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Lucas Raymond is on pace to average more than a point per game for the first time in his career.

With most of his points coming by way of assist, my Red Wings vs. Predators predictions see him picking up a helper against a weak defensive side.

Let’s dive deeper into my NHL picks for Monday, March 2.

Red Wings vs Predators prediction

Red Wings vs Predators best bet: Lucas Raymond Over 0.5 assists (-105)

Lucas Raymond has recorded an assist in 19 of his last 30 games against bottom-half defenses, consistently taking advantage of favorable matchups.

He has a great one on Monday, as the Nashville Predators rank 28th in goals against, conceding 3.44 per game.

They continue to struggle defensively, sitting 27th in 5-on-5 goals allowed over the last 10 games, and have also conceded a power-play goal in five straight.

Raymond leads the Red Wings in points at full-strength and on the power play, making him a prime candidate to take advantage.

Red Wings vs Predators same-game parlay

Dylan Larkin goes as Raymond goes. He’s hit the scoresheet in eight of the past 10 games when Raymond has picked up a point, which makes sense given they correlate on the top line and power play.

Moritz Seider shoots more on the road when Detroit doesn’t control the matchups. He generates a lot of his volume from the right point, where the Predators rank 27th in shots allowed over the last 20 games.

Red Wings vs Predators SGP

• Lucas Raymond Over 0.5 assists
• Dylan Larkin Over 0.5 points
• Moritz Seider Over 1.5 shots on goal

Red Wings vs Predators odds

• Moneyline: Red Wings -105 | Predators -115
• Puck Line: Red Wings +1.5 (-275) | Predators -1.5 (+220)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)

Red Wings vs Predators trend

Lucas Raymond has assists in four of his last six games against Nashville. Find more NHL betting trends for Red Wings vs. Predators.

How to watch Red Wings vs Predators

Red Wings vs Predators latest injuries

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The 2026 NHL trade deadline is less than a week away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are certainly a team to keep an eye on leading up to it. The Penguins have already made multiple trades this season, but they should not be done yet. 

One area that the Penguins could look to improve is their center depth. Due to this, one player who could make a lot of sense for Pittsburgh to target is Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras. 

Poitras is a name to watch leading up to the deadline, as The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta recently reported that the Bruins are open to trading the 21-year-old forward. With Poitras still being young and having plenty of skill, he is the kind of player that the Penguins should consider taking a chance on. 

If the Penguins brought in Poitras, he would give them another solid forward prospect to work with. He also has a decent amount of NHL experience, too, as he has recorded seven goals, 20 assists, and 27 points in 69 career NHL games over three seasons. However, with the Bruins having several centers, he has had trouble cementing himself as a full-time player in Boston. 

Yet, a change of scenery could be exactly what helps Poitras take that next step. The potential for him to blossom into an impactful middle-six forward is there, and it is fair to wonder if he could do just that with the Penguins. 

5 Centers Penguins Should Target In Trade MarketThe Pittsburgh Penguins, currently in playoff position and without Sidney Crosby, may look to add a viable center option at the NHL trade deadline.

Poitras has appeared in 49 games this season with the Providence Bruins, where he has 10 goals and 31 points. This is after the 2022 second-round pick had 17 goals and 41 points in 40 games with Providence this past season. Overall, the young forward has shown promise in the AHL and could be a good player for the Penguins to add to their system because of it.

The Vancouver Canucks (18-24-7) return to Rogers Arena on Monday when they take on the Dallas Stars (36-14-9). For the Canucks, they will have their eyes on snapping a five-game losing steak, which started back on January 31. As for the Stars, it is full steam ahead as they have eight-straight. 

As the trade deadline approaches, the rumour mill continues to swirl around Vancouver. Tyler Myers has sat out the last two games while players like Evander Kane and Teddy Blueger have continually been mentioned in trade rumours. With the way this season has gone, Monday could very well be the final game for some of the Canucks roster. 

Shifting to the game itself, Vancouver needs to have a stronger effort than they did on Saturday. While the Canucks were able to generate shots, most chances in the offensive zone were one-and-done. Vancouver also has to be more aware as they gave up far too many odd-man rushes in Saturday's loss. 

Players To Watch:

Center Elias Pettersson:

The big question heading into Monday is how will Elias Pettersson respond? Not only was he benched for the final half of the third period on Saturday, but he was called out by Adam Foote who made it clear he needs to play better. With no goals in his last 13 games, Pettersson needs to find a way to step up and show that he can be a valuable part of the future. 

