ST. LOUIS – If that wasn’t rock bottom, the ocean floor sure has got to feel close.

The St. Louis Blues are a mess, and unlike Friday’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, this one was never in doubt.

The Vegas Golden Knights were not about to feel sorry for a Blues side that played the night before and it showed early.

Former Blue Brandon Saad scored his first of the season, Braeden Bowman scored his first NHL goal and the Golden Knights cruised to a 4-1 win over the Blues at Enterprise Center on Saturday.

Philip Broberg scored the Blues’ lone goal late in the third period:

Philip Broberg lights the lamp! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/kJwuaPCId4

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 16, 2025

Despite earning points in their past four games (2-0-2) and going 3-1-2 the past six, the Blues (6-9-4) fell into a sinkhole on Saturday in front of another full house.

But it’s obvious something needs to change with this group, and it needs to change fast.

“Ultimately it’s cliché and it’s easy to say, just put in the work and keep grinding because besides maybe family and your friends, I don’t think anyone really feels sorry for us in this league,” Blues defenseman Justin Faulk said. “As a group, individually, the game moves on. It’s not going to wait for us to sit here and find our game. We have to continue to put the work in and mentally prepare and kind of … I hate say accept where we’re at but know where we’re at and we have to continue to grind to go up. It’s hard. This game is … some people say it’s very fair. No one’s going to take a night off. Throughout the league, teams are going to come in every night and make it hard and that’s guys’ jobs. Guys are fighting for their jobs every night and ultimately, you have to just continue to grind and put the work in because it’s evolving and it’s going to continue on and that’s the only way to put a stop to it.”

Let’s look at Saturday’s game observations:

* Blues had early life, then a turnover started spiral – Believe it or not, the Blues actually had some bite to their game early. There was a 2-on-1 with Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker that Toropchenko kept but was stopped by Akira Schmid.

The Blues had an 8-4 advantage in shots, with multiple attempts in close at the net. But then came a Matthew Kessel giveaway exiting the zone – stop me if you’ve heard this before – and a turnover ensued, and seconds later, the puck is in the back of the net.

Kessel looked like he was trying to hit Dylan Holloway but missed the mark. Holloway wasn’t initially looking for the puck and when he turned, it was so far off the mark, Vegas intercepted it, and Saad, who had gone 16 games to begin the season without a goal, whipped one in past Joel Hofer from the slot to make it 1-0 at 12:52 of the first period:

What a return to St. Louis for Brandon Saad 🤩 pic.twitter.com/IUiOGfYsIC

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 16, 2025

Then after a Nick Bjugstad tripping penalty, Bowman slammed home a pass from Pavel Dorofeyev on the doorstep at 14:58 and it was 2-0, the wheels were coming off and for a team lacking confidence, any kind of fightback was going to be tough:

BRAEDEN BOWMAN'S FIRST NHL GOAL WAS A BEAUTY 😤 pic.twitter.com/JAAUKpxxlc

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 16, 2025

* Start to second final death knell – Like the start to the game, Blues coach Jim Montgomery had the Blues’ fourth line (Toropchenko, Oskar Sundqvist and Nathan Walker) and third defensive pair (Kessel and Tyler Tucker) on the ice to begin a period to provide a boost and some energy.

But just like the opening shift to the game, that five-man unit for hemmed in, and Noah Hanifin’s long-range shot from neat the blue line found its way past Hofer 36 seconds into the period and a 3-0 lead:

what a shot from Hanny 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/3G74nmzO5o

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 16, 2025

And it was game over.

“Earlier than we wanted to, probably the start of the second,” Faulk said when the game got away. “They came out, got an early goal. The life on the bench and the group definitely, to be honest, there wasn’t a ton. It kind of got drained after that. Ultimately, kind of played the rest of the game on auto pilot, it seemed.”

Ouch. That’s not a good sign. Sort of like a sign of a team that is sorely lacking confidence.

“I don’t think it’s high,” Montgomery said. “And it shouldn’t be because we haven’t earned the right to have confidence because we’re not playing with enough desperation and with enough urgency. And we need to correct that and we will.

