The Florida Panthers kicked off a quick weekend back-to-back with a matchup against the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon.
Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead but were overwhelmed by a motivated Islanders squad still fighting for a playoff spot, losing 5-2 at UBS Arena.
In what has seemed like a regular occurrence lately, Matthew Tkachuk was sprung on another breakaway, this one coming during the first half of the first period.
A Seth Jones clearing attempt after the Islanders were trying to set up shop in Florida’s zone found Tkachuk all alone in the neutral zone.
Tkachuk made a great move to his backhand before sending the puck over Ilya Sorokin’s glove and into the top of the net, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead at the 8:06 mark.
He wasn’t done there.
About six minutes later, Tkachuk drove with the puck through New York’s zone and toward Sorokin.
Just as he passed the top of the crease, Tkachuk put his stick between his legs and somehow shot the puck past Sorokin to give Florida a 2-0 lead.
The Islanders picked up their first goal of the game about five minutes into the second period when a shot by Marc Gatcomb deflected off the blade of Donovan Sebrango and past a frozen Daniil Tarasov.
New York then tied the game with just under eight minutes left in the middle frame when Brayden Schenn was sprung on a breakaway from the blue line in, beating Tarasov glove side to knot the score at two.
Just about three minutes after that, an Islanders power play goal by Simon Holmstrom give the home team their first lead of the afternoon. His long point shot found its way past a screened Tarasov with 5:08 remaining in the period.
They weren’t done there.
Moments after Mackie Samoskevich was stopped on a breakaway by Sorokin, Emil Heineman one-timed a nice pass by Anders Lee past Tarasov, doubling the Islanders’ lead with exactly three minutes on the clock.
Less than a minute later, Casey Cizikas found a loose puck in the Panthers crease after a Tarasov glove save and popped it over the sprawling goaltender, and just like that It was 5-2 Islanders.
The two teams meandered through a scoreless third period that saw Florida pull Tarasov with over five minutes to go and hit a couple goal posts while trying to shrink their deficit.
Photo caption: Mar 28, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas (53) celebrates his goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) during the second period at UBS Arena. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
Coach Dan Muse says both players are “day to day” with injuries and will sit out Saturday's game against Dallas.
Crosby sustained a lower-body injury in the first period of a 4-3 shootout victory in Ottawa on Thursday. The 38-year-old Crosby missed about a month recently after suffering a lower-body injury while playing for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Malkin will miss a third straight contest while dealing with an upper-body injury that came to light following a loss to Carolina on March 22.
Pittsburgh entered Saturday in second place in the Metropolitan Division standings with a narrow one-point lead over both Columbus and the New York Islanders with 10 games remaining.
The injuries come during a very busy stretch for the Penguins, who play at the Islanders on Monday, then host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Pittsburgh is trying to return to the postseason for the first time since 2022.
The Oilers’ captain’s posted total is 1.5 points this afternoon, which is exactly the number of points he’s averaging over his last 10 games. That makes -120 a pretty good price for the Over, especially since he’s eclipsed this total in back-to-back games.
McDavid has also cruised past this total in six of his last seven meetings against the Anaheim Ducks, averaging two points per game over that stretch.
Ducks vs Oilers same-game parlay
Evan Bouchard leads all NHL defensemen with 84 points, 64 counting as assists. He’s also registered 1+ assists in 13 of his last 16 games.
The Oilers have been solid in the second period this season, winning it in 11 of their last 15 games.
Ducks vs Oilers SGP
Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points
Evan Bouchard Over 0.5 assists
Oilers 2P moneyline
Ducks vs Oilers odds
Moneyline: Ducks +120 | Oilers -145
Puck Line: Ducks +1.5 | Oilers -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7 | Under 7
Ducks vs Oilers trend
The Oilers have hit the 3P Under in 7 of their last 9 games (+5.00 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Oilers.
How to watch Ducks vs Oilers
Location
Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
Date
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Puck drop
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
KTTV, SNW
Ducks vs Oilers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are almost through their gauntlet of a March schedule.
They're coming off an emotional 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday and will return home to face the Dallas Stars on Saturday. This will be the second of two meetings between the Penguins and Stars this season after the Stars won 3-2 in a shootout back on Dec. 7.
The Stars are one of two teams to have already clinched a playoff spot and are among the best in the league. However, they're on a four-game losing streak coming into this game.
