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Recap of NHL from 24 March 2026

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There was movement across the Eastern Conference standings on a 15-game night: Zach Werenski led Columbus into second place in the Metropolitan Division for the first time this season while Ottawa withstood a Detroit comeback to climb into a postseason position for the first time in more than three months.
* Connor McDavid became the third-fastest player in NHL history to 1,200 career points as Edmonton bested Utah to move into second place in the Pacific Division.

* The 2025-26 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race was on full display Tuesday as four of the NHL’s five 40-goal scorers all found the back of the net with three looking to claim the award for the first time in their careers.

COLUMBUS CLIMBS TO SECOND IN METROPOLITAN, OTTAWA JUMPS INTO WILD CARD

Crucial wins by Columbus (38-22-11, 87 points) and Ottawa (38-24-9, 85 points) helped shake up the Eastern Conference as both clubs climbed the standings.

* The Blue Jackets occupy a top two position in their division for the first time this season after Zach Werenski (1-1—2) led Columbus to victory as it leapfrogged Pittsburgh (35-20-16, 86 points) for second in the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets last ranked among the top two teams in their division on Oct. 15, 2021 – four days into the 2021-22 season.

* Werenski recorded his 25th multi-point game of 2025-26 and tied Artemi Panarin (2018-19) for the most in a single season in Blue Jackets history. Werenski (64 GP) also matched Erik Karlsson (64 GP in 2022-23) for the fewest games by a defenseman to reach the mark in the past 35 years – the last blueliner to hit the threshold in fewer games was Paul Coffey (53 GP in 1985-86).

* The Senators entered a pivotal matchup against the Red Wings missing five defensemen due to injury – and with two blueliners in the lineup making their NHL debut in the same game for the first time in franchise history – but still earned their fourth consecutive victory to jump into the second Wild Card spot and a playoff position for the first time since Dec. 3.

* Carter Yakemchuk (1-1—2), one of the two Ottawa defensemen making their NHL debut alongside Jorian Donovan, became the second Senators blueliner to record multiple points in his League debut (also Maxime Lajoie: 1-1—2 on Oct. 4, 2018) and the third defenseman in franchise history to score a goal in his NHL debut, alongside Lajoie and Wade Redden (Oct. 5, 1996).

McDAVID HITS MULTIPLE MILESTONES, SEASON PLATEAU IN OILERS VICTORY

Connor McDavid (2-0—2) scored twice to reach 400 career goals and 1,200 career points (401-799—1,200 in 784 GP) as the Oilers (35-28-9, 79 points) defeated the Mammoth (37-29-6, 80 points) to move into second place in the Pacific Division behind the Ducks (40-27-4, 84 points), who secured their 40th victory of the season with the help of a three-assist night by John Carlson.

* With his first goal of the game, McDavid became the fifth player in franchise history to reach 400 with the club. With his second, the Edmonton captain became the seventh active skater to hit the 1,200-point milestone while also notching his fifth career 40-goal season – the fourth most in Oilers history.

RACE FOR THE “ROCKET” CONTINUES AS 40-GOAL SCORERS SHINE ON 15-GAME NIGHT
Three of the League’s other 40-goal scorers also found the back of the net Tuesday and continued their pursuit of their first career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy: Nathan MacKinnon (46), Cole Caufield (44) and Wyatt Johnston (40). The NHL can feature a first-time winner of the “Rocket” Trophy for the second straight season (Leon Draisaitl in 2024-25) and fifth time in seven campaigns.

* MacKinnon scored one of six Colorado goals and kept his two-goal lead in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race. MacKinnon (412) can become the first player in NHL history to claim his first goal-scoring title after amassing 400-plus career goals. Leon Draisaitl in 2024-25 (399) currently holds the distinction for most career tallies prior to their first scoring title.

