The Vegas Golden Knights are at a crossroads.

A recent stretch of inconsistent play has exposed vulnerabilities, and with a demanding road trip against strong Pacific Division opponents on the horizon, every game will test their ability to regain form and reassert themselves as legitimate contenders.

The Golden Knights are mired in a 3-7-0 stretch over their last 10 games, searching for consistency at a pivotal point in the season. Recent performances have highlighted several recurring issues, including defensive lapses, inconsistent puck management, and an inability to sustain momentum within games. These problems have contributed to a stretch of play that falls short of the standard expected from a contending team.

🪄 pic.twitter.com/cnEdsuBZFs

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 15, 2026

Defensive and Offensive Adjustments Needed

The upcoming matchup against the Nashville Predators presents an immediate test. Despite roster changes, the Predators remain a competitive group, driven by structured forechecking and opportunistic scoring. Their ability to generate offense from multiple areas of the lineup makes them particularly dangerous, especially against teams that struggle with defensive coverage and discipline.

For Vegas, addressing these shortcomings must begin with improved defensive structure. Limiting high-danger opportunities, maintaining positioning in the defensive zone, and reducing unnecessary penalties will be essential. In prior meetings, lapses in these areas have allowed Nashville to capitalize quickly and shift momentum.

Although the Predators have lost three of their last four games to the Golden Knights, mistakes can accumulate quickly, and in the NHL, any team can beat anyone on any given night.

Equally important is a more consistent offensive approach. The Golden Knights have shown they are most effective when scoring contributions extend beyond the top line. Secondary scoring—from depth forwards and the blue line—can alleviate pressure on primary playmakers and create a more balanced attack. Generating sustained zone time and establishing a stronger net-front presence will also be key in breaking through opposing defenses.

Goaltending Stability and Organizational Considerations

Goaltending stability will play a significant role as well. Timely saves, particularly during momentum swings, can help the team reset and avoid extended periods of defensive-zone pressure. Adin Hill is a Stanley Cup champion, but he is no longer conditioned to handle six consecutive starts.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon should consider drafting a goaltender in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft or exploring upgrades through free agency. With cap space adjustments, bolstering the position should be a priority. Carter Hart has proven inconsistent and has struggled with injuries, making him an unreliable long-term solution in net.

The Golden Knights (31-24-14) have a clear opportunity to kickstart their winning ways Saturday at 11 a.m. local time when they face the Predators (31-28-9) at Bridgestone Arena. Execution, balance, and stability—both in net and across the lineup—will determine whether Vegas can turn this stretch around.

Former New Jersey Devil Bobby Farnham, along with Brett Jefferson and Marc Grandisson, purchased minority ownership interests in the Carolina Hurricanes.

This announcement followed the team's official statement released on Friday.

Further details on the transaction emerged when Sportico reported that owner and CEO Tom Dundon agreed to sell 12.5% of the Hurricanes at a $2.66 billion valuation for about $332.5 million.

Regarding the sale, Dundon spoke about his decision to sell a portion of the ownership.

 “Brett, Marc, and Bobby are accomplished executives whose experience will help us grow,” Dundon said. “Brett lives in the area, and Marc will soon relocate to Raleigh, making their influence local. As a former NHL player, Bobby brings a unique perspective as we move forward.”

Farnham formerly played four seasons in the National Hockey League. The undrafted right-winger began his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Farnham spent two seasons with the Penguins (2014-15, 2015-16) before joining the New Jersey Devils in 2015-16.

In 50 games with the Devils, Farnham had 10 points, eight goals, and two assists.

He finished his career with the Canadiens in Montreal.

Over his four-year NHL career, Farnham played 67 games, tallying all of his 10 points while with the Devils.

Since concluding his playing career, he has shifted to the business side of the industry.

Now, at 37, this transition has brought Farnham back into the league in a new capacity. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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The Buffalo Sabres continued their four-game Western road swing with a sluggish start and some good hunting luck in a 5-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. The Sabres relied on goalie Alex Lyon to fend off the young Sharks until the middle of the second period, when Noah Ostlund, Sam Carrick and Rasmus Dahlin scored on Buffalo’s only three shots of the middle frame. 

The Sabres only had 16 shots on Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, but extended their lead early in the third on Tage Thompson’s 35th of the season, with Carrick registering his second of the game and fourth goal in seven games with Buffalo. Lyon made 23 saves for his third shutout of the season, extending the Sabres scoreless streak to 164:07, going back the second period of the 3-2 shootout victory over Toronto. 

