* Chris Kreider tallied four points, including the tying goal with 42 seconds remaining in regulation, to help the Ducks earn their League-leading 19th comeback win of the season (tied) and leapfrog the Golden Knights for top spot in the Pacific Division.
* Hours after reacquiring Nazem Kadri, who helped them skate to a Stanley Cup win in 2022, the Avalanche snapped the Stars’ 10-game winning streak – the second time the franchise has put an end to an opponent’s double-digit run. Kadri was part of 20 trades on deadline day.
* The first Saturday of March will feature an 11-game slate with a number of new-look rosters and over half of its contests on a national broadcast across either the U.S. or Canada, comprised of a doubleheader on ABC and a five-pack of Hockey Night in Canada games.
STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS, CAPTAINS AND BROTHERS HEADLINE DEADLINE DAY DEALS
A special edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates covered every deal made in the final hours leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline powered by SAP, with NHL clubs making 20 trades involving 33 players ahead of the 3 p.m. ET cutoff. A few highlights:
* After leading the Flames in scoring during his four seasons in Calgary, Nazem Kadri was reacquired by the Avalanche – with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2022. Kadri had the best statistical season of his career with the Avalanche, collecting 28-59—87 in 2021-22 before averaging nearly a point-per-game during their Cup run (7-8—15 in 16 GP), highlighted by an overtime goal in the Final against the Lightning.
* A veteran player who skated across from Kadri during that Final was also reacquired on deadline day as Corey Perry was dealt from the Kings to the Lightning. Perry, a Stanley Cup champion (2007 w/ ANA), has appeared in the Stanley Cup Final in five of the previous six seasons, owns the most career playoff games by any forward in NHL history (237) and ranks fourth among all players, behind defensemen Chris Chelios (266) and Nicklas Lidstrom (263), as well as goaltender Patrick Roy (247).
* Another Stanley Cup champion that changed teams Friday was Brayden Schenn. The former St. Louis captain didn’t have to go far to join his new club, as the Blues were staying at the same hotel as the Islanders in San Jose – where both his former and new club are playing this weekend before going head-to-head in St. Louis on Tuesday. His brother, Luke Schenn, also is a Stanley Cup winner who was dealt hours earlier (late Thursday to Buffalo, one of the most active teams ahead of the deadline).
* The through lines continue, with yet another NHL captain/NHL sibling on the move – but with a twist as former Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno will put the “Foligno Face-Off” on hold to join Marcus Foligno and the Wild (who have never had siblings play together). Only two sets of brothers have played together after joining forces on deadline day.
* A pair of former Maple Leafs teammates are heading to the west coast as Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann were dealt to the Kings and Kraken, respectively. They are now embroiled in a head-to-head battle for playoff contention as McMann’s new club owns Wild Card 2, while Laughton’s sits three points behind them. The Pacific Division foes clash once more in 2025-26, to start the final week of the regular season (LAK at SEA: April 13 on ESPN).
* Another Cup winner on the move was John Carlson, the highest-scoring active American defenseman, who was dealt to the Ducks on Thursday before the clock struck midnight in California. Carlson had spent his entire career with the Capitals, for whom he holds franchise records for goals, assists and points by a defenseman.
DUCKS COME BACK TO WIN, MOVE INTO FIRST PLACE IN THE PACIFIC DIVISION
With the Ducks up 4-2 in the third period, Cole Caufield (2-1—3) netted two of three straight Canadiens goals to give them a 5-4 lead, but Chris Kreider scored the tying tally in the final 42 seconds of regulation to set Anaheim up to complete the comeback in a shootout victory. The Ducks (35-24-3, 73 points) leapfrogged the Golden Knights (29-20-14, 72 points) to move into first place in the Pacific Division standings. The last time they held that position at this stage of a season or later (988 GP) was at the end of 2016-17.
* Kreider’s goal in the final 42 seconds of regulation marked Anaheim’s fifth tying goal in the final minute of regulation this season, which is the most among all teams. The last club to record more tying tallies in the final minute of regulation in a single campaign was the Devils in 2006-07 (6).
* Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) has a history of scoring tying tallies: he has 54 in his career, which ranks eighth among active American players behind Patrick Kane (91), Auston Matthews (70), Brock Nelson (66), Anders Lee (63), James van Riemsdyk (59), Kyle Palmieri (59) and Alex DeBrincat (58).
MACKINNON, NICHUSHKIN HELP AVALANCHE RALLY TO SNAP STARS’ WIN STREAK
The battle of the League’s top two teams got off to a quick start with the Stars establishing a 3-1 lead, but Nathan MacKinnon (1-2—3) spearheaded the Avalanche rally and Valeri Nichushkin potted the tying tally with 15 seconds remaining in regulation to set the stage for Colorado to snap Dallas’ 10-game winning streak in the shootout – the second time it has ended an opponent’s double-digit win streak (also CHI: 11 GP in 2012-13). The Avalanche earned their 20th road victory of the season (tied with DAL for the League lead) and matched their fewest games in franchise history to reach the mark.
* MacKinnon recorded his League-high 16th three-point game of the season – one shy of his career-best (17 in 2023-24) – and boosted his 2025-26 totals to 42-61—103 (60 GP). He tied Peter Stastny (35-68—103 in 1981-82) for the most points through 60 games in a season in Avalanche/Nordiques history.
* MacKinnon recorded his fourth consecutive season with 60 or more assists and became just the second player in franchise history to do so, behind Stastny (6 from 1980-81 to 1985-86). He also became just the fourth active player to notch that many consecutive 60-assists seasons.
MORE AMERICAN STARS SHINE DURING “HOCKEY WEEK ACROSS AMERICA”
With Hockey Week Across America culminating this weekend, including USA Hockey’s ‘Try Hockey for Free Day today, a number of American players had notable performances Friday.
* Matthew Tkachuk (Scottsdale, Ariz.) netted his fourth regular-season hat trick with the Panthers (tied for third in franchise history) and sixth of his NHL career, which trails only five active American skaters: Auston Matthews (14), Tage Thompson (9), Patrick Kane (9), Jake Guentzel (8) and Kyle Connor (7).
* Detroit’s lone goal was an all-American connection as Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) set up Alex DeBrincat (Farmington Hills, Mich.). It was the 203rd time Kane and DeBrincat factored on the same goal, second most among U.S.-born teammates in NHL history behind Mammoth forwards Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz (208).
* Cole Caufield (Mosinee, Wis.) recorded his 10th multi-goal game of 2025-26 and became the first Canadiens player with that many in a single season since Max Pacioretty (10 GP) in 2013-14. Caufield (61 GP) required the fewest contests to reach a double-digit multi-goal game count sinceMatthews (31 GP) in 2023-24.
* Prior to Friday’s NHL action, USA Hockey announced that it has eclipsed 100,000 female registrants for the 2025-26 season – a milestone never before reached. The 100,000th player, 13-year-old Joanna Gilligan, plays in the Utah Mammoth’s new all-girls league – and got a special visit from Team USA captain Hilary Knight to mark the occasion.
* Also Friday, in recognition of International Women’s Day (March 8), the NHL and NHLPA celebrated their commitment to support girls and women in hockey at all levels of the game. The joint effort led by the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund includes strategic investments in girls’ hockey programs in partnership with all 32 NHL Clubs, among other initiatives. It also was announced that the NHL Foundation U.S. Inc., in partnership with Boston Fleet captain and Team USA alternate captain Megan Keller,will makea $100,000 donation to two organizations of her choosing as part of its Empowerment Grant for Girls Hockey program. This marks the third Girls Hockey grant donated, following the Columbus Ice Hockey Club in February 2025 and Hockey in New Jersey in February 2026. Keller was on the ice with the Jersey Girls Hockey Club and Hockey in New Jersey on Friday night.
QUICK CLICKS
*Evgeni Malkin of Penguins suspended 5 games for slashing
* Connor Bedard ready to take over as Blackhawks’ leader following trades
*Kristen Bowness making big impact on family business with Mammoth
* Alex Ovechkin says end of John Carlson era with Capitals ‘toughest day in my career’
* NHL EDGE stats: Avalanche remain Stanley Cup front-runner after Kadri trade
OVECHKIN, PASTRNAK CLASH IN FIRST GAME ON ABC HOCKEY SATURDAY
A doubleheader on ABC Hockey Saturday starts with Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals visiting David Pastrnak and the Bruins – both teams in the hunt for a playoff spot – before the Rangers and Devils clash in the first of three meetings this season. Fans in Czechia will be able to watch Pastrnak, the third-highest NHL scorer all-time from that country, in prime time as part of the Hockey Day in Czechia celebration in Pardubice, as he aims to help Boston maintain its rank within the playoff bracket.
