Category: Ice Hockey

TORONTO (AP) — Nikita Kucherov had three assists in a four-goal first period and added another in the third to give him 100 points on the season as the Tampa Bay Lightning cruised past the listless Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Saturday night.

Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel, with a goal and an assist each, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Ryan McDonagh and the newly reacquired Corey Perry scored for Tampa Bay, which snapped a four-game slide.

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves. Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli added two assists.

Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson scored for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz stopped 28 shots.

The Maple Leafs, who started the night eight points back of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and were booed off the ice, have dropped seven straight since returning from the NHL’s Olympic break.

Tampa Bay tops the East and the Atlantic Division with 82 points, which put them 17 clear of Saturday’s opponent.

Toronto captain Auston Matthews, who hit the post in the third period on a shot that glanced off Vasilevskiy, has now gone 11 games without scoring, and has just one goal in his last 15 games.

Perry was reacquired from L.A. and arrived in Toronto at 4 a.m. Saturday. The 40-year-old played two seasons with the Lightning from 2021 through 2023, including a trip to the Stanley Cup final in 2022.

Up next

Lightning: End a four-game road trip in Buffalo on Sunday.

Maple Leafs: Visit Montreal on Tuesday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Ottawa Senators will have a new face in the lineup Saturday night when they face the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Veteran winger Warren Foegele will play his first game since being acquired by the Senators on Thursday from the Los Angeles Kings.

Senators head coach Travis Green will bring Foegele into the mix gradually, at least based on the line combinations at Saturday’s game-day skate. The 29-year-old winger is expected to start on the left side of the fourth line alongside Lars Eller and Fabian Zetterlund.

Zetterlund arrived in Ottawa under similar circumstances. Acquired at last year’s trade deadline with 17 goals already to his credit, he also began his Senators tenure on the fourth line before eventually working his way up the lineup.

Foegele is known primarily for his defensive reliability and penalty killing, but his offence has gone quiet this season. The veteran winger has just seven goals and two assists in 49 games, including two goals and one assist in his last 31 outings, so it shouldn't be a surprise he’ll begin in the bottom line.

Regardless, Foegele said he’s excited about the change of scenery.

“Yeah, it’s been a pretty wild 48 hours,” Foegele told reporters in Seattle after the morning skate. “I loved my time in L.A., just a great group of guys there. I had a lot of fun with those guys, and obviously, I’m going to miss them. But I’m super excited for this new opportunity.

“The guys here seem great and, just watching some games, I think it’s a style that brings me back to my roots. It’s kind of similar to playing in Carolina and fits the mould of the player that I am.”

Foegele’s arrival means someone has to come out of the lineup, and for the second straight game Stephen Halliday is expected to be a healthy scratch.

Halliday was a surprise scratch in Thursday night’s 4–1 win in Calgary, replaced by tough guy Kurtis MacDermid, who had been sitting out since late December. The move led to some speculation that Halliday may have been involved in trade discussions at one point, although the team said they simply wanted MacDermid in the lineup to add toughness against the Flames.

Foegele's debut is the only change to Saturday's combinations, and the Sens noob will wear his familiar number 37.

He's the eighth player to wear No. 37 in Senators history. According to Hockey Reference, the others are Yves Sarault (1999), Dean McAmmond (2007–09), Martin St. Pierre (2010), Corey Locke (2011), Casey Bailey (2017), Joshua Norris (2020) and Donovan Sebrango (2025–26).

While Norris became well known in Ottawa for wearing No. 9, he briefly wore No. 37 for three games in 2020 because Bobby Ryan held No. 9 until the Senators bought out his contract later that year.

The Senators are also beginning life without David Perron, who was traded back to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. But the Sens had already been adjusting to that reality. Perron had not played since undergoing sports hernia surgery on Jan. 20.

Prior to the injury, Perron had been heating up with four points in his final four games as a Senator. But with Perron set to turn 38 in May, carrying a $4-million cap hit and headed for unrestricted free agency this summer, it wasn’t a huge surprise that Ottawa opted to move forward and get something for him while they still could.

Linus Ullmark, despite a couple of shaky outings in there, hasn't been tagged with a regulation loss in 12 games (8-0-3). He'll start on Saturday versus former Senator Joey Daccord.

Here’s how the Sens are expected to line up tonight in Seattle.

Senators projected line combinations

Drake Batherson — Tim Stützle — 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 — Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven — Jordan Spence

Linus Ullmark
James Reimer

Kraken projected line combinations (NHL.com)

Jared McCann — Matty Beniers — Jordan Eberle
Jaden Schwartz — Chandler Stephenson — Eeli Tolvanen
Berkly Catton — Shane Wright — Kaapo Kakko
Jacob Melanson — Ben Meyers — Ryan Winterton

Vince Dunn — Cale Fleury
Jamie Oleksiak — Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura — Ryker Evans

Joey Daccord
Philipp Grubauer

Seattle newcomer Bobby McMann will not play because of visa issues after being acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.