Head coach Lindy Ruff commented on the performance after the game:

What were your thoughts on the effort in the victory?

 (San Jose's) compete early on was at a higher level than ours. We turned some pucks over in the neutral zone. Had some lateral passes again, but our goaltender gave us some great saves. And then I thought we passed up a couple of great opportunities, but then once we got rolling offensively, I thought made a couple of real nice plays.

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Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

What were your thoughts on Mattias Samuelsson’s performance and the overall defensive effort against the dangerous Macklin Celebrini?

We knew they were gonna have to be aware of (Celebrini). I thought, as a group, and Sammy especially, when he was out there, he did a good job making sure he didn't get free. He caught us a couple of times in Buffalo, and we tried to make sure we were aware when he was on the ice.

Lyon really kept you in the game early on, he’s done that for you all year….

(He made) real important saves. I mean, to get through that first period, and not give up any with some of the opportunities we gave him, you've got to give our goaltender a lot of credit.

Thompson scored in the third, but it was nice that you were able to get some secondary scoring in this game:

Yeah, the depth of our scoring has been something that's helped us stay on this roll. I think there are nights where top guys don't get on the board, and that secondary scoring really helps you out. I think you look at again tonight the our fourth line got a couple for us, and then finally, Tage came through in the two on one with Krebs, but the Ostlund line with Norris, they got us started. At different times, I think it's been important that all those guys produce. 

The Sabres move down the coast to take on the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and finish off the road swing in Anaheim against the Ducks on Sunday. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in St. Paul. This snapped a 19-game point streak for Minnesota in the head-to-head matchup, losing in regulation to Chicago for the first time since 2019. 

The Blackhawks don’t have much time to celebrate that win, however, as they are at home on Friday for the second half of a back-to-back. They are going to face one of the few teams ahead of the Wild in the standings this season, the Colorado Avalanche. 

Scouting Colorado 

The Colorado Avalanche have the best record in the NHL. At 44-13-10, they lead the league with 98 points. Over the last 20 games or so, however, they’ve been a good team but not a great team. There is another gear this team is capable of reaching, and they hope to get there before the playoffs begin. 

For the Blackhawks, they will do what they can to keep them at bay for at least another game. It’s hard with the lineup that they have, including multiple game-breaking superstars. 

Nichushkin - MacKinnon - Necas

Kadri - Nelson - Roy

Kelly - Drury - Kiviranta

Ivan - Bardakov - Brindley

Kulak - Makar 

Manson - Burns

Toews - Malinski

Blackwood

Wedgewood

Everything that the Avalanche does starts and ends with their two superstars, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. They are both top-five players in the sport. MacKinnon is second in NHL scoring with 111 points, while Makar is tied for third in points by a defenseman with 69. 

Makar does a lot more than create an elite amount of offense. His ability to skate, close gaps, and make a breakout pass from the back-end is among the best in NHL history. As for MacKinnon, the only center in the same conversation with him right now is Connor McDavid.

The Avalanche have some tremendous depth as well, which is why they are so good, but a few players stick out above the rest. Martin Necas is an outstanding forward, and he has tremendous success playing on a line with MacKinnon. 

The other is Devon Toews, who thrives playing as a stay-at-home defenseman with Cale Makar. If the two are seperated, it is the coaching staff looking for a spark between their pairs. 

Colorado traded for Nazem Kadri at the trade deadline. He played a huge role in them winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 before leaving for the Calgary Flames in free agency. They haven't used him at center yet, but you can't help but wonder if running Nathan MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri, and Brock Nelson down the middle is their ultimate plan for the playoffs. For now, expect Kadri to start on the wing playing alongside Nelson. 

Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, Logan O'Connor, and Ross Colton all skated in Chicago this morning, but none of them will suit up against the Blackhawks. 

In goal, it doesn't matter if it's Scott Wedgewood or Mackenzie Blackwood. Each of them is perfectly good enough to win every game with, and the way that the skaters defend as a unit in front plays a big role. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks didn't have a morning skate on Friday, so a lot is up in the air as far as their lineup goes. They called up Dominic Toninato from the Rockford IceHogs on Friday morning, which makes Sacha Boisvert's NHL debut seem unlikely. 

Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky

Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teravainen

Mangiapane-Donato-Mikheyev 

Lardis-Lafferty-Slaggert

Toninato

Vlasic-Levshunov

Kaiser-Rinzel

Del Mastro-Crevier

Grzelcyk

Soderblom

Knight

The Blackhawks went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen on Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild, and it worked out well for them. It won't be known until Jeff Blashill speaks at 6 PM CT anymore on this lineup. 

