This is what desperation looks like.

It took being pushed to the brink, it took a coaching change and it didn’t hurt at all that they played a Maple Leafs roster that resembled an AHL side. Whatever caveats you want to throw at this, though, the Islanders finally played like a team with their backs against the wall, which is just what they are.

That brought them a 5-3 win over Toronto in Pete DeBoer’s debut behind the bench Thursday night at UBS Arena, the first of four games to end the season in which four wins are an absolute necessity.

“There’s nothing that sells a coach’s message,” DeBoer said, “more than winning.”

At the close of business Thursday, the Islanders’ playoff odds had suddenly ticked up with losses by the Blue Jackets and Flyers. That left the Islanders one point behind Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan Division, with both teams still needing to play three games and the Isles having clinched the regulation wins tiebreaker.

Ottawa took care of business against the Panthers, leaving the Islanders still three points behind the second wild-card spot, but a win over the Senators on Saturday can pull the Isles within one point there as well.

One piece of the equation that hasn’t changed and won’t: Anything less than winning out, and it is hard to see how things can break the Islanders’ way.

If the Islanders can carry their effort from Thursday into the weekend, one has to like their chances.

They threw pucks on net early and often, holding a Carolina-esque 24-3 edge in shots on net after just 20 minutes. They broke out quickly and decisively. They played with speed and purpose and, yes, an urgency that had been lacking for far too long.

“I think just being on our toes,” said Cal Ritchie, who contributed a goal and assist as part of a splendid effort. “Not standing by, not being stationary. I think at times, we haven’t been as much on our toes so tonight was one of those nights, we were on our toes, ready to pressure.”

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• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND ISLANDERS STATS

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Brayden Schenn and Jean-Gabriel Pageau both scored within five minutes. When the Leafs fought back to tie, the Islanders had no panic at all. They stuck to their game, kept tilting the ice and by the second intermission held a two-goal lead again.

Matthew Schaefer’s goal that made it 3-2 at 9:39 of the second marked his 23rd of the season, tying Brian Leetch’s rookie record for defensemen, and was also Schaefer’s first goal in seven games.

This was not a night in which Schaefer, Ilya Sorokin or anyone else put the Islanders on their backs, though.

Just like Saturday’s match in Carolina was on all 20 skaters, so too was the dominance with which the Islanders operated Thursday. Ondrej Palat had his best game in the uniform despite a brief third-period absence after blocking a shot from Troy Stecher. Max Shabanov was consistently noticeable on a relentless third line with Pageau and Emil Heineman. Mathew Barzal’s move back to center was seamless; Simon Holmstrom looked like he’d played the whole season on the top line.

“I thought they played fast,” DeBoer said. “It looked like a seamless transition to some of the things we were trying to do.”

Tony DeAngelo returned after missing six games with a lower-body injury, and some of the ease with which the Islanders got the puck up the ice has to be attributed to the 30-year-old defenseman.

The power play, a problem spot all year, scored twice. The first came on a Barzal-to-Heineman pass to the slot, then Ritchie at five-on-three off a heady play by Bo Horvat that kept the puck in the zone. Ritchie’s second goal made it 5-2 halfway through the third, extinguishing any hope of a Toronto comeback.

The shot-first mentality, something the Islanders have so often failed to come with against inexperienced goaltenders over the years, proved too much for Artur Akhtyamov to handle in his first career start. Given the terrible play of the Leafs in front of him, the rookie was passable, but, plainly, overwhelmed.

The only Islander below par was the one who has so often kept his team in the fight this year. Sorokin needed Schaefer — who was just as good defensively Thursday as he was offensively — to clear a puck off the line early in the match when Easton Cowan’s shot went through him, and stopped just 13 of 16 shots in total.

For once, the Islanders did not need him to cover up their mistakes.

Three more like that and the season just may have life past Tuesday.

The Florida Panthers put up a good fight against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night, but the playoff-hungry Sens were just too much for the Cats to handle.

What ended up as a 5-1 defeat was frustrating for Florida everywhere but in the standings, where the Panthers continue to trend toward finishing in a spot that will give them a top-10 draft pick.

Ottawa got the scoring started early in the first thanks to Gus Forsling tripping penalty.

A long shot by Jake Sanderson was heading wide of the net, but the puck deflected off the legs of Drake Batherson and past Sergei Bobrovsky at the 6:49 mark.

