It’s been a tough week for the Florida Panthers.

For the first time since late November, the Panthers have lost three straight games, capped off by Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The big news that came down before the game was that Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov would be out due to an upper-body injury.

During the first period, the Cats and Leafs combined to put 18 shots on Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz, but the former teammates stopped each and every one of them, keeping the game scoreless after 20 minutes.

It didn’t stay that way very long.

Deep in Toronto’s zone, Seth Jones carried the puck toward the blue line before starting a quick passing play that led to the game’s first goal.

The puck went from Jones to San Bennett to Sam Reinhart to Gus Forsling, who snapped a one-timer that beat Stolarz over the glove to give Florida a 1-0 lead.

Toronto tied the game about 10 minutes later after capitalizing on a broken rush play.

After getting into Florida’s end, William Nylander found the puck in the left circle and fired a shot toward the net that was deflected by John Tavares on the doorstep to knot the score at one.

A Mitch Marner one-timer gave Toronto a 2-1 lead with 9:10 to go in the third period on a sequence that saw Bobrovsky made several great saves moments before the goal was scored.

Marner then made an excellent pass to send Matthew Knies on a breakaway less than five minutes later to extend Toronto’s lead to 3-1.

Reinhart cut the Leafs’ lead in half with 2:38 to go, sniping a power play goal over a screened Stolarz’s blocker.

That’s as close as the Cats would get.

On to Ottawa.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Bobrovsky played in his 750th career game.

Forsling’s goal was his first in 16 games.

Bennett’s assist on Forsling’s goal gave him five points over his past six outings.

Reinhart has now logged six goals and 14 points over his past 13 games.

Jones has his first three-game point streak since joining the Panthers and picking up an assist on Reinhart’s goal.

He also has points in five of his past seven games.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Fresh off frustrating loss, Panthers in Toronto for big divisional showdown

Three takeaways: 'Bad break' goal ruins strong outing from Panthers in Montreal

Panthers blow another late lead, fall 3-2 in overtime to Montreal

Fireworks possible in rematch between Panthers and Canadiens that comes with major playoff implications

Matthew Tkachuk resumes skating, Panthers still targeting opening round of playoffs for return

Josh Lavallee via Getty Images

Alex Ovechkin scored career goal No. 892 for the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, putting him three away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL record of 894.

The goal was a one-time scored at the end of a second period of a lopsided game against the Carolina Hurricanes, narrowing the deficit to 4-1. Jakob Chychrun and Dylan Strome both notched assists on the play.

Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will both be in attendance at Capitals games from here on out to ensure they are present for Ovechkin's record-breaking goal. 

Ovechkin's goal was his 39th of the season, inching him closer to the 14th 40-goal season of his 20-year NHL career. He's currently tied for third in goals scored this season and will likely come up short in his bid for a 10th Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.

The Eastern Conference-leading Capitals have seven games to play in the regular season.

Capitals remaining schedule

Fri: vs. Chicago, 7 p.m. ET
Sun: at Islanders, 12:30 p.m. ET
Thu, Apr 10: vs. Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ET
Sat, Apr 12: at Columbus, 7 p.m. ET
Sun, Apr 13: vs. Columbus, 6 p.m. ET
Tue, Apr 15: at Islanders, 8 p.m. ET
Thu, Apr 17: at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET

NHL top 10 in career goals

1. Wayne Gretzky (894)
2. Alex Ovechkin (892)
3. Gordie Howe (801)
4. Jaromir Jagr (766)
5. Brett Hull (741)
6. Marcel Dionne (731)
7. Phil Esposito (717)
8. Mike Gartner (708)
9. Mark Messier (694)
10. Steve Yzerman (692)

As it stands now, the Los Angeles Kings are still battling with the Edmonton Oilers to hold onto that second seed in the Pacific division. They will face them in two critical games this month, which will be key to ending up with the second seed and having a home-ice advantage against them in their likely first-round matchup.  

But for now, the Los Angeles Kings aren't favorites entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they're becoming one of the West's most feared underdogs. LA can pull off a deep playoff upset with their rich defensive corps, elite goaltending, and a system designed for playoff hockey.

A Tale of Two Teams: Struggles vs. the East, Dominance in the West

While the Kings have struggled against the league's top of the Eastern Conference (19-9-4), despite their impressive record, they've split a lot of their games against the top teams in the conference, including the Tampa Bay Lightnings, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils and—most recently losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs —they've flipped the script in their last two games. Their response? Scoring a combined 12 goals against the San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets in back-to-back dominating performances.

But what's most important is that they're  3-0 vs. the Central Division-leading Jets this year. Winnipeg, one of the best Stanley Cup hopefuls, hasn't been able to penetrate LA's solid defensive system and grinding play. This means the Kings can compete with the best in the West—even if their record against Eastern Conference opponents is a little suspect.

Again, it'll be about matchups come playoff time, which could favor the Kings depending on who they play in the first round. The good thing for the Kings is that they won't have to play both the Stars or Avalanche in the postseason because those two will play it out in the first round, leaving either one of those teams, the Jets or maybe the Golden Knights. 

Defensive Structure and Goal Tending: The Kings' Greatest Strengths

LA's defense-oriented strategy is built for playoff play. They grind the tempo, tire opponents on the boards, and limit high-danger chances. 

Drew Doughty captains a defense that neutralizes visiting stars, especially when facing offense-first teams such as Edmonton or Dallas. Doughty is a future hall-of-famer playing extremely high in his career, including this season, when he became the first Kings' defenceman in history to hit 1,200 games. 

The 1st defenceman in @lakings franchise history to hit 1,200 NHL games played – congrats to Drew Doughty pic.twitter.com/UYIhVnN08K

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) March 28, 2025

The Kings possess one of the league's top penalty-killing units, a weapon system against foes who employ the power play as a means of scoring (aka Jets, Stars, and Golden Knights).

Balanced Scoring: Beyond Kopitar & Kempe

While Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe remain chief offense drivers, LA depth scoring has been the biggest X-factor down the stretch. 

Kevin Fiala, Trevor Moore, and Quinton Byfield have delivered, offering the Kings numerous lines of threat to score from.

Adding Andrei Kuzmenko and Warren Foegele in the second half of the season threw even more gasoline on the fire of the scoring lineup. We see a lot of teams who make deals in the second half of the season, leading them to make deep playoff runs and even win the Stanley Cup because of the chemistry and depth they bring right away to the franchise. 

Kuzmenko had no points in his first 7 games as a King

He’s got 9 points in his last 7 games as a King.#GoKingsGo

— Jesse Cohen | All The Kings Men (@KingsMenPodcast) April 2, 2025

The Kings have had three or more goals in four of their last six games, so they are clicking and peaking at the right time, getting their offense hot at the perfect time.

With a pair of goals tonight, Warren Foegele has set a new career-high in goals (22) and points (22-20=42). pic.twitter.com/Ac6NssFmHz

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) March 31, 2025

Matchup Nightmare for the West's Top Teams

The Kings possess the right prescription to fight against some of the West's most significant dangers. 

Edmonton Oilers: LA has faced the Oilers in back-to-back-to-back playoffs and possesses the defense system that can slow up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. If they get them again, the Kings' ability to play a grinding, physical style of hockey might enrage Edmonton's speed.

Dallas Stars: Dallas is one of the best Western Conference teams, but the Kings' structured play and hard forecheck can shut down their transition. LA also won the season series against Dallas 2-1, including their recent win in February when they went to overtime tied 4-4 and scored the game-winning goal. 

Winnipeg Jets: We saw the defensive clinic the Kings put on the Jets a few days ago, sweeping the season series 3-0. In all games, the King's defense has held the number 3 ranked offensive Jets team to one goal in all three meetings, showcasing the level to which the Kings can amp up their defense. 

Kings game morning hangover recap

- Season sweep over the NHL’s top team.

- Hiller is turning Kuzmenko into a complete player.

- PK up to 8th in the league (81.7%).

- Kuemper besting the Vezina favorite.

- Can’t overlook Utah tomorrow before Saturday’s big game.#GoKingsGo

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) April 2, 2025

Final Take: LA's Playoff Formula is Coming Together

With their recent success against Western Conference teams, top-notch penalty killing, and a physical, disciplined brand of hockey, the Kings have everything it takes to make life miserable for the top contenders. While they've struggled against the East, the fact that they're 3-0 against Winnipeg, one of the top teams in the West, is all it takes to prove that they're more than capable of upsetting a favorite.

In an open-ice hockey conference where grinding is the word, LA's ability to grind down teams makes them the biggest wild card of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl practiced today in a non-contact jersey for the first time since suffering his injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Mar. 23.

The initial reaction and news that broke was disheartening, with some reports saying that Hertl's chances of returning before the playoffs were slim. Twice Hertl was announced out for the remainder of the week but todays news was the first bit of positive news.

Returning in non-contact is the first step in the return process, the next step will be practicing with contact at least once. The Golden Knights are back in action on Thursday when they host the league-leading Winnipeg Jets. 

The timeline following the injury has been unclear to both the fans and the organization.

"I’m sure he wants to be around his teammates," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He’s been putting the work in. We weren’t sure how it was going to come along, but good to see him back out there."

Cassidy has ruled out Hertl for the next three games, but they'll be taking it day-by-day following those games. Allowing Hertl to get some game action before the beginning of the playoffs will bode well for the 31-year-old. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed Jackson Hallum to a two-year, entry-level contract.

The 22-year-old played three seasons at the University of Michigan, scoring 17 goals and 42 points in 84 games. His junior season saw him set a career-high in goals, scoring eight goals and 17 points in 36 games. 

The Golden Knights selected Hallum in the third round (91st overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. Prior to joining the Wolverines, Hallum recorded 29 goals and 70 points in 62 games in his final season in the USHL. 

Listed at 6'0, 170 lbs, Hallum is known for his speed and was considered one of the fastest skaters in his draft class. He's aggressive on the forecheck, willing to throw a big hit to earn the puck back.

The left-handed winger will join the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL for their final eight games of the season. Hallum is the second NCAA prospect the Golden Knights have signed, the first being Trevor Connelly. The Silver Knights have struggled for quite some time and the Golden Knights organization looks to be beefing the roster up with prospects. Mathieu Cataford is another forward who is likely to join following the conclusion of his season. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Golden Knights Sign Trevor Connelly To Entry-Level ContractThe Vegas Golden Knights have signed top prospect Trevor Connelly to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Karsen Dorwart has had a whirlwind few days.

The 22-year-old center signed with the Philadelphia Flyers over the weekend, attended Monday night's game against the Nashville Predators, spent time undergoing medical testing, and finally, on Wednesday morning, hit the ice for his first NHL practice.

"It's pretty special," Dorwart said about the process. "It's kind of been a quick few days, but I'm just super excited. Everyone here has been great and made the transition for me really easy, so I'm just excited."

There's a lot to take in when jumping into the NHL, especially so late in the season, but once he was out there, everything clicked into place.

"That was probably the easiest part, just feeling some normalcy playing," he said. "It was a good day."

Dorwart, a two-way center out of Michigan State, had options when it came to choosing where to start his professional career. But it was the Flyers' commitment to him—and the opportunity they presented—that made Philadelphia the right choice.

"I did have some other options, but I think just the interest from the brass, from [Keith Jones and Danny Briere]—they were unbelievable with me all year. They showed a lot of interest, and I think one thing they had mentioned was opportunity up the middle. So for me, as a center, that was exciting," he explained.

That opportunity won't be handed to him, though, and he knows it.

"You've gotta work for everything you're gonna get, but it reminded me a lot when I first got to MSU, so it was exciting for me."

A Debut on the Horizon

Now that he's officially part of the team, the next big milestone is his NHL debut. The Flyers hit the road this weekend, with games in Montreal on Saturday and at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers next Wednesday. Could Dorwart be in the lineup for one of those?

"Yeah, that's what everyone keeps saying!" he said with a grin. "I've never been to Montreal before, and MSG would be speical too. I mean, anywhere you do it is gonna be a dream come true. It's all I've wanted to do since I was a little kid. I'm just very fortunate and blessed to be in the position I am."

His parents Gregg and Janelle, and sister Kalli will be flying to Montreal to watch him play.

Regardless of when it happens, one thing is certain: it will be a historic moment. Dorwart is set to become just the ninth player from Oregon to play in the NHL.

"Obviously not a lot of guys have done it," he said. "Hockey's not very popular out there. Hopefully it grows with the team in Seattle now, but it's just cool. I was blessed to have so many influential people that helped me during my time there and growing up, so they deserve all the credit in the world to help me get to the next point."

From Oregon to Philadelphia

Dorwart's journey to the NHL has taken him across the country, from the Pacific Northwest to California, Connecticut, South Dakota, Michigan, and now Philadelphia. 

"I lived in Oregon until I was 14, and then I billeted in San Jose when I played for the Junior Sharks for two years. I lived with [then-Jr. Sharks head coach] Curtis Brown and his family, and that was just an unbelievable experience. They were awesome for me," he recalled.

"After that, two years in Connecticut at boarding school; that was great. Then juniors [with the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede] before heading up to MSU. It's kind of been all over, but so many great people helped me in all those spots and I'm very thankful for them."

Through all those moves, he admitted that he didn't have one specific team he cheered for (although he did say that both of his parents were Minnesota Wild fans), but noted Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon as a player he always looked up to.

"I liked him a lot," Dorwart said. "I watched him when he was in juniors [with the Halifax Mooseheads] when they played Portland in the Memorial Cup."

Settling In

Dorwart is still getting to know his new teammates, but he knows there are a few guys who can offer some advice on transitioning from college hockey to the NHL. Bobby Brink, who played for the University of Denver, and Cam York, who played for the University of Michigan, have both made that jump successfully, and Dorwart plans to lean on them when he gets the chance.

"Not a ton, to be honest," he admitted when asked if he'd talked with them yet. "I kind of left the guys alone the other game day, let them do their thing, and then yesterday was the off day and I was in here getting my medical stuff. I'm sure I'll definitely pick their brain for a bit just to get any advice I can."

One topic that hasn't come up yet? His UMich-Michigan State rivalry with York.

"Yeah, we haven't talked about that yet, but I'm sure it'll come up," he said with a laugh.

One unexpected topic that did come up, though, was his chess-playing ability. Dorwart's Michigan State bio has him self-described as "sneaky good" at chess, and that tidbit has followed him to Philadelphia, much to his amusement.

"If I knew that was gonna come up as much as it has, I probably wouldn't have put it!" he said, clearly a little flustered but taking it in stride. "I used to be good, but I'm not good anymore."

What's Next?

With his first practice behind him, Dorwart's focus now shifts to what's ahead. His first NHL game is looming, and whether it happens in Montreal or New York, it's clear that he's ready for the challenge.

He describes himself as a "two-way center," someone who prides himself on responsibility at both ends of the ice. When Flyers interim head coach Brad Shaw was asked about his early evaluations on Dorwart, he had nothing but positive things to say.

"The first time I met him, I asked him, 'What's your best asset?'" Shaw said. "He said his head, his brain; he really thinks the game well. That's a great answer for me. I like guys that are aware on the ice, but I was impressed with how he got around today. It's not easy on your first day, a lot of nerves out there, but he seems like a really centered and focused and humble young man.

"It's always different from practice to game, and there'll probably be some nerves again there for them, but he seems like a really good young man, a real high-character type of guy...He'll probably play a little bit of everything...We'll talk and sort it out and put him in the best situation possible to show us what he can do."