It has been a whirlwind year for Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany. 

Last May, he signed a three-year extension with Pittsburgh worth $775,000 annually at the NHL level. He made the NHL club out of training camp, and - after struggling through the first month of the season - he was optioned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) on Dec. 3 to find his game again.

And just four days after his re-assignment, he went down with an injury that kept him out of the lineup for almost two months. It took him a while to get back to 100 percent, both physically and mentally.

Now? St. Ivany is fully healthy and ready to capitalize on the opportunity in front of him and the rest of the squad in WBS. In 32 games with WBS this season, he has a goal and 11 points and is a plus-4, and he has spent a lot of time on the top pairing with Sebastian Aho.

"Injury was unfortunate, and it took a little time to get back," St. Ivany said. "The first, maybe, five or six games after not playing, it was a little bit of finding myself. And then, I feel like I started to string together a lot of games, and I'm having a really good time here."

St. Ivany spent 19 games at the NHL level to start the season, registering just one point. But it wasn't the production that failed to mirror what the Penguins' coaching staff saw in the 6-foot-4, 205-pound blueliner last season.

A lot of the shortcomings in St. Ivany's game in the earlygoing this season were in the defensive details that he seemed to handle with a high degree of confidence and execution in 2023-24 to pair with his physicality and skating ability.

Unfortunately, his slow start to the season was a bit of a blow to that confidence, and the coaching staff saw an opportunity to allow him to try and find that again at the AHL level. So they made the difficult decision to option him.

"When I got sent down, it was just a little bit about confidence," St. Ivany said. "I feel like my game kind of dipped a little bit. The conversations with [the coaching staff] were just that it's hard as a younger player to re-find that in their experience. And they found that going down to the AHL and playing a lot more minutes is when you can start to develop. So, for me, it's just about keeping it simple, defending hard, using my feet, and then, it's just building confidence."

St. Ivany admitted that the initial disappointment of being sent down did affect him a bit, especially given his situation coming out of the summer.

"I mean, this past summer, signing a three-year contract like I did, it was with the idea that I'd have some runway to make it to the NHL," he said. "So, obviously, it's disappointing when you get sent down because it's everyone's dream to be there, but you can't feel too sorry for yourself for too long.

"I just got back at it and started working. I love the game, so it doesn't really matter where I play. I'm going to have fun doing it."

McGroarty Scores First NHL Goal In Penguins 5-4 Overtime Loss To BluesThe Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday - which gave the Blues their whopping 11th straight win - obviously wasn't the desired result.

And it's evident that St. Ivany - like everyone else in Wilkes-Barre - is certainly having fun. The team culture in WBS is top-notch, as pretty much every player at the team's practice in Pittsburgh on Thursday echoed the same sentiments about how tight-knit the team is. St. Ivany was one of them.

"It's great," he said. "Some guys I played with last year, so I have familiarity there. But then, the other guys... it just feels like a college team, almost. Everyone's young, and everyone's loving coming to the rink, and it just makes playing really easy when you're playing with your best friends.

"So, I've had a great time. I feel like, down the stretch here, we've started to gel together a lot. The best teams, they have that kind of chemistry off the ice... and I feel like we definitely have that."

The chemistry that the crop of players in WBS has built is clear, and it shows in the results. The team has already clinched a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs, and they are currently vying for a first-round bye down the final stretch of the regular season.

But, at the end of the day, there is still a much bigger picture, and the guys on that team are aware of it. St. Ivany is, too.

Many of the players on what is regarded as one of the best teams WBS has had in the past couple of decades are on the brink of NHL readiness. For many of them, the work that they're putting into developing a winning culture is something they hope to carry over as they transition to the NHL level. 

'We Have A Close Team': WBS Penguins Practice In Pittsburgh, Talk Chemistry Of GroupThe Penguins took to the ice for practice on Thursday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa.

St. Ivany mentioned all the photos on the wall in WBS of players like Bryan Rust, former Penguin Jake Guentzel, and Tristan Jarry - who were part of successful AHL teams when they went through the system - and that they're in the NHL for a reason.

