NHL Waivers: Flames Claim Beecher, Tomasino Hits The Wire

The Calgary Flames claimed forward Johnny Beecher off NHL waivers from the Boston Bruinsaccording to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

In addition, Friedman reported thatPittsburgh Penguins forward Philip Tomasino and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Maxence Guenette were placed on waivers.

With Beecher being a 2019 first-round pick carrying a cheap $900,000 cap hit, it is not necessarily surprising that he was claimed. It is no secret the Flames need help on offense, sitting last in the NHL with 2.10 goals-for per game.

In six games this season with the Bruins, 24-year-old Beecher scored one goal and had a minus-1 rating. Last season, he had three goals and 11 points in 78 games.

Tomasino could very well generate some interest on waivers, as he is also a 2019 first-round pick and is still just 24 years old.

While he has recorded just one assist in nine games this season with the Penguins, he also had 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games for them last season after being acquired from the Nashville Predators. He also had 20 points in 41 games for Nashville in 2023-24.

Teams looking for help on offense could consider taking a chance on Tomasino with a low-risk waiver claim. This is especially so when noting that he has an affordable $1.75-million cap hit. 

As for Guenette, he was just acquired by the Flyers from the Ottawa Senators on Monday in exchange for defenseman Dennis Gilbert. He has yet to play a game this season, as he was an RFA before signing a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Flyers following the trade.

Guenette has recorded zero points and a minus-2 rating in eight career NHL games, with his last NHL appearance being during the 2023-24 season with Ottawa.


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Canadiens Send Defender Back To AHL

Marc Del Gaizo (© Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that defenseman Marc Del Gaizo has been reassigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket. 

Del Gaizo was called up to the Canadiens' NHL roster ahead of their Nov. 17 contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but did not play. Now, he is heading right back to Laval after being scratched for the Canadiens' matchup against the Blue Jackets. 

This is not the first time that Del Gaizo has been called up by the Canadiens to serve as an extra defenseman and then sent right back down. The 26-year-old blueliner is also still looking to make his regular-season debut with the Original Six club.

Del Gaizo will now be looking to make an impact after being sent back down to Laval. The Basking Ridge, New Jersey native has played in 11 games this season with Laval, where he has posted four assists, six penalty minutes, and a plus-4 rating. 

Del Gaizo signed with the Canadiens this off-season, ending his time with the Nashville Predators. In 55 games with Nashville over two seasons, he posted two goals, 10 assists, 12 points, 23 penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating.

GAME DAY Preview: Calgary Flames @ Chicago Blackhawks (Nov. 18)

Calgary Flames centre Yegor Sharangovich (17) scores a goal past Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) during their game at the United Center in Chicago (Source: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

The first game of away back-to-backs, the Calgary Flames (5-12-3) face the Chicago Blackhawks (9-5-4).

The Flames came up short in their last game, registering their second shootout loss in as many games they've taken to the shooting competition since winning the first one on opening night.

Their next opponents will be the six-time Stanley Cup champions who shut them out in their last encounter on Nov. 8 in Southern Alberta courtesy of a four-point night by Connor Bedard.

And this team has been going hot since.

Their Points Percentage (.833) and Goals For/Game (3.67) are both ranked fifth and Goals Against/Game (2.33) is ranked slightly below at 12th.

Both their power plays and penalty kill percentages are 50 and 100 (perfect!) respectively, and each is ranked number 1 in the league in their department.

A good thing for Calgary is that they broke the slump and finally got a power play goal in the month of November. However, it did come off a once-in-a-blue moon opportunity of a 6v4 so the long-term issues of the man-advantage still need to be addressed.

Another good thing is the Flames offence put up 11 or more high-danger scoring chances in back-to-back games for the first time this season. So, it's clear that they have a plan in place on how to put up quality shots now and not rely on their usual schtick of "puck luck". That should light a fire and inspire hope that the streak continues into Tuesday evening.

There was a trend on the penalty-kill that ended last game, apart from the one mentioned in the last preview that the game against San Jose was the first bout where Calgary registered a regulation win while going on the penalty-kill more than once and not giving up a PP goal.

The other trend that broke was even though the Flames were on the PK just once in this game like those other three regulation games they won (vs Flyers, vs Rangers, vs Blue Jackets), in this one, not only did they give up the goal on said penalty kill, but also lost the game. 

So, it seems even giving up one penalty is too costly.

We will add that Calgary's defence has been stout. Since Nov. 8, their Goals Against/Game (2.00) is tied with three other teams for fifth.

