NHL APRIL 5, 2026 – CANADIENS SECURE POST SEASON BERTH

The latest shakeup in the Eastern Conference playoff race has the Flyers in a playoff spot for the first time in nearly three months and the Senators maintaining Wild Card 2 despite being bumped out for approximately one hour.

• The Canadiens were the last team to clinch a playoff spot in 2024-25 but managed to guarantee a position before hitting the ice Sunday, following Minnesota’s victory against Detroit. Montreal fell from second to third place in the Atlantic Division by virtue of the regulation wins tiebreaker with Buffalo, but will head to the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2020 to 2021, which concluded with a run to the Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay (a potential First Round opponent this year). Montreal has six remaining players on its roster from its trip to the Final, including now-captain Nick Suzuki, who led the Canadiens in points during that run (7-9—16 in 22 GP), and Cole Caufield, who tallied 12 playoff points in 2021 – the most by a Canadiens rookie since 1986 – and now sits one away from the club’s first 50-goal season since 1989-90.
• Facing the Bruins, owners of Wild Card 1 since March 17, the Flyers secured a point to displace the idle Islanders for the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division but 19-year-old rookie Porter Martone did them one better by securing the victory in overtime with his first NHL goal. Philadelphia holds a playoff spot for the first time since Jan. 12, while Martone now stands as the second-youngest player in NHL history to score his first NHL goal in overtime.
• Approximately three minutes after the Flyers-Bruins game went to overtime – bumping the Senators outside of the bracket – captain Brady Tkachuk scored a go-ahead goal to give Ottawa a lead it would not relinquish. The tally was part of Tkachuk’s first multi-goal game since December and stood as the 73rd go-ahead goal of his career, which propelled him ahead of Alexei Yashin (72) for the third most in Senators history behind Daniel Alfredsson (138) and Jason Spezza (86). The victory gave Ottawa a one-point edge on the NY Islanders – their opponent Saturday (1 p.m. ET) – and also prevented Carolina from clinching the No. 1 seed in the Metropolitan Division.

HAT TRICKS HELP CENTRAL DIVISION CLUBS GAIN GROUND

Robert Thomas and Kirill Kaprizov both had hat tricks Sunday – the second straight day with a hat trick of three-goal performances – as St. Louis climbed within three points of a playoff spot and Minnesota inched within two points of second place in the Central Division.

• Thomas and the Blues prevented the Avalanche from clinching the No. 1 seed in the Central Division and Western Conference in the first half of their home-and-home set, as St. Louis continued its push to overcome a 14-point deficit to qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It would match the largest deficit an NHL team has overcome to secure a postseason appearance (OTT: 14 points in 2014-15).
• After hosting Colorado (Tuesday), St. Louis next faces Winnipeg (Thursday) – the team they are now tied with in the standings. Less than one year ago, Winnipeg and St. Louis battled in a historic Game 7 of the opening round after St. Louis secured Wild Card 2 in its final game of the regular season.
• After the Detroit Red Wings battled back from a three-goal deficit in the third period to even the score at four apiece, Kaprizov completed his hat trick with the game winner to help Minnesota (44-21-12, 100 points) earn its 100th point of the season and move within two of Dallas (45-20-12, 102 points) – their opponent Thursday on ESPN+ and Hulu (9 p.m. ET). The Wild required their second-fewest games in franchise history to reach the mark in a campaign (77 GP) behind only 2021-22 (75 GP). Kaprizov, who surpassed Mikko Koivu (33) for the third-most game-winning goals with the franchise, recorded his 41st career multi-goal game and tied Marian Gaborik for the most in Wild history.

CROSBY COLLECTS THREE POINTS AS PENGUINS BEST PANTHERS IN BACK-TO-BACK

Just one day after climbing the NHL’s all-time list scoring list, Sidney Crosby (1-2—3) was back at it again Sunday, factoring on three of his team’s five goals – game winner included – to help the Penguins (40-22-16, 96 points) strengthen their grip on second place in the Metropolitan Division in pursuit of both a playoff spot and home ice in the First Round.