The Stars are set to get star forward Mikko Rantanen back from injury on Saturday after missing the last month. He was injured during the Olympics while representing Team Finland and has been awesome this year, scoring 20 goals and 69 points in 54 games.
Jason Robertson leads the Stars in points with 85 in 72 games and also has 39 goals. He's set to get quite the pay increase for his next contract since he's slated to be a restricted free agent this summer.
Wyatt Johnston leads the team in goals with 40 and also has 78 points in 72 games. He's the Stars' top-line center and does it all for them.
The Stars are blessed to have two top defensemen on their backend in Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley. Heiskanen is one of the five best defensemen on the planet and is elite in all three zones. He's also a one-man breakout.
Harley is a great puck-mover and can score fairly well. Coming into this season, he finished the last two years with at least 15 goals.
The Penguins' lines are up in the air for this game, as it's unclear whether Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be available.
Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
It’s a Pacific Division showdown tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome as the Vancouver Canucks visit the Calgary Flames, with puck drop scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.
Matt Coronato is setting up goals left and right at the moment, and my Canucks vs. Flames predictions are eyeing him to keep it rolling.
Canucks vs Flames best bet: Matt Coronato Over 0.5 assists (+200)
Matt Coronato has been one of the Calgary Flames’ top producers, tallying 20 helpers. He’s cashed the Over in three straight appearances, and all of those games were at home. The 23-year-old has also hit the Over in assists in four of his previous six contests.
Against the Vancouver Canucks this season, Coronato has one helper in two meetings. He’s also been a mile better at Scotiabank Saddledome in 2025-26, registering 14 of his 20 helpers in 36 games.
The Canucks have allowed nine goals across their last two games. Coronato will play his part in setting up a goal.
Canucks vs Flames same-game parlay
Blake Coleman is averaging 2.51 SOG this season for the Flames, and he’s cashed the Over in back-to-back games. He had three shots on target against the Anaheim Ducks, and five against the Tampa Bay Lightning – two good teams.
The Canucks are 28th in the NHL in SOG allowed, and he’s notched five shots on net versus Vancouver across two meetings in ‘25-26.
The Flames have won four of their last five, beating the likes of St. Louis, Florida, and Tampa. They beat the Canucks 5-2 in their last meeting at Rogers Arena, and Vancouver is struggling, losing four in a row.
With Calgary still in the Wild Card race, every game is important right now. They will deliver.
The Calgary Flames have hit the Moneyline in 5 of their last 6 games at home (+5.65 Units / 92% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Flames.
How to watch Canucks vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
CBC
Canucks vs Flames latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Chicago Blackhawks have lost two straight games by a combined score of 11-2. They are 4-4-2 in their last 10, but the way they’ve been outplayed in these last two games has the team as a whole feeling down.
It’s a young group that must find a way to get out of the rut before the season ends. They have one more game on their East Coast swing before returning home to Chicago.
The one bright spot on this dark cloud has been Nick Lardis. He is not one of the first-round picks that had everyone excited in recent years, but his rise has been nothing short of sensational.
After turning heads with 71 goals in the OHL last season, he came to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs and continued to fill the net. That earned him a call-up when Connor Bedard injured his shoulder, but he was sent back down once the forward group returned to full health.
After the Olympics, Lardis was called up again, but stashed on the fourth line for a while. He wasn’t producing in that role, as expected.
In the middle of their game against the Colorado Avalanche last Friday, Jeff Blashill randomly decided to bring him up to the second line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Frank Nazar. That has turned out to be one of Blashill’s top lineup decisions of the season.
Lardis didn’t score against Colorado late in that game, but he has scored in three of the last four, all on the new-look second line. His natural ability to score works well with two offensive-minded players like Nazar and Bertuzzi.
"He's been really good," Bertuzzi said of Lardis. "He battles hard. For a smaller guy, he's physical. He gets in on the forecheck, and he can score goals. I've been enjoying playing with him."
The wonder was whether Lardis' major junior/minor-league scoring ability would translate to the NHL, and it seems it has. That’s a major positive for the Blackhawks when they go to evaluate their team during the off-season.
Lardis has 8 goals in 32 NHL games played, which is a 20-goal pace over an 82-game slate. That would be an incredible total for a rookie once selected in the third round. With more development to his game, plus time with better players, the tools are there for him to reach next-level goal-scoring heights.