Later in the period, Lars Eller found Fabian Zetterlund alone in the slot and he made a quick move to his forehand before sending a wrist shot past Bobrovsky’s glove.

Florida played a much better middle frame, outshooting Ottawa 8-5, but the score remained 2-0 after 40 minutes.

The Senators kept the pressure on once the third period arrived.

Similarly to their first goal, this one also came on a shot by Sanderson that missed the net.

This time, the puck bounced off the back boards and came right back out in front, allowing defenseman Artem Zub to come down from the point and blast a one-timer by the blocker of Bobrovsky.

Zub’s fifth goal of the season gave Ottawa a 3-0 lead at the 3:03 mark of the third period.

Florida finally got on the scoreboard late in the third, ending Linus Ullmark’s shutout bid.

An excellent backhand pass by A.J. Greer found Jesper Boqvist in the slot, and a hard wrist shot tricked through Ullmark with 5:43 to go.

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice pulled Bobrovsky with 4:05 on the clock to attempt a late comeback attempt.

A giveaway in the neutral zone by Mackie Samoskevich to Claude Giroux led to the latter scoring from his side of the red line, and then 17 seconds later with Bobrovsky back in the net, Zetterlund scored his second of the game to make it 5-1 Senators.

On to Toronto for the last road game of the season.

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Photo caption: Apr 9, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing Drake Batherson (19) scores against Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. (Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images)

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored as part of his two-point game, Sidney Crosby set up two goals and Kris Letang had an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a playoff spot by defeating the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Thursday night.

The Penguins are playoff-bound for the first time since 2022, ending a three-year drought that followed a streak of qualifying 16 seasons in a row. Crosby, Malkin and Letang have been around for all of it, including Stanley Cup runs in 2009, ‘16 and ’17.

Bryan Rust, who was part of the back-to-back championships, scored his 29th goal of the season on Pittsburgh’s first shot of the game.

Newcomers helped make the latest bid possible, including winger Egor Chinakov, who had a goal and two assists, and netminder Stuart Skinner, who made 19 saves and was serenated by “STUUUU” chants from visiting fans in attendance. Each player was acquired by trade in December.

Skinner stopped all seven shots he faced and got a fortunate break with a puck off the post before Rust gave the Penguins the lead. He turned aside former Edmonton teammate Connor Brown later in the first, before allowing a pair of goals in the second.

Tommy Novak also had a goal for the Penguins, and Erik Karlsson sealed it with an empty-netter.

U.S. Olympic hero Jack Hughes scored, and Jake Allen made 26 saves in net for the Devils. The team announced earlier Thursday the decision to shut down young defenseman Luke Hughes for the remainder of the season so he could undergo a procedure to address a lingering undisclosed injury and be ready for training camp in September.

Up next

Devils: Visit Detroit on Saturday in another crucial game for the Red Wings in their playoff chase.

Penguins: Host the Capitals on Saturday in the first half of a home-and-home series that could be the final two games between Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi was a late scratch before Thursday night's game at Utah due to an upper-body injury.

Josi participated in warmups but was unable to go. The Predators' captain has one goal and five assists in his last four games.

The team said that Josi's status is day-to-day. He is fourth on the team in scoring with 54 points (13 goals, 41 assists).

The Predators went into the game one point ahead of Los Angeles for the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Jordan Oesterle took Josi's place in the lineup.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Pregame

The Penguins are without the services of Connor Dewar (undisclosed lower body injury, day-to-day) so Avery Hayes slots back into the lineup. The Penguins do get Stuart Skinner back from his eye injury and he starts.

Tonight's lineup in New Jersey ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sEZDb2dV50

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 9, 2026

Their opponents, the Devils, are working with these players and lines for the night, sans Luke Hughes who was shut down for the rest of this season to get ready for next year.

Locked in for the Pens. pic.twitter.com/p9bTMo2vNp

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 9, 2026

First period

Pittsburgh strikes first 4:53 into the game, it’s Bryan Rust with his 29th goal of the season. Egor Chinakhov freezes everyone from the middle of the ice looking for his big shot but he dishes off to Rust.

THE MILKSHAKE MAN DELIVERS 👏

Score half off Rusty's shake at @MShakeFactory tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/qdmda8CAjZ

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 9, 2026

The Devils get the first power play of the game when Anthony Mantha clears the puck over the glass.

The teams skate back and forth for rest of the period, New Jersey catches Pittsburgh pinching a couple of times for odd man rushes the other way, nothing Skinner can’t handle.

We sure this is a road game!??

