Category: Ice Hockey

A sluggish first period where the Islanders gave up two goals in an afternoon game? I wouldn’t blame you if you turned your TV off after Matthew Tkachuk put the puck in the toy department with a between-the-legs shot.

But… you would have missed a five-goal comeback win, led by Brayden Schenn’s three points and Matthew Schaefer’s record-tying two assists. Schaefer now has 19 points in his last 18 games, and has a few more games to claim the Islanders record for himself and chase the NHL rookie defenseman goal record, too.

The Islanders put up 40 shots on Daniil Tarasov, and Ilya Sorokin turned away 19 of 21 shots in another solid win for him as he made some big saves to help the Islanders keep their second period momentum, especially.

The fourth line was super involved as well, with Marc Gatcomb’s and Casey Cizikas’ goals bookending the second period comeback. It was nice to see a big statement win as the playoff race continues be volatile; the Islanders are now (temporarily, at least) in second place in the Metro Division. The other afternoon game with Eastern Conference playoff implications went the Islanders’ way as well, with Tampa beating Ottawa in regulation.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

First Period

Kyle MacLean had a great chance in front after a loose puck came to him right in front of the net, but Mike Benning blocked the shot.

Ilya Sorokin made a big save on Carter Verhaege, and Emil Heineman rang the bar on a shot from the crease.

Matthew Tkachuk left the zone early and got behind the defense, taking advantage of an Adam Boqvist turnover to make it 1-0 Panthers.

Then, Matthew Schaefer stopped him from getting a second after he beat Sorokin, but Ondrej Palat pushed it right into Tkachuk’s path, and he went between his legs to make it 2-0.

Casey Cizikas appeared to get one back for the Islanders, but the whistle blew before he could push the loose puck into the net.

With a few minutes left in the period, the Islanders then headed to the power play after MacLean was high sticked by Nolan Foote, but the Panthers had the best look, with Sorokin needing to stop Eetu Luostarinen’s shorthanded chance.

Second Period

Daniil Tarasov stopped a Brayden Schenn chance in front, and Ondrej Palat drew a penalty, though nothing good from the Islanders came out of it.

Shortly after the PP expired, Sorokin had to make a big stop on Noah Gregor right in front.

But then, Marc Gatcomb took a seemingly harmless shot that trickled past Tarasov to cut the Panthers’ lead in half.

Mat Barzal set up Boqvist, whose shot left a rebound off Tarasov’s glove, and then Schenn couldn’t put that rebound home.

Then, Matthew Schaefer made a great stretch pass to Cal Ritchie, who passed it off to Brayden Schenn to make it 2-2.

Gustav Forsling went to the box for tripping Barzal, and Schaefer set up Simon Holmström to make it 3-2 on the power play. That was Schaefer’s second assist of the game, which gave him 56 points on the season, tying him with Stefan Persson for franchise rookie scoring lead for a defenseman.

Sorokin stopped a Mackie Samoskevich breakaway with some help from Adam Pelech, and then the Islanders had some dangerous chances, before Anders Lee set up Emil Heineman, who ripped it past Tarasov to make it 4-2. Schenn had the secondary assist on that goal, picking up his first 3-point game as an Islander.

A little under a minute later, Cizikas made it 5-2, capping off the Isles’ comeback surge in the second period.

Third Period

Pelech was still in the room to start the third, apparently due to a skate issue that needed to be fixed, but he came back about midway through the third.

Foote hit the post after beating Sorokin early in the third, and Sorokin made another save on Forsling, but the Islanders were largely in control for the third.

Tarasov was pulled with a little over 5 minutes left, and Carson Soucy knocked Luostarinen down, giving the Panthers a power play. Samoskevich put it off the crossbar, and Ekblad’s shot was saved by Sorokin. Ekblad also hit the crossbar again as the power play expired.

The Isles were under some pressure with the Panthers net empty, but held on to the 5-2 lead, claiming a big two points in the playoff race.

Up Next

Next, the Islanders will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at UBS Arena. Games against the Penguins always have intensity, but given the playoff race stakes, this one could be one of the biggest games of the season as a potential first-round matchup preview.

With the stakes rising each day as the regular season barrels toward its end, this game qualified as one the Islanders needed.

The Panthers were just one of two opponents remaining that are truly out of the postseason race. Everyone else still had something to play for. 

For 20 minutes, the Islanders failed to match the occasion. They trailed against a backup goaltender. And then their best offensive period of the season saved them. 

