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The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes and the Connor McDavid-led Edmonton Oilers continue to roll.

At the other end of the latest USA TODAY NHL power rankings, the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks have called players-only meetings.

The Sharks did it after a 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 4 while the Blackhawks had an even worse loss, 9-2 to the Hurricanes on Nov. 7.

San Jose lost its next two games after the meeting by closer 4-1 and 4-3 scores as their losing streak hit five games. Chicago (six-game losing streak) has four days off before facing the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, Nov. 12.

"We've got to utilize these next four days here," coach Jeff Blashill said. "We've got to make this a kind of bottom point of the year."

Blashill is in the second year of his contract with the Blackhawks while Sharks coach Ryan Warsofky recently signed a contract extension.

Here are the latest NHL power rankings from USA TODAY Sports:

NHL power rankings

The number in parentheses represents the change from the previous power rankings two weeks ago:

32. Vancouver Canucks (0)

Goalie Leevi Merilainen is getting most of the recent starts with Kevin Lankinen continuing to struggle. He gave up five goals in his most recent start and has a 6.03 goals-against average. Merilainen is at 3.52.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (0)

Captain Connor Bedard said the players-only meeting was called to give "ourselves a chance to get some frustrations out," though he added, "There's a lot of belief, a lot of love for each other. We're a tight-knit group." Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the Blackhawks are exploring trades to help the team. He added that injured defenseman Bowen Byram remains out while he waits to see a specialist.

30. Philadelphia Flyers (-1)

The Flyers, who won three in a row after their 0-6-3 start, are 1-4-2 in their last seven games. They continue to be among the lowest-scoring teams in the league despite 10 goals from Matvei Michkov. Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett have returned from injury.

29. San Jose Sharks (-11)

The Sharks have one win in their last eight games, against the last-place Canucks. Macklin Celebrini has five points in his last three games, and Warsofsky has been juggling lines to try to get the NHL's third-worst offense going.

28. Pittsburgh Penguins (-4)

Sidney Crosby (1,773 points) has moved past Marcel Dionne for sixth place in all-time scoring. He's 24 points behind Ron Francis, a former Penguin.

27. Los Angeles Kings (+3)

Adrian Kempe had two goals and two assists in his return from injury on Nov. 4. The Kings are still without Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello.

26. Calgary Flames (+2)

Defenseman Kevin Bahl will have season-ending surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon. He had been averaging a team-high 21:56 in ice time.

25. Winnipeg Jets (-3)

The Jets have won three in a row after ending their nine-game losing streak, including a record comeback against the Monreal Canadiens. But the biggest potential news of the week won't happen because Devils goalie Connor Hellebuyck won't play in his return to Winnipeg.

24. Columbus Blue Jackets (+3)

Forward Valeri Nichushkin had a big game with a goal and assist against his former Avalanche team. Those were his lone points in his last five games. He has two goals in 15 games.

23. Detroit Red Wings (+2)

The Red Wings have gone 2-4 since center Dylan Larkin announced he would no longer suit up for the team amid his trade request. Larkin had submitted a list of 10 teams where he would accept a trade. He is suspended without pay, losing more than $41,000 a day.

22. St. Louis Blues (-1)

Defenseman Philip Broberg has moved into the Blues' scoring lead with seven points in his last six games.

21. Toronto Maple Leafs (-10)

The Maple Leafs have lost five of their last six games as the injuries pile up. Forward Kirill Marchenko and defenseman Morgan Rielly are out with lower body injuries.

20. New York Islanders (0)

Defenseman Logan Stanley delivered a big slash and cross-check to New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier on Nov. 7, earning the maximum allowed fine of $3,865.98.

19. Washington Capitals (-2)

Alex Ovechkin continues to be off to a slow start in his final NHL season. He has a goal and three assists in 15 games, with no points and 13 shots in his last seven games.

18. Buffalo Sabres (+5)

The Sabres fell below .500 at home with a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. They finished 26-10-5 at home last season while ending their record 14-season playoff drought. They are 4-1-3 on the road this season.

17. Anaheim Ducks (+9)

Cutter Gauthier set an NHL record with multiple power play goals in three consecutive games. He had a chance to become the first NHL player with three consecutive hat tricks but was held to one goal in the third game. Two games later, he picked up another hat trick. That gives him 13 goals his last six games after starting the season with two goals in his first 11 games.