🔊🆙 for the "STUUUUUUUUUU!" after this stop ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ar2AJlIo9y

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) April 9, 2026

The Pens get a flurry of chances near the net at the end of the period but Sidney Crosby can’t quite get the puck in.

Good start, shots are 15-10 PIT after one period and they’re out in front.

Second period

Game ambles on, Pittsburgh has a 5-1 shot advantage in the first 10 minutes of the period and then New Jersey scores on their second shot of the period. Paul Cotter hangs behind the Pens’ defense, an elevated pass springs him on a breakaway. Cotter makes some moves, dekes to the backhand and tucks it past Skinner.

Cotter on the breakaway 😤 pic.twitter.com/BbluyV6JGD

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 10, 2026

Pittsburgh answers back within two minutes to re-take the lead. It’s their turn for an odd-man rush up the ice, Erik Karlsson makes a pass to Evgeni Malkin who quickly dishes over for Tommy Novak. Novak makes no mistake quickly whipping a puck to the top shelf. 2-1 game.

TOP SHELF TOMMY ‼️ pic.twitter.com/jgE2IHncJ9

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 10, 2026

Eight seconds after that goal, the Pens strike again. Ryan Shea does basically what NJ did to score their goal when he lifts a puck way up in the air and lets Chinakhov skate into it. Chinakhov catches up to it and quickly hacks the rolling puck past Jake Allen. 3-1 game, out of nowhere.

EGOR BRINGING THE ENERGY 🔋 pic.twitter.com/jfBreL7soH

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 10, 2026

Jack Hughes gets in on the goal-scoring action, winding up around the zone and snapping a shot that deflects off Parker Wotherspoon in front and dips into the net. 3-2

He makes it look easy. pic.twitter.com/wfMuIP6G1a

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 10, 2026

Game opened up a bit in the second, the Penguins are able to leave it the same way they entered: up by a goal.

Third period

New Jersey gets a good chance and Skinner makes a big save. That proves to be huge because Pittsburgh finds the next goal soon after, while in the midst of a line change. Chinakhov makes a great pass over for Crosby, he can’t score on the backhand but throws it back to try and bank it off the goalie. Then Malkin roars off the bench and crashes the net to swoop in and take care of it. Big swing to extend the lead to 4-2.

GENO MACHINOOOO 💪 pic.twitter.com/Z0GopvXm3R

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 10, 2026

Elmer Soderblom gets tripped to the point where the refs can’t ignore it and they make their first penalty call of the game besides the automatic call on Mantha from the first. No dice on the power play.

The Devils pull Allen with 3:45 to go for an extra attacker. Crosby and Malkin miss the empty net, Erik Karlsson does not. That’s the dagger to set the final score at 5-2 .

Some thoughts

• This game wasn’t quite preseason/exhibition pace but there wasn’t a ton of players finishing their checks or going excessively hard physically at one another. Hits were officially just 11-7 in favor of NJD, that 11 looks mighty generous too. There were hardly any post-whistle scrums (aside from Noel Acciari and Nico Hischier getting cross with each other at the end of the second period). The Devils are one foot into the offseason and the Penguins were just fine at not making the game any harder than it needed to be. Pittsburgh only blocked nine shots as a team, partially because of how the game unfolded and partially because it wasn’t needed. There only one penalty called all game (considering the Mantha infraction was an automatically enforced rule violation).
• That makes it tough to have a lot of thoughts or observations, it’s not like both teams were completely phoning it in or going through the motions but the intensity naturally wasn’t raging either. Lots of forwards cheating on defense and hanging back for home run passes on both sides, almost like the most skilled beer league game you’ve ever seen. Just kinda a game that needed to happen because it was already on the schedule.
• It was good to see Skinner show no ill effects from his eye injury. Definitely had to see the puck and plays getting tested early with some very good chances. He got beat on a breakaway but stopped his fair share of odd-man rushes and also made a big save up 3-2 in the third period, just before his team scored and really put the game out of reach. Situtationally the team just needs that steady play and making that one key save, Skinner did his part of that tonight.
• Tommy Novak came into the game on a 12-game goal drought as practically the only Penguin forward who isn’t red hot right now, he made that a thing of the past. Always nice to see that end, Novak tends to get his goals and points in bunches so who knows, maybe he’ll be the next one to get on a hot streak.
• Getting hot hasn’t been a problem for Chinakhov who put three more points in the bank with a goal and two assists. With his wheels and shot, he can do it all.
• The off days look like they treated Malkin well. He had a lot of burst and energy out there, resulting in a multi-point game (1G+1A). Fittingly enough, Crosby (2A) and Karlsson (1G+1A) also ended up with multiple points on the playoff clinching night for all the big boys to double dip and bring the production.
• There wasn’t a huge celebration for the team on the ice, a fairly business-like acknowledgement of the goalie and each other and then right off the ice. Doesn’t look like a team that’s content simply to be qualified for the dance, as it should be really. They’ve had a great year and have earned the right to be happy but today isn’t any sort of finish line for them.
• As of press time, the Flyers are losing 5-2 in the third period to Detroit. Should Philadelphia go onto lose that game, Pittsburgh will secure the second spot in the division and be able to totally treat these final three games of the regular season as a tune up for what comes next.

