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Penguins' Head Coach Sullivan One Of Three Coaches To Accomplish This Historic Feat

Mike Sullivan - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is only the 15th head coach in NHL history to win 400 games with a single franchise. Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman is the only person to achieve this feat with two clubs. 

Meanwhile, Sullivan is on the list with multiple Stanley Cup titles, something not all the coaches ahead of him have on their resumes. 

Winning championships usually adds a layer of protection to a coach's tenure, as proven by the fact that Sullivan is wrapping up his first losing season behind the Penguins bench, eight seasons after winning his last championship.

Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule: Remaining Games & Statistical NotesPittsburgh Penguins Schedule: Remaining Games & Statistical NotesThe Pittsburgh Penguins are winding down their 2024-25 season and will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. However, there is plenty to play for in the final weeks.

Moreover, the team will not play for the third consecutive campaign in the postseason, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. 

How many other head coaches have won over 400 games with a single franchise and survived three years without qualifying for the playoffs?

Two, with the list expanding to three when Sullivan joins the list on Thursday night.

Who are these other coaches?

Lindy Ruff was the first coach to achieve this feat during his first term with the Buffalo Sabres, which lasted from 1997 to 2013. During his first four seasons, the Sabres made the playoffs, advancing to the 1998 Stanley Cup Final. 

However, the club missed the playoffs in 2002, 2003, and 2004 before advancing to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2006 and 2007. After that, Buffalo missed the playoffs in 2008 and 2009 and again in 2012 and 2013 when the team fired Ruff just 17 games into the 2012-13 season.

The other name on the list is Barry Trotz, who is an exception to the rule but still missed the playoff for five straight seasons before leading the Nashville Predators to appearances in seven of the next ten seasons. 

Trotz was the first coach in Predators history, inheriting an expansion roster in 1999, and didn't have a winning season until his sixth season in 2003-04, the year Nashville qualified for the playoffs for the first time. 

After the lockout, Nashville chased the Stanley Cup in 2006, 2007, and 2008 before missing out on the postseason in 2009. Trotz led them back to the dance in 2010, 2011, and 2012 before missing in 2013 and 2014 and was relieved of his duties that summer.

Penguins' Rakell Is One Point Shy Of Franchise RecordPenguins' Rakell Is One Point Shy Of Franchise RecordPittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell, born in Sundbyberg, Sweden, set a new career high with his 35th goal on Sunday against the Boston Bruins. 

Of course, many Hall of Fame-Stanley Cup-winning coaches have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons. However, the list of those head coaches who have survived three successive missed postseasons is slim. 

Interestingly, Claude Julien almost made the list. When he became head coach of the Boston Bruins in 2007-08, he guided them to the playoffs every season, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011.

He brought the Bruins back to the Final in 2013, but by 2015, Boston was not the same powerhouse. They missed the postseason for three straight seasons in 2015, 2016, and 2017. However, the team fired Julien after 55 games in 2017, and he ended up with the first-place Montreal Canadiens. 

Even though the Bruins missed the playoffs three straight years, that third year was under two different coaches. 

Ultimately, this conversation brings us back to Sullivan, who is about to become the third 400-win coach (with one franchise) in NHL history not to guide his team to the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

What, if anything, will this mean for Suulivan's future with the Penguins, who are about to start their third straight offseason earlier than expected?  

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What to make of the jam-packed American League East?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

The AL East is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable divisions in baseball this year. On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman examined the current state of play within this fascinating division. 

Let's dive in.

The Yankees have been a surprise so far, with their offense arguably outperforming expectations. As Mintz noted, they've posted an impressive team WRC+ of 140. Yet the overall picture is not quite clear.

Mintz highlighted the Yankees' surprising struggles with their rotation, stating, "They have the worst ERA of any rotation in baseball. They only have one quality start all year."

Combine the bountiful pitching concerns with the Yankees' recent road trip primarily featuring chilly weather games, and it feels like this team is still trying to find its stride. Many fans are eagerly awaiting performances that match both the hype and the historical legacy that comes with wearing the pinstripes.

The hosts started the season with high hopes for the Red Sox, with both predicting them as strong contenders to win the division. But as of now, their record 8-9 does not yet reflect the talent that the team displays in bursts. As a result, it's difficult to determine whether this is the start of a promising run or just fleeting moments of excellence. 

