The Montreal Canadiens will be taking on the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night in what promises to be an intense battle. While the Habs dominated their host in the only meeting between both teams this season, both are holding the second wild card spot in their respective conference and are desperate to make the Spring dance. While Montreal still has 13 games left to play, St.-Louis only has 10 games remaining, and the multiple teams chasing them have games in hand.

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At the end of October, the Canadiens beat the Blues 5-2 with Samuel Montembeault in goal. Coach Martin St-Louis has already announced that he will again be in net on Tuesday night. The netminder has a 2-1-0 record against the host with a 2.99 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. As for backup Jakub Dobes, he has never taken on Jim Montgomery’s men.

Speaking about Montgomery, he has yet to reveal which masked men will be in the Blues’ goal: Jordan Binnington or Joel Hoffer. The former, who backstopped Canada to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship, has a 2-4-0 record against the Habs with a 3.88 GAA and a .868 SP; he was in net for the October defeat. As for the latter, he beat Montreal in his only game against them and has a 3.00 GAA and a .909 SP. Binnington was in net for the Blues’ last game, but they have been alternating goaltenders lately.

Patrik Laine is the Canadiens’ most productive player against the Blues with 17 points in 18 games, but in one game in 2018, he scored five goals as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Blues 8-4. Christian Dvorak, who’s as confident as can be lately, also has 17 points but in 21 games. Brendan Gallagher rounds up the top three with 15 points in 17 games.

As for the Blues, their most prolific scorer against the Canadiens is Brayden Schenn, 28 points in 30 games. There were rumors that the center could be traded at the deadline, but he’s still with the team. Ryan Suter comes in second place with 14 points in 26 games, followed by Justin Folk, who has 12 points in 30 goals.

The Canadiens have won six of the last 10 duels between the two teams, and perhaps a road game is just what sniper Cole Caufield needs. The Canadiens’ best sniper has no points in his last three games but has scored 22 of his 33 goals on the road this season. Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM and will be the last Habs evening game to start later than 7:00 PM this season.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are winding down their 2024-25 season and on pace to miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. However, there is plenty to play for in the final weeks of the regular season. 

For example, one more Western Conference road trip is left on the schedule, with a home-and-home against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. Meanwhile, the season finale is against long-time rival Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

Even though that game is on April 17, Ovechkin could still be pursuing Wayne Gretzky's goal record, which could set up one of the most historic contests in league history. 

Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule

• Tuesday - March 25 at Tampa Bay Lightning (0-1-1)
• Thursday - March 27 at Buffalo Sabres (2-0-0)
• Sunday - March 30 vs. Ottawa Senators (0-1-1)
• Thursday - April 3 @ St. Louis Blues (1-0-0)
• Saturday - April 5 @ Dallas Stars (0-1-0)
• Sunday - April 6 @ Chicago Blackhawks (0-0-0)
• Tuesday - April 8 vs. Chicago Blackhawks (0-0-0)
• Friday - April 11 @ New Jersey Devils (1-1-1)
• Sunday - April 13 vs. Boston Bruins (1-1-0)
• Thursday - April 17 vs. Washington Capitals (1-2-0)

Pittsburgh Penguins March Results

March 1 vs. Boston Bruins (L 3-2) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 2 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (L 6-5 OT) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 4 @ Colorado Avalanche (L 4-1) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 7 @ Vegas Golden Knights (L 4-0) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 9 @ Minnesota Wild (W 3-1) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 11 vs. Vegas Golden Knights (W 3-2 OT) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 13 vs. St. Louis Blues (W 5-3) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 15 vs. New Jersey Devils (W 7-3) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 18 vs. New York Islanders (L 4-2) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 21 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (W 6-3) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

March 23 @ Florida Panthers (L 4-3 SO) Preview / Recap / Takeaways

Pittsburgh Penguins Statistical Leaders

• Goals: Rickard Rakell (32)
• Assists: Sidney Crosby (53)
• Points: Sidney Crosby (78)
• PIM: Michael Bunting (48)
• PPG: Michael Bunting (9)
• GWG: Sidney Crosby & Philip Tomasino (6)
• SOG: Sidney Crosby (194)
• Blocks: Noel Acciari (93)
• Hits: Noel Acciari (155)
• Wins: Alex Nedeljkovic (13)
• Losses: Alex Nedeljkovic (14)
• GAA: Tristan Jarry (3.12)
• SV%: Tristan Jarry (.894)

Pittsburgh Penguins News

Penguins: Sidney Crosby's Chase Of Wayne Gretzky's NHL Point-Per-Game RecordPittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is on pace to break a Wayne Gretzky record many people thought would never fall; most seasons (19) averaging a point-per-game average. 

