For the second straight game, the Ottawa Senators took some costly penalties and fell behind in the state of Florida by scores of 2-0 and then 3-1. They got away with it on Thursday, rallying to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, but on Saturday night, not so much. The Senators paid dearly for their mistakes and were trounced 6-2 by the two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

The Panthers went 3-for-5 on the power play, and over two games, the Senators' penalty kill has now allowed five goals on just eight attempts.

Aaron Ekblad, Anton Lundell, and Brad Marchand led the way for Florida with a goal and an assist each. Shane Pinto had another two goal game, Sergei Bobrovsky badly outdueled Sens starter Linus Ullmark. Ottawa outshot Florida 28-27, although it certainly didn’t feel that way.

Florida opened the scoring just over six minutes into the game on a Brad Marchand breakaway. With defenders on his tail, Marchand pulled the puck to his backhand and slipped it under Ullmark’s glove as the big goalie lunged headfirst to his left.

The Panthers made it 2-0 just under four minutes later. Evan Rodrigues launched what looked like a low-danger snapshot from the top of the circle. Ullmark saw it all the way and appeared to catch it with his glove, but the puck trickled out and rolled across the line. Though the whistle had clearly blown before it crossed, the referees ruled it a goal because the puck was in continuous motion. 

With under three minutes to play in the first, Shane Pinto scored his third goal in four periods, picking up a rebound at the side of the net and beating Bobrovsky. But at that point, instead of another comeback, that’s when the costly penalties started to pile up.

Near the end of the first, Ridly Greig was called for interference and early in the second, on the carryover power play, Aaron Ekblad made the Sens pay with a screened snapshot that found the top glove-side corner.

Pinto had more great chances in the second, but couldn't finish them. He was alone on Bobrovsky twice—first on a breakaway where his stick blade exploded mid-shot, and then again when he was stoned by Bobrovsky.

Late in the second, Sens captain Brady Tkachuk was clearly frustrated when Niko Mikkola continued pinning him against the boards long after the puck was gone. Tkachuk retaliated with a backhanded punch to the face—and the refs caught that part. Not only did it negate a scoring chance by Jake Sanderson, but the Panthers also scored on the ensuing power play again, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Florida continued to pour it on in the third with goals from Mackie Samoskevich and Sam Reinhart. Pinto added another in the dying minutes—his second of the game and fourth in two nights—to make the score slightly more respectable.

For the Senators, there wasn’t much in this one to be thankful for. But they’ll now return home for their season opener: a Thanksgiving Monday afternoon matchup at 1:00 p.m. against the Nashville Predators.

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Pinto Scores Twice As Ottawa Senators Win Season Opener 5-4 in Tampa Bay
Jordan Spence: A Healthy Scratch For Ottawa Senators Season Opener
Travis Green Says Senators Are 'Headed In the Right Direction'
Senators Send Yakemchuk To The Minors, Place Batherson And Kleven On IR
Sens Land A True NHL Heavyweight In A Deal With The Devils
More Senators Broadcast Changes: Marc Methot Out At TSN

The Florida Panthers hosted the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night in Sunrise looking to wrap up their season-opening three-game homestand with an unblemished record.

That’s exactly what they did, taking down Ottawa in what was Florida’s first divisional game of the season by a final score of 6-2.

It didn’t take long for the Panthers to get on the scoreboard.

With play in Florida’s zone, Seth Jones flipped the puck over Ottawa’s defensemen and into the neutral zone, where a streaking Brad Marchand caught up with it and went in alone on a breakaway.

His backhand along the ice beat Linus Ullmark under his left arm to give the Cats a 1-0 lead at the 6:08 mark.

About four minutes later, Evan Rodrigues came down the left boards and fired a nasty wrist shot that Ullmark tried making a windmill glove save on, but he only got a piece of the puck, and it trickled underneath him and across the goal line.

Initially, the officials reviewed the play to see if the puck was ever stopped, but officials ruled that it was “in continuous motion” and the goal was confirmed.

The Sens cut Florida's lead in half with 2:27 to go in the period when Shane Pinto took a quick pass from Ridly Greig in the corner and beat a seemingly surprised Sergei Bobrovsky from right beside his net.

Florida started the second period with an abbreviated power play and were able to cash in before time ran out.

Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones did a quick cross-cross play just inside the blue line, with Ekblad going to the left side of the zone with the puck on his stick and a suddenly wide open shooting lane.

His shot beat a screened Ullmark over the glove to restore Florida’s two-goal lead during the opening minute of the middle frame.

That’s how the score would remain for much of the period, until a late power play for Florida thanks to an offensive zone roughing call on Brady Tkachuk.

Jeff Petry’s shot from the point deflected off Anton Lundell in front of the net and past a sprawling Ullmark to send Florida into the third period with a 4-1 advantage.

Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot was called for a high-sticking double-minor after catching Eetu Luostarinen with an errant stick, and it led to another Florida power play goal.

This time it was Mackie Samoskevich tickling the twine. He picked up the puck to the right of Ullmark’s net and, with the goaltender down and covering the low part of the net, sent a shot into the upper corner of the cage to put the Panthers up by four.

They weren’t done there.

Sam Reinhart picked up his first goal of the season, taking a quick feed from the point off the stick of Gus Forsling and sending a quick forehand shot past Ullmark’s glove with 8:46 to go to put the Cats up 6-1.

Pinto added a second goal that went off the skate of Aaron Ekbald in the final minutes, but by then the game was well out of reach. 

Florida will now take their perfect 3-0-0 record on the road for a five-game trip that begins on Monday night in Philly.

On to the Flyers.

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Photo caption: Oct 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) celebrates a goal against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

ELMONT, NY -- During the New York Islanders’ home opener on Saturday, 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer scored his first NHL goal, adding to his early milestones.

Down 4-1 to the Washington Capitals, the Islanders went to the power play at 16:41 of the third period, needing a spark. 

After Kyle Palmieri was robbed at the doorstep, a scramble ensued, and the loose puck went to Schaefer. The 18-year-old defenseman chopped it by Capitals goalie Logan Thompson to cut the deficit to 4-2 and add to his early accomplishments:

Schaefer has done it. What a moment. #Islespic.twitter.com/esAuoAzd10

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) October 12, 2025

Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery challenged for a hand pass following a timeout, but the goal stood after a lengthy review, much to the delight of a roaring UBS Arena.

Schaefer scored his first assist and point in the Islanders’ first game of the season against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

This stor will be updated. 

Kai Russell wrote this story. 

DETROIT — The Toronto Maple Leafs may be without the services of another one of their depth forwards in the near future.

Steven Lorentz left midway through the first period of the club's game against the Detroit Red Wings after he was hit up high in the middle of the ice by Detroit defenseman Ben Chiarot.

another angle of the Chiarot hit on Lorentz pic.twitter.com/np9AwwfC8B

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 12, 2025

The departure of Lorentz in the game forced the Leafs to shuffle up their fourth line, which had scored twice in the first period, once with William Nylander substituting for the injured forward.

The Leafs confirmed Lorentz sustained an upper-body injury and would not return.

Maple Leafs F Steven Lorentz will not return to tonight’s game (upper body).

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) October 12, 2025

. Toronto is already without Scott Laughton, who blocked a shot against the same Red Wings team in the pre-season game on Oct. 2.

Maple Leafs' Scott Laughton Week-To-Week With Lower-Body InjuryThe Toronto Maple Leafs will begin the regular season with a player out with an injury.

Before that contest, Easton Cowan had been affixed to a line with Lorentz and Laughton. If Lorentz is out for any extended period of time, that could make way for Cowan to finally make his NHL debut on Monday against the Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena.

Lorentz is still out of the game

he took this hit from Chiarot in the first pic.twitter.com/3tAdh7btiN

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 12, 2025

Lorentz picked up two assists in Toronto's season-opening 5-2 victory against the Montreal Canadiens. 

To be updated...

Latest stories:

‘Good For The City’: Maple Leafs Embrace Schedule Shift for Blue Jays Playoff Run

Why Easton Cowan Will Not Play For Maple Leafs Against Red Wings, Lineups And Where To Watch

Maple Leafs Challenge Matias Maccelli To Play With More Confidence

Just one game after Pittsburgh Penguins' 19-year-old defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke tallied his first goal in the National Hockey League on a beauty of a wrist shot off the rush, the other teenager on the Penguins' roster did the same thing. 

