The New York Islanders' season is on the brink as they return to action against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night for Pete DeBoer's first game behind their bench.
Not only is Toronto on the second of a back-to-back after the Washington Capitals shut them out 4-0 on Wednesday, but they will be turning to Arthur Akhtyamov, who will be making his first career NHL start.
Anthony Stolarz needs imaging.
Akhtyamov makes his first NHL start on Long Island tomorrow.
Haynes and Villeneuve getting called up. Groulx going back down.
Drafted by Toronto in the fourth round (No. 106) of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 24-year-old has made one NHL appearance, when he stopped all five shots in relief against the Edmonton Oilers back on Dec. 13.
In 36 AHL appearances with the Marlies, Toronto's AHL affiliate, Akhtyamov went 20-12-4, with a 2.90 GAA and a .903 SV% and one shutout.
With four games to go, the Islanders find themselves three points back of the second wild-card Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers, who are currently holding the third seed in the Metropolitan Division.
The Islanders essentially have to run the tables with four games to go and get some help.
However, like always, it's a one-game-at-a-time approach, and they'll need to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the young 6'2 tendy, especially early.
Puck drop between the Islanders and Maple Leafs comes your way at 6:45 PM ET.
Buffalo Sabres - 48-23-8 - 104 Points - 5-3-2 in the last 10 - Won 2 - 1st in the Atlantic
Columbus Blue Jackets - 39-27-12 - 90 Points - 3-6-1 in the last 10 - Won 1 - 4th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus began a three-game road trip with a 4-3 SO win at Detroit on Tuesday. The club concludes its road portion of the regular season at Buffalo on Thursday and Montreal on Saturday.
The team has earned points in 11 of its last 15 road games, ranking fourth-T in the NHL in points pct. since Jan. 11 (10-4-1, .700).
The Jackets have also earned points in 26 of their past 34 contests overall since Jan. 11 (21-8-5, 47 pts.). The club ranks third in the league in goals-against per game (2.62) and fourth-T in points pct. (.691) over that stretch.
The Blue Jackets play all four of their games this week against the Atlantic Division. The club has earned points in 19 of its last 23 games against the division dating back to Apr. 8, 2025 (14-4-5) following the win at Detroit.
Columbus leads the NHL with a franchise-record 58 goals scored by defensemen in 2025-26 (58-135-193, 78 GP).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli notched the tying goal on Tuesday with 17 seconds remaining and has set single-season career highs in assists and points with 23-33-56 in 78 contests.
Jet Greaves, who turned aside 34-of-37 shots faced in regulation and overtime in the win at Detroit, has earned points in 16 of his last 20 starts since Jan. 11 (13-4-3, 2.37 GAA, .914 SV% in 21 GP), ranking fifth among NHL goaltenders in GAA and sixth in SV% over that stretch (min. 6 GP).
Kirill Marchenko has posted assists in four of the past five games (1-5-6) and is the fifth player in Blue Jackets history with 25-plus goals in consecutive seasons (31 in 2024-25; 26 in 2025-26).
Mason Marchment has collected assists in each of his past four outings (1-5-6) and has 2-6-8 in his last seven games. He ranks second on the team in goals since making his CBJ debut on Dec. 20, 2025 (14-15-29 in 35 GP).
Zach Werenski set a new single-season franchise record with his 26th multi-point effort on Tuesday (1-1-2). He has recorded 22-58-80 in 71 games in 2025-26 and became the third American-born defenseman in NHL history with consecutive 80-point campaigns (Brian Leetch, 1990-91 - 1991-92 with NYR; Phil Housley, 1991-92 - 1992-93 with WPG).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.6% - 21st in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 75.9% - 28th in the NHL
Goals For - 238 - 17th in the NHL
Goals Against - 239 - 19th in the NHL
SabresStats
Power Play - 20.4% - 18th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 82.0% - 6th in the NHL
Goals For - 270 - 22nd in the NHL
Goals Against - 236 - 12th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheSabres
Columbus is 29-16-1-3 all-time, and 15-8-0-3 all-time in Buffalo.
Columbus has won three-straight and four of the past five meetings. The club has also earned points in 18 of the last24 meetings in the series dating back to Mar. 28, 2017 (15-6-3).
CBJ have earned points in nine out of their last ten games at KeyBank Center since Mar. 31, 2019 (6-1-3).
The teams have combined for seven or more goals in six of the past eight games at KeyBank Center.
