Happy Wednesday, Razzball faithful!

As Viz said on Sunday, we’re officially 1.5 weeks from the end of the regular season! 

Hopefully, you finished up your head-to-head playoffs on a strong note, or you have enough of a lead in your roto-points leagues that you can enjoy the final 3-4 games without feverishly refreshing your league app.

If you have the luxury of being able to relax, enjoy it! More than a few NHL teams are facing a tough road ahead for the next 9 days.

Why? Well, it’s time for the playoff push!

We’ve got three teams tied for first place in the Atlantic division.

One point separates three teams at the top of the Pacific Division.

And our wild card spots could be filled by any of a half dozen teams in either conference.

Quite a few teams were jockeying for playoff position Tuesday night, with Carolina adding to its Eastern Conference lead, and the Avalanche looking to pad its yellow brick road to a President’s trophy.

Here’s what else I saw in Tuesday night’s NHL action…

Jet Greaves – 34 saves on 37 shots and the 4-3 SO win at DET. He was 1-5 in his last 6 starts heading into this game, so the win was a welcome change of pace. These two teams are clawing away at each other for a wild-card spot, and it was a big two points for the Blue Jackets.

Zach Werenski – 1 G (22), 1 A (58), 6 SOG, 4 BLK. I don’t know if he ekes out Evan Bouchard for the Norris trophy, but either way, he’s had a ridiculous season and should be a late first-round pick in your 2026-2027 drafts.

John Gibson – 32 saves on 35 shots and the OTL. Grandpa Gibby managed to steal a point in this one after giving up the tying goal with 17 seconds left in the third period (to Adam Fantilli). He has just 2 wins in his last 8 GS.

Dylan Larkin – 1 G (31), 1 A (30), +1, 5 SOG, 4 H, 23:20 TOI. 

Justin Faulk – 2 G (14), +2, 6 SOG, 1 BLK. I wondered if Faulk had been a big boost to the Wings since they acquired him from the Blues, so I looked up his numbers. He has 5 points in his last 13 games (since the trade). Ugh.

Jonas Johansson – 26 saves on 31 shots and the 6-2 loss at OTT. No joke, I almost forgot to write this guy up. See what happens when we don’t get a start from Vasilevskiy?

Linus Ullmark – 28 saves on 30 shots and the 6-2 win over TB. I wonder what Keith Tkachuk will have to say about this one. Maybe we should see how Linus Ullmark feels.

there’s the ullmark we know & LOVE https://t.co/RwJk33LOkV

— vio #zub4norris (@02ZUB) April 8, 2026

All jokes aside, the Sens need this guy more than ever right now. If he can keep it up and, more importantly, stay hot in the playoffs, look out.

Jake Sanderson – 2 G (13), +2, 5 SOG, 1 H, 2 BLK, and 24:08 TOI. 51 points in 65 games isn’t exactly an under-the-radar season, but he just might come at a discount next year if your opponents ignore the dozen games he’ll have missed by the end of the year.

Tim Stutzle – 1 G (34), 2 A (48), 4 PIM, 4 SOG, 1 BLK. He’s a sneaky stud with a near point-per-game pace. If you got him at a discount on draft day, congrats.

Daniil Tarasov – 29 saves on 32 shots and the OTL at MTL. The Panthers are just playing out the string, and the toughest part of it has to be not getting to see even one game from Aleksander Barkov. Oof.

Carter Verhaeghe – 1 G (25), 3 SOG, 1 H, 1 BLK. He’s one of the few Panthers forwards still putting in the time.

Jakub Dobes – 30 saves on 33 shots and the OTW vs FLA. Don’t look now, but Dobes is riding a 6-game win streak and has allowed more than 2 goals in just three of his last ten games. The 28-8-2-2 record is almost as good as Brandon Bussi’s (in Carolina).

Dan Vladar – 23 saves on 24 shots and the 5-1 win at NJ. Three straight wins with just one GA in each start? “When I left you, I was but the learner. Now I am the master.”

Trevor Zegras – 2 G (25), 1 A (40), +2, 2 SOG, BLK. It was a big two points for the Flyers, who hang on to the 3rd spot in the Metropolitan division and are riding a 3-game win streak at the right time with four games to go.

Tyson Foerster – 2 G (13), +3, 4 SOG, BLK. Sure, the 13 goals look underwhelming, but when you consider he did it in just 25 games, there’s something to be said for the production. He’s got 8 goals in his last 10 games.

Matvei Michkov – 2 A (28), +1. 45 points in 77 games is a lot less than both Viz and I predicted in the preseason. I know he’ll agree with me when I say that some of that has to do with how little his coach trusted him, and, as a result, the lack of big-time minutes that he should have been getting every game. It’s not terrible, but it’s not the breakout we were expecting.

Jacob Markstrom – 14 saves on 18 shots in the 5-1 loss vs PHI. His one win in his last 4 GP was a shutout at Montreal, but the other three? 4 GA pump-fests. I’m surprised his record is 23-19-1. That basically guarantees him an above .500 record for the year. 

Cody Glass – 1 G (18), SOG, BLK. 18 goals in 66 games. He’s like a Tyson Foerester, but with more of a splash of disappointment.

Jeremy Swayman – 18 saves on 23 shots and the early shower as he was lifted for Korpisalo at the 11:27 mark of the second period.

Joonas Korpisalo – 16 saves on 17 shots and the OTL at CAR. Korpisalo did his best to get the Bruins back into the game, and he stole a much-needed point, but the defense in front of him was pretty poor all night. They were on their heels throughout the OT, and looked silly on the tic-tac-toe finish by Jaccob Slavin. 

Morgan Geekie – 3 G (37), +1, 4 SOG, H. The 50-goal pace dried up a while ago, but it’s nice to see Geeks light the lamp a few times heading into the end of the season. That’s the good news. The bad? These were his first goals in 18 games. Woof.

David Pastrnak – 2 A (70), +1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG. He’s at 99 points now, and 29 goals. It feels like the 100th needs to be a goal. I’m going to guess it happens on Saturday vs TB.

Brandon Bussi – 16 saves on 21 shots and the OTW. I joked with a buddy that the inappropriate pun machine is just churning at full speed when Bussi’s name pops up – everything from Donald Trump to 2 Live Crew. But let’s not ignore the most important part of all of this: Bussi is riding a 5-game win streak and has a record of 30-6-0-1. 

Andrei Svechnikov – 1 G (30), 1 A (39), 5 SOG, 6 H. That’s a 6-game point streak for Svech, and 10 points in his last 10 GP. If you’re thinking the Canes come out of the East, put this guy at the top of your Playoff Pool draft list.

Devin Cooley – 21 saves on 25 shots and the 4-3 OTL at DAL. At least the Flames got a point?! Ya, I got nothing.

Zayne Parekh – 1 G (3), 3 SOG, 1 H, 2 BLK, and 18:50 TOI. So much for my Marmo-call with this kid in the preseason. He’ll be a good one, but the Flames are bringing him along with bubble wrap and baby gloves. It’s not great for fantasy purposes, but it’s likely the right move for his development.

Jake Oettinger – 17 saves on 20 shots and the OTW. Sure, he has just 6 wins in his last 10 starts, but the volume boosts the record. 51 GP, 32 W, 18 L, 2.66 GAA, .899 SV%.

Wyatt Johnston – 2 G (43), 5 SOG, 2 H, 1 BLK. If Matthew Schaefer is my favorite D-man to write up every Tuesday night, Wyatt Johnston has to be my favorite forward. I’m not sure how anyone can argue that this guy isn’t the breakout of the year. 

Jason Robertson – 1 G (41), 1 A (50), 6 SOG, 1 H, 1 BLK. Because we can’t write up Wyatt Johnston without writing up Jason Robertson.

Scott Wedgewood – 18 saves on 19 shots and the 3-1 win at STL. 28-6-1-5 AKA almost as good as Brandon Bussi. Big eyes emoji!  

Valeri Nichushkin – 2 G (17), +2, 6 SOG, 1 SHG, 1 H, 2 BLK. He was goal-less for 7 straight games, and got knocked out of Saturday’s game early with an upper body injury. Scoring a couple is a nice way to show that he’s feeling good. Put him on your Western Conference playoff pool draft list.

Joel Hofer – 34 saves on 37 shots and the 3-1 loss to COL. It was a home-and-home series with the Avs, and Hofer did his best to try to steal both. Props to him for facing 60 total shots and only allowing 5 goals (total).

Joey Daccord – 24 saves on 28 shots and the 5-2 loss at MIN. The Kraken are going to have to run the table the rest of the way to have any shot at the playoffs. Insert Lloyd Christmas “So you’re saying there’s a chance” meme here. When your only goal scorers are defensive defensemen (Adam Larsson and Brandon Montour)? It’s not a good bet.

Jesper Wallstedt – 25 saves on 27 shots and the 5-2 win vs SEA. This one went to the younger half of the giant two-headed Swedish monster in the Wild’s crease. When one of your goalies has 28 wins, and the other has 17… well, that’s 90 points without including any OT losses. Pretty, pretty good.

Joel Eriksson Ek – 1 G (19), 2 A (32), +3, 2 PIM, 3 SOG, H, 2 BLK, 13:09 TOI. Talk about making the most of limited time. You’ll have to look a bit further down the list to find him, so don’t forget his name when the playoff draft rolls around.

Tristan Jarry – 17 saves on 21 shots (2nd intermission). Taking things to the dressing room with a 4-4 tie after two periods is about as “Edmonton Jarry” as it gets. I don’t know how Oilers fans aren’t all on heart medication. Someone get these guys a goalie that can be somewhat reliable.

Connor McDavid – 1 G (44), 1 A (84), -1, 3 SOG (2nd intermission). They say this guy is pretty good, eh?

Karel Vejmelka – 15 saves on 19 shots (2nd intermission). Ya, ya, ya. 4-4 after two, but that’s not the most important Utah news. 

The Zamboni game will never be the same after The Zammoth debut tonight 🔥🦣 pic.twitter.com/ovvnD94oYs

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 7, 2026

The MamBoni is the coolest thing since the Flyers debuted Gritty. (And, yes, I know they’re calling it the Zammoth, but come on. I like my nickname better.)

Nick Schmaltz – 2 G (30), +1, 4 SOG through 2 periods. You know who would have a hat trick by now? Yep. MamBoni.

Justus Annunen – 26 saves on 26 shots through two periods (2nd intermission). I don’t want to jinx anything by saying the “S. O.” word, so let’s just say Nashville has been playing well, and a team that once looked like they’d tear it all down is just one point out of a wild-card spot.

Ryan O’Reilly – 2 A (47), +1, SOG, H. 6 points in his last 4 games. Someone wants to play in the postseason!

Lukas Dostal – 16 saves on 19 shots (2nd intermission). He allowed 13 goals in three starts before this one, and it’s looking like it’s much of the same. They’re still tied with Edmonton atop the Pacific, but I don’t know if I’m loading up on the Ducks in my playoff pools.

Carter Hart – 7 saves on 8 shots in the first intermission. Both teams looked good through 20 minutes, and there isn’t much to report. But I wanted to share this clip because, oh boy, if this is what’s going on in Vegas, it’s easy to see why they threw Torts into the mix.

No issues in the VGK locker room. None #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/MxAViec8LF

— Tony Cordasco (@TonyDasco) April 5, 2026

Nikita Tolopilo – 21 saves on 22 shots IN THE FIRST PERIOD. Holy smokes, guys. This kid has given up 19 goals in his last 4 starts, and you let him face 22 shots in 20 minutes? If you ever wondered if there was such a thing as a Russian/Italian/Greek hockey goalie…wonder no more. Oh, and he’s from Belarus. And he’s 6’6”. And you can’t say you already knew that unless you’re a relative or one of the 8% on Fantrax that rostered him.

That’s all for this week! I’ll be back next Wednesday for the final one of the season, but that one might be loaded with more Round 1 matchups than a Tuesday night recap! If you have any questions or comments, leave them below, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Happy Wednesday, and I’ll see you next week!

Follow me @marmosdad on Twitter/X and Bluesky @marmosdad.bsky.social