NEW YORK (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken are set to play two games in Finland next season as part of the NHL’s Global Series.
The league and the players’ association announced Monday that Carolina and Seattle will face off Nov. 12 and 14 in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. The Kraken are heading abroad for the first time in their sixth season of existence and the Hurricanes for the second time and first since 2010.
Each team has a pair of Finns currently on its roster: Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi for Carolina and Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen for Seattle. All but Tolvanen are under contract for next season.
The NHL has staged 42 regular-season games in Europe since 2007 and has two more scheduled for Germany in December with Ottawa and Chicago set to play in Duesseldorf in December. Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki, formerly known as Hartwall Arena, has been the site of seven of the games, most recently in 2018 between Florida and Winnipeg.
The New York Rangers host the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden in the lone game on the ice Monday, March 23.
My Senators vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks expect Ottawa to show no mercy as it pushes to lock down a playoff spot.
Senators vs Rangers prediction
Senators vs Rangers best bet: Senators -1.5 (+130)
The Ottawa Senators are cruising along a 13-3-2 heater with a third-ranked Corsi For percentage and top-ranked expected goals percentage at five-on-five, while the New York Rangers respectively check in 27th in each with a 7-8-3 record during the same stretch.
Ottawa has also allowed the fewest goals per game (2.22) during the run and is battling for a postseason berth. It’s the exact opposite on the opposite bench with New York checked out in the Eastern Conference basement.
Senators vs Rangers same-game parlay
In addition to the highlighted statistical mismatches, the Rangers have also surrendered the second-most shots per game (32.5) out of the Olympic break, and the Senators have recorded the fourth-most (31.5).
So, I’m expecting New York starter Igor Shesterkin to see plenty of rubber tonight, and he’s also turning in another solid season with a .912 save percentage and the seventh-most goals saved above expected.
The Ottawa Senators have covered the puck line in 16 of their last 25 away games (+11.20 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Rangers.
How to watch Senators vs Rangers
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Monday, March 23, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime
Senators vs Rangers latest injuries
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The hockey world is mourning the tragic loss of Minnesota Wild beat reporter Jessi Pierce, who died along with her three children and their dog in a house fire early Saturday, March 21.
Pierce, 38, covered the Wild for NHL.com for the past decade and also co-hosted a weekly hockey podcast.
"The entire National Hockey League family sends our prayers and deepest condolences to the Pierce family on the passing of Jessi Pierce and her three young children," the NHL said in a statement. "Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly."
We are heartbroken and join the State of Hockey in mourning the tragic loss of Jessi and her children. May they rest in peace 💔. pic.twitter.com/H8L8Wgu6l4
Authorities have not determined the cause of the blaze. Pierce's husband was not home at the time.
Hockey world remembers Jessi Pierce
As news of her death spread, tributes began to roll in from friends, colleagues and NHL personnel.
"The Minnesota Wild organization is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Jessi Pierce and her children," the team said in a statement. "Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her. She served as a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey during her time covering the Wild and the NHL."
"I’ve known her a long time. She was a wonderful person, loved hockey, loved people, somebody I looked forward to all the time when I would go to Minnesota," Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette said Sunday. "It’s a sad day in hockey. Her passion for the game, her passion for the Wild, is unsurpassed, and we’re going to miss her. It’s a tragedy."
And from fellow Wild beat writer Michael Russo of The Athletic: "Jessi simply loved covering the Wild and hockey throughout Minnesota and had a way of brightening everyone’s day with her upbeat, bubbly personality. I have literally NEVER met anybody that had a way of being EVERYBODY’s friend."
There are no words to express how heartbroken we all are.
Jessi Pierce (Hinrichs) was the most vibrant person - the life of the party, always with a smile on her face, always bringing a passion to every article and podcast and interview she did. Jessi simply loved covering the…
And in another social media post, Kirsten Krull, who co-hosted the Bardown Beauties podcast with Pierce, appropriately summarized: "There’s so much more I want to say that I can’t find the words for yet. I hope you know how loved you are and could see the outpouring of love for you and your family from the hockey community today."