* Caufield scored the second of five straight Canadiens goals as Montreal earned its 24th comeback win of the season and tied their most in a single campaign (also 1992-93 & 1975-76). Caufield, on pace to produce the first 50-goal season by a Canadiens player since 1989-90, can become the franchise’s first skater to capture the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy since its inception in 1998-99 and just the third in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to lead the League in goals (outright or tied) following Guy Lafleur (1977-78) and Steve Shutt (1976-77).

* Johnston (2-1—3) scored twice to record his first career 40-goal season, which is tied with Nikita Kucherov and Connor McDavid for the third most among all players this season. The 22-year-old Stars forward can become the youngest player to win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy since Steven Stamkos scored 60 goals to claim the award in 2011-12.

WILD CARD SPOTS IN THE WEST STILL TO BE DETERMINED
The streaking Predators lengthened the League’s longest active winning streak to maintain Wild Card 2, while the Jets jumped the Sharks and kept pace with Nashville for that final spot.

* Filip Forsberg (1-2—3) and Roman Josi (1-0—1) accounted for two of Nashville’s five first-period goals as the Predators (34-28-9, 77 points) extended their winning streak to five games and inched closer to the Mammoth (37-29-6, 80 points) for the Western Conference’s first Wild Card spot. Forsberg and Josi have 16 combined points over Nashville’s five-game run, while Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O’Reilly – who all joined the team within the last three seasons – have a total of 18.

* Mark Scheifele (1-2—3) helped the Jets (30-29-12, 72 points) capture a regulation win to leapfrog the Sharks (32-31-6, 70 points) in the Western Conference standings and kept pace with the Predators for Wild Card 2. Winnipeg can become the first team to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs after suffering an 11-game winless streak earlier in the season (Dec. 15, 2025 – Jan. 8) since the 1998-99 Flyers (12 GP from Feb. 24 – March 16, 1999).

KUCHEROV’S FOURTH CAREER 120-POINT SEASON FEATURED IN LIVE UPDATES
Tuesday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the fourth-last 15-game day this season (also March 28, April 4 & April 11), including Nikita Kucherov (0-1—1) reaching 120 points on the season before Erik Cernak collected the go-ahead goal with 2:53 remaining in regulation as the Lightning (44-21-5, 93 points) climbed within two points of the idle Sabres (44-20-7, 95 points) for first place in the Atlantic Division. Kucherov has a two- and five-point lead on Connor McDavid (118) and Nathan MacKinnon (115), respectively, in the Art Ross Trophy race.

QUICK CLICKS

* Saturday’s BOS-DET game on ABC was 3rd-most viewed NHL game this season
* Sergei Bobrovsky climbs into seventh place on NHL’s all-time wins list

* Matthew Tkachuk meets with Tiger Woods at TGL finals
* Paul Maurice honored for coaching 2,000 NHL regular season games
* NHL releases Heritage Classic logo, tickets available via Ticketmaster

BRUINS, SABRES CONTINUE PUSH FOR PLAYOFF RETURN ON TNT

A key contest in the Eastern Conference playoff race will play out on TNT (as well as NESN & TVAS2) when the Bruins (39-24-8, 86 points), who hold the first Wild Card position, visit the Atlantic Division-leading Sabres (44-20-7, 95 points). Boston and Buffalo are among the seven teams who currently hold a playoff position after missing last season (4 in the East & 3 in the West).

Recap of NHL from 20 March 2026

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Nathan MacKinnon potted yet another three-point game as the Avalanche became the first team to 100 points this season, and in the process became the first club to clinch a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Colorado’s nine consecutive postseason appearances are tied for the NHL’s longest active streak.* Carolina withstood two game-tying goals from Toronto before rookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin’s 10th goal of the season won the game in overtime and helped the Hurricanes rebuild their two-point lead on the Sabres atop the Eastern Conference.

