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The San Jose Sharks have made a roster move, as they have assigned forward Pavol Regenda to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. 

Regenda was called up to the Sharks' NHL roster back on Dec. 1. From there, he scored a goal in each of his two games with the Sharks following being recalled. Yet, with this latest roster move, he is heading back to the AHL. 

Regenda will now be looking to make an impact after being sent back down to the Barracuda's roster. In 19 games so far this season with the AHL squad, the 6-foot-3 forward has recorded three goals, four assists, seven points, 10 penalty minutes, and a plus-2 rating. 

In 21 career NHL games over three seasons split between the Anaheim Ducks and Sharks, Regenda has recorded three goals, two assists, five points, and 22 hits. 

There are a number of former Buffalo Sabres players scattered throughout the NHL, having a varied level of success this season. Periodically, we will check in to see how their players are faring. Today we start with ex-Sabres playing for the eight teams in the Pacific Division. The Anaheim Ducks do not have any former Buffalo players currently on their roster, but here are those on the other seven clubs.

Calgary 

Devin Cooley - G: The former Rochester Amerk played 14 AHL games for the Sabres AHL affiliate in 2023-24 and was called up to Buffalo, but never played a game. Currently, as Dustin Wolf’s backup, Cooley has a 3-3-2 record, but a sparkling .920 save % and 2.17 GAA. 

Edmonton 

Matthew Savoie - F:  The Sabres 2022 first-rounder scored 54 points for AHL Bakersfield after being traded to Edmonton in the Ryan McLeod deal in the summer of 2024. Getting his first legitimate crack at the NHL, the 21-year-old has seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 27 games. 

Curtis Lazar - F: Lazar played in Buffalo for 71 games between 2019-21, and for his seven NHL clubs he has one goal in 11 games this season.  

Los Angeles

Joel Armia - F: The Sabres 2011 first-rounder spent three years in Winnipeg and seven seasons in Montreal before signing as a free agent in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old has 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in 26 games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Guerin Gathering Info On Possible Olympic Options 

San Jose 

Jeff Skinner - F: After being bought out by the Sabres in 2024, the former 40-goal scorer played for Edmonton and saw his first career postseason action. The 33-year-old had four goals in 17 games before being injured last month, but is expected to return to action this week.  

Seattle

Brandon Montour - D: The Cup-winning blueliner had 18 goals in his first season with the Kraken, and is having another solid offensive year thus far, with 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 20 games. 

Vancouver

Tyler Myers - D: The former Calder Trophy winner was part of the Evander Kane deal in 2015 and, after five years in Winnipeg, is in his seventh season with the Canucks. The big righty has seven points (1 goal, 6 assists) in 27 games.

Evander Kane - F: The talented but undisciplined winger wore out his welcome in Edmonton after four years and was traded to the hometown Canucks last summer. In 27 games, Kane has 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists), but there are reports that he has already worn out his welcome. 

Vegas

Jack Eichel - F: The former Sabres team captain reached the 90-point plateau for the first time last season, and this season is on pace to set a career-high, with 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 26 games. Eichel will be on Team USA for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina next February.

Brayden McNabb - D: The stay-at-home blueliner won a Cup with the Golden Knights and, in his ninth season with Vegas, has one assist in 26 games. 

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The Winnipeg Jets are a curious team.

While they're without star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who had knee surgery two weeks ago, this is still largely the same group that won the Presidents' Trophy last season as the NHL's top regular-season team.

And yet, after they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout Wednesday night, the Jets have gone 2-5-1 after Hellebuyck last played on Nov. 15. Their .313 points percentage in that span is tied for last in the league.

This speaks to Hellebuyck's immense value to the Jets – he is the defending Hart Trophy winner, after all. But scratch beneath the surface, and you'll see that there are clearly multiple other issues that are plaguing Winnipeg right now.

Yes, the Jets have allowed the 11th-most goals against per game during Hellebuyck's absence, while they conceded the eighth-fewest goals per game beforehand. Goalie Eric Comrie has a .891 save percentage and 3.14 goals-against average in seven starts, while Thomas Milic has an .882 SP and 3.65 GAA in two appearances.

But they also have the seventh-worst offense in the NHL since Nov. 16 at 2.50 goals-for per game. And their special teams have also been a problem in that span. Their 15-percent power-play success rate and 78.9-percent penalty-kill rate each rank tied for 20th.

Hellebuyck's injury is projected to keep him on the sidelines until late December or early January. Winnipeg is only two points out of a playoff spot with two games in hand. But this team has too much talent, even without Hellebuyck, to be in this predicament.

Free-Falling Jets Take Just Three of a Possible 10 Points on Lengthy Road TripJets stumble on another lengthy road trip, snagging minimal points. Can a crucial home stretch spark a turnaround for the struggling team?

The Jets' next stretch includes games against the desperate Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche. That won't be a cakewalk by any means, with the Avs, Stars and Caps sitting in the top three of the standings.

In the highly competitive Central Division, Winnipeg's challenge is considerable and constant. They need to be consistent in a way they haven't been since they came out of the gate 9-3-0. Even a .500 points percentage stretch likely won't push them back to the top of the division.

Some of their challenge falls at the feet of the Jets' secondary scorers.

Only four forwards have at least 0.50 points per game – Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Gabriel Vilardi and Nino Niederreiter – and they need much more production out of players beyond their top line. Veteran center Jonathan Toews is a high-profile addition to the Jets, but the 37-year-old has three goals and nine points in 26 games. 

Winnipeg wants more out of the second-line center spot they signed Toews to occupy, but he's been out of the league for two seasons before making his comeback this year.

Clearly, they need more out of their bottom six forwards and from their defensemen other than star Josh Morrissey.

The Jets have $4.28 million in salary cap space – which is projected to balloon to $13.6 million at the March 6 trade deadline. But if they wait too long to spend that cap space, Winnipeg could be stuck closer to the bottom of the Central standings. So Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has to balance his longer-term needs with his immediate goals.

In any case, Winnipeg's focus has to be on either ratcheting up its defensive game without Hellebuyck or getting out of this scoring slump. All NHL teams will only do as well as they can when their key players are healthy and in the lineup, but they have enough skaters right now to get the job done.

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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry has been given the No. 8 spot on Lyle Richardson's NHL Trade Targets Rankings for Bleacher Report. 

Jarry has been the subject of trade rumors before, and it has carried over to the season. Because of this, it makes sense that he is being considered among the top trade candidates in the NHL right now. This is especially so when noting that the Penguins are retooling and Jarry is in the middle of a bounce-back season. 

In 11 games so far this campaign, Jarry has recorded an 8-2-0 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.57 goals-against average. This is after he had a 16-12-6 record, a .892 save percentage, and a 3.12 goals-against average in 36 games last season for Pittsburgh.

With how well Jarry is playing this season, it would be understandable if he generated interest from clubs looking for goaltending help near the deadline. Yet, the Penguins could also very well decide to keep him around if he keeps playing well. This is because he is signed until the end of the 2027-28 season, carrying a $5.375 million cap hit. 

In 304 career games over 10 seasons with the Penguins, Jarry has recorded a 160-99-31 record, a .909 save percentage, and a 2.74 goals-against average. 

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The Detroit Red Wings managed to pick up a badly-needed victory on Tuesday evening, taking down the Boston Bruins by a 5-4 final score at Little Caesars Arena to halt what was a four-game winless skid. 

Their metal will now be put to the test once again as they've embarked on a six-game road trip that will begin on Thursday evening against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. 

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

For head coach Todd McLellan, he's looking forward to the challenge that this road trip represents for his club. 

"It's going to be a big challenge," McLellan said of the next six games. "The travel, the buildings that we go to, the teams that we're going to play, everyone's a little different, so we have to prepare each and every night. But I think the opportunity that lies ahead of us is two-fold."

"One, to have a successful trip and build, and then two, to find our game and continue to build on it. I'm looking forward to it, and it starts here tonight against a real good team." 

The Red Wings defeated the Blue Jackets on Nov. 22 by a 4-3 final score in overtime thanks to a two-goal third period comeback effort that was capped by Alex DeBrincat's winning tally in the extra session. 

However,  Detroit's next four games weren't as fruitful. They dropped contests to both the Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning on home ice, which were highlighted by multiple defensive miscues that their opposition took advantage of. 

Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom, whom they'd like to contribute more offensively as he only has a single goal in the 14 games he's skated in, said Detroit isn't going to be taking Columbus lightly. 

"I'm Happy For Him": Todd McLellan Talks Up John Gibson After Win Vs. Bruins Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan was happy for goaltender John Gibson on Tuesday night after he picked up his first win since Nov. 13.

“They have some skilled players and some physicality,” Soderblom said of the impending matchup against Columbus. “Always good battles against this team. I think we always have tight games, so it’s going to be fun.”

Following Thursday's game, the Red Wings will travel to Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Chicago before returning home on Nov. 16 against the New York Islanders. 

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The Wraparound is here to discuss a new batch of NHL and hockey topics in bite-sized segments.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in this episode:

0:00: Which team in the Central Division is under the most pressure to translate their hot start into playoff success?

4:45: Can Steven Stamkos get his offense back on track in Nashville or elsewhere?

10:05: How concerning is the lack of depth scoring for the Detroit Red Wings?

13:28: How will Adam Fox's injury impact the Rangers' playoff chances?

17:41: Should the Montreal Canadiens look to make an upgrade in net?

22:40: Will Tyler Bertuzzi be a long-term fit for the Chicago Blackhawks?

25:39: Exploring potential trade partners for Quinn Hughes and the Vancouver Canucks

Should The Canadiens Find An Upgrade In Net? by The Wraparound

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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The crossroads of the Buffalo Sabres 2024-25 season was exactly one year to the day of the club beginning their six-game road swing, that may determine whether they remain competitive for an Eastern Conference playoff spot or not. On December 3, 2024, the Sabres led Colorado 4-0 after 20 minutes and 4-1 entering the third period before the Avalanche rallied with four third-period goals to win 5-4.  That loss failed to end a three-game losing skid and excelerated a 13-game crashdive that caused the club to miss the playoffs for a 14th straight season. 

The 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers was much less dramatic, but began the Sabres critical road swing on a discouraging note. Early momentum from a Jason Zucker power play goal was squandered by a Buffalo penalty killing unit that was second in  the NHL entering the game and by a questionable review request for goalie interference by head coach Lindy Ruff on Travis Konecny’s tying goal. 

 "We felt that (Owen Tippett's) stick got into our goalie's blocker, whether that was going to be enough or not, you couldn't really tell." Ruff said after the game. "It looked like his body was inside the paint, but skates weren't."

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Guerin Gathering Info On Possible Olympic Options 

The failed review led to another Flyers power goal from Trevor Zegras and a reeling Sabres squad allowed a third Philadelphia goal by Bobby Brink within a span of 59 seconds. Buffalo had several opportunities in the contest to close the gap, but were unable to beat Samuel Ersson, who made 27 saves. According to Ruff, the club’s top players did not come through, including team captain Rasmus Dahlin, who was ejected for a major boarding penalty and game misconduct for a hit on Zegras in the second period.

"The top guys failed the test. (Tage Thompson) took a bad penalty. We had a bad clear (from Alex Tuch), we had plenty of opportunities to get back in the game,” Ruff said. “If you look at a couple of chances, even Tage had one on the goal line that Samuelsson set him up. We weren't sharp. We've talked about consistent play, we failed the test on consistent play."

The loss ended the Sabres two-game winning streak and has them just one point ahead of last-place Florida in the Eastern Conference. 

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On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Florida, as Pittsburgh looks to hold onto its playoff positioning and Tampa looks to extend its Atlantic Division lead. 

But there is another storyline as well.

For the fifth time, the Penguins will face their former teammate Jake Guentzel, who was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2024 trade deadline and was subsequently traded to then signed by the Lightning the following summer. In four games against Pittsburgh, Guentzel has notched no goals and three assists. 

At the time, the Guentzel trade definitely seemed to be one focused on quantity rather than quality, although the jury is still out on that with a few promising prospects dealt as part of that trade. 

In fact, let's revisit where the Guentzel trade tree has extended so far:

- Mar. 8, 2024: Penguins acquire forwards Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, and conditional first-round and fifth-round draft picks from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Jake Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith

- Jun. 29, 2024: Penguins use conditional first-round pick acquired from Hurricanes (condition not met) to draft defenseman Harrison Brunicke 44th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. 

- Jun. 30, 2024: Hurricanes acquire 2025 third-round pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Guentzel

- Jul. 1, 2024: Guentzel signs seven-year, $63 million contract with Lightning

- Mar. 6, 2025: Penguins acquire forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick

- Mar. 7, 2025: Penguins acquire a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Schenn

- Jun. 28, 2025: Hurricanes use third-round pick acquired from Lightning to draft defenseman Roman Bausov 87th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft

Penguins' Prospect Earns Two Honors In Same WeekThere are a lot of <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' prospects making noise in the pipeline this season, and the organization's prospect pool is looking deeper than it has in quite a long time.

Winner: Tampa Bay Lightning

There's no doubt that Tampa Bay is the clear winner in this trade tree scenario, as they ended up acquiring a perennial 30-40 goal-scorer for only a third-round pick due to his unrestricted free agent status. No matter how you slice it, Tampa has - so far - come out on top of this trade tree

Biggest loser: Carolina Hurricanes

It's certainly not ideal to lose Guentzel to a trade for unrestricted free agency rights and net only a third-round pick in return. Carolina not only lost a perennial 30-40 goal-scorer, but they also lost a potential top-six winger in Koivunen and the second-round selection that led to the Penguins getting Brunicke, who has a ceiling as a top-pairing defenseman. Carolina lost this one, and they lost big.

New 'Kid Line' Might Be Just What Penguins NeedThe Pittsburgh Penguins debuted their new "kid line" of Rutger McGroarty, Ben Kindel, and Ville Koivunen against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday - and it paid off.

Jury's still out: Pittsburgh Penguins

It's very hard to replace a point-per-game, perennial 30-40 goal-scorer. Even with unrestricted free agency, trading a player of that caliber typically requires at least a first-round pick, which Penguins' GM/POHO Kyle Dubas failed to secure.

However, the Penguins probably got first-round value out of Brunicke, Koivunen's stock has risen since joining the organization, Lucius is playing well at the NCAA level, Novak has been a serviceable player for Pittsburgh, and they still have some picks at their disposal - which is good news, considering how Dubas and Wes Clark have fared in drafting up to this point.  

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this trade tree continues to play out and if there are any more surprises in store with it. 

Pittsburgh Penguins At Tampa Bay Lightning Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins will face one of the toughest teams in the NHL on Thursday night.

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

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won three of their last four games since head coach Dan Muse called them out following a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Nov. 22.

They recently beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 in dominant fashion on Monday, thanks to another outstanding performance from captain Sidney Crosby. Crosby, who loves torturing the Flyers and their fans, notched two goals and was a menace in all three zones. 

Goaltender Tristan Jarry was also great, saving 28 of 29 shots. He's set to get the start against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday after he was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate.

Speaking of the Lightning, they are one of the best teams in the NHL right now. After losing six of their first seven games to open the season, they've won 15 of their last 19 games and have a 16-8-2 record, good for first place in the Atlantic Division. They had their seven-game winning streak snapped by the New York Islanders on Tuesday. 

The Penguins will avoid seeing Andrei Vasilevskiy on Thursday after Lightning head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that Jonas Johansson will start in goal. They'll still have to face the Lightning's vaunted top six, led by supertstar Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov is off to another fantastic start, compiling 11 goals and 32 points in 24 games. 

Brandon Hagel and old friend Jake Guentzel are also off to great starts, each compiling 27 points to start the year. 

The Penguins didn't do line rushes at the morning skate, so there's a good chance the lines will remain the same from Monday.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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The NHL's had an excellent Calder Trophy race to start the year.

