It might only be April, but it was looking a little like football season up in Winnipeg.

The Philadelphia Flyers delivered an overwhelming performance against the Winnipeg Jets in a 7–1 road victory that did more than added two points to the standings and reasserted identity at the most critical moment of the year.

And yet, even in the aftermath of a dominant performance, captain Sean Couturier framed it with clarity: “The job’s not finished yet.”

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1. A Statement Win That Reinforces What the Flyers Are About

The most important aspect of this victory is the manner in which it happened.

From the opening puck drop, the Flyers dictated terms. They played with pace, but not recklessness and attacked with intent, but not desperation. They controlled the game with a balance that had wavered just days earlier in Detroit.

This is what a mature response looks like.

After a loss that exposed lapses in discipline and cohesion, the Flyers went further than just correcting those issues—they eliminated them. This game never became a track meet. It remained firmly within Philadelphia’s control.

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2. Young Talent Is Driving Play 

Porter Martone continues to operate at a pace that feels both pleasantly surprising and increasingly sustainable.

His opening goal—his seventh point in his first seven NHL games—set the tone early, but the broader context is even more striking. Martone now owns the second-most points through a player’s first seven games in Flyers history since 2000–01, and leads all NHL rookies in scoring since his debut on March 31.

THE KID. SET UP BY THE VET. #PHIvsWPG | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/i4PXBdIgN2

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 11, 2026

That’s impact, and it’s emblematic of a larger trend.

The Flyers’ younger players are not being sheltered. They are being trusted with the big moments, and in return, they are delivering infectious energy, impressive production and invaluable composure in these high-leverage moments.

That matters now more than ever, because in games of this magnitude and potentially into the postseason, depth simply isn’t optional.

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3. Leadership Is Translating Into Production and Tone

The young guns get a lot of the attention (and deservedly so), but this was a game where you have to give massive credit to the Flyers' veterans as well. 

Sean Couturier’s two goals and one assist marked his second three-point game of the season, a standout performance from the captain that blended opportunism with control. 

Sean Couturier with some silky mitts to extend the Flyers' lead to 6-1 in Winnipeg 👀 pic.twitter.com/JQxPxy7LUv

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 12, 2026

Alongside him, Noah Cates delivered a three-point night of his own (1G, 2A), tying his career high and reinforcing the connective role he plays within the lineup.

His postgame assessment captured the collective mindset, telling media, “Everyone’s playing their best hockey. Everyone’s playing for the crest.”

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4. Depth Production and Blueline Activation Are Elevating the Ceiling

One of the Flyers' enduring strengths this season has been their ability to change lines, swap players in and out of the lineup, and still be able to find chemistry. And that chemistry is turning into production that's coming from everywhere in the lineup.

Travis Sanheim scored his 11th goal of the season, setting a new career high and moving into a tie for fourth on the franchise’s all-time goals list among defensemen, while fellow blueliner Nick Seeler added his fourth goal of the season, continuing a quietly impactful stretch with two goals in his last three games.

Travis Sanheim restores the Flyers' three-goal lead 💪 pic.twitter.com/qqPvMAOzea

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 4, 2026

Matvei Michkov (1G, 1A) and Rasmus Ristolainen (2A) each recorded multi-point performances, while Christian Dvorak reached a significant milestone with his 300th NHL point.

This is what a complete performance looks like.

The Flyers are generating offense from multiple layers without sacrificing the structure that allows them to sustain it, which is a difficult thing to achieve, but it's a formula they're comfortably maintaining.

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5. Continued Road Excellence 

This victory marked the Flyers’ 23rd road win of the season, their highest total since 2011–12 and the fourth-most in franchise history in the 82-game era.

Winning on the road requires a specific kind of discipline—an ability to simplify, to remain composed in hostile environments, and to execute without external momentum. The Flyers have embraced and perfected that identity.

And should they find themselves in the playoffs, that ability to travel—both physically and mentally—becomes a serious competitive advantage.

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6. The Mindset Remains Fixed

The most telling takeaway from this game is found in the messaging.

Head coach Rick Tocchet made it clear that, despite the magnitude of the win, the approach cannot change,

He told media, “We’ve just got to take care of business. If we start scoreboard watching, the other teams lose, then what? Are we supposed to relax? Matter of fact, we shouldn’t even worry about the standings. ‘We control our destiny’ type of attitude.”

#Flyers coach Rick Tocchet on NYI loss

"We just got to take care of business. If we start scoreboard watching, the other teams lose, then what? Are we supposed to relax? Matter of fact, shouldn't even worry about the standings. [Have a] we control our destiny type of attitude."

— Jackie Spiegel (@jackiespiegel93) April 11, 2026

That’s discipline of a different kind. The Flyers are, of course, aware of the pressure. They see the standings, and they're certainly not blind to the implications of every result. But they are choosing not to be governed by them, and that choice is what allows performances like this to happen.

Sunday's NHL schedule is full of playoff permutations but the biggest question is whether this will be Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin's final home game and final meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby.

Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, has said he won't make a decision on his future until he talks with his family and team management during the offseason. But the Capitals don't have any more home games after the Sunday, April 12 matchup against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins, barring a longshot chance to make the playoffs. They need one point in this game to stay alive and a win would be better.

The Capitals captain, who broke Wayne Gretzky's record last season, is in the final year of his contract and will turn 41 in September. He scored his 929th career goal on Saturday, April 11 in Pittsburgh.

Also on Sunday, the Anaheim Ducks can end their seven-year playoff drought and move into second place in the Pacific Division. The Montreal Canadiens could reclaim second place in the Atlantic Division, the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins (tied in points as Eastern Conference wild cards) are in action, and the Columbus Blue Jackets could tie for third place in the Metropolitan Division, although the Philadelphia Flyers would have a game in hand.

Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, Sunday's clinching scenarios and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:

Third period underway

1-0 Capitals. If this holds up, Washington stays alive in the playoff hunt.

