Mar 16, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) controls the puck in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Evgeni Malkin returned from his five-game suspension Monday night with a stellar game against the Colorado Avalanche and after the game, the veteran Penguins center said he and Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas are expected to talk this summer about his contract situation.
After Monday’s 7-2 throttling of the Colorado Avalanche, Malkin spoke at length about his return from being suspended and also addressed his contract situation, but wasn’t able to provide many specifics outside of when the two camps might meet again.
“I can’t say anything,” Malkin told The Athletic’s Josh Yohe.
Malkin said that he and Dubas talked a couple of weeks ago with Dubas telling Malkin the two would talk this summer.
Geno on his contract situation: "I can't say anything. We (Malkin and Dubas) talked probably two weeks ago. He told me we would talk this summer. I'm OK with that. We have 15 games left, I hope playoffs. I want to just play. He asked if I wanted to play next year. I said yes. He…
According to Moneypuck, the Penguins have an 85.3% chance of making the postseason for the first time since 2022, when the team lost to the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 24: Viktor Arvidsson #71 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his goal with Kaiden Guhle #21 during the second period against the Montréal Canadiens at TD Garden on January 24, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nick Suzuki: 23G-55A-78PTS; Lane Hutson: 11G-56A-67PTS; Cole Caufield: 39G-27A-66PTS
Jakub Dobes: 21-7-4, 2.97 GAA, .891 save percentage
Game notes
It’s a March hockey game between the Bruins and Canadiens with big playoff implications! Feels like it’s been quite a while since we had one of these.
This is the final regular season meeting between these two teams, with the Bruins winners of two out of three thus far. The B’s won the last match-up, 4-3 at TD Garden in late January.
Montreal has lost two games in a row, but they won three in a row before that. Ups, downs, etc.
After sneaking into the playoffs as the second wild card last season, the Canadiens have spent most of this season comfortably in playoff position. While they’re still a good bet to make it, it’s worth pointing out that they’re currently closer to the wild card chaos than they are to first in the division. They’re tied in points with Detroit and just a point ahead of the Bruins.
Montreal has employed a pretty healthy goalie rotation this year, with some of that due to injuries. Jakub Dobes leads the way with 32 GP, but Samuel Montembeault has played 25 games and Jacob Fowler has played 12.
The Habs have been pretty good at Bell Centre this season, posting an 18-13-2 record.
Occasionally maligned first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky is having his best season as a pro, with 25 goals and 55 points. He has already exceeded his previous career best by four points.
Speaking of career bests, Cole Caufield is on the cusp of being a 40-goal scorer for the first time, with three of those goals coming in his last five games.
Speaking speaking (2x) of career bests, Oliver Kapanen has burst onto the scene for Montreal this season. He jumped right from the Swedish Hockey League to the NHL for a cup of coffee last season, but has been excellent in his first full NHL season, putting up 20 goals and 13 assists in 66 games.
The Canadiens have the league’s second-most potent offense, putting up 3.5 goals per game.
For the Bruins, they’ll be looking to bounce back after an entertaining but ultimately damaging OT loss in New Jersey on Monday night. Jeremy Swayman will be back in net for the B’s.
If you’re planning to head out and enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day, don’t forget to mix in a water or two so you make it to game time.
Not sure we can rebuild him, actually. | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Is Lou Lamoriello still around? Because only learning now that Semyon Varlamov’s two-season-long “lower body injury” is TWO KNEE REPLACEMENTS — and thanks to Patrick Roy mentioning it (likely off script) in a media scrum — feels very Lou-esque. He hasn’t played since late November 2024, so you knew there were serious issues, but still…
Anyway, the big Canadian road trip begins tonight in Toronto, where the Leafs are without Auston Matthews and may have a coach and GM who are dead men walking. Maybe. Of the three games on this trip, tonight has the opponent with little to play for, though we know sometimes that’s a dangerous recipe. The Leafs have won twice in their last 10 and are battling Florida for second-worst/not-Rangers in the conference.
