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Ranking the 10 best opening round matchups that are still realistically in play

Did you catch another subtle sign of spring from the last few days? The NHL standings page added an “If Playoffs Started Today” link at the top of the page. And it doesn’t just go to a page that says “… it would be way too early, calm down”. That’s because we’re almost there. There are just three weeks left in the NHL season, and while that’s plenty of time for teams to shift around the standings, it’s close enough to the playoffs that we can start thinking ahead to potential matchups. And as ...

NHL

Top 100 Oilers: No. 41 — Mattias Ekholm

Oilersnation is reviving the Top 100 Edmonton Oilers of All Time list, a project originally created by the late Robin Brownlee in 2015. Mattias Ekholm comes in at No. 41  on our updated 2025 list. He wasn’t listed on Brownlee’s original list. There are two things that even Ken Holland’s biggest detractors can’t argue with:…

Landscape FAQ: The New Era of College Hockey

If you're wondering what's going on in college hockey—and all of college sports—you're not alone. Just when the landscape seems to settle, a new lawsuit or settlement shifts the ground. Below is the current state of play as of the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons.Where did this all begin?While college sports have been evolving for decades, the modern era truly began with the 2015 O’Bannon v. ...

Wrong Mistakes at the Wrong Times

Bentley found itself trailing 2-0 entering the second period of its Albany Regional game with top-seeded Michigan, a hole that proved to be too deep to dig out of. Michigan ended Bentley’s season with a 5-1 win.Bentley found itself in that hole off two Michigan goals that were easily preventable.The first came after Bentley failed to clear the puck out of its defensive zone during a line change. ...

Michigan Turns Puck Luck Into Buzzsaw

Already up by a goal heading into the waning moments of the first period, Michigan seemed to be just plodding along in its First Round NCAA Tournament matchup against Bentley.Sometimes, however, fate and just throwing a puck on net does just the trick. It also might just be someone that you least expect.As defenseman Ben Robertson carried the puck through the neutral zone in the waning seconds, he...

Western Michigan Shows Off 'Pro Style' In NCAA Tourney Opener

On paper, Friday's NCAA first-round win for defending national champion Western Michigan might seem all too familiar to the Broncos' inspired tournament run a year ago.And yes, undoubtedly, there are similarities. The Broncos' triumph over CCHA champion Minnesota State was essentially another one-goal game — the final score only stretched to 3-1 with less than 10 seconds left in the third period...

Minnesota State Leaves With Something to Build On

Minnesota State's season came to an end against the defending national champion Western Michigan, 3-1, in the NCAA Regional semifinals.Year in and year out, Minnesota State has shown under coach Luke Strand that it can compete nationally, as it had on the level Mike Hastings brought the program to before him. And there is plenty to hang the hat on with that, including another CCHA regular-season and...

Mercyhurst Dropping Men's Hockey Program

Mercyhurst has become the latest casualty of the increased financial demands on Division I sports. The school announced today it is dropping its men's hockey program.The women's program will continue.“These were thoughtful and consequential decisions,” school president Kathleen Getz said in a statement. “They reflect our responsibility to ensure Mercyhurst remains strong, responsive, and focused...

NHL

Merrimack Exits, Still a Champion

It wasn’t the ending anyone around the Merrimack program had in mind.But North Dakota weathered a late surge from the Warriors and skated away with a 3-0 victory Thursday night, closing the book on Merrimack’s season in the NCAA Tournament.The push came hard in the third, which had defined Merrimack for much of the second half of the season. The Warriors tilted the ice in the third period, outshooting...

North Dakota, Spunar Rebound Strongly

The last time North Dakota had a freshman goaltender guarding the cage in an NCAA Tournament game, and also securing a win, was Zane McIntyre in 2013.But the last freshman netminder to earn a shutout was Jordan Parise in 2004.Jan Špunar etched his name in both categories, turning aside all 31 shots in North Dakota’s 3-0 win over Merrimack to advance to the Regional Final on Saturday against Quinnipiac...

Wisconsin Put Its Layoff to Good Use

When Wisconsin last took to the ice, in a Big Ten quarterfinal against Ohio State, it was demoralized and humiliated in a 7-1 loss to Ohio State on home ice. What it all meant, was that the Badgers had 15 days of rest entering its NCAA Tournament First Round game on Thursday night.In the past, that didn't serve Wisconsin, which hadn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 2010, well. On this night, however...

Oilers’ Connor McDavid collects 800th career assist

Connor McDavid continues to hit milestones at a rapid pace. After recording his 400th goal and 1,200th point on Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers captain completed the trifecta with his 800th assist during Thursday’s matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. What A Shot Matt Savoie! 1-0 Oilers!

Former Oilers defenceman Philip Larsen retires from professional hockey

A short-time Edmonton Oilers defenceman has announced his retirement from professional hockey after a 901-game career in the NHL and overseason. Philip Larsen, 36, played just one season for the Oilers in 2013-14, scoring three goals and 12 points. He had joined the team in July 2013 in a trade from the Dallas Stars, with…

The Hockey Show - Episode 705

The Hockey Show , Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, is back tonight with a full recap show of some of the events that happened last weekend in Elmira, in Halifax, and in Winnipeg. Honestly, it was a busy weekend of hockey action in those three cities, and our hosts will try to bring everyone up to speed on what happened in those cities. Frankly, it was a very entertaining weekend of hockey no matter which event one focused on, so we'll look at the two tournam...

NHL

A Great Debut

Based on what I know about Kendra Woodland, I don't think she concerns herself with being the first to do anything. I assume it would be nice to be the first to accomplish something big, but everything I've read and heard about Kendra suggests that she only wants to be her best self when she's in net to help her team. Tonight in Minnesota, she finally got that chance with her new team as the Ottawa Charge called upon her to make her first appearance in the PWHL, marking only the second time th...

NHL