Alex Ovechkin vs Sidney Crosby stats

Through two periods, Alex Ovechkin has three shots and four hits. Sidney Crosby has two shots and two hits.

End of second period: Capitals 1, Penguins 0

Trevor van Riemsdyk scores his third goal of the season to give the Capitals the lead in what's essentially a must-win game for Washington. Alex Ovechkin had a good chance off a Capitals faceoff win but is stopped by Stuart Skinner. Washington's Logan Thompson stops a partial breakaway by Sidney Crosby.

Tom Wilson injury update

He's back on the bench in the final seconds of the second period.

Tom Wilson injury

Washington's Tom Wilson is down on the ice after blocking a shot from Erik Karlsson. He eventually gets up and limps toward the dressing room. The Capitals kill of the rest of the Penguins power play, allowing no shots.

Penguins power play

Washington's Martin Fehervary is called for tripping, his second penalty of the game.

Capitals score: Trevor van Riemsdyk opens scoring

The Capitals take the lead with the first goal of the game. Trevor van Riemsdyk is down low and taps in a loose puck in the crease. It's his third goal of the season. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Connor McMichael pick up the assists. Capitals 1, Penguins 0

Third whack's a charm pic.twitter.com/TsGBKxqttv

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 12, 2026

Midway through game

Still scoreless.

Second period underway

The Penguins kill off the rest of the Sidney Crosby penalty.

End of first period: Capitals 0, Penguins 0

The Capitals appeared to go ahead, but the goal was overturned on a challenge for offsides. Alex Ovechkin's stats so far: one shot, three hits. Sidney Crosby has one shot, two hits, a faceoff win against Ovechkin and a penalty. He'll still be in the penalty box when the second period begins.

Capitals goal overturned

Alex Ovechkin would have drawn an assist as Justin Sourdif scores a power play goal, but the Penguins challenge for offsides. No goal. Still 0-0.

Sidney Crosby goes to penalty box

The Penguins star is called for tripping. Alex Ovechkin is out there for the power play.

Ovechkin-Crosby rivalry acknowledged

The Capitals acknowledge the 100th meeting of the two stars. Ovechkin stands on the bench as fans cheer. Crosby is on the ice with the Penguins about to go on a power play. The Capitals kill off the penalty.

Alex Ovechkin's game so far

Alex Ovechkin, also known for his physical play, lays out Kris Letang with a big hit. Later, his deflection attempt is stopped by Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner.

Alex Ovechkin vs Sidney Crosby

Pittsburgh stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are back in the lineup after sitting out Saturday's game. This is the 100th meeting of Ovechkin and Crosby. Even though Ovechkin is a winger, he took the opening faceoff against Crosby. The Penguins star won.

Dylan Strome got himself excused from the faceoff for so that Alex Ovechkin could take the opening draw against Sidney Crosby. pic.twitter.com/knMwemMz9N

— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) April 12, 2026

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference: Carolina, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Boston

Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Utah, Edmonton, Vegas

Who could clinch an NHL playoff berth today?

The Anaheim Ducks will clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Vancouver Canucks.

NHL games today (Sunday, April 12)

• Pittsburgh at Washington, 3, TNT, tru
• Montreal at N.Y. Islanders
• Boston at Columbus, 6, NHL Network
• Ottawa at New Jersey, 7
• Vancouver at Anaheim, 8
• Utah at Calgary, 9

NHL playoff standings

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

After April 11 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Metropolitan Division

• y-Carolina Hurricanes (110)
• x-Pittsburgh Penguins (98)
• Philadelphia Flyers (94)

Atlantic Division

• x-Buffalo Sabres (106)
• x-Tampa Bay Lightning (104)
• x-Montreal Canadiens (104)

Wild card

• x-Ottawa Senators (96)
• x-Boston Bruins (96)

Sitting out of playoff position: Columbus Blue Jackets (92), Washington Capitals (91), z-Detroit Red Wings (91), New York Islanders (91), z-New Jersey Devils (85), z-Florida Panthers (80), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-New York Rangers (75)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

After April 11 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Central Division

• y-Colorado Avalanche (115) - Presidents' Trophy winner
• x-Dallas Stars (108)
• x-Minnesota Wild (102)

Pacific Division

• x-Vegas Golden Knights (91)
• x-Edmonton Oilers (90)
• Anaheim Ducks (89)

Wild card

• x-Utah Mammoth (90)
• Los Angeles Kings (87)

Sitting out of playoff position: Nashville Predators (86), Winnipeg Jets (82), San Jose Sharks (82), z-St. Louis Blues (80), z-Seattle Kraken (79), z-Calgary Flames (73), z-Chicago Blackhawks (70), z-Vancouver Canucks (54)

NHL playoffs if they started today

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 11:

• Carolina (M1) vs. Boston (WC2)
• Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (M3)
• Buffalo (A1) vs. Ottawa (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 on April 11.

• Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)
• Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3). This series is set
• Vegas (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
• Edmonton (P2) vs. Anaheim (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. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.
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 scheduled to begin on April 18.

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

On a night thick with emotion inside Winnipeg Arena, Keith Tkachuk delivered one of the most memorable moments in franchise history, and helped keep playoff hopes alive in what would soon become the end of an era.

With the crowd in a “whiteout” frenzy, Tkachuk scored his 50th goal of the season in the final regular season home game for the original Winnipeg Jets, sealing a 5–3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The late goal, scored into an empty net with just seconds remaining, clinched a playoff berth and etched Tkachuk’s name into team history as just the third player in the franchise to reach the 50-goal mark. 

The milestone capped a career-best campaign for Tkachuk, who had been drafted 19th overall by Winnipeg in 1990 and developed into one of the greatest power forwards in the league's history. 

During the 1995–96 season, Tkachuk recorded 50 goals and 98 points, leading the team in both categories and producing the highest point total of his career. His physical style and scoring touch made him the centerpiece of a Jets team fighting both on the ice and off it.

