The Philadelphia Flyers still haven't managed to fix their center depth, and one of the key cogs they just traded has already found a permanent new home in the NHL.
So far, with one month to go in the 2025-26 season, Trevor Zegras has not taken over as a full-time center as many of us expected in the offseason.
Instead, that role belongs to fellow newcomer Christian Dvorak, with Noah Cates, a declining Sean Couturier, and Carl Grundstrom filling in behind.
Top prospect Jett Luchanko lasted only four games with the Flyers, and Rodrigo Abols is done for the season with a lower-body injury.
With all that in perspective, it's fair to say the Flyers are missing old friend Ryan Poehling, whom they traded to the Anaheim Ducks in the Zegras trade.
And, while the Flyers still appear to have gotten the better end of that trade, they did create a gap in the lineup that's been plaguing them all season. Both things can be true.
On Thursday, Poehling, 27, cashed in on a solid first season in California, signing a four-year, $15 million ($3.75 million AAV) contract to remain with the Ducks.
The ex-Flyers forward has slotted in nicely behind the likes of Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish in Anaheim, and, importantly, does not have any trade protection in his new deal.
Given the state of the NHL trade market over the last few years, that very well could work out in the Ducks' favor in the future.
Poehling has seven goals, 17 assists, and 24 points in 54 games this season in his depth role.
Comparatively, Dvorak, who signed a much more lucrative five-year, $25.75 million extension with the Flyers in January, has trade protection in all but the last season of his deal, sitting at 13 goals, 24 assists, and 37 points in 60 games playing almost top-line minutes almost exclusively with Zegras.
Poehling, with an expanded role and a bit of finishing luck, could be matching or surpassing Dvorak's offensive production, but the Ducks were happy to keep him in a role that matches his skillset and pay him accordingly.
As for the Flyers, the position they're in is very similar to when they had Poehling, looking for what they lost.
NEW YORK — On a day where the Toronto Maple Leafs will be busy working the phones trying to unload some of their players to shore up their future, they must be wondering if they need to make a change behind the bench.
The Maple Leafs fell to the New York Rangers 6-2 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, falling to 0-4-2 since returning from the Olympic break. It’s not that Toronto played as bad as some of their other games, but this recent loss came to the worst team in the NHL, with the Rangers winning their first game in regulation on home ice since November 24.
It’s not a good scene right now. There are excuses, like the trade deadline, which will pass at 3 p.m. ET. And sure, that could effect a lot of the core players who aren’t used to seeing pieces being shipped away to sell rather than buy and compete for the playoffs.
But whatever the case is, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube appears to be out of patience and admitted he’s been frustrated with the performance he’s seen in front of him this season.
"Definitely frustrated. Pissed off,” Berube said. “The games are right there and we don't push as a team hard enough to win them."
It’s the hardest he’s called out his team this season. After guiding the Leafs to first place in the Atlantic Division in his first year with Toronto last season, the players appears to be sinking further. And while the prospect of getting into the bottom five so they can keep their first-round pick this season (a condition in a trade with the Boston Bruins this season), the current malaise has the risk of doing some long-term damage if it isn’t rectified.
“It sucks losing. It sucks being in this position. I haven't been in this position since I've been here, and it's not a fun feeling, yeah, I mean, like selling or whatever that might be,” a very despondant Joseph Woll said after the game “It sucks. I hate it. It's way more fun when you're winning. We have to get out of this slump regardless of what the rest of the season looks like.”
Berube isn’t the only one to blame. The Leafs have not been getting goals from their star players. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews hasn’t scored a goal in 10 games, marking his longest stretch since his rookie season.
When the team struggled earlier in the season, they fired assistant coach Marc Savard and tied the team’s struggles to an inefficient power play. The hope from Toronto was that it would spur better play. And for a brief time it did, as the Leafs briefly moved back into a playoff position in Janaury before going on another losing streak to fall further back.
