The Montreal Canadiens clinched the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday nigh...

<p>The Montreal Canadiens clinched the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday night, locking up a first-round meeting with the Washington Capitals.</p><p>Montreal secured its place after beating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 in its regular-season finale,<strong> </strong>though the club needed only one point to seal the deal.</p><p>The Columbus Blue Jackets have officially been eliminated from playoff contention as a result.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Just really proud of our group," captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6457" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6457">Nick Suzuki</a> told <a href="https://x.com/Sportsnet/status/1912689247577833516">Sportsnet's Shawn McKenzie</a> postgame. "I think there's not a lot of people that believed in us and didn't think that we could do this. We've been working every single day for this opportunity. To clinch our spot in the last game seems pretty fitting for us."</p><p>Habs defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9187" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9187">Kaiden Guhle</a> led the way against Carolina with his first career two-goal performance. Suzuki also scored to secure his second consecutive 30-goal season, and forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7658" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7658">Jake Evans</a> iced the game with an empty-netter.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/12709" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/12709">Lane Hutson</a> also recorded his 60th helper of the campaign, tying Larry Murphy (1980-81) for the NHL record for most assists by a rookie blue-liner in a single season.</p><p>It's been a remarkable run for the Habs, who were in last place in the Eastern Conference with an 11-16-3 record Dec. 16. They've gone 29-15-8 in their past 52 contests to turn things around, though, including a sparkling 15-5-6 stretch since the 4 Nations Face-Off break.</p><p>"The adversity that we went through all season, I think it just prepared us for these moments," Suzuki said. "The resiliency of the group was really showing, especially in this game. One of our better games of the season, so I think everyone's really excited for this opportunity." </p><p>Montreal hasn't made the playoffs since its stunning run to the Stanley Cup Final in COVID-shortened 2021. The club finished last in the Atlantic Division in each of the next three campaigns.</p><p>"It means a lot to be back," veteran forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2112" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2112">Brendan Gallagher</a> said. "I'm going to enjoy it, for sure. It hasn't been the easiest week, obviously, trying to get this thing done. </p><p>"No better building to do it in, in front of our home crowd tonight. It's special for sure. Now the fun begins. Now we can see what we're made of." </p><p>The Habs failed to clinch their playoff spot on Monday after losing 4-3 to the Chicago Blackhawks in the shootout.</p><p>This season, the Canadiens have been powered by Suzuki, who leads Montreal with a career-high 89 points in 82 games. Sniper <a href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10510">Cole Caufield</a> has also reached new heights with a team-best 37 goals.</p><p>On the blue line, Hutson seems primed to take home the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3258250" href="https://thescore.com/news/3258250">Calder Trophy</a> as the league's top first-year player. He finished with 66 points in 82 games and on Monday broke Chris Chelios' Canadiens record for most points by a rookie defenseman.</p><p>In the crease, <a href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4728">Sam Montembeault</a> has posted a 31-24-7 record to go along with a .902 save percentage. He turned aside 27 of the Hurricanes' 29 shots and saved 1.13 goals above expected during Wednesday's pivotal victory, per <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20242025&amp;game=21301">Natural Stat Trick</a>.</p><p>Montembeault entered Wednesday's action fourth in goals saved above expected (29.32), trailing only <a href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2003">Darcy Kuemper</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9766" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9766">Anthony Stolarz</a>, and <a href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3997">Connor Hellebuyck</a>, according to <a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/stats/goalie_standard/?_inputs_&amp;std_gl_table=%22On-Ice%22&amp;std_gl_team=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_str=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_adj=%22Score%20%26%20Venue%22&amp;std_gl_range=%22Seasons%22&amp;std_gl_span=%22Regular%22&amp;std_gl_group=%22Team%2C%20Season%22&amp;std_gl_age1=%2217%22&amp;std_gl_age2=%2250%22&amp;std_gl_dft_yr=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_status=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_info=%22No%22&amp;std_gl_players=null&amp;std_gl_fa=%2250%22">Evolving-Hockey</a>.</p><p>"I feel like we deserve to be where we are," forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/12706" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/12706">Juraj Slafkovsky</a> said. </p><p>He added, "We kind of made it harder on ourselves at times, but it doesn't matter. We're in." </p><p>The Capitals won the first two games of their season series against Montreal in regulation, but the Canadiens picked up a 3-2 overtime victory during their final meeting Jan. 10.</p><p>"That's gonna be a tough challenge for us," Gallagher said. "We played them quite a bit early on in the year. I would say one of our low points of the season was in Washington, so I think it's a good opportunity for us to show what we've become." </p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - APRIL 16: Kaiden Guhle #21 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal with teammates Lane Hutson #48, Juraj Slafkovský #20 and Nick Suzuki #14 during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Bell Centre on April 16, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec.

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Canadiens clinch last East playoff spot, 1st-round meeting with Caps

Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson suffered a lower-body injury in his club's regular-season fi...

<p>Dallas Stars forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6608" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6608">Jason Robertson</a> suffered a lower-body injury in his club's regular-season finale against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night.</p><p>Robertson appeared to be hurt after taking a hit from forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3067" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3067">Michael McCarron</a> early in the second period, according to the <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2025/04/16/jason-robertson-leaves-stars-regular-season-finale-vs-predators-with-injury/">Dallas Morning News</a>. The star winger limped off the ice and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the contest.</p><p>"The purpose of resting people down the stretch was to hopefully avoid injury, and, unfortunately, we didn't do that with the Robertson injury," Dallas head coach Peter DeBoer said postgame, per <a href="https://x.com/MikeHeika/status/1912703874185461909">NHL.com's Mike Heika</a>. "So, tough night."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Stars ended up dropping the contest 5-1 and are going into the playoffs having lost seven straight games.</p><p>Robertson was seen leaving Bridgestone Arena in Nashville with a brace on his right knee, per <a href="https://x.com/emma_lingan/status/1912706654258274545">The Hockey News' Emma Lingan</a>.</p><p>Robertson, 25, recorded one block in 6:06 of ice time before exiting the contest. He entered Wednesday's slate with a team-leading 35 goals while ranking second on Dallas with 80 points in 81 outings.</p><p>Dallas will face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the postseason. The puck drops on Game 1 on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. </p>

ST. LOUIS, MO - JANUARY 25: Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) during a regular season game where the St. Louis Blues hosted the Dallas Stars on Saturday January 25, 2025, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis MO

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Stars' Robertson suffers lower-body injury in regular-season finale

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse was suspended one game for cross-checking Los Angeles Ki...