Three of the last four meetings overall and five of the past seven have been decided by a single goal. Each of the past three contests at KeyBank Center have been one-goal decisions.
The Blue Jackets have had a perfect penalty kill in the last three games at Buffalo (4-for-4) and seven games overall (16-for-16).
The Jackets have scored a power play goal in four of the past six meetings of the series (4-for-10; 40.0 pct.).
Who To Watch For TheSabres
Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 38 goals and 78 points.
Rasmus Dahlin leads Buffalo with 52 assists.
Goalie Alex Lyon is 20-10-4 with a SV% of .907.
CBJ Player Notes vsSabres
Boone Jenner has 15 points in 26 games vs. the Sabres.
Zach Werenski has 19 points in 21 games.
Charlie Coyle has 24 points in his career against Buffalo.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 40 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Damon Severson - Missed 6 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
Dmitri Voronkov - Missed 5 Games - Upper Body - Week-to-week
Mathieu Olivier - Missed 4 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 202
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.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche return home Thursday night with little left to prove in the regular season — but plenty of momentum.
Already locked into the Central Division title and the Western Conference’s top seed, Colorado opens a two-game homestand against the Calgary Flames in the second of three meetings between the clubs this season. The Avalanche dominated the first matchup, a 9–2 win in Denver on March 30, with one more meeting scheduled next week in Calgary.
Colorado Bounces Back
The Avalanche clinched their position atop the conference with a 3–1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Valeri Nichushkin scored twice, including a shorthanded goal, while Martin Necas added his 37th of the season. Scott Wedgewood turned aside 18 of 19 shots to secure the win.
Colorado’s top-end production continues to drive its success. Nathan MacKinnon enters the matchup leading the NHL with 51 goals while sitting among the league leaders in both assists and total points. Necas has also emerged as a consistent contributor, ranking among the NHL’s top scorers this season.
In net, Wedgewood has quietly been one of the league’s most efficient goaltenders, posting elite numbers in both save percentage and goals-against average among regular starters.
Flames Looking To Regroup
Calgary arrives in Denver following a 4–3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, a game in which they surrendered a two-goal third-period lead. Wyatt Johnston completed the comeback for Dallas with the overtime winner.
Offensively, the Flames have leaned on a balanced group. Morgan Frost leads the team in goals, while Matt Coronato and Mikael Backlund are among several players clustered near the team lead in points.
Matchup Trends
Historically, Colorado has held the edge in this matchup, owning a winning record across more than 130 regular season meetings. The Avalanche also won the only playoff series between the teams, taking a five-game set in the 2019 Western Conference First Round.
Recent form suggests another difficult test for Calgary. Colorado has been dominant on special teams down the stretch, operating with one of the league’s top penalty-kill units over the past month, while continuing to generate offense at one of the NHL’s highest rates.
With postseason positioning already secured, the Avalanche enter the final stretch focused on maintaining rhythm. Calgary, meanwhile, continues to play for pride and consistency as the regular season winds down.
The Game
The Avalanche (51-16-10) face the Flames (32-36-9) at Ball Arena, with coverage set to begin at 7 p.m. local time.
After Tom Fitzgerald deservedly lost his job on Monday, fans wondered if the team might come out with some new found pep in their step for their Tuesday night game against the Philadelphia Flyers. After all, as of Tuesday afternoon, the Devils still mathematically had a chance to possibly make the playoffs with a regulation win. As with much of this season however, the Devils, or more accurately, Jacob Markstrom came out flat and disappointed the fans, letting up a goal on the second shot he faced, leading the Devils to an eventual 5-1 loss. The loss against the Flyers coupled with a victory that same night by Ottawa means that the Devils have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Jacob Markstrom started in net for the Devils, his second game in a row, and did what he has done so well all season. He showed yet again how consistently inconsistent he is in his level of play. Coming off of his first shutout of the season against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, he let up 2 goals less than 4 minutes into the first period. As he’s done numerous times this season, he dug a hole for the Devils early, making their path to victory much more difficult than any supposed NHL starting goalie ever should do this frequently. Trevor Zegras scored two goals in the first period to put the Flyers up 2-0 before Cody Glass got the Devils to within 1 at 12:12 of the first period. Markstrom would strike again in the 2nd period however, allowing 2 more goals to Tyson Foerster less than 5 minutes into the 2nd period, to effectively end any chance the Devils had at a comeback and the playoffs. Nick Seeler scored an empty net goal in the third period, and that was all she wrote for the night and 2025-2026.
