The Buffalo Sabres are the worst team in the Eastern Conference. And given that we’re approaching the one-third point of the season, that makes it a great time to hand out grades for Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams, coach Lindy Ruff, and Sabres players. 

We started on the process by grading Adams, and in today’s column, we’re focusing our attention on Ruff. Let’s get to it: 

Lindy Ruff, Coach

Grade: D 

The Lowdown: The blame for the Sabres’ current 10-11-4 record can’t completely be laid at the feet of Ruff. But since Oct. 24, Buffalo has gone 6-7-4 – totals that, in other NHL markets, could be grounds for dismissal. So Ruff has to own his team’s performance, and figure out how to improve this team before their Stanley Cup playoff aspirations are dead and buried for the 15th consecutive season.

Grading The Sabres At The One-Third Mark Of The Season: GM Kevyn AdamsWith the Buffalo Sabres struggling, GM Kevyn Adams is facing intense scrutiny. Has he made the right moves, or is a drastic shakeup needed?

When you’ve won just six times in your most recent 17 games, you have to consider one of two possibilities: the first is that you simply don’t have the talent to win consistently; and the second is that you have neither the structure nor the motivation to do so. Now, the Sabres aren’t utterly bereft of high-end NHL players. So we’re of the opinion that, simply put, Buffalo just isn’t getting the best out of the talent that it currently has. 

That means that Ruff (and Adams) are ultimately to blame for where the Sabres are in the standings right now. And although Ruff has escaped an ‘F’ grade in this story, he’s much closer to that mark than he is to an above-average grade.

Sabres Goalie Roulette Not Working, Samuelsson In Concussion ProtocolBuffalo's three-goalie rotation has not contributed to consistent performance between the pipes

This return to Buffalo will almost assuredly be Ruff’s final pit stop after a long career as an NHL bench boss. But the way things are going, he’s on track to go out not with the ‘bang’ of one last winning stretch, but with the ‘whimper’ of another season lost to underwhelming performances and outright letdowns. And that means Ruff has enormous pressure to turn things around before it’s too late. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Wilson had two goals and an assist, and the Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders 4-1 on Sunday.

Alex Ovechkin and Aliaksei Protas each scored an empty-net goal as the Capitals extended their win streak to four games. Logan Thompson made 30 saves.

Bo Horvat scored for New York, and Ilya Sorokin had 14 saves.

The Islanders have lost three straight and four of five overall. They dropped to 1-3-2 in matinee games this season with six remaining.

Wilson opened the scoring when he tapped in a pass from Ovechkin on the power play at 7:37 of the first period. Ryan Leonard, the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft, also picked up an assist on the play.

Sorokin misplayed a puck behind his own net and set up Wilson for his team-high 15th goal with 6:02 left in the second.

Horvat buried a bouncing puck near the top of the crease to make it 2-1 with 6:17 remaining in the third.

The Islanders went 1 for 3 on the power play. They have converted two of their last 34 chances with the man advantage.

Up next

Capitals: At Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Islanders: Host Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins made a roster move on Sunday ahead of their game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

After losing 7-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Penguins sent forwards Tristan Broz and Danton Heinen back to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Broz made his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, then was healthy scratched for Friday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Saturday's game against the Leafs. 

Broz is a young player that the Penguins are really excited about. He almost made the NHL roster out of training camp before he was one of the final cuts. If he produces for WBS again (he already has eight goals and 13 points in 18 games), it won't be long before he's called back up.

Heinen also started the season in WBS after not making the NHL roster out of camp. He compiled five goals and 14 points in 10 games before he was called up by the Penguins. He only racked up one assist in nine games before he was sent back down. 

There's a chance that one or both of Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari return on Monday since they've been making a ton of progress with their respective injuries. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

By Dillon Collins, feature writer

Looking back on his career, Matt Murray calls his introduction to the NHL both “surreal” and “unexpected.”

