DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche have spent far too much time this season cleaning up their own messes.

Defensive breakdowns, careless turnovers, and too many nights asking their goaltenders to bail them out have become familiar problems. Thursday night against Nashville, however, offered a much-needed response. The Avalanche still lost 3-2 in overtime, but this time, there was something worth taking away from the effort.

That's not to say Colorado played a perfect game. Far from it. The opening period was another reminder of just how quickly things can unravel when the Avalanche get careless defensively. Nashville scored on its first shot of the night, courtesy of former Avalanche forward Ross Colton, and spent much of the opening frame making Colorado pay for its mistakes.

Jaden Schwartz answered with a blistering one-timer off a feed from Martin Necas, but the Avalanche continued to struggle with puck management and defensive coverage. By the time the first intermission arrived, Nashville had generated nine high-danger scoring chances. Colorado had some serious cleaning up to do.

And, for once, it actually did.

After allowing nine high-danger chances in the first period, the Avalanche surrendered just one over the final 40 minutes. They were more committed to their defensive assignments, did a better job protecting the middle of the ice, and stopped giving Nashville the kind of easy opportunities that had plagued them in their previous meetings.

Head coach Jared Bednar noticed the difference.

"I think there's no doubt in my mind that we played harder and more committed on the defending side," the Avalanche head coach said following the game.

Bednar acknowledged that Colorado was sloppy with the puck early, but felt his team settled into the game as the second period progressed.

HC Jared Bednar on the Avs' effort in OT loss to the Predators:

"Got to be happy with the effort. There's definitely some things that we can improve on, but I like the fact that we played hard and competed hard..."#GoAvsGo | #McRibpic.twitter.com/3rbdrA5fWO

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) November 6, 2026

"I thought we settled in a little bit (in the second period). We did a nice job when we were checking, and then it was trading some scoring chances here and there."

It was an encouraging assessment from a coach who has watched his team struggle to put together complete performances. Bednar wasn't pretending everything was suddenly fixed, either. He made it clear there were still things to clean up, but he liked the commitment and competitiveness his players showed.

Following Tuesday's 7-2 beatdown at the hands of the Blue Jackets, Bednar said he would be changing his coaching approach with the team. Whatever that change was, it seemed to have helped."

Cale Makar and Devon Toews also recognized the effort, although another loss certainly wasn't what either defenseman wanted to be talking about afterward.

Makar felt the team had put together a good performance, pointing to the work ethic and the way players committed to their responsibilities. He also acknowledged that sometimes the bounces simply don't go your way.

"I felt like we had a really good game," Makar said.

Toews, meanwhile, pointed to the team's ability to find its footing after falling behind yet again.

"I felt like we had some good momentum earlier. Again, just by bouncing started behind again, but found a way to crawl back," Toews said.

That last part is worth paying attention to. Colorado has had too many games this season where an early setback turns into a complete unraveling. Thursday wasn't one of them.

Parker Kelly helped bring the Avalanche back with a terrific finish on a two-on-one rush early in the second period, tying the game at 2-2. Mackenzie Blackwood also did his part, stopping 22 of 25 shots and making several important saves to keep Colorado in the game.

Justus Annunen deserves credit, too. The former Avalanche goaltender stopped 30 of 32 shots and made life difficult for a Colorado offense that generated plenty of opportunities but couldn't find the finishing touch.

The power play remains an issue. The Avalanche still seem too interested in finding the perfect shot instead of taking advantage of the opportunities sitting right in front of them. T.J. Hughes had a particularly frustrating chance in the second period when he hesitated on a potential one-timer, allowing Nashville to recover and eventually kill off the penalty.

Those are the kinds of moments that can swing games, especially against a team that isn't giving you much defensively.

Then came overtime. Toews was called for hooking Steven Stamkos during a sequence that could have gone either way. Toews did hook Stamkos and tried to get out of it. However, Stamkos made the smart veteran play by holding Toews' stick in long enough to get the call. Nashville wasted no time and it was none other than Stamkos who buried the game-winner to hand Colorado a third straight loss to the Predators.

It's a frustrating ending, especially after watching the Avalanche work their way back into a game that could have gotten away from them early. But I'm not walking away from Thursday feeling the same way I did after those previous Nashville losses.

There is still plenty to fix. Colorado cannot keep digging itself into holes in the opening period, and the power play needs to be more decisive. But the defensive response was real, and that's something this group needs to carry into its next game.

The Avalanche have shown they can score. They've shown they have goaltending. What they need now is the willingness to defend with the same urgency every night, not just after spending 20 minutes chasing the game.

Colorado gets another shot on Saturday at home against the Detroit Red Wings.