Jamie Benn:

Could Monday be the final time Jamie Benn plays an NHL game in British Columbia? It is possible as the 37-year-old Victoria-born forward faces the Canucks for the final time this season. If this is the end for Benn, he will go down as one of the provinces best players as in 1,229 games, he has scored 400 goals while recording 979 points. 

Vancouver Canucks (18–34–7): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 13–22–35

Filip Hronek: 5–27–32

Jake DeBrusk: 13–15–28

Brock Boeser: 12–14–26

Evander Kane: 10–16–26

Goaltenders: 

Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1

Kevin Lankinen: 7–20–4

Nikita Tolopilo: 3–3–2

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

Dallas Stars (36-14-9):

Points: 

Mikko Rantanen: 20-49-69

Jason Robertson: 33-35-68

Wyatt Johnston: 32-31-63

Miro Heiskanen: 7-41-48

Roope Hintz: 15-29-44

Goaltenders: 

Jake Oettinger: 24-10-4

Casey DeSmith: 12-4-5

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:00 pm PT 

Venue: Rogers Arena

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Will The Canucks Trade Lukas Reichel Before The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline?

Canucks Place Defenceman Guillaume Brisebois On Waivers

'He's Got To Be Better': Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote Speaks On Pettersson's Benching In Loss To Seattle 

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Colorado Avalanche News

• Countdown to TradeCentre: Could the Avalanche and Nazem Kadri reunite? [TSN]

• Are the Colorado Avalanche trying to acquire Nashville Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly? [NHL Trade Rumors]
• Bednar laments discipline as penalties sink Avs in tough loss. [The Hockey Writers]

• New defenseman Brett Kulak looked comfortable in his Avalanche debut. [Colorado Hockey Now]

• Avalanche primed for another big move before the deadline. [Sports Illustrated]
• Keep track of predictable trade deadline buzz words with Bingo Card 4.0 [Mile High Hockey]

News Around the League

• Edmonton Oilers waive forward Andrew Mangiapane, defenceman Alec Regula. [Sportsnet]
• What we’re hearing going into the NHL’s trade deadline next Friday. [Ottawa Citizen]

• ‘It’s clearly fake’: Brady Tkachuk unhappy with White House video that insulted Canadians. [Global News]

• L.A. Kings fire coach Jim Hiller and name D.J. Smith as the interim replacement. [CBC]

• The Maple Leafs aren’t used to being on the trading block. But misguided playoff hopes have hurt the franchise before. [Toronto Star]

The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road at Madison Square Garden to play the New York Rangers tonight at 7 P.M.  

New York Rangers - 23-29-7 - 53 Points - 2-7-1 in the last 10 - Won 1 - 8th in the Metro.

Columbus Blue Jackets - 29-21-8 - 66 Points - 7-2-1 in the last 10 - OT Loss 1 - 5th in the Metro.

Team Notes Per CBJ PR

• Columbus has earned points in 12 of its last 14 games since Jan. 11 (11-2-1) after picking up a point in a 4-3 OT loss to the NY Islanders on Saturday.

• Monday's contest at New York begins a stretch of eight games in 13 days through Mar. 14. It includes two back-to-back sets; Mar. 2 at New York/Mar. 3 vs. Nashville and Mar. 9 vs. Los Angeles/Mar. 10 at Tampa Bay. The club is 14-5-3 (.705 pts. pct.) in back-to-backs this season.

• Since Dec. 22, the Blue Jackets have gone 15-6-2 (32 pts, .696 points pct.) and are among NHL leaders in team save percentage (.908/4th), goals-against per game (2.65, 5th-T), penalty kill pct. (83.8 pct./5th), points pct. (5th-T), points (6th-T) and goals-for per game (3.39/12th).

• The club has scored the opening goal in 12 of the past 14 games and has scored first 36 times in 2025-26 (24-7-5).

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

• Charlie Coyle posted an assist on Saturday and has tallied 5-8-13 and four multi-point efforts in the last eight games.

• Adam Fantilli has registered goals in consecutive games (2-1-3), points in three-straight (2-2-4), and has totaled 3-6-9 in the past eight contests. He has set a single-season career high in assists with 15-24-39 in 58 games in 2025-26.

• Boone Jenner (207-203-410, 785 GP), who is the club's all-time leader in games played and ranks third in goals and points, is one assist from tying David Vyborny (204) for third-most in CBJ history.

• Mason Marchment scored his 10th goal as a Blue Jacket on Saturday and required the fewest games by any player to reach the mark with the franchise (10-6-16, 16 GP).

• Zach Werenski helped Team USA capture a Gold Medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics (1-5-6, 6 GP). He has set a franchise record for defensemen with points in nine-straight games (2-11-13) after posting two assists against the Islanders. He also has points in 22 of his past 24 games played since Dec. 11 (11-24-35, 11 multi-point efforts).

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play - 19.6% - 18th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 77.4% - 24th in the NHL
• Goals For - 179 - 17th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 184 - 19th in the NHL 

Rangers Stats

• Power Play - 22.6% - 10th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 79.7% - 15th in the NHL
• Goals For - 153 - 28th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 185 - 20th in the NHL

Series History vs. TheRangers     

• Columbus is 24-24-1-7 all-time, and 11-8-1-5 on the road vs. New York.

• CBJ scored their most goals at Madison Square Garden as well as tied the overall series record in a 7-3 win on Mar. 9, 2025, in the most recent meeting at New York.

• The winning team has recorded four or more goals (including SO goals) in nine of the past 11 games overall and 13 of the last 16 games of the series dating back to Oct. 29, 2021.

• The Blue Jackets have recorded the three most recent hat tricks (MR: Adam Fantilli in 7-3 win at NYR on Mar. 9, 2025) and penalty shot attempt (Brandon Saad, unsuccessful in 5-2 win at NYR on Feb. 26, 2017).

• CBJ has killed off 18-of-21 Ranger's power play attempts in the last 10 games (85.7 pct.).

Who To Watch For The Rangers

• Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers with 24 goals, 29 assists, and 53 points.
• Igor Shesterkin is 18-12-5 with a SV% of .917
• Jonathan Quick is 4-14-2 with a SV% of .890. His last start was on February 5th.

CBJ Player Notes vs.Rangers

• Zach Werenski has 19 points in 27 career games vs. the Rangers.
• Boone Jenner has 16 points in 36 games.
• Mason Marchment has 6 points in 9 games against New York.

Injured Reserve

• Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 20 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 157

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.  

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Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

The losing streak is snapped: Goals from Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton and Nico Hischier helped to push the Devils to a 3-1 win over the Blues on Saturday. [Devils NHL]

Luke is back:

Just a few hours after the Blues game, Jack appeared on Saturday Night Live:

A bit more here on the logistics of getting Jack from St. Louis to New York in short order: “After cruising at 49,000 feet and cramming for the ‘SNL’ appearance by reading the script, Hughes landed in Teterboro, N.J., at 10:01 p.m. He jumped on a helicopter at Teterboro and flew to W30th Pier from 10:08 p.m. to 10:18 p.m. There, a car was waiting to hustle the traveling party to 30 Rock, where they arrived at the ‘SNL’ loading docks at 10:32 p.m — 58 minutes before the show’s cold open. So, in all, it took Hughes 2 hours and 59 minutes from game’s end in St. Louis to get to his final destination.” [The Athletic ($)]

Can anyone help me understand if this is good:

“We’re less than a week away from the NHL trade deadline, a time of year that most anticipated the New Jersey Devils to be buyers at. However, given the scope of the season – the Devils are nearly cemented as a non-playoff team – it’s likely that New Jersey will be selling. Let’s talk about some names that could be shipped out ahead of the trade deadline:” [Infernal Access ($)]

Hockey Links

The Kings have fired Jim Hiller:

“Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin is being ruled out for the rest of the NHL regular season and postseason, which will allow the team to use all of his $9.85 million in salary cap space before next Friday’s trade deadline, an NHL source confirmed on Friday.” [ESPN]

“Florida is sitting eight points back of the cutoff line right now, which will force it to make some tough decisions leading up to the trade deadline. If the Panthers were to get in, they would certainly still be threatening, especially if Barkov returns, but to spend assets at the deadline in a season that may be too far gone doesn’t make a lot of sense. Instead, the Panthers could use this as an opportunity to reload for what will no doubt be a much more competitive and healthier team next year.” [Sportsnet]

A wild moment in Saturday’s UConn-UMass game:

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

It appears that the Penguins and Evgeni Malkin’s party are once again going to be discussing a contract extension — something that recently seemed like it might not happen until the end of the season.

Following Sunday’s 5-0 win vs. the Vegas Golden Knights, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was on TNT’s NHL Postgame and said that Malkin and the organization are set to “talk this week.”

“They talked last week, they’re supposed to talk again this week,” Friedman said. “Malkin had some frustration yesterday after their game that things weren’t more secure for next year, but they’re supposed to talk again next week.”

After Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers, Malkin spoke at length about his status and not having a contract for next year. As it stands, Malkin is set to become a free agent in July if a contract extension isn’t reached.