Having a great shot is the key to Nick Lardis’ goal-scoring, but he is proving he will add to his totals each year by being a smart player. His goal against the Rangers was an example of him getting to a goal-scoring area to take advantage of the work being done by his linemates.
With Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore, amongst others, ready to drive the bus in the coming years, Lardis is proving that he can be any one of their linemates who can score in bunches because of their playmaking.
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The NHL's 15-game schedule on Saturday, March 28, could see a lot of movement in the playoff standings throughout the day.
The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Ottawa Senators at 1 p.m. ET and the New York Islanders are also in action at that time. If the Lightning win, they'd move in front of the Buffalo Sabres for the Atlantic Division lead based on points percentage because they have played fewer games.
If the Senators win and the Islanders lose, Ottawa would move into the second wild-card position. If the Islanders win, they'd temporarily move from the second wild-card spot into second place in the Metropolitan Division, passing the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets.
But all that could change later in the day. The Sabres could reclaim the Atlantic Division lead if they end their three-game losing streak. Buffalo would also move into the top seed in the Eastern Conference if it gains one more point than the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. The Penguins and Blue Jackets have games later in the day.
Another team to watch is the Detroit Red Wings, who host the Philadelphia Flyers at 8 p.m. on ABC. If the Senators and Islanders lose early, the Red Wings would take over the second wild-card spot with a victory. The Flyers open the day five points out of a playoff spot and are desperate for a win.
In the West, the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks visit the second-place Edmonton Oilers at 3:30 p.m. The Ducks would bump their division lead to seven points with a regulation win or the Oilers could cut their deficit to three points.
Also, the Nashville Predators host the Montreal Canadiens at 7 and the Los Angeles Kings visit the Utah Mammoth at 9. The Kings would move into the second wild-card spot with a victory and a Predators regulation loss.
Here's what to know about the NHL standings, tiebreaker procedures and playoff bracket for the 2025-26 season:
Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?
Eastern Conference: None
Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas
NHL games today (Saturday, March 28)
All times p.m. and Eastern
Ottawa at Tampa Bay, 1
Florida at N.Y. Islanders, 1
Anaheim at Edmonton, 3:30
Minnesota at Boston, 5, NHL Network
Dallas at Pittsburgh, 5
New Jersey at Carolina, 5
San Jose at Columbus, 5
Seattle at Buffalo, 5:30
Toronto at St. Louis, 7
Montreal at Nashville, 7
Winnipeg at Colorado, 7
Philadelphia at Detroit, 8, ABC
Utah at Los Angeles, 9
Vancouver at Calgary, 10
Washington at Vegas, 10:30
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26
As of March 27. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes (96)
Pittsburgh Penguins (88)
Columbus Blue Jackets (87)
Atlantic Division
Buffalo Sabres (96)
Tampa Bay Lightning (94)
Montreal Canadiens (90)
Wild card
Boston Bruins (88)
New York Islanders (87)
Sitting out of playoff position: Ottawa Senators (86), Detroit Red Wings (86), Philadelphia Flyers (82), Washington Capitals (81), New Jersey Devils (76), Toronto Maple Leafs (75), Florida Panthers (73), z-New York Rangers (67)
NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26
As of March 27. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated
Central Division
x-Colorado Avalanche (106)
x-Dallas Stars (97)
Minnesota Wild (94)
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks (86)
Edmonton Oilers (81)
Vegas Golden Knights (78)
Wild card
Utah Mammoth (80)
Nashville Predators (77)
Sitting out of playoff position: Los Angeles Kings (76), Seattle Kraken (74), Winnipeg Jets (72), San Jose Sharks (71), St. Louis Blues (71), Calgary Flames (68), Chicago Blackhawks (67), z-Vancouver Canucks (50)
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 27.
Carolina (M1) vs. N.Y. Islanders (WC2)
Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Columbus (M3)
Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 27.
Colorado (C1) vs. Nashville (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
Anaheim (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
Edmonton (P2) vs. Vegas (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild cardld play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card
NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?
If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
Regulation wins
Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
Total wins
Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
Goal differential
Total goals
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are expected to begin on Saturday, April 18.
In the summer of 2023, the Los Angeles Kings traded then 24-year-old Sean Durzi to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a second round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
It seemed odd at the time for the Kings to deal a defenseman who showed real promise in his first two seasons as a professional, but looking at the ripple effects the deal had on the organization, it's clear that both sides are happy with the outcome.
