Category: Ice Hockey

The die is cast, and the 16 teams that will take part in the spring dance are now known. That list includes the Montreal Canadiens’ opponent tonight, the Philadelphia Flyers, who beat a watered-down version of the Carolina Hurricanes in the shootout on Monday night. Tonight’s game is therefore meaningless for Rick Tocchet’s men, who cannot hope to move up in the standings, even with a win, since the Pittsburgh Penguins are two points ahead and have 34 regulation wins to the Flyers’ 26.

Will the Flyers decide to rest some players ahead of the playoffs and on the second game of a back-to-back? It would make sense. Meanwhile, with the Buffalo Sabres’ win last night over the Chicago Blackhawks, the Atlantic Division title is now out of reach for the Canadiens, who will definitely face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. The best Martin St-Louis’ men can hope for is a win over the Flyers, coupled with a Bolts loss against the New York Rangers on Wednesday, which would allow them to finish second and get the all-important home-ice advantage.

Canadiens’ Hutson Has Had Two Fantastic Seasons
The State Of The Canadiens’ Defense
Canadiens Bury The Islanders With 4-1 Win

The Flyers have won both games against the Canadiens so far this season, 5-4 in November and 4-1 in December. A loss tonight would make a season sweep for the Flyers, but both teams have won five of the last 10 duels between the two sides.

Neither team has confirmed who will be in the net for the game, but it will be interesting to see if Martin St-Louis decides to go back to his now-number-one, Jakub Dobes, even though Jacob Fowler won his last outing. Both goalies would give the Canadiens a chance to win, but the more Dobes plays, the better he seems to be, giving him one last game before the playoffs probably wouldn’t hurt. The Czech netminder hasn’t faced the host this season and has lost his only decision against them, and has a 6.30 goals-against average and an .800 save percentage. As for Fowler, he also has a defeat against them, but his numbers are slightly better at 3.10 GAA and a .850 SV.

At the other end of the ice, first-choice goalie Dan Vladar was on duty last night and may well get a night off since the game is meaningless for Philadelphia. Still, he has a 2-0-0 record against the Canadiens with a 2.40 GAA and a .881 SV. As for Samuel Ersson, he has a 2-3-0 record against Montreal with a 3.53 GAA and a .850 SV.

Up front, Brendan Gallagher leads all Canadiens players in points against the Flyers with 27 in 34 games, including the only hat-trick of his career back in 2019, and one has to wonder if the coach may want to give him a game after he was a healthy scratch for the last four games… With everyone healthy up front, St-Louis may want to keep experimenting with his lines. Nick Suzuki comes in second place with 16 points in 17 games, followed by Phillip Danault with 14 points in 19 games.

It’s worth noting that Lane Hutson, who needs an assist to beat Larry Robinson’s assist record, has five points in as many games against Philadelphia, including four assists. As for Cole Caufield, who needs a goal to catch up to Nathan MacKinnon, who was held off the scoresheet last night, in the race to the Rocket Richard Trophy, he has 10 points in 12 games, including six goals. However, the Colorado Avalanche still have two games to play, so MacKinnon could improve on his total if he’s not rested. Colorado takes on the Calgary Flames tonight and the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, in the very last game of the regular season. Odds seem to be stacked against Caufield in that race.

Meanwhile, Sean Couturier leads the Flyers in points against Montreal with 25 points in 36 games, including three game-winning goals. Travis Konecny is in second place with 19 points in 22 games, followed by Owen Tippett with 11 points in 14 games. It wouldn’t be shocking if the first two enjoyed a night off, given the circumstances.

The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on NBCSP, TSN2, and RDS. Jake Brenk and Peter MacDougall are set to officiate, while Kilian McNamara and Mark Shewchyk will be the linemen.

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While the 16 teams making the playoffs have already been determined, there are still meaningful games on the ice for postseason seeding tonight, and I’ve got a trio of NHL player props to cover you throughout the action.

Anaheim Ducks star Leo Carlsson headlines my favorite NHL picks for Tuesday, April 14.

Best NHL player prop bets today

Player
Rittich Over 23.5 saves	-125
Carlsson Over 2.5 shots	-115
Clarke Over 1.5 shots	-130

img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Tuesday, April 14

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: David Rittich Over 23.5 saves

-125 at BET99

Although the Carolina Hurricanes are set to rest multiple players tonight, they will still pile up shots against New York Islanders backup netminder David Rittich.

Carolina leads the NHL in shots per game (33.1) and also tops the league in five-on-five Corsi For percentage since the calendar flipped to March.

Meanwhile, Rittich is well rested and turned aside 30 of 32 shots in his most recent start on March 14.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN+, Sportsnet+

Prop #2: Leo Carlsson Over 2.5 shots

-115 at BET99

Anaheim Ducks star Leo Carlsson has recorded three or more shots in six of his past seven games.

Carlsson is also skating on the top line and first power-play unit, and the Anaheim Ducks are still battling for postseason seeding ahead of Tuesday's clash against the Minnesota Wild.

I also particularly value Carlsson sporting an elite 65.8 Corsi For percentage during the highlighted seven-game stretch.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN+, Sportsnet+

Prop #3: Brandt Clarke Over 1.5 shots

-130 at BET99

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke has seen a dip in his shots with just six across his past five games, but he’s still recorded 18 attempts during the stretch.