“We talked a little bit with JP a couple days ago and he just say like, wait to end of season and see what’s going on,” Malkin said. “Nothing we can say right now. It’s not my job to talk to Kyle or somebody. I just play my game and just wait. Sid has injury, I want to help the team win, of course. Like no crazy news. I’m just waiting. And I think my agent tell me, like, wait to end of season.”

Shortly after Malkin spoke, The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reported that before he left the locker room, Malkin said a chat might still take place next week, specifically mentioning Monday.

“It’s clear that no negotiations have taken place yet, that the bigger decision is whether he’s invited back,” Yohe said. “I doubt the money would be hard to figure out.”

Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…

The Pittsburgh Penguins wrapped up another back-to-back set on Sunday, returning home to host the Vegas Golden Knights. The day before, they let the game get away from them in New York, escaping with a loser point, but the team, led by Bryan Rust, Ben Kindel, and others, shutout Vegas to earn two big points. [Recap]

The big off-ice news over the weekend centers around Evgeni Malkin and his seemingly never-ending quest to get a contract extension with the only team he has ever played with. Malkin made it known that his agent, J.P. Barry, will discuss a potential contract extension with the team following the season. [Trib Live]

News and updates from around the NHL…

The Los Angeles Kings fired coach Jim Hiller on Sunday after losing five of their past six games and falling out of playoff position. [Associated Press via TSN]

The Edmonton Oilers placed forward Andrew Mangiapane and defenseman Alec Regula on waivers. [TSN]

Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson was benched late in the team’s 5-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, with head coach Adam Foote saying the forward “has to be better.” [Sportsnet]

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on life support, and the plug may soon be pulled on this season. Captain Auston Matthews called his team’s 5-2 weekend loss to the Ottawa Senators “embarrassing,” after a tough stretch has left their playoff hopes quickly fading. [Sportsnet]

Chicago Blackhawks (23-28-9, in the Central Division) vs. Winnipeg Jets (23-26-10, in the Central Division)

Winnipeg, Manitoba; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks visit the Winnipeg Jets after Teuvo Teravainen's two-goal game against the Utah Mammoth in the Blackhawks' 4-0 win.

Winnipeg is 6-7-3 against the Central Division and 23-26-10 overall. The Jets have given up 182 goals while scoring 167 for a -15 scoring differential.

Chicago is 23-28-9 overall with an 8-6-2 record against the Central Division. The Blackhawks have a 6-7-4 record in one-goal games.

The matchup Tuesday is the third meeting between these teams this season. The Blackhawks won 2-0 in the last meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Scheifele has scored 27 goals with 43 assists for the Jets. Adam Lowry has five assists over the past 10 games.

Tyler Bertuzzi has 26 goals and 19 assists for the Blackhawks. Connor Bedard has five goals and two assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jets: 3-3-4, averaging 2.1 goals, four assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.

Blackhawks: 2-6-2, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.6 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

INJURIES: Jets: None listed.

Blackhawks: None listed.

___

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

Bruins trade targets: Players signed beyond this season worth pursuing originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins aren’t a top-tier Stanley Cup contender this season, even though they have a good chance to return to the playoffs after failing to qualify in 2025.

Therefore, it wouldn’t make sense for general manager Don Sweeney to go all-in at the March 6 NHL trade deadline like he did in 2023.

Trading away first-round picks or top prospects for rentals would be a horrible move.

However, if the Bruins could acquire an impact player signed long term who fits the age timeline of their franchise players (David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, Jeremy Swayman, etc.), then it would make sense to part with premium assets like a first-rounder and good prospects.

As a result of their 2025 trade deadline selling, the Bruins have more quality trade assets than they’ve had in a long time. That list includes two first-round picks in both 2026 and 2027, plus a prospect pool that has significantly improved over the last two years. Boston also has some young players in the AHL, such as Matthew Poitras and Fabian Lysell, who could interest other teams.

Which players signed beyond this season should the Bruins consider pursuing ahead of the trade deadline? Let’s take a look at some intriguing names.

Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues

• Position: Center
• Contract: Signed through 2030-31, $8.125 million salary cap hit
• 2025-26 stats: 12 goals, 23 assists in 43 games

The Blues are the team to watch at the trade deadline. They sit at the bottom of the Central Division and have a bunch of veteran players who could be dealt.

Thomas is a legit top-six center and could serve as the Bruins’ first-line center if they acquired him. He is an elite playmaker who has tallied 60-plus assists and 80-plus points in each of the two previous seasons. He also averaged 21.25 goals scored over the last four seasons.

