NHL Nugget: In Only NHL Game, D-Man Scored Final Game-Tying Goal In League History

Carolina Hurricanes (Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Weekend's Way Back When heads back to April 4, 2004, when one player's league debut had special significance.

Brad Fast played the only NHL game of his career for the Carolina Hurricanes. He played over 20 minutes in a goals fest against the Florida Panthers.

No other NHL game ended this way since that match, when Brad Fast got on the scoreboard.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.     

NHL Rumor Roundup: Sabres' Peterka, Rangers' Coach And Kraken's Plans Generate Speculation

JJ Peterka (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

The anticipated rise in the NHL’s salary cap to $95.5 million for next season might encourage some teams to pursue a rival club's leading RFA with an offer sheet. 

A GM might draw inspiration from the St. Louis Blues' bold signings of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg last summer from the Edmonton Oilers. Both players have been key contributors to the Blues' second-half surge into a Western Conference wild-card spot.

Buffalo Sabres left winger JJ Peterka could an RFA to watch. The 23-year-old is completing his entry-level contract and has reached a career-best 60 points in 69 games.

The Hockey News’ Michael Augello wrote that Peterka often plays with Tage Thompson on the top line, but he’s been eligible for a contract extension since last July, and his name even surfaced in trade speculation around the deadline. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli and Carter Hutton believe Peterka could be a prime offer-sheet candidate.

The Sabres have a projected cap space of $23.2 million with 16 active roster players under contract for next season. They have plenty of room to match an offer for Peterka, but they must also ensure they have sufficient cap room to re-sign other RFAs, such as Bowen Byram, Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod and Jacob Bernard-Docker. 

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers' firing of coach John Tortorella last week prompted some observers to speculate about Peter Laviolette's future as the New York Rangers' bench boss. After guiding the Blueshirts to the Presidents' Trophy last season, Laviolette has struggled to keep his club in the playoff race in a season of uncertainty amid frequent roster shakeups.

The Hockey News’ Stan Fischler believes the Rangers should replace Laviolette with Tortorella immediately to wake up the underachievers.

Arthur Staple of The Athletic recently examined the pros and cons of replacing Laviolette. If management decides to make a coaching change, they're unlikely to bring in someone lacking NHL experience, like Denver University's David Carle or Cam Abbott of the AHL's Chicago Wolves. 

Staple observed that Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins was on their shortlist of coaching candidates two years ago. However, Sullivan doesn't appear interested in leaving Pittsburgh, and the Penguins wouldn't want to risk him being hired by a division rival.

NHL Rumor Roundup: What Will The New York Rangers Do This Summer?NHL Rumor Roundup: What Will The New York Rangers Do This Summer?The New York Rangers continue to jockey for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Nevertheless, their off-season plans remain the subject of media speculation.

Turning to the Seattle Kraken, Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times believes they'll be busy during the off-season attempting to bolster their roster following another disappointing campaign. 

Shefte observed the Kraken's offense has improved this season, but their goals-against increased while their special teams were among the league's bottom third. She noted they're set to land a top-five first-round draft pick and have the cap space and trade bait to add to their lineup this summer.

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Takeaways from the Ducks' 4-1 Loss to the Flames

With the number of games remaining in the 2024-25 season down to single digits, the Anaheim Ducks took to the road for a two-game trip to Western Canada, starting on Thursday with a matchup against the Calgary Flames.

Apr 3, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

The Ducks were coming off of a shootout win on Tuesday in which they fended off a comeback from the San Jose Sharks and entered Thursday having won three of their previous four games.

The Flames came into this game hoping to remain relevant in the Western Conference wild card standings and creep within five points of the Minnesota Wild with a game in hand. They had only logged one win in their prior four games.

Brett Leason was inserted into the lineup in place of Nikita Neserenko on the fourth line. Pavel Mintyukov was given the night off as a healthy scratch in favor of Oliver Kylington, who slotted in on the left side of Drew Helleson.

John Gibson received the start in net for the Ducks in this game. He saved 23 of the 26 shots he faced before he was forced to exit the game after the second period. He has started six games since the NHL 4 Nations break and has only been able to finish half of them.

Gibson was relieved by Lukas Dostal, who saved seven of eight shots in the third period.

In net for Calgary was rookie sensation Dustin Wolf, who stopped 26 of the 27 shots Anaheim was able to get through to him.

Apr 3, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) makes a save against Calgary Flames center Kevin Rooney (21) during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Here are my notes from this game:

Breakout-Anaheim didn’t have much trouble connecting on first outlets out of the defensive zone, but they did have trouble manufacturing any sort of impactful offense from those passes. Calgary did well to always have an aggressive pinching defenseman down the board and a high or backtracking F3 to cover and thwart any rush threat.

The Flames were able to pounce on second passes out of the zone and quickly turn them up ice for counterattacks, keeping Anaheim’s defense on their heels.

Trevor Zegras-This was a rare undetailed effort from Zegras, especially low in the defensive zone. Because of the constant motion of the Flames’ attackers, he was often tasked with assuming traditional center responsibilities as the low forward in the defensive zone, but often lost his assignment, was late to react, and became too puck-focused away from it.

Olen Zellweger-Zellweger may have been the Ducks' best player in this game. He was playing free and active in all three zones, looking to jump into rushes and search for passing lanes. He trusted his elite skating to recover and protected the middle of the ice well.

Radko Gudas-Gudas’ lack of lateral mobility was apparent when defending Calgary’s speed on counterattacks. An adjustment to angling techniques will be necessary if he’s to limit the number of times forwards are going to drive or make moves to the outside.

He does well when making simple plays with the puck on his stick, but judgment and overcommitments without the puck often take him out of plays.

The Ducks will next travel to British Columbia to take on the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday for a 1 pm PST matinee.

It's Time To Check Out How The Homestretch Sked Affects The Rangers

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

"PLAYOFFS OR BUST" remains a live Rangers theme and that's a fact.

But the final make-it-or fail  result will hinge on the remaining games scheduled for the Rangers and its competitors.

Realistically, the schedule works against New York. That starts with the fact that the Montreal Canadiens won over Boston last night.

The victory leapfrogged the Habs over New York for the final Wild Card position. So, let's check out the homestretch schedule for the WC contenders from here to the Finish Line.

RANGERS: The Blueshirts are in Newark tomorrow afternoon. After that they have six more games: Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Islanders, Hurricanes, Panthers and Tampa again.

CANADIENS: Leading for the remaining Wild Card spot, Montreal next faces Nashville, Detroit, Ottawa, Toronto, Chicago and Carolina.

COLUMBUS: Having lost to Colorado, the Blue Jackets still have games in hand on their rivals. Next up for the BJ's are Toronto, Ottawa (home and home), Buffalo, Washington (home and home) followed by Philadelphia and concluding with the Islanders.

DETROIT: Carolina, Panthers, Habs, Panthers, Dallas, New Jersey and Toronto.

FORECAST: The Maven's Supreme Analyst, Jess Rubenstein, puts Montreal in the Catbird Seat and insists that the Canadiens will get the final plum.

"The Habs have the easiest schedule as they play just three playoff contenders," says Rubenstein. "Starting tomorrow in New Jersey, the Rangers will face a total of five playoff contenders.

"Columbus will have to play six of the better teams while Detroit has the worst schedule – all seven remaining games are against contenders."

With a two-game winning streak on the line tomorrow against New Jersey, the Rangers are now in "Mustwinland" – and had better have their Victory visas ready!

Otherwise it will be a question of better luck next time! And "next time" – or next year – may never be!