標籤: Playoff

Tottenham Hotspur will benefit from Luka Vuckovic’s participation at the World Cup this summer, but only if Croatia reach the knockout stage.

Hamburger Abendblatt Report Today on the 19-year-old and how the World Cup could be financially beneficial for Tottenham and HSV Hamburg.

Vuckovic for the World Cup

The newspaper reports that Luka Vuckovic is one of three players in the current HSV squad for the World Cup this summer.

These nominations are financially beneficial for the German club. They will receive compensation payments from FIFA for each player released for World Cup duty. These funds are distributed to the DFB (German Football Association). They then send the payments to the individual clubs.

The further a player progresses in the tournament, the higher the resulting payout. Compensation is also provided for players who are loaned. This means that Tottenham’s Luka Vuckovic will bring money.

However, if the tournament reaches the knockout stage, his parent club, aka Spurs, will receive a daily compensation payment for the youngster’s release. Why? Because Vuskovic will officially Will be back under contract to Spurs by July 1^{scheduled tribe}.

FIFA is paying

FIFA pays each World Cup player approximately $11,000 per day. One third of this amount goes to the club where the player was under contract during the tournament. Another third goes to where he was under contract during the 2025/26 season.

In the case of Luka Vuckovic, the first will be spread across Tottenham and HSV. The other will go to HSV.

The third part goes to the club for which he played during the 2024/25 season. The young player spent him on loan at KVC Westerlo, but Hajduk Split should also get paid.

It’s a complicated matter to say the least, but Tottenham will benefit one way or the other. The decision to send Vuckovic to Germany last summer continues to benefit them.

The Miami Dolphins are entering a rebuild with a new head coach, a new starting quarterback, and several unproven players hoping to make their mark in the NFL. While they enter the season with low expectations in a top-heavy AFC East division that includes a Super Bowl representative from last year, it’s also a very exciting time for Dolphins fans, knowing that there’s always the chance that Malik Willis and company could be much better than skeptics expect.

Internally, the Dolphins, led by first-year head coach Jeff Hafley, will have to be confident in what they have. They may also feel like they are a piece or two away from competing in their conference.

One way to give the offense a better chance to succeed would be to strengthen the offensive line, which includes star running back D’Von Achane. There are several potential impact players still available.

Recently, ESPN’s Matt Bowen called the Dolphins the “best team fit” for former Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker, who is still unsigned in free agency. Decker requested and was granted his release from the Lions earlier this offseason, and has not found a new home since.

However, the 2024 Pro Bowl lineman is still only 32 years old (will turn 33 in August), and he has started all 140 of his appearances since being drafted as the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Decker will definitely help the Dolphins get the best from their offensive line, allowing some of the younger players to show off some veteran moves.

Whether Decker, who has become accustomed to entering the season with playoff expectations in Detroit in recent times, wants to join the rebuilding effort in Miami remains to be seen. Still, playing football, especially in South Beach while getting paid millions of dollars, is better than not competing at all.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings after Aaron Rodgers rejoins the Steelers

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Montreal Canadiens are clearly one of the most exciting teams in the NHL, due to the fact that they are the youngest organization in the league.

And while they currently hold a 2-1 lead in their second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres, there is one particular number that has remained consistent.

Canadiens Star Players at 5v5

10 playoff games in, some of their most electric point producers have yet to find the back of the net at 5v5.

Juraj Slafkowski, who set a new career high with 73 points in 82 games in the regular season, has no points.

Cole Caufield, who finished second in goal scoring with 51 goals in the regular season, did not have any points.

Calder Trophy finalist Ivan Demidov has no points.

This is the type of situation that will sink most teams, especially teams like the Habs who rely on the first line.

However, thanks to key contributions from Zachary Bolduc, Alex Texier and Kirby Dach, among others, the Canadiens are not only moving forward, but they have offered back-to-back dominant performances against the Sabres.

Of course, sticking to 5v5 ignores their powerplay production, with both Caufield and Slafkowski scoring significant powerplay goals in Game 3, which is an indicator that they can eventually take turns at equal strength.

As head coach Martin Saint-Louis explained on Tuesday, powerplay touches can go a long way in restoring a player’s confidence once the man advantage is gone. He was talking about Dach in this particular case, but the logic also applies to Slafkovsky, Demidov, and Caufield.

Hear the team’s pregame comments ahead of tonight’s Game 4 against Buffalo

Tune in now for live pregame media ops ahead of tonight’s Game 4 against the Sabers #GoHabsGo https://t.co/GnwYezrnbJ

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 12 May 2026

depth value

Here’s how 5v5 production breaks down across the lineup. Zachary Bolduc leads the way with two goals and four assists, including Newhook, Dach and Texier.

If I had told you heading into the playoffs that the three players in question would go scoreless for 10 games at 5v5, you probably would have asked me how they could possibly avoid being eliminated in the first round.

And the answer is that the Habs have somehow managed to produce a hero every night, one who is not among the highest-paid players in the lineup, and one who does not enjoy playing on the first line.

In other words, the depth players have responded well beyond expectations given the circumstances.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5 via Natural Stat Trick.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed on Friday.

montreal canadiens news

• Alex Newhook attacked in Game 2 against the Buffalo Sabers and scored two goals to lead Montreal to an impressive 5–1 victory. The game ended up being one of Montreal’s best seasons of the year, with the Habs defeating Buffalo 2–0 and sweeping them 7–0 in the first round. [Canadiens Highlights: Dominant Win Evens Series Versus Sabres]

• While the Habs have leveled their series against the Sabres, the Laval Rocket are preparing for the final game of their second-round series against the Toronto Marlies. Laval had a great year, but it will quickly be forgotten if they fall to the Marlies. [Laval Rocket Season On The Line Against Marlies]

• Zach Benson’s frustrated chihuahua act is part of his playing style, and he’s given full marks for what he has to do to survive in a league full of Rottweilers. But it was fun to watch him try to chip Jacob Dobbs, a player who lives for this kind of grease. It’s worth noting that Dobbs was right after the failed Twitter attempt.

Benson lets Dobbs hear it 🍿 https://t.co/Zsft9R2aab pic.twitter.com/XAVexOcXWA

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 9 May 2026

• He won’t get credit for this, but it appears that Mike Matheson was trying to protect Benson from any serious injury when the Sabers forward reached the bottom of the dog pile.

Here’s the entire drama that involved Benson and Dobbs. #GoHabsGo

Finally Benson got up and started shouting again. pic.twitter.com/mlDOO64YAf

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 9 May 2026

• You could tell Newhook was *a little* excited to read the starting lineup before Game 2.

Now this is how you read lineups, Alex Newhook 🫡 pic.twitter.com/fEf6Xch3oi

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 9 May 2026

• Rockets head coach Pascal Vincent had nothing but great things to say about his captain Lucas Condotta.

nice words for the captain
kind words for the captain pic.twitter.com/HjEO4YkYdp

– xy – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) 8 May 2026

Sportsknot Network

• After competing for the services of Sunny Mehta, it looks like the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs may be facing off against each other for another front office executive. After learning he was also a candidate for the job in Toronto, the Devils were not going to let Mehta slip through their fingers. [New Jersey Devils]

• The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the odds and won the NHL draft lottery. That stroke of luck has completely changed the narrative around the moribund franchise. Just a day earlier, all one could talk about was the team’s appointment of new general manager John Chayka, which was being widely criticized. Now, it’s all about that No. 1 pick in next month’s draft. [Toronto Maple Leafs]

• Colorado Avalanche superstar center Nathan MacKinnon has already locked in a spot on the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goalscorer in 2025-26. Now he will get a chance to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP for the second time in his career. [Colorado Avalanche]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

southampton Scouts have been sent to watch FC Porto win the title against Alverca, but their recruitment thinking is clouded by one major uncertainty.

His visit was confirmed by local outlets to ball And record. And while promotion is not yet secured, the club are heading into the Championship play-offs. This leaves two very different squad plans on the table.

That context probably shaped what they were looking for in Dragão.

Two scenarios shaping Southampton’s shortlist

If Southampton returns to the Premier League, their goals from this match become more ambitious.

Alberto Costa fits into that category. The 22-year-old right-back made a vital late intervention, clearing a shot off the line, and showed his ability to cover the field in both phases. Their profile suggests readiness for higher levels, while still providing room for growth.

Alan Varela also falls into the same category. Introducing in the second half, he showed composure in possession and positional discipline. Southampton will need midfield control at Premier League level, and Varela’s style suits that demand.

And if we’re talking energy and physicality, an obvious choice would be left-back Zaidou Sanusi, who Already a target for Leeds United.

Rodrigo Mora is the more ambitious name on this list. His cameo showed quality, but a move would likely depend on Southampton achieving promotion and being willing to expand financially.

Championship plans remain very different

If Southampton fail to go up, the focus immediately shifts.

In that case, Alvarca’s Chiquinho and Porto’s Pablo Rosario become more realistic targets in that scenario. Both provide experience and physical presence, which are vital in the Championship. Chiquinho’s direct running and Rosario’s midfield control would suit the demands of that league.

Alverca’s Davy Gui made a strong impact despite limited minutes. The 19-year-old player recorded 15 actions in just 12 minutes, bringing urgency and unpredictability. That type of profile can be developed further in a more structured environment.

Lincoln adds another option. His work rate and ability to contribute defensively and offensively for the visiting team will translate well to a higher-paced league.

Porto’s young right-back Martim Fernandes could also be considered as a depth option, especially given his composure in possession and potential for development.

wider context from the match

In addition to the specific shortlist, a number of players on the pitch will have been noted.

Diogo Costa made vital saves to preserve the result and continued to attract attention from across Europe. Gabriel Veiga assisted the winning goal and set the offensive stage, cementing his reputation.

Additionally, a familiar name for the saints led the celebration. Jan Bednarek scored the goal that sealed Porto’s title, Crowning a brilliant season for the defender. However, a move back to Southampton does not appear to be on the agenda.

what happens next

Southampton’s recruitment team faces a divided path. Promotion opens doors for players like Alberto Costa and Rodrigo Mora. The failure to move up turns the focus towards more practical additions such as Chiquinho and Pablo Rosario.

This uncertainty explains their extensive scouting approach in Portugal. Instead of targeting one profile, they are creating two parallel plans. The outcome of the playoffs will determine who becomes a reality.

A new report offers reason to wonder if Karl-Anthony Towns’ recent hot streak for the New York Knicks may be partially motivated by the opportunity to score one last monster contract.

The version of Towns that Knicks fans have seen over the past few weeks may be the best version they’ve seen during his two seasons with the team. The strangest thing about this is that in his last four games, he has scored 20 or more points only once.

The All-Star who claims he is the best shooting big man of all time looks like an Eastern version of Nikola Jokic with some excellent passing and serves as a facilitator on top of that guy. However, he has also given maximum effort on the defensive side. The Knicks probably wouldn’t be in this recent playoff contest without this version of KAT.

A month ago, there was speculation about his spot on this roster and coach Mike Brown not making adjustments to get the most out of the six-time All-Star. It seemed that his days in New York would be numbered. Especially after the Knicks lost their series against the Atlanta Hawks 2-1.

However, he has started to work on defense, and Brown has finally found a way to get the most out of his talent. But all this requires a level of sacrifice that towns have rarely shown. Something changed, where he decided to change his style and do whatever was necessary for the team to win and reach the finals. This is a great thing for Knicks fans and shows a new level of dedication.

Is Karl-Anthony Towns’ recent play inspired by receiving a new max deal from the NY Knicks?

Still, for Towns, his recent play and mental pivot may be more inspired than his first trip to the NBA Finals. In a new report from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, NBA insiders reveal Towns could opt out of the final year of his deal next summer. Opting out of a deal that pays him $61 million seems strange, but the goal will be to get an extension.

They report, “The Knicks could give him a max deal of up to four years and $260 million.” At the age of 30, this would be the last major deal he would receive as a professional. So it means a lot for him to be the best version of himself and for the team to have a real chance to reach and win the NBA Finals.

Bontemps and Windhorst noted that the Knicks have invested about $170 million in Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart for the 2027-28 season. However, if the Knicks reach the Finals or win their first title in 43 years, Towns puts them in a difficult position where they may have to pay him off and make another title run.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Monday.

montreal canadiens news

• Elliotte Friedman officiated in the first round series between the Habs and Lightning. Or more precisely, they immediately discussed a penalty, which at first seemed imaginary, but was actually a legitimate penalty on Oliver Kapanen. In this particular case, I would argue the point was that the referee’s hand did not go up until Dominic James oversold the contact moments later. Either way, the Canadians cannot focus on umpiring in this series, as it is a factor they cannot easily control.

Here is the Kapanen penalty.

When I saw it…I thought there was an obvious high-stick above the hashmark – and those penalties were being called all series. Obviously, the Canadiens (and their fans) feel the hand was raised late or an actual penalty was ignored/missed. pic.twitter.com/fTgS9coIzm

– Elliot Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) 27 April 2026

• Even though the results on the ice at 5v5 have been less than ideal, Lane Hutson has done a great job when tasked with defending star players 1v1.

Lane Hutson defending Nikita Kucherov 1v1: pic.twitter.com/UAXZVeFxvs

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 April 2026

• Lost in the shuffle over the weekend, the Canadiens re-assigned defenseman David Rickenbacker to the Laval Rocket (AHL). The Rockets’ playoff push begins on Wednesday, with a series against the Toronto Marlies on the menu.

The Canadiens have loaned defenseman David Rickenbacker to the Laval Rocket.

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 27 April 2026

• Members of the organization who met with the media on Monday included Alexandre Texier, Alex Newhook and head coach Martin St-Louis.

Follow Canadians’ media availability

Tune in now for Canadiens media ops live #GoHabsGo https://t.co/cZHoLurSSf

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 27 April 2026

Sportsknot Network

• Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has been in NHL trade rumors for a while now and it doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. Tkachuk’s future is a major topic of conversation after the Carolina Hurricanes defeated Ottawa in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. [Ottawa Senators]

• The Washington Capitals have announced they are parting ways with former hub Kirk Mueller. Müller’s contract was due to expire in June. On Monday morning, Capitals general manager Chris Patrick released a statement regarding Mueller. The assistant coach wants to pursue “other opportunities in the National Hockey League.” [Washington Capitals]

• After a 6-1 loss on Sunday, the Buffalo Sabers could be even stronger on Tuesday. The Sabers have beaten the odds heading into their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins with a mix of momentum and growing injury concerns. [Buffalo Sabres]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Montreal – It feels like there’s more Montreal Canadiens news every hour, and we’re all bound to miss a story or two. On Sundays, we always recap relevant NHL news you may have missed, to help you stay in the Canadiens loop.

Given that the Habs played on Sunday, this edition of The Wrap is scheduled for Monday morning.

Make sure you don’t miss any news from Canadians by signing up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for a daily newsletter covering various other NHL teams, or the most exciting developments in the game.[Sportsnaut]

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes

Three of Juraj Slafkowski’s goals came on the power play, but it was really Montreal’s work at 5v5 that should be considered the most encouraging aspect of the Game 1 win. The Habs swept the Tampa Bay Lightning, and by a wide margin. [Canadiens Playoff Analysis: The Key Statistic From Game One Win]

Slafkowski praised head coach Martin St-Louis for his wise use of timeouts against the Lightning. Rather than wait for another opportunity, or lose it on the time clock, St.-Louis decided to call a timeout at the beginning of overtime, which immediately led to Slafkowski’s game-winning goal.

Juraj “The Wolf” Slafkowski…OT Hero and TNT Postgame Interview 🔥🐺 pic.twitter.com/hfn2XCWV0l

– NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) 20 April 2026

He also noted that Canadiens work as a pack, with each player leading the hunt in the same direction.

Juraj Slafkowski on the Wolf cap after the Habs’ win:

“Wolves attack together as a big pack and we try to be like that.” pic.twitter.com/d0bJQnJf0I

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 20 April 2026

Speaking of Slafkovsky, despite excellent work on the powerplay, he was clearly the team’s best player at 5v5. He had more individual high-danger scoring chances at 5v5 (three) than the entire Tampa Bay Lightning lineup (one).

NHL Game Score Impact Card for Montreal Canadiens on 2026-04-19: pic.twitter.com/7Quxe29znP

– hockeystatcards (@hockeystatcards) 20 April 2026

The excitement in practice following the 4-3 overtime win against the Bolts was impeccable.

Above all, don’t change Juraj! 😆 pic.twitter.com/8HAt7kCgjR

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 20 April 2026

The Canadiens did not produce a terrible effort against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game two, however, as some costly mistakes cost the Bolts a 3–2 overtime victory, including a terrible pass attempt by Juraj Slafkowski. That being said, Slafkowski was far from the only player who made a mistake on Tuesday night. [Canadiens Highlights: Exciting Overtime Loss]

The Habs players were quite composed after the disappointing loss. As Mike Matheson explained, they always knew they were going to face a talented team in the Lightning.

Listen to the media availability after tonight’s Game 2 vs. Tampa Bay

Tune in now for live postgame media ops after tonight’s Game 2 against the Lightning#GoHabsGo https://t.co/lWZWqmkEMP

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 22 April 2026

It remains to be seen if head coach Martin Saint-Louis will make any lineup changes before Game Three on Friday, but there are some good options if he decides to change things up.

I think we might see Joe Velano or Brendan Gallagher #hubs Lineup for Game 3, replacing Kirby Dach.

– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) 22 April 2026

While the Canadiens generated more high-danger opportunities than the Lightning at 5v5, the momentum shifted strongly to Tampa Bay’s corner about midway through the game. [NST]

With all due respect to Arbor Zekaj, I was expecting him to write “I want it this way” in the first few notes.

Playoff Arbor Zekaj pic.twitter.com/RKvuVRcCGS

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 21 April 2026

Sniper Cole Caufield was the latest athlete to pour his heart out to the Players’ Tribune, in a brilliant piece that can only be described as heartfelt and honest. “To me, hockey is the best game because you can’t really do it alone. Scoring 50 this year was amazing, but it was a team accomplishment. And really, it’s about the whole environment you’re in. The Bell Center has been incredible all season, and scoring No. 50 in front of all you guys and with my dad in the building… it was a great wave to go into these playoffs.” [Players’ Tribune]

Caufield also discussed the upcoming game at the Bell Center and the impact Canadiens fans have on the team’s motivation.

