The Florida Panthers are about to begin their final road trip of the season.
A long, injury-filled season is slowly nearing its end for Florida, but not before they play their final five road games in the span of eight days.
The fun starts on Saturday in Pittsburgh when the Panthers begin a rare weekend back-to-back against the same opponent, playing the Penguins in consecutive days.
This season has been something of a surprise regarding Pittsburgh, who wasn’t viewed as a major postseason threat heading into their campaign.
That hasn’t stopped the Pens from maintaining a playoff spot for basically the entire season.
Entering play Saturday, Pittsburgh is holding onto second place in the Metropolitan Division with 92 points. They’ve got a three-point edge on the third-place New York Islanders with a game in hand, so this weekend’s doubleheader with Florida could go a long way toward securing the Pens spot in the postseason dance.
Florida, meanwhile, has been hovering toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings for several weeks.
The big focus for many Panthers fans has become the team’s first-round selection at the 2026 NHL Draft, which they initially traded to the Chicago Blackhawaks at last season’s Trade Deadline in the dead that brough Seth Jones to Florida.
That pick is actually top-10 protected, meaning if the Panthers end up finishing in a position that has them slotted for a selection in the top 10 of this summer’s draft, they’ll keep it, and Chicago will instead get Florida’s 2027 first-rounder.
Currently, the Panthers are in the ninth-worst spot in the league standings, and that’s after pulling off consecutive home wins last week against the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins.
Now Florida has seven games remaining, with only the final two coming back on home ice. Five of those games will come against teams currently holding playoff spots (Pittsburgh, Montreal, Ottawa, Detroit), and the other two will come against clubs who are, similarly to Florida, jostling for draft position (Toronto and the New York Rangers).
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Saturday’s scuffle in Pittsburgh:
Photo caption: Oct 23, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) moves the puck against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Saturday morning brought a notable roster move for Detroit, as the Red Wings recalled young defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka from the Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions.
Sandin-Pellikka, the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, began the season in Detroit and made his NHL debut early in the year. The 21-year-old appeared in 63 games with the Red Wings, registering six goals and 13 assists for 19 points. However, his campaign was not without challenges, as he posted a minus-21 rating while adjusting to the demands of the NHL level.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Axel Sandin-Pellikka from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. pic.twitter.com/s2HLuwMkPu
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 4, 2026
His role began to diminish following Detroit’s acquisition of veteran defenseman Justin Faulk. With increased competition on the blue line, Sandin-Pellikka saw his ice time reduced and was eventually overtaken in the lineup by Jacob Bernard-Docker. After being scratched for several games, the organization opted to send the Swedish defenseman to the American Hockey League to regain form and playing rhythm.
Since joining Grand Rapids, Sandin-Pellikka has made an immediate impact as the Gallivare native recorded three points in his first four games and scored his first AHL goal in his season debut on March 24 against the Milwaukee Admirals. His brief stint has been seen as an opportunity to log meaningful minutes and continue his development.
This is not his first experience with the Griffins as last spring, Sandin-Pellikka appeared in two regular-season games with the club, tallying one assist, and added three appearances during the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Despite the ups and downs of his rookie NHL season, the Red Wings remain optimistic about Sandin-Pellikka’s future. At just 21 years old, he is still viewed as a key piece of the organization’s long-term plans. For now, consistent playing time, whether in Detroit or Grand Rapids, will be central to his continued growth as a professional.
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The Los Angeles Kings are fighting for their playoff lives in every game from here on out, with seven games remaining in the regular season, and with all eyes surrounding how they will finish the season, they just broke two NHL records.
For a team that chose to fight for a playoff spot, rather than rebuild for draft capital and build for the future, it has no excuse for remaining in the middle of the pack year after year.
The path is right there for Los Angeles to make the playoffs, especially in one of the weakest divisions that we've ever seen in NHL history. Only one team in the division is above .500, and if you put all those teams in the Eastern Conference, they wouldn't even be close to the playoff picture.
In reality, forcing overtime can be a good thing for the most part because it shows the team never quits and shows resilience. It means a team is battling back, staying competitive, and earning at least a point in tight contests.
But when those games constantly end in losses, the narrative shifts. The 19 overtime defeats aren't just bad luck; it's a pattern that continues to plague their season.
Thirty overtime games represent a massive sample size, and losing nearly two-thirds of those points to deeper issues. At this point of the season, it's been very clear that the Kings can't execute in the clutch, especially in the game's most critical moments.
A Mental Hurdle?
Beyond all the numbers and performances in the extra periods, there's also the psychological factor.
Losing in overtime maybe 10 times or a little more is a part of the game, but losing 19 times? That starts to linger and can affect a player's decision-making, leading them to try to make the perfect play instead of the right one.
Confidence in those moments becomes fragile, and it's been tested repeatedly for the Kings. We just saw last night's game against the Predators go eight rounds of a shootout because the Kings couldn't score on the 1-on-1, shooting the puck either off the crossbar or too high over the net.
The inability to close out games affects the identity of who the Kings are and defines Los Angeles now as a team that struggles in high-leverage situations.
