The results are starting to go the Florida Panthers way again.

Florida scored four unanswered goals on Thursday, skating to an impressive 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena.

A strong start to the game by Florida was snuffed out when the Red Wings scored a quick goal on a seemingly harmless play.

Dylan Larkin carried the puck behind the Panthers net and made a perfectly timed pass to Alex DeBrincat, who snapped a one-timer past Sergei Bobrovsky to put the Wings up 1-0 at the 6:13 mark.

That’s how the score would remain until the second period, when the Panthers started finding the back of the net.

With Florida on the power play, Evan Rodrigues took a pass from Nate Schmidt at the left faceoff circle and drove to the net, powering the puck past Cam Talbot to tie the score at one.

About five minutes later, Gus Forsling found Mackie Samoskevich in the slot and the rookie spun around before wiring a shot past Talbot to give Florida their first lead of the game.

A quick passing play up the ice led to the Cats’ next goal.

Eetu Luostarinen sent a cross-ice pass to Uvis Balinskis entering Detroit’s zone, and he quickly found Brad Marchand driving the slot.

Marchand flipped the puck over Talbot’s glove for his first since joining the Panthers, sending the Cats into the second intermission with a 3-1 lead.

Florida captain Sasha Barkov decided to get in on the fun, deflecting a shot by Seth Jones past Talbot with just under six minutes left in the game, cementing the victory for Florida.

On to Buffalo.

QUICK THOUGHTS

This was the first time since March 8th Florida scored four goals.

Rodrigues’ goal, his 15th of the season, was his first since March 1, snapping a 17-game goal drought.

Forsling logged a pair of assists, giving him eight points over his past 11 games.

Barkov’s goal was his 20th of the season. He’s scored at least 20 goals in 10 straight seasons for the Panthers.

Uvis Balinskis logged a pair of assists, his first points in 15 games and his first multi-point outing since Dec. 30 against the Rangers. 

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The Nashville Predators (28-42-8, 64 points) visit Salt Lake City for the first time to take on the Utah Hockey Club (36-30-12, 84 points) Thursday at Delta Center.

Head coach Andrew Brunette will be back behind the Predators' bench after missing Nashville's last two games while attending to a family matter, which he revealed Thursday morning was a medical emergency with his father. 

Both Nashville and Utah have been eliminated from playoff contention. The Predators have secured a lottery pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, while Utah is projected to finish between 12th and 16th place in the draft order.

This is the second of three meetings between the Central Division rivals this season. The Predators beat Utah 4-0 on Nov. 9 at Bridgestone Arena, and the two teams will play again in Nashville on Monday.

How the Predators Lined Up vs. Utah

Bunting-O'Reilly-Evangelista
Forsberg-Stamkos-L'Heureux
Vrana-Svechkov-Marchessault
Smith-McCarron-Wood

Skjei-Blankenburg
Del Gaizo-Barron
Englund-Oesterle

Saros
Annunen

Extra: Sissons (week-to-week, lower-body)
IR: Lauzon, Josi, Wilsby

Predators vs. Utah Hockey Club: Live Updates

First Period (NSH 0, UTA 0)

Both teams played a tight defensive game in the first 20 minutes. Utah had more scoring chances, but Predators goaltender Juuse Saros was sharp early.

Late in the first period, Predators rookie Matthew Wood nearly scored his first career NHL goal off a nice pass from Cole Smith, but Karel Vejmelka came up with the save.

Shots at the end of the period were 11-5 in favor of Utah, but the score remained tied at 0-0 after the first 20 minutes.

Second Period (NSH 0, UTA 1)

Nick Bjugstad broke the scoreless tie for Utah early in the second period when he lifted a shot over the shoulder of Saros to give Utah a 1-0 lead at the 4:49 mark.

On Sunday, the hockey world got to witness Alexander Ovechkin - The Great “8” - surpass The Great “One” for the most goals in NHL history.

