BOSTON — The Toronto Maple Leafs found themselves in familiar territory early Tuesday night, digging a hole with three penalties in the opening 25 minutes against the Boston Bruins. Despite trailing 1-0 after the first period and facing early trouble in the middle frame, the Leafs found a spark from a familiar source in Matthew Knies.

The turning point arrived when Knies flexed his size in the neutral zone, wrestling the puck away from Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei before breaking free for a shorthanded breakaway. Knies beat Jeremy Swayman to knot the game at 1-1, an individual effort that served as the catalyst for one of the Leafs’ most complete performances in recent memory. Following the 4-2 victory, his teammates were quick to praise the rare blend of attributes the sophomore forward brings to the lineup.

“It always just impresses you when he pulls it off,” captain John Tavares said of Knies’ highlight-reel goal. “His ability to just be so strong and just how physically mature he is, he’s a beast. He’s a very unique player at his age to have that type of strength, and then after that to have the soft hands and the poise and touch to score a beauty like that. He’s got a nice package as a player. We’re obviously very lucky to have him.”

The shorthanded marker was Knies’ 19th of the campaign, and he later added an empty-netter to reach the 20-goal plateau for the first time. With 59 points in 69 games, the Arizona native continues to set new career highs across the board. The performance is particularly notable given Knies has been navigating a lingering knee injury. While some wondered if he might shut things down with the Leafs’ playoff positioning relatively secure, Knies has remained adamant that playing won’t aggravate the issue. Based on his showing at TD Garden, the injury isn’t slowing his production.

Pure strength from Matthew Knies makes this goal possible! 💪 pic.twitter.com/PzhdpgnWtR

— NHL (@NHL) March 25, 2026

“Just the power he presents and strength in skating I thought he was really good all night for us. Did a lot of good things,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Knies.

The game took a physical turn after Knies’ first goal when Nikita Zadorov leveled Tavares from behind. Rookie Easton Cowan didn’t hesitate to jump in for his captain, challenging the veteran defenseman. That grit continued into the third period when Dakota Joshua dropped the gloves with Zadorov, signaling a collective pushback from a Toronto squad that showed plenty of resolve.

Statistically, it was a dominant night for the visitors. The Leafs fired 35 shots on goal, their highest total since a shootout win over Vancouver, and outshot their opponent for the first time since March 5. Anthony Stolarz remained sharp in the crease, making 18 saves on 20 shots, including several high-danger stops of a difficult variety, to preserve the win for Toronto.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Plenty of goals once again. Jack Hughes scored two goals, and the Devils hung on for a 6-4 win over the Stars on Tuesday. [Devils NHL]

Well!

Sheldon Keefe says that Gritsyuk will have to be evaluated tomorrow, get some imaging done before they can determine the severity of a potential injury. #NJDevilshttps://t.co/RPfhCePmcf

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) March 25, 2026

After a solid stretch of the season, a look around the roster at some players who are rising and and trending down: [Infernal Access ($)]

“It’s too little too late, but the New Jersey Devils have finally opened up their offense. After struggling to score for much of this season, they’ve started lighting the lamp more often since the Olympics.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]

A look at the prospect pool: “The Devils’ pool lacks a top prospect up front, but they have a star goalie (as well as another who is intriguing), multiple legit D prospects and some peripheral forwards who could play games.” [The Athletic ($)]

“Anton Silayev, drafted 10th overall by the Devils in the 2024 NHL Draft, is currently battling with Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL playoffs. Once his post-season run comes to a close, the 6-foot-7 blueliner is expected to sign his entry-level contract with the Devils.” [The Fourth Period]

Hockey Links

“NHL goaltending is quickly becoming one of the most volatile positions in all major sports. Here’s some evidence to support that belief, along with possible explanations for why.” [The Athletic ($)]

“The New York Rangers were awarded an extra shot on goal on Tuesday as part of their 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators Monday night, bringing their total for the game up to 10. The additional shot helped the Rangers avoid the dubious record of being the first team in the salary-cap era to be held to under 10 shots on net in a game. The mark would have also been the fewest shots on goal allowed by the Senators in franchise history.” [TSN]