Drafted 83rd overall by Pittsburgh in 2012, he was outstanding in his first full season of pro hockey with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, setting an AHL record for the longest shutout streak at 304:11 and setting a record for most shutouts by an AHL rookie goaltender (12). He earned his first NHL call-up just 10 days shy of Christmas 2015. He started 13 regular-season games with Pittsburgh, winning nine of them and posting a .930 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average.

Then, with Marc-Andre Fleury dealing with post-concussion symptoms as the playoffs began, Murray stepped in to start 21 of the team’s 24 contests as the Penguins went on to edge San Jose to win the 2016 Stanley Cup. Murray had only just turned 22 during the Eastern Conference final.

The following season, the Penguins repeated as Stanley Cup champions. Murray started 47 games, earned a slot on the NHL’s all-rookie team and finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting. In the playoffs, he won seven of 10 starts after replacing a hot-and-cold Fleury in the conference final and finished with a sparkling 1.70 GAA and .937 SP.

The back-to-back Cups gave him an understanding of the true cost of success at an elite level.

“It taught me a lot about winning, but also about the sacrifice and the price of winning,” said Murray, now 31. “And there is a major, major price. All that stuff, I’m sure, accelerated the wear and tear on my hips. I was basically in shambles the whole time physically, so there’s a major price to winning like that. But there’s no better feeling once you get through it.”

The Penguins traded Murray to Ottawa on Oct. 7, 2020. However, his tenure in Canada’s capital was short-lived, as the Sens flipped him to division rival Toronto in the summer of 2022. With injuries mounting, Murray only suited up for a combined 54 NHL/AHL regular- and post-season games over the next three seasons.

But his hip issues dated as far back as his pro debut in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton nearly a decade prior.

“The unfortunate part about when you’re dealing with injuries, the way I have, is that most of the time your energy is going towards fighting those injuries or fighting back from those injuries,” he said. “At the time, I was probably 21, maybe even 20 years old. It just sounds a little early to be having double hip surgery.”

Murray’s choice to take on the “pretty severe” bilateral hip surgery on Oct. 9, 2023, came at the cost of nearly the entire 2023-24 season. But it was a boost to his quality of life.

As he entered the summer of 2024 fully healthy for the first time in his professional career, the then-30-year-old Murray opted to re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This summer, he signed with the Seattle Kraken, reuniting with former colleagues Jason Botterill, Lane Lambert and goalie coach Colin Zulianello.

He now has a chance to rediscover his game and play meaningful minutes with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds while providing depth at the NHL level alongside Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer.

“You want to be in an environment that you enjoy going to every day and where you’re going to be put in a position to have some success,” Murray said. “I knew that’s what I would get with the people here. I think that’s all you could ask for as a player.”

Reflecting on his decade in the pros – filled with pleasure and pain, and the highs and lows that have dominated his career – Murray has one key piece of advice for his younger self.

“Chill out and enjoy it,” he said. “I think you learn that as you get older. If you’re young, you’re full of energy but also full of nervous energy and some anxiety. That would probably be the main thing. Just chill out, enjoy the ride. And that’s what I’m doing now.”

This is an excerpt of a feature that appeared in The Hockey News' Prospects Unlimited issue. We profile plenty of top prospects such as Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Zeev Buium and Marco Kasper. 

Elsewhere in the issue, we take a look at each NHL team's prospect pool, and we explore several PWHL teams, as well as features on the AHL, ECHL and the NCAA. 

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t simply end four-game their road trip on Monday night—they closed it, sealed it, and stamped it in a 5–2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

On the second half of a back-to-back, against a team undefeated in regulation at home, with tired legs and little margin for error, the Flyers had a lot of circumstances working against them, but played hard throughout the 60 minutes.

1. Dan Vladar Stole the Moments That Needed Stealing

There’s a certain type of win that feels less like a goalie “doing his job” and more like a goalie changing the temperature in the building. This was one of those nights for Dan Vladar.

