After a sluggish start, the Toronto Maple Leafs were playing catch-up all night in a 6-5 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. 

Despite a valiant effort in the final minute of regulation, Toronto's attempt to stage a comeback came up short. Down 5-3, they scored twice in 44 seconds to force overtime and earn a point, pushing their regular-season point total to 90 points and regaining sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. 

However, the Leafs missed out on two points against the Sharks this season – who are ranked dead last in the league – dropping both contests in a shootout. 

One bright spot for the Leafs, though, was newly acquired forward Scott Laughton registering his first goal and point as a member of the team. 

The tally came at the 15:13 mark of the second period to cut the deficit to one, making it a 4-3 score. His goal broke a 15-game point drought that stretched back to his time with the Philadelphia Flyers, picking up his first in 10 games in Toronto. 

The 30-year-old made a strong play in the offensive zone, carrying the puck up the half wall before he wired home a one-timer off a pass from David Kampf, beating Sharks goaltender Alexandar Georgiev.

Scott Laughton has his first goal as a member of the @MapleLeafs! 🍁 pic.twitter.com/2opNTZWRG1

— NHL (@NHL) March 28, 2025

It was an important moment for the Oakville, ON, native, who has been working hard to settle into his new role with the Maple Leafs. 

“It was nice, probably for my own confidence, and nice to get one for sure. It would have been a lot nicer to get a win and not score,” Laughton admitted after the game. “I know my role on this team, and obviously, contributing is nice, but I know what to bring on a daily basis, and I’m starting to feel more comfortable. Starting to play a little bit better. So, it’s good for myself, but you want to get those two points.”

Head coach Craig Berube had previously urged Laughton to stop overthinking his game, urging him to loosen up and just play freely. 

‘He’s Overthinking Things Instead Of Just Playing’: Scott Laughton Remains Pointless With Maple Leafs, Craig Berube Urges Forward To ‘Loosen Up’The Toronto Maple Leafs have begun to find their stride, securing back-to-back victories over the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche. However, one player in particular remains stuck in a slump – newly acquired Scott Laughton, who has yet to register a point in six games with the Leafs and continues to struggle to find his place in his hometown.

With the postseason approaching, hopefully, this is a step in the right direction for Laughton, who is adjusting to his new environment and working to find his rhythm after joining the Leafs in a trade on March 7. 

His teammates know just how much of a breakthrough a goal like that can be down the stretch.

“A lot of fun seeing him rip one home,” said Nylander. “First goal as a Leaf is huge. I’m happy for him.” 

“Yeah, it was huge. I think him being from Toronto and everything coming here is extremely exciting. And a lot of us know Lotty from different things. But he's been an unreal guy coming in here. He brings great energy every day despite whatever comes at him,” added captain Auston Matthews.

He was previously demoted to the fourth line, the “identity line,” amid the struggles and was recently placed back with Max Domi and Nick Robertson on the left wing of the third line for the past couple of games. On Thursday, the 12-year veteran logged 12:28 of ice time, registering two shots on goal, two hits, and two blocks, finishing with a plus-1 rating to go along with his goal.

When at his best, Laughton can provide physicality, depth, and steadiness. His game in San Jose was a key indicator of his capabilities, and he is now looking to build on his recent momentum by stringing together multiple strong outings in a row. 

“It was great to see him get a goal tonight. I thought he played great tonight. I thought he matched well on that line and created some really good chances. And that was a big goal that he had for us. So I know that's a big weight off your shoulders,” said Matthews. “I think that's just going to continue to carry momentum in his game. He's just going to continue to be more comfortable as we go along here.”

'We've Got To Be Better, Goalie Included': Maple Leafs Salvage Point But Struggle In Shootout Loss Against SharksSAN JOSE, Calif. — The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the San Jose Sharks 6-5 in a shootout at SAP Center on Thursday. Although they picked up a crucial point in the standings, it was yet another example of the Leafs struggling to pounce against a team at the bottom of the NHL standings as they gear up for a playoff run next month.

Despite earning a point against the Sharks, the Leafs have now lost seven of their last 12 games. They dropped the opening contest of their three-game California road trip and will face a back-to-back in Los Angeles on Saturday, followed by a visit to Anaheim on Sunday.

