One of the interesting NHL debates in recent years has been the idea of expanding the Stanley Cup Playoffs to allow for bubble teams to participate in a play-in round that would determine bottom seedings just before the official post season begins.

When asked about it before the start of last year's Stanley Cup Final, Commissioner Gary Bettman didn't care much for the idea.

“We had a play-in,” Bettman said. “Did you know that three clubs' positions in the playoffs weren't determined until the last game that they played in the regular season?”

He's quite right, of course. Like it or not, the parity that the NHL has created with the salary cap and three point games has led to more teams staying alive right into the final week.

Saturday afternoon's game on Long Island between the Senators and the New York Islanders (1 pm) isn't a play-in game, but in every way but name, both teams will be treating it exactly like a playoff game.

The Senators are in the driver's seat for the final wild card spot. They need to pull three points out of their final three games, and if they do that, then nothing that happens in their rear view mirror will matter. They're in.

Their fastest route to clinching would be a win over the Islanders on Saturday in any fashion and the Detroit Red Wings losing later on in any fashion to the New Jersey Devils (5 pm).

The Islanders are three points behind the Senators, but only one point behind Philadelphia, which holds down third in the Metro.

Here are Saturday's line combinations (per NHL.com)

Senators projected lineup

Drake Batherson -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux

Brady Tkachuk -- Dylan Cozens -- Ridly Greig

Nick Cousins -- Shane Pinto -- Michael Amadio

Warren Foegele -- Lars Eller -- Fabian Zetterlund

Jake Sanderson -- Artem Zub

Thomas Chabot -- Jordan Spence

Lassi Thomson -- Nikolas Matinpalo

Linus Ullmark

James Reimer

Scratched: Stephen Halliday, Kurtis MacDermid, Cameron Crotty

Injured: Nick Jensen (lower body), Dennis Gilbert (upper body), Tyler Kleven (upper body)

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- Bo Horvat -- Simon Holmstrom

Calum Ritchie -- Mathew Barzal -- Brayden Schenn

Maxim Shabanov -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Emil Heineman

Ondrej Palat -- Casey Cizikas -- Marc Gatcomb

Matthew Schaefer -- Ryan Pulock

Adam Pelech -- Tony DeAngelo

Carson Soucy -- Scott Mayfield

Ilya Sorokin

David Rittich

Scratched: Anthony Duclair, Adam Boqvist, Isaiah George

Injured: Kyle Palmieri (ACL), Alexander Romanov (upper body), Semyon Varlamov (knee)

William Villeneuve is finally getting his chance.

After 224 AHL games over four seasons with the Toronto Marlies, where he scored 12 goals and 119 points, Villeneuve is set to make his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night against the Florida Panthers.

"I think it's pretty special, especially in Toronto," said Villeneuve following Toronto's morning skate on Saturday. "When I look back, got into the organization in 2020, and I have been playing here for four years, so I feel grateful and pretty lucky to be here today. I'm excited for the opportunity."

After being selected by Toronto in the fourth round (122nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, Villeneuve truly arrived on the scene in Toronto at the beginning of the 2022-23 season.

In his rookie year, the defenseman put up 25 points in 54 games, and did the same in his second season with the Marlies. Villeneuve scored 40 points in the 2024-25 season in 55 games, which is his career-high at the AHL level.

This season, while trying to become a better defensive player, Villeneuve took a step back offensively, scoring 29 points in 59 games.

"I think everyone has their own path and own timeline," said Villeneuve of what it's been like waiting for this opportunity to come. "If I look at myself back four years ago, it's a different player, different person. I'm confident in my game, and I worked a long way for that, so I'm excited."

Indeed, he is a different player.

When Villeneuve joined the Marlies, he was coming off an incredible Memorial Cup win with the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs. But the AHL was a different beast, and it always is for players coming out of junior and college.

Maple Leafs Shut Down Three Players For The Remainder Of The SeasonThe Toronto Maple Leafs will finish their schedule without Anthony Stolarz, Brandon Carlo, and Dakota Joshua after head coach Craig Berube confirmed the trio has been sidelined for the remainder of the season.

As the years progressed, Villeneuve became more confident with his offensive abilities at the pro level. He slowly became the Marlies' top power-play quarterback and one of their best producers on the man advantage.

After re-signing with the Maple Leafs last summer, Villeneuve needed to improve his game defensively in case of an NHL call-up. You can be one of the top-producing defensemen in the AHL, but if you get exposed defensively, it'll be difficult to make your mark in the NHL.

"I just think when I got to pros, I was like 6-foot-2, 170 pounds. Like, it's hard to battle against guys that are 220 pounds and stuff like that, so [I'm] just physically and mentally more mature," said Villeneuve, whose weight is now listed at 196 pounds.

"Just defensively and my physical game has improved a lot, so I just got to go out there, not overthink it, just play my game and do what brought me here today."

