The Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens – the two Eastern Conference Wild Card holders who've been cranky with each other all season – will face off on Friday night at Canadian Tire Centre in a game with heavy playoff implications.

A regulation win would secure the Canadiens' first playoff berth since 2021, the year they made a surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final. But there’s more than just their ticket to the postseason on the line: Montreal also has a chance to gain ground on the Sens, who hold a three-point lead on the Canadiens for the top wild card spot in the East.

A good chunk of both fan bases is buzzing about the idea and entertainment value of a first-round showdown against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Friday’s outcome could bring the winner closer to that. 

A win for Ottawa would pretty much nail down the top Wild Card spot, extending their lead over Montreal to five points with three to play. It would also prevent the Canadiens from completing a season sweep of the Senators, who have dropped the first three meetings between the two clubs.

Sens centre Shane Pinto was unable to pinpoint why the Canadiens have played them so well this season, describing their 0-3 record against them as "annoying."

"Yeah, they're a good team with a lot of skill players," Pinto told the media on Friday.  "Every game we play against them, I feel like it's been highly competitive, and it's a bit of a rivalry. But they're just a good team. I feel like they play us well, and hopefully, we turn those tables and get a win. But no specific reason. I think they've just kind of had our number this year, but hopefully, that changes tonight."

Ottawa will once again be without captain Brady Tkachuk, who's sidelined with an injury suffered nearly two weeks ago in Pittsburgh. On Thursday, he said he expected to resume skating on Friday. If he did, it wasn't at Friday’s optional skate. 

The Senators are still without forward Nick Cousins, who hasn’t played since January. Cousins practiced fully for a second straight day without the non-contact jersey, but the team says he won’t dress for Friday’s game.

At the last full practice on Thursday, head coach Travis Green gave his top two forward lines a hard reboot, but wouldn't commit the same combos against the Habs.

Tim Stutzle centred one line with David Perron and Drake Batherson, while Dylan Cozens slotted in on the second line alongside Claude Giroux and Fabian Zetterlund. The third and fourth lines remained unchanged, with Shane Pinto centering Ridly Greig and Michael Amadio, and Adam Gaudette likely to skate with Matthew Highmore and Angus Crookshank.

"I wouldn't read too much into (the changes)," Green cautioned after Thursday's practice. "Timmy and Drake played together before in the past. They played the other night together after the first (in Columbus).

Cozens, acquired at the trade deadline, got off to a strong start in Ottawa with eight points in his first nine games, but his production has cooled in the past two weeks—he has just two assists in his last eight appearances. 

Jake Sanderson has now recorded points in each of his last six home games. He’s now one game away from becoming just the third defenseman in franchise history to register a seven-game point streak on home ice, joining Erik Karlsson (eight games) and Filip Kuba (nine).

Montreal, meanwhile, continues to surge at the right time. Nick Suzuki has helped lead the way with six goals and 12 points in the past six games.

Adding to the excitement in Montreal these days is the late season arrival of KHL star Ivan Demidov, Montreal’s first-round pick in the 2024 Draft. While he is expected to join the Canadiens before the end of the regular season, his NHL debut will not be on Friday in Ottawa. 

Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. (RDS, SNE, SNO, SNW).

- Brady Tkachuk: 'I Don’t Think I’d Ever Miss An Opportunity To Play In The Playoffs
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- David Perron Chosen As Ottawa Senators 2025 Masterton Trophy Nominee
- CLINCHED: Ottawa Senators Officially Clinch First Playoff Spot In Eight Years
- From Another November Struggle To The Verge Of The Stanley Cup Playoffs
- Former Ottawa Senators Assistant GM Ray Shero Passes Away At Age 62

Going into the New York Rangers rookie camp in September, the main guys to watch for were Brennan Othmann and Adam Edström. 

However, this 5 '9'’ speedy forward by the name of Brett Berard seemed to take over rookie camp by storm.

His impressive speed and silky offensive skills were on full display, looking like the Rangers’ most impressive prospect on the ice during rookie camp. 

That gave Berard an opportunity to fight to make New York’s opening night at training camp where he continued to thrive. 

Despite starting the season in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Berard was called up by the Rangers in November, getting a 19-game audition in the NHL.