* The Eastern Conference playoff race will be front and center on ABC – when the Red Wings and Bruins clash – and Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada during Saturday’s 11-game slate.the

FIRST IN: COLORADO CLINCHES NINTH-STRAIGHT POSTSEASON APPEARANCE

After leading the League standings for 127 of the 141 game days this season and each of the past 117, the Avalanche (45-13-10, 100 points) became the first team to clinch a berth into the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This postseason will mark the ninth straight to feature Colorado – tied with Toronto for the League’s longest active run. The Avalanche became the first team to clinch a postseason berth for the third time in franchise history, following 2000-01 and 1996-97.

* Helping Colorado clinch its postseason berth Friday were Nathan MacKinnon (0-3—3), Martin Necas (1-2—3) and Cale Makar (0-1—1). MacKinnon recorded his 18th three-point game of the season and moved into a tie with Nikita Kucherov (114) for second in the Art Ross Trophy race; Necas extended his road goal streak to seven games and matched Joe Sakic (7 GP in 1990-91) for the second-longest run in franchise history; and Makar joined Erik Karlsson (5) as only the second active defenseman with at least four career 50-assist campaigns.

* The Avalanche (45-13-10, 100 points) also became the first team in 2025-26 to reach 100 standings points, a feat they achieved three times before (2021-22, 2000-01 & 1996-97) – the past two instances saw the club lift the Stanley Cup at season’s end.

* Click here for more on Colorado’s ninth consecutive berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

NIKISHIN NETS OVERTIME WINNER TO BUILD CAROLINA’S LEAD ATOP CONFERENCE
The Hurricanes scored a power-play, penalty-shot and shorthanded goal in the second period before rookie Alexander Nikishin lifted the club to victory in overtime with his 10th goal of the season. Carolina (44-19-6, 94 points) reclaimed its two-point edge over idle Buffalo (43-20-6, 92 points) atop the Eastern Conference standings. Overall, the Hurricanes and Avalanche are the only teams to sit in a playoff position throughout every game day in 2025-26.

* Sebastian Aho (0-2—2), who assisted on the overtime winner, reached the 70-point mark for the fifth time in his career with the Hurricanes. He became the ninth Finnish player in NHL history with 75 career multi-assist games while his 178th career multi-point game broke a tie with Olli Jokinen (177) for the sixth most by his fellow countrymen in League history.

* Nikishin (10-17—27 in 68 GP), who joined Matthew Schaefer (21-29—50 in 69 GP) as the second rookie blueliner with a double-digit goal total in 2025-26, became the first rookie defenseman in Hurricanes/Whalers history to score 10 goals in a season when he potted his first career overtime goal. Only three other rookie blueliners have netted an extra-time tally for the franchise: Jamie McBain (2), Sylvain Cote (1) and Justin Faulk (1).

DUCKS RALLY AGAIN TO BOLSTER LEAD ATOP PACIFIC

Ryan Poehling (1-1—2) tied the game and rookie Beckett Sennecke (0-1—1) assisted on the go-ahead goal as the Pacific Division-leading Ducks (38-27-4, 80 points) posted their 22nd comeback win of the season and tied the Canadiens for the most among all teams. Anaheim’s total is tied with 2007-08 for the third most in a single campaign in franchise history, behind 2013-14 (26) and 2014-15 (24).

* The Ducks are one of two current division leaders that missed the playoffs last season (also BUF) and eye a return for the first time since 2018 after missing out by 16 points in 2024-25. Anaheim can become the sixth team since 2005-06 to win its division after missing the playoffs by 15-plus points the season prior (something they achieved in 2012-13; the others: 2013-14 COL, 2011-12 FLA, 2007-08 WSH & 2005-06 CAR).