An impressive number for Paul Maurice:

Paul Maurice becomes just the second coach in NHL history to reach 2,000 games 👏 pic.twitter.com/vXlmiOCtzs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 24, 2026

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

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins managed to win two out of three games on a road trip through Canada last week. WBSPenguins.com with the details on each game:

Wednesday, Mar. 18 – PENGUINS 1 at Laval 5
Gabe Klassen scored Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s only goal in its first meeting with the North Division-leading Rocket. As a result, the Penguins have lost five in a row at Place Bell, with their last victory in Laval coming on Jan. 13, 2018.

Friday, Mar. 20 – PENGUINS 2 at Belleville 1 (SO)
A 28-save night by Joel Blomqvist helped the Pens win a war of attrition against the Sens. Aidan McDonough logged a power-play goal in the middle frame, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton went three-for-three in the shootout with strikes from McDonough, Klassen and Avery Hayes. Blomqvist denied the league’s top goal-scorer, Arthur Kaliyev, to earn his first AHL shootout win.

Sunday, Mar. 22 – PENGUINS 4 at Toronto 3
The Penguins constructed a commanding 4-0 lead, which proved to be important insurance after a third-period fright from the Marlies. Hayes and McDonough both secured one-goal, one-assist first periods, while Rafaël Harvey-Pinard lit the lamp twice, including the game-winner.

Perhaps word will trickle back to Pittsburgh that Avery Hayes scored a shootout goal on a nice forehand deke move. Hayes was unused by the NHL Penguins over the course of three potential shootouts in the NHL during games that he recently played in.

ONE, TWO, THREE SHOOTOUT GOALS AND A STOP FROM BLOMMA pic.twitter.com/hUd7mil064

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 21, 2026

Wilkes will get another chance to see Laval (first place in the North Division) on Saturday at home and try to repay the favor from last week’s game. WBS then stays at home on Sunday for another meeting with Lehigh Valley.

Here was the lineup the WBS Pens used last game, it’s outdated already since Ville Koivunen has been called back up to Pittsburgh. Center Tristan Broz remains out with his undisclosed injury that has held him out for all of March.

Welcome back, Ville!

Catch the action on AHLTV on FloHockey: https://t.co/CrNDVVHuPjpic.twitter.com/Jt1MbSmqy8

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 22, 2026

Aidan McDonough, a 26-year old playing on an AHL contract this season, has been the most consistent player for Wilkes all year long. McDonaugh has an active four-game point streak (2G+3A) and recently surpassed Broz for the team lead in scoring this season, McDonough having notched 36 points in 57 games over Broz’s 34 points in 45 games. Koivunen (33 points in 29 games), Hayes (32 points in 39 games) and Rutger McGroarty (26 points in 25 games) all have spent enough time in Pittsburgh and/or injured to not quite be the AHL’s leading scorer.

The end of the season is drawing near, WBS only has nine more games to go before the playoffs start. They still look locked into second place, the most important number for the rest of the regular season is sitting at 14. That’s the magic number for any points gained by the Penguins or lost by the Charlotte Checkers to ensure that WBS secures the second position and gains a first-round bye in the playoffs, eventually having their opening playoff series against whomever comes out of the 3/6 divisional matchup.

Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

The Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena. One week after the Penguins dispatched the Avalanche on their home ice, the Colorado hockey team returned the favor, pulling away early and defeating Pittsburgh 6-2. [Recap]

The Penguins received a mixed bag of injury news before the game. Evgeni Malkin missed the Avalanche game due to an undisclosed day-to-day injury, while defender Ryan Shea was cleared to return after missing Sunday’s clash. [PensBurgh]

After leaving against the Winnipeg Jets with an injury and missing Sunday’s contest against the Carolina Hurricanes, the aforementioned Shea was eager to return to the lineup on Tuesday, saying the timing was frustrating given how well he had been playing. [Trib Live]

Penguins prospect Harrison Brunicke remains focused on making the NHL roster, despite the up-and-down nature of the nine-game trial he received at the start of the season. He is using his time in juniors to continue on the upward trajectory. [Trib Live]

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas says he has no plans to trade Erik Karlsson this summer. [TSN]

News and notes from around the NHL…

Connor McDavid clarified recent comments he made in support of Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, saying they were not meant as criticism of his own team; they were meant to compliment a strong opponent. [Sportsnet]

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice made history on Tuesday night, joining Scotty Bowman by becoming the second coach in NHL history to coach 2,000 career regular-season games. [NHL]

Edmonton Oilers (35-28-9, in the Pacific Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (32-26-14, in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Edmonton Oilers visit the Vegas Golden Knights after Connor McDavid's two-goal game against the Utah Mammoth in the Oilers' 5-2 win.

Vegas is 32-26-14 overall and 10-5-4 against the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights have a +five scoring differential, with 224 total goals scored and 219 allowed.

Edmonton is 11-5-3 against the Pacific Division and 35-28-9 overall. The Oilers have scored 250 total goals (3.5 per game) to rank third in the league.

The matchup Thursday is the third time these teams square off this season. The Oilers won 4-2 in the previous matchup.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell Marner has 19 goals and 51 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

McDavid has 40 goals and 78 assists for the Oilers. Zach Hyman has four goals and two assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 3-7-0, averaging two goals, 3.4 assists, 4.4 penalties and 11.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

Oilers: 5-4-1, averaging three goals, 4.7 assists, four penalties and 9.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: William Karlsson: out (lower body), Carter Hart: out (leg), Jonas Rondbjerg: out (lower body).

Oilers: Curtis Lazar: out (undisclosed), Leon Draisaitl: out (lower-body), Colton Dach: out (undisclosed), Trent Frederic: out (undisclosed), Mattias Janmark: out for season (undisclosed).

___

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

Chicago Blackhawks (27-31-13, in the Central Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (34-24-12, in the Metropolitan Division)

Philadelphia; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks take the ice in a non-conference matchup.

Philadelphia has a 15-12-8 record at home and a 34-24-12 record overall. The Flyers have a 5-5-8 record in games decided by one goal.

Chicago has a 14-15-6 record in road games and a 27-31-13 record overall. The Blackhawks have gone 22-6-7 in games they score three or more goals.

The matchup Thursday is the second time these teams meet this season. The Flyers won 3-1 in the last meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Trevor Zegras has scored 22 goals with 34 assists for the Flyers. Owen Tippett has five goals and one assist over the last 10 games.

Tyler Bertuzzi has 29 goals and 23 assists for the Blackhawks. Frank Nazar has five goals and six assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 6-3-1, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.1 assists, 4.6 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

Blackhawks: 4-3-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 8.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

INJURIES: Flyers: Rodrigo Abols: out (ankle), Tyson Foerster: out (arm).

Blackhawks: Shea Weber: out for season (ankle), Andrew Mangiapane: out (undisclosed), Oliver Moore: out (lower body), Sacha Boisvert: day to day (not injury related ), Matt Grzelcyk: out (upper-body).

___

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

The Vegas Golden Knights came out flying Tuesday night, controlling play early and dictating tempo—but what followed was a sharp unraveling that turned a promising start into a lopsided 4–1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Vegas did everything right in the opening minutes except the one thing that matters most: score. The Golden Knights piled up early pressure, firing nine shots and holding Winnipeg without one for nearly the first 10 minutes. Yet by intermission, they were trailing—a familiar and frustrating theme—as Kyle Connor punished a rare defensive lapse, converting one of Winnipeg’s first legitimate chances into a 1–0 lead.

From there, the game didn’t just shift—it tilted irreversibly.