Cole Caufield at tomorrow’s Habs playoff home game:

“We watched Game 3 at the Bell Center on Friday night, everyone was just smiling from ear to ear, like…

‘Fuck me. That would be madness.’

“We know tomorrow night is going to be an absolute blast.” pic.twitter.com/HUGRjxoKqj

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 23 April 2026

The top four have struggled when it comes to shutting down the Lightning, however, the third pairing of Jaden Struble and Arbor Zekaj has stood out. Take a look at how the Canadiens’ defensemen have performed so far in the playoffs. [Canadiens Need Better Results From Top Four]

With the series tied at 1-1, we also take a look at which forward lines have performed well, and which trios need to up their game against the Bolts. [Which Canadiens Lines Are Performing Best In Playoffs]

Zekaj doesn’t seem particularly concerned about Tampa’s continued slickness. He’s got a point, because the Habs have created a lot more high-danger scoring chances than the Bolts, but getting to the line is always a tough proposition, especially when you’re dealing with habitual line steppers.

Arbor Zekaj referred to himself as a “villain” vs. the Habs on the Tampa Bay Lightning today:

“If they want to think that way, fine. We’re here. We’re ready for whatever they offer us.” pic.twitter.com/1cktWPcG71

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 23 April 2026

Head coach Martin St-Louis joins Zekaj when it comes to not losing any sleep over Tampa’s strategy.

Habs coach Marty St. Louis on the Lightning’s intimidation tactics today:

“We’ve talked about it. Did we look scared? I don’t think so. If they want to play that game, we’re able to play that game. We’re equipped to do it.” pic.twitter.com/wdH47yGu2X

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 23 April 2026

It was another even game, at least on the scoreboard. Thanks to an overtime goal from Len Hutson, the Habs emerged with a 2–1 win and a 2–1 series lead. All things considered, the scoreline was a little favorable towards the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that generated a fair amount of high-danger scoring chances at 5v5. [Canadiens Highlights: Hutson Plays The Hero In Big Win]

Hutson’s game-winning goal was so good it’s worth watching twice.

lane hutson is yours @Energizer Overtime Hero! 🔵⚪️🔴 #Stanley Cup pic.twitter.com/nJCmLD0jod

– NHL (@NHL) 25 April 2026

It should also be noted that Hutson somehow managed to achieve his goal. This may seem arrogant to some, but we all know that’s not Hutson’s style. He is confident in his game and has the results to back it up.

Lane Hutson joked to his teammates before OT that he felt like he had the game-winner tonight.

According to Jaden Struble, Lane just let out a “I think I got it tonight” and went out and scored GWG.

#48 to 6/5 Competitiveness pic.twitter.com/4o2NV82KlW

– Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) 25 April 2026

Captain Nick Suzuki’s dry humor was at play after the thrilling win.

#hubs Nick Suzuki on Lane Hutson’s bomb from the overtime point: “I didn’t think he could hit it that hard…” the captain said with a smile.

– Priyantha Amrith (@HabsInHighHeels) 25 April 2026

While the first line struggles to generate much offense at even strength, Kirby Dach has done a great job in leading the Canadiens to wins, including a two-point effort on Friday night. It was one of his best games in a Habs uniform since joining the team in 2022.

Cole Caufield at tomorrow’s Habs playoff home game:

“We watched Game 3 at the Bell Center on Friday night, everyone was just smiling from ear to ear, like…

‘Fuck me. That would be madness.’

“We know tomorrow night is going to be an absolute blast.” pic.twitter.com/HUGRjxoKqj

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 23 April 2026

It’s very easy to dismiss the play of Arbor Czekaj and Jaden Struble on the third pairing, but it would be intellectually dishonest to ignore the fact that they lead all NHL defensemen in expected goal share. Yes, it is easy to play on the third pair, but it is never easy to control more than 80% of the expected goals. [Canadiens Need Better Results From Top Four]

Xhekaj and Struble currently rank first and second in xGF%.

Yes, the use is easier on the third pair, but it is also true that they have been excellent.

If those numbers were that easy to produce, they wouldn’t be several times ahead of the entire NHL.

This is a very good pair. pic.twitter.com/tCqzFUlQ0x

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 25 April 2026

Ivan Demidov sat down with Elliotte Friedman to discuss his rookie season with the Habs, and how they quickly became part of their family.

Tampa Bay’s strategy of rushing players, harassing goaltenders and punching opponents in every scrimmage is backfiring spectacularly. In fact, in addition to the series lead, the Canadiens have actually had more hits than their opponents through three games. [Tampa Bay’s Strategy Is Backfiring In Series Versus Canadiens]

The discrepancy in high-danger shots in the series is hard to ignore. In fact, after three games, the Canadiens have accounted for 75% of high-danger scoring opportunities at 5v5, the highest mark of all teams in the NHL playoffs.

For fun, here are the HDCF% of the various teams in the playoffs after three games. It reflects the share of high-danger scoring chances a team generates.

#GoHabsGo Leading the league by a huge margin with 75%. https://t.co/vtaVVh8y3G pic.twitter.com/1XZdiqMTul

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 25 April 2026

Apart from the physical battle, which the Habs are winning, there are several other reasons why the Canadiens have managed to take the lead in the series, including the excellent play of the third pair of Arbor Czekaj and Jayden Struble. [Top 3 Reasons The Canadiens Have A Series Lead]

Believe it or not, Shekaz leads the entire NHL in expected goal share with an impressive 83.8%. [NST]

Kirby Dach discusses support from head coach Martin Saint-Louis as he overcomes an endless list of injuries in recent seasons.

Kirby Dach on receiving a vote of confidence from Habs coach Marty St. Louis yesterday:

“I think as a competitor, you want a chance to respond. You want to be able to go out there and prove your worth. This game is tough, there are a lot of mistakes, it’s not… pic.twitter.com/uYFCvEuOqz

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 25 April 2026

This is clearly trolling, but comparatively speaking, it is quality trolling. Additionally, given that Brady Tkachuk appears to be one of the worst leaders in the league, perhaps it is time to examine his position in the Senators organization. Or maybe he is a great leader who never seems to have luck when it comes to leadership. Difficult to say.

Arbor Zekaj has more points than Brady Tkachuk in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/t1j569ZKzS

– Alex (@ivandemigoal) 25 April 2026

The clip embedded below has nothing to do with the Habs, but when a dirtbag like Ridley Gregg starts punching a player who’s being pinned down, it’s hard not to roll your eyes. That is pure cowardice.

Will this despicable act by Ridley Gregg be sanctioned by the NHL?🤔 pic.twitter.com/drSzZb6KrY

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 25 April 2026

The Canadiens actually managed to establish their first two-goal lead in the series on Sunday night, but it was not enough, as a late-game surge by the Lightning resulted in a 3–2 loss, tying the series at two games apiece in the process. [Canadiens Highlights: Late-Game Collapse Costs Habs]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

As the Montreal Canadiens prepare to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of their first-round series, it’s hard not to question the NHL’s decision making when drafting the playoff schedule.

Before we go any further, it’s important to remember that leagues don’t revolve around hubs, and there are other factors to consider than just hockey. Arenas outside modern sporting settings have become money makers for their billionaire owners, with concerts providing the majority of the year’s profits. With this in mind, it is always difficult to create an ideal schedule, as there are an endless stream of variables to consider.

And yet, watching the Canadiens crowd entertain themselves after a thrilling Game 3 win, I couldn’t help but wonder how much better the atmosphere would have been on Saturday night.

Len Hutson’s Habs playoff OT winner tonight at Bell Center pic.twitter.com/VpeMujdhjQ

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 25 April 2026

On the surface, perhaps it shouldn’t matter. The Canadiens will have played two games over the weekend, Friday and Sunday, giving the Bell-Centre faithful plenty of opportunities to celebrate the youngest team in the league.

But if the NHL’s goal is to give the game more exposure to the ultimate fan experience, it would be well served by giving new fans a glimpse of the most exciting atmosphere in North America, and that event only happens on Saturday nights, in the playoffs, at the Bell Center.

Of course, this opinion is dripping in ego, as there are other arenas that offer a healthier environment, but there is a reason the Bell Center is ranked as the best rink in the league.

No other arena can match the intensity, and no other fans can maintain that level of intensity during a game of sixty minutes or more.

And given the intensity involved in each game featuring the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, the chances of having a blowout game on a national broadcast will be significantly reduced.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Friday.

montreal canadiens news

It was another even game, at least on the scoreboard. Thanks to an overtime goal from Len Hutson, the Habs emerged with a 2–1 win and a 2–1 series lead. All things considered, the scoreline was a little favorable towards the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that generated a fair amount of high-danger scoring chances at 5v5. [Canadiens Highlights: Hutson Plays The Hero In Big Win]

Hutson’s game-winning goal was so good it’s worth watching twice.

lane hutson is yours @Energizer Overtime Hero! 🔵⚪️🔴 #Stanley Cup pic.twitter.com/nJCmLD0jod

– NHL (@NHL) 25 April 2026

It should also be noted that Hutson somehow managed to achieve his goal. This may seem arrogant to some, but we all know that’s not Hutson’s style. He is confident in his game and has the results to back it up.

Lane Hutson joked to his teammates before OT that he felt like he had the game-winner tonight.

According to Jaden Struble, Lane just let out a “I think I got it tonight” and went out and scored GWG.

#48 to 6/5 Competitiveness pic.twitter.com/4o2NV82KlW

– Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) 25 April 2026

Captain Nick Suzuki’s dry humor was at play after the thrilling win.

#hubs Nick Suzuki on Lane Hutson’s bomb from the overtime point: “I didn’t think he could hit it that hard…” the captain said with a smile.

– Priyantha Amrith (@HabsInHighHeels) 25 April 2026

While the first line struggles to generate much offense at even strength, Kirby Dach has done a great job in leading the Canadiens to wins, including a two-point effort on Friday night. It was one of his best games in a Habs uniform since joining the team in 2022.

Cole Caufield at tomorrow’s Habs playoff home game:

“We watched Game 3 at the Bell Center on Friday night, everyone was just smiling from ear to ear, like…

‘Fuck me. That would be madness.’

“We know tomorrow night is going to be an absolute blast.” pic.twitter.com/HUGRjxoKqj

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 23 April 2026

It’s very easy to dismiss the play of Arbor Czekaj and Jaden Struble on the third pairing, but it would be intellectually dishonest to ignore the fact that they lead all NHL defensemen in expected goal share. Yes, it is easy to play on the third pair, but it is never easy to control more than 80% of the expected goals. [Canadiens Need Better Results From Top Four]

Xhekaj and Struble currently rank first and second in xGF%.

Yes, the use is easier on the third pair, but it is also true that they have been excellent.

If those numbers were that easy to produce, they wouldn’t be several times ahead of the entire NHL.

This is a very good pair. pic.twitter.com/tCqzFUlQ0x

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 25 April 2026

Ivan Demidov sat down with Elliotte Friedman to discuss his rookie season with the Habs, and how they quickly became part of their family.

Sportsknot Network

There was no chance that the New Jersey Devils were going to let Sunny Mehta slip through their fingers. Sunny Mehta is eight days into his Devils tenure and has already endeared himself to the New Jersey organization and fans in his introductory press conference. Yet, just nine days ago, there was real interest and possibility that Mehta could be the next man in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs. [New Jersey Devils]

A little number 86 flying around the ice playing with the puck on his stick? That must be Jack Hughes, right? Actually, it’s Buffalo Sabers rookie, Noah Ostlund. When the Sabers learned they were losing Josh Norris to injury in Game 3, it caused a bit of panic. [Buffalo Sabres]

There’s no love lost between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators during the Round One matchup in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and after the events of Game 3, it’s safe to say that the general feeling of dislike has grown even deeper after Jake Sanderson left the game following a check to the head of Taylor Hall. [Ottawa Senators]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

A little number 86 flying around the ice playing with the puck on his stick? That must be Jack Hughes, right? Actually, it’s Buffalo Sabers rookie, Noah Ostlund.

When the Sabers learned they were losing Josh Norris to injury in Game 3, it caused a bit of panic.

Buffalo is well ahead of Ostlund, whom they selected 16th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. However, a rookie making his playoff debut in place of a proven impact NHL forward is a big question.

Despite his initial nervousness, Ostlund didn’t let the horror of the moment overwhelm him.

“Maybe a little nervousness the first two innings,” Ostlund said with a smile. “But it also goes away very quickly.”

After a scoreless first period on Thursday night, the Boston Bruins took a 1-0 lead on the stick of Tanner Jeannott just over three minutes into the middle frame.

However, the Sabers did not bow. And finally answered.

About seven minutes after the opening goal, Ostlund advanced the puck through the neutral zone and over the Boston blueline to enter the clean zone. He slipped through the Bruins defense and down the goal line with the puck, and fed Bowen Byram at the top of the right circle for a one-time chance that beat goaltender Jeremy Swayman to tie the game at one.

Ostlund’s elusive playmaking certainly took the volatile Swayman by surprise. Nevertheless, he surprised even Byram from close.

“To be honest, he surprised me a little bit there,” Byram said. “I wasn’t sure he would make it to me. It was surreal to have him go through it.”

While the Sabers rookie turned some heads with his vision and playmaking, Ostlund shrugged it off as just another game.

“I looked at him all the way, and then [Josh Doan] Did a good job running the net,” he said. “So that lane opened up.”

The Sabers rookie put the nail in the coffin on Thursday to solidify their 3-1 win and take a 2-1 series lead. After Alex Tuch scored the game-winning goal early in the third period, Lindy Ruff iced Ostlund late in the third period when the Bruins pulled Swayman for an extra attacker.

“For his first playoff game with us, he gets an A-plus,” Ruff said.

Ostlund netted an empty-net goal as time expired to take Game 3 at TD Garden – his first goal in the playoffs.

Ostlund had a promising rookie season. He scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games. While he went scoreless in his first eight games since his 2024-25 debut, it’s clear that the Sabres’ rise to the plate has benefited Ostlund’s development.

However, his best game to date was probably Thursday night.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Ostlund-led line with Zach Benson and Jack Quinn led the Sabers in expected goal share with an 89.98 xGF% all night.

In fact, during 5-on-5 play, they didn’t allow a single scoring chance against Ostlund and company on the ice.

Before last night, Ostlund had not played in nearly a month after suffering an upper body injury – ironically on March 25 against the Sabres.

Still, his immediate impact upon returning to the lineup stunned his teammates, singing his praises in the locker room Thursday night.

“I mean, jumping right in, he hasn’t played a game in a few weeks, it’s his first playoff hockey game in his rookie year, and the guy gets (a goal) and (an assist). It’s special,” Tuch said. “I mean, the hockey IQ is off the charts. But honestly, competing, he went in every single inning, made a difference every single inning, and he was phenomenal.”

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Joshua Norris can’t seem to catch a break. The Buffalo Sabers will be without their starting center for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that Norris is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury after not feeling well after Game 2. The 26-year-old veteran did not suffer any major injuries in the last competition, but illness has ruled him out for at least one game.

This is certainly a significant short-term setback for Buffalo – especially after losing to the Bruins in Game 2 which allowed Boston to tie the series 1-1.

Norris, in his first playoff action, was a reliable contributor in the opening two games. He averaged over 16 minutes on the ice, recorded six hits, won 53.1% of faceoffs, and helped the Sabers control 61.1% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 with him on the ice.

During the regular season, he scored 34 points in 44 games despite missing time due to upper body problems, providing valuable secondary scoring and depth from a third-line role.

Fortunately, the return of rookie Noah Ostlund is giving the Sabers a timely boost. The morning line rush showed the 2022 first-round pick slotting directly into Norris’ place as the third-line center, with presumably familiar wingers next to him.

Ostlund, set to make his Stanley Cup playoff debut, had been sidelined since March 25 with an upper-body injury against Boston – nearly a month on the shelf – but seemed ready to contribute after a solid rookie campaign in which he scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games.

While Ostlund brings skill, hockey sense and two-way ability, there are some concerns. Deployed primarily on the wing during the season, he has struggled on faceoffs (31.5% win rate) and is a smaller, less physical player (5’11”, 180 pounds), which has been a tough series. Buffalo has already thrown 83 hits through two games, highlighting the physical disadvantage.

The Sabers would ideally like to see both players healthy, but Ostlund’s entry provides depth and youth as they try to storm back into the series. Game 3 in Boston could depend on how effectively the third line performs without Norris’ experience and how Ostlund handles the increased responsibility in a high-risk environment.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed Tuesday.

montreal canadiens news

The Canadiens did not produce a terrible effort against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game two, however, as some costly mistakes cost the Bolts a 3–2 overtime victory, including a terrible pass attempt by Juraj Slafkowski. That being said, Slafkowski was far from the only player who made a mistake on Tuesday night. [Canadiens Highlights: Exciting Overtime Loss]

The Habs players were quite composed after the disappointing loss. As Mike Matheson explained, they always knew they were going to face a talented team in the Lightning.

Listen to the media availability after tonight’s Game 2 vs. Tampa Bay

Tune in now for live postgame media ops after tonight’s Game 2 against the Lightning#GoHabsGo https://t.co/lWZWqmkEMP

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 22 April 2026

It remains to be seen if head coach Martin Saint-Louis will make any lineup changes before Game Three on Friday, but there are some good options if he decides to change things up.

I think we might see Joe Velano or Brendan Gallagher #hubs Lineup for Game 3, replacing Kirby Dach.

– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) 22 April 2026

While the Canadiens generated more high-danger opportunities than the Lightning at 5v5, the momentum shifted strongly to Tampa Bay’s corner about midway through the game. [NST]

With all due respect to Arbor Zekaj, I was expecting him to write “I want it this way” in the first few notes.