• With his goal, Crosby guaranteed his 21st career point-per-game season – two more than any other player in League history (next closest: Wayne Gretzky w/ 19). He also notched his 16th career 70-point season (29-43—72 in 66 GP) and tied Marcel Dionne as well as Ron Francis for the third most in NHL history behind Gordie Howe (18) and Gretzky (17).

THE INSIDE OUT CLASSIC AND THE REST OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

Sunday notes from the seven-game slate, include Jack Hughes continuing his high point production since the Olympic break and Will Cuylle scoring a hat trick in the Rangers’ 8-1 win during the Inside Out Classic.

• Hughes (0-2—2) notched his 122nd career multi-point game to overtake teammate Jesper Bratt (121) for sole possession of the fourth most in Devils franchise history and helped keep the Devils’ postseason hopes alive. The forward has recorded a League-high 36 points since scoring the “Golden Goal” at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and also paces all players with nine points so far in April (3-6—9 in 3 GP).
• Cuylle scored the second Rangers hat trick in as many days after Gabe Perreault netted three goals Saturday. This is the third time the Rangers have recorded hat tricks on consecutive days, following Nov. 20-21, 1982, and Feb. 3-4, 1973. Joy also recorded a hat trick if you were watching the Inside Out Classic – the real-time animated telecast from “Hockey Island” on ESPN+, Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney XD.

WEST WILD CARD RACE, BATTLE FOR NO. 1 IN ATLANTIC TAKE MONDAY SPOTLIGHT

The battle for Wild Card 2 in the West will be central to three of four games tonight, including Prime Monday Night Hockey clash between the Kraken and Jets. Elsewhere, the Predators and Kings clash for the second time in five days – with Nashville looking to claim a third straight win against a team in the thick of the race (Thursday at LAK, Saturday at SJS) – while Macklin Celebrini looks to propel his Sharks closer and inch toward a franchise scoring record when they host Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks.

• Less than one month after playing one of the most memorable games of the season – a 15-goal thriller on March 8 – the Sabres and Lightning are officially heading to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and could meet in the First Round, though both have sights set on the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Division. Some combination of Boston, Florida, Tampa Bay and Toronto has finished top-three in the Atlantic Division for seven consecutive seasons (2017-18 to 2024-25; omits 2020-21 for COVID-19 realignment), but that will change in 2025-26. The current top three is separated by two points, with Buffalo seeking its first division title since 2009-10 (Northeast), while Tampa Bay and Montreal can both claim their third under the current division format.

NATIONAL GAMES ON THE RADAR THIS WEEK

Five storylines you need to know about other national broadcasts this week:

1. Potential First Round preview closes ESPN doubleheader (Tuesday): After the Flyers continue their playoff push against “Golden Goal” scorer Jack Hughes and the Devils, a potential First Round playoff preview will take place in Utah. Dylan Guenther and the Mammoth (Wild Card 1) are closing in on the first playoff appearance in franchise history while Connor McDavid and the Oilers (No. 1 in Pacific) seek both a playoff spot and the club’s first division title in nearly 40 years (last: 1986-87).
2. Celebrini, McDavid close out doubleheader on TNT (Wednesday): After the Sabres and Rangers clash at Madison Square Garden – the first game between the clubs with Buffalo playoff-bound since April 6, 2010 – the seventh all-time head-to-head between Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini will have playoff implications in the West. McDavid (1-13—14) has outscored his Olympic linemate Celebrini (1-2—3) in their meetings, but both sit in rarified air on lists topped by Wayne Gretzky: the Oilers captain can become the fourth player to win the Art Ross Trophy at least six times (Gretzky leads with 10), while the Sharks sophomore needs two points for the third most in a season by a teenager (behind Gretzky and Sidney Crosby).
3. Pair of potential First Round matchups on ABC tripleheader (Saturday): The Lightning (1st in Atlantic) and Bruins (Wild Card 1) could meet in the First Round and will meet to open a tripleheader, one week before the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin. Tampa Bay is 4-0-0 against Boston dating to March 15, 2025. After the 100th all-time meeting between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby takes place, the Golden Knights will aim to secure a spot in the top three in the Pacific Division when they face the League-leading Avalanche, who they could potentially face in the First Round if they fail to do so – Colorado has won each of its past four contests against Vegas dating to Nov. 27, 2024.
4. Both Wild Card races at forefront of Hockey Night in Canada finale (Saturday): A four game-slate features a matchup between two teams that competed for the last playoff spot down to their final games in 2024-25, the Canadiens have already secured postseason play in 2026 – and now vie for a division title – while the Blue Jackets are again embroiled in the Wild Card race. Another key matchup pits the Flyers against the Jets as both look to overcome significant gaps since the Olympic break to secure playoff spots (max for WPG: 11 points; max for PHI: 9 points).
5. Sid vs. Ovi 101 (Saturday on ESPN, Sunday on TNT): The final weekend of the 2025-26 regular season is scheduled to include both the 100th and 101st all-time meetings between Sidney Crosby (48-79—127; 56-39-4 record) and Alex Ovechkin (53-50—103; 43-46-10 record). More than 20 years after their first-ever meeting (Nov. 22, 2005 at Mellon Arena), the two have combined for 1,730 goals, 2,061 assists, 3,791 points, 11 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies, five Hart Trophies, four Stanley Cups, three Art Ross Trophies and three Conn Smythe Trophies.

