Hockey – Winnipeg Free Press

PAUL VERNON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor, left, celebrates with teammate forward Mark Scheifele after Conner’s goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday.

Big guns on target for Jets in Columbus

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Yesterday at 10:02 PM CDT

COLUMBUS – The top guns took over and simply would not be denied.

Kyle Connor scored a pair of goals, both of which were set up by Mark Scheifele, to propel the Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in a must-have game on Saturday night before a sold-out crowd at Nationwide Arena.

Connor is up to 36 goals on the season, while Scheifele took another step towards recording the first 100 point output in his career, moving to 94 points in 76 games.

Most importantly, the offensive exploits allowed the Jets to ensure they would remain three points out in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings.

Advertise With Us

Weather

Apr. 5, 6 AM: 0°c Cloudy Apr. 5, 12 PM: 1°c Cloudy with wind

Winnipeg MB

3°C, Cloudy with wind

Full Forecast

Fillier, Persson score goals to lead Sirens to 2-1 shootout win over Torrent

The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:20 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Sarah Fillier scored late in regulation, Maja Nylén Persson added a shootout goal, and the New York Sirens beat the Seattle Torrent 2-1 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

The announced crowd of 18,006 broke the record for attendance at a Professional Women’s Hockey League game in the United States.

Kayle Osborne stopped 20 shots for the Sirens (8-1-4-12).

Alex Carpenter scored a goal and Corinne Schroeder had 37 saves for the Torrent (6-1-3-14).

Strome scores against former team, Ducks’ late-season skid extends to 5 games with 5-3 loss to Flames

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Strome scores against former team, Ducks’ late-season skid extends to 5 games with 5-3 loss to Flames

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 12:03 AM CDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Strome scored his 500th career point with a goal against his former team, Morgan Frost had two goals, and the Calgary Flames sent the Anaheim Ducks to their fifth consecutive loss with a 5-3 victory Saturday night.

Joel Farabee and Matvei Gridin had a goal and an assist apiece for the Flames, who extended the Ducks' late-season spiral by earning their first win over Anaheim in four meetings this season. Devin Cooley made 36 saves.

Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish scored in the third period, but the Ducks' comeback from a 4-1 deficit fell short when Frost put his second goal into an empty net with 1:11 to play.

Beckett Sennecke also scored and Ville Husso stopped 15 shots during yet another rough defensive performance by the Ducks.

Read

Updated: 12:03 AM CDT

Anaheim Ducks defenceman Jacob Trouba, left, controls the puck while under pressure from Calgary Flames left wing Victor Olofsson (95) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Avalanche beat Stars 2-0 to extend their edge in the Central Division race

The Associated Press 11 minute read Preview

Avalanche beat Stars 2-0 to extend their edge in the Central Division race

The Associated Press 11 minute read Yesterday at 10:48 PM CDT

DALLAS (AP) — Martin Necas broke a scoreless tie midway through the third period, Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-netter and the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche took a big step toward home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs with a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

Scott Wedgewood made 17 saves against his former team for his third shutout of the season in the first meeting of these Central Division rivals not to go to a shootout. Dallas won two of those three.

The regulation win gave the Avalanche an eight-point edge over the Stars, who have five games remaining. Colorado has seven games to go.

The Stars won each of the postseason meetings with the Avs the past two seasons, and a second-round showdown could be looming this spring.

Read

Yesterday at 10:48 PM CDT

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns skates against the Dallas Stars in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Protas scores in return from injury as Capitals keep playoff hopes alive with 6-2 win over Sabres

Sammi Silber, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Protas scores in return from injury as Capitals keep playoff hopes alive with 6-2 win over Sabres

Sammi Silber, The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 9:02 PM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Aliaksei Protas had a goal and assist in his return from injury and the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 on Saturday night.

Jakob Chychrun and Connor McMichael also had a goal and assist, and Dylan Strome, Ryan Leonard and Tom Wilson also scored for the Capitals, who have won four of their last five and moved within one point of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and assist, and Beck Malenstyn also scored for the Sabres, who clinched a playoff berth for the first time in an NHL-record 14 seasons but have dropped two in a row.

Washington had Buffalo on its heels early, scoring three goals in the first six minutes for a 3-0 lead.

Read

Yesterday at 9:02 PM CDT

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates Capitals Jakob Chychrun's goal during the first period of an NHL Hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Clayton Keller’s 3rd career hat trick helps Mammoth to a 7-4 win over the Canucks

The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 9:37 PM CDT

VANCOVUER, British Columbia (AP) — Clayton Keller had the third hat trick of his career and the Utah Mammoth extended their winning streak to three games with a 7-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

Keller's first three-goal game of the season came on a disputed power-play score and two empty-net goal. His man-advantage goal at 7:04 of the second period came on the deflection of a point shot by Dylan Guenther that gave Utah a 3-2 lead. The goal was originally waived off due to his stick touching the puck above the cross bar. After a video review, the referee ruled the stick was at or below the cross bar.

Dylan Guenther and Lawson Crowse each had a goal and an assist for Utah (40-30-6), which continued to push for a Western Conference playoff spot. Kailer Yamamoto and Liam O’Brien, who was in the lineup after 18 games as a healthy scratch, also scored for the Mammoth, who won their fourth straight road game. Logan Cooley added two assists. Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves for Utah.

Linus Karlsson, playing in his 100th NHL game, scored twice for Vancouver (22-46-8). Marco Rossi and Jake DeBrusk added power-play goals and Filip Hronek had two assists. Nikita Tolopilo stopped 17 shots for the Canucks, who have one win in their last nine games.

Quinton Byfield scores in OT to boost Kings’ playoff hopes with a 7-6 win over Maple Leafs

Dan Greenspan, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Quinton Byfield scores in OT to boost Kings’ playoff hopes with a 7-6 win over Maple Leafs

Dan Greenspan, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 12:03 AM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Quinton Byfield scored 2:33 into overtime, Adrian Kempe had two goals and two assists, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-6 on Saturday night.

Byfield finished off Artemi Panarin’s pass for his second goal of the game, securing a crucial win for the Kings, who set an NHL single-season record by playing their 31st game past regulation.

William Nylander missed his shot on a breakaway, leading to a three-on-two rush the other way where Byfield netted his 20th goal of the season.

With the win, Los Angeles briefly moved into the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference before Nashville's 6-3 victory over San Jose put them level on points with the Kings. Los Angeles hosts Nashville on Monday night.

Read

Updated: 12:03 AM CDT

Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield, top, celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll lays on the ice during overtime of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Learn more about Advertising solutions

Kapanen’s shootout goal gives hot Canadiens 4-3 win over Devils

Everett Merrill, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Kapanen’s shootout goal gives hot Canadiens 4-3 win over Devils

Everett Merrill, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:33 PM CDT

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Oliver Kapanen's decisive goal in the shootout gave the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils for their eighth straight win on Saturday.

Kapanen scored on a wrist shot past Devils goalie Jake Allen in the fifth round of the shootout.

The win gave Montreal 100 points for the first time since the 2016-17 season when it accumulated 103 points.

Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Jayden Struble scored for Montreal, and Jakub Dobes had 35 saves.

Read

Updated: Yesterday at 9:33 PM CDT

Montreal Canadiens centre Oliver Kapanen (91) reacts after scoring against New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) during shootout in an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Keller scores three times as Mammoth beat Canucks 7-4

Jim Morris, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Keller scores three times as Mammoth beat Canucks 7-4

Jim Morris, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 9:11 PM CDT

VANCOUVER - Clayton Keller scored three times, one a disputed goal on the power play and the last into an empty net with 53 seconds left, as the Utah Mammoth defeated the Vancouver Canucks 7-4 Saturday to win their third straight game.

Dylan Guenther and Lawson Crowse both had a goal and an assist for Utah (40-30-6), which continued its hunt to nail down an NHL playoff spot. Kailer Yamamoto and Liam O’Brien, also scored for the Mammoth, who won their fourth consecutive road game. Logan Cooley added two assists.

Linus Karlsson, playing in his 100th NHL game, scored twice for Vancouver (22-46-8). Marco Rossi and Jake DeBrusk both scored on the power play while defenceman Filip Hronek had two assists.

The Canucks, who have the worst record in the NHL, have just one win in their last nine games.

Read

Yesterday at 9:11 PM CDT

Utah Mammoth's John-Jason Peterka (77) is upended by Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, on Saturday, April 4, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Jarvis scores twice to help the Hurricanes beat the Islanders 4-3

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Jarvis scores twice to help the Hurricanes beat the Islanders 4-3

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 9:02 PM CDT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Seth Jarvis had two goals and an assist and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Islanders 4-3 on Saturday night for their fourth victory in five games.

Sebastian Aho broke a tie with a short-handed goal in the second period, Jackson Blake also scored and K’Andre Miller had two assists, and rookie Brandon Bussi made 13 saves to boost his season record to 29-6-1.

Marc Gatcomb, Max Shabanov and Anders Lee scored for the Islanders, They have a four-game losing streak for the first time this season. Ilya Sorokin made 36 saves in his 11th straight start.

Lee’ goal with 1:37 to play with the Islanders — third in the Metropolitan Division — going with an extra skater gave them a chance but they couldn’t break through again.

Read

Yesterday at 9:02 PM CDT

Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho, second right, celebrates his goal with teammates Jaccob Slavin, right, Seth Jarvis (24) and Jalen Chatfield, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Connor scores twice as the Jets beat the Blue Jackets 2-1 to stay in the playoff hunt

Nicole Kraft, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Connor scores twice as the Jets beat the Blue Jackets 2-1 to stay in the playoff hunt

Nicole Kraft, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:51 PM CDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Kyle Connor scored twice and the Winnipeg Jets overcame an early deficit to beat the Columbus 2-1 on Saturday night, keeping their playoff hopes alive and sending the Blue Jackets to their sixth straight loss.

Winnipeg moved to 78 points, a point out of the final wild-card spot in the crowded Western Conference.

Connor tied it with 1:46 left in the second period, and scored the winner with 9:02 left in the third. He has 36 goals this season. Mark Scheifele had his 59th and 60th assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 15 saves.