New Jersey pushed hard consistently—and pushed even harder once the Flyers built a lead—but Vladar did the thing great goalies do: he shut the door exactly when his team needed a stop to stabilize the game. His saves weren’t quiet, either. They were sprawling, edge-of-the-crease, full-extension moments that sucked the air out of the Devils’ forecheck and kept the Flyers from drowning under New Jersey’s speed and transition pressure.

Vladdy was EVERYWHERE.#PHIvsNJD | @BankofAmericapic.twitter.com/e9NO3nfM10

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 30, 2025

In a building where no opponent had earned a regulation win this season, Vladar gave the Flyers a backbone. And on the second night of a back-to-back, that’s the difference between hanging on and actually finishing the job.

2. Owen Tippett Reaches Two Career Milestones.

Owen Tippett’s 100th career goal and 200th career point weren’t just nice round numbers. They were a snapshot of the player he has been looking to grow into: a physical, fast, disruptive winger who creates his own offense and forces defenders to give him space.

He added an assist, earned an empty-net goal via penalty, and logged yet another multi-point night—the kind of all-situations, assertive performance that defines good wingers. Tippett has been trending upward as of late, but this one felt like it could be the beginning of a breakthrough: a statement game in a tough building that showed what it looks like when his speed and pace take over.

3. Matvei Michkov Continues His Rise Into Real Flyers History.

Another game, another point, and another moment where Matvei Michkov reminded everyone that he’s not just talented—he’s special.

His seventh goal of the season extended his point streak to three games and, more notably, marked his 33rd career goal, passing Peter Zezel for the fourth-most goals by a Flyers player age 20 or younger. (He will turn 21 on Dec. 9.)

The names ahead of him? Oh, you know, just Eric Lindros, Simon Gagné, and Mike Ricci.

Michkov’s game in Newark was another example of his growing edge and opportunism—how he reads the play, how he anticipates pockets of space, and how he converts chances with a shooter’s confidence. 

MM39 knew exactly where to be. #PHIvsNJD | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/wjAO9uJrdH

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 30, 2025

4. The Core Playmakers Drove the Offense—and Did It the Right Way.

The Flyers have enjoyed some incredibly balanced scoring across all four lines, but a core of difference-makers has been established, and they showed up against the Devils.

Travis Konecny had another multi-point night, continuing to look like the emotional and competitive spark of this team.

Trevor Zegras, now with points in both games against New Jersey and in back-to-back outings, added another goal and assist to lead the Flyers with 24 points.

How Trevor Zegras Is Rebuilding His Game—and His Reputation—with Flyers There's a moment from the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a>' shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday that sums up everything you need to know about <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/what-every-flyer-needs-this-season-in-one-sentence">Trevor Zegras</a> right now.

Travis Sanheim logged two assists, stabilizing the defense while driving play north with confidence.

Cam York, already leading all Flyers defensemen in points, added his 11th assist, building on his growth as a transitional driver.

Christian Dvorak, quietly having one of the most balanced, consistent seasons of any Flyer, picked up his 10th assist and 16th point, keeping him third in team scoring.

5. This Win Said Something.

Beating the Devils in Newark this season? No one had done it in regulation. Doing it on tired legs? That’s another layer. Doing it while protecting a lead instead of chasing one—a scenario that has challenged the Flyers at times this year—adds another wrinkle.

The Flyers managed the neutral zone, protected the slot, finished chances when they appeared, stuck together when the Devils surged, won the goaltending battle, and stayed composed under late pressure. They didn’t blink. And in the final game of a road trip, that’s often the hardest thing to do.

Rick Tocchet notched his 300th career win as an NHL head coach, and you couldn’t script a more fitting performance to capture the identity he’s imprinting on this group: hard, fast, competitive, resilient, and full of players stepping into more responsibility..

Goaltender Laurent Brossoit appears to be nearing a return from a lengthy injury that he suffered in the 2023-24 playoffs.