Maurice said Mikkola will not need surgery, but he will be out for around four-to-six weeks.
“Good news on him, he’ll be (out) weeks instead of months,” Maurice said. “The other end of that spectrum is (Sasha) Barkov, so we’re really relieved with that one.”
Considering Florida’s season will likely be over in less than four weeks, it appears we’ve seen the last of Mikkola.
Fellow blueliner Uvis Balinskis has not played since March 10 against Detroit. He initially suffered an injury during a loss to Buffalo on Feb. 27, but he missed only one game before returning to play the following four.
Ultimately, that would be the end of the line for Balinskis, who Maurice said suffered a fracture in his foot and will also miss between four and six weeks.
Florida’s defensive corps now consists of Aaron Ekblad, Gus Forsling, Seth Jones, Dmitry Kulikov, Donovan Sebrango and Mike Benning.
A seventh defenseman will likely be recalled from AHL Charlotte at some point.
One positive to take is that there will be more opportunity Benning to play at the NHL level. He’s skated in five games with the Panthers this season, earning three assists and two shots on a plus-one on-ice rating while averaging 16:34 of ice time
Photo caption: Dec 23, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) skates against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues on Monday signed college free agent forward Felix Trudeau to a two-year entry-level contract that begins next season, adding one of the top undrafted players available to their stockpile of prospects.
He is expected to join the American Hockey League’s Springfield Thunderbirds for the remainder of this season on a professional tryout agreement.
Trudeau, 23, is coming off a season at Sacred Heart University in which he ranked second in the country with 25 goals. He was tied for sixth nationally in Division I with 48 points in 39 NCAA games and was named Atlantic Hockey America player of the year.
Now seven years removed from winning the Stanley Cup, the Blues look to be heading toward a youth movement at a time of organizational transition, with longtime general manager Doug Armstrong on the verge of stepping down and handing the job to Alexander Steen this summer.
Calgary’s iconic Saddledome is counting down its final NHL season, and the Flames are determined to send it off in style. On Friday night, the team revealed a striking new emblem to commemorate the arena’s swan song during the 2026-27 campaign.
Dubbed “The ‘Dome Farewell Season,” the initiative intentionally emphasizes celebration over melancholy, highlighting the legacy of a building that has been home to the Flames since its debut as the Olympic Saddledome on October 15, 1983.
Wendy's can't even top this Frosty.
A Logo Rich with History
The newly designed red shield is a visual tribute to both the team and the arena itself, incorporating eight distinct design cues drawn from the building’s architecture and the Flames’ storied history. The shield’s curved top mirrors the Saddledome’s signature saddle-shaped roof, a design element that will not carry over to the franchise’s next home. Flanking the sides of the logo, vertical pillars pay homage to the arena’s structural skeleton, while a horizontal “lifeline” stretches across the center, spanning the years “1983” and “2027” with Scotiabank’s “S” logo positioned at its midpoint, a nod to the arena’s current naming-rights partnership.
#Flames have revealed a “The ‘Dome Farewell Season” logo for the 2026-27 season’s festivities around the final year of NHL hockey at the Saddledome. More details will be revealed at the start of next season (one would presume this will be at center ice) pic.twitter.com/Ixpa0uyBXF
At the heart of the emblem, the word “DOME” commands attention in bold gold lettering. Its preceding apostrophe is cleverly fashioned from an ember drawn from the Flames’ flaming “C” logo, evoking the team’s fiery identity. Smaller lettering above reads “THE,” while the phrase “FAREWELL SEASON” sits below in crisp white text. Anchoring the design is the Calgary Flames’ official logo, trimmed in gold, grounding the emblem in the franchise’s rich visual history.
The bottom of the shield features a chevron motif, inspired by the championship and retirement banners that have long hung from the Saddledome rafters, further tying the mark to the arena’s illustrious past.