Costly Points in a Tight Race
Yes, the Kings earned a point by reaching overtime, but the extra point they could've earned with simply a win in each of those 19 games adds up quickly. Take yesterday again for a fact: Los Angeles stormed back and tied the game, and if they had won, it would have left them just three points behind the Golden Knights for the third seed in the division.
Now, instead of inching closer, they're five points back and are in a three-way tie with the Predators and Sharks for the final playoff spot, instead of a two-point lead if they won.
Flip even a handful of those losses into wins, and the outlook of the season changes dramatically.
Moving Forward
There is a silver lining in all of this. The Kings are constantly putting themselves in positions to win against any team in the league. That's not something every team can say. But until they prove they can finish, that strength will continue to feel like a weakness.
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The Buffalo Sabres will try again to clinch a playoff spot and end their 14-season postseason drought.
The Sabres lost on Thursday in their first attempt, but if they beat the Washington Capitals on Saturday, April 4, they will end the NHL's longest drought. They would also clinch before the game starts if the Red Wings lose their afternoon game in regulation.
In addition to making the playoffs, the Sabres could reclaim the Atlantic Division lead if they gain one more point than the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning can also clinch a playoff berth on Saturday and the Carolina Hurricanes can clinch the Metropolitan Division title.
Saturday's 15-game schedule is full of playoff implications.
Ottawa, which holds the second wild-card spot in the East on a tiebreaker, is in action, as are Detroit and Columbus. All three teams have 88 points. Columbus could jump to third in the Metropolitan Division if it wins and the Islanders lose.
San Jose, Nashville and Los Angeles, battling for the second wild-card spot in the West, are in action. All three are tied with 79 points. The Sharks hold the spot and host the Predators.
Edmonton and Anaheim, tied at 87 points in the Pacific Division race, are in action. The Oilers moved into the lead on a tiebreaker after the Ducks lost on Friday. Vegas, three points back, visits Edmonton.
Central Division-leading Colorado is facing No. 2 Dallas with a chance to build on its six-point lead.
Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?
Eastern Conference: Carolina
Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota
Who can clinch an NHL playoff berth today?
The Buffalo Sabres will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Capitals or if the Red Wings lose in regulation. They'd also clinch if they get one point and either of the following occurs: The Red Wings lose or the Senators lose in regulation.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Bruins or the Red Wings lose in regulation. They'd also clinch if they get one point and either of the following occurs: The Red Wings lose or the Senators lose in regulation.
The Carolina Hurricanes will clinch the Metropolitan Division title if they defeat the Islanders in regulation and the Penguins fail to win in regulation. They'd also clinch if they win in overtime or a shootout and the Penguins lose. Another option: They gain one point and the Penguins lose in regulation.
NHL games today (Saturday, April 4)
Detroit at N.Y. Rangers, 12:30, ABC
Minnesota at Ottawa, 1
Colorado at Dallas, 3, ABC
Boston at Tampa Bay, 5
Florida at Pittsburgh, 5
Montreal at New Jersey, 7, NHL Network
Buffalo at Washington, 7
N.Y. Islanders at Carolina, 7
Winnipeg at Columbus, 7
Utah at Vancouver, 7
Toronto at Los Angeles, 7
Vegas at Edmonton, 10
Calgary at Anaheim, 10
Nashville at San Jose, 10
Chicago at Seattle, 10
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26
After April 3 games. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated
Metropolitan Division
x-Carolina Hurricanes (102)
Pittsburgh Penguins (92)
New York Islanders (89)
Atlantic Division
Tampa Bay Lightning (100)
Buffalo Sabres (100)
Montreal Canadiens (98)
Wild card
Boston Bruins (94)
Ottawa Senators (88)
Sitting out of playoff position: Detroit Red Wings (88), Columbus Blue Jackets (88), Philadelphia Flyers (88), Washington Capitals (85), New Jersey Devils (80), Florida Panthers (77), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (77), z-New York Rangers (71)
NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26
After April 3 games. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated
Central Division
x-Colorado Avalanche (108)
x-Dallas Stars (102)
x-Minnesota Wild (96)
Pacific Division
Edmonton Oilers (87)
Anaheim Ducks (87)
Vegas Golden Knights (84)
Wild card
Utah Mammoth (84)
San Jose Sharks (79)
Sitting out of playoff position: Nashville Predators (79), Los Angeles Kings (79), St. Louis Blues (76), Winnipeg Jets (76), Seattle Kraken (75), Calgary Flames (70), z-Chicago Blackhawks (68), z-Vancouver Canucks (52)
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 3:
Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)
Pittsburgh (M2) vs. N.Y. Islanders (M3)
Tampa Bay (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
Buffalo (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 3.
Colorado (C1) vs. San Jose (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
Edmonton (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
Anaheim (P2) vs. Vegas (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card
NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?
If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
Regulation wins
Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
Total wins
Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
Goal differential
Total goals
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.
The Philadelphia Flyers picked up a massive 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Friday. Flyers prospect Alex Bump undoubtedly was one of the major reasons behind it.
Bump put together a strong performance for the Flyers against the Islanders, as he scored the game-winning goal at the 15:01 mark of the first period and recorded an assist on Travis Sanheim's third-period goal. With this, Bump certainly helped the Flyers pick up two much-needed points against the Islanders.