They’ll need to clean things up to finish the weekend on the right foot.

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Joe Sargent via Getty Images

Anyone who's reading this is either participating in the fantasy hockey playoffs, looking ahead to next season, in a roto format or just plain bored (or interested!).

And if you're still part of that first group, the following player suggestions may come in handy on your quest to cash in.

(Rostered rates as of Mar. 28)

Forwards

Sean Monahan, CLS (Yahoo: 49%)

It was a shame when Monahan suffered a wrist injury in January as he had been one of the Blue Jackets' driving forces the first half of the season with 41 points in as many games. He returned on Monday after missing more than two months, and didn't look out of place as he notched two assists, a shot, three hits, and 11 face-off wins on 18:51 as the No. 1 center in all scoring situations. Get Monahan before others realize he's back. 

Anthony Cirelli, TB (Yahoo: 44%)

The post-Steven Stamkos era in Tampa has benefited Cirelli, as he's well past his career-high in points (at 52, seven more than 2023-24's peak) and occasionally gets looks on the first power play on top of a lead shorthanded role. And he's been especially productive the last seven contests with six goals on 18 shots alongside an assist and 51 FW. Cirelli may be limited in Yahoo by only qualifying at C, though is well-positioned within the Bolts' lineup where he can post plenty of counting stats.

Kiefer Sherwood, VAN (Yahoo: 39%)

Sherwood had quite the night for himself on Wednesday as he accumulated two goals, an assist, four shots, a plus-3, four hits and a block. He's surpassed his personal-best with 32 points, but is probably more recognized in fantasy circles for having already obliterated Jeremy Lauzon's hits record of 383 from last year at 404 with 10 matchups remaining. Combine all that with a secondary PP spot and the flexibility to fit anywhere allows Sherwood to be a reliable fantasy player.

William Karlsson, VGK (Yahoo: 16%)

Injuries and inconsistency have hurt Karlsson's output to where he's averaging just 0.5 points per game, a mark he's only previously hovered around once (39 in 67 during 2021-22) since joining the Golden Knights. From the four contests since he returned from an extended lower-body absence, he's chipped in with three helpers – two of those PPAs – eight shots, three hits and three blocks. And with Tomas Hertl out, Karlsson has ascended to the lead man-advantage. Even as Vegas's third even-strength center, anywhere in their top-nine is fine. Add Karlsson and then monitor the situation to see what happens when Hertl slots back into the lineup.

Morgan Geekie, BOS (Yahoo: 15%)

The Bruins lost some talent this season, yet there are a few serviceable forwards remaining. Geekie is enjoying another solid campaign firmly entrenched in the top-six and first power play with 26 goals, 15 assists, 132 shots and 95 hits. He's also found the back of the net four times through five outings to go with a PPA, 10 shots and five hits. Boston probably isn't making the playoffs, but Geekie will be motivated to do well as his contract expires this summer.

Andrei Kuzmenko, LA (Yahoo: 14%)

It's only been 35 days since Kuzmenko originally appeared in this column, and there's good reason for a repeat. The much-moved winger never really meshed with Calgary or Philly, so going to LA wasn't expected to result in anything different. He was scoreless across the opening seven outings, but it was at least promising to be part of the first line and PP. Things finally clicked with him Saturday with a goal and a PPA, another marker on two shots Sunday and a second PPA Tuesday. As long as Kuzmenko sticks within the upper three units or doesn't get scratched/hurt, he'll be okay.

Tyler Bertuzzi, CHI (Yahoo: 10%)

Bertuzzi has always been skilled around the net with a knack for power-play production, which has been displayed this year in the form of his 20th goal on Wednesday and 18 PPPs. He now resides in the lower half of the depth chart, though he's managed seven points from the last five matchups and still joins forces with Connor Bedard while up a man (four of those seven coming there). As someone who can score and direct a fair share of pucks on target, Bertuzzi makes for a decent mid-roster addition.