Last Penguins Game
Way back on Sunday, the Penguins defeated the Florida Panthers by a score of 5-2. Sidney “I never seem to get old or slow down” Crosby showed yet again, that Father Time has not come for him yet, scoring 1 goal to go with 2 assists on the night. He’s up to 72 points in 66 games this season and at age 38, appears to have a lot left in the tank. The Penguins have not officially locked up a playoff spot yet, but the victory, their 2nd in a row against the Panthers and 4th in their last 5 games, helped give them a comfortable cushion. Now at 96 points on the season, they sit comfortably in 2nd place in the Metro, 4 points ahead of the Flyers and 6 points ahead of 4th place Columbus Blue Jackets. As an additional note here, with the Penguins victory over the Panthers on Saturday, the Florida Panthers were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Arturs Silovs started in net for Pittsburgh, the 2nd game in a row, and his second win in 2 nights against Florida. Florida was never in command of the game at any point. The Penguins took a 3-1 lead in the first period on goals from Elmer Soderblom, Sidney Crosby, and Rickard Rakell. Rakell added his second goal of the night in the 2nd period to send the two teams into the 3rd period with the Penguins up 4-1. Bryan Rust officially turned out the lights and shut the door with his 28th goal to put the Penguins up 5-1, and Florida scored a meaningless power play goal at 14:15 of the third to end the game at 5-2.
Injuries, Roster for Tonight, Yada, Yada, Yada.
With the Devils now officially eliminated from playoff contention, one would assume that the Devils, or more specifically, Sheldon Keefe, will not feel the need to the start Jacob Markstrom in back to back games. Will Jake Allen split the remaining 4 starts with Markstrom? Will the big club give anyone else from the AHL a chance to show what they bring to the table as they play out the final 4 (no, not that final four)? Time will tell. I am sure though, that I hope the final four games of this season, represent the last few games we are subjected to seeing Jacob Markstrom in net for the Devils.
Grimace’s Prediction and 2025-2026 Record Tracker
Grimace wanted to be here, but like the Devils will be on April 15th, he’s playing golf. We had a custom set made for him, and maybe if he’s in a good mood, he’ll let me share a picture on here. He did ask me to relay a message to all of you, which I’ll share here. “Dear fellow Devils Nation members, I’m sorry I let you down with my predictions and that I stunk as bad as the Devils did this season. I promise to try and do better next season. For now though, FORE!”
Grimace’s 2025-2026 Season Prediction record currently stands at 13-14-0.
Your Take
As I’ve written many times over the past few weeks, “what’s left to say” at this point. The Devils have been eliminated from the playoffs for the 11th time in the last 14 seasons. The fact that any fans are surprised by the frustration of other fans, when looking at that stat, will never stop being confusing to me. I suppose if anyone is looking for something interesting to focus on over these final four games, here you go. Jack Hughes currently sits at 72 points on the season. His current 2nd highest point total in a single season is 74 points, back in 2023-2024. If he can manage 3 points in his final 4 games, he can have a new 2nd best point total of his career. Yay, I guess. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below and thanks for reading!
In a shameless bit of non hockey related self promotion (approved by Chris – thanks Chris), I wanted to plug my brand new podcast on here, if any of you are interested in listening. We have a light hearted, fun discussion about any movies, music or video games mostly from the 1980s and 1990s. Please feel free to listen to us on any of the formats below and any feedback is welcome (positive and negative). Also, please follow us and subscribe, even if you think we stink. 🙂
Sometimes all you need is an opportunity, and for Russian goaltending prospect Artur Akhtyamov, that time is now. The goaltender will make his first NHL start for the Toronto Maple Leafs when the club visits the New York Islanders on Thursday.
This was clearly not the plan for the Leafs, but they arrived at this situation quickly. Anthony Stolarz sustained a lower-body injury early in the Leafs’ 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, forcing Joseph Woll into a busy night. Stolarz’s season could be over; the goaltender, who has already been sidelined twice this year, requires imaging on his latest ailment.
Dennis Hildeby has had some success with the Leafs as the No. 3 option in these types of situations. He played in 19 games while one or both of Stolarz and Woll were unavailable for various reasons, posting a 5-6-4 record with a .912 save percentage. However, Hildeby played for the Marlies earlier in the day, helping the AHL club clinch a playoff berth with a 4-3 win over the Utica Comets.