Aww, hell, this needs to be the lead any time it happens: a reunion of 1980-83 Islanders, the NHL’s last true dynasty:
This is a rare opportunity to have 28 Stanley cups at the dinner table. Doesn’t get any better than this ,1980-1983 the most dominant team to ever play pic.twitter.com/DAjMl2RMsI
Matthew Schaefer is focused on the playoff race, not a return to the GTA, where he’s expecting “close to 1,000” people who know him or the family. [Newsday | THN]
The official site update notes Varlamov skating with the team (but is in no way a candidate to return this season) but it does not mention the double-knee replacement. [Isles] But others quote Roy noting it. [Post]
On the Islanders Anxiety podcast, Dan and Mike discuss Brayden Schenn’s transition, an up-and-down week for the Isles and a look ahead to a week in Canada. [LHH]
Prospect Report: Eklund The Greater builds another points streak “playing with men,” plus other updates across multiple leagues (including Cole Eiserman’s season ending). [Isles]
Elsewhere
Last night in the NHL was a disappointing one, with Detroit winning in regulation over Calgary (no surprise), the still Crosby-less Penguins beating Colorado, and Boston picking up a consolation point.
Injury roundups, including Leon Draisaitl being out for “some time” and Varly receiving “some new knees.” [NHL]
Auston Matthews’ USA teammates, the Tkachuk brothers, use their podcast to say they would not have stood for the Radko Gudas hit. [Sportsnet]
Once a decade or thereabouts, the NHL gets around to hosting a World Cup. The next one is in 2028 and will be in Alberta and Prague. [NHL]
Jarmo Kekalainen, who actually hasn’t done all that much yet as Buffalo GM other than have brilliant timing, believes the Sabres have what they need to win it all. [Sportsnet]
The Capitals are preparing for life after Alex Ovechkin (who is not preparing for life as cannon fodder in Ukraine, I reckon). [Sportsnet]
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 16: Evgeni Malkin #71 and Egor Chinakhov #59 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate after a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on March 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Evgeni Malkin returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup for the first time since being suspended five games for slashing earlier this month and he made his presence known early and often in a 7-2 Penguins victory over the NHL leading Colorado Avalanche. Malkin was hardly the only Penguins player to show out in a big way last night with six others recording multipoint games, including defenseman Erik Karlsson who was noticeable every time he stepped on the ice himself. In goal, Artur Silovs fended off 25 from the Avalanche, holding the NHL’s highest scoring offense to just two first period goals. [Pensburgh]
Pens Points…
It’s another big time week for the Penguins with the end of this long five-game road trip in sight then a return home for a weekend back-to-back set that will kick off a stretch of five of the next seven games being at PPG Paints Arena to wrap up the month of March. [Pensburgh]
Despite the Penguins being without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, they have kept their heads above water in their absence and the standings have tightened little, if at all depending on the opponent. With 16 games left to be played, the Penguins remains in good position to make a postseason return. [Pensburgh]
Jack St. Ivany has completed his conditioning stint in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has been recalled to the NHL. In a corresponding move, fellow defenseman Alexander Alexeyev was sent back down to the Baby Pens to make room on the roster. [The Hockey News]
When Ben Kindel was drafted back in June, most figured he was a couple years away from being an impact player in the NHL. Then he impressed enough to earn a roster spot to open the season, but most figured it was only for nine game. Now almost through a complete season, Kindel remains in Pittsburgh, learning at a rapid rate. [Trib Live]
NHL News and Notes…
It’s official, the World Cup of Hockey will make it’s return in February 2028 with an eight team best-on-best tournament to be hosted in Edmonton and Calgary along with games being played in Prague, Czechia. This will be the first World Cup of Hockey since 2016 when Canada claimed the crown. [NHL]
It was a big week for Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers and he takes home First Star of the Week honors from the NHL for his efforts. Joining Lafreniere being recognized for their play over the last week was goaltender Jake Oettinger and forward Jimmy Snuggerud. [NHL]
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins visit the Montreal Canadiens after David Pastrnak's two-goal game against the New Jersey Devils in the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss.
Montreal is 12-8-1 against the Atlantic Division and 36-20-10 overall. The Canadiens rank third in NHL play with 231 total goals (averaging 3.5 per game).
Boston is 37-23-7 overall and 9-8-2 against the Atlantic Division. The Bruins have gone 30-9-6 in games they score three or more goals.
