The Nashville Predators (27-40-8, 62 points) suffered their fourth consecutive loss – an 8-4 rout at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets (34-30-9, 77 points) – Tuesday at Nationwide Arena.

Kirill Marchenko scored three goals and an assist for Columbus, while Adam Fantili and Sean Monahan added two goals apiece. Filip Forsberg, Michael Bunting, Justin Barron and Jordan Oesterle each tallied a goal for the Predators, and Luke Evangelista led all Nashville skaters with two assists.

The loss marks the sixth time that Nashville has allowed six or more goals in a single game this season, with eight goals against representing a new season high. 

Predators goaltender Juuse Saros allowed seven goals on 26 shots for a .731 save percentage before pulled from the game after the second period. Justus Annunen made 10 saves on 11 shots in relief.

How the Predators Lined Up vs. Columbus

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

Skjei-Blankenburg
Del Gaizo-Barron
Englund-Stastney
Oesterle

Saros
Annunen

Extra: Sissons (week-to-week, lower-body), Marchessault (day-to-day, lower-body), Wood
IR: Josi, Wilsby, Lauzon

While navigating multiple injuries to their forward group, including Colton Sissons (week-to-week, lower-body) and Jonathan Marchessault (day-to-day, lower-body), the Predators went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the second night in a row.

Matthew Wood, who signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on Saturday, has yet to make his NHL debut.

Predators at Blue Jackets: Live Updates

First Period (NSH 1, CBJ 3)

It took Columbus just over a minute to open the scoring in this one, with Zach Werenski capitalizing on a Predators turnover and finding Kirill Marchenko alone in front of the net for the score at the 1:15 mark of the first period.

The Blue Jackets struck again at the 16:34 mark, when Denton Mateychuk's slick cross-zone pass found Fantilli for a one-timer from the right circle to extend the lead to 2-0.

It took less than two minutes for that lead to become 3-0, when an Andreas Englund holding penalty gave the Blue Jackets their first power-play opportunity of the game. Sean Monahan capitalized on that opportunity, receiving a feed from Kent Johnson and sending a one-timer far side under Saros' blocker at the 18:10 mark.

Filip Forsberg managed to get Nashville on the board with a top shelf wrist shot in the final minutes of the period, cutting the deficit to 3-1 heading into the first intermission.

Nashville goal!

Scored by Filip Forsberg with 01:26 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Luke Evangelista and Ryan O'Reilly.

Columbus: 3
Nashville: 1#NSHvsCBJ#CBJ#Smashvillepic.twitter.com/JUYqECR53W

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 1, 2025

Second Period (NSH 3, CBJ 7)

Columbus quickly regained the three-goal lead in the second period, when Marchenko fired a wrist shot past Saros in transition at the 4:12 mark to make it 4-1. The goal was Marchenko's 30th of the season, making him the first Blue Jackets player to score 30 goals in a season since Cam Atkinson scored 41 in 2018-19.

Michael Bunting had a quick response for Nashville, firing a puck into traffic that found its way to the back of the net at the 5:43 mark to cut Columbus' lead to 4-2.

Nashville goal!

Scored by Michael Bunting with 14:17 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Fedor Svechkov and Luke Evangelista.

Columbus: 4
Nashville: 2#NSHvsCBJ#CBJ#Smashvillepic.twitter.com/p2yibVwNTJ

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 2, 2025

It took just 43 seconds for Justin Barron to make it a one-goal game with a clapper that beat Merzlikins from the right circle at the 6:26 mark.

Fantilli squashed the Predators' momentum with his second goal of the night when he capitalized on another costly Nashville turnover and blew up the ice, past Fedor Svechkov, and fired home a wrist shot to restore the two-goal lead for Columbus at the 12:00 mark.

Monahan scored his second goal of the night – both on the power play – when he scooped up the rebound of a Marchenko shot and tucked it around a sprawling Saros at the 16:47 mark of the second period to put Nashville in a three-goal deficit for a third time.

Former Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro gave the Blue Jackets their first four-goal lead of the game with 18 seconds left the second period. Fabbro, whom Columbus claimed off waivers from Nashville in November, fired a shot from the point that beat Saros and extended the Blue Jackets' lead to 7-3 heading into the second intermission.

Third Period (NSH 4, CBJ 8)

After Nashville allowed a season-high seven goals against through the first 40 minutes, Justus Annunen came in to replace Saros for the final 20.

Marchenko completed the hat trick at the 5:32 mark of the third period with a one-timer from the left circle that gave Columbus an 8-3 lead.

Jordan Oesterle cut it to 8-4 when he one-timed a pass from Cole Smith to beat Merzlikins far side at 9:02 for his first goal as a member of the Predators.

Annunen and the Predators managed to hold Columbus off the board for the remainder of the period, and 8-4 stood as the final score. Nashville will wrap up a three-game road trip Thursday in Dallas.

The Buffalo Sabres, currently in last place in the Eastern Conference, are set to extend their NHL record playoff drought to 14 seasons. So when they face the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, the Senators would prefer the Sabres didn’t skewer them for a fourth straight loss.

Buffalo has won all three games so far by a combined score of 12-3, and as they try to avoid a season sweep, the Senators won't have their captain on board.

With Ottawa now holding a comfortable seven-point lead in the Wild Card race, Tkachuk’s absence isn’t unexpected. It's a fine strategy to rest key players like Tkachuk, who've been dealing with lingering injuries.

However, Senators head coach Travis Green told the media on Tuesday morning that Tkachuk’s injury is something new. It’s an upper-body issue, completely unrelated to the nagging injury he’s been playing through over the past few weeks.