“I don’t agree with (Faulk’s auto pilot assessment). I think we got flat and that’s where we need to have more from our group. There needs to be a better response. I don’t like the start of our second period, but that’s been most of the season. But I did think around the 10-minute mark, we started to play better hockey. We were more connected, we were more physical, the penalty kill was good. We killed that (four-minute Walker high-stick at the end of the second) off. And then we got flat again. We need to be better. To a man, we need to have more desperation.”

Blues captain Brayden Schenn added, “A minute into the second, just in general, we have to do a better job with life energy and coming to the rink and be excited to be here, play for this team, play for each other and the organization and stuff. Confidence is probably a low one on a lot of guys. But at the end of the day, you have to fight your way through it.”

* Blues go nearly entire period without a shot on goal – The moment Pius Suter put a close range rebound into the pads of Schmid with 10:51 left in the first, it was their eighth shot on goal. Little did anyone know at the time that it would be their last shot for the next 18:36 when Sundqvist, from the left wall, throws a harmless shot at Schmid at the 7:15 mark of the second period.

The Blues had no push, they had no jam, they had no connectivity that was even a hint of a threat in the offensive zone.

Meanwhile, Vegas was busy with the next 15 shots on goal and three goals between Blues shots.

The Blues were chasing the puck, it seemed, the entire time.

“Yeah, I thought we were doing a lot of staring and watching and not enough trying to make plays or kill plays,” Montgomery said.

“We’re not hard enough probably on both ends, not killing plays in the D-zone first and foremost,” Faulk said. “Probably spending a little too much time letting teams hemming us in three-quarters ice and then at that point you don’t have anything for a forecheck. On the flip side, when we do have some juice for a forecheck, it seems we’re pretty light. We’re not hemming them in and if we are, we’re perimeter. We’re not taking chances getting shots to the net or crashing the net or making it hard on the inside. That same style works on both ends of the ice and right now, it’s a struggle for us.”

The Blues saw the Flyers do it to them twice(!) in one game on Friday, overcoming a pair of two-goal deficits. Right now, this team has no fight back in it whatsoever.

“No, I don’t think, I didn’t want to use the word ‘acceptance,’” Faulk said. “I don’t think guys are accepting of the fact where we’re at and are just going to roll over and say that’s OK. We know it’s not acceptable, the standards of this organization. The responsibility we’ve been given to uphold it, we have to be better, we have to grind. Guys know that. Guys are coming to the rink working every day in practice. It’s not like we’re going through the motions there or anything like that. I think guys have had a pretty good attitude with practice and knowing that’s the time to get better. You’ve got to do it and you’ve got to show up and do what’s asked of you.

“It’s hard to say that where we are in the standings,” Schenn said. “Guys care. Guys show up like they’re going to work hard. Right now we’re not getting the results. Obviously confidence is shaken. At the end of the day, we have to find a way to grind through it as a team. I don’t believe at all we don’t come to the rink to work hard. I just think we’re off in a lot of areas, which probably makes us look slower or not as connected as we need to be.”

* Time to do something else – The third period was also a microcosm of what the Blues are lacking as far as pushback is concerned, because Vegas (8-4-5) played like a team wanting to win, and not like one playing to lose.

Even with a 3-0 lead, the Golden Knights stayed on their toes and attacked, not allowing the Blues to even resemble a pushback.

Another misplayed puck at the offensive zone blue line, this one by Dylan Holloway, allowed Tomas Hertl to score on a breakaway at 11:20 to cement Vegas’ win:

off he goes 🏎️💨 pic.twitter.com/pAEaWIAHLM

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 16, 2025

But no matter what the Blues are currently doing, whether it’s the systems or style of play, it isn’t working.

“All I know in life is you work,” Montgomery said. ‘You work and you watch film and you talk to your staff, you talk to your managers, you talk to your leaders and you keep working together, and you come up with solutions.