Tuesday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. The Bruins won 4-3 in the last meeting. Morgan Geekie led the Bruins with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nicholas Suzuki has scored 23 goals with 55 assists for the Canadiens. Cole Caufield has seven goals and two assists over the past 10 games.
Charlie McAvoy has nine goals and 41 assists for the Bruins. Pavel Zacha has five goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.8 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.
Bruins: 5-3-2, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.3 assists, 3.7 penalties and 9.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
INJURIES: Canadiens: None listed.
Bruins: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia Flyers (31-23-12, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Anaheim Ducks (37-27-3, in the Pacific Division)
Anaheim, California; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Anaheim Ducks host the Philadelphia Flyers after Leo Carlsson scored two goals in the Ducks' 4-3 win against the Montreal Canadiens.
Anaheim has a 37-27-3 record overall and a 22-10-1 record in home games. The Ducks have gone 14-2-2 in games they score one or more power-play goals.
Philadelphia is 31-23-12 overall and 16-12-4 in road games. The Flyers rank seventh in NHL play with 264 total penalties (averaging 4.0 per game).
The teams play Wednesday for the second time this season. The Flyers won 5-2 in the last matchup. Trevor Zegras led the Flyers with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cutter Gauthier has scored 34 goals with 25 assists for the Ducks. Chris Kreider has two goals and eight assists over the last 10 games.
Travis Konecny has 24 goals and 34 assists for the Flyers. Owen Tippett has scored three goals and added two assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Ducks: 6-4-0, averaging three goals, 5.1 assists, 4.8 penalties and 12.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.
Flyers: 6-3-1, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.8 assists, 3.8 penalties and 8.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Ducks: None listed.
Flyers: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 16: Joel Kiviranta #94 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against Justin Brazeau #16 of the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
In a brutal showing tonight where nothing seemed to go right, the Colorado Avalanche got absolutely stomped by the Pittsburgh Penguins by a final score of 7-2. After a lackluster showing in Winnipeg this wasn’t the homecoming Colorado wanted in their return to Ball Arena.
Let’s look at all the action from tonight.
First Period
Before ESPN could even broadcast the game as three goals were scored within the opening five minutes. First Evgeni Malkin would get the Penguins on the board first with just an insane backhand shot, which didn’t look all that dangerous to begin with, but Scott Wedgewood was caught off guard by it, and it was 1-0 Penguins three minutes into the first period.
One minute later Colorado responded as Nathan MacKinnon would get his 45th goal of the year next, tying the game at 1-1, off a beautiful feed from Martin Necas, who was able to break into the zone on his own and find MacKinnon all alone in the slot.
That satisfaction only lasted 23 seconds before Anthony Mantha would score next and give Pittsburgh the lead back, as he managed to get into the Avs’ zone all alone and scored on the breakaway.
Malkin would tack on his second goal of the night next and make it 3-1 Penguins. No Colorado player was able to puck him up in the slot, and he made no mistake burying the puck from right in front of the net. Scott Wedgewood’s night was done after this goal as it wasn’t his best showing but the defense and coverage wasn’t doing him any favors. Bednar likes to change up the goalies in hopes of finding a spark for his team.
And that spark with Mackenzie Blackwood in net lasted all of 43 seconds before Elmer Soderblom would make it 4-1 in Pittsburgh’s favor after that, leaving Colorado searching for answers.
A sign of life emerged as Colorado would get one back before the period ended, however, as Brent Burns made it 4-2 , as he was able to let a shot rip from the blue line, which ended up beating Silovs and gave Colorado a glimmer of hope going into the first intermission. Gavin Brindley was briefly freed from the fourth line and earned the primary assist on this play but that didn’t buy him any more opportunity for the rest of the game.
Second Period
By the midpoint of the second period things weren’t going much better and Erik Karlsson would make it 5-2 Penguins about halfway through the second frame, as he fired a puck from the blue line, and it deflected off a player in front of the net and in.
Bryan Rust would then make it 6-2 on, stop me if you’ve heard this one before, a breakaway goal on the power play, and the Avs would be down by four goals heading into the third period.