Bobby McMann, TOR (Yahoo: 9%)

Hockey fans love an underdog story, and there's probably no bigger relevant example than McMann, as he toiled in the minors before receiving his first real NHL stint with the Leafs during 2023-24. The 28-year-old has skated with various teammates, including working the last week or so at five-on-five beside John Tavares and William Nylander. This has led to a pair of goal-plus-assist performances to go with six shots and five hits. McMann could eventually end up in a less favorable arrangement. But until then, he's at least worth a flyer.

Defensemen

Tony DeAngelo, NYI (Yahoo: 18%)

When the Isles brought DeAngelo aboard in January, it was assumed his fantasy value would drop off once Noah Dobson returned from injury. And even though he'd miss the scoresheet during Dobson's first four games, he's gone off for nine points, 21 shots and 10 blocks over the last 10. The duo has even coexisted on the top power play of late, including combining for a goal there last Thursday. With this type of production and a 23-plus minute average across this run, DeAngelo needs to be on more rosters.

Dylan Samberg, WPG (Yahoo: 16%)

Samberg is a tricky fantasy commodity as he's solid in secondary stats while not being a traditional scorer, yet almost any Winnipeg blueliner can be considered simply by being on the ice within a top-three attack. He's certainly made a case the last three weeks by registering two goals and four assists in addition to having 20 shots and 24 blocks on 22:20 a night. Samberg is more of a short-term option with the potential for longer usage if he can keep picking up a passable amount of offense.

Philip Broberg, STL (Yahoo: 15%)

Broberg was first featured here right after starting the season with nine points across 11 appearances and immediately before being sidelined for nearly a month. The scoring hasn't continued to be prolific, though you may have noticed his goal and three assists on Tuesday — or the six total points over the last five supplemented by eight shots, six PIM, eight blocks and a plus-8. Broberg assumes a significant workload and offers enough potential to warrant more coverage.

Marcus Pettersson, VAN (Yahoo: 8%)

It looks like Pettersson just needed a few contests to get used to his new surroundings after coming over from Pittsburgh at the end of January, as since then, he's supplied an assist from seven of 13 along with 12 shots, 12 hits and 33 blocks. He may not skate next to Quinn Hughes (or regular partner Kris Letang while on the Pens) and lacks man-advantage duty, but he's still a reliable cross-category contributor. Let's get Pettersson into double-digits.

Goaltenders

Jake Allen, NJ (Yahoo: 20%)

Since Jacob Markstrom returned, he's gone 2-5-1 with a 3.87 GAA and .847 save percentage. During that same stretch, Allen has posted a 3-1 record alongside a 1.77/.943 line. There's no questioning Markstrom's status as Jersey's No. 1, though their prized offseason acquisition shouldn't be pushed heading into the playoffs as the club is pretty much locked in as the Metropolitan Division's third seed. And that would leave more opportunities for Allen to produce solid fantasy numbers behind a decent attack and a defense that's top-10 at suppressing shots.

John Gibson, ANH (Yahoo: 15%)

Going for Gibson comes with its drawbacks, the main one being his extensive injury history having come back last week from another physical setback. But let's consider Lukas Dostal has been erratic in 2025 while only winning two of his last eight appearances to go with a 3.55 GAA and .886 save percentage. Gibson has earned victories in both of his recent starts, though neither the Preds nor Bruins could be considered offensive juggernauts. And the Ducks rank last for allowing pucks on net, so any of their goalies represent risky recommendations. The team isn't going anywhere this season and Dostal clearly represents the future, but they may want to use Gibson more the rest of the way to showcase him for a possible summer trade.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the San Jose Sharks 6-5 in a shootout at SAP Center on Thursday. Although they picked up a crucial point in the standings, it was yet another example of the Leafs struggling to pounce against a team at the bottom of the NHL standings as they gear up for a playoff run next month.

The Leafs appeared destined to lose against the Sharks in regulation time. But two goals in the final minute of regulation time forced the game beyond 60 minutes. Outside of their performance on the power play, Toronto looked lethargic on the ice. There were also some lapses in judgement.

Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll misplayed the puck while attempting to make a pass. Instead turning it over to Sharks forward William Eklund and into the net.

"They are a quick team, but I think that maybe the travel yesterday and everything, we just weren't on our toes," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said while trying to pinpoint an explanation for his team's performance. "We got better as the game went along. We made some mistakes. We all got to be better, goalie included. It's not good enough."