<p>Edmonton Oilers defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3124" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3124">Darnell Nurse</a> was suspended one game<strong> </strong>for cross-checking Los Angeles Kings forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9210" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9210">Quinton Byfield</a> during Monday's contest, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.</p><p>The Oilers have one matchup remaining on their regular-season schedule, meaning Nurse will be available for the start of Edmonton's first-round series against Los Angeles.</p><p>The incident occurred in the second period of Edmonton's 5-0 loss to the Kings on Monday. Nurse was handed a major penalty and a game misconduct for hitting Byfield in the back of the head while he was down on the ice. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Darnell Nurse receives a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for this shot on Quinton Byfield 😬🤕 <a href="https://t.co/6Tz7mHveQY">pic.twitter.com/6Tz7mHveQY</a></p>— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1911991397781029081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Byfield was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the contest with an upper-body injury and didn't play Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Kings head coach Jim Hiller had no further update on his status.</p><p>The league <a href="https://www.nhl.com/video/topic/player-safety/nurse-suspended-one-game-6371541323112">found</a> that Nurse was "in control throughout the entirety of the sequence" and made "a decision to deliver an intentional cross-check."</p><p>Though the NHL acknowledged that the hit wasn't delivered with "exceptional force," that was the only factor preventing the blue-liner's punishment from being longer. </p><p>Nurse has been suspended three other times during his 716-game NHL career.</p><p>He sat out three contests for acting as an aggressor during an altercation with the San Jose Sharks in 2016, he was handed a one-game ban for headbutting Kings forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2083" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2083">Phillip Danault</a> during the 2022 playoffs, and he also missed one postseason contest in 2023 after taking a late instigator penalty against the Vegas Golden Knights.</p><p>Nurse has chipped in with five goals, 33 points, 161 hits, and a team-leading 136 blocks in 76 games while seeing 22:22 minutes of ice time per contest this season.</p><p>Edmonton recalled defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3085" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3085">Connor Carrick</a> from the AHL on an emergency basis earlier on Tuesday. </p><p>The Oilers will conclude their regular season Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET against the San Jose Sharks.</p>

EDMONTON, AB - APRIL 24: Los Angeles Kings Winger Quinton Byfield (55) and Edmonton Oilers Defenceman Darnell Nurse (25) battle for position in the second period of game two of the Western Conference First Round Edmonton Oilers game versus the Los Angeles Kings on April 24, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB.

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Oilers' Nurse suspended 1 game for cross-checking Byfield

The Battle of Ontario is headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2004.   The Toronto Mapl...

<p>The Battle of Ontario is headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. </p><p>The Toronto Maple Leafs secured first place in the Atlantic Division after beating the Buffalo Sabres 4-0<strong> </strong>on Tuesday night, setting up a highly anticipated first-round meeting with the Ottawa Senators.</p><p>"It's going to be a bloodbath," Leafs goalie <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9766" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9766">Anthony Stolarz</a> said of the impending matchup, per <a href="https://x.com/joshuakloke/status/1912322057863385514">The Athletic's Joshua Kloke</a>. "It's going to be a war."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The outcome also locked in the Battle of Florida, as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers will meet for the second straight postseason. The Bolts bested the defending champions 5-1 during Tuesday's slate to split the four-game season series.</p><p>Toronto has never finished atop the Atlantic before, though the club dominated the realigned, all-Canadian North Division during the 2020-21 campaign. Before that, the Leafs won the Northeast Division in 1999-2000.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4718" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4718">Mitch Marner</a> hit the 100-point mark for the first time in his career on Tuesday after potting the Maple Leafs' second goal of the game in the third period.</p><p>"It's a special thing, for sure," he said of his milestone, per <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-buffalo-sabres-game-recap-april-15">NHL.com's Heather Engel</a>. "Those accomplishments don't happen by yourself, and that's just credit to a lot of guys in that locker room that have helped me out and supported me through this year and made some unbelievable plays for me and have put some in from my passes. </p><p>"I think the really cool thing is just the excitement from the guys for that point and seeing their excitement for me."</p><p>Sniper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5586" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5586">Auston Matthews</a> recorded his 400th career tally minutes later with an empty-netter. He's the franchise's second skater to reach the mark and the sixth fastest player to hit it in NHL history, per <a href="https://x.com/StatsCentre/status/1912323016551248052">StatsCentre</a>:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>GP</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Wayne Gretzky</td>
<td>436</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Mike Bossy</td>
<td>506</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Mario Lemieux</td>
<td>508</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Brett Hull</td>
<td>520</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Jari Kurri</td>
<td>608</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Auston Matthews</td>
<td>628</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Alex Ovechkin</td>
<td>634</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Pavel Bure</td>
<td>635</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>"I think it's nice to check off certain things, obviously," Matthews said. "But the focus is still on the team and doing what's best for the team, and continue to put our best foot forward here. One more game and then the postseason."</p><p>Stolarz made<strong> </strong>35 saves in the shutout victory. He's won his last eight games and owns a .950 save percentage over that span.</p><p>The game was locked in a scoreless tie until Maple Leafs forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1319" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1319">Steven Lorentz</a> broke the ice in the late stages of the second frame. </p><p>Toronto also set a new franchise record with its 25th road win of the campaign.</p><p>The Maple Leafs will face the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday before turning their attention to the Senators. Ottawa swept the regular-season series against Toronto.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Result</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Nov. 12</td>
<td>Senators win 3-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jan. 25</td>
<td>Senators win 2-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>March 15</td>
<td>Senators win 4-2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Senators also own a 6-1-0 record against the Leafs over the past two seasons. Toronto has been red-hot as of late, though, with a 12-2-1 run since mid-March. </p><p>The Maple Leafs are headed to their ninth consecutive postseason, while Ottawa qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2017.</p>

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 6: John Tavares #91, Morgan Rielly #44, William Nylander #88, Mitchell Marner #16, Matthew Knies #23 and Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice after a time out against the Washington Capitals during the third period at the Scotiabank Arena on December 6, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Leafs lock up 1st in Atlantic, book opening-round series vs. Senators

San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture officially announced his retirement Tuesday.   "My career o...

<p>San Jose Sharks captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1422" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1422">Logan Couture</a> officially announced his retirement Tuesday. </p><p>"My career of playing hockey has come to an end," he said, per beat reporter <a href="https://x.com/CurtisPashelka/status/1912243188267643131">Curtis Pashelka</a>. "I'm not physically able to play anymore. It's tough. It sucks, but it is what it is. I loved and cherished every single moment that I got to play in this league. The NHL is everything that I thought it would be when I was a kid."</p><p>Couture hasn't played since Jan. 31, 2024, due to a nagging groin injury. The 36-year-old is under contract through 2026-27 at an $8-million cap hit.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He hasn't played a full season since the 2022-23 campaign when he tallied 27 goals and 67 points in the full 82-game slate. Couture then missed the first 45 contests of the following season while rehabbing a groin injury, which he thought at the time might end his playing career.</p><p>His comeback attempt was ultimately limited to six appearances, and he hasn't played since.</p><p>Couture believes his injury will gradually improve once he stops training for hockey, according to <a href="https://x.com/fearthefin/status/1912252800488313032">Fear the Fin</a>.</p><p>He appeared in 933 NHL contests, all with the Sharks, and racked up 323 goals and 701 points. Couture ranks fifth in franchise history in games played, third in goals, and fourth in points.</p><p>The Guelph, Ontario, native was a superb playoff performer. He notched 48 goals and 101 points in 116 career postseason games, leading the playoffs in scoring in 2016 and in goals in 2019.</p><p>"I just hope that I'm remembered as a player that worked extremely hard, and someone that would do anything to win," Couture said, according to <a href="https://x.com/Real_Max_Miller/status/1912244327478153713">The Hockey News' Max Miller</a>. </p><p>San Jose named Couture captain ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. The Sharks drafted him ninth overall in 2007.</p><p>Sharks general manager Mike Grier left the door open for Couture to return to the organization in another capacity.</p><p>"I think you're a brilliant hockey mind and down the road, when the time comes and (wife Brielle) has had enough of you around the house, there's always a job for you with the Sharks," the executive said, per <a href="https://x.com/CurtisPashelka/status/1912248395768688656">Pashelka</a>. </p>

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 22: Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 22, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Sharks' Couture officially retires: NHL was 'everything' I thought it'd be

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse will have a hearing Tuesday night for cross-checking Los...

<p>Edmonton Oilers defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3124" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3124">Darnell Nurse</a> will have a hearing Tuesday night for cross-checking Los Angeles Kings forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9210" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9210">Quinton Byfield</a> during Monday's meeting between Pacific Division rivals, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.</p><p>Nurse was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for hitting Byfield in the back of the head and neck while he was down on the ice. Byfield was not on the bench to start the third frame and was later ruled out with an upper-body injury.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Darnell Nurse receives a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for this shot on Quinton Byfield 😬🤕 <a href="https://t.co/6Tz7mHveQY">pic.twitter.com/6Tz7mHveQY</a></p>— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1911991397781029081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The incident occurred with Edmonton down 4-0 in the game. It was a chippy clash between the Round 1 opponents, with the Oilers being assessed 53 penalty minutes and the Kings getting handed 16 through the first two periods.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Los Angeles pulled netminder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2003" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2003">Darcy Kuemper</a> after forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4520" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4520">Adrian Kempe</a> put the game further out of reach with the club's final goal in the 5-0 victory.</p><p>Edmonton was down several key players in the matchup, including <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4560" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4560">Connor McDavid</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3948" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3948">Leon Draisaitl</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1723" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1723">Zach Hyman</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1993" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1993">Mattias Ekholm</a>.</p><p>"I think they just have their 'B squad' in trying to hurt us," Kings center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2083" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2083">Phillip Danault</a> said during the second intermission, per <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/perry-on-danault-accusing-oilers-of-running-b-squad-to-injure-kings-what-the-f~3115299">TSN</a>.</p><p>"What the f----?" Oilers winger <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/34" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/34">Corey Perry</a> responded postgame. "What do you want us to do? Did he not look at what's happened to us the last couple weeks? We're not out there to hurt anybody."</p><p>The Oilers and Kings are locked into a first-round matchup for the fourth straight year. Edmonton has one more game left in the regular season, while Los Angeles has two more contests remaining.</p><p>The Kings secured home-ice advantage with Monday's win. </p><p>Nurse has been suspended three times in his 11-year NHL career, including a one-game ban for headbutting Danault during the 2022 playoffs. He also sat out one contest in the 2023 postseason after taking a late instigator penalty against the Vegas Golden Knights.</p><p>The blue-liner's first suspension was for three games for acting as an aggressor during an altercation with then-San Jose Sharks blue-liner Roman Polak in 2016.</p>

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 14: Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the second period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place on April 14, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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Nurse to have hearing for cross-checking Byfield

Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis issued a challenge to the Canadiens after they came up one p...

<p>Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis issued a challenge to the Canadiens after they came up one point short of clinching a playoff spot in their penultimate game of the season. </p><p>"I feel the guys are going through a time as a young team here where you don't get to practice these feelings of wanting something and it's so close you can almost touch it," the bench boss <a href="https://x.com/CanadiensMTL/status/1911960906700824812">said</a> following Monday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.</p><p>"The stress level goes up, for sure, and when you want something so bad, you're working so hard, can you calm the mind through the storm ... so you can make reads and execute? And I feel like it's a little bit clouded right now with what's at stake."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Habs needed two points to claim the last postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, and they'll close out their regular season Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Columbus Blue Jackets sit just four points back of Montreal with two games remaining, and they have one fewer regulation win. </p><p>For St. Louis, there was one person on his roster who didn't seem to be feeling the pressure of the team's situation on Monday: <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/14986" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/14986">Ivan Demidov</a>. </p><p>The 19-year-old forward enjoyed a dazzling debut, picking up an assist and a goal in his first-ever period. He's the second-youngest player in Canadiens history to score in his first NHL game and the seventh teenager to record a point in his debut with the franchise.</p><p>"I thought he was great," St. Louis said. "If there was one player that wasn't worried about much and not stressed out, it was him. It's almost youth and (naivety). That's why I wasn't afraid to inject this kind of talent who hasn't gone through what these guys have gone through all year, where he just comes in and he just plays. </p><p>"I feel like we gotta try to get the guys to just trust the training and go play." </p><p>The Bell Centre embraced Demidov immediately, with Canadiens faithful chanting his name at several points in the contest. The fans also gave him a rousing welcome during his rookie lap.</p><p>"It's crazy, you know?" he said. "I feel that the fans love me and it's cool. It's amazing." </p><p>Demidov added, "I got some good stuff today from the game. It's a pretty nice experience. I love this city and the fans." </p><p>Montreal hasn't had a taste of playoff hockey since the Habs' surprising trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. They clinched their postseason spot in the second-last game of that campaign. </p><p>Canadiens veteran <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2112" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2112">Brendan Gallagher</a> was there for that run, but right now, he's only focused on game No. 82. </p><p>"We've worked for 81 games here to be in this position," he said. "We've had some ups, we've had some downs here. Get our minds right and just get ready for one game. ... We still control our fate." </p><p> </p>

MONTREAL, CANADA- APRIL 5: Montreal Canadiens Head Coach Martin St-Louis speaks to the media after the NHL regular season game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 3-2.

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St. Louis challenges Canadiens to 'calm the mind' with 1 game left

Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said star defenseman Cale Makar is among the players who won't t...

<p>Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said star defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8539" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8539">Cale Makar</a> is among the players who won't travel with the Avalanche during their regular season-ending, two-game road trip.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3002" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3002">Nathan MacKinnon</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9947" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9947">Ross Colton</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3008" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3008">Jonathan Drouin</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3862" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3862">Josh Manson</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7383" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7383">Ryan Lindgren</a> also aren't going. MacKinnon <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3263610" href="https://thescore.com/news/3263610">missed</a> Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks with a minor injury. </p><p>"We've got a lot of guys dealing with stuff, you know?" he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrgz4BWiuNE">said</a> Friday. "Training room is full, as you can imagine, this time of the year and the schedule that we've been playing. We'll make some informed decisions on some guys. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"There's so many guys dealing with little things, you can't take them all out. It's just not possible, so we'll pick and choose some guys that we want to make sure are feeling the best they can feel come next weekend." </p><p>Colorado called up forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/14968" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/14968">Jere Innala</a> and defensemen <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/12695" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/12695">Wyatt Aamodt</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9889" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9889">Jack Ahcan</a> on Friday morning. </p><p>The Avalanche will face the Kings in L.A. on Saturday and the Ducks in Anaheim on Sunday. </p><p>Makar leads all blue-liners with 30 tallies and 92 points in 80 outings this campaign and is widely considered the favorite for the Norris Trophy, which honors the league's best rearguard. He became the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3257783" href="https://thescore.com/news/3257783">ninth defenseman</a> ever to hit the 30-goal mark last Thursday.</p><p>Colorado currently sits in third place of the Central Division with a 48-28-4 record. The Avalanche will likely square off against the Dallas Stars in the first round of the playoffs. </p><p> </p>

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 10: Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Ball Arena on April 10, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

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Makar won't travel with Avalanche on regular season-ending road trip

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be down to five healthy defensemen when they take on the Montreal Ca...