The Islanders erupted for five goals during the second — with contributions from just about everyone — and cruised to a 5-2 win to climb into second place in the Metropolitan Division. 

It marked their most goals in a period this season, fueled by their most shots on goal (24) in a period this season. Brayden Schenn (one goal, two assists) had his most productive game since joining the Islanders. Matthew Schaefer tied Stefan Persson (1977-78) for most points by a rookie defenseman in a season with two assists, giving him 56. The fourth line continued its strong play with Marc Gatcomb and Casey Cizikas both scoring.

Brayden Schenn (one goal, two assists) had his most productive game since joining the Islanders. Matthew Schaefer tied Stefan Persson (1977-78) for most points by a rookie defenseman in a season with two assists, giving him 56. The fourth line continued its strong play with Marc Gatcomb and Casey Cizikas both scoring. 

“What I love about that period is when we made it a 3-2 game, we kept going at them,” head coach Patrick Roy said. “We didn’t lay off. We kept going and we score that fourth one and that fifth one. That’s the killer instinct that sometimes you like to have on your team.” 

It was the type of win that flashes depth, the type of top-to-bottom contributions teams vying to do damage in the postseason need. Ten different Islanders skaters finished with a point.

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND ISLANDERS STATS

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Amid a rocky stretch, the Islanders will now enter a critical showdown with the Penguins on Monday with some momentum. 

That wasn’t always a guarantee, though. By the time the horn sounded at the end of the opening period, they trailed by two goals, with Matthew Tkachuk accounting for both. On the first, the Panthers star sneaked behind Adam Boqvist. This was something Roy said the Islanders knew could happen going into the match. The Islanders defenseman made a pass to keep the puck in the offensive zone, and Tkachuk ended up with a breakaway, flipping the puck past Ilya Sorokin just over eight minutes into the game. 

Then, around six minutes later, Ondrej Palat and Scott Mayfield collided in the defensive zone, and Tkachuk gained possession with a clear lane to Sorokin. He dragged the puck between his legs and sent a nifty shot into the net. 

But everything shifted in the second. The Islanders dominated with 24 shots.

The Panthers only managed five — and never maintained consistent possession. At the 5:28 mark, Gatcomb cut through center ice and veered down the right side for a shot that managed to dribble past Daniil Tarasov.

Just under seven minutes later, Calum Ritchie hit Schenn driving to the net, and their trade-deadline acquisition flipped a puck in for his third goal since joining the Islanders. Simon Holmstrom followed on the power play, with Schaefer picking up his record-tying assist. Emil Heineman and Cizikas capped the scoring. 

The Islanders’ message between periods? Don’t wait for the third period like they did in Tuesday’s loss to the Blackhawks, Schenn said, when their comeback attempt was too late to matter. 

“You have to turn it on right now,” Schenn said of the message. “Come in and put pucks on net and get bodies there. [The Panthers are] obviously missing bodies, but they’re still gonna play the right way over there, and you have to play them hard and play the right way. And we did that, we got rewarded.” 

There will certainly be tougher tests awaiting the Islanders as they try to sneak into the playoff field. A pair of upcoming back-to-backs — against the Penguins and Sabres, against the Flyers and Hurricanes — will challenge everything from goaltending plans to whether this burst of offense is sustainable. 

But the reality facing the Islanders after the opening frame Saturday was dire. And they made sure it didn’t devolve into a loss that could haunt them three weeks from now. 

“Gats threw it on net there, got a bounce,” Schenn said, “and then I think we obviously took the game over from there.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists, Matthew Schaefer tied the rookie defenseman franchise scoring record and the New York Islanders rallied to beat the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers 5-2 on Saturday and keep pace in a competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.

Schenn, acquired at the trade deadline, scored the tying goal in the second period after U.S. Olympic gold medal-winner Matthew Tkachuk put Florida up 2-0 through 14 minutes. Fourth-liner Marc Gatcomb started the comeback and later assisted on Casey Cizikas’ goal that made it 5-2.

Schaefer with a pair of assists matched Stefan Persson from 1977-78 at 56 points. His next goal will tie Schaefer with Brian Leetch for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history.

Ilya Sorokin allowed only the two goals from Tkachuk and stopped the other 17 shots he faced. Swedes Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, who have won two in a row since losing three of their previous four.

The injury-ravaged Panthers moved a step closer to getting eliminated from playoff contention. They’re without forwards Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues and A.J. Greer and have not had captain Aleksander Barkov all season after he tore ligaments in his right knee during training camp.

Up next

Panthers: Visit the Rangers on Sunday.

Islanders: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.

NEW YORK (AP) — Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists, Matthew Schaefer tied the rookie defenseman franchise scoring record and the New York Islanders rallied to beat the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers 5-2 on Saturday and keep pace in a competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.

Schenn, acquired at the trade deadline, scored the tying goal in the second period after U.S. Olympic gold medal-winner Matthew Tkachuk put Florida up 2-0 through 14 minutes. Fourth-liner Marc Gatcomb started the comeback and later assisted on Casey Cizikas’ goal that made it 5-2.

Schaefer with a pair of assists matched Stefan Persson from 1977-78 at 56 points. His next goal will tie Schaefer with Brian Leetch for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history.

Ilya Sorokin allowed only the two goals from Tkachuk and stopped the other 17 shots he faced. Swedes Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, who have won two in a row since losing three of their previous four.

The injury-ravaged Panthers moved a step closer to getting eliminated from playoff contention. They're without forwards Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues and A.J. Greer and have not had captain Aleksander Barkov all season after he tore ligaments in his right knee during training camp.

Up next

Panthers: Visit the Rangers on Sunday.

Islanders: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.

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

Dylan Garand may be auditioning to be the New York Rangers’ backup goaltender for the 2026-27 season.

With Jonathan Quick banged up with an upper-body injury, the Rangers called up Dylan Garand from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League last week.

Despite previously being called up on a couple of occasions, Garand hadn’t played in an NHL game. 

With the Rangers well out of the playoff picture, the team was more inclined to give Garand a look, and he has run with his opportunity. 

In two games, Garand has posted a 1.44 goals against average and a .954 save percentage, while earning his first NHL win on Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. 

“I thought he looked really solid in there, and that's the second game in a row I felt that way so,” Mike Sullivan said of Garand. “It's two really good starts for him and I'm happy for him because I know how hard he's worked to get to this point. It's great for our team, it's great for our organization... The feeling I've gotten behind the bench in the two starts that he's had is that he's completely in control and he has good composure in there.”

Going into next season, it’s unclear if Jonathan Quick will retire, and even if he does return to play another year at 40 years old going on 41 years old, it remains to be seen if the Rangers are open to re-signing the pending unrestricted free agent.

Quick is having what many deem to be a down year, recording a 5-16-2 record, 3.18 goals against average, and .889 save percentage. Through the 13-game stretch Igor Shesterkin missed due to a lower-body injury from January to February, Quick, who took over the starting role, held a 1-8 record and .853 save percentage. 

Given some of Quick’s struggles this season and his durability concerns at his age, it is not far-fetched to assume that Garand could take over the backup role under Igor Shesterkin moving into the future. 

“I’m not really thinking about that too much,” Garand said. “I’m just trying to live in the present moment, and any opportunity I get try to go in there and give the guys a chance to win and do my job. I’m having a lot of fun right now.”

Mike Sullivan confirmed on Saturday that Quick still isn’t cleared to return to game action, but even when he is, the Rangers don’t appear to be in a rush to send Garand back down to the AHL. 

Has the 23-year-old goaltender earned more NHL starts to close out the 2025-26 campaign?

“That would probably be a fair statement just based on his performance to this point,” Sullivan emphasized. “As this moves forward, when eventually we get a healthy Quickie back, I think [Chris Drury] and I will sit and probably have a conversation around it.”

First Game, First Win, First Goal: A Victory Of Firsts For The Rangers' Youth First game, first win, first goal.

It would be wise for Sullivan and the Rangers to keep Garand around for the remainder of the season to see what they have in the young goalie. 

The best way to analyze if Garand is capable of taking over the backup role is to throw him into more NHL games, and with the Rangers already eliminated from playoff contention, there’s no reason not to allow Garand to showcase his skills at this level. 

“We’ve put him in two games so far. I will sit and talk with Dru (Drury) about a game plan moving forward,” Sullivan said. “Right now, we've got two healthy goalies that we're going to utilize, Dylan's part of it. 

“I think he’s played extremely well in the two games that he’s played, which is real encouraging from our standpoint. He's a good young goalie. As far as what happens moving forward, I think that's going to evolve in time, and we'll talk through that as we go.”

The Florida Panthers kicked off a quick weekend back-to-back with a matchup against the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon.

Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead but were overwhelmed by a motivated Islanders squad still fighting for a playoff spot, losing 5-2 at UBS Arena.

In what has seemed like a regular occurrence lately, Matthew Tkachuk was sprung on another breakaway, this one coming during the first half of the first period.

A Seth Jones clearing attempt after the Islanders were trying to set up shop in Florida’s zone found Tkachuk all alone in the neutral zone.

Tkachuk made a great move to his backhand before sending the puck over Ilya Sorokin’s glove and into the top of the net, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead at the 8:06 mark.

He wasn’t done there.

About six minutes later, Tkachuk drove with the puck through New York’s zone and toward Sorokin.

Just as he passed the top of the crease, Tkachuk put his stick between his legs and somehow shot the puck past Sorokin to give Florida a 2-0 lead.

MATTHEW TKACHUK BETWEEN-THE-LEGS GOAL 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/NaBEziHUqW

— NHL (@NHL) March 28, 2026

The Islanders picked up their first goal of the game about five minutes into the second period when a shot by Marc Gatcomb deflected off the blade of Donovan Sebrango and past a frozen Daniil Tarasov.

New York then tied the game with just under eight minutes left in the middle frame when Brayden Schenn was sprung on a breakaway from the blue line in, beating Tarasov glove side to knot the score at two.

Just about three minutes after that, an Islanders power play goal by Simon Holmstrom give the home team their first lead of the afternoon. His long point shot found its way past a screened Tarasov with 5:08 remaining in the period.

They weren’t done there.

Moments after Mackie Samoskevich was stopped on a breakaway by Sorokin, Emil Heineman one-timed a nice pass by Anders Lee past Tarasov, doubling the Islanders’ lead with exactly three minutes on the clock.

Less than a minute later, Casey Cizikas found a loose puck in the Panthers crease after a Tarasov glove save and popped it over the sprawling goaltender, and just like that It was 5-2 Islanders.

The two teams meandered through a scoreless third period that saw Florida pull Tarasov with over five minutes to go and hit a couple goal posts while trying to shrink their deficit.

On to Manhattan.

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Tarasov Stands Tall, Panthers Fall 3-2 To Minnesota On Last-Second Goal

Photo caption: Mar 28, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas (53) celebrates his goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) during the second period at UBS Arena. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to try to keep their playoff push going without franchise icons Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Coach Dan Muse says both players are “day to day” with injuries and will sit out Saturday's game against Dallas.

Crosby sustained a lower-body injury in the first period of a 4-3 shootout victory in Ottawa on Thursday. The 38-year-old Crosby missed about a month recently after suffering a lower-body injury while playing for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Malkin will miss a third straight contest while dealing with an upper-body injury that came to light following a loss to Carolina on March 22.

Pittsburgh entered Saturday in second place in the Metropolitan Division standings with a narrow one-point lead over both Columbus and the New York Islanders with 10 games remaining.

The injuries come during a very busy stretch for the Penguins, who play at the Islanders on Monday, then host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Pittsburgh is trying to return to the postseason for the first time since 2022.

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

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Connor McDavid has made a living out of torching the Ducks, and I expect him to have another big game this afternoon. 

Find out more with my free Ducks vs. Oilers predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, March 28.

Ducks vs Oilers prediction

Ducks vs Oilers best bet: Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points (-120)

It's crunch time for the Edmonton Oilers, who are leaning heavily on Connor McDavid down the stretch.

The Oilers’ captain’s posted total is 1.5 points this afternoon, which is exactly the number of points he’s averaging over his last 10 games. That makes -120 a pretty good price for the Over, especially since he’s eclipsed this total in back-to-back games. 

McDavid has also cruised past this total in six of his last seven meetings against the Anaheim Ducks, averaging two points per game over that stretch. 

Ducks vs Oilers same-game parlay

Evan Bouchard leads all NHL defensemen with 84 points, 64 counting as assists. He’s also registered 1+ assists in 13 of his last 16 games.

The Oilers have been solid in the second period this season, winning it in 11 of their last 15 games. 

Ducks vs Oilers SGP

• Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points
• Evan Bouchard Over 0.5 assists
• Oilers 2P moneyline

Ducks vs Oilers odds

• Moneyline: Ducks +120 | Oilers -145
• Puck Line: Ducks +1.5 | Oilers -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 7 | Under 7

Ducks vs Oilers trend

The Oilers have hit the 3P Under in 7 of their last 9 games (+5.00 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Oilers.

How to watch Ducks vs Oilers

Ducks vs Oilers latest injuries

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are almost through their gauntlet of a March schedule. 

They're coming off an emotional 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday and will return home to face the Dallas Stars on Saturday. This will be the second of two meetings between the Penguins and Stars this season after the Stars won 3-2 in a shootout back on Dec. 7. 

The Stars are one of two teams to have already clinched a playoff spot and are among the best in the league. However, they're on a four-game losing streak coming into this game. 

The Stars are set to get star forward Mikko Rantanen back from injury on Saturday after missing the last month. He was injured during the Olympics while representing Team Finland and has been awesome this year, scoring 20 goals and 69 points in 54 games.

Jason Robertson leads the Stars in points with 85 in 72 games and also has 39 goals. He's set to get quite the pay increase for his next contract since he's slated to be a restricted free agent this summer. 

Wyatt Johnston leads the team in goals with 40 and also has 78 points in 72 games. He's the Stars' top-line center and does it all for them. 

The Stars are blessed to have two top defensemen on their backend in Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley. Heiskanen is one of the five best defensemen on the planet and is elite in all three zones. He's also a one-man breakout. 

Harley is a great puck-mover and can score fairly well. Coming into this season, he finished the last two years with at least 15 goals. 

The Penguins' lines are up in the air for this game, as it's unclear whether Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be available. 

Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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It’s a Pacific Division showdown tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome as the Vancouver Canucks visit the Calgary Flames, with puck drop scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.

Matt Coronato is setting up goals left and right at the moment, and my Canucks vs. Flames predictions are eyeing him to keep it rolling.

Read more in my NHL picks for Saturday, March 28.

Canucks vs Flames prediction

Canucks vs Flames best bet: Matt Coronato Over 0.5 assists (+200)

Matt Coronato has been one of the Calgary Flames’ top producers, tallying 20 helpers. He’s cashed the Over in three straight appearances, and all of those games were at home. The 23-year-old has also hit the Over in assists in four of his previous six contests.

Against the Vancouver Canucks this season, Coronato has one helper in two meetings. He’s also been a mile better at Scotiabank Saddledome in 2025-26, registering 14 of his 20 helpers in 36 games.

The Canucks have allowed nine goals across their last two games. Coronato will play his part in setting up a goal.

Canucks vs Flames same-game parlay

Blake Coleman is averaging 2.51 SOG this season for the Flames, and he’s cashed the Over in back-to-back games. He had three shots on target against the Anaheim Ducks, and five against the Tampa Bay Lightning – two good teams.

The Canucks are 28th in the NHL in SOG allowed, and he’s notched five shots on net versus Vancouver across two meetings in ‘25-26.

The Flames have won four of their last five, beating the likes of St. Louis, Florida, and Tampa. They beat the Canucks 5-2 in their last meeting at Rogers Arena, and Vancouver is struggling, losing four in a row.

With Calgary still in the Wild Card race, every game is important right now. They will deliver.

Canucks vs Flames SGP

• Matt Coronato Over 0.5 assists
• Blake Coleman Over 2.5 SOG
• Flames moneyline

Canucks vs Flames odds

• Moneyline: Canucks +145 | Flames -165
• Puck Line: Canucks +1.5 (-180) | Flames -1.5 (+157)
• Over/Under: Over 6 (-106) | Under 6 (-110)

Canucks vs Flames trend

The Calgary Flames have hit the Moneyline in 5 of their last 6 games at home (+5.65 Units / 92% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Flames.

How to watch Canucks vs Flames

Canucks vs Flames latest injuries

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The Chicago Blackhawks have lost two straight games by a combined score of 11-2. They are 4-4-2 in their last 10, but the way they’ve been outplayed in these last two games has the team as a whole feeling down. 

It’s a young group that must find a way to get out of the rut before the season ends. They have one more game on their East Coast swing before returning home to Chicago. 

The one bright spot on this dark cloud has been Nick Lardis. He is not one of the first-round picks that had everyone excited in recent years, but his rise has been nothing short of sensational. 

After turning heads with 71 goals in the OHL last season, he came to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs and continued to fill the net. That earned him a call-up when Connor Bedard injured his shoulder, but he was sent back down once the forward group returned to full health. 

After the Olympics, Lardis was called up again, but stashed on the fourth line for a while. He wasn’t producing in that role, as expected. 