That season came under difficult circumstances as the franchise was facing severe financial instability, and even Tkachuk’s own future in Winnipeg had been uncertain following a contract dispute the previous summer. Despite the turmoil, he delivered a historic performance when the team needed it most. The game also marked the beginning of the end for NHL hockey at Winnipeg Arena, which had been the club’s home throughout its WHA and NHL history. 

Just days later, the Jets would play their final regular season game, and shortly after that, their final playoff game in the building. By the end of the spring, the team’s departure was confirmed.

The reason was largely financial with Ownership struggling for years to keep the team viable in one of the league’s smallest markets, and in January 1996 agreed to sell the franchise to a group intending to relocate it to the United States. That summer, the Jets officially moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they became the Phoenix Coyotes.  Winnipeg would go 15 years without an NHL team before the Jets name returned in 2011.

That revival came when the Atlanta Thrashers franchise was purchased and relocated to Manitoba, bringing NHL hockey back to the city under the historic Jets name. While the modern Jets are technically a continuation of the Thrashers franchise, the return restored a cultural and emotional connection that had been missing since 1996.

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As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for what could potentially be a month-long search to find their next head of hockey operations, reports suggest fans should brace for possibly just one hire from MLSE.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Saturday Headlines, the Maple Leafs are going to have a bunch of interviews for the position next week, and it won't be a short process.

"The Maple Leafs are determined to talk to as many people as they can," Friedman said, "and get as many opinions as they can about what they should do."

Several names have already surfaced as potential candidates for the position, like Mike Gillis and Florida Panthers assistant general manager Sunny Mehta. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported this week that Toronto has been granted permission to speak with Mehta.

But as this search goes on, many wonder if Mehta's resume fits the bill to be the head of hockey operations for one of the NHL's most coveted franchises.

I only say that because, according to Friedman, the Maple Leafs are entering this search to hire one person to lead their hockey ops department.

"Now, it doesn't mean that they can't morph into more," Friedman continued, "but they are starting the search with the goal of one person."

Furthermore, Friedman believes Mehta won't be the only person from the Panthers' front office that the Maple Leafs will request to speak with.

"I also believe, we talked about one specific member of Florida's front office (Sunny Mehta). I don't think that's the only request that's going to be made of the Panthers. I think the Maple Leafs could ask for multiple permissions to talk to people with Florida."

Chris Pronger 'Interested In Having A Conversation' With MLSE About Potential Role With Maple LeafsPronger spoke with Sportsnet's Paul D. Grant about his new memoir, as well as the Maple Leafs' latest job opening.

In LeBrun's report, which said Toronto had been granted permission to speak with Mehta, he also wondered if the Maple Leafs would request to speak with another Panthers assistant GM, Brett Peterson.

After his playing career, Peterson was vice president of THE TEAM (formerly Wasserman Media Group) before joining the Panthers' front office in 2020. He had also been a certified NHL player agent with THE TEAM since 2009.

MLSE CEO Keith Pelley said the goal was to have someone hired for the position "in the middle of May, but the end of May, prior to the combine, would be good. But if not, very early June because you need to prep for the draft."

The Edmonton Oilers are going back to the playoffs. For the seventh straight season, Oilers fans can experience playoff hockey in Edmonton. Somewhere, someone in the organization is probably popping champagne.

If so, they might want to wait until they've actually earned it.

Saturday's clinching moment arrived not in the visitors' dressing room at Crypto.com Arena, where the Oilers had just been shut out 1-0 by the Los Angeles Kings, but a few hours later, in a box score from Philadelphia. The Flyers beat the Winnipeg Jets 7-1, and just like that, Edmonton's playoff fate was sealed by a team they weren't playing, in a city they weren't in, on a night they couldn't even score a goal themselves.

That's not exactly how you draw it up.

The Oilers had their chance to do this themselves. A single point against the Kings would have clinched it outright. Instead, Artemi Panarin stole the puck from Evan Bouchard at the blue line, scored on a breakaway in the first period, and that was the game.

Anton Forsberg finished with a 27-save shutout. It was Edmonton's fourth shutout loss of the season.

Connor Ingram Back and Dialed In Despite Loss to KingsDespite a tough loss, Connor Ingram returned, showcasing impressive saves and athleticism, proving that an injury worry might not be a concern.

"We just couldn't find a way to get one," center Adam Henrique said. "I thought we pushed hard throughout the entire game, had a lot of opportunities, but couldn't find a way to get that first one."

So they sat and waited. And the Flyers obliged.

Look, this six-year playoff streak, now seven, didn't come easy. There were stretches this season where it looked like this might be the year it all fell apart.

Multiple Scenarios Will Officially Allow Oilers to Clinch Playoff Spot On SaturdayOne point for the Edmonton Oilers secures their playoff spot. Even a loss might suffice depending on the Jets' game outcome.

Leon Draisaitl went down with a lower-body injury on March 15. He'll miss the rest of the regular season after piling up 97 points in 65 games. Draisaitl had been directly involved in 41 percent of their goals. Zach Hyman went down not long after.

And then suddenly Edmonton's depth was being tested in ways it hadn't anticipated. They went 8-4-1 without their second-best player, who would be the player on almost any other team.

The Oilers have long been vocal about their singular goal—get in, and worry about everything else once you're in. Kris Knoblauch has said it, and McDavid and everybody have implied it.

A Good Problem to Have? Oilers Facing Intriguing Depth Forward DecisionTrent Frederic and Colton Dach are potentially forcing a tough choice on the Edmonton Oilers. There isn't room for everyone as playoff decisions loom.

The thinking is rooted in recent history: this is a team that has played deep into June on the road, in hostile buildings, and found ways to advance. Home ice isn't what it is for other franchises. They've played plenty of playoff hockey without it.

That's fair. And practically speaking, the division race is still alive. Edmonton fell one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first in the Pacific on Saturday, though they hold the regulation-wins tiebreaker. Two games remain. Seeding still matters.