Tkachuk's new injury happened in Pittsburgh on Sunday when he skated into Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves in the neutral zone. Simply put, while changing direction, Tkachuk wasn’t looking where he was going. After going down in pain, he skated off the ice and into the dressing room, but returned to play in the third period, likely fueled only by adrenaline.

Unfortunately, things obviously worsened after the game, and he won’t be available for Tuesday’s contest against the Sabres.

“Yeah, it’s not what you want, that’s for sure,” Green told the media. “But that’s part of the NHL. You’re going to lose guys, and hopefully he’s only out for a game.”

Last month, Tkachuk was emotional when the Senators traded his close friend, Josh Norris, to the Sabres. This game might’ve been their reunion, but with both players sidelined by injuries, that’s on hold until next season. Norris will miss his 10th consecutive game on Tuesday and didn’t travel to Ottawa. Neither did Tkachuk’s former Boston University teammate, Jordan Greenway, who's also injured.

Tkachuk’s spot on the roster will be filled by Angus Crookshank, who’s been shuffled between Belleville and Ottawa in recent games. Crookshank, a UFA this summer, gets a good opportunity, and Green says he's excited to see him in action.

“I thought last time up, he played some good hockey for us,” Green said. “He’s a feisty player, he's got good hands, and is strong on his skates. Excited for him to get into the lineup.”

Crookshank will skate on the fourth line, taking the spot of Michael Amadio, who’s been playing phenomenal two-way hockey of late. Amadio moves up to the third line while Claude Giroux takes Tkachuk's spot on Tim Stützle’s left side.

Aside from Tkachuk’s absence, which is concerning, and Linus Ullmark starting in net, Green’s lineup will remain the same as it was in the 1-0 OT loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. James Reimer is expected to start again for Buffalo.

Senators Projected Lineup:

Claude Giroux - Tim Stützle - Fabian Zetterlund
David Perron - Dylan Cozens - Drake Batherson
Ridly Greig - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio
Matthew Highmore - Adam Gaudette - Angus Crookshank

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven - Nikolas Matinpalo

Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg

Scratched: Dennis Gilbert, Travis Hamonic
Injured: Nick Cousins (knee), Brady Tkachuk (upper body)

Sabres Projected Lineup:

Zach Benson - Jiri Kulich - Tage Thompson
JJ Peterka - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn
Jason Zucker - Peyton Krebs - Alex Tuch
Beck Malenstyn - Tyson Kozak - Sam Lafferty

Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power - Jacob Bernard-Docker
Bowen Byram - Connor Clifton

James Reimer
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Scratched: Jacob Bryson, Isak Rosen
Injured: Jordan Greenway (lower body), Josh Norris (middle body)

Faceoff is at 7pm (TSN5 and RDS2) at Canadian Tire Centre.

The Colorado Avalanche suffered their second straight loss Monday, falling to the Calgary Flames by a 3-2 score in a shootout. Here are three key takeaways from the Avs' loss, which dropped Colorado's season record to 45-26-4:

1. Avs Blow Two-Goal Lead, Squander Opportunity To Gain Ground In Central Divsion Playoff Race

For the first two periods of Monday's tilt against the Flames, Colorado looked like it was going to get back on track and stop a two-game losing skid from happening. The Avalanche out-shot Calgary 21-12 through 40 minutes and took a two-goal lead into the third frame, but they were out-shot 11-5 in the third period and blew a chance to win the game in regulation time.

The Avs' loss -- even with the 'loser point' -- failed to make up much ground in the Central race, as Colorado is now eight standings points behind second-place Dallas, and the Stars have a game in hand on the Avalanche. It was still going to be diffcult to overtake Dallas for second spot in the Central, but this loss pretty much assures the Avs of a third-place finish in the division.

2. MacKinnon, Makar Continue To Dominate, Even In Losing Effort

Avalanche superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar had another strong game Monday, collaborating on Colorado's opening goal against the Flames. Makar scored his 28th goal of the season Monday, while MacKinnon had the primary assist -- his 80th of the season -- on Makar's goal.

MacKinnon's assist keeps him as the league leader in helpers this season, while Makar's goal extends his lead as the NHL's top-scoring defenseman. Together, Makar and MacKinnon give the Avalanche a chance to win each and every night, and even on nights where the Avs don't get the 'W', MacKinnon and Makar stand out in a positive way.

3. With Wild's Loss, Avalanche Is All But Assured Of Finishing In Third Place In Central 

The Avalanche's defeat opened the door for the fourth-place-in-the-Central Minnesota Wild to gain ground on the Avs. However, the Wild fell 3-2 in a shootout to the New Jersey Devils -- and that means Minnesota remains six standings points behind Colorado, with both the Wild and Avs each having seven regular-season games left to play.

Barring some collapse by the Avalanche, Minnesota is going to stay a wild card team in the Western Conference, while the Avs are more or less locked into a first-round series against the Stars. There's still a chance the first-place Winnipeg Jets fall below Dallas into second place in the Central, but that's also highly-unlikey.

Ultimately, Colorado and Dallas are headed for a first-round showdown, and the Avalanche are going to be facing a Stars team with an imposing 27-7-2 home record this season. The Avs have a relatively-disappointing 20-15-1 road mark this season, so they'll have to be much better away from home if they're to make it to the second round and beyond. But falling to the Flames Monday all but assures Colorado of what could be the toughest first-round matchup of any first-round series this spring.

The Winnipeg Jets have been one of the NHL's best teams this season, and many believe they'll go on a deep Stanley Cup playoff run this spring. But in THN's 2015 Future Watch edition, we predicted the Jets would win the Cup -- in 2019:

PLAN THE PARADE

By Ken Campbell

All right, let's get one thing out of the way. It gets cold in Winnipeg. Ten months of winter and two months of bad skating. Heh-heh. The day this piece was written in mid-February, it was forecasted to go down to minus-38. Don’t bother with the Celsius to Fahrenheit calculations. When it’s that cold, they’re pretty much the same.