History says that two of Landon Slaggert, Dominic Toninato, Matt Grzelcyk, or Ethan Del Mastro will sit, and the other two will play. With Spencer Knight starting on Thursday, expect Arvid Soderblom to get his first nod since Knight came back from illness. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:30 PM CT. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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The Colorado Avalanche aren't as dominant as they were at the beginning of the season, but they have a chance on Friday, March 20, to become the first team to clinch a 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs berth.

The Avalanche had only two regulation losses on Jan. 1. That's up to 13 now and the Dallas Stars are just two points back in the race for the Central Division title. But the early goodwill puts Colorado in position to clinch less than four weeks before the end of the regular season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, surging after a coaching change, moved into a playoff position on Thursday night by improving to 17-2-4 under Rick Bowness. The New York Islanders dropped below the playoff line.

Here's what to know about the NHL standings, tiebreaker procedures and playoff field for the 2025-26 season:

Who can clinch today?

The Colorado Avalanche will clinch a playoff berth if they get at least one point against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

NHL games today (Friday, March 20)

All times p.m. ET

• Carolina at Toronto, 7
• New Jersey at Washington, 7
• Colorado at Chicago, 8:30
• Florida at Calgary, 9
• Anaheim at Utah, 10

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

Metropolitan Division

• Carolina Hurricanes (92)
• Pittsburgh Penguis (84)
• Columbus Blue Jackets (83)

Atlantic Division

• Buffalo Sabres (92)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (88)
• Montreal Canadiens (84)

Wild card

• Boston Bruins (84)
• Detroit Red Wings (84)

Sitting out of playoff position: New York Islanders (83), Ottawa Senators (79), Philadelphia Flyers (78), Washington Capitals (76), New Jersey Devils (72), Florida Panthers (71), Toronto Maple Leafs (70), New York Rangers (64)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

Central Division

• Colorado Avalanche (98)
• Dallas Stars (96)
• Minnesota Wild (90)

Pacific Division

• Anaheim Ducks (78)
• Edmonton Oilers (77)
• Vegas Golden Knights (76)

Wild card

• Utah Mammoth (78)
• Los Angeles Kings (72)

Sitting out of playoff position: Seattle Kraken (71), Nashville Predators (71), San Jose Sharks (70), Winnipeg Jets (67), St. Louis Blues (65), Chicago Blackhawks (64), Calgary Flames (61), Vancouver Canucks (50)

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended

• Carolina (M1) vs Detroit (WC2)
• Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Columbus (M3)
• Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
• Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended 

• Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)
• Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
• Anaheim (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
• Edmonton (P2) vs. Vegas (P3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
3. Total wins
4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.

When do the NHL playoffs start?

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are expected to begin on Saturday, April 18.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff standings, latest 2026 bracket, tiebreaker scenarios

The Colorado Avalanche are on the verge of becoming the first team to secure a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season, with a pivotal matchup set for Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.

With the postseason less than a month away—set to begin April 18—the Avalanche need just a single point against Chicago to officially punch their ticket to the playoffs. But Colorado will surely want more than an overtime or shootout consolation; they want, and need, a decisive victory over the Blackhawks, who enter the contest with the second-worst record in the NHL at 26-30-12.

The Avalanche may be facing a team that isn’t quite on their level, but Chicago has shown they can disrupt expectations. Colorado holds a slim two-point lead—a margin that once seemed unassailable but has shriveled since the Olympic break. That lead has continued to erode as the Avalanche have struggled, while the Dallas Stars have surged with an 8-1-1 run over their last 10 games. Meanwhile, Colorado has gone 6-3-1 in the same span and has dropped its last three games, including a 2-1 shootout loss to Dallas in their most recent outing at Ball Arena.

Previous Matchups Offer a Glimpse

These teams have already squared off twice this season, and in both instances, the Blackhawks demonstrated they can hang with the Avalanche.

The first matchup came on November 23 at the United Center. Scott Wedgewood stopped 22 shots to backstop a 1-0 Colorado victory, while Cale Makar scored the game’s lone goal. That contest marked only the 25th game of the season, and at that point, Colorado had suffered just one regulation loss—highlighting the Avalanche’s early-season dominance.