QUICK CLICKS

* Capitals host 13-year-old Make-A-Wish kid for day

* Ryan Johansen retires, to be honored by Predators

* NHL EDGE stats: Nikita Kucherov building strong case for Hart Trophy

* Frank Mahovlich’s magnificent NHL career had memorable opening act

* Pavel Zacha putting together career season to help fuel Bruins playoff chase

EAST RACE GETS PRIMETIME SPOTLIGHT ON ABC, HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

The Eastern Conference playoff races are heating up – all eight playoff berths, seeds and division winners are still to be clinched – and will take the Saturday primetime spotlight when the Bruins (WC1) and Red Wings (WC2), who hold the two wild card positions in the Eastern Conference, face off on ABC at 8 p.m. ET. Hockey Night in Canada’s four-game broadcast will also be key to the East postseason push with the Islanders (first team outside playoff line) visiting the Canadiens (A3), the Senators (5 points outside playoff line) hosting the Maple Leafs and the Lightning (A2) looking to gain ground on the Atlantic Division-leading Sabres (also in action Saturday).

* In total, nine of the 10 teams either in an Eastern Conference playoff spot or within five points of one will be in action on Saturday (Carolina is idle). The race received a shakeup on Thursday when the Blue Jackets (M3) pushed their point streak to 11 games (7-0-4) and jumped into a playoff spot for the first time since Nov. 17.

* The Bruins (last: 2023-24) and Red Wings (last: 2015-16) are both aiming for a return to the playoffs after missing last season and will meet in one of the most pivotal games between the Original Six rivals in years (8 p.m. ET on ABC). The two historic franchises, who enter with identical records in 2025-26 (38-23-8, 84 points), have not qualified for the postseason in the same campaign since 2013-14, which was also the last time they met in a playoff series (BOS: 4-1 W in R1).

* The Islanders will look to jump back into a playoff position on Hockey Night in Canada – they had held a postseason spot since Dec. 5 until they were bumped out of the bracket by the Blue Jackets on Thursday – when they face the Canadiens in a showdown of two of the game’s young star defensemen: rookie Matthew Schaefer (21-29—50 in 69 GP) and 2024-25 Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson (11-58—69 in 68 GP).

* Schaefer reached the 50-point benchmark with a goal on Thursday, one season after Hutson recorded 66 points in his Calder Trophy-winning campaign. That marks the first time a rookie blueliner has posted 50 or more points in consecutive seasons since Nicklas Lidstrom (1991-92 w/ DET) and Vladimir Malakhov (1992-93 w/ NYI). Of note, Cale Makar (w/ COL) and Quinn Hughes (w/ VAN) each reached the 50-point mark as rookie blueliners in the same season over that span (2019-20).

* For the first time, Gen Z accounts for nearly 60% of NHL players. That group includes 18 players who have played as a teenager this season (10 that were NHL regulars) – with Schaefer the youngest of five in that group who will still be teenagers when the 2026-27 campaign begins. Find out more on the rising stars with the latest delivery from #NHLStats: Young Stars of the 2025-26 NHL Season.

Johansen retires, to be honored by Predators

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Ryan Johansen felt the perfect way to close the book on his illustrious NHL playing career was to have his infant son on hand for the occasion.

As such, 4-month-old Grayson will be with dad at Bridgestone Arena for Johansen’s retirement appreciation night when the Nashville Predators host the Montreal Canadiens on March 28.

Johansen, who is sixth all time in points in Predators history, announced on Thursday he is retiring from the NHL after a 14-season career.

“I wanted my boy to be there and to have that moment,” Johansen told the Preds Official Postcast on Thursday when asked about the upcoming ceremony paying tribute to end of his 905-game NHL career.

“I always loved interacting with guy’s kids over my career, and seeing them in the locker room and all those things. And I was always a little jealous that I wasn’t able to have that in my playing career. So, I’m like, the next best thing would be to have a moment with my baby boy and be at Bridgestone together, and have some cool pictures and memories with his dad.”

A dad who had 578 points (202 goals, 376 assists) for the Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche in a career that lasted from 2011-2024.

That the 33-year-old plans to hang up the blades should not come as a surprise, given that he hasn’t played an NHL game since suiting up for the Avalanche against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 4, 2024. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers two days later but never played a game for that franchise because of a hip injury.

