Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the team announc...

Winnipeg Jets forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6466" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6466">Gabriel Vilardi</a> is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the team announced Monday.Head coach Scott Arniel specified the ailment isn't from the puck hitting Vilardi's ear Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres, according to Ken Wiebe of the <a href="https://x.com/WiebesWorld/status/1904234423471780038">Winnipeg Free Press</a>.Vilardi has been a staple on Winnipeg's top line this season alongside <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2150" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2150">Mark Scheifele</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5545" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5545">Kyle Connor</a>. Vilardi has notched a career-high 27 goals and 61 points in 71 contests in 2024-25, his final year under contract before becoming a restricted free agent.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Jets acquired Vilardi from the Los Angeles Kings in 2023 as part of the return for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5588" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5588">Pierre-Luc Dubois</a>.Winnipeg leads the Western Conference with 100 points and is two back of the Washington Capitals in the Presidents' Trophy race with 11 games to go.

EDMONTON, CANADA - MARCH 20: Gabriel Vilardi #13 of the Winnipeg Jets in action during the game against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on March 20, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30723882/related

Jets' Vilardi week-to-week with upper-body injury

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton believes he's on the verge of breaking out of a diffic...

Toronto Maple Leafs forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2855" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2855">Scott Laughton</a> believes he's on the verge of breaking out of a difficult adjustment period with his new club. "It's been crazy for sure, but I think I'm starting to find my footing," Laughton <a href="https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/video/scott-laughton-practice-6370474723112">said</a>. "I think probably my game in Nashville was one of my better ones, so build on it. Doesn't really matter the role here, you try and help this team and be a part of it."Laughton has gone pointless and is a minus-5 in eight games with Toronto after being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers before the trade deadline. He had a goal disallowed Saturday against the Predators and played only 9:52 - his lowest total with the Maple Leafs.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The veteran said entering a new locker room after being a leader with the Flyers has been one of his biggest hurdles."Just new comfortability in the room, probably," Laughton said. "It's different. You want to be a part of it but not overstep, especially at the start ... But the guys have been awesome with me. It's been really cool at this time of year to be playing this kind of hockey."In regards to putting pressure on himself with the move to Toronto, he added, "I'm pretty self-aware of what's going on. Been in the league long enough now where you know when you're going and when you need to pick it up."Laughton lined up on the wing at practice Monday on a line with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3007" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3007">Max Domi</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8758" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8758">Nick Robertson</a>. He's played in numerous roles in his short tenure with Toronto, and head coach Craig Berube said he'll keep experimenting with Laughton at center and wing until he finds a spark."Sometimes coming to a new team, it's less to think about," Berube <a href="https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/video/craig-berube-practice-6370474340112">said</a>. "Less to do. I don't want to put so much on him. It's not that he can't play center. He's played center a lot in his career, and he's played wing. He's played both. Just trying to find some chemistry for him."Laughton and the Maple Leafs return to action Tuesday against the Flyers. They'll enter the contest two points back of the Florida Panthers for the Atlantic Division lead.

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 13: Scott Laughton #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms-up before playing the Florida Panthers at the Scotiabank Arena on March 13, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30723654/related

Laughton: 'I'm starting to find footing' while adjusting to Leafs

Jeremy Swayman said he was defending teammate Marat Khusnutdinov when he challenged counterpart D...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9893" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9893">Jeremy Swayman</a> said he was defending teammate <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9290" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9290">Marat Khusnutdinov</a> when he challenged counterpart <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2003" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2003">Darcy Kuemper</a> to a fight during the second period of Sunday's tilt between the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings.Kuemper grabbed Khusnutdinov in a scrum in front of his net, prompting Swayman to leave his crease. The netminders were prepared to come to blows at center ice before officials stepped in.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EsuSD1RtSKU?si=sGp1O5UUS8awWj-M" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>"He touched one of my guys," Swayman said, per <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6226008/2025/03/24/bruins-jeremy-swayman-darcy-kuemper-goalie-fight/?source=user_shared_article">The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa</a>. "That's not something I’m going to accept. Kudos to him. He stepped up. It got broken up"<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Bruins trailed by a goal at the time of the fracas, and ultimately lost 7-2. Swayman was in net the entire game, and admitted he needs to rediscover his form."I want to give this team a chance to win every night, and I haven't done that the last two games," Swayman said. "That's something I'm going to work on. I'm not giving up. I'm keeping my chin up. I'm not getting the results right now. I owe these guys better. I owe a hell of a lot of people a lot better. That's exactly what I’m going to do.”Swayman is 20-25-6 this season with an .892 save percentage after posting a .916 clip over the past three campaigns in a tandem with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3922" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3922">Linus Ullmark</a>. The Bruins traded Ullmark last summer and signed Swayman to an eight-year, $66-million contract after a contentious negotiation that leaked into training camp.Boston is six points back of a playoff spot with 10 games to go. The Bruins haven't missed the playoffs since 2015-16.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 23: Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins and Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Los Angeles Kings leave their crease and meet at center ice during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on March 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30721181/related