The performance came just after the Leafs punished the bottom-feeding Philadelphia Flyers 7-2 on Tuesday. It appeared as though they were passed their transgressions of not taking advantage of the opportunity in front of them by pouncing on teams lower in the standings like they did on Saturday when they fell to the Nashville Predators. 

"I didn't love our game tonight. I thought we just seemed slow," Matthews said. "We didn't seem to take care of the puck much, just kind of messing around with it too much."

The Leafs got into penalty trouble later in the game, which didn't help. After getting the first three power plays in the game, San Jose had the next four chances. 

Leafs need better goaltending. 

When your team is having nights where they are struggling, a strong goaltending performance can turn the tide. While Woll was busy making 14 saves on 16 shots in the first period, he wasn't particularly strong after that, finishing the night with 30 saves on 35 shots. 

Since the 4 Nations break, the goaltending tandem of Woll and Anthony Stolarz hasn't been as strong as they were to start the season. In his last eight starts, Woll's save percentage is .892 and Stolarz's save percentage is .895 in his last 10 starts. Both have now reached career highs in games played during a season after never being the starting goaltender before. It's still anyone's guess who will start for the playoffs, but neither has goalie has taken the bull by the horns as of late.

Nylander hot

William Nylander scored twice to reach a career-high 42 goals this season. Not the type that has traditionally scored in bunches, the Swede recorded back-to-back multi-goal games for the first time in his NHL career.  With 10 games to go, he'd need eight to reach the 50-goal mark. It certainly looks attainable.

Nylander recorded his 42nd goal of the season.

For the first time in his NHL career, Nylander recorded back-to-back multi-goal games. Two tonight, and two against Philly on Tuesday. https://t.co/idRGZgb3Yv

— David Alter (@dalter) March 28, 2025

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

The Florida Panthers are about to enter the home stretch of their regular season.

Coming off a nice four-day break between home games, Florida is looking to hit the ground running as they host the first of their final 11 games against the Utah Hockey Club Friday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.

Entering play Friday, the Panthers are tied atop the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning but lose out to their neighbors from north of the border on a tiebreaker.

Both the Cats and Leafs hold identical 43-25-3 records, but due to Toronto having more non-shootout wins (42 to 38), the tiebreaker goes to them. Tampa has the same amount of points, but one more game played than Florida and Toronto. 

But with 11 games remaining for each team, things are surely going to change over the next few weeks.

Florida’s last game was five days ago, a 4-3 shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was the Panthers sixth straight win on home ice.

As for Utah, the former Coyotes arrive in South Florida with their playoff chances on life support.

With only 10 games remaining, Utah is currently 10 points behind St. Louis for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

It’s been a strong second half the season for Utah, though.

Over their past 20 games, Utah has points in all but seven of them (11-7-2). That includes their game on Thursday’s night, an 8-0 drubbing at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Now they’ll make the short trip from Tampa to Sunrise and wrap up a back-to-back set against a rested and hungry Panthers squad.

If all goes well, Florida will get a boost to their lineup in the form of Brad Marchand.

The future Hall of Famers acquired by the Panthers at the Trade Deadline has been working his way back from an injury he suffered about a week before the deal was made.

Marchand has been skating with Florida for the past several weeks and has been nearing a return.

If he plays, he’ll line up on the Cats’ second line with his old buddy Sam Bennett and rookie Mackie Samoskevich.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Sunday’s showdown with the Pens:

Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart

Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Brad Marchand

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Evan Rodrigues

A.J. Greer – Nico Sturm – Jesper Boqvist

Gus Forsling – Seth Jones

Niko Mikkola – Tobias Bjornfot

Nate Schmidt – Uvis Balinskis

Scratches: Tomas Nosek, Jonah Gadjovich, Dmitry Kulikov

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For much of the game Thursday, it looked like the end of the winning run for the St. Louis Blues.

They fooled us again.

And by extending their winning streak to eight games with an incredible come-from-behind 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena, the Blues (39-28-7) found a new way to win.

And they found that they really can win in any fashion.

