DENVER — Jonathan Drouin enjoyed his two years with the Colorado Avalanche, but now he’s ready to face his old squad tonight a member of the New York Islanders at Ball Arena. 

Drouin, 30, became an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Islanders signed him to a two-year, $8 million contract on July 1. 

“I always loved my two years here,” Drouin told The Hockey News. “I had a great time, and it’s always cool to come back here.” 

Brock Nelson, for instance, played parts of 13 seasons with the Islanders and told reporters it was going to be weird facing his old team. However, for Drouin, it’s not as difficult as a transition as one would think because he’s used to playing in the opposing locker room at this venue. 

Familiar Territory for Drouin

When asked if it would be strange playing against the Avs: “No, I’ve been here before. The walk’s a little strange, you go a little further to go to the Avs locker room, but no, again, I enjoyed my time here; I had a blast, and it’s good to be back.” 

In two seasons with the Avalanche, Drouin posted 30 goals and 63 assists in 122 games. His final year in the burgundy and blue was plagued by injuries, but in his 43 games for Colorado last year, he was nearly a point-per-game player, tallying 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points. 

Drouin was a familiar face at the Avalanche morning skate, sporting an Islanders hoodie, coffee in hand, as he chatted with former teammates Parker Kelly and Devon Toews, along with a few staff members. The easy rapport made it evident there’s no lingering tension between Drouin and his former club. And once tonight’s game is in the books, he plans to spend more time catching up with everyone. 

Makar-Schaefer Comparisons 

After morning skate, Jared Bednar acknowledged the growing comparisons between two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar and 18-year-old Islanders prospect Matthew Schaefer. Drouin, when asked about the parallels, echoed Bednar’s assessment. 

“Yeah, the skating for sure,” he explained. “His skating is very impressive. Obviously Cale is on another level now; he’s been in the league for a little longer, but what Schae’s been doing in his first year as a rookie, has been very impressive. 

“As I said, the skating is very similar, they have that speed to get away from a lot of guys and create a rush.” 

Drouin has logged 624 NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Avalanche, and now the Islanders, producing 110 goals and 278 assists for 388 points over that span. 

Gametime 

The Avalanche (12-1-5) look to eliminate another long winning streak as they take on Patrick Roy’s Islanders (10-6-2), winners of their last four. Puck drop is at 7:11 p.m. local time.  

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The New York Islanders welcome Maxim Shabanov and Scott Mayfield back to the lineup against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night. 

New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) on XShabanov is in for Tsyplakov and Mayfield is in for Boqvist. Read more in the #Isles Day to Day ⬇️ https://t.co/140nUrgjaA

Shabanov, who is projected to skate on the fourth line in Maxim Tsyplakov’s spot, has not played since sustaining an upper-body injury against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 21.

He’s missed the last 12 games and has one goal and two assists for three points in six games.

Mayfield had missed the previous two games -- a 4-3 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights and a 3-2 overtime win against the Utah Mammoth -- as he and his wife welcomed their first child. 

Adam Boqvist played in his absence. Travis Mitchell, who was recalled from Bridgeport to serve as the seventh defenseman, was returned on Saturday. 

The University of Denver alum has three assists in 16 games this season, averaging 18:48 minutes per game. 

https://x.com/stefen_rosner/status/1990148453775655178?s=46&t=IRIFf8wmlEpx9YxSM0Kyjg

Puck drop is slated for 9 PM ET on MSGSN.

After Friday's overtime victory, the Nashville Predators couldn't carry over momentum into the final game of the NHL Global Series, falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-0, on Sunday at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. 

The Penguins scored three unanswered goals in the first period and outshot the Predators 11-2. Pittsburgh scored an empty net goal inside the final three minutes of the game. 

It was the Predators' first shutout loss of the season and Nashville's worst loss of the season, as it was the first time it had lost by four goals. 

Here are three takeaways from Nashville's loss in the finale of the NHL Global Series. 

Offense was stagnant

Outside of the obvious that the Predators didn't score any goals, their offense struggled to generate anything the entire game. 

It wasn't until the third period that the Predators were able to break double-figures in their single-period shot total, outshooting the Penguins 11-7. Nashville had just six high-danger scoring chances the entire night, recording three in the second period, three in the third period and none in the first.

Nashville's offense as a whole has slowed over the last few games, scoring just 5 times in the last 3. 

The power play, which looked like it was beginning to heat up, went 0-for-4 on the night. Nashville had three power plays in the second period alone and failed to convert on any of the opportunities. 

The Predators' power play is now 10-for-62 for a 16% execution rate. That is the ninth-worst power play in the NHL. They also struggled with puck possession, giving it away 20 times to the Penguins 10 turnovers. 

Nashville managed to keep a clean sheet, staying out of the box for the first time this season. 

Saros' struggles continue 

Despite being one of the league leaders in shots faced and saves made, Juuse Saros has struggled in November. 

In five games played, he has a 3.18 goals against average and an .880 save percentage. He was yanked to start the third period in Monday's 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers after allowing five goals on 12 shots. 

On Sunday, he allowed three goals on just 11 shots in the first period, but Nashville chose to keep him in the net. Saros ended the game making 18 saves on 22 shots for a .857 save percentage and a 3.03 goals against average. 

Backup goalie Justus Annunen has struggled even more so. He is 0-3-1 on the year with a 3.98 goals against average and a .833 save percentage. 

In October, Saros was praised for his efforts to keep the Predators in games and standing on his head nearly every night. His elite play has sparked trade rumors across the league, despite his large contract.

However, given how things have gone this season, if Saros is struggling, so is the rest of the team. 

Something needs to change 

In the offseason, many deemed that the Global Series was going to be a major checkpoint. It's about a month and a half into the regular season and the Predators have the week off after. 

Sitting a 6-10-4 and coming off two bad losses in their last three games, the Predators need to make some sort of change, whether it be leadership or on the roster, heading into this next quarter of the season. 

