Category: Ice Hockey

The Vancouver Canucks’ young stars were out in full force tonight in the team’s 2–1 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks. Linus Karlsson and Jake DeBrusk scored for the Canucks, with the latter reaching a new career-high for goals in one season. Karlsson is one of the seven players in Vancouver’s lineup tonight who have played at least one game with the Abbotsford Canucks this season. Three of the seven made their NHL debuts within the past two games. One of these players is Nikita Tolopilo, who started his first NHL game tonight and made 15 saves on 16 shots against. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Canucks Kudryavtsev & Tolopilo To Make NHL Debuts Against The Sharks

The Weekly Rewind: Vancouver Canucks Recaps From April 7 To April 13, 2025

Canucks Drew O'Connor Set To Make Franchise History Monday Against The San Jose Sharks

Tolopilo has had a stupendous 2024–25 season with Abbotsford, starting 34 of the team’s 69 games so far this season. He has won 18 of his starts, four of which have been shutouts. In his past 10 games, he has stopped 256 of 280 shots against, putting up a .914 SV% and a shutout. In his NHL debut tonight, he had a .938 SV%. 

“I think it’s kind of a long journey to get my first initial start, but I’m really proud of myself and really thankful to all coaches, all teammates, to my agent, to my family, who support me all the way,” Tolopilo said about his first NHL start. 

Another Canucks prospect who made his debut tonight is Kirill Kudryavstev, a seventh-round gem in the 2022 NHL Draft. This season was his first with Abbotsford, as he’d previously spent the past three years with the Soo Greyhounds. In 63 games played with Abbotsford, he has scored five goals and added 21 assists. Tonight, he put up one shot and blocked three in 13:33 minutes played. He played relatively calmly in his own zone while adding pressure on the Sharks’ puck carriers to help Vancouver gain possession. 

"I haven't seen him since camp. I think there's something there. I think there's a good shot for him down the road, because some good feet, good brain, good stick. I thought he was really good," Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet said of Kudryavstev's performance tonight. 

Ty Mueller, who made his NHL debut the game before, suited up for his second game with Vancouver tonight. He had two good setups for linemate Jake DeBrusk early in the first and second periods that ultimately did not convert. While he didn’t get as many minutes tonight (9:39), he blocked two shots and made one hit. 

“I love to see them up here. They deserve it. They have both had a really good year down in Abbotsford. So no, I’m really happy for them, and they work hard. So it’s always fun to see guys taking that step and get a chance up here, because I think the guys in Abbotsford deserves that,” Karlsson said of his Abbotsford teammates making their way up to Vancouver. 

Around halfway through the first period, the Canucks were given a four-minute power play after Elias Pettersson (D) ended up on the receiving end of a high-stick. Despite not capitalizing on the opportunity, the team launched eight shots at Alexander Georgiev including a great chance by Pius Suter. Before tonight, Vancouver’s power play had scored five goals in the past 12 opportunities, taking place over the span of five games. Even with five power play opportunities, Vancouver was still not able to score on the man-advantage. 

One player who had a bit of a rough night was Victor Mancini, who took three penalties throughout the entire game. The second penalty that he took, for interfering with Tyler Toffoli while trying to clear him from Vancouver’s area, led to the game’s opening goal for the Sharks. With that being said, he also had a fast dash near the end of the second period to help set up a chance for Aatu Räty and Kiefer Sherwood. 

While the young players made an impact tonight, at the end of the game, the spotlight was all on Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes. He dominated the bulk of the extra frame and ultimately potted an assist on DeBrusk’s game-winning goal to tie Alex Edler’s franchise record in career points by a defenseman (409). With this, Hughes will look to break the record in the team’s final game of the season against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

"I was lucky enough to watch Edler break it. I think it was my first career game when he did. Very honoured. It’s been a blessing to play here," Hughes said postgame of tying the franchise record. 

"He's a pleasure to coach. He loves the game. He wants to win. He wants to keep getting better his game," Tocchet added of Hughes' season as a whole. "He's emerging every day as a leader. He's probably hurting more than anybody about not making the playoffs." 