Thomas is just 26 years old and would be a great fit alongside the Bruins’ other core players such as Pastrnak. He is signed for five years beyond the current season at a $8.125 million cap hit, which is not steep at all considering the salary cap is expected to rise quite a bit in the near future.

The cost to acquire Thomas would be significant because top-six centers in their prime are among the most coveted players in the sport. Players of his caliber at center almost never reach free agency anymore. You have to draft and develop them or trade for them.

Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reported last week that Blues general manager Doug Armstrong “has made it clear what the asking price is for Thomas: three first-half-of-the-first-round assets. For example, that could mean an established young player, a drafted prospect and a draft pick who were all selected or could be taken in the first 15 or so picks.”

Given his age, offensive production and team-friendly contract, Thomas would be the type of player worth giving up premium assets to acquire.

Owen Tippett, Philadelphia Flyers

• Position: Left/right wing
• Contract: Signed through 2031-32, $6.2 million salary cap hit
• 2025-26 Stats: 19 goals, 17 assists in 59 games

Tippett is a player who could fill a top-six wing role for Boston, which is something they very much need, especially if Viktor Arvidsson doesn’t re-sign in the summer.

The speedy 27-year-old forward will soon hit the 20-goal mark for the fourth straight year. He also has dished out 20-plus assists in each of three previous seasons and should get there this year as well.

Tippett is signed for six more seasons at a very team-friendly $6.2 million cap hit. The Flyers are six points out of a playoff spot and face a tough uphill climb to get back in the race, but would they even want to move a player like Tippett to a rival such as the Bruins? It’s worth checking in on, at the very least.

Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues

• Position: Defenseman
• Contract: Signed through 2029-30, $6.5 million salary cap hit
• 2025-26 Stats: One goal, 13 assists in 58 games

The Blues could look to move a couple veteran defensemen as rumors have swirled around Parayko and Justin Faulk. Parayko is a more valuable player than Faulk because he’s better defensively.

Parayko has great size at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds. He’s tied for the league lead in blocked shots with 141 and plays 2:37 per game on the penalty kill. His impressive PK ability would help a Bruins team whose penalty kill ranks 27th out of 32 teams with a 76.7 percent success rate.

The only real issue with Parayko is that he has four more years left on his contract and will be 33 years old in May. The cap hit is pretty manageable at $6.5 million, but it’s fair to wonder if the Bruins would want to take on a player with so much term left on his deal at age 33. He also has a full no-trade clause, per PuckPedia.

That said, Parayko is a quality top-four defenseman who got meaningful ice time for Canada at the Olympics and would address one of the Bruins’ biggest needs: depth on the right side of the blue line.

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Shane Wright, Seattle Kraken

• Position: Center
• Contract: Signed through 2026-27, $886,666 salary cap hit
• 2025-26 Stats: 11 goals, 12 assists in 59 games

Wright was once viewed as the top player in his draft class but slipped to the No. 4 pick in 2022. He has not yet fulfilled his enormous potential and still has one more year left on his entry-level contract with a salary cap hit under $1 million.

Wright took a huge step forward last season and set career highs with 19 goals and 25 assists. He’s on pace to take a step back offensively this year, but he does have genuine offensive talent.

Wright, at 22 years old, could thrive in a different situation. The Kraken have mostly given him a bottom-six role and under 14 minutes of ice time per game. A player with his skill set needs more of an opportunity to thrive.

If the price isn’t too steep, it would be worth pursuing him. If Wright reaches his ceiling, he could be a top-six forward.

MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary Flames

• Position: Defenseman
• Contract: Signed through 2030-31, $6.25 million salary cap hit
• 2025-26 Stats: Three goals, 18 assists in 59 games

The Bruins really need a right-shot defenseman, and Weegar fits that description. Weegar is playing 23:08 per game for the Flames and is on the ice for all situations, including the power play and penalty kill. He ranks second on the Flames with 128 hits and his 141 blocked shots are tied for the league lead. He can provide offense, too, evidenced by his 99 points over the two previous seasons combined.

The main concern about acquiring Weegar is he’s 32 years old with five more years left on his contract. The cap hit is pretty manageable but the term is a lot. That said, he would give the Bruins a physical, two-way presence on the right side of the blue line.

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

By Corey Abbott, RotoWire.com

Fantasy hockey managers looking to tinker with their rosters will benefit from zeroing in on specific categories. Whether you are looking for long-term fits or short-term options, there should be a plethora of potential pickups to help your squads. 

Let's get into this week's suggestions for your consideration.

