arena on April 11, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
The Avalanche have seven more points than anyone in the league, with the Western Conference foe Dallas Stars sitting behind them at 108.
Colorado is currently the betting favorite to win the 2026 Stanley Cup with a goal differential of +94, which is 34 goals better than the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are second at +60.