Waffleboarded ❌ pic.twitter.com/iYFVYcttt8

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 24, 2025

Fast forward to February 28 for their most recent meeting. Colorado was entering only its third game since the Olympic break and had lost four of its previous seven contests, signaling some midseason turbulence. Chicago struck first when Connor Bedard netted an early goal to take a 1-0 lead. But the Avalanche quickly regained control, responding with three unanswered goals over the next two frames to secure the win.

The Blackhawks managed just 15 shots on net that night, while Mackenzie Blackwood guarded Chicago’s crease, making Colorado’s path to victory appear controlled, yet far from effortless.

The Road Ahead

Colorado has 15 games remaining in the regular season, and in a league as unpredictable as the NHL, anything can happen. Under the playoff format, the division winner with the best record in each conference faces the wild-card team with the lesser record, while the wild-card team with the better record takes on the other division winner.

If the playoffs were to start today, the Avalanche would face the Los Angeles Kings, while the Anaheim Ducks would square off against the Utah Mammoth—a team quietly loaded with talent and rising stars.

With the division race tightening and the postseason looming, the Avalanche know there’s no room for complacency. It’s time to put the pedal to the metal.

Tonight’s game against Chicago kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET at United Center.

Since their 2–1 win against the New Jersey Devils on December 14, the Vancouver Canucks have put up clips on social media showing their team-assigned player of the game award handoff. The award itself is a custom axe given to the team by Vancouver Firefighter Charities, which the Canucks brought into the locker room as “a symbol of all the first responders and what they do for [...] the city.” 

The axe has been distributed 10 times so far this season, with only one player earning it twice. Here’s a list of all the Canucks’ axe recipients since December 14. 

March 17vs. Florida Panthers: Kevin Lankinen 

21 saves on 23 shots

.913 SV% 

March 12vs. Nashville Predators: Filip Hronek 

Scored game-tying goal, 1A, 3 blocks

29:03 TOI 

March 6@ Chicago Blackhawks: Brock Boeser

2 G, 4 SOG 

19:31 TOI 

January 29vs. Anaheim Ducks: Nikita Tolopilo

32 saves on 32 shots

1.00 SV% 

January 21vs. Washington Capitals: Teddy Blueger 

First game back since Oct. 19 

3 SOG, 4 hits

18:24 TOI 

December 29@ Seattle Kraken: Conor Garland 

2 SOG, 1 block, 2 hits

16:15 TOI 

December 20@ Boston Bruins: Kevin Lankinen 

39 saves on 43 shots 

.907 SV% 

7/7 shootout attempts stopped

December 19@ New York Islanders: Tyler Myers 

1100th NHL game

1 SOG, 1 block

21:22 TOI 

December 16@ New York Rangers: Thatcher Demko 

23 saves on 23 shots

1.00 SV% 

December 14@ New Jersey Devils: Zeev Buium 

1G, 3 SOG

23:59 TOI 

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: 

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There are five games on the ice on Friday, March 20, and I’ve got three NHL player props to cover you through the night.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers leads off my NHL picks, with a big night for Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, and Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin rounds out the betting card.

Best NHL player prop bets today

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(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Friday, March 20

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Nikolaj Ehlers Over 2.5 shots

-110 at BET99

Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers has recorded just five shots across his past four games despite registering 17 attempts, so I’m anticipating improvement to that miniscule 29.4% conversation rate given his 47.2% mark through the first 64 games of the season.

Of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs are also allowing shots in bunches with the most in the league for the year (32.2 per game), and an even higher 35.0 SOG out of the Olympic break.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NHL Network, Sportsnet Ontario

Prop #2: Logan Thompson Over 25.5 saves

-130 at BET99

Washington Capitals No. 1 Logan Thompson has found a groove with a .923 save percentage and 15.55 goals saved above expected across his past nine starts, including turning away 34 and 32 shots across his past two.

With the New Jersey Devils ranking fifth in the league with 30 shots per game, I’m anticipating Thompson piling up saves again tonight. 

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: MSGSN, Sportsnet East

Prop #3: Valeri Nichushkin Over 0.5 points

-125 at BET99

Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin has primarily skated on the No. 1 line with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas the past two games, and the trio hasn’t exactly clicked with just 1.31 expected goals despite a 67.4 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five.

With a script-flipping matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks on deck, I’m expecting Nichushkin to mark the scoresheet tonight.

After all, Chicago has surrendered a healthy 3.13 goals per game this season.