The top rookies are incredibly effective for their teams, helping them to much-improved results. Even beyond the top rookies, some strong performers would usually be at the top of the rookie race in most other years. 

The favorites coming into the year – Ivan Demidov and Matthew Schaefer – are still right up there at the top of the race. Beckett Sennecke joined them, but some netminders also entered the conversation with outstanding performances.

Let's check in on the NHL's top rookies as we approach the holiday season, because we are starting to get a clearer picture of how effective each of them has been for their respective squads.

1. Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

The Islanders' first overall pick has been nothing short of exceptional to start his NHL career. His eight goals are tied for the most among rookies, and combined with his 11 assists, he's one point behind Demidov and Sennecke for the rookie points lead.

The way that 18-year-old Schaefer dictates the play, pushes the pace and consistently brings life to the Islanders' attack is truly game-changing. 

Defensively, Schaefer has been better than just about any rookie D-man in recent memory.

His skating allows him to get into position defensively or recover when he decides to pinch and join the attack. His underlying numbers are stellar for any defender, let alone a first-year player.

There is legitimate conversation about him getting into the Norris Trophy conversation, so he's sure to stay atop the Calder race if he keeps this up.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 1.42/-238

2. Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens

It's quite impressive that Demidov isn't the top rookie at the moment. His season has been nothing short of outstanding.

He's tied for the rookie lead in points in one fewer game played, and he's doing so as the offensive catalyst on the second line for the Montreal Canadiens, primarily playing away from top players Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Demidov has been making magic with fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen, Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook throughout the season. 

Demidov might be the most purely skilled rookie in the class. His puckhandling and playmaking have come as advertised, and he shows a much more consistent effort in all three zones than most rookies.

The 19-year-old has been the kind of offensive catalyst Montreal has needed for years. His continued growth throughout the season will keep him right near the top of this list all year.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 4.60/+360

3. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks

The NHL's other rookie scoring leader, with 20 points, has been better than advertised for the Anaheim Ducks. He's a big reason they're not just in a playoff spot but leading the Pacific Division.

Sennecke has added additional offensive depth, with high-end skill and an excellent dual-threat offensive game.

The 19-year-old has been a breath of fresh air, bringing some high-end puckhandling and dangles to a team built on playing hard, heavy hockey. If he continues to lead all rookies in scoring, it's going to be hard not to have him near the top of the Calder list.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 17.00/+1600

4. Jesper Wallstedt, G, Minnesota Wild

With the opportunity to play in the NHL full-time this season, the 'Wall of St. Paul' has had some incredible performances as the Wild's backup to Filip Gustavsson.

In 10 games, he has eight wins and four shutouts. His two losses came in overtime.

Wallstedt, 23, has a .944 save percentage, which leads NHL goalies who played at least 10 games. If he gets a bit more of the start split with Gustavsson, he could find his way up the list because he's been unbeatable over the last month.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 8.00/+700

5. Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes

The unfortunate thing about the Calder Trophy is that so much of the award is based on counting stats. Nikishin's impact goes far beyond that, with incredible defensive acumen and a physical edge that most rookies don't come close to bringing.

The 24-year-old Russian is one of the older rookies in the league, but he's shown exactly why he was one of the KHL's best blueliners before this season. Nikishin is undeniably one of the top rookies in the class thanks to his defensive impact, which should earn him some love in the Calder conversation, albeit likely not enough to get a finalist's nod.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000

6. Yaroslav Askarov, G, San Jose Sharks

The Sharks traded for Askarov in hopes that he would become their goalie of the future. His performance this season proves just that.

Askarov plays with incredible athleticism. His ability to move around the net and read the play makes him not only effective but highly entertaining.

The 23-year-old is a bit of a throwback goalie. While his game has structure, his ability to play an unorthodox style when desperate means he is never out of the play. His .905 save percentage through 18 games is a great start to his rookie season.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 56.00/+5500

7. Ryan Leonard, RW, Washington Capitals

The drop off from the top six to the next group is steep, but Leonard's impact has been quite impressive. The 20-year-old still has his bull-in-a-china-shop style of play and a very good shot. His blend of a physical edge and nifty skill has been a welcome addition to the Capitals' forward core.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000  

8. Oliver Kapanen, C, Montreal Canadiens

When Kapanen made the Canadiens' roster, he was expected to fill the role of fourth-line center. Because of injuries and strong play from Kapanen, he's played up and down the lineup.

Even before injuries hit the Habs' lineup, the Finnish center was playing as high as the second line alongside Demidov. Kapanen, 22, plays a smart, positional, two-way game, which has made it easy to trust him in just about any situation. His eight goals are tied with Schaefer for the most among rookies.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 126.00/+12500

9. Emmitt Finnie, LW, Detroit Red Wings

No one expected Finnie to make the Wings' roster, and now, he's been the team's most consistent linemate for Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond on the top line. His no-nonsense game, focused on going to the hard areas and making life easier for his teammates, has helped him succeed. He may not be putting up the kind of numbers the top rookies are, but he's finding a way to make an impact.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 151.00/+15000      

10. Matthew Wood, W/C, Nashville Predators

Wood's performances have been somewhat inconsistent, but he's been a bright spot on a dim Nashville Predators squad. His size and finishing ability are notable. His production has slowed down considerably since his hat trick in mid-November, but the flashes have been there. Wood is an excellent complementary secondary scorer, but he'll need some help from the veterans around him.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000        

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.

With a long seven-game road trip now behind them, the Ottawa Senators settle in for three games at home, starting Thursday night against the New York Rangers. The Sens posted a record of 4-3 on the trip, capping things off with a convincing 5-2 victory in Montreal on Tuesday night.

The Rangers also come in on a high from Tuesday night, defeating the Dallas Stars, one of the very best teams in the league, 3-2 in overtime at MSG. That's the same Stars team than thumped the Sens 6-1 on Sunday. 

Where Do They Stand?

Both teams enter the game tied with 30 points, but the Rangers (14-12-2) are a point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild card spot. The Senators (13-9-4) are third in the Atlantic, one point behind the Montreal Canadiens (14-9-3), and four points behind the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Rangers come into this one with what we'll call road-ice advantage. They lead the league in road wins (11) and rank second in road points (23).

What's New?

The Senators are set for some more Halliday time. Lars Eller missed practice on Thursday morning and will not play. He's listed as day-to-day, but when asked for details, Travis Green "didn't want to get into it." Centre Stephen Halliday has been recalled from Belleville and will play in his fifth career NHL game. He has 19 points in 17 AHL games this season.

The Senators were also missing defenseman Artem Zub, whose issues is described as a nagging lower-body injury. So, Jordan Spence moved up to play with Jake Sanderson, while Dennis Gilbert skated alongside Nick Jensen. After being part of the Josh Norris deal in March, Gilbert left the Senators in free agency, then was reacquired last month for Max Guenette. This will be the debut of Gilbert 2.0.

Halliday was here in time for practice, so here's how the chess pieces were aligned.

Tkachuk-Stützle-Zetterlund
Amadio-Pinto-Giroux
Perron-Cozens-Batherson
Greig-Halliday-Cousins/MacDermid

Sanderson-Spence
Kleven-Matinpalo
Gilbert-Jensen

— Graeme Nichols (@GraemeNichols) December 4, 2025

Green also announced after practice that Cousins would play while Sens backup Leevi Merilainen will get the start in goal.

New York State of Mind

Here's how the Rangers lined things up at their Wednesday practice. After taking down Dallas, they changed nothing, and they're not likely to do so in Ottawa on Thursday.

Panarin-Zibanejad-Lafrenière
Brodzinski-Trocheck-Miller
Cuylle-Laba-Berard
Sheary-Carrick-Raddysh

Gavrikov-Schneider
Soucy-Borgen
Robertson-Morrow

Igor Shesterkin is expected to start in goal with Spencer Martin backing him up. Shesterkin is 5-1-2 against the Sens with a goals against average of 1.86 and a save percentage of .939.

Former Senators first-rounder Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers in goals (9) and power play goals (6), and ranks third in points (20) behind Artem Panarin (28) and Adam Fox (26).

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa