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The Montreal Canadiens will try to avenge a recent overtime loss to the New York Islanders when the two teams clash tonight.

Each side has leaned into low-scoring, defense-first hockey down the stretch as they prepare for the postseason, and I’m expecting a similar script to play out in my Islanders vs. Canadiens predictions.

Read more in my NHL picks for Saturday, March 21. 

Islanders vs Canadiens prediction

Islanders vs Canadiens best bet: Under 5.5 (+110)

The Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders are both battling for playoff positioning, and it shows.

Montreal has allowed just 2.71 goals per game over the past two weeks, while New York has been even stingier at 2.17 — the third-best mark in the league over that span.

The Under is 5-1 in each team’s last six games, with the Islanders hitting Under 5.5 in four straight and the Canadiens in two straight.

New York has also cashed the Under in 53.6% of its games this season, the seventh-highest rate in the NHL.

Islanders vs Canadiens same-game parlay

Goals will be hard to come by tonight, but if there’s anyone who can break through, it’s Cole Caufield.

The Habs winger has goals in three of his last four games and six of his last 10, including a tally vs. the Islanders in their last meeting on February 26.

Islanders vs Canadiens SGP

• Under 5.5
• Cole Caufield anytime goalscorer

Islanders vs Canadiens odds

• Moneyline: Islanders +105 | Canadiens -125
• Puck Line: Islanders +1.5 (-230) | Canadiens -1.5 (+190)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Islanders vs Canadiens trend

The Under is 9-4 in New York’s last 13 road games. Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Canadiens.

How to watch Islanders vs Canadiens

Islanders vs Canadiens latest injuries

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Former NHL head coach Peter DeBoer did not hold back when describing the challenge of coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs during a lost season.

Speaking on Leafs’ Morning Take, DeBoer called it “the hardest job in hockey” when a team has little left to play for. Toronto finds itself in that exact position.

The team sits near the bottom of the Atlantic Division, with playoff hopes all but gone. Injuries to Auston Matthews and roster changes have only deepened the slide, leaving the final stretch of games with limited stakes.

MORE: Maple Leafs’ $46.5M forward gives no ‘excuse’ despite injury

DeBoer explained that the mental side becomes the biggest test. A coach must convince players to stay engaged despite the standings.

“It’s the hardest job in hockey being in that position,” DeBoer said. “I haven’t been in that position much. I was in that position in Florida, my first job in the NHL, a couple of times where, you know, we unloaded at the deadline and, you know, played out the string, so to speak.”

“It’s the hardest job in hockey because, you know, you’ve got to come into that room and convince those guys to keep playing for something. Whether it’s a roster spot next year, whether it’s to show, you know, you belong on another special team or higher in the lineup, or just for the pride of the jersey. It’s really tough.”

The challenge is not only for players. DeBoer noted that coaches must manage their own frustration from a disappointing season. He stressed the importance of showing up with the right attitude.

“I don’t envy anybody that’s in that spot because on top of that, you’re dealing with your own frustration of a disappointing year, and that’s something you really have to park and try and show up in that dressing room with as good an attitude as you can have without carrying that around,” DoBer said.

“And, when I listen to Craig talk, I think he’s done an exceptional job recently of trying to keep the guys playing hard here through the end.”

MORE: Maple Leafs’ GM assures of ‘changes’ after Toronto ‘underperformed’ in 2025-26 season

Craig Berube’s comments on the Maple Leafs facing criticism

Current Leafs head coach Craig Berube has faced that pressure in one of hockey’s toughest markets. The team has shown inconsistency in the 2025-26 season, with a 29-28-12 record. Offensive output has been average, but defensive struggles remain a major issue, allowing 3.44 goals per game.

Speaking about the season, Berube acknowledged that fan criticism is part of the job, especially when expectations are high and results fall short.

“There comes criticism with not doing well,” Berube said. “That’s part of the game. You’ve got to understand that’s just the way it is, and you’ve got to deal with it. They have every right to be critical. They pay good money for tickets, and they want the Leafs to do well.

“So when they’re not doing well, there’s going to be some criticism.”

Toronto’s struggles reflect a mix of injuries, inconsistency, and defensive issues. Yet the focus now shifts to effort and culture. As DeBoer outlined, these final games still matter, even if the standings suggest otherwise.

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Projecting what Team North America would look like at the 2028 World Cup of Hockey originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NHL is set to host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey in Edmonton, Calgary, and Prague, with the tournament taking place for the first time since 2016.

At that 2016 event, the competition added two interesting, nontraditional teams. Team Europe and Team North America were introduced to the tournament for the first time in any competition.

Team Europe was formed by players who were from European countries that weren’t already represented in the tournament.