You may be surprised how the Sean Durzi trade tree has unfolded for the Kings.
In his first two seasons at the NHL level, Durzi proved he had what it takes to play with the big boys. During his two seasons in Los Angeles, the Mississauga native played 136 games, totalling 12 goals and 53 assists for 65 points. There was no surprise that a rebuilding team like Arizona showed great interest in acquiring him.
In June of 2023, the Kings and Coyotes agreed on a deal that would send Durzi to Arizona in exchange for a 2024 2nd round pick in 2024 that was previously owned by the Montreal Canadiens.
Durzi would only play one season in Arizona before the team relocated to Utah and became the Mammoth. His lone season as a Coyote turned out to be a career year for Durzi as he scored nine goals to go with 32 assists for 41 points in 76 games. His strong play led to him signing a respectable four-year contract extension worth $24 million, paying him $6 million per season.
After signing the new deal, the 2024-25 season didn't go Durzi's way as he would miss 52 games due to an injury he suffered that required surgery.
However, this season Durzi healthy and has provided some solid production for Utah as they push for the playoffs. In 52 games played, the 27-year-old has five goals and 19 assists for 24 points.
It's safe to assume that Utah views this deal as a success.
It would be completely fair to assume that the Kings used the second round pick on a prospect in the draft. However that was not the case, at all.
On June 27th, 2023, just three days after the Durzi trade, the Kings made a massive splash by trading for Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets. The Kings sent Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iaffalo, Rasmus Kupari, and you guessed it, the 2024 second rounder to the Jets. With the pick, the Jets selected defenceman Alfons Freij who has played just two AHL games.
You would think it would end at that, but no, after just one year with the Kings, Dubois was dealt to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper in a one-for-one trade.
It's crazy to look back and realize how each and every move an organization makes has an impact moving forward, no matter how minor it is. The Sean Durzi trade to Utah played a part in the Kings acquiring a Vezina candidate and Olympian in Darcy Kuemper.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Montreal Canadiens begin a five-game road trip as they visit the Nashville Predators on Saturday, March 28. They enter tonight having won four straight against Nashville, as both teams look to solidify playoff positioning.
My Canadiens vs. Predators predictions and NHL picks suggest the Habs will continue that trend as one of the league's best teams on the road, led by some familiar faces on their blue line.
Canadiens vs Predators prediction
Canadiens vs Predators best bet: Canadiens moneyline (-120)
Given their four-game winning streak against the Nashville Predators, their active three-game winning streak, and their .647 points percentage on the road (sixth in the NHL), this matchup certainly favors the Montreal Canadiens.
They're turning back to Jakub Dobes for a third consecutive start, making tonight his fifth start in their last six games. He's conceded two goals or fewer in four straight.
Facing a Predators team that struggles to score (19th in goals per game), I love this matchup for Montreal.
Canadiens vs Predators same-game parlay
While there's some serious chemistry afoot on the Habs' top line, bettors cannot overlook Lane Hutson.
The sophomore defenseman has hit the Over for shots in three of his last four and eight of his last 11. Facing the 29th-ranked Preds in terms of shots allowed, this is a fantastic matchup for the Michigan native.
On the topic of standout Canadiens defensemen, Noah Dobson has been a shot-blocking machine recently. The NHL blocked-shots leader has hit the Over in five of his last six games, wearing more rubber than any other player during that time with 22 blocks.
Montreal has won four consecutive games versus Nashville, dating back to March 2024. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Predators.
How to watch Canadiens vs Predators
Location
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
Date
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SO, CITY
Canadiens vs Predators latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
With their season hanging in the balance, the Senators briefly clawed their way back into a playoff spot this week, only to be pushed right back out. Now, with ten games left, they head into Tampa Bay on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m., TSN5, TVAS), staring down a Stanley Cup contender and the NHL’s hottest scorer.
The Standings
The Senators enter play on Saturday just one point behind the New York Islanders. Ottawa actually holds a slightly better points percentage than the Isles, who've played one more game.
The Sens are also two points back of the Boston Bruins (WC1) and four points behind the Montreal Canadiens (A3).
Their opponent today, the Tampa Bay Lightning (A2), are battling for top spot in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. Tampa sits two points back of Buffalo (A1) with two games in hand, and two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the conference lead.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings are once again in a virtual tie with Ottawa. The out-of-town scoreboard has done the Senators no favours... again. For the second time this week, the Buffalo Sabres failed to help Ottawa’s cause, falling 5–2 to Detroit on Friday night.