Filip Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly are carrying the offense, complemented by a surprise showing by Matthew Wood, who has 10 points in 12 games in his rookie year. Michael Bunting has been performing ahead of expectations as well, with 10 points in 19 games. 

Roman Josi can be thrown into that category as well before suffering an upper-body injury that has him on injured reserve. He has five points in eight games. 

Luke Evangelista and Erik Haula have the exact point total, but both had higher expectations coming into the season, especially Evangelista with the lengthy contract negotiations. 

Jonathan Marchessault has a low six points in 16 games and Steven Stamkos has a lower five points in 19 games. Brady Skjei has struggled from the start, as he has six points in 19 games and a plus/minus of -11. 

Spencer Stastney has been, arguably, the Predators' best defenseman, scoring 7 points in 19 games. Nick Blankenburg has been decent with six points in nine games. Significant offseason acquisitions Nick Perbix and Nic Hague have been underperforming, as both have just three points with a plus/minus under -3. 

Then there's the Andrew Brunette conversation. Pressure from the fandom continues to mount for the team to move on from the third-year head coach. 

This could be a big week for the Predators as they figure out where to go next, especially with matchups against the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers on the horizon.

Up next: Colorado Avalanche (12-1-5) at Nashville Predators (6-10-4) on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. CST  

By Jared Clinton, Features Writer

When the New York Rangers hired Mike Sullivan early this off-season, doing so mere days after he had departed the division-rival Pittsburgh Penguins, some viewed it as a chance to change the culture in The Big Apple.

Some saw it as a statement. The Blueshirts have Stanley Cup aspirations, and so they brought aboard a serial winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion. Others, however, saw it as a necessity. After all, something had to change after last year’s disappointing performance.

Will Cuylle saw some of those things, too. But he also saw a coach who will have high expectations for the Rangers and one who will demand a hardworking culture. And perhaps most importantly, what Cuylle saw was an opportunity.

After a head-turning sophomore season – one in which he recorded the first 20-goal campaign of his career and registered 45 points, more than double his rookie total – Cuylle recognized that a fresh face meant a blank slate. And what Cuylle has learned in his short time in the NHL, which is about to see him play under his third coach in fewer than 200 big-league games, is that a new voice behind the bench means everyone starts from scratch.

“Whenever there’s more opportunity, you always want to try to make the most of it,” Cuylle said. “Some older players were traded away, so I think there’s obviously big voids that need to be filled. Someone’s gotta step it up and pass the torch off and make sure you try to fill that gap.”

Cuylle might just be the Ranger who is in the best position to fill one of the most significant gaps in the lineup, too. Because after a season during which there was much speculation, spurred on in no small part by New York’s struggles, career-Ranger Chris Kreider was shipped to the Anaheim Ducks for spare parts over the summer. When it comes to replacing Kreider as a heart-and-soul leader for the Rangers, that will undoubtedly take time. But filling his spot in the lineup? Well, perhaps Cuylle can do that in short order.

THERE’S OBVIOUSLY BIG VOIDS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED.SOMEONE’S GOTTA STEP IT UP AND TRY TO FILL THAT GAP– Will Cuylle

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What should give the Rangers faith that Cuylle can be the answer to the Kreider-shaped hole in the lineup is that both share a willingness to get to the tough areas, not to mention similar frames with which to create some net-front havoc. Last season, Cuylle was at his most effective when mixing it up just outside the blue paint: per the NHL’s advanced-stat tracking, 60 of his 152 shots on goal came from high-danger areas, and he scored 14 of his 20 tallies from in tight.

Where that could be of most benefit to the Rangers – and where Cuylle could thus be the greatest benefactor of Kreider’s departure – is on the power play. Last season, Cuylle ate around the edges with the man advantage, skating less than one-third of the power-play minutes that Kreider did. And if Cuylle’s performance in his limited ice time under former Rangers coach Peter Laviolette is any indication, greater minutes, including more with the man advantage, will lead to a breakout campaign.

The evidence of that can be found in Cuylle’s even-strength production. While he might not have been in the upper echelon of NHL scorers, he was in the very next tier. Per 60 minutes at five-on-five last season, he was tied for 46th in point production among nearly 300 skaters who played at least 1,000 minutes. His 2.1 points per hour put him ahead of the likes of William Nylander, Mark Scheifele, Jake Guentzel and rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini.

I WANT TO KEEP BUILDING MY GAME OVERALL: 200-FOOT GAME, DOING ALL THE THINGS RIGHT AND CONTINUING TO WORK HARD– Will Cuylle

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Cuylle made the most of his minutes, including at the World Championship. His average ice time at the tournament was sub-10 minutes, but that didn’t stop him from potting two goals and four points in eight games, good enough for seventh in scoring for Canada.

The expectation, of course, won’t be for Cuylle to double his production the moment he slots into a top-six role. Nuance is necessary. Playing up the lineup means facing tougher competition on a shift-by-shift basis, and greater minutes don’t guarantee greater production.

But when Cuylle is doing his job, it manifests as more than points on the board. He can be a forechecking terror and an absolute wrecking ball in all three zones. Look no further than his 301 hits last season, which led the Rangers and tied him for third in the NHL.

And while he’d love to take a monster step forward, his goal is incremental growth.

“You have to take advantage of that when you can,” Cuylle said. “From last year to this year, I want to keep building my game overall: 200-foot game, making sure I’m doing all the things right and continuing to work hard, play hard and try to help the team as much as I can.”

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This is an excerpt of a feature that appeared in The Hockey News' Goalie Issue 2025. We profile NHLers Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Karel Vejmelka, and we look at the art of puckhandling. Also, we say goodbye to three goaltending greats in Ken Dryden, Bernie Parent and Ed Giacomin.

Elsewhere in the issue, we count down the NHL's best crease duos, look at the future of goaltending for every NHL organization, explore what rule changes the NHL could "borrow" from other leagues and feature some of the best keepers from leagues across North America and the world.

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

Ahead of today's games against the New York Islanders, Taylor Makar has been called up from the Colorado Eagles once again.