In the middle of their game against the Colorado Avalanche last Friday, Jeff Blashill randomly decided to bring him up to the second line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Frank Nazar. That has turned out to be one of Blashill’s top lineup decisions of the season. 

Lardis didn’t score against Colorado late in that game, but he has scored in three of the last four, all on the new-look second line. His natural ability to score works well with two offensive-minded players like Nazar and Bertuzzi. 

"He's been really good," Bertuzzi said of Lardis. "He battles hard. For a smaller guy, he's physical. He gets in on the forecheck, and he can score goals. I've been enjoying playing with him." 

The wonder was whether Lardis' major junior/minor-league scoring ability would translate to the NHL, and it seems it has. That’s a major positive for the Blackhawks when they go to evaluate their team during the off-season. 

Lardis has 8 goals in 32 NHL games played, which is a 20-goal pace over an 82-game slate. That would be an incredible total for a rookie once selected in the third round. With more development to his game, plus time with better players, the tools are there for him to reach next-level goal-scoring heights. 

Having a great shot is the key to Nick Lardis’ goal-scoring, but he is proving he will add to his totals each year by being a smart player. His goal against the Rangers was an example of him getting to a goal-scoring area to take advantage of the work being done by his linemates. 

With Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore, amongst others, ready to drive the bus in the coming years, Lardis is proving that he can be any one of their linemates who can score in bunches because of their playmaking. 

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The NHL's 15-game schedule on Saturday, March 28, could see a lot of movement in the playoff standings throughout the day.

The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Ottawa Senators at 1 p.m. ET and the New York Islanders are also in action at that time. If the Lightning win, they'd move in front of the Buffalo Sabres for the Atlantic Division lead based on points percentage because they have played fewer games.

If the Senators win and the Islanders lose, Ottawa would move into the second wild-card position. If the Islanders win, they'd temporarily move from the second wild-card spot into second place in the Metropolitan Division, passing the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets.

But all that could change later in the day. The Sabres could reclaim the Atlantic Division lead if they end their three-game losing streak. Buffalo would also move into the top seed in the Eastern Conference if it gains one more point than the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. The Penguins and Blue Jackets have games later in the day.

Another team to watch is the Detroit Red Wings, who host the Philadelphia Flyers at 8 p.m. on ABC. If the Senators and Islanders lose early, the Red Wings would take over the second wild-card spot with a victory. The Flyers open the day five points out of a playoff spot and are desperate for a win.

In the West, the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks visit the second-place Edmonton Oilers at 3:30 p.m. The Ducks would bump their division lead to seven points with a regulation win or the Oilers could cut their deficit to three points.

Also, the Nashville Predators host the Montreal Canadiens at 7 and the Los Angeles Kings visit the Utah Mammoth at 9. The Kings would move into the second wild-card spot with a victory and a Predators regulation loss.

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

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference: None

Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas

NHL games today (Saturday, March 28)

All times p.m. and Eastern

• Ottawa at Tampa Bay, 1
• Florida at N.Y. Islanders, 1
• Anaheim at Edmonton, 3:30
• Minnesota at Boston, 5, NHL Network
• Dallas at Pittsburgh, 5
• New Jersey at Carolina, 5
• San Jose at Columbus, 5
• Seattle at Buffalo, 5:30
• Toronto at St. Louis, 7
• Montreal at Nashville, 7
• Winnipeg at Colorado, 7
• Philadelphia at Detroit, 8, ABC
• Utah at Los Angeles, 9
• Vancouver at Calgary, 10
• Washington at Vegas, 10:30

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

As of March 27. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated

Metropolitan Division

• Carolina Hurricanes (96)
• Pittsburgh Penguins (88)
• Columbus Blue Jackets (87)

Atlantic Division

• Buffalo Sabres (96)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (94)
• Montreal Canadiens (90)

Wild card

• Boston Bruins (88)
• New York Islanders (87)

Sitting out of playoff position: Ottawa Senators (86), Detroit Red Wings (86), Philadelphia Flyers (82), Washington Capitals (81), New Jersey Devils (76), Toronto Maple Leafs (75), Florida Panthers (73), z-New York Rangers (67)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

As of March 27. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated

Central Division

• x-Colorado Avalanche (106)
• x-Dallas Stars (97)
• Minnesota Wild (94)

Pacific Division

• Anaheim Ducks (86)
• Edmonton Oilers (81)
• Vegas Golden Knights (78)

Wild card

• Utah Mammoth (80)
• Nashville Predators (77)

Sitting out of playoff position: Los Angeles Kings (76), Seattle Kraken (74), Winnipeg Jets (72), San Jose Sharks (71), St. Louis Blues (71), Calgary Flames (68), Chicago Blackhawks (67), z-Vancouver Canucks (50)

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 27.