“We might need to change the way we play in certain areas. We tried redefining and making sure that our habits and details are really good and after a while, the definition of insanity is trying to keep doing the same thing and not getting good results, so we might need to try different things.”

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

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

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

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

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

The captain concurred with that sentiment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nelson Reflects On Relationships

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

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

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

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

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

Speculation Fueled by False Reports

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

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

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

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

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

And - suffice to say - he did not disappoint. 

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

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

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

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

WELCOME BACK RUTGER pic.twitter.com/2d3C3eUsk3

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

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

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

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

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

It's Time For The Penguins To Call On A Top Forward ProspectThe Pittsburgh Penguins have a critical stretch of their season ahead and need the help of one of their top forward prospects to win hockey gamesPenguins' First-Rounder On Fire In AHLThis Penguins first-round pick is having a strong start to the 2025-26 season.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch Every Blackhawks Goal

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xthe grass is Greener in Chicago🙂‍↕️Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xwhat a goal🤯Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on X#kindanasty

Next Up For Chicago

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

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

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Up next

Rangers: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

Blue Jackets: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.

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

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

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

Lone Goal Comes Early

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

Doughty Exits With Injury

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

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

Looking Ahead

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

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

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.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

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

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

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

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

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on X

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What has Gabe Perreault shown in his first two games with the New York Rangers since being called up? 

Well, the Rangers brought him up from the American Hockey League to provide an offensive spark, and he’s certainly shown some impressive offensive traits. 

Playing on a line alongside Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller, Perreault has held his own, while he’s also contributing on the power play. 

You can see the talent is there with Perreault, but we just don't have him completely have a command of the game the same way as he did in the AHL or at the NCAA level. 

The 20-year-old is still adapting to the pace of play in the NHL. 

“We've seen some really good things he's done. Obviously he's got real good offensive instincts, sees the play really well,” Sullivan said of Perreault. “He thinks the game on a high level. I think where his opportunity for growth and improvement is really just strength on the puck and a little bit of quickness. And I think they go hand in hand. 

“As a young player, it's just physical maturity. The speed of the game and the size and the strength of the players at this level is second to none. For most young players, that's one of the challenges in making the jump to being an impact player at this level.”

Explaining Mike Sullivan's Cautious Approach With Gabe PerreaultIn the second period of the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a>’ 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night, Mike Sullivan moved Will Cuylle up to play with Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller, while moving Gabe Perreault down on the third line with Noah Laba and Conor Sheary.

Sullivan has been taking a cautious approach with Perreault. The 20-year-old forward is averaging 13:26 minutes over his two games with the Rangers. 

While Sullivan voiced the importance of giving Perreault a top-six role, he’s also put Perreault on the team’s third line with Noah Laba and Conor Sheary in order not to overwhelm the young forward with defensive responsibilities he may not be fully prepared for given his lack of NHL experience.

The Florida Panthers welcomed their oldest and most bitter rival to Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday.

In what was a tightly contested and contentious battle, the Panthers ultimately couldn’t generate enough offense and fell to the Lightning by a final score of 3-1.

Tampa got on the board first thanks to a perfect shot off the stick of Emil Lilleberg.

Right off an offensive zone draw won by Brayden Point, Lilberg wired a wrist shot that went over the blocker of Sergei Bobrovsky and underneath the crossbar to give the Bolts a 1-0 lead 12:19 into the game.

It took a while, but Florida eventually found a way to get the game back to even.

With Zemgus Girgensons in the penalty box for charging Mackie Samoskevich, Florida scored right off the ensuing faceoff.

As a horde of players came together at the dot, Sam Reinhart found the puck at his skates and wisely kicked it to the tape of Brad Marchand, who went in alone on Andrei Vasilevskiy and wired a backhand that went off the post and in with 8:29 to go in the middle frame.

Tampa’s Jack Finley scored his first career goal early in the third period to put the Bolts back in front.

On what appeared to be a routine zone clear, the puck bounced through the neutral zone and right to Finley, who went in all alone on Bobrovsky after Dominic Sebrango lost his footing in the neutral zone trying to check Finley.