But that's not the only bad news for the Kraken.

There's also a bug of some kind going through the Kraken locker room. Defensemen Adam Larsson and Ryan Lindgren, along with forward Frederick Gaudreau, are all sick and missed the game-day skate. They'll be game-time decisions, and even if they can play, it's doubtful they'll be feeling their best.

“We’ve got some guys who aren’t feeling well.”

Game time decisions for Lindgren, Larsson, and Gaudreau, per Lane Lambert. #SeaKraken

— Mike Benton (@Benton_Mike) March 7, 2026

In their last meeting back in October, the Senators came away with a 4-3 shootout victory. With Ottawa's net empty, Dylan Cozens scored the tying goal in the dying moments, and Tim Stutzle won it in the shootout.

The Senators begin play on Saturday night (10 pm Sportsnet, TVAS, City TV) six points out of a playoff spot after the Boston Bruins defeated the Washington Capitals 3–1 earlier in the day. Despite having a lesser record than the Sens, Seattle holds down the final wild-card spot in the West, but not by much. So they will be equally desperate.

With the trade deadline now behind them and such a big hill to climb, it's time for the Senators to get Kraken. Their goal on Saturday is to get out of Seattle with two points... and without getting sick.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News. Read more great Senators coverage and bookmark TheHockeyNews.com/Ottawa-Senators

Will Warren Foegele Prove To Be Worth The Price For The Senators?
Brady Tkachuk Jokes About Being 'Under Microscope' After Olympics
After Trading David Perron, Senators Have Cap Space To Do More At Deadline
Senators Stand Pat On Quiet Final Day Before NHL Trade Deadline

Pregame

There’s no Evgeni Malkin (suspension) or Sidney Crosby (injury) so the Penguins are working with this lineup today.

First period

Good start for the Penguins, the Flyers take the first penalty about 90 seconds into the game and then about 90 seconds later a pretty passing play between Justin Brazeau to Tommy Novak leads to an opening goal.

Philadelphia is able to respond less than a minute later, Avery Hayes tries to clear the zone but isn’t quite on the same page with Ville Koivunen, the turnover gets down to Trevor Zegras. Zegras makes a nice pass over to Owen Tippett who has the time and space to beat Stuart Skinner with a shot. 1-1.

Hayes finishes a big time hit on Cam York behind the net. Jamie Drysdale takes offense to it, not much comes out of the fight where both are off-balance. The Pens get a power play out of the sequence but are unable to score.

Shots are 8-2 PIT after one period; a fight, some nice hits, some goals, a nice Penguin/Flyer game to start.

Second period

Pittsburgh scores in the second period, Egor Chinakhov feeds Rickard Rakell, who steps into a wrister from the top of the circles that ends up in the back of the net in part thanks to the Bryan Rust center lane drive. 2-1 Pens.

The Flyers find another answer quickly, Ben Kindel tries to bump a puck back to Connor Clifton but it gets turned over deep in the Pens’ zone. It ends up going to Alex Bump, who is able to score in his first career NHL game by settling a rolling puck and firing by Stuart Skinner. 2-2.

It takes another minute for the Penguins to respond to that. Rakell wins an offensive zone faceoff and Chinakhov plays the puck back to Erik Karlsson. Dan Vladar has a clean lane to see the shot, but it sails through his blocker side anyways. 3-2 Pens.

Philadelphia is able to tie the game once again, another Penguin turnover results in a nice passing sequence for Denver Barkey to flick into the net. 3-3 game.

Kris Letang’s rough period continues, he allows Travis Sanehim to skate right through him and then has to slash at him from behind to help deny a scoring chance. The Flyers get their second power play of the game out of it, they come up empty.

There are only 25 total shots in the game after 40 minutes (15-10 for PIT) but there have been six total goals, three per team.

Third period

The Pens are the better team at the start, Chinakhov gets a great chance that just misses the net, as does a Novak tip attempt on a Karlsson point shot. Rakell flashes and forces a Flyer to take a penalty to alter a scoring chance to send Pittsburgh to their fourth power play of the game but they don’t manage even a shot on goal.

The Flyers then get a few chances but don’t score. Rakell draws a second power play in the period by taking a stick up high for a big chance with just 6:40 to play in the game. It gets a ton of zone time but is mostly stagnant and the puck remains to the outside.

Quiet period, each team records four SOG a piece, neither comes particularly close to breaking the tie during regulation.

Overtime

Rakell-Rust-Karlsson start out the 3v3 for the Pens. Pittsburgh got the puck back but Novak looked like he got hurt in the corner. The Flyers have a 3-on-2 the other way and Trevor Zegras’s pass through the crease gets inadvertently blocked away from the open net by his own teammate.

Vladar makes a stop on Chinakhov but then steps out of his crease and puts a pick on Karlsson. Can’t do that, refs penalize him and Zegras slams a stick to the ice in frustration of his goalie’s mistake.