Playoff Arbor Zekaj pic.twitter.com/RKvuVRcCGS

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 21 April 2026

Sportsknot Network

Sunny Mehta is living his dream as the general manager of the New Jersey Devils. He himself had said this in his opening statement. With this in mind, there are several important issues that they will need to address quickly. [New Jersey Devils]

Bridging the NHL and KHL worlds, former Devils and Canadiens superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk has been named president of the Shanghai Dragons. The Chinese KHL club made the announcement Tuesday morning, creating a new president role and selecting the 43-year-old Russian veteran to fill it. [KHL]

It’s not every night you watch double overtime, and see the game winning goal put away… and fill with joy when you hear Nickelback play, but for the Carolina Hurricanes and their fans, Monday was the night they defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in a heated contest. [Carolina Hurricanes]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Saturday.

montreal canadiens news

We now know when (most) of the games in the first-round series between the Habs and Tampa Bay Lightning will take place. It should also be noted that Victor Hedman is not expected to return to the Bolts’ lineup any time soon, and Lane Hutson practiced with Caden Guhle for the Canadiens. [Canadiens Playoff Preview: Updated Lines, Tampa Bay Injury]

Rookie Ivan Demidov took over the line rush with Alex Newhook and Alex Texier on the second line, and he’s feeling confident about the upcoming assignment against the Lightning, which will certainly include providing some semblance of durable offense.

Ivan Demidov on playing with Alex Newhook and Alexandre Texier in Habs practice today:

“Very good line. Everyone is very skilled and fast and they are two very strong guys. I love playing with them.” pic.twitter.com/dO3ClWmj9e

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 18 April 2026

Former hub PK Subban believes the Canadiens and Oilers will face off in the Stanley Cup Finals, with the Canadiens emerging victorious. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming in Technicolor, but with all due respect to Subban, there’s a lot of hard hockey left to play. It seems that every year a disproportionate number of analysts suggest that two Canadian teams will join the final clubs.

.@PKSubban1 The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup for the 25th time 👀🏆

Stanley Cup Playoff action begins today at 3PM ET on ESPN and the ESPN App! 🍿 pic.twitter.com/9MyPNhs8Lm

– ESPN (@espn) 18 April 2026

Jacob Dobbs hasn’t been one of the best goaltenders this season, but the mere fact that he’s not too far off the top-5 is quite encouraging. Unfortunately for the Canadiens, Andrei Vasilevskiy is fourth in the NHL in assists.

Top goalscorers of the 2025-2026 regular season https://t.co/RtBkDPbkvW pic.twitter.com/xy4xMcNxRD

– MoneyPuck.com (@MoneyPuckdotcom) 17 April 2026

Not surprisingly, as they were the youngest team during the regular season, the Habs will also feature the youngest lineup in the playoffs. This is also a big difference.

The Habs will be the youngest team in the NHL playoffs again this year. pic.twitter.com/gU6uyCiSKX

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 18 April 2026

Head coach Martin St-Louis left no doubt when discussing his allegiance to the Canadiens and his time with the Lightning.

Habs coach Marty St. Louis on facing his old team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the playoffs:

“I have no feelings for Lightning right now. Zero.” pic.twitter.com/yPIBokAo4S

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 17 April 2026

Many journalists expected Lightning to make quick work of Hubs, and statistically speaking, there is a lot of logic behind their opinion. The good news is that the games are played on ice, not on paper.

Sportsnet predictions for Habs vs. Lightning playoff series pic.twitter.com/xIvzEJkzas

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 18 April 2026

ICYMI: With Game One of the first-round series between the Habs and Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, we continue our in-depth series previews, including a comparison of their respective special teams. [Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Special Teams]

ICYMI: We evaluated some X-factors coming into the series, including the importance of finding open space for Nick Suzuki and the rest of the first line. The Canadiens score a lot of goals, but if Tampa Bay’s shutdown line finds its rhythm, things will quickly turn sour for Montreal. [Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Top X Factors]

ICYMI: There is no doubt, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the better team at 5v5 this season. However, when the numbers between Montreal and the Lightning are evaluated against each other in their four games, the discrepancy is less noticeable, with the Canadiens managing to control more shots than the Bolts. [Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Head-To-Head]

Sportsknot Network

New Jersey Devils win general manager free agent frenzy. Sunny Mehta was named Devils GM on Thursday evening. Mehta, an analytical guru, will bring a fresh perspective to the position left by former GM Tom Fitzgerald. Said approach begins immediately. The Devils have a long list of things to address ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft and free agent frenzy. So, where does he start? [New Jersey Devils]

The San Jose Sharks have one of the best players in the NHL at the moment in 19-year-old Maclin Celebrini. Coming off a record-breaking season where he almost led the team to the playoffs, it appears the phenom will be rewarded with a new deal this summer. [San Jose Sharks]

How can the Sens upset the best team in the Eastern Conference? Let’s get into the details with five keys to the Ottawa Senators vs. Carolina Hurricanes victory. [Carolina Hurricanes]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The New York Sirens suffered a blow in the race for the PWHL’s final playoff spot. The Ottawa Charge defeated New York 5-1 in overtime on Saturday afternoon, pushing them to the brink of elimination.

The Sirens entered the game needing a regulation win to overtake the charge for fourth place.

“We have to take it like do or die,” Sirens star forward Sarah Fillier told PWHL sideline reporter Signa Butler before puck drop.

But New York could not match Ottawa’s firepower. The Charge scored five unanswered goals – including two jailbreak goals in the second period – to extend their lead in the standings. Ottawa improved to 39 points (8-7-1-12), leaving New York five points out of the final playoff spot with only two games remaining.

Charge goalkeeper Gwyneth Phillips had a stellar performance in her 16th consecutive game starting in net, stopping 23 of 24 shots and holding New York scoreless over the final 48:16. Kyle Osborne allowed five goals on 29 shots for New York. His 14 losses and 26 games played led all PWHL goaltenders.

The Sirens struck first with a power-play goal at 11:04 of the first period, when Petey Lewis beat the Phillips blocker side-by-side with a quick wrist shot from the bumper. But New York struggled to contain Ottawa’s offensive attack, allowing three goals on Saturday, and that proved costly.

After several scoring opportunities in the opening frame, the Charge finally took the advantage at 18:59 as captain Brianna Jenner delivered a speedy passing pass that Rebecca Leslie deflected over her shoulder into the net.

New York increased the intensity in the second, as coach Greg Fargo’s team made a solid effort to press the net hard against the Phillies – much to Ottawa’s displeasure. A highly physical frame culminated in a total of six penalties and two power plays for the Sirens.

Instead, the one in charge received the reward.

With the Sirens on a 4-on-3 advantage after a holding penalty on Leslie, Jenner led another rush and sent a shot off Osborne’s right pad. Jocelyn Larocque collected a long rebound in the slot and put it into the net at 7:54 before Osborne could recover.

Peyton Hemp scored on New York’s fourth power play of the game, 37 seconds in, at 14:08 of the middle frame for a 3–1 lead. After Casey O’Brien’s pass came back into the siren zone, Maja Nylen Persson turned the puck over under heavy pressure from Hemp’s forecheck. Charging forward Alexa Wasko drove the goal line and delivered a pass across the crease which Hemp punched into the net.

Have talked a lot with Sirens coach Greg Fargo about the pace of this season. It’s hard to think of a more decadent sequence than this.

Not one, but two jailbreak goals, as Ottawa becomes the first PWHL team to score shorthanded twice in the same game.

Just sloppy puck play from new… pic.twitter.com/DvdZQYs7ro

– Lou Orlando (@SweetLouuuu) 18 April 2026

Ronja Savolainen added insurance at 3:15 of the third period, fooling Osborne with a long shot from the point. Jenner delivered the final blow on the power play at 12:28, blocking the rebound of a Larocque shot.

Jenner ranks fourth league-wide in scoring with 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) after a three-point outing on Saturday. Leslie’s 13 goals are one goal shy of Minnesota Frost forward Kelly Pannek for the PWHL lead; Her 22 points are tied with Fillier and Montreal Victoire forward Laura Stacey for fifth.

New York dropped its eighth consecutive road game (0-0-1-7) this season and fell to 2-0-1-10. Only the Seattle Torrent has the worst road point percentage. The Sirens conclude the season with two more games away from the Prudential Centre, visiting the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday and the Boston Fleet on April 25.

Fargo said after the game, “I can’t point my finger on any one specific thing, but we haven’t scored in a row, especially at home.” “On the road, when you fall behind, you start chasing the game, and it becomes harder to climb back. At home, even if you don’t score first, the crowd can help change momentum quickly. But when you’re chasing too often, it catches up to you – the matchups get tougher, and things start being stacked against you.”

Main findings after siren leaves backbreaker to charge

So you’re telling me there’s a chance?

The Sirens are not out of the playoff race yet, although the picture is not very good.

Saturday’s loss removed any control over New York’s playoff fate. With only six points available on their remaining schedule, the Sirens need a lot and a lot of help to get going in the right direction to erase the five-point deficit in the PWHL standings.

If the Charge scores more than one point in its final two games, New York will be eliminated from postseason contention. Ottawa visits second-place Fleetwood on Wednesday before hosting the Toronto Raptors on April 25.

The fifth-place Sceptres, on 34 points (9-1-5-12) with three games remaining, could also shatter New York’s playoff dreams. The Sirens need Toronto to beat Ottawa on April 25, but otherwise they are looking for a loss to the Sceptres. Toronto will visit Minnesota on Sunday before hosting New York on Tuesday, setting up a final showdown against the Charge that will likely decide who lands the final playoff spot.

The final piece of this complicated equation – and perhaps the toughest for New York – is that the Sirens must earn at least five points in the next two games to have any hope of challenging for the No. 4 seed.

The Sirens are not out of the playoff race yet, but they need a lot of help right now.

Ottawa cannot score more than one point in its last two matches (BOS, vs. TOR). The Sirens must beat Toronto in regulation on Tuesday and then hope the Sceptres beat the Charge on April 25. https://t.co/vMMWfIsCE4

– Lou Orlando (@SweetLouuuu) 18 April 2026

The Sirens currently own the tiebreaker on charge with the slight edge in regulation wins, and will be granted a postseason nod if both teams finish the season tied. But New York will need two consecutive wins — a tall order for a team that hasn’t won on the road since Jan. 6.

Stranger things have happened, but the odds are not in their favor.

Sirens get playoff teaser with ‘Chippy’ game

The postseason stakes were palpable Saturday, and it contributed to the playoff atmosphere — both on the ice and in the stands.

Ottawa racked up 25 hits in a game marked by consistent physicality. The Charge penalized New York for any drives near Phillips’ crease, resulting in plenty of scuffles after the whistle and even similar harsh penalties to Aimee Fecteau and Rory Gilday.

The record-setting crowd of 8,605 at TD Place matched the intensity throughout the game.

“I think you can definitely see the rivalry there, and it’s definitely getting intense. But again, that’s what we want,” Sirens alternate captain Jaime Bourbonnais said after the game. “We’ve done a good job of making this game a really physical game, and I think that’s what the fans want to see, and hopefully we can continue to do that. I think the fans and the atmosphere are really what make these types of games special.”

It’s a good harbinger for the postseason, where that intensity will become the norm — though New York won’t be able to experience it firsthand.

Siren’s power play faltered again

New York ended an 0-20 power-play drought on Wednesday when Maja Nylen Persson scored a 2-2 equalizer against Toronto at 14:53 of the third period. Fargo believed that such an impressive target could spark a falling unit.

“You hope something like that can push it,” Fargo said after the 3-2 regulation win. “I think scoring that goal at a key moment in our season, hopefully, can be something we can build on.”

For a moment, it seemed that way, as Lewis’ power-play score gave New York an early lead. But any positive momentum was destroyed in the second period when Ottawa became the first team in PWHL history to score multiple shorthanded goals in a single game.

The Sirens have scored three jailbreak goals in their last two games – a black mark for a power play that was already struggling to produce offensive output.

These types of mistakes can end a season in a very short playoff race.

Lou Orlando is an alumnus of Fordham University, where he covered the New York Rangers for three seasons… More about Lou Orlando

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Friday.

montreal canadiens news

With Game One of the first-round series between the Habs and Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, we continue our in-depth series previews, including a comparison of their respective special teams. [Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Special Teams]

We also evaluated some X-factors coming into the series, including the importance of finding open space for Nick Suzuki and the rest of the first line. The Canadiens score a lot of goals, but if Tampa Bay’s shutdown line finds its rhythm, things will quickly turn sour for Montreal. [Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Top X Factors]

ICYMI: There is no doubt, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the better team at 5v5 this season. However, when the numbers between Montreal and the Lightning are evaluated against each other in their four games, the discrepancy is less noticeable, with the Canadiens managing to control more shots than the Bolts. [Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Head-To-Head]

Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is now officially a father! The 26-year-old player did not practice on Thursday in support of his wife Caitlin. They welcomed a daughter, Maya, into the world.

Prospect Alexis Cournoyer will be playing for one of the best NCAA teams next year. The 20-year-old netminder has utilized the transfer portal, and will be attending games for the Wisconsin Badgers, the team that lost to the Denver Pioneers in the national championship.

Cornell freshman Alexis Cournoyer (MTL 5th Round), the ECAC’s Ken Dryden Goaltender of the Year, has signed with Wisconsin.

– Brad Elliot Schlosman (@SchlosmanGF) 17 April 2026

I promise you that anything written by Michael Farber will be worth your time.

There is no team-town connection in Canada like Les Canadiens and Montreal, especially during the playoffs.

“It smells like a cup.”

This is fans’ favorite expression when playoff time comes @michaelfarber3 Explains how there’s something in the air: https://t.co/kYUYJTGCPc pic.twitter.com/bDNBOKAVgj

– TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) 17 April 2026

NHL 26 ran a simulation ahead of the 2026 NHL playoffs and the Montreal Canadiens came out on top. To be honest, it means very little historically. For the most part, the teams selected by EA Sports struggle in the playoffs.

Sim has spoken 🔮

Yours #NHL26 Playoff Simulation Stanley Cup Champions:
@CanadiensMTL 🏆 pic.twitter.com/riaefS08hQ

– EA Sports NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) 17 April 2026

Sportsknot Network

New Jersey Devils win general manager free agent frenzy. Sunny Mehta was named Devils GM on Thursday evening. Mehta, an analytical guru, will bring a fresh perspective to the position left by former GM Tom Fitzgerald. Said approach begins immediately. The Devils have a long list of things to address ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft and free agent frenzy. So, where does he start? [New Jersey Devils]

San Jose Sharks phenom Maclin Celebrini recently concluded a season where he broke the franchise’s single-season points record and reached milestones that were only achieved by the all-time greats. With this, he can break some new records with his next contract. [San Jose Sharks]

As the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators face each other on Saturday to open the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they will do so after battling similar adversity in the regular season. [Carolina Hurricanes]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

As the New York Knicks prepare to host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden, expectations are high for the third-seeded New York team.

After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Knicks are hungry for a championship run. With a 2-1 lead in the season series and home-court advantage in their favor, here are three predictions for Saturday’s playoff opener.

Jalen Brunson delivers another 25+ point performance

Jalen Brunson has been nothing short of sensational against Atlanta this season, and that trend will continue in Game 1. The All-Star guard averaged 29.3 points in three regular season meetings, including a stellar 30-point, 13-assist performance in an April 6 win over the Giants.

Brunson’s ability to exploit Atlanta’s perimeter defense while planning an offense makes him unstoppable in high-leverage situations. Expect him to strike early, set the tone at MSG, and finish with at least 27 points and 8 assists.

The playoff spotlight brings out the best in Brunson, and he’ll remind everyone why he’s one of the league’s best performers.

Knicks defense stifles Hawks’ young core

The Knicks’ defensive trio of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart will make life miserable for Atlanta’s offensive threats. Jalen Johnson, who leads the Hawks in points, rebounds and assists, will struggle to find a rhythm against this stifling defense.

New York ranks seventh in defensive rating this season, and their playoff intensity will be on full display. Look for the Knicks to hold Atlanta under 105 points while forcing 13+ turnovers.

Jonathan Kuminga and CJ McCollum may get the momentum, but a collective defensive effort will neutralize the Hawks’ offense. Karl-Anthony Towns will dominate the glass with 12+ rebounds, controlling possessions and limiting second chance opportunities.

Bench provides winning edge

While the starters grab the headlines, the Knicks’ bench will be the difference maker in a tough playoff battle. Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson will combine for 25+ points and provide vital energy when the starters are rested.

McBride’s three-point shooting and defensive tenacity would drive momentum in the second quarter, while Robinson’s rim protection would erase mistakes. The depth that coach Mike Brown has developed throughout the season becomes a weapon in the playoffs, and Atlanta doesn’t have the bench firepower to match.

Final prediction: Knicks 112, Hawks 103.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

NHL playoff games continue the race for the Stanley Cup today, with key matchups shaping the first round of the postseason. Here is the complete Stanley Cup Playoff schedule, including start times, matchups and what to watch.

Update: April 17, 2026 – 9:39am ET

nhl playoff games today

• Total Games: 0
• Round: first round
• Featured matchups: N/A
• Elimination Game: N/A
• TV Coverage: N/A

today’s nhl playoff schedule

There are no NHL playoff games today, Friday, April 17.

Top NHL playoff matchups to watch

These games make the biggest impact based on momentum, star power and playoff implications.

• [Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars] – Minnesota-Dallas is the top NHL playoff matchup, as both teams are among the best in the league. This Central Division rivalry should be re-ignited in the first round.
• [Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres] – Buffalo is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, while Boston looks to make some noise after missing out last year.

player to watch

Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid heads to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after losing the last two finals to the Florida Panthers. McDavid will lead Edmonton with his elite attack.

Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon wants to get Colorado into playoff hockey in June. MacKinnon would lead the Avalanche during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Quinn Hughes – Minnesota Wild

Quinn Hughes could be the final puzzle for Minnesota. Hughes will help lead the Wild with his stellar offense and defense.

What’s at stake tomorrow?

• Carolina and Ottawa look to get off to a great start to the playoffs with wins
• Minnesota and Dallas continued their rivalry in the first round.
• Philadelphia and Pittsburgh renew Pennsylvania rivalry

This page is updated daily with today’s latest NHL games, start times and matchups.

READ MORE: Full NHL playoff pictures today – updated standings and Stanley Cup bracket

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Thursday.

montreal canadiens news

We now know when the Habs and Lightning will play Game One of their first-round series. Well, we know what day it will be on Sunday, but the league has not released the actual start time yet. Oh, and we haven’t yet been advised when games two, three, four, five, six or seven will take place. Classic NHL! [NHL Playoff Schedule: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Begins Sunday]

ICYMI: There is no doubt, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the better team at 5v5 this season. However, when the numbers between Montreal and the Lightning are evaluated against each other in their four games, the discrepancy is less noticeable, with the Canadiens managing to control more shots than the Bolts. [Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Head-To-Head]

Check out this awesome playoff pump-up video made by Danielle Lapierre! There was a time when editing at this level was reserved for a few expensive videos per year, but now we’re seeing fan-driven content that trumps the content produced by teams, which is nothing short of excellent. Keep up the good work, Danielle!