Their goal differential was plus-24 in the first seven games of this winning streak, but this was different. The Blues fought off a slow start and overcame a two-goal deficit by scoring twice in the third period in 19 seconds on goals by Cam Fowler and Dylan Holloway, who scored twice to extend his point streak to nine games (four goals, 10 assists) and after giving up two goals on his first five shots, Joel Hofer settled in to make 16 saves and win his fifth straight start.

Through it all, the Blues remained two points behind the Minnesota Wild for the first wild card in the Western Conference but moved five points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks for the second wild card and remained six ahead of the Calgary Flames, who lost 5-2 against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

“To have a comeback win, it wasn’t our best game by any means,” Holloway said. “We were kind of fighting it a bit early, but I think that to come back and win a game like that is huge for our team. That’s how we grow. It’s definitely crucial to know that we can do that.”

Coach Jim Montgomery said, “I think we just stuck with it. I thought it was important. Our first period was just OK and Nashville was checking really well. They were playing faster than us. The second period, we needed to win the period and we found a way to get a goal and then in the third period, we just felt that we hung around and we were going to prevail. It wasn’t a constant pressure, but we’re just a confident team that we think we’re going to find a way to win and we did tonight.”

It’s the Blues’ longest winning streak since they won nine in a row from April 2-17, 2022 but first time they were held under four goals. But all things considered, they’ll gladly take the two points.

Let’s dive into Thursday’s Three Takeaways:

* Finally found a forecheck, set play – The Blues trailed 2-1 in the third period, and it appeared that their winning streak would end.

There just didn’t seem to be that push that would be necessary to try and at least even the game up.

Through the first half of the third, they iced the puck six times and there just didn’t appear to be that desperate drive needed. They hadn’t been in this position in a while having to chase a game.

But for as well as the Predators (27-37-8), who were officially eliminated from the playoffs Thursday, checked and kept the Blues from getting to their forecheck, there was a crack.

It came on Fowler’s goal when the Blues were finally able to establish some zone time, worked the puck off the wall down low, and when Brayden Schenn found Jake Neighbours, he was able to find Fowler driving into the left circle and the defenseman sniped a wrister top shelf, short side at 11:57 to tie the game 2-2.

“Just tried to present my stick as an option if he needs it,” Fowler said of Neighbours. “That’s something we work on as a team and kind of offensive zone flow and we have to trust if a forward gets back there, he can get the puck to the net and I can crash for the rebound, or if he doesn’t like the shot, he can slide it over. Great play by him. Our whole shift, those guys worked really hard to get us that opportunity. I was happy to take advantage of it, but those guys made the whole play and made it happen for me.

“Credit to them, the first couple periods, they played a really solid game and didn’t give us much time and space. They were moving pucks fast and we didn’t get the chance to really establish our forecheck as we wanted to. It was frustrating for the first couple periods, but we came in here and tried to regroup in between and support one another. I thought we came out with a really strong third period and was able to get a couple big goals there to help us win. It was a great response by our guys.”

It was the juice needed, because at 12:19 when Holloway put the Blues ahead 3-2, it came off an icing and offensive zone face-off, a set play where Robert Thomas won the face-off to Holloway. He was supposed to find Jordan Kyrou as an option, but if it wasn’t there, get the puck to Thomas and enable to crafty center to make a play.

Thomas tried to find Kyrou from behind the net, but the puck caromed into the slot, and just like he did on the first goal he scored, Holloway used his speed to jump the play when the puck got caught in Michael Bunting’s skates and Holloway stole it and snapped it past Juuse Saros for the Blues’ first and only lead.

“We had a face-off play that we were running,” Holloway said. “’Tommer’ was hot on draws. I was supposed to go to to the corner and I get the puck, ‘Rouz’ was supposed to pop out, I give it low to ‘Tommer’ and then he looks slot. I was kind of rolling. I think he kind of missed ‘Rou’ and it was in Bunting’s skates and I was able to fish it out and get a good shot off.”

When all looked bleak, the Blues found a way, and Montgomery found something about his players again.

“That we’re resilient, that the confidence from everything that we’ve done is now come into the fact that we can win games in a lot of different fashions,” he said.