Details regarding the full slate of Farewell Season celebrations are expected to emerge in the lead-up to the 2026-27 season. While it remains unclear whether the logo will appear as a jersey patch or if the Flames will debut special uniforms for the occasion, it is certain that the campaign will spotlight the arena’s legacy rather than its closure.
The Saddledome itself was constructed to replace the aging Stampede Corral, the Flames’ original home after relocating to Calgary in 1980. Designed to host both the Flames and the 1988 Winter Olympics, the arena’s “Olympic” moniker reflected its dual purpose, while its roof, shaped like a horse’s saddle, became instantly iconic. Over its 44-year history, the venue has hosted three Stanley Cup Finals, with the 1986 Canadiens capturing the only championship hoisted within its walls. The building has undergone several name changes over the decades, from Olympic Saddledome to Canadian Airlines Saddledome, then the Pengrowth Saddledome, and most recently the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Looking ahead, the Flames will usher in a new era at Scotia Place when the 2027-28 NHL season begins, leaving the Saddledome to its final chapter, but one that the franchise intends to celebrate with grandeur.
The Vegas Golden Knights (32-25-14) snapped a three-game skid and delivered a crucial statement victory, edging the Dallas Stars (43-16-11) 3-2 Sunday night at American Airlines Center.
Entering the contest on the heels of three uninspired performances in which they managed just a single goal, the Golden Knights faced a pivotal opportunity to preserve their playoff positioning—and they seized it.
Returning from a five-game healthy scratch, Reilly Smith made an immediate impact, scoring the game-winning goal with 3:38 remaining in the third period. Supporting him on the scoresheet were Brayden McNabb and Ivan Barbashev.
In net, Adin Hill displayed his goaltending skill, stopping 13 of 15 shots. However, he did surrender a couple of goals early in the game. Hill had struggled in recent outings—most notably against the Utah Mammoth, where he allowed three goals on just three shots. Overall, he had conceded five goals on his last nine shots, a concerning stat for any netminder.
Despite that rough stretch, Hill rebounded admirably against Dallas, helping the Golden Knights secure the crucial victory.
McNabb Sparks Early Momentum
Just over four minutes into the opening frame, McNabb set the tone with a coast-to-coast effort that highlighted his post-Olympic resurgence. His skillful drive gave Vegas an early lead, but the Stars quickly countered. Wyatt Johnston recorded his 23rd power-play goal of the season—setting a new franchise record—after a precise man-advantage shift at 10:55. Later, a defensive miscue allowed Justin Hryckowian to capitalize in front of Hill, knotting the score by the end of the first period.
Despite being outshot and out-chanced in the early stages, Vegas’ underlying metrics told a more promising story: 27-14 in shot attempts, 17-6 in scoring opportunities, and a commanding 71.82 percent expected goal share. The team had simply been undone by timely finishing from Dallas.
The second period belonged to the Golden Knights. Controlling the neutral zone and dominating shot attempts 11-3, Vegas held Dallas scoreless over the final 14:46 of the stanza. Their second-unit power play executed flawlessly: Brett Howden operated at the side of the net while Barbashev took over Dorofeyev’s role on the one-timer, tying the game at 2-2 at 9:10.
Special teams continued to define the period. After Jack Eichel drew a double minor for high-sticking, Vegas’ penalty kill delivered a clutch stop. Though the Golden Knights couldn’t convert on their subsequent power play late in the period, they sustained offensive pressure, generating multiple high-danger chances and forcing Casey DeSmith into several highlight-reel saves.
Late-Game Heroics Seal Victory
The Stars dominated early in the third, outshooting Vegas 10-1 in the first half of the period, but the momentum shifted as the Golden Knights gradually took control. With under four minutes left, Vegas orchestrated a decisive sequence: a crafty cycle by Mitch Marner created a rebound that Smith expertly pounced on, delivering the game-winner. The Stars pulled DeSmith in the final two minutes, yet Vegas’ relentless pressure on the 6-on-5 sealed the 3-2 triumph.