He said the trade on June 24, 2023, to Colorado by Nashville after seven-plus seasons with the Predators helped define what his long-term plans would be.

“Right away I knew I wanted to retire here and live here and be a Pred for life,” he said of Nashville. “And then, with the delay of just kind of doing it, and kind of saying goodbye and thank you, I really wanted our kid to be there.”

Johansen was selected No. 4 by the Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. His best season came in 2014-15 when he had a career-high 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in 82 games, earning him an invite to the NHL’s All-Star Game, where he was the MVP of the game.

On Jan. 6, 2016, he was involved in the blockbuster trade that sent him to Nashville for defenseman Seth Jones. During his stint with the Predators, he had 362 points (110 goals and 252 assists) in 533 games. His points and assists are each sixth most in Predators history.

In 61 postseason games for the Predators, he had 48 points, the second most in team history, and 31  assists, which is tied for second most.

He helped the Predators reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first and only time in franchise history in 2017, but was injured in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks and was unable to play in the Final, which Nashville lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

Recap of NHL fro 19 March 2026

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Zach Werenski (0-3—3) and Adam Fantilli (2-0—2) both put up multi-point performances in a Blue Jackets win that catapulted them into third in the Metropolitan Division.

* Nikita Kucherov moved within one point of Connor McDavid in the Art Ross race and Alex Lyon became the fifth goaltender in NHL history with a double-digit road winning streak as the top two teams in the Atlantic Division both collected wins Thursday.

* A five-game Friday features the No.1 seed in each conference in action – the Western Conference-leading Avalanche visit the Blackhawks while the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes face the Maple Leafs.

WERENSKI, FANTILLI HELP BLUE JACKETS BOUNCE BACK INTO PLAYOFF SPOT

Zach Werenski (0-3—3) and Adam Fantilli (2-0—2) both registered multi-point performances and helped the Blue Jackets (36-21-11, 83 points) push their point streak to 11 games (7-0-4) – the fifth-longest in franchise history – and move past the Islanders (39-25-5, 83 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The only other day Columbus has been in a playoff spot at this stage of a season (1,093 GP) since 2019-20 was March 28, 2025.

* Werenski (20-52—72) registered his second career 50-assist and 70-point season and tied Artemi Panarin for the most such campaigns in Blue Jackets history for both categories. Both, Werenski and Panarin, achieved the feat in consecutive seasons.

* Fantilli’s first goal of the game was his 50th point of 2025-26 and made him the third Blue Jackets player to post multiple 20-goal seasons before his 22nd birthday, joining Rick Nash (2) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (2). His second of the night put him alongside Nash (12) as the only Columbus skaters with at least 10 career multi-goal games at age 21 or younger.

TOP TWO TEAMS IN THE ATLANTIC BOTH EARN WINS ON WESTERN ROAD TRIP

The Atlantic Division-leading Sabres (43-20-6, 92 points) and second-place Lightning (42-21-4, 88 points) both earned wins on their Western Conference road trips to continue their respective push towards a division title, highlighted by a shutout from Alex Lyon and yet another three-point performance from Nikita Kucherov.

* Lyon stopped all 23 shots he faced to help Buffalo improve to 9-1-0 over its past 10 games. The Sabres scored 11 consecutive road goals dating to their second goal in Pittsburgh on March 5 – they have had two longer runs in franchise history (13: Jan. 22 – Feb. 10, 2018 & 12: March 27 – April 9, 2000).

* Lyon earned his third shutout of the season and became the fifth goaltender in NHL history to record a 10-game road winning streak, joining Devan Dubnyk (11 GP in 2014-15), Evgeni Nabokov (11 GP in 2009-10 & 10 GP in 2007-08), Kevin Lankinen (10 GP in 2024-25) and Carey Price (10 GP in 2014-15). He also helped the Sabres earn consecutive shutouts for the third time in the past decade.