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CHSN, Sportsnet+

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

When Montreal Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes heard Noah Dobson was available to be had on the trade market, he didn’t hesitate, and he acquired the right-shot defenseman on draft day, even though it meant trading his two first-round picks and promising young forward Emil Heineman. After 68 games with the Sainte-Flanelle, the blueliner has shown Hughes that he was right to make the move, especially given the Canadiens’ lack of depth when it came to NHL-ready right-shot defenseman.

Dobson has put up 45 points in his first 68 games with the Habs, and he’s on pace for a 54-point season, which would be a big improvement on his totals from last year. Of course, when Hughes acquired him, it was because of how offensively gifted he is, but there’s more to his game than just that.

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While he’s not as defensively sound as he is offensively gifted, he’s still fully committed to the defensive side of the game. Right now, he’s second in the league in blocked shots with 163, just two behind the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Jake McCabe. He’s on pace for 197 blocked shots on the season; last year, he only had 126 with the New York Islanders.

He currently has a plus-10 rating, a significant improvement from the minus-16 he posted for the New York Islanders last season. Of course, there’s still room for improvement when it comes to his defensive game; he could definitely stand to throw his body around a bit more and use that big frame of his (6-foot-4, 200 lbs).

He’s only got 45 hits so far this season (14th on the team), and he’s able to dish out more than that. In 2023-24, he registered 84, and the Canadiens aren’t the most physical team out there, so they could use it. He could also use a bit more intensity in his net front battles; clearing the goaltender’s sightline is always a plus. Still, one must admit that Dobson is having an impressive season with the Canadiens and that he thrives in Martin St-Louis’ brand of hockey.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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Montreal Canadiens•Detroit Red Wings

St. Louis Blues rookie defenseman Theo Lindstein is experiencing his first bit of life in the NHL to end the 2025-26 season, and he’s showing he’s up for the task.

It’s been just five games, but the 21-year-old has shown a level of comfort that the Blues are more than pleased with. 

In these five games, Lindstein has recorded one assist, fired five shots on goal, thrown two hits, and blocked two shots while averaging 14:06 of ice time. His counting stats indicate he has impacted the game across multiple facets, and his analytics show he is helping guide the Blues to success.

According to naturalstattrick.com, the Blues are outscoring their opponents at 5-on-5, 3-2, with Lindstein on the ice. Additionally, they own 64.94 percent of the expected goals, 60 percent of the high-danger chances, and own a 57.72 CorsiFor percentage. 

Coach Jim Montgomery has done a solid job of putting Lindstein in advantageous situations, yet he’s feeling more comfortable putting him in defensive situations. Through his first five games, Lindstein has started eight shifts in the offensive zone, 18 in the neutral zone, and 14 in the defensive zone, while 64 have started on the fly. 

When looking at Lindstein’s AHL numbers with the Springfield Thunderbirds, some may have been deterred or thought he wasn’t ready. His six goals and 14 points in 56 games aren’t exactly eye-popping or league-shattering, but the six-foot defender was in the process of getting accustomed to North American hockey while trying to learn a new system.

Theo Lindstein's NHL Debut A Success For Blues Despite OT Loss To IslandersThe 2023 first-round pick (No. 29 overall) collected an assist in a 4-3 loss, moved pucks well and used his skating ability to fit in, which is a good sign moving forward

The adjustment took some time, but once he found his game, he excelled, and now, he’s proving it at the NHL level. 

Lindstein has played nearly every second of his NHL career alongside Colton Parayko. While they might be different players physically and stylistically, Parayko is a great defender for a rookie to start his career with and learn from. While the lessons he can learn from Parayko are worth it on their own, the fact that their numbers are great together is a positive sign.

With Justin Faulk gone, there’s a vacancy on the blueline, and Lindstein is showing that he is ready for it. He’ll have to prove himself in training camp before next season, as players like Adam Jiricek are expected to compete for that roster spot, but his play during this call-up is showing a lot of positive signs to coach Montgomery. 

---

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The Florida Panthers are set to visit the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight.

My top Panthers vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks are calling for Calgary to show up and keep things low-scoring on Friday, March 20.

Panthers vs Flames prediction

Panthers vs Flames best bet: Under 5.5 (+100)

The Calgary Flames draw the Florida Panthers on the second leg of a back-to-back road set after the Cats topped Edmonton in a Stanley Cup rematch on Thursday.

This sets up as a great schedule spot for Calgary, which has allowed the fourth-fewest goals per game on home ice (2.7). Meanwhile, the Flames have also scored the fewest goals per game overall (2.44).