As Mintz said, "Red Sox fans want right now to be irrationally positive, and they have so many reasons to just jump all in. ... The only thing holding them back is that they have more losses than wins right now."

One huge positive for the Red Sox so far has been Garrett Crochet, who is looking like a formidable talent in the rotation. The challenge for the Red Sox will be to translate the bright spots into consistent winning across the season.

Signs of hope for the Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays currently sit atop the division, but even with the power and talent they've displayed so far, there is room for doubt. Still, Mintz noted that watching the bottom of Toronto's order get on base, featuring players such as Ernie Clement and Myles Straw, creates an irrational belief in the 9-7 Blue Jays' potential to win the division. 

Another positive for Toronto is a strong start from the bullpen, led by offseason acquisition Jeff Hoffman. Shusterman discussed Hoffman's important role, saying, "I think Jeff Hoffman is the best reliever in the world right now." 

Can the Blue Jays' hot stretch last long enough for them to hold off the comparative might of their divisional rivals?

Baltimore Orioles fans are no strangers to turbulent times, and this season's start might feel all too familiar. Although the Orioles have yet to secure a series win, they remain just a couple of games back from the division leader.

As Shusterman said, "They're in last place, but they're two-and-a-half games back of first. So they are just fine."

The hosts discussed Baltimore's burgeoning potential and how a variety of factors could still turn the Orioles' season into one with real hope and promise.

The 2025 MLB season is still in its early stages, and the hosts readily admit that they're still sorting out what to make of the AL East. 

As Mintz put it, "Every team, you look at them, you watch them for three innings, and you're like, 'They are going to win the division.' And then you watch them play another three innings, and you're like, 'They are going to get relegated,' and you just don't know where to end up."

To listen to the full episode and more, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Lillard details ‘chasing' Curry's Warriors dominance with Blazers

Lillard details ‘chasing' Curry's Warriors dominance with Blazers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Milwaukee Bucks guard and East Oakland nativeDamian Lillard made an admirable confession involving Warriors superstar Steph Curry.

Lillard admitted he chased Curry – and his success as a four-time NBA champion – in discussing his 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers to retired NBA veteran Austin Rivers on his “Eye for the Game” podcast last week.

“I would say Steph,” Lillard told Rivers when asked about who his biggest competitor is (h/t Athlon Sports’ Dibyendu Mondal). “I’ve played more playoff series against Steph, and obviously being in the West, we played against each other all of those times. We played them in the preseason.”

Lillard, for much of his 13-year NBA career, has been overshadowed by Curry.

The Warriors legend has the rings, stats, accolades and virtually everything else that other star guards over the years – like Lillard, Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook – simply have never been able to match, no matter their own respective successes.

Plus, Curry owns a 28-8 record in games against Lillard, including their 10 vintage playoff duels.

“With Steph, it’s always like Steph was … He took off, and I was like, I’m chasing … I want what he has,” Lillard told Rivers. “He’s winning the championship. Everybody’s talking about what he’s doing, so like I was very competitive with Steph, especially in those years where I’m like, ‘No, I can do that too.’”

Lillard has averaged 25.1 points on 37.1-percent 3-point shooting with 6.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds throughout his career – with no rings. Curry, meanwhile, has averaged 24.7 points on 42.3-percent 3-point shooting with 6.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds and is a four-time champion.

To each their own when it comes to believing who is better between Curry and Lillard. However, Lillard didn’t shy away from the fact that he has spent years chasing Curry’s prowess to no avail.

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Road Woes Contributed To Sabres Failure To Make The Playoffs

The Tampa Bay Lightning closed out the Buffalo Sabres  road schedule with a 7-4 victory at Amalie Arena on Sunday. 

The Buffalo Sabres completed the road portion of the 2024-25 regular season schedule with a 7-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. The Sabres can point to many reasons why their playoff drought is now 14 straight seasons, but their woeful record away from Key Bank Center is near or at the top.

The Sabres ended up with a record of 13-24-4 on the road (the fourth-worst record in the NHL), with only Boston, Nashville, and Chicago having more regulation losses than Buffalo. That was a decline from their .500 record on the road last year (18-18-5) and pretty much negated any success they achieved at home, where they have gone 13-2 in their last 15 games and have climbed to 17th in the NHL with a 22-14-3 record.