Penguins Players Still Chasing Milestones In Final Month Of 2024-25 SeasonThe Pittsburgh Penguins only have 11 games left in their 2024-25 season. Although this year's club most likely won't qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, many players in the lineup still have milestones to play for.

Which UFAs Should The Penguins Bring Back?Although the Pittsburgh Penguins shipped out most of their unrestricted free agents before the NHL trade deadline on Mar. 7, there are still a few remaining on the roster.

Which RFAs Should The Penguins Keep?It should be quite the summer for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the free agent market.

In the fight for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, every point counts. And down the stretch of the season, the Islanders appeared to have snatched a crucial two points away from the Columbus Blue Jackets in dramatic fashion on Monday night.

Instead, a game-winning goal was ruled out and the Isles remained outside of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with just 12 games to play.

With the score tied and under 10 seconds to play, Kyle Palmieri drifted from behind the goal to right in front of the Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and was in the perfect position to redirect Alexander Romanov’s shot past into the Columbus net for a 4-3 lead.

However, referee Michael Markovic immediately began to emphatically wave off the go-ahead goal, judging Palmieri to have interfered with Merzlikins when the two came in slight contact on the edge of the crease just before the Romanov wrist shot.

After a conversation with the other referee and the linesman and then a lengthy review by the league office in Toronto, the call of no-goal on the ice was upheld.

“If Toronto is afraid to overturn calls made by their referee [on the ice], we don’t need Toronto," Isles head coach Patrick Roy said. "That's all I want to say."

The man at the center of the controversy was more blunt.

“I think it was f—-ing embarrassing," Palmieri said of the call.

The league’s explanation of the call: Palmieri impaired Merzlikins’ "ability to play his position in the crease prior to the goal.”

"I don't understand it," forward Bo Horvat said. "I don't understand what's the goal and what's not anymore, so I think that's the frustrating part, is there's no black and white... He kinda clipped the back of Palms' leg and [the goaltender] kinda stumbled but he still had plenty of time to make that save. And Palms a great tip and, to me, that's a goal all day long on the ice.

“I don't know what's good and what's not anymore and that was one of worst [no-goal calls] I’ve seen."

THE ISLANDERS SCORE WITH LESS THAN 10 SECONDS TO GO... but wait 😭

The play is under review. pic.twitter.com/rhLSuzkGRg

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 25, 2025

Good goal??? #Islespic.twitter.com/joD38cUdjk

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) March 25, 2025

The Islanders took the lead with less than 10 seconds left....then the goal was disallowed 😳 pic.twitter.com/4tHvygNyek

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 25, 2025

After a goalless overtime period, the Islanders had to settle for just one point when Columbus' Adam Fantilli scored the lone goal in the shootout sinking New York to a 4-3 defeat.

The single point was of no consolation.

“It’s just really getting frustrating when we're pushing for a playoff spot," Horvat said. "It’s obviously a game-winning goal late in the hockey game. And to me, it's just unacceptable.”

The shootout loss gave New York its 74th point on the season after 70 games played, but the decision kept them a single point behind the Montreal Canadiens, who have a game in hand, for the final Wild Card spot. On the outside looking in, the Isles are level with the Rangers on points but have played one fewer game and Columbus moved up to 73 points on 70 games with the win on Monday.

Palmieri was asked if he got an explanation for the call and said the referees told him there was "contact initiated in the crease and I guess the goalie needs five minutes to get reset and ready for the shot."

"It looked like he couldn’t wait to wave it off," he said of the referee.