4v3 power play with 2:09 to go, Skinner wisely heads to the bench for an “equipment issue” to serve as an impromptu, uncharged timeout for the Pens to get ready. Karlsson does send a shot off the outside of the post at one point, but all things considered a tough miss.

Shootout

Anthony Mantha is the first one up, he swoops in slowly and shoots right into Vladar’s leg pads.

Matvei Michkov goes first for the Flyers, similarly his low shot is stopped by the legs of Skinner.

—

Rakell is the second shooter for the Pens, his shot finds the post but ricochets out.

The dangerous Trevor Zegras is up next, he dances in then picks a corner, making it look easy on the goal.

—

Chinakhov has to score to keep the game alive, he doesn’t.

Some thoughts

• We’ve been coming back to the difficulty for the forwards to produce 5v5 goals lately without Sidney Crosby around (they only have five 5v5 goals from a forward in the last six games), it was huge for Rakell to get on the board in the second period. It’s almost like a bonus these days when that happens, tough to live like that indefinitely but hopefully Crosby’s eventual return will help boost that area.
• The power play went 1/6 won’t kill yearly percentage but doesn’t really like in a good flow, especially the first group. That’s partially to be expected with no Crosby and now no Evgeni Malkin. It’s not always going to be pretty, getting as much as they can out of it is absolutely crucial within the game —since as mentioned above— it’s been a struggle for the forwards at even strength so they need players like Brazeau and Novak to produce goals in whatever way they can.
• Pens fall to 1-9 on the shootout, more of the same where they can’t find a goal at all. But the problem isn’t the shootout in this one, the problem was letting this game get to the shootout in the first place. Philadelphia only had five total SOG in the third period + OT, basically doing nothing out there. That’s a disappointment to let a game drag on so far — especially with the late power play in OT. The game is right there for the taking for the Pens, they simply were unable to reach out and grab it.
• On all the Flyers goals, the Penguins had the puck in their defensive zone less than five seconds before the goal was scored. That’s got to be frustrating for the coaches. On a pair of goals it looked like Kindel was caught in space and Koivunen was either weak on the puck or half a beat too slow to gain a clearance. Kris Letang making mistakes all over the place didn’t help either. It happens with young players, but it’s a lesson to be a little more on the details or learn that the puck ends up in your own net mighty quickly at this level.
• There was an adjustment made in that department for the start of the third period; Kindel was put on a line with Mantha/Brazeau (a line from earlier in the season) and Novak moved in to play with Koivunen/Hayes.
• Two assist game for Chinakhov, who seamlessly fit in with his new linemates of the day. Nice to see him continue his productive ways apart from Malkin.
• Great game from Rakell, he actually won 45% of his 21 faceoffs which is legitimately a very positive increase. A goal, an assist (due to a faceoff win) and he was a beast at taking the puck off Flyers in the 3v3. One of his best games in a long time.
• Today was the last PIT/PHI game of the year, and I don’t know, March 7th and Game No. 62 is too early in the season to not have any more Pens/Flyers games. Kinda a bummer.
• The Pens went 2-0-2 against the Flyers this season, which in NHL math is as good as three wins.

It’s going to be a struggle for Pittsburgh to claw out any and every point that they can without Crosby and Malkin. and now move to 2-2-2 in the six games post-Olympics without their captain. Staying .500 will help keep the afloat, though it would be nice to see them dig deep and get some sort of result at home against the Bruins tomorrow. Easier said than done with that opponent.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In the lead-up to the draft, when Matthew Schaefer was asked what he knew about the Islanders, answers usually mentioned the players with whom he happened to share an agent. 

That reflected something a little uncomfortable.

The Islanders, even with the new arena and even with recent success, were still a franchise that didn’t have much of a profile around the league.

Players who played there had plenty of good things to say and loved the area.

Those who didn’t tended to include Long Island on no-trade lists.

Brayden Schenn, who had a 15-team no-trade list this season, was one of them. 

Now, the first thing everyone associates with the Islanders is Schaefer.

So when Schenn was asked to waive his no-trade clause to come to the Islanders on Friday, the 18-year-old defenseman was a huge reason why he said “yes.” 

“That’s no secret,” Schenn said before the Islanders’ 2-1 overtime win over the Sharks on Saturday. “He’s world-class. He’s elite. You hear a lot about him; you see his highlights. And I think you really learn what a guy’s all about when you start playing with him. The guys in this room obviously speak very, very highly of him, how dynamic [he is]. We all know what he does as a player. 

“I think what guys say is how good of a person he is, how fun it is to be around him. When superstars in this league are good guys that take care of his teammates, guys are gonna want to be around him. And guys are only gonna want to come to the New York Islanders in the future just because of his talent and character.” 

That’s music to the ears of fans who have watched their Islanders struggle to attract free agents for a long time. 

Schaefer is not the only reason to come and was not the only reason Schenn agreed to the move.

He has relationships with Thomas Hickey, Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin.

He’d heard good things about the community.

The Islanders are competing for a playoff spot.

\That’s all appealing. 

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND ISLANDERS STATS

Schaefer, though, was the first thing he brought up when listing off the reasons. 