There are bigger cities in the NHL (about 25 of them) that play in bigger arenas (about 29). There are other places where a star can slide right under the radar if he wants. There are places with lower taxes and places where your Bentley won’t get wrecked by road salt. There are places with a few more entertainment options.

These are the obstacles the Winnipeg Jets face when it comes to attracting free agents and getting players to waive their no-trade clauses to go there. In fact, a recent informal study found Winnipeg and Edmonton to be the two least desirable destinations in the NHL. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff talks about how well the organization treats its players and how, once they get there, players actually like it. But when your only exposure to the place is a road trip in the middle of the winter, perception sometimes becomes reality.

“It’s not shocking for me that people don’t understand what Winnipeg is all about,” Cheveldayoff said. “They haven’t been here for a long time. I do believe that once we get a player here and they see how we treat the players, they’ll want to stay. We’ve said it from Day 1, once players come here, they’re going to enjoy being here. And we know the kids we draft and the kids we develop, they’re going to know from Day 1 what it’s like to be part of the Jets family, and they’re going to embrace that.”

And there you have it. If you can’t entice players to your organization because they don’t like hockey weather or they’re too closed-minded, then you get the players who have no choice in the matter and get them to fall in love with the place. Drafting and developing has never been a more important tool in the NHL than it is in the salary cap era. And it’s even more so for places like Winnipeg, where cultivating your own talent is more practical than poaching it from other teams.

On that count, the Jets get a gold star and a direct route to the head of the class. Their group of non-NHL prospects and under-22 players on their roster is the best in the NHL, according to a panel of 13 scouts, GMs and directors of player personnel. And if their prospect group wasn’t good enough already, Cheveldayoff added two more in Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux in the Evander Kane trade with the Buffalo Sabres. Not only that, he has another late first-round pick coming to him in that deal.

Combined with the Jets as they’re currently constituted – a good, fast, young team with a progressive coach – the future looks outstanding. Like, Stanley Cup contender outstanding. As we already have the Buffalo Sabres pencilled in for the Cup in 2020, we’re picking the Jets and their band of young stars to be parading down Portage Avenue with the silver chalice in the spring of 2019. Caveat: grain of salt required. In our 1991 Draft Preview edition, we chose the Jets to win the Stanley Cup within five years. Not only did they not win the Cup in that time, they ceased to exist five years later.

But you get the idea. The Jets have loaded up on young talent and have held onto it. And they have every position covered. In the NHL, Jacob Trouba has the makings of an outstanding two-way defenseman. Mark Scheifele has all kinds of speed and skill, and Adam Lowry is establishing himself as a big, imposing force up front. Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little, two of the team’s top forwards, are signed long-term, as are Tobias Enstrom and Tyler Myers, two of their key defensemen.

When it comes to their prospects, they have the most dangerous offensive player in the QMJHL in Nikolaj Ehlers and a host of other productive players in Lemieux, Nic Petan and Andrew Copp. They have one of Canada’s world junior goalies in Eric Comrie and also a rookie backstopping their AHL team in Connor Hellebuyck. Josh Morrissey was named to the WJC all-star team, and Armia looks ready for NHL duty.

But the Jets and Cheveldayoff have had to be among the league’s elite when it comes to drafting and developing. That’s because it took Cheveldayoff almost four full years to make an NHL player-for-NHL player trade. In that time, he didn’t move a single Jets prospect of note and gave up only one second-round pick – in what turned out to be a bad deal with the Minnesota Wild for Devin Setoguchi in 2013. Before making his blockbuster with Buffalo, Cheveldayoff had traded away more picks than he got back, though all but a handful of them were after the third round and none of them in the first.

So if his scouts were doing their jobs well, and it looks as though they were, the Jets should have a healthy stable of young players preparing for the NHL. But it also requires an organizational philosophy that centers on building through the draft. And the Jets, unlike a lot of other teams, are in a market where they had a couple years to grow. The folks in Winnipeg waited a long time to get their NHL team back and were willing to give the new management team a honeymoon period of non-playoff finishes before they started getting restless.

That time, though, has come, which has led some to the opinion that it’s time to start parlaying some of those assets into roster players from other teams. After all, going back to the Atlanta days, it’s been eight years since this organization last played a playoff game, which is the second longest current drought in the NHL next to Edmonton.

“It’s been a long time, no question,” Cheveldayoff said. “But the process we started the day we took over is a slow one. It’s not one where you’re going to get instant gratification. It’s been a full, methodical process, but we’re seeing the fruits of our labor right now. We’ll look at all our options, but we’re excited with the group of young players we have, and we think some of them are going to turn the corner quickly and be contributors at the NHL level.”

And it’s interesting to note these aren’t your father’s Jets. This is a team in a new rink that sells 15,004 tickets for each game and has cost certainty on its side. Where teams now have to take advantage of their financial positions is off the ice, investing in resources and people that aren’t constrained by a salary cap. To that end, the Jets have seven pro scouts and 14 full- and part-time amateur scouts, a scouting co-ordinator, a director of fitness and a two-man player development department. That’s one of the larger staffs in the NHL devoted to something that is a make or break aspect of the game.

It helps that the Jets have a decent economy, new building and well-heeled bosses with an appreciation for the long term. “We have an ownership group that is extremely committed to doing things the right way,” Cheveldayoff said. “From Day 1, they’ve viewed drafting and developing as an investment, not as an expense. When you get into the boardroom and start dealing with budgets and things like that, the easiest thing to cut is something you don’t see. You barely see the amateur scouts because they’re on the road all the time and it’s an easy cut. But in that aspect, we’ve never been shortchanged.”