* The Bruins (34-22-5, 73 points) enter their contest on ABC occupying the final Wild Card seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Capitals (31-25-7, 69 points) sit just four points behind them. The contest will feature two players who have combined for 1,450 goals (regular season & playoffs) in Ovechkin (998) and Pastrnak (452) – co-winners of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in 2019-20. “The Great 8” has bested “Pasta” in head-to-head wins (WSH: 21-10-1; BOS: 11-15-6), while the latter has the edge in head-to-head goals (Pastrnak: 16-20—36; Ovechkin: 12-11-23).
* Ovechkin, the all-time NHL regular-season goals leader and two shy of joining Wayne Gretzky (1,016) as the second player with 1,000 total NHL goals, has made his impact on the hockey world not only as an elite goal scorer, but as a player growing the game of hockey through his partnership with American Special Hockey Association (ASHA) and through The GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer. Through his career, Ovechkin has helped cover ice costs for more than 130 special hockey teams across the U.S., benefitting over 5,260 athletes and nearly 400 coaches. Over the years, the Capitals captain has hosted multiple ASHA skating sessions, a street hockey event and donates ‘Ovi’s 8’s’ tickets to ASHA athletes and their families – he’s totaled more than 6,000 season tickets to community programs including ASHA.
* The Devils and Rangers will clash in an all-Metropolitan Division matchup, their first meeting of the season. New Jersey enters with wins in its past three games overall, as well as a four-game point streak versus New York (3-0-1, all last season). Should the Devils extend that run on Saturday, they would tie their third-longest active run against an opponent (also 5 GP vs. NSH & MTL, behind 8 GP vs. MIN & 7 GP vs. CHI).
HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA FEATURES TOP TWO TEAMS IN THE EAST
Sportsnet will carry a five-set of Hockey Night in Canada contests that will see the top two teams in the East, the Hurricanes and Lightning, face off against the Flames and Maple Leafs, respectively. Tampa Bay’s perch atop the Atlantic Division, and as the No. 2 seed in the conference, could be in jeopardy before their contest as the Sabres play earlier in the day and are tied in points with the Lightning (TBL has games in hand).
* Carolina (40-16-6, 86 points) will visit Calgary to conclude its Western Canada road trip and aims to pad its lead atop the Eastern Conference standings. The Hurricanes are tracking to finish in a top two position within their division for the fifth straight season since 2021-22 – the most among all franchises since the League expanded to 32 teams (DAL, EDM & TOR follow at 3x). Carolina, which has sat in first place in the East for 51 total game days this season, can soon set a franchise benchmark for most days as the No. 1 seed in its conference. The only other season in which the club has topped its conference for at least 30 game days is 2005-06 (54) – the last time the club made the Stanley Cup Final.
* The Lightning could have a new but familiar forward in the fold when they face the Maple Leafs, after their deadline day acquisition of Corey Perry. Perry returns to a Lightning club that currently sits first in a competitive Atlantic Division (38-18-4, 80 points) and looks to make a run toward the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since the start of Perry’s last stint with the club in 2021-22.
ICYMI: Podcast Roundup
100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (March 6): Life on Deadline Day — NHL Coach Pete DeBoer Breaks It Down
NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers (March 5): Youngblood’s Ashton James and Chris Nelson: Trade Deadline Delirium, Blow Up the Leafs and Sherwood’s Extension
NHL Fantasy on Ice (March 5): Weegar to Utah; Week 19 mailbag
100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (March 4): Trade Deadline Watch — Nick Kypreos on What Could Happen Next
NHL @TheRink (March 4): E.J. Hradek joins; Trade Deadline, Buyers & Sellers, Rumor mill, Kings coaching change
Never Offside with Julie and Cat (March 3): Kendall Coyne Schofield joins; Gold showcase, Stella’s Insta, Canadien cameo
NHL Fantasy on Ice (March 2): Kings’ coaching change; Week 19 pickups
100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (March 2): Building It the Right Way — Jarmo Kekäläinen on the Sabres’ Rise
