Author: NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

The tail of Brennan Othmann with the New York Rangers continues to be disappointing. 

From being called up and down from the American Hockey League, the 2021 first-round pick still has failed to salvage a full-time role with the Rangers. 

The latest case of disappointment came when the Rangers called up Othmann for their four-game road trip, but he only played in one game before being scratched out of the lineup for the remaining three matchups.

The 22-year-old forward was ultimately called back down to the AHL on Sunday, capping off yet another underwhelming NHL stint. 

The decision from Mike Sullivan came as he’s looking for more out of Othmann’s game and wants him to get real game action, which the Rangers can’t provide for him. 

“We talked to Otter just about attention to detail, a little bit of predictability and reliability with his respect to his game away from the puck and that being an important element of him earning his way on the roster as a regular,” Sullivan said. 

“The other aspect of it is, we don't want any one player, especially young players sitting on the sidelines. He was in the West Coast trip with us. He played one of the games. We would rather see him get into game action, so he has an opportunity to learn through those experiences. He's a young player. He's he's got a lot of his career in front of him, and so just balancing, if he's not in the lineup at the NHL level, does it make sense to have him as the extra forward, or does it make sense to allow him to go back to Hartford and get into the games and play in 18-plus minutes.”

Noah Laba's Emergence Has Had A Ripple Effect On The Rangers The emergence of Noah Laba has opened up a world of possibilities for the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a>.&nbsp;

What does the future hold for Othmann with the Rangers?

Recently, Othmann’s name has been the subject of trade rumors. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Oct. 16 that the Rangers are open to the idea of trading the 22-year-old forward, and these recent events will only ignite more speculation.

A trade certainly seems as if it could be in the cards, but for now, Othmann will continue to play big minutes in Hartford and prove himself with the hopes of eventually working his way back up to the NHL.

The Edmonton Oilers have dealt with a series of injuries this season, but as players return to the lineup, roster spots are becoming increasingly limited. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the team is exploring trade options for defenseman Troy Stecher, who has been serving as the Oilers’ seventh defenseman but could find a full-time role elsewhere.

Reports indicate that Edmonton Oilers are actively exploring moving Troy Stecher.

The reason: the Oilers have a surplus of defencemen, several returning from injury.

📹 Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/xh7GcEHIqu

— Bleed Oil Blue (@BleedOilBlue) November 2, 2025

Stecher, 31, is a reliable two-way defenseman who previously spent time with the Detroit Red Wings before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a seventh-round pick in March 2022. A return to Detroit could make sense for both sides. The Red Wings have struggled defensively in recent games, allowing 27 goals in their last seven games, which is the second-most in the NHL during that stretch. Adding Stecher would be an upgrade over their current bottom-pairing right defenseman, Travis Hamonic, and he is also four years younger.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Troy Stecher! #LGRWpic.twitter.com/hpa7zQyUBU

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 1, 2021

There is reason to believe Stecher would be open to a reunion with the Red Wings as he originally chose Detroit as a free agent in 2020, and the team’s strong start to this season could make the opportunity even more appealing. The organization is already familiar with his work ethic and steady play, which could make him a natural fit on the blue line once again.

Stecher is coming off a Stanley Cup Final run with Edmonton, who acquired him along with a fourth-round pick from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a seventh-round pick. While he did not record any points in his eight postseason appearances, he finished with a +2 rating and provided dependable minutes in key situations. His extended playoff experience also includes an impressive stretch with the Kings, where he scored two goals and two assists in four playoff games after joining the team from Detroit.

For the Red Wings, adding Stecher would bring both experience and stability to a defensive group that needs improvement if they want to maintain their early-season momentum. With plenty of cap space and the likelihood that Stecher’s trade value remains modest, potentially costing only a mid-round pick, this could be a low-risk, high-reward move as Detroit looks to strengthen its roster for a potential playoff push.

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The shootout doesn't have the same luster as it used to when it was first introduced to solve ties in the NHL in 2005-06.

When teams are hosting 41 home games a year (and starting next season, 42), they need a mechanism to ensure games have a finite ending point rather than endless hours of overtime. That’s what shootouts guarantee in a way no other end-game solution can. Fans deserve a game-winner in a reasonable period of time during the regular season.