I’m not saying Lane Hutson should win the Norris Trophy, but it’s a little ridiculous that he’s not ranked among the top candidates by the NHL voters. Most data-based analysis shows that Hutson should be considered one of the front-runners when it comes to selecting the best defenseman in the league.

With the regular season ending tomorrow night, who is your vote for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman? 🗳️ #NHLAAwards

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/0NxHNBlLNm pic.twitter.com/qdbkUkyDY7

– NHL Media (@NHLMedia) 15 April 2026

Even though it seems clear that the Canadiens do not intend to use Patrik Laine any time soon, head coach Martin Saint-Louis is keeping a close eye on the situation, which may not be easy for the Finnish forward.

What do Martin St. Louis and Patrik Laine say to each other before training starts? 🤔🧐@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #line #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/sLSNVkZeZs

– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 16 April 2026

As for players looking to make their mark, rookie David Rickenbacker spent a lot of time with skills coach Adam Nicholls on Thursday.

David Rickenbacker worked alone with Adam Nichols for several minutes after practice.

The Austrian defender wanted to improve his handling and protection of the puck near his net.@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #reinbacher #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/6ux0E1z3N5

– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 16 April 2026

Shockingly or not, Hutson and Ivan Demidov were among the first players to jump onto the ice during practice.

Even in the playoffs, Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov’s habits don’t change: They’re the first two players on the ice this morning in Brossard.@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #hutsan #Demidov #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/laqm9hAMWQ

– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 16 April 2026

Sportsknot Network

Anders Lee spent 14 of his NHL seasons wearing a New York Islanders sweater. This may be about to change soon. Lee spoke about his future on Islanders breakup day on Wednesday and why his exit interview with GM Matthew Darche was important. [New York Islanders]

It’s official, folks, the Ottawa Senators will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs. This places the Senators in the metropolitan portion of the bracket for the first two rounds, along with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. [Ottawa Senators]

The Detroit Red Wings need to make a move during the 2026 NHL offseason. After a late-season collapse, the Red Wings fell from leading the Eastern Conference to falling out of playoff contention. However, could Detroit consider making a blockbuster trade during the 2026 NHL offseason? [Detroit Red Wings]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Montreal Canadiens will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs, a repeat of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals.

Of course, a lot has changed between then and now, especially for hubs. They are the youngest team in the league, and will face a much older Lightning lineup that is loaded with playoff experience.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some important stats that will play a big role in deciding the winner of this first round series. We’ll start with 5v5 numbers before moving on to special teams in the following analysis piece.

Canadiens and Lightning at 5v5

To get a better idea of ​​which teams are expected to maintain the momentum, we can take a closer look at three specific team-driven statistics.

The first is shot share, which is the percentage of shots a team controls in a given period. This is often represented as ‘Corsi For %’, or ‘CF%’. I prefer to use the term shot share, because it is straightforward.

For example: If there are 10 shots in a period, and a team controls eight of them, they will have an 80% shot share. If there were 100 shots in a game and a team generated 40 of them, their shot share would be 40%.

As you can see in the chart below, the Lightning did a great job at controlling shots throughout the season, and finished with the third-highest shot share in the NHL. The Canadiens are on the other end of the spectrum, controlling just 48.6% of their shots, good for 23rd in the league.

Expected goal share takes into account certain factors including shot quality, shot location and shot type. A deflected shot will have a better chance of scoring than an unblocked shot from the point, so it will have a higher expected goal value.

The Canadiens control the same expected goals percentage as their shot share, not to mention a similar ranking of 23rd in the league. The Lightning do a much better job in this regard, and they find themselves in the top-5 teams in the NHL when it comes to their expected goal share.

Once again the Lightning found themselves several times ahead of the Canadiens as far as high-danger shot share goes. The lack of high-danger scoring opportunities has been an ongoing issue for the Habs since the rebuild began nearly five years ago.

Goaltending and shooting

The Lightning goaltenders do a better job than their Canadiens counterparts, though it should be noted that the numbers include the results produced by Samuel Montembeault, a netminder who is unlikely to feature as a starter against Tampa Bay.

Despite this, it is clear that the Lightning have the goalscoring advantage at 5v5, especially when it comes to blocking high-danger shots.

As far as shooting efficiency goes, you’ll notice that the Canadiens actually managed to edge out the Lightning, as they were the team with the highest shooting percentage at 5v5 in the entire league. I suggest this is not necessarily a good sign, as a low-volume, high-efficiency team runs the risk of being vulnerable in a short series, especially if some of the team’s best snipers can’t find their rhythm.

That being said, at the very least, you could argue that the Habs have slightly better accuracy, although the Lightning rank first in the NHL when it comes to their high-danger shooting percentage, which mitigates the Canadiens’ advantage in the shooting department.

Target

The final numbers we’ll evaluate are simple, and provide little consolation to Habs fans who are hoping to see an upset, with the emphasis on ‘slightly’.

Both the Canadiens and Lightning are great at scoring goals, with the latter being better at preventing pucks from getting into their net.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Of course, the numbers don’t paint an encouraging picture for Canadians. For all intents and purposes, they are disenfranchised, and substantially disenfranchised.

John Cooper is likely to advocate his way through a speech that somehow portrays the Canadiens as favourites, but make no mistake, there is little in the numbers to suggest that the Lightning should be considered anything other than massive favorites to win the first-round series.

It’s also important to remember that hockey isn’t played on spreadsheets, and the Canadiens have a funny way of making the numbers appear irrelevant after the final whistle.

The playoffs are a different kind of beast, where passion can trump logic.

Apart from this, there are other statistics that paint a different picture of the upcoming match.

If we filter out the results of the four games in which the Canadiens and Bolts faced off, the numbers are more encouraging. Each team won two games, with the Habs victorious in the final two meetings of the season.

Canadiens vs Lightning Head to Head (5v5)

As you can see, the Montreal Canadiens actually held a pretty significant advantage in shot share across the four games against the Lightning. In fact, Tampa Bay controlled only 47.2% of its shots, one of the worst results of any opponent in a season series versus Montreal.

On the other side of the coin, as usual, the Canadians failed miserably when it came to controlling high-danger shots.

Interestingly, the Lightning received better goaltending and better shooting, including saves and goals on high-danger shots.

Simply put, they capitalized on their opportunities with a much greater frequency than the Habs, while outpacing a team that has struggled to generate many shots all season. This doesn’t mean the Montreal Canadiens will sweep the Lightning every game, but it’s certainly a situation worth keeping in mind as we await puck drop in Game One of the first-round series.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The NHL has officially announced the 16 teams for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the playoff field is now set, seeding remains undecided heading into the final days of the regular season. In fact, almost all of the first-round matchups have not yet been determined. Only one playoff series has been completely determined before the final game.

Here’s a look at the confirmed NHL playoff teams and what’s still at stake before the brackets are finalized.

Eastern Conference playoff teams

Atlantic Division

• buffalo saber
• tampa bay lightning
• montreal canadiens

Metropolitan Division

• carolina storm
• pittsburgh penguins
• philadelphia flyers

wild card teams

• boston bruins
• ottawa senators

Western Conference playoff teams

Central Division

• colorado avalanche
• dallas stars
• minnesota wild

Pacific Division

• vegas golden knights
• edmonton oilers
• anaheim ducks

wild card teams

• utah mammoth
• Los Angeles Kings

What still remains to be decided

• Vegas, Edmonton and Anaheim still fighting to win Pacific Division
• Boston and Ottawa have one more game to earn the top wild card spot in the Eastern Conference
• Utah and Los Angeles have two games to decide the wild card spot in the Western Conference
• Several NHL teams fighting for home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup playoffs

What’s next in the NHL?

The 16 NHL playoff teams may have been determined, but there is still plenty of intrigue to wrap up the 2025-26 regular season. The Pacific Division is still in contention while playoff position will be the most important factor over the next few days. After all, the Stanley Cup Playoffs reward teams that can earn home ice advantage.

While wild card drama won’t be present in the final days of the NHL regular season, there is a lot that needs to be determined before the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

READ MORE: Full NHL playoff pictures today – updated standings and Stanley Cup bracket

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

Marco Rossi scored on a power play with 10 seconds left in overtime, helping the Vancouver Canucks beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 on Sunday night at the Honda Centre.

The goal came after Chris Kreider was called for slashing and prevented Anaheim from clinching its first playoff berth since the 2017–18 season.

Vancouver got a goal and an assist from Rossi, the first NHL goal from Curtis Douglas, a power-play finish from Jake DeBrusk and a short-handed strike from Brock Boeser.

Nikita Tolopillo made 24 saves, while Anaheim wasted a two-goal night from Cutter Gauthier and 22 stops from Lucas Dostal.

Anaheim came across like a team ready to punch its playoff ticket on home soil, Vancouver responded with more pressure than you might expect from a club in this difficult season, and by the third period it had turned into one of those loose, tense nights where no one seemed safe with the lead.

game flow

At 3:41 of the first period, Gauthier opened the scoring by finishing a one-timer in the open side after Chris Kreider tapped in a rebound in the crease.

Vancouver answered at 10:49 when Douglas pushed in a loose puck for his first NHL goal, a feel-good moment that the Canucks desperately needed on a night.

Late in the period, DeBrusk took the lead on a Rossi point shot on the power play at 14:37, and just like that Vancouver turned an early deficit into a 2–1 lead.

That score lasted for a second, then everything took off. Boeser made it 3-1 just 4:28 into the third after taking a pass at the right point during an Anaheim power play and scoring short-handed on a breakaway. This should have been the goal of the breathing room.

However, Gauthier answered with a power-play finish of his own 37 seconds later, then Leo Karlsson tied it at 3–3 with a backhand from a sharp angle at 6:56. Suddenly, the ducks have the building back.

Gauthier became Anaheim’s first 40-goal scorer since Corey Perry in 2013-14, which tells you how big his night was for him.

NHL.com also noted that the Ducks have now lost seven of eight, even though they are in position to pick up a win soon. This is the cruel part for Anaheim. They were right there, at home, with a chance to close the door, and yet they let Vancouver linger long enough to be doomed late on.

Adam Foote said after the game that his group could have easily stopped pushing, but they didn’t, and it was true. After Anaheim tied, Vancouver held their own instead of letting the game slip away.

In overtime, Rossi got set up in the right circle and DeBrusk found him for the winner at 4:50. It was a clean finish and the game was over.

For the Canucks, this isn’t a huge turning point. I’m not going to pretend that it was. But it was another sign that the young pieces and fill-in guys are still giving this team something to work with.

The Vegas Golden Knights have punched their ticket to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Vegas secured their postseason berth with a 3–2 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche, moving into first place in the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights are now one point ahead of the Edmonton Oilers and two points ahead of the Anaheim Ducks.

Colorado opened the scoring on the power play when defenseman Devon Toews scored his third goal of the season. With Cal Maker sidelined by injury, Toews stepped into an increased role and quickly performed well. Gabriel Landeskog provided a screen in front of goaltender Carter Hart.

Vegas responded immediately. Mark Stone turned the puck in before backhanding it to Mackenzie Blackwood to tie the score at 1-1.

Late in the period, Pavel Dorofeyev finished a setup from Ivan Barbashev to give Vegas the lead. With traffic in front of Brett Howden, Blackwood never got a shot off. The goal was Dorofeyev’s 36th goal of the season, giving him consecutive 35-goal campaigns.

The Avalanche responded to tie the game at 2-2. Nick Blankenburg scored his first goal with Colorado after being acquired at the trade deadline, and scored his seventh goal of the season on an assist from former Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy.

The third period featured end-to-end action, with both teams creating quality chances but unable to convert. The Golden Knights played hard defensively late, limiting high-danger looks and getting key stops from Hart to force overtime.

In the extra frames, Jack Eichel scored the winner, his 26th goal of the season, moving the Golden Knights past the top team in the NHL. Eichel’s goal capped a strong night for the Golden Knights’ top line, which generated consistent pressure in the offensive zone.

With the win, the Golden Knights moved back into first place in the Pacific Division. If the playoffs started today, the Golden Knights would face the first wild-card team, the Utah Mammoth.

The Golden Knights will return home to close out the regular season with two games at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights will host the Winnipeg Jets on Monday, April 13, before concluding the regular season against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, April 15.

A strong finish could secure the division title and home-ice advantage as the Golden Knights look to carry momentum into the postseason.

Cooper Krigbaum is a beat reporter covering the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNut. He also told about Cooper Krigbaum

The Detroit Red Wings took care of business on Thursday night. Dylan Larkin scored a hat-trick as the Red Wings easily defeated the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 6-3. Detroit scored two crucial points; However, the organization did not receive much help outside the city.

The Ottawa Senators defeated the Florida Panthers, moving them three points above the Red Wings with three games remaining. Time is ticking for Detroit and it must hope for outside help. For now, an NHL team will have to focus on what it can control.

Detroit Red Wings must keep winning to stay in playoff contention

The plan moving forward is simple. The Red Wings will need to keep winning if they want to make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. With three games left, the Red Wings need to lose two of their three remaining games to the Senators. Detroit must win at all costs, starting with the New Jersey Devils on Saturday evening.

Since Ottawa has the tiebreaker, it must have lost two games in regulation while Detroit has won all three games against the Devils, Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s a relatively easy schedule for the Red Wings, with the key matchup coming against the Lightning on Monday, April 13.

The issue is within the senators. In the next three matches, the team will play the Devils, New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs. That means Ottawa would have to lose to either New York and New Jersey or Toronto. This isn’t a great situation for Detroit, so his focus may be on the Boston Bruins.

Although unlikely, if the Bruins lose their last three games in regulation, the Red Wings could overtake them if they win. Boston plays Tampa Bay, New Jersey and the Columbus Blue Jackets. If the Bruins lose all three games but lose one game in overtime, Detroit can still overtake them if it wins two more games in regulation.

More than likely, the Senators will remain a target for the Red Wings. The Bruins are possible, but it would lead to a major collapse. Granted, Boston has lost its last four games, so there is something to be expected. However, it could all be over if the Red Wings don’t win.

If Detroit loses to New Jersey on Saturday while Ottawa beats New York, it could be out of playoff contention. In other words, every game moving forward is a must-win situation for the Red Wings. The team has a favorable schedule, so if it takes care of business against the Devils and Panthers, the Lightning will be a big challenge.

The Red Wings just have to keep winning. At this point, there is no margin for error.

Read More: Detroit Red Wings Fall 2026 – Why Big Changes Are Needed

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

The Montreal Canadiens host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, in a preview of a potential first-round matchup between two clubs who aren’t shy about displaying their hatred for each other.

Amid fighting, scrimmages and ugly play, Habs sniper Cole Caufield scored his 50th goal of the year, power forward Juraj Slafkowski scored his 30th goal, and the Canadiens picked up a very important 2–1 win against the Bolts.

Let’s look at the highlights!

To assault

All things considered, this was a low-incident first period. More than half the frame was played at 5v5, meaning there were very few scoring opportunities due to the glut of power plays. It was akin to a pair of heavyweight boxers feeling each other out in the first round of a championship bout.

Or, perhaps more accurately, the first round of backyard fights, the kind that ended up on VHS sold in bootleg markets in the 1990s.

Either way, the first period represented the calm before the proverbial Darud sandstorm.

half century

The second period featured less than eight minutes of play, but it was enough for Caufield to find the net for the 50th time this season.

It should be noted that Caufield’s 50 goals did not include a single empty-net marker. In fact, Caufield hasn’t added to his career total with a single empty-net goal, but I digress.

Appropriately, Slafkowski and Nick Suzuki provided assists in the scoring game.

Cole Caufield is a 50-goal scorer 🚨🔥 pic.twitter.com/WXR9G2TFyF

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 10 April 2026

throwing haymakers

Even before the violence took center stage, it was quite clear that Habs and the Bolts didn’t need much of a boost in the physical department. The teams battled each other all night, a common occurrence whenever an NHL team faces a Florida-based club.

Montreal did a good job of controlling the scoring plays, not to mention responding to Tampa’s classic, yet frustrating playing style.

It was Josh Anderson who ultimately provided the spark needed to ignite the fire.

The moves between the Habs and Lightning began with Anderson and D’Astas. #GoHabsGo #gobolts pic.twitter.com/fuAnomkidu

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 10 April 2026

Whenever Nikita Kucherov was on the ice, the Lightning paid particular attention to Andersen’s physicality, leading to a one-sided battle between the Canadiens forward and Declan Carlyle.

“I immediately regret this decision!” – Carlyle after chasing Anderson to fight. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/bCbRjR1nRA

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 10 April 2026

Change of pace late in the game

Once the players settled down a bit and the inefficient power play gave way to 5v5 hockey, the Bolts took advantage of the moment and tied the game in the final minutes of the third period.

Luckily for the Habs, Slafkovsky was quick to respond, scoring his 30th goal of the season and becoming the first Slovak to reach 30 goals since Marian Hossa in 2013–14.

Juraj Slafkowski has 30 goals! He is the first Slovak to reach 30 since Marian Hossa in 2013–14.

gives his goal #GoHabsGo A significant lead of 2-1. pic.twitter.com/rVovUhE8mV

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 10 April 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Montreal Canadiens (46-22-10) will face the Tampa Bay Lightning (48-24-6) on Thursday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

It is a battle of two teams aiming to take first place in the Atlantic Division, although it should be noted that the Buffalo Sabers are currently the top team with 104 points. The Habs and Lightning both have 102 points, but with fewer regulation wins than the Sabres, which is the first standings tiebreaker.

Regardless of the details, it’s fair to say that Thursday’s matchup will be important beyond the divisional standings.

If the 2026 NHL playoffs began today, the Canadiens would face the Lightning in the first round, given that they are currently the second- and third-place teams in the Atlantic Division.

In other words, even though both teams have already qualified for the playoffs, and the final games in the regular season may lack in effort and passion, we’re expecting the Lightning and Canadiens to put on a great show on Thursday night.

