Ramblings: Penguins Participate in Load Management, Protas Power Forward Line, Forsberg Turning Around Kings Goaltending (Apr 12)
Ian Gooding
2026-04-12
The last Saturday of the regular season was just completed. As well, the playoff picture has become much clearer with several more teams clinching. Let's break it all down.
Brandon Hagel returned to the Lightning lineup on Saturday, scoring his career-high 36th goal of season in a 2-1 win over Boston.
Darren Raddysh missed this game with an undisclosed injury, meaning that Charle-Edouard D'Astous was on the top power play. D'Astous did not register a point and has been without a point in his last four games, but he is also just one point shy of reaching 30 points. He could be an option for next week if Raddysh misses more games.
The result didn't matter for the Bruins, as they clinched a playoff spot with Detroit's loss.
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With both teams trying to secure playoff spots, the Senators and Islanders wanted any sort of psychological advantage they could get.
Brady Tkachuk was in pain later on, leaving the game early in the third period. A stick appeared to catch him in his neck late in the second period. After the game, Travis Green said that Tkachuk wasn't feeling well. With the Senators now officially in the playoffs thanks to a 3-0 win, don't be surprised if Tkachuk does not suit up for the two remaining games, including today (Sunday) against Toronto.
Linus Ullmark backstopped the Sens with a 23-save shutout. Ullmark now has four consecutive wins and three consecutive quality starts. Nice to see, considering the personal struggles that Ullmark has gone through this season. Ullmark has been much better after his leave of absence (14-4-3, 2.41 GAA, .903 SV%) than before (14-8-5, 2.95 GAA, .880 SV%).
Michael Amadio and Ridly Greig each had a goal and an assist for the Sens, who clinched a playoff spot later in the day with Detroit's loss.
The Islanders are now 1-1 since Patrick Roy was replaced by Pete DeBoer as head coach.
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Just as I mentioned yesterday that I hadn't seen much load management, the Penguins drop this one on us today:
A few thoughts:
- If this isn't load management, then I don't know what is. I don't doubt that these players are battling injuries, but the timing of it all happening at once right after the Penguins clinched a playoff spot doesn't seem like just a coincidence.
- Even if it's disappointing not having one or more of these players available for what might be the most important weekend of the season, you probably have other options on your bench on a busy Saturday. I realize none of the defensemen on your waiver wire will score at the pace of an Erik Karlsson. But it's just for one game, not an entire season. Anything can happen in one game.
- Not fantasy-hockey related, but before the season it seemed like we may had already seen the last of Sidney Crosby in the playoffs in a Penguins uniform. Now that they are back in, I hope that the long-time trio of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang has a good solid playoff run. If that means resting them for a game or two, then so be it. Hockey is a grueling sport, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are a war of attrition.
In his second NHL game, Ilya Protas scored his first NHL goal while assisting on two others (one of which was scored by older brother Aliaksei Protas). In just two NHL games, the younger Protas (just 19 years of age) has accrued four points while playing on what is probably one of the heaviest lines in NHL history.
Ilya was deserving of a callup after scoring 62 points (28 G, 34 A) in 66 games with the AHL's Hershey Bears. Prior to that, he had piled up 50 goals and 124 points in just 61 games with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires. A third-round pick in the 2024 draft, the younger Protas could be a giant in more ways than one. For more on Ilya Protas, see his Dobber Prospects profile.
The older Protas and Tom Wilson each scored a goal while adding an assist, while Ryan Leonard scored a pair of goals for the Capitals in the 6-3 win.
Pierre-Luc Dubois left this game with an upper-body injury.
Alex Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal for the Capitals. The Penguins and Capitals meet again today (Sunday) for what could be Ovechkin's final home game. Depending on when he makes his decision on when to continue his NHL career, the Ovechkin watch will be a massive story this offseason.