During this losing stretch, the most recent five games have all come against teams that are not in the playoffs at the time of puck drop. It’s a bad scene and there’s nothing to suggest it’s going to be better without a big change.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 05: Ryan McLeod #71 of the Buffalo Sabres scores past Arturs Silovs #37 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 5, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins were routed 5-1 by the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night after a competitive first period quickly unraveled in Buffalo’s favor, highlighted by the ejection of Evgeni Malkin following a confrontation with defender Rasmus Dahlin. With a lack of star power to drive offense, Pittsburgh struggled to recover as Buffalo capitalized on mistakes and pulled away for a decisive win. [Recap]
Sidney Crosby has, however, resumed skating while recovering from a lower-body injury he suffered at the Olympics. He has not yet returned to full practice, and that timeline remains unclear. [Trib Live]
The Penguins are entering the home stretch of the regular season with a few issues that ail them, notably the ability to win faceoffs sans Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin’s future, and a brutal March schedule that will likely determine their playoff fate. How major or minor are these issues as we race toward the regular season finish line? [PensBurgh]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has agreed to sell 12.5% of the team at a $2.66 billion valuation, according to a new report from Sportico. [Sportsnet]
The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded center Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday for a conditional first-round pick at the 2027 draft and a fifth-rounder in 2026’s draft. [TSN]
St. Louis Blues defender Colton Parayko will not waive his no-trade clause for a trade to the Buffalo Sabres after the Blues had reached an agreement with Buffalo on Wednesday. [TSN]
The latest NHL trade tracker can be found here. [NHL]
Carlson, 36, has been a career Capital, appearing in 1,143 games for the franchise over 17 seasons after he was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. He owns basically every major franchise record for a defenseman — games played, goals (166), assists (605) and points (771) — and was a key component of the franchise's breakthrough Stanley Cup win in 2018. He finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting three times, including a runner-up finish in 2019-20.
"Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capital every day,” Capitals GM Chris Patrick said in a statement. “John’s determination, leadership, persistence and skill helped our franchise reach new heights and cemented him as a cornerstone and one of the greatest players in Capitals history. His contributions to our organization and the Washington, D.C., community both on and off the ice have been immeasurable.
"We are incredibly grateful for everything John has given to our team and wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward with Anaheim.”
So ... who won the deal?
Capitals trade grade: A-
Sentimentality aside, getting a first-round pick — either this summer if the Ducks make the playoffs or next year — and third-round pick for a 36-year-old defenseman who will be a free agent this summer is a tidy bit of business. The Capitals are just four points out of the playoffs, but they are tied for the most games played in the conference. They made a shrewd decision to throw in the towel in what seems to be a seller's market, earlier on Thursday trading another veteran in Nic Dowd.
The Capitals now have 22 picks in the next three NHL drafts and clearly have their eyes on the future ... which could also see franchise icon Alex Ovechkin depart this summer with the 40-year-old's contract set to expire. A trade of a franchise icon is never fun, but this move helps set the Capitals up for more winning down the road.
Ducks trade grade: B+
This trade feels very much like a win-win as the Ducks are adding a defenseman who can still get it done, particularly on the offensive end. Carlson has been quite productive again this season, scoring 10 goals and dishing 36 assists for 46 points in 55 games. He carries a plus-11 rating.
He also brings loads of playoff experience for a team that hasn’t played spring hockey in a while, having appeared in 137 postseason contests, winning the Stanley Cup in 2018. That's the last year the Ducks made the playoffs. Maybe you'd like to keep your first-round pick, but getting a player like Carlson comes at a price; plus, Anaheim is already oozing with young talent thanks to its years in the wilderness.
It's NHL Trade Deadline day. A couple prominent players have already changed locations, including a couple late blockbusters on Thursday and probably a lot more activity going into the 3 p.m. ET cutoff.
Sit down. Strap in. And get ready for some excitement. Or not.
So while you're waiting for your favorite team to complete a couple trades that will surely please/surprise/anger/confuse most fans, you can kill at least 10 minutes (15, tops) reading through the following waiver wire recommendations.
(Rostered rates as of Mar. 6)
Forwards
Gabriel Landeskog, COL (Yahoo: 52%): It's incredible that Landeskog is still around 50% coverage. The only logical explanation for this is his extensive injury history, but that just means most poolies aren't taking advantage of a player who's gone off for six points, 15 shots and a plus-7 in the five games since coming back from the Olympics while skating alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas at both five-on-five and the power play. The mission — should you choose to accept it — is to get Landeskog well over the halfway mark.
Tyler Bertuzzi, CHI (Yahoo: 46%): Bertuzzi has already equaled his personal-best with 20 power-play points that put him even with Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, Sebastian Aho and Miro Heiskanen entering Thursday's action. He's also set to approach his top scoring campaign at only four goals under his peak of 30 and another 17 points required to match his 2021-22 output. The latter may be too much to ask for, though you know Bertuzzi will give it his all to try and get there.
