Ottawa succumbs 4-1 to Nashville as captain Brady Tkachuk leaves early with an arm injury, adding to Ottawa’s depth concerns with Drake Batherson already out. The Senators showed improvement on the penalty kill, but four first-period penalties and a sputtering Nashville power play kept the game out of reach. Jonathan Marchessault hammered a two-goal night for the Predators, while Thomas Chabot spoke to a more aggressive, structured approach that could buoy Ottawa moving forward. The Senators visit the Buffalo Sabres next.

Fantasy managers should monitor Tkachuk’s status closely; any absence boosts the need for secondary scorers and deeper lines in Ottawa, while Chabot’s workload and power-play opportunities could rise if Tkachuk sits. Nashville’s still-volatile power play showed life late, suggesting Marchessault and Josi remain primary sources of value. Look for a bounce-back in Ottawa’s PK and for Nashville to clamp down defensively as they regain timing against division rivals.

Overall, this game underscored a tense, edge-of-seat start to the season with key injury shadows and evolving line chemistry. The next test vs. Buffalo looms as a chance to validate the adjustments and give fantasy managers more concrete streaming targets.

Utah Mammoth erased last year’s late‑game woes by storming back in Nashville, forcing OT and beating the Predators behind Dylan Guenther’s fourth overtime goal in Mammoth history. McBain’s late regulation marker kept the drama alive as Cooley and Peterka sparked the early offense. The win came amid 26 minutes of penalties and a tense review that wiped out a Predators tally on offside.

Coach André Tourigny praised resilience, stressing that a team doesn’t need its A game to win 50/50 battles, a key step toward a playoff push after last season’s near miss. Durzi’s injury cloud loomed, Forsberg kept Nashville alive with a tying strike, and Josi’s goal was overturned on a Mammoth challenge. Still, Utah’s grit, McBain’s strong top‑line push in Hayton’s absence, and Guenther’s clutch encore define a promising arc.

The result signals a shift in Utah’s trajectory and a reminder that adversity can be a catalyst for growth as the season unfolds.

The NHL Draft is a pivotal moment for teams, heralding a chance for renewal and potential trade maneuvers. With the salary cap on the rise, GMs are poised to explore aggressive trades this summer, especially given the limited options in a lackluster free agency class. Key players like Jason Robertson and Marco Rossi are already at the center of swirling trade rumors as teams look to create cap flexibility or bolster their rosters ahead of free agency.

Robertson, a standout star for the Dallas Stars, has been a rumored trade target since the conclusion of their season. His remarkable scoring record and impending contract negotiations have made him a coveted asset. Meanwhile, Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild, coming off a strong season, also finds himself in the spotlight as his team contemplates extending his contract amidst limited center options in free agency. The draft weekend promises to be filled with exciting possibilities as GMs target significant trades to reshape their teams.