So, rather than exposing either Woll or Hildeby to starts on consecutive days, the Leafs will turn to Akhtyamov, a player Head Coach Craig Berube is eager to evaluate.
Berube confirms Akhtyamov will make his first NHL start tomorrow.@Ozoon_CA
“I really liked him right from camp,” Berube said. “He’s backed up a couple of times this year and just has a great personality. He's played well down there. He's a competitor, he’s got fast reflexes, and he's competitive as hell. I like the kid a lot”.
Akhtyamov has posted a 20-12-4 record this season with the Marlies alongside a .903 save percentage. Selected in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, the goalie from Kazan signed a three-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $900,000. The last two years of that deal are one-way.
“He’s a really good goaltender, really dialed in,” Leafs forward Bo Groulx said of Akhtyamov. “Really, a mentally strong goalie. If he gets scored on or a bad goal goes in, he’s not fazed by it. And he takes on the challenge to be better. I think that’s his greatest strength".
With Woll and Stolarz both unavailable earlier this season, Akhtyamov made his NHL debut in relief on Dec. 13. He stopped all five shots he faced in 11 minutes of action during a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
The Chicago Blackhawks had three players participate in the NCAA Tournament, but none of them reached the Frozen Four. John Mustard, Julius Sumpf, and Providence were eliminated by Quinnipiac during their Regional Semi-Final, and Adam Gajan's Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs were defeated by Michigan in their Regional Final.
Gajan, a goaltender, played a key role in stopping Gavin McKenna from advancing further in the tournament. Now, McKenna is next in line to be the number one overall pick in the NHL Draft.
Scott Powers of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that Mustard is going to return to Providence for another year in 2026-27. He then speculated that he could sign and get in some NHL games at the end of the same season. Sumpf's future is still to be determined.
Blackhawks forward prospect John Mustard plans to return to Providence for his junior season. There was a chance he would turn pro after his college season ended. I imagine he's a candidate to sign late next season and play in some NHL games.
As for Gajan, he signed with the Blackhawks shortly after his season ended in a somewhat surprising transaction. He is going to play in the AHL for a while in an attempt to earn his first NHL look.
Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Denver remain and will play their semi-final games on Thursday.
Wisconsin will battle North Dakota at 4 PM CT while Michigan takes on Denver at 7:30. These games will take place at T-Mobile Arena, home of the Vegas Golden Knights.
With no Blackhawks involved, scouts will have their eyes focused on other things. The most important player for them to keep an eye on is Keaton Verhoeff of North Dakota. He is the only player on any of the four teams projected to be a top-five draft pick, which is where the Blackhawks are likely to end up.
Potential decisions made with some of their current defensemen will influence whether or not a skilled right-shot blue-liner will be high on their draft board, but this is a chance to watch him on the biggest stage. Kyle Davidson and his staff need to leave no stone unturned.
Although his backwards skating could use some work, he moves well for a player of his stature (6'4", 212 lbs). He has an accurate shot (wrist or slap) and has a high-end hockey IQ that allows him to make smart decisions with the puck.
When Verhoeff reaches the NHL, it may not be long before he is able to quarterback a top power play unit. The Blackhawks have a few "solid" players who can do so, but they have had better success with five forwards for a reason. A defenseman like Verhoeff may allow them to have success with a more traditional top unit.
If North Dakota finds a way to beat Wisconsin, which is a wonderful story in their own right, that likely means that Verhoeff played over 20 minutes, used his puck skills to his advantage, and played well enough when forced to defend.
Like most offensive defensemen at this age, Verhoeff does have some work to do in his own end, especially on the rush. The pro game will teach him how to take the defensive side of the game to create offense with his skillset, in other words, "playing the right way".
The winner of this North Dakota vs Wisconsin will play the winner of the high-octane Michigan squad and this Denver team, which is on the precipice of becoming a college hockey dynasty.
Blackhawks scouts must also be watching to see which other players show something, in case the chance to draft or sign them comes along. Collin Graf was undrafted back when Quinnipiac won the National Championship, and the San Jose Sharks nabbed him. Now he is a 20-goal scorer in the NHL. Is another version of Graf out there? The Frozen Four will give insight into that on the big stage.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Montreal Canadiens announced on Wednesday that the Professional Hockey Writers Association had selected Mike Matheson as the team’s candidate for the Bill Masterton Trophy. The Pointe-Claire native has proven incredibly important to the Habs while completely redefining his role and still excelling.
When the Canadiens first acquired the 6-foot-2 and 216 lb defenseman in the (first) Jeff Petry trade, he was counted on to be the power play quarterback, and his mobility made him the team’s most offensive defenseman. That allowed him to register a career-high 62 points in 2023-24, but then the rebuilding Canadiens started to get prime reinforcements on the blueline, namely Lane Hutson last season and Noah Dobson this year.
Their arrivals had a huge impact on Matheson’s role, who went from being the quarterback of the first wave of the man-advantage to the second wave last season to having no power play time this year. He didn’t sulk or moan; he handled the situation like a real professional, embracing his new role because that was in the team's best interest.
From an offense-first player, he became a penalty-killing specialist for the Habs while remaining a minute muncher. He currently leads the Canadiens in time on ice with an average of 24:13, which is also the 18th highest mark in the league.
He has shown perseverance and dedication in the way he handles the metamorphosis of his role, leading by example on this young Montreal side. The alternate captain, whose contract was going to expire at the end of the season, agreed to sign a five-year contract extension with a $6 million cap hit, arguably less money than he could have gotten had he tested free agency this summer, given how the salary cap will be rising in the coming years.
Despite the change in his role, he still has 37 points this season, only one of which came on the man-advantage, up from 31 last season, when he had 10 on the power play.
Each year, the Bill Masterton Trophy is awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The winner is selected with a poll among the 32 chapters of the PHWA at the end of the regular season.
A Canadiens player has won the award six times, the last one being Carey Price in 2021-22. Max Paccioretty, Saku Koivu, Serge Savard, Henri Richard, and Claude Provost are the other five recipients from the team.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 08: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins directs a puck wide of Jake Allen #34 of the New Jersey Devils during the first period of a NHL game at Prudential Center on November 8, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A win tonight against the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins will qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2022. There are other clinching scenarios for the Penguins should they not be able to defeat the Devils later this evening, but if they can take care of business themselves in Newark, there won’t be any need to rely on help from other teams. On top of locking down a playoff spot, a victory tonight also aides the Penguins in keeping a tight grip on that second spot in the Metro division which guarantees them home ice advantage in the first round.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.
Pens Points…
Nominees for the Masterson Trophy were announced on Wednesday and Anthony Mantha was chosen to represent the Penguins for the 2025-26 season. Coming off a major knee injury, Mantha signed with the Penguins in the offseason and rebounded to post career highs across the board. [Penguins]
When Mantha tore his ACL early in the 2024-25 season, there were real questions about how much of a future he had in the game of hockey. Turns out, his hockey future is still bright after his reemergence with the Penguins has proven he still has a lot left to give on the ice. [PPG]
Some good news in the injury department for the Penguins as it was announced on Wednesday that goaltender Stuart Skinner will travel with the team to New Jersey following a successful practice session as he works his way back from taking an errant puck to the face over the weekend that forced him out Sunday. [Trib Live]
Before the season started, Pensburgh ran an article asking if the Penguins making the playoffs or finishing in last place was a bigger surprise to come from this season. We believed a lot was going to need to break the Penguins way for a playoff appearance, but lo and behold, that’s how the season played out. [Pensburgh]
After a small bump in the road, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have returned to their winning ways, having stacked six straight victories with a weekend sweep of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as they enter the final five games of the AHL season still comfortably in second place. [Pensburgh]
Sticking with the Baby Pens, there will be some fresh faces on the roster the next time they take the ice. Promising prospect Mikhail Ilyin has made his way over from the KHL and will join WBS along with 2025 draftees Quinn Beauchesne and Ryan Miller. [The Hockey News]
NHL News and Notes…
Alex Ovechkin let it be known on Wednesday that he will discuss his NHL future with his family following the season, meaning this weekend could be the final time Ovechkin not only plays in Pittsburgh, but it could also be the final chapter of his rivalry with Sidney Crosby. [NHL]
The Boston Bruins and 2025 first round pick James Hagens agreed to a three-year entry level contract that is set to begin right away. Hagens played six games with the Providence Bruins in the AHL after signing a tryout deal following the conclusion of his collegiate season with Boston College. [NHL]
Two guys getting new chances. | NHLI via Getty Images
The final four-game homestretch begins tonight for the chief combatants in the Eastern Conference lower-seeds playoff race. With 78 games down, the Islanders (89 pts.) host the Leafs, the Blue Jackets (90 pts.) visit the Sabres, the Senators (92 pts.) host the Panthers, and the Flyers (92 pts.) are in Detroit (89 pts.).