Makar was first called up this season before the San Jose Sharks game on Nov.1, where he made his season debut. He was called up again before the Buffalo Sabres game not too long ago, on Nov. 13. So far, he averages just over six minutes of ice time, and despite not registering his first point of the season, he has had many chances and played well in a bottom-six role.

We have recalled Taylor Makar from the Colorado Eagles. pic.twitter.com/NY0j1MBgJW

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 16, 2025

This call-up still signifies the forward injuries the Avalanche have been facing. With Logan O’Connor and Joel Kiviranta still out, players like Zakhar Bardokov and Gavin Brindley have stepped up in their absence. Now, with Valeri Nichushkin's recent injury, it's Makar’s time to step in and show the organization his continued growth in finding a full-time spot in the lineup.

Valeri Nichushkin to Miss Time With Avalanche — How Long Is Still a Question Valeri Nichushkin was injured against the Anaheim Ducks early in the third period; we got some updates from head coach Jared Bednar, but his timeline is up in the air

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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.

What Are the Avalanche’s Plans for Ilya Nabokov After Wedgewood's Extension?With Scott Wedgewood extended for another year, what's the plan for top rookie Ilya Nabokov?

News & Notes

Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier Faces Backlash For Boarding Penalty Against CanucksOlivier's hit sparks fan fury and debate. Did the Blue Jackets forward cross the line, or is the fanbase overreacting to a penalty?

Today, the NHL never announced any discipline for the hit. It was a very questionable hit and he was able to avoid a suspension, which is huge.

Unfortunately, it seems that some of the Blue Jackets fanbase has now turned on him. 

Some fans have taken to social media to call him a "bum" and insinuate that he would be nothing but a goon if he it wasn't for his point total last season. 

Columbus Blue Jackets' Injury Report - Week 5 Despite a relatively healthy season, three key players remain sidelined, impacting team strategy. Erik Gudbranson's return remains uncertain.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been lucky with injuries this season. If we compare it to last season, they had a plethora of players on the shelf. However, this season, they've only been bitten a few times and have navigated it fairly well.

Blue Jackets’ Olivier Destroys Oilers’ Frederic In Heavyweight ScrapOlivier unleashes a first-period onslaught, dominating Frederic in a lopsided heavyweight tilt that could define "fight of the year."

Last night, in the Columbus Blue Jackets game against the Edmonton Oilers, Mathieu Olivier dropped the gloves with Trent Frederic and absolutely destroyed him.

The fight came very early in the first period on Prime Monday Night Hockey. Olivier and Frederic squared up, and it may go down as one of the biggest regrets of Frederic’s career.

Former Blue Jackets Forward Inks Two-Year Deal With New ClubBrindley's impressive NHL debut with the Avalanche earns him a new two-year contract, solidifying his place in their lineup.

Former Columbus Blue Jackets' forward Gavin Brindley signed a two-year contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $875,000.

Brindley, 21, has played 15 games this season and scored three goals and two assists for five points. He did score his first NHL goal with his new club, earlier this season.

Insider Believes Jenner Could Be Big Trade Chip At 2026 NHL Trade DeadlineVeteran leadership and a team-first attitude make Boone Jenner a prime target for Stanley Cup contenders seeking an edge at the 2026 trade deadline.

According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, Columbus Blue Jackets' captain Boone Jenner could be a sought-after target this season.  

Cleveland Monsters Sign Former Ohio State Forward Tate Singleton To PTOThe Cleveland Monsters have announced the signing of forward Tate Singleton to a PTO today. Tate was invited to the Monsters 2025 Training Camp.

The Cleveland Monsters have announced the signing of forward Tate Singleton to a PTO today. Tate was invited to the Monsters 2025 Training Camp.

The undrafted free agent from West Lebanon, NH, played four years with Ohio State, and played in 139 games for the Buckeyes. 

From THN's Archive: No Excuse For Euro Exclusion While the hiring of a Finnish GM is great news, it’s absurd the NHL’s Old Boys Club took this long to let a European in

If the NHL’s GM community were representative of the league’s rosters, Kelalainen’s achievement would barely have raised a ripple. Instead, the hiring sticks out precisely because of hockey’s pace of progress, which makes tree ring growth look like time-lapse photography. That’s the only conclusion you can draw, especially when you bear in mind the league has had only two European coaches in its modern history (Russian Johnny Gottselig was the first from 1944-48, when he was bench boss of the Chicago Black Hawks). Indeed, that it has been almost 13 years since Finn Alpo Suhonen stepped behind the bench of the Hawks and late Czech legend Ivan Hlinka coached the Pittsburgh Penguins – and that neither lasted much more than a season – is another indictment of the NHL’s slow-to-change culture.

Game Previews & Recaps

Blue Jackets Lose Third Straight In Vancouver<b>Kirill Marchenko</b>(7,8) and&nbsp;<b>Dmitri Voronkov</b>(6) scored the goals for Columbus, while Elvis Merzlikins 21 of 25 Vancouver shots in the loss.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kirill Marchenko(7,8) and Dmitri Voronkov(6) scored the goals for Columbus, while Elvis Merzlikins 21 of 25 Vancouver shots in the loss.  

This wasn't the best outing for Merzlikins, who gave up the game-winner with five minutes left. The goal was one he will definitely want back. 

Columbus Blue Jackets (14 pts) vs. Edmonton Oilers (16 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 27-36-3-3 all-time, and 9-23-0-2 on the road vs. Edmonton.

Columbus is 27-36-3-3 all-time, and 9-23-0-2 on the road vs. Edmonton.

Blue Jackets Blow Another Late Lead; McDavid Too Much For Columbus<b>Ivan Provorov</b>(3), <b>Sean Monahan</b>(2), <b>Boone Jenner(</b>3), and <b>Adam Fantilli(</b>3) provided the offense, and Jet Greaves stopped 19 of 24 Oilers shots in a 5-4 OT loss.&nbsp;

Ivan Provorov(3), Sean Monahan(2), Boone Jenner(3), and Adam Fantilli(3) provided the offense, and Jet Greaves stopped 19 of 24 Oilers shots in a 5-4 OT loss. 