Third Period
It was all over by this point as both teams were eager to wrap things up. There was a brief tussle between Jack Drury and Connor Clifton after Noel Acciari scored the seventh and final goal for the Penguins about halfway through the third, for the 7-2 final.
Takeaways
Well, the good news is Colorado didn’t lose the three-point lead they had on Dallas for the division lead, as the Stars also lost tonight against the Utah Mammoth. The bad news is, your game on Wednesday now matters a thousand times more than it did already after this showing. Especially after the loss to Winnipeg, where Colorado played well but just could not finish to save their lives, you hoped that they would play well tonight as well and carry some of that momentum over from the Winnipeg game. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened in this game, obviously. The Avs ended up down 4-1 in the first period before Burns scored Colorado’s second goal of the night, and were never able to recover after that deficit. As stated earlier, you didn’t lose your lead on Dallas for the division, as they also lost tonight, so that’s all well and good, but again, this outcome makes Wednesday’s game against the Stars matter so much more than it already did, and it already mattered quite a bit. Hopefully, the Avs head into that game motivated after tonight’s showing and get both points out of that game.
Upcoming
The Dallas Stars come to Denver on Wednesday night for a massive Central Division matchup. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. MT nationally televised on TNT.
DENVER (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored twice in a four-goal first period and added an assist in his return from a five-game suspension for slashing, sparking the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 7-2 victory over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.
Malkin's punishment from the NHL was for raising his stick and striking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on the helmet and shoulder during their game on March 5. The 39-year-old Malkin has been suspended three times in his career.
Anthony Mantha, Elmer Soderblom, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Noel Acciari also scored for the Penguins, who matched their season high for goals on just 20 shots while playing for the 11th straight game without star center Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh's leading scorer, who sustained a lower-body injury while playing for Canada in the Winter Olympics last month, has been skating with the team during this five-game trip that wraps up Wednesday.
Karlsson added two assists and has three goals and 11 assists in his last 10 games for the Penguins, who moved two points ahead of the New York Islanders for sole possession of second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Nathan MacKinnon and Brent Burns scored for the Avalanche, who matched their most goals allowed in a game this season. Scott Wedgewood, the league leader in save percentage and goals-against average, was pulled 13 minutes in after falling behind 3-1 on five shots. Wedgewood was replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood, who made 11 saves.
Colorado has lost three of four and leads Dallas in both the Central Division and overall NHL standings by three points. The Avalanche have one game in hand on the Stars.
It wasn’t going to be easy getting back in the win column for the Colorado Avalanche, going up against a hot Pittsburgh Penguins team, but no one would have expected the outcome the way it did. Bad defense, not great goaltending, mistakes everywhere led to a brutal night of hockey as the Avalanche fell 7-2.
Period 1:
Thirty seconds in, Evgeni Malkin is called for tripping, but the Avalanche couldn't capitalize on the early power play. Just over 10 seconds out of the box, Malkin with a nice spin-o-rama backhand shot beats Scott Wedgewood to make it 1-0 on their first shot of the game. Though it's Martin Necas who finds Nathan MacKinnon trailing, and he toe-drag riles a shot, beating Artur Silovs and tying the game 1-1.
The Avalanche defense is caught lacking as Erik Karlsson fires a cross-ice pass to Anthony Mantha, as he finds himself behind the defense and scores on the breakaway, making it 2-1. Ville Koivunen is called for cross-checking, sending the Avalanche to the power play, and it does look much better than their first opportunity. Jack Drury is called for interference, sending the Penguins to their first power play, but the Avalanche does a good job killing it off.
Again, it's the Avalanche defense making it too easy for the Penguins as Josh Manson gets beat to the puck and Nick Blankenburg drifts way too far over, leaving Malkin all alone, making it 3-1. With that goal, Wedgewood's night is over as he lets in three goals on five shots, and Mackenzie Blackwood comes in. It's not a great start for Blackwood as he stops his first shot seen, but Devon Toews is out bodied in front by Elmer Soderblom, and he's able to score the rebound, 4-1.
MacKinnon post game after 7-2 loss to Penguins
Burns late in the period sends a shot from the blueline and is tipped by Mantha, and in making it 4-2 heading into the second period. That goal helped him pass Bobby Orr and now ranks 7th among defensemen in NHL history for goals.