That said, it’s clear the shine is off the bumper for shootouts. It’s a non-team-based solution that narrows things down to a goalie and a few shooters. So, of course, people are going to want games to end before they reach the shootout stage.

That said, another 1-on-1 competition is just as exciting as always despite happening less often than it used to.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman brought up an interesting point on Saturday about penalty shots. He voiced his concern that on-ice officials aren’t calling enough penalty shots – and recent statistics bear that out.

Last season, there were 32 penalty shot attempts in the NHL. That’s the fewest in an 82-game season since 2000-01. The 2023-24 season saw 49 penalty shots, compared to 52 in 2022-23. Dating back to 2005-06, which saw a season-high 103 penalty shots, the average number of attempts in a season is 54.

Friedman mentioned some examples from Saturday's action that were or should have been penalty shots. On one play between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens, Juraj Slafkovsky received a minor penalty for holding when he and two teammates were "hacking and whacking" at Senators center Shane Pinto, who had a breakaway. Meanwhile, Tim Stutzle hooked Lane Hutson while the Habs defenseman was on a breakaway, and he did receive a penalty shot, igniting the crowd.

You can decide for yourself whether the fewer penalty shots last season were a result of referees being less liberal in calling them, or whether players are more disciplined. In any case, Saturday was an example of how we could have seen at least one more attempt that engages the viewer and can change the game.

We should encourage the NHL to instruct referees to be more open to calling penalty shots, which is "designed to restore a scoring opportunity which was lost as a result of an infraction being committed by the offending team," according to the NHL rulebook.

The four conditions that must be met to call a penalty shot are that the infraction must have taken place in the neutral zone or attacking zone, it must have been committed from behind, the player who had possession of the puck was denied a reasonable chance to score, and there must have been no opposing player between the player with the puck and the goaltender.

In Pinto's case, the only opponent he had in front of him was the goalie, and while he had the puck, Slafkovsky held him up in the neutral zone. There are almost certainly other situations like this one on a weekly and monthly basis that met the criteria for a penalty shot and yet were called something else.

It seems somewhat obvious to say it, but empowering the officials to hand out penalty shots on rush attempts that are bogged down by obstruction is a great thing. And remember, the NHL is in the entertainment business. What’s more entertaining than a penalty shot? (Haha, very funny, everyone who tried to answer that question with “a cycle game that leads to a blocked shot.” We see you.)

If you hate shootouts, we get it. Hockey is a team sport, so team-based ends to hockey games make most people happy. But while a penalty shot is virtually the exact same element of the game that a shootout is, the difference has to do with the timing of it.

You could get a penalty shot as soon as the game begins, and that would lead to terrific drama as teams get out of the gate. A late-game penalty shot also could decide the winner. And if referees do get more liberal with penalty shots, you could also, in theory, get multiple penalty shots in the same game. Dare to dream.

Last season, there were only seven penalty shot goals, the lowest total in that department since 1995-96. That may be an outlier, but it should be concerning for league officials. Penalty shots always are on highlight reels, and the NHL should want more of that, wherever they can get it. 

---

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The Buffalo Sabres continue their three-game homestand against JJ Peterka and the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday On Saturday, the Sabres played without winger Zach Benson, who was struggling with a lower-body injury. At practice on Monday, the club skated without another two forwards. 

Center Jiri Kulich and veteran winger Jason Zucker and c were not on the ice at KeyBank Center on Monday. Kulich saw only one shift in the third period of the Sabres 4-3 shootout victory over Washington, while Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that Zucker was battling an illness.   

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"Kulich is just dealing with an issue that couldn't play through. Zucker is sick, so I think he's doubtful for tomorrow too," Ruff said. "We've got some roster stuff we definitely have to talk about the next hour or so to make a decision....I'm gonna say I don't think Zucker is gonna feel well enough to play and then we've got one other guy that we don't know, so we're gonna have to take a hard look at what we can do." 

Buffalo called up winger Isak Rosen for Saturday’s game and the Rochester Americans leading scorer continued his offensive production by registering his first NHL goal in the first period, beating Washington’s Charlie Lindgren. Based on the possible lack of availability of Zucker and Kulich, it is possible that the Sabres insert Mason Geersten on the fourth line, and may have to recall center Noah Ostlund for the second time. If not, it is possible that Ruff goes with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

Canadian goaltender Louis Domingue, 33, has been released by Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Monday.