Vegas’ victory was a testament to tightened defensive execution and aggressive play, outshooting Dallas 33-15 and controlling the expected goals battle 4.57-1.61. Special teams, which had been a liability in Nashville, emerged as a saving grace in Dallas.
The win elevates the Golden Knights to second in the Pacific Division, holding a slim advantage over Edmonton. With just 11 games remaining, this gritty performance could provide the momentum Vegas needs to finish the season strong. The team will conclude its three-game road swing in Winnipeg on Tuesday, a matchup in which they already hold a favorable recent record.
While the
Montreal Canadiens had a day off on Sunday, three players were in Mascouche at Memorable
Authentic to meet fans and sign autographs. Despite the snow that wasn’t
letting up, fans turned up in droves to meet Finnish rookie Oliver Kapanen,
forward Alexandre Texier, and the latest Laval Rocket call-up and future Habs
starter Jacob Fowler.
Kapanen and
Texier appeared from 1:30 to 2:30 PM, while Fowler was in attendance from 2:30
PM to 3:30 PM. The players were in great spirits and happy to pose for pictures
with fans after signing their items.
The three
players have plenty to smile about. Kapanen is having a fantastic rookie season
with 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points. He’s third amongst rookies in
goals, behind Beckett Sennecke (22 goals) and Matthew Schaefer (21 goals), and
sixth in points.
Memorable Authentic Facebook Account
As for
Texier, his season was going nowhere in St. Louis with one point in eight games,
and he bet on himself, getting out of his contract and signing at a discount
with the Canadiens to finish the season. He soon impressed Kent Hughes and
earned a two-year contract extension with a 2.5 M cap hit. Since joining the
Canadiens, he has 19 points in 37 games and has been used in a variety of
situations, proving extremely useful to Martin St-Louis.
Meanwhile,
Fowler, who was expected to spend the whole season in the AHL, took advantage
of Samuel Montembeault’s tough season and made the most of his first callup in
December. When Montembeault faltered again, the youngster was ready for the
call, and he looks like he’ll be with the Habs until the end of the season, and
for the playoffs as well. In 13 games, the youngster has a 6-5-2 record, a 2.72
goals-against average, and a .899 save percentage.
If you
missed out on the event, make sure to visit Memorable Authentic in the next few
days to add signed items from the three players to your collection.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins March schedule was always going to be daunting, and they are almost through it. So far, all things considered, they have handled it mostly okay, especially given the absences of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for a significant part of it. I said at the beginning if they could just play .500 or better hockey, they should be fine and maintain their playoff position. They have done that. At least to this point.
Even the past five games have been a pretty significant success. Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes was a total no-show, but even with that they still managed to get seven out of a possible 10 points. That is more than enough, and if they get seven out of the next 10 points they are still going to be in great shape.
I said on social media on Sunday you need to do yourself a favor and not look at every individual game as a must-win game and ride that roller coaster, but look at these games as groups of games and accumulated point totals. You get seven out of every 10 points, you are in. Even if they get six out of every 10 points, you are probably in.
I know it seems like nobody in the Eastern Conference ever loses, and that none of these teams will ever lose again, but I promise you, they are. If for no other reason than a lot of them play each other quite a bit over the next few weeks. Everybody around the Penguins also plays one of the toughest schedules in the NHL.
Right now the playoff cut-line in the Eastern Conference is 98 points. I suspect it might even come down a little bit as the next few weeks progress and some of these teams actually lose some games (and they will). But let’s just say 98 points is what you need. That is six more wins for the Penguins. That is not an overly high bar, even with the schedule (which, after getting through the past week, is now only the 11th toughest remaining schedule in the NHL instead of the absolute toughest).
They also, at the moment, hold the tie-breaker over almost every team behind them and chasing them.
So let’s just look at this as a math problem and what every team behind them would need to do record-wise (the required points percentage is in parenthesis) to pass them if they win between four and seven more games the rest of the way.