With this clutch game for the Flyers, Bump now has four goals, four assists, and eight points in 13 games for Philadelphia so far this season. The 22-year-old forward is certainly showing that he can make an impact at the NHL level, and it should create more optimism about his future with the club because of it.
Bump is one of the Flyers' most exciting prospects, so it is certainly good to see him already producing solid offense at the NHL level. The Flyers will be hoping that he can continue to impress during this crucial final stretch of the season from here.
In 36 games this season down in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Bump has 11 goals, 15 assists, and 26 points.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 06: Cole Caufield #13 of the Montreal Canadiens competes for the puck against Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Prudential Center on November 06, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (39-34-2) versus the Montreal Canadiens (44-21-10)
The Time: 7:00 PM EDT
The Broadcast: TV — MSG, NHLN; Radio — Devils Hockey Network
Halonen and McLaughlin Recalled
This morning, the New Jersey Devils announced that they recalled Brian Halonen and Marc McLaughlin from the Utica Comets. This will allow them to remove Evgenii Dadonov from the lineup. Not only was Dadonov on track to make another quarter-million dollars that would have been tacked onto next year’s cap hit as a bonus overage, Dadonov has been, by far, the least effective player on the ice in the few games he’s played for a team. Since March 1, Dadonov has had a shockingly low 26.35 expected goals percentage, which about half the average put up by the rest of the team.
#NEWS: We've recalled forwards Brian Halonen and Marc McLaughlin from Utica (AHL). They will join us for today’s morning skate.https://t.co/URc482J615
This season, Halonen has a goal in nine games for the Devils, as well as 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 games for the Comets. I would hope that he displaces Dadonov from the lineup, though I would have liked to see him get a chance on the third line. Now that Bjugstad has been promoted there, I doubt Halonen will get many minutes to show what he can do. McLaughlin, on the other hand, can play center and has six goals and seven assists in 21 games for Utica this season. I imagine he might come in for Maxim Tsyplakov if the Devils want to try both Comets out at the same time, or he might alternate with Halonen in Dadonov’s spot. Playing McLaughlin would allow Cotter to move back to wing.
End of the Line
The New Jersey Devils are winding their season down at this point. They are not mathematically eliminated, so it would still be good to go out and play their best hockey until the E is actually next to them in the standings. But this is it. For those playing for a contract extension, or to prove they should still be on the team next season, this is a time that will stick with people still watching the club play hockey. The Devils will have to downsize their defense, whether they bring in young guys in Anton Silayev or Seamus Casey or not. They will have to ask themselves if they want the same forward group in its entirety next season.
But for fans, the long wait is about to begin, too. Make sure you make the most of the remaining hockey to be played, even if the season has largely been hard to watch. Because, unless an absolute miracle happens over the next couple of weeks, the New Jersey Devils are going to have a five-month vacation. It won’t be long until I am waiting for the return of Devils hockey.
Can We Get Good Goaltending?
On the note of players who should be trying to justify their continual presence on the team, I would like to see better games from the goaltenders the rest of the way. Jacob Markstrom is back down to an .883 save percentage, and Jake Allen has slipped a bit to a .905 percentage. That’s a pretty good number for Allen, but it was better earlier in the season. Markstrom had almost climbed back to near league average, too, until a recent string of games dragged him down. In his last six games, the Devils are 3-3-0 with his .852 save percentage. He had a .916 save percentage in the eight games before that.
Personally, though, I think they should have called Nico Daws and Jakub Malek up at points this season to give them NHL games. If one of them can play in the big leagues next season, there is really no point for the team to bang its heads against the wall trying to make Markstrom’s extension work. There is only so long I can have patience for a guy who dips to having an .852 save percentage for extended stretches.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of tonight’s game? Will the Devils come out firing? Or will it be a slow game? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
Sam Malinski is one of the most efficient point-producing defensemen in the NHL.
He’s walking into a bigger role with Cale Makar out of the lineup, which is why my Avalanche vs. Stars predictions see him finding the score sheet in this big divisional clash.
Let’s get into my NHL picks for Saturday, April 4.
Avalanche vs Stars prediction
Avalanche vs Stars best bet: Sam Malinski Over 0.5 points (+135)
Sam Malinski is scorching hot. He's piled up eight points over his last five games, headlined by a three-point performance in his last game — the first without superstar defenseman Cale Makar in the lineup.
He's more than capable of handling the added responsibility. Malinski ranks fifth among defensemen in points per 60 minutes of 5-on-5play, trailing names like Evan Bouchard, Lane Hutson, and Zach Werenski. The uptick in usage during that game state will serve him well.
Perhaps more importantly, Malinski finds himself quarterbacking the top power play in Makar’s role. Wheels up.
Avalanche vs Stars same-game parlay
Sticking with the theme of backing Colorado Avalanche blueliners sans Makar, Brent Burns is another prime target. He's generated multiple shots on target in nine of his last 10 games and attempted six shots in the first game without Makar.
On the Dallas Stars side, it’s all about Mikko Rantanen. He's assisted in nine of his past 10 following one day of rest and has picked up a helper in 75% of his appearances this season under those circumstances.