Around the league on Saturday, the Islanders host the Panthers (1 p.m.), Boston welcomes Minnesota (5 p.m.), and Detroit hosts Philadelphia (8 p.m.).
On Tuesday night, the Senators briefly moved into a playoff spot for the first time in over four months. But a shootout loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday, combined with the usual grim out-of-town results, quickly erased that progress.
The Senators haven't played Tampa since opening night on Oct. 9 when they came away with a 5-4 victory on a late goal by Shane Pinto.
Lineup Notes / Injuries
Both teams have recently been without their top defencemen, but Jake Sanderson is on the trip and could be nearing a return. Lassi Thomson is also close. Meanwhile, Thomas Chabot is out for at least the remainder of the regular season, and possibly longer.
Ottawa may need to continue leaning on rookies Carter Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan, who both saw increased ice time in Thursday’s game. Donovan jumped from 4:42 in his NHL debut to 9:22 against Pittsburgh, while Yakemchuk went from 12:46 to 17:42 and even saw time in overtime.
The Lightning will be without Victor Hedman, who is on personal leave. Interestingly, Linus Ullmark noted that Hedman was one of his biggest supports during his own recent personal leave of absence in January. The Lightning haven't said anything about Hedman's situation, just asking that Hedman’s privacy be respected at this time.
Kucherov's Historical Heater
Ottawa’s fate on Saturday may hinge on containing Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, the most dangerous player on either roster. Kucherov has an astonishing 104 points over his last 50 games, becoming just the second player in this millennium (Connor McDavid, 2021–22) to hit 100 points in a 50-game span.
The 32-year-old Russian is also tied with McDavid at 121 points this season and has more assists (81) than any Senator has points. Tim Stützle leads Ottawa with 75.
Projected Lineups
(As of Friday, as per NHL.com)
Senators
Drake Batherson - Tim Stützle - Claude Giroux
Brady Tkachuk - Dylan Cozens - Ridly Greig
Nick Cousins - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio
Warren Foegele - Lars Eller - Fabian Zetterlund
Tyler Kleven - Artem Zub
Jordan Spence - Nikolas Matinpalo
Jorian Donovan - Carter Yakemchuk
Linus Ullmark
James Reimer
Scratched: Stephen Halliday, Kurtis MacDermid
Injured: Thomas Chabot (upper body), Jake Sanderson (upper body), Nick Jensen (lower body), Dennis Gilbert (upper body), Lassi Thomson (lower body)
Lightning
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Nikita Kucherov
Gage Goncalves - Brayden Point - Jake Guentzel
Zemgus Girgensons - Yanni Gourde - Pontus Holmberg
Corey Perry - Nick Paul - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Darren Raddysh - J.J. Moser
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg - Charle-Edouard D’Astous
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson
Scratched: Scott Sabourin, Steven Santini, Victor Hedman
Injured: Declan Carlile (undisclosed), Max Crozier (core muscle), Dominic James (lower body)
Peter Chiarelli could be back in the saddle and managing an NHL front office. The former Edmonton Oilers general manager is reportedly on the radar for a GM role after several years out of the spotlight.
New reports are that he's leaving the St. Louis Blues as changes are made with their management group. He is now a candidate for the Nashville Predators GM job, per Darren Dreger.
"The @StLouisBlues front office is changing with Kevin Maxwell and Peter Chiarelli leaving the club to pursue other opportunities. Chiarelli is a candidate in Nashville’s interview process and Maxwell is expected to return to the New York Rangers in a management role."
Chiarelli's Time in Edmonton Was Polarizing
Chiarelli’s time in Edmonton didn’t end well. He was let go in 2019 after four rocky seasons, remembered largely for a string of questionable moves—most notably trading away Taylor Hall, who went on to win the Hart Trophy, and dealing Jordan Eberle, along with parting with high draft capital in the Griffin Reinhart deal. He traded Ryan Strome for Ryan Spooner, then acquired Brandon Manning, after Manning took out Connor McDavid and broke his collar bone.
Many fans might not even have realized that Chiarelli had been working behind the scenes with the St. Louis Blues, first as a consultant and later as Vice President of Hockey Operations. But, as GM Doug Armstrong moves on and other changes are being made, Chiarelli is exploring his options, including throwing his hat into the mix for the Nashville Predators GM job, with Barry Trotz stepping aside.