Realistically speaking I think this is a race between the Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings. Four of those five teams are going to make the playoffs. All the Penguins have to do is not finish in last among that group. Again, not an overly high bar. It is reachable. All of those teams have more difficult remaining schedules, and there are also a LOT of head-to-head games in there for all of those teams. The Penguins play the Islanders and Red Wings one more time each. Those games can go a long way toward determining things. Detroit plays Columbus and Ottawa one more time each, and Philadelphia three more times. Somebody is going to lose those games. Columbus plays Boston twice, along with its game against Detroit, and that does not get into the two games it also has against Carolina and its two road games at Montreal. Somebody is going to lose THOSE games.
The Ottawa Senators are lurking on the fringes. Maybe they can keep playing their way back in, but that is still a lot of work to do.
The Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals just seem like they have way too much ground to make up. The Flyers would probably have to sweep all three of those games against the Red Wings, preferably (for their sake) in regulation.
You can follow sports however you want, but instead of sweating the standings every night and with every result, just focus on a target goal. Basically, if the Penguins win six more games and get to 98 points, they most likely get in. Especially if one or two of those wins come against the Islanders and/or Red Wings. If they win seven more games, get to 100 points, and somehow still do not make the playoffs I would not know what else to say except, “that’s just messed up and some really bad luck.” In the salary cap era no team has ever had even 98 points and missed the playoffs. Only two teams have ever had 96 points and missed the playoffs.
Can they start stacking some more of those wins this week?
Well, that is going to be tough, because it is another daunting week on the schedule.
It begins on Tuesday night with their second game against the Colorado Avalanche in a little more than a week. The Penguins won the first meeting in Colorado by a 7-2 margin in a game that I am not quite sure was as lopsided as the final score would indicate. They are almost certainly going to get a much better effort from the Avalanche in this game, and they better be ready for it. Performances like they had over the weekend (even in the win against the Winnipeg Jets) are not going to be good enough. The one thing to take into account here is that Colorado has looked a little more mortal in recent weeks. After starting the season 31-2-7, the Avalanche are 15-11-3 in the 29 games that have followed. Still good. Just not quite as dominant. They look a little more beatable right now.
On Thursday the Penguins have a big Eastern Conference game at Ottawa. Even though I am not quite sold at the moment on the Senators still being *in* the playoff race, they are better than their record indicates and they have given the Penguins fits in their two previous meetings this season. The Penguins also never seem to win in Ottawa. This would be a good game to have, especially since it is sandwiched between two extraordinarily tough Western Conference games.
After playing in Ottawa on Thursday, the Penguins return home on Saturday to play the Dallas Stars who will be in the middle of a four-game, Eastern Conference road trip. Dallas is one of the best teams in hockey, and has quite honestly been the better team between them and Colorado over the past two months, even with some big injury issues. The Penguins outplayed Dallas in their first meeting this season (in Dallas) only to give up a late third period goal and lose in a shootout. In all honesty, I would take that result again in this game. Every point matters.
After playing Dallas on Saturday, they have another huge Eastern Conference game on Monday night against the New York Islanders to open the next week.
This is going to be a tough week, and arguably just as tough, if not tougher, than the past week. If they can get three out of these six points I would consider that a win for the week. With this schedule you just have to get through it. Especially when a lot of the teams in the playoff race are all playing against each other this week. Somebody is losing. Just maintain what you are doing. They mostly have.
If they are going to continue that, they are going to need a few things. The first is better goaltending than they have been getting over the past few games. The second is better defensive play in front of those goalies and way fewer turnovers and mistakes. That is kind of why I think Sunday’s game could have been something they needed. Some bad habits had been developing in recent games, but they were still getting results. Eventually bad process turns into a bad result. They got that on Sunday. It needs to be a lesson.
ELMONT, NY -- Once the final buzzer sounded on Sunday night, signaling the New York Islanders' 1-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, that meant one thing: The Islanders were back in a playoff spot with 11 games to go.
With the newfound two points, the Islanders leapfrogged the Detroit Red Wings to sit in the second wild-card spot with 85 points. The Red Wings, who have 84, do have a game in hand, but a game in hand only matters if that team wins the game.