And what comes next, for the first time since 2022, will be postseason hockey in Western Pennsylvania. The Pens punched their ticket in typical fashion by scoring a ton tonight and riding that offense to a victory.

Calgary Flames defenceman Olli Maatta is set to reach a major career milestone on Thursday night, skating in his 800th National Hockey League game as the Flames take on the Colorado Avalanche.

The veteran blueliner enters the contest with 208 points (44 goals and 164 assists) over 799 career games, a testament to both his durability and steady presence on the back end.

Originally selected 22nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2012 NHL Draft, Maatta quickly established himself as a reliable defender at the NHL level. He played a key role in Pittsburgh’s back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017, adding championship pedigree to his resume early in his career.

Internationally, the Jyväskylä, Finland native has also won two Olympic bronze medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.

Maatta was traded to Calgary at the 2026 trade deadline in a deal that sent defenceman MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth. Since joining the Flames, he has made an immediate impact, recording 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 16 games while providing stability and experience along the blue line.

Over the course of his NHL career, Maatta has suited up for the Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, the Utah Mammoth, and now the Flames.

The Anaheim Ducks announced on Wednesday that the Ducks’ chapter of the PHWA has nominated goaltender Ville Husso for the 2025-26 Bill Masterton Trophy. The Masterton is annually awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

The winner will be selected at the end of the 2025-26 by all 32 chapters of the PHWA.

“It’s a couple of injuries a couple of years ago, and it took me a while to feel good and feel confident in net again,” Husso said on his journey to this nomination. “Ever since I came here, in Anaheim and San Diego, it’s been good stuff, and just trying to enjoy it.

“The hockey goes fast. Seasons go fast. So, just try to enjoy every day, every moment, and just have fun.”

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-0 Loss to the Predators

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-3 Loss to the Flames

Husso (31) was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings ahead of the 2024-25 NHL trade deadline, on Feb. 25, in exchange for future considerations. He had the remainder of the season on his contract and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2025.

He was brought in as a veteran third-string option for the Ducks who could receive NHL minutes, which was necessary down the stretch last season, given John Gibson’s nagging ailments at the time.

General manager Pat Verbeek and the Ducks’ front office were impressed enough with his performance that they signed Husso to a two-year contract extension with a $2.2 million cap hit.

“It’s very nice to be a part of the Ducks right now, and we’re in a good spot as a team too,” Husso said. “The team is going in the right direction and playing meaningful games this time of year. It’s what you want as a hockey player.”

Husso had a breakout season with the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22, ending the season with a 25-7-6 record, a .919 SV%, and three shutouts. That offseason, his signing rights were traded to the Detroit Red Wings for a third-round pick. He assumed the role as Detroit’s apparent starter of the future, and they signed him to a three-year contract with a $4.75 million AAV.

In his first season with Detroit, he started 56 games, notched a 26-22-7 record, an .896 SV%, and four shutouts. In his next two seasons in Detroit, he dealt with injuries, unfavorable results, and was eventually passed on the Red Wings depth chart by goaltenders like Alex Lyon, James Reimer, and Cam Talbot.

He started the 2024-25 season on waivers, went unclaimed, and was eventually traded to the Ducks’ organization. His Detroit tenure ended with 84 games played, a .892 SV%, and four shutouts.

Husso’s game was reinvigorated after his trade in late Feb. 2025, both with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL and Anaheim Ducks in the NHL. To finish his campaign, Husso played nine games with the Gulls, posting a 7-2-0 record, a .907 SV%, and two shutouts.

He was recalled to Anaheim on two occasions last season, and finished with a 1-1-1 record in four games and a stellar .925 SV%.