Swayman explains attempted fight: Kuemper 'touched one of my guys'

Connor Bedard is encouraged by the impact of the Chicago Blackhawks' youth movement, even though ...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13829" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13829">Connor Bedard</a> is encouraged by the impact of the Chicago Blackhawks' youth movement, even though the club has endured another difficult season."Yeah, big time. You're seeing guys come up and make a difference," Bedard said recently, per <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/connor-bedard-sees-positives-for-chicago-in-tough-season">NHL.com's Tracey Myers</a>.One player to catch Bedard's attention is blue-liner <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/15084" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/15084">Artyom Levshunov</a>, who made his NHL debut earlier in March after being drafted second overall last year.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"He comes up, and he looks great," Bedard said. "You can see why he is projected to be what he is, and that's exciting. He makes that pass, and you can see his hockey IQ. You can definitely see the future of him being a No. 1 guy."The Blackhawks have built one of the league's deepest prospect pools in recent years and are on track to draft high again as the league's 31st-ranked team with 12 games to go. Chicago also owns the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2025 first-rounder.Despite the club's potentially bright future, Bedard has voiced his displeasure with the Blackhawks piling up losses and media criticism this season. However, he said he's now focused on ending his sophomore campaign on a positive note."I know what I'm trying to do right now is not be so focused on results and just know we're young, we're trying to get better, and just have fun" Bedard said. "It's a great group of guys, and we have, what, three weeks left? So just have fun, enjoy it, and do the best you can. Obviously, you're trying to win every game, and you want to win, but we're going to try to play the best we can."Bedard leads the Blackhawks with 54 points this season. He won the Calder Trophy last campaign as rookie of the year.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 18: Connor Bedard #98 and Artyom Levshunov #55 of the Chicago Blackhawks confer against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at the United Center on March 18, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30713257/related

Bedard excited to see Blackhawks' youth 'make a difference'

Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis praised his squad after it mounted an electrifying...

Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis praised his squad after it mounted an electrifying three-goal comeback against the Colorado Avalanche on home ice.The Habs erased a 4-1 deficit in the third period with three goals in just over four minutes. Montreal ultimately lost in a shootout but earned an important point in the playoff race against a difficult opponent."We have a very confident group right now," St. Louis said, according to <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/comeback-proves-canadiens-wont-back-down-from-any-challenge/">Sportsnet's Eric Engels</a>. "I found we came in waves in the third. It wasn't just one line. We came in waves, and I think we gave them trouble."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Canadiens held on to the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference despite the defeat. The Habs are one point up on the New York Rangers with two games in hand, and they're two points ahead of the New York Islanders with the same number of contests played.Montreal returned from the 4 Nations Face-Off break five points back of a playoff spot but has gone 8-1-4 since Feb. 22. Only three teams have accumulated more points over that span."We believe in here that we can play against anyone," said forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/12706" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/12706">Juraj Slafkovsky</a>. "That's how we went into the game, and that's how our mindset was through the whole (65 minutes and shootout)."The Canadiens haven't qualified for the playoffs since the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. They lost the Stanley Cup Final that year.