In the second period of Saturday's game against the New York Rangers, top forward prospect Ben Kindel took a puck in the neutral zone down to the right circle, where he sniped a long-range wrist shot past Rangers' netminder Igor Shesterkin - one of the league's best goaltenders - for his first career NHL goal.

Kindel, 18, was selected by the Penguins in the first round (11th overall) of the 2025 NHL Netry Draft. The 5-foot-11 forward made himself stand out more and more as the pre-season went on, and as a result - along with Brunicke - he made the NHL roster out of training camp.

During Tuesday's season-opening 3-0 win over the Rangers in New York, Kindel and Brunicke became the first pair of teenagers to debut together for the Penguins since Kris Letang and Jordan Staal in 2006. They are both eligible to be sent back to their respective junior teams this season, and year one of their entry-level contracts would kick in should they remain in Pittsburgh for more than nine games.

Kindel was one of three first-round selections by the Penguins this summer, with the others being Bill Zonnon (22nd overall) and Will Horcoff (24th overall). In 65 games for the Calgary Hitmen last season, Kindel recorded 35 goals and 99 points. 

Harrison Brunicke Scores First NHL Goal On Beautiful Shot From Slot - Community PostPittsburgh Penguins' rookie blueliner Harrison Brunicke made quite the impression during the pre-season with a nifty top-shelf tally. 

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The news from Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was about as bad as it can get for a hockey team -- Buffalo's first-line center, Josh Norris, will be on the sidelines for the foreseeable future after being injured in the Sabres' first game of the season Thursday.

“(Norris is) going to miss a significant amount of time," Ruff told media Saturday, adding "I don’t know what that amount is for sure...It’s an upper-body (injury), it’s not related to anything he has had in the past.”

With the injury to Norris -- and the injury to presumptive first-line left winger Zach Benson, the Sabres' first line is now star right winger Tage Thompson and...21-year-old center Jiri Kulich, and left winger Jason Zucker. Kulich has 64 games of NHL experience under his belt, while Zucker is 33 years old, and he's a clearly not-ideal top-line talent.

So let's run that by you again: Kulich, centering Zucker and Thompson. Does that sound like a line you'd expect to see on a top NHL team? Does that sound like a line to rival that of a true Stanley Cup frontrunner? To ask those questions is to answer them. There's really no comparing the Sabres as-currently-is to a real playoff contender. 

It all feels like the worst-case scenario arrived in Buffalo, and it arrived far sooner than even the most cynical may have expected. And now, unless the Sabres' vast collection of young players steps up, Buffalo's playoff aspirations could go up in smoke in a hurry.

Norris Out Long-Term After Being Injured In OpenerOne of the things that the Buffalo Sabres needed to make a legitimate run at the Stanley Cup Playoffs was a healthy Josh Norris playing on the top line as a #1 center, setting up sniper Tage Thompson.That hope lasted just one game, as Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff announced on Saturday that Norris will be out a “significant period of time” after being injured in the club’s  4-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday.    

This isn't to say the Sabres can't overcome adversity. That does happen, now and again, at the NHL level. There are always teams that face adversity and find a way to do great things in spite of it. But the point is that people's suspicions in any one team are valid until such time as the team proves they're worthy of respect. And that just hasn't happened with Buffalo in the past 14 years.

Maybe there's a world in which Kulich steps up and finds a great fit alongside Thompson. Maybe Zucker plays younger than his age and scores between 25-30 goals. Maybe Thompson puts the team on his back in a way he hasn't before.

That's all within the realm of possibility. But the realm of probability is something altogether different. And without Norris in the lineup night-in and night-out, the probability the Sabres can string together enough wins to stay in playoff contention long enough until such time as Norris returns to action is not something that shoul encourage Buffalo fans to be optimistic.

Sabres' Schedule Is Punishing Out Of The Gate -- And It Could Be Why Buffalo Misses Playoffs For 15th Straight SeasonThe Buffalo Sabres’ 2025-26 regular-season is here at last, and the Sabres would certainly like to win their first game – a home game against the New York Rangers Thursday night – an analysis of their schedule tells Sabres fans they need to buckle down and get ready for a true test of this team, right out of the starting block.

The truth is that the Sabres have absorbed a massive blow to their playoff hopes, literaqlly in the first game of the season. It really feels like things couldn't have gone worrse for Buffalo. And in the immediate days and weeks ahead, the Sabres will either demonstrate why they're a different (read: better) team than the ones they've been in their playoff drought, or whether they're the same franchise that has come to be known as perennial disappointments.

