The Pittsburgh Penguins finished their 2024-25 campaign with a convincing 5-2 win over the Eastern Conference’s top team, the Washington Capitals, at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night. 

Outside of Bryan Rust reaching 30 goals for the first time in his career, the night belonged to two future Hall of Famers, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, who kept their long-time rivalry alive with some classic goals and passes, moments fans will remember for a lifetime.

However, the Capitals still have plenty of hockey to play as they face the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Meanwhile, the Penguins will disband, with some youngsters headed back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, while the veterans can prepare themselves for next season’s grind. 

Here’s one final regular season takeaway.

History in the Making

In case anyone missed it, here’s a quick rundown of the milestones players achieved in the season finale:

Rust scored two goals to reach 30 goals for the first time in his career. By doing so, he becomes the oldest Penguins draft pick to register their first 30-goal season. 

25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing SeasonWin or lose on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-35-12) will have their first losing season since the 2005-06 campaign, when the club was 22-46-14.

Crosby, thanks to a goal and an assist, became only the sixth player in NHL history to record a point in a season after turning 37. Moreover, with the game-winner, his 10th of the year, Crosby is now one of just five Pittsburgh players to reach double digits in this category, which includes Jaromir Jagr, Mario Lemieux, Petr Sykora, and Phil Kessel. 

Rickard Rakell, who had a third-period assist on Philip Tomasino’s goal, tied Tomas Sandström with 70 points to share the franchise record for most points scored by a Swedish player in a single season with the Penguins.

Matt Grzelcyk recorded his sixth multi-assist game of the season to finish the year with 40 points, a new career high, surpassing his previous best of 26.

Penguins Played With Passion

With nothing on the line except pride, the Penguins went out and gave their hometown fans something positive to think about heading into the off-season. Against the game’s greatest goal scorer and his rookie netminder, Pittsburgh kept the pedal to the metal and didn’t give either the time and space to be effective.

Penguins End Season On High Note, Defeat Caps, 5-2It's difficult to imagine a more fitting end to the 2024-25 season - and any season, really - than

Of course, Clay Stevenson made some outstanding saves, but the Penguins pressured him from all angles, scoring five times on him in his first NHL appearance. Meanwhile, Ovechkin did get on the scoresheet, but wasn’t given much to work with (two shots) despite the home team’s season-long issues on the back end. 

Even though the Penguins finished the year with a losing record, a handful of extra performances like Thursday night could have had them closer to a wildcard spot, if not a place in the divisional race. 

A Look Ahead

Of course, fans want to see Crosby make another run for a Stanley Cup ring, but that didn’t happen in 2024-25. However, reinforcements are on the way, and it’s been fun watching the kids work their magic over the past couple of weeks. 

Whether it was Rutger McGroarty finding a role in the top six and contributing, or Ville Koivunen putting up two points in the season finale, the days of not qualifying for the postseason are soon to be a thing of the past, as the organization prepares for life after Crosby retires in 2027. 

Unfortunately, not many fans have come to realize that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are one of the top teams in the AHL, and it shows by the strong play of McGroarty nd Koivunen. When these report to training camp in the fall, they will be more seasoned and have invaluable experience to grow upon, giving Penguins fans hope for a better 2025-26 campaign.

EDMONTON – “It’s pretty much impossible to shut them down one-on-one.”

Two of the best players in today’s NHL play for the same team.

Edmonton Oilers fans are treated to the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl every night. Each of them attacks the opposition in their own, dangerous way.

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When The Hockey News spoke with Mark Messier last Friday, we discussed Draisaitl. Specifically, how impressive it has been to watch his evolution.

When he entered the league, he was already a formidable passer and playmaker. Now, he’s added goal-scorer to his arsenal, culminating in being awarded the 2025 Maurice Richard Trophy for scoring the most goals this season. Draisaitl scored 52 goals this year, finishing seven more than the next highest goal scorer, Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (45).

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“It’s amazing,” Messier raved. “I remember Sidney Crosby wanting to score more goals. So he went back in the summer and worked on his shot and came back.”

Draisaitl has done a similar thing. Anyone who has been watching the Oilers since he entered the league knows that Draisaitl wasn’t scoring powerplay goals from his spot on the goal line from day one.

The 2018-19 season was the first year that Draisaitl scored more than 30 goals. He was in his fourth full season, fifth overall, playing NHL games. He scored 50 that year. 

Mark Messier Shows Love To Leon Draisaitl

It took time to develop those skills. Messier highlighted a few skills and attributes that make Draisaitl a formidable player.

“He’s got incredible size,” Messier said. “He’s an underrated skater, in my opinion.”