Everything is set for the Jets to have a future full of serious Stanley Cup runs. With a management team that has finally begun to address the present, while keeping an eye to the future, the Jets are on the precipice of something special.

We’re predicting a Stanley Cup in 2019. After all, when you’ve waited as long as Winnipeg has to get your team back, what’s a couple more years to bide your time for the top prize? Cheveldayoff likes the sound of that but isn’t about to pre-order his Stanley Cup stationary. “I’m focusing on being a 2015 playoff team right now,” he said.

The New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin set a high standard when he signed an eye-catching contract earlier this season – but his results afterward haven’t met it yet.

Shesterkin’s pending UFA status and impending extension were among the NHL’s top storylines early in the season. Often regarded as one of the best goalies in the league, there were reports before his extension that he looked to reset the market for top-tier backstops. 

He did just that with an eight-year deal worth $11.5-million annually that kicks in next season.

But there’s immense pressure and expectations of being a highly paid starter, where great isn’t good enough. Shesterkin will be the highest-paid goalie in 2025-26, and his play has to justify that investment. It's questionable at the moment.

He’s now amid one of his most challenging seasons since debuting with the New York Rangers in 2019. His 2.84 goals-against average and .906 save percentage are respectable but not elite, especially considering the record-setting cap hit. They're both career worsts for him.

While few will ever reach the numbers that will justify an $11.5-million cap hit, the Rangers' eventual willingness to commit to him as a franchise cornerstone sent a message. They believed in him.

It’s way too early to declare the massive investment a mistake or a success.

It should also be noted the Rangers have been abysmal defensively in front of Shesterkin. He still has 22.2 goals saved above expected, which ranks third in the NHL, according to moneypuck.com. In a season that didn't go to plan for the Rangers, Shesterkin has had to bail out his teammates, and The Hockey News' Remy Mastey wrote that Shesterkin is proving his worth.

But his drop in goals-against average and save percentage does raise the question about how consistently strong goalies like him need to play to justify eight-digit cap hits.

Can Igor Shesterkin Save The New York Rangers This Season?The New York Rangers made goaltender Igor Shesterkin the highest-paid goalie in NHL history in December, but he hasn't played like it.

His current stats echo what happened to Sergei Bobrovsky when he signed a monster contract with the Florida Panthers.

Bobrovsky left the Columbus Blue Jackets for a lucrative $10-million cap hit in Florida after already winning the Vezina Trophy twice and recording a 2.58 GAA and .913 in 2019-19. His numbers with the Panthers worsened, and he recorded a 3.23 GAA and .900 SP in the first season of his new contract. It took him multiple seasons to rediscover his elite form. While he eventually led the Panthers to a Stanley Cup in 2024, the journey to justifying his contract was a long one. 

Now, with nearly 50 career shutouts – including five this season and six last year – he’s proving his worth. But for years, there were questions about whether his deal was one of the worst in the league and how big a mistake the Panthers might have made.

While elite goaltenders can be game-changers, big-money deals come with significant risk. Shesterkin now has the pressure to prove they are worth the investment. Similar questions about Bobrovsky could surround Shesterkin if his numbers don’t rebound when the new contract begins.

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The Philadelphia Flyers recalled Aleksei Kolosov from the AHL exactly one week ago, and he has yet to do so much as to dress as a backup goalie for even one game so far.

Kolosov, 23, has not appeared in an NHL game since Jan. 2, when he allowed four goals on 26 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Belarusian was subsequently reassigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, though he returned to the Flyers on Jan. 31, sat for a month, then returned to Lehigh Valley again on March 6.

Kolosov has played eight games for the Phantoms since Jan. 2, stopping 192 of 216 shots for a .889 save percentage and posting a 4-4-0 record.

Kolosov's numbers were actually tattered by a rocky start that saw him allow 10 goals in his first two AHL starts since October, and he's been much improved since returning to the AHL in early March.

The 23-year-old has won four of his last six starts for the Phantoms, stopping 136 of 150 shots for a .907 save percentage, which is a drastic improvement over his career .884 save percentage in the AHL.

So, when current Flyers backup goalie Ivan Fedotov allowed nine goals on 32 combined shots in games against Dallas and Chicago last weekend, Kolosov's return to the Flyers at least made some sense.

In a lost season where your backup is not playing well (again), give the kid a shot and see what he does in the last handful of games, right?

And yet, at least so far, all Kolosov has done is watch from the press box.

Perhaps the firing of head coach John Tortorella has played a role in this, though it's impossible to be certain.

Tortorella started the 2024-25 season insisting that Sam Ersson was the undisputed starter and Fedotov was the backup.

Then, Kolosov commandeered the backup role by November, just to hand it back over to Fedotov after a series of poor showings at the end of December.

Leading up to his dismissal, Tortorella then referred to Ersson and Fedotov as a "tandem" with both goalies struggling with consistency equally.

Then, the 28-year-old Fedotov had those two dreary outings, and up came Kolosov again.

The Flyers' evaluation of the goaltending situation changes almost monthly, which is understandably unsettling for many fans.

What we can say about Kolosov - and this is true for any developing player - is that there is little benefit to spending swaths of games in the press box instead of being on the ice gaining experience firsthand.

Another thing to note is that, because Kolosov is signed to a two-way contract, his salary while playing in the AHL is just $80k.

This pales in comparison to his $832.5k base salary, and we must also consider that Kolosov has to take care of his girlfriend as well as himself while shuttling back and forth between Philadelphia and Allentown as frequently as he has.