The Sherbrooke, Quebec, native said he had an idea he could be making his NHL debut on Saturday, following the Maple Leafs' 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday, a game in which Brandon Carlo left with a lower-body injury.

"Got here this morning and got confirmation, so it's awesome," Villeneuve said.

Maple Leafs Get Guided Tour Of Rogers Centre By Kevin Gausman Ahead Of Blue Jays GameSeveral Maple Leafs players were on the field before Friday's Blue Jays game against the Minnesota Twins.

Both of his parents will be in the crowd inside Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night when Villeneuve steps foot onto the ice. Both parents have been vital parts of his support system ever since he began playing hockey.

"I think it's a great moment for me, but a great moment for them, too," he said.

"There's a lot of people behind someone making their debut, and I think about my parents or even the staff here that's been here since I got here," Villeneuve continued. "There's a lot of people behind that, so yeah, it's going to be fun."

The biggest question of the day was: Will Villeneuve be able to get a pre-game nap in ahead of what's likely the most-anticipated game of his life?

"I didn't sleep a whole lot last night, to be honest," he laughed. "Hopefully, I can get down a bit for a nap."

Since being acquired by the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline, Scott Laughton has fit in quite nicely as the team continues their push for the playoffs. 

In 17 games played with the Kings, the 31-year-old center has scored five goals along with three assists for eight points. Much better production than his previous 43 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he recorded just 12 points.

While the Kings are likely happy with the secondary scoring Laughton has produced, they didn't acquire him to put up eye popping numbers. They brought him in to continue to play his role, which is one of the best third line centres in the NHL.

Laughton is in the final year of his five-year, $15M deal. After spending most of his career with job security in Philadelphia with the Flyers, Laughton will be heading into unrestricted free agency for the first time, and he is expected to garner a plethora of interest. If the Kings decide to re-sign the veteran forward, what might that contract look like?

Let's take a look at some players the Kings and Laughton could use as comparisons in potential contract negotiations.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau - New York Islanders

In March, the New York Islanders signed 33-year-old forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau to a three-year deal worth $14.55M ($4.85M AAV).

This season, Pageau has recorded 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 71 games played. So like Laughton, the veteran forward has provided the Isles with solid secondary scoring while also playing a respectable two-way game.

Ryan Poehling - Anaheim Ducks

Near the trade deadline, the Anaheim Ducks signed 27-year-old forward to a four-year deal worth $15M ($3.75M AAV).

In his first season with the Ducks, Poehling has been an underrated part of their success. In 72 games played, he has 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points while playing a good two-way game in the bottom six.

Western Conference Standings Watch: The Final WeekWill the Los Angeles Kings climb the standings in the final week as the teams around them continue to stumble?

Christian Dvorak - Philadelphia Flyers

Back in January, the Philadelphia Flyers and Christian Dvorak agreed on a five-year deal worth $25.75M ($5.15M AAV).

This season has been a career-year for Dvorak who has 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points in 78 games played. While obviously producing more offence this season, his previous seasons are a lot more comparable to Laughton's.

Alex Wennberg - San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks and Alex Wennberg agreed to a three-year deal worth $18M ($6M AAV) back in January. 

This season, the 31-year-old has had a really solid season, scoring 18 goals to go with 36 assists for 54 points in 77 games. Similar to Dvorak, Wennberg has had a much better offensive season compared to years past, which could be used as a comparison for Laughton.

What Should The Kings Pay Laughton?

Based on his production and looking at comparisons, the Los Angeles Kings have the means to bring back Scott Laughton who has been a great fit in their bottom six.

Although it may seem crazy after looking at his statistics, Laughton's next contract could look similar to a mixture of all the players listed above. With the quickly rising every year, unrestricted free agents will continue to get overpaid due to the urgency to get a deal done.

If the Kings and Laughton can come to an agreement on a contract in the summer, I would expect the contract to be three to five years, paying him an AAV of $4.75M to $5.5M per season.

Official Prediction: Scott Laughton signs four-year deal worth $5.25M AAV to remain a Los Angeles King.

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The postseason stakes are already locked in, but Saturday afternoon’s matchup at the Delta Center still carries plenty of weight as the Carolina Hurricanes visit the newly playoff-bound Utah Mammoth for a 3:00 p.m. MT puck drop.

Broadcast coverage will be available on Utah16 and Mammoth+, with radio coverage across the Mammoth App, NHL App, NHL.com, KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM), and the KSL Sports App.

Playoff Surge Meets Division Dominance

Utah enters the contest at 42-30-6, riding a five-game winning streak and sitting 7-3-0 over its last 10 games. The momentum has carried the club into franchise history, as the Mammoth officially clinched their first-ever playoff berth on Thursday night. They currently occupy the first Western Conference wild card position with 90 points, holding a five-point cushion over the Los Angeles Kings in the second wild card spot.