To add to the intensity mix, this is the second time the teams will face each other in a little over a week. The Habs emerged with a 4–1 win against the Lightning on March 31.

Lineup Changes

Joe Veleno is expected to return to the lineup replacing Zachary Bolduc on the third line.

The starting goaltender has not been announced, but all signs point to Jacob Dobbs serving as Montreal’s netminder against the Lightning. The Dobbs have won six consecutive games, their last loss coming on March 19 against the Detroit Red Wings.

It should be noted that Dobbs now has a save percentage above .900, which is pretty hard to do when suiting up for the Habs. Despite their improved results this season, the Canadiens still allow their opponents to take high-danger chances every game, a situation they will need to address before the playoffs in about two weeks.

As for Caden Guhle, he skated during practice, but the Canadiens are keeping their cards close to their chest in the final stretch of the regular season, which means we’ll have to wait until pregame warm-ups to confirm whether Guhle will be in uniform. If he is unavailable, smooth-skating defenseman Adam Engstrom is expected to once again join the third pairing with Arbor Zekaj.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook* – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov

Joe Velano – Jake Evans – Kirby Dach

Josh Anderson – Philippe Danault – Oliver Kapanen

Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson

Jaden Struble- Lane Hutson

Adam Engstrom* – Arbor Zekaj

jacob dobbs

Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lineup

Gage Goncalves – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov

Jake Guentzel – Nick Paul – Oliver Bjorkstrand

Zemgus Girgensons – Yanni Gourde – Connor Geecki

Jacob Pelletier – Scott Sabourin – Corey Perry

JJ Moser – Darren Raddish

Ryan McDonagh – Eric Cernak

Emile Lilleberg – Charles-Edouard d’Estous

Andrei Vasilevsky

How to watch Hubs Vs. lightning flash

Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, April 9, 2026 will be broadcast on TSN2 and RDS. A full quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote soon

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Detroit Red Wings are collapsing. After another strong start to the NHL season, Detroit is out of the Stanley Cup playoffs with five games remaining. The Red Wings are two points behind the Ottawa Senators and their Stanley Cup playoff hopes are fading fast.

As of Monday, April 6, Detroit has a record of 4–6–0 in the last 10 games, with only one win in the last five games. In a 4–1 loss against the Minnesota Wild on Easter Sunday, the Red Wings equalized in the third period. Then, Red Wings forward Patrick Kane committed an selfish penalty, leading to a Minnesota power play goal.

After the Senators defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit is now two points out of the wild card picture without a tiebreaker. Now, the Red Wings need to win at least four of their next five games to make the Stanley Cup playoffs

Detroit Red Wings playoff approach, five games left in 2026

There’s an important week of NHL games coming up in Detroit. The Red Wings will need to win at least four games to overtake the Senators. Since Ottawa has the tiebreaker, Detroit needs to earn three more points over the organization in the next five games.

The Red Wings play the Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers to conclude the regular season. Detroit needs to win games against non-playoff teams, New Jersey and Florida, while looking to win two of three against Columbus, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.

The biggest issue for the Red Wings is the remaining schedule for the Senators. Ottawa plays New Jersey, Florida, Tampa, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Islanders. Currently four out of five teams are not in the playoffs. Granted, New York is also on the playoff bubble.

If the Senators win four of their next five games, they will advance to the playoffs, even if the Red Wings win all five games. This means Detroit does not need Ottawa to win more than three games if the team can consistently move up in the standings. However, this is only the senators’ angle.

The Red Wings will need to get past the Blue Jackets, possibly needing a win on Tuesday night. Detroit also needs to overcome the Islanders, who have a point in an additional matchup. However, Detroit has lost four of its last five games, and its record since the Olympic break is 8-9-3. The goaltending is sluggish while the offensive team is struggling to score in five-on-five play.

Time is running out, and if the Red Wings don’t turn the clock around on Tuesday night, their season will end in five games.

READ MORE: Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will be on the hot seat if the team misses the NHL playoffs

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

It’s official, the Montreal Canadiens will participate in playoff hockey for the second consecutive season.

The Habs qualified for the playoffs thanks to a tremendous effort by the Detroit Red Wings vs. the Minnesota Wild. Detroit lost 5–4, meaning they could no longer catch the Canadiens.

Of course, the Canadiens could qualify with another win against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night, but regardless of the defining moment, it’s fair to say Montreal has exceeded all expectations this season.

Whether it’s Cole Caufield’s pursuit of 50 goals, Nick Suzuki’s 100-point run, Juraj Slafkowski’s continued development at power forward, Lane Hutson’s impressive blue line production, or the play of the rookie netminders, the Canadiens have epitomized excitement while putting together one of the cleanest rebuilds in modern NHL history.

This is especially notable when we consider that the team finished last in 2021-22, which allowed them to select Slafkovsky with the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Of course, the work is far from done, and if the Habs are to be considered legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, they will need to strengthen their defensive game, but the NHL is full of teams that have experienced unsuccessful rebuilds, making Montreal’s progress in just a few years quite remarkable.

home ice in play

If the NHL playoffs begin on Sunday afternoon, the Canadiens will face the surging Buffalo Sabers with home advantage.

Given that they are only two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division, there is a possibility that the Canadiens could face the first-place wild card team instead of the Sabres.

It would be a fitting reward for a team that has won eight consecutive games heading into the season finale, with several Eastern Conference teams also desperate to punch their ticket to the springtime dance.

While there is much praise to be given to the players, it must also be said that head coach Martin Saint-Louis has done a great job trusting his roster, which is the youngest lineup in the league. There will be very few, if any other coaches willing to give their full confidence to first-year players, and yet when the game is on the line the Canadiens consistently rely on Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, Jacob Dobbs and Jacob Fowler.

Likewise, it shouldn’t be long until general manager Kent Hughes’ name starts circulating as a strong candidate for the Jim Gregory Award, given to the top GM in the NHL as voted on by a panel of his peers.

Ivan Demidov scored in the shootout. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/4qRb9HPp2W

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 5 April 2026

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Montreal Canadiens (45-21-10) will face the New Jersey Devils (39-34-3) on Sunday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

This is the second leg of back-to-back games in which both teams have managed to secure at least one point in the first matchup. The Canadiens jumped out to a 3–0 lead, but the Devils battled back into the game to force it into a shootout, where first-year players Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen scored for the Habs.

Cole Caulfield also scored, but only in the shootout, meaning the Bell Center faithful will have a chance to celebrate his 50th goal.

It’s also important to note that the Canadiens can clinch a playoff berth on Sunday. If they beat the Devils again, they will make it on their own, however, if the Detroit Red Wings lose to the Minnesota Wild they will officially qualify as well. The Habs only have 32 regulation wins, which is why the Buffalo Sabres, who are currently below them in the Atlantic Division standings, have already qualified.

Simply put, it’s only a matter of time before the Canadiens punch their ticket to the springtime dance for the second consecutive season, quite an accomplishment when we consider they finished last in the league in 2021-22.

Lineup Changes

Given that the team did not practice on Sunday, any lineup changes will be confirmed when the Canadiens take the ice for pregame warm-ups.

That being said, the Habs are expected to give rookie netminder Jacob Fowler the start on Sunday, as his first-year counterpart Jacob Dobbs faced the Devils on Saturday night.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov

Zach Bolduc – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson

Joe Veleno – Philip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson

Jaden Struble- Lane Hutson

Caden Guhle – Arbor Zekaj

jacob fowler

New Jersey Devils Projected Lineup

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Lenny Haminaho – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad

Evgeny Dadonov – Paul Couture – Maxim Tsyplyakov

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Jonathan Kovacevic

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

jacob markstrom

How to watch Hubs Vs. the devil

Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils, Sunday, April 5, 2026, will be broadcast on TSN2 and RDS. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Nothing comes easy, and this season, the Eastern Conference has proven that. With 102 points in the standings, the Carolina Hurricanes became the first team in the East to clinch a playoff berth this season with a thrilling 5–1 win over their Metropolitan Division rival, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

They wasted no time in securing their spot in the postseason, as Logan Stankoven found himself on the hat trick clock before 10 minutes had passed. His first goal, just 2:27 minutes in, was a tip-in on K’Andre Miller’s shot, while with his second goal, he completed a loose transition left by Taylor Hall.

Moments later on the penalty kill, Alexander Nikishin – with help from the usual suspects, Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho – got his first career NHL shorthanded goal. The scoreless score tied the Hurricanes with the Calgary Flames for most shorthanded goals this season with 11.

Down three-nil in the second frame, the Blue Jackets got on the board as Denton Matechuk put the puck through Frederik Andersen’s five-hole, but the Hurricanes reclaimed their breathing space just 13 seconds later thanks to a shot from the point by Jordan Martinook.

In the third period, the Blue Jackets power play was cut short. As the four-on-four hockey ended and the Hurricanes’ power play began, Shayne Gostisbier immediately contributed another goal by coming out of the penalty box, one-touching a pass from Aho and sending it to Andrei Svechnikov, who fired past Elvis Merzlikins from the right face-off circle – the final goal of the game.

‘The work will not stop now’

Throughout the match, the Hurricanes maintained the pace they boasted, and they allowed their offense to crush the Blue Jackets – dominating zone time and forcing Columbus to expend energy in their own zone. Carolina allowed only 10 shots on goal from the Blue Jackets, the fewest in franchise history for the Hurricanes.

“I think we had a huge start,” Stankoven said after the game. “We know a lot of these teams that are out here playing consistently are hungry for points and trying to get into the playoffs, so I think, mentally, we came prepared, and that’s been good for us.”

“I think our group is there, we don’t take the playoffs lightly – it’s very hard to fight and get to the playoffs. So, we’re really grateful, but the work doesn’t stop now.”

storm notes

Thursday’s game was the 1,400th game that Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has played in his 20-season career. Of those, 968 have been played with Carolina, while 431 have been played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he won a Stanley Cup. During the first period, he received a standing ovation from fans in the stands.

Nikishin’s shorthanded goal was his 30th point of the season, tying him with Jamie McBain for most points by a rookie defenseman in Hurricanes history, and placing him second in the franchise tally, just five points behind Brad Shaw.

In each of the eight seasons that Rod Brind’Amour has served as head coach, the Hurricanes have made one playoff appearance. Only the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs have longer active streaks (although the Leafs are out of the hunt at the moment).

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The New York Islanders missed a big opportunity to keep their playoff hopes alive, losing 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabers at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night.

Despite being outshot by the Sabers most of the night, they were tied 2–2 when Anders Lee’s pass from the goal line to the right of Buffalo goaltender Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen went off the skate of Sabers defenseman Owen Power and into the net with 6:21 remaining. But poor defensive coverage cost the Pittsburgh Penguins an 8-3 loss on Monday, causing them to suffer again when Alex Tuch drove down the left sideline, circled the net and found a wide-open Peyton Krebs.

Seeing some fouls, Krebs hit a shot over Ilya Sorokin with 3:01 remaining to put Buffalo ahead 3–2.

“I think Bo (Horvat) or (Matthew) Schaefer could have stayed in front of the net and defended there,” coach Patrick Roy said.

Bowen Byram’s empty-netter with 1:42 remaining proved to be the game-winner when Brayden Schenn scored with two seconds remaining.

Despite the loss, the Islanders finished third in the Metropolitan Division as only one of the teams they were in contention for a playoff spot won their game. The Penguins moved three points ahead of the Islanders after defeating the Detroit Red Wings 5–1. But the Columbus Blue Jackets, who could have overtaken them with a win, lost 5–2 to the Carolina Hurricanes at home.

The Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators, who are struggling to overtake the Islanders in the playoff race, also lost.

The Islanders have a welcome two days off before the back-to-back matches. They’ll host the Flyers on Friday before traveling to Carolina for their final road game on Saturday.

Each team got a power play in the first three minutes, with Carson Soucy going for high-sticking 41 seconds into the game and Buffalo’s Josh Norris called for pass interference at 1:31.

Isles had four of the first six shots of the game before the Sabers began to take control, pushing the pace and forcing Sorokin to make some good saves. But Buffalo finally got on the board when Jack Quinn scored a power-play goal at 14:19.

With Adam Pelech ruled out of a high-sticking penalty, New York cleared at the right point; Casey Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau appeared to get in each other’s way and lose the puck battle to Norris. He slid the puck to the open left point, where Quinn was entering the play on a line change. Nobody stepped up to Quinn, who raced into the left circle before hitting a shot to give Sorokin a 1–0 lead.

Sorokin cut the deficit to one just before the 15-minute mark when he denied Brent Malensteen on a wide-open backhander from the slot after another failed clear. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Sabers held the Islanders without a goal for more than 11 minutes and had only four high-danger chances in the first 20 minutes. Buffalo finished the period with a 12-6 differential in shots and a 23-11 edge in attempts.

The Sabers controlled the game for the first few minutes of the second period, before Anders Lee was given a penalty shot at 6:34 after Power slashed him on a breakaway. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made a great save on Lee’s backhander, but the play appeared to wake up the Isles, who began spending more time in the Sabres’ zone.

They got a break when under pressure defenseman Mattias Samuelsson backhanded the puck into the crowd for a delay of game penalty at 17:41. Ritchie tied the game 16 seconds later, taking a feed from Brayden Schenn off a perfect passing play initiated by Bo Horvat and scoring into the empty net to make the score 1–1. It remained that way until the end of the period, with the Isles outshooting Buffalo 9–7, although the Sabers had a 6–5 edge in high-danger chances.

Lee was not penalized for the late-period hit that sent Norris’ face into the glass, but he had to answer the bell when ex-Ranger Sam Carrick challenged him after a face-off early in the third period. Lee threw the former Rangers center on the ice and he went to the locker room with a shoulder injury. But this game seemed to put the pressure on the Sabers – especially when Soucy was sent off for holding at 1:28. Tage Thompson’s power-play goal at 2:40 put Buffalo ahead 3–2.

Lee’s fluke goal gave the Islanders the tie and gave them hope that they could go home with at least a point after overtime. Krebs’ goal dashed those hopes.

Key takeaways from the Islanders’ 4-3 loss to the Sabers

lucky losers/missed opportunities

All things considered, the Isles came away with a discouraging loss that they expected. They finished the night just as they started it – third in the Metro, one point ahead of Columbus (which has the second wild card in the East and has played one less game), and two points in front of Ottawa, Detroit and Philadelphia – though all three have two games in hand in New York.

None of the contenders play on Wednesday, but they are all back in action on Thursday.

The Islanders looked disorganized in the second half of their loss to the Penguins and were outplayed by the Sabers for long periods. The two-day break comes at a good time, but the Monday-Tuesday loss exposed the Isles’ defensive issues and their erratic special teams, and they have a lot of cleaning up to do before the Flyers come to UBS on Friday for the second half of a back-to-back.

Sorokin hit back

Roy surprised many observers by starting Sorokin one night after the Penguins allowed seven goals before being removed. He was at no fault for any of the three goals scored before the empty-netter – and that was the biggest reason the Islanders won.

“He was excellent,” Roy said. “He made some very good saves and unfortunately for us he gave up two goals on the power-play.”

The Sabers had a 12-3 advantage in high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick (it was 15-9 in all situations). Sorokin was brilliant in the first round, when the Isles suffered a defeat and fell behind by only one goal.

He will certainly be happy with the two-day break, which could give him a chance to play against both the Flyers and Hurricanes.

PK was not good

The Islanders picked a bad night to give up their first power-play goal in six games – although they had only faced six opposition power plays over the course of their last five games.

Quinn’s goal came when he fell behind, failed to clear the area and allowed Quinn to run unimpeded down the left. Thompson, one of the NHL’s deadliest shooters, found a soft spot in the middle of the coverage and beat Sorokin – who had not seen the shot.

With one of the NHL’s worst power plays, the Islanders can’t afford another bad night by the penalty killer.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

With only 11 games remaining on the docket, the Montreal Canadiens are in a very good position when it comes to playoff chances.

Before we move on, I would like to address one small annoyance when discussing the process of qualifying for the playoffs. We will often see analysts saying that a team has not yet been ‘mathematically eliminated’, or something similar. However, it should be noted that mathematics is at the core of every playoff race.

Therefore, we can assume that every elimination is based on mathematics.

Every qualification, every win, every loss and most everything related to the game is like this.

Of course, this is absolutely the right thing to choose, and it fits in perfectly with my annoying habit of reminding everyone that there is no such thing as an ‘assistant captain’ in the NHL.

This is an alternate captain. They don’t bring their captain coffee or pick up his dry cleaning.

With that in mind, let’s get to the crux of the matter in Montreal mathematical The race to qualify for the playoffs.

Or, optionalPlayoff race.

Montreal Canadiens Playoff Odds

As it stands, the Canadiens’ playoff chances have increased to 93.8%.

They’re not a lock, but all things considered, the Habs should qualify for the playoffs in the tightly contested Eastern Conference.

This may seem a bit counterintuitive, as they are only four points ahead of the Ottawa Senators, but it’s important to remember that it is very, very difficult to make the final stretch of the year. The game featured three-point games, reducing the importance of the late-season push.

Eastern Conference Playoff Odds (via Money Puck)

Carolina Hurricanes – 100%

Buffalo Sabers – 99.98%

Tampa Bay Lightning 99.91%

Montreal Canadiens 93.8%

Pittsburgh Penguins – 79.4%

Columbus Blue Jackets – 77.9%

Boston Bruins – 72%

Ottawa Senators – 66.5%

New York Islanders – 54.1%

Detroit Red Wings – 39.2%

Philadelphia Flyers – 12.6%

Washington Capitals – 4.1%

New Jersey Devils – 0.5%

Florida Panthers – 0%

Toronto Maple Leafs – 0%

New York Rangers – 0%

Final Montreal Canadiens Regular Season Games

remaining rivals: Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning (x2), New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils (x2), Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers.

Of the 11 games remaining on the docket, the Canadiens will face teams in a playoff spot on only four occasions (Hurricanes, Lightning x2, Blue Jackets, Islanders).

To make matters more interesting, only two of those rivals are playing in the Atlantic Division.

The situation is reflected in Montreal’s strength of schedule (SOS), which is not the easiest in the league, but is the least worrisome in the Eastern Conference, as only four teams have an easier SOS.