Oh, and the former Avalanche star has seven assists over his past four against Colorado. Talk about holding a grudge.
Brent Burns has cleared 1.5 shots in eight of his last nine games against Dallas. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Stars.
How to watch Avalanche vs Stars
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Puck drop
3:00 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Avalanche vs Stars latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
William Nylander has been a shooting machine on this California road trip, combining for 17 shot attempts over the first two games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
My Maple Leafs vs. Kings predictions expect Nylander to continue piling up the shots against a Los Angeles Kings team that hasn’t tightened up since the coaching change.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Saturday, April 4.
Maple Leafs vs Kings prediction
Maple Leafs vs Kings best bet: William Nylander Over 2.5 shots (-115)
William Nylander’s shot volume is on the rise. Excluding Top-10 shot suppression teams, Nylander has averaged 4.0 shots on 7.2 attempts over his past five games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A lot of his volume comes from the slot, where the Los Angeles Kings have struggled to defend of late. They rank 28th in slot shots allowed, spanning their last 10 games.
They have a reputation as a buttoned-up defensive team, but that hasn’t necessarily been the case. The Kings have also allowed shots and goals at a higher rate since moving on from head coach Jim Hiller.
Maple Leafs vs Kings same-game parlay
The training wheels are off for rookie Easton Cowan. He is riding shotgun with Nylander and John Tavares on the top line and skating on the No. 1 power play and making the most of it, having tallied five points over his last six.
The trio of Cowan, Tavares, and Nylander has outscored opponents 12-5 over 150 minutes of 5-on-5 play. Factor in that they all correlate on the power play, and it’s easy to get excited about backing all three.
Maple Leafs vs Kings SGP
William Nylander Over 2.5 shots
Easton Cowan Over 0.5 points
John Tavares Over 0.5 points
Maple Leafs vs Kings odds
Moneyline: Maple Leafs +145 | Kings -170
Puck Line: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-170) | Kings -1.5 (+145)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)
Maple Leafs vs Kings trend
William Nylander has recorded 3+ shots in five of his last seven against Los Angeles. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Kings.
How to watch Maple Leafs vs Kings
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet
Maple Leafs vs Kings latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
No matter what you think of the NHL’s playoff qualification process, there’s no question it has set the table for some exciting hockey, well before the Stanley Cup Playoffs even begin.
As play resumes Saturday, the Senators are part of a four-way logjam for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot. They’re tied at 88 points with the Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Philadelphia Flyers.
NHL.com
Ottawa and Detroit each have seven games remaining, while Columbus and Philadelphia have six. The Senators also hold the first tiebreaker with 33 regulation regulation wins, which is well ahead of all three teams behind them.
That means plenty of scoreboard watching this weekend, starting early on Saturday.
Red Wings at Rangers 12:30 pm
At 12:30 p.m., Sens fans will be pulling for the New York Rangers to pull off an upset at home against the Red Wings. But as the worst team in the east, six points behind even the Leafs, motivation may not be particularly high in the Big Apple.
Wild at Senators 1 pm
The Senators are also in action Saturday afternoon, hosting the Minnesota Wild at 1:00 p.m. As the Sens cling to the final wild card spot by virtue of a tiebreaker (regulations wins), their horribly banged up blue line may feature three players on Saturday who've played a combined total of 7 NHL games this season: Cam Crotty, Lassi Thomson and Jorian Donovan.
Already without Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Nick Jensen, Dennis Gilbert, and Carter Yakemchuk, the Sens have suffered another injury to their blue line, losing Tyler Kleven, who took a puck off the side of his head on Thursday in their 4-1 win over Buffalo. That forced Jordan Spence to play over 30 minutes in the game and he can probably expect more of the same on Saturday.
Sanderson is close to returning, but it's believed that Jorian Donovan will be called up Saturday morning after playing one shift for Belleville on Friday night in Rochester and leaving that game. Sanderson wore a red jersey at practice on Friday.
Jets at Blue Jackets 7 pm
The Blue Jackets will host the Winnipeg Jets at 7:00 p.m. The Jets still have a slight chance to make the playoffs in the West despite being just one game over .500. Like the Senators were, Columbus will be in a foul mood after getting worked over in their most recent game. They fell 5-1 to Carolina on Thursday.
Islanders at Hurricanes 7 pm
The New York Islanders are also very much part of this discussion. They cling to third in the Metro but the Blue Jackets and Flyers would both love to jump out of this wild card nightmare and grab third place.
After Philly beat them 4-1 on Friday, the Islanders sit just one point ahead of the wild card pack but with only five games lefts, they've played two games more than the Sens and Wings. The Isles will have their hands full Saturday night, visiting the Carolina Hurricanes, who have already clinched a playoff spot but are still pushing to lock down top spot in the East.
The Flyers are idle on Saturday but will host Boston on Sunday.
The Wild and Hurricanes can both heavily influence the race this weekend. After facing the Sens, the Wild get Detroit on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Carolina has a nasty turnaround, playing the Islanders on Saturday night, then hustling up to Ottawa to face the Sens at 5 on Sunday. It will be interesting to see if Linus Ullmark is available in a back to back situation.
Buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
With the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference playoff race still very much undecided, the Montreal Canadiens visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, April 4.
The Canadiens are on a seven-game heater, while the Devils hang onto postseason hopes.
My Canadiens vs. Devils predictions and NHL picks should come as no surprise, as no one has found the back of the net quite like Cole Caufield has in 2026.
Canadiens vs Devils prediction
Canadiens vs Devils best bet: Cole Caufield anytime goal (+130)
He has a staggering 28 goals in his last 27 games, and his next tally will put him in some historic company as one of the very few Montreal Canadiens to hit the half-century mark. He's scored in four straight and fired seven shots on goal on Thursday.
It's only fitting that Mr. Saturday Night will have the opportunity to hit 50 tonight, and he'll face a middling New Jersey Devils defense. There's a great chance we'll witness Habs history at the Prudential Center tonight.
Canadiens vs Devils same-game parlay
Rookie phenom Ivan Demidov is similarly scorching-hot, but in a more generous way than Caufield. The 20-year-old has logged an assist in four straight games and leads all rookies in helpers (43).
His presence on the Canadiens' top power-play unit has increased his prospects of acquiring apples immensely. There's some serious value here at plus-odds.
While Caufield, Demidov, and company continue to light up the scoresheet, sophomore blue liner Lane Hutson has stepped up in his own zone.
He's blocked two or more shots in six consecutive games, making his defensive presence known in the absence of Alexandre Carrier (who ranks 10th in the NHL in blocked shots).
Furthermore, New Jersey ranks fourth in the league in shots on goal, so expect Hutson to wear some rubber tonight.
New Jersey has won five consecutive games against Montreal, scoring four or more goals in each. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Devils.
How to watch Canadiens vs Devils
Location
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Date
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet East
Canadiens vs Devils latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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Our best NHL player props for Saturday, April 4
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Nick Suzuki Over 2.5 shots
+135 at BET99
Nick Suzuki has been tremendous this season for the Montreal Canadiens, registering 94 points overall. He’s always creating chances as well, averaging 2.26 SOG per game. Suzuki has cashed the Over in three of his last four contests, putting five pucks on net in back-to-back games earlier this week.
The Habs take on the New Jersey Devils tonight, who are 14th in the NHL in most SOG allowed. NJ plays high-octane hockey, which typically results in opponents having a fair amount of chances. Suzuki is also on the top line for Montreal, who produce a lot of offense.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet, TVA Sports, RDS
Prop #2: Jake Guentzel Over 0.5 assists
-110 at BET99
Jake Guentzel is a massive reason the Tampa Bay Lightning are seen as a Stanley Cup contender. The 31-year-old has scored 36 goals and registered 47 assists in 2025-26 and has cashed the Over in four of his last six with four helpers in his last three games.
Across two meetings with the Boston Bruins, he’s collected four assists. Guentzel typically plays with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point and is an elite playmaker on the power play, with 21 assists with the man advantage. Boston is 31st in penalty minutes and 26th in penalty kill percentage.
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN+
Prop #3: Connor McDavid anytime goal
+110 at BET99
Connor McDavid is killing the competition, ranking third in the NHL with 43 goals this season. After a slow start in front of the goal, he’s really picked it up over the last few months. The three-time Hart Trophy winner has scored in five of his last six appearances.
The Edmonton Oilers take on the rival Vegas Golden Knights this evening, and McDavid has done his damage against them. He’s scored two goals in three meetings with Vegas, who are allowing the 14th most goals per game in the league.
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The Vancouver Canucks (22-45-8) only have three more home games before the end of their 2025–26 season, with today’s taking place against the Utah Mammoth (39-30-6). With their 6–2 win against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, the Mammoth put themselves five points above the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference with 84. Vancouver is coming off the second-half of a back-to-back that saw them lose 5–2 to former captain Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild.
With Thursday’s loss, Vancouver officially secured 32nd overall for the 2025–26 season, giving them the best odds to select first-overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Having also been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention earlier on last week, the Canucks can play out the remainder of their season without the results massively impacting their place in the standings. For a young team like Vancouver, a couple of feel-good wins may help give the locker room a little boost to end the year after the season the team has had.
On the ice, Vancouver’s power play will look to continue their success after scoring in their past four games. They’ve scored nine power play goals in their past 10 games, with two of these matchups featuring multi-power play goal-efforts. With power play success comes success for Jake DeBrusk, who has four of the team’s power play goals through this span.
Today is also expected to be the game that Vancouver celebrates Evander Kane’s 1000th game during. The forward reached the milestone on March 30 against the Vegas Golden Knights, with today being the team’s first home game since then.
Players To Watch:
Tom Willander
Having scored in his team’s loss to Minnesota on Thursday night, Willander has officially taken sole-possession of fifth in scoring by a rookie defenceman throughout the NHL with 20 points in 63 games played. Regardless of his stats, however, the defenceman has been impressive throughout the season despite his experience level. While it is clear at times that he’s still learning, Willander has solidified himself as an ideal long-term presence with Vancouver.
Logan Cooley
Despite his season being riddled with injuries, including one sustained against Vancouver back in December, Cooley is still averaging 0.765 points per game. Part of this has come in part due to a recent run of success he’s faced, including back-to-back two-goal games against the Kraken and the Los Angeles Kings. The forward currently has six points in his past three games and will be looking to increase his current point streak to four games in today’s game.
Mar 16, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Utah Hockey Club forward Logan Cooley (92) handles the puck against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (22–45–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–33–48
Filip Hronek: 8–36–44
Brock Boeser: 21–22–43
Jake DeBrusk: 18–19–37
Evander Kane: 13–18–31
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen: 9–26–5
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–8–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Utah Mammoth (39–30–6):
Points:
Clayton Keller: 22–52–74
Nick Schmaltz: 28–39–67
Dylan Guenther: 37–28–65
Mikhail Sergachev: 10–44–54
JJ Peterka: 23–21–44
Goaltenders:
Karel Vejmelka: 34–19–3
Vitek Vaněček: 5–11–3
Game Information:
Start time: 4:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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DALLAS, TX - MARCH 06: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns (84) waits for the puck to drop during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The biggest date remaining on the regular season schedule has arrived for the Colorado Avalanche, who have long been the most dominant team in the NHL all year long.
The Dallas Stars, however, won’t stop at nothing to overtake them.
Today, both teams will face each other one last time at American Airlines Center to close out their regular season series, with the winner potentially laying claim to a first place finish in the West.
Colorado Avalanche (49-15-10)
The Opponent: Dallas Stars (45-19-12)
Time: 1:00 P.M. MDT/3:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ABC, ESPN (US National Broadcast), SNP, SNW, SN+ (Canadian National Broadcast)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche wrapped up their final extended home stand on Wednesday night with an underwhelming 8-6 loss to the last-place Vancouver Canucks. The loss was the second during Colorado’s three game home stand, and while the 4-2 loss to Winnipeg a week ago was disappointing, this most recent defeat was exceptionally glaring: a host of defensive miscues and poor puck management opened the door for Vancouver to run up the score early and often. Mackenzie Blackwood, who gave up six goals on nineteen shots, was pulled with 4:39 remaining in second period in favor of Scott Wedgewood. The Avs then rallied from a 6-2 deficit to tie the game late in the third on Sam Malinski’s second goal of the evening, but Vancouver would reclaim the lead twenty-three seconds later, and iced the game with an empty net tally after Wedgewood was pulled for the extra skater.
Coach Jared Bednar, in what was indisputably his shortest press conference of the season, didn’t hold back. “The reality of it is, is if you want to win in this League, you have to play [the way we played in the third period] for sixty minutes, and we weren’t even close. [It] wasn’t a great first and it got worse in the second and […] if you want to hand out badges for good effort and stuff like that, I think we’re beyond that this time of year, you know? Effort for twenty minutes and doing the right things for twenty minutes isn’t good enough.” He went a step further, saying that there were no positives to be found in their effort.
“There’s no excuse,” he continued, “If we’re making excuses for that performance, it’s going to be a short [playoff] run.”
The loss prevented the Avalanche from increasing their points lead over Dallas, and as a result, today’s game still carries weight for both clubs. For the Avs, it’s the start of a back-to-back weekend that sees them returning home for an Easter evening matchup against the St. Louis Blues. With four massive points hanging in the balance for the Avs this weekend, here’s where today’s game matters from their perspective:
The Avs come into Dallas as the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings with a total of 108 points. They have eight (8) games remaining on their schedule—two in hand on Dallas—and have forty-six (46) regulation wins on the season. A regulation win for the Avs wouldn’t completely drive the final nail into the coffin for Dallas to catch them, but it would put their chances on life support. A regulation win for the Avs, coupled with a victory on home ice tomorrow, should put first place out of Dallas’ reach.
This is all predicated on the Avs taking care of their own affairs. They control their own destiny, and while they have the tiebreaker advantages over Dallas right now (points and regulation wins), things can flip on a dime, and the last thing they need is giving Dallas any extra motivation with the end of the season in sight.
While this is certainly a huge weekend for the Avs, today’s game also sets a monumental milestone for Brent Burns, as he is slated to skate in his thousandth consecutive game. The forty year old defenseman, who made his NHL debut for the Minnesota Wild after being selected with the twentieth overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, played his first seven seasons with Minnesota before being traded to San Jose prior to the 2011-2012 season. He spent would spend the next eleven seasons in San Jose, where many of his career milestones would take place. The 2014-2015 season saw the first of eleven consecutive seasons of Burns skating in every every regular season game. He made his Stanley Cup Final debut in 2016, set a career high in goals (27) in a Norris trophy-winning campaign in 2017, and set career highs in assists (67) and points (83) in 2019.
Burns was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes prior to the start of the 2022-2023 season, where he spent three seasons before signing with the Avs prior to the start of this season. After surpassing former NHL defenseman Keith Yandle’s mark of 989 consecutive games on March 14, Burns became the all-time leader in consecutive games played among defensemen. Coming into today’s game, he trails only Phil Kessel, who holds the all-time record of 1064 consecutive games among all NHL skaters.