Their most recent outing was a convincing 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators, powered by goals from Kailer Yamamoto, Nick Schmaltz (power-play), Lawson Crouse, and Dylan Guenther. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka was steady once again, turning aside 29 of 30 shots faced.

Offensively, Utah has leaned heavily on Dylan Guenther, who leads the team with 39 goals and ranks third in scoring with 71 points. Captain Clayton Keller remains the engine of the attack, pacing the team with 57 assists and 83 points. Nick Schmaltz has been equally impactful, contributing 31 goals and 72 points, while Mikhail Sergachev continues to drive play from the blue line with a team-leading 47 assists among defensemen.

Between the pipes, Vejmelka has delivered a workhorse season, appearing in 61 games with a 37-19-3 record, a 2.71 goals-against average, and a .898 save percentage. Backup Vítek Vaněček has appeared in 20 games, posting a 5-11-3 record, a 2.87 goals-against average, and a .886 save percentage.

Looking ahead, Utah will travel to face the Calgary Flames on Sunday in the second half of a back-to-back before returning home for its final two games of the regular season.

On the other side, Carolina arrives at 51-22-6, also 7-3-0 in its last 10, and riding a two-game winning streak with victories in four of its last five. The Hurricanes have already secured both a playoff berth and the Metropolitan Division title, marking their fourth division crown in six seasons.

Their most recent performance was a dominant 7-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, highlighted by multi-goal efforts from Logan Stankoven and Mark Jankowski. Sean Walker, K’Andre Miller, and Taylor Hall also found the net, while Frederik Andersen stopped 23 of 25 shots.

Seth Jarvis leads Carolina with 32 goals, while Sebastian Aho remains the primary playmaker with 53 assists and 79 points. Andrei Svechnikov has added 30 goals and 69 points, and Nikolaj Ehlers has contributed 42 assists in a strong supporting role.

In net, the Hurricanes have leaned on a tandem of Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen. Bussi has quietly put together a strong 30-6-1 record with a 2.52 goals-against average and .892 save percentage. Andersen, meanwhile, sits at 15-14-5 with a 3.11 goals-against average and .871 save percentage.

Saturday’s game marks the second stop on Carolina’s four-game season-closing road trip, which will continue against the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders next week.

From a numbers standpoint, both teams bring elite resumes into the matchup. Schmaltz’s nine game-winning goals are tied for third-most in the NHL, while Keller is tied for second in overtime goals with four. Jarvis’ four shorthanded goals also rank among the league leaders.

Carolina’s 108 points are second-best in the NHL, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche, while its 51 wins are second only to Colorado’s 52. Utah, meanwhile, becomes just the fourth Western Conference team to clinch a postseason berth this season.

The Hurricanes have also been especially dangerous in key moments, scoring the second-most first-period goals in the league (92) and leading the NHL in third-period goals (102). In goal, Vejmelka’s 37 wins are tied with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the most in the league, while Bussi’s 30 wins rank tied for fourth.

This is the final regular season meeting between Utah and Carolina. The Hurricanes edged the first matchup 5-4 back on Jan. 29.

Utah’s remaining schedule includes a road game in Calgary on Apr. 12, a matchup with the Winnipeg Jets on Apr. 14, and a regular-season finale against the St. Louis Blues on Apr. 16. layoff Surge Meets Division Dominance

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John Tortorella has seemingly righted the ship in Las Vegas, going 4-1 in his first five games as the bench boss.

My Golden Knights vs. Avalanche predictions expect Vegas to pick up another win against a Colorado team that doesn’t have much to play for after clinching the Presidents’ Trophy.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Saturday, April 11.

Golden Knights vs Avalanche prediction

Golden Knights vs Avalanche best bet: Golden Knights moneyline (+110)

The Vegas Golden Knights have seen a big coaching bump under John Tortorella, winning four of five games and posting exceptional underlying numbers.

No team has controlled a larger share of 5-on-5 expected goals (61.23%) than the Golden Knights over the last five games. They also top the league with a +23 high-danger chance differential.

The Golden Knights need all the points they can get in a three-horse race for top spot in the Pacific Division.

Their improved play, and urgency for points, should serve them well against a Colorado Avalanche team that just clinched the President’s Trophy.

Golden Knights vs Avalanche same-game parlay

Jack Eichel has seen an uptick in shot volume under Tortorella. He has gone Over 2.5 shots in four of five games and leads the team in power play shot attempts despite not having scored on the man advantage this season.

It’s clear Vegas wants to get its star center scoring again.

Regardless of whether his shots translate to goals, it’s still very likely he finds the scoresheet. Eichel has points in 73% of his games this season following a day of rest, and 91% of the time when Vegas wins.

Golden Knights vs Avalanche SGP

• Golden Knights moneyline
• Jack Eichel Over 2.5 shots on goal
• Jack Eichel Over 0.5 points

Golden Knights vs Avalanche odds

• Moneyline: Vegas +110 | Colorado -130
• Puck line: Vegas +1.5 (-220) | Colorado -1.5 (+180)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)

Golden Knights vs Avalanche trend

Vegas owns a 4-1 record since making the coaching change. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Avalanche.

How to watch Golden Knights vs Avalanche

Golden Knights vs Avalanche latest injuries

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This is one for the history books.

When the Waashington Capitals take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at 3 p.m. today, Alex Ovechkin will meet Sidney Crosby on the ice for the 100th time in their storied careers.

That’s more than an entire season’s worth of games.

Although the stakes are high — both Pittsburgh and Washington are on the playoff bubble —  the main attraction will be seeing these longtime rivals who have been playing against each other since 2005 (!) go skate-to-skate in a milestone contest.

“I’m just trying to enjoy these last few matchups with Sid,” Ovechkin, 40, said. “We’ve had so many epic battles over the years, and I’m grateful we’ve both been able to play at such a high level for so long.”

Don’t miss this one- there aren’t many chances left to see Ovie and The Next One duke it out live (although they will meet tomorrow in Washington, D.C. in what may be Ovechkin’s final NHL game).

Capitals vs. Penguins start time:

The puck drops on the Capitals vs. Penguins game at 3 p.m. ET today (April 11).

How to watch Capitals vs. Penguins:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

Sling TV is an affordable way to watch TV live and stream NHL games; its Select plan includes ABC and starts at $19.99/month.

DIRECTV is another great service to try — its five-day free trial includes ABC (plus every other channel you’ll need for the NHL season).

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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The Calgary Flames can make their final road game of the season a meaningful one if they can take at least a point from the Seattle Kraken.

Seattle is hanging on by a thread in the West Wild Card picture, starting Saturday, eight points back with four games to play. Any LA point earned, or Seattle not winning, is curtains for the Kraken.

My Flames vs. Kraken predictions and NHL pickstarget the total, as their most recent matchups have seen plenty of scoring.

Flames vs Kraken prediction

Flames vs Kraken best bet: Over 5.5 goals (-135)

It's been a beast of a trip for the Calgary Flames, with stops at Colorado (2), Dallas, Anaheim, and Vegas. No wonder they're 1-3-1.

That's two of the NHL's best teams and two of the top teams in the Pacific Division if you're scoring at home. They've definitely scored on Calgary, piling up 26 goals through five games.

The Seattle Kraken is the only sub-500 squad the Flames will face, and they've allowed four or more goals in four of the last five.

The Over has cashed in three straight meetings between these teams, and the total is set at a generous 5.5 Saturday night.

Flames vs Kraken same-game parlay

Joel Farabee is closing in on his third career 20-goal season, and he's been one of the few bright spots on Calgary's road trip, potting two goals and four points in the last five games.

Bobby McMann scored in the last game in Seattle's 4-3 SO win over Vegas, but he loves lighting up the Flames, with three goals against them in five career meetings.

Flames vs Kraken SGP

• Over 5.5 goals
• Joel Farabee anytime goal
• Bobby McMann anytime goal

Flames vs Kraken odds

• Moneyline: Flames +115 | Kraken -135
• Puck Line: Flames +1.5 (-220) | Kraken -1.5 (+180)
• Over/Under: Over 6 (-125) | Under 6 (+105)

Flames vs Kraken trend

Five of Calgary's last six games have gone Over the total. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Kraken.

How to watch Flames vs Kraken

Flames vs Kraken latest injuries

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Connor McDavid has been firing the puck with authority lately, and it's led to a lot of goals, capped by off a last-out hat trick vs. the Sharks. I expect that trend to continue today against the Los Angeles Kings. 

Find out more with my Oilers vs. Kings predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, April 11.

Oilers vs Kings prediction

Oilers vs Kings best bet: Connor McDavid anytime goal (+100)

Connor McDavid has seen a sudden surge in his shot volume recently, averaging 5.66 shots on goal per game over his last six outings. 

Those shots have led to six goals for the Edmonton Oilers captain in that span, including his Wednesday night hat trick vs. the Sharks.

McDavid now has at least one goal in seven of his last nine games, and with Leon Draisaitl still out during the Oilers late-season playoff push, the burden to produce is still squarely on McDavid’s shoulders.

Oilers vs Kings same-game parlay

I’ll continue to bet on one of the most automatic bets on the board for the Oilers — Over 0.5 assists for Evan Bouchard. The Oilers blueliner has piled up a staggering 70 assists this season, and has hit this prop in 17 of his last 22 games.

Lastly, Vasily Podkolzin has been a steady point producer down the stretch for Edmonton. Due to a rash of injuries, he’s been elevated to the top line alongside McDavid and is getting some PP1 time as well. 

