NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 10, 2026
The Avalanche clinch the Presidents’ Trophy, the Penguins and Mammoth clinch playoff berths, Canadiens winger Cole Caufield joins the 50-goal club, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1 to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history. Martin Necas also had a goal and two assists for the 52-16-10 Avalanche, who sit first overall with 114 points. Rookie Tyson Gross tallied his first NHL goal for the Flames (32-37-9).
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon sits third among the points leaders with 126, but holds the lead in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy with 52 goals.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2022 after beating the New Jersey Devils 5-2. Egor Chinakhov had a goal and two assists, and Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Erik Karlsson each had two points for the 41-22-16 Penguins (98 points), who clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division, assuring them of home-ice advantage in the upcoming postseason. Paul Cotter and Jack Hughes replied for the Devils (40-36-3).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Luke Hughes missed this game as he’s been shut down for the remainder of this season, as he will undergo a season-ending procedure on his injured shoulder.
Utah Mammoth forwards Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther each had a goal and an assist for a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators that clinched a playoff berth for the franchise just two years after its relocation from Arizona. Team captain Clayton Keller collected three assists for the Mammoth (42-30-6), who hold the first wild-card berth in the Western Conference. Erik Haula scored for the 37-32-10 Predators (84 points) as they dropped one point behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final Western wild card.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the first time the Mammoth have reached the playoffs, but it’s the first time this franchise has reached the postseason since 2019-20, when they were in their earlier incarnation as the Arizona Coyotes. It’s also the first time they’ve done it in a non-COVID season since 2011-12, when they were still known as the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Predators played without team captain Roman Josi, who was a late scratch with an upper-body injury.
Speaking of the Kings, they regained that wild-card spot by downing the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Adrian Kempe tallied two goals, Artemi Panarin had two assists, and Anton Forsberg stopped 24 shots for the 33-26-19 Kings (85 points). Marcus Pettersson scored for the Canucks (22-48-8).
Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored his 50th goal of the season in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Juraj Slafkovsky broke a 1-1 tie with his 30th of the season and had an assist on Caufield’s goal, and team captain Nick Suzuki had the primary assists on both goals for the 47-22-10 Canadiens, who moved ahead of the Lightning into second place in the Atlantic Division with 104 points. Darren Raddysh replied for the 48-25-6 Lightning.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Caufield becomes the seventh player in Canadiens history to reach the 50-goal plateau, and the first to do so since Stephane Richer in 1990. He’s in second place in the race for the Richard Trophy, two behind Nathan MacKinnon.
Meanwhile, Slafkovsky became the first Slovakian player to score 30 goals in a season since Marian Hossa in 2013-14. With 98 points, Suzuki surpassed Pierre Turgeon for the most points in a season by a Canadiens captain. He’s poised to become the first Hab to reach 100 points in a season since Mats Naslund in 1985-86.
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis made 37 saves for his first NHL shutout to blank the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-0. Josh Doan scored twice for the 49-23-8 Sabres, who sit atop the Atlantic Division with 106 points. Jet Greaves stopped 19 of 23 shots for the Blue Jackets (39-28-12), who sit four points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 90 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This loss likely spelled the end of the Jackets’ hopes of securing a playoff spot. After being red hot from mid-January to mid-March, they’re 2-7-1 in their last 10 and fading fast. Meanwhile, Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon could miss the start of the playoffs with a lower-body injury.
Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson broke a 4-4 tie to lift his club to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild in a preview of their upcoming first-round playoff series. Miko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Colin Blackwell each had a goal and an assist for the 47-20-12 Stars, who sit second overall in the Western Conference with 106 points. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice, Mats Zuccarello had three assists, and Quinn Hughes had a goal and an assist for the Wild (45-22-12), who sit third in the Conference with 102 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen left this game with a lower-body injury in the first period. He’s questionable to play in Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers.
The New York Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3, giving new head coach Peter DeBoer the win in his first game behind their bench. Calum Ritchie and Tony DeAngelo each had two points, and rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer netted his 23rd goal of the season for the Islanders (43-31-5), who ended a four-game slide to sit one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division with 91 points. Steven Lorentz, Easton Cowan, and Morgan Rielly scored for the 32-33-14 Maple Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer has tied Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for the most goals by a rookie defenseman. The Isles must overtake the Flyers if they hope to clinch a playoff berth.