The New Jersey Devils nearly collapsed against the St. Louis Blues. They led 4-1 in the third period but allowed three unanswered goals, sending the game to overtime. The Blues had all the momentum and a comeback in the works. 

It’s the type of game that the Devils weren’t happy with, and they knew it. They were overconfident and played loose at the end, thinking another home win was in the works. A few defensive breakdowns let the Blues back in. “We weren't really emotionally engaged in that third period. We didn't get pucks out; we were cheating a bit when they stayed in the zone,” Jesper Bratt stated after the game. 

Yet, the Devils still ended up on the winning side. In three-on-three overtime, Dougie Hamilton forced a turnover, sent the puck up the ice to spring Jesper Bratt open for a game-winning breakaway goal. The Devils were tested and not only recovered but showed there’s another layer to this team. There’s more character in this group to rebound after allowing three unanswered goals and still come away with a win. 

Devils Got A Wake Up Call, Even In A Win

With a 4-1 lead, the Devils were in control and outplaying the Blues. However, with comfortable leads comes confidence, sometimes too much confidence. The Devils, after overwhelming the Blues through two periods, tried to run up the score, and it cost them. “We just started making it up and tried to see how cool we could be,” head coach Sheldon Keefe stated after the win. 

The Devils closed out games in the past with their chip-and-chase, forecheck, and defense, daring the opponent to skate the full length of the ice for goals. Against the Blues, they were looking for a few extra goals. 

Luke Hughes & Philip Broberg Show The Reward Of Paying Defensemen With UpsideBoth the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues paid their young defensemen recently, betting on their upside and development into elite defensemen. It’s a risk, but part of the new age of thinking for contracts.

The defense also drifted away from the style of play that helped build the 4-1 lead. Instead of controlling the puck and moving it out of the defensive zone, they chipped it and gave the Blues more possession as a result. “We just got a little bit off of our game. We were playing a little too defensively, chipping pucks out and not really sustaining pressure,” Connor Hellebuyck added afterwards.

These games are lessons for the Devils, a team that hopes to prove they are contenders this season. To do so, they must take games like these and come back stronger. “Everyone’s learning in this locker room, and lucky for us, we came out on top,” Anthony Mantha stated after the win. 

Devils Show They Can Bounce Back After Rough Games & Within Rough Games

When teams bend, they don’t want to break. However, when they lose momentum, it’s hard to regroup and come out with the win. The Montreal Canadiens learned this firsthand earlier in the week, blowing a 4-0 lead to the Winnipeg Jets in the final four minutes and losing 5-4 in overtime. 

The Devils squandered the 4-1 lead and not only regrouped to force overtime but won it as well. In the past, the Devils wouldn’t hold on and win these games, but they are a different group this season. They can turn the page and find their game to win games. 

It’s not the first time this season they’ve rebounded. They’ve bounced back from rough losses, whether it was the 4-2 loss on Oct. 17 to the Washington Capitals or the 5-2 loss on Oct. 28 to the Colorado Avalanche. The recent game is also not the first time that the Devils lost the grip on the game yet recovered and won. The Nov. 3 game against the Edmonton Oilers saw them blow a 3-1 lead, and they still managed to win 4-3 in the shootout. 

New Jersey Devils' 15 Takeaways 15 Games Into The 2026-27 SeasonThe New Jersey Devils have played 15 games this season and are starting to form an identity. So, here are some takeaways from their hot start.

The Devils have a bend-but-don’t-break mentality, but also know what it takes to win and play that way. “We dictate a lot of our play; it's our game, and we really take it to teams. When we bring our game and stick to it, we're going to get a lot of positive results,” Hellebuyck mentioned after the win over the Blues. With an 11-5 record, the Devils know what winning hockey looks like, and they are still working to play that way every night. “We're just a group that continues to learn. The recipe for us to win games is right there for us. I think there's no shortcuts,” Bratt added afterwards. 

The Message Heading On The Road

The Devils wrapped up a brief homestand with two wins, albeit two close calls that required overtime. Up next is a difficult road trip, another trip that will test this team. It starts with a road game against the New York Islanders on Nov. 7. The Islanders defeated the Devils 6-0 on Oct. 3 at UBS Arena and haven’t lost to their divisional rival since Nov. 9, 2024 (they’ve outscored them 17-1 in the last three matchups). 

Then the Devils face the Toronto Maple Leafs as the second game on a back-to-back. The road trip wraps up on Nov. 10 with a matchup against the Winnipeg Jets in Hellebuyck’s much-anticipated return. 

Oilers Provide Template To Beat Devils Connor Hellebuyck But It’s Not EasyThe Oilers were the first team to test Hellebuyck since he joined the Devils, scoring three goals on 21 shots, but it showed how hard it is and why few teams will do so this season.

What’s the message heading into this road trip? “Nothing changes. Just get back to our game and keep playing a good brand of hockey,” defenseman Luke Hughes stated after the recent win. 

For the Devils, the key is getting back to the style that made them successful. It’s the structure on the defensive end and the focus for all three periods. It helped them on the latest road trip, where they went 2-1 and defeated the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights. Now, the Devils are hoping it results in another successful three-game trip. 

In his 1980 hit Against the Wind, Detroit-born singer-songwriter Bob Seger tells the story of someone who keeps pushing on and persevering even as they get older and life gets harder. The Vegas Golden Knights might not be ‘living to run and running to live,’ but they sure are fighting and finding ways to win, even when they aren’t playing their best hockey.

That’s certainly what they did tonight in a low-scoring win over against the Detroit Red Wings.

“I liked our first period a lot,” said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig. “What we didn’t get was rewarded. And then I think we got away from it, because it maybe didn’t show up on the scoreboard. But like I said, we found a way to get it back and get two points.”

Detroit came in waves during the second period, but Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart held the line and made 25 saves in a 2-1 win. Red Wings goaltender Daniil Tarasov held Vegas off the scoresheet until early in the third period, but they stuck with it and eventually broke through.

“We just stuck with it and found a way,” Hart said after the win. “I think that’s what it’s all about in this league, just finding different ways to win. It’s not always gonna be pretty; it’s not always gonna be perfect. And tonight, I thought we just stuck with it and found a way to win.”

“We’re finding ways to gut wins out,” agreed forward Braeden Bowman. “I think our group’s pretty comfortable in those situations.”

1. Defense is Great, But…

The Golden Knights did a lot of good tonight, and I’ll get to that in a minute. But first, the bad.

This team shouldn’t continuously struggle to score. They won tonight, yes. But you won’t win many games scoring fewer than three goals, and the Golden Knights have done that quite a lot recently. 

They scored 41 goals in the first 10 games of the season. In their last eight, they’ve scored just 18 goals. Only 10 of those 18 goals have come at 5-on-5. Both of their goals tonight came at 5-on-5, but they didn’t break through until the third period. 

Sure, you could chalk that up to a great performance by Daniil Tarasov, the Red Wings goalie, who certainly played well. But the fact of the matter is that the Golden Knights have an elite offense, and it’s at least mildly concerning that they continuously struggle to score. 

It’s hard to argue with results, and the Golden Knights have won their last two games and picked up a point in the game before that. But over their past eight games, they’ve only scored more than two goals twice. And one of those 2+ goal games only happened because of two empty-net goals.

Now, onto the good.

2. Watch the Young Man Run (Against the Wind)

The Golden Knights have their fair share of talent on their roster, and the stars usually deliver. The stars can’t shine every night, but that isn’t always a dagger. Recently, the young Golden Knights have stepped up and scored big goals when their team needed them.

Braeden Bowman isn’t a rookie anymore, but he’s still a young player finding his way in this league. His game-tying response goal tonight was just another big moment in a Golden Knights sweater.

“It was a great play right off the face off from Hanny to Oly,” said Bowman following the 2-1 win. “And then [Olofsson] makes a great play to Herts, who slides it over to me, and I just kind of shot it. It went through a couple sticks and found its way in.”

Then, with a minute and 42 seconds remaining in the third period, Golden Knights rookie Trevor Connelly scored yet another big goal to put his team ahead late.

“I knew Jack, we were coming down with speed and kind of saw the D man overcommit,” said Connelly. “I thought if I pulled it around and got a quick shot, it might catch the goalie. Lucky shot for sure.”

This is Connelly’s third straight game with a goal. All three have come in the third period.

“He’s unreal,” said Bowman when asked about Connelly. “He’s doing a great job, and he’s having some fun doing it, too... Kudos to him. He’s playing unbelievable right now.

“He’s so fun to watch. He’s got lightning speed; he can do pretty much everything,” Bowman continued. “There’s not a lot to dislike [about his game]. When he’s out there, he’s playing hard, and he’s getting to those areas that you have to get to. He’s strong on his skates, and he’s fast— he’s really fast. His puck skills are unbelievable, world-class... He can do some pretty elite stuff with the puck, and it’s cool to see it working out in games.”

3. On The Road Again

The Golden Knights might not be fully out of their rough patch, but they sure are fighting through it. Their game isn’t perfect, but they’re sticking with it and finding ways to win. That’s what good teams do. 