Not only did the 22-year-old forward show that he belonged in the big leagues, but he proved how dynamic and explosive he could be. 

After recording three goals, four assists, and seven points in 19 games, Berard was sent back down the Wolf Pack, but it wouldn’t be long before he rejoined the Rangers. 

While the young forward has been scratched out of the lineup on a couple of occasions through his second stint in the NHL this season, he’s shown a level of maturity and professionalism. 

When talking to Berard, he’s always calm, cool, and collected with the feeling he’s wise beyond his years. 

His play has also remained steady. Berard’s size doesn't seem to be an issue as he plays a hard-nosed, physical game. 

On top of his speed, Berard is always hustling, which has allowed him to go from a fifth-round pick to one of the Rangers’ most promising young players. 

On Thursday night against the New York Islanders, Berard recorded two goals, his first multi-goal game of his NHL career. 

Following the game, Berard opened up about how surreal it’s been for him to play for the Rangers. 

“Every time you get to put on the Rangers jersey and play in the NHL, it’s super special,” Berard said. “I still don’t think it’s hit me to the full extent. Every time I get to put on the jersey, I try to treat it like it’s my first game. It’s super fun, It’s super special, it’s a dream that every kid dreams of to play in this league.”

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are fast approaching, records are being broken, and The Hockey Show is here for all the fun!

This week, hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed Los Angeles Kings TV analyst and former player Jim Fox to the show.

He discussed LA’s upcoming playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers and why this season could be different for the Kings after being knocked out of the playoffs by Edmonton in each of the past three years.

Jim was also asked about being part of the greatest comeback in Stanley Cup Playoff history, the Miracle on Manchester, and also about his experience working on the hockey movie Mystery, Alaska in a very famous scene with Mike Myers.

Roy and Dave also got into their weekly wins and fails, which included an amazing play by Quinton Byfield and an epic collapse by the Dallas Stars.

And of course, the show got into Alex Ovechkin becoming the NHL’s goal scoring king.

You can check out the full show in the video below:

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The Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed forward Navrin Mutter to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2025-26 season.

Mutter, 24, has spent each of the last three seasons with the Predators organization but has yet to make his NHL debut. Instead, he has played primarily with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. He also played in 33 games with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL in 2023-24, posting five goals, 11 points, and 63 penalty minutes.

Mutter has spent all of this season with the Admirals, recording one goal, three assists, 87 penalty minutes, and a minus-5 rating in 37 contests. In 116 games with Milwaukee over three seasons, the 6-foot-3 forward has four goals, 18 points, and 223 penalty minutes.

Overall, there is no harm in the Predators keeping Mutter around in their system. He will continue to provide the Admirals with plenty of toughness and grit from here. 

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According to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, Brady Tkachuk will miss the game against the Canadiens. That’s a big loss for the Ottawa Senators but they want to make sure he can play in game one of the playoffs.

Nick Suzuki is scoring with the elite centers in the league. This is something that he’s been building towards and the fact that he’s just 25 makes this even more sweet. As the captain, he can set the tone with a great game and possibly some points to lead by example.

At this point in the season, Ottawa is trying to stay sharp and keep players healthy. This isn’t the NBA where teams will sit all of their starters, there’s no way to do that.  Will Ottawa play this one all out in hopes of catching the Florida Panthers? It is possible.

If the Canadiens jump out to an early two-goal lead, they might be able to ride that. Scoring first would really help for sure. The Canadiens might be able to take away the Senators' will in this one and that’s the hope for the fanbase. It could be a joyous night. But this is why they play the games because anything can happen. first game of the playoffs and now the Montreal Canadiens can clinch tonight with a regulation win. 

The game is in Ottawa and there’s a chance Linus Ullmark could be in net so this isn’t a gimme kind of game. I’m throwing all statistics out of the window for this one. When you are on the precipice of securing a playoff spot, the emotion and drive of the players should be enough to get them over the finish line. 

The Los Angeles Kings are rolling into the 2025 Stanely Cup Playoffs with confidence and a lineup that appears deeper and more potent than in recent years. After three straight playoff eliminations at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, the Kings are hoping to reverse the trend—and they just might have the personnel to do it.