Jordan Eberle, SEA (Yahoo: 27%): Eberle was first mentioned at the end of October after starting off great, and he's back here having consistently produced since. He went on a six-week run across December/January where he found the scoresheet in 17 of 21 outings. And even after a couple lulls, Eberle registered two goals on three shots with a PPA Saturday and often logs major minutes. There's no shame adding someone from a bottom-third offense who can immediately help.
Chris Kreider, ANH (Yahoo: 23%): The Ducks boasted a top-10 attack for a while and are currently just below that, though they've scored at least four goals eight times over their last 11 outings. During that same span, Kreider has accumulated five goals, five assists, three PPPs and 20 shots at nearly 17 minutes per game. He's been reunited with Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier on the lead trio and man-advantage. As long as Kreider is favorably positioned, he'll continue to help the Ducks as they attempt to reach their first playoffs since 2017-18.
Cole Perfetti, WPG (Yahoo: 22%): Winnipeg has turned it around enough where the lineup probably won't be dismantled by the deadline. Perfetti has also gotten back on track thanks to seven points through eight matchups to go with 29 shots on a 17:32 ice time average, with 4:00-plus of that on the first PP. He may not be achieving what was projected for him as a former top-10 pick, though he is on a solid run while maintaining the skills and responsibilities to keep it going.
Luke Evangelista, NSH (Yahoo: 11%): Evangelista is similar to Eberle in that he's regularly been hot on a weaker scoring side. The fourth-year pro has already blown past his career high for points at 47 and PPPs with 15 — including PPAs from three of the last four games. Evangelista won't do much when it comes to secondary stats but can contribute in scoring and shots (over two per outing) as a fixture in the upper-half of Nashville's depth chart.
Taylor Hall, CAR (Yahoo: 9%): Let's discuss another positive-trending over-30 forward. Hall may not have achieved anything while up a man since mid-January and the ice time is somewhat lower than recent campaigns, yet is once again on the fantasy radar via two goals, four assists and 10 shots across the last four appearances. He's also been helped by having talented linemates like Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. Carolina has been lethal of late for finding the back of the net and will be facing a couple weaker defenses the next week (Oilers, Blues), so Hall could be set to pile on some more points.
Matt Savoie, EDM (Yahoo: 6%): It became immediately obvious Savoie was too good for the AHL, yet it took a season to fully integrate him on the Edmonton roster. The first month or so didn't amount to much (1G/1A through 17 matchups), and it wasn't until a regular even-strength partnership with Leon Draisaitl that things got going. Savoie is riding a four-game scoring streak where he's posted a PPG, six assists and nine shots. It probably doesn't hurt to take a chance on him and see how long this upswing can last.
Defensemen
Simon Edvinsson, DET (Yahoo: 19%): In case you missed it, Edvinsson is back after a brief spell on the sidelines. And in the four games since, he's recorded two goals, an assist, six shots, five hits and nine blocks while averaging 23:04 of ice time. While Edvinsson doesn't appear on the power play, he'll be able to supply enough stats across multiple categories to boost any fantasy squad.
Dmitry Orlov, SJ (Yahoo: 16%): The Sharks remain a solid source of scoring where any of their more prominent players will be able to benefit. Orlov immediately clicked to start his tenure with the club by racking up 11 assists from the first 16 contests and four of those coming on the man-advantage. He continued to do well before his offensive stats dipped and temporarily lost the PP1 QB gig to John Klingberg, but he's back on that unit and produced a PPA on Tuesday (now at 12 overall). With that type of upside and a decent haul of shots, hits and blocks, Orlov needs to be on more rosters.
Zayne Parekh, CGY (Yahoo: 15%): Parekh was originally brought up here in early January as it was assumed he'd soon be able to join the Flames after the World Junior Championship, yet it took him a few weeks and a minor-league conditioning stint to return to the NHL. And even though no offense has come during the six appearances, he participates on Calgary's top power play. That placement should hold after MacKenzie Weegar's departure and the fact Parekh totaled 87 goals and 153 assists in three OHL seasons with another two and three over an abbreviated AHL run.
