After a decade of starvation, fans and players finally got to experience the magic and fanfare surrounding international hockey when the NHL's 4 Nations Tournament took place last February. 

The NHL Global Series had, of course, already returned a few years prior after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this season's two-game set is underway between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators. Although it's still a chance for players to experience hockey away from the regular routine of the NHL season, the annual series doesn't feature best-on-best like 4 Nations, the World Championship, or the Olympics.

And at the end of the day, the chance to play best-on-best hockey is a key motivating factor for a lot of players this season - and, particularly, a lot of Penguins. Pittsburgh's GM and POHO Kyle Dubas said as much during his season-opening press conference when discussing Swedish players Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson as well as Team USA hopeful Bryan Rust - all three of whom appeared in trade rumors throughout the summer.

With the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina just around the corner, they all have a bit of a chip on their shoulder.

"All three of them have a huge amount to play for," Dubas said. "I think, for those three players in particular - plus others on our roster - they all want to be there, they all want to play in it, and I think that provides us the opportunity to really push them forward and continue to preserve where they're at as they continue to age but also try to find another level for them that can help them be on those national teams."

The captain concurred with that sentiment.

"I agree," Sidney Crosby said. "I think that, throughout the league, I'm sure that's the case. There's always extra motivation with guys trying to make teams or, for guys that have already made it, they know what's to come. So, I think any Olympic year, you tend to see guys try to elevate."

And there are five main Olympic locks and hopefuls in the locker room - Crosby (Team Canada) and goaltender Arturs Silovs (Team Latvia) have already secured spots as part of the "First Six" for their countries - who went into this season motivated to elevate for various reasons, including the Olympics. And they have, largely, succeeded so far. 

Sidney Crosby Ready for Fast-Paced 2026 Olympics After Four Nations Success<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> captain Sidney Crosby guided Team Canada to the 4 Nations Face-Off title earlier this year and loved the pace of that tournament.&nbsp;

Rust missed the first few games of the season due to injury, but since then, he has recorded five goals and 15 points in 16 games. Rakell - although currently out with a broken hand - played on Sweden's 4 Nations Roster, should be ready in plenty of time for the Olympics, and started the season with three goals and eight points in nine games. 

And then there's Karlsson, who was one of the first players named to Sweden's 4 Nations roster - and who wasn't named as one of the First Six this time around. Karlsson, 35, has been magnificent to begin the 2025-26 season, as he has a goal and 12 points in 18 games and could probably have a whole lot more with the way he's played. 

Karlsson is confident that he's still a top player in the league - and, heading into the season, he believed he would eventually be named to Team Sweden's roster for the Olympics.

"Obviously, I'm aiming to play in the Olympics, and as of right now, I think I'm a lock on that team," Karlsson said during training camp. "I still have to prove myself and show them I can still play at a very high level. And I think I've done that up until now, but now I've got to continue that.

"I'm obviously happy for all the guys that got the nod to go already, I think they're all very deserving of it. Again, a very important thing for me is to represent Sweden, especially at the Olympics. It's been a while since we had that opportunity, so that's obviously a big motivator for me and same as it is a big motivator for me to come in here and show I can be a top player in this league still, which I believe I am."

Starting in Sweden, Penguins Must Win Upcoming Stretch Of GamesOn Friday, the 2025-26 NHL Global Series kicks off.&nbsp;

Karlsson had the opportunity to play in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, when he led all tournament defensemen in points (four goals, eight points) and tied for the all-around lead in points with ex-Penguin and three-time Stanley Cup champion Phil Kessel. However, his fellow countryman, Rakell, has not yet gotten that opportunity.

Rakell - drafted 30th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2011 - was only a rookie when the Sochi games took place. He did make Team Sweden's roster for 4 Nations as a replacement, but he was part of that "sweet spot" - as Dubas put it - of players between 2014 and 2026 who did not have the chance to play at highest level internationally during the primes of their careers.

So, the chance to represent Sweden at the Olympics this time around is certainly something that is on Rakell's mind.