The Lightning would add an empty net goal with just under a minute to go, sealing the victory for the visitors.

On to the Canucks.

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The NHL’s schedule is moving toward the 25 percent mark, and already this year, we’ve seen plenty of surprise teams at the top of their division. The best example is the Atlantic Division, where the three teams that sit at the top weren't projected to be in that spot.

Those being the first-place Montreal Canadiens, second-place Ottawa Senators and third-place Boston Bruins. But if you’re wondering which of those three teams has the best likelihood of staying in a top-three position, the correct answer (in this writer’s opinion) is the Senators.

Why? Well, for a couple of reasons. The first one is the main one: the Sens have got to second place in the Atlantic with a 9-5-4 record, and they haven’t been close to their best. 

Here’s what we’re getting at: Ottawa currently has the fifth-best offense in the league at 3.44 goals-for per game. Not bad, right? Right – except the Senators also have the NHL’s third-worst defense at 3.56 goals-against per game. What they take from you at one end of the ice, they give back to you at the other end.

Meanwhile, the Sens have also been above-average despite a thoroughly subpar performance from starting goaltender Linus Ullmark. The 32-year-old has posted a 6-4-4 record, a 3.21 goals-against average and a .870 save percentage. Young netminder Leevi Merilainen has been better, but he’s appeared in only four games, and his overall numbers are a 3.53 GAA and an SP of .868. As he gets more consistent, Merilainen will be able to spell off Ullmark a bit more, and that, in theory, should improve Ullmark’s performance as well.

Finally, Ottawa’s core of talent is still one of the younger cores in the league – meaning their best days are still ahead of them. Tim Stutzle is 23 years old. Shane Pinto is 25 years old. Brady Tkachuk is 26, and Jake Sanderson is 23. Oh, and Tkachuk has played only three games this year, so the Senators are going to get a huge boost when he returns to action.

Returning to answer our original question, we see the Canadiens dropping back a little as the season unfolds. That goes double for the Bruins, who we believe are in over their heads. But the Sens showed last season that they were a team on the rise, and nothing has changed in that sense. 

From this writer’s point of view, Ottawa has only scratched the surface of what they’re capable of. And while first place in the Atlantic may be a bit lofty for them, a second-or third-place finish for the Senators feels like a very doable achievement.

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When the Los Angeles Kings traded 24-year-old Jordan Spence to Ottawa four and a half months ago, he had just finished a season where he was an everyday player (79 games) on a blue line put together by GM Rob Blake. Blake is a Hall of Fame defenseman who knows a thing or two about great defense. The Kings allowed the second-fewest goals in the entire NHL, which should be a real feather in any young defenseman's cap.

But things can change quickly in the NHL. 

The Kings lost in round one of the playoffs, and Blake left at the end of the season. Since winning their second Cup in three years in 2014, the Kings have either missed the playoffs or failed to get past the first round every season. So Blake was replaced by Ken Holland.

Despite the Kings' defensive success, Holland decided the blue line was too young and opted to go out and sign a free-agent veteran. That later turned out to be former Senator Cody Ceci, but to make room for the signing, that meant someone had to go. And that player was Spence.

Holland called Spence up on NHL draft day to break the news that he'd been traded, and the Kings recorded portions of Holland's side of the conversation for their website.

Jordan? Yeah, it's Ken Holland. How are you doing? I know that opportunity is number one to you, and with Brandt Clarke here, we're gonna try to sign another right-shot D. I don't think you would have the opportunity here that you've earned at this stage of your career. So this (trade to Ottawa) should give you a better opportunity than you're gonna get here. I want to wish you the best. You had a hell of a year last year. Again, I wanna wish you all the best and have a great career.
– Portions of a phone call by Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland to Jordan Spence right after trading him to Ottawa on NHL Draft Day back in June.

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On Saturday night, Spence will face his former team for the first time, and it's a day he had marked on his calendar.