16. Florida Panthers (-2)

Forward Brady Tkachuk dropped the gloves with Boston's Nikita Zadorov two seconds into Saturday's game. Tkachuk ended the games with 25 penalty minutes while picking up a couple misconducts.

15. Seattle Kraken (-3)

Berkly Catton has taken the team scoring lead by recording three goals and seven assists during an eight-game point streak. He has 14 points in 16 games after getting 17 last season as a rookie. The Kraken head to Finland to face the Hurricanes.

14. New York Rangers (+2)

Goalie Joonas Korpisalo picked up a win in his Rangers debut after returning from a preseason injury. His full game ended 12 consecutive appearances by Dylan Garand since Igor Shesterkin's season-ending injury. James Reimer was pulled in his lone start during Garand's streak.

13. Utah Mammoth (-7)

Logan Cooley has two hat tricks in his last five games and 10 goals in his last eight games. He had started the season with one goal in his first 10 games.

12. Nashville Predators (+7)

Shane Wright is still seeking his first point with the Predators after being acquired in a trade from the Kraken. Nashville gave up forward Matthew Wood in the trade for Wright, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft.

11. Colorado Avalanche (+4)

Defenseman Cale Makar will be examined on Nov. 9 after leaving practice early. Coach Jared Bednar said he is expected to accompany the team on its road trip.

10. Ottawa Senators (-1)

Goalie Linus Ullmark has been activated from the injured list after missing eight games. Samuel Ersson stopped 76 of the last 80 shots he faced to pick up three consecutive wins.

9. Dallas Stars (-1)

The Stars continue to roll on the ice, but their plans for an arena project in Plano, Texas, took a hit when voters rejected Proposition A.

8. Vegas Golden Knights (-3)

Trevor Connelly has moved into a tie for the rookie scoring lead with 12 points. A recent three-game goal streak gives him seven on the season.

7. Montreal Canadiens (+6)

The Canadiens blew a 4-0 lead with 2:31 left in regulation in an overtime loss to the Jets but they still have a 10-game point streak. Six of those games were played without captain Nick Suzuki, who had three points in his return from injury.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (+1)

Lightning star Nikita Kucherov shocked the hockey world when he told the team he wouldn't re-sign and asked for a trade. The 2025-26 NHL MVP has seven points in five games since his request. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay lost center Brayden Point to an undisclosed injury in their Nov. 8 game.

5. New Jersey Devils (+5)

The Devils have decided Hellebuyck won't play on Nov. 10 in his return to Winnipeg. "Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg," GM Sunny Mehta said in a statement. "However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability." Hellebuyck said he was disappointed but understood the decision.

4. Boston Bruins (-3)

Forward James Hagens, one of this season's top rookies, was placed on the injured list and will be out a couple weeks. He was cross-checked by Penguins defenseman Samuel Girard. Hagens has 12 points in 17 games this season. Mikey Eyssimont was called up and scored a goal in his first game.

3. Minnesota Wild (+1)

Kirill Kaprizov remains on a tear with a league-best 16 goals. The Wild are expected to get back defenseman Brock Faber soon. He had surgery for a fractured skull when he was hit in the head by a puck in preseason.

2. Edmonton Oilers (0)

McDavid has extended his season-opening assist streak to 18 games, an NHL record. The league's leading scorer has more assists (37) than the No. 2 scorer (teammate Leon Draisaitl (34) has points. McDavid needs five more games to tie Wayne Gretzky's record assist streak.

1. Carolina Hurricanes (0)

The league-leading Hurricanes have won six of their last seven games as they head to Helinski, Finland, for two games against the Kraken. Leading scorer Sebastian Aho is from Finland, along with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Juuso Valimaki.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL power rankings: Blackhawks, Sharks call players-only meetings

Martin Necas makes clear statement on what drove Avalanche past Red Wings. [Heavy]

Landon Maloney takes toughness, grit and determination from the ice to battle against cancer, 14-year-old Avalanche fan diagnosed with osteosarcoma. [Colorado Avalanche]

Former Avalanche players are making their old team pay this season, piling up points, stealing wins and delivering a few painful reminders that familiarity can be a problem. [The Hockey News]

Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor keeps memories of late father close, misses their postgame talks. [Toronto Star]

Why has NHL attendance dropped so dramatically? [Oilers Nation]

It is long past time that the NHL protected its stars better than its referees. [Edmonton Journal]

Multiple teams exploring trade with Sabres for D Bryam. [TSN]