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A week ago, I discussed the shaky goaltending of Darcy Kuemper, suggesting that Anton Forsberg could pick up a start or two this week. Sure enough, Forsberg has started all three games for the Kings this week as they attempt to secure a playoff spot. All three games have resulted in victories for Los Angeles, the latest resulting in a 27-save shutout for Forsberg in a 1-0 win over Edmonton. Forsberg has three quality starts this week, allowing three total goals. If you added him from the waiver wire to start this week, nice job.
Assuming the Kings make the playoffs, I wonder if Forsberg starts Game 1. It's better to ride the hot hand than simply hand it to the goalie with the bigger price tag. That is, of course, until Forsberg were to struggle himself.
Artemi Panarin scored the only goal of the game. Since joining the Kings, Panarin has 26 points in 23 games. Being traded to LA doesn't seem to be affecting his scoring at all, even though the Kings have a bottom-5 offense in the league.
Saturday's game was also Anze Kopitar's final regular-season home game. The Kings finish with three road games next week. He will be missed.
Even with the loss, the Oilers were able to clinch a playoff spot on Saturday.
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In the Devils' 5-3 win over Detroit, Jesper Bratt led the way with two goals and an assist. Bratt is below the point-per-game level for the first time in three seasons (72 PTS In 80 GP). However, he has had a tremendous final quarter to the season with 26 points over his last 18 games. Much of that might have to do with the fact he is playing alongside the red-hot Jack Hughes.
Hughes, by the way, finished with a goal and an assist. The golden goal must have taken his confidence to a whole new level, as he has piled up 39 points in the 23 games since the Olympic break.
To answer this question myself, the ONLY reason he should not be a first-round pick in next season's fantasy drafts is his injury history. Over the past five seasons, Hughes has reached 70 games just once. A first-round pick consistently missing 10+ games is a big deal. You probably won't win your fantasy league because you draft an elite player with your first-round pick, but you could lose your league by drafting the wrong player with your first-round pick.
By the way, the Red Wings loss means they have officially been eliminated from the playoffs. After making the playoffs for 25 consecutive seasons starting in 1990-91, the Wings have now missed the playoffs for ten consecutive seasons. This isn't sitting well with the Detroit faithful.
On January 12, the Wings were in first place in the Atlantic Division with 60 points, while the Senators were last in the division with 45 points. Guess which team made the playoffs?
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Jake Oettinger stopped all 22 shots he faced in the Stars' 2-0 win over the Rangers. Oettinger now has four consecutive wins for the playoff-bound Stars.
Jason Robertson scored both goals, which were his 43rd and 44th goals of the season. Robertson is just two goals shy of his career high of 46, set in 2022-23.
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In the Predators' 2-1 win over Minnesota, Steven Stamkos scored his 40th goal of the season. Stamkos has now reached 40 goals eight times in his career. I'll just say I dropped Stamkos too early in the season after he scored just one goal and one assist in his first 14 games. Since then, Stamkos scored 39 goals in 66 games. It looks like he still has it at age 36, perhaps needing some time to get adjusted to Nashville.
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St. Louis defeated Chicago 5-3, with many Blues getting in on the action. The only Blues' forwards who did not record a point in this game were Otto Stenberg and… Robert Thomas, whose seven-game point streak was snapped. Thomas accrued 12 points over those seven games.
Despite the victory, the Blues have now officially been eliminated from the playoffs.
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In the Hurricanes' 4-1 win over Utah, Jordan Staal scored a goal while adding an assist. With the goal, longtime Hurricane Staal reached the 20-goal mark for the first time since the 2015-16 season. How's this for consistency: Staal has ranged between 30 and 40 points for six consecutive seasons. The Canes still have two games remaining, so Staal still has an outside chance of reaching 40 points. He would need four points over his last two games. Staal is a popular add whenever Carolina has a strong schedule, but throughout his career he hasn't scored enough at the center position to be universally rostered.
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Sean Couturier and Noah Cates each registered three points in the Flyers' 7-1 dismantling of the Jets.
Porter Martone also scored a goal for the Flyers, which is his third goal in four games. Martone is off to a fast NHL start with seven points over his first seven games. Don't forget about him in fantasy drafts next season.