Technically, the Washington Capitals are also in this picture, winning last night to match the Islanders at 89 points but with one fewer game to go.
For the Islanders, whether this season sees playoffs or not, tonight is a significant one due to Pete DeBoer’s debut as their head coach.
And he has some changes in store, it seems: Mathew Barzal will be back at center and Max Shabanov will get a real chance. And in alignment with what I assumed but did not see when he was acquired, Brayden Schenn will skate on the wing, though you wonder if he’ll take more of the faceoffs than Barzal.
Quotes and rationale from DeBoer on his lineup and line choices, with heavy existing-staff input. [THN]
DeBoer brings a sense of urgency to these final four games, that was somehow missing from the preceding ones. [Newsday | Post]
DeBoer was optimistic Tony DeAngelo would return tonight, not a sentiment you always hear. [Post]
That would put DeAngelo back on a pair with Adam Pelech. [Isles]
Previewing tonight: It will be regular season game 1,262 for DeBoer as an NHL head coach. [Isles]
Elsewhere
The Leafs hobble in with three more injuries: Anthony Stolarz, Brandon Carlo and Dakota Joshua were all hurt Wednesday and will not suit up tonight. The Isles will face Artur Akhtyamov in net, making his first NHL start. [Sportsnet]
The durability of Stolarz, signed to a contract extension by Brad Treliving that hasn’t even kicked in yet, is a major concern for the Leafs. [Sportsnet]
Welp, James Hagens has signed with the Bruins, may make his debut Saturday. [NHL]
Ron Francis will leave the Kraken, which he currently serves as president. The founding GM of the franchise, has he delivered or is this an overdue “thoughtful transition?” [NHL | TSN]
Looking at some of this summer’s top draft prospects and their NHL comparables. [NHL]
Tempers finally spilled over Tuesday night in what had been a razor-tight battle between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars—and now the NHL is stepping in to clean up the fallout.
Tensions Finally Spill Over In Overtime
On Wednesday, the league announced that Flames forward Ryan Strome has been fined $5,000—the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement—for a cross-check delivered to Stars forward Jason Robertson in overtime.
The play unfolded just 45 seconds into the extra frame of Dallas’ eventual 4–3 win, a moment that quickly shifted the tone from tense to chaotic. Robertson, one of the Stars’ most dangerous offensive weapons, was forced to leave the game following the hit. Strome, meanwhile, was handed a double-minor for high-sticking on the play.
But the frustration didn’t come out of nowhere.
Earlier in the night, Strome was driven awkwardly into the boards from behind by Dallas defenseman Tyler Myers. The officials initially assessed Myers a five-minute major—a call that suggested serious concern—but after review, it was controversially wiped away entirely. No penalty. No further discipline. That sequence appeared to linger, simmering beneath the surface as the game wore on.
By the time overtime arrived, it felt like something was bound to give—and it did.
Strome, 32, has been a noticeable addition since arriving in Calgary at the trade deadline in March. In just 16 games with the Flames, he’s already produced five goals and six assists, quickly surpassing the nine points he recorded across 33 games earlier this season with the Anaheim Ducks. His impact has been immediate—but so, now, are the consequences.
For Calgary, it’s another frustrating chapter in a season that’s been defined as much by missed opportunities as it has been by moments like this—where emotion boils over and control slips away at the worst possible time.
The end finally came into focus Tuesday night for the Calgary Flames—not with a bang, but with the kind of quiet inevitability that has followed them all season.
A 4–3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars, paired with a dominant 5–0 win by the Nashville Predators over the Anaheim Ducks, officially slammed the door on Calgary’s playoff hopes. They join the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks as the Western Conference teams sent packing early.
On paper, the numbers tell a bleak but unsurprising story: seventh in the Pacific Division, 30th overall, and a 32-36-9 record through 77 games. But this season was never just about the standings—it was about a franchise caught in the middle of something bigger, and frankly, deeper than one bad year.
What Went Wrong for the Flames?
This wasn’t a collapse—it was a continuation.
The Flames entered the year already trending toward a reset. Trade rumors surrounding core pieces like Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri surfaced early, and by midseason, management leaned fully into that direction. Andersson was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights, while Kadri—along with MacKenzie Weegar—was moved at the deadline, with Kadri returning to the Colorado Avalanche and Weegar landing with the Utah Mammoth.