While Kolosov did play in the KHL for parts of four seasons, the league's salary cap is only $10 million in U.S dollars, and the Belarusian ruble is equivalent to only 0.31 USD at the time of this writing.

By spending time in the NHL with the Flyers, Kolosov makes substantially more money, which is undoubtedly a huge help for a player who is still acclimating to life in North America and speaks and understands a very limited amount of English.

It's unclear whether the Flyers are doing this as a favor to their young prospect or if they really do want him on the NHL roster for hockey reasons, but if it's the former, it makes plenty of sense.

Players are human and have lives away from the rink, too.

On that note, though, it would be strange to see Kolosov spend the rest of the NHL season with the Flyers without appearing in any games, then return to Lehigh Valley ice cold ahead of the Calder Cup playoffs.

Ideally, Ersson, Fedotov, and Kolosov each play two of the team's final six games before the latter returns for the Phantoms' postseason campaign.

That decision, of course, is ultimately up to interim head coach Brad Shaw and the Flyers brass. Expect more clarity on the situation soon. 

The San Jose Sharks have adjusted their roster significantly with injuries at the NHL and AHL levels.

On Monday, San Jose sent down defenseman Luca Cagnoni and center Patrick Giles to the Barracuda. And recalled defenseman Jack Thompson.

The #SJSharks have recalled D Jack Thompson from the @sjbarracuda.

D Luca Cagnoni and F Patrick Giles have been re-assigned to the Barracuda.

— San Jose Sharks PR (@SanJoseSharksPR) March 31, 2025

Cagnoni hasn't struggled in his five NHL games, but he has more development. The 'Cuda are trending toward the postseason, but injuries to top scorers Andrew Poturalski and Jimmy Schuldt mean they need help.

Cagnoni can drive offense from the back, especially on the power play, where Poturalski is missed. Giles is a big, defensive center who can help shut down the other team's top forwards. 

Thompson has played 24 games in the NHL this season and has shown flashes of being an NHL-caliber d-man. With looks to the young guys like Giles and Cagnoni taking at least a pause, Thompson will get a chance to play higher in the Sharks lineup for the first time since the Trade deadline.

The San Jose Sharks visit the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday before returning home for two games.

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Lane Hutson is right in the thick of the Calder race and right now, it’s too close to call. But being in the midst of that and in playoff position shows the impact the talented blueliner has had on the Montreal Canadiens. 

The NHL chronicled how close the vote was in the notice: 

Lane Hutson, who paced all rookies in the month of March with 14 assists and 15 points in 14 games (1-14—15) to lift the Canadiens (34-30-9, 77 points) into the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for March. Hutson edged Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (5-9—14 in 16 GP), Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (3-10—13 in 15 GP), St. Louis Blues center Zack Bolduc (8-3—11 in 15 GP), and San Jose Sharks teammates Will Smith (4-7—11 in 13 GP) and Macklin Celebrini (3-8—11 in 13 GP) for the honor.

Hutson pierces the offensive zone like few can. His stick and puck control has always been exceptional. I knew when I was watching him with the NTDP and covering more than a few of his games live that he had a chance to be a good NHL player. There was always a question about how far could his offense take him and it’s going to go further than many thought including me. 

The fact that he’s averaging over 22 minutes a game and his 59 points in 73 games is amazing. For the people saying he’s not great defensively, he’s blocked 109 shots. Does he have a few too many giveaways, yes, but that will get better but the positives far outweigh anything else. 

He’s the fifth best scoring defenseman in the NHL! I saw the Canadiens beat the Rangers in 1979. Back then, their stud defenseman was Larry Robinson. We talked about that team in my new book Game Winners. 

The Edmonton Oilers had a busy practice on Tuesday morning.

The big news was the presence of the injured Connor McDavid, Trent Frederic, and Evander Kane in non-contact jerseys. None of the three will play against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, but it's an encouraging sign for each of them as Frederic skates with his new team for the first time, and the door is open for McDavid to return during their four-game road trip.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.

 The rest of the roster will have a formidable challenge in front of them as they take on the division-leading Golden Knights, who come into Tuesday's game riding a six-game win streak.

That hot streak, coupled with the recent injuries to McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, has effectively buried any chance the Oilers had at catching Vegas for the Pacific Division crown. The Golden Knights are nine points up on the Oilers with nine games remaining in the regular season.

EDM lines & pairings - Tuesday Morning Skate:

Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Arvidsson
Hyman - RNH - Kapanen
Skinner - Janmark - Brown
Jones - Henrique - Perry
(Kane - McDavid - Frederic)

Walman - Bouchard
Nurse - Stecher
Kulak - Emberson

Pickard
Rodrigue#Oilers

— Tony Brar 🚀 (@TonyBrarOTV) April 1, 2025

Absent from Oilers practice was Mattias Ekholm, still struggling with a nagging injury that's kept him out of the lineup for the past two games. He's missed eight of the Oilers' eighteen games since the 4 Nations Face-Off. With Ekholm out, Jake Walman will remain on an offense-heavy top pairing with Evan Bouchard.

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Up front, Jeff Skinner will slide back down to the third line, where he acquitted himself very well in McDavid and Draisaitl's absence, while Kasperi Kapanen brings his speed to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' second line.

The first line remains the same from their win over Calgary on Saturday, though Draisaitl will almost certainly see minutes with almost every winger as Kris Knoblauch double-shifts him against Vegas' deep lineup.

With Stuart Skinner still out day-to-day, Calvin Pickard will get his third consecutive start for the first time this season. Pickard rebounded from his debacle in Seattle with a solid 26-save win over the Flames on Saturday, lifting his record to 18-8-1 despite an .899 save percentage. 