Pavel Buchnevich, C/LW/RW, Blues (27% rostered)

Categories: Goals/Points/Shots/PP

After three Penguins failed to score on Igor Shesterkin during the shootout in the Rangers victory Saturday, the star Russian netminder’s .738 save percentage in the skills competition is the best in franchise history.

Stopping 62 of the 84 shootout attempts he’s faced in his seven-year NHL career, Shesterkin is No. 5 in the league since making his debut during the 2019-20 season.

He trails only Juuse Saros (.806), Elvis Merzlikins (.747), Jordan Binnington (.705) and Jake Oettinger (.739).

“It’s comforting, I’m not gonna lie,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of having Shesterkin in net for a shootout. “I think he’s the best goalie in the game. Just this compete level. He’s an elite player, and so it’s comforting to have him between the pipes, whether it be in the shootout or anytime, for that matter. He has the ability to change the outcome of a game.”

Saturday was Shesterkin’s second game back in goal after a 13-game absence due to a lower-body injury.

He has stopped 52 of 57 shots since returning to the crease, bringing his season save percentage to .913.

These are also Shesterkin’s first days around the Rangers without Artemi Panarin, who has been his teammate in New York since his first recall in January 2020.

“He’s one of the best players in the league,” Shesterkin said of his compatriot. “Of course, it’s pretty tough for us to lose a player of that caliber. I hope he enjoys the trade. We wish him all the best.”

Asked how much Shesterkin is going to play over these final 23 games, Sullivan insinuated it would be decided in collaboration with the 30-year-old.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS

“We’ll talk with Shesky, and we’ll manage it together,” the veteran coach said. “But, obviously, he feels really good right now. He feels strong. He worked hard in the return-to-play process that he went through. But as far as what his workload looks like moving forward, I don’t know that I can give you a definitive answer yet. He’s going to play, I can tell you that.”

The 76.9 faceoff win percentage the Rangers posted in Saturday’s win was the club’s highest in a game since the NHL began tracking draws in 1997-98.

It is tied for the 10th highest single-game percentage in the league, as well as the highest since the Oilers posted a 79.6 percent mark in March 2024.

The Rangers were off Sunday before facing the Blue Jackets on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

After a rough outing in a 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins had a quick turnaround for a matinee matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights Sunday.

And they responded with one of their best games of the season.

The Penguins beat the Knights, 5-0, in a clinical effort both offensively and defensively. Five different players scored goals for the Penguins, while goaltender Arturs Silovs continued to stay hot with a 22-save shutout.

Vegas came out ready to play, but beyond the first five minutes of the game, the Penguins were the better team. The scoring kicked off when rookie Ben Kindel sniped one from the slot with five minutes remaining in the first for his 15th of the season, putting the Penguins up, 1-0. 

Then, the floodgates were opened in the second period. After gaining come momentum on a preceding power play, Egor Chinakhov snapped home a top-shelf shot from the right circle to make it 2-0. Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell followed that up with a pair of power play goals before the end of the period - and Rust's clinched his seventh-consecutive 20-goal season.

With five minutes remaining in regulation, Justin Brazeau sniped one from the right side off the rush, capping off a comfortable and dominant 5-0 victory. 

Here are some notes and observations:

- Chinakhov is a good hockey player. I mean, what else can I say at this point? His release is utterly ridiculous, he's always in position to create a scoring chance, and he's always one of the first guys on the backcheck and covering for pinching defensemen.  

This guy continues to amaze.

- On a similar note, Kindel was, once again, one of the game’s best players. Not even surprised anymore.

He is a future star. 

- As of now, the Penguins are on pace to have six players score 20 or more goals. But they could end up with more than that.

Sidney Crosby has 27. Anthony Mantha has 21. Rust has 20. Justin Brazeau is on pace for 24. Kindel is on pace for 21. Evgeni Malkin is on pace for 20.

However, Chinakhov is pacing 19, and - at this rate - will pass 20 with flying colors. Rakell is currently on pace for 18 despite having missed 21 games and is one hot streak away from, like Rust, securing his seventh 20-goal season. Connor Dewar is pacing 18 and could also hit 20. Same with Tommy Novak, who is pacing 17 but is playing in an elevated role as the top-line center right now without Crosby. 

There is a possibility that the Penguins could end the season with 10 20-goal scorers. No team has done that since the 1980-81 St. Louis Blues, and the NHL record is 11 set by the Boston Bruins in 1970-71 and 1977-78.

- Even if he wasn’t very busy, this was another outstanding performance from Arturs Silovs. He has now won six of his last seven and has a .934 save percentage in his last nine games. 