With Calgary also hitting the Under in 15 of its last 25 games, I’m expecting another low-scoring matchup between these two teams.

Panthers vs Flames same-game parlay

This is a potential letdown spot for a Florida roster that’s also missing multiple key veterans.

On the opposite bench, Calgary has a number of players pushing to establish NHL jobs for next season. The Flames are also a respectable 17-12-4 at home for the season.

Turning to Calgary rookie Matvei Gridin, he’s picked up two or more shots in 11 of his past 15 games. The 2024 first-round selection has made a quick jump to the highest level, and his consistent shot volume has been a spark for the Flames during a tough stretch.

Panthers vs Flames SGP

• Flames moneyline
• Under 5.5
• Matvei Gridin Over 1.5 shots

Panthers vs Flames odds

• Moneyline: Panthers -110 | Flames -110
• Puck Line: Panthers -1.5 (+220) | Flames +1.5 (-275)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-120) | Under 5,5 (+100)

Panthers vs Flames trend

Calgary has hit the Under in 15 of its last 25 games (+6.10 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Flames.

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Friend and Predators reporter Alex Daugherty is back to talk about Vladimir Orszagh, a Slovakian import who was undervalued as an Islander but was instrumental to establishing Nashville’s – and Alex’s – love for hockey.

The late 1990’s were a terrible time for the Islanders. The loses were many and prospects had little support in advancing to the NHL. After a few dozen unimpressive games in North America, young Vladimir Orszagh took a sabbatical to Europe for a season, then returned to the NHL with the fourth-year Predators. There, he became a consistent scorer and joined with fellow Euros Denis Arkhipov and Martin Erat to form “The Vowel Line,” the first named unit in Nashville’s ice history. The trio helped the Predators make the playoffs for the first time and showed that with a good, hardworking team, hockey in Music City could work.

For Alex, a Predators fan since high school when they played their very first game, Orszagh is among the most important players in the team’s early history. He tells us about skipping out of work to see a 1-0 win with Orszagh scoring the lone goal, how he helped the team and fanbase grow in a new market, and about his legacy in Nashville to this day. We also talk about Orszagh’s international career, which includes being on one of the sickest rosters ever conceived and serving as the head coach of a Slovakian team that made some noise at the recent Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy.

We can’t thanks Alex enough for coming on again, telling us these great stories and saying such nice things about the show. You should be reading him for all things Predators in The Tennessean and elsewhere. We also have a Weird Islanders Extra! bonus episode with him as well, where we share some weird stories about our teams’ respective owners.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL

• Written proof of two of Orszagh’s three goals for the Islanders, which happened during one of the franchise’s most woeful seasons. In 1999-00, he scored in a 4-2 loss to the Habs amidst a 2-9-1 stretch at home. Later that season, he beat Glenn Healy in a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs in which Darcy Tucker severely injured Steve Thomas. Shocking.
• Orszagh signed with Nashville as a free agent in 2001. He had 15 goals for the fourth year Predators, and counted as a legit offensive threat for them. They signed him to an extension and he gave them 16 goals in each of the next two seasons. 
• He scored twice in Nashville’s first ever playoff series, a six game loss to Detroit in 2004. He tied Game 2 and slid face-first into the goal post.

• Then in Game 4, he scored the second of three Predators goals in a 3-0 series-tying shutout. Great, uh, call by Pierre McGuire here. Way to keep your eye on the puck, man.

• After playing in the IHL and the Swedish Elite League, Orszagh was claimed by the Blues off waivers.
• Orszagh was part of Slovakia’s 2002 IIHF gold medal winning team, which had an undeniably sick roster of early 2000’s NHLers, many of whom had Islanders connections: Him, Zigmund Palffy, Miroslav Satan and Lubomir Visnovsky. Here’s the documentary about it.

• The whole reason we’re doing this: Orszagh coached Team Slovakia at this year’s Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. They finished fourth after losing in the bronze medal game to Finland.

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What makes a “Weird Islander?”

We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:

• Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
• Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.

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With a big divisional game against Detroit looming on Saturday night, you could be forgiven for worrying that the Bruins might overlook a home game against a fading Winnipeg Jets team.

However, the B’s showed up and then some, jumping out to a 4-0 second period lead before eventually gliding to a 6-1 win at TD Garden.

The B’s got goals from six different players, including Lukas Reichel, who scored on a fortuitous bounce in his Bruins debut.

Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves in the win, earning himself a First Star for his efforts.