Nathan MacKinnon is the first player in the NHL to reach 50 goals, having broken the mark this past Wednesday. Despite being the NHL’s goal scoring leader, he remains three points behind both Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (121) and Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (126). Martin Nečas (35) and Brock Nelson (33) rank second and third in team goal scoring, respectively. Cale Makar, who left Wednesday’s game with injury, did not accompany the team to Dallas, and will be re-evaluated next week. Nicolas Roy also did not travel with the team to Dallas, and his status will be re-evaluated next week as well.
While Bednar did not indicate who would start in today’s game, look for Wedgewood to get the nod today.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Artturi Lehkonen – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Parker Kelly – Nazem Kadri – Logan O’Connor Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta
Defense: Devon Toews – Sam Malinski Josh Manson – Brent Burns Brett Kulak – Nick Blankenburg
Between the Pipes: Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Blackwood
Dallas Stars
The run that Dallas has been on has made them a darling of hockey circles everywhere. In any other season, Dallas’s 102 points would tie them with Carolina in a race for first place in the League, and with both teams splitting their two game season series, it would come down to the thinnest of margins to decide who would emerge ahead of the other. Add in Eastern Conference mainstay Tampa Bay Lightning and the come-out-of-nowhere Buffalo Sabres, both of whom boast 100 point seasons of their own, and there would be no shortages of storylines heading into the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Dallas featured prominently among them.
A ten game winning streak? Done. A gold medal winning goaltender? Check. A top-rated power play threat? Yep. A stellar record at home and away? You bet. If you’re the Dallas Stars, you rightly believe that success is yours for the taking as the Stanley Cup Playoffs grow closer.
In any other season, but not this season.
For all their success to this point, Dallas is, and still remains, second best. Coming into today’s regular season finale against Colorado, Dallas is still looking up at their division rival. That ten game winning streak? Colorado’s done that twice. Home and away records? Colorado remains the only team in the NHL that has yet to lose more than ten games on home ice (24-8-5) compared to everyone else (Dallas is 23-10-4 at home). As good as Dallas has been on the road (22-9-8), Colorado’s 25-7-5 record is still better than everyone else.
Let’s not stop there: A +49 goal differential for Dallas? Colorado’s +90 is tops in the League. Colorado’s allowed the fewest number of goals (193) compared to Dallas (209), and Scott Wedgewood’s 2.19 goals against average and .916 save percentage leads all active goaltenders. By comparison, goaltender Casey DeSmith’s 2.38 goals against average ranks third among active goaltenders, while Jake Oettinger’s 2.61 ranks fifteenth. DeSmith’s .909 save percentage ranks fourteenth among active goaltenders, while Oettinger’s .900 ranks twenty-third.
There are a couple of bright spots for Dallas. Dallas can hang their ten-gallon hats on a second-ranked power play percentage (29.1%), while Colorado’s 17.9% ranks twenty-fifth. Oettinger also ranks third in wins among goaltenders (31), four more than Wedgewood (27), and ten more than Mackenzie Blackwood (21).
Dallas also leads the regular season series 2-0-1, their most recent victory being a 2-1 shootout decision back on March 18 at Ball Arena. To this point in the season, every game against Colorado has ended in a shootout. In their last meeting at America Airlines Center on March 06, Dallas captain Jamie Benn botched an opportunity to ice the game with Wedgewood on the bench for an extra skater, but his shot attempt banked off the side of the net. Valeri Nichushkin would score the game-tying goal moments later, and provided the shootout heroics alongside Martin Nečas to best Oettinger en route to a 5-4 decision for Colorado. That game would also see the departure of Roope Hintz to injury after getting tangled up with Nathan MacKinnon in the second period.
Since then, Dallas has regained the services of former Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen. He returned to action on March 28 in a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rantanen, who sustained injury during his play for Team Finland during the Olympics in Italy, had not made a regular season appearance for Dallas since a 5-4 victory over St. Louis on February 04, prior to the Olympic break.
In order to have a shot at first place in the West, Dallas is banking on a repeat performance from Oettinger, who blanked the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 3-0 this past Thursday. The victory was only Dallas’ third in their past ten games. A regulation win over Colorado would pull Dallas within four points of first place, and with four games remaining in the regular season, today’s head-to-head matchup is Dallas’ last, best chance to prevent Colorado from widening the gap between them. Even with a win over Colorado, Dallas would still have to play nearly flawless hockey down the stretch and hope they get some help from Colorado’s remaining opponents.
Wyatt Johnston leads all Dallas skaters in goals (41) and power play goals (25). Jason Robertson ranks second in goals (40), and leads the team in points (89). Miro Heiskanen leads all Dallas skaters in assists (53), while Rantanen is a close second (52). Rantanen also leads all Dallas skaters in penalty minutes (89).
Today marks the second of a five game home stand for Dallas, their final prolonged stretch of games on home ice. Oettinger will likely start in goal to close out the season series against Colorado.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Jason Robertson – Wyatt Johnston – Mikko Rantanen Jamie Benn – Matt Duchene – Colin Blackwell Oskar Bäck – Justin Hryckowian – Mavrik Bourque Adam Erne – Arttu Hyry
Defense: Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen Thomas Harley – Nils Lundkvist Lian Bischel – Ilya Lyubushkin Kyle Capobianco
"I don't think so," was what Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said when The Hockey News asked if the 30-year-old blueliner would be traveling.