Of course, aside from a few iffy starts prior to the Olympic break, Stuart Skinner has been playing very well for the Penguins, too. But Silovs is really beginning to assert himself as a legitimate starting goaltender at the NHL level. His overall season save percentage is now .902, and he's still a rookie.

I imagine, for the most part, we'll still see a split down the stretch run, especially with a hefty March schedule ahead. But Silovs is a proven performer in high-leverage situations - including the NHL and AHL playoffs as well as internationally - even in his young career. 

If the playoffs started today, I'd give Silovs the first game. And if he continues this, he will be their starting netminder in the playoffs.

- The Penguins’ net-front defense has improved a great deal since the holiday break, and it was especially good against Vegas. The Penguins' blueliners are doing a better job boxing players out, winning physical battles, and getting pucks out of danger. 

And they also keep making some potential game-saving plays.

In the first period, Connor Clifton was in the blue paint, and Silovs was out of his net. Clifton blocked a shot to prevent it from going in a wide-open cage. Then, later in the game, a puck got loose behind Silovs, and Parker Wotherspoon dove into the crease to get his stick in there and swat the puck out of danger. 

The team continues to improve on its net-front defense game in and game out, and head coach Dan Muse says that although it's been much better, it's still a work in progress. 

"I think it's an area that's gotten better over the course of the year," Muse said. "I think guys have done a good job in their positioning. Over the course of the year, it's been pretty consistent. Guys have been willing to block shots. Those deep ones are the harder ones, too, like it's a little bit easier when you're actually skating out there and when you're that deep.

"I think they've shown a willingness right from the start of the year, and just the play around the net is... there's always plenty that we'll continue to look at and say that we need to keep cleaning up and keep improving and keep adding layers, too. But, I think it's gone in the right direction, and now we need to keep that part of the game continuing to improve."

- The Penguins now own the sixth-best points percentage (.636) in the NHL. They are sixth in regulation wins (27). Only four teams own a better goal differential than their plus-30.

In case you weren't already convinced, this is a damn good hockey team.

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Riding two emotional comeback victories since the return to NHL action after the Olympic break, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Calgary Flames on Sunday evening at Honda Center.

The Ducks were technically undefeated in the month of February, going 4-0-0, looking to extend their winning streak to five games, and hoping for their 12th win in their last 14 games.

Game #59: Ducks vs. Flames Gameday Preview (03/01/26)

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The Flames were playing their second game of a back-to-back, as they lost 2-0 to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

With Frank Vatrano (upper body), Ryan Strome (under the weather), Troy Terry (upper body), and Mikael Granlund (upper body) still out of the lineup, this is how the Ducks’ lined up in this one:

Kreider-Carlsson-Gauthier

Viel-McTavish-Sennecke

Killorn-Poehling-Harkins

Johnston-Washe-Moore

LaCombe-Trouba

Zellweger-Gudas

Mintyukov-Helleson

Lukas Dostal got the start in net for the 10th time in the Ducks’ last 11 games. He stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced in regulation and overtime. He was opposed by Devin Cooley, who saved 34 of 36.

Game Notes

Once again, as has been a theme since the NHL’s return, the Ducks allowed a myriad of chances early, mostly due to late reactions to open seams and soft ice in the defensive zone. Dostal kept the game close early, and the remaining 45-50 minutes were dictated by Anaheim. Calgary proved pesky, diligent, and tenacious. They’re a team that is likely better than their record indicates, but their finishing ability this season has cost them games and points in the standings.

At 5v5, the Ducks finished with an even 50% of the shot attempt share, 48.98% of the shots on goal share, and 49.69% of the expected goals share.

Lukas Dostal: As mentioned, Lukas Dostal didn’t steal this game for Anaheim, but he kept the score close in the first period when the game easily could have gotten out of hand. With a lot of east/west puck motion and counterattacks, Calgary opened seam after seam early in this game, but Dostal was there to answer, making himself as big as possible in tight and making difficult saves look easy.

The standout aspects of his game when he’s performing like this are his puck tracking and anticipation skills. He can read plays through traffic and push out toward the shooter to eliminate any potential angles. The Ducks have also begun to utilize him in overtime as an extra defenseman and puck handler. When they run into trouble, especially at the offensive blueline, they’ll simply regroup 120 feet, reset, and get a change if needed.

Building Attacks: Calgary’s roster, four lines and three pairs deep, but especially the forwards, are one of the more disruptive teams without the puck in the NHL. They backcheck with good angles, read developing plays, and time their stick challenges perfectly at the lines to manufacture turnovers and attempt counters. They’re a coach’s dream, but just lack the finishing touch that would allow them to win games like this.