Connor Hellebuyck allowed five goals on 20 shots, then he was pulled for Eric Comrie after two periods. Hellebuyck's season numbers (2.80 GAA, .897 SV%) are significantly worse than his Vezina Trophy form of last season, while he will fail to reach 30 wins for the first time in four seasons. On top of that, Hellebuyck's quality start percentage has dropped from 71.4% last season to 57.1% this season. Winnipeg's freefall down the standings has a lot to do with that. However, this is a case of how drafting a goalie early can be risky. Numerous Zero G options turned out better than Hellebuyck this season, including Scott Wedgewood, Dan Vladar, and Jakub Dobes.
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Charlie Coyle scored two goals in the Blue Jackets' 5-2 win over Montreal. Coyle has now reached 20 goals for the third time in his career. His current total of 58 points is just two shy of his career high of 60 set in Boston two seasons ago.
Sean Monahan's goal was his first since March 3, which was a span of 19 games without a goal. Monahan had just six assists over that span, so his stock has really fallen off during the final quarter of the season.
Jakub Dobes allowed five goals on 33 shots, which was his first really bad start since March 3. Over the past month, he has claimed the job as the Habs' starter with a 1.89 GAA and .936 SV% over a 12-game span. Ten of those games have resulted in Montreal wins.
Noah Dobson left this game with a possible thumb injury after blocking a shot during the second period. He isn't expected to be in the lineup for today's (Sunday's) game against the Islanders.
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All the Panthers' injuries have resulted in the likes of Mackie Samoskevich and Eetu Luostarinen receiving scoring line and top power-play duties. Both Samoskevich and Luostarinen recorded a goal and two assists in Florida's 6-2 win over Toronto. If you need to add a Panther, role player Luostarinen might be the one to go with, as he has five points over his last three games. With Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Aaron Ekblad, and Seth Jones (among others) all out of the lineup and unlikely to return, the Panthers have completely shut things down and are playing out the string.
William Nylander scored both Leafs' goals in the loss, while Easton Cowan and John Tavares each recorded an assist. Rookie Cowan is on a late-season run with six points in his last six games, while Tavares has been flying late in the season with nine points over his last six games and 18 points over his last 15 games.
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In his second NHL start (first this season), Nikke Kokko stopped 26 of 27 shots to backstop Seattle to a 4-1 win over Calgary. Kokko was starting because all of Joey Daccord, Philipp Grubauer, and Matt Murray are injured. Kokko may start again before the end of the season since the Kraken still have three games remaining. However, the Kraken have sputtered down the stretch, so I'd advise against adding either Kokko or Victor Ostman. In addition, the Kraken face Los Angeles, Vegas, and Colorado, which will be tough matchups unless any of those teams rest star players before the playoffs.
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Carter Hart stopped 30 of 32 shots he faced in Vegas's 3-2 overtime win over Colorado. The most significant personnel change since John Tortorella took over as head coach has been the use of Hart as the starter. Since his return from injury April 2, Hart has won all four of his starts, allowing just seven combined goals. The Golden Knights have also clinched a playoff spot, and it's quite possible that Hart starts Game 1 of the playoffs.
Jared Bednar (yes, the coach) left this game in the third period after being hit in the cheek with a puck. He was sent to a hospital for a CT scan and evaluation, although he was fully alert and conscious. Hopefully he is okay. Maybe we'll learn more about his status in the next Injury Ward.
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Congratulations to the University of Denver Pioneers, who have won their third NCAA title in the last five years.
Also, congratulations to Scott Oake on a fine career and a happy retirement from Hockey Night in Canada. His After Hours interviews were always worth staying up for. He received a few messages from people in the hockey world and elsewhere.
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Participating in a playoff pool? Purchase Dobber's Playoff Draft List, available from the Dobber Sports Store.
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If you are still playing for a fantasy hockey championship, good luck to you! I hope DobberHockey has helped you along the way. Follow me on X @Ian_Gooding and Bluesky @goodsfantasyhockey.bsky.social
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