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?The Buffalo Sabres are currently focused on finishing off the 2024-25 season on a positive note after most of the campaign being dominated by the negative. The club is looking to win their third game in a row in Utah on Thursday after a shootout win over Vegas on Saturday and an overtime victory in Boston on Monday. Barring an incredibly successful final 16 games, the Sabres are likely to finish in the bottom five of the NHL standings, and with a number of questions that will need to be addressed in the offseason. Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The AthleticSabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The AthleticThe Buffalo Sabres season began with the hope of ending their long playoff drought and will end on April 17th with a 14th consecutive year outside of the postseason. There are a number of contributing factors to the club’s struggles, but according to an article in the Athletic that surveyed fans from every NHL club, Sabres owner Terry Pegula is ranked last among the 32 owners. Dahlin Refutes Assertion Of Wanting Out Of BuffaloDahlin Refutes Assertion Of Wanting Out Of BuffaloAs if the Buffalo Sabres do not have enough drama with the club heading for their 14th consecutive season outside of the playoffs, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin refuted a report from TNT panelist and Spittin Chiclets co-host Paul Bissonette that the Sabres team captain met with GM Kevyn Adams and wants out of Buffalo if the club does not improve quickly.

“We lost puck battles, got on the wrong side of the puck, and (were) poor defensively,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the loss. “When you can match their energy, you have to take care of the puck. You look at a couple goals, we’ve got the puck, and don’t execute, and it turns into a goal for them.”

The club’s defensive play is an obvious issue that contributed to the Sabres issues on the road. In 41 games, they finished 8th in the NHL with 125 goals scored (3.04 goals per game), but they were tied for 30th in goals allowed with 154 (3.76 GAA). This can partly be attributed to starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen not matching his performance from the second half last year, but for a club that was supposed to be more focused on being more efficient defensively, Buffalo under Ruff has been unable to clean things up in their own end that is essential to playing a winning brand of hockey.

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Matthew Robertson Set To Make NHL Debut While Gabe Perreault And Brennan Othmann Will Play

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers play the Florida Panthers on Monday night and while there are no playoff implications to be excited about, there are still a couple things to watch out for. 

First off, with Braden Schneider out due to an upper-body injury, Peter Laviolette confirmed that Matthew Robertson will finally make his NHL debut. 

The Rangers drafted Robertson in the second round in 2019. He hasn't been able to crack the Rangers’ roster as he’s spent the entirety of the past four seasons in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack. 

Now, the 24-year-old defenseman will get a chance to prove himself in the NHL. This season, Robertson has recorded one goal, 24 assists, and 25 points in 60 games. 

Meanwhile, Gabe Perreault will slot back into the lineup. 

The 19-year-old signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers on Mar. 31 and played three games before getting scratched for three consecutive games. 

Brennan Othmann is also expected to play after he’s been benched for the past two games.

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Devils' Paul Cotter Suspended For Illegal Check To The Head

On Sunday afternoon, New Jersey Devils' Paul Cotter received a match penalty for an illegal check to the head against New York Islanders' Adam Pelech. 

Apr 13, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter (47) walks to the locker room after being given a game misconduct against the New York Islanders during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The incident occurred at the six-minute mark of the second period. Following the hit, a bloody and visibly angry Pelech left the game and did not return. 

"That is the kind of hit we don't like," Islanders' head coach Patrick Roy told NewYorkIslanders.com on Sunday. "The kind of hit we don't want to see happen for any team."

Cotter played 5:42 and finished the game with one shot on goal, one blocked shot, and two hits. 

Hours after the Devils' 1-0 loss to the Islanders, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Cotter would have a hearing on Monday. 

It was announced Monday afternoon that Cotter has been suspended for two games.

New Jersey has two regular-season games remaining before the playoffs. On Tuesday, the team will play the Boston Bruins at TD Garden and host the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday at Prudential Center. 

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average NHL salary, Cotter will forfeit $8,072.92. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Before his incident, the native of Canton, Michigan, had no prior history with the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Cotter is concluding his first season with the Devils after being acquired in a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29, 2024, for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid. The 25-year-old has appeared in 79 games for the Devils and has 22 points (16 goals, six assists). 