Chris Kreider: Kreider isn’t necessarily a play-driver or forechecking specialist, but similar to Alex Killorn and Ryan Strome, his knowledge of reading, absorbing, and manipulating pressure to open up lanes for teammates is an underrated quality. An entertaining aspect to the Ducks’ breakouts has been Kreider finding clever ways to slip passes to Leo Carlsson in full stride after receiving an outlet on the wall.

Power Play: The Ducks generated several quality looks on the power play. The coaching staff and personnel seemed to have found optimal spots for their most talented players and have devised wrinkles with player and puck motion throughout the zone.

On the top unit, after entry, Carlsson is utilized as a rover from the bumper, supporting the puck until pressure is established. Sennecke has been popping out from the net front to the bottom of the circle and corner, then replaced by Kreider. Depending on how Sennecke moves after receiving, Carlsson either finds soft ice in the bumper if Sennecke moves high, or he presents himself as an option on the left flank as an out. These sequences running through Carlsson or Sennecke can open up lanes to LaCombe at the point, Kreider backdoor, or Gauthier at the far side flank.

The Ducks will look to extend their winning streak to six games with a tall task on Tuesday, when they’ll host the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche in the rubber match between these two Western Conference foes.

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Ducks’ Dostál, Gudas on Their 2026 Olympics Experience

The Calgary Flames battled but ultimately fell 3-2 in a shootout to the Anaheim Ducks Sunday night at the Honda Center.

It was a tightly contested matchup from start to finish, with Devin Cooley making 34 saves in regulation and overtime to earn his club a point. Morgan Frost and Yegor Sharangovich provided the offence for Calgary, but the Ducks edged ahead in the shootout to secure the extra point.

Fast Start in Anaheim

The opening period was played at a fast pace, with both teams generating quality chances. Shots were even at 14-14 after 20 minutes as Cooley and Lukas Dostal traded saves.

Calgary struck first at 9:41. Ryan Lomberg carried the puck over the blue line and found Joel Farabee driving the net. Farabee redirected the pass past Dostal for his 13th goal of the season, giving the Flames an early 1-0 advantage.

Ducks Respond, Flames Answer Back

Anaheim evened the score midway through the second period in unconventional fashion. Cutter Gauthier hacked at a loose puck three times in tight — Cooley turned aside each attempt — but a sharp-angle try from behind the net deflected off the goaltender, popped into the air and dropped behind him before bouncing in to tie the game 1-1 at 11:14.

The Flames responded on the power play late in the frame. After Frost dove to keep the puck in at the blue line, Kevin Bahl quickly moved it across to Sharangovich. The winger stepped into the high slot and snapped a wrist shot off the crossbar and in for his 12th of the year, restoring Calgary’s lead at 2-1 with 3:50 remaining in the second.

Anaheim drew even again in the third, capitalizing with the man-advantage. Crisp puck movement from Jackson Lacombe set up Gauthier for a one-timer that beat Cooley for his 28th goal of the season, tying the contest 2-2.

Both clubs had chances in 3-on-3 overtime, including a late Ducks power play in the final 20 seconds. The Flames’ penalty kill stood tall, highlighted by a glove save from Cooley at the buzzer to force a shootout.

Shootout Drama

Leo Carlsson opened the shootout by slipping a backhand past Cooley. Frost was denied by Dostal, while Beckett Sennecke was turned aside by Cooley on a between-the-legs attempt.

Nazem Kadri answered with a patient move, slowing up before beating Dostal blocker side to extend the contest. Mason McTavish restored Anaheim’s lead with a slow approach and five-hole finish. Matvei Gridin had a chance to prolong it for Calgary but rang his attempt off the post, sealing the Ducks’ 3-2 victory.

Three Takeaways

1. Penalty Kill Remains Reliable

Despite surrendering a third-period power-play goal, Calgary’s penalty kill continued to show its strength. Ranked seventh in the NHL at 82.5 percent entering the night, the PK killed four of five opportunities, including a crucial late overtime sequence.

2. Cooley Delivers Again

Cooley was sharp throughout, stopping 34 shots and giving his team every chance to win. Flames goaltending has been steady all season, carrying a combined .900 save percentage into the game — tied for fourth best in the league.

3. Bahl’s Grit on Display

Kevin Bahl left the game after taking a puck to the face but returned in the third period sporting stitches above his mouth. His assist on Sharangovich’s power-play goal and willingness to battle through adversity highlighted a resilient effort on the back end.