Winnipeg seized full command in the second period, with Mark Scheifele orchestrating the turning point. The veteran forward delivered a composed yet clinical performance, registering a goal and two assists while igniting a decisive surge—two goals in under two minutes—that transformed a fragile one-goal game into a commanding three-goal cushion. What had been a contest defined by Vegas’ early control quickly became one dictated by Winnipeg’s efficiency and opportunism.

The Golden Knights eventually found a lifeline on the power play, with Colton Sissons finishing to trim the deficit. But the response lacked staying power. Vegas went 1-for-5 with the man advantage, and too often their offensive zone time dissolved into low-danger sequences against a Jets team that defended with structure and patience, forcing play to the perimeter and neutralizing second-chance opportunities.

Behind it all, Connor Hellebuyck provided the stabilizing presence. The Winnipeg netminder turned aside 26 shots, absorbing Vegas’ early surge and maintaining composure as momentum swung. His performance didn’t just preserve the lead—it ensured there would be no path back.

Scheifele later punctuated the night with an empty-net goal, sealing both the result and a signature performance that underscored Winnipeg’s ability to weather pressure and strike with precision.

For Vegas, the loss adds to a growing pattern that’s becoming difficult to ignore. Strong starts have become routine; sustaining them has not. Despite flashes of cohesion, the Golden Knights have now dropped four of their last five, with recurring lapses turning early control into eventual frustration.

The blueprint is evident. The follow-through remains elusive.

Until that disconnect is resolved, even their best beginnings will continue to fade into the same disappointing end.

The Calgary Flames extended their season-best run to four straight wins on Tuesday night, edging the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in a shootout at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Dustin Wolf turned aside 23 shots and came up with the key stops late, while Zayne Parekh and Olli Maatta each scored their first goals of the season to help Calgary claw back twice in the game.

Los Angeles struck early, opening the scoring just 2:35 into the first period. Joel Armia found Quinton Byfield at the blue line with a slick feed, and the Kings forward broke in alone before finishing on the backhand through the wickets of Wolf. Drew Doughty picked up the secondary assist as the Kings carried a 1-0 lead through the opening frame.

The second period didn’t offer much in terms of chances, but Calgary found a goal late. At 14:50, Olli Maatta got just enough of a one-timer, off a pass from Victor Olofsson, and beat Darcy Kuemper to even the score. It marked Maatta’s first goal as a Flame. Ryan Strome also drew an assist on the play.

Wolf made sure the game stayed tied heading into the third, turning aside a pair of quality chances with two big pad saves in the final minutes of the period.

The Kings wasted no time restoring their lead in the third period. Just 17 seconds in, a puck chipped out of the zone landed on Byfield’s stick, sending him in alone again. This time, he beat Wolf clean with a blocker-side shot to make it 2-1, with Trevor Moore and Alex Laferriere adding assists.

Calgary responded on a two-man advantage (13:02). Zayne Parekh found space in the high slot and snapped a wrist shot past Kuemper to tie the game, 2-2. Matt Coronato and Matvei Gridin picked up assists on the power-play marker.

Overtime settled nothing despite a wide-open extra frame. Olofsson generated a pair of strong looks, and Morgan Frost rang a shot off the post on a 2-on-0, but the game remained deadlocked. In the shootout, Yegor Sharangovich scored the winner, despite losing the puck as he deked to the backhand, it slowly slid forward and slipped through Kuemper’s legs to seal the win.

Three Takeaways

1. Coleman driving the pace

Blake Coleman was noticeable from the opening shift. He pressured pucks, set the tone on the forecheck, and logged strong minutes on the penalty kill. His effort level hasn’t dipped, even this late in the season.

2. Flames finding momentum

Calgary is in the middle of its longest winning streak of the year, now four straight victories during this six-game homestand. It’s a stretch that’s brought some life back into the group.

3. Parekh rewarded

Zayne Parekh continues to trend upward. Both of his NHL goals have come against the Kings, and this one, scored on the power play, felt like a long time coming given how he’s been playing.