Capitals’ Wilson won’t face supplemental discipline for hit on Vilmanis. [Sportsnet]

Top goalie Linus Ullmark is ready to return to Senators net. [Ottawa Citizen]

Calgary Flames defenceman Kevin Bahl out for the rest of the season. Bahl suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon while warming up for Friday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks. [Calgary Herald]

Norway says it has been bumped by the IIHF to allow Russia to compete at world juniors in Canada. [CBC]

‘Hockey is for everyone’: Ottawa hosts first-ever Ontario Cup for blind hockey. [CTV News]

Inside the origin story of Flames goalie Devin Cooley, most interesting man in hockey. [Toronto Sun]

Darcy Kuemper unveils Hockey Fights Cancer mask, to be worn throughout all remaining November games. [NHL]

Norway say they’ve been pulled for Russia at World Juniors, but Canada still saying ‘no way’. Prime Minister Mark Carney says Russian hockey players won’t be issued visas for next month’s World Juniors in Alberta. [The Province]

The Vancouver Canucks (3-15-1) return from a two-game road trip on Monday to battle the Philadelphia Flyers (4-10-5). Vancouver will be looking to snap their five-game losing streak while the Flyers have fallen in three straight. Last season, these two teams matched up twice, with Philadelphia picking up wins in both meetings. 

Monday will be a battle of the bottom two teams in each conference. The Flyers have the worst points percentage in the East at .342, while the Canucks rank last in the NHL at .184. It will be interesting to see how much energy Philadelphia has on Monday, as they did lose in overtime on Sunday night to the Calgary Flames. 

One thing to watch from Vancouver's side is the effort and compete level throughout the night. After being called out by Manny Malhotra on Thursday, the Canucks looked more engaged on Saturday despite the loss. Even if the results don't necessarily matter this season, Vancouver still needs to keep effort and compete levels high all year. 

Players To Watch:

Center Elias Pettersson

Elias Pettersson continues to prove the doubters wrong. The 27-year-old leads the Canucks with 19 points in 19 games and is making an impact at both ends of the ice. Pettersson's performance on Monday will be something to watch, as he should be motivated to beat his former Head Coach, Rick Tocchet. 

Matvei Michkov 

Matvei Michkov has the potential to be a star in the NHL. The 21-year-old has eclipsed the 50-point mark in each of his first two seasons and is on pace for 57 points this year. Vancouver will need to be careful when Michkov is on the ice, as he can be a game-breaker. 

Vancouver Canucks (3–14–1): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 4–15–19

Brock Boeser: 7–9–16

Jonathan Lekkerimäki: 6–8–14

Filip Hronek: 1–12–13

Jake DeBrusk: 5-5-10

Goaltenders: 

Leevi Meriläinen: 2–7–1

Kevin Lankinen: 1–8–0

Edmonton Oilers (11-3-3)

Points: 

Trevor Zegras: 4-10-14

Matvei Michkov: 10-3-13

Jamie Drysdale: 1-8-9

Christian Dvorak: 3-5-8

Porter Martone: 3-5-8

Goaltenders: 

Dan Vladař: 3-4-3

Joseph Woll: 1-6-2

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:30 pm PCT

Venue: Rogers Arena

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: KiSS West Coast 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

The Manny Malhotra Effect: Five Abbotsford Canucks Graduates Making Their Mark In Vancouver

Canucks Prospect Potentially Denied Opportunity To Participate In The 2027 World Juniors

Canucks Put Forth Strong Effort But Fall 4-2 To The Oilers

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Throughout the entire early portion of the 2026-27 season, the Philadelphia Flyers have done what really bad teams do: find ways to lose games. In Sunday night's 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames, the Flyers did so in improbable fashion... again.

Much like their recent games against New York and Minnesota, the Flyers, on the whole, probably played good enough to win. But they didn't, instead spotting their opponents cheap goals and making unsightly mental mistakes along the way.

That trend continued on Sunday night, when they blew 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 leads en route to the 4-3 loss to the Flames.

Just under halfway through the third period, old friend Joel Farabee scored a short-handed goal in the dying seconds of a Flyers power play, tying the game at 3-3. The Flyers' power play, which went 1-for-3 on the night, was actually quite poor.

Owen Tippett's second-period turnaround shot was released at sonic speed to catch Flames goalie Devin Cooley off guard through some traffic, but it was an otherwise horrific showing from the man advantage.

The fascinating part is that Tippett's goal gave the Flyers a 3-2 lead, and then his hospital pass to Oliver Bonk on the power play allowed Farabee to go down and beat Dan Vladar on a breakaway to erase the lead for good.

Special teams can swing the momentum one way or another, and it wound up sinking the Flyers in the end.

Earth to veterans?

For Tippett, and many other Flyers, this was a night to forget. Tippett, despite scoring a goal, finished the night with a -4 rating... as in he was on the ice for every Flames goal.

On the Flames' first of the night, from Zayne Parekh, Tippett and linemate Trevor Zegras were easily bypassed in the defensive zone, with Calgary's stud young defenseman skating through defenders with absolutely no fear.

Neither Tippett nor Zegras made a play on Parekh, and the skillful defender placed an excellent shot past Vladar to tie the game at 1-1.

On Zach Whitecloud's goal to make it 2-2, Tippett was beaten on the wall by a pinching Jake Middleton, who was able to cancel Jamie Drysdale's attempt to rim the puck to safety out of the defensive zone.

The third was the pass to Bonk, and the fourth, the overtime winner, came when Tippett took a long-range shot from the blue line, with Cam York and Christian Dvorak converging on Cooley.

Cooley made the save easily, and Dvorak bowled over York, leading to a 3-on-1 for some of the Flames' most talented players: Matvei Gridin, Simon Nemec, and Matt Coronato.

Coronato buried Gridin's feed with Tippett back defending, and that was it. 4-3 final.

The bottom line is, on each goal, there was a comedy of errors.

Flyers Heavy Contingent Watches Canadiens Game as NHL Trade Season ApproachesAt an important crossroads, the Philadelphia Flyers continue their scouting around the NHL, with an apparent focus on the Montreal Canadiens as NHL trade season approaches.

Simon Benoit picked up Parekh way too late, while Tippett and Zegras stood idle. Middleton completely erased a simple D-zone breakout. The Flyers still have no idea how to enter the zone on a power play.

And the worst of all, shooting for rebounds and deflections in a 3-on-3 setting, with a defenseman like York crashing the net. If you remember, it was York who tried to drive to the net and lost the puck in that overtime to Columbus a few weeks back, too.

York, Tippett, Zegras, Dvorak, and Benoit are all experienced players who should know better.

Overall, it doesn't help that the Flyers, as a team, have no backbone or killer instinct to go out there and bury their opponents.

Of course, head coach Rick Tocchet bears the majority of that responsibility, but as an athlete and a competitor, some of that has to come within, and the Flyers clearly don't have it.

This is a deeply, deeply flawed hockey team, from top to bottom, on and off the ice, and a magical, seamless fix isn't immediately forthcoming.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

An overtime winner from, who else, Jack Hughes, sealed up a 5-4 comeback victory for the Devils over the Islanders on Saturday. [Devils NHL]

A fine for Logan Stanley out of this game:

Anthony Mantha will miss some time:

Timo Meier had a two-goal outing, Connor Hellebuyck got his first shutout and the Devils took a 4-0 win over the Leafs on Sunday. [Devils NHL]

Looks like Connor Hellebuyck won’t be playing in Winnipeg:

Some Sunday postgame talk on the decision:

“A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the New Jersey Devils and the Western Conference test that loomed. It was an eight-game stretch that included matchups against some of the West’s top teams. How the Devils fared would tell us something about them. Two weeks and eight games later, the Devils concluded this stretch with a 7-1-0 record after defeating the St. Louis Blues 5-4 in overtime. What did we learn about this Devils team? Quite a bit.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]

“Timo Meier has been ragged on for much of this season, largely in part to his five points across 16 games — but is it really deserved?” [Devils’ Advocates ($)]

A good offseason for Sunny:

Seems good!

Hockey Links

Which active player on each NHL team has the best shot at making it into the Hockey Hall of Fame? [The Athletic ($)]

A look at the 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class, which will be inducted on Monday: [Sportsnet]

Kevin Bahl will miss the rest of the season:

“With center Elias Pettersson back to producing at a point-per-game rate, here’s why the Vancouver Canucks should sell high on the 27-year-old now.” [The Hockey News]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Hughes has always been a great skater, which has typically helped him offensively. According to NHL Edge, his 30 bursts in the 20-22 miles per hour range are tied for the sixth-most among defensemen in the NHL. He is not only fast but also accelerates and joins plays in a hurry. 

This season, he’s leaning into his speed to impact the games defensively. The play in overtime against Schaefer is a prime example, as he chases down the Islanders defenseman and breaks up the scoring chance. It’s also become a common occurrence for Hughes, where he’ll close in on the skater with the puck and either break up a rush chance or a shot in the slot. 

WHAT AN ELECTRIC ENDING IN OT ON THE ISLAND ‼️ pic.twitter.com/2tWoQj5vvP

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 8, 2026

Moreover, it allows Hughes to play in the right position or, more accurately, circle back into position in the defensive zone. It’s something Keefe has preached to the defense throughout the season, and noticed during the hot streak. “I think that the guys away from the point of contact or away from the puck have worked to get back to position and have been more disciplined to be in position so that if something happens, if a puck gets through, somebody's there to clean it up,” Keefe noted after the Oct. 24 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. 

While Hughes is an aggressive defenseman, often joining the play on offense, he has the speed to make up for it on the defensive end, and it’s reflected in his 1.4 defensive point shares, which are second-most on the Devils behind only Brett Pesce.

Devils Notebook: Maple Leafs, Rise Of Luke Hughes, Fighting & More Every Sunday of the NHL season, Mike Fink empties the notebook with some thoughts, quick hits, and anything in between on the New Jersey Devils.

Speaking of Pesce, another factor is the improvements from Hughes. Young defensemen who are learning the position but have the skill offensively need a veteran on their pair to both cancel out their mistakes and teach them firsthand. Pesce has done that in the past, and it’s paying off this season. 

It’s also a reminder that Hughes needed time to learn the position. Defensemen typically need NHL action and games to develop. Hughes is 23 and closing in on 250 games (he’s nine away, following the game against the Maple Leafs). 

Devils Extra Layers Of Offense Speak Volumes To Their Upside The New Jersey Devils scored three unanswered goals to defeat the New York Islanders 5-4 in overtime, and it was a reminder that their offense can come at teams in waves and give them a high upside.

Along with the speed is the puck-handling ability, a quality that turns defense into offense. It’s something many defensemen were taught at the development level, where possession and the ability to move the puck out of the defensive zone and into the offensive zone are prominent in Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Schaefer’s play. The Devils' young defenseman has focused on his puck handling to help the defense and offense. 

“He's controlling the pace, he's controlling the puck, and he wants the puck on his tape,” Connor Hellebuyck stated after the game against the Blues when asked about Hughes and his defensive play. “Guys like that, they have a way of really pushing the other team back,” Hellebuyck added. When Hughes is on the ice, the opponent is on their heels and can’t forecheck the way they typically would, knowing the pressure the defenseman can generate the other way. 

Devils Won't Start Connor Hellebuyck In His First Game Back In Winnipeg On Nov. 10The New Jersey Devils announced on Sunday night that Connor Hellebuyck won't start the Tuesday night game against the Winnipeg Jets. The game was billed as his much-awaited return to Winnipeg.

What about his play on the offensive end? His career-high for goals came in his first full season in the NHL, scoring nine in 2023-24. Hughes has six goals and 11 points through 18 games. It’s a credit to his willingness to shoot and take on a more aggressive mindset in the offensive zone. 

Hughes won’t be in the Norris Trophy conversation. Likewise, he’s not one of the handful of game-changing generational defensemen in the NHL. However, the best teams in the NHL often have an elite number-one defenseman. The Devils look like they found their answer in Hughes. 

Spotlights are cast onto center ice as six hockey greats get enshrined for life.

The Hockey Hall of Fame officially welcomes a half-dozen new members behind its doors on Monday. Inductees will give speeches and careers will be relived on what should be a rather emotional night.

Read on for details about the TV coverage and the distinguished 2026 class, which spans generations and countries across the sport.

How to watch the 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame induction

Venue: Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum — Toronto

Date: Monday, Nov. 9

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV (U.S.): NHL Network

Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now)

Hall of Fame induction coverage

U.S. viewers can catch the ceremony live on NHL Network. The channel is carried by most pay TV providers, though some require a premium or sports package.

Canadian coverage lands on TSN, which is also a cable channel. Both NHL Network and TSN have IIHF Women’s World Championship matches on earlier in the day.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees

The 2026 class includes four NHL notables, a U.S. women’s national team fixture and an accomplished executive.

Player category

Patrice Bergeron was a Boston Bruin for all 19 of his NHL seasons. Born in Quebec, he’s a six-time recipient of the Frank J. Selke Trophy, which celebrates the league’s best defensive forward. He’s a rare member of the Triple Gold Club, with World Championship, Olympics and Stanley Cup triumphs.

Cindy Curley ascended from a small town in Massachusetts to the Providence College Friars to the international medal podium. She was the star of the first official Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in 1990, and her 23 points there is still a single-tournament record.

Carey Price was born in Vancouver and joined the Montreal Canadiens in 2007-08. The goalkeeper played all 15 of his NHL campaigns with the Habs, and he became the franchise’s second player to win four trophies in one season with his stellar 2014-15 performance.

PekkaRinne is the winningest Finnish-born goalie in NHL history. He was a Nashville Predators lifer across 15 seasons, and his No. 35 was the franchise’s first retired number. Rinne was also the tournament MVP of the 2014 World Championship.

Keith Tkachuk spent 18 seasons in the NHL. The Massachusetts native skated for the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers. He became the first American-born player to lead the league in goals with 52 in 1996-97. Tkachuk’s sons, Brady and Matthew, now play for the Florida Panthers and the U.S. national squad.

Builder category

Brian Burke was born in Rhode Island and played professionally in the American Hockey League. Later, he began an impressive executive career with the Vancouver Canucks, Hartford Whalers, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins. Burke also worked for the NHL and the Professional Women’s Hockey League, and he served as general manager of the U.S. Olympic men’s team.

New Hall of Famers in the New York Times archives

Patrice Bergeron

Bergeron is an unlikely superstar. The 27-year-old center isn’t a scorer or flashy playmaker. But the 2012 Selke Trophy winner as the top defensive forward excels in the face-off circle and comes up big at key moments. Bergeron scored the tying and winning goals as the Bruins overcame a 4-1 deficit in Game 7 of their quarterfinal series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bergeron has also rebounded from a litany of head injuries that could have devastated his career, making his a feel-good story. — Pat Pickens, 2013

Brian Burke

Brian Burke, the general manager of the United States men’s hockey team, stood in front of a large group of reporters after the team’s introductory news conference Sunday and faced the question he knew would come.

“Shoot,” he said. Then it came, the question about how he was coping with the death of his 21-year-old son, Brendan, in an auto accident Feb. 5.

“My family needs me to be strong right now, and my team needs me to be strong,” Burke said. “Part of leadership is dealing with personal adversity. There was never a thought about not coming.

“My son would have wanted me to be here,” Burke said, then his voice broke. — Jeff Z. Klein, 2010

Cindy Curley

As a little-league hockey player in Stow, Mass., Cindy Curley broke ranks with her teammates on the choice of an idol. Instead of Bobby Orr, then breaking records as a defenseman at Boston Garden, Curley chose Bobby Clarke, one of the bare-knuckle players who carried the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup.

Now 23 years old, Curley is a star center on the first women’s hockey team selected to represent the United States in international competition. But as she skated and passed her way to acclaim in recent days … there seemed more of Bobby Orr in her play than of the Broad Street Bullies of a decade ago. — John F. Burns, 1987

Carey Price

There is only one Carey Price, and he is theirs. The fans at Bell Centre thunder his name before the national anthem and during play and after games, even losses, paying homage to a goaltender compiling one of the finest seasons in years.

Price’s performance has rendered reality indistinguishable from hyperbole, spoiling this city and its fabled team, blessed at the position by the likes of Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy, as almost never before. — Ben Shpigel, 2015

Pekka Rinne

I happened to look down at the Nashville goal as the teams were preparing for the national anthems before Game 6 Monday night in whiteout-crazy Winnipeg.

There was Nashville Predators netminder Pekka Rinne leaning against the crossbar looking calmly around at the crowd. Not sure, but he seemed to have a kind of bemused grin just before the house lights went down. All he needed was a fedora and a cigarette and he could have been a character in a 1950s Humphrey Bogart flick.

Cool? Rinne was the epitome of cool. — Scott Burnside, 2018

Keith Tkachuk

In 1992, Team USA went 4-0-1 in the preliminary rounds, then won its quarterfinal before losing in the semifinals and in the bronze-medal game, finishing fourth. Tkachuk, who was 19 then, remembers not expecting to make the final cut and being delirious just to be an Olympian. In Tkachuk’s next two Olympic appearances, the United States finished tied for fifth in 1998 and won the silver medal four years ago.

“The first time, it was a dream come true,” he said. “But I think it gets better when you’ve been around it.” — Karen Crouse, 2006

Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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