NHL MARCH 29, 2026 – BRUINS, CANADIENS COMPLETE COMEBACKS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION RACE

The Atlantic Division saw both the Bruins (42-24-8, 92 points) and Canadiens (42-21-10, 94 points) skate to comeback wins Sunday – with Boston doing so via a three-goal, third-period rally – to earn crucial standings points and continue their battle for a berth into the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

• Boston found itself trailing by three goals in the third period against its fellow Wild Card occupant Columbus, but Charlie McAvoy (1-1—2) ignited a Bruins rally which saw Pavel Zacha tie the game with 11 seconds in regulation – inciting a boisterous reaction from the bench – and culminated in a shootout win. Boston earned a pivotal two points to stay on the heels of Montreal for third in the Atlantic Division, while McAvoy extended his road point streak to 12 games (dating to Jan. 26),
• The Bruins collected the ninth three-goal, third-period comeback win in franchise history and first since March 13, 2018 (6-4 W at CAR) thanks in part to Zacha’s tying tally, which was tied for Boston’s fourth latest in the past 30 years. The other instances: Oct. 28, 2001 (59:59 at CHI), April 1, 2018 (59:56 at PHI) and Feb. 15, 1997 (59:56 at PHX).
• Cole Caufield (1-1—2) scored the game-winning goal and Lane Hutson (0-2—2) tallied his 30th career multi-assist game to help the Canadiens earn their fifth straight win and move within four points of first place in the Atlantic Division. Caufield recorded his 26th go-ahead goal of the season, which matched David Pastrnak (26 in 2022-23) for the third most in a single campaign in NHL history. Only Brett Hull (39 in 1990-91) and Pavel Bure (28 in 1999-00) have more.
• Hutson recorded his 61st and 62nd assist of 2025-26 to establish a career high and surpass Larry Robinson (61 in 1979-80) for the third most in a campaign by a Canadiens defenseman – Robinson also holds the top two spots (66 in 1976-77 & 63 in 1985-86). Despite only skating in his second full season, Hutson is already on the cusp of entering the top 10 of his Original Six franchise’s all-time list for multi-assist games – Hutson tied P.K. Subban for the 11th most in Canadiens history by a defenseman. Jean-Guy Talbot (32) sits in 10th place.

ZEGRAS SCORES IN OVERTIME, FLYERS INCH CLOSER TO PLAYOFF SPOT

Trevor Zegras scored the overtime winner to push the Flyers (37-24-12, 86 points) within two points of the final Wild Card position, which is held by the Blue Jackets (38-24-12, 88 points). Philadelphia is one of the League’s top teams in March in terms of wins, points and points percentage (.750) – the third highest among all teams behind St. Louis (.846) and Buffalo (.786). The Flyers’ month of March has helped them move from six points out of a postseason position to two.

• Zegras scored his fourth career overtime goal and first since Jan. 28, 2023. He has six game-deciding goals past regulation this season (overtime & shootout-deciding goals), which is tied with his close friend, off-season training partner and former USA Hockey National Team Development Program teammate, Cole Caufield, for the most among all players. Four of those six game-deciding goals past regulation have come in March.

PERRY HELPS LIGHTNING LEAPFROG INTO FIRST IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE

Sunday included a back-and-forth contest between Nashville and Tampa Bay, which concluded with 40-year-old Corey Perry’s go-ahead goal in the third period standing as the game winner. The victory helped the Lightning (46-21-6, 98 points) leapfrog the idle Sabres (45-21-8, 98 points) and Hurricanes (46-21-6, 98 points) for first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference, respectively.

FIVE-GAME SLATE FEATURES METROPOLITAN MATCHUP, PRIME MONDAY NIGHT HOCKEY

The Penguins visit the Islanders in a Metropolitan Division showdown with playoff positioning on the line, while the Avalanche host the Flames on Prime Monday Night Hockey as Nathan MacKinnon continues the quest towards his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.

• The Islanders (42-27-5, 89 points) and Penguins (36-21-16, 88 points) occupy second and third, respectively, in the Metropolitan Division and could be destined for their first postseason meeting since the 2021 First Round, which New York won in six games en route to the Stanley Cup Semifinals. With a victory Monday, the Islanders would win consecutive season series versus the Penguins for the first time since 2002-03 to 2003-04.
• Matthew Schaefer (22-34—56 in 74 GP), who has logged 1-2—3 in his first two career meetings versus Pittsburgh, enters play one point shy of tying Phil Housley (17-40—57 in 1982-83) for the most in a season by an 18-year-old defenseman. Schaefer can also become the third 18-year-old in NHL history to post three straight multi-assist games, following Patrick Kane (3 GP in 2007-08) and Dale Hawerchuk (3 GP in 1981-82).
• The League-leading Avalanche look to continue their string of success against the Flames, with points in each of their past 10 meetings at Ball Arena since Feb. 28, 2018 (6-0-4). The franchise has recorded a home point streak of 11-plus games versus one opponent just five times prior (15 GP vs. CAR/HFD from 1996-97 – 2017-18, 13 GP vs. SJS from 2019-20 – present, 12 GP vs. BUF from 1982-83 – 1985-86, 11 GP vs. PHX from 2000-01 – 2006-07 & 11 GP vs. OTT from 1992-93 – 1997-98).
• MacKinnon has an NHL-best 48 goals and aims to add a Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy to a display case that already includes a Stanley Cup, Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and Calder Memorial Trophy. MacKinnon can become the second player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to finish a season as the NHL’s leading goal scorer following Milan Hejduk, who won the “Rocket” in 2002-03 with 50 goals.