From breakthrough stars, elite goaltending, and veteran scoring depth, here are five bold predictions for the Kings as they enter the playoffs on a roll.

1. Darcy Kuemper Steals the Playoffs—and Excels

Picked up from Washington during the offseason, Darcy Kuemper has been under the radar as one of the NHL’s best goalies down the stretch with a .922 save percentage, the best he’s had in years. 

His numbers right now have him as a top 5 goalie in the NHL, given how he’s been performing this season and the difference-maker he’s had in leading the King’s defense to be one of the best in the league. 

Kings goals against in the last 15 Darcy Kuemper starts:

1
2
0
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
0
0
1
1
2

— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) April 11, 2025

Kings fans already know Kuemper from his earlier stint with the club, but this version is harder, more exacting, and battle-tested. He backstopped the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup in 2022 and looks poised to do it again in L.A. if given the keys.

Bold prediction: Kuemper starts every playoff game for the Kings and leads the NHL in save percentage through the west playoffs.

2. Quinton Byfield Becomes a Playoff Star

This is the moment Quinton Byfield has been building toward. After a breakout regular season that included a six-game goal streak and playing heavy minutes in the last two seasons, the 2020 No. 2 overall pick looks ready for prime time.

Byfield's size, speed, and two-way maturity make him a playoff weapon. If he can elevate his offense to another level, he could be the X-factor that L.A. requires to get through a grueling Western Conference bracket.

Only the beginning 📈 pic.twitter.com/KI0wA1dr8Z

— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 11, 2025

Depth will be required to win playoff games and series, which could awaken Byfield to shine in the most significant moments the Kings will ask of him against the top-heavy teams in the Western Conference.

Bold prediction:  Byfield leads the Kings in playoff points with 14+ points in the first two rounds.

3. Kevin Fiala Takes Over a Series

The Kings are built on depth, and Kevin Fiala is the engine of their secondary scoring. The Swiss winger has the skill set to take over a playoff series—especially if teams attempt to clamp down on the Kempe-Kopitar-Kuzmenko line.

CELLIES ALL AROUND pic.twitter.com/WSKnIMM8WU

— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 11, 2025

Fiala's playmaking, edge work, and power-play presence render him a nightmare in open ice. Fiala will likely be front and center if the Kings are involved in a high-scoring series (as they have with Edmonton in years prior).

Bold prediction: Fiala scores three game-winning goals throughout the Kings' playoff run and leads all of the Kings wings in assists. 

4.  Adrian Kempe Scores 10+ Goals

Year in and year out, Adrian Kempe proves he's among the most underappreciated snipers in the league. The Swedish winger enters the playoffs with a team-high 33 goals and has a knack for scoring in bunches. His elite shot, top-line usage, and power play time set him up to do severe damage.

Count it, that was 3 (‼️) power play goals last night!@JoshSchaeferPxP had your Calls of the Game on @ESPNLosAngeles presented by @GetSpectrum 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/x8FeKtj6VT

— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 11, 2025

In a long playoff run, Kempe can enter rarefied territory—double-digit goals in a single postseason.

Bold prediction: Kempe scores 10+ playoff goals and creates Conn Smythe chatter if the Kings make a deep run.

5. Kings Finally Dethrone the Oilers–and Make the Conference Finals

The narrative has hung over L.A. like a cloud: three straight playoff eliminations at the hands of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Edmonton Oilers. But this Kings team is not the same. They're deeper on the back end, more experienced up front, and have elite goaltending for the first time in years. 

If they draw the Oilers again, the Kings won't back down. With Kuemper in the net, a breakthrough from Byfield, and clutch goal-scoring from Fiala and Kempe, Los Angeles is built to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the West.

The LA Kings are 38-0-2 when scoring 3 goals or more. #GoKingsGo

— Jesse Cohen🌴All The Kings Men (@KingsMenPodcast) April 11, 2025

Bold prediction: The Kings beat the Oilers in six games and advance to their first Western Conference Final since 2014.

Final Thoughts

These 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs could be the start of something special for the Kings. Having a nice mix of veterans and young stars, elite-level goaltending, and a chip on their shoulder from their recent failures, Los Angeles is entering this playoffs with something to prove—and the roster to get it done.