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

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

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 27.

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

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

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

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

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

When does the NHL regular season end?

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

When do the NHL playoffs start?

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

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

In the summer of 2023, the Los Angeles Kings traded then 24-year-old Sean Durzi to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a second round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

It seemed odd at the time for the Kings to deal a defenseman who showed real promise in his first two seasons as a professional, but looking at the ripple effects the deal had on the organization, it's clear that both sides are happy with the outcome.

You may be surprised how the Sean Durzi trade tree has unfolded for the Kings.

In his first two seasons at the NHL level, Durzi proved he had what it takes to play with the big boys. During his two seasons in Los Angeles, the Mississauga native played 136 games, totalling 12 goals and 53 assists for 65 points. There was no surprise that a rebuilding team like Arizona showed great interest in acquiring him. 

In June of 2023, the Kings and Coyotes agreed on a deal that would send Durzi to Arizona in exchange for a 2024 2nd round pick in 2024 that was previously owned by the Montreal Canadiens. 

Durzi would only play one season in Arizona before the team relocated to Utah and became the Mammoth. His lone season as a Coyote turned out to be a career year for Durzi as he scored nine goals to go with 32 assists for 41 points in 76 games. His strong play led to him signing a respectable four-year contract extension worth $24 million, paying him $6 million per season.

After signing the new deal, the 2024-25 season didn't go Durzi's way as he would miss 52 games due to an injury he suffered that required surgery.

However, this season Durzi healthy and has provided some solid production for Utah as they push for the playoffs. In 52 games played, the 27-year-old has five goals and 19 assists for 24 points.

It's safe to assume that Utah views this deal as a success.

The Auston Matthews Rumor — and the Reality in Los AngelesSAN DIEGO, CA — As the season enters its final frame of games, the Los Angeles Kings have recently been named as one of three teams mentioned in an Auston Matthews grab over the Summer. It's time to look at this for what it really is, if it's true.

It would be completely fair to assume that the Kings used the second round pick on a prospect in the draft. However that was not the case, at all.

On June 27th, 2023, just three days after the Durzi trade, the Kings made a massive splash by trading for Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets. The Kings sent Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iaffalo, Rasmus Kupari, and you guessed it, the 2024 second rounder to the Jets. With the pick, the Jets selected defenceman Alfons Freij who has played just two AHL games.

You would think it would end at that, but no, after just one year with the Kings, Dubois was dealt to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper in a one-for-one trade.

It's crazy to look back and realize how each and every move an organization makes has an impact moving forward, no matter how minor it is. The Sean Durzi trade to Utah played a part in the Kings acquiring a Vezina candidate and Olympian in Darcy Kuemper.

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The Montreal Canadiens begin a five-game road trip as they visit the Nashville Predators on Saturday, March 28. They enter tonight having won four straight against Nashville, as both teams look to solidify playoff positioning.

My Canadiens vs. Predators predictions and NHL picks suggest the Habs will continue that trend as one of the league's best teams on the road, led by some familiar faces on their blue line.

Canadiens vs Predators prediction

Canadiens vs Predators best bet: Canadiens moneyline (-120)

Given their four-game winning streak against the Nashville Predators, their active three-game winning streak, and their .647 points percentage on the road (sixth in the NHL), this matchup certainly favors the Montreal Canadiens. 

They're turning back to Jakub Dobes for a third consecutive start, making tonight his fifth start in their last six games. He's conceded two goals or fewer in four straight.

Facing a Predators team that struggles to score (19th in goals per game), I love this matchup for Montreal.

Canadiens vs Predators same-game parlay

While there's some serious chemistry afoot on the Habs' top line, bettors cannot overlook Lane Hutson.

The sophomore defenseman has hit the Over for shots in three of his last four and eight of his last 11. Facing the 29th-ranked Preds in terms of shots allowed, this is a fantastic matchup for the Michigan native.

On the topic of standout Canadiens defensemen, Noah Dobson has been a shot-blocking machine recently. The NHL blocked-shots leader has hit the Over in five of his last six games, wearing more rubber than any other player during that time with 22 blocks.

Canadiens vs Predators SGP

• Canadiens moneyline
• Lane Hutson Over 1.5 shots on goal
• Noah Dobson Over 2.5 blocked shots

Canadiens vs Predators odds

• Moneyline: Canadiens -120 | Predators +100
• Puck Line: Canadiens -1.5 (+190) | Predators +1.5 (-230)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)

Canadiens vs Predators trend

Montreal has won four consecutive games versus Nashville, dating back to March 2024. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Predators.

How to watch Canadiens vs Predators

Canadiens vs Predators 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.

With their season hanging in the balance, the Senators briefly clawed their way back into a playoff spot this week, only to be pushed right back out. Now, with ten games left, they head into Tampa Bay on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m., TSN5, TVAS), staring down a Stanley Cup contender and the NHL’s hottest scorer.

The Standings

The Senators enter play on Saturday just one point behind the New York Islanders. Ottawa actually holds a slightly better points percentage than the Isles, who've played one more game.

The Sens are also two points back of the Boston Bruins (WC1) and four points behind the Montreal Canadiens (A3).

Their opponent today, the Tampa Bay Lightning (A2), are battling for top spot in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. Tampa sits two points back of Buffalo (A1) with two games in hand, and two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the conference lead.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings are once again in a virtual tie with Ottawa. The out-of-town scoreboard has done the Senators no favours... again. For the second time this week, the Buffalo Sabres failed to help Ottawa’s cause, falling 5–2 to Detroit on Friday night.

Around the league on Saturday, the Islanders host the Panthers (1 p.m.), Boston welcomes Minnesota (5 p.m.), and Detroit hosts Philadelphia (8 p.m.).

On Tuesday night, the Senators briefly moved into a playoff spot for the first time in over four months. But a shootout loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday, combined with the usual grim out-of-town results, quickly erased that progress.

The Senators haven't played Tampa since opening night on Oct. 9 when they came away with a 5-4 victory on a late goal by Shane Pinto.

Lineup Notes / Injuries

Both teams have recently been without their top defencemen, but Jake Sanderson is on the trip and could be nearing a return. Lassi Thomson is also close. Meanwhile, Thomas Chabot is out for at least the remainder of the regular season, and possibly longer.

Ottawa may need to continue leaning on rookies Carter Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan, who both saw increased ice time in Thursday’s game. Donovan jumped from 4:42 in his NHL debut to 9:22 against Pittsburgh, while Yakemchuk went from 12:46 to 17:42 and even saw time in overtime.

The Lightning will be without Victor Hedman, who is on personal leave. Interestingly, Linus Ullmark noted that Hedman was one of his biggest supports during his own recent personal leave of absence in January. The Lightning haven't said anything about Hedman's situation, just asking that Hedman’s privacy be respected at this time.

Kucherov's Historical Heater

Ottawa’s fate on Saturday may hinge on containing Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, the most dangerous player on either roster. Kucherov has an astonishing 104 points over his last 50 games, becoming just the second player in this millennium (Connor McDavid, 2021–22) to hit 100 points in a 50-game span.

The 32-year-old Russian is also tied with McDavid at 121 points this season and has more assists (81) than any Senator has points. Tim Stützle leads Ottawa with 75.

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Projected Lineups

(As of Friday, as per NHL.com)

Senators

Drake Batherson - Tim Stützle - Claude Giroux
Brady Tkachuk - Dylan Cozens - Ridly Greig
Nick Cousins - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio
Warren Foegele - Lars Eller - Fabian Zetterlund

Tyler Kleven - Artem Zub
Jordan Spence - Nikolas Matinpalo
Jorian Donovan - Carter Yakemchuk

Linus Ullmark
James Reimer

Scratched: Stephen Halliday, Kurtis MacDermid
Injured: Thomas Chabot (upper body), Jake Sanderson (upper body), Nick Jensen (lower body), Dennis Gilbert (upper body), Lassi Thomson (lower body)

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Lightning

Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Nikita Kucherov
Gage Goncalves - Brayden Point - Jake Guentzel
Zemgus Girgensons - Yanni Gourde - Pontus Holmberg
Corey Perry - Nick Paul - Oliver Bjorkstrand

Darren Raddysh - J.J. Moser
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg - Charle-Edouard D’Astous

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson

Scratched: Scott Sabourin, Steven Santini, Victor Hedman Injured: Declan Carlile (undisclosed), Max Crozier (core muscle), Dominic James (lower body)

Steve Warne
The Hockey News