Dustin Wolf is confirmed to be the goalie for the Flames. This will be his fourth consecutive start and in those last three games, he has had a combined save percentage of 0.915.

Chicago is expected to turn to the goalie services of Arvid Soderblom. He is relatively unproven compared to the more regular Spencer Knight, although his save percentage of .913 is tied for eighth amongst goalies with an on-ice time of at least 270 minutes. Should the Blackhawks want to go with Knight, he is obviously the go-to option as his save percentage of .924 is tied for third in that list.

Bottom Line

Bedard has been hot. In his past 10 games, he has scored eight goals and 18 points, so Calgary needs to keep a special eye on him. Not that they need to be told twice...

The power play and penalty kill are both number one for Chicago in the span mentioned so best not give the Blackhawks the opportunity of the man-advantage aka play disciplined hockey.

When Calgary finds themselves on the power play, hopefully they are prepared for it.

The Flames need to continue the trend of having 11 or more high-danger scoring chances like they did in both their previous games. "Puck Luck" doesn't cut it in the NHL.

A good game from Wolf is always helpful.

Blackhawks Vs Flames: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 19

The Chicago Blackhawks, following a big win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada at the United Center, will host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. 

Chicago’s win over Toronto was the kind that shows that they are never out of a game, even when the odds are stacked against them. They’ll be looking to carry this momentum into their second tilt of the season with the Flames.

Colton Dach Scores Late; Blackhawks Win 3-2 Over Maple LeafsColton Dach Scores Late; Blackhawks Win 3-2 Over Maple LeafsThe Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs thanks to a third-period comeback.

The last date with Calgary came up in Alberta, and it was a physical affair. There were a handful of fights, some big-time hits, and a little bit of animosity following Frank Nazar’s injury. Whether there will be a response to that kind of game this time around remains to be seen.

Scouting Calgary 

At 5-12-3, the Calgary Flames enter this match with the worst record in the National Hockey League. Their 13 points, which are about where the Blackhawks were at this time last year, rank dead last. Being the 32nd-place team is never ideal in November, but that’s where the Flames find themselves after decent expectations coming into the year. 

Last year, the Flames came in with lousy expectations, and they overachieved. A big reason for that was their rookie goaltender, Dustin Wolf. So far this year, however, Wolf has been dealing with the sophomore slump. 

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The Calgary Flames, despite their place in the standings, have players who can beat you. For one, Wolf can still find ways to stonewall his opponents. He has it in him, despite it being a bad year up to this point. It can become a good year starting now. He will be the man in the net for the Flames in this one. 

Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Blake Coleman, amongst others, can all burn you up front with their puck skill. On defense, guys like Rasmus Anderson and MacKenzie Weegar can make plays from the back end. Some of these guys are playing with the hopes of being moved at the deadline, so the motivation to produce is there. 

Projected Blackhawks Lines, Defense Pairs, and Starting Goalie

So far this season, Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar have really stepped up offensively. They have been the two best forwards, while all of their wings have played up to expectations to help them create. 

It is encouraging to see guys like Ryan Greene and Oliver Moore push for more ice time and expanded roles, when their spots on the team at any point this season were not guaranteed at the start of camp. 

On defense, you have options who can all play up and down the lineup. Artyom Levshunov, who took a seat as a healthy scratch earlier this year, has been amazing lately. The Blackhawks are hoping that tactic works on Sam Rinzel, as he sat in the last game against Toronto. 

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Jason Dickinson practiced and was the fourth-line center on Monday, but he is not ready to come back into the lineup. He doesn’t want to return until he knows for a fact that he’s 100 percent healthy and won’t aggravate his injury. Dickinson, despite feeling good, feels like he owes it to his teammates to operate like that. 

Tyler Bertuzzi, who was absent from practice on Monday, is a game-time decision. However, it seems he is trending towards missing another game, as he was not on the ice during the morning skate. He was hot at the time of his injury, so you know he and the team feel this issue came at the worst possible time. 

Nick Foligno, who broke his hand and will miss four weeks because of a blocked shot, was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to November 15th. 

Jeff Blashill Reveals Bad Injury Update On Nick FolignoJeff Blashill Reveals Bad Injury Update On Nick FolignoChicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill revealed negative news on captain Nick Foligno. "A big loss in a lot of ways": Jeff Blashill Reflects On Nick Foligno's Upcoming Absence"A big loss in a lot of ways": Jeff Blashill Reflects On Nick Foligno's Upcoming AbsenceThe Chicago Blackhawks are going to be without their captain, Nick Foligno, for a handful of weeks. He will be missed.