All in all, tonight’s debuts were pretty solid for Kudryavstev and Tolopilo, while Mueller built on his first game by putting himself out there more offensively. Tonight’s game was not entirely about collecting points, but more-so about seeing what the Canucks’ future holds in the players who have succeeded in Abbotsford this season. 

Stats and Facts: 

• Drew O’Connor becomes the first player in Canucks history to play more than 82 games in one season 
• Canucks sweep season series against the Sharks, going 4–0–0 
• Quinn Hughes plays more than 30 minutes in one game for the sixth time this season
• Quinn Hughes ties Alex Edler’s record for most points by a defenseman in franchise history (409) 
• With his 28th of the season, Jake DeBrusk notches a new career-high in goals scored

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period: 

No scoring.

2nd Period:

4:20 - SJS: Macklin Celebrini (25) from Tyler Toffoli and Luca Cagnoni (PPG)  

3rd Period: 

9:02 - VAN: Linus Karlsson (3) from Teddy Blueger and Drew O’Connor 

Overtime: 

4:42 - VAN: Jake DeBrusk (28) from Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser 

Up Next: 

The Canucks play in their last game of the season on Wednesday night at Rogers Arena for fan appreciation night. They’ll be taking on the Golden Knights, the current Pacific Division leaders. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Macklin Celebrini scored his 25th goal of the season but the San Jose Sharks lost the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 and now have a ten-game losing streak.

San Jose dealt with multiple injuries, which required three call-ups before the game. Luca Cagnoni, Jimmy Schuldt, and Danil Gushchin were all summoned from the San Jose Barracuda on short notice.

Injury-Riddled Sharks Turn to AHL Call-Ups to Fill Gaps vs. CanucksThe San Jose Sharks are dealing with multiple injuries and recalled three players ahead of their matchup against the Vancouver Canucks.

Alexandar Georgiev made 35 saves.

Jake DeBrusk scored the OT winner for the Canucks, who also got a goal from Linus Karlsson and Nikita Tolopilo made 15 saves in his NHL debut.

Celebrini gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 4:20 of the second period with a snipe on the power-play.

We've got MACKTION 🎬 pic.twitter.com/DTkZA0tqF5

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 15, 2025

Karlsson tied the game 1-1 at 9:03 of the third period with a backhand over Georgiev's pad after he gave up a rebound.

🚨VANCOUVER GOAL🚨

Go to the net and good things will happen! Linus Karlsson ties the game!

🎥: Sportsnet | #Canuckspic.twitter.com/qn7tbM2i1L

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) April 15, 2025

DeBrusk won the game late in overtime.

🚨VANCOUVER GOAL🚨

Jake DeBrusk scores his career high 28th goal of the season and it's the OT winner!

Quinn Hughes ties Alex Edler for the most points by a defenceman in Canucks history!

🎥: Sportsnet | #Canuckspic.twitter.com/OjsOdGyXjq

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) April 15, 2025

Ahead of their final game of the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have made a roster move.

On Monday, the Penguins waived 27-year-old forward Joona Koppanen, who was recently recalled to the NHL club on an emergency basis Apr. 2. 

The #Pens placed forward Joona Koppanen on waivers today. @InsideAHLHockey

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) April 14, 2025

Koppanen, a native of Tampere, Finland, registered a goal in 10 games with Pittsburgh. Since he hit the 10-game threshold, he required waivers in order to be eligible for reassignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS).

In addition to the Koppanen move, it appears that defenseman Filip Kral is slated to be recalled from WBS and join the NHL club on an emergency basis for their final game of the regular season Thursday against the Washington Capitals. 

Kral - originally a fifth-round draft pick (149th overall) in 2018 by Penguins' GM/POHO Kyle Dubas during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs - has registered seven goals and 29 points in 59 games with WBS this season.

WBS Penguins Sweep Crucial Weekend Back-To-BackWith just three games remaining on their regular season schedule, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins did themselves a few favors this past weekend in terms of their chances at better playoff positioning.

---

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

With a win in any fashion, the Montreal Canadiens would clinch a berth in the postseason. The Bell Centre had a certain energy because of what was on the line.