It’s a fascinating development. Chiarelli played a major part in building the Boston Bruins team that won the Stanley Cup in 2011, but his reputation took a hit in Edmonton.
Whether he gets another chance to run a team remains to be seen—but he’s clearly back in the conversation.
Pierre LeBrun reported, "My sense of the Preds' executive search is that they are not feeling rushed by any deadline, they've cast a wide net (spoken to 15 or so people) and it'll take as long as it needs to take until they make the hire(s) they feel are right. So if outgoing GM Barry Trotz needs to run the June draft, so be it. But obviously a hire could happen before then."
In other words, Chiarelli isn't a shoo in. This decision could take some time.
The Florida Panthers are in New York for a quick weekend back-to-back set against the two teams that play on the east side of the Hudson River.
All the fun will begin Saturday when Florida lines up against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont.
Florida arrives on Long Island with an injury-riddled roster, most recently losing forward Evan Rodrigues to a broken finger.
He joins the Panthers’ CVS receipt of an injured list, which features Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, Niko Mikkola, Uvis Balinskis, Jonah Gadjovich, and Cole Schwindt.
Youngster Mackie Samoskevich, who has missed each of the past three games after suffering a laceration on his neck, could be back in the lineup on Saturday.
As for the Islanders, they are pushing hard for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Entering play Saturday, New York holds the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 87 points, one point ahead of both the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings.
They are also tied in points with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are third in the Metropolitan Division, and one point behind Pittsburgh for second place.
The Panthers, meanwhile, remain in a fight to retain their top-10 protected first-round pick.
Currently the Cats hold the eighth-worst record, one point behind the Seattle Kraken and two back of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Saturday’s showdown on Long Island:
Photo caption: Mar 1, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) skates with the puck defended by New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo (77) during the third period at UBS Arena. (Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images)
WINNIPEG, CANADA - MARCH 26: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche taps in the puck on the goal line and scores in the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on March 26, 2026 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Cameron Bartlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wins in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Winnipeg have made flying the friendly skies a first class experience for the first place Colorado Avalanche after completing this most recent road trip.
Tonight, the NHL’s best team books a return fair against the recently-vanquished Winnipeg Jets as the Avs begin a three game home stand in pursuit of the top seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Colorado Avalanche (48-13-10)
The Opponent: Winnipeg Jets (30-30-12)
Time: 5:00 P.M. MDT/7:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
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Colorado Avalanche
As mentioned previously, the Avalanche come into today’s game fresh off a 3-2 victory over these same Winnipeg Jets on Thursday evening at Canada Life Center. Despite trailing early after a goal by Jets franchise center Mark Scheifele, the Avs would turn the tables with three unanswered goals—two courtesy of Nathan MacKinnon—en route to their first regular season victory in Manitoba since February 24, 2023. This game saw the return of Artturi Lehkonen, who had missed the previous eleven games due to injury. He factored in on the eventual game-winning goal with a great seeing-eye pass that MacKinnon deflected past Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck early in the third period. Winnipeg would unsuccessfully challenge the goal for goaltender interference, but the call on the ice withstood the challenge. A late goal by Scheifele made things interesting, but the Avalanche were able to stave off a Winnipeg push to complete the road trip sweep.
With this latest victory, the Avalanche increased their point lead over the Dallas Stars—who suffered a 2-1 regulation loss to the New York Islanders earlier Thursday evening—to nine points in the Central Division, and still hold a game in hand in their possession. They remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. Dallas will be in action against Pittsburgh today, and the Minnesota Wild, who have pulled within three points of Dallas, will face Boston. Dallas has a game in hand over Minnesota, but another regulation loss—a possible fourth loss in a row for Dallas—would open the door for Minnesota to pull within a single point of second place in the Central should they defeat the Bruins today.
The stakes in the standings are getting higher and higher, and the margin for error is growing thinner and thinner. The Avs control their own destiny, and completing the home and home series with Winnipeg with another victory will only tighten their grip on what’s been a near wire-to-wire run at the top of the standings.
Coach Jared Bednar said after Thursday’s game, “It was a good effort from our guys. We gave up a couple of goals on turnovers on the D-zone walls, so there’s a couple of things we want to improve on, but for the most part, I think, [at the] end of the road trip, we played hard; we were competitive. Special teams did a really nice job tonight, and from the goaltender out, I think we had everybody involved and were able to carve out a win against a really good team, a desperate hockey team.”
Bednar made it clear to say that, even with the Avs in control of their destiny as the regular season winds down, the remaining games still mean something. “We’re still fighting for first place,” he said, “so every win’s important until they put the mark beside our [name in the] standings, so we’ve had something to play for down the stretch run here. I think we’ve had a good year, but we’re not comfortable. We’re still just kind of fine-tuning our game before going into the playoffs […] but you’re playing hungry teams every night that are jockeying for position, trying to fight [their way] into the playoffs, trying to move up the standings, so there’s still lots to play for in the season, and lots of hockey, and we certainly don’t want [our] game deteriorating over the last month of the season before we get into the playoffs, so that’s our main focus.”
Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 22 of 24 shots for the victory in Winnipeg for his third straight win. Should Bednar turn to him again today, Blackwood could tie his single season career high in wins (22) with another stellar performance. However, if Bednar continues to alternate between starting him and Scott Wedgewood, then look for Wedgewood to return to the crease. Both goalies have victories over Winnipeg this season, so Bednar won’t be lacking in confidence in either option as the four game series comes to an end today.
Bednar said this of Blackwood’s recent play and his goaltending tandem as a whole: “[Blackwood] came out of the [Olympic] break playing really good, then he had a dip in a handful of his starts, and he’s gone to work, and I feel like his last handful of games here, he’s given us a great chance to win. He’s coming up with big saves when we need him, he’s been exceptional on the penalty kill, which always helps, so [I’m] pretty happy with the way both of those guys are playing in net right now.”
MacKinnon remains the NHL’s goal scoring leader (48), but remains four points behind both Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (both forwards have 114 points apiece at the time of this writing). Nečas now ranks second in team goal scoring (34), while Brock Nelson remains a close third (32). Cale Makar, who scored his 20th goal of the season against Dallas on March 18, needs only one point to reach 500 career points. It is currently unknown whether Nicolas Roy, who has not played since March 22 at Washington, will return to the lineup for today’s game.
Today’s game marks the first of a three game home stand at Ball Arena, the last extended stretch on home ice for the Avs this regular season.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Artturi Lehkonen – Nazem Kadri – Logan O’Connor Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta
Defense: Brett Kulak – Cale Makar Devon Toews – Sam Malinski Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Between the Pipes: Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Blackwood
Winnipeg Jets
When Winnipeg hosted Colorado at Canada Life Center two weeks ago, their playoff hopes were hanging in the balance. As mentioned in this space back then, a successful back to back weekend could prove to be the turning point in their bid to secure a postseason berth on the heels of last season’s historic run that saw them secure the top seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Presidents Trophy as the best team in the NHL. Although Winnipeg did defeat both Colorado and St. Louis in those back to back games, Winnipeg then proceeded to lose four of its next six games—including their most recent loss to Colorado on Thursday evening—and now remain five points outside the last wild card spot in the Western Conference, currently occupied (somehow) by the Nashville Predators.
With ten games remaining on their regular season schedule, Winnipeg has a lot of work ahead of them. Four of those games are against teams also chasing a wild card berth: Seattle (one point ahead of Winnipeg), San Jose and St. Louis (both one point behind Winnipeg), and Utah (currently eight points ahead of Winnipeg and holding the first wild card position in the Western Conference). While the term, “must-win” is thrown around a lot in sports, these four games are games that Winnipeg absolutely cannot afford to lose. A win today against Colorado would certainly help their cause, but games against Dallas, Vegas, and the surging Columbus Blue Jackets are also monumental hurdles for Winnipeg to clear in their desperate push to sneak into the postseason. It’s not an impossible task, but the odds are growing longer and longer, and as much as Winnipeg must focus on their own performance, they’ll also need to get some help to keep the teams they’re chasing close enough to pass.
With his pair of goals against Colorado on Thursday, Scheifele continues leading all Winnipeg skaters in goals (34), assists (54), and points (88). Kyle Connor is second in all three categories (32G/50A/82PTS). Defenseman Josh Morrissey still leads all Winnipeg defensemen in all three categories (12G/37A/49PTS). After missing the previous game against Colorado two weeks ago, defenseman Neal Pionk played in his fourth game on Thursday night since his return from injury on March 21. Former Avalanche forward Vladislav Namestnikov will remain out of the lineup due to injury. With so much riding on the line for Winnipeg, it’s almost a given that Hellebuyck will make his third consecutive start—his 50th of the season—today.
Today marks the first of a four game road trip for Winnipeg, its final extended road trip of the season. By the time this road trip is over, they may know if they’re cleared for a postseason takeoff, or if they’ve been grounded on the runway.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Alex Iafallo Cole Perfetti – Adam Lowry – Gabe Vilardi Isak Rosén – Morgan Barron – Brad Lambert Cole Koepke – Jonathan Toews – Gustav Nyquist
The Ottawa Senators are in the thick of the Eastern Conference Wild Card chase, and still in distance of a Top 3 spot in the Atlantic as they battle the Tampa Bay Lighting on Saturday afternoon.
My Senators vs. Lightning predictions and free NHL picks have these two high-scoring teams lighting the lamp with frequency on March 28.
Senators vs Lightning prediction
Senators vs Lightning best bet: Over 6.5 (+110)
It’s a battle of two teams in the Top 10 in scoring.
The Ottawa Senators dropped a 4-3 shootout to the Penguins last time, but it’s another game where they’ve picked up points – 18 times in the last 21.
The Senators are down five defenseman, including standouts Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot, and that will be tough against the league’s second-highest scoring team.
The Tampa Bay Lightning boast five players with at least 20 goals on the year.
The Over has hit in four of the last five between these teams, and it appears they’ll stay on trend today.
Senators vs Lightning same-game parlay
Jake Guentzel has been on fire for Tampa of late, scoring four times in his last five games. He’s tallied six times in his last 10 against Ottawa.
Tim Stutzle is coming off a two-assist game against Pittsburgh, and he’s been a solid setup man against the Lightning, recording at least one assist against them in nine of the last 10 games.
Senators vs Lightning SGP
Over 6.5
Jake Guentzel anytime goal
Tim Stutzle Over 0.5 assists
Senators vs Lightning odds
Moneyline: Senators +150 | Lightning -180
Puck Line: Senators +1.5 | Lightning -1.5
Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5
Senators vs Lightning trend
The Senators have won 11 of their last 12 day games against East opponents. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Lightning.
How to watch Senators vs Lightning
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Puck drop
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5, The Spot
Senators vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Vancouver Canucks (21-42-8) kick off a four-game road trip on Saturday against the Calgary Flames (30-34-8). Both these teams are at the bottom of the standings and have won a combined eight of their past 20 games. Vancouver enters the game looking to snap a four-game losing streak, while Calgary is coming off an overtime loss on Thursday.
Saturday is setting up to be an interesting game from a draft lottery perspective. While the Canucks have all but secured 32nd place, the Flames have a chance to finish the season with the second-best odds at first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Ultimately, Saturday could be called a tank battle as both teams have struggled mightily this season.
As for Vancouver, they cannot have a repeat of Thursday night. Even if the Canucks lose, they need to show that they can play a full 60 while improving areas like shot generation and the penalty kill. At this stage of the season, the process is more important than results, as Vancouver will remain at the bottom of the standings the rest of the year.
Players To Watch
Tom Willander:
Tom Willander is one of the younger players getting more opportunities as the season comes to a close. He played over 21 minutes on Thursday and showed late in the game that he isn't afraid to get involved in a scrum. Even though he is only 21, Willander looks like he is developing into a leader for the Canucks.
Hunter Brzustewicz:
A familiar face will be in the lineup for Calgary on Saturday as Hunter Brzustewicz will patrol the blue line for the Flames. Initially drafted by Vancouver in 2023, the 21-year-old is projected to suit up for his 27th career game. So far this season, Brzustewicz has three points and is averaging 15:07 per night.
Nov 23, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) defends against Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) during the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (21–42–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–28–43
Filip Hronek: 8–33–41
Brock Boeser: 17–20–37
Jake DeBrusk: 15–18–33
Linus Karlsson: 13–17–30
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 8–25–5
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–6–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Calgary Flames (30–34–8):
Points:
Mikael Backlund: 16-23-39
Matt Coronato: 16-20-36
Morgan Frost: 17-18-35
Joel Farabee: 16-16-32
Blake Coleman: 17-13-30
Goaltenders:
Dustin Wolf: 21-25-3
Devin Cooley: 9-9-5
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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