Eastern Conference strength schedule (via Tankathon)

1 – Boston Bruins (.615)

2 – New York Islanders (.607)

3 – Columbus Blue Jackets (.603)

4 – Ottawa Senators (.598)

5 – Philadelphia Flyers (.596)

6 – Tampa Bay Lightning (.594)

7 – Detroit Red Wings (.584)

8 – New Jersey Devils (.582)

9 – New York Rangers (.581)

10 – Carolina Hurricanes (.579)

11 – Montreal Canadiens (.577)

12 – Buffalo Sabers (.572)

13 – Pittsburgh Penguins (.570)

14 – Florida Panthers (.569)

15 – Washington Capitals (.568)

16 – Toronto Maple Leafs (.563)

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Charlotte Hornets may not be quite there, but they have arrived as a winless team in the Eastern Conference. Since the beginning of the 2026 calendar year, the Hornets have posted the fifth-best record in the NBA at 27–12. Their strong performance this year continued on Tuesday, as they swept the Sacramento Kings and demolished them with a 134-90 victory.

Making the jump from bad to good isn’t as easy as the Hornets are making it out to be. But under the tutelage of head coach Charles Lee, they are doing just that. They have made a habit of winning and never let their foot off the gas pedal – which explains their historic average margin of victory this season.

After the game, Lee explained what makes Why the Hornets are so good and why they are so dominant whenever they are on victory lane.

“Every play is meaningful, every possession is meaningful,” Lee said via HornetsReddit.

🎙️ Charles Lee: “Every play is meaningful, every possession is meaningful.”

“To see that group compete at the end of the game and see the way they communicated… it shows, from up and down the roster, the level of commitment, everybody’s ‘care factor’ is really high.” pic.twitter.com/Dy8yijDNQE

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 25 March 2026

The Hornets enjoy embarrassing other teams, and this killer mentality of theirs bodes well for their chances of making the jump from good to great in the coming years.

The entire Hornets roster has been purchased

The Hornets have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the past few months, and it’s no coincidence. Lee’s team is playing for each other every single game, and the team is humming as a result.

Charlotte has one of the best starting five players in the association (LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate), and their bench team consists of Ryan Kalkbrenner, Coby White, Zion James, Josh Green and Grant Williams, who are playing their roles in the team.

The 2025-26 NHL season is winding down and the race for the playoffs is heating up. The Eastern Conference is in flux and the Detroit Red Wings are one point out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 84 points and 12 games remaining. Meanwhile, the Western Conference has been sluggish this season, with the Los Angeles Kings remaining the first team with 73 points and 12 games remaining.

However, could the NHL adopt a similar format to the NBA? The league has been linked to a possible play-in tournament after success in the NBA over the past few years. In fact, a new rumor has revealed the NHL’s stance on a play-in tournament for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman doesn’t believe a play-in tournament is a good idea, despite the influence of billionaires and hockey’s most powerful people, as reported by Darren Dreger on Barn Burner. The NBA’s play-in tournament has been a success; However, the fanbase has shown displeasure with this.

There are a number of reasons why a play-in tournament is a good and bad idea. More drama would be added to the tournament over which NHL teams would earn the final berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It will also give teams outside the top 8 places in each conference an additional opportunity to make one last attempt.

However, there are many negatives to this, as the NHL playoff race is competitive most every season. If the NHL implemented a play-in tournament, it would make no sense to have 82 regular season games moving forward. Also, a team that is not even close to the playoffs can earn a spot if it ranks well below other organizations.

For now, Bateman believes the play-in tournament is not a good idea, and it would not be shocking if it never came to fruition.

READ MORE: Detroit Red Wings almost got a different defenseman at the NHL trade deadline

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

On Monday night, the Milwaukee Bucks surprisingly waived Cam Thomas after Thomas had a falling out with the Brooklyn Nets following the trade deadline. The Bucks waived Thomas on March 23, meaning he is ineligible to play in the postseason because he was waived after the March 1 playoff eligibility waiver deadline.

Nonetheless, Thomas is free to sign with any NBA team, provided those teams register interest in him. At this point, Thomas’ stock is at its lowest, and it would be worrisome to other teams that the Bucks, a team that is hungry for talent, gave up on a player who at one time averaged 24 points per game.

But of course, just because Thomas didn’t live up to expectations in Milwaukee doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a future in the NBA now. All he has to do is land in a team with a solid infrastructure and some patient teaching that can allow him to become the best version of himself.

Thomas’ ability to score the basketball is evident, as his 3,822 career points in 257 games (88 starts) are nothing like trying to luck out. But he’s facing a crossroads in his career, and choosing his next team, if he even gets a choice, will be key in determining whether he can serve as a microwave scoring piece in the NBA and pick up where he left off during the 2023-24 season or whether he’s bound to spend a few years overseas.

Here are some teams that make some sense as potential destinations for Thomas.

4. Sacramento Kings

In terms of strict fit on the court, this is not a good destination for Thomas at all. The Kings still have a glut of guards, and the last thing they need is to further clog the roster and make their logjam at those positions worse. Furthermore, the Kings are already closely monitored, and integrating Thomas’ brand of basketball into a team that is already in disarray won’t be the easiest.

The Kings also have Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan still active, and Thomas won’t be good enough to be guaranteed touches from those players.

But the Kings haven’t exactly focused on building a team that fits together, and perhaps they’ve become the latest team to look to Thomas to try to get his career back on track.

Sacramento can give him all the chances to score. Will this result in beautiful basketball? not even close. Would it be hilarious to see the Kings try this? Absolutely.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers have been devastated by injuries at the end of the 2025-26 season and have led to their decline in the NBA standings. Somehow, they’re still in seventh place in the East, meaning they’re still a long way from making the playoffs even with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid improving.

The good news is that Paul George is likely to return in the 76ers’ next game. The bad news is that it’s not clear exactly when Maxi will return. Another bad news is that Philly is missing a lot of Jared McCain, as their guard depth has been so depleted amid injuries that they’ve had to bring in Cameron Payne and play him heavy minutes.

Although Thomas can’t help the 76ers make one last attempt at the postseason, he can at least help them clinch the sixth seed in the conference. Philly is simply hungry for a shot-maker of Thomas’ level, and he would make VJ Edgecombe’s life a lot easier amid the team’s lack of offense.

2. Miami Heat

The Heat are in the midst of a tough five-game losing streak, and the last thing the team needs is to undergo a major change and bring in Thomas – another high-usage player. They are struggling to find balance at the moment, as they have had to bring 2026 NBA All-Star Norman Powell off the bench.

But the Heat culture is famous for developing untested players and turning them into winning contributors. He helped Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin, all of whom were part of their 2023 NBA Finals team, earn millions and millions of dollars when every other team in the NBA wasn’t sold on his ability to contribute.

What Thomas needs most is structure, and the Heat organization should help provide him with that.

Signing Thomas doesn’t mean he has to play anyway; Miami could simply bring him in, have him train with the team and acclimate to the team’s system, and get him ready for next season if they like what they see from the 24-year-old guard.

1. Indiana Pacers

With the departure of Benedict Mathurin via the Ivica Zubac trade, there could be an opportunity on the Pacers bench for a microwave scorer like Thomas. The problem is that Thomas is two inches shorter than Mathurin, and he is not even on the same level as the Los Angeles Clippers guard as a rebounder and defender.

But Thomas is a proven bucket-getter, and head coach Rick Carlisle has had success in the past with smaller guards who can score points in groups. Monta Ellis flourished under Carlisle. Trey Burke and Yogi Ferrell played some of their best basketball under Carlisle.

Thomas has not found any legitimate mentor for his career. The Nets quickly released him, as they did not want to give him a big contract last offseason. The Bucks gave their roster spot to Pete Nance, a wing who fits in with the team more easily.

Carlisle knows his way around Thomas’ playing style at guard, and Indiana, at least through the 2025-26 season, could give him a chance to prove if he can fit into what the team is building. The Pacers are under no pressure to win this season anyway, so they may simply hand the keys to Thomas as an audition to see if he’ll have a role on the team next season.

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat make a push for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the team is currently trending in a negative direction, tied with five consecutive losses following Monday’s 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. As the Heat and Bam Adebayo are unable to overcome Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the team captain will keep it real even after the loss.

Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, leading San Antonio to an impressive win on both sides of the ball, outclassing Miami from the start. There came a time when frustration grew for the Heat as Adebayo and head coach Erik Spoelstra were teasing each other after the star was out.

As Adebayo’s minutes seemed to mirror Wembanyama’s, as Spoelstra inserted Kel’El Ware into relief as the Spurs star was relieved, the Miami big man’s competitive edge came to the fore. Now in the midst of a five-game losing streak, Adebayo would chime in on the heated exchange with Spoelstra, including his NSFW reaction to not wanting to attend the play-in tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

“I mean, he’s been watching what I’ve been doing the last number of games,” Adebayo said while recording 18 points (5-17 FG, 2-10 from deep) with four assists and three rebounds. “I don’t want to be in the play-in. So some of it is, yes, he has to save me from myself, but at the same time, I don’t want to be in the play-in. So every game, I’m going to try to go out there and do my best to push this team and force us out of this.”

Bam Adebayo barked back and forth with Erik Spoelstra from the beginning:

“Some of it is that he has to protect me from myself, but at the same time, I don’t want to be in the f**king play-in…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/gxHj4gxPVh

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra ‘barking’ at him and Bam Adebayo at each other

While the Heat weren’t able to maintain their identity in the loss to the Spurs, it started with the defense, as the team struggled on the boards, getting out-rebounded 62-38 in addition to giving up 136 points. San Antonio also won the second-chance points battle 25–6, and excelled in the paint, scoring 60 in that area compared to Miami’s 40.

Adebayo played a stellar 45 minutes in Saturday’s loss to the Houston Rockets, but that was unlikely to be the case on Monday, as Spoelstra said he liked Adebayo’s competitive nature.

“He and I were barking at each other. That’s why I love him. I think he loves me,” Spoelstra said, laughing. “But even if he doesn’t, I’ve still got to do what’s best for the team. You know, I don’t want to play him 24 minutes in a row every half. If I’m forced to do it like Houston did, I’ll do it. But it’s the first half. I didn’t think it was necessary, you know. So some minutes, yes, most of the minutes are matchup ones. But it shouldn’t be all the minutes for us.”

Erik Spoelstra talks about him and Bam Adebayo “barking” at each other.

“That’s why I love him, I think he loves me,” Spoelstra said, laughing. “But even if he doesn’t do that, I have to do what’s best for the team, I don’t want to play with him for 24 minutes straight…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/ZKS2cX4I2C

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

One of the words spoken in Spoelstra’s postgame press conference after the loss in Houston was that the Heat are going through “pain,” a feeling that continues to be “uncomfortable” during this skid.

“We’re being tested right now, we’re not the only team that’s being tested,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints. “It feels uncomfortable, no doubt about that. We definitely got outplayed tonight, in basically every aspect of the game. It’s a game, I understand the other four, but there are some really good things in other games, even more so, and we just have to stay the course.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the “pain” the Heat are going through after their loss to the Rockets and speaking about his situation after the Spurs:

“We’re being tested right now… It feels uncomfortable, there’s no doubt about it…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/rXxRb08Dtj

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

What the Heat lacked in the Spurs defeat, and what a ‘good problem’ they have

As the Heat disappointed against the Spurs in almost every category, one area that can’t be seen in the statsheet is the “competitive spirit” that the team lacked, as Adebayo reiterated, shouting out Myron Gardner’s energy despite the result.

“We didn’t bring competitive spirit. That’s really what it was. Shout out to Myron Garner, man, I looked up to Myron because he plays so hard,” Adebayo told ClutchPoints after Gardner played 18 minutes and scored nine points. “We honestly need to match his energy, all of us, because we play like this, we’ll be a completely different team, but our energy has to transfer, and then basketball is going to be basketball. We missed shots, whatever, but you have to continue to play through the missed shots. I felt like we let those shots get to our heads, and it affected us on the other end.”

Asked Bam Adebayo what was the catalyst for Spurs’ disappointing defeat:

“We didn’t bring the competitive spirit, that’s really it, shout out to Myron Gardner… We just needed to match his energy honestly…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/9FoUc3vONX

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Another challenge for Miami in the game was having the healthiest roster in a long time, with the return of Andrew Wiggins (toe), Jaime Jacquez Jr. (hip), and Norman Powell (calf) from injury. While Spoelstra is still looking for the right rotation to use with 10 games left, Herro would say it’s a “good problem to have.”

“I’m not sure, but we’ve got to figure it out. I’d rather be completely healthy than not go out there, so we have a good problem to have. It’s a good problem to have, and we’ve just got to get back on track,” Herro said after scoring 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field with five rebounds.

Tyler Herro speaks after the Heat’s fifth consecutive L, this time for the Spurs.

We talk about what needs to be fixed, including me asking him if being the healthiest he has been in a long time is part of the problems.

Says it’s a “good problem” for every healthy person. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/lYMQOZJRC0

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Summer ‘keeps releasing the rope’

The Heat are trying to recover from the pain Spoelstra talks about, playing time is limited after the loss to the Spurs, making it a tough adjustment to have a fully healthy roster for the first time. Despite being an All-Star this season, mostly as a starter, Powell’s coming off the bench has been a step up.

After scoring 21 points on seven of 18 shooting from the field and four of 11 from deep, Powell talked about how the team continues to “let go of the rope” even in adversity.

“I think when things get tough, we let go of the rope,” Powell told ClutchPoints. “I think that’s what happens when we lose like this. We get hit, have some adversity, miss some shots and then everyone starts worrying about what happened on offense, and teams take advantage of that and keep punishing us. When we get hit, we keep going.”

Asked Norman Powell about the five consecutive defeats and what he saw in the defeat:

“I think when things get tough, we let go of the rope… have some adversity, miss some shots, then everyone starts worrying about what happened on offense and teams take advantage…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/V1KJahjCy2

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

As previously stated, there are now 10 games left in the regular season as the Heat are now 38-34, leaving them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference heading into a two-game road trip on Wednesday and Friday, both of which they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers.

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns have been in prime position for a playoff spot for most of the season. However, according to Devin Booker, during the five-game losing streak, it made that quest more difficult.

Before the Suns’ 5-game skid, the team was close to potentially missing the play-in game and clinching the No. 6 seed. Since that stretch, they have fallen back to seventh place, which would have put them in that game if the playoffs were to begin as of this writing.

“To be completely honest, we’ve put ourselves in a tough position now to make that six… focusing on playing the right brand of basketball… learning from the last five games,” Booker said via PHNX Suns postgame in the locker room on Twitter (formerly Twitter).

Although Booker’s comments may sound discouraging, it may be quite the opposite. Recognizing where they are and being honest is a key component to what Phoenix is ​​building.

Needless to mention, the influx of injuries came at a terrible time. This is not an excuse, but it plays a significant role in the recent shortcomings.

Jordan Ott agrees with Devin Booker’s sentiment

Although head coach Jordan Ott had spoken to Booker before, the two appeared to be in sync. Their chemistry and connection has been a constant progression ever since they were hired.

As mentioned earlier, accountability has been the Suns’ bread and butter, and he didn’t shy away from it when asked where the Suns’ mindset is regarding the play-in race.

Ott said after the game, “I think everybody understands. We try to keep it as basic as possible today to take care of your business.” “We want to be healthy, we want to play the right way. Again, feel like, we’ve been playing better lately. As we add body, we’ve got to continue that.

“We have to incorporate and improve, so everyone is fully aware. You get to this point of the year, you are not hiding. Everyone checks the standings equally. We don’t talk about it much.”

Jordan Ott didn’t shy away from where the Suns stand in the potential play-in race.

If it started today, they would be the No. 7 seed.

“I think everyone understands. We try to keep it as basic as possible to take care of your business today… You’ve gotten to this point… pic.twitter.com/N043G46rQT

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 23 March 2026

Phoenix will take on the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, before finishing a home stand at the Utah Jazz. Getting two wins can take them closer to the sixth seed than before.

Montreal – It feels like there’s more Montreal Canadiens news every hour, and we’re all bound to miss a story or two. On Sundays, we always recap relevant NHL news you may have missed, to help you stay in the Canadiens loop.

Make sure you don’t miss any news from Canadians by signing up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for a daily newsletter covering various other NHL teams, or the most exciting developments in the game.[Sportsnaut]

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes

The Canadiens lost 4-3 to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, a disappointing result when you consider they held a 3-2 lead midway through the game. As usual, the Canadiens had effective stretches, which combined with the turnovers, made them look like a junior team. Consistently inconsistent has been the theme of the season for the Habs. [Canadiens Highlights: Hard-Fought Loss Versus Ducks]

Another day, another point for top Canadian prospect Michael Hayes. With his goal against Penn State, Hayes now has 50 points in just 36 games. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings – No. 1 Dynamic Michael Hage]

A rip from the high slot and Hayes made it 4-2! pic.twitter.com/5cVj9o4VMG

– Michigan Hockey (@umichockey) 14 March 2026

The Laval Rocket split their weekend games, losing 5-2 to the Utica Comets on Friday, and then winning 4-3 in a shootout versus the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday. Owen Beck scored his 10th goal of the season in the win, while Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 28 of 31 shots sent his way.

Beck 🚨 1-1 pic.twitter.com/ymgFqd4DRW

– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) 14 March 2026

Alexander Zharovsky had a great game and reached the 40-point mark in the KHL with several three-point efforts. He scored a goal and an assist against the Shanghai Dragons, ending an eight-game scoreless streak.

Speaking of talented prospects, Bryce Pickford scored his 44th goal of the year, meaning he is now tied with Cameron Schmidt for the league lead. There’s no doubt, Pickford is enjoying one of the most encouraging D+1 seasons in recent memory.

Cole Caufield is the first Canadiens player to reach 40 goals since Vincent Damphousse in 1993–94. Caufield scored the overtime winner against the Boston Bruins to secure two very important points in the playoff race. [Canadiens Highlights: Caufield Hits 40 In Crucial Win]

Speaking of Caufield, when asked what comes next after 40 he had a great response.

“What’s after 40? 50?”

“41” – Cole ??? pic.twitter.com/QMwGJG5poN

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 18 March 2026

It should be noted that Caufield is now just one goal behind Jack Hughes for most goals scored by any player drafted in 2019, despite having played 62 fewer games than the New Jersey Devils forward.