After a scoreless start to the first period, David Pastrnak got the scoring started when he collected a loose puck out of mid-air and beat Connor Hellebuyck to make it 1-0 Bruins.

Hellebuyck was in the spotlight for the next Bruins goal, when he failed to collect a wraparound that ended up on Reichel’s stick for a chip-in to make it 2-0 Bruins.

Viktor Arvidsson was the beneficiary of a puck that ramped off a stick and looped up and behind Hellebuyck to make it 3-0 Bruins late in the second period.

Pavel Zacha continued his hot streak with a laser to beat Hellebuyck and make it 4-0 Bruins in the third period.

Jonathan Toews got the Jets on the board with a nice tip-in goal on the power play to make it 4-1 Bruins just two minutes after Zacha’s goal.

Fraser Minten restored the four-goal lead off a great spinning pass from Pastrnak to make it 5-1 Bruins late in the third.

Jonathan Aspirot added insult to injury, beating Hellebuyck with a wicked shot to make it 6-1 Bruins.

And that was that! Bruins win, 6-1, sweeping the season series with Winnipeg.

Game notes

• While the final score makes the entire game seem like a blowout, it’s worth noting that this was a 2-0 game until the last two minutes of the second period. Swayman played well for the Bruins, making 16 saves in the first two periods, including a highlight-reel stop.
• Those second and third goals by the Bruins are the kind of weird goals that feel like your team doesn’t get them when they’re struggling but does when things are going OK. I think back to weird moments like the stick-snap in the game against Florida that went against the B’s, or Charlie McAvoy blowing an edge in OT against the Devils. Tonight, the bounces went the Bruins’ way, but they also deserve credit for building on the lead after those bounces.
• David Pastrnak is up to 4G-4A-8PTS totals in his last five games, as he had a goal and an assist tonight. Countryman Pavel Zacha is right on his heels in that same stretch, with 4G-2A-6PTS totals.
• Lukas Reichel is so new to the B’s that he doesn’t even have a photo on the NHL website. SOMEONE GET THE KID A CAMERA. While he benefited from Hellebuyck’s misplay, he showed good speed and instincts to get himself into he right spot to make a play.
• All six Bruins goals were scored at even strength, as they came up empty in one power play opportunity.
• While we’re all tired of hearing about “this is a big game,” this was a pretty big win for the Bruins given other results. Ottawa, Detroit, Columbus, and Philadelphia all won on Thursday night, meaning the B’s didn’t really gain much ground. Both the Bruins and Red Wings are now tied on points with Montreal, while Columbus and the Islanders are a point behind. The Isles actually fell out of the playoff picture based on a games-played tiebreaker with Columbus, so…it’s getting tight!

The B’s will be back in action in Detroit on Saturday night, a primetime 8 PM Eastern start on ABC.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have certainly changed the expectations for themselves this season. When the 2025-26 season began, most people were anticipating a bad team, going through a long season that was going to put them closer to the top of the NHL Draft Lottery than the top of the NHL standings. But as we enter the stretch run of the regular season, they remain in second-place in the Metropolitan Division with an excellent chance of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

At this point the playoffs are the expectation. As they should be given the way they have played and the position they have put themselves in with the standings. This is a good team, and the expectations should be treated as such. But whether they make the playoffs or not, and whether they do anything if and when they get there, this season is still part of a rebuild and the long-term outlook is still important. Very important. There have been some significant long-term developments that should be seen as highly encouraging.

The most significant of those developments remains the performance of 18-year-old rookie center Ben Kindel.

He scored another big goal for the Penguins on Wednesday night, helping them secure an important point on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes. It is his 17th goal of the season in just 65 games, putting him on a pace for around 20 goals for the season.

That would be a significant number to reach as an 18-year-old rookie going right to the NHL in his draft year. The list of players that have done that in the modern era is both pretty short, and also a significant who’s who list of stars.

Even 17 goals is a big number for somebody his age.

Going back over the past 30 years, only 15 players have scored at least 17 goals in their age 18 season. Most 18-year-olds are not even a serious option for the NHL, and the ones that do make the NHL do not hold their own enough to get more than a nine-game look in the league before being sent back to Juniors or taken out of the lineup.

Kindel not only proved himself enough to stay and become a regular part of the lineup, he has become a significant contributor. He is not a passenger on a good team. He is one of the reasons this is a good team.

It is also relatively uncharted territory for a player drafted where he was to be this good, this productive, and this important so soon.

Of the 15 players that have matched his goal total at this age, the overwhelming majority of them were players picked with a top-two pick in the draft.