“What enticed me about this team, if you look, it’s a franchise defenseman that’s obviously taking the league by storm,” he said before referencing standout Ilya Sorokin. “Great goaltender, lots of skill up front. When you always play the Islanders two times a year for the past nine or 10 years, you always knew you were gonna get a tough game.” 

Part of the goal in acquiring Schenn ahead of Friday’s trade deadline was to get tougher and harder to play against.

He lined up Saturday between Cal Ritchie and Ondrej Palat on the second line.

Taking some responsibility off the 21-year-old Ritchie’s shoulders is a nice side effect. 

“I think he’s gonna be a great mentor to Cal,” coach Patrick Roy said, noting how much dialogue the two had just in one morning skate. “I think that’s gonna help him. It’s nice to see that kind of leadership.” 

Schenn, who bargained with Simon Holmstrom to keep the No. 10, will get a quick homecoming in St. Louis on Tuesday night before playing his first home game with the Islanders against the Kings on Friday.

He’s still in the middle of a whirlwind that started two days ago when Blues general manager Doug Armstrong called him with a heads up of where this could end up going. 

“Even before that, we all knew with where we were at, it’s not this year, it’s previous years, too, in St. Louis, where they weren’t pretty happy with the direction of the team,” Schenn said. “I was there for a long time. They’re going all 20-, 22-year-olds. I’m looking forward to coming to a team chasing a playoff spot. You can just tell right now it’s a great group of guys that have fun playing for one another. Good to be a part of the group.”

Ahead of the trade deadline, Andrew Mangiapane was the one roster player to come to the Chicago Blackhawks. He came with a first-round pick from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach. 

Things didn't work out for Mangiapane in Edmonton, and they were desperate to move him for players that better fit what they were trying to do. 

With Chicago, Mangiapane has an opportunity to play on a team that doesn't have pressure to win. He does has pressure to keep his NHL career alive, and it's easier to do that on a non-playoff team loaded with young players like the Blackhawks. 

Friday's game against the Vancouver Canucks was his first opportunity to suit up in a Chicago sweater. He battled some visa issues after the trade, but he was able to make it in time to participate. 

In his first game, following an incredibly crazy time for him, he made a good first impression. He had a couple of scoring chances, three hits, and took a penalty in 8:52 of ice time. Jeff Blashill didn't play him a ton in his first game, but that ice time will only increase as he gets in more games. 

"He played 8:52, so he didn't get a ton," Blashill said of Mangiapane's usage. "He got in a tough spot in the second there. There was four-on four, power play, penalty kill. He's not on any of those right now. He did a good job. I thought he showed the tenacity that I think he's gonna have to have to be successful for us."

Mangiapane was a cap-dump. Nobody in the organization thinks he's going to be the 35-goal scorer that he once was with them, but they do think he can do the little things needed to earn himself more work down the line. 

Over the course of his career, he has shared a bench with some really good players. Now, he gets to see Connor Bedard up close and personal, and he recognizes that an elite talent is rising. 

“I played with him at Worlds a couple of years ago, and it was my first time watching him. He's definitely matured and grown since then. He’s a special player in this league, and you could see it on the ice.”

It sounds like Mangiapane is bought into what the Blackhawks are doing, and that includes the nice words about the superstar in town. 

The highlight of Mangiapane's night was very close to being a goal. He made a great play at the net-mouth, and the puck ended up in the net, but the officials ruled that Landon Slaggert kicked it in. 

Mangiapane has the tools to be an effective player in the league. If he can defend well enough, he'll continue to get ice time, which will allow him to also be involved on offense. Off the ice, he already fits right in. 

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

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Jack Hughes has been a sensation over the last three and a half weeks, and it only continued Saturday against the Rangers.

Recording his fourth career hat trick in a 6-3 Devils victory at Prudential Center, Hughes became the first New Jersey player to have such a game against the team’s cross-river rivals since Scott Gomez on Dec. 26, 1999.

Add it to his fast growing list of accomplishments and triumphs, which includes scoring the overtime game-winning goal for an Olympic gold medal.

His golden goal also led to appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

Two of his three goals Saturday night came in the final 20 minutes, including an empty-netter at the tail end of the third period.

Seven seasons into his NHL career, Hughes has 19 goals in 24 games against the Rangers.

“Can’t say enough good things about Jack,” Vincent Trocheck said of his USA teammate, who scored the golden goal against Canada at the Olympics in Milan last month. “His play spoke for itself at the Olympics. Obviously, he was one of our best players and scores the goal that made me a gold medalist. The way he’s handled post-Olympics, I think it’s been a blessing to have him as kind of the poster boy for Team USA. He’s handled everything so well with such humility, and it’s been an honor to watch him after.”

After giving up another goal less than two minutes into the start of a game, when Jesper Bratt scored 1:06 after puck drop, the Rangers got a couple of goals from their defensemen.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS

Will Borgen notched the first before Vladislav Gavrikov recorded his 12th goal of the season, doubling his previous career high.

