All articles tagged with #hockey
New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer is on the verge of breaking the club’s rookie-defenseman goals record after tying it at 23; veteran defenseman Brian Leetch, who once held the record, says Schaefer’s breakout echoes his own slow path to the NHL and he’s impressed by the 18-year-old’s development.
Ovechkin and Crosby, two of hockey’s defining stars, will close out the regular season with back‑to‑back games—the 100th and 101st head‑to‑head meetings of their 21‑season rivalry. With the Capitals fighting for a playoff spot and the Penguins already clinched in the Metro, the weekend matchups in Pittsburgh and Washington have fans wondering if this could be the final chapter of their enduring duel, as both players emphasize enjoying the moment and playing the right way while continuing to push their historic careers (Ovechkin with 928 goals; Crosby with 1,761 points).
John Carlson scored his first career hat trick in his 1,143rd NHL game (all with the Capitals before joining the Ducks), fueling Anaheim’s 6-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. His three goals—scored as the Ducks’ 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of his Ducks tenure—boost his season total to 14 and position him among a small group of defensemen 36 or older to record a hat trick in NHL history.
The Los Angeles Kings host the Vancouver Canucks in a pivotal late-season matchup at Crypto.com Arena, aiming for a third straight win to bolster their playoff hopes. Anton Forsberg starts in goal, with the lineup largely set and Quinton Byfield expected to play despite maintenance concerns. With five games remaining, L.A. sits just behind Nashville for the final wild-card spot, while Vancouver begins a California road trip looking to gain momentum. The result could influence the tight Western Conference standings as the Kings push to control their destiny at WC2.
The St. Louis Blues will shuffle three lineup slots for their home game against the Winnipeg Jets, with Otto Stenberg and Nathan Walker returning to replace Jonathan Drouin and Pius Suter (rest). Stenberg moves to the second line and Walker to the fourth, while Pavel Buchnevich centers the third line with Jake Neighbours and Jonatan Berggren. Jordan Binnington is slated to start in goal behind a forward group of Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud, Stenberg-Dvorsky-Kyrou, Neighbours-Buchnevich-Berggren, and Toropchenko-Finley-Walker, with defense pairs Broberg-Mailloux, Lindstein-Parayko, and Fowler-Tucker.
Trevor Zegras, traded to Philadelphia from Anaheim, found his stride after Flyers coach Rick Tocchet moved him back to center as a test run post-Brink trade. In 17 games since the switch, Philadelphia has gone 12-4-1, Zegras has tallied 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists), and the team has surged into playoff contention, highlighted by a 5-1 road win over New Jersey where he opened with two goals. While questions remain about whether he’ll remain at center long-term, his resurgence has provided a beacon for the Flyers’ late-season push and underscored the need for continued improvement at the No. 1 center role.
Boston Bruins forward James Hagens has been signed to a three-year entry-level contract starting with the 2025-26 season, carrying a $975,000 annual cap hit. The 19-year-old went seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, joined Providence on an amateur tryout, and posted strong numbers for Boston College (34 games, 47 points) this season while also excelling for the USNTDP and internationally, including World Junior golds and a record-setting U-18 scoring performance.
Capitals fans are paying premium for Sunday's home game against the Penguins amid retirement buzz surrounding Alex Ovechkin, with average TickPick tickets near $377 and nosebleeds above $220, though Ovechkin has not confirmed retirement and the era-ending speculation grows as his contract nears expiration and John Carlson’s trade stirs talk of the team’s arc.
The St. Louis Blues begin a four-game road trip in San Jose, aiming to sweep the season series from the Sharks; a win could tie a franchise record for road wins and road points in a single month as the club rides a 10-1-2 stretch toward a playoff push. Coach Jim Montgomery said the forwards and defense pairings would stay the same, with Joel Hofer starting in goal, and the projected lineup features Holloway, Thomas, Snuggerud up front and Broberg, Mailloux on defense.
Porter Martone's NHL debut for the Flyers came after signing his entry-level contract hours earlier, but several Flyers reporters posted grainy, far-away photos that barely captured him, turning the moment into a photo mishap rather than a clear first look.
Dylan Strome scored the decisive shootout goal after a tip from Capitals goalie Logan Thompson on Adin Hill, faking a forehand to freeze Hill and roofing a backhand. Thompson then stopped three Knights in the shootout to seal Washington's win, improving his record against Vegas and keeping Strome atop the Capitals' shootout scoring chart this season.
Montreal Canadiens aim to seal a season sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, riding a four-game win streak and having outscored Carolina 12-2 in two meetings this season. Carolina, the Metro-leading team, has been strong with a high-pressure game and is 6-4-0 in its last 10, while Montreal has tightened defensively to allow about two goals per game over six games. Key players to watch include rookie Ivan Demidov for Montreal and Seth Jarvis for Carolina. The Canadiens won’t have a morning skate, and full lineup details will be posted closer to puck drop.
The Carolina Hurricanes host the New Jersey Devils in a Metro Division matchup on March 28, 5:00 p.m. ET, after a rare three-day break. Carolina is 45-20-6, Devils 37-32-2, with potential lineup notes including Shayne Gostisbehere’s return and a goalie decision between Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen. The game airs on FanDuel Sports Network, with Canes aiming to build on recent form before Sunday’s rematch vs Montreal.
Robert Thomas is set to return to the Blues’ lineup and skate on the top line against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Justin Holl replacing Matthew Kessel on defense and Jordan Binnington in net. The projected forwards are Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud, Neighbours-Buchnevich-Kyrou, Stenberg-Dvorsky-Berggren, and Toropchenko-Finley-Suter, while defense pairs are Broberg-Mailloux, Lindstein-Parayko, and Fowler-Holl. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. Saturday, with TV/radio coverage on FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, First Alert 4, Matrix Midwest and 101 ESPN/Blues App.
A concise ranking of the 10 most realistic first-round NHL playoff matchups, using HockeyStats.com odds (minimum 10%), ranging from No. 10 Utah Mammoth vs. Anaheim Ducks to No. 1 Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars. The piece explains why each pairing would be compelling and includes brief historical and narrative context, underscoring the star power and potential drama of an epic opening round.