But there's a difference between being indifferent to home ice and being indifferent to the performance that earns it. Getting bounced from your own clinching opportunity by a team that was trying to avenge a blowout that happened in February—the Kings referenced an 8-1 home loss from February 26 afterward—and needing a 7-1 win from the Flyers to push you across the finish line isn't a great look heading into the postseason.

McDavid's One-Man Show Carries Oilers Past SharksThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> were playing the second half of a back-to-back in San Jose on Wednesday night, coming off a deflating 6-5 overtime loss in Utah the night before, down two of their best forwards in Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman. The Sharks, meanwhile, were rested, desperate for points in a tight Western Conference wild-card race, and playing at home. On paper, the conditions were ideal for an upset.

The Oilers are a team that always seems to go farther than anyone else expected. McDavid is chasing his first Cup. Draisaitl might return sometime in the first round.

But two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final, two straight losses, and now a clinch that came courtesy of Philadelphia's generosity—at some point, the bar has to be higher than just getting in.

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DENVER — It was a bittersweet night for Nick Blankenburg, who notched his first goal as a member of the Colorado Avalanche in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena.

With 9:04 remaining in the second period, Blankenburg cashed in on a gritty, hard-earned sequence. After Nic Roy won a battle along the boards and worked the puck free from behind the net, he sent it up the wall to Blankenburg. The defenseman didn’t hesitate, snapping a wrist shot through traffic that rang off the post and in, tying the game at two.

It was a moment that felt earned. Since arriving in Colorado via trade from the Nashville Predators, Blankenburg has been searching for his footing, working to find consistency and confidence in a new system. Lately, though, there have been signs—quicker reads, sharper decisions, and a little more bite to his game. On this play, it all clicked, even if only for a moment.

From there, the night took a turn that had little to do with the score. Despite locking up the Presidents’ Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Avalanche looked worn down by the final horn. Already without Cale Makar and Nazem Kadri, they absorbed more blows as Josh Manson exited with an upper-body injury. Not long after, head coach Jared Bednar was struck in the face by a deflected puck on the bench and had to be helped off the ice.

With assistant coach Nolan Pratt stepping in, Colorado tried to steady itself, but the feel of the game had shifted. Vegas seized control when it mattered most, and the Avalanche were left chasing a result that suddenly felt secondary to everything else unfolding.

A Milestone Overshadowed

And for Blankenburg, that was what stuck. Scoring your first goal with a new team is something you want to enjoy, but it didn’t feel like that kind of night. Not with teammates going down and the bench thinning out. By the end, the milestone faded into the background, replaced by concern and the reality of how quickly things can change.

“Obviously nice to see that one go in,” Blankenburg said. “Kind of a frustrating (game). Tough to see Manson go down and obviously (Bednar), too. Hopefully they’re both alright. At the end of the day, (Vegas) just buried the last chance in overtime. So just learn from it, move on, and big one in Edmonton up next.”

Faith, Perspective, and Fit

Blankenburg might not be the flashiest name on the roster, but his impact tends to show up in quieter, more meaningful ways. Wherever he’s gone, he’s earned respect quickly—and that was no different in Nashville. After being brought in last season and inserted into the lineup following a late-November call-up, he made a strong enough impression in just a few months to be nominated for the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy by the Nashville chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

That recognition says a lot about the kind of player—and person—he is. It’s less about stats and more about presence: the way he approaches the game, the way he carries himself, and how quickly he connects with a room.

That same presence is beginning to surface in Colorado, and Blankenburg credits his faith for helping him navigate the transition.

"That's been the biggest thing that's been grounding me," Blankenburg said of getting adjusted to the team. "I've just been telling myself that God has me here for a reason; he has me here for a purpose.

"What a blessing it is to get traded to the number one team in the league. What an opportunity. Just relying on him and relying on his strength and not on my own. It's a lot easier said than done, but it's been good, and it's definitely revealed some things in my heart and in my life over these last months. Definitely thankful for that."

He’s also found common ground in the locker room, pointing to teammates who share that same foundation.

"Manson's a big believer in his faith and some other guys, too. (Brent Burns). God has me here for a reason."

Settling In and Letting Go

Those connections—and that mindset—have started to translate onto the ice. Early on, there were moments where Blankenburg looked caught between playing his game and trying to do too much, whether it was getting too aggressive up ice or forcing plays that weren’t there. Lately, though, there’s been a noticeable shift.

Part of that comes from a simple message he’s taken to heart.

"I've been having conversations with multiple people about it," he said. "Try not to overthink. Try not to think too much on the ice. Just go out and play my game. Be assertive and compete and the rest will take care of itself."

It’s not groundbreaking advice—but for Blankenburg, it’s been a turning point. And over these last few games, it’s starting to show. There’s a calmness to his game now, a confidence that wasn’t always there earlier on. If the playoffs call his number, the Avalanche won’t be guessing what they have—they’ll know he’s ready.

It was not the news Montreal Canadiens’ fans were hoping for, but at 10:00 AM on Sunday, the team announced that Noah Dobson had suffered an upper-body injury and would be reevaluated in two weeks. It’s not surprising that the team didn’t go into detail with the playoffs right around the corner. We’ll eagerly await an update in two weeks, but the play on which he was injured didn’t look good.

Looks like the puck got his hands where there's not much padding... #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/we3cPvcT1h

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) April 12, 2026

However, the fact that Dobson will be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future has led the Canadiens to finally recall the fifth overall pick from the 2023 draft, David Reinbacher, from the Laval Rocket.

Canadiens Need To Show Some Killer Instinct
Canadiens Outworked By The Blue Jackets
Breaking: Canadiens Prospect Hage Will Remain In NCAA According To Friedman

After being hit by a serious knee injury last season, the 21-year-old has been able to play in 57 games with the Rocket this year, putting up 24 points, including five goals. When Adam Engstrom went down with an injury, the Austrian really stepped up his game and performed admirably for Pascal Vincent’s team.

With both Dobson and Alex Carrier, the Canadiens' two right-shot defensemen, out with injuries, the Canadiens had to call up the youngster. It’s not an ideal scenario for his NHL debut since the stakes are quite high for the Habs. They need to win their last two games in order to secure home-ice advantage.