He knows that a championship-hungry mindset is something that they have to maintain as both a collective unit and as individuals - especially as they start to populate the NHL roster in the coming seasons.

So this Calder Cup run is vitally important to them.

"It's no surprise that when you win at the AHL level, it usually translates to the NHL level," St. Ivany said. "So, I think for us, it's just building that winning culture. And, hopefully - when we all make the jump up - it's able to translate to the next level."

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The Calgary Flames (36-27-12, fourth in the Pacific Division, five points away from the second wild-card spot) will host the Vegas Golden Knights (45-22-8, first in the Pacific Division, 79.9% to win Division).

This will be the third of four meetings between the two teams. Vegas dominated both previous matchups

This will be a big test for the Flames who are coming off a comfortable and a morale-lifting 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. While that was a matchup the Flames were expected to win, the Knights are a completely different beast. The Knights have already locked in their playoff spot, and are looking to clinch the Pacific division title. They have tremendous offensive power with the likes of Mark Stone, Conn Smythe Trophy candidate Jack Eichel and two-way defenseman Shea Theodore. This Vegas team comes into Thursday with the best power play percentage overall AND in the last 30 days. Talk about pressure…

But let’s think positive: A win for the home side will be a MASSIVE game-changer.

And it can happen. This season, the Flames have registered wins against teams like Winnipeg and Washington, the two teams who are on their way to owning the best records in their respective conferences. 

There is plenty to be optimistic about in this game.

HEAD 2 HEAD

Based on both prior games this season, the Calgary Flames have the eighth-worst save percentage against the Vegas Golden Knights at even-strength situations. While the Flames did go 5-of-6 (83.33%) on the PK, Dan Vladar (who was the goalie in both those games) will be rested according to pre-game reports to make way for Dustin Wolf to be in goal. We’ve only had good things to say about him.

But no matter who is the goalie, the Knights offense love dishing shots on them as  Vegas unloaded Vladar with 37.5 shots per game, the third-most shots on goal to any team all season.

On the other side, the Flames having been shutout in both games against the Knights. In fact, they are the ONLY team in the league to have yet to score against Vegas.

It doesn’t take much to figure out that if there is a “prove it” game for the Flames offense to break out in, this is that game. Especially, for their power play unit…. and especially for a team that wants to prove that they belong in the playoff picture.

But it might be an uphill battle considering that Calgary has dispensed only 23.5 shots on goal per game to the Knights, the second-worst to any team this season.

TALE OF THE TAPE (SKATERS)

TALE OF THE TAPE (GOALIES)

PLAYOFF ODDS

With the Flames the lone team in this game looking to clinch a playoff spot, the following chart shows how those odds will pan out depending on the result:

Calling this a tough game is definitely an understatement, and prior history suggests the Knights probably have marked this as a win. Calgary faithful need to pack the Saddledome and really get loud and rally the Flames to squeeze out a W.

As the New York Islanders prepare to host the Washington Capitals on Sunday at 12:30 ET, Alex Ovechkin comes in looking to make NHL history.

After a two-goal game on Friday, he looks to stand alone as the NHL’s all-time leader in goals. 

Ovechkin lit the lamp in the first period to score his 893rd career goal to move within one of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record:

Is two more too much to ask for? pic.twitter.com/3Bmg2K2RKH

— x - Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 4, 2025

In the third period, Ovechkin scored a power-play goal from his left dot office to tie The Great One:

An incredible moment in @Capitals history shared by the best duo in hockey.

👂 Listen in to @JoeBpXp & @Laughlin18 for @ovi8's record tying goal from the MNMT broadcast booth.
#Gr8Chase by @Venture_Global | #ALLCAPSpic.twitter.com/V3ZvLlKdxL

— Monumental Sports Network (@MonSportsNet) April 5, 2025

The league and fans have taken full notice of the occasion, with Sunday poised to be a big day as history is on the doorstep.