“And Leon not only has the reach,” Messier continues,  “but now…you see him holding people off with one arm. They can't contain him in the corner. He's too strong coming off the boards.” 

“And then, of course, when you double-team him, he's good enough to find the open player. And if you don't double-team him, then he shoots it and scores himself.”

Leon Draisaitl secures his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's goal-scoring leader this season! 🚨 #NHLAwards

He ends 2024-25 with 52 goals. pic.twitter.com/p3hzXU2c8W

— NHL (@NHL) April 18, 2025

This is one of the most significant ways in which the duo of McDavid and Draisaitl poses a real problem for the opposition during the playoffs.

“It's a real problem for matchups, for not only players, but for teams trying to shut both of them down,” Messier told The Hockey News. “Connor's got his own skill set…it's just amazing that he's (Draisaitl) scoring at the rate he's scoring and probably one of the most elite passers in the game.”

“Leon is a special talent for so many reasons.”

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The Anaheim Ducks wrapped up their season on Wednesday with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets, their fourth straight winless game, to mercifully end the 2024-25 season. They finished with a 35-37-10 record, good enough for 80 points in the standings, sixth place in the Pacific Division, and eighth-best odds in the NHL Draft Lottery.

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This will mark the seventh straight season the Ducks have failed to qualify for the playoffs. With the Ottawa Senators ending their own seven-year drought this season, Anaheim now has the third-longest such streak in the NHL.

In 2024-25, his eighth year in the Ducks organization and his fifth as a full-time NHL player, Troy Terry led the Ducks in scoring for the second time in his career (he’s also finished at number two twice) with 55 points in (21-34=55) in 77 games.

The NHL playoffs begin on Saturday, and when every team has played a single game, Terry will have played the fourth-most games without a playoff appearance among active NHL players. His 427 regular season games played without seeing the playoffs will trail only Rasmus Ristolainen (776), Rasmus Dahlin (506), and Tage Thompson (448).

One year ago, players ahead of Terry in this category included Jeff Skinner, Zemgus Girgensons, Brady Tkachuk, and Thomas Chabot. With the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Ottawa Senators qualifying for the 2025 playoffs, those streaks will come to an end when the puck drops in their respective first-round series.

Following a stellar amateur career that saw him win a U18 World Championship gold medal in 2015, a World Junior Championship gold medal in 2017, an NCAA National Championship, and represent the United States at the 2018 Olympic Games, Terry struggled to produce at the NHL level like he had at lower levels in his first two professional seasons.

Terry had a breakout season in 2021-22 that saw him score 67 (37-30=67) points in 75 games, and he’s been the Ducks’ most consistent and reliable offensive driver since. Every movement he makes on the ice is calculated and at top speed. With the puck, he’s remarkably puck-dominant as he leads rushes or circles the offensive zone, manipulating defenders, creating shots, and opening ice for teammates all the while.

He has extraordinary anticipation skills that he’s been able to translate to his defensive game, rendering him one of the most impactful and disruptive defensive wingers in the league.

His drive and determination to self-evaluate and diagnose what would ultimately make him a successful NHL player ignited his breakout and earned him a seven-year contract in the summer of 2023 that carries an AAV of $7 million.

That dedication to his craft, along with the commitment to his team and well-spoken, cerebral nature, is what identified him to many as a potential leader for the Ducks moving forward. It’s also what causes his appearance on such an unfavorable list to be even more regrettable.

The standings indicate the 2024-25 Ducks improved by 21 points over their previous iteration, but statistics indicate that the majority of that improvement could be attributed to their Vezina-caliber goaltending. Nonetheless, Terry and the 2025-26 Ducks will hope to build on the standings jump and put an end to his and the organization’s extended playoff drought.

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The die is now cast; the Montreal Canadiens will take on the Washington Capitals in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after qualifying in their last game of the season. To those of us who have been around for a while, there’s a big déjà vu feeling there.

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In 2009-2010, the Jacques Martin-led Canadiens qualified for the Spring dance with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. That point was enough for the Canadiens to grab the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference standings, just one point ahead of the New York Rangers.

That year, the Washington Capitals had terrorized the league, finishing the season with 121 points, eight more than the second-place San Jose Sharks. Needless to say, the Canadiens were the underdogs. While the Canadiens were led by the likes of Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Thomas Plekanec, and Andrei Kostitsyn up front, the Caps already had superstar Alexander Ovechkin, playmaker Nicklas Backstrom, and skilled forward Alexander Semin, who were scoring machines.

On the backend, Andrei Markov had already earned his nickname as the General, but he had been battling injuries during the season, and the playoffs were no exception, since he only competed in eight games. Thankfully, they had a young and upcoming blueliner in P.K. Subban, who was called up for the last two games of the season and stuck around for the playoffs. As for the Caps, they had Mike Green, who had put up over 76 points in the regular season, and rookie John Carlson, who is still there today.

In net, Martin juggled with the future face of the franchise, Carey Price, and Jaroslav Halak until game four, before finally deciding that the latter was the man for the job. As for the Caps, former Hab Jose Theodore had been their number one goaltender that season, but he lost his job to Semyon Varlamov.

History Will Be Made - Mike CammalleriWhat if Cammalleri didn't hit a homerun? History will be made in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Canadiens shocked the hockey world by winning the first game 3-2 in overtime before losing the next three games. Down 3-1, not many believed Montreal could survive, but they didn’t know just how good Jaroslav Halak would be that Spring.

In the next three games, facing elimination, the diminutive Slovak goaltender allowed three goals, one per game. In game six, he stopped 53 of the 54 shots he faced. Meanwhile, his teammates scored eight, and just like that, the series was flipped on its head, and David had beaten Goliath.

It was only the beginning of what would come to be known as the Halak Spring in the province of Quebec, with the “Jaroslav Halak you bring Stanley back” song on everyone’s lips and stop signs showing the goalie’s name making the rounds on social media.

Back then, I lived in London, England, and I won’t lie, I was staying up for every game, watching from midnight to three in the morning and then making my way to work at six with a huge grin on my face, singing Anakyn Slayd’s Feels Like 93. Little did I know, that was just the beginning…

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2025 NHL Draft: Best fits for Bruins among top-ranked forwards originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins were not expected to have a chance at a top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Draft this season.

But after plummeting to the bottom tier of the Eastern Conference standings with a 33-39-10 record, the focus has shifted to the top prospects in the 2025 class and next month’s NHL Draft Lottery. The B’s have the fifth-best odds (8.5 percent) to win the lottery. The worst they could finish is No. 7 overall.

The last time the Bruins’ own first-round pick was in the top seven came in 2006 when they selected Phil Kessel at No. 5 overall.

The Bruins’ No. 1 roster need entering the draft is at center. They still have not found a long-term replacement for Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci, both of whom retired after the 2022-23 season. Finding a top-six center in this draft would be a significant upgrade for the Bruins. And luckily for them, there are several centers in this class who could fill that role someday.

Let’s look at six prospects who would be a good fit for the Bruins early in the first round.

Michael Misa

• Position: Center
• Team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
• 2024-25 stats: 62 goals, 72 assists in 65 games

The Bruins might need to win the lottery or get the No. 2 pick for a chance to draft Misa, who is often projected as the first forward selected in many 2025 mock drafts. It wouldn’t be shocking if he goes No. 1 overall.

Misa is an elite offensive player who led the OHL in scoring this past season. In fact, his 134 points were the most by an OHL player in a draft-eligible season since Patrick Kane tallied 145 in the 2006-07 campaign. Misa is the total package. He skates well, he has a hard and accurate shot, his playmaking ability is top-tier, he competes hard, he’s not a liability defensively. He also has a high hockey IQ. There are very, very few weaknesses in his skill set.

A good NHL comparison for Misa would be John Tavares — a No. 1 center for many years. That’s exactly what the Bruins need.

Misa is the kind of prospect who could potentially play in the NHL as early as next season, which would be ideal for the Bruins if they plan on their retool being a quick one.

Caleb Desnoyers

• Position: Center
• Team: Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
• 2024-25 stats: 35 goals, 49 assists in 56 games

Desnoyers projects to be a top-six center at the NHL level who can make a strong impact in all three zones with a great two-way skill set. He plays in all situations, including special teams, and brings a high hockey IQ to the ice with each shift.

Desnoyers has high-end offensive skill, too. He’s a good skater and is crafty with the puck as a playmaker. He fights hard to win real estate in front of the net and score dirty goals.

Desnoyers is a complete player with not many weaknesses. He’s probably one of the safest picks the Bruins could make in the No. 4 to No. 6 range of the first round. The bust potential here is pretty low, although the ceiling is not as high as someone like Misa.

James Hagens

• Position: Center
• Team: Boston College (NCAA)
• 2024-25 stats: 11 goals, 26 assists in 37 games

Hagens is an elite playmaker and an excellent skater. He didn’t score as many goals for Boston College as some people expected, but he did come up clutch a few times, including the Eagles’ win over Bentley in the NCAA Tournament. Hagens also played a prominent role for Team USA as a first-line forward during its gold medal run at the World Junior Championships in January.

Hagens is more than a high-end playmaker, though. He’s very good defensively, too. That kind of two-way skill set would be a nice fit in Boston.

The biggest concern with Hagens is probably his size. He’s about 5-foot-11 and 177 pounds, and he doesn’t play with a ton of physicality. But if the Bruins are looking for a potential top-six center who can consistently create scoring chances for himself and teammates, Hagens is definitely worth considering early in Round 1.

Porter Martone

• Position: Right wing
• Team: Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
• 2024-25 stats: 37 goals, 61 assists in 57 games

Martone is the lone right wing on this list, and the Bruins’ top needs are center and left wing. That said, the size (6-foot-3, 208 pounds) and offensive skill that Martone brings to the ice are hard to ignore.

His playmaking skill is fantastic. It’s an area that he’s improved quite a bit since joining the OHL. He tallied 38 assists last season and then increased that number to 61 this past season. He has a quick release on his shot, too.

Martone has the ability to be a tremendous power forward at the NHL level. The question is whether the Bruins value his skill set more than a traditional center.

Anton Frondell

• Position: Center
• Team: Djurgardens IF (Sweden)
• 2024-25 stats: 11 goals, 14 assists in 29 games

Bruins fans would love Frondell, who is considered the top European prospect in this year’s draft class.

He plays a power forward-type of game at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. He’s a physical player who fights hard for puck possession all over the ice. He can also score in a variety of different ways. His shot ranks among the best in this draft, highlighted by its quick release and accuracy. It could make him very dangerous on the power play. His skating and playmaking ability are tremendous for a player of his size, too.

Frondell projects to be a top-six forward at the NHL level. He could play center or on the wing.

Jake O’Brien

• Position: Center
• Team: Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
• 2024-25 stats: 32 goals, 66 assists in 66 games

O’Brien is one of the best passers in this draft. He plays with poise, a high IQ and creativity as a playmaker that consistently creates high-danger scoring chances.

His two-way skill set (very responsible defensively) is impressive, and he’s also shown good leadership qualities at Brantford.

O’Brien isn’t a super physical player, but his compete level ranks among the best at the center position in this draft. And at 6-foot-2, there’s plenty of room for him to add muscle and develop that part of his game. He has a very well-rounded skill set with a lot of offensive ability, and his draft stock has steadily risen over the last few months.

The Calgary Flames beat the Los Angles Kings 5-1 in their final regular season game.

As this was an inconsequential game for Calgary, the rookies were out on the ice, fully motivated under the bright lights of Hollywood, hoping to make an impact in their debuts.

And it became a memorable night.

Here are my three takeaways from the game:

1)     Energized by rookies in the third after slow first two periods

Not surprisingly when you have a completely new lineup, things will take time to gel. The Flames found themselves asleep in the first two periods before waking up in the third. They had eight scoring opportunities in the final period with 5:05 remaining. In comparison, they had less than that in the first and second period individually in their entirety.

But the big story of the evening were the performances of the rookies in that third period. In the sixth minute, Sam Morton took a feed from Ryan Lomberg on a 3-on-1 rush, and the finish was beautiful for an NHL career-first goal. At one point, he was even looking for his second.

Zayne Parekh showed a sample of the reason why he had the most goals by a defenseman in an OHL season (TWICE! And both times with 33) with a deflection into the net to also get his first career NHL goal. Morton ended the night with an Expected Goal value of 0.16. Parekh’s night ended with a +3 rating and an Expected Goal value of 0.12. Plus a Second Star of the game award? Not bad, young grasshopper.

This is the first time since 2003 that two teammates have scored goals in their NHL debut games.

The other debutants Ayder Suniev and Hunter Brzustewicz had a rating of +2 each.

2)        Special Teams

Calgary was 0-for-2 on the man-advantage. Seems like having Suniev, Morton and Parekh rather than the usual guys couldn’t strike oil on the power play either. But this is one game, so there’s that, and it's something they're going to have to address in the off-season.

But the penalty-kill is always going to be cherished down the stretch. Even though they gave up one goal in this final game, since March 26, this team has gone a league-best 21-for-23 in that duration. It’s always good to end on a great note.

3)      Dan Vladar

With goalie Dustin Wolf sitting out, Vladar closed out the season for the Flames in net, giving the California rookie netminder a break after eight consecutive starts. Vladar did just nicely in the win, giving up just one goal against an Expected Goal value of 2.82. He ends his season with 12 wins, just a couple short of his career-best 14 from the 2022-23 season.