There were also a couple of players who took their rookie laps ahead of warmups because they were making their NHL debut. 

For the Blackhawks, Ryan Greene signed after his season ended with Boston University. He is a hard-working two-way forward that can bring it in all three zones.

As for the Canadiens, Ivan Demidov came to the NHL after breaking away from his KHL team following their season. 

It took Demidov, who was a top-five draft pick for a reason, all of one period to make a significant impact in his first-ever NHL game. 

Demidov helped the Canadiens get off to a fast start by making a beautiful feed to Alex Newhook for a goal. This assist is the first point in the career of Demidov. 

Later in the opening frame, Demidov found a puck with nobody in front of him thanks to a pass off the end boards by Joel Armia. He put a beautiful move on Arvid Soderblom for his first career NHL goal. 

Instead of letting Demidov continue to dominate, the Blackhawks started to show signs of life after that. Before the first period was over, Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar made a nice play to set up Tyler Bertuzzi, who didn’t miss his chance to get the Hawks on the board. 

The Blackhawks played much better in the second period overall. They were eventually rewarded for it when Frank Nazar scored a power play goal to tie the game at 16:41. Teuvo Teravainen made a beautiful pass to Nazar while Connor Bedard drove the net. That’s the effort you like to see if you’re the coaching staff.  

At 5:39 of the third period, Lukas Reichel gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead. Landon Slaggert made a neat pass to send Slaggert in for a good chance. Now, could the Blackhawks overcome their tendency to give up leads? 

Late in the third, the Canadiens were given a power play, and they took full advantage. Lane Hutson made a wonderful play to feed Cole Caufield, who shot it into the net off of teammate Juraj Slafkovsky. 

After overtime solved nothing, Chicago went to a shootout for the second game in a row. This time, a Frank Nazar goal and a couple of saves for Arvid Soderblom earned Chicago a win.  

The Habs took a point, but they are still one point short of reaching the playoffs. The Columbus Blue Jackets are on their heels with another day to fight. 

Now, the Blackhawks are taking a train to Canada's national capital to take on the Ottawa Senators in their season finale. This is the second half of a back-to-back where Chicago is looking to finish strong. 

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

It’s been said numerous times, but Ivan Demidov is arguably the most purely talented teenager to join the Montreal Canadiens in over five decades. 

His NHL debut lived up to the hype in almost every way imaginable – the Canadiens just didn’t get the win against the Chicago Blackhawks to clinch a playoff spot. 

When Demidov took his first shift, the fans in the Bell Centre were electric. Demidov repaid their love by throwing a few hits and buzzing around the ice. 

On his third shift, the Habs’ teenage Russian phenom danced down the wall, evaded a defender and sent a pass to the slot for Alex Newhook to bang home the game’s opening goal, getting Demidov his first NHL point.

A few shifts later, Demidov got in behind the Chicago defenders, collected the heavy bounce off the end boards, faked a shot as he corralled it to freeze the goalie before dangling the netminder and tucking it in, sending the fans into pure pandemonium. 

IVAN DEMIDOV, TU ES UN MAGICIEN

YOU'RE A MAGICIAN, IVAN DEMIDOV#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/z6HQsModRb

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 14, 2025

Ivan Demidov had arrived. 

Just one period into his North American tenure, Demidov was not only making his mark, but he was also injecting the skill and offensive punch into the Canadiens lineup that fans had dreamed of. The best part was that he was doing it well ahead of schedule. 

It wasn’t a perfect game, which is to be expected for a rookie who was playing on a different continent just over a week ago. 

On Chicago’s third goal, Demidov and Montreal’s Calder Trophy favorite, Lane Hutson, were playing Keep Away from the Blackhawks. A Demidov shot was blocked high in the offensive zone while Hutson was down on the half wall, which created an odd-man break the other way, giving Chicago the lead.

Despite a few mistakes, Demidov consistently made plays at the offensive end of the ice. Whether he was bursting up ice with speed, drawing pressure and finding teammates off the rush or attacking downhill and creating shot chances for himself, it was the Demidov show whenever he was on the ice. 

Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Brings 'Mamba Mentality' And Otherworldly Skill To The NHLThe Montreal Canadiens got a pretty special talent in Ivan Demidov. 

There were moments on the power play when Demidov’s creativity and fluidity were fully unleashed. 

We saw flashes of Demidov’s elite puck skills and handling ability throughout the game. He took shifts with a variety of players, from starting with Alex Newhook and Joel Armia to skating with Nick Suzuki on one shift and Patrik Laine on a few others. 

Demidov finding his place in the lineup will be a work in progress, and coach Martin St-Louis will likely play around with his lineup as he looks to find the best fit for his new toy. What we saw today was that Demidov could create and generate offense with just about anyone. 

The spectacle of Demidov and the hype around his game have intensified since he was drafted last June, when he proudly proclaimed to be ready to inject the killer instinct into this Habs’ lineup. No one expected to see the 19-year-old in the NHL to end this regular season, and no one could have imagined that we’d be anticipating Demidov playing in the post-season for Montreal.

Now, we may get to see both – if the Canadiens get at least one point in their final game or the Columbus Blue Jackets don’t win their final two games in regulation. 

Canadiens Fans Are Gaga About Ivan Demidov – But Expectations Are Extremely HighWe all know how much Montreal loves its hockey – specifically its Montreal Canadiens. 

The excitement from fans has been explosive. From greeting him upon arrival at the airport to rushing to put No. 93 sweaters on their backs, Canadiens fans know just how special Demidov can be for them. He has the potential to be a transformational piece for the sport's most historic franchise.

Although Montreal didn’t get the win in his debut, the atmosphere in the Bell Centre and around Montreal in the leadup to Demidov’s earth-shattering debut was warranted. Their young superstar in the making did everything in his power to prove his worth. A goal and an assist in his debut surely won’t calm any hype as the team looks to charge toward the playoffs with Demidov helping lead the way.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

It is common to romanticize the past, and when it comes to hockey, fans of my generation in Toronto, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, and New York would tell tales about going to Maple Leaf Gardens, Boston Garden, Chicago Stadium, the Olympia, the Montreal Forum or Madison Square Garden.

For fans in Buffalo, the same can be said about Memorial Auditorium.

“The Aud", as it was lovingly nicknamed, was built in 1940 and remodeled after the Sabres inaugural season in 1970. It served as the club’s home until this day in 1996, when the last NHL game against the Hartford Whalers was played. The club's original home had oddities, but that gave it some charm. Unlike modern-day arenas that are required to have a 200 x 85 ice surface, the Aud was one of three NHL arenas that had slightly smaller sheet due to their older construction and smaller size.

On April 14, 1996, the #Sabres played their last game at the Memorial Auditorium. Here's a tribute that played on @WGRZ that evening. Full game of #Sabrehood vs. #Whalers at https://t.co/xGsGEPOCpzpic.twitter.com/k7auFKxack

— SabresClassics (@SabresClassics) April 14, 2025

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?The Buffalo Sabres are currently focused on finishing off the 2024-25 season on a positive note after most of the campaign being dominated by the negative. The club is looking to win their third game in a row in Utah on Thursday after a shootout win over Vegas on Saturday and an overtime victory in Boston on Monday. Barring an incredibly successful final 16 games, the Sabres are likely to finish in the bottom five of the NHL standings, and with a number of questions that will need to be addressed in the offseason. Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The AthleticThe Buffalo Sabres season began with the hope of ending their long playoff drought and will end on April 17th with a 14th consecutive year outside of the postseason. There are a number of contributing factors to the club’s struggles, but according to an article in the Athletic that surveyed fans from every NHL club, Sabres owner Terry Pegula is ranked last among the 32 owners. Dahlin Refutes Assertion Of Wanting Out Of BuffaloAs if the Buffalo Sabres do not have enough drama with the club heading for their 14th consecutive season outside of the playoffs, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin refuted a report from TNT panelist and Spittin Chiclets co-host Paul Bissonette that the Sabres team captain met with GM Kevyn Adams and wants out of Buffalo if the club does not improve quickly.