As of Friday night, the cheapest tickets to get in on Ticketmaster cost well over $1,000, with prices skyrocketing after Ovechkin got his first goal on Friday. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Gretzky will also be in attendance for a potential on-ice ceremony. 

The Islanders and Capitals drop the puck on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The game will be available nationally on TNT, TruTV, and Max.

Matthew Page wrote this story. 

The Florida Panthers are hoping a couple days off will help cure whatever is ailing them.

Florida arrives at Canadian Tire Centre for a battle with the Ottawa Senators having lost each of their past three games.

After dropping a home-and-home with the Montreal Canadiens, the Panthers saw their latest third period lead vanish on Wednesday night in Toronto.

The down week has cost the Cats their spot atop the Atlantic Division, as they now sit in third place, four points behind the Maple Leafs and one behind Tampa Bay.

All three teams have seven games remaining on their respective regular season schedules.

Florida will also be playing quite a bit shorthanded, missing Sasha Barkov, Nico Sturm, Dmitry Kulikov and Matthew Tkachuk due to injury. Aaron Ekblad is also out until Game 3 of the playoffs due to a suspension.

Ottawa, meanwhile, has solidified their spot in the Wild Card race thanks to an 11-3-1 March run.

Entering Saturday with a seven-point cushion on the New York Rangers, the first time out of the playoffs, the Senators can close to within four points of the Panthers with a regulation win.

Game on. Don't forget, it's a 2 p.m. ET puck drop. 

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Saturday’s scrum with the Sens:

Jesper Boqvist – Sam Bennett – Sam Reinhart

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Mackie Samoskevich

A.J. Greer – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich

Gus Forsling – Seth Jones

Niko Mikkola – Nate Schmidt

Jaycob Megna – Uvis Balinskis

Scratches: Sasha Barkov, Nico Sturm, Dmitry Kulikov

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The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Washington Capitals on Friday night in DC. The game was between a President's Trophy candidate and a lottery team. However, it had a lot more juice because of The Great Chase. 

Alexander Ovechkin entered Friday with 892 career goals, which was two shy of Wayne Gretzky's record. Of course, it was "business as usual" mentality for the Blackhawks, but it was hard to avoid thinking about what was at stake. 

You don't go into an NHL game thinking a specific player would have a hat trick but with Ovechkin, you can never rule it out. 

It only took him 3:52 to get his first of the game and 893rd of his career. His 40th goal of the season was to take a 1-0 lead. Ovechkin's 14 40-goal seasons are the most in NHL history. 

After that, the Blackhawks scored two straight goals. Tyler Bertuzzi and Frank Nazar were the scorers who gave Chicago a 2-1 lead. On the Nazar goal, Oliver Moore earned his first career NHL point with an assist. 

Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) on XOliver Moore gets his first NHL point on this Frank Nazar goal ‼️

Just under the mid-way point of the second period, the Blackhawks and Capitals exchanged goals. Martin Fahervary scored to tie the game and Philipp Kurashev scored ten seconds later for the lead right back. 

In the third period, Dylan Strome was credited with an own goal as Connor Murphy hit it into his own net. This mistake by Murphy kept Ovechkin from scoring his second of the game as he was on the doorstep by the loose puck. 

Ovechkin would eventually get that second goal just a few minutes later to tie Wayne Gretzky's record. His 894th career goal was celebrated as every Capital player spilled over the bench to hug their teammate. The building was as loud as a home Stanley Cup victory. 

Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) on XAlex Ovechkin has tied Wayne Gretzky's record for the most goals scored in NHL history with 894 career goals.

Ryan Leonard scored his first career NHL goal into the empty net and the Capitals won the game 5-3. Ovechkin had multiple chances on net when he needed one more to break the record but Spencer Knight stood tall. 

Once the game was over, the Blackhawks stayed out on the ice to shake Ovechkin's hand. Now, he will attempt the break the record against the New York Islanders on Sunday night. 

Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) on XRespect.

The Blackhawks played the Capitals, one of the best teams in the NHL, hard all game. They stayed with them until Ovechkin gave them the lead in the third. Their speed, skill, and youth are on full display to end the season despite the results. 

Oliver Moore collected his first career point and it took him no time to get his second. The speedy forward is capable of creating with a hard forecheck, which was evident on Friday.

Chicago's next game is against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday evening. They will go from trying to stop Alexander Ovechkin to trying to stop Sidney Crosby. That is never a fun stretch.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

ELMONT N.Y. -- The New York Islanders, despite recently slipping in the standings, fought well Friday at UBS Arena and eventually picked up two hard earned points by defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-1. 

Ilya Sorokin made 27 saves leading the way, and now will face Alex Ovechkin, who on Sunday will have a chance to break the NHL goal record. 

The first half of the opening period saw the Islanders get chance. Simon Holmstrom had the best opportunity but could not wrap it past the pad of Wild goalie, Filip Gustavsson.

Holmstrom later drew the game’s first penalty but New York did not get a shot on net.

Not long after the power play ended Hudson Fasching got called for holding Marco Rossi, giving the Wild their first man-advantage. 

Minnesota fired away at Sorokin, getting four shots on net but none lit the lamp. 

The pace then picked up and the Wild carried the play, finishing the period outshooting the Islanders 11-4. New York was held without a shot from the 8:47 mark.

Mats Zuccarello opened the scoring early in the second period from a bad angle. With the puck below the goal line, Zuccarello whacked at it and it deflected off Sorokin’s mask and into the net to give the Wild a 1-0 lead. 

Minnesota goal!

Scored by Mats Zuccarello with 18:18 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Marcus Johansson.

New York: 0
Minnesota: 1#MINvsNYI#Isles#mnwildpic.twitter.com/FAtYcnD6QY

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 5, 2025

Not even a minute later the Islanders responded to tie the game at 1-1.

Pierre Engvall had a short-side shot saved by Gustavsson. Casey Cizikas tracked down the puck, cycled it to the point, and tipped a shot from Noah Dobson that made its way into the net for his seventh goal of the year.

#Isles even things up.

Casey Cizikas tips Dobson’s shot with 17:42 to go in the second. pic.twitter.com/TSMELkExkL

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 5, 2025

Not long after, New York found themselves with a 2-1 lead. 

Max Tsyplakov made a nifty move in the neutral zone to set up Holmstrom charging towards the net. Holmstrom tried to set up Alexander Romanov, who joined the rush, for a tap-in but it bounced off Freddy Gaudreau’s skate and in. 

Holmstrom 🚨#Isles get two goals in 1:44 to take a 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/vgFy4M7MvL

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 5, 2025

Holmstrom, already with a career high in goals, sits only two away from the 20-mark with 18 as the season winds down..

The rest of the period was dominated by the Islanders but not many shots to show for it. With a 2-1 lead, the Wild still owned the lead in shots, 19-17.

New York got their second power play of the game three minutes into the period and made no mistake with it.

Noah Dobson rifled a one-timer that clanged off the post and then dropped in giving the Isles a 3-1 lead.

Noah Dobson plays catch with Tony DeAngelo at the blue line then scores the PPG.

3-1 #Isles  with 16:24 to go. pic.twitter.com/CqeKoeJUnX

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 5, 2025

It was Dobson’s ninth goal of the year and his second point of the night.

The Islanders played down the stretch tight, and didn't allow the Wild much.

With a Minnesota empty net, Sorokin stood tall to finish off the game and a much needed win for the Islanders with a final score of 3-1.

The Islanders will skate again on Sunday at 12:30 PM as they host the Washington Capitals.

NEW YORK (AP) — Noah Dobson had a goal and an assist, and the New York Islanders beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Friday night to snap a six-game losing streak.

Casey Cizikas and Simon Holmstrom also scored for New York, while Ilya Sorokin made 27 saves. The Islanders are looking to finish the season strong with seven games remaining.

Mats Zuccarello scored for Minnesota, and Filip Gustavsson made 24 saves in the Wild’s fourth straight loss.

Holmstrom gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead when his pass deflected off Frederick Gaudreau’s right skate and past Gustavsson at 4:02 of the second period.

Dobson’s power-play goal at 3:36 of the third gave the Islanders a two-goal advantage.

Takeaways

Wild: Defenseman Jake Middleton left the game in the second period and did not return.

Islanders: New York forward Matt Martin returned to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 16. The 35-year-old replaced forward Anthony Duclair, who is taking time away from the team to reflect on the season.

Key moment

Cizikas redirected a shot from Dobson past Gustavsson to tie the score 36 seconds after Zuccarello gave the Wild a brief 1-0 lead early in the second period.

Key stat

The Wild have struggled on the road of late, losing five straight and seven of their past eight. Minnesota is tied for third in the NHL with 22 wins away from home this season.

Up next

Wild host Dallas on Sunday, and Islanders host Alex Ovechkin, who scored his 894th career goal Friday to draw level with Wayne Gretzky's all-time mark, and the Washington Capitals.

St. Louis Blues prospect Nikita Alexandrov is enjoying a great season down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Springfield Thunderbirds. In 44 games this campaign with the AHL squad, he has 21 goals, 28 assists, 49 points, and a plus-10 rating. 

Yet, what's more impressive about Alexandrov's strong season with the Thunderbirds is that he is only getting better as it continues. The 24-year-old forward has been on fire lately, posting four goals and 10 points in his last eight contests. In addition, he has recorded 14 goals and 34 points in his previous 26 games. With numbers like these, he has been simply outstanding for the AHL squad.

Alexandrov has yet to play in a game this season for the Blues. However, if he continues to dominate the AHL, it will be interesting to see if it leads to him getting a shot on the NHL roster before the regular season is over.

In 51 career NHL games over two seasons with the Blues, he has three goals, six assists, and nine points.   

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It appears a key forward is nearing a return for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Center Evgeni Malkin - out since Mar. 23 with an upper-body injury - was a full participant when the Penguins practiced Friday in Dallas. Malkin skated in his customary second-line center position between Rickard Rakell and rookie Ville Koivunen, which is a combination that was showcased briefly during training camp.

Malkin is expected to be a game-time decision for Saturday's tilt against the Dallas Stars.

These were the lines and pairings from practice on Friday with Malkin back in the fold:

McGroarty-Crosby-Rust
Rakell-Malkin-Koivunen
Dewar-Hayes-Tomasino
Heinen-Lizotte-Acciari

Grzyleck-Letang
Timmins-Karlsson
Graves-Kolyachonok/Shea

-  In other news, the Penguins officially optioned forward Emil Bemstrom back to Wilkes-Barre Scranton (WBS) on Friday. Bemstrom was waived by the Penguins on Apr. 1 and cleared the next day, but the Penguins kept him on their roster until Friday. He registered one point in 13 games with the NHL club this season.

Bemstrom will rejoin WBS for their Calder Cup quest. Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate has already clinched a playoff berth, but they are vying for a first-round bye in the final stretch of the season. 

In 43 AHL games this season, Bemstrom recorded 21 goals and 46 points in 43 games and was named to the AHL All-Star team. He led the team in scoring prior to his NHL call-up on Feb. 7. 

McGroarty Scores First NHL Goal In Penguins 5-4 Overtime Loss To BluesThe Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday - which gave the Blues their whopping 11th straight win - obviously wasn't the desired result.

-  Rutger McGroarty scored his first NHL goal on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues with just 23.8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. 

As for what he plans to do with his first-goal puck (which, evidently, Koivunen - who also registered his first NHL point on the play - let him keep)?

"I plan to give the puck to my parents," McGroarty said. "They've been there through every stage, and they've helped me with just about everything in my life. I couldn't be here without him."

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