"Yeah, I did actually," Spence said. "Right when I got traded (to Ottawa), I did look at the schedule during the summer to see when we're going to play against them. So I'm really excited for tonight. And I'm excited to hopefully get the win."

With the two clubs both off last night, Spence treated a number of his former teammates to dinner in Ottawa. But while he still has great friends in that room, it will be all business on Saturday. And a little weird.

"Yeah, I mean, it's really different. I got drafted there, and I was there for four or five years. So it is weird seeing the guys and just catching up. But at the same time, it's business. And we're friends off the ice, but not on the ice."

While the trade to the Senators was framed to him as a chance for Spence to play regularly, it certainly hasn't panned out that way, at least not in the first month. Spence didn't dress on opening night, and he's already been a healthy scratch more this season than he was all of last season. He's only played in half of the Senators' 18 games so far. 

Even when he has played, Sens head coach Travis Green and defensive coach Nolan Baumgartner still appear unsure about him. When the Senators lost Thomas Chabot to injury on Tuesday night, they were going to need another defenseman, other than Jake Sanderson, to play in overtime against the Dallas Stars. While Spence has his flaws, his game seems tailor-made for overtime.

But the Sens went with big, stay-at-home defenseman Tyler Kleven, who doesn't have nearly the speed, puck skill or point production that Spence does. Kleven is also younger with less NHL experience. And yet Baumgartner still chose Kleven, who was on the ice for the Stars' winning goal.

Now, until Chabot returns, Ottawa's brain trust has no choice but to use Spence every night, and he hopes to make the most of the opportunity. And when the Senators and Kings face each other on Saturday night, Spence has a chance to try and prove some things to both clubs.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

More Sens headlines at The Hockey News Ottawa:

Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions Over The Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)
Brady Tkachuk Tests Out Wrist Injury At Practice, Provides Potential Timeline For Return
Four More Years: Ottawa Senators Sign Shane Pinto To A Four-Year Extension
Senators Lose Defenseman Thomas Chabot To Injury
Former Ottawa Senator GM Passes Away At Age 70

Mackenzie Blackwood acknowledged Jared Bednar’s postgame critique of his performance in Thursday’s 6–3 win over the Buffalo Sabres — and agreed with it. 

The 28-year-old surrendered two goals on the first six shots he faced but steadied himself and delivered several key saves down the stretch. But Bednar was not too impressed with the way the game started. 

Blackwood failed to cover the puck on the first goal, allowing former Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram to jar it loose and finish from the doorstep. The second goal unfolded when Colorado’s defense was beaten to a lofted entry from Owen Power, enabling Jordan Greenway to bat the puck out of midair and past Blackwood to make it 3–2. It was an unusual sequence, but still a save Blackwood should have made. 

"I hate to sound cruel, but that's a Blacky problem at this point," he stated. "It's not a problem for me; I have lots of confidence in Blacky and I know there's lots of minutes between here and the end of the season, but (Scott Wedgewood) is playing great, so I'm not gonna not play Wedge to play Blacky at this point, so those minutes come in practice and hard work he's been doing that and he'll get his games...Wedge is rested and ready to go for Sunday. 

"I'm not gonna not play him because Blacky needs minutes. There's plenty of time to give him minutes. Right now, we're gonna play a rested goalie and play the goalie that gives us a really good chance." 

Blackwood Agrees With Criticism

At Saturday’s practice at Family Sports Center, The Hockey News asked Blackwood whether Bednar’s comments added any extra motivation for him to start stronger. 

“I’m getting closer; I just need reps,” Blackwood said. “It’s hard when you miss all of training camp. I don’t need that to motivate me. He’s not wrong; it’s the truth. It’s my problem to take the opportunities that I get and keep working on sharpness, and those aspects of my game that I need (to address). 

“Everyone in here is a pro, they have to find a way to get their game in order. It’s not terrible, but it’s definitely not where I want it to be. I think the more practice we play, the better it’s gonna get.” 

Blackwood, who was acquired via trade from the San Jose Sharks last season, said today was one of his better practice sessions and that he felt great.  