The puck drops between the Oilers and Golden Knights at 8:00 PM, on Sportsnet.

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Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel has been named the NHL's first star of the month. 

The 28-year-old recorded eight goals and 23 points in 14 games in the month of March, propelling the Golden Knights to a 10-2-2 record. 

During the month, Eichel set the new Golden Knights record for points in a season and set a new career-high in points. This season, Eichel's scored 27 goals and 93 points, on pace to eclipse the 100-point mark for the first time in his career.

Here's what the NHL's press release had to say about his month:

"Eichel paced the League with 8-15—23 in 14 contests to propel the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights (45-20-8, 98 points) to a 10-2-2 month as they seek their seventh playoff berth in eight NHL seasons. Eichel, who additionally finished among the March leaders in power-play assists (t-1st; 8), power-play points (2nd; 10), assists (t-4th; 15), even-strength points (t-9th; 13) and goals (t-12th; 8), found the score sheet in 13 of his 14 appearances – capped by a six-game run to close the month that featured four multi-point performances (March 20-29: 6-7—13). The No. 2 overall pick from the 2015 NHL Draft also collected his 600th career point in his 607th game, part of a four-point effort March 22 vs. DET (1-3—4); scored his fifth career hat trick and third with Vegas March 25 at MIN (3-0—3); and notched a pair of game-winning goals: March 5 vs. TOR (1-1—2) and March 23 vs. TBL (1-0—1). The 28-year-old Eichel ranks fourth in the NHL with 27-66—93 through 72 total appearances this season, already career highs for assists and points in a single campaign (ahead of 2018-19: 28-54—82 in 77 GP w/ BUF). He also sits among the 2024-25 leaders in power-play assists (3rd; 29), assists (t-4th; 66), plus/minus (5th; +35) and power-play points (t-5th; 34)."

Jack Eichel, John Tavares and Jordan Binnington have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of March presented by GEICO.#NHLStats: https://t.co/VIARokLrCkpic.twitter.com/A07ysorPht

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 1, 2025

Following Eichel as stars of the month were the Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares, who recorded 13 goals and 20 points in 15 games, and St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, who posted eight wins, a .910 SV% and a 2.21 GAA.

Eichel is having a stellar season and has kept his name in the Hart Trophy race all season long. He likely won't win the award but could find himself in the top five, which would be the highest he's placed in his career. 

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

Golden Knights' Jack Eichel Named Second Star Of The WeekVegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel has been named the NHL's second star of the week.

If we’re going to talk about new NHL coaches doing good things this season, we probably shouldn’t look past our newest candidate. 

Brad Shaw is a perfect 3-0-0 with the Philadelphia Flyers since taking over for John Tortorella last Thursday, so it doesn’t get any better than that.

But sample size is important. The candidates for this list of the NHL’s most effective first-year coaches all have at least 50 games with their new teams this year. 

Craig Berube hit that mark, but he missed the cut because he’ll be measured by his playoff results with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With all that in mind, here are the five NHL bench bosses who have had the most impressive impacts on their new teams this season.

Travis Green, Ottawa Senators

Hired: May 7, 2024 – Record 39-28-6 – .575 points percentage

The Ottawa Senators have become a shining example of how strong ownership can lead to team success. It took Michael Andlauer a minute to get all his ducks in a row, but the organization is now headed in a positive direction after committing to Steve Staios as GM and to Travis Green as coach.

The Sens have deployed a dangerous power play, received decent goaltending and pumped up their offense since the trade deadline, going 8-3-1 and all-but-locking-in their first playoff berth since 2017. 

The team has also brought out the best in Green: Ottawa’s .575 points percentage this season is a career high, better than his parts of five seasons coaching the Vancouver Canucks and 21 games as interim coach of the New Jersey Devils last season.

Scott Arniel, Winnipeg Jets

Hired: May 24, 2024 – Record 51-19-4 – .716 points percentage

When Rick Bowness retired last spring after guiding the Jets to their second-best season in franchise history, Scott Arniel’s main task was to avoid letting the team slide backward after being elevated from an associate role.

Instead, he took them to new heights, starting the season with an eight-game winning streak and maintaining the pace to sit in pole position for their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy. 

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is a luxury to build from, but he’s not a one-man show. Top scorers Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers are all headed toward career years, Cole Perfetti has taken the next step, and the power play is one of the most dangerous in the NHL.

For Arniel to deliver a season this dominant is a win in itself for the Jets. If he can help erase the memory of last year’s playoffs with a meaningful post-season run, all the better.

Top Five NHL Teams At Home In 2024-25: Kings, Jets And MoreBy Anthony Carbone, The Hockey News intern

Ryan Warsofsky, San Jose Sharks

Hired: June 13, 2024 – Record 20-44-9 – .336 points percentage

You may be surprised to see the coach of a last-place team on this list. But Warsofsky deserves credit for delivering some positives in a tough environment, especially as a first-time NHL bench boss. 

It’s never easy to make the transition from assistant coach into a head job. Warsofsky has swept away the memories of his two years working under David Quinn and approached his task at hand with vigor and positivity — and it doesn’t hurt that good-natured alumni and franchise legends Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are both lending a hand behind the scenes.

Even after a trade-deadline sell-off, Warsofsky has maintained buy-in from veterans like Tyler Toffoli and can build off the infectious enthusiasm of future stars Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Add in another top lottery pick this summer, and the future is getting brighter in the Bay Area.

Dean Evason, Columbus Blue Jackets

Hired: July 22, 2024 – Record 33-30-9 – .521 points percentage

Evason hasn’t matched the .639 points percentage he put up during his 251 games coaching the Minnesota Wild. but he’s being measured by a different standard this season.