The Devils had only capitalized on one of their previous 26 power plays, but they went a perfect 3-for-3 against the Rangers.

With 12.4 seconds left in the first period, Dawson Mercer scored first with the man advantage to tie it up 2-2.

Hughes later cashed in on the power play in the second period, one of his three goals on the day.

It only lasted for just over a minute, however, as Will Cuylle notched his third goal in the last two games.

Nico Hischier broke a 3-3 tie just over eight minutes into the third period when the Devils captain scored his team-leading seventh power-play goal after following up on a rebound.

“Just a lack of urgency,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said of their PK. “We didn’t box it at our net front, get sticks. We’re standing there screening our goalie. Look at how the goals were scored. Three of them were just sifters from the outside. We don’t get into people. There’s just no urgency to it.”

Borgen has switched to his off-side on the left of Braden Schneider in recent games, after the 29-year-old defenseman spent the entire season on the right side.

“We think we get a better version of Schneider when he’s on the right side, and so that’s why we made the switch,” Sullivan said. “We’re going to try Will there and see how Will is able to adjust. There’s a lot of subtleties to the position. It’s not as simple as — I think it’s harder for a defenseman to play the off-side if he’s not used to it than it is for, say, a wing to play the off-side because the pivots are different, the angles are different, the stick detail when you’re defending, the rush, one-on-one, things of that nature. So, there’s a lot of subtleties to it. Some players like it, prefer it. Others don’t.”

Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick stopped 29 of the 34 shots he saw in his 15th loss of the season.

Talk about the game with Pens fans here!

The Chicago Blackhawks traded away their captain and both of their alternate captains ahead of the trade deadline. Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson, and Connor Murphy were all important players on the ice, but they played big roles in the young lockeroom as well. 

In the first game following their departure, Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi wore an "A" on the ice. It is unusual to only have two letters, but that was their strategy for the one match against the Vancouver Canucks. 

Will they add a third by the time they play the Dallas Stars on Sunday evening? They very well may, but they may also stick with just Bedard and Bertuzzi for now. 

You don't need a letter sewn into your sweater to be a leader in the NHL, as many have learned over the years. As the team gets younger, some of these guys will take over as the new leaders on the team. 

That includes Frank Nazar. Sometimes, your role in hockey terms puts natural leadership expectations on you. Nazar is one of those players, and he knows it. He has a plan on how to begin this new chapter of his NHL career, and it's to emulate Nick Foligno. 

 “Obviously, the locker room will be quieter without Fliggy. He’s a loud, vocal guy. I'm trying to think of things that he says in the same way.” 

Nick Folingo's impact on the young core is felt and will be felt for the next decade. He taught them how to lead, play the game the right way, and be pros. Nazar's words reflect some of the off-ice things that he will take away from being his teammate. 

Nazar's play against the Canucks reflected a leadership mentality as well. He used his speed in all areas of the ice to make plays, defend, and give his team a chance to win. 

The Hawks did not end up winning the game, but Nazar played a role in the game being close. He started it off by creating a dump-in that led to Ryan Donato's beautiful goal. Sometimes, doing the right thing with the puck can go a long way. 

Later in the game, Nazar tied it by deflecting an Alex Vlasic shot into the net. It was a wonderful skill play that was a result of his going to a good area to create a deflection. 

Nazar commented after the game that it always feels good to score. He has shown more playmaking ability than goal scoring in his NHL career so far, but the tools are there for him to be a scorer as well. That is especially true if he starts making nice deflections like that. 

"We're here to play for Chicago," Nazar said of their first game without some of the players traded away. He knows the business side of it and is ready to move on with a focus on playing well for the Blackhawks. 

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

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Bump scores goal in NHL debut, Flyers stick with it to notch shootout win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

With a lift from their youngsters and more shootout magic from Trevor Zegras, the Flyers picked up a 4-3 win Saturday night over the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.

Alex Bump made his NHL debut and delivered his first career goal. Denver Barkey, another rookie, also found the back of the net along with Owen Tippett.

Zegras was the game’s lone scorer in the shootout, improving to a blistering 19 for 30 lifetime.

The Flyers went to overtime for the 21st time this season. They’re 10-11 after regulation.

After trading away two players at Friday’s deadline, the Flyers (29-22-11) showed some fight by coming back from three one-goal deficits. They’ve earned at least a point in seven of their last nine games (5-2-2).

“I expect us to keep playing to win every single game,” general manager Danny Briere said Friday. “We’re building winners, we don’t want to cut corners or tell them to not win. From Day 1, I really believed that, that’s important for the culture of what you’re trying to build. And that’s going to keep going.”

Rick Tocchet’s club didn’t have Travis Konecny or Nick Seeler.

Konecny was out for a third straight game because of an upper-body injury. The Flyers’ leading scorer practiced Friday in a non-contact jersey and has been considered day to day. Seeler, who didn’t practice Friday, missed a second straight game with a lower-body injury.