The Los Angeles Kings (28-25-18) lost another tough game Tuesday night, this time coming up short in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames (30-34-7). 

Despite coming out with a point, the Kings still lose, fail to hold on to their lead, and are now three games back in the race for the final playoff spot. 

A game that Los Angeles needed desperately because the teams they're competing with keep winning, the Kings struggle to hold a third-period lead. 

The Kings' loss on the road against the Flames today continues their losing streak, now seven consecutive road games. Los Angeles is now 0-7 in the last seven matchups on the road against Calgary,

Los Angeles was aggressive on defense from the get-go, holding the Flames to six shots in the first and second periods. But both teams were very sluggish offensively, struggling to get shots up. 

However, Los Angeles scored the first goal in the opening period, two minutes into the opening frame. Quinton Byfield capitalized on the nice breakaway, showcasing his speed to bury the goal and give Los Angeles the early lead. 

LAK Goal - Q!

Byfield picks up right where he left off in Utah, opens the scoring with a nice breakaway goal. 1-0 Kings.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 25, 2026

The rest of the period would end slowly, with neither team being able to get a shot up. Even though the Flames had six shots, they had a lot of chances to tie the game, but Darcy Kuemper did a good job saving the puck in tight situations.

That would change for Calgary, though, in the second period, where they finally got a shot up through the net, tying the game 1-1. 

Defenseman Olli Maatta converted on the quick wrist shot, scoring his first goal since being acquired by the Flames, giving life to Calgary.

Los Angeles was unable to capitalize on the quick goal they got in the first period, coming up short on the power play and leaving the door open for a goal that would put the Flames right back in it. 

The Kings once again outshot the Flames 9-6 in the second period, but went scoreless in the period.

Off the gate, Quinton Byfield once again scored a brekaway goal 17 seconds in the final frame to give Los Angeles back the lead. 

LAK Goal - QuinTWOn Byfield!

Great speed to get in alone, buries his shot inside the far post 17 seconds into the third period. 2-1 Kings.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 25, 2026

It was an excellent way for Byfield to use his speed and outrun the Flames to get a clean look at the net, giving the momentum back to Los Angeles. 

The lead didn't last, though, for the Kings, once again leaving the door open for the home team to tie it up.

The Flames scored on their first power play of the night to once again tie the game 2-2.  The Kings didn't play a good third period; despite scoring a goal, they were held to seven shots and got outshot 10-7.  

The game went to extra periods, and it was certainly a very sloppy one for both teams. Los Angeles had several key turnovers, but the Flames couldn't capitalize on them to score. Calgary had a very good look at a 2-on-1 fastbreak possession, but couldn't hit the puck inside the net, forcing the game to go to a shootout. 

Both teams would convert one goal in three rounds of the shootout, with Artemi Panarin scoring an incredible lob shot to force a fourth round. In the fourth round, Los Angeles would miss, and the Flames would get it to go to come away with the comeback victory at home. 

Round 4: Flames win 3-2 in the shootout.

LAK - Clarke - ❌
CGY - Sharangovich - ✅

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 25, 2026

Key Takeaways

Very heartbreaking loss for the Kings, especially at this point in time, where they could've pulled themselves closer to a playoff spot; they're now three games back of the Nashville Predators for the final spot. 

The four-game skid for the Kings is making it much tougher every day to keep up with the teams in the Western Conference, and soon it will be very difficult to move closer to the playoff picture. 

Quinton Byfield scored the only two goals on the night to keep Los Angeles in it, but still couldn't find a way to win the game. Darcy Kuemper looked much better tonight, coming up clutch in overtime and the shootout rounds, but couldn't get the timely stop in the fourth round. 

Los Angeles will end its three-game road trip on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks at 7:00 PM PT. 

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 Islanders were unhappy with the goaltender interference call that went against them Sunday, but could at least add afterward that it didn’t end up mattering in the 1-0 win over the Blue Jackets.

As for the missed icing call Tuesday night that led to the Blackhawks’ fourth goal in an eventual 4-3 win, well, there was no such solace.