He hasn’t just moved the Blue Jackets from the Eastern Conference basement into potential playoff contention. He’s done it under the dark cloud of tragedy after Johnny Gaudreau’s passing in August.

On Monday’s 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman declared that Evason would be his man if he had a Jack Adams vote. Evason started his new job by giving the players the space they all needed to grieve in their own ways, then offered a clean sheet for everyone to show what they could bring to the table.

That environment has brought the very best out of established players like Zach Werenski, allowed role players like Mathieu Olivier to thrive and helped youngsters like Kent Johnson, Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko all take steps forward. 

It’ll be tough to root against them if they can sneak into a playoff spot.

Jim Montgomery, St. Louis Blues

Hired: Nov. 24, 2024 – Record 31-16-6 – .642 points percentage

The only coach on this list who already has a Jack Adams, Montgomery is riding high now in St. Louis, barely four months after the Boston Bruins fired him.

He was the architect of Boston’s record-breaking regular season in 2022-23. Now, he’s doing special things in the Gateway City, as the Blues’ refusal to lose is starting to draw comparisons to their storybook run of 2019.

Montgomery is making GM Doug Armstrong look like a genius for acting fast and presenting an irresistible five-year contract offer just days after he became available last fall. If he can keep doing what he’s doing, he might be one of the few coaches to break through and enjoy a multi-year tenure in one market.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs returned to practice at Ford Performance Centre on Tuesday following their three-game California road trip, preparing for a divisional matchup against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.

In a practice that lasted just 15 minutes, the most notable development was the presence of Max Pacioretty and Jani Hakanpaa, both skating with the team for the first time as they work toward a return from long-term injuries.

“It’s good that they’re out there. They’ve been working with our development crew and people back here skating and trying to get healthy. Hopefully, they can get healthy and be part of the team at some point,” said head coach Berube after practice.

Max Pacioretty and Jani Hakanpaa were full participants at Leafs practice today.

Craig Berube: “They've been working with our development crew and people back here skating and trying to get healthy. Hopefully they can get healthy and be part of the team at some point.” pic.twitter.com/0ZWgqzfb4U

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) April 1, 2025

Pacioretty has been sidelined since February 8, when he last played against the Vancouver Canucks before the 4 Nations Face-Off break. He suffered an undisclosed injury in practice on February 19, landing him on injured reserve on February 28. The Maple Leafs moved him to long-term injured reserve (LTIR) on March 7, the NHL trade deadline, for salary cap flexibility. That move ensured he would miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days.

Despite his absence, Pacioretty (and Hakanpaa) have, at times, been skating ahead of team practices, either on separate ice pads or before the rest of the team – last doing so on March 17. In his first season with the Leafs, Pacioretty has played 37 games, recording five goals and eight assists for 13 points.

“Pretty confident, yeah. I’m pretty confident,” said Berube last week when asked if Pacioretty would be ready for playoff action.

‘I’m Pretty Confident’: Head Coach Craig Berube And Maple Leafs Expecting Max Pacioretty To Return For Playoffs After Long-Term Injured Reserve StintToronto Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty has been sidelined since early February, but head coach Craig Berube believes the veteran winger will be ready to return for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Hakanpaa’s progression is also key. The 6-foot-7, towering defenseman has been out of the lineup since November 16, when he last played against the Edmonton Oilers. He underwent minor knee surgery in hopes of returning in the second half of the season but was placed on LTIR on December 2.

The 33-year-old has only played two games for the Leafs this season, along with two conditioning appearances for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies – remaining pointless in those four outings. He was initially named to Team Finland’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster but had to withdraw due to his recovery timeline.

'I Don't Have A Timeline': Jani Hakanpaa Will Not Play For Finland At 4 Nations Sparking More Questions About His NHL FutureHakanpaa hasn't played since Nov. 16 and had a second knee procedure in early December.

The Maple Leafs seem optimistic that both Pacioretty and Hakanpaa could be ready for the postseason, steadily progressing in their recoveries as the team moves closer to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With just $195,332 in salary cap space, Toronto has been able to utilize LTIR to manage Pacioretty’s $873,770 cap hit and Hakanpaa’s $1.47 million cap hit. However, once the playoffs begin, the salary cap no longer applies, giving the Leafs the flexibility to activate both players if they’re fully ready to return in April.

Starting Goalie Against the Cats

The Leafs have been rotating their goaltending tandem of Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz. Woll, who last played on Sunday in Anaheim, was seen getting extra work as Stolarz had already departed the ice on Tuesday – signaling the start for the 31-year-old against his former team on Wednesday. 

So, is that the plan? 

“Yeah, maybe. I don’t know yet,” said Berube after practice, not revealing his cards.

Anthony Stolarz was off the ice well before Joseph Woll after Maple Leafs' practice today.

Head coach Craig Berube, on if Stolarz will start against the Panthers tomorrow: "Maybe."

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) April 1, 2025

Stolarz has lost both matchups against the Panthers when he’s been in the crease for the Leafs this season. When asked if that was a factor in the decision-making, Berube dismissed the notion. 

“No, not really. No,” said Berube. “It is what it is, the team is 0-and-2.”

Final confirmation on the starting goalie should become available on Wednesday, but all signs point towards Stolarz’s third start against Florida at Scotiabank Arena. 

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

It’s time for The Hockey News Big Show, where we explore some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics 

Debating Who Wins A Senators And Leafs Playoff Series - Ft. Steve Warne by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and guest co-host Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

1:07: The Ottawa Senators hold a decent lead on the Eastern wild-card standings. What has allowed this group to nearly seal a spot in the post-season? 

4:08: Are there any similarities between this year's Senators and the 2017 team that made it to the Eastern Conference final?  