According to the club’s website, “Domingue is leaving Sibir due to family reasons.”

Family is a commonly cited reason for terminating a KHL contract. During the 2024-25 season, Anton Slepyshev, Linden Vey, Tony DeAngelo and Ryan Merkley all left their teams on similar grounds – Vey and DeAngelo resurfaced in other leagues shortly thereafter.

In 11 games for Sibir this season, Domingue had a goals-against average of 3.83 and a save percentage of .892. Sibir has the worst record in the KHL’s Eastern Conference with seven wins in 21 games and the third-worst record in the league.

Another Goalie Moves From NHL To KHL Canadian goaltender Louis Domingue, 33, has signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Thursday.

Originally from Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., Domingue played junior hockey for the Moncton Wildcats and Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, and was drafted in the fifth round, 138th overall, by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2014 and 2025, Domingue played 144 NHL regular-season games and seven more in the playoffs for the Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.

In the 2018-19 season with Tampa Bay, he played 26 games backing up Andrei Vasilevskiy and posted a 21-5-0 record – including a run of 11 straight wins – as the Lightning tied an NHL record with 62 regular-season wins (since broken).

After playing only two regular-season games for Pittsburgh in 2021-22, injuries to Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith forced Domingue into the Penguins’ starting role during the playoffs. He entered Game 1 of the first round in the second overtime period against the Rangers and played in six of seven games that series, which Pittsburgh lost.

In each of the past two seasons, Domingue played one game and won for the Rangers, but otherwise spent the rest of the time in the AHL.

Ilya Samsonov Signs Multi-Year KHL DealGoaltender Ilya Samsonov returns to the KHL, signing with Sochi after his NHL chapter concludes. A potential North American clause offers a path back.

It’s time to kick off a new week with more big NHL and hockey topics on The Hockey News Big Show.

What's Fuelling The Penguins' Success The Most? by The Big Show

Here’s what former NHL goaltender Devan Dubnyk, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:41: What's more heartbreaking: the Oilers' Game 7 loss, or the Blue Jays' Game 7 loss? 

2:35: Is this just a hot start to the season for the Pittsburgh Penguins, or can they sustain this? 

4:25: What is contributing more to the Penguins' success: the goaltending or the scoring? 

6:24: Who can step up to fill in Chris Tanev's spot if he's gone for an extended period of time? 

9:15: Is losing a defensive defenseman like Tanev worse than losing an offensive defenseman?

10:33: How much should Ottawa Senators fans be concerned about Linus Ullmark's play? 

12:55: Is Ullmark likely to turn things around quickly based on what you've seen from him in the past?

14:50: What kind of trade value does Edmonton Oilers D-man Troy Stecher hold on the market? 

16:30: Is there a hole the Oilers are trying to fill in their lineup? 

18:50: The New Jersey Devils agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $6 million annually with Jacob Markstrom. Thoughts on this deal?

20:40: Who is the starter for New Jersey if the playoffs were to start today? 

23:08: What goes into being a good backup goalie on and off the ice? 

25:48: The Montreal Canadiens are the first team in NHL history to win five of their first 12 games in overtime. Does it matter if they're going to overtime often if they continue to win?

28:34: What is making Montreal so good in overtime?

30:10: Are you starting to come around on whether the Habs are real contenders? 

34:00: Yay or nay: wearing dark helmets with white uniforms, as the Senators and Capitals did over the weekend?

35:20: Free-agent goaltender Ilya Samsonov signed in the KHL. Will he ever return to the NHL?

37:30: Name one player you think is on a hot streak right now and one player who is on a cold streak.

40:40: Has Father Time finally come for Alex Ovechkin? 

42:40: How much Halloween candy did you eat over the weekend?

Watch the full episode here

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off an overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. The Hawks played a great game against one of the best teams in the NHL, but the Oilers came out on top in the 3-on-3. 

Facing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in overtime is incredibly difficult, but the Blackhawks played well enough otherwise. Every time Edmonton pulled ahead in regulation, the Blackhawks found a way to even it up. 

Despite it being a loss, it’s a game to build on. The skaters kept up with the speed and skill of Edmonton, and Spencer Knight was great in net. 

Now, the Blackhawks will play game three of a six-game road trip. This one will come in Washington against the Seattle Kraken. 

Scouting Seattle

The Seattle Kraken have had a shockingly good start to the 2025-26 season. At 5-2-4, they’ve been a bit fortunate to collect overtime points, but they are right there in the mix. Since coming into the NHL as the 32nd expansion team, things have not been as smooth for them as they would have hoped, but things are looking good right now. 

Seattle’s last game, like Chicago’s, was a loss in overtime. Their OTL came at home against the New York Rangers. They are going to be looking for a bounce-back game just as much as the Blackhawks. 

Tolvanen - Beniers - Eberle

Schwartz - Stephenson - Kakko

Marchment - Wright - Nyman

Kartye - Meyers - Winterton

Dunn - Larsson

Lindgren - Montour

Mahura - Oleksiak

Daccord

The Kraken have a nice mix of veterans and young players on the team. Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle are two-thirds of a solid top line. Chandler Stephenson and Shane Wright add depth down the middle with decent wingers all over. 

On defense, they have some great players who can make a difference. Vince Dunn, Brandon Montour, and Adam Larsson are the leaders back there. 

The heart and soul of this team, however, is Joey Daccord. He has been a solid NHL goalie so far this season, so the Blackhawks will have their work cut out for them when trying to score. Bodies in front, being hard on the forecheck, and showing off some skill will be necesarry. 

Projected Blackhawks Lines, Defense Pairs, and Starting Goalie

On Monday afternoon, the Blackhawks announced that they called up Oliver Moore. He is going to make his Chicago Blackhawks season debut against the Kraken in this game. In addition to this move, Chicago has placed Jason Dickinson on injured reserve, retroactive to October 30th. 

Later in the afternoon, the Blackhawks announced that they have also sent Landon Slaggert down to the Rockford IceHogs.

Arvid Soderblom is going to start in the net. In front of him, lines and defense pairs won't be known for sure until warmups, as the morning skate in Seattle was optional. 

They will, if they go 11/7 again, look something like this: 

Greene - Bedard - Burakovsky 

Teravainen - Nazar - Bertuzzi 

Donato - Dach - Mikheyev

Moore - Foligno

Vlasic - Rinzel

Kaiser - Levshunov

Grzelcyk - Murphy

Crevier

Soderblom

With Dickinson out and Moore in, that makes Sam Lafferty the healthy scratch out of the forward group. Until Jeff Blashill dresses 12 forwards, it is assumed that they will continue with this strategy. 

How To Watch

Local TV viewers can find the game on CHSN, and out of market folks can find it on ESPN+. It can also be heard on local radio AM 720 WGN. The puck will drop shortly after 9 PM CT. 

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

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.

Oct 30, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) makes a save as Nashville Predators left wing Michael Bunting (58) looks on during the second period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators begin another hectic week of action with four games in six days, as the NHL’s compressed schedule continues into November.

It starts with a back-to-back Monday at Bridgestone Arena against the Vancouver Canucks before the team hops on a plane to Minnesota for a visit with the Wild on Tuesday.

Monday’s matchup with Vancouver is the second in as many weeks between the two clubs. The Preds came away with a 2-1 victory in Nashville on Oct. 23. After Monday, the two teams will meet for a final time this season in Vancouver on March 12.

The Preds snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 home victory over the Calgary Flames.

Michael Bunting tallied a goal and three points, while Matthew Wood, Jonathan Marchessault and Filip Forsberg (empty-netter) scored the other Preds goals. It was Wood's second goal in as many games after notching his first career NHL goal in Thursday night's loss in Philadelphia against the Flyers.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Monday night’s contest.

Game Day

Who: Nashville Predators (5-6-2) vs. Vancouver Canucks (6-7-0)

When: 7:30 Pm CT at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game

Lines (BetMGM

Canucks

+1.5 (-235)

O 5.5 (-120)

+100

Predators

-1.5 (+195)

U 5.5 (+100)

-120

Injury Update

Preds captain Roman Josi was placed on injured reserve on Sunday with an upper-body injury.

Forward Cole Smith left Saturday’s game against Calgary in the opening period after suffering an upper-body injury. On Sunday, the Predators announced Smith will miss 3-6 weeks.

The Preds held a morning skate on Monday, with Tyson Jost taking Smith's spot on the line with Michael McCarron and Ozzy Wiesblatt. Jost was a healthy scratch Saturday against Calgary.

Defenseman Adam Wilsby (lower body) is currently listed as day-to-day.

Team Leaders

Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly are co-leaders in points and have identical numbers (four goals and five assists for nine points). Bunting (3g-4a) and Erik Haula (2g-5a) have seven points apiece, while Marchessault (4g-2a) and Luke Evangelista (1g-5a) each have six points.

Juuse Saros continues his outstanding start to the 2025-26 season. Following the win on Saturday, ‘Juice’ is 5-4-2 with a 2.79 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. His .959 save percentage on the penalty kill ranks him eighth in the NHL in that category.

Justus Annunen is 0-2-0 with a 4.09 GAA and .852 SP.

Power Play Improving

Nashville’s power play has scored in three of its last four games, including a tally by Jonathan Marchessault on Saturday vs. Calgary.

The club is 3-for- 11 on the man advantage since Oct. 26 vs. Dallas, with Luke Evangelista and Marchessault also converting on the power play.

The Preds still have a hill to climb to get back to respectability; they currently rank 29th at 12.5% (5-for-40).

Meanwhile, the penalty kill is sixth in the NHL at 88.4% (5-of-43). The unit has successfully killed off 28 of the last 32 power plays by opponents.

With an assist on Michael Bunting’s goal on Saturday vs. Calgary, Spencer Stastney set a career high for points in a season with five (1g-4a).

Scouting The Canucks

It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride for Vancouver so far this season. Over their last five games, the Canucks have alternated wins and losses, including a 5-2 loss in Minnesota against the Wild on Saturday.

Conor Garland (3g-8a) leads Vancouver with 11 points, while former Preds forward Kiefer Sherwood has nine goals through 13 games this season. Elias Pettersson has three goals and eight points.

Thatcher Demko is 4-4-0 in the Vancouver net with a 2.41 GAA and .917 SP. Former Preds netminder Kevin Lankinen is 2-3-0, 3.53, .885.

On the power play, Vancouver is 7-for-42 (16.7%), putting them 21st in the league. The penalty-kill unit ranks 26th at 71.1% (13-of-45).

Drew O'Connor has factored on each of Vancouver’s past four goals (excluding shootout-deciding goals) dating to Oct. 30. Only Kiefer Sherwood has factored on more consecutive Canucks goals so far this season (five from Oct. 26-30).

All-Time Meetings

The Preds are 38-43-9 all-time against the Canucks, including a 20-19-7 mark in Nashville. The Preds are 5-4-1 in their last 10 outings against Vancouver and 2-3-0 in their last five against them at Bridgestone Arena.

Head To Head

Jonathan Marchessault has 26 points (11g-15a) in 26 career games against Vancouver, the fourth-most points he has vs. a single franchise.

Luke Evangelista scored his first two career NHL goals on March 6, 2023 at Vancouver. He became the second player (Jordan Gross) in Predators history to score his first two career NHL goals in the same game.

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FREE GIFT ISSUE + 12 ISSUES + FREE DIGITAL ARCHIVE + FREE SHIPPING*** Canada Post Strike update - as of October 15, 2025 -  Please be aware that Canada Post is now in a rolling strike.  While they are accepting mail, delivery times could be longer than expected.  US orders are not impacted. WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PRINT & DIGITAL ARCHIVE SUBSCRIPTION &gt; FREE GIFT ISSUE* of your

Former Montreal Canadiens forward Devante Smith-Pelly has landed a new gig.

The NHL Network has announced that they have hired Smith-Pelly as a studio analyst. In addition, the NHL Network shared that Smith-Pelly will make his 2025-26 season debut NHL Tonight: First Shift at 4 pm ET on Nov. 3. 

Smith-Pelly spent two NHL seasons with the Canadiens from 2014-15 to 2015-16. In 66 games with the Canadiens over that span, the winger recorded seven goals, eight assists, 15 points, and 143 hits.

We are excited to welcome #StanleyCup champion Devante Smith-Pelly to NHL Network as an analyst!

📺: Catch him on #NHLTNFirstShift today at 4p ET on NHL Network! pic.twitter.com/XkbvMuh47S

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) November 3, 2025

Smith-Pelly's time with the Canadiens ended during the 2015-16 season when he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Stefan Matteau. Following this, Smith-Pelly then played for the Washington Capitals, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2018. 

Smith-Pelly also had stints with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL and the Ontario Reign of the AHL following his time with the Washington Capitals. After this, he played his final professional season in 2021-22 with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, where he recorded four goals and eight points in 24 games.

While his career as a player is over, Smith-Pelly will now stay with the game after landing this cool new gig with the NHL Network. 

The Winnipeg Jets announced via social media on Monday that captain Adam Lowry will return to the lineup Tuesday night on the road against the Los Angeles Kings.

CAP IS BACK 👨‍✈️

Adam Lowry will return to the lineup tomorrow night! pic.twitter.com/3tMWZjYRFz

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 3, 2025

Lowry recently told media "I feel really good, I'm looking forward to being back out there and it's finally feeling like Christmas morning so I'm looking forward to it."

The holidays came early 🎁😆 pic.twitter.com/UZsdn5eXn5

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 3, 2025

The Canadian center underwent hip surgery in late May, and the club estimated a recovery timeline of five to six months. While he was initially expected to miss the start of the 2025‑26 season, the early return suggests his rehabilitation progressed ahead of expectations. 

In the 2024‑25 regular season, the 32‑year‑old recorded 16 goals and 18 assists in 73 games, finishing with a +18 rating. In the playoffs, he added four goals in 13 games, including the memorable game-winning goal in Game 7 of the first round, a 4‑3 double‑overtime win over the St. Louis Blues. 

Lowry has spent his entire NHL career with Winnipeg after being selected in the third round (67th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft. As of the end of the 2024‑25 season, he had accumulated 121 goals and 152 assists (273 points) in 775 career games. 

His return provides a timely boost to the Jets’ lineup and leadership core. Lowry will rejoin the lineup under a significant change, as it will be his first game in some time without his regular linemate, Mason Appleton, who left the team in free agency for the Detroit Red Wings. Lowry will instead be reunited with Nino Niederreiter, as the duo looks to rekindle the chemistry that made their line with Appleton one of the most impactful in the NHL over the past few seasons.

Lowry’s return is especially timely given the growing absences in the lineup. Winnipeg head coach Scott Arniel revealed Monday that veteran winger Gustav Nyquist remains day-to-day, while depth center Morgan Barron is listed as week-to-week.

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.

The Chicago Blackhawks have called up Oliver Moore from the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. This will be Moore’s first stint in the NHL this season. Jason Dickinson has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to October 30th. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xeveryone say hi Oliver!👋 roster moves📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/MlkjCGhoFZ

In 9 AHL games to start the year, Moore has 6 goals and 3 assists for 9 points. Those 6 goals lead all AHL rookies. He had a great camp ahead of that, so his hot start isn’t much of a surprise. Moore’s speed and tenacity were always there, but using them to create offense was something that he’s been working on. He also went into the summer looking to improve his shot.  

During the preseason and his time in the AHL, it seems like he has done that. His skills are starting to match his speed. 

Moore played in 9 NHL games to end last season after he was done at the University of Minnesota. In those games, he collected four assists but is still looking for his first career NHL goal. 

Oliver Moore’s addition will make the Blackhawks an even faster team. There is speed up and down the lineup, and Moore is the fastest of them all. 

Following this call-up, Moore is available to play on Monday night against the Seattle Kraken. 

UPDATE: Later in the afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have also sent Landon Slaggert down to AHL Rockford. This will be his chance to get back on track by playing in every game.

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

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.

Monday’s NHL slate may be compact, but it is packed with marquee matchups that promise high-energy action, dramatic finishes, and highlight-reel moments. One of the night’s most compelling games features Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers taking on the struggling St. Louis Blues.

This matchup offers plenty of betting intrigue and the potential for league-wide fireworks. We aim to carry over our early-season momentum and build on last year’s success with player props, which included hits on stars such as Mitch Marner, Mark Scheifele, Wyatt Johnston, Rasmus Dahlin, Teuvo Teravainen and Connor Hellebuyck.  

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

Bank On Offensive Outburst in Leafs-Penguins ClashCan Toronto's resurgence overcome Pittsburgh's veteran surge? Bet on explosive offense as these high-scoring rivals clash.

Edmonton Oilers vs St. Louis Blues Best Bets:

Over 6.5 Goals (+100)

Andrew Mangiapane Over 0.5 Points (+150)

Connor McDavid Over 1.5 Points (-115)

Jordan Kyrou Over 0.5 Points (-133)

The Oilers have dominated recent matchups against the Blues, winning four of their last five meetings. These games have typically been high-scoring affairs, with seven goals needed to hit the over, which was exactly the total in their last matchup in early April. Both teams have been consistent in generating offense, recording five or more goals in seven straight meetings. If the first period starts slowly, there could be value in waiting for a favorable live line to catch five or more goals later in the game.

Defensively, the Blues are struggling severely, ranking last in the NHL with a 4.17 goals against per game average. Their poor defensive play has contributed to a 3-7-2 record with their recent play showing little signs of improvement as they've allowed 30 goals in their last six games, seven more than any other team. 

The Oilers have started to regain their offensive firepower, scoring 26 goals over their last seven games, tied for fifth-most in the NHL during that span and could take advantage. However, Edmonton’s defense has been inconsistent as well, allowing 36 goals over their last ten games, which is tied for second-worst in the league.

Edmonton's attack will likely be led by captain Connor McDavid, who has two goals and four assists for six points over his last four games. McDavid has historically dominated the Blues, recording ten goals and 27 assists for 37 points in his last 25 games against St. Louis, including four three-point games in their last six meetings. His hot streak should also help others around him like winger Andrew Mangiapane, who we expected to break out of a ten-game point drought after starting the season with a three-game streak.

St. Louis can respond with offensive firepower of their own. Jordan Kyrou, the Blues’ top scorer this season, has four goals and four assists in 12 games. He has a strong track record against Edmonton, with six goals and nine assists in his last 11 games versus the Oilers. Kyrou’s performance could be pivotal in keeping the Blues competitive.

Are The Pittsburgh Penguins For Real?Crosby and Malkin are revitalized, leading league-leading Penguins. Can this aging core sustain a Stanley Cup push with solid goaltending and surprisingly deep support?

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will finish their four-game road trip on Monday night in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.

The Penguins are coming off a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday and will try to end the trip on a high note. They enter Monday's game with an 8-3-2 record, which is good for 18 points. They are tied for first in the Metropolitan Division with the New Jersey Devils. 

Tristan Jarry is set to start in goal for the Penguins after having the day off on Saturday. He's off to a strong start this season, compiling a 5-1-0 record, a 2.35 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage. 

Harrison Brunicke is slated to be in his ninth NHL game after he was paired with Owen Pickering again during the morning skate. Brunicke played in his eighth game on Saturday and struggled, so he'll try to bounce back on Monday.

Here were the rest of the lines: 

Forwards:

Hallander-Crosby-Rust

Mantha-Malkin-Tomasino

Novak-Kindel-Koivunen

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Pickering-Brunicke

Dumba-Clifton

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Anthony Stolarz will start in net for the Maple Leafs, and they will also be getting back William Nylander. Nylander has been one of their best players this year, compiling three goals and 15 points in nine games. 

The Maple Leafs come into this game with a 6-5-1 record and recently beat the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Puck drop for Monday's game will be at 7:30 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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The greatest goal-scorer in NHL history has two goals in 12 games. He has no points in his past four games. And on Saturday, he was demoted to the third line.

Which raises the question: has Father Time finally come for Alex Ovechkin?

If so, it was bound to happen, especially a year after the 40-year-old broke Wayne Gretzky's record for the most regular-season goals of all-time.

That record-breaking year, which saw Ovechkin finish the season with 44 goals and lead the Washington Capitals to the best record in the Eastern Conference, was emotional. But it was also probably emotionally draining.

It's not unusual that Ovechkin, who has accomplished everything he sought out to accomplish in his Hall of Fame-worthy NHL career, would take a step back this season. That being said, the drop in his production has been swift and significant.

Ovechkin, who is one goal away from 900 career goals, has gone four games without scoring. This season, he is averaging 2.25 shots per game — down from 3.65 in 2024-25. His shooting percentage is a career-low 7.4 percent — down from 18.6 percent in 2024-25.

Three times already, he's seen his ice time cut back to less than 17 minutes per game. In a game against the Rangers last month, he spent just 14:47 on the ice.

That's not the Ovechkin that Capitals fans have come to know. That's not the guy who you couldn't drag off the ice and who built a career on one-timing pucks past helpless goalies.

The Story Of The Ovechkin-Crosby Rivalry And His Quest To His First Stanley CupA former VP of communications for the Washington Capitals discusses Alex Ovechkin entering the NHL as an "infectious, lovable character" whose rivalry with Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby evolved in three stages.

At one point in his career, Ovechkin was an ice hog who seemed to have one leg permanently hanging over the bench waiting for his next shift and was averaging more than 23 minutes of ice time. But those days are long gone. On a team that is transitioning to its youth, Ovechkin is no longer playing top-line minutes. He's not even a top-six forward right now, having lost his spot on a line with either Dylan Strome or Connor McMichael to rookie Ryan Leonard. 

Instead, Ovechkin joined Hendrix Lapierre and Sonny Milano on what appeared to be the Washington Capitals' third line in a 4-3 shootout loss against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. It was the Capitals' fourth straight loss, with the team having managed just five goals in that span.

As some have noted, this isn't the first time that Ovechkin has started the season out slowly. Two years ago, he also had just two goals in October — although, he only played in eight games. But after scoring nine goals in the first four months, he exploded with 22 goals in the next three months and finished the season with 31 goals. 

Still, it was one of Ovechkin's second-lowest goal totals of his career. The only one worse was in 2020-21, when he scored 24 goals in a 45-game season.

This year looks like it will be more of the same. Maybe that's why the Capitals are already running the team with one eye on the future. That means giving minutes to Leonard and Aliaksei Protas and depending less and less on Ovechkin.

After all, no one knows how much longer he'll be playing at a high level — much less playing altogether.

Ovechkin is in the final year of his contract. And now that he's won a Stanley Cup and beaten Gretzky's all-time goals record, there isn't much else for him to achieve besides padding his stats and perhaps making one more championship run.

When asked about his retirement plans, Ovechkin told ESPN's Emily Kaplan that health will be a determining factor.

"I still love (the) game. I still have passion," he said. "You just enjoy it because you never know when you’re going to get hurt or when you’re going to be retired… I don’t want to play hockey and then (can't) play soccer with my kids or I can skate with them.

"Right now, I’m just– I want to take as much energy from a crowd. You have to enjoy the moment."

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The Florida Panthers begin a four-game Western Conference road trip on Tuesday and will do so without winger Jonah Gadjovich.

Gadjovich sustained an upper-body injury on Oct. 25 against the Vegas Golden Knights and hasn't skated since. The initial timeline given by coach Paul Maurice was "at least a week," but now we know that it will exceed two weeks.

Rob Darragh reported that he will not accompany the team on their road trip, and the organization should know more in the next couple of days. 

Noah Gregor stepped into the lineup to replace Gadjovich and will seemingly continue to do so as the Panthers begin their road trip against the Anaheim Ducks.

Jonah Gadjovich Out For At Least A Week; Noah Gregor To Make Panthers DebutCoach Paul Maurice announced that Jonah Gadjovich will be out at least a week with an upper-body injury, which creates space for Noah Gregor to make his Florida Panthers debut.

This is the Panthers' second road trip of the season, and they will be hoping for better results on this one. Their first road trip was a five-game Eastern Conference trip where they finished with a 1-4-0 record, losing the first four games. 

On the trip, the Panthers struggled to score goals, recording just eight goals, four of which came in the final game against the Boston Bruins. The Panthers' goal scoring well has been dry for most of the season, but it has been put on display on the road this season. The Panthers are averaging 2.5 goals per game, which ranks 29th in the NHL. 

On this trip, the Panthers will take on the Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and the Golden Knights. The Ducks and Golden Knights are currently tied for the Pacific Division lead in points with 15, and the Kings sit a point back with 14.

Picking up wins on this trip won't be easy, but it's necessary if they want to remain in the Atlantic Division hunt. The Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens currently lead the Atlantic Division with 18 points, five more than the Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, who are all tied in last place. 

Gadjovich's absence affects the Panthers' physical play in the bottom six, but the Panthers need to find a way to maintain their level. 

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.