<p>The Toronto Maple Leafs will be down to five healthy defensemen when they take on the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.</p><p>Rearguard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1652" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1652">Oliver Ekman-Larsson</a> is set to miss the contest and is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, head coach Craig Berube announced Friday, according to <a href="https://x.com/reporterchris/status/1910726525101425100">TSN's Chris Johnston</a>.</p><p>The Maple Leafs don't have the cap room to call up another player.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Maybe I'll suit up and play back there, I wasn't sure about it," Berube <a href="https://x.com/TSN_Sports/status/1910743800026116261">joked</a>.</p><p>The bench boss added, "It's always challenging, but we've played games where we've lost a D early in the game and you play with five. I mean, it's important that our forwards do a good job of helping our D out tomorrow night and making sure that they get back quick for breakouts and things like that. Make the game easy on them as much as possible." </p><p>Berube also provided an update on <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3876" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3876">Jake McCabe</a>. The blue-liner has been ruled out for Saturday, but he's expected to return before the end of the regular season, according to <a href="https://x.com/markhmasters/status/1910740040805687587">TSN's Mark Masters</a>. The Maple Leafs will have two games remaining on their schedule after the weekend.</p><p>McCabe has missed the last three outings due to an undisclosed injury. He leads the team in average ice time (21:31) this season while chipping in with 23 points in 66 outings. </p><p>The 31-year-old sat out five games earlier this campaign after taking a puck to the face and four additional contests after getting injured in a fight.</p><p>Ekman-Larsson, meanwhile, recorded one shot on goal in 25:14 minutes of ice time during Toronto's 4-3 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. He's racked up 29 points in 77 contests this campaign. </p><p>The puck drops on the Leafs' clash with the Canadiens at 7 p.m. ET. </p>

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 21: Jake McCabe #22, Auston Matthews #34, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson #95 of the Toronto Maple Leafs talk during a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Ekman-Larsson out vs. Habs; McCabe expected back before end of season

The Carolina Hurricanes signed top prospect Alexander Nikishin to a two-year, entry-level deal th...

<p>The Carolina Hurricanes signed top prospect Alexander Nikishin to a two-year, entry-level deal that begins this season, the team announced Friday.</p><p>The 23-year-old defenseman served as captain of the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg this campaign. He ranked second on the team behind only <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/14986" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/14986">Ivan Demidov</a> with 46 points in 61 games while seeing 24:29 minutes of ice time per contest. Nikishin's 17 goals were also the second most among all blue-liners, and he added three points in four playoff games.</p><p>SKA Saint Petersburg and Nikishin mutually terminated his contract Friday morning.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The club's campaign ended Sunday with a first-round loss to Dynamo Moscow in the playoffs. Nikishin missed the first two games of the series after suffering an injury at the end of the regular season.</p><p>The Hurricanes are working to get Nikishin a U.S. visa and hope to do so by Monday or Tuesday, general manager Eric Tulsky told team beat reporter <a href="https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/the-nikishin-deal-1-on-1-with-eric-tulsky">Walt Ruff</a>.</p><p>There are four games remaining on the Canes' regular-season schedule, beginning Saturday against the New York Rangers. Their campaign ends with a road trip to Montreal and Ottawa, so the team is also trying to obtain a Canadian visa for Nikishin.</p><p>Tulsky added that the plan is to get Nikishin into one game in North America before the playoffs. Though Carolina would prefer it to be with the big club, it may have to be in the AHL.</p><p>A 6-foot-2, left-handed shot, Nikishin was drafted by the Hurricanes in the third round in 2020. He projects to be a key piece of Carolina's blue line in the future.</p><p>"It is a big jump from any other league to the NHL, and our team, in particular, plays a very fast brand of hockey that makes it just a little bit harder," Tulsky said. </p><p>"I want to be cautious about saying (Nikishin will fit in) immediately, because it may take him one practice, it may take him six months. But I think he is a natural fit who will play his best and look his best playing for us. It's just a question of how quickly he can pick up what he needs to (in order) to play at our speed."</p><p>Nikishin has amassed 62 goals and 192 points in 323 career KHL games between the regular season and playoffs. He is also SKA Saint Petersburg's all-time leader in scoring among rearguards with 177 points in 288 regular-season contests.</p><p>"We are grateful for Alexander's time with SKA, a premier European hockey franchise, which helped him develop into one of the top prospects in hockey," Tulsky said. "His size and skill have allowed him to have a record-breaking career in the KHL, and we believe he will be an impactful player in the NHL."</p><p>Nikishin won a silver medal representing the Russian Olympic Committee at the 2022 Games.</p><p>The Hurricanes have already clinched a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3263134" href="https://thescore.com/news/3263134">first-round playoff matchup</a> against the New Jersey Devils. The clubs met in the second round in 2023, with Carolina winning the series in five contests.</p><p> </p>

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2025/04/06: Alexander Nikishin (21) of SKA Hockey Club seen in action during the Hockey match, Kontinental Hockey League 2024/2025, Gagarin Cup 1/8 finals, 6 match, between SKA Saint Petersburg and Dynamo Moscow at the SKA Arena. (Final score; SKA Saint Petersburg 2:5 Dynamo Moscow, The score in the series: SKA Saint Petersburg 2:4 Dynamo Moscow).

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Hurricanes ink top prospect Nikishin to entry-level pact

Ann-Renee Desbiens is officially back in action.  The Montreal Victoire's star netminder got the ...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15780" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15780">Ann-Renee Desbiens</a> is officially back in action.</p><p>The Montreal Victoire's star netminder got the start against Switzerland for Canada's second game at the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship on Friday.</p><p>She turned aside all 17 shots she faced during the Canadians' 4-0 victory.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Desbiens suffered a lower-body injury during the Victoire's shootout loss to the Boston Fleet on March 18. She was helped off the ice after an awkward fall in the second period and missed three games for Montreal.</p><p>The Victoire activated Desbiens from long-term injured reserve Thursday, but Sceptres goalie <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15859" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15859">Kristen Campbell</a> took to the crease for Team Canada's tournament-opening 5-0 rout of Finland.</p><p>Desbiens is the PWHL's leader with 13 wins, a .932 save percentage, and a 1.85 goals-against average across 19 appearances for Montreal this season.</p><p>Three regular-season games remain on the Victoire's schedule after the Worlds, beginning April 26 against the Ottawa Charge. Montreal already punched its ticket to the playoffs in March.</p><p> </p>

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 01: Look on Montreal Victoire goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) during warm-up before the Boston Fleet versus the Montreal Victoire game on March 01, 2025, at Centre Bell in Montréal, QC

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Desbiens returns from injury absence in Canada's win over Switzerland

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes was thrilled to see Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek mak...

<p>Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes was thrilled to see <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7294" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7294">Kirill Kaprizov</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5684" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5684">Joel Eriksson Ek</a> make a substantial impact in their returns during Wednesday's 8-7 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks.</p><p>"Obviously (Eriksson Ek) and Kirill were huge difference-makers in the game," Hynes said postgame. "I'm happy for a lot of different reasons in that respect. It's hard on those guys. They're obviously tremendous competitors, they mean so much to the team and personally, they want to play, and that was a lot of time off, a lot of rehab, a lot of dark days for them as well.</p><p>He added, "I give those guys credit, I give our training staff, our doctors, and our strength and conditioning coaches credit. The guys were ready to play."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Eriksson Ek sat for 21 contests after getting hurt during practice in February, while Kaprizov had missed 28 straight games and 40 of the Wild's last 43 with a lower-body injury.</p><p>Kaprizov quipped that his lengthy recovery was "<a href="https://www.nhl.com/wild/video/kaprizov-postgame-vs-san-jose-4-9-6371295773112">boring</a>," but his first game back was anything but.</p><p>The Wild held a 2-1 lead over the Sharks after the first period before the game erupted. The teams combined for six goals in the second period and five in the third, with San Jose scoring three straight to force overtime.</p><p>Kaprizov potted the winner for his second tally of the contest, bringing his total to 25 goals in just 38 outings. Eriksson Ek, meanwhile, went off for his first career four-goal game.</p><p>The offensive outburst was a refreshing sight for Minnesota, which entered Wednesday dead last in goals per game (2.18) since the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.</p><p>"They're our two best players," forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/10525" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10525">Matt Boldy</a> said. "If you take any team's two best players away, that's a huge difference. Such an impact that those guys have in every aspect of the team."</p><p>The Wild have won back-to-back games after picking up one victory in their previous seven contests. They occupy the West's first wild-card spot with a 43-29-7 record and hold a five-point cushion over the Calgary Flames, whom they'll face Friday.</p><p>Netminder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1010" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1010">Marc-Andre Fleury</a> is hopeful that Wednesday's win is a sign of things to come.</p><p>"That's the goal," Fleury said when asked if Minnesota can be as good as it was earlier in the season. "That's where we want to be, that's where we believe we can be. ... We're getting healthy, slowly but surely.</p><p>"If tonight can be a little bit of a show of what we can do, if we keep our grinding attitude from the past couple months and add a little bit of offense here and there from these guys, I think we'll be dangerous." </p><p> </p>