Roy, the former legendary Stanley Cup-winning goalie himself, thought Merzlikins pushed Palmieri away and the forward was outside the crease. When asked how he would instruct players to play around the crease, the head coach pointed to the league.

"I don't know what to say anymore," Roy said. "I mean, if you're outside the crease I always thought that that was the place to be. That's all."

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored in regulation and got the deciding goal in the fourth round of the shootout, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Monday night.

Pius Suter scored twice for Vancouver, which improved to 3-1 in shootouts this season. Thatcher Demko finished with 22 saves in his first start since a lower-body injury on Feb. 8.

Timo Meier had two goals and Erik Haula also scored for the Devils, and Jacob Markstrom had 25 saves.

Jake DeBrusk scored in the first round of the shootout for Vancouver, and Jesper Bratt tied it for New Jersey in the second round. In the fourth round, Lekkerimaki fired a wrist shot past Markstrom for the win on his first career shootout attempt.

Haula gave the Devils a 3-2 lead with 6:35 to play in the third period, and Suter got his second of the night to tie it with 36 seconds remaining.

Lekkerimaki tied it at 2-2 with a snap shot 45 seconds after Meier gave the Devils a brief 2-1 lead at the 11:02 mark of the third period.

Takeaways

Canucks: Vancouver picked up a critical point to remain in the chase for a wild card in the Western Conference.

Devils: New Jersey extended its lead over Ottawa to two points for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Senators have played three fewer games.

Key moment

Markstrom stopped Quinn Hughes on a breakaway with a pad save early in overtime.

Key stat

Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes led all skaters with 31:38 of ice team and six shots on goal. This was the fourth time this season that Hughes has been on the ice for at least 30 minutes.

Up next

Canucks play at the New York Islanders on Wednesday to continue a season-high six-game trip, and Devils visit Chicago to open a three-game trip.

The Vancouver Canucks fought back from a late-game deficit to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in a shootout. Jonathan Lekkerimäki scored once in regulation, as well as the shootout winner, while Pius Suter scored twice in the victory. As for Thatcher Demko, he stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced, plus three of four in the shootout to pick up the win in his return from injury. 

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The Canucks showed resilience once again as they were able to come back and eventually picked up the win. Despite falling behind twice in the third, Vancouver kept pushing and eventually found the tying goal with 36 seconds left in the game. Overall, it was another example of a clutch moment by the team, which picked up their sixth six-on-five goal this season.

The star of the game was easily Quinn Hughes, who recorded his 68th point of the season. Hughes led the game with six shots on goal while finishing the night with 31:38 of ice time. The Canucks captain has taken another step forward this season and deserves to be in the Hart Trophy conversation at the end of the campaign. 

As for Demko, he looked solid during his first game since February 8. His rebound control was good, and he made a highlight-reel save in overtime that helped Vancouver push the game to a shootout. If Demko can return to his Veznia-like form, it could be the boost the Canucks need to secure a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"Yeah, I mean, it's been tough watching the boys go through the playoff run," said Demko post-game." So, you don't want to step in and ruin it for them or not contribute in a positive way. It was nice to get the win. Another late goal from us gets us to overtime. It's big for our team, and ended up getting the two points in a shootout, so that was huge."

While there are still 11 games remaining in the season, Monday's victory may have saved Vancouver's season. The St. Louis Blues are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, and with a regulation loss, would have held a five-point advantage in the race for the final Wild-Card spot. In the end, though, the Canucks found a way and, in the process, picked up their first win of the six-game road trip. 

Stats and Facts:

- Kiefer Sherwood becomes the first player in NHL history to record 400 hits
- Quinn Hughes records at least 28 minutes of ice time for the third straight game
- Nils Åman records points in back-to-back games for the first time this season
- Aatu Räty goes nine for 11 in the faceoff dot

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period:

10:09- VAN: Pius Suter (21) from Marcus Pettersson

2nd Period:

10:24- NJD: Timo Meier (21) from Dawson Mercer and Jesper Bratt

3rd Period:

11:02- NJD: Timo Meier (22) from Brenden Dillon and Nico Hischier
11:47- VAN: Jonathan Lekkerimäki (3) from Derek Forbort and Nils Åman
13:25- NJD: Erik Haula (9) from Brian Dumoulin
19:24- VAN: Pius Suter (22) from Jake DeBrusk and Quinn Hughes

Overtime:

No Scoring

Shootout:

VAN- Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Up Next:

The Canucks continue their six-game road trip with a matchup against the New York Islanders. Vancouver will be looking to avenge a 5-2 loss to the Islanders, which happened at Rogers Arena back in November. Game time is set for 4:30 pm PT from UBS Arena. 

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NEW YORK (AP) — Adam Fantilli scored in regulation and then got the only goal in the shootout, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 win against the New York Islanders on Monday night to end a six-game skid.

Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko also scored in regulation for the Blue Jackets, and Elvis Merzlikins made 30 saves.

Pierre Engvall, Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee scored for New York, which lost its second straight after a three-game win streak. Ilya Sorokin finished with 28 saves.

In the second round of the shootout, Fantilli made a move to his backhand and beat Sorokin. Bo Horvat then missed high and wide left on his attempt in the third round.

Marchenko scored the tying goal with 7:06 left in the third period.

Palmieri appeared to give the Islanders a 4-3 lead with less than 10 seconds remaining as he redirected Alexander Romanov’s shot. However, the goal was immediately waved off and the initial call was confirmed after a lengthy review in the league office in Toronto.

Takeaways

Blue Jackets: Columbus has only scored 10 goals during its last seven games while getting shut out three times.

Islanders: New York coach Patrick Roy elected to dress seven defensemen and opted to play defenseman Adam Boqvist on the right wing of the third line rather than disrupt his combinations with Hudson Fasching sidelined due to an illness. Boqvist had two assists.

Key Moment

Sorokin denied Fantilli from the high slot with 62 seconds remaining in regulation and Monahan in the final minute to help force overtime.

Key stat

Blue Jackets outshot the Islanders 17-4 in the third period.

Up next

Blue Jackets host Vancouver on Friday, while Islanders host Vancouver on Wednesday to finish a four-game homestand.

The Islanders entered Monday's Metropolitan Division game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with points in each of their last five games.

After another 65 minute game, including overtime, the Islanders picked up a point once again after losing in a shootout, 4-3 to Columbus at UBS Arena.

© Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Islanders jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in terms of shots, and that would be indicative of the rest of the first period, which the home team dominated.

Pierre Engvall opened the scoring, firing home his sixth of the season from the slot with 6:44 to go in the first.

Defenseman, Tony DeAngelo started the play and relayed the puck up to Adam Boqvist, who fed Engvall.

Boqvist with his first assist as a forward #Islespic.twitter.com/STvwGFixyj

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 25, 2025

Minutes later, Bo Horvat found Kyle Palmieri in the slot, who roofed the puck to give the Isles a 2-0 lead 18:41 into the first.

🎯Horvat pass. 🎯 Palmieri goal🚨

2-0 #Islespic.twitter.com/b8U5lGPpkj

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 25, 2025

The teams went to the dressing rooms after one with the Islanders holding the edge 17-6 in shots.

Following their dominant performance in the first period, the Islanders got an early power play after Damon Severson tripped up Horvat, who went into the boards feet-first. Horvat returned to play during the man advantage after flexing his left leg.

Later, Adam Fantilli streaked into the Islanders' zone and toe-dragged around Noah Dobson, then let go of a sneaky snap shot, which beat Ilya Sorokin’s glove side to cut New York’s lead to 2-1.

Adam Fantilli can absolutely rip it 🎯 pic.twitter.com/d21kJBm1qi

— NHL (@NHL) March 25, 2025

At 16:58, Justin Danforth flipped the puck over the boards for a delay-of-game infraction, giving the Islanders their second power play of the period. However, only 15 seconds into the man advantage, Boone Jenner’s shot deflected off of Dobson’s leg and past Sorokin to knot the game at 2-2.

Boone Jenner ties the game with a shorthanded goal 🚨 pic.twitter.com/JS84RRlkD5

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 25, 2025

The Islanders bounced back however, as Mike Reilly’s point shot bounced off of Anders Lee and past Elvis Merzlikins to restore the lead to 3-2. 

Some balancing act and tip by #Isles Captain Anders Lee for his 26th goal of the season.

3-2 #Isles after 2. pic.twitter.com/44Qe93JBH2

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 25, 2025

Columbus head coach Dean Evason challenged for goaltender interference, but a quick review determined there wasn’t sufficient contact, and the Blue Jackets received another delay-of-game penalty to be split across periods.

The Islanders outshot the Blue Jackets 9-5 in the middle frame.

New York’s power play remained fruitless to start the third period, and Adam Pelech was called for interference, incidentally bumping the stick out of Zach Werenski’s hands. 

Columbus got a quality chance when Kent Johnson fired a blistering one-timer from the top of the circle, but Sorokin was able to slide across and make the save with his mask. The offense opened up for Columbus, but as per usual during the Islanders’ recent playoff push, Sorokin stood on his head.

With under 10 minutes left, the Islanders iced the puck three times and lost each ensuing faceoff. This came back to bite New York’s tired skaters, as Kirill Marchenko’s bullet from the point snaked through bodies and beat Sorokin to tie the game at 3-3.

This game is TIED 🪢

Kirill Marchenko has the equalizer late in the third! pic.twitter.com/Jv1zl5CWTR

— NHL (@NHL) March 25, 2025

Patrick Roy and assistant coach Benoit Desrosiers called a timeout in the last minute to shore up defensive miscues and secure a trip to overtime.

However, the timeout would give more than a defensive boost to the Islanders. With eight seconds remaining, Kyle Palmieri deflected an Alex Romanov shot past Merzlikins, but the goal was immediately called off due to goaltender interference. 

Good goal??? #Islespic.twitter.com/joD38cUdjk

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) March 25, 2025

The situation room conducted a lengthy review, but ultimately the no-goal call stood—much to the ire of the Islanders’ bench and fans. 

Seeing as the Islanders were outshot 17-4 in the third, Palmieri’s goal would have been a relief. Instead, the review ensured that the Eastern Conference playoff race would become even closer.

To start overtime, the Islanders kept two Blue Jackets stuck on the ice, but Ryan Pulock was unable to finish on a scramble that saw Merzlikins down on the ice.

Sorokin made a number of saves to keep New York alive after the momentum shifted in Columbus’ favor. Horvat and Palmieri found themselves on a 2-on-1 in the dying seconds but didn’t have enough gas for a shot.

Anthony Duclair, Palmieri, and Horvat all went scoreless in the shootout, which allowed Adam Fantilli’s backhand tally to be the game-winner.

The Islanders are back in action on Wednesday as they host the Canucks at 7:30 PM at UBS Arena.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Monday that they signed Dartmouth College center Luke Haymes to a two-year, entry-level contract beginning in 2025-26.

Before that contract starts, the 21-year-old Haymes will sign a professional tryout contract with the Toronto Marlies for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Details | https://t.co/tj5Ym0NQn2

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 25, 2025

The Ottawa, Ontario native was reportedly linked to the Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and hometown Senators as potential destinations to begin his professional career. He posted 12 goals and six assists in 22 games in a season hampered by a broken hand sustained early in the campaign. 

Haymes is consistently described as a tenacious and gritty two-way forward, known for his effectiveness on both sides of the ice . He plays with a high level of energy and determination and strong hockey IQ. His style allows him to generate quality scoring opportunities through a combination of intelligent play and physicality.

Haymes attended Toronto's summer development camp in 2023.

Scouting reports suggest that he projects as a potential bottom-six player with the possibility of developing into a middle-six role with further refinement. Perhaps he could help the center prospect depth for the Leafs that was vacated when the club traded Fraser Minten to the Boston Bruins along with a conditional first-round pick for defenseman Brandon Carlo.

'I Haven't Told Them Yet': Maple Leafs React To Fraser Minten Being Traded To Bruins For Brandon CarloToronto sent Minten, plus a first and fourth-round pick, to Boston in exchange for Brandon Carlo.

At 6-1, 203 pounds, Haymes is considered pro-hockey ready and his recent growth spurt (previously listed at 185 pounds), explains why the player wasn't drafted and has recently garnered a lot of interest. 

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