Those moves made sense long-term. In the short term, they stripped down an already thin roster.
But even before the sell-off, the problems were obvious—especially offensively.
Calgary spent much of the year struggling to generate consistent scoring. Early in the season, they were averaging just 2.17 goals per game—worse than even a slumping New York Rangers squad that had its own issues finishing chances. The Flames have since improved marginally to 2.57 goals per game, but that still ranks near the bottom of the league.
Even more telling? Four players are tied for the team lead with just 41 points—and one of them is Kadri, who was traded back to the Avalanche more than a month ago.
And if you zoom out, the roots of this go back even further—to a franchise-altering move that simply hasn’t aged well.
A Blockbuster Trade That Backfired Badly
When the Flames traded Matthew Tkachuk, part of the urgency came from the reality that he didn’t want to stay in Calgary long-term. In return, they acquired Jonathan Huberdeau, who was coming off a monster season—30 goals, 85 assists, 115 points—and looked like a cornerstone piece.
Instead, Calgary is locked in what could arguably be considered the worst contract in the NHL at this point. At the very least, it's a bona fide contender for a top two finish.
Huberdeau signed an eight-year, $84 million extension shortly after arriving—$10.5 million annually in a hard-cap league. Four years in, he hasn’t come close to replicating his Florida production. This season, he managed just 25 points in 50 games (10 goals, 15 assists), a steep drop-off that’s impossible to ignore.
In a league built around cap efficiency, that kind of contract doesn’t just hurt—it echoes through the entire lineup. When that much money is tied up in underperformance, something else inevitably gives.
To put it bluntly: when you’ve got the NHL version of Anthony Rendon eating up cap space, the ripple effects are unavoidable.
This isn’t about one player being solely responsible—but it is about how one contract can quietly limit flexibility, depth, and ultimately competitiveness.
What’s Next
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Flames are positioned to reshape their future—if they get it right.
They currently hold the third-best odds heading into the draft lottery on May 5, with a chance to land a franchise-changing talent. And in a draft class headlined by names like Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Keaton Verhoeff, the opportunity is there to find a true centerpiece.
Calgary also owns Vegas’ first-round pick and holds four second-round selections, giving them volume as well as upside. This isn’t just one swing—it’s multiple chances to accelerate a rebuild.
Beyond the draft, the organization will turn its attention to a growing prospect pool. Players like Jonathan Castagna, Samuel Honzek, Zayne Parekh, and Matvei Gridin represent the next wave, and development will be everything.
The timeline also aligns with a bigger organizational milestone: the opening of Scotia Place in 2027–28. The expectation isn’t just to be better by then—it’s to be relevant again.
There’s no sugarcoating a season like this. But for the Flames, this wasn’t about falling short—it was about arriving exactly where the trajectory was always pointing.
Now comes the hard part: turning all of this into something that actually works.
The Colorado Avalanche have already locked up the top seed in the Western Conference, leaving just one box left to check before the postseason begins: securing the Presidents’ Trophy and home-ice advantage all the way through the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
They’re within striking distance, too. Just two more points over their final five games would seal it, and their first opportunity comes Thursday night against the Calgary Flames on home ice.
Colorado (51-16-10, 112 points) punched its ticket to the top of the conference with a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. It’s been a long time coming—the Avalanche have held the NHL’s best record since Dec. 1—and the only team still within reach is the Carolina Hurricanes, who sit six points back with four games remaining. Colorado also holds the edge in the season series, going 1-0-1.
“We set our goals at the start of the year, and we wanted to be on top,” captain Gabriel Landeskog said after the win in St. Louis. “That's a big step. We know it doesn't mean anything come playoff time, other than we get an extra game at home every series.”
Injury Concerns Surface Despite Win
As dominant as Tuesday’s win looked on paper, it didn’t come without a cost. Nazem Kadri exited after blocking a shot late in the second period, suffering a finger injury that will sideline him for an undisclosed period. Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed Wednesday on Altitude Radio that Kadri will miss time, though no timeline has been set.
Kadri, who was dealt from Calgary to Colorado on March 6, still leads the Flames in scoring with 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists). Since joining the Avalanche, he’s chipped in nine points (four goals, five assists) over 16 games.
Colorado has also been without star defenseman Cale Makar, who has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since March 30—ironically suffered against Calgary. The good news: he’s expected to return before the regular season wraps up.