"It's huge for me," Rakell said. "For the Penguins, for me to have a better season than last year, it was important for me to have a good summer, and I just tried to improve on the things that I wanted to improve from last year. Obviously, getting a chance to play in the Olympics... I've never had the chance before. So, yeah, that would be huge for me, and it's a great motivator for the season."

Rust, 33, may be a bit more of a longshot to make Team USA's roster. Of course, that is no knock on Rust, who has put together six straight seasons of 20 or more goals and is - once again - hovering around point-per-game this season. His lineup and deployment versatility might give him a bit of a boost, but there is simply so much talent vying for USA's roster - and young talent such as Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller, who didn't make the 4 Nations roster last season - that he will really have to separate himself to earn the opportunity to don the red, white, and blue.

He was invited to Team USA's Olympic Camp this summer, and he does have a connection to Team USA head coach - and former Penguins' bench boss - Mike Sullivan, who has always spoken very highly of Rust. But, regardless, Rust is grateful for the fact that he's even in the conversation. 

"It's awesome," Rust said. "I'm extremely gracious for the opportunity just to be at that camp over the summer and be in the mix of players who are considered. My focus is here first and foremost, but obviously, having the opportunity to represent my country at the highest level possible would be an exceptional dream come true. That's obviously a goal of mine, but I'm trying not to think about it too much."

Rust also agreed that the Winter Games are a motivating factor for a lot of the guys in the room who may be in the mix - even for the captain, who already has a spot locked down.

Rust’s Team USA Camp Invite Was Well-Deserved. And It Shouldn’t Stop There.On Tuesday, Team USA revealed its <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-star-invited-to-usa-s-2026-olympic-orientation-camp">U.S. Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp</a> roster, which includes 44 players.

"I think guys who are in the mix are definitely thinking about it," Rust said, smiling. "I know Sid's probably always got it in the back of his mind to make sure his game's in top form even though he may not admit it.

"But everybody's excited about it, and guys who have an opportunity, I think, are really trying to get their games in order and make sure they're playing good, quality hockey to give themselves the best opportunity to make the team or to make sure they're playing well heading into it."

At the end of the day, every player in the Penguins' locker room is playing for the common purpose to win hockey games and make the Stanley Cup playoffs. The players realize that their focus has to be in Pittsburgh in-season - and they are doing an excellent job keeping it that way, as the Penguins are currently in an Eastern Conference playoff spot at 9-5-4. 

But they know what's on the line. And - regardless of whether they're still vying for a spot or they're already heading to Milano Cortina - the opportunity to represent their countries on the biggest possible stage speaks to these players in a way that transcends the sport.

"It's always an honor to represent your country, especially in the Olympics," Silovs said. "Especially [because] NHL players haven't had the chance to play in the past, what, eight years? I think it's a great opportunity to see the best of the best, especially representing the national team. It's a special opportunity, and everyone is doing everything for the cause."

Is There Reason For Concern With Penguins' Recent Stretch?After an 8-2-2 start to the season during the month of October, all seemed to be going well and right for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>.&nbsp;

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On the ice, Brock Nelson is a consummate professional devoted to mastering his craft; off the ice, he’s an unassuming, grounded presence who approaches every situation with genuine heart and compassion. 

We got a taste of that Saturday morning at practice at Family Sports Center as he prepares to take on the New York Islanders for the first time since being traded to Colorado in March in exchange for defenseman Oliver Kylington, forward prospect Calum Ritchie, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a conditional third-round pick in 2028. He subsequently signed a three-year, $22.5 million extension with the Avalanche in June. 

“There’s a lot of guys that I haven’t seen since the trade happened,” Nelson said. “It will be nice to hang out with them today. It’ll be a little bit different playing against them. These are guys that...I’m familiar with their routine and stuff for over a decade.” 

Nelson Reflects On Relationships

After spending parts of 13 seasons with a single organization, only to have it all change in a single transaction, The Hockey News asked Nelson how difficult it was to process being traded, particularly after likely envisioning a career spent entirely with one team. 

“It took a bit for sure, I mean I still keep tabs on all the guys,” Nelson admitted. “I still wish them the best. Obviously maybe not for tomorrow.” 