#GoHabsGo Sniper Cole Caufield is just one goal behind Jack Hughes for the most goals of any player drafted in 2019.

He has also played 62 fewer games than Hughes. pic.twitter.com/sRUcQ1zs2H

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 18 March 2026

More unfortunate news on the injury front, as Kirby Dach will be absent for between two to four weeks with an upper body injury. Dach was forced to leave Sunday’s game after contact with Anaheim Ducks forward Jeffrey Wiel. With Dach out of commission, Zachary Bolduc returned to the lineup before the game against the Boston Bruins. [Canadiens Preview: Dobes Faces Bruins, Dach Injured]

It’s very easy to blame goaltending for all of Montreal’s problems this year, but the truth is that the Canadiens allow too many high-danger chances while creating too few to balance out their poor defensive play. Poor goal setting is a symptom of the problem, not the cause. [Playoff Discussion: Canadiens Issues Go Beyond Bad Goaltending]

David Rickenbacker has officially signed with Kent Hughes’ former management company Quartex. When it comes to Canadiens players represented by Shawn Coffey he joins Lane Hutson and Jacob Fowler. Rickenbacker finished fourth in our most recent edition of the top Montreal Canadiens prospects. [Top Canadiens Prospects – No. 4 David Reinbacher]

We are thrilled to welcome the Canadiens 2023 5th overall pick David Rickenbacker #quartexfamily ! pic.twitter.com/CMCijzazJX

– Quartex Hockey (@quartexhockey) 17 March 2026

A closer look at how Canadiens sniper Cole Caufield managed to touch the 40-goal mark, the first Montreal player to accomplish the feat since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94. The most impressive aspect of his goal-scoring dominance is that he does most of his damage at even strength. No other NHLer has more goals per 60 (even-strength) in the NHL. [Cole Caufield Dominance – 40 Goals By The Numbers]

It must be said that very few players enjoy playing hockey as much as Caufield. Maybe it has to do with the fact that he’s better at scoring goals than most NHLers.

Cole Caulfield’s 40 seconds of greatness to celebrate his first 40-goal season! 😛 pic.twitter.com/7ABOgBq3mi

– NHL (@NHL) 18 March 2026

The playoff race remains fierce in the Eastern Conference, with the Habs just a few points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team on the outside looking in. There are also the Ottawa Senators in the mix, making it another exciting sprint to the end. The good news is that Canadians hold their destiny in their own hands, as long as they find ways to accumulate significant points.

Projected 2025–26 NHL standings as of March 18 pic.twitter.com/hQIldYAaq8

– Dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) 18 March 2026

One reason it’s been difficult for the Canadiens to miss out on a playoff spot is that climbing the standings at the end of the season is a tough sell, especially when there are three-point games in play. Both Ottawa and Columbus have produced a great series of games, and yet, they are still struggling to make their way into the playoff picture.

Looking to continue their hard-hitting ways and push for a wild card spot in the highly competitive Eastern Conference @Senator The Capitals visit tonight and are 11-2-2 in their last 15 games. This record gives him the third highest points percentage on this list pic.twitter.com/3kJwwdR0SE

– StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) 18 March 2026

Everything about prospect Bryce Pickford’s season has been impressive, and his path to the WHL has been impressive too, as evidenced by the interesting video of him put together by the league. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects: No.7 – Extraordinary Pickford]

How a young defenseman who left hockey for two years went on to break a WHL record and earn a contract with @CanadiensMTL?

this is the story @tigershockey Captain, Bryce Pickford! pic.twitter.com/VZXuHccslv

– Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) 18 March 2026

Head coach Martin Saint-Louis spent a lot of time working on the power play in practice, focusing on the top unit. Montreal still has a top-10 power play, but given the talent on their first power play unit, not to mention the overpassing issue, there’s clearly still work to be done.

Martin Saint-Louis had several discussions with the first power play unit.

The coach does not seem completely satisfied with the performance of this unit.@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #power play #nhl pic.twitter.com/xyBiErPW49

– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 18 March 2026

While some insiders have suggested that the Canadiens were actively involved in trade talks, including for players like Nazem Kadri or Matthew Neese, Pierre LeBrun does not believe that player has been identified, at least not yet. Considering all of the rumors involving Hubs come from outside sources, he may be on to something. Like a bucket or a proper fishing boat owned by anyone other than Henry, Kent Hughes doesn’t leak.

Pierre LeBrun: While there has been speculation about the Habs trying to acquire Mathieu Neese… Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Ristolainen… Whatever major trade the Canadiens were working on hasn’t actually been identified yet in all reports after the deadline – The Athletic (3/18)

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 19 March 2026

As for Elliotte Friedman, he reported that the Habs showed “significant interest” in Nese, while also revealing that “everyone has denied the report”. [32 Thoughts]

The Canadiens have a relatively healthy power play, but they could immediately improve on that if they decided to take a few more shots every game. The Habs rank seventh in the NHL on power plays, but are among the teams that take the fewest shots. [Canadiens Powerplay Issues Reflected In One Key Statistic]

Thursday night’s game between the Habs and Detroit Red Wings was important for both clubs, but the Canadiens made too many mistakes, giving up valuable points. [Canadiens Highlights: Habs Drop Four-Point Game]

Despite a disappointing end to Thursday’s loss against the Detroit Red Wings, the Canadiens were fired by head coach Martin Saint-Louis on Friday. The decision caused a lot of anger on social media, but if we remove emotions from the equation, it would be fair to suggest that sometimes the carrot yields better results than the stick.

#hubs Friday morning’s practice at Brossard has been canceled. Day off for the team,

– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) 20 March 2026

Is anyone surprised that Lane Hutson decided to practice despite having a day off? Oliver Kapanen joined Hutson, with both players spending time working with skills coach Adam Nicholls.

Presumably, Len Hutson and Oliver Kapanen can’t spend a single morning without putting on their skates.

He’s on the ice this morning in Brossard with Adam Nicholls.@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #hutsan #kapanen #nhl pic.twitter.com/QUqrldI6rg

– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 20 March 2026

Vincent Arseneau is a despicable, mean man. He made quick work of Springfield Thunderbirds winger Cale Casey in the Rockets’ 4–1 victory.

Ouch what a fight Arseneau!! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/yFWa7hR3NB

– The Rocket Girl 🚀🇨🇦 (@TheRocket9Girl) 20 March 2026

There were also some other incidents that did not involve a Rockets player demolishing his opponent. Samuel Blais (11), Jared Davidson (16), Philipp Messer (9), and Florian Czekaj (15) found the back of the net for the Rockets, while Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 28 of 29 shots to seal the win.

Baker Month 🚨 https://t.co/7nvQeDcAzw pic.twitter.com/VOjrLVkPPm

– X – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) 21 March 2026

There was some unfortunate Montreal news on Friday, as former Montreal Expos announcer Roger Brulotte passed away. He was 79 years old.

Congratulations to legendary Montreal Expos broadcaster Roger Brulotte 💔🙏 pic.twitter.com/a7E2MFSyPo

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 21 March 2026

Jacob Fowler was given the start against the New York Islanders on Saturday night, but the story of the evening was Montreal’s dominance in a crucial game that had huge implications for the playoffs. Caufield led the way with his third career shutout, while Slafkowski contributed two goals in the 7–3 victory. [Canadiens Highlights: Mr. Saturday Night Stars In Pivotal Win]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Detroit Pistons are officially headed back to the postseason. Detroit became the first team from the Eastern Conference to clinch a spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs after an impressive 115-101 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. This is the second consecutive year the Motor City will see playoff basketball, a feat that seemed nearly impossible just two seasons ago when the franchise finished with a league-worst 14–68 record.

Even without star guard Cade Cunningham, who is out with a chest injury, the Detroit Pistons did not lose a win at Little Caesars Arena. Jalen Duren led the offense with 23 points in just 21 minutes of action.

With Cunningham out, Dennis Jenkins stepped into the starting lineup and looked like a seasoned veteran, having a near triple-double with 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. The Pistons relied on their inner strength and tirelessness to overcome an uncharacteristically cold shooting night, where they converted only five of their 21 attempts from beyond the arc.

Defensively, Detroit acted as a nightmare for a shorthanded Golden State Warriors team that already lacked the legendary Stephen Curry. Aussie Thompson put on a defensive masterclass, recording a career-high seven steals and disrupting passing lanes all evening.

His activity helped the Warriors force an astonishing 26 turnovers, which the Pistons efficiently converted into 32 easy points. Brandin Podziemski led the visitors with 15 points, but Golden State struggled to find a rhythm after Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the first half due to lower back pain.

The win moved the Detroit Pistons to a perfect 51–19 record, maintaining a comfortable 4.5-game lead over the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the East. While the ultimate goal is a deep run in April and May, achieving it early proves how far this young core has come.

In just three seasons, Victor Wembanyama has led the San Antonio Spurs back into playoff position after his game-winning performance against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.

Wembanyama has achieved superstar status as the face of the Spurs franchise. The team has not reached the postseason since 2019, a drought that the young star center looks to end this season.

Luckily, San Antonio is enjoying its best season so far in 2020. They have a distinguished campaign ahead as the team is in the top position of the Western Conference, needing one more win to seal their ticket.

Wembanyama answered the call during San Antonio’s clash with Phoenix. With 10 seconds left on the game clock, he took the ball inbounds and hit the game-winning shot from mid-range to seal his team’s spot in the playoffs.

Wembley calls game for the Spurs 👽

They sent San Antonio to the playoffs for the first time since 2019!pic.twitter.com/X5BeZmjcXE

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 20 March 2026

Victor Wembanyama, how Spurs played against the Suns

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will be looking forward to their playoff journey together. Beating the Suns in game-winning fashion was the cherry on top.

Four players scored in double figures for San Antonio in the win, including Wembanyama. He finished with a stat line of 34 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, one assist and one block. He made 10 of 20 shots from the field, including 2 of 7 from beyond the arc and 12 of 12 from the free-throw line. De’Aaron Fox came in next with 23 points and seven rebounds, Julian Champagne had 14 points and two blocks, while Devin Vassell added 12 points and two assists.

San Antonio improved to a 52–18 record on the season and finished second in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, while trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With four consecutive wins, Spurs will look forward to their next encounter at home. They will host the Indiana Pacers as tip-off takes place on March 21 at 8 PM ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers recorded their sixth consecutive win by defeating the Houston Rockets 100-92 at Toyota Center on Monday. The Lakers finished third in the Western Conference, surpassing the Rockets.

Luka Doncic once again led the attack with a game-high 36 points on 14 of 27 shooting, while adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Purple and Gold improved to 43-25.

During a postgame interview with NBC, Doncic praised his response and his defensive effort in the final period, holding the Rockets under 100 points and handing them only their ninth loss at home.

“It was great. I thought we shared the ball well, especially in the last quarter,” said the NBA’s leading scorer.

“To hold them (the Rockets) to 92 points is awesome. We did a great job defensively.”

Houston is averaging 114.1 points per game.

Doncic, 27, also acknowledged the physicality of the game, which he said has been a clear theme amid his winning streak.

“We could have done a lot better, but what matters is that we won, we have to keep it going,” Doncic said.

“The last few games have been very physical, very playoff-like.”

Luka said tonight felt like a playoff game pic.twitter.com/fpCT49LtX6

– Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) 17 March 2026

The Lakers have been on a tough schedule, surviving the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. They will face the Rockets again on Wednesday.

LeBron James had 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals against Houston, while also had a spectacular dunk on Jabari Smith Jr.

Austin Reeves had 15 points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals.

As the Miami Heat look to bounce back from a 121-117 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, the team still has a lot to figure out about its lineup and rotation with 14 games left in the regular season. As the Heat prepare to face tough teams over the next few weeks, a major decision has still to be made regarding star Norman Powell.

It can’t be denied what a positive impact Powell has had this season in his first year with Miami, leading the team with 22.5 points per game, resulting in his first-ever All-Star award. The main starter for the Heat, it was a different story on Saturday as he came off the bench after missing the last seven games with a groin strain.

While fellow star guard Tyler Herro did the same after his latest rib injury, there are a few reasons why both Powell and Herro came off the bench in their injury returns after missing significant time. What is clear is that after a difficult and complicated injury recovery, coming off the bench is a way to help Powell get his feet under him again.

The second is not to mess with Miami’s flow, as Herro has had success since his debut, as he averaged 25.6 points per game in five of the seven games with Powell out. The other two were due to Herro missing time due to quadriceps pain.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra would tell ClutchPoints after the loss to Orlando that, in addition to ‘managing’ Powell’s injury recovery, he talked about the “level of sacrifice” that will come when dealing with lineup decisions.

“As long as we’re responsible for it, he’ll be OK,” Spoelstra said. “Look, these are not easy decisions right now. He’s going to play a lot of minutes. Tyler is going to play a lot of minutes. Right now, we just need to focus on winning games and getting on the team. We want to stay healthy, we want our guys out, we want our hitting power, we want our options. There comes some level of sacrifice with that, and what we’ll do each game, I don’t know at this point. We’re doing what we feel is necessary to prepare ourselves. It is necessary to have a winning situation.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about Norman Powell’s return from the bench and whether the decision to do so was to get his feet under him:

“Yeah, even to try to manage it. We want our options. With that, you know, comes some level of sacrifice…” #HeatNation

Full response: pic.twitter.com/apckf4WznX

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Could the Heat bench Norman Powell in favor of Tyler Herro?

With the return of Powell and Herro to the Heat, Saturday was only the 12th game where they were both active in the game together, and the results have been mediocre. There were interesting rotational patterns where Herro and Powell played in different lineups rather than playing on the court together. When they were on the floor at the same time, it felt like action.

However, the two got extended minutes with each other on Saturday as they played 14 minutes, and defensively it wasn’t the best, with Miami outscoring the Magic by three points in that time. There could be a discussion about one starting and the other coming off the bench, Powell, who has recently come off the bench, scored 20 points on Saturday.

When asked how the team explained the reason for Powell coming off the bench, he said, “They didn’t want to mess up the flow of the way the team is playing.” “And I just want to be myself and be aggressive.”

Norman Powell on his explanation for coming off the bench:

“Just they didn’t want to mess up the flow…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/Yqi9QQdTOm

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

One can easily see how strange it would be for Powell to have an All-Star season early on and then become a reserve later on. However, there have been plenty of wins with either Powell or Herro out, creating a potentially uncomfortable situation for Spoelstra and one of the players to concede.

There’s still time for the Tyler Herro-Norman Powell tandem to work

However, the hope is that in these final 14 games, the Heat can make the Powell-Herro tandem work and solidify their spot in the Eastern Conference. There’s no denying that both have great offensive abilities on the field, but concerns on defense are legitimate.

Still, time has not been on their side, with Bam Adebayo even mentioning how “shaky” it will be in the beginning with moving pieces.

“I mean, it’s going to be volatile because everyone is trying to play the right way,” Adebayo said. “Nobody wants to feel like they’re messing up the pace or the style of play or how we’re playing. So everyone’s trying to get the right amount of shots or get the right rhythm without impacting everyone else.”

Bam Adebayo on the returns of Tyler Herro and Norman Powell and still figuring out how the rotation plays out:

“It’s going to be volatile, because everyone is trying to play the right way. No one wants to feel like they’re messing up the pace or style of play…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/jUh7VopUAS

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

At the end of the day, whether Miami starts both or does one and the other comes off the bench, the goal is a common thread that everyone shares.

“It’s a common goal. At the end of the day we’re all trying to win,” Herro said. “Anything you have to do to win.”

Tyler Herro’s full comments after the loss where he talks about five-second violations being quick, the message about Norman Powell’s role with the return and the Heat not having the defensive flair to start: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/45tkLUA0W6

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

At any rate, both look to stay healthy and work with each other as Miami plays the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night, with the Heat 38-30, which puts them in seventh place in the East.

Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 142-130 win against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday amid a 51-point explosion from Luka Doncic, the Lakers find themselves climbing up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, there is still about a month of the regular season left with some key games coming up, and it would be fair for the Lakers to hold on to the third seed in the West standings for the NBA Playoffs.

“I’m looking for a way for the Lakers to get to the playoffs. It’s going to take three,” Windhorst said. “No. 1, you have home court in the first round. Last year they had home court in the first round and they lost. You’ve still got to play good basketball … and you’re probably on the same side of the bracket as the Spurs.

“If you’re choosing to root for the Spurs or the Thunder, you’re probably going to pick the Spurs because of their inexperience overall. They’re not as deep as the Thunder… The next three games are huge for the Lakers. Home against the Nuggets… And then they go off on a six-game road trip. The first two games of that trip, in Houston. With teams all around them wanting to beat them, we’re going to be a lot more about the Lakers after the next 10 days.” Will get to know.”

Currently, the West’s standings from No. 3 to No. 7 are separated by just two games. The Spurs are obviously a better matchup for the Lakers than the Thunder in the NBA playoffs. But last season, JJ Redick cautioned against trying to manipulate seeding for favorable playoff series.

The Lakers have 16 games left in the regular season, four of which are against teams they are battling for playoff position with in the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns. Windhorst is right in that the upcoming stretch will say a lot about the Lakers moving forward in the West playoff picture.

The Los Angeles Lakers may face a playoff dilemma when it comes to utilizing LeBron James.

NBA insider Brett Siegel participated in the latest episode of Clutch Scoops with Tomer Azrali on March 12. Los Angeles seems to be playing better without James, but Siegel argues they still need him to play to have a chance. The insider states this but in no way gives them a chance to win the first round series.

“You can’t play with LeBron. I think you’re a better team without him, but he’s going to have to play for this team to stay in title contention. It’s not going to happen, they’re not a title contending team, but in that fantasy world a lot of Lakers fans want to live in, for this team to potentially win in the playoffs, you need LeBron next to Luka and Austin Reaves. And when you have that, you see what happens. They Not good defensively, ball movement is kind of stagnant, you have five guys lined up,” Siegel said at the 39:43 mark.

“I think their record is overstated. I think it’s a lot better than the team actually is. And I think we’ll see it when they get into a first-round series. I feel very confident in saying that they won’t win a first-round series.”

What’s next for LeBron James, Lakers

The Lakers are 26-18 with James this season and 14-7 without him. Whether his style of play looks better or not, there is no doubt that James will be active in the rotation come the playoffs.