Brady Martin is officially on an NHL scoresheet, recording an assist on Filip Forsberg's goal in the first period of the Nashville Predators game against the Utah Mammoth on Thursday. 

The goal tied the game, 1-1. 

Martin poked the puck off of defenseman John Marino's stick up the right boards, which Forsberg picked up. He was able to maneuver around Marino on the right boards before firing a shot that beat goalie Karel Vejmelka blocker side. 

This is just Martin's second NHL game, as he made his debut in the Predators' 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. He is still centering the Predators' first line with Ryan O'Reilly and Forsberg on the wings.

FIRST OF THE SEASON FOR FIL 💥 pic.twitter.com/TZtZ6E5cdO

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) October 12, 2025

Additionally, everyone on that first line has recorded a point this season. Forsberg and O'Reilly combined for the game winning goal on the power play on Thursday. 

Martin debuted with the Predators at 18 years, 208 days old, making him the second youngest player in Predators franchise history to make their NHL debut.

He follows Scott Harnell, who was  18 years, 171 days when he played his first NHL game on Oct. 6, 2000, against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Marting was drafted by the Predators fifth overall out of Sault St. Marie (OHL) in June. This is Nashville's highest draft pick since 2013, when it drafted defenseman Seth Jones with the fourth overall pick. 

Not long after Cole Caufield had a Montreal Canadiens goal stand after being reviewed for a high stick, the Blackhawks tied the game thanks to a goal scored by Sam Rinzel. 

In his 12th NHL game, Rinzel's goal is the first of his National Hockey League career. It couldn't have been a better-looking snipe for his first. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xlet's hear it for Sam Rinzel!🗣️

Frank Nazar won the faceoff back to Teuvo Teravainen, who slid it to Rinzel before he ripped it home. The goal tied the game for the Blackhawks at the time. 

The Blackhawks are hoping that this is the first of many for Rinzel, who now has six points over his first 12 career games. That kind of pace would make him the clear-cut number one defenseman on the team, especially if he keeps up his very good defensive play. 

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

Flyers take early punch to gut as OT goal is overturned in loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Just when it looked like the Flyers had win No. 1 of the Rick Tocchet era Saturday night, it was taken away from them.

Bobby Brink had a goal in overtime wiped off the board by video review, which deemed that Travis Sanheim interfered with Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen (more on this below). Carolina scored just 37 seconds after the Flyers celebrated what they thought was a victory instead turn into a 4-3 loss at Lenovo Center.

Seth Jarvis buried the Hurricanes’ OT winner with 17 seconds left.

Brink, Sanheim and Owen Tippett provided the Flyers’ goals.

Noah Cates’ line with Brink and Tyson Foerster was very good again. The trio had a great shift that led to Sanheim’s game-tying goal with four minutes remaining in regulation.

The Flyers are 0-1-1 under Tocchet. The last time the Flyers dropped their first two games of a season was 2015-16, when that team also started 0-1-1.

Tocchet’s club has had a stiff schedule. The Flyers visited the two-time defending champion Panthers on opening night and then faced a Carolina team that has made the playoffs in seven straight seasons.

The Flyers have lost 14 of their last 16 games against the Hurricanes (2-9-5). Saturday night was their first of four matchups this season with Carolina, which is off to a 2-0-0 start.

• Sanheim was making a play to the net when he clipped Andersen on Brink’s overturned goal.

Andersen was in his crease but did appear to create some of the contact. It didn’t matter, though.

Here was the NHL’s explanation of the review, which was initiated by the league’s situation room:

“Video review determined Philadelphia’s Travis Sanheim impaired Frederik Andersen’s ability to play his position in the crease prior to Bobby Brink’s goal. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1 which states, in part, ‘Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.'”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NBC Sports Philadelphia (@nbcsphilly)

• Matvei Michkov didn’t see the ice in overtime, which was an interesting call considering the 20-year-old scored three OT winners last season as a rookie.

But Michkov definitely didn’t have his best game in regulation, while the Flyers had some other forwards playing well. You can bet that Michkov will get his looks in overtime this season.

• Samuel Ersson was between the pipes after Dan Vladar got the call in the 2-1 season-opening loss Thursday night.

Ersson made some tough and timely saves, stopping 35 of 39 shots.