Nelson said he didn’t exactly lose sleep over the trade, but he thought a lot about the relationships he had made along the way with everyone connected to the Islanders organization.  

Nelson said he didn’t exactly lose sleep over the trade, but he did find himself reflecting on the relationships he had built over the years with everyone connected to the Islanders organization. 

“I’ve known the ins and outs from everything to staff, player personnel, and the whole team. I had to re-integrate a bit, it took a little bit of time, but it’s just day-by-day now.” 

Speculation Fueled by False Reports

We also discussed Nelson’s decision to remain with the Avalanche. The second-line center signed a three-year extension with Colorado on June 4, carrying an average annual value of $7.5 million. Nelson noted that Zach Parise—who spent two seasons with the Islanders before finishing his career in Colorado and retiring after the 2024 season—played a meaningful role in his choice to stay with the Avalanche. 

Although Nelson acknowledged that he had conversations with Parise, he also said there was concern fueled by media reports. 

“I talked to him a little bit,” he revealed. “There was a lot of reports that said I wasn’t coming back here. I think people were kinda speculating. It wasn’t true. 

“I got to know (Parise) pretty well on the Islanders; we played with him for a few years. I saw his family quite a bunch this summer and got to talk to him about his time here and his experience here, and get a little taste of it as well. He definitely helped. At the end of the day, this is a great spot to be with a chance to win (the Stanley Cup) for a number of years, and I want to be part of that.” 

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Saturday marked the return for one of the Pittsburgh Penguins' top forward prospects. 

And - suffice to say - he did not disappoint. 

Forward Rutger McGroarty - playing in his first AHL game of the 2025-26 season - registered a goal en route to a 3-1 victory for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins over the Springfield Thunderbirds. The 21-year-old forward had been out since the beginning of training camp with an upper-body injury. 

Raivis Ansons and Boko Imama also scored for the Penguins, and goaltender Joel Blomqvist - also playing in his first game this season after suffering a lower-body injury during training camp - earned the win in a 23-save effort.

It was an adventure of a game for McGroarty, who impressed the NHL club in a brief five-game stint at the end of last season - when he put up a goal and three points in five games - before an injury ended his season prematurely. In his first period back in action since the spring, he fell victim to friendly fire, as his first-line center, Tristan Broz, struck him in the face with a puck on a clearing attempt. 

McGroarty went to the locker room and did not return until the second period. And on his first shift back - and just 66 seconds into the period - he powered around a defender and across the net-front, beating Springfield goaltender Georgii Romanov five-hole for his first goal of the season and putting the Penguins up, 3-0. 

WELCOME BACK RUTGER pic.twitter.com/2d3C3eUsk3

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) November 16, 2025

"He played great, especially for his first game," WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald told reporters after the game. "Could have easily had a couple goals. But I thought, for not having any training camp - everybody else is two to three months into the season - to jump in there the way he did, I thought he was outstanding.

"Not surprised, but we're definitely happy about it."

Imama - who scored the game's second tally - also dropped the gloves with Springfield forward Kale Kessy prior to his deflection goal in the first period. 

WBS defeated the Bridgeport Islanders, 5-3, on Friday, and they currently sit atop the Atlantic Division at 12-3-1 with 25 points. They will look to continue their momentum in a back-to-back set next weekend against the Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins - who sit just one point behind them in the standings with three games in hand. 

It's Time For The Penguins To Call On A Top Forward ProspectThe Pittsburgh Penguins have a critical stretch of their season ahead and need the help of one of their top forward prospects to win hockey games

Penguins' First-Rounder On Fire In AHLThis Penguins first-round pick is having a strong start to the 2025-26 season.

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CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks closed out Chapter One, “The Originals”, on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ahead of the game, Pat Foley, along with the help of some Blackhawks alumni and families, performed a ceremony to honor the earliest days of the franchise. 

Once the game on the ice was underway, it was back to business for the Hawks and Leafs. Early in the first period, it was all Blackhawks. Eventually, Artyom Levshunov did his best Cale Makar impression and made a beautiful play for Ryan Greene to score his second of the season. 