As for Team North America, the roster consisted of American and Canadian players under 24. It made for a talented, young, and exciting lineup, featuring the likes of Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor Hellebuyck, Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin, and more.

So, in 2028, what would a Team North America look like if they brought back the team for the upcoming World Cup?

MORE: 3 candidates for Hockey Canada's next GM

Forwards:

Logan Cooley - Macklin Celebrini - Will Smith

Gavin McKenna - Connor Bedard - Beckett Sennecke

Adam Fantilli - Ben Kindel - Ryan Leonard

Zach Benson - Michael Misa - Gabriel Perreault

Extras: Calum Ritchie, Porter Martone

This is easily the most talented area of this hypothetical team. With Macklin Celebrini leading the way, who already represented Canada at the Olympics, there is an overload of offensive flair.

Along with Celebrini, the other centerpieces of this forward group include Connor Bedard and Logan Cooley, who are difference-makers for their NHL clubs.

Other names that would catch the opponent’s attention include Beckett Sennecke, who is competing to lead all rookies in scoring this year; the projected 2026 first-overall pick, Gavin McKenna; and Ryan Leonard, a skilled winger who brings a physical element.

And of course, these youngsters are going up against NHL veterans, so the team needs as much experience and spunk as possible. That’s why the likes of Zach Benson, Ryan Leonard, and Adam Fantilli will be key pieces to this team.

With that, Calum Ritchie and Porter Martone make it as extras, a pair of right-handed forwards with size. 

Imagn Images

Defensemen:

Matthew Schaefer - Keaton Verhoeff

Zeev Buium - Zayne Parekh

Cole Hutson - Sam Dickinson

Extra: Landon DuPont

There is a little less depth on the back end for the 2028 Team North America roster. While there is some top-end talent from rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer and even Zeev Buium, the rest of the D-corps will need to develop.

It’s not that the potential isn’t there. Zayne Parekh had 13 points in seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship, leading all defensemen and third overall in the competition. 

Cole Hutson and Sam Dickinson have had their taste of NHL hockey, Dickinson making 57 appearances this season, while Hutson made his NHL debut on Wednesday. However, they are just scratching the surface of what they can become by the time 2028 rolls around.

The same can be said about Keaton Verhoeff, who is set to be a top-three pick in the 2026 draft. He is projected to be an incredible defenseman, but a lot can change from now to 2028. 

Landon DuPont also falls into that realm of someone expected to be very good in a few years. Granted, DuPont will be 18 in 2028 and can only be drafted in 2027. But with 71 points in 61 WHL games as a 16-year-old D-man, expect DuPont to be in the conversation.

MORE: What you need to know about the 2028 World Cup of Hockey

Goaltenders

Jacob Fowler

Trey Augustine

Extra: Jack Ivankovic

North America has some solid goaltenders coming through the ranks who have made names for themselves at the world juniors.

Jacob Fowler is already competing for a full-time position in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens. Thanks to his late birthday, he’ll be 23 when the 2028 World Cup comes around, and if there is a Team North America, he's expected not only to make the team but also to be the starting netminder.

Just behind him is fellow American Trey Augustine, who’s been rock-solid in the NCAA for Michigan State University. Over the past three seasons of college hockey, Augustine has averaged a .923 save percentage across 97 appearances. He’d be an undeniable choice for this team.

And finally, Canadian Jack Ivankovic would make up the three goaltenders. Other Canadian netminders, such as Carter George and Joshua Ravensbergen, were in contention to make this team. But Ivankovic has been hanging with Augustine as one of the best goaltenders in the NCAA. Ivankovic has been backstopping the University of Michigan with a .924 save percentage in 31 games.

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The Edmonton Oilers were held scoreless again by the Florida Panthers, falling 4-0 in Thursday night’s NHL game. The result reopened old wounds from consecutive Stanley Cup Final defeats and raised fresh questions about Edmonton’s response in big moments.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky led the way with 21 saves for his fourth shutout of the season. Goals from Cole Reinhardt, A.J. Greer, Anton Lundell, and Carter Verhaeghe secured the win for Florida.

Edmonton showed flashes early but failed to convert. The Oilers trailed 12-8 in shots during the first period and finished just behind at 23-21 overall. They won 53.3 percent of faceoffs but went scoreless on two power-play chances. Florida, in contrast, converted once with the man advantage.

MORE: Oilers’ Evan Bouchard builds strong case for Norris Trophy

The performance drew strong reactions from the NHL community. Former Oiler Ryan Whitney wrote on X, “disgusting Oilers game tonight. Florida in your house, and this is it? gross”

Analyst Jason Gregor questioned the team’s intensity, pointing to a lack of emotion and physicality.

“Team that has beat you twice in Cup Final, has chanted about your best players and chirped them,” Gregor wrote. “And on home ice in a game you need to win you show up with no emotion and no physicality and now trail after 20 minutes. Not enough grit on this team.”