Renovations to the building raised the roof to put an upper deck on it and increased the seating capacity to 16,433. However, unlike the evenly balanced bowl of the Key Bank Center, the Aud was oddly arranged, with one end having a small number of rows because of the suites located there and the other end consisting of over 20 rows.

The upper deck was incredibly steep and hung over the ice, giving fans an incredible view, while others seated in the highest level of the lower bowl — known as the “upper blues” — could not see the scoreboard and had to view the game on TV screens. One of the best features of the old barn is one of the worst features of the Sabres' current home: the sound.

The low roof and hundreds of sound cones helped trap and evenly distribute the noise in the building, making it an especially great venue for concerts and a raucous hockey crowd, which gave the Sabres a distinct home-ice advantage. There have been very few times over nearly 30 years (and not for a lack of fans trying) that KeyBank Center has echoed as the Aud did on many nights.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Vincent Trocheck scored a short-handed goal early in the third period against his former team, and the New York Rangers beat the Florida Panthers 5-3 on Monday night.

Trocheck, playing in his 800th game, got the go-ahead goal during a Rangers comeback like none other this season. The Rangers were 0-30-1 in games where they trailed by two or more goals, the NHL’s only winless team this season in such a scenario.

But they got goals from Juuso Parssinen and J.T. Miller 1:38 apart late in the second to tie the game, erasing a 3-1 deficit. Matt Rempe and Jonny Brodzinski also scored for the Rangers.

Sam Reinhart scored twice and Carter Verhaeghe also had a goal for Florida, which got two assists from Aleksander Barkov.

The loss means Florida is locked into third place in the Atlantic Division and will open the Stanley Cup playoffs on the road.

Takeaways

Rangers: Florida fans gave retiring Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen a warm ovation during a first-period stoppage in play when he was shown on the video screens. Panthers coach Paul Maurice and general manager/hockey operations president Bill Zito also paid tribute to Rosen before his final road game.

Panthers: Florida needs a win at Tampa Bay on Tuesday to reach 100 points for the third time in the last four seasons. The Panthers got to the 100-point mark once in the franchise’s first 27 seasons.

Key moment

Trocheck’s blast from the left circle came in a stretch where Florida kept losing the puck with the man advantage, and the Rangers made them pay.

Key stat

For the second consecutive year, the Panthers have five 20-goal scorers. Verhaeghe got there Monday, joining Reinhart, Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett — the same fivesome as last year.

Up next

Rangers end the season at home Thursday against Tampa Bay. Florida visits the Lightning on Tuesday to end its regular season.

The Florida Panthers final regular season game at Amerant Bank Arena did not go very well for the home team.

Florida allowed a multi-goal lead to evaporate before eventually allowing the New York Rangers to score four straight and take down the Panthers 5-3.

It didn’t take long for the Panthers to start the game off on the right paw.

With Florida on an early power play, Sam Reinhart stepped into a one-timer from the high slot that went through the legs of Jonathan Quick to give the Cats a 1-0 lead at the 2:22 mark.

An icing on the Panthers about six minutes later led to the Rangers tying the game.

Right off the faceoff in Florida’s zone, a point shot by K’Andre Miller was stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky, but the puck trickled behind him and was poked in the net by an observant Matt Rempe.

Early in the second period, a point shot by Gus Forsling was stopped by Quick, but the rebound bounced off the leg of Carter Verhaeghe and into the net, his 20th goal of the season.

The Cats doubled their lead about 10 minutes later when a great play in the corner by Sasha Barkov led to another Reinhart one-timer from the slot.

Just when it looked like the Panthers were in control, the Rangers reeled off a pair of quick goals less than two minutes apart late in the period to send the game into the third knotted at three.

New York scored their third consecutive goal early in the third, and it came while shorthanded.

Sam Bennett brought the puck back into Florida’s zone after the Cats had just cleared it on a Rangers entry, and suddenly New York had an odd-man advantage down low.

J.T. Miller fed Vincent Trocheck and a quick one-timer later, New York had their first lead of the game.

With Florida pushing for a late equalizer, Chris Krieder found the puck below the Panthers goal line and slickly fed Johnny Brodzinski in front to double New York’s lead with only 3:29 to go.

On to Tampa.

QUICK THOUGHTS

The loss locked Florida into third place in the Atlantic Division. They will face either Toronto or Tampa in round one. 

Reinhart’s goals were his 38th and 39th of the season and his first in four games.

Evan Rodrigues is riding a three-game point streak after logging an assist on Reinhart’s PPG.

Verhaeghe has now scored in three straight games and he’s picked up at least a point in four straight.

Barkov has a three-game point streak going after logging a pair of assists on Monday. He’s got 11 points over his past 10 outings.

Another player with points in three straight is Seth Jones. He’s got a goal and five assists over his past nine games.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

'He's not that far off': Paul Maurice provides update on Matthew Tkachuk as playoffs near

Final Panthers home game of regular season comes against underachieving Rangers

Three takeaways: Strong nights for Gadjovich, Puljujarvi as Panthers win third straight

Panthers power past Sabres with 3-2 shootout victory

Searching for third straight win, Panthers host Sabres team playing best hockey of season

Gavin McKenna will go first overall in the 2026 NHL draft. It's not a matter of if, but when.

The 17-year-old continues to dazzle in the WHL, scoring a highlight-reel goal. When he gets drafted to the NHL, he will have been the fourth so-called "generational player" to be chosen in the past 12 drafts, joining Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Connor Bedard.

So it only makes sense that McKenna's not really a generational player, right?

It used to be players of this ilk came along once every 20 years or so. But youth hockey is producing players of such prodigious levels of talent that they're cropping up every couple of years now.

Today's video column has more.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Nashville Predators (29-43-8, 64 points) host the Utah Hockey Club (37-30-13, 87 points) for their penultimate game of the season Monday at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators are looking to complete the season sweep of their Central Division rivals after winning the first two games of the series. Nashville won a 4-0 shutout against Utah at home on Nov. 9 and claimed a 4-3 shootout win last week in Salt Lake City.

Predators defensive prospect Ryan Ufko, who was recalled Monday from the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, will make his NHL debut against Utah. Originally drafted by Nashville in the fourth round (No. 115 overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Ufko made his pro debut with Milwaukee last season after three collegiate seasons at UMass Amherst.

Ufko has recorded 35 points (9 goals, 26 assists) and three power-play goals in 80 AHL games. He is the seventh player to make their NHL debut for the Predators this season, joining Zachary L'Heureux, Joakim Kemell, Fedor Svechkov, Adam Wilsby, Ozzy Wiesblatt and Matthew Wood. Ufko will draw into the Predators' lineup Monday in place of defenseman Andreas Englund, who is out with an illness.

Hot lap number 7 for the #Preds this season: Ryan Ufko pic.twitter.com/2MWMgRDPFz

— Emma Lingan (@emma_lingan) April 14, 2025

How Nashville Lined Up vs. Utah

Forsberg-O'Reilly-Evangelista
Bunting-Stamkos-Wood
L'Heureux-Svechkov-Marchessault
Smith-McCarron-Vrana

Skjei-Blankenburg
Oesterle-Barron
Del Gaizo-Ufko

Saros
Annunen

Extra: Sissons (week-to-week, lower-body), Englund (illness)
IR: Lauzon, Wilsby, Josi

Nashville Predators vs. Utah Hockey Club: Live Updates

First Period (NSH 1, UTA 2)

The Predators were gifted an early 5-on-3 advantage when Barrett Hayton was whistled for tripping just 20 seconds into a Kevin Stenlund slashing penalty. Nashville managed six shots on goal but couldn't capitalize at 5-on-3. Ryan O'Reilly finally found the back of the net just as the second penalty was set to expire, giving the Predators a 1-0 lead at the 6:10 mark of the first period.

Got the X Factor 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/nK2p5k6cZy

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 15, 2025

Michael Kesserling got Utah on the board with a laser from the top of the circle that beat Juuse Saros to tie the game at 1-1 at the 12:30 mark.

Nick Bjugstad gave Utah its first lead of the game when he buried a shot from the goal line at the 18:21 mark of the period. Utah carried a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, while shots were 15-11 in favor of Nashville.