This has allowed him to record 1+ point in five of his last seven outings.

Oilers vs Kings SGP

• Connor McDavid anytime goal
• Evan Bouchard Over 0.5 assists
• Vasily Podkolzin Over 0.5 points

Oilers vs Kings odds

• Moneyline: Oilers -104 | Kings -115
• Puck Line: Oilers +1.5 | Kings -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Oilers vs Kings trend

The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between these two clubs. Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Kings.

How to watch Oilers vs Kings

Oilers vs Kings latest injuries

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DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche wrap up a short but significant homestand Saturday night, hosting the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena in a game that carries both postseason intensity and a touch of nostalgia, as Colorado unveils its Nordiques throwbacks one final time this season.

Colorado enters riding the emotional high of Thursday’s 3–1 win over Calgary—a victory that didn’t just pad the standings, but locked up the Presidents’ Trophy. Vegas, meanwhile, arrives battle-tested after a chaotic 4–3 shootout loss in Seattle.

Avalanche Hit Their Stride At The Right Time

There’s a certain inevitability to Colorado right now. Everything feels sharp, rehearsed, and just a step faster than the opposition.

Thursday was another example. Nathan MacKinnon—in the midst of a career-defining campaign—added his 52nd goal, while Gabriel Landeskog and Martin Necas supplied the rest of the offense. In net, Mackenzie Blackwood was composed and efficient, turning aside 28 of 29.

MacKinnon continues to bend the league to his will. His 52 goals lead the NHL, and his 126 points place him firmly among the game’s elite. He’s not just producing—he’s dictating. Every shift carries a sense that something could break open.

Necas has been the perfect running mate, quietly piling up 98 points, while Colorado’s structure behind the puck has tightened considerably. Since March 1, they’ve allowed just 51 goals—among the stingiest marks in the league—and their power play has clicked at a lethal 27.1%.

Even the supporting cast has teeth. Scott Wedgewood has been lights out when called upon, leading qualified goaltenders in both save percentage (.918) and goals against average (2.10). It’s depth like that which transforms contenders into favorites.

Golden Knights Finding Identity Under Tortorella

Vegas, however, isn’t limping into Denver—they’re evolving.

Since the midseason coaching change that saw Bruce Cassidy—the architect of their 2023 Stanley Cup—dismissed in favor of John Tortorella, the Golden Knights have taken on a noticeably different edge. The results speak loudly: a 4-0-1 run under Tortorella has injected urgency and structure into a group that had started to drift.

Their loss in Seattle was messy but revealing. Mark Stone set the tone early with two goals, and Vegas built a 3–1 cushion before letting it slip. Still, there’s a resilience in how they’re playing now—less free-flowing than before, but more deliberate.

Offensively, the firepower remains undeniable. Jack Eichel drives the attack with 83 points, while Pavel Dorofeyev has emerged as a premier finisher with 35 goals. Mitch Marner adds another layer of playmaking brilliance, sitting just behind Eichel in both points and assists.

The challenge against Colorado is clear: can Vegas match pace without sacrificing structure? Under Tortorella, they’ll try to grind the game into something more manageable—shorter shifts, tighter gaps, fewer odd-man rushes.

Matchup Trends And Subplots

History leans Colorado. In 30 regular season meetings, the Avalanche hold an 18-10-2 edge, and they’ve already proven this season they can outgun Vegas when games open up.

MacKinnon, in particular, has made a habit of tormenting the Golden Knights, piling up 30 regular season points against them, with another seven in the playoffs. Necas and Brock Nelson have also found consistent success in this matchup.

Colorado looks like a team peaking with purpose. Vegas looks like one rediscovering its identity.

And somewhere between those two trajectories lies a game that could feel a lot like a playoff preview. We'll get a taste of what that looks like tonight. 

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Rickard Rakell has piled up the points of late, sitting tied for 14th in scoring over the last 18 games.

My Capitals vs. Penguins predictions see Rakell having another productive outing against a Washington team struggling to limit chances.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Saturday, April 11.

Capitals vs Penguins prediction

Capitals vs Penguins best bet: Rickard Rakell Over 0.5 points (-155)

Rickard Rakell has points in 16 of his last 18 games, averaging a healthy 1.3 points per game. Rakell has three times as many multi-point performances (six) as scoreless efforts (two) along the way, highlighting his incredible consistency.

While the Washington Capitals still have a lot to play for, you wouldn’t know it looking through their defensive metrics.

They rank 29th in high-danger chance share at 5-on-5 over the last 10 games, and have conceded six power play goals over the last seven.

They are vulnerable, and Rakell should take advantage.

Capitals vs Penguins same-game parlay

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been extremely productive since returning from injury, recording assists in nine of 11 games while piling up 13 total.