After Wyatt Kaiser sent the puck up the ice, with Tyler Bertuzzi diving and missing in an attempt to get a stick on it before it crossed over the blue line, the Islanders were so sure that it would be whistled down that Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield both temporarily seemed to slow up.

Instead, there was no call and Nick Lardis stripped the puck from Mayfield behind the net, setting up a streaking Frank Nazar, who made it 4-1 Chicago at 6:02 of the second.

“The referee said he made a mistake to us,” coach Patrick Roy said. “It was over. That’s all it was. That’s all. It was bad timing for us. It’s unfortunate, but that’s part of the game, I guess.”

Part of the game, maybe, and the Islanders bear some blame for not playing to the whistle, but this was a brutal time for such a missed call with the Islanders fighting for their playoff lives every night. The explanation on the ice, apparently, was that the puck hit Cal Ritchie.

“I don’t even know what that was about,” Ritchie said. “They said I touched the puck or something on that play. I wasn’t even near the play. Yeah, it’s a little frustrating.”

Indeed, the video confirms Ritchie’s description to be correct.

For the rest of the night, the UBS Arena crowd mock-cheered on every icing call.

At the time of the goal, it did at least appear that the missed call would be inconsequential, with the Islanders down 4-1 and looking sluggish at best.

---

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND ISLANDERS STATS

---

After they recovered their game in the third period to get within 4-3 at the final buzzer, though, it looms large. Even a point from getting as far as overtime could make a big difference in a race that appears ready to go down to the wire.

“We had an icing,” captain Anders Lee said. “We had an icing. They said that it hit Cal Ritchie. So I don’t have the time, really, to go back and look. We had a game to play, so I’ll let you guys take care of that, but Cal said it didn’t hit him.”

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists — and a rare fighting major in the second period — to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.

Kyle Connor, Alex Iafallo and Cole Perfetti also scored for Winnipeg, which snapped a five-game home skid against Vegas.

Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves to snap his six-game winless streak against the Golden Knights.

Colton Sissons scored the lone goal on the power play for Vegas. Adin Hill stopped 17 shots.

Scheifele dropped the gloves with Brett Howden late in the second period in just his 10th career fight in his 15th NHL season. Scheifele capped the scoring for the Jets with his 32nd goal, an empty-netter with 1:18 left.

Early in the second period, Iafallo and Perfetti scored just 118 seconds apart, giving the Jets a commanding 3-0 lead.

Sissons made it 3-1 in the second when he scored on the power play, the third straight game in which Vegas converted with the man-advantage.

Connor’s first-period goal gave him a point in 30 home games, extending his NHL-leading mark for the most home games with at least one point this season.

Up next

Golden Knights: Start a four-game homestand against Edmonton on Thursday.

Jets: Host Colorado on Thursday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

DALLAS (AP) — Jack Hughes scored twice in New Jersey’s four-goal first period, and the Devils handed Dallas consecutive losses in regulation for the first time in two months, beating the Stars 6-4 on Tuesday night.

Jesper Bratt and Connor Brown also had goals as the Devils put four of their first five shots past Jake Oettinger to end the Dallas goalie’s career-best point streak at 14 games. Oettinger was pulled after the first period.

Wyatt Johnston had two goals to reach 40 for the first time in his career, and Jason Robertson scored his 39th for Dallas, which hadn’t lost two in a row in regulation since dropping three straight from Jan. 13-18.

Johnston’s second goal was his NHL-leading 24th on the power play, extending his franchise record set two nights earlier in a 3-2 loss to Vegas.

Playing for the first time since clinching a Western Conference playoff spot, the Stars lost to an East also-ran and fell seven points behind NHL-leading Colorado, their Central Division rival.

Hughes beat Oettinger one-on-one for both his goals, the latter when Luke Hughes connected with him on a two-line pass for a breakaway and a 4-1 lead 17:19 into the first.
Hughes has eight goals in eight games after going without one in his first five games following the gold medal-winning goal for Team USA against Canada in the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Johnston tied his career high with his 38th assist when Robertson got Dallas within a goal midway through the second period.