Period 2:
Mantha is called for holding, but the Avalanche's power play goes nowhere. Set up in the offensive zone, Karlsson’s shot from the blueline is tipped by Noel Acciari and in, making it 5-2. Silvos goes for the poke check, but trips Roy in turn and is called for it, but the Avalanche penalty goes 0/4 in the turn.
Roy is called for tripping, but the Avalanche continue to hold strong on the penalty kill, though right as they kill off the penalty, they are immediately called for too many men. They get a good scoring chance on the pk with a 3-on-2, but they turn it over, and it's Bryan Rust waiting for the breakaway to make it 6-2 as the period ends.
Period 3:
Soderblom with his best Malkin impression of the spinorama pass, and it bounces off Acciari’s skate and in 7-2. Drury dropped the gloves against Connor Clifton and was pretty much out of the third period.
It was an ugly game, to say the least, but the one positive was that the Dallas Stars lost to the Utah Mammoth 6-2 tonight, so no ground was lost.
Though it's going to be a key matchup when they face them on Wednesday, March 18, at home.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 16: Kris Letang #58, Evgeni Malkin #71, Egor Chinakhov #59 and Thomas Novak #18 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate after a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on March 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Apologies in advance, a power outage has put a damper on the night at Pensburgh HQ but nothing could slow the Penguins on this night. Pittsburgh went into the NHL’s best team’s barn and took a monster 7-2 win.
There were a couple changes in the lineup; Evgeni Malkin returned from suspension, as expected. Less expected was Justin Brazeau’s quick return from injury, helping to spell for Blake Lizotte leaving the lineup for this game due to an injury of his own.
It was a classic Evgeni Malkin night, as only he could do it. Malkin took an offensive zone penalty on his first shift, only to score that beauty with a spinning backhander almost immediately after getting out of the penalty box. That set the tone for the game, even though Nathan MacKinnon quickly answered that first goal, the Pens sprung Anthony Mantha for his breakaway goal as a response to the response. From there, the Pens were off to the races, scoring early and often within the first couple of periods. We’ll have much more tomorrow in response to a massive statement game for Pittsburgh. They’re up to 2-1-1 during a very daunting and challenging road trip, playing as dangerous as ever, and all without Sidney Crosby.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been getting production from up and down their lineup during a 2025-26 season in which they've exceeded expectations, and they find themselves in the thick of the playoff race.
And one winger - new to the Penguins this season - continues to build on what has been the best year of his NHL career.
In Monday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, winger Anthony Mantha set a new career-high in goals when he potted his 26th of the season on a breakaway during the first period. Mantha's goal was Pittsburgh's second of the game and, at the time, put the Penguins up, 2-1.
And, with the goal, he continues to build on a new career-high in points (52) as well.
The 31-year-old was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal in the offseason by Penguins' GM/POHO Kyle Dubas after playing just 13 games last season for the Calgary Flames. Mantha tore his ACL, which ended his 2024-25 season prematurely.
He is just one goal shy of tying captain Sidney Crosby - still out with a lower-body injury - for the team lead in goals.
One year ago, folks in Pittsburgh were discussing the aftermath of an NHL trade deadline that came and went without general manager and president of hockey operations trading one of Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, or Rickard Rakell.
Why? Well, back in those days, the Pittsburgh Penguins were clear sellers at the deadline. They were in the midst of their third consecutive season of likely missing the postseason, and they were already in rebuild mode. So, recouping assets for three of their better players seemed pretty logical.
The player discussed the most was Rakell, who was putting together the best season of his NHL career. He finished the 2024-25 season with 35 goals and 70 points - both career-highs - and many folks wondered if his value would ever be higher than it was then, even with a rising cap. And, surely, if he wasn't dealt at the deadline, he would be dealt in the summer, right? Or, at least, someone would?
Yet, the summer came and went, and Rakell remained in Pittsburgh. Same with Karlsson and Rust. Flash forward to this season, and Karlsson is having his best overall season in years and has been the Penguins’ best player as of late, and Rust has 25 goals and 53 points in 60 games.
As for Rakell? It's been a bit of a different story, and it's not necessarily even entirely his fault.