Clarke continues to see power-play time and sports a 57.5% shot rate at five-on-five, so I expect him to pick up two or more in a favorable matchup against the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver has allowed the sixth-most shots per game (29.4) while ranking 30th in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 since March 1.

• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN+, Sportsnet Pacific

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

For a moment, the game itself almost felt secondary.

The puck slid off Tyson Foerster’s stick in the shootout, the net rippled, and the Philadelphia Flyers were inches away from that seemingly ever-elusive playoff berth. All Dan Vladar had to do was save the next shootout attempt from the Carolina Hurricanes.

He did.

Everything that followed—the raised arms, the collision of bodies by Vladar's net, the roar that seemed to come from somewhere deeper than the building—was not just about celebrating this singular night, but more about six years of waiting finally giving way.

The Philadelphia Flyers are going back to the playoffs.

A 3–2 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes sealed it, closing their season series at 1–1–2 and, more importantly, ending a postseason drought that had lingered long enough to define an era. It did not come easily. But nothing worth having ever does.

It came the way this season has unfolded—hard, emotional, and earned. And in the aftermath, inside a locker room that has spent months building toward this moment, the reaction said everything.

“That’s a big win. Man…it’s gonna be a lot of fun,” said Owen Tippett, visibly fighting emotion. “These guys in this room love each other so much. All the doubters all year—we believed right from the start, right from training camp. It’s gonna be a blast, and we’re gonna soak it all in, but job’s not done.”

1. A Historic Climb That Redefines What This Team Is

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this.

On March 10, the Flyers sat nine points out of a playoff spot. Historically, that distance, especially this late in the season, has been insurmountable. According to NHL Stats, no team had ever overcome that deficit after 60 games played to qualify for the postseason.

Until now.

The Flyers had their ups and downs and moments of uncertainty. They had stretches where they looked like a playoff-caliber team, and stretches were it looked like they didn't have a shot in hell. But this team thrived on the negativity and doubt and ridicule, and turned it into something historic. 

And they did so not with a single surge, but with sustained, disciplined, resilient hockey over weeks—on the road, in tight games, in moments where a single misstep could have ended the push. It reframes the narrative from unexpected to earned. This isn’t a team that backed into the playoffs. It is one that forced its way in, game by game, shift by shift.

A visibly emotional Owen Tippett said that a lot of the Flyers success has come behind the scenes, “the stuff that no one sees.” You can tell how much this means to the players.

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) April 14, 2026

2. The Moment Belonged to Everyone, But Was Driven by Belief

There is no singular hero in a win like this. There are, instead, layers of contribution that reflect a team fully aligned.

Matvei Michkov scored his 19th goal of the season, continuing a late push that now has him at eight points in his last six games.

PHILLY'S ON THE BOARD! 🟠⚫️

Matvei Michkov opens the scoring for the @NHLFlyers! pic.twitter.com/XnvaUIYbRu

— NHL (@NHL) April 14, 2026

Trevor Zegras delivered again, tying the game with his 26th goal, extending his point streak to 13 points in his last 13 games and further cementing one of the most productive debut seasons in franchise history, trailing only Mike Knuble, Danny Briere, and Wayne Simmonds over the past three decades.

And then there was Tyson Foerster.

His shootout winner was the moment, of course, but it's almost poetic that the winning goal was scored by a player that suffered a devastating upper-body injury in December and wasn't guaranteed to return to play at all this season.

Head coach Rick Tocchet admitted, "I didn't think he was gonna come back. But he was determined. It was a lot of lonely, lonely days for him [while recovering]. He just adds that sniper for us. That's a hell of a goal."

FOERSTER SCORES IT & VLADAR STOPS IT SENDING THE FLYERS TO THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2020!!! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/wfpIPxnrrC

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 14, 2026

Earlier in the game, Foerster also recorded his 100th NHL point. 

Behind it all, Dan Vladar stood composed in the shootout, blocking every single Hurricanes attempt, his confidence unwavering in his own teammates' abilities.

“I was fine, I was confident, because when you practice with the best, nothing can surprise you," he said postgame. "I think we’ve got the best shooters in the league for shootouts. I was confident in the guys in front of me like I’ve been the whole season, so no doubt.”

3. Experience Is Limited, But Leadership Has Bridged the Gap

What makes this moment even more significant is how new it is for most of this roster.

Only three players—Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim—have experienced playoff hockey in a Flyers uniform.

For everyone else, this is uncharted territory.

And yet, throughout the stretch run, there has been no sense of a team overwhelmed by the moment. That is the result of leadership that has translated expectation into action.

Couturier’s presence, in particular, has been emblematic of the team-first mentality that has defined this group. Whether in a top-line role or a more grinding assignment, his willingness to adapt has set a tone that has rippled throughout the lineup.

The result is a team that, while relatively inexperienced in postseason play, is not inexperienced in high-pressure hockey, because they’ve been playing it for weeks.

4. The Emotional Core of This Team Is Its Greatest Strength

Some teams talk endlessly about culture. The Flyers have lived it.

The emotion in the room after the game was not performative. It was the natural release of a group that has endured doubt, external skepticism, and internal challenges, and stayed together through all of it.