* Holloway goal key – The Blues needed something, anything to spark them. They had just three shots in the first period and little O-zone time, and Montgomery said if they can just find something positive in the second period, with the way the team has been winning and feeling confident, they would find a way.

Nathan Walker had a goal waved off earlier in the third period when a quick whistle blew a play dead – the second time in as many games it’s happened against Nashville.

But Holloway made another play. This time, again, hustling to jump into the neutral zone, disrupt a puck for Michael McCarron, and while falling down, create a loose puck for Thomas, who darted into the offensive zone, cut back and fed Holloway for a shot that got through Saros at 10:35 for a much-needed goal after Nashville had gone ahead 2-0 in the first on goals by Fedor Svechkov at 2:48 and Brady Skjei at 10:16.

“It was a neutral zone forecheck,” Holloway said. “As a F-2 there, you’re supposed to kind of take away the middle option. The guy went to the middle so I had a step in there. ‘Tommer’ made a great play, swooped in there, grabbed it. ‘Tommer’ is so good driving the ‘D’ down low and pulling it so I just tried to get him the play and he made a helluva pass to me. I was lucky enough for that one to squeak by.”

* Thomas/Schenn switch – Montgomery seems to have a pulse for when making a change, and he’s done so here in the past so many games when he flips Thomas and Schenn, so Thomas can play with Holloway and Kyrou, and Schenn goes with Neighbours and Zack Bolduc.

The Blues hadn’t had much offense, and had just 10 shots on goal through two periods, but only five through the first 30.

“Really it’s just looking for a spark,” Montgomery said. “I think we had five shots on net when I did it. It was 27 minutes into the game. I was just looking to put ‘Tommer’ with different players and ‘Schenner’ with different players and see if it sparked, and both lines scored. It worked.

“It’s just a feel that we’re not playing a normal possession game that we do and that maybe this will create something to spark, right.”

And it certainly did.

* A caveat for the end of the game was the Predators thought they had scored when Jonathan Marchessault put the puck in at the buzzer for what appeared to be a 3-3 game, but a quick review showed the puck was put in after the horn went off.

“I couldn’t hear anything,” Hofer said. “I was just getting ready for overtime. I was getting ready for overtime and all the boys came up to me and told us we won, so it was a good feeling.

“I knew it was close. I looked up and saw zeroes, but it’s happened to us a couple times this year with a couple seconds or what not. Luckily we were on the right side of it tonight.”

“It was huge. A little adversity for us at the start. We never gave up. We kept chipping at it. We got one in the second that gave us a chance in the third. It was a great third period for us. They didn’t have much. I thought we deserved that one tonight.”

There wasn't a whole lot to write home about in the Pittsburgh Penguins' brutal 7-3 road loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Goaltender Tristan Jarry was pulled for the second consecutive game, an outing which included two Sabres goals on the first two shots of the game. The Penguins' defense - on the blue line and within the forward unit - was asleep at the wheel, seemingly uninterested in, well, playing defense. Luck was not on their side, either, as bounces failed to go their way left and right.

But, in what is now almost certainly a lost season, one bounce did go their way. And - ultimately - it was the one that mattered most in this game between two teams at or near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. 

With eight minutes and 49 seconds left in the first period and trailing 2-0, the Penguins were forechecking low, and Rickard Rakell gathered the puck. He threw a pass to the net-front to Sidney Crosby, who kicked it to his own stick and flicked the puck bar-down past Sabres netminder James Reimer.

HISTORY‼️

Sidney Crosby passes Wayne Gretzky for the most point-per-game seasons with 20 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Y6f16yMzI6

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) March 27, 2025

And with that goal - Crosby's 26th of the season - he clinched his 20th consecutive season at point-per-game, which officially broke Wayne Gretzky's previous record of 19.

THE KING OF CONSISTENCY 🤯

Sidney Crosby breaks Wayne Gretzky's record with the 20th point-per-game season of his outstanding career! pic.twitter.com/Qi5zBebggh

— NHL (@NHL) March 27, 2025

The Sabres scored the next five goals, all in the second period. And Blake Lizotte and Kevin Hayes added tallies for Pittsburgh in the final frame to make the final score 7-3. But it was Crosby who was the star of the night, and he once again proved why he's been the star of the last two decades for the NHL.

