NHL & Hockey Newsletter
MacKinnon Sets Career High as Avalanche Clinch Presidents’ Trophy
Nathan MacKinnon scored his career-high 52nd goal of the season into an empty net and added two assists as the Colorado Avalanche clinched the Presidents’ Trophy with a 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on April 10. Martin Necas also contributed a goal and two helpers in the win. Colorado earns home-ice advantage throughout the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and claims the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history. The Avalanche entered the final week of the regular season as the clear favourite to hoist the Cup, with the league’s best record and a dominant MacKinnon leading the charge into the postseason.
Sources: Yardbarker · Yahoo Sports
Click to CommentCrosby, Malkin, Letang Lead Penguins Back to Playoffs After Three-Year Absence
The Pittsburgh Penguins ended a three-season playoff drought on April 9, defeating the New Jersey Devils 5-2 to clinch a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sidney Crosby contributed two assists, Evgeni Malkin added a goal and an assist, and Kris Letang chipped in with a helper. Egor Chinakhov led all skaters with three points, while Bryan Rust, Tommy Novak, and Erik Karlsson also found the back of the net. Pittsburgh clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division and will open the playoffs at PPG Paints Arena with home-ice advantage — a remarkable turnaround for a team many had written off heading into the 2025-26 season.
Sources: NBC Sports · Daily Faceoff
Click to CommentCaufield Scores 50th Goal, First Canadien to Reach Milestone in 36 Years
Cole Caufield etched his name into Canadiens history on April 9, scoring his 50th goal of the season in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Bell Centre. Caufield received a pass from Nick Suzuki and beat Andrei Vasilevskiy with a wrist shot from the circle in the second period. He is only the seventh player in Montreal franchise history to score 50 goals and the first since Stephane Richer lit the lamp 51 times in 1989-90. Juraj Slafkovsky added his 30th goal of the season as the winning tally with 1:04 remaining in the third, keeping the Canadiens alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race with one week left in the regular season.
Sources: Yahoo News Canada · CBC News
Click to CommentUtah Mammoth Clinch First Playoff Berth in Franchise History with Fifth Straight Win
In just their second NHL season, the Utah Mammoth secured a postseason berth on April 9, downing the Nashville Predators 4-1 for their fifth consecutive victory. Dylan Guenther scored his 39th goal of the season and pushed his season total to 71 points (39G, 32A) — a new personal best — while Clayton Keller added three assists to reach 56 on the year. Guenther needs one more goal to become the first player in franchise history to record a 40-goal season. Utah clinched the first Western Conference wild card spot, earning a place in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs that begins April 18.
Sources: TSN · Deseret News
Click to CommentKadri Finger Injury Clouds Avalanche Playoff Outlook; Chabot Returns for Ottawa
Colorado’s Presidents’ Trophy celebration was tempered by news that centre Nazem Kadri is dealing with a finger injury and will miss several games before the playoffs begin. Coach Jared Bednar confirmed the situation, saying Kadri is expected to miss time but should be available for the postseason. In brighter injury news, Ottawa Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot returned to the lineup Thursday against the Florida Panthers, playing his first game since breaking his right forearm on March 23 and undergoing surgery three days later. Chabot’s return is a significant boost for the Senators as they make a final push for Atlantic Division positioning in the closing days of the regular season.
Sources: NHL.com Status Report (Apr 9) · NHL.com Status Report (Apr 7)
Click to CommentDenver vs. Wisconsin Set for Frozen Four Title Game Packed with NHL Draft Prospects
The 2026 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four championship game takes place tonight in Las Vegas, pitting Denver against Wisconsin in a final loaded with NHL draft-eligible talent. Denver advanced with a double-overtime thriller over top seed Michigan on April 9, with senior defenceman Kent Anderson scoring the winner. The Pioneers are led by Eric Pohlkamp, a San Jose Sharks prospect who topped all NCAA defencemen in scoring this season with 39 points in 41 games. Wisconsin defeated North Dakota 2-1 in the other semifinal. With Gavin McKenna broadly projected as the top pick, all eyes will be on Buffalo on June 26-27 for the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center.
Click to CommentTeam USA Eyes Back-to-Back Gold as World Championship Returns to Switzerland
The 2026 IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship opens May 15 and runs through May 31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland — the first time the tournament has been held in the country in 17 years. Defending champion Team USA arrives aiming to become the first American squad to win back-to-back World Championship gold medals, following their title at the 2025 event. The U.S. will play their Group A preliminary-round games at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich alongside Finland, Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Hungary, Latvia, and host Switzerland, while Group B — featuring Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia and four others — will play in Fribourg’s BCF Arena. Rosters are expected to swell with NHL players whose playoff runs end early.
Sources: IIHF.com · USA Hockey
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