In a surprising move, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals will be a healthy scratch for the upcoming game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+, SN360, TVAS). Ovechkin, who has accumulated an impressive 70 points this season with 42 goals and 28 assists in just 62 games, made headlines last Sunday by becoming the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, surpassing Wayne Gretzky with his remarkable 895th goal during a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders.
On Friday, over 3,000 fans gathered at the Capital One Arena to honor Ovechkin's historic achievement. Alongside him, defenseman Jakob Chychrun will also be a healthy scratch. Chychrun has had a standout season, netting a career-high 20 goals and 47 points in 72 games. With the Capitals having already clinched the Metropolitan Division title and the top seed in the Eastern Conference, they are well-prepared for the playoffs, assuring home-ice advantage at least through the Eastern Conference Final. They have three regular-season games remaining after Saturday's matchup.
In other news, Patrick Maroon of the Chicago Blackhawks is set to play the final game of his NHL career when the Blackhawks host the Winnipeg Jets at United Center on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (CHSN, NHLN, SNW, CITY). Reflecting on his career, Maroon expressed a mix of emotions, stating, “It certainly kind of sank in last night. You sit there and think about it a lot, the good times, the bad times, the adversity you go through.” He emphasized missing the camaraderie with teammates, particularly the shared dinners.
The 36-year-old forward announced that this season would be his last on March 22, just prior to the Blackhawks' 4-1 loss to his hometown team, the St. Louis Blues. Originally selected as a sixth-round pick (No. 161) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2007 NHL Draft, Maroon has amassed 323 points (126 goals, 197 assists) in 847 regular-season games, playing for teams like the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He proudly won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 and the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. Maroon noted that many family and friends would be present to celebrate this special night.
The Edmonton Oilers are facing injury setbacks as defenseman Mattias Ekholm exited his first game back since missing seven straight due to an undisclosed injury. He left the ice just 6:41 into the first period against the San Jose Sharks. In addition, forward Zach Hyman also left the game in the second period, and there were no immediate updates on his condition. Ekholm has recorded 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) in 64 games this season, while Hyman has 44 points (27 goals, 17 assists) in 73 games.
Meanwhile, goalie Stuart Skinner, who missed seven games due to a head injury, returned to back up Calvin Pickard. Skinner has a record of 24-18-4 with a 2.91 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in 49 games. The Oilers currently sit third in the Pacific Division, just two points behind the Los Angeles Kings.
In Toronto, Oliver Ekman-Larsson will not play when the Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (CBC, TVAS, SNO, SNE, SNP). The defenseman did not practice on Friday due to an undisclosed injury, which occurred during a previous game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Coach Craig Berube indicated that the team would manage their lineup under NHL salary cap restrictions, which will result in the Maple Leafs playing with 17 skaters and five defensemen.
Several players, including Jake McCabe and David Kampf, will miss their fourth consecutive game due to injuries. Toronto has four games left in the regular season as they gear up for potential playoff action.
The Colorado Avalanche will rest several key players, including Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, during their two-game road trip to conclude the regular season. Coach Jared Bednar announced that several players are dealing with minor injuries, leading to the decision to rest them ahead of the playoffs. MacKinnon is tied for first in the NHL with 116 points this season.
As the Avalanche prepare for their playoff run, they will face the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks in upcoming matches. The team is locked into third place in the Central Division, and they will likely face either the Dallas Stars or Winnipeg Jets in the first round.
On the injury front, Luke Glendening of the Tampa Bay Lightning is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury, raising concerns about his availability for the remainder of the regular season. This season, Glendening has recorded seven points (four goals, three assists) and averaged 10:47 of ice time over 77 games. The Lightning have already qualified for the playoffs and currently sit second in the Atlantic Division.
As the NHL regular season winds down, teams are strategically managing player health and preparing for the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs, making these final games crucial for both playoff positioning and player readiness.
In a positive update for the Dallas Stars, Tyler Seguin is close to returning to the lineup after missing 56 games due to hip surgery. Coach Pete DeBoer indicated that Seguin has been participating in full-contact practices this week. Prior to his surgery, Seguin had recorded 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in just 19 games. The Stars are currently six points behind the Jets for first place in the Central Division and have secured at least the No. 2 seed.