After falling out of a playoff spot last Thursday following a devastating 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Islanders had the chance to rebound against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. However, they fell 7-3, making Sunday's game against Columbus, the team holding down the third seed in the Metropolitan Division, incredibly important in keeping their playoff hopes alive.
"That was probably one of the high-stress games of the year for our group," Islanders forward Bo Horvat said. "I mean, it was a hard-fought battle by everybody. Everybody was contributing tonight. All four lines were rolling, and obviously, Sorokin was phenomenal."
The Islanders, who kicked off a stretch of 10 of the final 12 games on home ice Sunday, host the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night at 7 PM ET, a must-win as they continue onward with their playoff push.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal in the third period during a game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on March 22, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
Landeskog needed a quick surgery after taking Makar’s slapshot to the family jewels. [TSN]
Avalanche defeat Blackhawks, become first team to clinch playoff berth. [NHL]
News Around the League
Alex Ovechkin joins Wayne Gretzky as only players with 1,000 career goals. [The Athletic]
Former Avs breaks through in win marred by ugly hit. [Yahoo]
Wild reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children are being mourned by the hockey community. [Sportsnet]
Oilers’ McDavid seemingly calls out their coach after a tough loss to the Lightning. [The Hockey Writers]
Hamilton to become new home of New York Islanders’ AHL affiliate. [CTV News]
Sidney Crosby speaks up on Olympic puck and makes Jack Hughes look rather petty. [Daily Hive]
Toronto hosts world’s largest blind hockey tournament at Mattamy Athletic Centre. [CP 24]
Maple Leafs vs. Senators: Toronto’s trouble starts with Anthony Stolarz scare before the opening faceoff in Ottawa. [Toronto Star]
Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Kaiden Guhle has struggled this season, not just because of injuries, but also on the ice, where his performances have not been up to the standard we’ve been accustomed to.
However, in Saturday night’s crucial game against the New York Islanders, the rugged defenseman took it up a notch and played what was arguably his best game of the season. Not just because he gathered three points, including what would turn out to be the game-winning goal, but also because his decision-making was spot on in all aspects of the game.
He had five shot attempts, three of which made it to the net. On the other side of the puck, he had a team-leading four blocked shots and landed three hits. In the third frame, as tempers were running high and the Islanders were getting frustrated by the turn of events, Matthew Barzal dropped his gloves and tried to fight captain Nick Suzuki, and it only took seconds for the rugged blueliner to come to his rescue.
The defenseman told the media after the game that the Canadiens met after last weekend’s games against the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks and talked about buckling down:
Commitment to defend, to play hard, to not take any shit. It’s all that I think we were missing there for a bit, and we found it
-
That perfectly sums up Guhle’s performance on Saturday night. His stepping up for Nick Suzuki was definitely part of the “not taking any shit” point, and it showed how healthy the team culture is in Montreal. Especially if you compare that reaction to the Maple Leafs’ reaction, or lack thereof, when Radko Gudas ended their captain’s season.
Mat Barzal wanted to go with Nick Suzuki and he would NOT take no for an answer 😳🫣 pic.twitter.com/D3IvWEb8O0
That performance was definitely a step in the right direction for Guhle, but he now needs to play like that consistently. That’s harder to do than it sounds, but the rugged defenseman proved last night that he can play the exact kind of game that’s needed in the playoffs.
Mar 20, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Ethen Frank (53) shoots the puck as New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) defends during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
A late goal from Jesper Bratt kept the Devils from being shut out, but otherwise the goals dried up as the Devils dropped a 2-1 loss to the Capitals on Friday. [Devils NHL]
“It’s been a tough season for the Maple Leafs, but Knies has been one of their more productive players. He’s averaged 2.26 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five, making him their second most efficient five-on-five scorer behind William Nylander. However, there are red flags that’d give me pause about acquiring Knies. There are only two Maple Leafs skaters above 50 percent in xGs, and Knies is not one of them. Not even close. He has an xG% of 45.88 percent this season, one of the worst marks on the Maple Leafs.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
Injury updates:
Sheldon Keefe says that Brett Pesce is questionable to be able to return this season.