* Kucherov tallied 1-2—3 to factor on half of his club’s goals two days after his five-point outing, which improved his season totals to 38-76—114 (63 GP) and moved him within one point of Connor McDavid (37-78—115), who leads the NHL’s scoring race. The Lightning have now scored six or more goals in three straight road games – they’ve done that one other time in franchise history: Jan. 4-18, 2022 (3 GP).

* Kucherov recorded his fourth straight road game with at least three points. Three other players in the past 30 years have posted a run of that length: Sidney Crosby (4 GP in 2006-07), Jaromir Jagr (4 GP in 1996-97) and Mario Lemieux (4 GP in 1996-97). The Lightning forward has now recorded eight points over his last two road games (4-4—8) – the only time he has recorded more points over that span is Jan. 3-10, 2026 (3-6—9) and Nov. 4-6, 2023 (3-6—9).

RUSH TO THE PLAYOFFS CONTINUES IN THE EAST

Three other teams in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race earned pivotal wins on Thursday with the Bruins, Red Wings and Senators all collecting two points.

* Six different goal scorers helped the first Wild Card-seeded Bruins (38-23-8, 84 points) move into a tie in terms of standings points with the Canadiens (37-21-10, 84 points), who sit third in the Atlantic Division. Boston improved to 26-9-1 at home this season, which is the most such wins among all teams. They have five games remaining at TD Garden in 2025-26 and can hit the 30-win plateau at home for the fifth time in franchise history (most recently: 34 in 2022-23).

* After Montreal opened the scoring, Alex DeBrincat (1-2—3) factored on the next three goals and netted the game winner – his 100th goal with the club – to help the Red Wings (38-23-8, 84 points) tie the Canadiens and Bruins in terms of standings points in a tight race for third in the Atlantic Division. DeBrincat tied Sergei Fedorov (233 GP) as the sixth-fastest player in Red Wings history to score 100 goals with the franchise.

* The Senators tallied two tying goals against the Islanders before Brady Tkachuk (1-0—1) sealed the comeback win with 13 seconds left in regulation and kept Ottawa (35-24-9, 79 points) in the hunt for a postseason spot as the second-ranked team below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference. Tkachuk’s winner was the seventh-latest go-ahead goal in franchise history.

FORSBERG HITS 30, PREDATORS MOVE TO THE CUSP OF A PLAYOFF POSITION

Filip Forsberg (1-2—3) factored on all three of his team’s goals to reach the 30-goal mark and Steven Stamkos (0-1—1) assisted on the game winner to help the Predators improve to 31-28-9 (71 points). Nashville moved within one point of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, currently held by Los Angeles (28-24-16, 72 points). Notably, the Mammoth (36-27-6, 78 points) picked up a shutout win and strengthened their grip on the first Wild Card spot – a position they’ve held for 27 straight days.

* Stamkos factored on the game-winning goal for the 16th time this season, which matched Jack Eichel and Zach Werenski for the second most among all players. Only Nikita Kucherov (18) has more.

SCHAEFER HITS 50 POINTS IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Matthew Schaefer scoring was one of the many notes found in Thursday’s #NHLStats: Live Updates. Schaefer became the second 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history to record 50 points in a season, following Phil Housley (57 in 1982-83) and just the fourth Islanders rookie blueliner to reach that plateau in a campaign. Click here for more on Schaefer’s historic rookie season.

QUICK CLICKS

* Ice Hockey UK, UK Ice Hockey Foundation launch NHL Street Hockey in Glasgow
* 2026 NHL Draft Diary: Keaton Verhoeff
* European notebook: NHL prospects with strong finishes
* NHL EDGE stats: Cole Hutson’s upside after debut with Capitals
* Women in Hockey feature: Carolyn Mortenson, Golden Knights’ Senior Director, Skating Programs

CONFERENCE LEADERS HIT THE ICE DURING FIVE-GAME FRIDAY

The top team in each conference hits the ice Friday when the Western Conference-leading Avalanche visit the Blackhawks while the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes face off against the Maple Leafs. Colorado is closing in on the 100-point mark and punching its ticket to the postseason, but with less than one month until the playoffs begin (April 18) and 83% of the schedule complete, no playoff berths, standings seeds or division/conference titles have been clinched. The Capitals were the first team to clinch a playoff berth last season on March 20, 2025 – exactly one year ago today.