Kadri is no stranger to playing through adversity. During the 2022 Stanley Cup run, he underwent thumb surgery in the second round but still managed to return for the final three games of the Final.
On the other side, Calgary (32-36-9, 73 points) is playing out the string after being officially eliminated from playoff contention following a win by the Nashville Predators on Monday. Still, the Flames didn’t roll over in Dallas on Tuesday, pushing the Dallas Stars to the brink before falling 4-3 in overtime.
Calgary had built a 3-1 lead early in the third period before the Stars stormed back to steal the extra point.
“I liked our game,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “There was a lot of our game where I thought we played hard. We did a good job away from the pucks, thought we had some lengthy shifts in the offensive zone. ... At the end of the night, again, you're taking penalties against a very good power play. That's tough.”
The Flames also took an injury hit of their own, as defenseman Kevin Bahl logged just two shifts before leaving with a lower-body issue. No update was provided postgame.
Thursday’s matchup marks the second meeting in a condensed stretch, with the two teams set to face off three times in just nine games. After not seeing each other at all earlier this season, they’ll wrap up the series Tuesday in Calgary.
NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Zucker scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves, and the Buffalo Sabres rallied to beat the New York Rangers 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Zucker slid his 24th goal past Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin at 7:14 after teammate Alex Tuch had tied the contest with his 31st at 5:50 of the third.
Zach Benson scored twice and Ryan McLeod added a goal for the Sabres, who will participate in the postseason for the first time since 2010-11.
The Sabres won their 48th game in a dramatic turnaround from last year when they had 79 points and missed the playoffs for a 14th straight season. Buffalo is 22-6-3 in its last 31 games, including a league-best 16 wins and 34 points since the Olympic break.
Alexis Lafreniere scored twice and Adam Fox also scored for the Rangers in their home finale. Shesterkin had 22 saves.
CAPITALS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 0
TORONTO (AP) — Logan Thompson made 21 saves to register his third shutout of the season as Washington breathed life into their fading playoff hopes with a victory over the Toronto.
Dylan Strome and Martin Fehervary, with a goal and an assist each, Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson scored for Washington, which sits three points back of the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot with three games left on the schedule.
Anthony Stolarz suffered a lower-body injury early in the first period after stopping the second of two shots he faced for Toronto.
Joseph Woll finished with 14 saves in just over 57 minutes of work for the Maple Leafs, who are set to miss the postseason for the first time since 2016.
OILERS 5, SHARKS 2
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Connor McDavid scored his 15th career hat trick and finished with five points Wednesday night, leading Edmonton to a victory over San Jose that moved them into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division.
McDavid controlled the game almost from the start, scoring on a power play in the first period and then twice in the second to make it 5-2. He also assisted on power-play goals by Vasily Podkolzin and Jack Roslovic to extend his NHL-leading point total to 133. The star center needs three goals in the final three games for his second career 50-goal season.
Connor Ingram made eight saves on 10 shots in two periods for Edmonton. Tristan Jarry stopped all four shots he faced in the third.
The win gave the Oilers 90 points, two more than Vegas in the division race. The Golden Knights have one game in hand.
Macklin Celebrini scored his 42nd goal for San Jose to give him 108 points this season, the third-most for a teenager behind Wayne Gretzky’s 137 and Sidney Crosby’s 120.
TORONTO (AP) — Logan Thompson made 21 saves to register his third shutout of the season as the Washington Capitals breathed life into their fading playoff hopes with a 4-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.
Dylan Strome and Martin Fehervary, with a goal and an assist each, Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson scored for Washington, which sits three points back of the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot with three games left on the schedule.
Anthony Stolarz suffered a lower-body injury early in the first period after stopping the second of two shots he faced for Toronto.
Joseph Woll finished with 14 saves in just over 57 minutes of work for the Maple Leafs, who are set to miss the postseason for the first time since 2016.
Alex Ovechkin — Washington’s leader with 31 goals and 61 points — announced Wednesday he won’t make a decision on his playing future until after the season.
Ovechkin has 45 goals and 35 assists for 80 points across 64 regular-season games against Toronto.
Capitals forward Ilya Protas made his NHL debut on a line with older brother Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson. The bruising trio — Wilson is the smallest at 6-foot-4, while the siblings each stand 6-foot-6— tips the scales at a combined 700 pounds.
Up next
Capitals: Visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
Maple Leafs: Visit the New York Islanders on Thursday.