He began the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he was excellent again and was recalled to Anaheim for good when it was announced that then-backup Petr Mrazek would be unavailable for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury.

This year, in one of the NHL’s worst on-ice environments for goaltenders, the Ducks’ tandem of Lukas Dostal and Husso backing him up has been a stabilizing presence and is one of the more significant factors to their rise to playoff contention in 2025-26.

“The guys have been very nice here, and it’s nice to be a part of this group,” Husso continued. “A guy like Dosty, following him every day, makes you even five percent better, too. Very nice to be part of this organization and team.”

With four games remaining on the Ducks’ schedule, Husso, thus far, has started 18 games, made 19 appearances, notched a 9-8-2 record, an .887 SV%, and has saved -.87 goals above expected.

Though the numbers are unspectacular, Husso grabbed hold of an opportunity in Dec, when Dostal was sidelined with an upper-body injury, offering a steadying performance at a time when the Ducks’ season could have been derailed.

When he’s in net, he does all one can ask of a backup goaltender: he makes the saves he has to and gives the team in front of him a chance to win. He’s not the most athletic goalie in the NHL, nor is he the best game manager. However, his knowledge of his angles, puck tracking, and decision-making on when to challenge or make an aggressive effort shines when he’s in net.

Husso has one more year on his contract with Anaheim that carries a $2.2 million cap hit, and will likely remain Dostal’s backup for the 2026-27 season.

Ducks Recall Tyson Hinds to NHL, Assign Lucas Pettersson, Damian Clara to AHL

Takeaways from the Ducks 6-2 Loss to the Blues

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Loss to the Sharks

Matthew Schaefer’s march toward history keeps on rolling.

Schaefer scored his 23rd goal of the season Thursday to tie Brian Leetch’s single-season record for a rookie defenseman, giving the Islanders a 3-2 lead they never relinquished in an eventual 5-3 win over the Maple Leafs.

“You don’t really think about that stuff much, but when it gets brought up, it’s crazy to think [about],” Schaefer said. “It’s definitely an honor to see some of those guys and what they’ve done. I don’t really worry about that. We just gotta worry about the games and winning games.”

Schaefer had been on something of a scoring drought, with his last goal back on March 21, though he did have seven assists in the seven games since then.

The UBS Arena crowd chanted Schaefer’s name for a few minutes straight after his goal Thursday, and the scoreboard acknowledged that he’d tied Leetch’s record.

Schaefer waved to the crowd and smiled despite himself.

“How can you not smile when you have the best fans in the league chanting your name?” Schaefer said. “It’s a team game and they’re always behind us every step of the way.”

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Mathew Barzal firmly denied a report that the Islanders had grown tired of hearing Patrick Roy talk about his Stanley Cup titles in the run-up to Roy’s firing on Saturday.

“That couldn’t be more untrue,” Barzal said before the Islanders faced Toronto on Thursday. “If anything, I loved hearing the stories, and us as a group loved hearing stories about the teams he [played on] that won the Cup. Especially his [1986] team in Montreal, he’d always bring up how they were an underdog all year. That kind of stuff fueled us.

“So that report, it’s completely ridiculous.”

Insider Frank Seravalli said on his “Frankly Hockey” podcast that he’d heard the sentiment from Islanders players.

“There’s so much talk about his Stanley Cups and the Stanley Cups he won,” Seravalli said Wednesday. “Players are really tired about hearing that. It’s a great relic to hang onto, and it’s a nice flex to have on your résumé, but you haven’t won as a coach. And you’re not a goaltender anymore, even though you’re in the Hall of Fame. You’re just a head coach and you have to be able to park that. Players told me they were tired of hearing that from Patrick Roy.”

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Tony DeAngelo returned from a lower-body injury that had kept him out six games, skating 20:33 and recording two assists.

“It was a good game to come back for,” DeAngelo said.

Isaiah George came out of the lineup as a healthy scratch to accommodate DeAngelo, with the defense pairs resetting to the same configuration that had been constant prior to the injury.

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche have once again positioned themselves atop the NHL hierarchy, securing the Presidents’ Trophy with a composed and clinical 3–1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at Ball Arena.

In a performance that reflected both depth and star power, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas each had a goal and two assists. For MacKinnon, it was his 52nd goal of the season, which marked a new career-high. Gabriel Landeskog also added a tally of his own. Mackenzie Blackwood bounced back with a great performance tonight with 28 saves on 29 shots.