The list and each player’s draft position:

• No. 1: Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini, Steven Stamkos, Ilya Kovalchuk, Connor Bedard, Matthew Schaefer, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Rick Nash
• No. 2: Andrei Svechnikov, Patrik Laine, Jordan Staal
• No. 3: Marian Gaborik
• No. 4:
• No. 5:
• No. 6:
• No. 7: Jeff Skinner
• No. 8:
• No. 9:
• No. 10:
• No. 11: Ben Kindel
• No. 12:
• No. 13:
• No. 14:
• No. 15:

Unless you are a top-two pick, you really do not step right into the NHL in your draft year and make this sort of impact. The fact the Penguins got Kindel where they did, and that he has been as good as he has, is a huge score for the team’s front office and perhaps even the type of good luck they needed to really accelerate any sort of a rebuild.

It is not just the goal numbers that are significant, either. It is also the fact he is simply legitimately a good player that has taken on so many roles and been such a major contributor outside of the offense.

Of the 16 Penguins skaters that have played at least 500 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey he ranks third in shot attempt share, seventh in expected goal share, seventh in scoring chance share and fourth in high-danger scoring chance share.

Since the start of the 2007-08 season when such data started to be tracked, he is one of just two 18-year-olds that have scored at least 17 goals and had a shot-attempt share of more than 52 percent (Andrei Svechnikov is the other).

He has taken on more of a penalty killing role as the season has gone on, and entering play on Friday ranks first on the team in goals against per 60 minutes and expected goals against per 60 minutes when he is on the ice in shorthanded situations.

In most years he would be a serious contender for the Calder Trophy as the league’s Rookie of the Year, but I feel like Matthew Schaefer has such a lock on that award that it is not even worth discussing. But Kindel should still get significant votes and at least be worthy of a top-five finish.

I am still not sure what his long-term upside and ceiling is, but the company he is keeping right now in his first year is impressive. He may not be a franchise-changing player on the level of a Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon or Macklin Celebrini, but he at least looks like a long-term, cornerstone player that can be a foundational piece for a contending team. That is the most important development of this season. Perhaps even more than anything the team as a whole does.

Well, never mind about that. 

After a promising stretch of wins and a tightly contested loss to the Buffalo Sabres, the Vegas Golden Knights suffered a heavy setback on Thursday night, falling 4-0 to the Utah Mammoth. The defeat marked Vegas’ second consecutive shutout loss and the third this month, highlighting ongoing challenges both offensively and defensively.

Three unanswered goals in the first period from Utah runs Adin Hill out of the net 🫣 pic.twitter.com/fKAX10deWs

— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) March 20, 2026

Adin Hill Needs Help

Vegas goaltender Adin Hill was given a sixth consecutive start by head coach Bruce Cassidy, adding to a heavy workload accumulated over the past week. The decision, aimed at maintaining consistency in net, proved costly. Utah struck early, scoring three goals on three shots within the first eight minutes, putting the Golden Knights in a significant deficit that persisted for most of the game.

The first two goals were partly the result of defensive lapses, including leaving Clayton Keller unmarked, while the third highlighted Hill’s positioning, as he was unable to react quickly enough to a high-percentage scoring chance.

Hill was replaced following the third goal, with backup Akira Schmid stepping in. The early concession of goals underscored the need for a reliable goaltending tandem in Vegas. With Carter Hart reportedly nearing a return from injury, competition for the starting role could intensify in the coming weeks, though Hart’s injury history raises questions about his long-term availability.

Offensive Struggles Persist

Offensively, the Golden Knights were unable to generate consistent pressure against Utah. While expected goals models, such as Moneypuck, suggested over four scoring chances, the team struggled to convert zone entries into meaningful opportunities. Many shot attempts were blocked or misfired, and high-danger scoring chances were rare.

The power play, limited to just two opportunities, failed to make an impact, while the penalty kill remained a positive element, successfully neutralizing all Utah advantages with disciplined execution. Vegas also registered a few unlucky bounces, including shots off the post, further limiting offensive production.

Implications

The loss extends Vegas’ recent record to seven wins in the last 22 games, highlighting the team’s inconsistency. Since January 19, the Golden Knights are 0-12-1 when allowing the first goal, emphasizing the importance of strong starts and reliable goaltending. With playoff positioning still in contention, the team must address the defensive lapses and offensive inefficiencies exposed against Utah while managing the workload for Hill and Hart moving forward.