Stefan Noesen has been ruled out for the remainder of the year.#NJDevils
“Fitzgerald’s draft record in the second round and beyond is more or less fine. By that, I mean that the probability of a draftee turning into an NHL-caliber player generally drastically diminishes in the second round and beyond, and, to be frank, the Devils have drafted two NHL-caliber players (Lenni Hämeenaho and Seamus Casey) in the second round. New Jersey has not hit on any third-rounders in recent memory, and any draftee in the fourth round and beyond is typically some form of dart throw. The first round resume, however, is outright putrid.” [Devils’ Advocates]
Hockey Links
Some history for Ovi:
OVI x 1,000 🚨
Alex Ovechkin joins Wayne Gretzky as the second player in NHL history to score 1,000 career goals in the regular season and #StanleyCup Playoffs combined! pic.twitter.com/Zol6EgR7xg
“This year’s Sabres aren’t just the season’s best bandwagon team; they might be the single greatest bandwagon team of all time. Seriously, can you think of a better option?” [The Athletic ($)]
“Minnesota’s hockey community is mourning longtime NHL writer Jessi Pierce and her three children following a deadly house fire in White Bear Lake. Fire officials said four people — including three children — were found dead inside a home early Saturday, March 21, in the 2100 block of Richard Avenue. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the victims or said what caused the fire.” [Minnesota Star Tribune]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 22: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his goal with Alexander Nikishin #21 during the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins closed out another back-to-back set on Sunday, playing against the Carolina Hurricanes for the third time in 13 days. If we’re being honest with ourselves, the Penguins didn’t really deserve the two points they got against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, getting outhustled and outplayed for large swaths of the game. Twenty-four hours later, they no-showed against the Canes and were promptly humbled. [Recap]
Off the ice, the Penguins were also busy, making several transactions. The team reassigned forward Ville Koivunen to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday. He had been scratched for the previous two games. [Trib Live]
Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea was scratched for Sunday’s game against the Hurricanes due to a presumed facial injury he suffered against the Jets on Saturday. [Trib Live]
The Penguins also agreed to terms with a few draft picks from the 2025 class. On Saturday, the team signed third-rounder goalie prospect Gabriel D’Aigle to a three-year, entry-level contract. [KDKA]
That signing was followed up on Sunday with the Penguins agreeing to terms with one of their 2025 first-round selections, Bill Zonnon. [Penguins]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Longtime NHL reporter Jessi Pierce, who covered the Minnesota Wild, tragically died along with her three children in a house fire in Minnesota on Saturday, prompting an outpouring of grief across the hockey world. [NHL]
More history made for the Great 8: Alex Ovechkin scored his 1,000th career goal (regular season and playoffs combined), becoming just the second player in NHL history to reach the milestone, joining Wayne Gretzky. [Sportsnet]
One of the top prospects for the Chicago Blackhawks, Anton Frondell, is expected to join his NHL team and make his league debut soon after his Swedish season ended. [Associated Press via TSN]
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.
Gabriel Landeskog, LW/RW, Avalanche (36% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Hits
Landeskog returned to the lineup in Sunday's 3-2 overtime win over Washington after missing seven straight games due to a lower-body injury. He filled the scoresheet with one goal, two shots, three hits and one block in the contest. The Avalanche captain had two goals, five helpers, 17 shots and six hits in six games after returning from the Olympics. If Landeskog remains healthy, he should be a productive member of Colorado's top six down the stretch. The Avalanche play three times this week.
Frederik Andersen, G, Hurricanes (33% rostered) for Starts/Saves/Wins
Andersen has stopped 102 of the 117 shots he has faced during his five-game winning streak. It has been a challenging season for the 36-year-old netminder, but he has been splitting time with Brandon Bussi, and that trend will probably continue down the stretch. Andersen could get the first half of Carolina's back-to-back against New Jersey on Saturday. He has gone 2-0-0 versus the Devils this season while allowing only four goals on 52 shots. The veteran netminder has plenty of upside with a stingy team in front of him.
Casey DeSmith, G, Stars (24% rostered) for Starts/Saves/Wins
DeSmith has lost his last two outings and had his worst performance of the season last Monday against Utah, allowing five goals on 21 shots in a 6-3 defeat. However, he has generally been solid for the Stars in 2025-26. He had a four-game winning streak before that start and has a 14-6-5 record this season. Dallas plays four times this week, and he could be between the pipes twice if the team splits contests evenly. DeSmith should play at least once, with the Stars set to visit Pittsburgh on Saturday and Philadelphia on Sunday.
Gabe Perreault, RW, Rangers (19% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots
Perreault has taken advantage of his time as a member of New York's top six in March, generating four goals and eight assists through 10 games. He has been a great fit alongside Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere on the first line. Despite dropping the second power-play unit, the 20-year-old Perreault will likely continue to log heavy minutes during the team's final contests of the 2025-26 campaign. The Rangers have four games scheduled this week, including three with home-ice advantage.
Viktor Arvidsson, LW/RW, Bruins (17% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots
Arvidsson's four-game point streak ended in Saturday's 4-2 win over Detroit, but he has been a valuable source of secondary offense for Boston down the stretch. He has compiled 15 points, including seven goals on 25 shots, in his last 16 games. He has become more of a puck distributor than a finisher in March, earning three goals, eight helpers and 20 shots through 10 outings. Arvidsson possesses solid offensive upside ahead of a four-game week for the Bruins.
Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Predators (14% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Hits
Marchessault has been much better after struggling through most of the first half of the season. After dealing with offensive inconsistency and injuries, he has rebounded with four goals and 15 points in his past 21 appearances. He has also registered 53 shots on net and 24 hits during that span. He has been seeing time alongside Filip Forsberg at even strength and on the top power-play combination. The 35-year-old Marchessault provides just enough category coverage to be helpful for fantasy managers ahead of an important four-game week for Nashville.
Gage Goncalves, C/LW, Lightning (10% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/Hits
Goncalves has accounted for five goals and 11 points in his last 11 appearances. Since returning from a lower-body injury, he has lit the lamp four times on 12 shots while adding three helpers, six blocked shots and 14 hits in seven outings. Following the Olympic break, he has been seeing time in Tampa Bay's talented top six. He has been playing alongside Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel lately. Goncalves makes for an intriguing roster choice ahead of a four-game week for the Lightning.
Noah Cates, C, Flyers (5% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Hits/Blocks
Cates has been all over the scoresheet since returning from the Olympic break, amassing five goals and 12 points in his last 13 matches. He has earned 18 shots on target, 11 blocked shots and 16 hits during that stretch. He has three goals on eight shots and one assist over a three-game point streak. He has been clicking alongside Matvei Michkov recently. The 27-year-old Cates has plenty of upside in deeper banger leagues if he can carry this momentum into a four-game week for Philadelphia.
Connor Brown, RW, Devils (2% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots
Brown has notched three goals and nine assists in his past 10 appearances. His three-game point streak ended in Friday's 2-1 loss to Washington, but he logged 23:04 of ice time in the contest. He has received a significant offensive boost while skating alongside Jack Hughes at even strength and on the top power-play unit. With New Jersey set to play four times this week, the 32-year-old Brown has a great deal of under-the-radar upside.
Anton Frondell, C, Blackhawks (2% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/PP
Frondell netted 20 goals and added eight assists in 43 regular-season games for Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Hockey League in 2025-26. He is poised to join Chicago this week to get his first taste of NHL action. The Blackhawks selected the 18-year-old forward with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He should see playing time alongside Connor Bedard at even strength and on the top power-play unit. Frondell has considerable potential in keeper formats, and he is worth keeping an eye on down the stretch in deeper standard leagues, especially with Chicago set to play four times on the road this week.