The result not only capped off another elite regular season in Denver but formally clinched home-ice advantage throughout the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs, which are tentatively set to begin April 18.

This marks the fourth time in franchise history that Colorado has captured the Presidents’ Trophy, further cementing its status as one of the league’s premier organizations across multiple eras. Their first came in 1996–97, a season that followed their inaugural Stanley Cup triumph, though it ultimately ended in a Western Conference Final exit.

The most iconic instance arrived in 2000–01, when the Avalanche converted regular-season dominance into a championship run, highlighted by Ray Bourque lifting the Stanley Cup in his final NHL game—an enduring image in hockey history.

More recently, Colorado claimed the award in 2020–21, only to fall short of expectations in the second round against a Vegas Golden Knights squad coached by Pete DeBoer.

This year’s group, however, appears more complete—blending experience, health, and high-end talent at a level that suggests unfinished business. The Presidents’ Trophy may symbolize regular-season excellence, but for a team with championship aspirations, it is merely a prelude.

Tyson Gross scored the lone goal for the Flames and it was a big one as it was his first career NHL goal. Dustin Wolf made 38 stops.

First Period

Colorado wasted no time generating quality scoring chances. Brett Kulak orchestrated a deflection in front of the net, forcing Wolf into a quick reaction save.

Gabe Landeskog narrowly missed putting one on the board, coming within inches of a goal, while Brock Nelson hammered a shot off the far right post.

Nathan MacKinnon set the tone early with his aggressive play. After losing the puck to Calgary’s Yegor Sharangovich, MacKinnon immediately hustled back, crushing Sharangovich against the boards on the backcheck.

The Avalanche earned their first power play with 1:23 left in the period when John Beecher was penalized for hooking. The game to this point was a fast-paced, back-and-forth battle—quite the contrast to the teams’ previous meeting. Colorado edged Calgary in shots, 11-9.

The Avalanche capitalized on the man advantage with just 1:16 left in the first. MacKinnon threaded a pass to Landeskog, who ripped a one-timer into a wide-open net by the far right post to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.

Colorado carried that momentum and the lead into the intermission, aiming to secure the President’s Trophy with a victory.  

Second Period

MacKinnon was penalized at 4:33 for slashing Zach Whitecloud while simultaneously colliding with Artturi Lehkonen in the process. Both players were okay. However, the penalty kill only lasted 13 seconds as Parker Kelly and Jack Drury each had quality opportunities at punching in a shorthanded goal. However, Matt Coronato slashed Drury to create some 4-on-4 action.

Some silky mitts on display here by Martin Necas! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/QqvxEo39Zl

— NHL (@NHL) April 10, 2026

Necas potted his 38th goal of the season with just over five minutes to go in the period when he took a pass from MacKinnon, closed in on Wolf, and deked him out of his pants before snapping a top shelf wrister to give the Avalanche a 2-0 lead.

The Colorado Avalanche are one period away from claiming the Presidents Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history.#goavsgo@thehockeynews#flames

— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) April 10, 2026

And at the end of 40 minutes, the Avalanche were just one period away from claiming the Presidents Trophy.

Third Period

Tyson Gross scored for the Flames with 2:52 left in regulation. About a minute later, Gross, who signed an entry-level deal with the Flames on March 12, found the net again. However, the goal was overturned on an offside challenge.

MacKinnon finished it off with an empty-net goal with 55 seconds left to complete the 3-1 win. 

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield is the first Montreal Canadiens player to score 50 goals in a season in more than three decades.

Caufield scored his 50th against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night to hit the mark last reached by Stephane Richer in 1990, 35 seasons ago.

"Whenever he has a chance to shoot it, there’s a high chance it’s going in," captain Nick Suzuki said last week. “He’s just playing the right way, doing the right things and he’s getting rewarded for it.”

The 25-year-old from Wisconsin is the seventh player in franchise history to score 50 goals. Guy LaFleur did it six times, Richer twice and Maurice Richard, Steve Shutt, Bernie Geoffrion and Pierre Larouche once each.

Caufield is right there with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon in the NHL goal-scoring race for the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. His 86 points in his first 77 games were already 16 clear of his previous career high, and his play is helping Montreal cruise into the playoffs.

“We’re focused on our team game and winning games, and I think individual stuff comes with that,” Caufield said, echoing a refrain from coach Martin St Louis, a Hall of Fame player. “But doing the right things, you get more chances and opportunities.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl