As Alex Ovechkin approaches Wayne Gretzky's seemingly unbreakable all-time goals record, the question of who might succeed him as the NHL's next great goal-scorer arises. Four prominent names surface in this debate due to their impressive scoring capabilities and potential longevity in the league.

Auston Matthews, at just 27, has netted 397 goals in 622 games, consistently scoring at least 34 goals per season. If he maintains this pace, he could reach 800 goals. Connor McDavid, while an elite playmaker with 361 goals in 708 games, may struggle to reach the record unless he significantly boosts his goal tally as he ages. Leon Draisaitl, with 399 goals in 789 games and a history of 50+ goal seasons, emerges as a dark horse. Meanwhile, David Pastrnak, with 385 goals in 749 games, would need to replicate his 61-goal season more frequently to stay in contention.

Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLellan provided encouraging updates on goaltender Petr Mrazek and forward Elmer Soderblom. Mrazek is expected to resume skating soon, while Soderblom is listed as day-to-day but has been skating and will travel with the team. In Edmonton, Connor McDavid is making solid progress from his injury, with a potential return by the end of the regular season. Goaltender Stuart Skinner and defenseman Mattias Ekholm are also nearing returns.

The Florida Panthers faced a setback as Nico Sturm left the game early with an undisclosed injury, while coach Paul Maurice is hopeful that Sturm can return soon. In Vancouver, coach Rick Tocchet stated that it’s doubtful Filip Chytil will return this season due to a concussion recovery, although Elias Pettersson's return is anticipated by season's end.

Meanwhile, Tomas Hertl of the Vegas Golden Knights remains out but is expected to be ready for the playoffs after dealing with an upper-body injury. The Winnipeg Jets are dealing with injuries to Luke Schenn and Neal Pionk, with the latter starting to skate again soon.

Troy Terry of the Anaheim Ducks suffered an injury during a recent game, colliding with teammate Frank Vatrano and leaving in the third period without an update on his status. Meanwhile, Jacob Trouba of the New York Rangers missed his game due to a lower-body injury and is currently day-to-day. In Carolina, Jordan Staal also missed his game with a lower-body issue. For the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid is not traveling on their road trip, but coach Kris Knoblauch is optimistic about his return before the regular season concludes. Leon Draisaitl has returned to the lineup as the Oilers prepare for a crucial stretch. Additionally, Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild is working towards a comeback, but his return may not be imminent, as he will consult with his doctors to determine the next steps.

Leon Draisaitl made a triumphant return from injury, scoring two goals including the overtime winner, propelling the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-2 victory over their rivals, the Calgary Flames. Draisaitl's 51st goal of the season came just minutes into overtime, demonstrating his crucial role for the team as they seek playoff positioning despite missing key players like Connor McDavid and Mattias Ekholm. Viktor Arvidsson added another goal for the Oilers, while Jeff Skinner assisted on Draisaitl's opening strike.

Calvin Pickard secured the win in net for Edmonton, stopping 26 shots, while Calgary's Dustin Wolf matched him with the same save count but fell short in the end. On the Flames' side, Nazem Kadri marked 700 career NHL points with an assist, although his scoring streak ended at five games, highlighting the competitive nature of this heated rivalry.

In a dominant performance, the Seattle Kraken ended a three-game losing streak by defeating the Edmonton Oilers 6-1. Jaden Schwartz led the charge with a pair of goals, while Jani Nyman and Matty Beniers scored in quick succession during a second period where the Kraken netted five goals. Joey Daccord stood tall in goal, making 36 saves to secure the victory. Edmonton's only goal came from Zach Hyman, as their star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl missed the game due to injuries. The Kraken's power play has been effective lately, with four goals in their last three games.

This win gives the Kraken momentum as they prepare for two upcoming home games against the Dallas Stars. The Oilers, meanwhile, look to rebound in their next matchup against the Calgary Flames after dropping both games of their back-to-back series.