Regardless of when it happened or how it happened, it was always going to be a special moment. But the Washington Capitals have not only revelled in the anticipation and excitement of the “Gr8 Chase,” they’ve also earned their opportunity to enjoy the experience along the way as one of the best teams in the National Hockey League.

Whether or not Ovechkin’s pursuit of hockey history elevated this Capitals team - that, just one year ago, was one of the worst teams in the modern era to make the playoffs - may never actually be known to the fullest extent.

However, it has been in stark contrast to the season-long sequence of events just four hours north of Washington, where another all-time great player - for most of the season - was in pursuit of besting The Great One for a record of his own.

Sidney Crosby Breaks Wayne Gretzky's Point-Per-Game Seasons RecordAfter 20 years in the making, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has made NHL history.

Woven within a 7-3 whimper of a loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Mar. 27 was Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time point-per-game seasons record, and - although not quite as sexy and mainstream a record as Ovechkin’s - it’s equally as impressive and speaks to Crosby’s greatest attribute, which is his longevity. 

But Crosby - dejected in his locker stall after the brutal loss - didn’t even get the chance to enjoy the record in that moment, in a third consecutive lost season marred by far too many forgettable team performances like the Buffalo one. 

It’s hard to watch Crosby turn back the clock like he’s 27 and, simultaneously, witness the team around him crumbling. Ovechkin’s goal chase had so much more meaning because his team has been playing meaningful games along with it.

For better or for worse, Crosby deserves the same thing. And he should be granted his best shot at it by GM/POHO Kyle Dubas and his staff.

With Alex Ovechkin's Chase Over, Capitals Ready To Turn Page & Lock In For PlayoffsARLINGTON, V.A. — As much as coach Spencer Carbery didn't want to admit it, the Washington Capitals' focus hasn't been entirely there over the last handful of games as Alex Ovechkin has chased the record.

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Following in the Caps’ footsteps?

Now, it’s worth pointing out a few key areas of difference between Washington’s retool situation and the Penguins’ scenario. 

The Capitals got ahead of their efforts starting back in 2019, when they selected forward Connor McMichael - who is now making an impact - in the first round (25th overall). They were savvy as far as largely retaining higher-value capital for several years, and it turned out well for them. 

But it’s also true that the Capitals never actually bottomed out. None of their higher-value selections - other than Ryan Leonard (eighth overall) in 2023 - were top-10 picks. They simply selected well, and it got them to where they are now - marrying that younger talent with veteran talent, adding on in some necessary areas via the trade market, and witnessing the combined group thrive, even with two big-name players in TJ Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom on long-term injured reserve.

BREAKING: Capitals Sign Ryan Leonard To Entry-Level Contract, NHL Debut Likely vs. BostonIt's official: Ryan Leonard is a Washington Capital.

The Capitals have begun to prove that - although a generational talent like Gavin McKenna certainly helps a rebuild effort - it’s not always necessary to rebuild from high draft selections. They have gone full-force with their scouting and development to add value finds, and it’s paying dividends.

The Penguins also have some talent in their system dating back to 2020, with the selection of goaltender Joel Blomqvist in the second round (52nd overall), and 2021 with Tristan Broz (58th overall). But 2022 is when things really started to pick up for them. 

They drafted defenseman Owen Pickering (21st overall) and goaltender Sergei Murashov (118th overall) that season, along with Brayden Yager (later traded for Rutger McGroarty), defenseman Emil Pieniniemi, and forward Mikhail Ilyin in 2023. And last season - despite having no actual first-round selection - they arguably got first-round value out of blueliner Harrison Brunicke (44th overall), added high-upside forward prospect Tanner Howe, and defensemen Chase Pietila and Finn Harding. 

The Penguins may be a few years behind the Capitals in terms of timeline, but - like the Capitals - they are finding more and more non-top-10 value because of their strong scouting and development staff.

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Crosby’s still got it - and the kids do, too

So, back to Crosby. 

It’d be one thing if he was clearly in decline and aging out along with the team. But he’s not. In fact, Crosby is doing quite the opposite with no signs of slowing down, as he is - at age 37 - scoring at a higher point-per-game clip (1.13) than he did a decade ago at age 27 (1.09). 

So it’s not like Dubas would be retooling a roster around a guy who is declining. He’d be retooling a roster around a guy who seems to be outpacing Father Time, which is something very few at his age have managed to do across all major sports.

Yes, it’s true that Crosby is deserving of the effort from management to build a better roster as quickly as possible. But it’s also true that he’s still capable of being the guy, which is something that could, honestly, still be the case two or three years from now. 

And given the Penguins’ situation, it certainly isn’t impossible for them to go big as soon as this summer to reap the rewards quicker than initially thought.

With The Salary Cap Spiking, The Penguins Have A Huge - And Unique - OpportunityPittsburgh will be in a unique position to accelerate their retool this summer - and they need to take advantage if they can

For one, Pittsburgh is already seeing some of the fruits of Dubas’s labor unfold, as top forward prospects Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen - both acquired via trade - are showing that they can be difference-makers next to Crosby and Evgeni Malkin at the NHL level. There is also the rest of the near-NHL-ready prospect pool in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), as players like defensemen Pickering and Brunicke as well as forwards Avery Hayes, Vasily Ponomarev, and Broz -  adding onto three solid goaltending prospects - makes for a decent outlook in the immediate future, even without anyone else added to the NHL roster.

Then, there’s the overstocked draft cupboard, which may include two first-round picks this season. They could very well use both picks to draft impact players, but they could also leverage what will probably be the first-round pick from the New York Rangers to acquire a young center or defenseman who can help the team both short-term and long-term. 

And, finally, there’s free agency - both restricted and unrestricted - that can help the team in both the immediacy and the long-term, too. The Penguins are in a very unique position over the next couple of seasons where they’ll have a ton of free cap space, but they won’t have to allocate any of that free cap to extending players on their current roster. This means they can afford higher offer sheets and bigger-name free agents if they so choose.

And they should choose.

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Is a free agent splash worth it?

Think about it this way: Hypothetically, the Penguins could dabble in unrestricted free agency - which is only going to get more and more expensive with each passing season and the salary cap going up more and more each year - to sign a bigger-name player this offseason and still have plenty of cap space to spare. Again, they do not have major extension obligations on their roster.

Even if they wanted to be in the mix for McKenna next season - which, don’t be surprised if they decide against that - adding one big-name player wouldn’t “fix” the roster enough to make them much better, if at all. With UFAs like Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Mitch Marner and Vancouver Canucks scoring winger Brock Boeser - who said he is "unlikely to return" to the Canucks this summer - potentially out there, this is the offseason to get the goods while they’re still a reasonable price.

Where Could Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Sign In The Summer? Five Potential FitsFollowing last week’s NHL trade deadline, a major storyline has been the future of Toronto Maple Leafs star right winger Mitch Marner. 

Unrestricted free agency actually isn’t a bad scenario for the Penguins because they wouldn’t need to sacrifice any draft capital, prospect talent, or NHL talent in order to bring in an impact player. They will likely need to save a few assets in order to offload some bad contracts, anyway. So, if you couple a big free agent signing with using that Rangers’ first for another impact player, things are already starting to look much better for this team.

Instead of just having McGroarty, Koivunen, Pickering, Brunicke, and more, they would then have a big-name free agent, an impact young talent, and McGroarty, Koivunen, Pickering, Brunicke, and more. And combining those guys with the veteran talent in Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Kris Letang, and - if not traded - Erik Karlsson, you start to see a vision - especially with a draft cupboard mostly untouched and their likely top-10 draft pick this season potentially vying for a roster spot in the near future.

Most of those younger guys will need at least a season or two of development at the NHL level before they begin reaching their potential. That is the case for the majority of young players. But the readiness that McGroarty and Koivunen have already shown at this point - and Brunicke, if he repeats his 2024 training camp performance next season - introduce the possibility that some of their prospects may be able to make an impact sooner than anticipated. And that’s a good thing for a team trying to build a competitor again as soon as possible.

If some of their prospects’ timelines are accelerated, why not accelerate a few other timelines as well? Navigating that timing is going to be the challenge for Dubas moving forward, as he’s, somewhat, at the mercy of prospect development and how his stars continue to age out. 

But if all goes right - and Dubas pushes the right buttons this summer - this team could, conceivably, be in the playoff conversation next season and be contenders as soon as 2026-27. A lot needs to happen - the defensive corps need revamped, they need at least one other impact top-six forward, and at least one of their goaltending prospects needs to be playing at the NHL level and succeeding - but it’s not impossible. In fact, it’s actually semi-realistic because of the options that their cap flexibility and overstocked draft cupboard offer them.  

With more and more teams attempting to rebuild on-the-fly successfully rather than tank for several seasons - which certainly is no guarantee, anyway, especially with the way the draft lottery functions - why can’t the Penguins be one of them? This team is already almost two years deep into their rebuild effort, and they’ve positioned themselves nicely with futures and with NHL-ready prospects.

As Dubas said post-deadline, they will now “shift to the execution” phase of their rebuild program. What that execution will start to look like this summer is anyone’s guess.

But one thing is for certain: There are only so many years left for Crosby, one of hockey’s top-five players of all time. There will never be another player like him in terms of consistent and sustained greatness.

And a once-in-a-lifetime talent is not something you waste.

‘We’ll Begin To Shift To The Execution’: With Assets Collected, Dubas Eyes The Next Phase For Penguins HockeyPittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas knew that the decision to shift to the future a year ago with the Jake Guentzel trade to Carolina wasn’t going to be a popular one. 

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With four games left in the regular season, there’s still no definite timeline for the return of Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk was injured 11 days ago in a neutral zone collision with Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves and has missed the past five games.

But there's every reason to believe that he and the club are just being smart and that he'll be ready for Game One of the Eastern Conference playoffs, set for either April 20th or 21st.

For one, Tkachuk did return for the final period after the collision in Pittsburgh, suggesting that the injury isn't serious.

Secondly, at Thursday's media availability, head coach Travis Green may have tipped the club's hand a little. When TSN's Claire Hanna asked Green about a timeline for Tkachuk's injury—making it clear that she had already talked to the Sens captain earlier in the day—Green first wanted to know what Tkachuk had told her.

Greene was having a little fun, but it also hints that the Sens are being strategic and, while doing so, trying to stay on the same page with this.

"You'll see him when he's ready to play," Greene said, finally.

Thirdly, and this is the biggest factor, there’s no way Brady Tkachuk is going to miss a chance to play in the first Stanley Cup playoff series of his career. None. Zip. Nada.

“I don’t think I’d ever miss an opportunity to play in the playoffs,” Tkachuk told the media. “But not looking too far in advance and looking forward to skating tomorrow, feeling good, and going from there.”

That should set minds at ease in Ottawa because that's all that's important right now, not these last four games.

Tkachuk missed the past five when the playoffs weren't a sure thing. Now that they are, there's certainly no need to rush back for the final four games. Whether the Senators move up, down, or stay where they are in the Eastern standings, they're going to have an extremely challenging first-round opponent no matter what.

So getting the captain as healthy as possible for the playoffs is far more important than having him play in these next four games. That was the spirit of reporter Brent Wallace's question—wondering whether Tkachuk's continued absence is because he doesn't really have to be in the lineup right now.

"I don't know that," Tkachuk said. "Obviously, I want to play. I don't like watching, and the guys have really helped me out. The last bunch of games put us in the position that we are.”

GM Steve Staios addressed Tkachuk’s status on Wednesday, the morning after the club clinched its first playoff spot in eight years.

"He continues to progress,” Staios told the media. “Now that we've clinched a playoff spot, I think every team goes through these discussions like, what is the best situation? Do you rest players? How do you manage that? We haven't figured that part out yet. But, to me, you always want to keep the team moving along and competing at a high level to roll into the playoffs at the right time.”

The Sens seem poised to reintroduce some serious sandpaper to their lineup, just in time for the playoffs. Not only is Tkachuk almost certainly going to be back by playoff time, but Nick Cousins is now recovered enough from his knee injury back in January to be a full participant at practice on Thursday.

“Yeah, I felt good,” Cousins said. “I mean, I think that's one of the parts I miss the most, is just being a part of the guys, whether it's in practice or around the rink. You're kind of on your own schedule when you're injured so that part stings. But it's nice to be back and kind of get into the swing of things and, you know, shake the rust off and get into a full practice.”

The Senators will have a playoff-style matchup with the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night. The Habs, whose fan base often turns the building into Canadien Tire Centre, will be looking to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since losing in the Cup Final in 2021. 

More Sens Headlines:
- The Five Core Ottawa Senator Players Most Ready To Finally Experience Playoffs
- David Perron Chosen As Ottawa Senators 2025 Masterton Trophy Nominee
- CLINCHED: Ottawa Senators Officially Clinch First Playoff Spot In Eight Years
- Remember When: Five Outstanding 2017 Ottawa Senator Playoff Trivia Questions
- From Another November Struggle To The Verge Of The Stanley Cup Playoffs
- Former Ottawa Senators Assistant GM Ray Shero Passes Away At Age 62

The Vegas Golden Knights host the Seattle Kraken tonight with quite a bit of uncertainty with their lineup.

Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo are confirmed to be out, as Eichel deals with an upper-body injury and Pietrangelo battles an illness. Brett Howden will remain on the top line, centering Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev in Eichel's usual place. Kaedan Korczak will remain in the lineup, skating alongside Nicolas Hague, who will return to the lineup after missing the previous game with an illness. 

Tomas Hertl has missed the previous eight games with an upper-body injury and is in line to return. He'll be back with his usual linemates, Pavel Dorofeyev and Brandon Saad. 

“It feels nice to be back,” Hertl said. “It sucks to miss games, especially close to the playoffs. When you’re injured, you feel alone because you’re staying here and you don’t travel. It was nice just being with the guys again and being part of the team.”

Victor Olofsson was absent from practice, dealing with the same illness Pietrangelo and Hague have been plagued by, but he'll be a game-time decision. HC Bruce Cassidy said he is likely to play, but if he can't go, Alexander Holtz will draw into the lineup. 

The Golden Knights can clinch the Pacific Division tonight if they defeat the Kraken and the Los Angeles Kings lose in regulation to the Anaheim Ducks.

Avoiding Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs is vital, and could be the key to a long playoff run.

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 Clinch Home-Ice Advantage In First Round Of PlayoffsAfter picking up a point in a shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Vegas Golden Knights have clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Some say Aleksei Kolosov is the worst goalie on the Philadelphia Flyers, and others say he is the best. But what do the stats say?

The stats say the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Kolosov, 23, has a .867 save percentage in his 16 games this season, and only Arturs Silovs (.861) and Cayden Primeau (.836) are worse among NHL goalies with at least 10 games played.

Sam Ersson, the Flyers' starter, and Ivan Fedotov have not been much better with their identical .881 save percentages.

Based on these raw numbers, it's easy to see why Kolosov might be the "worst" Flyers goalie, but he's actually played as good or better than his counterparts, except in one area.

According to MoneyPuck, Kolosov actually leads the Flyers in low-danger save percentage on unblocked shots with .956. Fedotov (.954) and Ersson (.953) narrowly trail the Belarusian, but they still trail him.

As for medium-danger attempts, Kolosov is by far and away the Flyers' best, with his .900 medium-danger save percentage on unblocked shots blowing away that of Fedotov (.844) and Ersson (.835).

The one area Kolosov is severely lacking in, however, is the one that might count the most. That is, his ability to make the big save for the Flyers, or lack thereof.

The 23-year-old's save percentage on unblocked high-danger shots is just .574, which is significantly lower than Fedotov's .784 and Ersson's .785.

Further to that point, MoneyPuck projects Kolosov's high-danger save percentage on unblocked shots to be .686, while Fedotov and Ersson are projected to sit at .685 and .662, respectively.

In short, Fedotov and Ersson are coming up big for the Flyers more than they probably should, while the opposite is true of Kolosov.

With added context, this phenomenon is not necessarily unusual, either.

Despite his similar lack of NHL experience, Fedotov has had more time to become familiar with the NHL, his Flyers teammates, and the callouts his defensemen use to coordinate breakouts and plays behind the net.

Ersson has been playing in North America for the Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms since 2022, including three seasons as a full-time starter between the two.

Kolosov does not have those advantages.

He's younger, less experienced as a pro player, speaks the least English, and is eight inches shorter than Fedotov and three inches shorter than Ersson. The Flyers' former third-round pick has to do more with less, and bouncing around between the AHL and NHL and sitting in the press box for prolonged periods of time has done him no favors, either.

It's impossible to make a concrete evaluation on a young goaltender in just one season, especially one as chaotic as this.

We can, however, deduct that there are designs of an NHL goalie within Kolosov, and his full potential will not be unlocked overnight.

It is up to Kolosov himself and the Flyers organization to coax that out.

Kolosov was rock-solid for the Flyers as recently as Wednesday night, stopping 20 of the first 22 shots he faced through the first 40 minutes against the New York Rangers.

Then, he allowed two poor goals to forwards Jonny Brodzinski and J.T. Miller, which allowed the Rangers to tie the game at 3-3, then take the lead at 4-3.

Based on the stats referenced above, we can safely say that it was uncharacteristic of Kolosov to allow two such goals, but it can happen to anyone.

The Flyers, of course, ultimately won 8-5, with Brad Shaw, Sean Couturier, and Tyson Foerster all praising the young goalie's efforts during and after the game.

Kolosov earned his first NHL win since Dec. 12, when he made 25 saves on 26 shots in a 4-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings. Notably, this was the first time the Flyers won a game in which Kolosov posted a save percentage below .900.

The Flyers are 5-1-0 in all games where Kolosov has a save percentage of .900 or higher.

As long as the youngster continues to work and improve alongside his teammates, he can carve out a long and productive NHL career. This is proof.

Denver, Colo. - It's Fan Appreciation Night at Ball Arena! While fans celebrate the last home game before the postseason kicks off, it's business as usual for the Colorado Avalanche. 

With the Vancouver Canucks officially eliminated from playoff contention as of Wednesday night, the Avalanche look to hold onto their 3rd place position in the Central for the rest of the regular season. 

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WESTERN CONFERENCE

CENTRAL:

1. X - Winnipeg Jets - 78 GP - 110 points

2. X - Dallas Stars - 78 GP - 106 points

3. X - Colorado Avalanche - 79 GP - 100 points

PACIFIC:

1. X - Vegas Golden Knights - 78 GP - 103 points

2. X - Los Angeles Kings - 77 GP - 97 points

3. Edmonton Oilers - 78 GP - 95 points

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WILD CARD:

1. Minnesota Wild - 79 GP - 93 points

2. St. Louis Blues - 80 GP - 93 points

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Post-Morning Skate Roster Updates:

Happy Thursday, everyone! Updates at morning skate ahead of tonight’s game vs. the Vancouver Canucks:

🏒 Mackenzie Blackwood in the starter’s crease
🏒 Jonathan Drouin is skating in a red no-contact sweater
🏒 Necas and Girard both present and dressed to take contact
🏒 No… pic.twitter.com/lYiGbIrLDY

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) April 10, 2025

Head Coach Jared Bednar spoke with the media following today's morning skate. It was a full skate; the only players missing were Nathan MacKinnon, Josh Manson, Ross Colton, Ryan Lindgren, and Charlie Coyle.

Of those players, the only one ready to go for tonight is Charlie Coyle. Bednar also said that both Martin Necas and Samuel Girard, who skated in full-contact uniforms, will be in the lineup tonight, as well.

Nathan MacKinnon is also apparently dealing with a "minor injury" and will not play tonight. Bednar even went as far as saying he may not play in either of the back-to-back games this weekend either for the sake of rest.

Ross Colton is still considered day-to-day.

Ryan Lindgren suffered an upper-body injury last game against the Vegas Golden Knights and will sit out tonight.

Jonathan Drouin skated this morning in a red no-contact and Bednar had a good update on him, saying he "looks like he'll play this weekend."

With all of the injuries and resting guys, the Avalanche recalled Chris Wagner from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this morning. He played in Tuesday's match against the Golden Knights.

It’ll be #GoAvsGo Mackenzie Blackwood vs. #Canucks Kevin Lankinen tonight

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) April 10, 2025

Mackenzie Blackwood occupied the starter's crease for the Avalanche this morning. Following Vancouver's morning skate, Head Coach Rick Tocchet said Kevin Lankinen will get the start for his group.

Where/How to Find the Game:

Puck drop: 7:08 PM Mountain Time

TV Broadcast: Altitude/Altitude+ (Colorado), KUSA/9News (Colorado), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), ESPN+ (out-of-market)

Radio Broadcast: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 (Colorado), Sportsnet 650 (Vancouver)

Peter Laviolette confirmed that Gabe Perreault will be a healthy scratch for the New York Rangers on Thursday night against the New York Islanders. 

This marks the second consecutive game where Perreault won’t be in the Rangers’ lineup. 

The 19-year-old signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers on Mar. 31 and played three games before getting benched. 

Laviolette said that he’s had conversations with Perreault over the past couple of days and expressed that he still feels the young forward is getting a worthwhile experience just by being around an NHL environment. 

“Great,” Laviolette said about how Perreault has handled being scratched out of the lineup. “He's a young player being here, practicing at an NHL level, playing games at an NHl level, getting coached, he sees everything, and just conversations about the day-to-day stuff. So yeah, there are always conversations with young players.”

Perreault spent his first two games on a line with J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafrenière before getting dropped down to a bottom-six role. 

In his three games thus far, Perreault is averaging 13:31 minutes.

The Winnipeg Jets take on the Dallas Stars, looking to all but clinch their place atop the Central Division.

The Jets will be receiving reinforcements to battle the Stars, adding Neal Pionk and Nikolaj Ehlers back into their lineup. 

Pionk has been out since Mar. 11 with a lower-body injury. He's been slowly recovering, taking multiple practices with and without contact before finally deciding to play. He'll slide back onto the second pairing alongside Dylan Samberg, a pairing that has been dynamite all season long for the Jets.

Ehlers will also be returning, after missing the previous two games. He was hit by the puck twice against the Vegas Golden Knights and has been nursing the injury since. He was considered a game-time decision for those two games but did not play. Now feeling comfortable and ready, Ehlers will rejoin Vladislav Namestnikov and Cole Perfetti on the second line. 

The Jets enter tonight's game with a 6-4-0 record in their last 10 games. They went 1-2-0 on the three-game road trip before returning home to defeat the St. Louis Blues.

The Stars enter tonight's game with a 7-1-2 record in their last 10 but are losers of three consecutive games, two of which came in overtime. The Stars blew a three-goal lead with a minute remaining against the Vancouver Canucks before giving up the overtime winner to Kiefer Sherwood.

If the Jets win in regulation tonight, they'll build a six-point lead over the Stars with three games remaining, meaning they would need to win just one of their last three games or the Stars would have to lose one of their last three. A regulation loss brings the Stars within two points.

The goaltender matchup features two of the top goaltenders in the NHL. Connor Hellebuyck will look to improve on his .924 SV% and 2.02 GAA. Jake Oettinger will be searching for the 37th win of the season, bringing him to a tie with Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy. 

Puck drop is at 7:00 PM CST at the American Airlines Center. 

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Line Combinations: Jets at StarsThe 53-21-4 Winnipeg Jets have hit the ice in Dallas, where they will take on the rapidly climbing 50-22-6 Stars on Thursday evening.