"It's remarkable," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "He's in such rare company with where he is right now. With every milestone that he crosses, I guess, it just puts him in more elite company than he's already in. So, I just think, when you think in terms of 20 seasons in a row with such consistency, it's an amazing accomplishment.

"And it doesn't surprise me because I know how hard he works and how hard he trains, and he controls everything in his power to set himself up for success and, ultimately, the team. I've said it on so many occasions, just his passion for the game, his willingness to put the work in to continue to be at his best... it's just remarkable."

BREAKING: Sidney Crosby Breaks Wayne Gretzky's Point-Per-Game Seasons RecordAfter 20 years in the making,

His teammates are nothing short of amazed at their captain's accomplishment, too, as several of them have been around to witness it for a decade or more.

"He's a tremendously special player and person," linemate Bryan Rust said, who has been with the team since 2014. "You can see his hard work in everything. Just... 20 years is a huge accomplishment. It says more about him as a person than as a player. 

"He works extremely hard, and he knows what it takes. There's a lot of people who can be good for one, two, or five years, but to do it that long... I think that's incredibly special."

Crosby, of course, gave a lot of credit to the guys he has played with over the years in helping him achieve the milestone. But with the competitor he is, he knew it didn't taste quite the same because of the way the team lost.

And no one should expect anything less from the game's ultimate - and, literally, its most consistent - competitor.

"You play to win," Crosby said. "It's obviously a special milestone, but in a game like that, it's not really the same. So, just a tough night. Tough night."

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There's nothing like a Philadelphia Flyers game that makes you feel every emotion under the sun. Joy, frustration, relief, heartbreak, elation—it was all there in the leadup to and during the Flyers' 6-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

But it wasn’t just about the hockey. The game came on the heels of a bombshell morning: John Tortorella, the fiery, demanding, and often polarizing head coach, was relieved of his duties. Assistant coach Brad Shaw was suddenly thrust into the lead role, tasked with keeping the Flyers steady amid the storm.

Then, there was the curious case of Cam York—dressed but not playing, due to a "disciplinary issue." It all made for a bizarre, tension-filled day that could have easily unraveled the Flyers.

Instead, it was a night where Matvei Michkov nearly had his first NHL hat trick, the Flyers played with a renewed sense of energy even after a tough stretch of losses, and, despite all the chaos surrounding them, finally got a result that matched the effort they've been putting in. 

1. Matvei Michkov Almost Had His Moment

It felt like the entire Wells Fargo Center was ready to explode. Matvei Michkov had already lit the lamp twice and was hunting for his first career NHL hat trick. Every time he touched the puck, you could feel the anticipation in the building.

For a brief moment, it looked like he had it. His second goal of the night was originally credited to him, but after a closer look, it was determined that Sean Couturier got a piece of it in front. No hat trick—yet.

Then came the final minutes, when the Canadiens’ net was empty. The puck found Travis Konecny, who had a clear shot at an easy goal but instead opted to dish it to Michkov, wanting to set up the rookie’s milestone moment. It was the perfect storybook ending… until the puck clanked off the post.

Matvei Michkov came so close to his first career hat trick... pic.twitter.com/ny0MYEXsXP

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 28, 2025

It was a moment that summed up everything about Michkov’s rise—electrifying, dramatic, and just the tiniest bit cruel. The hat trick didn’t come, but it’s only a matter of time before it does. The kid is special, and everyone—his teammates, the fans, the entire organization—knows it.

"I had my hands up [ready to celebrate]!" Konecny laughed postgame when asked about Michkov's shot not going in. "I'm laughing. It is what it is. I feel bad for him. I don't think he has [a hat trick] yet, so I'm sure he was upset about it. But he'll have plenty more opportunities."

2. Brad Shaw Steered the Ship Through a Chaotic Day

Nobody wakes up expecting to be an NHL head coach by the time they go to bed, but that was Brad Shaw’s reality.

With John Tortorella dismissed, it fell on Shaw’s shoulders to rally a team that had just lost its leader. It was an emotional day, no matter how you slice it. Love him or hate him, Tortorella set a tone in that room. His presence was massive, and adjusting to life without him wasn’t easy.