Los Angeles has a record of 40–25 on the season, finishing in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, while trailing the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.

The Lakers remain at home awaiting their next matchup. They will host the Chicago Bulls on March 12 at 10:30 PM ET.

On Monday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers picked up one of their most impressive wins of the season with a comfortable home win over the New York Knicks. The Clippers were led by Kawhi Leonard, who scored an impressive 29 points with seven rebounds and eight assists.

The Clippers are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference, although it will be difficult for them to overtake them, as the Phoenix Suns are five games ahead of them in seventh.

Recently, former NBA wing Chandler Parsons appeared on FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show and explained why he still sees Los Angeles as a playoff threat.

“The Clippers have so much talent, depth and experience that it’s a nightmare for what they get,” Parsons said, according to Run It Back on

“This team was built to win now this summer,” he said. “They were an old team, they’re an experienced team, and at the deadline, they lost a lot of talent that can probably help you win right now, but now they also have pieces for the future to look forward to.”

In fact, the Clippers surprised many at the recent trade deadline by sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and bringing back Darius Garland in return. Garland has started to find form in his new Clippers threads, scoring 23 points in a 126-118 win over the Knicks on Monday.

Through it all, Leonard is playing arguably the best basketball of his career, and continues to be a threat on both ends of the floor, and no team will want to match him up come playoff time.

In any case, the Clippers will next take the field on Wednesday evening for a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:30 PM ET.

The Phoenix Suns have been a surprise team this season, strongly poised to clinch a top-six seed in the Western Conference standings and clinch a playoff berth. If the Suns move up to the No. 6 seed, and the rest of the standings hold, they will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round playoff series. And count Suns guard Dillon Brooks as one guy who’s enjoying that potential matchup.

During a recent episode of ‘Million Dollar’s Worth of Games,’ Dillon Brooks confidently expressed his thoughts on the Suns’ chances in a potential playoff series against the Timberwolves.

“You never know, ant [Anthony Edwards] This year it could be a great year and win a chip. . .But they come to us, there’s going to be problems,” Brooks said. “We’ve got their number this year.”

Brooks further said that during one of the Suns’ games against the Timberwolves this year, he did a good job guarding Julius Randle because no one else on the team had the strength to match up against the All-Star forward.

The Suns have faced off against the Timberwolves twice so far this season, with the final regular season matchup on March 17. The Suns are 2-0 in those first two meetings, with both games being close.

It’s uncertain why Brooks would single out the Timberwolves of all teams. To face these two teams in the playoffs, the Timberwolves would have to capture the No. 3 seed in the West, and the Suns would have to move up to the No. 6 seed. If the current situation holds, the Suns will be in the play-ins.

Brooks is currently out with a hand injury, but has been one of the Suns’ most influential players this season.

The Montreal Canadiens have 20 games left to play in the 2025-26 season, giving us a great opportunity to look at the team’s playoff odds again.

We’ll also evaluate the changes in the odds of the various Eastern Conference teams competing with the Habs for a playoff spot.

Updated Montreal Canadiens Playoff Odds

With 78 points in the bank after 62 games, the Canadiens are on solid pace to qualify for the playoffs.

According to Money Puck, his chances are currently 81.8%.

If they maintain this pace, they will finish the year with 103 points, which is significantly more than their results last season.

The Habs finished 2024-25 with 91 points, thus, their pace in 2025-26 represents a 13% increase in points per game.

The standings in the Eastern Conference are relatively opposite.

The Canadiens are just five points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the wild card race, however, it should be noted that they are only six points behind the Buffalo Sabers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division with two games remaining.

As always, the Eastern Conference is offering a very tortuous, chaotic playoff race.

With that in mind, we must remember that it is very difficult to close a gap of five or six points in the standings with only 20 games left on the schedule, especially since there are overtime and shootout points in the games.

Although the points paint a somewhat worrisome picture, the prospects reflect the fact that scoring a half-dozen points with very few games left to play is a tall mountain to climb for any NHL club.

Changes in Eastern Conference playoff odds

Two months ago, Montreal’s playoff chances were less than 70%.

Within a month, they increased slightly, but not to the point where anyone would feel comfortable suggesting any signs of relaxation.

With the Olympic break behind us, the Canadiens have not only strengthened their position, but they have increased their chances by more than 12%.

While the Canadiens slowly but surely improved their odds, some teams, such as the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, fell out of the playoff race, paying homage to Thelma and Louise.

On the other side of the coin, the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings significantly improved their chances of qualifying for the 2025-26 playoffs.

remaining montreal canadiens games

Opponents: Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders (x2), Carolina Hurricanes (x2), Columbus Blue Jackets (x2), Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning (x2), New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils (2), Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers.

With 20 games left on the docket, the Habs will face 17 Eastern Conference teams that will certainly have a major impact on their playoff race. They will play organizations in the Atlantic Division on seven occasions, while facing teams currently in a playoff spot nine times.

In other words, while Montreal’s playoff prospects are relatively healthy, there are enough games left in the season that there could be quite a swing when we consider that most of their rivals are also competing for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

All things considered, the Canadiens have a very high chance of reaching the playoffs, an accomplishment that should be celebrated.

Just four years ago, they were the worst team in the league, and they were given the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Expectations may have risen to unreasonable levels since then, but there’s no doubt that the Habs have done a great job in their rebuild.

This is one of the cleanest, most streamlined rebuilds in modern NHL history, as reflected by their strong bid to qualify for the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

All Montreal Canadiens and NHL playoff odds via Money Puck.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Atlanta Hawks have seen different iterations of their team come and go this season, but they currently have this group they are used to down the stretch. With a mix of experienced and young players, the Hawks have the right ingredients to make the playoffs, and they are doing so, as evidenced by their current winning streak.

One player who has been a big help for the Hawks since January is CJ McCollum, and he seems to fit in well with what the team is trying to accomplish. Quin Snyder recently made the move to insert him into the starting lineup, as statistics show he is a much better team when he plays with Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.

Players also see the difference McCullum makes when he is on the field.

“From an experience standpoint, we have CJs who are experienced, and the same thing with nickel, Okongwu said. “They’re leading us to better basketball, we’re having fun out there.”

“C.J. has been great for us,” Daniels said. “That vet presence, a guy who can make things happen. He’s a leader for us. A guy we can rely on, a guy who can get a bucket when we need to. It’s been really good to have him.”

When the Hawks needed a bucket, McCollum was there to make the save many times. This is what he has done throughout his career, and he is helping the Buckeye Hawks as they try to climb the Eastern Conference standings.

Snyder believes the Hawks have found something with McCollum and the other newcomers to the team.

“There was a period of about a week or two where those guys were really trying to figure it out,” Snyder said. “The thing that allows teams to come together is to bring yourself to the team and not be able to worry about a lot of numbers. I think those guys have really started to embrace that, and it makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts.”

The Hawks are clicking at the right time of the season, and if they take care of business, they could find themselves higher than the ninth seed by the end of the year.

The Montreal Canadiens (33-18-10) are set to face the Los Angeles Kings (25-22-4), with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Habs are less than 24 hours removed from a disappointing loss against the Anaheim Ducks, in which the team overcame a third period deficit to establish a very fragile one-goal lead. But as has been the case on many occasions this year, the Canadiens struggled to hold off their opponents, ultimately losing to the Ducks 6–5 in a shootout.

All things considered, it was a better effort than their previous game in California, a 6–2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. And the Canadiens managed to pick up a point in Anaheim thanks to great efforts from young stars like Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkowski.

With a shootout point in the bank, the Habs keep their playoff chances above 80%, but it must be said that they aren’t generating a lot of confidence from their recent play, which has seen a very low level of consistency, especially from a defensive standpoint.

Simply put, the Canadiens can score a lot of goals, but they have a very hard time defending, and this issue goes beyond the huge save percentages produced by their netminders.

Lineup changes, starting goalkeeper

Neither the Canadiens nor the Kings practiced Saturday. Any changes to the lineup will be revealed when they take to the ice for pre-game warm-ups.

However, the Habs are expected to start Jacob Dobbs, their strongest option among available goaltenders. Again, Montreal’s defensive situation makes life very difficult on the netminders, but it must be said that Dobbs gives the Habs the best chance to win on any given night.

As far as the skaters are concerned, we saw some very encouraging play from the front line on Friday night. The Slafkovsky experiment on the second line was mercifully ended, yielding immediate and fairly aggressive results from the top trio.

All three players scored at least two points, with Caufield scoring two goals.

With all due respect to Canadiens head coach Martin Saint-Louis, this was a decision taken a long time ago.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov

Zach Bolduc – Jake Evans – Kirby Dach

Josh Anderson – Philip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Mike Matheson – Caden Guhle

Lane Hutson – Noah Dobson

Jaden Struble – Alex Carrier

jacob dobbs

Los Angeles Kings Projected Lineup

Artemi Panarin – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe

Trevor Moore – Alex Turcotte – Alex Laferriere

Jared Wright – Kenny Connors – Matthew Joseph

Jeff Malott – Samuel Helenius – Taylor Ward

Mickey Anderson – Drew Doughty

Joel Edmondson – Brandt Clark

Brian Dumoulin – Cody Ceci

Darcy Kuemper

How to watch Hubs Vs. King

Montreal Canadiens vs. Los Angeles Kings, Saturday, March 7, 2026, will be broadcast on Sportsnet East, Citi TV and TVA Sports. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Kasparus Jakusionis has been playing a valuable role with the Miami Heat during his rookie season. After a ball-dominant freshman season at Illinois, the No. 20 pick’s dramatic shooting improvement has allowed him to catch up with Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and others.

After shooting 31.8 percent from three with Illinois, Jacusionis is shooting 44.0 percent from three on 7.5 attempts per 100 possessions this season. The 19-year-old leads all rookies in three-point percentage (minimum 30 attempts).

“Kas has really been working on it, and he’s obviously one of our better three-point shooters,” Erik Spoelstra said after Thursday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets. “I don’t know if you can make that case in July. He was a good three-point shooter, but he’s really refined it. His release is sharp. His reps are always at the top of our roster in the gym. And he’s able to do a little bit more going forward now, and it really helps us. We need that differentiation, we need his creativity, we need the things he can do off the dribble, but we look at his shooting, others. He is getting the benefits of playing. And he will get even better.”

“It’s hard to find players that can do both. They can make plays off the ball and move and get into open spaces. He’s also a very good, smart catch-and-go guy. But in his one year at Illinois, he was ball dominant, so he’s one of those guys. It won’t be as much with us right now, but you can see he’ll have a skill set that he can lean on as well.”

Jacusionis’ floor spacing has allowed him to make an immediate impact.

Kasparas Jakusionis getting attention amid shooting improvement with Heat

According to CleaningTheGlass, the Heat score 3.7 more points per 100 possessions with the rookie on the court versus off. This is the fifth-best mark in the NBA among all players under the age of 22.

“He’s not hesitating. He’s not really thinking about it. He’s just catching and just shooting it,” Bam Adebayo said. “When you’re in that kind of rhythm, we want you to just catch and shoot. Don’t overthink it. Because a lot of times that’s going to be the best shot you’re going to get. So for Kass, it’s just keeping it simple for him.”

Jaksionis would play a key role in the Heat’s playoff run in the final 19 games of the regular season. The Lithuanian guard has played 19.8 minutes per game over the past five weeks, eighth-most on the team.

The Heat are struggling to avoid falling in the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Miami, the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic are separated by half a game for the East’s sixth to eighth seeds.

Things are looking relatively good for the Toronto Raptors in the 2025-26 NBA season.

After missing out on reaching the NBA playoffs in each of the last three seasons, the Raps appear bound for a return to the postseason, as they entered Tuesday with a 35-25 record, good for the No. 4 spot in the current Eastern Conference standings. Only the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks have better slates than Toronto.

Although it is still too early to talk about whether the Raptors are ready to make the playoffs, former Toronto star and Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady believes the team has what it takes to win at least one series in the postseason, despite its struggles in the Atlantic Division.

“They haven’t played well against their own division. But if they had played well against their own division, they probably would have been the second-best team in the Eastern Conference,” McGrady said, via Josh Levenberg of TSN Sports.

“So with that being said, they still have a lot of improvement. They could be a scary team in the playoffs.”

McGrady added: “And if they’re healthy and building some momentum going into the playoffs, I think they can win a series. I also want to give Scotty his flowers because this was his team for a long time, he was willing to make sacrifices for the good of BI. [Brandon Ingram] Come in, be yourself.

The Raptors are just 4-9 against Atlantic Division rivals heading into Tuesday’s meeting with the New York Knicks, although they are 27-15 overall against Eastern Conference teams.

Despite high expectations heading into the 2025-26 campaign, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins doesn’t see a deep playoff run for the Houston Rockets. Head coach Ime Udoka calling out the Rockets’ Amen Thompson is another example of the issue that has plagued Houston’s season, preventing the team from reaching its full potential.

Perkins doesn’t expect this from the Rockets make it out he said about the opening round of the playoffs, according to ESPN’s First Take.

“The Rockets are going home in the first round,” Perkins said. “Number one, they lack high basketball-IQ. Number two, they’ve lost their identity defensively. They used to be a defensive-minded team. I don’t know what happened. Number three, they play individual, selfish basketball.”

Without a fluid offense, the Rockets would not be able to advance to the second round. And for Perkins, Thompson isn’t the only Rockets player with a selfless approach to the offense.

Perkins said, “There are times when you look at Amen Thompson. He wants to be one-on-one. Show the world he can go get buckets.” “There is no structure to his crime – it’s the same with Sengun.”

“They play personal, selfish basketball…they’ll [Houston Rockets] Will be sent home in the first round. “I guarantee you that.”

Kendrick Perkins doesn’t think the Rockets will make it out of the first round of the playoffs 😳

(via @FirstTech)
pic.twitter.com/koTVUHsw02

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

However, above all, what bothers Kendrick Perkins the most is that the Rockets did not try to make a deal for Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline.

Ime Udoka calls out Amen Thompson of Rockets

If it’s not Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant’s social media accusations, it’s coach Ime Udoka’s call to Amen Thompson that had the Rockets in the news last week. According to Kelly Echo of The Athletic, Udoka said he stopped moving when the ball got into Thompson’s hands.

“The ball stopped moving, started getting a lot of separation. Same story – we’ve lost too many games like that. I’m telling Amen and Reed to be more demonstrative and get us into our sets; this is not the time to freestyle. Turnovers hurt, but bad offense hurts just as bad.”

The Rockets will look to bounce back from a 108-106 loss to the Knicks when they host the Jazz on Monday.

Despite their up-and-down campaign, Stephen Curry remains adamant that if the Golden State Warriors qualify for the playoffs, it will be a tough fight for anyone.

warriors want to capture the fort Curry still out with knee injury. Although his MRI revealed no structural damage, the two-time MVP will remain out and will be reevaluated in 10 days, according to the Warriors.

The Warriors remain in eighth place in the team standings with a 29-27 record after losing to the Boston Celtics on Thursday.

Jimmy Butler is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, while Kristaps Porzingis is still trying to adjust to the team after being acquired from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline.

However, the 37-year-old Curry has full confidence in the Warriors.

“It’s been a unique year, but as long as we can find our way into a playoff series, we think we’re going to be tough for anybody at the top of the West,” Curry said in an interview with ESPN.

“With Porzingis here, hopefully, he’s healthy and able to be out there consistently because we know what he’s capable of.”

The 30-year-old Porzingis made his debut for the Warriors against the Celtics and scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 17 minutes off the bench.

The oft-injured star, who is recovering from a long illness, could be the interior threat Golden State has been waiting for. He has also proven to be a reliable rim protector.

The Warriors still have a chance to avoid the play-in tournament, but they need added urgency to get more wins even without Curry.

NEW YORK – Peaks and valleys tell the story of the New York Knicks’ season so far. Their path to the NBA Finals was open and clear when they were crowned 2025 NBA Cup champions in Las Vegas. Their blockbuster trades and offseason coaching changes were in question after a 2–9 slump. And everything went well in the eight-game winning streak that followed.

The Knicks have shown tremendous, championship-level potential, with superstar point guard Jalen Brunson in the MVP conversations. And he has essentially exposed all the issues on which pundits and scribes base their doubts.

Head coach Mike Brown has preached the importance of selectively losing memory. The goal is to stay grounded, which is similar to the philosophy of Knicks teams led by Tom Thibodeau. The coach, who has spent two-thirds of his first season with this group, says their midseason struggles are necessary evils that ultimately help lay the foundation for playoff success. He declared before their overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers that, based on his experience, the Knicks are on the right track.

“You hate to lose games, and I’m not signing up to lose games. But I believe we need to struggle a few times this year. … It’s going to test our resolve as a group. You’ve got to stay connected if you want to give yourself a chance. As the playoffs go on, there’s nothing more stressful than that at the NBA level. Seven-game series, four of them, so it really tests your resolve. … Being able to deal with some adversity.” To be, go through it, stay connected, and hopefully you come out of it a little stronger than you were going into it, that’s something I hope,” Brown told reporters before the All-Star break.

Knicks’ path to NBA Finals clear after All-Star post, but not easy

Logical and methodical, Brown is focused on his group playing winning basketball. The coach was asked about the relative decline in production from All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns and his focus was solely on the games leading up to the eight-game winning streak. And when asked what he’s learned about the Knicks players this season, he told the media that the locker room’s solution-oriented approach to dealing with adversity has impressed him.

The coach confirmed last Tuesday, “The way they handled going 2-9 was really good. Because it could have been a lot of finger-pointing, infighting. And our guys were pretty steady in trying to find ways to right the ship.”

The same structured, step-by-step approach that the Knicks’ front office employed to build their current roster – doing research, gathering possessions, waiting for strike opportunities, and executing aggressively when they arise – is similar to Brown’s systematic approach to coaching.

Like many coaches, he has fundamental principles that he wants his teams to follow. And it seems the coach has taken notice of the detail-oriented zeal with which he assigns roles to assistants or reportedly challenges players in practices within team captain Jalen Brunson and his teammates. Their responses to adversity so far have included acknowledging the issues at hand, discussing them as a team, and working with their coaches on implementing solutions.

All things considered, this process has been a winning formula so far. The ultimate test will still be in the postseason, and whether the Knicks can make that fourth seven-game series.