As the period went on, however, the Leafs started to take over. After taking a shot advantage, Nicholas Robertson scored thanks to a high-effort play made by John Tavares to tie the game.

Midway through the middle frame, Morgan Rielly scored to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead. It was one of those goals that you could feel coming, as the Maple Leafs had sustained pressure. The goal was challenged for the possibility of a missed stoppage of play, but the Blackhawks lost the challenge and had to kill a delay of game penalty as a result. 

There is a clear belief within this group, however, that they are always in a game. Even when the chips are down, they find ways to remain competitive. 

In the third period, a strong puck retrieval led to Frank Nazar making a beautiful outlet pass to Teuvo Teravainen, who made an incredible move to beat Joseph Woll to tie the game. This was the type of play that you saw the skill take over after doing the little things right.

About ten minutes of game clock later, Louis Crevier threw one on net that was tipped in by Colton Dach. The Blackhawks had a 3-2 lead from that point, which they held onto for the win. 

Spencer Knight made 31 saves on 33 shots to preserve the victory for Chicago. Like most games this season, he held them in it until the offense was able to put them ahead. 

Watch Every Blackhawks Goal

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xthe grass is Greener in Chicago🙂‍↕️

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xwhat a goal🤯

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on X#kindanasty

Next Up For Chicago

Next up for the Chicago Blackhawks is some more home cooking. On Tuesday night, the Calgary Flames will be at the United Center for another matchup between the two clubs. Their last matchup came on November 7th. It was a physical affair that the Blackhawks won 4-0. 

Connor Bedard's 4-Point Night, Spencer Knight's Shutout Lead Blackhawks To VictoryThe Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Calgary Flames 4-0 thanks to a big night from multiple important players.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck scored in the shootout to give the New York Rangers their NHL-leading ninth road win, 2–1 over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

Mika Zibanejad scored in regulation for New York, which has won three straight overall and six in a row on the road. Igor Shesterkin stopped 24 shots as the Rangers beat Columbus at Nationwide Arena for the third consecutive time dating to last season.

Dmitri Voronkov scored for Columbus, which had won three straight at home. Jet Greaves made 31 saves in coach Dean Evason’s 100th game behind the Blue Jackets bench.

Zibanejad buried his own rebound at 6:30 of the second period after the Blue Jackets failed to clear the puck on the game’s first power play, extending his point streak to three games.

Mathieu Olivier’s fight with Sam Carrick at 15:57 shifted the momentum for Columbus, which did not record a shot on goal until seven minutes into the period. That spark carried into the next shift, and Voronkov tied the score with a power-play goal 37 seconds later when he converted a rebound off Zach Werenski’s shot.

Kirill Marchenko’s secondary assist extended his point streak to 11 games.

Columbus was outshot for most of the game but pushed it past regulation before Miller beat Greaves in the final round of the shootout to win it for New York.

Up next

Rangers: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

Blue Jackets: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.

In a tightly contested game that came down to defense, the Los Angeles Kings squeaked past the Ottawa Senators 1-0 on Saturday night in Ottawa. 

But the standout performance has to go to former Senator Anton Forsberg, who secured his first shutout with the Kings, stopping all 17 shots. Despite Ottawa constantly getting very close to scoring a goal in the net, Forsberg stayed focused and squashed away any chances that the Senators had at scoring a goal. 

LA Kings (@LAKings) on XSHUT 'EM OUT!

Lone Goal Comes Early

The game’s only goal came from Alex Laferriere at the nine-minute mark in the first period, assisted by Mikey Anderson and Quinton Byfield. 

Doughty Exits With Injury

Unfortunately, the night took a worrying turn for Los Angeles when veteran defenseman Drew Doughty blocked a shot off his skate in the second period and was limping off the ice in pain. 

Doughty didn’t return for the rest of the game, and the injury report was listed as a lower-body injury, forcing the Kings to adjust their defensive pairings on the ice. Still, Forsberg’s steady play helped the Kings survive a close match despite being undermanned. 