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Canucks Kudryavtsev & Tolopilo To Make NHL Debuts Against The Sharks

A shot by Coachella Valley forward Jagger Firkus makes it past Abbotsford goalie Nikita Tolopilo during the second period of their game at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Two Vancouver Canucks prospects will be making their NHL debuts against the San Jose Sharks. Both goaltender Nikita Tolopilo and defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev will be in the lineup on Monday as the Canucks play their second to last game of the 2024-25 season. Tolopilo is on the roster in place of Thatcher Demko, while Kudryavtsev is expected to take injured Derek Forbort's spot in the lineup.

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Listed at 6'6", 229 lbs, Tolopilo is an undrafted goaltender who has impressed since signing with the organization. This season in the AHL, he has an 18-14-2 record, along with four shutouts. Tolopilo's last start came on April 6, when he made 35 saves in a 4-3 victory over the Laval Rockets.

"I think he's a big goalie, so something there," said Rick Tocchet after practice on Sunday. "I think last year, he knows that the work ethics got to get a little bit higher. He's got to really work on his craft. You're a big goalie. Can he work on his movements? Can he get stronger in his hip areas and core? Can his pushes off the like, these are the things. I'm not a goalie coach, but this is the sort of stuff that you want this guy to work at because he's got the frame. A big goalie that can move, those are the kind of the guys you want. Like a Thatcher Demko, big guy that can move."

As for Kudryavtsev, he was a seventh-round pick by Vancouver back in 2022. The left-shot defenceman is in his first pro season, and has 26 points in 63 games with the Abbotsford Canucks. Once Kudryavtsev steps on the ice, he will become the first player drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft to play in an NHL regular-season game.

"Means a lot," said Kudravtsev after morning skate on Monday. It was a quick phone call yesterday, so really excited. It's my first game. I know it probably doesn't mean much for the standings for the NHL team, but it means a lot for me and for Tolo (Tolopilo)."

The Canucks wrap up their season series with the Sharks on Monday night. Vancouver is 3-0 against their Pacific Division rivals, and will have their eyes on the season sweep. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from Rogers Arena.

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, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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New Laker Luka Doncic has the highest-selling jersey in second half of season

Consider it part of the fallout of the shocking trade that sent him to Los Angeles.

Luka Doncic has the highest-selling jersey in the NBA during the second half of this season. Doncic is the first international player to top the most popular jerseys list and the first player other than Stephen Curry or LeBron James to top the list since the 2012-13 regular season (when it was Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony with the Knicks). It shouldn't be a surprise that there was a run on Doncic jerseys, or that Curry and LeBron finished second and third (based on sales at NBA.com the second half of the season).

Considering Victor Wembanyama didn't play much in the second half of the season due to deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, the fact that he was sixth in jersey sales speaks to his popularity.

As expected, Doncic's Lakers also topped the team merchandise sale list.

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Reds place Sam Moll on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder impingement

CINCINNATI — The Reds have placed left-hander Sam Moll on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder impingement. The move was made retroactive to April 11.

Cincinnati begins a three-game series against Seattle.

It is the second straight year Moll has landed on the injured list with the same injury. He missed nearly a month at the start of last season with a shoulder impingement.

Moll has pitched in three games out of the bullpen and has a 3.00 ERA. His last appearance was on April 6 at Milwaukee, when he allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

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What we learned as Fitz, Yaz homers fuel Giants' win vs. Phillies

What we learned as Fitz, Yaz homers fuel Giants' win vs. Phillies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA — About 20 minutes into Monday night’s game at Citizens Bank Park, the Giants were behind 3-0 and Spencer Bivens was getting loose in a hurry. In the moment, it was easy to think of all of the potential repercussions if Landen Roupp got knocked out in the first inning. 

The Giants probably would be forced into their first roster move of the 2025 MLB season to get a fresh arm for their bullpen. Roupp might spend a sleepless night wondering if his time in the rotation was over after three starts.

At 9:27 p.m. in Philadelphia, the Giants gathered on the mound for their third handshake line in four days on this tough trip. Roupp picked up first win of the year. 