Philip Broberg, STL (Yahoo: 5%): Broberg is a key piece of the Blues' 24-and-under core. He recently signed a six-year deal and is also in line for more responsibilities the rest of the way, as the team isn't competing for a playoff spot. Broberg is already logging 23 minutes a night while providing sufficient — though not spectacular — stats. He has also picked up the point pace with five of them over his last eight outings and an increased man-advantage role that's guaranteed to get him additional coverage.
Goaltenders
Akira Schmid, VGK (Yahoo: 28%): Schmid's 5-4-2 record in 2026 may not look great, though he's only allowed more than three goals once during that stretch. Meanwhile, Adin Hill has posted a 3.68 GAA and .850 save percentage since returning from injury. The duo has more or less been alternating starts, so Schmid should be receiving enough action behind a solid offense on a Vegas side looking to keep the top spot in the Pacific.
Joel Hofer, STL (Yahoo: 21%): Jordan Binnington has lost his last eight appearances, in which he's compiled a 4.19/.844 line. Since Jan. 13, Hofer has gone 6-2-1 alongside a 2.41 and .909 that includes a shutout over the 'Canes and back-to-back impressive wins at Minnesota and Seattle. As Binnington has been slumping and the subject of trade talk with St. Louis looking to the future, Hofer's time as the No. 1 could come sooner than expected.
Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026, was a big day for the Anaheim Ducks. First, they locked down speedy forward Ryan Poehling to a four-year contract extension. But their biggest move of the day would come several hours later, when they acquired longtime Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson.
Carlson, 36, is in the final year of an eight-year deal that has an AAV of $8 million. The Capitals are receiving a conditional first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft and a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for Carlson. There is no salary retention involved in the deal and a contract extension has yet to be discussed. Anaheim was also not on Carlson's 10-team no-trade list.
The conditions on the first-round pick are as follows:
The conditional first-round pick shall be Anaheim’s 2026 first-round pick. If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim will retain its 2026 first-round pick and shall instead transfer its 2027 first-round pick to Washington (subject to the Option below).
If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, then Anaheim shall have the option to transfer its 2026 first-round pick to Washington instead of Anaheim’s 2027 first-round pick. To exercise this option, Anaheim shall notify Washington of the option exercise no later than immediately after the selection of the draft pick preceding Anaheim’s first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Jan 5, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) celebrates with teammates after scoring an empty net goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Carlson's acquisition solidifies the right side of Anaheim's blue line, giving them three veterans with substantial playoff experience in Carlson, Jacob Trouba and captain Radko Gudas. Combined, the trio has amassed 267 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Trouba has been to three Conference Finals, while Gudas was part of the Florida Panthers team that lost in the Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. Carlson, of course, won a Cup in 2018 against those Golden Knights during their inaugural season.
"John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a press release. "We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch."
Carlson immediately slides in as the Ducks' No. 1 right-handed defenseman and will help stabilize both the power play and penalty kill. At 5v5, his ability to find teammates with outlet passes will be extremely beneficial for head coach Joel Quenneville's squad, who is at their best when they can get into open ice and create off the rush.
One of the league's top defensemen from the past decade, Carlson concludes his Capitals career as their leader in games played, goals and points among defensemen in franchise history.
Carlson's availability for Anaheim's game against the Montréal Canadiens on Friday is unclear. More will be known following their morning skate.
In exchange for Carlson, the Ducks will send a conditional first-round pick (2026 or 2027 draft) and a third-round pick (2027) to Washington.
Carlson, who played an integral part of the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup win and is a former Norris Trophy runner-up for the NHL's top defenseman, should bring a veteran presence to a young Ducks team that is on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
“John Carlson brings leadership, character, a high hockey IQ and a presence to our lineup,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. “We are very excited to add a Stanley Cup winner to complement our group and make a big push down the stretch.”
Set to become a free agent this offseason, Carlson had 10 goals and 46 points in 55 games with the Capitals this season. He led all Washington skaters in ice time, averaging more than 23 minutes per game.
Carlson, however, has not played since Feb. 5 because of a lower-body injury. It's unclear when he might make his Ducks debut, but was practicing with the Capitals before the trade. When he does get into the lineup, he'll join Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas as part of a formidable right-side defensive trio for the Ducks.
In 1,143 career games over 17 seasons entirely with Washington, Carlson recorded 771 points (166 goals, 605 assists) — ranking him 24th all-time among NHL defensemen. He also had 78 points in 137 playoff games. A two-time All-Star, Carlson played for the U.S. at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games and in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He also scored the winning goal for the U.S. in the 2010 World Junior Championship.