Both misses came against the Lightning (third in goals allowed) and the Senators (third in shots allowed), a pair of exceptional defensive teams. The Capitals are not nearly as stout.

On the other side, Rasmus Sandin is a strong candidate to block a couple of shots. He is routinely logging 20+ minutes in Washington’s push for the playoffs, and has blocked at least two shots in seven of his last nine.

Capitals vs Penguins SGP

• Rickard Rakell Over 0.5 points
• Sidney Crosby Over 0.5 assists
• Rasmus Sandin Over 1.5 blocked shots

Capitals vs Penguins odds

• Moneyline: Washington +105 | Pittsburgh -125
• Puck line: Washington +1.5 (-225) | Pittsburgh -1.5 (+185)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)

Capitals vs Penguins trend

Rickard Rakell has hit the score sheet in eight of his last nine home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Penguins.

How to watch Capitals vs Penguins

Capitals vs Penguins latest injuries

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The Ottawa Senators visit the New York Islanders this afternoon in a crucial battle for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Jake Sanderson has been a huge addition to the Sens lineup since returning from injury, and I’ll be looking for the blueliner to contribute offensively again in my Senators vs. Islanders predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, April 11.

Senators vs Islanders prediction

Senators vs Islanders best bet: Jake Sanderson Over 0.5 points (-135)

Jake Sanderson returned to the Ottawa Senators lineup last weekend after missing 13 games with a shoulder injury, and the defenseman has made an immediate impact.

Sanderson has logged five points in his past three games, finding the score sheet each time while recording two points in his last two outings.

The blueliner has given Ottawa an offensive boost, as the Sens enter Saturday on a three-game win streak with at least five goals in each victory. 

Ottawa’s offense will come through again in a crucial matchup against the New York Islanders, and Sanderson will factor on at least one goal.

Senators vs Islanders same-game parlay

Brady Tkachuk leads the Senators in scoring this month with eight points in five games, finding the score sheet in three straight and seven of his last nine contests.

Ottawa has won four of its last five games, while New York has just one win in its last five outings.

Senators vs Islanders SGP

• Jake Sanderson Over 0.5 points
• Brady Tkachuk Over 0.5 points
• Senators moneyline

Senators vs Islanders odds

• Moneyline: Senators -137 | Islanders +114
• Puck Line: Senators -1.5 | Islanders +1.5
• Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6

Senators vs Islanders trend

The Senators have covered the Puck Line in 15 of their last 25 away games (+9.35 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Islanders.

How to watch Senators vs Islanders

Senators vs Islanders latest injuries

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Welcome to this season’s very last Public Preview®, the combination preview/Public Skate you’ve come to know and love!

Let’s get started with today’s basics:

• When: Today, 12:30 PM
• Where: TD Garden – Boston, MA
• How to follow: ABC, 98.5 The Sports Hub
• Opposing perspective:Raw Charge

Tampa comes into this game with 102 points, good for third place in the Atlantic Division.

Like the Bruins, they have three games left, but find themselves two points behind Montreal for second and four points behind Buffalo for third.

(Montreal also has three games left, while Buffalo has two.)

These two teams last met a week ago in Tampa, a 3-1 win for the Lightning. Tampa has won all three of the season’s match-ups thus far, so the Bruins will be looking to avoid a season sweep.

As you likely know, the Bruins officially clinch a playoff spot with any kind of win today — regulation, OT, or shootout.

They can also clinch with a loss and a series of other results going their way, but it’d but much, much easier to just, you know…win.

James Hagens will not be making his NHL debut today, with Marco Sturm noting that he wants to give the kid more time to get acclimated to the Bruins’ system.

With another game tomorrow evening in Columbus, it may not be too long before we see Hagens, but time will tell.

Those back-to-back games also likely mean that we’ll see both goalies this weekend, so we’ll see who goes first. Jeremy Swayman has started two of the Tampa games this season, with Joonas Korpisalo getting the other start.

As a reminder, today’s other relevant games will be the New York Islanders vs. Ottawa Senators (1 PM) and New Jersey Devils vs. Detroit Red Wings (5 PM).

Depending on how those two games go, the Bruins may end up clinching regardless of their result today.

Tune in at 12:30! Or, since this is ABC, probably closer to 1 PM.

Discuss.

The New York Islanders woke up Saturday morning sitting one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division and three points behind the Ottawa Senators for the final wild card spot.

Those are the only two realistic paths remaining for the Islanders into the postseason. 

The math alone tells you catching Philadelphia is significantly easier and is preferable to the task of catching Ottawa.

If the Islanders win in regulation on Saturday against the Senators, they'll move one point back of Ottawa.

Still, the Detroit Red Wings could then leapfrog the Islanders again with a regulation win, based on the regulation wins tiebreaker.

The Senators finish the year with games against the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. 