The Flyers split their four-game regular-season series with Pittsburgh (2-2-0).

In this one, the Penguins (31-17-14) were without big names Sidney Crosby (injured reserve) and Evgeni Malkin (suspension).

• Bump had his biggest strength on display and that’s his shot from the circles.

He laced one home in the second period to make it a 2-2 game. The 22-year-old winger has a legit release.

As a 2022 fifth-round pick out of high school, Bump really had to work at his overall game. But he has always been a confident shooter.

Bump even got some minutes in overtime. The Flyers had to happy with his debut.

• Dan Vladar made 20 saves on 23 shots and denied all three of Pittsburgh’s attempts in the shootout.

His run of six straight starts with two or fewer goals allowed came to end, but the 28-year-old battled. He helped kill off his own interference penalty with 2:09 minutes left in overtime.

Vladar picked up his 20th win. His career high was 14 coming into the season.

Penguins netminder Stuart Skinner stopped 12 of the Flyers’ 15 shots.

• Barkey and Matvei Michkov have exhibited some nice chemistry when they’ve been on the same line.

Michkov assisted Barkey’s game-tying 3-3 goal in the second period. With the trade of Bobby Brink, it looks like Michkov could get some opportunities to play on the right wing, which is his natural side.

• The Flyers are back in action Monday when they host the Rangers (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP+).

The final meeting of the season between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins arrives under unusual circumstances for both teams.

Pittsburgh will take the ice without two of their superstars—Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin—while Philadelphia arrives with a slightly altered lineup following the trade that sent Bobby Brink to Minnesota and a call-up from Lehigh Valley that will see Alex Bump make his NHL debut. 

1. Pittsburgh Without Crosby and Malkin Changes the Dynamic

For nearly two decades, the identity of the Penguins has revolved around two names: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Therefore, their absence dramatically alters the tactical landscape of this matchup.

Crosby, who is out of the lineup due to a lower-body injury sustained at the Olympics, has an undeniable influence that extends far beyond scoring totals. His puck protection, faceoff dominance, and ability to dictate pace through controlled offensive-zone possession have long forced opposing teams to adjust defensive matchups.

Malkin, who was suspended for five games after slashing Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin, meanwhile, has historically provided the Penguins with a second offensive engine—capable of generating offense through power and creativity in transition.

BREAKING: Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin suspended 5 games for slashing Rasmus Dahlin. #LetsGoPenspic.twitter.com/Ph9VB664FU

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) March 7, 2026

Without them, Pittsburgh’s attack becomes more distributed but less predictable. The Penguins may lean more heavily on speed through the neutral zone and a committee-style offensive approach rather than the familiar star-driven structure.

For Philadelphia, the challenge is psychological as much as tactical. Rivalry games can produce complacency when star players are absent. The Flyers must resist that temptation. Even without Crosby and Malkin, Pittsburgh remains a team capable of exploiting defensive lapses.

2. The Flyers’ Offensive Structure Must Adjust Without Bobby Brink

The trade sending Bobby Brink to the Minnesota Wild created both opportunity and disruption within Philadelphia’s forward group.

Brink had become an effective playmaking presence, particularly when deployed alongside Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster. His ability to maintain possession along the boards and distribute the puck under pressure allowed that line to sustain offensive-zone time.

Replacing that skill set is not as simple as just inserting another winger into the lineup.

Without Brink, the Flyers may rely more heavily on collective puck support rather than individual playmaking. Transition entries may need to be simpler, with an emphasis on speed and direct attacks rather than prolonged possession cycles.

3. Alex Bump’s NHL Debut Brings Opportunity

Tonight’s game will also mark the NHL debut of Alex Bump, a winger who has steadily climbed the Flyers’ prospect rankings.

Danny Briere said yesterday that Bump was next in line for an NHL look. Looks like that didn’t take long at all. https://t.co/NZksHcj9XQ

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) March 7, 2026

Debuts rarely unfold predictably. Some players attempt to do too much, eager to justify the opportunity. Others play cautiously, prioritizing safe decisions over creative instincts.

The ideal outcome lies somewhere in between.

Bump’s offensive instincts and ability to find open ice made him an intriguing addition to the lineup, but his immediate role will likely be straightforward: forecheck aggressively, move the puck quickly, and avoid unnecessary risks.

If Bump channels that energy into disciplined play, he could provide the Flyers with a spark—particularly against a Penguins defense adjusting to new offensive patterns without its traditional stars.

4. Rivalry Games Demand Emotional Control

The Battle of Pennsylvania has historically produced moments of volatility. For the Flyers, emotional discipline will be crucial.

Rivalry intensity can either elevate a team’s focus or derail its structure. Philadelphia’s recent success has been built on controlled aggression: physical play within a system that prioritizes defensive positioning and puck management.

Maintaining that balance in Pittsburgh’s hostile environment will be essential. The Penguins, especially without Crosby and Malkin, may rely on physical engagement and pace to disrupt Philadelphia’s rhythm.

The Flyers must respond with composure rather than escalation.