Ivan Provorov scored for Columbus, which has lost four straight at home and remains outside the Eastern Conference wild-card picture. Jet Greaves stopped 23 shots.

Read

Updated: Yesterday at 8:51 PM CDT

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko (86) reaches for the puck in front of Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Lightning beat the Bruins 3-1 hours after securing a playoff spot

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Lightning beat the Bruins 3-1 hours after securing a playoff spot

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 7:05 PM CDT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Darren Raddysh broke a tie with 5:31 left and Tampa Bay beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Saturday night, hours after the Lightning secured a playoff spot.

The Atlantic Division-leading Lightning wrapped up the Eastern Conference postseason position with Detroit's 4-1 loss at the New York Rangers in the afternoon. Boston holds the first wild-card spot in the East.

After assisting on defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous' tying goal at 2:13 of the third, Raddysh put the Lightning ahead with a sharp-angle shot past goalie Jeremy Swayman from the right side on a break.

Nikita Kucherov added his 42nd goal of the season into an empty net, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 21 saves to help the Lightning finish a seven-game homestand 5-1-1.

Read

Yesterday at 7:05 PM CDT

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) makes a pad save on a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Corey Perry (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

There will be a new Cup champion. Florida’s injury-plagued season won’t include the playoffs

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

There will be a new Cup champion. Florida’s injury-plagued season won’t include the playoffs

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 6 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 7:51 PM CDT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Maybe the end for the Florida Panthers came when Brad Marchand was shut down for the season last month. Or maybe it was when Seth Jones broke his collarbone and wound up missing 26 games. Or, maybe it was 20 minutes into training camp, when captain Aleksander Barkov blew out his knee.

Nobody knows when the season was officially doomed.

Doesn't matter now. The Panthers are out.

Games remain, but the Panthers were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday with a 9-4 loss in Pittsburgh. For the first time since 2022, a team other than Florida will represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final and for the first time since 2023, a team other than the Panthers will be the one hoisting the greatest chalice in sports.

Read

Updated: Yesterday at 7:51 PM CDT

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk skates on the ice after being named the first star of the game after an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Malkin has 14th career hat trick, Penguins rout Panthers 9-4 to end Florida’s bid for a 3-peat

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Malkin has 14th career hat trick, Penguins rout Panthers 9-4 to end Florida’s bid for a 3-peat

The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 7:07 PM CDT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evgeni Malkin had his 14th career hat trick and added an assist to become the 23rd player in NHL history to reach 1,400 career points, and the Pittsburgh Penguins routed the Florida Panthers 9-4 on Saturday to eliminate the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions from playoff contention.

The Panthers began the season hoping to become the first team since the New York Islanders of the early 1980s to win three straight championships. It never came close to happening as injuries and shaky play in net sent them tumbling to the bottom of the standings early in the season, a hole from which they never fully recovered.

While Florida will miss the playoffs for the first time in four years, Pittsburgh is inching toward a return to the postseason after three straight absences.

The Penguins strengthened their hold on second in the Metropolitan Division by blitzing the Panthers during the first half of the second period, pouring in four goals in less than 10 minutes.

Read

Updated: Yesterday at 7:07 PM CDT

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea (5) celebratesa goal with right wing Justin Brazeau (16) and defenseman Samuel Girard (49) against the Florida Panthers during the second period of an NHL game, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

NHL-leading Avs blank Stars 2-0 for big step toward home-ice advantage throughout playoffs

Schuyler Dixon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

NHL-leading Avs blank Stars 2-0 for big step toward home-ice advantage throughout playoffs

Schuyler Dixon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 5:07 PM CDT

DALLAS (AP) — Martin Necas broke a scoreless tie midway through the third period, Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-netter and the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche took a big step toward home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs with a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

Scott Wedgewood made 17 saves against his former team for his third shutout of the season in the first meeting of these Central Division rivals not to go to a shootout. Dallas won two of those three.

The regulation win gave the Avalanche an eight-point edge over the Stars, who have five games remaining. Colorado has seven games to go.

The Stars won each of the postseason meetings with the Avs the past two seasons, and a second-round showdown could be looming this spring.

Read

Yesterday at 5:07 PM CDT

Dallas Stars center Oskar Bäck (10) is slammed against the boards by Colorado Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog (92) as Sam Malinski (70) takes control of the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Minnesota Frost clinch PWHL playoff spot with 6-5 victory over Vancouver Goldeneyes

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Minnesota Frost clinch PWHL playoff spot with 6-5 victory over Vancouver Goldeneyes

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:39 PM CDT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kelly Pannek had two goals and two assists to pad her PWHL-leading points total and help the Minnesota Frost hold off the Vancouver Goldeneyes 6-5 on Saturday.

The Frost ended a three-game losing streak and clinched a spot in the post-season for the two-time defending champions.

Pannek scored twice on power plays in the third period to give Minnesota (12-3-4-6) a 6-4 lead.

She tops the league with 14 goals and 28 points with five games left in the regular season. Pannek had seven goals total in her first two PWHL seasons.

Read

Updated: Yesterday at 4:39 PM CDT

April 5, 2026

Notification Settings

Breaking News

Recommended Reads

Related