“I think we’ve just been finding our game when we need to,” said Braeden Bowman following the win. “We have some periods of games where we’re not at our best, but I think we’ve done a good job of having a ‘bend, don’t break’ mentality and finding our way out of it. And then when we need a big play, there are guys making them.”

NHL players and coaches alike say the game is simpler on the road, and the Golden Knights are echoing those sentiments right now.

“I think it was good timing for us to get on the road,” said goaltender Carter Hart following the 2-1 win. “It’s good to kind of get together and be together on the road for 9 days. Anytime you’re on the road for stretches like that, I think it’s very important for our bonding as a group. It’s been a good trip, and we’re looking forward to keeping it going on Sunday.”

Familiar faces turned foes as the Colorado Avalanche welcomed the Nashville Predators to Ball Arena for the first of four meetings this season. We caught a glimpse of former Avs Ryan O’Reilly, Alex Kerfoot, Jack Drury, Ross Colton, and Justus Annunen.

Oh, and I wouldn’t be surprised if former Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland was in attendance as well. Tonight, the home team erased a one-goal deficit twice only to drop the extra point in overtime after a nasty post and untimely penalty.

The Game

Jack Drury made it clear when the Avalanche played the first time around that the win meant a lot for Ross Colton, saying, “I’m happy for Ross,” after their 6-2 win back on October 25.

Well, Colton would exact even more revenge tonight, getting the scoring going on a play where he didn’t give up on the puck. At 4:01, in the first, Nashville took its first lead of the night, with Ryan O’Reilly getting the assist.

Next, Jaden Schwartz leveled things when Brock Nelson’s forechecking pressure led to a Predators turnover that found Martin Necas’ stick. As Necas left the goal line, he found Schwartz, who was working toward the net. Jaden beat Justus Annunen, and the game was tied 1-1 at 9:11 in the first.

The Predators weren’t done scoring in the first period as Vitali Pinchuk scored his first career NHL goal. He earned the net-front chance after Reid Schaefer stole the puck from Brock Nelson and found him in a dangerous area. The goal came at 14:34 in the first, giving Nashville the 2-1 lead to end the first.

We saw only one goal in the middle frame when Parker Kelly roofed one at 5:08 to tie things at 2-2. Parker Kelly ended up on a break after a great chip play from Logan O’Connor. O’Connor was along the boards and made a heady play to get the puck to the middle of the ice and out of the defensive zone, and Kelly did the rest.

The third period opened up as Nashville and Colorado traded chances, but both Justus Annunen and Mackenzie Blackwood stood tall and came through while their side was down a man. The final frame ended without a goal from either side, and the game went to overtime.

The OT period was all Avalanche until it wasn’t. The home team generated a flurry of chances, including one for Devon Toews, who was all alone after MacKinnon found him streaking toward the net. He beat everything but the post. Soon after, Devon Toews found himself in the penalty box for holding Steven Stamkos.

In the end, Steven Stamkos tied Luc Robitaille for the 5th most power-play goals in NHL history with his game-winner, earning the Predators the extra point and the 3-2 OT victory.

Takeaways

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was very vocal and honest in the days since Colorado’s 7-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and it seems to have struck a chord at least for tonight. The Avalanche spent a lot of time on the penalty kill, and the Predators have been pretty lethal on the power play so far this season.

We saw the Avalanche approach the kill with attention and urgency, even when typical PK guys like Brent Burns were in the box. That’s just one example, but for me, effort was not an issue this evening.

Mackenzie Blackwood had one incredible save in the first period and what could have been a game-saving save midway through the third and final period. For the most part, both goalies were good tonight, and that always makes for an entertaining game.

I’m getting the sense that although many players on these two teams are friendly off the ice, a budding rivalry could be brewing, and with all the familiarity, it could get juicy. All I know is I’m circling the next Avs vs. Preds game on my calendar, coming in January of 2027.

Nathan MacKinnon left the ice visibly frustrated after the OT loss, which makes sense, as the Avalanche had the win on their stick late in the third on a power-play chance, and again a few times in the bonus period. MacKinnon has been held pointless in 5 of Colorado’s 8 losses.

Up Next

The Detroit Red Wings will come to Denver for a 7 o’clock Saturday matchup with their old flame at Ball Arena.

Steven Stamkos continued to make his mark on the NHL history books on Thursday night, as he hit a major milestone with his game-winning goal.

The Nashville Predators were looking to continue a strong start run of form, as they've won two in a row, as they visited the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. It also marked Ross Colton and Jack Drury's return to Ball Arena after the duo joined the Predators during the past offseason.