It's not the most inspiring run of opponents to hope to beat Ottawa to even give the Islanders a chance to pass the Senators.

There's a reason the odds give Ottawa around a 92% chance to make the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the odds have the Islanders and Flyers within a few ticks of one another. Not only is this thanks to the Islanders being just one point back, but the Islanders also clinched the tiebreaker over the Flyers.

In the event of a tie in point, the Islanders finish above Philly, no matter what happens.

The Flyers also have a tougher schedule than Ottawa.

The Flyers go on the road Saturday to face the Winnipeg Jets in a game with huge playoff ramifications for both sides.

If Philly wins that, then they finish the year with games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens.

Ironically, that's also how the Islanders finish the year. The Islanders might need to win every game remaining, a very tall task for them and new head coach Peter DeBoer.

The odds of Philadelphia winning out are rather low, and compared to that of Ottawa, the window of opportunity for the Islanders to claim third place in the Metropolitan Division is significantly larger.

With just three games to go, it's almost the only path ahead. All the Islanders can do is win and drive up the pressure on the Flyers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets take on the Montréal Canadiens tonight at 7 PM. 

Montréal Canadiens - 47-22-10 - 104 Points - 9-1-0 in the last 10 - Won 2 - 2nd in the Atlantic

Columbus Blue Jackets - 39-28-12 - 90 Points - 2-7-1 in the last 10 - Lost 1 - 5th in the Metro  

Team Notes Per CBJ PR

• Columbus split the first two games of its three-game road trip with a 4-3 SO win at Detroit on Tuesday and 5-0 loss at

• Buffalo on Thursday. The club concludes its road portion of the regular season at Montreal on Saturday.

• CBJ play their 16th and final back-to-back set of the season (18-7-5, .683) on Saturday (at Montreal) and Sunday (vs. Boston).

• The team has earned points in 11 of its last 16 road games, ranking sixth-T in the NHL in points pct. since Jan. 11 (10-5-1, .656).

• The Jackets have also earned points in 26 of their past 35 contests overall since Jan. 11 (21-9-5, 47 pts.).

• The Blue Jackets play all four of their games this week against the Atlantic Division (1-1-0). The club has earned points in 19 of its last 24 games against the division dating back to Apr. 8, 2025 (14-5-5).

• Columbus leads the NHL with a franchise-record 58 goals scored by defensemen in 2025-26 (58-135-193, 79 GP).

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

• Charlie Coyle has tied his single-season career high in assists and tied for the second-most points of his 14-year NHL career with 18-38-56 in 79 games this season.

• Adam Fantilli has set single-season career highs in assists and points with 23-33-56 in 79 contests this season.

• Jet Greaves has earned points in 16 of his last 21 starts since Jan. 11 (13-5-3, 2.44 GAA, .910 SV% in 22 GP), ranking eighth among NHL goaltenders in GAA and ninth-T in SV% over that stretch (min. 6 GP).

• Kirill Marchenko has posted assists in four of the past six games (1-5-6) and is the fifth player in Blue Jackets history with 25-plus goals in consecutive seasons (31 in 2024-25; 26 in 2025-26).

• Mason Marchment has collected assists in four of his past five contests (1-5-6) and has 2-6-8 in his last eight games. He ranks second on the team in goals since making his CBJ debut on Dec. 20, 2025 (14-15-29 in 36 GP).

• Zach Werenski set a new single-season franchise record with his 26th multi-point effort on Tuesday (1-1-2). He has recorded 22-58-80 in 72 games in 2025-26 and is the third American-born defenseman in NHL history with consecutive 80-point campaigns (Brian Leetch, 1990-91 - 1991-92 with NYR; Phil Housley, 1991-92 - 1992-93 with WPG).

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play - 19.2% - 22nd in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 76.2% - 28th in the NHL
• Goals For - 238 - 17th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 244 - 22nd in the NHL   

Canadiens Stats

• Power Play - 23.2% - 11th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 78.1% - 20th in the NHL
• Goals For - 271 - 7th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 241 - 17th in the NHL

Series History vs. TheCanadiens

• Columbus is 22-18-1-5 all-time, and 10-11-1-3 all-time in Montréal.
• CBJ have recorded points in three of the last four meetings (2-1-1) and 12 of the past 18 since Mar. 28, 2019 (9-6-3).
• Montreal has won the last five home games in the series (CBJ; 0-4-1) since a three-game road win streak for Columbus from Feb. 2, 2020-Feb. 12, 2022.
• Each of the last four games have been decided by a single goal. Prior to that, seven-of-eight from Apr. 13, 2022-Nov.16, 2024, were decided by multiple goals.
• The winning team has scored four-plus goals in 11 of the past 16 games since Nov. 19, 2019 (including SO goals).
• The teams have combined for six or more goals in four out of the last five meetings and nine of the past 12.
• CBJ have scored a power play goal in two out of the last three games of the series (2-of-6; 33.3 pct.).
• The teams have combined for 60 shots or less in seven of the past ten meetings (57.0 avg.).