New Jersey’s Timo Meier and Mavrik Bourque of Dallas traded third-period goals before an empty-netter from Dougie Hamilton.

Casey DeSmith replaced Oettinger and gave the Stars a chance late by stopping the first 12 shots he faced. Jake Allen had 23 saves for the Devils.

Up next

Devils: At Nashville on Thursday on the fourth game of a five-game trip.

Stars: At the Islanders on Thursday to start a four-game trip.

The Carolina Hurricanes jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the game but they were unable to hold the lead or light the lamp again as the Montreal Canadiens defeated them, 5-2 on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.

The Hurricanes played well enough, they outshot the home team 42-19, but they could not finish nor could they solve goalie Jakub Dobes, who picked up the win.

Nikolaj Ehlers got the scoring started just two minutes and change into the game when he rocketed a shot on goal that deflected in off a Montreal player to make it 1-0. It was a powerplay goal, giving Carolina four powerplay goals in the last two games.

Jordan Staal found himself all alone in front of the opposing net and made no mistake to make the score 2-0 and the Canes were cooking. It was Staal’s 18th of the season.

The Hurricanes did an outstanding job limiting Montreal’s shots though the home team scored on a deflected goal as they were outshot, 16-4 in that opening period.

The Habs picked up their play in the second as they scored twice to make it 3-2 at the second intermission.

While the Canes had some chances, including a couple of breakaways, they could not score again.

Montreal put the game away later in the third when the puck got past K’Andre Miller and Ivan Demidov scored on his breakaway attempt to make it 4-2.

The Canadiens later scored an empty-netter to close out the scoring.

Alexander Nikishin played over 20 minutes in this affair for the first time in awhile, (20:49). He led the team with four blocked shots.

The game did not help Fred Andersen’s save percentage as he allowed four goals on the 18 shots he faced.

It was reported that Charles Alexis Legault was recalled for the game in case a defenseman could not go. (Someone was not feeling well). He was returned to Chicago when he was not needed.

The Canes returned home and will take a day or two off as they prepare to face the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Game Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/GS021121.HTM

Event Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/ES021121.HTM

Interviews – https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/05wvrgg8gbn0tiv6w28ep/AG818xVqb1PfRF1aN_gv_rs?rlkey=k73i5zdzwnypdgj0idhxkxojm&e=1&st=92fdo9f2&dl=0

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Erik Cernak scored a tiebreaking goal with 2:53 left in the third period when Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson misplayed a carom off the end boards and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Wild 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Cernak scored his second of the season after Charle-EdouardD’Astous' pass traveled the length of the ice and bounced off the end boards toward Gustavsson, who failed to control the puck with his glove. The puck went between Gustavsson's legs into the crease and Cernak pounced, sending it into the open net.

Tampa Bay rallied from a two-goal deficit, scoring three goals in the second period and five unanswered overall over the second and the third to win for the fourth time in five games and fifth time in seven.

Darren Raddysh had a goal and two assists, Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel also scored, while Brandon Hagel and Pontus Holmberg added an empty-netter goals in the final minutes. Andrei Vasilevskiy had an assist and made 20 saves to win his fourth straight start. Guentzel's goal was his 32nd of the season and the 300th for his career.

Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and an assist, and Mats Zuccarello and Brock Faber also scored for the Wild, who have lost five of their last seven games. Gustavsson stopped 19 of the 23 shots that he faced.

Minnesota jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first and a 3-1 lead in the second before Tampa Bay bounced back. Raddysh and Guentzel scored in approximately a three-minute span of the second to tie the game at 3. Cernak, Hagel and Holmberg completed the scoring in the third for Tampa Bay.

The Wild had a potential go-ahead goal disallowed with 1:18 left in the second period after Tampa Bay challenged. After a review, it was decided that Raddysh was knocked to the ice and into the crease, prohibiting Vasilevskiy from a possible save.

For Minnesota, Joel Eriksson Ek was back in the lineup after missing three games with lower-body injury and Kirill Kaprizov returned after missing two games, also with a lower-body injury.

Up next

Wild: At the Florida Panthers on Thursday.

Lightning: Host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

There's no bait to be taken by the Nashville Predators from the Sharks as they picked up their 14th straight win over San Jose, 6-3, on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena. 

 Wild Card Standings Update

• WC1: Utah - 80 PTS (vs. Edmonton)
• WC2: Nashville - 77 PTS (vs. San Jose, W 6-3)
• 1. Los Angeles - 74 PTS (at Calgary, L/SO 3-2)
• 2. Seattle - 72 PTS (at Florida, L/SO 5-4)
• 3. Winnipeg - 72 PTS (vs. Vegas, W 4-1)
• 4. San Jose - 70 PTS (at Nashville, L 6-3)

Red hot start 

One of the most criticized aspects of the Predators' season has been their starts, as they've either been outshot or given up the first goal in the majority of their matchups.

That was not the case against the Sharks as the Predators netted five goals in the first 20 minutes of the game, tying a franchise record for most goals scored in the first period.

 The record was originally set in an 8-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 28, 2009.

"I really liked our mindset in the 1st period," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "We got off on the right foot. We've had so many of these conversations in this room about not starting right. We started on time, and we got to our game pretty quickly." 

Filip Forsberg was a massive part of that effort, recording a goal and an assist in that first period. He'd add a primary assist on a Steven Stamkos power play goal in the second period for three points on the night.

Did we mention Fil's on a heater?! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jnOC7YVWeQ

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 25, 2026

Forsberg now has 12 points (5 goals and seven assists) in five games and was named the NHL's 2nd Star of the Week on Monday. With 11 games left, he's eyeing a third straight 70-plus point season, recording 62 so far. 

"Everyone came ready to play," Forsberg said. "Obviously, we're getting rewarded, which is nice. We did a lot of the right things, got on their defensemen and got pucks back. It set the tone for the rest of the time." 

Matthew Wood, Roman Josi, Luke Evangelista and Brady Skjei all got involved in the scoring as well in the first frame. Skjei scored just his second goal of the season and first since Dec. 9. 

"I've had some looks and just haven't gone in this year," Skjei said on his scoring. "We're just talking about hopefully, the floodgates will open a little bit here at the end of the season." 

A push from Marchy 

Jonathan Marchessault's production has risen as of late, after inconsistent play throughout the season. 

The 35-year-old forward has 25 points in 51 games, but eight of them have come in just March alone. Against the Sharks, he had three assists and now has seven points in the last five games. 

"I'm playing better hockey and part of a team that's trying to make a push for a playoff spot," Marchessault said. "Everybody has a great mentality and is in a great spot in the lineup. We're playing good hockey right now." 

A lot of credit for Marchessault's production spike goes to a new line centered by Wood and Forsberg, opposite Marchessault on the wing. The trio has generated five goals over the last five games. 

"It makes a big difference," Marchessault said. Fil (Forsberg) is an amazing world-class player, but Woody is the one who facilitates a little bit of everything for Fil and me. He's low and slow in the middle, always available, and we have a lot more possession in the pocket." 

Staying in the race 

Nashville jumps to 77 points after winning its fourth straight game, now eyeing a first Wild Card spot, within three points of the Utah Mammoth. 

While the Predators are in a very different place than they were at the beginning of the year, Brunette still references last season and how the team's mindset has not changed since then. 

Nearing the playoffs, the Predators are not so much viewing themselves as underdogs as a squad out to prove they are finally living up to the potential promised last season. 

"Our mindset from the end of last year to today has been the same," Brunette said. "You can always get the results, but we were out to prove that last year was a little bit of an apparition, that we're better than what we showed. Full credit to the group when the waters got a little rough there early. We dug in even deeper, and we stayed with it, and we didn't abandon ship."