Projected Lines

Philadelphia Flyers

Forwards:

Trevor Zegras - Christian Dvorak - Owen Tippett

Denver Barkey - Noah Cates - Matvei Michkov 

Alex Bump - Sean Couturier - Nikita Grebenkin 

Carl Grundstrom - Luke Glendening - Garnet Hathaway 

Defense:

Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen

Cam York - Jamie Drysdale

Emil Andrae - Noah Juulsen

Goalies:

Dan Vladar

Sam Ersson

Pittsburgh Penguins

Forwards:

Avery Hayes - Rickard Rakell - Bryan Rust

Egor Chinakhov - Tommy Novak - Ville Koivunen

Anthony Mantha - Ben Kindel - Justin Brazeau 

Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari 

Defense:

Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson 

Samuel Girard - Kris Letang

Ryan Shea - Connor Clifton

Goalies:

Stuart Skinner

Arturs Silovs

Brennan Othmann could still transform into an impactful NHL player, but it just won’t be with the New York Rangers. 

On Friday, the Rangers traded Othmann to the Calgary Flames, finally giving the fresh start he so desperately needed. 

Chris Drury once thought highly of Othmann, given that he was his first draft pick as president and general manager of the Rangers. 

Despite the high expectations placed on Othmann upon being drafted, his game never quite translated to the NHL level, and his play was inconsistent in the American Hockey League as well.

The 23-year-old forward has spent the past two seasons getting sent up and down from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL to the NHL, struggling to carve out a permanent role with the Rangers. 

Over the past two seasons, Othmann has played a total of 39 NHL games, recording one goal, two assists, and three points.

"He's a terrific kid and worked extremely hard to try and make it work here,” Drury said of Othmann. “For a number of reasons, it just didn't. To no one's fault. I think he'd been looking for a new opportunity, and really wanted to give him that chance. 

“Just like any other deal, not going to give him away. Think he's a good young player and we were able to get the prospect we did with Calgary and made the deal. Certainly, no hard feeling on our end and wish him luck."

When he was in the Rangers’ lineup, Othmann played a limited bottom-six role, and he was oftentimes called up for short stints before quickly being sent back down to the AHL. 

Chris Drury Gives Reasoning For Holding On To Vincent Trocheck Past Trade DeadlineWhen New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a> president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter on Jan. 16 outlining the team’s plan to “retool” the roster, the expectation was that the Blueshirts would be busy ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline.&nbsp;

Othmann hinted at his confidence struggles at certain points, but for the most part, he spoke with a positive tone, conveying a sense that he can turn things around. 

“We wish Otter well,” Sullivan said. “He’s trying to find his way, and obviously has high aspirations for himself. He has the ability to be an NHL player. We tried to work with him in certain aspects of his game in trying to define what the expectations were to try and carve a path for him or provide a path for him to be a New York Ranger, and for whatever reason, we couldn’t seem to make it work. 

“We wish him the very best, he’s a great kid, he’s a good player, and we wish him very well in his stop in Calgary.”

Othmann’s departure marks yet another Rangers’ prospect who has failed to carry over their game to the NHL and was traded because of it. 

Time will only tell if Othmann can reignite his career in Calgary.

The 2025-26 New York Islanders begin the rest of their season with a roster that has three veterans they did not have a couple of months ago. Two of them were once semi-stars but are now in their decline — while carrying cap hits that reflect the former phase than the latter — but Mathieu Darche is betting they will add enough to carry this year’s team forward into securing their playoff position and possibly making a little noise. The impact on following seasons is for another day.

The newest, Brayden Schenn, joins the team for their game in San Jose tonight, where his former Blues teammates beat the Sharks, 3-2 in overtime, despite lobbing only 14 shots on goal.

Newly extended backup Alex Nedeljkovic was in goal for that one, so the Islanders will presumably face Yaroslav Askarov tonight.

Based on the first draft of lines, the Islanders see Schenn as a center, a second-line center, pushing Calum Ritchie to the wing. That might be a subtle improvement as Ritchie adjusts in his rookie season at age 20, but it’s also asking too much a lot of Schenn, who was frequently moved to wing with the Blues over the past few seasons. With the matchups, and J-G Pageau taking on some assignments, maybe it’s more like they have two third lines.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

“You should see the texts we got from former players, players that have been with him,” says Mathieu Darche in the media availability scrum below. This does not surprise me at all; I’m a fan of Schenn’s game at its peak and his approach even today. The challenge and fear is that was yesteryear. Former players are former players for a reason. Schenn probably gets, and delivers, a boost down the stretch here in this new environment, and freed from the burden of captaining a team that was in full identity crisis.

The impact on following seasons is, again, for another day.

At the beginning of this hotel interview about leaving the Blues, Schenn talks a little bit about excitement for the team and opportunity he’s joining — and later, about he and his brother Luke fielding “probably 45 calls” since 11 p.m. the night before discussing possible trade destinations and logistics with family:

Here’s how they may line up tonight:

And Schenn on the power play, too. He’s a smart player who still has hands, so…well, surely he can’t make the PP any worse?

I’m actually curious to see if the Isles ever use Schenn in 3-on-3 overtime. You wouldn’t think it from his speed at this age, but he can be effective and finish coming down the wing in that role.

• Our reactions (and comment fights) to the trade and the extension of J-G Pageau. [LHH]
• Another bit of trivia and orientation: Schenn will wear the #10 he’s worn at every NHL stop — save for his first callup in Philly — while Simon Holmstrom will take #92, while Lou Lamoriello rolls over in his retirement chair.
• Previewing tonight: The Islanders look to come out of their California slump. [Isles]
• A little more on those morning lines, with Anthony Duclair coming into the lineup in place of Kyle MacLean. [Isles]

It’s a laaaaate start tonight, 10 p.m. EST — and EDT starts tomorrow, you’ll lose an hour! — but I know we’ll all be curious to see how they look and do.

Elsewhere

• Evgeni Malkin suspended five games for trying to chop a guy’s head off. Maybe he’ll learn by the time he retires? [NHL]
• New Duck John Carlson carries mixed emotions after 17 seasons in D.C. [NHL]
• What the hell is the Leafs’ plan now? (You hate to see it…) [Sportsnet]
• Winners and losers: “There’s nary a bad vibe to be found in Buffalo these days, but it still had to be disappointing to think an Olympic-calibre defenceman in Parayko was coming your way, only to find out you were going to be Luke Schenn’s 10^th NHL team.“ [Sportsnet]

The Pittsburgh Penguins are pretty well-known at this point for the goaltending depth they possess in their system. Netminders like Sergei Murashov, Joel Blomqvist, and 2025 draftee Gabriel D'Aigle have received a fair amount of attention. 

But there is another name that has flown under the radar for the past several seasons, and he was rewarded by the organization on Friday. 

The Penguins announced that they signed Taylor Gauthier to a one-year entry-level contract for $775,000 at the NHL level. The deal runs through the end of the 2025-26 season, giving the Penguins one more potential option at goaltender on the NHL roster for the remainder of the 2025-26 season as well as the playoffs. 

Gauthier, 25, is having another outstanding campaign with the Wheeling Nailers - Pittsburgh's ECHL affiliate - boasting a 12-6-5 record to go along with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. This is his third-consecutive season having a save percentage of at least .923 at the ECHL level. 

He had one appearance at the AHL level last season, which was a 32-save shutout on Apr. 19, 2025. He has made five total appearances in the AHL dating back to 2023-24.

Evgeni Malkin Suspended Five Games By NHL's Department Of Player SafetyEvgeni Malkin has been suspended for five games for slashing Rasmus Dahlin.

The signing of Gauthier through the end of the 2025-26 season gives the Penguins some much-needed insurance at the goaltending position for a potential playoff run, as any goaltender used down the stretch and into the NHL playoffs must be signed to an NHL contract. Most teams carry three goaltenders in the NHL playoffs. 

This will also be key because the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins are likely to clinch an AHL playoff spot, and they will need two goaltenders for their playoff run as well. Murashov and Blomqvist have been the AHL tandem for most of the season. 

Penguins Acquire Big Forward From Red WingsThe Pittsburgh Penguins made a trade with the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

The Blackhawks are mourning one of their former players on Saturday.

Troy Murray died at 63, the team announced, after a long battle with cancer that he publicly revealed in 2021.

Chicago drafted Murray in the third round (57th overall) in the 1980 draft, and he quickly became a fan favorite.

“Troy was the epitome of a Blackhawk, so far beyond his incredible playing career with a presence felt in every corner of our organization over the last 45 years,” Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said in a statement. “He was admired by his teammates and our players, and was so proud to connect generations of Blackhawks through his work with the Blackhawks Alumni Association. He jumped at every call to support our local community with our Foundation. He never missed a chance to say ‘hello’ in our press box and always knew the perfect time for a joke just when someone around the office needed it most. And he absolutely loved bringing Blackhawks hockey to you, our fans, night after night with a dedication to his craft that never wavered to the very end.  

“During his long and hard battle with cancer, it was often said that Troy didn’t have any ‘give up’ in him. While our front office simply won’t be the same without him, we will carry that spirit forward every day in his honor. We’ll miss you, Muzz.”

The Calgary, Alberta native starred as a two-way center at the University of North Dakota, earning WCHA Rookie of the Year award before helping the team win the national title in his sophomore season.

With the Blackhawks, Murray became the first player in team history to win the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward during the 1985-86 season.

He logged 488 points, totaling 197 goals and 291 assists, across 688 regular season games in 12 seasons with Chicago.

Murray spent 15 seasons in the NHL and also served as the Jets’ captain for two years.

He played two seasons with the Senators and a single season each with the Penguins and Avalanche, winning a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996.

After retiring, Murray remained a big part of the Blackhawks organization, transitioning into broadcasting. He served as the team’s radio color analyst for over two decades.