7:24: We could see the Battle of Ontario in the first round if the Toronto Maple Leafs earn the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Who wins it?

10:32: Are the Montreal Canadiens running out of steam? Which team looks likeliest to get the second wild-card spot?

13:38: Leon Draisaitl is up to 51 goals this season. There are now just two active players with four or more 50-plus-goal seasons. Could Draisaitl be a better goal-scorer than Auston Matthews?

16:43: Where do we think Brad Marchand could end up next season?

19:44: Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog was seen this week working on special teams with one of the power-play units. Will he return for the playoffs? If so, what kind of impact would his comeback have on the Avalanche? 

23:50: Which team has the most pressure to win in the first round of the playoffs?

27:19: The Seattle Kraken and the Nashville Predators are the newest teams to be "officially eliminated" from the playoffs. What moves would you like each team to make this off-season? 

30:08: Only four players from the Senators’ last playoff appearance are still active in the NHL. Can you name them?

31:19: College hockey studs Jimmy Snuggerud (STL) and Ryan Leonard (WSH) are both expected to make their NHL debut Tuesday night. Who do we think will make a bigger impact as an NHL player?

32:59: The New York Rangers' bus reportedly hit San Jose rookie Macklin Celebrini's car. What is a bigger bummer: losing in a blowout to the Rangers or having your car hit?

35:01: The NCAA Hockey Frozen Four is officially set. Denver is back to defend its title and will face Western Michigan. Penn State continues its Cinderella run and will take on Boston University. Who are your picks to win it?

37:10: Gavin McKenna has nine points in just two playoff games. If he was draft-eligible this year, would he go first overall?

Watch the full episode here.   

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The St. Louis Blues ride nine-game winning streak and could be labeled as the biggest dark horse to win Western Conference

When looking at the state of the NHL right now, there is no hotter team than the St. Louis Blues. 

After winning their last nine straight games, the Blues quickly ended the conversation around the race for the final wild card spot by separating themselves from the pack. 

More NHL: Blues To Prevail in Tight Wild Card Race Over Flames, Canucks, Utah HC

There is a special feeling around this team that spawned following Team Canada's win at Four Nations Face-Off this past February, that was spearheaded by Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. 

History Repeating Itself?

St. Louis will face a tough first round matchup as a wild card team but as we've seen in recent history, anything can happen when teams get hot.

The Blues severely struggled back in the 2018-19 season, sitting with a league-worst 15-18-4 record through 37 games. They finished the season off by going on a similar hot streak to this season with 11 straight wins that was sparked by the arrival of Binnington to the team. 

The Blues would make the playoffs and meet the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. The Jets were coming off a Conference Finals appearance the year prior and labeled the Blues as a sizeable underdog going in. The Blues found a way to win the series in six and would go on the continue their hot streak all the way until they won their franchise's first Stanley Cup. 

St. Louis is once again expected to play Winnipeg in the first round matchup with the Jets entering as a sizeable favorite once again after finishing with the most points in the Western Conference during the regular season. 

It would be surreal to see history repeat itself and the Blues find a way to get edge out a win and they have a history of doing it before. We can look to benefit from their current value greatly and take them before the league notices. 

More NHL:The GR8 Chase: Predicting When Alex Ovechkin Breaks Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Goal Record

St. Louis has done the impossible before and at +3500 odds to win the Western Conference and +6500 odds to win their second Stanley Cup, it could be the best value on the board heading into the playoffs. 

There's several reasons as to why you can trust this Blues team and a small $10 bet on a Western Conference title can give a massive return at $350 in winnings. 

In Binnington We Trust

Since coming back from the Four Nations Face-Off, Binnington is tied for the most wins in the NHL with a 10-2-0 record that aligns itself with a 2.09 goals against average and a .917 save percentage, which both rank top seven in the league during that span. 

Binnington will enter the playoffs red hot and play in a high-pressure environment, where he does well with a 2.73 career goals against average in the playoffs as well as a .910 save percentage. He should be able to keep St. Louis in almost every game versus Winnipeg and beyond.

Confidence can be the most important thing for a goaltender and Binnington has tons of it right now. 

Young Talent Surging With More On The Way

The Blues have two of their top three point producers under the age of 27 in Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. The pair of elite forwards have been dying to play meaningful NHL games and could make an impact. 

More NHL:MacKinnon or Draisaitl? Predicting Who Prevails in Tight Art Ross Trophy Race

Thomas has more assists than names like Aleksander Barkov and Dylan Strome with 49 while Kyrou has outplayed the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Filip Forsberg with 31 goals this season. 

There's been a lot of chatter around the Capitals and how they are going to be getting prospect Ryan Leonard from Boston College after they were eliminated from the NCAA tournament. What most people don't know is the Blues are also expected to get an impact player out of college hockey with forward Jimmy Snuggerud. 

Best of Jimmy Snuggerud | Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey Career HighlightsTake a look back through some of the top goals and moments from Jimmy Snuggerud's career at Minnesota.Sign up for daily email updates from Gopher Athletics! ...

After returning to Minnesota for his junior season, the 20-year-old winger has grown immensely according to St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong and should slide into a prevalent role when joining the team, starting Tuesday versus the Red Wings. Snuggerud was the captain of the Golden Gophers with 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points in 40 games this past season. 

"I do think he can score some goals and we're gonna find out here over the next five or six games on how he fits into our group," 

- Armstrong said on Jimmy Snuggerud during Tuesday's episode of the Spittin' Chiclets Podcast 

The youngster could add to an already solid forward unit for the Blues and could take them to another level that opposing teams may not be able to predict. If you haven't considered it yet, a subtle investment on the Blues could be worth an extra look.