Second Period (NSH 1, UTA 2)

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that goaltender Scott Ratzlaff has been assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

Ratzlaff, 20, spent this season in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds. In 49 games this campaign with the WHL squad, he posted a 23-19-4 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 3.16 goals-against average. Now, with the Thunderbirds' season over, Ratzlaff will finish the campaign with Rochester. 

Ratzlaff was selected by the Sabres with the 141st overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. In 160 games over five seasons with the Thunderbirds, Ratzlaff has put together an 87-55-5 record, a .909 save percentage, and a 2.90 goals-against average. 

It will now be interesting to see if Ratzlaff makes his AHL debut with the Amerks before the season is over from here.

Recent Sabres News 

Sabres Star Finishing The Season Red-HotThe end of the season is just about here for the Buffalo Sabres, as the Atlantic Division club will not be in the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year. While this is the case, the Sabres have been playing some of their best hockey of the season, winning eight out of their last 10 games.

The Seattle Kraken have recalled defenseman Ville Ottavainen from the Coachella Valley Firebirds on an emergency basis. 

The 22-year-old defenseman has played 66 AHL games this season, scoring three goals and 14 points. It's a step down in production from his rookie season where he scored eight goals and 34 points in 70 games. 

Listed at 6'5, 216 lbs, the Kraken selected Ottavainen in the fourth round (99th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. 

The Kraken have one final game remaining on the schedule, a home game against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. If any defenseman is unable to play, Ottavainen will step into the lineup to make his NHL debut. 

When he returns to the AHL, he'll continue to be a key contributor to their blue line in what they hope will be another long playoff run.

Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Former Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Chris Simon has been posthumously diagnosed with Stage 3 CTE, Dr. Chris Nowinski, the founding CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, announced Monday morning.

Simon was drafted 25th overall by the Flyers in the second round of the 1990 NHL Draft, but the Flyers later traded Simon to the Quebec Nordiques as part of the package for legendary forward Eric Lindros.

Simon played in the NHL for 15 seasons, with his last NHL game having been played nearly 17 years ago to the day on April 15, 2008. Simon participated in 101 fights in his NHL career.

Breaking: Former #NHL player Chris Simon has been diagnosed with stage 3 #CTE at the @bu_cte Center. The Stanley Cup winner died by suicide at age 52 in 2024. Read his family statement released through @ConcussionLF at the link. https://t.co/l5pkZ5wvni

— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) April 14, 2025

Simon died by suicide at the age of 52 on March 18, 2024, and was long said to have been struggling with the effects of CTE. This was confirmed with Monday’s announcement.

Dr. Ann McKee of the Boston University CTE Center released the following statement in regards to her findings in the posthumous study:

“Mr. Simon had severe CTE pathology in areas of the brain involved with cognition and mood regulation, and it is likely CTE contributed to his memory problems, depression, and apathy. Individuals with a significant history of repetitive head impacts in sports who report these symptoms need to be taken seriously, and our team is committed to providing them the care they need while also continuing to advance CTE research.”

Simon’s family had this to say, as part of a longer full-length statement, in addition to Dr. McKee's words:

“Our family is extremely thankful to Dr. Ann McKee, Lisa McHale and all staff at Boston University CTE Center and the Concussion Legacy Foundation for all of their work and support. We are relieved that stage 3 CTE was definitively found in his brain as it will help bring some closure and healing to his family and friends. The unfortunate feeling of anger is also present due to the negligence of a professional league turning a blind eye to CTE and other significant brain injuries sustained in the sport of hockey.”

Simon’s family agreed to release the results of the brain study in an effort to draw attention and raise awareness for the needs of former hockey players struggling with long-term complications of repeated head traumas.

“With each new diagnosis of CTE in a former NHL player, the NHL’s lack of leadership on this issue becomes more intolerable,” Dr. Nowinski said. “Yet their denial strengthens our resolve to support the hockey community through our free HelpLine and advance research focused on diagnosing CTE during life and developing effective treatments.”

Nineteen of 20 former NHLers studied at the Boston University CTE Center, including Simon, Derek Boogaard, Bobby Hull, and Stan Mikita, have been diagnosed with CTE.