Speaking of the Flyers, they dropped a 6-3 decision to the Detroit Red Wings. Dylan Larkin had a hat trick and an assist, Moritz Seider scored and collected four assists, Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists, and Alex DeBrincat scored his 40th goal of the season for the 41-29-9 Red Wings (91 points). Rookie winger Porter Martone had a goal and an assist for the 40-27-12 Flyers (92 points).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings sit three points behind the Ottawa Senators, who hold the final Eastern Conference wild card with 94 points. Wings goaltender John Gibson left this contest midway through the second period with an undisclosed injury. There was no update on his condition following the game.
Meanwhile, the Senators maintained their three-point lead over the Red Wings by defeating the Florida Panthers 5-1. Fabian Zetterlund scored twice, and Jake Sanderson collected two assists for the 42-27-10 Senators. Jesper Boqvist scored for the 37-38-4 Panthers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Panthers announced that defenseman Seth Jones is done for the season after fracturing his foot during Tuesday’s loss to the Canadiens.
Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson scored his first career hat trick in a 6-1 drubbing of the San Jose Sharks, snapping a six-game winless skid (0-5-1). Troy Terry, Beckett Sennecke, Mikael Granlund, and Pavel Mintyukov each had two assists for the Ducks (42-32-5), who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 89 points. Shakir Mukhamadullin replied for the 37-34-7 Sharks (81 points), who are four points out of the final Western wild card.
The Carolina Hurricanes thumped the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2. Logan Stankoven had two goals and an assist while William Carrier collected three assists for the Hurricanes (51-22-6), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 108 points. Rookie Anton Frondell scored twice for the 28-37-14 Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes sat out Jalen Chatfield, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov from this game.
A shootout goal by Berkly Catton gave the Seattle Kraken a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots as the Kraken (33-34-11) overcame a 3-1 deficit. Mark Stone tallied twice for the 36-26-17 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 89 points.
The Winnipeg Jets kept their playoff hopes alive by nipping the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Mark Scheifele had two assists while Alex Iafallo, Josh Morrissey, and Jonathan Toews scored for the 35-31-12 Jets (82 points), who sit three points behind the Kings for the final Western wild card. Dylan Holloway had a goal and an assist for the 33-33-12 Blues.
The Jackets may be 4 points out of a wild card spot but are only 2 points out of third place in the division. So they’re not dead yet. But they will have to pick up their play.
The Flyers and the Islanders both want that same spot, 3rd place in the Metro. Jackets have a tough hill to climb if they want in.
Hey I didn’t say it would be easy. They’ll have to play a lot better than they have been. But 2 points is easier to make up than 4.
There are no NHL games scheduled today as part of a league design to concentrate action on a “high-viewer” Saturday, when 30 teams see action. Only Buffalo and Anaheim are not scheduled tomorrow.
In that volatile Eastern scramble around the 2 WC slots plus 3rd place in the Metro, three teams (Boston, Ottawa and Columbus) play back-to-backs on the week-end. The Bruins are at home to Tampa on Saturday and then in Columbus on Sunday, Ottawa is at NYI Saturday and in NJ Sunday, while Columbus visit Montreal tomorrow then host Boston Sunday, and finish at home om April 1 against Washington. The Bruins then conclude their schedule at home on April 14 vs NJ, while Ottawa hosts Toronto on Wednesday, April 15.
The Flyers are in Winnipeg tomorrow, then home for their final two against Carolina on April 13 and Montreal April 14 in a season-ending back-to-back. The NYI, after hosting Ottawa tomorrow, also finish with a back-to-back at home April 13/14 vs Montreal and Carolina. Detroit hosts NJ tomorrow, and are away to Tampa and Florida on April 13 and 15.
Agree with habsfan30 here – hold nothing back and get in.
The 30 teams playing on one night is great but I can still only watch 3 or maybe 4 games with full focus…seems more reasonable to have 10 teams on Friday and 20 on Saturday but what do I know?
Ostensibly, one of the reasons for the day off today was to give the teams a bit of rest before the final push for each. I wonder if it ever dawned on them that a day between games to avoid back-to-backs is also a pretty good rest factor?