“Each time I get on the ice it’s an opportunity to refine your smoothness and your timing. I agree with Bedsy; it’s up to me, but it’s not extra motivation. I already kinda knew that, so it’s more telling the truth.” 

Blackwood appeared in 37 games for the Avalanche last season, posting a 22–12–3 record with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. Through three starts this season, he is 2–0–1 with a 3.28 goals-against average and an .870 save percentage. Meanwhile, the Avalanche sit atop the NHL at 12–1–5. 

Next Game 

The Avalanche take on the New York Islanders on Sunday for their annual Hockey Fights Cancer night at Ball Arena. Scott Wedgewood will start in net. Coverage begins at 7 p.m local time.  

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The NHL is filled with amazing quotes. Some are emotional, while others bring humor to the table. Whether it’s players, coaches, front office staff or even pundits, the NHL has no shortage of noteworthy soundbites.

This season alone, we’ve seen Ryan O’Reilly become his harshest critic, Jakub Dobes spill his emotions over a loss, and several others demonstrate anger or playfulness.

Here are some of the best quotes in the NHL of the past week.

John Tortorella Speaks About The Passing Of New York Post Columnist Larry Brooks

If there is one hockey personality who is famous for having the most outrageous quotes, it’s long-time NHL coach John Tortorella. “Torts” received his first NHL head coaching job in 2001 when he replaced Steve Ludzik on Jan. 7 on the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tortorella won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2003-04 and then went on to spend seasons as the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers head coach. 

In his time with New York, he had several discussions with the late Larry Brooks, who worked as a New York Post columnist. Brooks recently passed away due to cancer at the age of 75, and Tortorella had plenty of great things to say about him. 

“He’s an icon,” Tortorella said on Thursday evening during ESPN’s The Point. “We had our disagreements along the way, but the thing I always respected about Larry is no matter what the day brought — we had a lot of disagreements, but we’d disagree and we’d go at it, but he’d be there the next day. Ready to ask another question, he’d be there face-to-face. 

“I had so much respect for how hard he worked at his job. We’re both trying to do our business. I need to protect my hockey team sometimes, he has information — and he has information, that’s one thing, he worked at it, to get information.”

The Hockey World Lost A Titan With The Death Of Larry BrooksLarry Brooks, who died at the age of 75, was a legend and a Hall of Famer in hockey. And he always was in the middle of the story.

Jon Cooper Explains Use Of Timeout

In a battle between two of Tortorella’s two former teams, the Lightning were having an awful time against the Rangers. The result of the contest was very one-sided as the Rangers went on to defeat the Lightning 7-3. 

ESPN’s Jackie Redmond conducted a bench interview with Lightning coach Jon Cooper and asked about his early use of a timeout. Cooper had a hilarious response, in short, calling his team immature.

“Reckless play, bad penalty, tough structure, bad turnover, in the net, in the net, and so, if we’re going to play like that, that’s not winning hockey. Next 57 minutes we need to change our act, or it’s going to get way worse than this. We got better in us. ​​I think there's a little bit of thumb-sucking going on right now.”

The Lightning did up the pressure, finishing with 36 shots on net, but they continued to have issues keeping the Rangers from converting their high-danger chances.

Leon Draisaitl And The Oilers Needed A Slap In The Face

Just a week ago, in a highly anticipated Saturday night matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche, we witnessed the Avalanche lay a beating on what looked like a lifeless Oilers squad.

The game finished with an astonishing 9-1 scoreline, with plenty of blame to be dished around on the Oilers' end. Leon Draisaitl, who tends to be very open with his responses, not fearing what some may think of what he says, was once again blunt in his description of the game.

“Sometimes a slap in the face is just what you need.” 

Draisaitl may have been right in his analysis. In the two games following the embarrassing loss, the Oilers defeated the Blue Jackets and the Flyers in overtime. There is still plenty to do for the Oilers to turn things around, but Draisaitl is correct in saying that they needed a wake-up call to get going once again. 

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