If Bertuzzi does, in fact, miss the game, defenseman Sam Rinzel will draw back in, and the team will go 11/7 again. The Blackhawks have mostly gone with that strategy this year, and it may continue against the Flames. 

Arvid Söderblom is going to get the start in goal tonight for the Blackhawks. He has been a solid backup this season and will look to continue that on Tuesday night against the Flames. 

How To Watch

For those in Chicago looking to catch the game on television, it can be found on CHSN. It can be streamed elsewhere in the United States on ESPN+. In Calgary, Sportsnet West is the place to find the game. It can also be streamed in Canada on Sportsnet+. The puck is scheduled to drop a little after 7:30 PM CT. 

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Former Penguins Defenseman Hits Big Milestone

Jeff Petry (© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jeff Petry has hit a notable new milestone, as he played in his 1,000th career NHL game during the Florida Panthers' Nov. 17 matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. 

Hitting the 1,000-game mark in the NHL is a big accomplishment, and Petry can now officially say he has done just that. 

Petry is currently in his 16th NHL season, with this being his first with the Panthers. The former Penguins blueliner signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Panthers this off-season after spending the two previous seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. 

Petry spent the 2022-23 season with the Penguins, where he recorded five goals, 26 assists, 31 points, 111 blocks, 190 hits, and a plus-2 rating in 61 games. This would be his only season with the Penguins.

In 1,000 career NHL games split between the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Penguins, Red Wings, and Panthers, Petry has recorded 96 goals, 294 assists, 390 points, 1,577 blocks, and 2,042 hits. 

Flyers Send Defender To AHL On Conditioning Loan

Adam Ginning (© Eric Canha-Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers have assigned defenseman Adam Ginning to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, on a conditioning loan. 

Ginning has played in six games this season with the Flyers, where he has recorded zero points, four hits, five blocks, and an even plus/minus rating. The left-shot defenseman's last appearance with the Flyers was on Oct. 25 against the New York Islanders, where he had 12:07 of ice time. 

Now, after being sent down to Lehigh Valley on this conditioning loan, Ginning will have the opportunity to get back into some game action. He will be aiming to impress during it, as it could open the door for him to get called back up to the Flyers' roster. 

Ginning has appeared in 195 career AHL games, all with the Phantoms, where he has posted seven goals, 44 assists, 51 points, 216 penalty minutes, and a plus-17 rating. It will be interesting to see how much he can build on these career AHL stats with the Phantoms during his conditioning loan from here. 

Patrick Roy Elevates Shabanov To Barzal Line As Islanders Prepare For Stars

After missing 12 games with an upper-body injury, Maxim Shabanov returned to the New York Islanders' lineup on Sunday night. Despite a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the first-year NHL player looked strong playing on the fourth line before earning shifts in the top six later on in the game. 

"I thought he played well," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said following the game in Denver. "With the type of injury he had, upper body injury, you're curious to see how someone's going to react to contact because you don't really get hit in the practices. So I thought he didn't shy away from any of that."

The Impact Maxim Shabanov Had On Calum Ritchie In Return To Islanders' LineupThe Impact Maxim Shabanov Had On Calum Ritchie In Return To Islanders' LineupShabanov's offensive spark ignites Ritchie's game. Discover how their reunion revitalized the Islanders' potent fourth line.

Because of how he looked, Roy will be starting him alongside Mathew Barzal and Jonathan Drouin on Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars

Simon Holmstrom, who had been playing in that right-wing spot alongside Barzal, did not skate on Thursday morning and is a game-time decision due to illness, per the team. 

If he can't play, it will be Maxim Tsyplakov drawing back into the lineup, likely skating alongside Casey Cizikas and Calum Ritchie on the club's fourth line.

Puck drop between the Islanders and the Stars comes your way at 8 PM ET on MSGSN2.

Ottawa Senators' Nick Cousins Fined For Embellishment

The NHL fined Ottawa Senators winger Nick Cousins $2,000 for embellishment on Tuesday.

The league's hockey operations department flagged Cousins for two incidents since the start of the season, which triggers the $2,000 fine.

Cousins previously received a warning following an incident on Oct. 25 against the Washington Capitals. The second citation stems from the Senators' 4-2 win over the Utah Mammoth on Nov. 9.

During the first period, Cousins knocked a puck away from Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev at the attacking blueline. Utah winger JJ Peterka passed the puck back to Dylan Guenther and appeared to make contact with Cousins, who fell to the ice. Peterka was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for interference. The Senators failed to score on the power play.