Connor McDavid was too much for Columbus on Monday night. 

Columbus Blue Jackets (15 pts) vs. Seattle Kraken (18 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 3-5 all-time, and 2-2 on the road vs. Seattle.

Columbus is 3-5 all-time, and 2-2 on the road vs. Seattle.

Blue Jackets Snap Four-Game Skid; Lose Boone Jenner To InjuryThe Blue Jackets snapped a four-game losing streak against the Seattle Kraken.

FanDuel Sports Jody Shelley mentioned on the broadcast that Captain Boone Jenner left the bench around four minutes into the period. He did so after taking a single shift early in the period. Blue Jackets PR announced that Boone Jenner had suffered an upper-body injury and was questionable to return to the game.

Columbus Blue Jackets (17 pts) vs. Edmonton Oilers (20 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 27-37-3-3 all-time, and 18-13-3-1 at home vs. Edmonton.

Columbus is 27-37-3-3 all-time, and 18-13-3-1 at home vs. Edmonton.

Olivier Scores Twice As Jackets Survive Late Edmonton Push<b>Mathieu Olivier</b>(2,3), <b>Charlie Coyle</b>(3), <b>Denton Mateychuk</b>(4), and <b>Adam Fantilli</b>(5) powered the Blue Jackets' offense, and Jet Greaves stood as tall as he could to beat the ultra-powered Oilers 5-4 on Thursday night.&nbsp;Greaves stopped 25 of 29 Edmonton shots in the win. It's the Jackets 5th straight win against Edmonton in Columbus.&nbsp;

Mathieu Olivier(2,3), Charlie Coyle(3), Denton Mateychuk(4), and Adam Fantilli(5) powered the Blue Jackets' offense, and Jet Greaves stood as tall as he could to beat the ultra-powered Oilers 5-4 on Thursday night. Greaves stopped 25 of 29 Edmonton shots in the win. It's the Jackets 5th straight win against Edmonton in Columbus.   

Cannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Edmonton OilersBlue Jackets exact revenge on Oilers, snatching a hard-fought 5-4 victory. Hear what players and coaches said after the crucial win.

Dean Evason: Head Coach

• Felt the team almost let the game go
• Proud of his team to come out with the win against a team with pretty special players
• Felt his team did a lot of good things
• Felt Coyle's line was the best line for his club
• Praised Fantilli for his improvement on the attention to detail
• They've asked Fantilli to play more sound defensively, rather than focusing on scoring goals

Columbus Blue Jackets (19 pts) vs. New York Rangers (20 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 24-24-1-6 all-time, and 13-16-0-1 at home vs. New York.

Columbus is 24-24-1-6 all-time, and 13-16-0-1 at home vs. New York.

Jackets Lose To Rangers In Shootout; Extend Points Streak To Four Games<b>Dmitri Voronkov</b>(7) scored the only goal of the game for the Blue Jackets, and Jet Greaves stopped 31 of 32 New York shots on Saturday night in a shootout loss to the Rangers.&nbsp;

Dmitri Voronkov(7) scored the only goal of the game for the Blue Jackets, and Jet Greaves stopped 31 of 32 New York shots on Saturday night in a shootout loss to the Rangers. 

It was a tight-checking, back-and-forth game that could've gone either way, but per the norm, the New York Rangers came out on top on the road. 

Up Next: They then take on the Montreal Canadiens in Columbus on Monday. 

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The Philadelphia Flyers walked into Dallas on the second leg of a back-to-back, in a building they rarely look comfortable in, and got a very clear reminder of why the Stars are one of the league’s most complete teams.

The 5–1 loss wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t subtle — Dallas controlled the game early, dictated pace, and never allowed Philadelphia to find the kind of rhythm that carried them through St. Louis the night before.

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1. The Game Was Tilted from the Start — and the Flyers Never Recovered Their Feet

This wasn’t a slow bleed; Dallas hit the gas immediately. Their pace in transition caused problems right away, and the Flyers’ legs simply weren’t at the same level after a grueling 6–5 shootout win against the Blues the night before.

When the Stars get rolling downhill, they’re one of the league’s toughest teams to disrupt. Their breakouts are crisp, their neutral-zone structure is airtight, and their forwards arrive in layers. Against a well-oiled Stars team, the Flyers spent most of the first 40 minutes reacting instead of initiating.

NHL (@NHL) on XThat's a natty hatty for Jason Robertson! 🧢 He now has six goals and nine points in his last three games!

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2. Meaningful Offense Was Almost Impossible to Come By

You can usually tell how a Flyers game is going based on how often they generate second opportunities or extended o-zone shifts. This one had almost none of either. Dallas boxed out decisively, won middle-ice battles, and kept the Flyers to the perimeter.

Philadelphia ended up with shot attempts, but not enough that carried intent. Breakouts were choppy. Entries were rushed. And once inside the zone, Dallas immediately smothered passing options, turning potential scoring sequences into one-and-done possessions.

Christian Dvorak’s third-period goal — the Flyers’ only one — was less a spark and more a consolation after the Stars had already built what proved to be an insurmountable lead.

Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) on XStay hot, 2️⃣ 2️⃣! #PHIvsDAL | #LetsGoFlyers

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3. Dallas Is Simply Not the Team You Want to See on Fatigue Night

The Stars are a matchup nightmare even when you're rested. They roll three legitimately dangerous lines, their defense is enormous and mobile, and Jake Oettinger doesn’t usually give much back when he’s dialed in.

The Flyers arrived in Dallas having emptied the tank the previous night. The Stars looked like a team waiting for them.

Philadelphia isn’t alone in this — plenty of teams get thumped here — but it does illuminate how thin the margin for error becomes against elite opponents when the schedule isn’t in your favor.

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4. Perspective Matters: This Loss Doesn’t Erase the Progress of the Road Trip

A loss like this looks ugly on paper, but the larger picture matters. This was just the seventh road game the Flyers have had this season, and while they haven't been perfect away from home, they've found some footing in some tough road barns.

They collected wins in Montreal and Nashville on their previous road trip, then clawed out an exhausting shootout win in St. Louis. Facing Dallas less than 24 hours later was always going to be unforgiving.

The Flyers have been trending upward — structurally, competitively, and in their ability to stay in games late. None of that changes because Dallas did what an elite team does to a tired opponent.

The takeaway isn’t that the Flyers collapsed. It’s that they walked into a brutal situational matchup and got the expected result.

Not every loss needs to be a narrative shift, and this one certainly isn’t. It was a rough night against a powerhouse — nothing more, nothing less. 

In our pre-season predictions, the Colorado Avalanche were this writer’s pick to win the Central Division and be a frontrunner to win the Stanley Cup. That’s hardly a stretch, given how deep and talented the Avalanche were on paper.

But not even the Avs’ most fervent advocates believed they’d be as dominant as they’ve looked through the first 20 percent of this season. 

Indeed, Colorado has posted a 12-1-5 record thus far this season. That’s right, the Avalanche have lost just once in regulation time this year. That is astonishing, particularly when you consider the teams they’ve beaten this season.

To wit: the Avs are currently on a five-game win streak, with victories over the Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, and Buffalo Sabres. In addition, Colorado has beaten the Los Angeles Kings, Utah Mammoth, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights. Out of those teams, only the Canucks and Sabres are subpar teams this year.

The truly impressive thing to note about the Avalanche is that they’re dominating at both ends of the ice. The Avs have the NHL’s best offense, averaging a whopping 4.11 goals-for per game. They also have the league’s best defense, averaging just 2.44 goals-against per game. So it’s no wonder Colorado is the NHL’s top team right now.

NHL Power Rankings: Avalanche Thrive As Leafs, Jackets And More FallOne week made a big difference in the NHL power rankings, with injuries continuing to be a big story and lengthy winning and losing streaks standing out.

That said, another impressive element in the Avalanche’s stunning start is the fact that starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood didn’t play a game (due to injury) until Nov. 1. Since Blackwood has returned to action, he’s posted subpar individual numbers, including an .870 save percentage and 3.28 goals-against average. 

In Blackwood’s stead, the Avalanche have leaned heavily on backup Scott Wedgewood, and he’s been terrific, putting up a 10-1-2 record, a 2.26 GAA and a .913 SP. Avs GM Chris MacFarland has rewarded Wedgewood with a one-year contract extension, which provides Wedgewood with job security through the 2026-27 campaign. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has taken a tough-love approach when it comes to giving Blackwood the lion’s share of the work, and you can’t blame Bednar for it. He’s riding the hot hand, and that raises the competitive bar for both Blackwood and Wedgewood.

Now, it hasn’t been all sunshine and lollipops in Denver. The Avalanche did stumble through a four-game losing streak at the end of October. But even then, the Avs took two of those four games to overtime, and a third game to the shootout, which we know is a crapshoot. And since that stretch, Colorado has gone 7-0-1 to underscore their status as the NHL’s gold standard team. 

All things considered, if you’re an Avalanche fan, you couldn’t be happier with the way this team has come out of the gate. And considering that Colorado’s next five games come against the New York Islanders, New York Rangers,Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, the Avs may go through the first 25 games of this season with only one regulation loss. And that is absolutely incredible. 

Expectations on the Avalanche were sky-high entering this season, and the Avs have more than lived up to those expectations. So long as the Avalanche stay healthy, as far as we’re concerned, all roads to the Cup go through Colorado this season.

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ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild (8-7-4) is 5-1-1 in its last seven games. The Wild are currently tied for the most points in the NHL since Nov. 1. Goaltending has been a big reason why. Jesper Wallstedt is 3-0-0 in that span and Filip Gustavsson is 2-1-1.

“Yeah, you need strong goaltending to win and we obviously have a good tandem," Wild head coach John Hynes said on the goaltending. "I think both guys are competing and that’s what you want when you have two guys that can play and they compete for the net. That’s usually what drives a lot of things is if you have competition.”

Wallstedt, 23, picked up another shutout on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks after he stopped all 28 shots he faced. He has posted shutouts in back-to-back starts and leads the NHL in that category.

In his last three starts, Wallstedt is 3-0-0 with a 0.67 goals-against average and a .978 save percentage.

"I just think it's a player that's gone through adversity, which you have to have. When you go through some tough times, whether it be a team early in the year, when it's hard and it doesn’t go as what you want it, or as individual players, can you gain the lessons out of that? And then can you take the actions to get better? And, you know, for Wally, it was a tough season for him for numerous reasons, but it made him stronger," Hynes said on Wallstedt from last year to now.

"He took the lessons out of it. He committed himself this summer. And there's a difference in the way that he practices and the way that he conducts himself away from the rink. They're little things that make a big difference. So that's how I see it. Sometimes young guys go through struggles, and it’s OK as long as you learn the lessons and take the right actions to come out the other side."

'All The People That Have Doubted Me, This Felt Really Good': Jesper Wallstedt Opens The Season Proving Haters Wrong<b>ST. PAUL, Minn -</b> It has been one heck of a journey for goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. It is just one game, but there is no doubt Wallstedt is riding high after the win on Monday.

Per NHL Stats, Wallstedt became the first rookie in franchise history with consecutive shutouts as well as the youngest Wild goaltender to achieve the feat, besting the previous mark set by 24-year-old Darcy Kuemper (2 GP from Oct. 9-11, 2014).

Niklas Backstrom did it in his "rookie year," but he technically wasn't a rookie due to being 28 during that season.

Wallstedt has still not lost in regulation this year for Minnesota. He improved to 4-0-2 after the 2-0 win over Anaheim. He has a 2.10 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in six starts this season.

Gustavsson, 27, doesn't nessicarly have the best numbers on the season but has been playing great recently. He is 2-1-1 in the Wild's last seven games with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.

Since Nov 1, the Wild rank second in goals-against average (1.69) and third in save percentage (.939).

“Obviously, keeping goals low is a team result," Wallstedt said after his second consecutive shutout. "It’s something we’re doing as a team. If we can limit scoring chances and blocking shots and taking away sticks and boxing out, obviously my record will look good. But at the end of the day, it’s a team result. We’re doing it all together.”

Nonetheless, this had to feel good for Wallstedt. Last year he went 9-14-5 with a 3.59 goals-against average and a .879 save percentage in 27 AHL games. It was a hard season for him.

In two NHL games last year, Wallstedt went 0-2-0 with a 4.09 goals-against average and a .843 save percentage. 

Wild fans and people were writing the so called "goaltender of the future" off. But the Wild continued to believe in him and signed him to a two-year contract extension worth $2.2 million for a goaltender who had only played in five career NHL games.

Safe to say so far that decision by the Wild was a great one.

“It feels really good. It’s obviously a big difference from what I experienced last year and changes the whole mood and my whole lifestyle outside of hockey as well," Wallstedt said on the how this year has been for him personally. "It’s so much more fun right now going to work than it was 12 months ago. With that said, like I’ve said, it’s not just me. It’s about this team as well.”

The 6-foot-3 goaltender took it upon himself to get in better shape this season. You could see it as training camp opened. Wallstedt just looked different on and off the ice. It should not come as a shock as to why he has played so good to start the season.

“He’s physically fit. He’s more fit than he was last year. I think he’s mentally tougher than he was last year," Hynes said on Wallstedt. "His practice habits are good so when you combine all those things, you do get yourself ready whether you play lots of games in a row where there’s a little bit of time in between starts that when you do start, you are ready and he’s done a nice job of that.”

Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) on XJESPER WALLSTEDT SHUTS THE DOOR AGAIN

You need both goalies all season long. It is good to see Wallstedt finding his grove and playing such good hockey right now.

The Wild also committed to Gustavsson long-term. Right before the season they extended him to a five-year contract worth $34 million ($6.8m AAV).

Could we have some goaltending controversy?

“I’ll take that any day of the week," Hynes said postgame.

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With Jack Hughes sidelined for the next several weeks after undergoing surgery on his finger, the New Jersey Devilscontinued their road trip, facing the Washington Capitals on Saturday evening at Capital One Arena. 

Arseny Gritsyuk and Luke Hughes scored for the Devils in regulation, while Jesper Bratt and Simon Nemec lit the lamp in the shootout for a 3-2 victory. Goaltender Jake Allen made 31 saves on 33 shots. 

"Good teams find a way and we’ve got to hold the fort for (Jack Hughes)," Hischier told NJD.TV. "That is what we are trying to do here, and I think everybody bought in and that is why we got a grindy win, that is important for morale."

Gritsyuk scored his first road goal at the 5:05 mark of the first period. With the Devils on the man advantage, the 24-year-old was positioned on the flank and fired the puck with a slap shot that flew past Capitals' goaltender Logan Thompson.

Hughes extended New Jersey's lead to 2-0 with two minutes remaining in the period. It was his first goal of the season and second point as he earned the primary assist on Gritsyuk's goal. 

Allen lost his stick one minute into the third period as the Capitals had the Devils hemmed in the defensive zone. Connor McMichael skated in front of New Jersey's net and popped the puck in to bring Washington within one goal. 

With 11 minutes remaining in regulation, Alexander Ovechkin tied the game with his fifth goal of the season and 902nd of his career. Hughes was unable to tie up the Russian's stick, leading to the game-tying goal. 

After a lively overtime, where the Devils had a 7-2 shot advantage over the Capitals, a shootout was needed to declare a winner. 

Dylan Strome was the only Capital player to beat Allen, while Bratt and Nemec scored for a 3-2 victory. Saturday marked the fifth consecutive game that New Jersey had to play extra minutes. 

"We have been dealing with injuries and adversity all season long, finding ways to cope" head coach Sheldon Keefe told NJD.TV. "Finding ways to earn points and stay alive in games, but the guys just played incredibly hard here today. They are well-deserving of the two points."

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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The Florida Panthers dropped a frustrating battle to their biggest rivals on Saturday night in Sunrise.

Florida struggled with their offense in a physical matchup, falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 at Amerant Bank Arena.

It was the first time in several games that the Panthers looked a bit out of sorts when compared to how they have generally been able to perform against their opponents.

In this case, the defeat stings just a little bit more because, you know, it’s Tampa.

Here are Saturday’s takeaways:

TROUBLE GETTING PUCKS ON NET

An area that we’ve seen the Panthers struggle from time to time is with getting shot attempts through to the net.

Some nights their opponents have been amazing at getting into the shooting lanes, other nights Florida just can’t seem to find the net with looks that get through.

Saturday felt like a steady mix.

Between Tampa Bay blocking a couple dozen shots and Florida missing with several handfuls of others, it wasn’t nearly as difficult of a night for Andrei Vasilevsky as it could or should have been.

“They did a real good job blocking shots,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “I think we had 37 (shot attempts) that never got to the net. That's a bit of a challenge.

FAILED TO WIN PUCK BATTLES

One of the ways Florida has become such a dominant force is in their physicality.

If you’re heading into the boards with a Panthers player in hopes of emerging with the puck, odds are the situation won’t go well for you.

That’s the norm, but that wasn’t the case on Saturday.

Credit to the Lightning, who know exactly what to expect out of their cross-state rival and were ready, willing and able to withstand what the Panthers threw at them.

“I didn’t like the number of pucks we came up with on contested pucks,” Maurice said. “That would be the place that we need to get better at.”

STRONG OUTING FROM PK UNIT

One area that Florida was excellent all-around on Saturday was their penalty kill.

This is nothing new, as the Cats’ PK has been humming along for the past several games.

Not since the first period in Los Angeles have the Panthers allowed a power play goal, a stretch that has now reached 13 consecutive penalty kills.

“I liked our penalty kill, that was the highlight of the game. I thought we did a real good job with that,” Maurice said. “It's no different than your power play; It's all confidence based. We went through a run of having a tough stretch on our kill, and it's been good for the last four or five games. Really aggressive, everybody moving together, getting sticks on pucks, winning face offs, some blocks, but some really good clears.”

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Photo caption: Apr 28, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) controls the puck against Tampa Bay Lightning center Gage Goncalves (93) during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Rich Storry-Imagn Images)

After a disappointing start to the NHL Global Series on Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins will look to rebound in the second and final game of the event against the Nashville Predators.

Pittsburgh lost the first of the contests in Stockholm, Sweden in overtime, 2-1, and they were well-aware that their effort in that game wasn't good enough. The Penguins are now 9-5-4 on the season, and - with one more loss, regulation or overtime - the team will technically fall below the .500 mark.

As of now, they are also holding onto one of the final three playoff slots in the Eastern Conference with 22 points - and there is a tie among the three teams in the Penguins, New York Islanders, and New York Rangers. The team may be in Sweden, but they know how important banking two points against one of the league's bottom teams is on Sunday.

The Penguins have now blown leads in five of their last six games, the latest of which occurred in the final minute and change of regulation on Friday against Nashville. They own a 1-3-2 record in their last six, and they are focused on getting back to shutting the door when they hold a lead. 

"When you lead going into the third period and late into the game like that, you've got to find ways to close it out," captain Sidney Crosby said. "And now, it's been a few times now that we've lost those leads. You've got to find a way to close out games."

Takeaways: Penguins' Lack Of Injury Depth Exposed In 2-1 Loss To Predators During First Game Of Global SeriesDespite all of the excitement and fanfare surrounding the start of the 2025-26 Global Series, Friday simply wasn't the night for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>.

Pittsburgh is still injury-depleted and have limited options to address their scoring depth while on another continent, but their production has dried up in recent games. They have only scored a total of four goals in the last three games, all of which have been losses.

Nashville did not have much going heading into the Global Series, either, as they had lost five consecutive games prior to Friday. With the initial weight lifted off Nashville's shoulders, the Penguins will look to regroup and steal three of four points on the trip, which would put them in a good position for their next stretch of schedule back in North America - where six out of their next seven opponents are currently outside the playoff picture. 

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

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As far as lineups, it seems that not much figures to change from Friday's game - at least, not based on Saturday's practice. The only change came on the bottom defensive pairing, which saw Connor Clifton take the place of Matt Dumba, who got the nod on Friday.

Line rushes did not take place, so it's unclear whether or not changes will occur on that front for Sunday's game. 

Here were the defensive pairings from Saturday's practice:

Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea - Kris Letang

Ryan Graves - Clifton

Dumba - Harrison Brunicke

Practice day in Stockholm for the @penguins - plenty of Pens fans in attendance to watch today 🇸🇪

No line rushes but d-pairings skated in these pairs:

5-58
28-65
27-75
24–45 pic.twitter.com/4DFm8jZcB4

— Josh Getzoff (@JG_PxP) November 15, 2025

If Brunicke is indeed a healthy scratch for Sunday's game, it will be the 19-year-old rookie's fifth healthy scratch in a row. That number is significant because it would mean that Brunicke becomes eligible for an AHL conditioning stint that can last a maximum of either five games or 14 days - and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) plays five games within the next 14 days. 

It will be a situation to keep an eye on for Penguins' fans.

Puck drop for Sunday's game is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

What Will The Penguins Do With Top Defensive Prospect Harrison Brunicke?On Thursday, it was confirmed by <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' head coach Dan Muse that 18-year-old center <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/penguins-top-prospect-ben-kindel-to-remain-in-pittsburgh">Ben Kindel will remain in the NHL through his 10th game</a>, meaning the first year of his three-year entry-level contract will kick in.&nbsp;

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After being outscored 12-1 in their last two games, the Montreal Canadiens, minus Alex Newhook, plus Jared Davidson, were hosting the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre on Saturday night. The Habs meant business tonight, and Jayden Struble took it upon himself to warm up the crowd by inviting Nikita Zadorov to dance at the opening faceoff. The building exploded with cheers, and the tone was set for a typical Montreal vs. Boston tilt.

Much attention was on goaltender Samuel Montembeault, and when he stopped the Bruins’ first shot, you could almost hear a collective sigh of relief in the arena. 11 penalties were awarded in the first frame alone, including another couple of fighting majors when Arber Xhekaj dropped the mitts against Tanner Jeannot, who won the battle

Canadiens’ St-Louis Says He Did His Job Following Optional Skate On Friday
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A Momentum Killer

An anemic power play is one thing, but one that wastes a five-on-three opportunity is quite another, especially when it ends with the other team landing a bone-crushing hit on one of your top players in open ice.

In the first period, with 1:28 of double-man advantage, Martin St-Louis sent Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson on the ice, electing to keep Juraj Slafkovsky for his second wave, but nothing came of it. With so much open ice, the Canadiens insisted on playing in close to Jeremy Swayman’s net, making it easier for the Bruins’ trio to cut passes, which is precisely what they did.

If it wasn’t bad enough to do it once in a game, the Habs got another five-on-three in the second frame, and the result was the same. Even worse, that one lasted 1:50, and it took Montreal 1:36 to get a shot on goal. So many passes and so few shots make it quite hard to capitalize. Even worse, after that one, Boston immediately took another penalty and killed it as well.

Asked about the power play, Martin St-Louis said:

I think we’re holding our sticks too tightly. Our reads are not clear, and that happens when you want things to work so badly that you rush too much; we’re not calm. We’ll take a look at it.

-

The Habs have not scored on the power play since November 4, meaning they’ve failed to score on their last 17 opportunities. Earlier in the season, having Demidov was like having an unknown secret weapon. Still, the league has now taken notice, and even though the young Russian possesses good deceptive skills, if he’s trying the same thing over and over, it becomes predictable. There’s a reason why this is the best league in the world.

The Trials and Tribulations Of Montembeault

Unfortunately for the Canadiens’ netminder, the only thing that has been consistent this year is his inconsistency. He can make a breathtaking stop one minute and then let in an easy shot the very next one. Usually, a goaltender who makes a big save gets a confidence boost, but that doesn’t seem to be true for Montembeault this season.

While some will say that he was unlucky in the Bruins' first game since the shot was going off target and bounced off him to cross the line, the truth of the matter is that if he hadn’t been so positioned to one side, the puck wouldn’t have hit him there. That’s not being unlucky, that’s being out of position.

In the second frame, he made a fantastic save on a breakaway opportunity before being beaten by a shot from the blueline that didn’t even take a deflection. He’s had a lot of trouble with those long-range attempts since the last couple of months of the previous season, which is strange, as it wasn’t an issue before. Is he struggling to evaluate the distance of the shots?

He did manage to shut the door in the final frame, even though he wasn’t called upon too much; he still made some key saves that allowed the team to stay in the game.

Matheson Keeps Making Key Plays

During this tough stretch of three consecutive defeats, it’s worth mentioning that blueliner Mike Matheson has been making some key defensive plays. In this game, he blocked four shots and intercepted several passes. He’s also broken up plenty of odd-man rushes in the last few games, and even if he can’t catch up to a player, he’s getting very good at being a nuisance without crossing the line.

Still with this 3-2 defeat, the Canadiens are no longer first in the Atlantic division, they trail the Bruins by two points, but they have two games in hand. Montreal is now sixth in the conference but only has 22 points, just like the eight-place Ottawa Senators.

Needless to say, tomorrow’s practice will not be an optional skate, and the power play will be put under the microscope. The Canadiens will get on the ice in Brossard at 11:30 AM and take off for Columbus at 2:00 PM. Perhaps a game away from the Bell Centre, with less pressure, will help the team get out of its first three-game losing streak of the season. There are only two home games left in November, and for the first time in quite a while, the Habs haven’t got a winning record at home for the month; they are 2-3-1 so far.

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The Buffalo Sabres put themselves in the win column Saturday night when they beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 in overtime. The Sabres trailed 4-1 midway through the second period, so the comeback win will please desperate Buffalo fans who watched their team lose the past five straight games heading into Saturday’s game. 

The Sabres’ win over Detroit was Buffalo’s second win in their past 10 games, and the Sabres’ record improves slightly to 6-8-4. But the Sabres are well out of a playoff berth, and if you broke down Saturday’s game against the Red Wings, there were still plenty of things to be concerned about.

For instance, there’s the fact Buffalo gave up four goals or more for the fourth straight game this season. The Sabres’ offense is the eighth-worst in the league at an average of 2.78 goals-for per game, so a poor defensive effort is going to lead to more dismay and disappointment for Buffalo.

Meanwhile, The Sabres’ win over Detroit was just their first roar win of the year in eight games. Any way you slice it, that’s abysmal. And with road games coming up against the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild coming up, Buffalo has its work cut out for it. 

The Sabres showed resilience in Saturday’s game, but they’ll have to do it far more consistently if they hope to rise up the standings and end their Stanley Cup drought at 14 seasons. Buffalo’s stumbles out of the gate have put a bigger mountain ahead of them, and nothing short of long stretches of wins this year will salvage their season.

Yes, it’s nice for the Sabres to celebrate a victory. But it’s the rarity of Buffalo victories that’s the issue here.True Cup contenders go about their business in a businesslike manner. But it feels like the Sabres are just happy to finally be back in the win column. 

That’s a key difference between playoff contender and playoff pretender. And until further notice, the Sabres have to be considered a pretender. If they win two or three games in a row, that won’t be enough to get into the post-season. Even a couple four-or-five-game win streaks won’t cut it. There now has to be extended stretches of stellar play from Buffalo, all season long, to atone for their brutal start to the season.

The Sabres have dug themselves a huge hole this year. And a win or two here and there isn’t good enough Buffalo play to give Sabres fans legitimate hope they’ll turn things around. 

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Points are at a premium for the Detroit Red Wings, who came into Saturday evening's contest against the Buffalo Sabres having just broken a three-game losing streak.

While they were able to pick up a point in the standings, they'll lament how they lost the second point that should have been theirs.

The Sabres mounted a four-goal comeback, seizing their first road victory of the season and stunning the sold-out crowd at Little Caesars Arena by beating the Red Wings by a 5-4 final score in overtime. 

Mattias Samuelsson scored the overtime-deciding goal, capping the comeback effort for the Sabres, who remain the worst team in the Eastern Conference. Buffalo has now won both games against Detroit this season, something that won't sit well. 

Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan has spoken often about the need for Detroit's players to strengthen their mental fortitude, and spoke openly about the kind of mental mistakes he felt played a role in their downfall on Satuday vening. 

"I guess that would come into play, but just understanding what's happening and what's important in certain moments," McLellan said about the need to improve the Red Wings' mental strenth. "We have D that are joining a rush, we're up by two with seven minutes left, and it's a risky rush. That just makes no sense to me. We have penalty killers that were throwing pucks back toward our end hoping to get a shot on goal in their end and turning it over for a breakaway."

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McLellan also singled out defenseman Simon Edvinsson for his lack of action on Tage Thompson’s goal, which cut Detroit’s lead to 4-3 in the third period. Edvinsson allowed the 5'8" Alex DeBrincat to be the one attempting to stop the 6'6" Thompson on his drive to the net.

"Simon was on the ice tonight, and he let Cat take their 50 goal scorer who's 6'7" instead of him coming to play him. I don't know what happened sometimes, but those are all game management situations, it was one versus two," McLellan said. "Was that mental, between the ears? Probably. But until we value it and we figure it out, I'll probably be talking about this again. 

The Red Wings built up a 4-1 lead midway through the second period, only to see it evaporate. Not long after Thompson scored to cut the lead to a single goal, the Sabres knotted the score thanks to a shorthanded breakaway goal from Ryan McLeod. 

These are the kinds of situations the Red Wings need to figure out if they're going to break out of their lengthy postseason drought. 

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