Trevor Zegras captured the feeling in a way that statistics, frankly, never could.

“It’s just a lot of fun. When you don’t do it for so long, you forget what it feels like," he said. "For an athlete, you thrive on that kind of environment, and that’s what you want. To do it with this group of guys is awesome, because we’re obviously so close and love each other so much. It’s been good.”

And Matvei Michkov, through translator Slava Kuznetsov, expressed the magnitude of the moment. 

“Unbelievable feeling. I cannot really describe what’s going on," he said. "The team was striving to make the playoffs the entire season, and it’s finally happened. It’s beyond describing. We can now be happy and get ready for the next games. Every team has the same goal at the end of it, so everybody knows what it is, and we’re going to go for it.”

5. Rick Tocchet’s Vision Has Materialized—And Set the Next Standard

In the quieter moments after the celebration, head coach Rick Tocchet didn’t overstate the achievement. He didn’t need to.

“I didn’t talk very much [after the win]," he revealed. "Just really proud of those guys. Right from training camp, we put up a preseason prediction, and a lot of people [in the media] had us last. I put it up there to make those guys understand the position we’re in, but it was all them. I’m really proud of the way they’ve stuck with it since training camp. It’s a tough game; Carolina’s a tough team. They didn’t give in. We had to earn it, and we did.”

From the first day of camp to this moment, the Flyers have built something deliberate, rooted in resilience, structure, and collective accountability. They've always known who they are and believed in that identity, even when it seemed like everyone else had already counted them out. 

Now, that identity has produced something beautiful and tangible. But it has also created expectation. 

Getting to the playoffs isn't easy for anyone, and it certainly felt even more laborious for the Flyers. An impending postseason series against their bitter rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, only adds to the drama of it all. But the Flyers are riding an unbelievable high right now, and it will be undeniably exciting to see what their playoff form looks like.

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The Montreal Canadiens are locked into a first-round matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but home ice is still yet to be decided.

With plenty to play for, my Canadiens vs. Flyers predictions expect Montreal to put its best foot forward and earn a big two points in Philadelphia.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Tuesday, April 14.

Canadiens vs Flyers prediction

Canadiens vs Flyers best bet: Canadiens moneyline (-160)

The Philadelphia Flyers sit third in the Metro and can’t move in the standings, making them unlikely to ice a full lineup in this back-to-back.

Samuel Ersson is expected to get the nod in goal, and it’d be surprising if several key players didn’t sit out in front of him.

That sets up well for the Montreal Canadiens. They are still pushing for home ice in their series against Tampa Bay, giving them enough incentive to take this game seriously.

They should be able to take advantage of a watered-down lineup and Ersson, who owns a poor .867 SV% this season.

Canadiens vs Flyers same-game parlay

Cole Caufield sits one goal back of Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead and could win sole possession of the Rocket Richard Trophy with a multi-goal showing. His elite finishing ability should come to light against Ersson.

Nick Suzuki is one of the best playmakers in the sport and correlates heavily with Caufield, as evidenced by the fact he’s assisted in nine of the past 10 games Caufield scored in.

Canadiens vs Flyers SGP

• Canadiens moneyline
• Cole Caufield anytime goal
• Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists

Canadiens vs Flyers odds

• Moneyline: Montreal -145 | Philadelphia +125
• Puck line: Montreal -1.5 (+160) | Philadelphia +1.5 (-190)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)

Canadiens vs Flyers trend

The Canadiens have hit the moneyline in 15 of their last 20 games (+9.80 Units / 38% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Flyers.

How to watch Canadiens vs Flyers

Canadiens vs Flyers latest injuries

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Pacific Division rivals clash tonight as the Vancouver Canucks welcome the Los Angeles Kings to Rogers Arena for a 10:00 p.m. ET puck drop. 

Filip Hronek is consistently getting pucks on net right now, and my Kings vs. Canucks predictions are eyeing him to keep it up. 

Read more in my NHL picks for Tuesday, April 14. 

Kings vs Canucks prediction

Kings vs Canucks best bet: Filip Hronek Over 2.5 shots on goal (+130)

Filip Hronek has 40 assists this season while averaging 1.68 shots on goal per contest. 

While that latter number doesn’t jump off the page considering tonight's SOG line, Hronek has been much better lately.

The Czechia native has cashed the Over in SOG in five of his last six. He just had five SOG against Anaheim, and another six versus San Jose.

The Vancouver Canucks also faced the Los Angeles Kings last week, and Hronek put three pucks on target. 

Hronek is on the PP1, and the Canucks' top pairing. He’ll have his opportunities to get pucks on goal. 

Kings vs Canucks same-game parlay

Brock Boeser is coming off a two-point game against the Ducks. He’s hit this Over in three of his last five, and Boeser did register a helper last week against the Kings. 

Marco Rossi played the hero against Anaheim, scoring with just seconds left in regulation to force OT. He’s notched 21 points in 31 games since coming to Vancouver in the Quinn Hughes trade. 

Kings vs Canucks SGP

• Filip Hronek Over 2.5 shots on goal
• Brock Boeser Over 0.5 points
• Marco Rossi Over 0.5 points

Kings vs Canucks odds

• Moneyline: Kings -160 | Canucks +130
• Puck Line: Kings -1.5 | Canucks +1.5
• Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6

Kings vs Canucks trend

The Canucks have hit the Over in 15 of their last 25 games (+6.15 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Kings vs. Canucks.

How to watch Kings vs Canucks

Kings vs Canucks latest injuries

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The Calgary Flames contest their penultimate game of the season when they host the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.

Olli Maatta has been a defensive stalwart since joining Calgary in March, and my Avalanche vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks for Tuesday, April 14 expect him to slow down a lethal Avs attack.

Avalanche vs Flames prediction

Avalanche vs Flames best bet: Olli Maatta Over 1.5 blocked shots (-125)

The Calgary Flames acquired Olli Maatta from the Utah Mammoth last month, and the blueliner has already become an integral part of the club’s backend.

Maatta is logging 22:24 of ice time per game, second-most on the team behind only Zach Whitecloud (23:01).

Maatta has also excelled at blocking shots — he’s averaging 1.78 blocks per game since joining the Flames and has recorded Over 1.5 blocked shots in eight of his last 11 outings.

The Colorado Avalanche average 33.7 shots per game — tops in the NHL — so Maatta will have tons of rubber to get in front of.

Avalanche vs Flames same-game parlay

Both clubs have played low-scoring hockey down the stretch, with the Flames cashing the Under in three straight and the Avalanche doing so in six consecutive contests.

Four of the last five head-to-head meetings have also featured Under 6.5 goals, and the Avs don’t have much to fight for with their position as the top seed in the West already locked up.

Avalanche vs Flames SGP

• Olli Maatta Over 1.5 blocked shots
• Under 6.5

Avalanche vs Flames odds

• Moneyline: Avalanche -155 | Flames +130
• Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 | Flames +1.5
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Avalanche vs Flames trend

The Flames have covered the puck line in their last eight games at home (+9.50 Units / 72% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Flames.

How to watch Avalanche vs Flames

Avalanche vs Flames latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

ST. LOUIS -- Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein are going back to the minors.

But it's not punishment for the 2023 first-round picks by the St. Louis Blues.

Stenberg, a forward, and Lindstein, a defenseman, each scored in the Blues' 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Monday to cap off really strong showings for each player playing in NHL games this season for the first time.

The Thunderbirds, who are 30-31-6-2 (68 points) with three games remaining in their regular season, hold down the sixth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of Lehigh Valley and they're a point behind fifth-place Hershey and four behind fourth-place Bridgeport.

It could all come down to a massive game on Wednesday at home against the Phantoms before concluding the season, Friday in Hartford, then finishing at home Saturday against the Wolfpack. But a win against Lehigh Valley Wednesday in regulation puts Springfield into the Calder Cup playoffs.

Stenberg (the 25th pick) played in 32 games this season and had 10 points (three goals, seven assists), including scoring the goal that cut the Blues' deficit to 3-2 in the second period Monday, a goal Blues coach Jim Montgomery said, "seemed to pick it up and our fans got in, they gave us life and we seemed to create a lot after that. Technically we could have had five goals that period."

TWO GOALS IN 25 SECONDS AND WE'RE TIED!!! #stlbluespic.twitter.com/TH9XtD4UTV

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 14, 2026

Stenberg, who is a plus-3, also had a couple more high-end defensive plays that created scoring opportunities with transition plays.

"His defensive reads are high end," Montgomery said. "His defensive hockey sense, his stick positioning are really high end."

Lindstein (the 29th pick) played 17 games and had four points (two goals, two assists), including this beauty of a backhand goal that put the Blues ahead for good at 4-3 in the second period:

He played alongside Colton Parayko during his entire stint here and was a plus-6.

Holy moly Theo Lindstein!!!! #stlbluespic.twitter.com/z1Apeu5SOD

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 14, 2026

 "They're good, young kids," Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich said. "Wants to learn, always listen, always asking questions. Always asking about PK. I've been in their shoes. I (was) asking some questions like 10 years ago. it's normal, and I'm glad they score, Silky move (by Lindstein). Everybody was like, 'Where does that come from?'" 

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It seemed like another bad July 1st contract when the Philadelphia Flyers gave 27-year old goalie Dan Vladar a $6.7 million contract for two years ($3.35m AAV). Vladar had completely pedestrian career stats of a 49-34-16 record with a 3.00 GAA, .895 save percentage and four shutouts in 105 regular-season games split between five games with Boston and 100 with Calgary.

Vladar’s last two seasons with the Flames were particularly bad, posting a cumulative -24 Goals Saved Above Average that at one time had plummeted all the way down to -32, making the contract all the more confounding. Via hockeystats.com:

But goalies are confounding players were wisdom and logic doesn’t always apply for the past to line up for future performance. The Flyers are in the playoffs in no small part thanks to the positive contributions of Vladar, who put up career-highs this season in wins (29), GAA (2.42), save percentage (.906%). He got that GSAA moved in the right direction this season too at +11.42 as a consistently strong positive factor to help his team throughout the season.

Vladar and the Flyers are both peaking at the right time, the starting goalie is 5-1-0 with a .921 save% in the month of April. Go back to March 14th and Vladar has a 8-3-1 record with a .912 save% and 2.17 GAA.

Philadelphia didn’t make the playoffs because they have a good offense or a lot of skilled players, they have neither. Their 2.91 goals ranks 22nd in the NHL, the lowest among all playoff teams this year. The Flyers did make the playoffs (in addition to feasting on OT/SO wins) because their defense is designed to absorb punishment and their goaltenders keep the puck out of the net, their 2.93 goals/against per game ranks 9th in the NHL.

A lot of that is due to the decision from general manager Danny Briere and coach Rick Tocchet to go grab a goalie in Vladar who had been more of a 1B type player and give him the opportunity to be a starter. Philadelphia had a lot of choices (like backup Samuel Ersson and current minor leaguer Aleksei Kolosov and the now-traded Ivan Fedotov) but not a lot of quality. Despite not really showing it in Calgary, Vladar ended up being the piece that moved the needle and finally gave Philadelphia the anchor in net that they’ve been searching for since seemingly time immemorial.

Strong goalie play can take a mediocre team and make them into a playoff team, and in the most simplistic of terms that was on display to a large degree this season in Philadelphia. Vladar’s stats were far superior to that of the other goalie on the team Ersson (13-11-5, .867 save%, 3.15 GAA and a -13.75 GSAA). The Flyers’ season was almost sunk when Vladar missed two weeks in January with a lower body injury and Philadelphia endured one of the worst stretches of their season of a 2-7-2 stretch from Jan. 7-28 that overlapped Vladar’s Jan 14-28 injury.

Vladar and the Flyers ended up surviving that period and re-finding his early season form to help earn a playoff spot. The Penguins will have a challenge to score on one of the better goalies in the league this season and seeing how their high-powered offense (3.52 goals/game, 3rd in the NHL) matches up against Vladar will be one of the glaringly major deciding factors for the first round.

The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the Dallas Stars 6-5 in regulation time in their final home game of the season on Monday. The result was beneficial for the Leafs in their bid to finish with the best possible odds of keeping their 2026 first-round draft pick. This remained true even though it briefly appeared that things were trending in a different direction.

The Leafs jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period. Despite giving up that lead, they eventually regained control of the game to hold a 5-3 lead in the third period. However, Dallas responded with three quick goals, including the tying goal that was accidentally put in by Leafs defenseman Troy Stecher.

Regardless of how the Leafs lost the game, they were able to retain their current spot of fifth-worst in total points. This position would leave them at the No. 5 pick going into the NHL Draft lottery set for May 5. Consequently, they could still finish as low as sixth or seventh if one or two teams leap past them during the lottery draw.

The “bad” news for Toronto is that the highest they can now climb heading into the lottery is No. 4. Because the New York Rangers fell to the Florida Panthers 3-2 in regulation, they are left with one game remaining and 75 points, while Toronto sits at 78 points with one game to go. Toronto could still reach the No. 4 spot if the Flames gain three more points in their remaining two games than Toronto picks up in their season finale on the road against the Ottawa Senators.

Leafs fans are making their opinions known 😅 pic.twitter.com/fPZouMazqD

— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) April 14, 2026

The Maple Leafs traded away their 2026 first-round draft pick, along with forward Fraser Minten, for veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo in March of 2025. Because the pick is top-five protected, the Leafs must land a pick in the top five after the lottery results are finalized to keep it for this year.

Post-game, players were not explicitly asked about the notion of “tanking,” as they maintained their professionalism and effort. However, John Tavares was asked if it was difficult to play in games where a portion of the fanbase might prefer to see the team lose.

“I approach each game the same, so there should be an extreme amount of pride to play in this league, to play this game, and to wear the crest that we’re wearing,” Tavares said. “I try to approach each game the same no matter the circumstances, the challenges, or the spot you’re in. You go out there to compete as best you can, play at the highest level I can, and help the team win. That’s always the focus no matter what”.

Following the loss, the Leafs are now guaranteed a spot no lower than sixth heading into the lottery.

The Vancouver Canucks (24-48-8) wrap up their 2025-26 home schedule on Tuesday with a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings (35-26-19). While the Kings have clinched a playoff spot, Tuesday is a must-win as Los Angeles is still fighting for home ice in the first round. As for the Canucks, they will be looking to pick up just their ninth win at Rogers Arena this season while also extending their win streak to three games. 

Tuesday is Vancouver's annual Fan Appreciation Night. Based on everything that has happened this year, the fans deserve a lot of credit for sticking around and still attending games. During the game, the organization will also reveal the 2025-26 team awards, which were voted on by the fans earlier this month. 

As for the game itself, special teams will be worth monitoring. When these two teams met on Friday, neither was given a power play. The question now is, will this be another clean game, or will the power play and penalty kill get a workout? 

Players To Watch:

Teddy Blueger:

Teddy Blueger is showing why the organization should re-sign him. This past weekend, he scored his first career power play goal while also dropping the gloves to stand up for a teammate. Blueger is a culture-setter and a player who can help younger players as the organization enters its rebuild. 

Anže Kopitar:

For the final time in his career, Anže Kopitar will battle the Canucks. After an over 1,500-game career, the Stanley Cup champion is retiring once his season comes to a close. Over his career, Kopitar has been a pain in Vancouver's neck, recording 62 points in 73 regular-season games against the Canucks.

Vancouver Canucks (24–48–8): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 15–34–49

Filip Hronek: 8–40–48

Brock Boeser: 22–25–47

Jake DeBrusk: 21–19–40

Linus Karlsson: 15–20–35

Goaltenders: 

Kevin Lankinen: 10–26–5

Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1

Nikita Tolopilo: 5–11–2

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

Los Angeles Kings (35–26–19): 

Points: 

Adrian Kempe: 35-37-72

Quinton Byfield: 22-24-46

Alex Laferriere: 20-21-41

Kevin Fiala: 18-22-40

Brandt Clarke: 8-32-40

Goaltenders: 

Darcy Kuemper: 19-14-14

Anton Forsberg: 16-11-5

Pheonix Copley: 0-1-0

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:00 pm PT

Venue: Rogers Arena

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Sure, anyone can win the Stanley Cup so long as they make the playoffs — but is that really true? At this point we know there are contenders and pretenders in every postseason, and while it’s really cool to see Sidney Crosby in playoff hockey again, nobody is giving the Penguins a legitimate chance to raise the cup.

Today we look at the seven teams best poised to actually take it all home when the dust settles, from the clear favorites to the long shots.

No. 1: Colorado Avalanche

The Avs have been the best team in hockey this year, and it’s not particularly close. Anchored by Nathan McKinnon and Cale Makar, Colorado found a new gear in 2025-26 with the addition of Martin Necas. While Necas arrived last season as part of the Mikko Rantanen trade with Carolina, he really found his footing this season and meshed with the team.

Boasting a ludicrous +94 goal differential this season, nobody can match Colorado when it comes to the strength of their top two lines. The only risk for this team making a run to the cup is the severity of Cale Makar’s upper body injury. We know he’s going to miss some playoff time, and if that lingers it could have a huge effect on this team’s chances.

Key strength: Superstar strength out of their first two skating lines, as well as top line defense
Key weakness: Cale Makar is carrying an injury into the playoffs, and that could lead to a slow start

No. 2: Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are more or less the same team that have been a playoff staple for the last eight years. Rod Brind’Amour’s brand of team-focused, no-superstar hockey does a phenomenal job of leading the Canes to amazing regular season results, but tends to falter in the playoffs where individual performance reigns supreme.

Carolina will hope that the free agent addition of Nikolaj Ehlers is the missing piece they needed, and after a slow start Ehlers became everything the team hoped for with 68 points this season. The 2025-26 iteration of the Hurricanes took another offensive step forward with Seth Jarvis taking the next step, and Jackson Blake emerging as a future star — but this team has the worst goaltending of anyone in the playoffs this year, which could be mammoth problem.

Key strength: Four line skating depth with little drop off between lines
Key weakness: Both Freddie Anderson and Brandon Bussi are very shaky in net

No. 3: Dallas Stars

The Stars are a very, very good hockey team that too often masquerades as an elite one. That might seem unfair, but it’s tough to deny that the Stars failed to live up to expectations this season despite finishing with over 100 points on the year.

This was a team who were a preseason favorite to win the west, but Mikko Rantanen isn’t nearly as potent a scorer without McKinnon to set him up, and the Stars’ core weakness is a lack of playmaking centers. There’s an undeniable amount of firepower in Dallas, but running the game through the wings hasn’t traditionally been a recipe for success in the postseason.

Key strength: Streaky team who can dominate games when everything clicks
Key weakness: Things don’t click often enough for this team to be consistent

No. 4: Montreal Canadiens

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the NHL is a better place when the Montreal Canadiens are in the playoffs. This new generation of the Habs are brimming with young talent poised to take the next step forward. When you look at this roster you see a team that’s already over-performing expectations, and none of their key players have hit their prime yet.

Entering the playoffs Montreal has one of the strongest home ice advantages in the playoffs, with the Bell Centre being one of the most formidable places to play at the best of times. That edge isn’t likely to be quite enough to mitigate the defensive issues the Candiens are yet to resolve, or make it through with mid-tier goaltending.

Key strength: Goal-scoring potential of Cole Caulfield and Juraj Slafkovsky
Key weakness: Too much youth without enough veteran leadership to make a deep run

No. 5: Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild understood the assignment in 2025-26. After signing Kirill Kaprizov to a mammoth extension they had to pour more gas on the fire, and did just that by being the biggest in-season buyers by adding one of the NHL’s best defenseman in Quinn Hughes, then bolstering their depth with numerous smaller deals at the deadline.

Hughes has helped transform this team from a back-end playoff hopeful to a legitimate contender. The core issue is that when it comes to scoring Minnesota is wholly reliant on Kaprizov and Matt Boldy to find the net, with the rest of the team lagging far, far behind.

Key strength: Three brilliant playmakers in Kaprizov, Boldy, and Hughes
Key weakness: They’re in the west, which is dominated by the Avs

No. 6: Tampa Bay Lightning

When you have Andrei Vasilevskiy in net there’s always going to be a chance to win games, and the Lightning showed that in 2025-26 by allowing just 222 goals on the year. The problem comes at the other end, where regression from both Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel has put even more pressure on Nikita Kucherov to carry the load for Tampa Bay.