For those involved in back-to-backs it raises the decision as to whether to split the two games between their # 1 G and back-up … or go with the # 1 in both.
If you have a clear #1G this is when he has to earn his pay. With so few games left and everything on the line it’s time to ride or die.
GeorgeO,that s why you paid Ullmark!
Not sure what is your point, Sr. I didn’t suggest otherwise – merely that there are 5 teams in that fight and with several back-to-backs involved it will be decision-time for the coaches concerned. Obviously we have no way of knowing if any of the goalies concerned are nursing nagging physical issues or, to their coaches/training staff, simply showing signs of fatigue.
GeorgeO even though Swayman got pulled in his last start,he owes the Bruins back to back starts. The onus is on him. That s why he got his money!
The Habs TB game last night was an entertaining game, shaping up to be a fun series for sure.
Jackets had it in their grasp but have been letting it slip through their fingers much like last season.
This first round of the playoffs is going be so, so good.
Still no confirmation for the bruins to secure a playoffs spot yet. I have a feeling if by chance they win tomorrow you’ll see Hagens on a regular shift Sunday and their other game to close off the season.
I can’t see a favourite from the Eastern Conference. Maybe the ‘Canes but as has been noted so little separation between the teams.
As an Edmonton resident I was happy to see Vegas only get a point last night, but more importantly we needed Seattle to lose to stay below the Toronto in the standings at #5, with the Leafs at #6.
Hey Leafs, can you win a game or 2 to finish the season? Not looking great. Or Seattle to lose out in regulation, as they have a game in hand, which is unlikely.
From Puck Pedia regarding that pick.
Top 5 protected, slides to 2027. The 2027 pick goes to Philadelphia (as part of Laughton trade) if it is outside the top 10, which converts this pick to Boston to a 2028 unprotected 1st Round Pick. If this Pick slides to 2027 and is in the top 10, TOR can either transfer it to BOS to satisfy this trade and then give PHI the 2028 unprotected, or transfer it to PHI and give BOS the 2028 unprotected 1st Round Pick.
So if the Leafs end up picking in the top 5, the B’s may not get that pick until 2028.
So is that better, Matthew might be gone? Worse? I dunno, not a fortune teller, but this is supposedly an excellent draft, so prefer the bird in hand at 6/7/8.
Go Leafs Go!
And, Ray, for one night only on Saturday, go Bs go!
Thanks LJ!
Ray, with a prime factor for deciding which team is ranked higher in the event of tied positions at the end being the team with the higher number of wins in regulation time (excluding overtime or shootout wins), here’s how it’s shaping up in that regard among teams currently in or still hoping to get in:
46 – Colorado
41 – Buffalo
39 – Tampa
37 – Carolina
36 – Ottawa & Dallas
34 – Pittsburgh & Washington
33 – Montreal
32 – Utah
31 – Boston & Edmonton
30 – Detroit & Minnesota
29 – NYI & St, Louis
28 – Vegas & Winnipeg
27 – Columbus & Nashville
25 – Anaheim, San Jose & Seattle
20 – Los Angeles
First round playoff series tend to be the most exciting and the most hotly contested but when the SCF roll around most of us don’t even remember who played in them.
The teams come in hot on the chase and for the most part healthy, competing all out.
The playoffs then begin the wear and tear and almost becomes a last man standing as injuries pile up.
The NHL gruelling playoffs is what makes it the toughest championship to win.
I find it gets easier to predict as the playoffs move on as well HF30.
You can see who has their game dialed in and who doesn’t.
Seems like in round 1, you can catch even the best teams not quite prepared for the change in pace and physicality, and don’t have their structure in a groove. Hence the 1st RD upset.
From the outside it seems like the confidence builds with the top teams as they move on from round to round, and teams relax without losing intensity, if that makes any sense.
Or maybe I’m just used to EDM, who got outplayed by LA early in that series, got it turned around and won. Then cruised past Vegas and Dallas in 5. Kinda like the year before.
Florida with a scare in RD2 from the Leafs, then handled Canes and Oil pretty handily. They got it going and repeated it consistently.
The Leafs are reportedly very interested in Mike Gillis, who is set for a second meeting with Keith Pelley