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 28: Head coach Martin St-Louis of the Montreal Canadiens handles bench duties during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell Centre on January 28, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30711054/related

Canadiens' St. Louis: 'We have a very confident group right now'

J.T. Miller reflected positively on his tenure with the Vancouver Canucks as he braces to face hi...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2170" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2170">J.T. Miller</a> reflected positively on his tenure with the Vancouver Canucks as he braces to face his former club for the first time since being traded to the New York Rangers in January."I don't want to get into too much detail, but, yeah, I think a fresh start was needed," Miller told <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/a-fresh-start-was-needed-j-t-miller-weighs-in-on-his-trade-by-the-canucks/">Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre</a>. "I've got nothing bad to say about the Canucks or Vancouver as a city. We loved it there. It felt like home, and that's all you can ask for. But, unfortunately, this is a business and in the business end of things, it was getting difficult."Miller was dealt after a reported rift between him and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7699" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7699">Elias Pettersson</a> took over the club during a difficult start to the season. Canucks president Jim Rutherford <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3202993" href="https://thescore.com/news/3202993">said</a> prior to the trade that the drama was hurting the team and there were no good solutions to the issue.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"The whole me-and-Petey thing, it's still blown out of proportion," Miller said. "I get what Jim was doing. I have a ton of respect for Jim, and I talked with Jim after that (story). I wasn't mad; I understand everybody has a job to do. Clearly, if me and Petey were better than we were, obviously this might be different. But it's also not as bad as everybody thought either. It's just an easy thing for everybody to run with. There was just a lot of moving parts."Miller racked up 437 points in 404 games for Vancouver and was a key piece in helping the club win the Pacific Division in 2024. The 32-year-old said the fans' passion during last year's playoffs - the Canucks reached Game 7 of the second round - are some of the fondest memories of his career."They created a lot of special memories for me and my family, especially in the playoffs last year," he said. "I have three young children and one of their favorite memories was the fans chanting my name, probably something I'll never get back. But their honesty, their passion ... I feel like I pride myself on a lot of the same things (the fans) do. They're obsessed with their hockey there and obsessed with their team, and they're always blunt. Not to like that would be pretty hypocritical."Miller has recorded 18 points in 20 games since rejoining the Rangers, where he started his career. Saturday's clash against Vancouver is important for both clubs, as they're within striking distance of the final wild-card seed in their respective conferences.

ST. PAUL, MN - MARCH 13: New York Rangers left wing J.T. Miller (8) looks on during first period of an NHL game between the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild on March 13th, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30686939/related

Miller: 'Nothing bad to say' about Canucks

Edmonton Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will miss at least a week with injuries, ...

Edmonton Oilers stars <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4560" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4560">Connor McDavid</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3948" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3948">Leon Draisaitl</a> will miss at least a week with injuries, head coach Kris Knoblauch announced Friday. Draisaitl was labeled day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment prior to Thursday's clash with the Winnipeg Jets, while McDavid left the contest after two periods.McDavid <a href="https://x.com/Sportsnet/status/1902920936472334796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1902920936472334796%7Ctwgr%5E051576eebb284f21662cde6748f177d64d574ba6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcmsadmin.thescore.com%2Fadmin%2Fnewsroom%2F%2Farticles%2F3247083">appeared</a> to get hurt in a collision with Jets defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3161" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3161">Josh Morrissey</a>. Knoblauch didn't disclose what type of injury the captain is dealing with but noted he's getting an MRI on Friday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>McDavid missed three contests earlier this season due to an ankle injury and was suspended the same amount of games in January for cross-checking. He's notched 90 points in 63 appearances on the campaign.Draisaitl leads the league with 49 goals this season and ranks second with 101 points.The health of both players is top of mind for the Oilers as the playoffs approach."Obviously we have to be cognizant about what's ahead of us," Knoblauch said. "The playoffs are very important, and pushing guys to make themselves worse is not ideal. Even if it was game five or six (in the regular season), we wouldn't want to put somebody in a position where they're going to make themselves worse and have a nagging injury."Obviously the schedule has something to do with it, but ultimately it comes down to the medical staff saying when the player should return."<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6553" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6553">Stuart Skinner</a> was pulled from the crease by a concussion spotter in Thursday's loss but avoided injury and is available for Saturday's contest against the Seattle Kraken.The Oilers are currently second in the Pacific Division with 13 games remaining. They're two points up on the Los Angeles Kings, who have two games in hand.

BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 10: Connor McDavid #97 chats with Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers prior to a face-off during an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 10, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30686834/related

McDavid, Draisaitl out at least a week with injuries

Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and was unable ...

Edmonton Oilers superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3948" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3948">Leon Draisaitl</a> is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and was unable to suit up for Thursday's clash against the West-leading Winnipeg Jets.Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said the team will be conservative with Draisaitl's recovery as the playoffs approach."Absolutely, it's definitely being cautious," Knoblauch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqnpe2AZK5E&amp;ab_channel=EdmontonOilers">said</a>. "We're hitting the end of the regular season, hitting the playoffs. We want 100% from Leon when he's healthy, and this is something we do not want to linger."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He added: "Leon has played through so much. He's a battler, so there's not too often that he comes out of the lineup. We're just being cautious here."The Oilers have 13 regular-season games remaining. The club entered Thursday's slate in second place in the Pacific Division - two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights and three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings.Draisaitl has been Edmonton's driving force this season, leading the league with 49 goals while sitting second in points with 101. He also ranks fifth among all forwards in averaging 21:39 per contest.Durability has been a strength of Draisaitl's throughout his career. The 29-year-old has missed only nine games dating back to 2016-17.

EDMONTON, CANADA - MARCH 18: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers in action during the game against the Utah Hockey Club at Rogers Place on March 18, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30673926/related

Draisaitl day-to-day with injury, out vs. Jets

The Toronto Maple Leafs showered goaltender Joseph Woll with praise after his 38-save performance...

The Toronto Maple Leafs showered goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8266" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8266">Joseph Woll</a> with praise after his 38-save performance in Wednesday's important win over the Colorado Avalanche."He was excellent," head coach Craig Berube <a href="https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/video/craig-berube-post-game-6370256892112">said</a>. "Made some real good saves, held us in there in the first period. ... The last three games, he's been really good."The Avalanche outchanced the Maple Leafs 32-23 at five-on-five, according to <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20242025&amp;game=21087&amp;view=limited">Natural Stat Trick</a>, but Woll shut the door in the third period as Colorado pushed for an equalizer.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"His resilience is huge," forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1319" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1319">Steven Lorentz</a> <a href="https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/video/steven-lorentz-post-game-6370257277112">said</a>. "He probably saw seven or eight minutes of their top six in the last 10 (minutes), and he just stood on his head. He looked calm and cool in the net, he kept pucks in front of him, (and) he wasn't trying to make spectacular, flashy saves. He did a great job."Captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5586" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5586">Auston Matthews</a> <a href="https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/video/auston-matthews-post-game-6370255304112">added</a>: "He approaches things the same every night, and he's extremely focused. Tonight, he was excellent for us. He made some big saves there at the end to keep it a tie game. I just thought he was all over it tonight."Woll has won his last three appearances, helping the Leafs move into a tie with the Florida Panthers atop the Atlantic Division with 14 games remaining. He's outplayed partner <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9766" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9766">Anthony Stolarz</a> recently, and Berube noted it's unclear who will get the crease come playoff time.Stolarz has better stats in fewer starts on the season but has a .902 save percentage in nine appearances since returning from a knee injury in February.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Goalie</th>
<th>GP</th>
<th>Record</th>
<th>Sv%</th>
<th>GSAx</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Woll</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>24-12-0</td>
<td>.908</td>
<td>14.27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stolarz</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>13-8-3</td>
<td>.918</td>
<td>19.52</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Woll won Games 5 and 6 in Toronto's first-round playoff series last campaign but was injured for the club's Game 7 loss. Stolarz has one career playoff showing, a relief appearance in Game 4 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 19: Auston Matthews #34 congratulates Joseph Woll #60 of the Toronto Maple Leafs on a win over the Colorado Avalanche at the Scotiabank Arena on March 19, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30670886/related

Leafs laud Woll's effort vs. Avalanche: 'His resilience is huge'

Countries participating in the 2026 Olympic men's hockey tournament in Italy must name six player...