After beginning the 2025-26 season with three goals and eight points in nine games - picking up right where he left off last season, and then some - he broke his hand blocking a shot against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 25, and he ended up missing 21 games and needed the hand surgically repaired. He didn't return to action until Dec. 13 against the San Jose Sharks.
And he had a bit of a slow start after coming back from the hand injury - the type of injury that, typically, isn't great news for goal-scorers - as he recorded just two goals and four points in his first 10 games back. He began to pick up a little bit more steam in the 16 games between Jan. 3 and the Olympic break, as he posted six goals and 11 points during that time before joining Karlsson in Milan to represent Team Sweden over the break.
Even still, that goal-scoring touch that was so outwardly evident last season hadn’t quite come back in full force, and perhaps the Olympics would help him return to form.
But he came back into the fold to play a role he wasn’t necessarily expecting to play, which threw another wrench into his season. However, this is precisely where things have started to turn for Rakell - and where he showed that he is still, indeed, a very valuable member of this hockey team.
When captain and first-line center Sidney Crosby went down during the Olympics, the Penguins and the hockey world at large held their collective breath. With Crosby out of the lineup - and limited options on the roster and in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) who could be effective in a top-six role - the sharpshooting winger Rakell was asked to play center, a position he hadn’t played regularly in almost a decade.
It was already a tall ask. But, then, Evgeni Malkin was suspended five games as well, and all of a sudden, Rakell found himself manning, arguably, the most important position on the team as first-line center and was being relied upon to help that line - alongside Bryan Rust and Egor Chinakhov - to be the driver of the bus on offense for the Penguins in the five games they would be without both of the their best players.
Some folks had their criticisms for Rakell, who mostly struggled in the faceoff dot and began that stint looking a little out of place down the middle. But, game by game, he got better and more comfortable, and he ended up registering a pair of goals and six points in those five games.
And given the situation he found himself in? He deserves a whole lot more credit for his role in guiding this team to a 2-1-2 finish without two of their best players.
Switching to a relatively unfamiliar position - even if he had played there in the distant past during his career previously - is hard for any player, let alone being thrust into the most relied upon offensive position on the team. Not only was he up to the task by the end of it, he actually started to look pretty comfortable in the last three games filling that role, as he, Chinakhov, and Rust were driving offense at a pretty good rate. The line combined for six goals and 20 points in those five games.
Even if Rakell isn’t scoring goals at the clip that he did last season - which is understandable given the nature of his injury - his ability to step up and fill a role that is pretty much impossible to fill when it’s 87’s place he was taking speaks volumes about the kind of work ethic, character, and ability he has, and it speaks to the teammate and the player he is as well.
Rakell’s contributions to the Penguins’ stretch without Malkin and Crosby may not have been the flashiest nor the team’s best. But if the Penguins make the playoffs, he will have been a huge reason why - and he deserves his flowers for that.
DALLAS (AP) — Jack McBain’s tie-breaking shorthanded goal early in the third period began a four-goal outburst and led the Utah Mammoth to a 6-3 win over Dallas on Monday night, ending the Stars’ point streak at a franchise-record 15 games.
Clayton Keller, Kailer Yamamoto, Michael Carcone, Lawson Crouse and defenseman Nate Schmidt also scored for the Mammoth, who hold the Western Conference’s first wild-card position by five points. Vitek Vanecek, making his 16th start of the season, stopped 27 shots.
Wyatt Johnston, Sam Steel and Adam Erne scored for the Stars, who lost in regulation for the first time since Jan. 22, going 14-0-1. Dallas also had a 15-game streak in its 1998-99 Stanley Cup season (12-0-3).
McBain gained possession just outside Utah’s blue line following a turnover by Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Skating in alone, McBain lifted a backhander past Casey DeSmith at 4:16 of the third period for a 3-2 lead.
DeSmith made 16 saves and saw a personal four-game win streak end.
Dallas has the second-most points in the league (94) and will play its next two games, both on the road, against the teams just ahead of them (Colorado) and just behind them (Minnesota) in the Central Division.
Yamamoto added an insurance goal almost four minutes later followed by Carcone’s power-play goal and Crouse’s empty-netter in the final minutes.