The Giants, who beat the Phillies 10-4, seemingly can do nothing wrong at the moment, and they responded to the three-spot from the Phillies by scoring six in the top of the second. That allowed Roupp to settle in, and he allowed just one more run the rest of the way while throwing more curveballs than most Phillies hitters have ever seen. 

The response to the early struggles was swift. Tyler Fitzgerald hit a three-run homer into the seats in left to give the Giants a 5-3 lead in the second inning, and Willy Adames followed with his first as a Giant.

After Roupp and Randy Rodriguez buckled down to keep runners in scoring position, Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run moonshot to add insurance runs in the top of the seventh. The blast was Yastrzemski’s first against a lefty since his walk-off Splash Hit against the San Diego Padres’ Ray Kerr on June 19, 2023.

The Giants improved to 12-4 on the season and 3-1 on the trip, which spans 10 days and includes series against three teams with winning records. 

Curved

Roupp is a four-pitch guy now, but with his back against the wall in the fourth, he went to his bread and butter. The right-hander’s curveball is one of the best in baseball, and when the Phillies got a pair into scoring position with no outs, Roupp threw a curve on five of the next eight pitches. There were boos at Citizens Bank Park when he got out of the inning with no damage. 

Roupp opened the fifth by throwing five straight curves to Bryce Harper for a strikeout. After Kyle Schwarber popped up a curve, he threw four curves and a sinker at Nick Castellanos. The Phillies finally caught up, and Castellanos crushed the final one into the left field seats. 

Overall, Roupp threw 56 curveballs, the most in a big league game since Rich Hill threw 59 on May 13, 2016. Roupp and Hill are the only big league pitchers to throw more than 55 curveballs in a game in the last 10 years, and it certainly worked for Roupp on an offense-heavy night. He got 15 of his 20 swinging strikes with his best pitch. 

Roupp was charged with four earned in five innings and struck out eight. He has had two shaky starts and one good one, but the stuff has generally been good. Through 15 innings, Roupp has 20 strikeouts. 

On The Board

Everyone involved has been hesitant to say Adames has been pressing. He’s seemingly as laid-back as any Giant, but there’s a natural desire to try and live up to a massive contract, and Adames certainly hasn’t looked like his old self through two weeks. He entered the night with a .186 average and no homers, and he hasn’t even been particularly unlucky.

With the ballpark still reeling from the Fitzgerald blast, Adames jumped on a middle-middle cutter from Taijuan Walker and hit a soaring solo shot to right. The homer was Adames’ first in 135 plate appearances, the longest drought of his career. With Adames and Fitzgerald (who finished a single shy of the cycle) now on the board, Patrick Bailey is the only Giants regular still looking for his first blast of the year. 

Miller Time

The bottom of the seventh might have been the strangest scoreless inning of Erik Miller’s career. With the Giants holding a four-run lead and two runners on, J.T. Realmuto hit what looked to be a three-run homer, but the ball curled just foul. Realmuto then thought he had drawn a walk to load the bases for Max Kepler, who already had two hits, but he was rung up by home plate umpire Tony Randazzo on an outside slider. 

It was a hell of a frame job by Bailey, the game’s best framer, but still a huge break for the Giants. It went down as the eighth scoreless appearance of the year for Miller, who was taken in the fourth round by the Phillies in 2019 and is a reminder that the prior regime really did do some good work. Miller was acquired in a 2023 swap for Yunior Marte, who had a 6.92 ERA last year and is now pitching in Japan. 

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Yankees’ Aaron Judge to be U.S. captain at 2026 World Baseball Classic

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge will be the U.S. captain at next year’s World Baseball Classic, the same role the two-time American League Most Valuable Player fills with the New York Yankees.

Mark DeRosa made the announcement after he was appointed U.S. manager for the second straight WBC.

Judge takes over from the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, who was captain at the 2023 tournament. The U.S. lost the 2023 championship game to Japan 3-2 as Shohei Ohtani struck out Trout, his then-Angels teammate, to end the game.

Judge, who turns 33 on April 26, is the first player announced for the U.S. roster. The outfielder is hitting .357 with a major league-leading 20 RBIs and six home runs, tied for the big league high.