Countries participating in the 2026 Olympic men's hockey tournament in Italy must name six players to their rosters by June 15 before unveiling the rest by Dec. 31, according to <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/insider-trading-the-latest-from-the-gm-meetings~3099865">TSN's Pierre LeBrun</a>.Teams in this year's 4 Nations Face-Off used a similar method.The 2026 Olympics will feature NHL players for the first time since 2014. The league planned on sending players to the 2022 Games in Beijing but pulled out of doing so due to the pandemic. The NHL, NHLPA, and IIHF announced an agreement to return to the marquee event last February, and the NHL recently bolstered its future international calendar by committing to World Cups in 2028 and 2032.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Canada has won the past four international best-on-best competitions dating back to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 20: Sidney Crosby #87 of Team Canada celebrates with his teammates after defeating Team United States in overtime to win the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game at TD Garden on February 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30651274/related

Report: Olympic teams to name 1st 6 players to roster in June

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is pleased with the strides his club has made this...

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is pleased with the strides his club has made this season, but he said he won't recklessly hand out huge deals this summer to accelerate the team's rebuild."We're not going to go into free agency like a bunch of drunken sailors and get stuck with eight-year deals that we wish we could get out of the minute we get into them," Hughes told <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/kent-hughes-eager-to-guide-canadiens-from-relevance-to-prominence/">Sportsnet's Eric Engels</a> on Sunday. "But I think we're probably closer to overpaying in terms of what we give up in assets to acquire a player."The Canadiens are projected to have approximately $11.5 million in cap space this offseason, according to <a href="https://puckpedia.com/team/montreal-canadiens">PuckPedia</a>, and they don't have any big-ticket contracts to take care of in-house. Hughes believes the club is entering its timeline to contend after missing out on the playoffs the past three seasons.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We'd be remiss if we missed the window while we have an elite two-way centerman like <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6457" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6457">Nick Suzuki</a> driving our team," Hughes said.Suzuki, 25, leads the Habs with 69 points in 66 games this season and is under contract at a reasonable $7.875-million cap hit through the 2029-30 season. Fellow core forwards <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/10510" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10510">Cole Caufield</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/12706" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/12706">Juraj Slafkovsky</a> are also locked up long term, and Montreal has built one of the league's deepest prospect pipelines to supplement its chances of becoming a threat in the Eastern Conference.The Canadiens are one of the NHL's hottest teams, posting a 7-1-2 record since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Montreal enters Tuesday's tilt with the Ottawa Senators one point out of a playoff spot with two games in hand on the New York Rangers.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes addresses the media on February 10, 2022, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30650998/related

Hughes: Rising Habs won't act like 'drunken sailors' in free agency

Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery tipped his cap to Alex Ovechkin for the way he's e...

Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery tipped his cap to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1280" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1280">Alex Ovechkin</a> for the way he's embraced the pressure of chasing down Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record."You can tell certain moments of what's going on, but very rare, very rare," Carbery told <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/alex-ovechkin-handling-goals-record-chase-with-such-class?utm_source=nhldotcom&amp;utm_medium=social">NHL.com's Tom Gulitti</a>. "When you're in the game, and he probably would say, 'It's no different for me,' but I can feel it, and it's probably just a product of our guys and the excitement even for myself internally when he gets into scoring situations."But man, he's such a pro when he comes to this stuff, and he's been down this road chasing different records, pressure, all this stuff. So, he handles it with such class and deflects it all and makes it more about what we're doing as a team."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Ovechkin recorded his 887th career goal in his latest outing, putting him eight away from surpassing Gretzky. The 39-year-old has 34 markers on the season, including 19 in 33 games since returning from a broken tibia in December.The future first-ballot Hall of Famer prefers to talk about the Capitals' hunt for the Eastern Conference's top seed over his personal success."You're just focusing on different things," Ovechkin said. "Tomorrow it's a new day. We're going to play against a good team fighting for the playoffs, so we concentrate on that."The Capitals lead the East with 96 points after squeaking into the postseason last year as the second wild-card seed. The club has 15 games remaining and returns to action Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings.

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 15: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals waits for a face-off in the first period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on March 15, 2025 in San Jose, California.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30643044/related

Carbery: Ovechkin handling record chase with 'class'

Veteran Marcus Foligno lamented the Minnesota Wild's inability to add at the trade deadline as th...

Veteran <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1489" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1489">Marcus Foligno</a> lamented the Minnesota Wild's inability to add at the trade deadline as the club struggles to tread water while battling key injuries."It's tough. We all want to win," Foligno told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6207787/2025/03/17/wild-trade-deadline-regret-foligno/?source=emp_shared_article">The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith</a>. "We've been grinding for the past couple months, so it's just - I think you always want to see yourself as a team that's always going for it."The Wild have been without <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7294" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7294">Kirill Kaprizov</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5684" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5684">Joel Eriksson Ek</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2600" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2600">Jonas Brodin</a> for an extended period and are 4-6-1 since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Minnesota was unable to shop before the trade deadline due to salary-cap limitations.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We have a great team, but we're a different team without those three studs that we're missing," Foligno said. "Would you have liked to add or done something? For sure. But when you're kind of going with (general manager) Billy's (Guerin) plan and what we have to understand is it's moving chess pieces right now."He added, "But you look at other teams bulk up, and it just kinda gives you a little bit of jealousy. We know next year is next year and that we'll have that off our plate finally, but it just feels a little bit frustrating when you always want to be in that position to succeed."The Wild added depth forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9941" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9941">Justin Brazeau</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1935" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1935">Gustav Nyquist</a> but were mostly idle as the top teams in the Central Division - the Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars - loaded up for championship runs. Minnesota is still comfortably in a playoff spot, owning a six-point cushion in the first wild-card spot.The club has $14.7 million in dead money on the books due to the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. That total decreases to $1.6 million next season, and the Wild intend to be aggressive with their $20.9 million in cap space for the summer.The Wild have made the playoffs in all but two of the last 12 seasons but haven't won a series since 2015.

ST. PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 25: Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno (17) shoots the puck during the NHL game between the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild on February 25th, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30639861/related

Wild's Foligno: Jealous, frustrated we couldn't add at deadline

The Battle of Ontario will have high stakes Saturday night for the first time in years, and both ...

The Battle of Ontario will have high stakes Saturday night for the first time in years, and both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators are bracing for an intense matchup."They're a desperate team, as we should be too," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said, per <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/ottawa-senators-toronto-maple-leafs-expect-playoff-game-atmosphere?utm_source=nhldotcom&amp;utm_medium=social">NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger</a>. "And you know, it's going to be another playoff game, in my opinion."The rivalry game could be a playoff preview, as each team is jockeying for position in a tight Atlantic Division. The Maple Leafs enter the contest in second place, two points clear of the Tampa Bay Lightning and six clear of the Senators, who have a five-point cushion on the first wild-card seed.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Ottawa is looking to snap a seven-year playoff drought and enters the tilt on a five-game winning streak. Toronto has lost four of its last five."(Ottawa) has been an up-and-coming team for the past two or three years," Toronto forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4718" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4718">Mitch Marner</a> said. "You knew eventually they were going (to break) that barrier. They've got a lot of skill over there. They have a high work ethic. So, we've got to be ready to do that."The Senators have won both contests against the Maple Leafs this season and have taken five of the last six meetings."It's going to be a big game again," Senators forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9189" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9189">Tim Stutzle</a> said. "It's always a big rivalry between those two teams. ... They're a really good team over there, they have a lot of really good players and we just got to play our game."The Maple Leafs and Senators met in the playoffs four times from 2000-2004 but have since only qualified in the same year twice.

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 25: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) and Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) battle on a face-off during second period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on January 25, 2025, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30615490/related

Leafs, Senators expect playoff-type game in key Atlantic clash

The Edmonton Oilers had nothing but praise for Leon Draisaitl after the superstar's two-goal perf...

The Edmonton Oilers had nothing but praise for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3948" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3948">Leon Draisaitl</a> after the superstar's two-goal performance secured an important overtime win over the New York Islanders on Friday. "He's been the horse for us. He's been the catalyst most nights," defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3124" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3124">Darnell Nurse</a> told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6202318/2025/03/15/oilers-leon-draisaitl-100-points/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nhltw&amp;source=nhltw">The Athletic's Daniel Nugent-Bowman</a>. "He's one of the best players in the world and he’s showing it night in and night out."Draisaitl padded his cushion in the "Rocket" Richard race with his 48th and 49th goals of the season and is now 13 tallies clear of second place. He also hit the 100-point mark for the sixth time in seven seasons. The year he fell short of the feat was the pandemic-shortened, 56-game campaign in 2020-21.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I've seen Leon take control of his game," head coach Kris Knoblauch said. "He's always been a good player. He's always been dominant - one of the best forwards every single night. That's a star player."Knoblauch lauded Draisaitl's ability to play alongside any level of talent."You look at other star players and who they get to play with ... and he's not playing with guys who are making Olympic teams or are All-Stars," Knoblauch said. Draisaitl is two points behind <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3002" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3002">Nathan MacKinnon</a> in the Art Ross race with one fewer game played. The Oilers star leads the league in even-strength points (70) and goals (34) and is also at the forefront of the Hart Trophy conversation with a month left in the season. He won the award in 2019-20 and hasn't been a finalist since.The Oilers are in second place in the Pacific Division, but the Los Angeles Kings are only one point behind with two games in hand.

ELMONT, NEW YORK - MARCH 14: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his second period goal against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on March 14, 2025 in Elmont, New York.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30611483/related

Oilers amazed by Draisaitl: 'He's been the horse for us'

Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the team announ...

Calgary Flames captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/171" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/171">Mikael Backlund</a> is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the team <a href="https://x.com/NHLFlames/status/1900581437071638715">announced</a>.Backlund was hurt in Wednesday's loss to the Vancouver Canucks. He played only 2:58 in the contest.The soon-to-be 36-year-old has recorded 24 points in 64 games this season, his 17th with the Flames. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Calgary is in a fight for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Flames currently hold the final seed with a game in hand but are tied with Vancouver in points (71) and only two clear of Utah with 18 contests remaining.

CALGARY, ALBERTA - MARCH 08: Mikeal Backlune #11 of the Calgary Flames skates before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Saddledome on March 08, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30598622/related

Flames' Backlund week-to-week with upper-body injury

The Vegas Golden Knights signed goaltender Adin Hill to a six-year contract extension worth $6.25...

The Vegas Golden Knights signed goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4649" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4649">Adin Hill</a> to a six-year contract extension worth $6.25 million per season, the team announced Friday.Hill was scheduled for unrestricted free agency this summer following the end of a two-year contract that paid him $4.9 million annually. He signed that deal after backstopping the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023.The 28-year-old burst onto the scene during that playoff run, going 11-4 with a .932 save percentage and two shutouts after being acquired from the San Jose Sharks in August 2022. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hill's posted a .910 save percentage across three seasons with the Golden Knights. He signed his new contract as one of the hottest goalies in the NHL, having recorded a .941 clip in five appearances since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Hill was on Canada's roster for the tournament but didn't play.The Golden Knights are projected to have $10.49 million in cap space this summer after signing Hill, according to <a href="https://puckpedia.com/team/vegas-golden-knights">PuckPedia</a>. The netminder was the club's most prominent player on an expiring deal.Vegas holds a six-point lead in the Pacific Division with 17 regular-season games remaining.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 09: Adin Hill #33 of the Vegas Golden Knights tends net during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on March 09, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30597045/related

Golden Knights sign Hill to 6-year extension with $6.25M AAV

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch believes his club is suffering from a long list of prob...

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch believes his club is suffering from a long list of problems after losing for the seventh time in 10 games on Thursday."I guess a little bit of everything," Knoblauch <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/post-raw-kris-knoblauch-03-13-25-6370005144112">said</a> following the Oilers' 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. "Whether that's the power play or penalty kill. Whether it's depth scoring or making mistakes. Whatever it is, there are a lot of things we need to improve on."Edmonton's skid comes on the heels of the 4 Nations Face-Off break. The Oilers were two points off the Pacific Division lead with a game in hand upon returning but have fallen to third place and sit one point behind the Los Angeles Kings and seven from the Vegas Golden Knights.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Oilers have picked up just six points since the break to sit at the bottom of the NHL standings while ranking 21st in goals for and 30th in goals against.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3948" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3948">Leon Draisaitl</a> (15 points) and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4560" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4560">Connor McDavid</a> (13 points) have led Edmonton's attack during the rough patch. No other Oilers forward has more than five points.Knoblauch united his two superstars on a line Thursday against New Jersey and noted that some players are having difficulty finding chemistry with the core pieces."I've noticed there's other guys on our team - as nice as it is to play with a McDavid and Draisaitl - they get away from their game," Knoblauch said. "They're a little bit reluctant to do what's made them successful. They just defer. When they're away from them, playing with other guys, their game is a lot simpler, a lot more direct, and a lot more efficient."The Oilers return to action Friday against the New York Islanders.

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 01: Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch talks to players on the bench during the NHL game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 1, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30596945/related

Knoblauch: 'Little bit of everything' going wrong for Oilers during skid

Washington Capitals forward Pierre-Luc Dubois took ownership of his uninspiring one-year stint wi...

Washington Capitals forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5588" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5588">Pierre-Luc Dubois</a> took ownership of his uninspiring one-year stint with the Los Angeles Kings ahead of his return to Hollywood. "I learned a lot last year," Dubois told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6199861/2025/03/13/nhl-capitals-kings-pierre-luc-dubois-trade/">The Athletic's Eric Stephens</a>. "Since my first days in Columbus, you're playing top-six (minutes). In Winnipeg, top-six. And then all of a sudden, you're not. It's a challenge, and it's not that it can't be done. But it is a challenge. That's on me. I've never hid behind that. That was on me. I was not good in that challenge."The Kings acquired Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets during the 2023 offseason and signed him to an eight-year, $68-million extension. The move was supposed to fortify Los Angeles' Stanley Cup aspirations with enviable center depth along with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/575" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/575">Anze Kopitar</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2083" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2083">Phillip Danault</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Dubois registered 40 points with the Kings, his lowest total in a full season in his eight-year career. Los Angeles traded him to the Capitals last June, and he's on pace for a career-high 72 points while averaging more than 17 minutes per night."When you play three shifts in a period and you used to play seven, it might be tough to have the same impact with three or four than you did with seven," Dubois said. "It might be tough to have the same impact when you played 20 (in a game) and now you're playing 11. ... It's a challenge that I wasn't good at. That's just how it is sometimes."Dubois was traded to Washington for goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2003" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2003">Darcy Kuemper</a>, who's posted a .914 save percentage in 36 appearances this season.The Capitals enter Thursday's contest leading the Eastern Conference. The Kings currently hold the third spot in the Pacific Division.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 7: Pierre-Luc Dubois #80 of the Washington Capitals skates in warmups just prior to a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Capital One Arena on March 7, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30586915/related

Dubois: Kings tenure 'a challenge that I wasn't good at'

Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard are thrilled to face off in a matchup of the NHL's two most r...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/15142" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/15142">Macklin Celebrini</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13829" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13829">Connor Bedard</a> are thrilled to face off in a matchup of the NHL's two most recent first overall picks for the first time in their professional careers Thursday night."For sure, it's going to be great," Celebrini told <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/top-picks-macklin-celebrini-connor-bedard-face-off-for-first-time">NHL.com's Tracey Myers</a>. "Them and us, we have a way to go before it's a high-level rivalry where we're both in a playoff spot and maybe we face each other in the playoffs. Both of our franchises need a little bit of time to get there."Celebrini missed the first two meetings of the season between the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks due to injury. The clubs occupy the bottom two spots of the NHL standings, but the pair of young phenoms and North Vancouver natives are bright spots on the rebuilding squads.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"He's always been a superstar," Celebrini said of Bedard. "Whenever we were younger, he's always been the kid you see now. I think it's just flourished and kind of grown from there."Celebrini is tied for the rookie lead with 20 goals and ranks second with 48 points in 54 games."He's a dynamic player," Bedard said. "I know coming in as an 18-year-old is tough and, obviously, it's a good league, so I'm glad to see his production and his impact on games has been awesome. It's been fun to watch."Bedard has notched 52 points in 65 games this season. He won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2024.

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks skates after the puck in the first period against the Seattle Kraken at SAP Center on November 29, 2024 in San Jose, California.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30586184/related

Celebrini, Bedard excited for 1st NHL clash: 'Going to be great'

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/sean-o-leary/content_cards