Rakell, J. Hughes and Thomas Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending April 5.

FIRST STAR – RICKARD RAKELL, RW, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Rakell, who scored in each of his five appearances, led the NHL with seven goals (7-1—8) to lift the Penguins (40-22-16, 96 points) to a 4-1-0 week and back into second place in the Metropolitan Division as they seek their first playoff berth since 2021-22. He found the back of the net twice in an 8-3 win over the New York Islanders March 30. Rakell then scored once in both a 5-1 victory against the Detroit Red Wings March 31 and a 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning April 2. He capped the week with four points over back-to-back games versus the Florida Panthers, notching 1-1—2 in a 9-4 triumph April 4 and two goals, including his 34th career game-winner, in a 5-2 victory April 5. The 32-year-old Rakell, who has compiled 24-24—48 through 57 overall contests this season, has nearly doubled his 2025-26 total with points in 16 of his last 17 outings dating to March 7 (13-10—23). His current five-game goal streak is one shy of his career high, set from Dec. 21, 2017 – Jan. 2, 2018 (7-3—10 in 6 GP w/ ANA).

SECOND STAR – JACK HUGHES, C, NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Hughes topped the NHL with 3-6—9 to propel the Devils (40-34-3, 83 points) to points in three of their four games (2-1-1). He did not find the scoresheet in a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers March 31, but rebounded with a career-high 2-3—5 (including his 27th career game-winning goal and fifth of the season) in a 7-3 victory against the Washington Capitals April 2. Hughes then scored once and picked up the primary assist on the tying goal as New Jersey rallied from a three-goal deficit in an eventual 4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens April 4. He added two more helpers as the Devils took the second half of their back-to-back home-and-home set with the Canadiens by a 3-0 score on April 5. The 24-year-old Hughes, who paces New Jersey with 25-47—72 through 56 total games this season, leads the League with 13-23—36 in 20 appearances since scoring the “golden goal” for the United States at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

THIRD STAR – ROBERT THOMAS, C, ST. LOUIS BLUES

Thomas recorded 5-3—8 in four contests as the Blues (33-31-12, 78 points) also posted a 2-1-1 week to move within three points of the playoff line in the Western Conference. He collected one assist in a 5-4 loss to the San Jose Sharks March 30 before scoring the tying goal with 3:53 remaining in the third period of an eventual 2-1 overtime setback against the Los Angeles Kings April 1. Thomas then notched consecutive three-point performances, tallying 1-2—3 in a 6-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks April 3 followed by his first career hat trick (capped by the tiebreaking goal with 2:50 left in regulation) in a 3-2 triumph versus the Colorado Avalanche April 5. The 26-year-old Thomas, who has points in 16 of his last 18 appearances dating to Jan. 9 (11-15—26), tops St. Louis with 21-35—56 through 58 total games this season.

Panthers’ Luostarinen Fined for High-Sticking

Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for high-sticking Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell during NHL Game No. 1223 in Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 5. The incident occurred at 2:33 of the second period. Luostarinen was assessed a double-minor penalty for high-sticking. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.