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Penguins' Rakell Is One Point Shy Of Franchise Record

Rickard Rakell - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell, born in Sundbyberg, Sweden, set a new career high with his 35th goal on Sunday against the Boston Bruins. 

With his latest tally, Rakell tied fellow Swede Tomas Sandström, who scored 35 during the shortened 1995-96 season. In 58 games that season, Sandström set the franchise record for most goals (35) and points (70) by a Swedish-born skater in Penguins history. 

Heading into the season finale, Rakell has 35 goals and 34 assists for 69 points, one shy of tying Sandström's record. Against the Washington Capitals, the Penguins' next opponent, Rakell, has scored four goals with ten assists for 14 points in 23 career games. 

Last season, Rakell became only the second Swedish player to record a 60-point season, scoring 28 goals and 32 assists. Now, with 69 points, he becomes the only one from the Scandinavian country to record two 60-point campaigns.

 

Rakell Sets New Career-High In 'Slow' 4-1 Loss To BruinsRakell Sets New Career-High In 'Slow' 4-1 Loss To BruinsHeading into a Sunday matinee matchup with the Boston Bruins, the Pittsburgh Penguins hoped to take advantage of a team in free fall and sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

As mentioned, Sandström owns the franchise record for most goals in a single season among Swedish players with 35. Meanwhile, Erik Karlsson owns the top totals regarding assists. During his first season in Pittsburgh, 2023-24, he recorded 45 assists to surpass Dick Tärnström, who had 36 in 2003-04 to break Sandström's top total of 35. 

Karlsson is up to 42 assists with one game left this year, becoming the only Swedish player with more than one 40-assist season in a Penguins sweater. 

At this time, Rakell (179 points) is the second-highest-scoring Swede in franchise history, chasing two-time Stanley Cup champion Patric Hornqvist, who had 264 points in 407 games. Meanwhile, Karlsson already ranks fifth with 109 points in 163 games. 

Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule: Remaining Games & Statistical NotesPittsburgh Penguins Schedule: Remaining Games & Statistical NotesThe Pittsburgh Penguins are winding down their 2024-25 season and will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. However, there is plenty to play for in the final weeks.
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Five Golden Knights Players Return To Practice

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov (35) is congratulated by defenseman Nicolas Hague (14) and right wing Victor Olofsson (95) after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Nicolas Hague, Victor Olofsson and Ilya Samsonov all returned to the Vegas Golden Knights' practice today.

Every rostered player besides Adin Hill participated in practice today. Hill was in goal on Saturday during the Golden Knights' 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. The 28-year-old is likely taking a maintenance day to rest after playing in his 50th game this season. 

Eichel has been day-to-day with an upper-body injury, missing the previous three games. The 28-year-old has set new career highs in assists and points, looking to be on track to return for the playoffs. 

Pietrangelo has had a difficult month, sustaining an injury before returning and dealing with an illness. The Golden Knights have been patient with his health, wanting to give the 35-year-old every opportunity to rest and return for the playoffs as close to 100% as possible.

Hague and Olofsson have been affected by the same illness as Pietrangelo, forcing them to miss several games. The pair of depth pieces will be important to the Golden Knights' success in the playoffs, albeit in different ways. Olofsson will attempt to provide depth offence, and Hague will need to use his size to be a strong defender. 

Samsonov has been out since Mar. 29, last playing on Mar. 23. His injury is an upper-body ailment, and the Golden Knights will be hoping to get him into a game before the beginning of the playoffs, just in case his services are needed. 

The Golden Knights have two games remaining, and both will be played on the road against the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks. With the Pacific Division locked up, the Golden Knights will likely use load management to their advantage, and it's why Jonas Rondbjerg joined the team at practice today. 

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

Cassidy Has Good Reason To Consider Load Management For Certain Knights In Last Two Games Cassidy Has Good Reason To Consider Load Management For Certain Knights In Last Two Games LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights are Pacific Division champs, they'll host a Wild Card team starting Easter Sunday and barring a casualty in the first round, will host a second-round series, too. Kolesar, Hill, Howden Honored With Annual Team Awards After Home FinaleKolesar, Hill, Howden Honored With Annual Team Awards After Home FinaleLAS VEGAS -- Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar was honored with his first team award in his fifth NHL season with the franchise.