Nick Alberga added that Florida continues to “own” Edmonton, writing,

“Such a troll job. The Panthers reminding the Oilers that they still own them.”

Oilers’ shutout loss and Kris Knoblauch’s comment

The Oilers missed a chance to move atop the Pacific Division and saw their two-game winning streak end. Connor Ingram made 19 saves, but the offense could not respond. The absence of LeonDraisaitl is seen as a factor behind this loss, but this team should’ve done more.

This loss fits a broader pattern that the Oilers have shown this season. Edmonton has struggled with consistency, especially on defense and penalty kill. Against a team that has beaten them on the biggest stage, those flaws stood out again.

Still, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch did not think that the Panthers dominated them in this game. Speaking to the media after the game, he said, “Tonight to evaluate that they dominate us, I think is an overstatement.”

With the playoffs approaching, the Oilers must find answers quickly.

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Maple Leafs' potential trade of Auston Matthews to Wild has a roadblock originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot to figure out after a season that lived up to no one's expectations.

There will be some who even wonder or make rumors about an Auston Matthews trade. While certainly a longshot, it won't stop the chatter, and much of the speculation will include the Minnesota Wild.

Wild GM Bill Guerin is known to love Matthews, and so it's an easy connection.

Even if that was in play, though, it'd likely be hard to make it happen.

The Athletic's Wild beat writer Michael Russo explained it very simply: Minnesota just doesn't have the pieces to get a trade like that done.

“I just don’t know if the Wild would have the assets to get that done, because I think any GM is going to look at the Quinn Hughes trade as sort of the template in a deal like that," Russo said. "And the Wild could not do another, you know, Liam Öhgren, Marco Rossi, and a first—they just don’t have those assets anymore.”

MORE: Oilers might be closer to Connor McDavid nightmare than it appears

Russo did add in his conversation on Sportsnet 590 The Fan that he does believe Guerin would make a run at Matthews anyway.

"Well, I mean, I wouldn’t say that I’m hearing noise, but I know Bill Guerin really well, and there’s no doubt that he would be in on that if Auston ever went to market again,” Russo said.

Matthews has two years remaining on his contract after this season concludes. That at least starts to enter into the window of, if this guy doesn't want to stay, should he be traded?

It'll be a talking point whether the Leafs like it or not. Just don't put overly weighted stock in the Wild rumors. They may not line up in the end.

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• The $25 million implication of Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann trade

This article originally appeared on PGHHockeyNOW.

Former Johnstown Chiefs and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Billy Tibbetts is again behind bars, according to a report in the Time Leader newspaper in Wilkes-Barre.

The Penguins signed Tibbetts in November 2000, a year after he was paroled in Massachusetts for multiple violent offenses. For three seasons, Tibbetts played in the NHL with the Penguins, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the New York Rangers. Tibbetts then played for many teams in the AHL, ECHL, a couple of seasons in the SM-liiga, before finishing his career in the low levels of the minors, bottoming out in the SPHL in 2008-09.

According to multiple reports, police and U.S. Marshalls arrested Tibbetts, 51, on Tuesday at a Red Roof Inn near Mohegan Sun Arena on a bench warrant. The original offense was harassment and later a violation of a protective order.

Click here to read more on PGHHockeyNOW.

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Oilers have a brutal Connor McDavid problem originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A stat emerged after Thursday night's Edmonton Oilers loss that is remarkable in a number of ways.

But what it really says is that the Oilers' reliance on superstar Connor McDavid, while logical, can be a bit of a crutch.

There have been 12 games in the Oilers' season in which McDavid hasn't tallied a point.

According to Sportsnet, the Oilers have lost all 12 -- 10 in regulation and two in overtime.

The Oilers are 34-17-7 when McDavid notches at least one point, with 75 of their 77 points coming in the 58 games that McDavid has gotten on the board.

Obviously, on one hand, this makes sense. McDavid is on the ice so much and in so many scoring situations that, if he doesn't score, it's probably a bad sign for the overall productivity of the Oilers.

With Leon Draisaitl now out injured, it looms even larger, because that's one less bit of firepower ready to hop over the boards when McDavid heads off the ice for a bit.

MORE: Oilers might be closer to Connor McDavid nightmare than it appears

On the other hand, though, this is a problem. Everyone has off nights, even the best hockey player on the planet.

If the Oilers can't ever find a way to overcome a quiet McDavid, there'll be a crucial game at some point in which their lack of support comes back to bite them.

The good news is that McDavid almost always delivers.

But it would be much more comforting for the Oilers if they knew how to get it done alongside him occasionally, too, rather than putting the world's whole weight on his superstar shoulders.

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