Roy will talk at 5:35 on Saturday, so we'll get an official answer then.
DeAngelo, 30, is working his way back from a lower-body injury sustained early in the Islanders' 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on March 24. He has been skating on his own for the last few days, but has yet to join a team skate.
The Islanders have missed DeAngelo's presence in the lineup, going 2-4-0, including the Blackhawks loss, being outscored 23-17 over that span.
DeAngelo, who is in the final season of a one-year extension worth $1.75 million, has 33 points (five goals, 28 assists) in 72 games, averaging 19:03 minutes per game.
Winnipeg Jets - 32-21-12 - 76 Points - 5-3-2 in the last 10 - Lost 1- 6th in the Central
Columbus Blue Jackets - 38-26-12 - 88 Points - 4-5-1 in the last 10 - Lost 2 - 4th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
The Blue Jackets began their seven-game April schedule with a 5-1 loss at Carolina on Thursday. The team has three home and road contests each left in the regular season.
The Jackets have earned points in 17-of-20 contests at Nationwide Arena in 2026 (12-3-5), ranking third in the NHL in goals for per game (3.90), seventh in points pct. (.725) and ninth-T in goals-against per game (2.85) over that span.
CBJ have also earned points in 25 of the last 32 contests overall since Jan. 11 (20-7-5, 45 pts.). The club ranks third in the league in goals-against per game (2.63) and fourth in points pct. (.703) over that stretch.
Columbus leads the NHL with a franchise-record 56 goals scored by defensemen in 2025-26 (56-133-189, 76 GP).
CBJ rank fourth in the league in goals scored and goal differential in the opening period (78-59; +19).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli, who led the club in goals and points (tied) in March with 7-9-16 in 17 games, has set a single-season career high in assists and points with 21-34-55 in 76 contests.
Jet Greaves has earned points in 15 of his last 18 starts since Jan. 11 (12-3-3, 2.36 GAA, .913 SV% in 19 GP), ranking fifth among NHL goaltenders in GAA and seventh-T in SV% (min. 6 GP).
Boone Jenner has recorded 2-4-6 in the past nine contests since Mar. 19.
Kirill Marchenko leads the club in goals and ranks second in points with 26-37-63 in 70 outings in 2025-26.
Denton Mateychuk notched Columbus' lone goal on Thursday and has posted two goals in the last four contests. He is the third different CBJ blueliner (Werenski, Jones) with at least 13 goals in a campaign in club history (13-17-30, 69 GP).
Zach Werenski, with 21-57-78 in 69 games in 2025-26, sits two assists shy of tying the franchise's record for assistsin a single season set by Artemi Panarin (79 GP in 2018-19) and matched by the defenseman in 2024-25 (81 GP).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.6% - 21st in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 76.2% - 27th in the NHL
Goals For - 234 - 17th in the NHL
Goals Against - 234 - 22nd in the NHL
JetsStats
Power Play - 17.3% - 28th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 78.2% - 20th in the NHL
Goals For - 211 - 25th in the NHL
Goals Against - 227 - 13th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheJets
Columbus is 18-18-0-1 all-time, and 9-9-0-0 at home vs. Winnipeg
Columbus has earned points in six of the last ten meetings between the clubs since Jan. 22, 2020 (5-4-1).
CBJ have won four of the last seven meetings at Nationwide Arena since Oct. 27, 2017 (4-3-0), but the Jets have won the last two-straight at Columbus.
The winning team has recorded four or more goals in 15 of the last 18 games of the series dating back to Dec. 10, 2015, and has limited the other team to one goal or less in six of the last nine since Nov. 24, 2021.
The home team has won all three games in the series requiring time beyond regulation (CBJ; 2-1 in OT).
The teams have combined for seven-plus goals in five of the past eight games at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus has recorded five of the seven shutouts in the all-time series (MR CBJ: Merzlikins, 36 saves in 3-0 W at CBJ on Nov. 24, 2021), but Winnipeg recorded the most recent one (Hellebuyck, 29 saves in 5-0 win at WPG on Jan. 9, 2024).
Each team has registered two hat tricks and a penalty shot attempt in the all-time series.
Who To Watch For TheJets
Mark Scheifele leads the Jets with 34 goals, 58 assists, and 92 points.
Kyle Conner has 34 goals and 85 points.
Connor Hellebuyck is 20-21-11 with a SV% of .898.
Eric Comrie is 12-9-1 with a SV% of .897. He hasn't started since March 22nd.
CBJ Player Notes vsJets
Boone Jenner has 8 points in 15 career games against Winnipeg.
Zach Werenski has 11 points against the Jets.
Sean Monahan has 21 points in 33 games.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 38 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Damon Severson - Missed 4 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
Dmitri Voronkov - Missed 3 Games - Upper Body - Week-to-week
Mathieu Olivier - Missed 2 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
Mason Marchment - Missed 1 Game - Undisclosed
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 194
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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