* After 116 consecutive game days, Colorado’s perch atop the NHL standings is in jeopardy as division-rival Dallas now sits two points back of the No. 1 seed. The Avalanche (44-13-10, 98 points) will look to regain some ground on the Stars with a win Friday and become the first team to hit 100 standings points this season, while Cale Makar (136-461—497 in 462 GP) has his sights on the 500-point milestone. Colorado has been the League’s first team to 100 points three times prior (2021-22, 2000-01 & 1996-97) – the club went on to win the Stanley Cup in both 2022 and 2001 but fell to the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Red Wings in the 1997 Western Conference Final.

* Sebastian Aho has helped Carolina hold onto first place in the Eastern Conference for 20 consecutive days with a team-leading 24-45—69 (68 GP). He can become the fourth player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to record three straight 70-point campaigns, following Ron Francis (9 from 1982-83 – 1990-91), Eric Staal (7 from 2005-06 – 2011-12) and Blaine Stoughton (4 from 1979-80 – 1982-83).

AI Hunts Hockey’s Next Superstar Gems

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The NHL in 2026 is going through a proper overhaul — expect significant shifts in structure, rules, and the overall game. Artificial intelligence has stepped onto the ice as the new head scout, sniffing out the next McDavid or Matthews way before they even hit the big league.

/wsh80 attempts to jam the puck past Samuel Ersson #33 of the Philadelphia Flyers Photo Credit – Jack.Smart@prohockeynews.com

No more old blokes freezing their backsides off in junior rinks with clipboards and thermoses. Algorithms now crunch thousands of hours of footage, track every puck touch, stride and dangle, and spit out predictions that leave human scouts gobsmacked.

How It All Started — From Experimental Tools to Must-Have Tech

The whole thing kicked off around 2020–2022 when clubs like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Seattle Kraken started playing with platforms from Sportlogiq and Synergy Sports. These systems could already count zone entries, high-danger chances and transition plays automatically.

By the 2024–25 season, AI scouting had hit 85% accuracy in predicting breakout players, according to NHL Analytics reports. In 2026, it’s become standard kit for most teams — especially those hunting quick fixes via trades or the upcoming draft.

Casino Processes Riding the AI Wave

Virtual casinos, including https://royalreels-australian.com/ are right in the thick of it, pulling in real-time AI scouting feeds to fine-tune lines on everything from draft position props to first-year goal totals. The Royal Reels casino ecosystem runs like a well-oiled machine:

  • instant verification of bets
  • live odds updates as new data drops
  • fraud checks that keep things fair dinkum
  • personalised recommendations based on a casino punter’s history.

For those who fancy a break from the ice, PayID pokies online offer quick spins with fast deposits straight from Aussie casino accounts. And if you’re keen on something interactive, a RoyalReels game can even let you sim draft scenarios or rookie campaigns, blending strategy with a bit of fun. This whole setup keeps casino punters engaged, boosts retention and turns raw scouting intel into dynamic, data-driven markets.

Breaking Down the Next Big Thing

Imagine a young gun tearing it up in the CHL, WHL or USHL. AI loads every shift, slices the game into tiny moments and stacks him against legends like McDavid, Crosby or Bedard at the same age.

Take a hypothetical 2026 draft darling — let’s call him Jax Riley. The system shows he’s hitting 92% pass completion in high-danger areas, with edge work that screams elite. It flags things humans might miss: how he protects the puck under pressure, his burst speed out of turns, even subtle habits like when he fakes a shot.

Teams like the Oilers or Canucks are using this data right now to decide who to target before the trade deadline.

AI Powering Trades and All-Star Picks

Midway through the 2025–26 season, AI isn’t just for the draft — it’s shaping trades and roster decisions. Models simulate line combos, predict possession shares and even estimate point totals if a prospect jumps to the big club.

It’s also creeping into All-Star selections. Advanced metrics (xG, expected goals against, transition efficiency) are starting to outweigh pure fan votes, making the process fairer and less about popularity contests.

The Business Side — AI Feeding the Betting Markets

But here’s where it gets interesting off the ice — all this pinpoint AI scouting data doesn’t stay locked in team war rooms. It flows straight into the betting world, where odds on rookies, trades and breakout seasons are getting sharper than ever.

Back on the Ice — AI Preventing Injuries and Sharpening Skills

Swinging back to the rink, AI’s doing more than just spotting talent — it’s keeping players healthy and improving drills. Biomechanical models flag stride imbalances or fatigue patterns early, cutting injury risk by up to 25% according to university studies and NHL trials.

Coaches in junior systems are loving it too. Personalised apps dish out drills tailored to each player’s weaknesses, boosting shot accuracy by 18% in controlled tests.

The Big Picture — A Smarter, Sharper NHL

As we barrel towards the 2026 playoffs, AI scouting is turning the draft and roster game from gut feel into science. It’s unearthing legends before they even sign their entry-level deals, making the league deeper, fairer and more exciting. The sweet science of hockey just got a bloody good upgrade — and the best part? The next superstar gem is probably already being hunted by a machine right now.

New York Islanders to Relocate AHL Affiliate to Hamilton, Ontario

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BELMONT PARK, NY (March 19, 2026) – The New York Islanders, together with Oak View Group (OVG), today announced their intent to relocate the franchise’s American Hockey League affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Hamilton, Ontario, for the start of the 2026-27 season. The relocation now requires approval by the AHL Board of Governors.New York Islanders to Relocate AHL Affiliate to Hamilton, Ontario

The historic return of professional hockey to Hamilton centers on a long-term agreement with the state-of-the-art TD Coliseum, operated by OVG. The 18,000-seat venue recently underwent a $300 million transformation.

“On behalf of the entire New York Islanders organization, I want to extend our deepest thanks to the City of Bridgeport and the incredibly loyal fans who have supported this team for the past 25 years,” said Kelly Cheeseman, President of Business Operations for the Islanders and UBS Arena. “From the early days of the Sound Tigers to our time as the Bridgeport Islanders, this community has been the heart of our AHL operations. We are grateful for the memories, the partnerships, and the passion the fans in Connecticut have shown our players and staff.”

“We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the American Hockey League,” said Mathieu Darche, General Manager and Executive Vice President of the Islanders. “The support the city has shown our organization throughout this transition has been incredible. We look forward to having our top young talent play in front of such a strong fanbase inside the newly renovated, world-class TD Coliseum and we are committed to establishing ourselves in the community to engage a new generation of hockey fans.”

The Islanders remain committed to working with the City of Bridgeport on a successful transition for Total Mortgage Arena.

“The return of professional hockey to Hamilton marks an exciting new chapter for our city and sports fans across the region,” said Nick DeLuco, Senior Vice President and General Manager of TD Coliseum. “TD Coliseum is proud to play a role in energizing downtown, supporting a passionate fan base and strengthening our connection to the community.”

“Hamilton is thrilled to welcome an AHL team to our city,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath. “This is an exciting moment for Hamiltonians and a major step forward in building on the momentum we’re seeing in our downtown. Bringing professional hockey back to TD Coliseum means more opportunities for families to come together and increased support for local businesses. It strengthens our city’s proud hockey tradition while creating new opportunities for young players and fans alike to connect with the game.”

Pending AHL approval, the team name, official team logo and ticketing information for the Hamilton market will be announced at a later date.