The Hurricanes took advantage of transition opportunities and scored all three of their regulation goals in the second period.

Carolina grabbed its first lead of the game at 3-2 when it forechecked the Flyers’ top line and third defensive pair. Jordan Staal finished the sequence as Noah Juulsen and Adam Ginning couldn’t break up the play.

Ersson was excellent in the first period, making 15 saves and giving the Flyers an opportunity to take a 1-0 lead on Tippett’s goal with 22 seconds left before intermission.

Andersen denied 20 of the Flyers’ 23 shots.

• Nikita Grebenkin made his Flyers debut and picked up his first career NHL point with an assist.

The 22-year-old winger showed what he can do when he’s in the lineup. He popped offensively and really hunted the puck. That’s what’s pretty intriguing about him is that he can play down in the lineup because of his competitiveness.

He didn’t look out of place at all in a fourth-line role. And he has the ability to climb into the top six.

Grebenkin and Jett Luchanko entered the lineup for Nicolas Deslauriers and Rodrigo Abols. Luchanko was on the fourth line with Grebenkin and Garnet Hathaway.

On the Hurricanes’ game-tying 2-2 goal, Luchanko had an offensive-zone turnover that sprung Carolina the other way. Taylor Hall scored on the rush.

• Tippett didn’t have a power play goal all of last season. He already has one two games into this season.

The 26-year-old is a player the Flyers believe Tocchet can unleash.

“He has played, he has seen the game from all angles, he has been around the league coaching for a while,” Tippett said last month about his new head coach. “I’m excited to continue to work with him and see what he challenges me with.”

• Cam York missed the season-opening two-game road trip because of a lower-body injury.

• The Flyers return to Philadelphia for their home opener Monday against the Panthers (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

The organization will honor the late Bernie Parent before the game.

The Florida Panthers paid tribute to one of their former Stanley Cup Champions.

On Saturday, Florida welcomed the Ottawa Senators to Sunrise.

Current Senators forward Nick Cousins spent two seasons with the Panthers, from 2022 to 2024.

Both years, the Panthers reached the Stanley Cup Final, claiming victory during their second trip.

Cousins played a total of 33 games during those two playoff runs, contributing two goals and eight points while racking up 36 penalty minutes.

His biggest postseason moment with the Cats came during the second round in 2023, when Cousins scored the overtime winner in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs that sent the Panthers to the Eastern Conference Final.

During his time with the Panthers, Cousins value to the team went well beyong his on-ice contributions.

Over the past several seasons, Florida has cultivated one of the best, tightknit locker rooms in the NHL, and Cousins was a big part of growing that camaraderie.

Cousins, along with former Panthers Ryan Lomberg and Brandon Montour, were some of the most vocal guys in that room and helped create the vibe that remains incredibly strong in South Florida.

During the first TV timeout on Saturday, the Panthers played a tribute video for Cousins on the scoreboard above the ice.

Cousins stood up and saluted the crowd as they gave him a loud ovation, then turned toward the Panthers bench and gave his former teammates a nod.

You can check out the tribute video, and Cousins' reaction, in the X post below:

Welcome back, Cuzzy 🤝 pic.twitter.com/yOa7UCDCZz

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 11, 2025

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If folks have been keeping tabs on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last year and a half, they very well know that the organization is going through a plethora of change.

The roster is going younger. There has been a shift from laying everything on the line for playoff contention to rebuilding. 

But perhaps the most prominent shift was the coaching change made this summer.

Dan Muse was in, and former head coach Mike Sullivan was out. The irony of it all was that Sullivan faced his former team on opening night, as he is now at the helm for the New York Rangers. Muse did, too, as he was formerly an assistant with the Rangers. 

And now, just four days later, Sullivan is already back in Pittsburgh for the first time since switching sides, as the Rangers and Penguins square off again Saturday night. 

Many among the Penguins' faithful believed Sullivan was past his shelf life in Pittsburgh by the time he and the team mutually agreed to part ways at the end of April. And, maybe that's true. But none of that diminishes what Sullivan accomplished during his 10 years in Pittsburgh. 

Sullivan was first called upon in Pittsburgh on Dec. 12, 2015, when then-Penguins' coach Mike Johnston was fired and Sullivan was the head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). He helped turn the tide for a struggling Penguins' team and led them to the franchise's fourth Stanley Cup championship in 2016, and he coached them right back to another Cup in 2017. 

There was so much success so immediately - and Sullivan's Penguins were such a breath of fresh air in comparison to the Johnston-era Penguins - that there was a sense of inevitability when it came to Sullivan and the Penguins being synonymous for a long time. 

Rangers At Penguins Preview: Mike Sullivan Returns To PittsburghThe Pittsburgh Penguins will try to improve to 3-0-0 on the season when they host Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers on Saturday night. 

But the COVID-19 pandemic, first-round playoff exits, and - eventually - missed playoff appearances altogether served as reminders that the team and its coach were still human and that nothing is permanent. Fans grew tired of the same old same, and, too, of Sullivan himself.

There are a lot of narratives still swirling about Sullivan and his supposed failure to ice young players, even if the young talent - for the most part - simply wasn't in the pipeline for most of his tenure. There are narratives about him losing the room, which is something we may never truly know. 

However, tonight, none of that matters. All that matters is what Sullivan accomplished as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, which includes two Stanley Cup championships and his 409 regular season wins, which is the most by any coach in Penguins' history.

Saturday, he deserves to be celebrated for that. Not for his shortcomings.

Penguins' Bryan Rust Activated From Injured Reserve, Top Prospect Sent To AHLThe Pittsburgh Penguins will get one of their top forwards back for Saturday's game against the New York Rangers.

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It’s quite something to be an NHLer who has played 1,500 games. It’s even more impressive to do it while riding a games-played ironman streak of 927 games – the fourth-longest ironman streak in league history – while also being an important part of a legitimate Stanley Cup frontrunner in the Colorado Avalanche.

But that’s exactly what’s being done right now by 40-year-old defenseman Brent Burns. A 22-year NHL veteran who becomes only the eighth defenseman in league history to reach the 1,500-game plateau.

The others to reach that level – Zdeno Chara (1,680 games), Chris Chelios (1,651), Scott Stevens (1,635), Larry Murphy (1,615), Ray Bourque (1,612), Nicklas Lidstrom (1,564), and Ryan Suter (1,526) – are all legends in one way or another, so Burns is in rare air when it comes to NHL longevity. 

What makes Burns’ 1,500-game achievement – that will happen Saturday night when the Avalanche take on the Dallas Stars – all the more impressive is the fact that Burns has played an intense, physical game his entire career. This is not a delicate flower of an athlete we’re talking about. Staying healthy and in the lineup night in and night out, year after year, in the grind of the industry for nearly a dozen seasons as a physical force is a major feat. Most of all, Burns has been a star player who made his opponents’ lives much tougher, and he’s been an impact player at both ends of the ice. 

While you don’t have to lean completely on individual numbers when you’re discussing someone’s effectiveness as an elite player, it’s still a fact that Burns has generated 649 assists and 910 points in 1,499 games. That should tell you all you need to know about the all-around impact he’s had on the four teams he’s played for – the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes and Avalanche.

In his first two games with the Avs this year, Burns is averaging nearly 21 minutes a night (20:49, to be exact). But Father Time remains undefeated, so it’s undeniable that Burns might not be in the NHL much longer. This opportunity to win a Stanley Cup could be Burns’ last, best opportunity to win it all and cap off what is a Hockey Hall of Fame career.

Burns has already won a Norris Trophy as the league’s top blueliner. He’s also won a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship and at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. To think – this is a player who was converted from a forward to a defenseman in his first NHL season. Think of how difficult that transition had to be for Burns. Think of how your mindset has to change, and how you have to play even more responsibly when you’re a D-man. That’s what Burns went through and came out the other side with flying colors. 

Thus, we believe that Burns is a Hockey Hall of Famer. He’s an excellent example of NHL longevity, excellent offensively, posting back-to-back seasons of 27 and 29 goals with the Sharks, as well as a 67-assist season for San Jose. He’s been stellar as a punishing player who'll make you pay a physical price for daring to keep the puck away from him.

Burns’ all-around impact is what’s made him so valuable for so many years, and he’s now got a golden opportunity with the Avs to finish up his playing days by hoisting a Cup next spring.

Burns wouldn’t be the first Hall of Famer who failed to run the competitive NHL gamut and retire as a Cup-winner, and if that’s how his career pans out, he wouldn’t be the last, either. But for more than 11 years, he’s answered the bell and skated out onto the ice to play an elite game each and every night in hockey’s best league.

Avalanche fans are going to celebrate his 1,500-game achievement Saturday, but the real party could be happening in Denver in this season’s post-season. And Burns could contribute offensively and defensively to give Colorado the extra push they need to win a Cup.

And if the Avs do win a championship, Burns will be thrilled to bookend his career with the championship he’s chased for more than two decades. Burns has been a high-impact player throughout his career, and that’s likely to be true of him again this season.

Winning a Cup would be a storybook finish to an unlikely success story, but Burns’s challenge is to do precisely that.

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.

Denver, Colo. - The first night of two this regular season have arrived. The Dallas Stars are in town for the first time since handing the Colorado Avalanche a first-round exit from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With the return of the Stars comes the return of Mikko Rantanen, who played a big role - if not the biggest - in that playoff exit with a natural hat trick in Game 7.

Fear not, though, as there are many more storylines heading into tonight's game.

Roster Updates

Head Coach Jared Bednar began his press conference this morning by telling the media that Ilya Solovyov will be making his debut in burgundy and blue.

Ilya Solovyov is making his Avalanche debut tonight 👀🔥

That and more from Coach Jared Bednar today.

Full presser below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FD7Jht55VT

— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) October 11, 2025

With his debut comes bad news: Sam Girard will be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Other than that change on defense, none of the forward lines will change for the Avalanche, meaning Zakhar Bardakov will be a healthy scratch once again, Parker Kelly will center the fourth line, and Gavin Brindley will get yet another look in the NHL.

With that said, Scott Wedgewood will occupy the crease again tonight for Colorado after an almost shutdown performance against the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night.

Jake Oettinger will start in net for the Stars on the other side of the ice.

1,500 Games Played, What a Milestone

Only seven defensemen have ever gotten to the 1,500-game milestone in their careers. Tonight, Brent Burns will become the eighth.

The 8th defenseman to ever do it.

What an incredible milestone. Congrats, Burnzie 👏🥳 pic.twitter.com/Cb9uKqZ5Tr

— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) October 11, 2025

"It's impressive to hit 1,000. Every game after that, it's a bonus, I'm sure. Now, he's at 1,500, it's hard to do, especially when you - they're not easy minutes that he plays. He's an older guy now... The streak he has of games he's played in a row. It's part of the reason he's been able to hit 1,500, to be able to play the way he does, as physically as he does, and to be able to stay healthy for as long as he has, it's amazing."

- Coach Bednar on Burns hitting 1,500 NHL games played

Burns was drafted by the Minnesota Wild back in 2003 (20th overall). Since then, he's played with the Wild, the San Jose Sharks, the Carolina Hurricanes, and now, the Colorado Avalanche.

In that span of time, Burns has tallied 910 points (261g/649a), taken a total of 4,057 shots, and collected 857 PIMs.

*1500 NHL games later* pic.twitter.com/dazB9VzZw1

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 11, 2025

When/Where/How to Watch the Game:

Puck Drop: 7:08 pm Mountain Time

Avalanche T.V. Broadcast: Altitude Sports Network

Avalanche Radio Broadcast: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM

Dallas T.V. Broadcast: Victory+

Dallas Radio Broadcast: The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will get one of their top forwards back for Saturday's game against the New York Rangers.

Bryan Rust, who missed the first two games of this season due to a lower-body injury he suffered during training camp, is set to play on Saturday after he was activated off injured reserve. He rejoined the team at practice this week and was at Saturday's morning skate with some of his teammates. 

Fellow forward Ville Koivunen was assigned to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a corresponding move.

The Penguins have activated forward Bryan Rust from Injured Reserve. 

Forward Ville Koivunen has been assigned to @WBSPenguins (AHL). pic.twitter.com/TMk3iM7NMR

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 11, 2025

Koivunen struggled on Sidney Crosby's line in the first two games of the season against the Rangers and Islanders, but showed some chemistry with top prospect Benjamin Kindel during the Islanders game when head coach Dan Muse moved him to the third line. Koivunen probably won't be down in WBS for long. 

Rust is coming off a career season last year, finishing with a career-high 31 goals and 65 points in 71 games. 

Puck drop for Saturday's game will be at 7 p.m. ET.

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