NHL Hockey Operations tracks all games and not only logs penalties for diving or embellishment but flags all plays not called on the ice that in its opinion deserved such a penalty. When the department is convinced that a player warrants sanction after internally deliberating, it issues a citation.

Nick Cousins (David Banks-Imagn Images)

Rule 64 of the NHL rulebook is meant to more seriously punish players and teams the more they embellish to draw a penalty. Here's what happens when a player is cited for embellishment or diving under Rule 64:

  • First citation: warning
  • Second citation: $2,000 fine
  • Third citation: $3,000 fine
  • Fourth citation: $4,000 fine
  • Fifth citation onward: $5,000 fine each

If a team combines for four fines, whether it's a player or collective team receiving the fine, the head coach starts to get fined as follows:

  • Four fines total: coach is fined $2,000
  • Five fines total: coach is fined $3,000
  • Six fines total: coach is fined $4,000
  • Seven-plus fines total: coach is fined $5,000 each

The fined money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Cousins, 32, is tied with center Tim Stutzle for the most drawn penalties on the Senators, with nine. They're also tied for 15th in the NHL in that category. San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini leads the league, with 13.

As a team, the Senators have drawn 84 penalties, the sixth-most in the NHL.

Cousins has three goals and four points in 19 games. He's also at 199 career points in 661 regular-season games.


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Pittsburgh Penguins Forward Has Big Opportunity

Sam Poulin (© Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins called up former first-round pick Sam Poulin from the American Hockey League (AHL) on Nov. 18. This was in response to the Penguins placing forward Ville Koivunen on injured reserve (IR).

Poulin getting the chance to play on Pittsburgh's roster is entirely understandable. The 24-year-old forward has been having a strong season down in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, as he has recorded seven goals, eight assists, and 15 points in 16 games. Now, he will be looking to translate some of this offense over to the NHL after getting this latest call-up to Pittsburgh's roster.

Poulin also has a big opportunity to try to prove to the Penguins that he is ready to take that next step and be a full-time NHL player. If the 2019 first-round pick can stand out during this call-up, it could very well help his chances of sticking around on the Penguins' NHL roster once they start getting healthier.

It will be very interesting to see how much of an impact Poulin can make after getting called up to Pittsburgh's roster. In 13 career NHL games over three seasons with the Penguins, Poulin has recorded two assists, six penalty minutes, and 18 hits. 

Ex-Blackhawks Forward Is Heating Up Right Now

Taylor Hall (© Steve Roberts-Imagn Images)

During this past season, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes. Seeing Hall on the move was understandable, as he was a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Blackhawks were out of the playoff hunt. 

Now, after signing a three-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Hurricanes, Hall is in his second season in Carolina. So far, the former Blackhawks forward is having a solid start to the year, posting five goals, seven assists, 12 points, and a plus-6 rating in 19 games. 

However, Hall is only heating up as the season carries on. In his last six games with the Hurricanes, the former Blackhawks winger has posted three goals and six points. This included him scoring a goal and recording an assist in the Blackhawks' most recent contest against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 17.

With numbers like these, there is no question that Hall is giving the Hurricanes solid secondary scoring right now. He is continuing to be a solid fit on their roster, and his goal will be to stay hot from here. 

In two seasons with the Blackhawks from 2023-24 to 2024-25, Hall posted 11 goals, 17 assists, 28 points, 30 hits, and 30 blocks. 

Avengers will not reassemble: Stephen Curry says he is 'highly doubtful' for Los Angeles Olympics, LeBron out

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will not be one last reunion for LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The Avengers of 2024 in Paris will not reassemble.

"I will be watching it from Cabo," LeBron James said on his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash, part two of a sit-down with Curry. LeBron has competed in four Olympic Games and has three gold medals (and a bronze from 2004) to show for it.

Curry likely isn't suiting up for Team USA either, but he would not completely shut the door.

"God willing, I still have the choice and physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team," Curry said. "I never say never, but I highly doubt it."

"We could never top those last two games," LeBron said, referencing close wins over Nikola Jokic and Serbia, followed by Victor Wembanyama and the French team. "Like, we literally played France in Paris in the finals."

The USA brought home its fifth consecutive Olympic gold in men's basketball from Paris, with LeBron being named tournament MVP. Winning a sixth will require the next generation of American stars to step up — Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and others — and face the deepest pool of international teams the Games will have ever seen. A more mature, improved Wembanyama will lead a French team that has a legitimate shot at gold.

The LA28 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony is set for July 14, 2028, and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.