The Ducks are second in the Pacific Division and have won 13 of their last 16 games. They face the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and the St. Louis Blues on Sunday before embarking on a four-game Canadian road trip.
The Carlson deal was finalized roughly 14 hours before Friday's NHL trade deadline at noon PST.
The Los Angeles Kings (25-22-14) controlled the ice from the opening faceoff Thursday night, outshooting the New York Islanders (35-23-5) 19-5 in the first period and getting Artemi Panarin’s first goal with the franchise in a 1-0 start, prevailing to a 5-3 victory.
Los Angeles led the game for the entire time tonight, forcing 14 Islanders giveaways and sparking an impressive defensive effort to never give the Islanders a chance to make a run.
Los Angeles, from the opening tip, was very physical and played with tempo, outscoring the Islanders 19-5 in the first period, and defensively were forechecking the puck. It was a quality win by the Kings against an Islanders team that is a top-three team in the Metropolitan Division.
The start came at 16:43 in the first period when Artemi Panarin scored his first goal as a member of the Kings after finding himself completely unmarked from roughly ten feet from the net.
Panarin was very patient when he got the puck and shot the puck when there was an open look at the net past Ilya Sorokin to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.
A big milestone was recorded tonight by Anze Kopitar, who was honored midway through the first period for playing in his 1,500th NHL game. The milestone makes Kopitar just the 25th player in league history to reach 1,500 games and only the eighth to do so with a single franchise.
The LA Kings honor captain Anze Kopitar for playing his 1,500th game tonight. He’s the 25th player in NHL history to hit the milestone, and only the 8th to do it all with one team. pic.twitter.com/js7EZpLTBz
Panarin's goal continued a long history of success against the Islanders, as he picked up his 19th career goal in 41 games against New York, along with 29 assists.
Los Angeles kept the pressure throughout the remainder of the period, holding a 1-0 lead to end the first. It should've been a much bigger lead because the Kings were generating a lot of good looks, but the Islanders' goaltender Sorokin was sharp, allowing no stick-on goal in the period.
In the second period, New York had plenty of power play opportunities to tie the game and even extend a lead, but it was very bad tonight, finishing 0/3, which even gave the Kings a chance to score twice on their power play.
Midway through the second period, the Kings extended their lead.
At 5:40 of the second, Samuel Helenius scored his fourth goal of the season, finishing the nice play off the assist from Jeff Malott and Taylor Ward, giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead.
The Kings' fourth line was very impressive, giving good offense and energy from their young guys. Defensively, the team was strong tonight as well, led by Brandt Clarke. The Kings' energy was great, with forechecking pressure that made it tough for the Islanders to score.
Just over a minute after Helenius scored, defender Mikey Anderson got on the board, scoring his third goal of the season to extend the lead to 3-0. Drew Doughty and Adrian Kempe picked up assists on the goal as Anderson’s shot found its way past Sorokin with Kopitar providing a strong screen in front.
The Islanders, though, finally scored a miraculous goal with under one second remaining in the period, after winning a faceoff, Bo Horvat quickly snapped the shot to score his 26th goal of the season, a defensive breakdown from the Kings, clearly thinking it was off.
Still, the Kings didn't look fazed at all, and quickly built their lead in the third period after playing a near-perfect second period before giving up that late goal.
Two minutes into the final frame, Alex Laferriere scored a power-play goal to restore the three-goal lead, going coast-to-coast, snapping his shot inside the post on the blocker side, giving Los Angeles a commanding 4-1 lead.
LAK Goal - It's a........power-play goal!
Laferriere goes coast-to-coast, snaps his shot inside the post on the blocker side. 4-1 Kings.
The Islanders still kept fighting, answering two minutes later with a shorthanded goal, after a two-on-one rush by Adam Pelech, finishing the play to once again trim the lead down to two.
It didn't matter because every time the Islanders looked to have gained momentum and trimmed the lead, the Kings would quickly answer back with a big play on the ice.
At the 8:30 mark of the period, Adrian Kempe tipped a shot in front of the net to make it 5-2 Kings off the nice rush and feed from Clarke and Panarin. Clarke picked up his second assist of the night on the play, while Panarin recorded his second point of the game.
LAK Goal - Juicy!
Panarin hits Clarke, who goes back post to Kempe for the goal! One of the prettier goals they've scored this season. 5-2 Kings.
The Islanders would convert on a late goal after Emil Heineman scored off the deflection by Matthew Schaefer, with just two minutes remaining in regulation. But, the comeback would fall short, as the Kings would hold on down the stretch and secure the 5-3 victory at home.
Key Stats
Darcy Kuemper finished with 31 saves on 34 shots, finally playing a very good game coming off the Olympic break and injury. Meanwhile, Los Angeles finished with 35 shots to the Islanders' 34 and finished 1/3 on the power play, holding New York to 0/3.
Panarin and Kempe were both great for the Kings tonight, with each leading the team with two points, one goal, and one assist. Kopitar's milestone was also a great watch for the fans sitting in attendance at Crypto.com Arena, celebrating the historic King for all the great moments he's given to us over the years.
For Los Angeles, this is a great win because, coming off the Olympic break, they were 1-3 and looking like a team on the verge of giving up on the season, but a win like tonight could spark some momentum for them.
Final: 5-3 LAK
Good overall team win for the Kings putting them three points back of playoff spot with the trade deadline tomorrow.
The Kings' next matchup will be against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, March 7, at 7:00 PM EST.
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LOS ANGELES — The Islanders may have just had the worst run in Southern California since Magic Johnson tried hosting late-night television.
After 5-1 in Anaheim came 5-3 in Los Angeles on Trade Deadline Eve, as the Islanders fell to the Kings on Thursday in a game where they were completely overmatched from the jump. As messages to management go, this was one Mathieu Darche would probably like to erase.
One bad game was something the Islanders could wave away off the heels of a five-game winning streak. Two is a harder sell.
“It’s a wake-up call for us that we still have a lot of work to do,” said Bo Horvat, whose line has been a shell of its usual shelf so far on this trip. “We still have to play confident, good hockey in order to make the playoffs.”
It is easier to list the couple positives for the Islanders on Thursday than the many, many things that went wrong.
Ryan Pulock was back from injury, and going 8:35 without allowing an empty-net goal was fairly impressive. That is, pretty much, it.
The Islanders turned pucks over, they had no net presence on either side of the ice, they were anemic on the power play.
They have yet to come out of a first period without trailing since the Olympic break, and Thursday was their worst start yet, as the Isles were outshot 19-5 and barely touched the puck.
“I wasn’t surprised the way they came out,” Roy said. “We talked about it. We knew it was the second game for their new coach, and they lost against Colorado.”
Ilya Sorokin defends the net during the Islanders’ 5-3 loss to the Kings on March 5, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
Of course, Roy’s team also lost on Wednesday and should have had plenty of motivation.
Somehow, they were still within arm’s length going into the third period thanks to Horvat scoring in, literally, the final second of the second period. After one second was put back onto the clock, Horvat whipped one in from above the left circle off a faceoff to bring the Islanders within 3-1.
The momentum proved fleeting.
The Kings celebrate a goal during their March 5 win over the Islanders. NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders and Kings ended up trading goals throughout the third, with the deficit never getting below two as Alex Laferriere, Adam Pelech, Adrian Kempe and Emil Heineman all added to the scoresheet.
There is just no way to come back down three goals without being much, much better around the crease and below the hash marks than the Islanders were on Thursday. Let alone when giving the opponent free access through the neutral zone.
Come to think of it, forget coming back, it’s hard to win a game at all under those conditions.
“In the games where we came back, the previous five games, we were getting to the [dirty] areas, creating more havoc our front,” Horvat told The Post. “These last two games, we’re trying to be too pretty. It’s kind of backfired on us. We got to get back to being more simple.”
Horvat’s commentary on his own line, which was on for two goals against and made little positive impact for the second straight night, was just as scathing.
“Right now we’re trying to make something out of nothing,” he said. “We got to be a heck of a lot better in order for our team to win here. My line has to step up in bigger ways and create offense. And be reliable in our own end too. We have to be a lot better than we have been the last two games.”
The Islanders react after allowing a goal during their March 5 loss to the Kings. AP
Making matters worse was that, aside from JG Pageau’s line, pretty much the entire lineup has had a brutal two nights.
The fourth line, which can usually generate some kind of a forecheck, didn’t have much in the tank and Kyle MacLean committed a brutal turnover leading to the Kings’ second goal, via Samuel Helenius.
The second line has been a total nonfactor two straight nights and looks an obvious candidate to be broken up.