This version of the Lightning is really good, but hasn’t changed dramatically enough to see where they succeed where they’ve failed in the past. Corey Perry is too old to be a difference maker at this point, and the team overpaid to get him at the deadline. As such it feels like the Lightning are headed back to hit the same brick wall. Still, there’s always a chance they can get hot and make a deep run as they have in the past.

Key strength: Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel are two of the best scoring forwards in the playoffs
Key weakness: This looks too much like the same Lightning team that lost in the first round of 2024-25

No. 7: Buffalo Sabres

I hate putting the best feel-good story in hockey so low on the list, but it’s a credit to Buffalo that they make the contenders list at all. The Sabres went from finishing 7th in the Atlantic Conference to 1st this season, as they went from a team who seemed poised pre-season to be sellers and rebuilders at the deadline, to now being a legitimate force.

This team has solid depth, but lacks the high-end talent to really compete just quite yet. The power play unit for Buffalo isn’s fully developed, and once you get past Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch the forwards fall off a cliff.

Key strength: Devil-may-care freedom belief they can beat anyone
Key weakness: Not enough depth to compete just yet

Bruins playoff scenarios: Seeding update, most likely first-round opponents originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins are headed to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after failing to qualify last season.

But as they enter their regular season finale against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night at TD Garden, both their playoff seed and first-round opponent remain TBD.

Let’s take a look at where the B’s stand in the wild card race and which teams they could face in Round 1.

Bruins’ most likely seed

The Bruins are unable to finish top-three in the Atlantic Division, so they will end up in the first or second wild card spot.

Boston enters Tuesday in the first wild card position with a one-point lead over the Ottawa Senators. That means the Bruins would clinch the No. 1 wild card berth with a win of any kind against the Devils in the regular season finale.

The B’s need to finish ahead of the Senators by at least one point to secure the top wild card spot because Ottawa owns the first tiebreaker with a 37-32 edge in regulation wins.

Both the Bruins and Senators have one more game remaining. Ottawa’s finale is against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night, so if the Bruins lose in any fashion to the Devils, they’ll need to wait 24 hours before their seed is finalized.

In summary: The Bruins finish as top wild card team with any kind of win vs. Devils. The B’s would be the second wild card team if the Senators finish tied or ahead of them in the standings. Ottawa is currently one point behind the Bruins.

For what it’s worth, MoneyPuck‘s and HockeyStats‘ analytics models both project the Bruins to finish as the first wild card team.

Bruins’ most likely first-round opponents

There are two potential first-round opponents for the Bruins. If they finish as the first wild card team, they’ll play the Sabres. If they finish as the second wild card team, they’ll play the Hurricanes.

The easiest path to the Eastern Conference Final is probably through the Metropolitan Division. A path consisting of the Hurricanes in the first round and either the Penguins or Flyers in the second round is a little less treacherous than a path that includes the Sabres in the first round and the Lightning or Canadiens in the second round.

The Lightning represent the toughest matchup for the Bruins, so it would be ideal for them to avoid Tampa Bay as long as possible.

The Bruins have played both the Lightning and Hurricanes in the playoffs fairly recently. They haven’t played the Canadiens in the postseason since 2014, and the last Bruins-Sabres playoff series was in 2010. Seeing one or both of those rivalries get reignited would be fun.

Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (41-24-16, 98 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ St. Louis Blues (36-33-12, 82 points, 6th place Central Division)

When: 9:30 p.m. ET

How to Watch: Local on TVAS and SN-PIT, national on ESPN

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Philadelphia Flyers officially clinched a first-round matchup with the Pens with a shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. These two teams last met in the postseason in 2018 (the Pens won that series in six games before losing the second round in six to the eventual champion Washington Capitals). The series will begin either Saturday or Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Opponent Track: The Blues were officially eliminated from playoff contention Sunday when the Los Angeles Kings beat the Edmonton Oilers. This marks the third time in four seasons St. Louis has fallen short of the playoffs. The Blues most recently claimed a 6-3 win at home Monday night against the shorthanded Minnesota Wild, and they’re wrapping up their season Thursday against the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City.

Season Series: A late even-strength goal from Sidney Crosby made the difference in the Penguins’ 6-3 win over the Blues back in October at PPG Paints.

Getting to know the Blues

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Dylan Holloway – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud

Pavel Buchnevich – Pius Suter – Jordan Kyrou

Jake Neighbours – Dalibor Dvorsky – Jonathan Drouin

Alexey Toropchenko – Jack Finley – Otto Stenberg

DEFENSEMEN

Philip Broberg / Logan Mailloux

Theo Lindstein / Colton Parayko

Cam Fowler / Tyler Tucker

Goalies: Jordan Binnington (Joel Hofer started last night)

Potential scratches: Justin Holl, Nathan Walker, Jonatan Berggren, Matthew Kessel, Oskar Sundqvist

Injured Reserve: None

• The Blues racked up even more offense than the scoreboard shows last night after multiple successful goal challenges from the Minnesota Wild. That included two goals in a span of less than 30 seconds in the second period. It could be another high-scoring game tonight in St. Louis. The Wild were resting half their starting lineup, and the Pens are likely to take a similar tactic tomorrow.

• That offensive explosion included two goals from Jake Neighbours, who’s been struggling down the stretch this season. It could be good for both team and player to end the season with a hot streak from Neighbours, who was floated on a recent 32 Thoughtspodcast as a potential future captain in St. Louis.
• Joel Hofer started last night against the Wild, so the Pens could be seeing Jordan Binnington tonight. Binnington is still searching for his first win of April after the Blues lost to the Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets in his last two starts.

Season stats (does not include yesterday’s game)
via hockeydb

• Offensive depth has been an issue all season for the Blues, as recently pointed out by Jeremy Rutherford for The Athletic. Heading into Monday, the team’s top line of Dylan Holloway, Robert Thomas and rookie Jimmy Snuggerud had combined for over a quarter of the team’s total production (including defensemen).

“(The other lines) just haven’t found that rhythm that the first line has. Everyone sees the skill and the plays they make off the rush, but they’re doing a lot of good stuff, winning battles, being connected, and having someone at the net front. It’s something I think the other lines need to make sure that they have a net anchor a little bit more.” — Blues coach Jim Montgomery, per Rutherford

• The Blues are heading into the 2026 NHL draft with three first-round picks, including a lottery selection projected as of Monday to land at No. 8. They also have one of the top prospect pools in the NHL, starting by recent first-rounders Justin Carbonneau and Adam Jirícek. The Blues could be hoping graduating some of those prospects to the NHL in the near future, in addition to developing a potential high pick and young players like Snuggerud, will help this team retool from its aging 2019 championship core.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Egor Chinakhov – Rickard Rakell – Ville Koivunen

Anthony Mantha- Tommy Novak – Justin Brazeau

Rutger McGroarty – Kevin Hayes – Avery Hayes

Elmer Soderblom – Joona Koppanen – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton

Sam Girard / Jack St Ivany

Ryan Graves / Ilya Solovyov

Goalies: Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs

Potential Scratches: Blake Lizotte (injured), Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Ben Kindel, Erik Karlsson, Parker Wotherspoon, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust

IR: Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones (season-ending shoulder surgery)

• Take these lines (from the Penguins’ first of two matchups with the Caps this weekend) with a grain of salt. They’ll depend on who the Pens decide to rest in the final game of the regular season, reportedly many of the top players are not expected to be on the trip out to Missouri and returned home to Pittsburgh after the game in DC on Sunday.
• Some fun stats from Penguins PR: Players who have hit career-high points totals with the Penguins this season include Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazeau, Connor Dewar, Egor Chinakhov, Ryan Shea, Parker Wotherspoon, Bryan Rust, Ilya Solovyov, Elmer Soderblom and Jack St. Ivany.
• If Anthony Mantha finishes the season as the Penguins’ leading goalscorer (he’s on track to, barring a three-goal night from Sidney Crosby) he will join Jake Guentzel, Chris Kunitz, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell on an exclusive list as the only Penguins outside Crosby or Evgeni Malkin to lead the team in scoring since 2005.
• Crosby is meanwhile set to finish the season as the Penguins’ point leader for the 16th time. He is one season shy of tying Gordie Howe’s 17 seasons as the Detroit Red Wings’ points leader for the all-time record with a single franchise.

It’s hard to believe, but we have arrived at game No. 82 for the 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins, though it seems like just yesterday they were at Madison Square Garden opening the season against the New York Rangers. Not many fans thought there was going to be more than the standard 82 games for the Penguins this season, but we now know there is more hockey yet to be played with the Penguins qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs. First though, the Penguins will put a cap on the regular season with a matchup against the St. Louis Blues later this evening.

Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 PM ET and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and ESPN.

Pens Points…

For now, there is only one game remaining on the Penguins 2025-26 schedule, a meeting with the St. Louis Blues later this evening to wrap up the regular season. More games of course will be added, likely this weekend when the Penguins begin Stanley Cup playoff action. [Pensburgh]

Who the Penguins will play when those playoff games are added remains to be seen, but we could know by the time this post goes live with the Philadelphia Flyers just two points away from locking down the final playoff spot and guaranteeing a “Battle of Pennsylvania” meeting in the first round. [Pensburgh]

There were a bunch of regulars missing from the Penguins lineup over the course of their weekend back-to-back with the Washington Capitals. That opened the door for some depth players to get back in the lineup and make one last audition before the playoffs begin. [Pensburgh]

For maybe the last time, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin met in an NHL game this weekend. If that was indeed the end of their two decade rivalry, then it was an absolute treat to watch all these years, and the two combatants seem to agree, the memories will last forever. [PPG]

It didn’t appear so at the time, but the moves Kyle Dubas made over the summer helped build the Penguins into the playoff team they are today. Add in a handful of other transactions he made during the season and at the draft, and you will exactly how he built the Penguins into a contender. [Sportsnet]

NHL News and Notes…

With the regular season winding down, the race for the NHL’s individual awards are also coming to a close. Nikita Kucherov is will positioned to win his first Hart Trophy and Zach Werenski could take home his first Norris while Matthew Schafer should waltz away with the Calder. [ESPN]

Anton Forsberg has backstopped the Los Angeles Kings into a playoff spot out west with a spotless week in goal and he has been named the NHL First Star of the Week as a result. Fellow goalie Linus Ullmark has named Second Star while Dylan Larkin rounded out the trio of honorees. [NHL]