Those in need of assistance can reach the Concussion Legacy Foundation HelpLine at CLFHelpline.org.

We all know how much Montreal loves its hockey – specifically its Montreal Canadiens. 

There’s a lot for the Canadiens to get hyped up about, including being close to a playoff birth. But with top prospect Ivan Demidov joining the club and making his NHL debut Monday night against the Chicago Blackhawks – Montrealers are falling head-over-heels for the 19-year-old.

Demidov has been embraced by Canadiens fans, be it at the airport arriving in the city or just during practice – the affection is probably more than he expected, even with Canadiens staff trying to prepare him for life in a massive hockey hotbed.

That said, Demidov’s hardly the first Russian to potentially thrive in the fishbowl environment of Montreal.

Whether it was Ilya Kovalchuk – who played for the Canadiens briefly in 2020 – or former Habs fan favorites Alex Kovalev and Andrei Markov, Canadiens fans have never shied away from expressing their affection for the creativity, craftiness and high-energy games these players bring to the table. Canadiens management is also fully aware of the mutual admiration that exists between Montrealers and their exciting talent.

“It’s another part of what makes Montreal the best hockey city in the world,” Canadiens GM Kent Hughes said Monday regarding the Demidov hype. “We see it often with soccer around the world. When there’s a passion, there’s other aspects that come with it. But I think I have the impression that Ivan has felt the welcome to Montreal.”

Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Brings 'Mamba Mentality' And Otherworldly Skill To The NHLThe Montreal Canadiens got a pretty special talent in Ivan Demidov. 

The hype around Demidov extends to current Canadiens players. Injured Habs center Kirby Dach moved his stationary bike to the bench just to watch him practise. 

But before everyone gets carried away with expectations for Demidov, they should give him a little room to breathe and get his feet under him as he begins competing in the best hockey league on the planet. 

To that end, Kovalchuk talked to RG.org about Demidov in March and how he has to be ready for the sky-high expectations in Montreal. 

“He needs to be ready for the reality of playing in a city where hockey is like a religion,” he said. “Every move he makes will be scrutinized by management and the media. The key is to not be shy and speak their language. It goes a long way in a market like Montreal.”

Demidov needs to heed those words. If he doesn’t light the league on fire as soon as he logs his first few games, the pressure on him will only grow. And if he does excel right away, Demidov will be expected to raise his game even higher. 

Because he’s eligible to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Demidov reportedly has an intriguing clause in his first NHL contract, which would pay him $525,000 if he wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the post-season. He can make an even bigger splash as a rookie, but that’s part of the sky-high expectations that may need to be tempered this season.

Canadiens fans are already gaga for the potential Demidov has shown in his on-ice career. If he does lay the foundation to be something truly special in this initial taste of NHL action, Habs fans will surely dive headfirst into a love affair with him that will last for many years.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Nashville Predators have announced that they have recalled defenseman Ryan Ufko from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. In addition, the team announced that Ufko will make his NHL debut during the Predators' April 14 contest against the Utah Hockey Club.

Ufko, 21, has been quite solid for the Admirals this season, so it is understandable that he is now getting his first chance on the Predators' roster. In 71 games this campaign with the AHL squad, he has recorded eight goals, 21 assists, 29 points, and a plus-3 rating. This is after he posted six points in his first nine AHL games with the Admirals this past season.

Ufko was selected by the Predators with the 115th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Before beginning his professional career with the Predators organization, he spent three seasons with UMass-Amherst from 2021-22 to 2023-24. In 106 games with the school, the 5-foot-10 defenseman posted 23 goals and 81 points. 

Predators Top Prospect Is Heating Up In AHLNashville Predators prospect Joakim Kemell is considered one of the team's most promising youngsters. The 20-year-old forward is continuing to develop his game at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Milwaukee Admirals and is in the middle of a solid season that saw him play in the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic. Predators Sign Tough Guy To Contract ExtensionThe Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed forward Navrin Mutter to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2025-26 season. Former Predators Forward Done For The SeasonPittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has announced that former Nashville Predators forward Tommy Novak will be out for the rest of the season.