Kaiden Guhle, who took part in the morning skate on Saturday morning, did make the trip to New York with the Canadiens, but not Alex Carrier. It will be interesting to see what the Canadiens’ blueline looks like when the puck drops Sunday night in Long Island.

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

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for the penultimate regular-season game inside the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena. This game features the Boston Bruins.   

Boston Bruins - 43-27-10 - 96 Points - 4-4-2 in the last 10 - Lost 2 - 5th in the Atlantic 

Columbus Blue Jackets - 40-28-12 - 92 Points - 3-6-1 in the last 10 - Won 1 - 4th in the Metro. Two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place. 

Team Notes Per CBJ PR

• CBJ wrapped up a three-game road trip (2-1-0), and the road portion of the regular season, with a 5-2 win at Montreal yesterday.

• The Blue Jackets conclude their 16th back-to-back set of the season (19-7-5, .694) tonight vs. Boston. The club has swept five of its back-to-back sets in 2025-26.

• The Jackets have collected points in 17-of-21 home games to rank eighth-T in the NHL in points pct. in 2026 (.690; 12-4-5).

• CBJ have earned points in 27 of their past 36 contests overall since Jan. 11 (22-9-5, 5th in points pct. at .681).

• The Blue Jackets conclude a stretch of four-straight games vs. the Atlantic Division (2-1-0). The club has earned points in 20 of its last 25 games against the division dating back to Apr. 8, 2025 (15-5-5).

• Columbus leads the NHL with a franchise-record 58 goals scored by defensemen in 2025-26 (58-138-196, 80 GP).

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

• Charlie Coyle, who notched two goals in the win at Montreal, has tied his single-season career high in assists and has the second-most points of his 14-year NHL career with 20-38-58 in 80 games this season.

• Adam Fantilli posted two assists at Montreal and has set single-season career highs in assists and points with 23-35-58 in 80 contests this season.

• Jet Greaves has earned points in 17 of his last 22 starts since Jan. 11 (14-5-3, 2.42 GAA, .910 SV% in 23 GP), ranking eighth-T among NHL goaltenders in GAA and ninth in SV% over that stretch (min. 7 GP).

• Kirill Marchenko recorded 1-1-2 on Saturday and has posted assists in five of the past seven games (2-6-8). He is the fifth player in Blue Jackets history with 25-plus goals in consecutive seasons (31 in 2024-25; 27 in 2025-26).

• Mason Marchment has collected assists in five of his past six contests (1-6-7) and has 14-16-30 in 37 games with CBJ.

• Zach Werenski has recorded 22-59-81 in 73 games in 2025-26 and has tied the single-season franchise record for assists (Panarin, 2018-19; Werenski, 2024-25). He leads NHL blueliners in multi-point efforts (26), even-strength points (59) and shots on goal (249) and ranks second in points and points-per-game (1.11).

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play - 19.3% - 22nd in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 76.1% - 27th in the NHL
• Goals For - 243 - 17th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 246 - 21st in the NHL   

Bruins Stats

• Power Play - 23.4% - 9th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 76.6% - 25th in the NHL
• Goals For - 261 - 11th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 245 - 18th in the NHL

Series History vs. The Bruins

• Columbus is 17-18-11 all-time, and 10-8-6 at home vs. Boston.
• CBJ have earned points in nine of the last 12 games against Boston at Nationwide Arena since Dec. 27, 2016 (6-3-3)
• The home team has earned points in four-straight games (3-0-1) and 20 of the last 24 meetings dating back to Nov. 10, 2016 (15-4-5).
• The winning team has scored four goals or more in six-straight meetings overall (including SO goals) and nine times in the last 11 matchups, as well as each of the past five at Nationwide Arena.
• The winning team has won by multiple goals in seven of the last eight in the series and nine of the past 11 meetings, along with by three-plus in four of the past five played at Columbus.
• The Blue Jackets are 18-of-83 on the power play (21.7 pct.) and 60-of-72 on the penalty kill (83.3 pct.) against the Bruins in 24 all-time meetings at Nationwide Arena.

Who To Watch For TheBruins

• Morgan Geekie leads Boston with 38 goals. 
• David Pastrnak leads the team with 70 assists and 99 points. 
• Joonas Korpisalo is 13-9-6 with a SV% of .892.

CBJ Player Notes vsBruins

• Boone Jenner 14 points in 25 career games against Boston.
• Zach Werenski has 15 points against the Bruins. 

• Mason Marchment has 9 points in 10 games vs. Boston. 

Injured Reserve & Other Injuries

• Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 42 Games IR - OUT FOR THE SEASON
• Damon Severson - Missed 8 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
• Dmitri Voronkov - Missed 7 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
• Mathieu Olivier - Missed 6 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 210

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

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The Matchup The New Jersey Devils (41-36-3) versus the Ottawa Senators (43-27-10)

The Time: 7:00 PM EDT

The Broadcast: TV — MSGSN2; Radio — Devils Hockey Network

The End

Happy final Sunday of the 2025-26 New Jersey Devils season. This is our final home game until September, and the Devils are giving us a real treat to mark the end of this season: the last use of the “Jersey Jersey” designed like a crossover of a Los Angeles Kings jersey with a linesman uniform.

One last stop on the Jersey Jersey Bye Bye Tour.

👊: @Senators
🏒: 7 PM
📺: MSGSN2
🎧: https://t.co/GDJDPJM7sA#NJDevils | @Pepsipic.twitter.com/ojNRpW3993

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 12, 2026

I am glad to see the Jersey Jersey go away. Maybe it’s just associating the Devils with an uptick in losing since their record-setting 52-win season, and maybe it’s the goaltender the team traded for and signed to a bad extension saying he cannot see the puck through the jersey pants. But I enjoy seeing the Devils wear red at home, or at least white throwbacks, or green. The idea of a black alternate was always intriguing, but the execution here was poor. If this is the last time I see it on the ice, I would be pretty happy.

Nico Daws to Start, Topias Vilen to Play

While the Devils called up two more from the Utica Comets to play at the end of the season, neither were on the ice yesterday. Jake Allen played a very solid game in net, to his credit, while Dennis Cholowski continued to play on a pairing with Johnny Kovacevic. Tim recapped that game for us, and while Cholowski actually did his job pretty well (a rarity since his first NHL appearance of the season against the Kings), it should be his last game in a Devils uniform.

Topias Vilen will make his NHL debut on Sunday, and play again in Boston.

He will take warmups tomorrow but won’t play. #NJDevils

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) April 10, 2026

Nico Daws, meanwhile, should be getting the second half of this back-to-back. Since being relegated to the AHL for the most part at the start of the 2024-25 season, Daws has a .945 save percentage and 1.49 goals against average in seven NHL games. That’s pretty good! I would think that, if he was so out of his depth in the NHL, he would be sitting a bit lower than a .945 save percentage over scattered use. Jumping from the AHL to the NHL is not easy with the differences in speed and the quality of shooters, but the AHL has its own problems for goaltenders with the proliferation of grinders and poorer defense.

I am excited to see Daws share the ice with Vilen, and I hope they give the 23-year old defenseman a good pairing to work on. As Tim mentioned last night, the Dillon-Nemec pairing has been a really tough watch. He wrote:

Dillon and Nemec are one of the worst positional D pairs I have ever seen. Both routinely over commit at both blue lines and get burned for odd mans the other way. I am going to write about personnel for next season, and I think I’ve had enough of both of them. I realize Dillon is a great dude and has an element we lack, but if you’re going to be a “defensive defenseman” than maybe do it. It’s like the are actively trying to sabotage each other.

I have thought about this as well. I think the Dillon-Hamilton pairing worked so well last season because it was effectively chaotic. If an opponent skater did not keep their head up, Brenden Dillon might blow them up at center ice. But go the other way, and they had 6’7” Dougie Hamilton in their business. Those two were made for quick strikes back at the other team, with Dougie’s slap shot and Dillon’s eagerness to rush up the ice. But Simon Nemec is not Dougie Hamilton. He does not use a 6’7” frame to seal off the wall and reach out to disturb puck carriers. He’s smaller, slower, and plays more like a rover. He totally lacks physicality away from the net, too, so pairing him with a defensive guy like Dillon who plays his best defense by jumping the play before it happens is a recipe for disaster more often than not.

Tonight, I think a Vilen-Nemec second pairing and a Dillon-Kovacevic third pairing would be a smart choice. The Devils have nothing to gain in the standings by winning, so holding the veterans up for more ice time is unnecessary. I would much rather see what Vilen and Nemec can do against guys like Brady Tkachuk than I want to see Vilen play 10 minutes against Lars Eller and Nick Cousins. In the AHL, Vilen has arguably been Utica’s steadiest defenseman since Kevin Bahl graduated to the NHL, and he has done so while being a decent point producer. He might have shown more promise at a younger age in that area, but he has not fallen to pure shutdown levels of offense.

Different Bottom Six Look, Please

While this does not really matter, I am really not seeing what there is to be gained out of giving Marc McLaughlin and Brian Halonen more looks with Paul Cotter. I do not think that line has really worked much at all, and I would rather see Maxim Tsyplakov in the lineup so he can get an actual chance on the third line with Cody Glass and Lenni Hameenaho. Nick Bjugstad is still a good enough player to have in the bottom six, but I would rather see Tsyplakov-Glass-Hameenaho and Cotter-Bjugstad-Halonen/McLaughlin than the paradigm Keefe has been running with lately.

Your Thoughts

What do you think of tonight’s game? Will you be watching? What do you think of Vilen and Daws? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.

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The Montreal Canadiens are right back in action on Sunday, April 12, as they head south of the border to face the New York Islanders. The Isles are hanging onto playoff hopes by a thread, while the Canadiens are fighting for the Atlantic Division crown along with home ice advantage.

My Canadiens vs. Islanders predictions and NHL picks suggest fans may be treated to a high-scoring thriller in Long Island, with some of the Habs' usual suspects eager to right the ship after a tough loss at home last night.

Canadiens vs Islanders prediction

Canadiens vs Islanders best bet: Juraj Slafkovsky o0.5 Assists (+110)

Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky has emerged as one of the game's premier power forwards. The young Slovak has 10 assists in his last 12 games and 13 in his last 16. He has four helpers across an active three-game streak.

This matchup is right up Slaf's alley, as he torched the Islanders with two goals and four points on March 21. 

Canadiens vs Islanders same-game parlay

The Canadiens' blue line took a massive hit last night as Noah Dobson will likely miss extended time with an injury.

Cue Lane Hutson, who already ranks second in the NHL in blocked shots since the last time these teams played, as he'll be expected to step up in Dobson's absence.

The sophomore blueliner has blocked 25 shots in his last 11 games.

Although the Isles rank 24th in goals scored, they've actually hit the Over in five of their last seven. Furthermore, these teams have hit the Over in three straight and in eight of their last 10 meetings. 

Canadiens vs Islanders SGP

• Juraj Slafkovaky Over 0.5 assists
• Lane Hutson Over 1.5 blocked shots
• Over 6.5

Canadiens vs Islanders odds

• Moneyline: Canadiens -110 | Islanders -110
• Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 (-275) | Islanders -1.5 (+220)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)

Canadiens vs Islanders trend

The Over has hit in three straight meetings, and in eight of the last 10. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Islanders.

How to watch Canadiens vs Islanders

Canadiens vs Islanders latest injuries

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The Washington Capitals kept their playoff hopes alive on Saturday with a 6-3 victory against an undermanned Pittsburgh team.

My Penguins vs. Capitals predictions see Washington sweeping the home-and-home and surviving at least one more day.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Sunday, April 12.

Penguins vs Capitals prediction

Penguins vs Capitals best bet: Capitals moneyline (-160)

Pittsburgh sat out a handful of key players on Saturday, and Washington took full advantage, earning a 6-3 victory while controlling 60% of the expected goals and 72% of the shots on target.

It’s possible the Penguins reinsert some of those players into the lineup Sunday, but I wouldn’t expect a different result.

The arrivals of Cole Hutson and Ilya Protas have made the Capitals a more dynamic team. They are also playing for their season, while the end result legitimately means nothing to the Penguins.

The extra motivation should pay dividends for the Capitals on Sunday.

Penguins vs Capitals same-game parlay

Aliaksei Protas was a force in the first leg of the back-to-back, generating a game-high five scoring chances — four of which were high-danger.

He found the back of the net and added an assist while posting strong 5-on-5 numbers alongside his younger brother and Tom Wilson. He’ll be relied upon heavily again in this contest.

Cole Hutson has hit the scoresheet in four of his last five games and has already established himself as the clear option quarterbacking PP1. No other defenseman got a shift on the man-advantage Saturday.

Penguins vs Capitals SGP

• Washington Capitals moneyline
• Aliaksei Protas Over 0.5 points
• Cole Hutson Over 0.5 points

Penguins vs Capitals odds

• Moneyline: Penguins +120 | Capitals -140
• Puck Line: Penguins +1.5 (-190) | Capitals -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Penguins vs Capitals trend

The Washington Capitals have hit the Moneyline in 10 of their last 13 games at home (+7.35 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Capitals.

How to watch Penguins vs Capitals

Penguins vs Capitals latest injuries

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.

The New York Islanders entered Saturday with a roughly 35-40% chance to make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. New York sat in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

They trailed the Philadelphia Flyers by just one point for third in the Metropolitan Division and the Ottawa Senators by three points for the final wild-card spot.

24 hours later, the Islanders sit 12th in the conference, trail Philadelphia by three points, and the Senators have an "x" next to their name, signifying they're clinched for the playoffs.

The rough odds to make the playoffs sits below 5%.

Officially, the season's not over. But, it'd take a lot for the Islanders to break into the playoffs now.

First, the Islanders would have to sweep the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes to gain all four necessary points.

Then, the Philadelphia Flyers would need to lose both of their games to the Canadiens and Hurricanes, with at least one loss coming in regulation, to pass them.

But wait, there's more.

The Islanders would need the Columbus Blue Jackets to lose to the Boston Bruins on Sunday night, OR the Washington Capitals to lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday afternoon.

If both Columbus and Washington win on Sunday, the Islanders are eliminated from playoff contention no matter what happens.

This is because the Blue Jackets hold 92 points to the Islanders' 91, while the Capitals also have 91, but have clinched the regular-season tiebreaker over the Islanders.

Columbus and Washington square off on Tuesday night, and if both sides win on Sunday to move to 94 and 93 points respectively, the Islanders are mathematically eliminated, no matter what happens with Philadelphia or themselves.

One of the two is guaranteed two additional points, thus eliminating the Islanders.

So, to make the playoffs, the exact scenario is one of two paths:

1. The Islanders sweep the Canadiens and Hurricanes, one of which in regulation to clinch the tiebreaker against Columbus.

2. The Philadelphia Flyers gain no more than 1 total point from their remaining two games (Monday v CAR, Tuesday v MTL)

3. The Blue Jackets win against the Boston Bruins on Sunday, while the Capitals must lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in any fashion. Then, the Capitals must defeat the Blue Jackets in any fashion. 

OR

3. The Capitals win against the Penguins in any fashion on Sunday, while the Blue Jackets lose in any fashion to the Bruins. Then, the Blue Jackets must defeat the Capitals in any fashion on Tuesday night.

The second clear path begins the same way.

1. The Islanders go 1-0-1 against the Canadiens and Hurricanes, picking up exactly three points in the standings.

2. The Philadelphia Flyers must gain zero total points (0-2-0) from their remaining two games (Monday v CAR, Tuesday v MTL).

3. The Blue Jackets AND Capitals lose on Sunday, with at least one of the two teams losing in regulation. Then, whoever loses in regulation on Sunday MUST win on Tuesday against the other.

To make that clearer, let's say Columbus loses to Boston on Sunday in regulation, while the Capitals lose in overtime to Pittsburgh. Then, Columbus must defeat the Capitals on Tuesday in any fashion.

OR

If the Capitals lose in regulation on Sunday, while the Blue Jackets lose in overtime/shootout, then the Capitals must beat Columbus in regulation Tuesday night for the Islanders to get in

OR 

If the Capitals lose in regulation on Sunday while the Blue Jackets defeat the Boston Bruins in any fashion, then the Capitals must beat Columbus in regulation on Tuesday night for the Islanders to get in.

These are the only remaining paths for the Islanders into the playoffs. Mathematically, it's not impossible. But, as the odds will tell you, it's exceedingly unlikely.

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After snapping a 4-game losing streak, the Vancouver Canucks look for consecutive wins on back-to-back nights as they visit the Anaheim Ducks tonight.
 
My Canucks vs. Ducks prediction and free NHL picks are targeting the total, with plenty of goals on the menu in Anaheim on Sunday, April 12.

Canucks vs Ducks prediction

Canucks vs Ducks best bet: Over 6.5 (-125)

Vancouver is hoping to string together consecutive wins for the first time since Dec 19 and 20. 
 
Anaheim put the brakes on a 6-game slide, beating the Sharks 6-1, but this team is in danger of falling out of the Pacific Division’s Top 3.
 
If they do, the Ducks can look at their shaky 3.51 goals against, the 4th-worst mark in the NHL. They’ve allowed four or more goals in six of seven.
 
The Over has cashed in five of the last seven between these teams, and I expect that trend to continue on Sunday.

Canucks vs Ducks same-game parlay

Drew O’Connor hasn’t scored in eight straight games, but he’s in a prime position to tally, as he’s scored in all three previous games against the Ducks this season. The last time he scored was against Anaheim on March 24.
 
Jake DeBrusk notched his 20th goal of the year against the Sharks and registered eight shots on goal. He’s got a generous 2.5 shot line Sunday, considering he’s cruised by the total in each of the last two against the Ducks, totalling 10 shots on goal.

Canucks vs Ducks SGP

• Over 6.5 goals
• Drew O’Connor anytime goal
• Jake DeBrusk Over 2.5 shots on goal

Canucks vs Ducks odds

• Moneyline: Canucks +260 | Ducks -330
• Puck Line: Canucks +1.5 (+115) | Ducks (-135)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Canucks vs Ducks trend

Vancouver has won eight of the last 10 against Anaheim. Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Ducks.

How to watch Canucks vs Ducks

Canucks vs Ducks latest injuries

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.

The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the Florida Panthers 6-2 in a game that will be remembered by absolutely nobody, except perhaps for the players who made their NHL debut, such as Leafs defenseman William Villeneuve. With both teams firmly out of the playoffs, there was little to play for; the race for a better draft pick was the only thing on the minds of fans from both sides.

Crucial to Maple Leafs fans is finishing with a top-five draft pick. That is the only way the team can retain its selection at the 2026 NHL Draft, due to a trade that sent a conditional first-round pick and forward Fraser Minten to the Boston Bruins in exchange for veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo.

Thanks to this loss and the Seattle Kraken’s 4-1 defeat by the Calgary Flames, Toronto moved into the fifth-worst spot in the NHL. This puts them right on the “bubble” of where they need to be to retain the pick. The term “bubble” is appropriate because the NHL holds a lottery for the top two selections, meaning one or two teams could potentially bump the Leafs from No. 5 to either No. 6 or No. 7. Should that happen, the selection would revert to Boston.

Moving to the fifth spot tremendously improves Toronto’s chances of keeping their 2026 pick. When they entered the night with the sixth-worst record in the league, Toronto had only a 15.4 percent chance of finishing with a top-five pick following the NHL Draft lottery. By moving into the No. 5 spot on Saturday, that chance improved to 41.9 percent.

While there is still a better chance than not that they fall to either No. 6 or No. 7 given how lottery odds are distributed, this is a much better situation for the franchise. There remains a very slim chance Toronto could finish with the third-worst record in the NHL, which would fully guarantee they keep the pick.

Reaching that spot would require some help. The New York Rangers are three points behind Toronto, with both teams having two games remaining. The Calgary Flames are five points back from the Leafs but have three games remaining. If the Flames earn five more points than Toronto in their final three games compared to Toronto’s final two, they could conceivably pass the Leafs. In that scenario, the Flames would hold the first tiebreaker (regulation wins).

If you are a Leafs fan wanting the team to keep its pick, you should be cheering for the Flames to defeat the Utah Mammoth on Sunday evening.

The full tank is on.

After an intense battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre on Saturday, and the visitors were desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

For a third game in a row, veteran Brendan Gallagher was watching the game from the press gallery, joined by sophomore Zach Bolduc for a second game in a row. As for Kaiden Guhle, he remained out of the lineup, meaning that Adam Engstrom, Arber Xhekaj, and Jayden Struble were all still in the lineup.

Breaking: Canadiens Prospect Hage Will Remain In NCAA According To Friedman
Canadiens’ Prospect Playing Pivotal Role For WHL Team In The Playoffs
The Canadiens Sent A Message, They’re Not Afraid To Get Their Hands Dirty

Wanting It More

With their playoff lives on the line, the Blue Jackets came out strong and stormed the Canadiens’ zone early on. Less than two minutes in, they were up by one and had four shots on net. Five and a half minutes later, they were up by two and just looked like they wanted it more.

While one might think well, that’s normal since they haven’t booked their playoff spot, it’s a bit worrying. At this stage of the season, teams should be playing playoff-like hockey every day. Montreal did a good job of it against Tampa Bay, but on Saturday night, they looked like they weren’t ready.

A week from now, when the puck drops on the playoffs, every game is going to be a must-win game, and every team will be fighting for its life. Montreal needs to be ready for that right out of the gate, and those last three games against teams fighting for a playoff spot are a perfect rehearsal that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Missing Guhle

With Guhle missing a third game in a row, the fact that the Canadiens are missing him dearly had never been so obvious. Struble had many hard shifts and committed four giveaways through 40 minutes. One of them was particularly costly when he got rid of the puck in a hurry in the defensive zone, even though he was under no pressure to do so whatsoever. Still, he coughed it up to Kent Johnson, who fed it to Sean Monahan, who scored Columbus’ fourth goal in a flash, which was a gut punch for the Canadiens.

To make matters worse, Noah Dobson also left the game after blocking a shot with the inside of his hands, where there isn’t much padding… The Canadiens will hope that it’s not a serious injury with the playoffs right around the corner. Being without him to start the spring dance will be disastrous for the Habs, he plays a lot of minutes and a significant role for the team.

On The Bright Side Of Things…

Cole Caufield scored his 51st goal of the season from an almost impossible angle and, unsurprisingly, Nick Suzuki got an assist on the play, giving him his 99th point of the season. With two games left to play, the captain will have every opportunity to reach the historic milestone and become just the sixth player in Canadiens history to achieve the feat.

There was a worrying moment in the third frame when Zach Werenski checked him by the boards with the puck nowhere near him. The blueliner got a two-minute interference penalty, but the Russian rookie, who crashed into the boards face-first, had to leave the game momentarily. Thankfully, he was able to come back and looked no worse for wear, taking a couple of hard shots in the last few minutes. Still, the Jackets got a 5-2 win, and it was the first time since March 3 that Jakub Dobes allowed five goals or more.

The Canadiens will now take on the New York Islanders on Sunday at 6:00 PM and the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Both teams are in a race to the finish, battling for the last playoff spot in the East with the Jackets. Meanwhile, the Canadiens find themselves in third place in the Atlantic Division since the Lightning beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 to get to 104 points and have more regulation wins than the Habs.

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