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 09: Kirill Kaprizov #97 and Joel Eriksson Ek #14 of the Minnesota Wild look on against the San Jose Sharks in the second period at Xcel Energy Center on April 09, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota.

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Hynes: Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek 'huge difference-makers' in returns

The regular season is just about over, which means it's almost time for the constant, stomach-chu...

<p>The regular season is just about over, which means it's almost time for the constant, stomach-churning anxiety of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs have once again punched their ticket to the dance, so why not size up their potential first-round partners?</p><p>First up, here's how the top of the Atlantic Division looks as of Thursday morning: </p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>GP</th>
<th>Record</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Toronto Maple Leafs</td>
<td>78</td>
<td>48-26-4</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Tampa Bay Lightning</td>
<td>78</td>
<td>45-26-7</td>
<td>97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Florida Panthers</td>
<td>78</td>
<td>45-29-4</td>
<td>94</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WC1</td>
<td>Ottawa Senators</td>
<td>78</td>
<td>42-30-6</td>
<td>90</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Let's dig into the matchups, beginning with Toronto's most likely adversaries. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Ottawa Senators</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779684/cropped_GettyImages-2208358368.jpg?ts=1744207595" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779684/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208358368.jpg?ts=1744207595 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779684/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208358368.jpg?ts=1744207595 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779684/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208358368.jpg?ts=1744207595 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779684/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208358368.jpg?ts=1744207595 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779684/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208358368.jpg?ts=1744207595 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>This season's head-to-head:</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Result</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Nov. 12</td>
<td>Senators win 3-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jan. 25</td>
<td>Senators win 2-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>March 15</td>
<td>Senators win 4-2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Last playoff meeting: </strong><em>2004, Maple Leafs won first-round series in Game 7.</em></p><p>If the postseason started today, we'd be treated to the first playoff edition of the Battle of Ontario in 21 years.</p><p>Here's why that could be disastrous for the Maple Leafs: Ottawa swept the regular-season series this year and owns a 6-1-0 record against Toronto over the past two campaigns. The Senators play their provincial rivals <em>hard</em>, and this time they'll have the added motivation of making the playoffs for the first time since 2017. This will be the Brady Tkachuk-led core's first taste of the postseason, and the captain already showed a propensity to rise in big moments with three goals at the 4 Nations Face-Off (Tkachuk is currently injured, but he should be fine for the playoffs). The Senators <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3262856" href="https://thescore.com/news/3262856">know they're underdogs</a>, and that feisty, scrappy label fits them to a tee.</p><p>The flip side of that is Toronto may have an advantage as the more battle-tested team. The Leafs' core has made the playoffs in each of the past eight seasons, racking up 57 games of postseason experience. Yes, they've only won one series over that span, but this time, they're led by hard-nosed head coach Craig Berube, who won the Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. On paper, Toronto is playing a style better suited to the postseason under Berube, but fans won't know for certain until the puck drops on Game 1.</p><h3>Florida Panthers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779686/cropped_GettyImages-1254367610.jpg?ts=1744208101" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779686/w220xh124_GettyImages-1254367610.jpg?ts=1744208101 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779686/w320xh180_GettyImages-1254367610.jpg?ts=1744208101 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779686/w640xh360_GettyImages-1254367610.jpg?ts=1744208101 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779686/w768xh432_GettyImages-1254367610.jpg?ts=1744208101 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779686/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1254367610.jpg?ts=1744208101 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Chisholm / National Hockey League / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>This season's head-to-head:</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Result</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Nov. 27</td>
<td>Panthers win 5-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>March 13</td>
<td>Panthers win 3-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>April 2</td>
<td>Maple Leafs win 3-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>April 8</td>
<td>Panthers win 3-1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Last playoff meeting: </strong><em>2023, Panthers won second-round series in Game 5.</em></p><p>There's a world in which the Leafs win the Atlantic for the first time and their reward is ... an opening-round matchup against the defending champions.</p><p>That's not an enviable fate, even though the Panthers were slumping prior to Tuesday's dominant victory against the Maple Leafs. The win snapped Florida's first five-game losing streak since the 2018-19 season. Injuries played a significant part in the Cats' skid, as Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Gustav Forsling, and Dmitry Kulikov have each missed time. Florida head coach Paul Maurice <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3261619" href="https://thescore.com/news/3261619">said</a> he's more concerned with getting healthy than the team's seeding, and it's easy to understand why. With two straight Stanley Cup Final appearances under their belt, the Panthers have <em>been there</em> before, which is something these Maple Leafs can't say.</p><p>Potentially working in the Leafs' favor is that two deep playoff runs and an emotional 4 Nations add up to a ton<em> </em>of hockey for Florida. The clubs' playoff matchup two years ago was also a physical slog, with one goal deciding all but one contest. If fatigue catches up to the Panthers, and goalie Anthony Stolarz can make that one extra save in his first opportunity as a postseason starter, Toronto could throw a convincing punch. However, it's probably best if the Leafs can avoid this nightmare matchup altogether.</p><h3>Tampa Bay Lightning</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779690/cropped_GettyImages-2192327426.jpg?ts=1744208584" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779690/w220xh124_GettyImages-2192327426.jpg?ts=1744208584 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779690/w320xh180_GettyImages-2192327426.jpg?ts=1744208584 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779690/w640xh360_GettyImages-2192327426.jpg?ts=1744208584 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779690/w768xh432_GettyImages-2192327426.jpg?ts=1744208584 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779690/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2192327426.jpg?ts=1744208584 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mike Carlson / National Hockey League / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>This season's head-to-head:</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Result</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 21</td>
<td>Maple Leafs win 5-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nov. 30</td>
<td>Maple Leafs win 5-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jan. 20</td>
<td>Maple Leafs win 5-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>April 9</td>
<td>Maple Leafs win 4-3 in overtime</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Last playoff meeting: </strong><em>2023, Maple Leafs won first-round series in Game 6. </em></p><p>This meeting is a long shot, as Toronto and Tampa Bay currently have the best chances of winning the division, but let's talk about it anyway.</p><p>Before Wednesday's game, the Maple Leafs hadn't faced the Lightning when they were truly groovin<em>'. </em>The Bolts entered that contest tied for the third-highest points percentage (.722) with an 18-6-3 record since Feb. 1. Art Ross Trophy favorite Nikita Kucherov was even more insane than usual over that stretch with 40 points in his last 25 games. Star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had also reached a new level with a league-leading 16 wins and .930 save percentage in his last 22 appearances. Toronto ended up sweeping the season series after clutching out the finale in overtime, but it was a hard-fought battle, with Tampa Bay rallying to secure a point.</p><p>Toronto can also hang its hat on having beaten the Lightning in 2023 for its first playoff series win since 2004, but these Bolts are better than they were last season and the year before. They're only one point off their season total from the last two campaigns with four games left to play, and their staggering plus-73 goal differential blows their previous totals out of the water. To the Leafs' credit, they're playing with a better defensive structure under Berube, but the Bolts rank second in the league in goals per game (3.55), and they're bringing plenty of momentum into the spring.</p><p>Clearly, there isn't going to be an easy road to Round 2, and the Leafs will need their big guns to step up if they have any hope of advancing.</p>

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Assessing Maple Leafs' 3 potential 1st-round playoff opponents

Ottawa general manager Steve Staios knows the Senators are the new kids on the playoff block, but...