NATIONAL GAMES ON THE RADAR THIS WEEK

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

1. Hurricanes, Blue Jackets meet in Metropolitan Division clash on ESPN+ (Tuesday): The Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (46-21-6, 98 points) visit the Blue Jackets (38-24-12, 88 points), who enter the week occupying the second Wild Card spot in the East. Sebastian Aho (397 in 750 GP) needs three helpers to join Ron Francis (793) and Eric Staal (453) as the third player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to reach the 400-assist mark with the franchise.
2. Celebrini sets sights on 100-point mark on TNT (Wednesday): Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini (36-62—98 in 71 GP) enters the week two points shy of becoming the sixth different teenager in NHL history to record a 100-point season, as well as the third player to reach the century mark in a campaign with San Jose. The Sharks skate into the week four points back of the “playoff line” in the West as they seek their first postseason berth since 2018-19.
3. Blues look to continue post-Olympic run against Ducks on Sportsnet (Friday): The Blues are 11-2-2 (24 points) since the NHL returned from the Olympics and are now within four points of the second Wild Card spot in the West after being 14 points out before the break. St. Louis will strive to become the first team in League history to earn a playoff berth after overcoming a deficit of at least 14 points through its final 25 games – the largest deficit a team has overcome in that situation is 11 points (PIR in 1927-28).
4. Avalanche, Stars battle for Central Division supremacy (Saturday): The top two teams in the Central Division collide for the second time in two and a half weeks when the Avalanche (48-14-10, 106 points) visit the Stars (44-18-12, 100 points) on ABC and Sportsnet ONE as both teams continue to make their case for the Presidents’ Trophy. A team from the Central can win the Presidents’ Trophy in consecutive seasons for the first time since the Detroit Red Wings did so in 2003-04 and 2005-06 (DET moved to the Atlantic Division following the 2013-14 realignment).
5. Four-game slate set for Hockey Night in Canada (Saturday): Canadiens forward Cole Caufield (46) enters the week in hot pursuit of Nathan MacKinnon (48) for the League lead in goals and needs just four tallies to become the seventh player to record a 50-goal season with Montreal.

Dobes, Zacha and Carlson Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha and Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 29.

FIRST STAR – JAKUB DOBES, G, MONTREAL CANADIENS

Dobes registered a League-best 100 saves on 104 shots against, going 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average and .962 save percentage to help the Canadiens (42-21-10, 94 points) extend their winning streak to five games (dating to March 21) as they maintained their hold on third place in the Atlantic Division. Dobes made a career-high 41 stops, turning aside each of the last 33 shots he faced, in a 5-2 multi-goal comeback victory against the Carolina Hurricanes March 24. He then yielded one goal in each of his next two starts, making 25 saves in a 2-1 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets March 26 followed by 34 stops (including 26 straight to end the game) in a 3-1 come-from-behind win versus the Hurricanes March 29. The 24-year-old Dobes, a fifth-round pick (136th overall) from the 2020 NHL Draft, leads rookie goaltenders with 25 victories – six more than the next-closest rookie – through 37 total appearances this season (25-8-4, 2.78 GAA, .900 SV%). His 25 wins are the most by a Montreal rookie in a single campaign since Steve Penney in 1984-85 (26-18-8 in 54 GP).

SECOND STAR – PAVEL ZACHA, C, BOSTON BRUINS

Zacha topped the NHL with 5-3—8 in four contests to propel the Bruins (42-24-8, 92 points) to a trio of wins as they created a four-point cushion for the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. He recorded one assist in a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs March 24. Zacha then collected 1-1—2, assisting on the tying goal with 6:00 remaining in regulation before notching his eighth career overtime winner, in a 4-3 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres March 25. He added 4-1—5 over a pair of weekend games, scoring twice in a 6-3 win against the Minnesota Wild March 28 before posting 2-1—3, including the tying goal with 11.0 seconds left in regulation, in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets March 29 – the ninth three-goal, third-period comeback win in Boston history (and first since March 13, 2018 at CAR). The 28-year-old Zacha ranks third on the Bruins with 28-31—59 through 71 total games this season, matching his career high established in 2023-24 (21-38—59 in 78 GP).

THIRD STAR – JOHN CARLSON, D, ANAHEIM DUCKS

Carlson shared first place in the NHL with seven assists in three games (0-7—7) to guide the Pacific Division-leading Ducks (41-28-4, 86 points) to a pair of victories. He tallied three helpers, his 17th career three-assist effort and second of the season (also Nov. 19 vs. EDM), in a 5-3 triumph versus the Vancouver Canucks March 24. Carlson then assisted on Mikael Grandlund’s tying goal with 3:33 left in regulation as well as his winner with 1.0 second remaining in overtime in a 3-2 comeback victory over the Calgary Flames March 26. He added two more helpers in a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers March 28. The 36-year-old Carlson sits 12th among defensemen with 10-44—54 through 62 total contests this season, including 0-8—8 in seven appearances since being acquired by Anaheim prior to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.