Pelech turned it over leading to Mikey Anderson’s third goal just 1:31 later.
Scott Mayfield has had a tough two games and though Matthew Schaefer is beyond any serious criticism, the superstar rookie hasn’t looked like his usual self in either game out West.
Maybe there is something in the air in this building, where the Islanders haven’t won since 2018. Or maybe it is Southern California in general, even though the smog is largely a thing of the past.
Either way, the Islanders will be glad to get out of here.
It’s a good thing the Islanders managed three dramatic comeback wins coming out of the Olympic break, because then they headed to southern California and played like doodoo. Actually, their starts and play in SoCal wasn’t that much different from the prior three games, just the bounces and outcomes were a little different.
They followed up a 5-1 loss in Anaheim with a 5-3 loss to the Kings in Los Angeles Thursday. For moments, I had Scott Gordon Era flashbacks, staying up late to watch depressing performances on the West Coast and questioning life choices.
However, this one also had a distinctly Patrick Roy flavor, with a very early goalie pull that provided some surrealist entertainment for the final 8:30 of the game.
Things got off to a weird start when Ilya Sorokin lost his stick in an encounter with Anze Kopitar, and no Islander bothered to sweep it back to him. Even after the Islanders cleared the zone once and the Kings had the puck at their own blueline with all five Isles skaters between them and Sorokin, no one bothered to retrieve the goal stick from the corner.
Sorokin made a couple of sterling, groin-defying saves without his stick, but then they left Artemi Panarin all alone in front, and the Russian was patient in beating his countryman (no)stick side.
This is just frustrating to see. What the hell were they doing and thinking?
In DJ Smith’s second game as interim head coach, the Kings committed two too many men penalties in the second period, one with six skaters and one with seven(!). During an in-game interview, Smith took the heat for it while noting “one by the D, one by the forwards” as too eager to get on.
But what’s the risk? The Islanders power play, rarely inspiring, was downright abysmal. The Kings had the best scoring chances on both advantages.
Meanwhile, the defense continues to be mind-boggling, too:
Speaking of which, the Kings made it 2-0 late in the second period with the Islanders coverage scrambling all over the place. Carson Soucy was bodied off the puck, did well enough (maybe?) to reach and poke the puck around the boards, but it was intercepted, and Soucy spent the intervening time complaining to the ref while covering no one.
Within a couple minutes, it was 3-0.
The Islanders would get one more power play to try to get back into the game, and while they at least gained the zone a few times — progress! — they still posed no threats.
HOWEVER…a J-G Pageau faceoff win and a Bo Horvat bullet led to the all-too-rare faceoff goal with 0.2 seconds left on the clock. Horvat put everything into the shot and whipped it in off the far post. Impressive.
The Islanders followed that up by coming out in the third with a little more pep, but Veteran Experienced Ondrej Palat took an offensive zone slashing penalty, and the Kings cashed in on the ensuing power play to make it 4-1 just 2:30 into the period.
Then Ilya Sorokin sailed a puck over the glass to put the Kings on the power play again, and it looked like we were in for more pain. But that was a failure of the imagination, because I neglected to envision the classic Pageau-Adam Pelech shorthanded 2-on-1, which Pelech finished like an opportunistic sniper to cut the lead to 4-2.
Did that make it a game again? It did not. A 3-on-2-ish from the Kings four minutes later restored the three-goal lead.
Patrick Roy pulled Sorokin for a sixth attacker with over eight minutes left, which provided some late-night entertainment at least. The Islanders mostly controlled the puck and were able to make some goal-saving blocks on Kings empty-net tries.
With 1:59 left and after a few more blocked empty-net tries, the Isles finally got one through. Matthew Schaefer’s point shot was deflected by Emil Heineman past Darcy Kuemper to make it 5-3.
That’s where things would finish, after one final empty-net block by Schaefer. Sorokin got himself a nice long rest. The Isles got zero points from their southern tour.
Up Next
The trade deadline, and then a visit to San Jose Saturday to complete the California swing.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Artemi Panarin scored his first goal in a Kings uniform, and Los Angeles beat the New York Islanders 5-3 on Thursday night for the club’s first victory under interim head coach D.J. Smith.
Panarin, Mikey Anderson and Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist apiece for the Kings, and Darcy Kuemper made 31 saves. Samuel Helenius and Alex Laferriere also scored in just Los Angeles’ second victory since January.
