The Colorado Avalanche pulled out a come-from-behind, 3-2 shootout win over Chicago Wednesday night to improve their regular-season record to 46-26-4. The win was the Avs' fifth win in their past seven games, but with the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets still playing well, Colorado is likely to finish the season in third place in the highly-competiive Central Division.

Still, the Avalanche need to thrive in their final six games in order to go into the Stanley Cup playoffs on a high note. And a look at their final six opponents demonstrates that the Avs will face a tough test before the post-season arrives.

Colorado has a desperate Blue Jackets team to deal with Thursday night in Columbus. The Blue Jackets have won three of their past four games, and they can move into a tie with Montreal for the second and final wild card berth with a victory over the Avalanche. The Avs lost to the Jackets 6-4 in their previous meeting this season, but that was in Colorado's second game of the year. The Avalanche should fare considerably better this time around.

The Avs get a day off after Thursday's tilt, but they're right back into the fire Saturday as they take on the white-hot Blues in St. Louis. The Blues have won 10 straight games, and on Thursday, they host the sad-sack Pittsburgh Penguins, so 11 straight wins is very possible for them. St. Louis doesn't want to take its foot off the gas, as they could overtake the Minnesota Wild for the first wild card spot in the Western Conference, so Colorado should expect a fierce fight from the Blues on Saturday.

Then, next Tuesday, the Avalanche host the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas doesn't quite have first place in the Pacific Division locked up, with the Los Angeles Kings currently five standings points behind the Golden Knights. Vegas just had a six-game win streak snapped by the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday, so they'll be motivated to get back on the winning side of the ledger, but they have three road games against Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver before taking on the Avs.

A week from today, the Avalanche will host the Canucks, whose playoff dreams are all but dead after their latest loss to Seattle. Vancouver may be eliminated from playoff contention by the time Colorado takes them on, so this game may be relatively easy for the Avalanche to win.

Three Takeaways From Avalanche's 3-2 Loss To The Calgary FlamesThe Colorado Avalanche suffered their second straight loss Monday, falling to the Calgary Flames by a 3-2 score in a shootout. Here are three key takeaways from the Avs' loss, which dropped Colorado's season record to 45-26-4:

Finally, the Avs wrap up the regular season with back-to-back road games against the Kings on Sat. April 12, and Anaheim Sun. April 13. By then, it could be a tale of two different opponents for Colorado, as the Kings could be fighting off Edmonton for second place in the Pacifc -- or challenging Vegas for first place in the Pacific. But on the other hand, the Ducks will be eliminated from the playoffs well before that final game against the Avalanche, so you could see Avs coach Jared Bednar giving some rest to his veterans if there's nothing really to play for in that Sunday game.

As you can see, the road ahead for Colorado is not going to be easy. They may be stuck in third spot in the Central and be set to face the Stars in Round One. But they're going to be tested multiple times before then -- and the way they respond to those challenges could help determine how they perform when the playoff games arrive.

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have recalled center Justin Robidas from the Chicago Wolves. It is his first NHL callup.

Robidas, 22, has been terrific this year in his first AHL season, with 17 goals and 48 points in 65 games to show for his hard work.

The 5-foot-8 centerman is a relentless workhorse who has had a positive impact on the ice whether it's at 5v5, on the power play or on the penalty kill.

A perfect fit really to be a Hurricanes callup.

It also sets a good example for the younger guys down in Chicago that their hard work can result in opportunity as Robidas is the fourth different forward that the team has called up from the AHL this year.

The son of 15-year NHL veteran Stephane Robidas was a 2021 fifth-round pick by the Hurricanes and spent last season playing in the  ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals where he had 12 goals and 27 points in 32 games played.

However, while it's an exciting time for Robidas, it doesn't bode well for the availability of the Canes forwards who are currently questionable: Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov.

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The Winnipeg Jets will be without Luke Schenn for the second consecutive game tonight as they continue their road trip against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Schenn left Tuesday's practice ahead of the Jets game against the Los Angeles Kingswith "stiffness" and was announced as a game-time decision. He did not play that night, and despite skating this morning, he did not participate in any line rushes. 

Similar to their matchup with the Kings, the Golden Knights roster multiple big forwards, eager to impose themselves physically on the forecheck. That style of play is common in the playoffs, and it's why the Jets acquired Schenn at the deadline. 

The Jets have elected to make multiple changes to their lineup tonight, adding Jarett Anderson-Dolan in replace of David Gustafsson. Anderson-Dolan hasn't played a game with the Jets this season but has scored seven goals and 19 points in 51 games with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL. 

HC Scott Arniel has also reunited the second and third lines, placing Nikolaj Ehlers back with Cole Perfetti and Vladislav Namestnikov. Perfetti will also join the first power play unit, rewarded for his strong offensive results as of late. 

Finally, Eric Comrie will step in between the posts for the Jets, making his 18th start of the season. He's posted an 8-9-1 record, a .909 SV% and a 2.49 GAA. He'll duel Adin Hill, in line to make his fifth start in 10 days. 

The Dallas Stars could be within two points before the Jets finish their first period tonight, increasing the need to pick up the two points tonight.

Puck drop is at 9:00 PM CST at T-Mobile Arena. 

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Is Logan Stanley Deserving Of A Spot In The Jets Lineup?The Winnipeg Jets had cut the lead in half and were building off of the momentum before a costly turnover by Logan Stanley allowed the Los Angeles Kings to regain their two-goal advantage, proving to be enough to sink their hopes of a comeback.

The 51-20-4 Winnipeg Jets will face the 45-21-8 Vegas Golden Knights from T-Mobil Arena in Nevada on Thursday night. 

The late-night affair will be a critical contest in the Jets' race for the Central Division crown, and further, the outright lead in the NHL standings.

There will be some changes again for Winnipeg, which continues to see the rehab of injuries to Neal Pionk, Rasmus Kupari and Gabe Vilardi, leading to further opportunity for younger players.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan will make his Jets debut on Thursday, slotting in for David Gustafsson on the fourth line, while Eric Comrie will get the start in goal. 

Luke Schenn - who missed Tuesday's game vs. Los Angeles - will be a game-time decision due to a minor ailment that has been bugging him since Tuesday morning. If he cannot go, both Logan Stanley and Haydn Fleury will dress for Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Jets expected line combinations for Thursday, April 3 at Vegas:

Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo

Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti

Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton

Anderson Dolan-Barron-Tanev

Morrissey-DeMelo

Samberg-Miller

Fleury-Stanley

Comrie

Healthy scratches: Gustafsson, Heinola

Injured: Pionk, Vilardi, Kupari, Schenn

You have to go back pretty far in the schedule to find the last time the Florida Panthers stacked up three L’s in a row.

Not since the end of November has Florida gone this long between victories.

Interestingly, the Panthers aren’t really unhappy with how they’ve been playing, feeling it’s been more a situation where they’re simply not getting results.

With challenging road games coming up against Ottawa and Detroit, picking up the suddenly elusive win isn’t going to get any easier.

For now, let’s get to Wednesday’s takeaways:

PUCKS ON NET

One constant during Florida's three-game skid this week has been an issue with recording shots on goal.

In the two games against Montreal, the Panthers recorded 53 shots on 94 attempts. The Canadiens were credited with blocking 52 shots, nearly the same amount Florida was able to get on net.

It wasn't any better against Toronto.

Florida recorded 31 shots, the most of their three games this week, bus still had 49 attempts that never got to Anthony Stolarz, 26 of which were blocked.

Consider that the Cats have scored exactly two goals in each of their three losses, which is over a goal less than their season average of 3.09 goals per game, and it's clear where the disconnect is coming from.

We'll see how long it takes Florida to get things cleaned up.

"We're having a hard time hitting the net, and getting a bunch blocked," said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. "I think we probably had close to 50 that never got to the net. We had some good looks."

NOT ALL BAD

Florida did score first on Wednesday in Toronto and carried much of the play throughout the game.

The second period was particularly strong for the Cats, outshooting the Leafs 16-5, but still coming out with only a 1-1 tie.

A less-than-idea start to the third period allowed the home team to build some momentum that eventually helped them take a commanding late lead on Florida.

Once again, there was a lot to like within the game, but ultimately the results were less than ideal.

"I didn't like the first six minutes of third period. I just didn't think we skated, and then we got hemmed in a little bit," said Maurice. "The overview is I expected the whole game to look like that, I thought that's the way the game was going to be played. I loved the first 40, probably the last 10-12 minutes of the third period, I liked out game an awful lot."

BIG MILESTONE FOR BOB

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky played in his 750th career NHL game against the Leafs on Wednesday.

It's just the latest milestone for a guy that should absolutely end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

He's won multiple Vezina Trophies, is a three-time NHL All-Star and in recent years has earned a reputation as one of the league's best playoff goalies.

There is also that Stanley Cup he helped Florida win last summer.

As elite and exceptional as Bob has been on the ice, he's been equally impressive as a teammate, always smiling and seeming to enjoy himself while displaying a work ethic that has become legendary among his peers.

"He's a new experience for me," said Maurice. "He's an incredibly interesting man off the ice, just a wonderful person to talk to. I still consider him a young guy. Boy, you learn a lot from conversations with him, and then his prep and how much he cares. He seems, as well, to have found a way to have a little bit of fun with all the pressure that a number one goalie carries. So he's been a pleasure."

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Owen Tippett is a player who makes you sit up in your seat. 

He’s the kind of skater who, when given even a sliver of open ice, can change a game in an instant. 

He’s fast, powerful, and deceptively creative, a rare combination of size and skill that makes him one of the Philadelphia Flyers’ most dangerous weapons. 

And while the numbers don’t always tell the full story, interim head coach Brad Shaw has made it clear: Tippett’s impact on the ice goes well beyond what shows up on a stat sheet.

“When he gets a pocket of open ice, there’s few players like him in the league,” Shaw said. “I’d like for that to show up a little bit more.”

It’s a sentiment that feels both like praise and a challenge. Tippett’s ability is undeniable—he’s shown flashes of brilliance that few players possess. But Shaw, like many who have watched him over the years, knows there’s still another level he can reach.

The Art of the Impossible

Take Jakob Pelletier’s goal against the Buffalo Sabres. The play Tippett made to set it up was, in Shaw’s words, “ridiculous.”

“The play he makes on [Pelletier’s] goal is, you know, a play that you couldn’t describe to somebody unless you really knew how hard that is to do at this level. That’s ridiculous.”

OWEN TIPPETT 🤯

He makes an unreal move to set up Jakob Pelletier for his first goal with the @NHLFlyers!

📺: @NHLNetworkpic.twitter.com/K4tO0H9HW8

— NHL (@NHL) March 29, 2025

Tippett has this uncanny ability to make the impossible look routine. It’s something Flyers fans have seen before—those moments where he seems to slow the game down, taking an extra second or two when everyone else is panicking. Shaw pointed to a goal Tippett scored against Dallas, where he used his backhand to beat a goaltender in a way that will leave anyone who watches it with their jaws on the floor.

OWEN TIPPETT OH MY GOODNESS 😱 pic.twitter.com/kRY2yhTJcm

— NHL (@NHL) January 19, 2024

“In my three years here, he’s probably made a dozen or so of those plays,” Shaw said. “Whether it’s the goal against Dallas on his back end, or where he takes three or four seconds and just turns the game magical. He has that ability.”

That’s the thing about Tippett—he’s not just a player who has speed and a great shot. He has creativity. He has vision. He has that intangible ability to see the game differently, to hold onto the puck just a moment longer than expected, to find seams where none seem to exist.

The Battle for Consistency

So why doesn’t it show up more often? Why isn’t Tippett making highlight-reel plays every single night?

“I think the consistency is hard for a guy who has that skill package,” Shaw admitted.

It’s the eternal battle for players with Tippett’s unique blend of size, speed, and finesse. The very thing that makes him special—the ability to slow the game down and create—also makes it difficult to replicate night after night. The NHL doesn’t always allow for that kind of artistry. Sometimes, you don’t have time to slow down. Sometimes, the best play is the simple play.

Shaw acknowledged that balance, noting that Tippett doesn’t always need to be flashy to be effective.

“You can’t always show that, but I think he’s becoming a more consistent performer…I don’t think it needs to show up all the time because it’s good enough in other elements to play a simpler game at times, or maybe a more north-south game.”

Owen Tippett with a move you often only see in video games! 🎮

Imagine if he scored? 🤯

📺: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/S5tPrXCygmpic.twitter.com/34xNyqWvwl

— NHL (@NHL) October 16, 2024

That’s the evolution of Tippett’s game—figuring out when to simplify and when to dazzle. The best players in the world don’t turn every shift into a highlight reel, but they also know when to take over. For Tippett, it’s about finding that balance.

A Player Still Coming Into His Own

Tippett has come a long way since arriving in Philadelphia. He’s no longer just the speedy prospect trying to prove he belongs. He’s a foundational piece of the Flyers’ offense, a player capable of taking over games when he’s on. But, as 

Shaw alluded to, he’s still figuring out exactly what his best hockey looks like.

“I think how he combines the two eventually when he starts playing his absolute best hockey,” Shaw said. “I think you’ll see a little bit more of that simplicity come through, along with the exceptional skill and talent that he has.”

It’s a fascinating thought—what will Owen Tippett look like when he fully puts it all together? When he finds the perfect mix of creativity and structure, of raw skill and efficiency? If he’s already capable of producing moments of pure magic, what happens when those moments start appearing more frequently?

The Flyers Need Tippett at His Best

With the Flyers looking to finish out the season strong, players like Tippett—players who can turn a single shift into a game-changing moment—are invaluable down the stretch. The challenge, as Shaw laid out, is to find that next level, to bring that magic a little more often while still playing within the team’s structure.

It’s a difficult balance, but Tippett is well on his way to figuring it out. He’s already shown what he’s capable of. Now, it’s about doing it just a little more often. And if he can, he won’t just be a player with flashes of brilliance—he’ll be one of the most dangerous wingers in the league.