It was McBain’s seventh goal of the season, ending a 20-game goal drought that began Jan. 15.
Schmidt ended a 15-game goal drought since he had two goals and four points on Jan. 17.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jack Hughes had three assists to extend his productive run since scoring the gold medal-winning goal for the U.S. at the Olympics, and the New Jersey Devils dented the Boston Bruins’ playoff chances by beating them 4-3 in overtime Monday night.
Hughes set up Connor Brown’s goal to become the fastest player in franchise history to 400 career points. He also had a hand in Jesper Bratt’s goal and assisted on Paul Cotter’s winner with 6.2 seconds left in 3-on-3 overtime to reach 402 in his 414th regular-season game. Hughes has 12 points in 10 games since returning from Milan.
Cotter also scored early in the third period to give New Jersey a 3-2 lead before David Pastrnak tied it 1:42 later.
Pastrnak scored twice, including a highlight-reel masterpiece that made it 3-all, but he and the Bruins blew a two-goal lead and the chance for their first back-to-back victories since Jan. 27 and 29. Pavel Zacha also scored his 20th of the season against his old team, while Joonas Korpisalo allowed four goals on 34 shots as Boston kept up a pattern of alternating wins and losses since the NHL season resumed from the Olympic break.
The Bruins are clinging to the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference after getting passed by Detroit when the Red Wings beat Calgary on Monday night. With 15 games left, Boston has 81 points, two ahead of Columbus and four up on Ottawa.
Jacob Markstrom stopped 19 shots for the Devils. The teams combined to take 10 penalties, including a pair of fighting majors in the final 11 minutes of regulation.
Up next
Bruins: Visit Atlantic Division-rival and likely playoff-bound Montreal on Tuesday night.
Devils: After finishing a seven-game homestand, they play their first of five in a row on the road Wednesday night at the New York Rangers.
DETROIT (AP) — Patrick Kane scored twice for Detroit to move into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time goals list for NHL players born in the U.S. and lead the Red Wings to a 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Monday night.
Kane has 504 career goals, trailing Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538) and Jeremy Roenick (513). The 19th-year veteran entered the night tied with Joe Mullen (502). Earlier this season, Kane passed Modano to become the highest-scoring American-born player in league history. Kane now has 1,383 career points in 1,355 games.
Emmitt Finnie, Moritz Seider and Dominik Shine also scored and Alex DeBrincat had three assists for the Red Wings, who started a four-game homestand by stopping a three-game losing streak.
J.T. Compher added two assists and John Gibson made 25 saves for Detroit, which moved into a tie with Montreal for third place in the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens have two games in hand on the Red Wings, who currently occupy the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Morgan Frost scored late in the first period to put the Flames on the board first, but Detroit scored three times in a span of 5:34 early in the second period to take control. Kane had the first and third goals in that surge.
Matt Coronato added a goal and an assist and Dustin Wolf made 20 saves for Calgary, which finished a five-game road trip through the Eastern Conference at 1-4. The Flames, who have the NHL’s second-worst record ahead of only Pacific Division rival Vancouver, are 2-7-1 in their last 10 games.
DEVILS 4, BRUINS 3, OT
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jack Hughes had three assists to extend his productive run since scoring the gold medal-winning goal for the U.S. at the Olympics, and New Jersey dented Boston's playoff chances by beating them in overtime.
Hughes set up Connor Brown’s goal to become the fastest player in franchise history to 400 career points. He also had a hand in Jesper Bratt’s goal and assisted on Paul Cotter’s winner with 6.2 seconds left in 3-on-3 overtime to reach 402 in his 414th regular-season game. Hughes has 12 points in 10 games since returning from Milan.
Cotter also scored early in the third period to give New Jersey a 3-2 lead before David Pastrnak tied it 1:42 later.
KINGS 4, RANGERS 1
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Laferriere had a goal and two assists to lead Los Angeles to a win over New York.
Drew Doughty, Mikey Anderson and Trevor Moore also scored for Los Angeles, which has won three of five.
Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 shots.
Despite 22 saves from Igor Shesterkin, New York’s four-game winning streak ended.
Vincent Trocheck’s power-play goal 2:29 into the third period spoiled Kuemper’s bid for his third shutout of the season.