Who To Watch For TheCanadiens

• Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 38 goals and 78 points.
• Rasmus Dahlin leads Buffalo with 52 assists.
• Goalie Alex Lyon is 20-10-4 with a SV% of .907.

CBJ Player Notes vsCanadiens

• Boone Jenner has 15 points in 26 games vs. the Sabres.

• Zach Werenski has 19 points in 21 games.
• Charlie Coyle has 24 points in his career against Buffalo.

Injured Reserve & Other Injuries

• Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 41 Games IR - OUT FOR THE SEASON
• Damon Severson - Missed 7 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
• Dmitri Voronkov - Missed 6 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
• Mathieu Olivier - Missed 5 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 206

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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• The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (40-36-3) @ Detroit Red Wings (41-29-9)
• The Time: 5:00 pm EST
• The Broadcast: MSGSN, Devils Hockey Radio

Last Devils Game

This week, the Devils had back to back games against the two NHL team from Pennsylvania, the Penguins and Flyers. In their usual 2025-2026 fashion, the Devils came up short in both games. On Thursday night, the Devils lost to the playoff bound Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. It was the second game in a row that the Devils have let up 5 goals against after Jacob Markstrom pulled out a miracle on Sunday, securing his first shutout of the season. One step forward, two steps back. With the season now officially over, and the Devils eliminated from playoff contention, Sheldon “flip a coin on if I’ll be here next year” Keefe decided to play Jacob Allen in net. Allen, trying to do his best Jacob Markstrom imitation, let up a goal less than 5 minutes into the first period to put the Devils in a 1-0 hole. The Devils showed some life in the 2nd period, with goals from Paul “thanks for the memories NJ” Cotter and Jack Hughes scoring goals, to help the Devils get within 1 goal by the end of the second period at 3-2. The Penguins would put the game out of reach for the Devils in the 3rd period with an early goal from Evgeni Malkin at 6:50 followed later by an empty net goal from Erik “how old is this guy?” Karlsson to seal the victory 5-2.

Last Red Wings Game

On Thursday, the Red Wings got a much needed win, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers, 6-3. The Red Wings currently sit 3 points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card spot, with only 3 games to play. The desperation felt by Detroit is mostly self inflicted at this point. With their victory on Thursday, it marked only their 5th win in their last 15 games. John Gibson got the start in net against the Flyers, and will most likely get the start tonight against the Devils. Why, you ask? Gibson has now started an insane 16 of the last 17 games for Detroit. Barring injuries, it’s a safe bet that Detroit rides Gibson for the last 3 games of the regular season.

Dylan Larkin scored an interesting hat trick for Detroit, getting a power play goal, short handed goal and an even strength goal. I’m not sure if there’s a name for that, but it’s something that’s fun to see either way. Moritz Seider added a career best night for the Red Wings, with a 5 point night (1g, 4a). After the first period ended tied at 1-1, Detroit took control in the 2nd period and never looked back, scoring 3 goals, less than 5 minutes into the period. The Flyers knocked the lead down to 4-2 before the end of the period. However, the Red Wings would add 2 more goals less than 5 minutes apart in the third to put the game officially out of reach for Philadelphia.

Injuries, Roster for Tonight, Yada, Yada, Yada.

In case you missed it, Luke Hughes is done for the season, for his yearly off season surgery.

Grimace’s Prediction and 2025-2026 Record Tracker

Grimace secured his first hole-in-one yesterday while playing golf, which is hopefully a good sign for his predictions and the Devils next year. He was in such a good mood, that he’s decided to make one final prediction for this season. The Devils will win tonight, 4-2. You heard it here first.

Grimace’s 2025-2026 Season Prediction record currently stands at 13-14-0.

Your Take

I don’t generally get much joy out of my favorite team playing spoiler. As I’ve said, it’s a sad consolation prize for not making the playoffs. However, I have to be honest here at the same time. Looking at Detroit’s record, and how they’ve only won 5 times in their last 15 games, and that they’re fighting for their playoff lives right now, I would definitely find joy in the Devils helping to put a nail in the coffin of their playoff dreams. Call me immature, but if my team isn’t going to make the playoffs, then the next best thing is Red Wings fans sharing our collective misery too. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below and thanks for reading!

In a shameless bit of non hockey related self promotion (approved by Chris – thanks Chris), I wanted to plug my brand new podcast on here, if any of you are interested in listening. We have a light hearted, fun discussion about any movies, music or video games mostly from the 1980s and 1990s. Please feel free to listen to us on any of the formats below and any feedback is welcome (positive and negative). Also, please follow us and subscribe, even if you think we stink. 🙂

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