"A really good friend of mine lost his job," Shaw said postgame. "He's been a real mentor to me in my career as a coach, so it was very bittersweet. But once the day starts rolling...I got a lot of support from the staff and we kept most things status quo. We weren't interested in doing a lot of tinkering."

Brad Shaw was visibly emotional when talking about Torts and how “bittersweet” today was. Said he doesn’t think there’s a better human being in the game and that he respects Torts so much as a person and a hockey personality. #LetsGoFlyers

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) March 28, 2025

And to their credit, the Flyers responded the right way. They played a fast, determined game—one that mirrored the style they’ve been trying to execute all season. There was no panic, no sign of a team unraveling under the weight of the news. If anything, they looked sharper, more energized.

"I thought the guys played hard and played smart and obviously we finished more plays at the net and reaped the benefits," Shaw continued. "We got a big enough lead that we could take it home and get the win."

Shaw didn’t overhaul anything overnight, but his calm, measured presence clearly had an effect. He made sure his players knew the mission hadn’t changed. And after a string of frustrating results, finally getting a win—especially under these circumstances—felt like a weight lifted off everyone’s shoulders. The collective sigh of relief in the postgame interviews was palpable.

For now, Shaw is the guy behind the bench. Whether he’s the long-term answer remains to be seen, but if his debut as head coach proved anything, it’s that the Flyers aren’t about to let this season slip away.

"I came to Philly to be an assistant coach with [Tortorella]," he explained of the whirlwind of suddenly undertaking head coach responsibilities. "I never really put a lot of thought into the head coaching because I never really planned on it. But now that it's here and I have these nine games...[we're] gonna see how good we can get those nine games to be."

Across his career behind the bench, Shaw has served as head coach twice—with the Detroit Vipers in the IHL during the 2000-01 season, and with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in the AHL from 2002-2005.

“Went to talk with Danny about what the plan was for the next nine games, went back to my desk, and tried to remember how to be a head coach.”

—Brad Shaw on what the process was for him preparing for this game as HC#LetsGoFlyers

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) March 28, 2025

3. Cam York Was Benched, but the Flyers’ Defense Held Firm

There was an odd sight during warmups: Cam York, in full gear, going through his routine like any other night. But when the game started, he never hit the ice. The official word? A "disciplinary issue."

Brad Shaw says that Cam York did not play tonight because of a “disciplinary issue.” Said that the plan is for him to play next game. #LetsGoFlyers

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) March 28, 2025

There was no elaboration from Shaw, but whatever happened, it was serious enough for York to get a front-row seat to the action without actually playing. Given how much responsibility he carries on the blue line, it was a bold move—especially considering the Flyers were already facing a tough workload against a fast Canadiens team.

But credit where it’s due: the rest of the defense stepped up. With one fewer body in the rotation, every blueliner had to log heavier minutes, and they handled it well. The pairing of Nick Seeler and Travis Sanheim held things down, while Jamie Drysdale, Emil Andrae, and Egor Zamula all did their part to keep the defensive wall solid. And despite some inevitable breakdowns, the Flyers’ defense did enough to keep the game from slipping away.

"I think I played with everyone!" Sanheim joked postgame. "The D-core stepped up huge. It's not easy to have five guys and have to play more minutes than they're used to...I'm just really proud of the guys sticking together. We made mistakes, had tired legs, but we battled through and I'm really happy about it."

Final Thoughts

Some wins feel routine. Others carry a little extra weight. This one? It felt downright cathartic.

After everything that happened—the firing of their coach, the questions surrounding York, the gut-punch of Michkov’s near hat trick—the Flyers emerged with a well-earned victory. It was the kind of game that proved that even without playoffs, every guy on this team has something to play for.

"We have eight games left," Nic Deslauriers said postgame. "There's some people playing for contracts, some people playing to stay in the league. We all have something to play for, and if it's not just for yourself, it's for the guy beside you. We stick together."

They’ve played good hockey lately without getting rewarded. This time, they got what they deserved.And if nothing else, it showed that this team isn’t going anywhere. They’re still here. They’re still battling. And when they're playing their brand of free, creative, energetic hockey, they’re still a force to be reckoned with.