<p>Ottawa general manager Steve Staios knows the Senators are the new kids on the playoff block, but he believes his club has "the mettle" to make some noise in the postseason. </p><p>"We're underdogs, and we're OK with that," he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbJfCdhbsBE">said</a> Wednesday. "There's teams that we'll match up against who have been there and done that and have that experience. This will be our first time doing it with this group, but it's hard not to believe in the group. To see how they've stepped up to the occasion throughout the year, it's hard not to believe in them."</p><p>He added, "It's a good first step for this group, I mean I'm really excited for our players." </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Ottawa officially <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3262170" href="https://thescore.com/news/3262170">clinched its postseason spot</a> on Tuesday after the Detroit Red Wings' 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, ending a seven-year drought for the Senators.</p><p>The Sens own a 42-30-6 record on the season and already have 12 more points than they did last year with four more games to play.</p><p>"All areas of the organization took a step," Staios said when asked what got the Senators to their current position. "There was a high level of accountability all throughout the organization. We needed to change the standard of how things were done here. You can point to the players, the commitment that they've put in, the coaching staff in getting this team to that next level."</p><p>Staios is in his second season as the Senators' general manager and president of hockey operations. He hired Travis Green to take over as head coach in May, and the bench boss has a real shot at being named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for his part in Ottawa's turnaround. </p><p>Among the most significant improvements is the fact that the Senators are doing a better job at keeping the puck out of their own net. Last season, they tied for 26th in the league in goals against (3.43), and this year, they're 11th (2.79).</p><p>"The commitment on the defensive side has been incredible," Staios said. "It's a challenging thing to do, especially when you have highly talented players who, really, on the offense is where they'd like to be. That commitment from the coaching staff and then the players buying into it has been the reason why we're here today."</p><p>The executive also discussed the status of captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7845" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7845">Brady Tkachuk</a>, who has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury. When asked if Tkachuk would play if the postseason started tomorrow, Staios said he thought so but couldn't provide a definitive answer.</p><p>Ottawa will take on the Montreal Canadiens on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. </p>

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 12: Ottawa Senators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Steve Staios addresses the media before National Hockey League action between the Dallas Stars and Ottawa Senators on January 12, 2025, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada.

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Senators GM talks playoffs: 'We're underdogs, and we're OK with that'

Former Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero died at 62, the NHL an...

<p>Former Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero died at 62, the NHL announced Wednesday.</p><p>Shero also served as senior advisor for the Minnesota Wild since the 2021-22 campaign.</p><p>"Ray Shero's smile and personality lit up every room he walked into and brightened the day of everyone he met," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/ray-shero-longtime-nhl-executive-dies-at-62">wrote</a> in a statement. "Widely respected throughout hockey for his team-building acumen and eye for talent, he was even more beloved for how he treated everyone fortunate enough to have known him."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Shero was general manager of the Penguins from 2006-14, helping the club win its first Stanley Cup of the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1002" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1002">Sidney Crosby</a> era in 2009. After his stint in Pittsburgh, Shero helmed the Devils from 2015-20. He brought in several key players during that span, drafting <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8594" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8594">Jack Hughes</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6426" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6426">Nico Hischier</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6404" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6404">Jesper Bratt</a>.</p><p>The longtime executive began his career as assistant general manager of the Ottawa Senators in 1993. He held the same role on David Poile's staff for the Nashville Predators' first eight seasons in the late 90s and early 2000s.</p><p>Shero was also on the United States' management teams for the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.</p><p>"Whenever we ran into each other at a rink when he was scouting, it was clear he loved what he was doing, and I always marveled at his infectious enthusiasm," Bettman said. "The entire National Hockey League family mourns his passing and sends our deepest condolences to the Shero family and Ray's many friends throughout the hockey world."</p>

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - JULY 24: Senior Advisor Ray Shero of the Minnesota Wild attends rounds 2-7 of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at TRIA Rink on July 24, 2021 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

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Former Penguins, Devils GM Ray Shero dies at 62

The Minnesota Wild received major reinforcements Wednesday.  Superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov and...

<p>The Minnesota Wild received major reinforcements Wednesday.</p><p>Superstar winger <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7294" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7294">Kirill Kaprizov</a> and key center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5684" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5684">Joel Eriksson Ek</a> returned to the lineup against the San Jose Sharks.</p><p>Kaprizov had been dealing with a nagging lower-body injury since late December, limiting him to just 37 outings this season. The ailment first sidelined him for 12 contests, and he returned for three matchups before hitting the shelf again for a lengthier 28-game absence.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He last played Jan. 26 and underwent surgery to address the injury soon after. Kaprizov was initially expected to miss at least four weeks, but he more than doubled that recovery timeline.</p><p>A Hart Trophy candidate prior to getting hurt, Kaprizov still ranks third on the Wild in both goals (23) and points (52).</p><p>Minnesota has gone a combined 20-17-3 over 40 games without Kaprizov in the lineup this winter. He also missed one outing with a lower-body issue in November.</p><p>Eriksson Ek, meanwhile, hasn't played since Feb. 22 - the Wild's first game after the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off - after suffering a lower-body injury in practice. He's missed Minnesota's last 21 contests. </p><p>The 28-year-old has totaled nine goals and 24 points in 42 games and is coming off two consecutive 60-point seasons. Minnesota has dictated 54.1% of the expected goals and 56.4% of the scoring chances while outscoring opponents 21-15 with the key two-way player on the ice at five-on-five this year, per <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20242025&amp;thruseason=20242025&amp;stype=2&amp;sit=5v5&amp;score=all&amp;stdoi=oi&amp;rate=n&amp;team=MIN&amp;pos=S&amp;loc=B&amp;toi=0&amp;gpfilt=none&amp;fd=&amp;td=&amp;tgp=410&amp;lines=single&amp;draftteam=ALL">Natural Stat Trick</a>.</p><p>Minnesota was one of the league's best teams before the calendar flipped to 2025, but the club has been floundering in recent months thanks in part to its myriad of injuries. The Wild have slipped to the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference and have picked up just two wins in their last eight games.</p><p>The Calgary Flames are four points behind the Wild with one game in hand. The Vancouver Canucks aren't completely out of it yet, either, though they trail by six points in the same number of games played.</p><p>Minnesota has four games remaining on its regular-season schedule, beginning Wednesday against San Jose. </p><p> </p><p> </p>

SAINT PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 21: Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild warms up prior to the game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Xcel Energy Center on December 21, 2023 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

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Wild's Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek return vs. Sharks

The Colorado Avalanche announced Wednesday they loaned captain Gabriel Landeskog to the AHL on a ...

<p>The Colorado Avalanche announced Wednesday they loaned captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2034" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2034">Gabriel Landeskog</a> to the AHL on a conditioning assignment.</p><p>Landeskog hasn't played in a professional game since helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup on June 26, 2022. He's been sidelined for nearly three years with a knee injury, and the future of his playing career has been on shaky ground ever since. </p><p>The 32-year-old first underwent knee surgery in March 2022 and missed the last 23 contests of the regular season before returning for Game 1 of the playoffs. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Landeskog went for another procedure in October of that year and was initially ruled out for 12 weeks, but he was eventually shut down for the entirety of the 2022-23 campaign.</p><p>The Swedish forward then received a knee cartilage transplant in May 2023, which prevented him from suiting up last season. No NHL player has successfully returned from that procedure, and it was his third surgery in a 15-month span.</p><p>Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar expressed hope in August that Landeskog would be able to return near the start of this campaign, but that didn't come to fruition. Landeskog, however, remained determined to finish his recovery and even <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3244647" href="https://thescore.com/news/3244647">joined</a> Colorado on a road trip in March, though there was still no timeline for his return.</p><p>Landeskog initially suffered the long-term injury during the 2020 playoffs when a falling <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8539" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8539">Cale Makar</a> cut his teammate above the knee with his skate blade.</p><p>The veteran winger played through knee pain during the 2022 postseason but still ranked second on the team with 11 goals and fourth with 22 points in 20 outings while averaging 20:58 minutes of ice time per contest.</p><p>The Avalanche currently sit in third place of the Central Division with a 48-27-4 record. They lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2023 and fell in the second round last spring. </p><p>Three games remain on Colorado's regular-season schedule, beginning Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. The AHL's Colorado Eagles, meanwhile, have five games left.</p><p>Landeskog has amassed 248 goals and 571 points in 738 career NHL games, all with the Avalanche. The club selected him second overall in 2011 and named him captain as a 19-year-old in 2012.</p><p>He's under contract for four more seasons at a $7-million cap hit.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 12: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche carries the Stanley Cup prior to the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Ball Arena on October 12, 2022 in Denver, Colorado.

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Avalanche loan Landeskog to AHL on conditioning stint

Top forward prospect Ivan Demidov is making the jump to the NHL earlier than expected after inkin...

<p>Top forward prospect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/14986" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/14986">Ivan Demidov</a> is making the jump to the NHL earlier than expected after inking his three-year, entry-level deal with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.</p><p>Prior to the news of his signing, KHL club SKA Saint Petersburg announced that they had reached an agreement with Demidov to allow the winger to join the Habs for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.</p><p>Demidov's KHL pact expires on May 31. Due to his contract situation, it was initially thought he wouldn't be able to play in North America until the start of the 2025-26 campaign. General manager Kent Hughes ruled out the possibility of Demidov joining Montreal this season after taking a trip to Russia to watch him play in December, per <a href="https://x.com/renlavoietva/status/1877033261777518929">TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Hughes said remains unclear when Demidov might debut for the Canadiens because of logistics. </p><p>"Still to be determined," the executive told <a href="https://x.com/TSN_Sports/status/1909764829683802140">TSN</a>. "Now we got to work on work permits and things of that nature. So, as soon as the permits are there, he'll be here ASAP."</p><p>Hughes added, "We don't want to put too much expectations on him. We're talking about a 19-year-old kid traveling across the world to come play. Hopefully, he gets a game in or two before playoffs, if we're able to make them."</p><p>SKA Saint Petersburg said Demidov will return to the team if he can't find his footing in the NHL. The club's season ended Sunday following its loss to Dynamo Moscow in the opening round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs.</p><p>Lauded for his hands and top-end skill, Demidov led SKA Saint Petersburg with 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 65 games this campaign while averaging just 13:45 of ice time per contest. He surpassed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7294" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7294">Kirill Kaprizov</a>'s 42 points in the 2016-17 season to establish a new KHL record for the most points by an under-20 player. </p><p>Demidov went on to add three goals and two helpers in six playoff games.</p><p>The 19-year-old dominated Russia's junior league last season, potting 60 points in 30 appearances. </p><p>Demidov is joining a Canadiens squad in the throes of the playoff race. They hold a six-point lead for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 38-30-9 record and are looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2021.</p><p>Five games remain on the Habs' regular-season schedule, beginning Tuesday with a tilt against the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. ET.</p><p> </p>

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2025/03/14: Ivan Demidov (91) of SKA Hockey Club seen in action during the Hockey match, Kontinental Hockey League 2024/2025 between SKA Saint Petersburg and Sochi at the SKA Arena, in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation. (Final score; SKA Saint Petersburg 2:0 Sochi).

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Canadiens sign Ivan Demidov to entry-level deal 

The Florida Panthers will have captain Aleksander Barkov back within their ranks Tuesday against ...

<p>The Florida Panthers will have captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3004" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3004">Aleksander Barkov</a> back within their ranks Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Paul Maurice announced, according to team reporter <a href="https://x.com/JamesonCoop/status/1909623679018807415">Jameson Olive</a>.</p><p>Maurice added that forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3949" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3949">Sam Bennett</a> will be sidelined for a second straight game with an upper-body injury and will likely miss the rest of the regular season. However, he should be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs.</p><p>Barkov, meanwhile, hasn't played in Florida's last three games due to an upper-body issue. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>On top of Barkov and Bennett, the defending Stanley Cup champions were missing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3945" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3945">Sam Reinhart</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9416" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9416">Gustav Forsling</a> on Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings. Both players are expected to return from their one-game absences Tuesday, according to <a href="https://x.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1909623185244668401">Sportsnet's Luke Fox</a>.</p><p>Key defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/529" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/529">Dmitry Kulikov</a> has also been out since mid-March with an upper-body injury, and star forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5591" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5591">Matthew Tkachuk</a> won't return until the postseason after getting hurt at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.</p><p>Thanks in part to the injuries, it's been a trying time for the Panthers. They've lost their last five games - all against Atlantic rivals - while being outscored 15-7. The skid has weakened their pursuit of first place in the division:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>GP</th>
<th>Record</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Toronto Maple Leafs</td>
<td>76</td>
<td>47-25-4</td>
<td>98</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Tampa Bay Lightning</td>
<td>77</td>
<td>45-26-6</td>
<td>96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Florida Panthers</td>
<td>77</td>
<td>44-29-4</td>
<td>92</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Ottawa Senators - currently in the first wild-card spot - are close behind, trailing the Panthers by two points in the same number of games played.</p><p>Florida already clinched its playoff spot Saturday, and Maurice is more concerned about his team's health rather than its seeding.</p><p>"You always want every advantage that you can possibly get - home ice and all that," the bench boss said Sunday, according to <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-panthers-focused-on-health-not-playoff-position">NHL.com's Nicholas J. Cotsonika</a>. "But we've got to heal some of these guys, and we've got to give ourselves a chance to be physically right when it starts."</p><p>The Panthers have five games remaining on their regular-season schedule. The puck drops on their clash against Toronto at 7 p.m. ET. </p>

SUNRISE, FL - JANUARY 11: Florida Panthers Center Aleksander Barkov (16) looks on during the NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on Saturday January 11, 2025 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

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Barkov returning from 3-game absence; Bennett out until playoffs

The 2024-25 Calder Trophy race has been a real treat, fueled by budding superstars at each positi...

<p>The 2024-25 Calder Trophy race has been a real treat, fueled by budding superstars at each position group. Though one player stands out from the talented field, there's more than one worthy candidate to take home the hardware.</p><p>For the final time this season, let's dive into this year's crop of rookies.</p><h3>5. Cutter Gauthier, Ducks</h3><p><em>Previous: Unranked</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764709/cropped_GettyImages-2191411746.jpg?ts=1736549198" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764709/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191411746.jpg?ts=1736549198 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764709/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191411746.jpg?ts=1736549198 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764709/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191411746.jpg?ts=1736549198 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764709/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191411746.jpg?ts=1736549198 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764709/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191411746.jpg?ts=1736549198 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>G</th>
<th>P</th>
<th>ATOI</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>77</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>40</td>
<td>14:06</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Welcome to the rankings, Gauthier.</p><p>The Ducks forward currently sits fourth among all rookies in both points and goals, but it's his recent play that has earned him a spot on our final list. Gauthier has been fantastic since returning from the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, registering eight goals and 18 points - all of which have come at even strength - in his last 23 games. Only two rookies - Matvei Michkov and Lane Hutson - have been more productive over that stretch.</p><p>Arguably one of Anaheim's most improved youngsters since the start of the season, Gauthier was rocking a 0.41 point-per-game clip with nine goals and 13 helpers through his first 54 contests of the campaign. Since then, he's boosted his point-per-game rate to 0.78.</p><p>The 21-year-old's progress is a promising sign for the Ducks' rebuild.</p><h3>4. Matvei Michkov, Flyers</h3><p><em>Previous: 4</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778020/cropped_GettyImages-2207031022.jpg?ts=1743342929" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778020/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207031022.jpg?ts=1743342929 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778020/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207031022.jpg?ts=1743342929 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778020/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207031022.jpg?ts=1743342929 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778020/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207031022.jpg?ts=1743342929 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778020/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207031022.jpg?ts=1743342929 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>G</th>
<th>P</th>
<th>ATOI</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>75</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>58</td>
<td>16:31</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Keeping Michkov off the podium is a shame given how hot he's been in the post-John Tortorella era.</p><p>Though he was held without a point in his most recent game, here's how Michkov's first three contests went after Tortorella's dismissal:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Opponent</th>
<th>G</th>
<th>P</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>March 27</td>
<td>Canadiens</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>March 29</td>
<td>Sabres</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>March 31</td>
<td>Predators</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>All<em> </em>of those points came at even strength, and he holds the rookie lead in that category with 43 on the season - four more than Hutson in second place. Michkov has also enjoyed six multi-goal outings, tied for third most by a Flyer in his rookie season in franchise history.</p><p>It will be hard for him to unseat any of the top three guys on this list, but it's not impossible. Michkov already paces the class in goals and is six points off the rookie lead. It'll be a tall task to take over the latter category, but he'll make voters' lives extremely difficult if he does.</p><h3>3. Macklin Celebrini, Sharks </h3><p><em>Previous: 2</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761926/cropped_GettyImages-2189998034.jpg?ts=1734915299" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761926/w220xh124_GettyImages-2189998034.jpg?ts=1734915299 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761926/w320xh180_GettyImages-2189998034.jpg?ts=1734915299 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761926/w640xh360_GettyImages-2189998034.jpg?ts=1734915299 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761926/w768xh432_GettyImages-2189998034.jpg?ts=1734915299 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761926/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2189998034.jpg?ts=1734915299 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>G</th>
<th>P</th>
<th>ATOI</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>65</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>57</td>
<td>19:54</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Celebrini is likely going to finish the season at or near the top of tons of Calder ballots. However, he's at a bit of a disadvantage because he hasn't had the chance to play in big, meaningful games this season.</p><p>Of course, that isn't Celebrini's fault, and the 18-year-old has injected plenty of life into San Jose's lineup. He plays with a poise beyond his years and pesters opponents with his relentless effort. He's second among all rookies in goals and third in points despite sitting out 12 games at the start of the season. He also leads the Sharks in points and paces the first-year class with a 0.88 point-per-game rate.</p><p>In addition, Celebrini ranks 31st among all players in the league in individual shot attempts (429) and is tied for 28th in individual scoring chances (232) at all strengths. </p><p>The 2024 first-round pick is poised to become a superstar and may wind up being the best player in this rookie class, but there are plenty of superstars who don't win the Calder.</p><h3>2. Dustin Wolf, Flames</h3><p><em>Previous: 3</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774371/cropped_GettyImages-2197900770.jpg?ts=1741576278" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774371/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197900770.jpg?ts=1741576278 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774371/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197900770.jpg?ts=1741576278 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774371/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197900770.jpg?ts=1741576278 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774371/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197900770.jpg?ts=1741576278 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774371/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197900770.jpg?ts=1741576278 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Terence Leung / National Hockey League / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>SV%</th>
<th>GAA</th>
<th>SO</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>49 (26-16-7)</td>
<td>.911</td>
<td>2.62</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>As we touched on before, Wolf is getting the edge over Celebrini in the runner-up spot simply because Calgary is in the throes of the playoff race.</p><p>The netminder is the biggest X-factor in determining whether the Flames make it or not, and if they're still playing in a few weeks' time, his Calder case becomes even stronger than it already is. Will it be strong enough for him to become the first goalie to win it since Steve Mason in 2009? It's hard to say. The No. 1 guy on this list is also instrumental to his team's postseason push.</p><p>No matter how the final voting shakes out, Wolf has pieced together a season worth celebrating. He ranks fourth in the league in goals saved above expected (28.02) and eighth in goals saved above average (15.38). The 23-year-old is also seventh in high-danger save percentage at five-on-five (.855) among all goalies to appear in at least 20 games this season and third in wins above replacement (5.2).</p><p>Those numbers could even earn him some downballot Vezina Trophy votes. Not too shabby for a seventh-round draft pick.</p><h3>1. Lane Hutson, Canadiens</h3><p><em>Previous: 1 </em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778438/cropped_GettyImages-2207509244.jpg?ts=1743556765" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778438/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207509244.jpg?ts=1743556765 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778438/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207509244.jpg?ts=1743556765 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778438/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207509244.jpg?ts=1743556765 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778438/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207509244.jpg?ts=1743556765 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778438/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207509244.jpg?ts=1743556765 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>G</th>
<th>P</th>
<th>ATOI</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>77</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>64</td>
<td>22:39</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>We wrote last month that it's hard to argue against Hutson's case for the Calder, and he's only gotten better since then. His 15 points in 13 games since our last rankings are the second most among all blue-liners - trailing only Cale Makar - and he's a league-leading plus-12 over that stretch.</p><p>The Canadiens were handed a tough assignment with back-to-back games against the Florida Panthers on March 30 and April 1, but Hutson rose to the challenge. He recorded three assists in each contest against the defending champions while leading the Habs in average ice time (24:52). Montreal also held a 14-5 edge in high-danger chances during his minutes, and he wasn't on the ice for a goal against.</p><p>The 21-year-old is one point away from breaking Chris Chelios' record for most points by a first-year rearguard in Canadiens history. Hutson is also on pace for 62 assists, which would surpass Larry Murphy's 60 helpers in 1980-81 for most all-time by a defenseman in his rookie season.</p><p>If that wasn't enough, Hutson paces this year's rookie class in points and assists, all while helping Montreal through its surprising playoff push. </p><p>Though Celebrini and Wolf would be great choices, the Calder should absolutely be Hutson's.</p><p>(Analytics source: <a style="background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);" href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/">Natural Stat Trick</a>, <a style="background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);" href="https://evolving-hockey.com/">Evolving-Hockey</a>)</p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - FEBRUARY 27: Lane Hutson #48 of the Montreal Canadiens and Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks fight for position during the second period during a game at Bell Centre on February 27, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec.

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