He suffered a knee injury, forcing him to miss the remainder of those playoffs, and he missed the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Brossoit isn’t far out from a conditioning stint in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ farm team. 

With this situation, the Blackhawks already carry Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom on the roster between the pipes. In addition, Brossoit’s $3.3-million cap hit is a lot to carry for a netminder who hasn’t played in well over a year.

Therefore, on “Saturday Headlines,” Friedman reported that Chicago has given other teams permission to speak with the 32-year-old about a potential trade. This transparency also allows other clubs to understand the goaltender’s situation.

“The Blackhawks have given teams permission to talk to him,” Friedman reported on Saturday. “So you can understand what his situation is, what his exact surgery was, what the process is back.”

With this report, all signs point to a potential trade for Brossoit. However, his cap hit would remain an obstacle.

“Not everybody can take that,” he said. “There might be some work that needs to be done here.”

On Friday’s edition of 32 Thoughts, the podcast, Friedman and co-host Kyle Bukauskas made connections with the Edmonton Oilers, a team that has struggled to find consistency and good performances in the crease.

Brossoit has ties to Edmonton, playing parts of four seasons with the organization between 2014 and 2018. He also featured in five seasons for the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, winning a WHL championship in 2011-12.

In his NHL career, he was a regular backup goaltender before his injury.

During his last season with the Winnipeg Jets, he played 23 games, putting up a 15-5-2 record, along with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and three shutouts.

He’s had multiple impressive seasons like that 2023-24 regular season, including stints with the Vegas Golden Knights, and another with the Jets, that turned out to be his best season statistically.

He was a part of Vegas’ Stanley Cup-winning team in 2022-23. He made 11 regular-season appearances, registering a 7-0-2 record with a 2.17 GAA and a .927 SP. 

In those playoffs, he made eight starts, winning five games for the Golden Knights. He posted a 3.18 GAA and an .894 SP.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

When the Montreal Canadiens took on the Colorado Avalanche yesterday, they did it without Jayden Struble, who was ruled out because of an upper-body injury. This meant that Arber Xhekaj could remain in the lineup as he was initially due to make way for rookie Adam Engstrom.

After making his NHL debut with the Utah Mammoth, the young Swede was a healthy scratch in the game against the Vegas Golden Knights and reintegrated the lineup for Saturday’s game.

Canadiens’ Prospect Puts On A Show
Canadiens: Blais Shouldn’t Stay In Laval For Too Long
Canadiens Destroyed By The Nordiques

Xhekaj didn’t have a great game against Colorado, not many Habs did, of course, but it is evident for him as he took a tumble in front of Jakub Dobes on the first goal of the game and completely lost his man in coverage on the second goal. The rugged defenseman did, however, land nine hits in the game, not that it made much of a difference in a one-way affair, but he still accounted for a third of the Canadiens’ hits throughout the game in 13:46 on the ice.

Meanwhile, Engstrom skated for 13:29 and was one of the only three Canadiens’ players to escape a negative differential on the night. The rookie took one shot, landed one hit and blocked two shots. If Struble sits for a few games, the youngster is likely to get even more comfortable on the ice as he really doesn’t look out of place, so much so that when Struble is ready to return, Martin St-Louis could have a tricky decision on his hands.

While Xhekaj brings a lot of physicality and grit, Struble has shown this season that he, too, can bring it. A couple of weeks ago, in a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on November 15, it was Struble who dropped the gloves four seconds in to try and energize his team. Xhekaj also did it less than four minutes later, but Struble certainly showed that he’s willing to do what needs to be done and that he’s not afraid to get physical.

In 22 games this season, Xhekaj has landed 41 hits (third on the team), which is five more than Struble, who has 36, but in just 19 games. Interestingly, neither is topping the Canadiens in that category; the two leaders are Juraj Slafkovsky with 44 hits in 24 games, followed by Zachary Bolduc with 42 in as many games. As for Engstrom, he only has a single hit in his two games, but physicality is not something he’s known for.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here.