Kings captain Anze Kopitar had an assist while playing his 1,500th game, becoming the 25th player in NHL history to hit the mark. The Slovenian center, who is retiring this spring after 20 seasons in Los Angeles, is just five points away from passing Marcel Dionne to become the Kings’ career scoring leader.
Bo Horvat scored an improbable goal off a faceoff taken with a second left in the second period for the Islanders, but it didn’t prevent a second straight blowout loss for New York in Southern California.
Adam Pelech scored the second short-handed goal of his 11-year career and Ilya Sorokin stopped 30 shots for the Isles, who had won five straight before losing to Anaheim and Los Angeles by a combined 10-4 over the past two nights.
Emil Heineman scored with 1:59 to play while Sorokin was pulled for the final 8 1/2 minutes of the third period.
Smith replaced Jim Hiller on Sunday after the Kings’ slump took them out of playoff position. Los Angeles played decently in his debut while losing to NHL-leading Colorado on Monday.
Panarin had three assists in his first four games with the Kings, who acquired the Russian star from the Rangers and signed him to a $22 million contract extension a month ago.
Panarin finally got his first Kings goal 3:17 after the opening faceoff when Kopitar found him utterly unmarked 10 feet from Sorokin. He also secured his 10th career 20-goal season.
Down 3-0, the Islanders finally scored on an unbelievable play: With one second showing on the clock, Jean-Gabriel Pageau won a faceoff straight to Horvat, who whipped a perfect one-timer past Kuemper’s pad for his 26th goal.
After talks picked up towards the beginning of this week, the Vancouver Canucks have officially traded Conor Garland. The forward, who spent five seasons with the Canucks, has been sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a second-round pick in 2028 and a third-round pick in 2026. Garland finishes his time in Vancouver with 82 goals scored and 139 assists in 371 games.
Aside from the 2025–26 season, Garland has consistently been a 45–50-point player for the Canucks since being acquired via trade in 2021. He recorded a career-high in points in 2021–22, scoring 19 goals and 33 assists in 77 games. Last year, he registered his second career 50-point season.
Garland is a valuable player for any team — contending or not — due to his ability to provide offence, help drive a line, and kill penalties if needed. Many teams will likely find him best suited for an energy role, which he often provides night-in and night-out.
Discussions around a potential Garland trade picked up when Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News reported that the New York Islanders were engaging in conversations revolving around the forward. Things escalated on Thursday when Pierre LeBrun of TSN, Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV, and Jimmy Murphy of RG all confirmed multiple teams’ interest in acquiring Garland. Interested teams at the time included the Islanders, Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and San Jose Sharks.
With this trade, Vancouver now has multiple second-round picks in the next three NHL drafts. They also have two first-round picks in this year's draft and two fourth-round selections in the next three after 2026.
Vancouver will face the Chicago Blackhawks later tonight in what will be their first game without Garland on the team since 2021. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:30 pm PT.
Jan 27, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland (8) handles the puck against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Dylan Cozens scored a power-play goal 6:33 into the third period to snap a tie and lift the Ottawa Senators to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
Brady Tkachuk found Cozens alone in front and he beat Devin Cooley on the blocker side to give the Senators a 2-1 lead. Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto added empty-netters for the final score. Lars Eller also had a goal as the Senators, who are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, moved within four points of the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Eller’s goal ended a 34-game goalless drought. His last goal came on Oct. 30 against Calgary.
Linus Ullmark made 19 stops to improve to 8-0-3 in his last 11 decisions.
Martin Pospisil scored his first goal of the season for Calgary and Cooley made 33 saves.
Ottawa has been strong of late with the man advantage, entering the game 5 for 12 over its previous five games. The Senators finished 1 for 4 against Calgary.
Down 2-1, the Flames got a power play of their own with just over three minutes to go in the third period. But Stutzle intercepted Yegor Sharangovich's pass and scored into the empty net to put the game on ice.
Stutzle extended his point streak to 11 games (seven goals, eight assists).
The loss dropped the Flames to 31st overall in the league standings, ahead of only the Vancouver Canucks. Calgary is 0-3-1 in its last four games.
NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Should Be All-In On Simon NemecAhead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the market is flush with right-shot defenseman, which works for and against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a>. If they want to add, though, now might be a good time.
Flyers' Latest Signing Creates New Trade PossibilitiesAhead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> have yet to strike any deals of substance, though their latest signing indicates that one could be coming soon.