Looking Ahead

If you look at the stats, the game was close; the Senators should have scored some goals, but give credit to the Kings' defense for staying disciplined and not looking fazed at all on the road. 

With this win, the Kings improve to 4-0-0 on their road trip and are now 10-5-4 overall, sitting atop the Pacific Division. Los Angeles now has two more games left on its six-game road trip against the Sharks and Capitals, looking to cap off a strong end on this trip. 

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These are the types of mental lapses and defensive breakdowns that the Detroit Red Wings are so badly trying to put behind them as they work toward ending their Stanley Cup Playoff drought, which is currently the second longest in the NHL.

Coincidently, they faced the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night, who own the League's longest current drought.

And while the Red Wings built up a 4-1 lead midway through the second period and appeared well on their way to a second straight win, the Sabres once again gave them a tough lesson as to why no opponent is to be underestimated.

Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson scored the game-winning goal at 1:05 of overtime, capping a four-goal comeback effort for the Sabres as part of their 5-4 win, stunning the Red Wings.

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on X

The Red Wings appeared to be well in command of the Sabres thanks to a pair of goals from Alex DeBrincat and another tally from Dylan Larkin in the game's middle frame, stretching their lead to three goals. Both teams traded goals in the opening period courtesy of Patrick Kane and Alex Tuch. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

But the Sabres began their comeback effort when Josh Doan re-directed a shot past Red Wings goaltender John Gibson late in the second period, followed by Red Wings killer Tage Thompson scoring a coast-to-coast goal at just 4:25 of the third. 

The Red Wings had a prime chance to restore their two-goal lead with a power-play chance, but a turnover at their own blue line resulted in a shorthanded breakaway opportunity for Ryan McLeod, which he converted on. 

The Red Wings also weren't able to take advantage of a power-play late in the third period after the Sabres were whistled for too many men on the ice. 

Gibson allowed five goals on 27 shots, while Sabres rookie Colten Ellis picked up his second NHL victory by making 24 saves on 28 shots. It was Ellis who picked up his first career NHL win in his inaugural start against the Red Wings in October. 

The Red Wings will have to regroup in a hurry, as they now travel to Madison Square Garden for a matchup against the New York Rangers, who defeated them at Little Caesars Arena last week. 

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Anton Forsberg returned to Ottawa for the first time on Saturday night and not only defeated his former team — he shut them out. Forsberg, who spent five seasons with the Senators, stopped all 17 shots as the Los Angeles Kings blanked Ottawa 1-0 at Canadian Tire Centre.

It's only the second time since October 21 that the Sens have lost a game in regulation, and the 1-0 loss was a far cry from the hockey we witnessed when the Kings visited early in the season last year. The Senators won that wild afternoon game, 8-7 in overtime.

While Forsberg wasn't crazy busy, he did hold off a late third-period push by the Senators, which included a clear Ridly Greig breakaway and a 6 on 4 in the final couple of minutes. He got a nice ovation from Ottawa fans after a video tribute during a timeout.

Forsberg waved to the crowd and put his trapper to his heart to say thank you for his time here. After the Senators opted to go with the less expensive and younger Leevi Merilainen this season, Forsberg left in free agency over the summer, signing a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Kings.

Linus Ullmark wasn't much busier, facing just 18 shots, but the Kings got the one available good bounce in a tight defensive chess match. Alex Laferriere’s deflection in the first period, off what looked like a harmless point shot, was the only puck to beat Ullmark on the night.

"That was a hard-fought, hard-played game by both teams," Head coach Travis Green told the media. "Not a lot of space out there either way. Probably unfortunate that we didn't get a point tonight."

While Green felt like the Senators could have done a little better job getting pucks to the net from the outside, it's easier said than done against a good shot-blocking team like the Kings. But he felt like the Sens created more opportunities than the Kings did.

"The chances are probably 2 to 1 for us. I think we spent twice as much time in the offensive zone as the. It was a pretty good game."

The victory may have come at a cost for the Kings, who lost Drew Doughty when he took a shot off the top of his skate and left the game.

This was the Senators' final home game until December 4th. They begin a seven-game road trip on Thursday night against the Anaheim Ducks.