Ross Colton scored the opening goal of the night, just 4:01 into the game, knocking the puck past Mackenzie Blackwood during a scramble in front of the net. It was undoubtedly a special goal for Colton, as it marked his first goal against his former team since being traded.

Just before the halfway point in the opening frame, Jaden Schwartz was able to beat Justus Annunen for his seventh goal of the season to tie things up. Vitali Pinchuk nearly scored his first career goal moments later, but was denied by the goal post.

Pinchuk wouldn't be denied for long though, as at 14:34 in the first period, he scored with a backhand shot from a tight angle, going over Blackwood's shoulder to restore the Predators' lead. 

At 5:08 in the second period, Parker Kelly scored on the rush, beating Annunen on his blocker side, to tie the game once again.

60 minutes weren't enough to determine a winner, as after a scoreless third period, the game went into overtime.

After Devon Toews was penalized for hooking Steven Stamkos, Stamkos scored his 247th career power play goal to not only secure a win for the Predators, but he also tied Los Angeles Kings great Luc Robitaille for fifth on the all-time power play goal leaderboard. Stamkos' goal came off of a one-timer from the top of the circle.

The Predators are now officially on a win-streak, with three straight victories. They'll return home on Saturday as they play the St. Louis Blues at Bridgestone Arena.

Prescott's Ben Hutton won't be playing for his hometown Senators this season, but the veteran defenceman has found himself another NHL job.

The New York Islanders announced Thursday they've signed the 33-year-old to a one-year deal, just three days after bringing him in on a professional tryout.

Hutton, who was born in Brockville and raised in Prescott, spent part of September trying to earn a job with the Senators. He signed a PTO with the club on September 17, but after appearing in two preseason games, Hutton was released on September 29.

It was a disappointing outcome for the local product, who felt like he had a solid 2025-26 season with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Hutton appeared in 55 games, putting up six goals and 15 points. His goal total was a career high, and he also appeared in seven playoff games as the Knights made it to the Cup Final.

Despite all that, Hutton was unable to secure a contract.

"It's been a whirlwind," Hutton told reporters this week. "Never really experienced something like this. Been in the league for a little time now, and thought I had a good year. Nothing came of it."

Turns out the Sens could have used him this season, at least in the early going. At one point last month, the Sens were so banged up on the blue line, they dressed a number of defensemen (Carter Yakemchuk, Cameron Crotty, Hoyt Stanley, Jorian Donovan) who all had almost no NHL experience.

The Islanders have their own share of injuries. Ryan Pulock suffered an upper-body injury expected to keep him out for two to four weeks. The Islanders are also without Alexander Romanov, probably for the season, after he suffered a torn ACL in October. So they're pleased that a player like Hutton was available at this stage.

Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer has a pretty good idea what the team is getting. He was Hutton's head coach in Vegas, though only for one year. The following season, under Bruce Cassidy, Hutton won a Cup with the Knights.

Although things didn't work out with the Senators, it’s nice to see the likeable local veteran get another opportunity to show he can still contribute at the NHL level.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

The Vegas Golden Knights are getting comfortable with uncomfortable games.

And Trevor Connelly is getting comfortable deciding them.

The rookie scored with 1:42 remaining Thursday, completing a third-period comeback that lifted Vegas to a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.

TREVOR CONNELLY 😳

That's three straight games with a goal! pic.twitter.com/JsWzPr4EyE

— NHL (@NHL) November 6, 2026

Braeden Bowman also scored, and Carter Hart made 25 saves as the Golden Knights improved to 11-5-2 and collected their fifth point in three games on a four-game road trip.

“We’re finding ways to gut wins out,” Bowman said. “And I think our group’s pretty comfortable in those situations.”

After a shootout loss in Boston and a late victory in Pittsburgh, Vegas again found an answer when a close game demanded one.

This time, coach Ryan Craig’s adjustments helped produce both goals.

Craig shortened his bench and shuffled personnel in the third period, pairing Bowman with Tomas Hertl and Victor Olofsson, then moving Connelly up alongside Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.

“I thought Trevor had some jump, was around the puck a little bit tonight,” Craig said. “So moved him up.”

The changes followed a second period Craig felt had drifted away from the Golden Knights’ preferred approach. Extended shifts and unnecessary plays through the neutral zone prevented Vegas from establishing its forecheck.

“We managed the puck in the first and the third,” Craig said. “We played behind them, got through the neutral zone, were able to establish some zone time.”

After 40 scoreless minutes, Anton Johansson gave Detroit the lead at 2:02 of the third. Bowman answered at 4:20, converting a feed from Hertl, with Olofsson also earning an assist.

Bowman said he aimed toward the side of the net where Hertl was heading, sending the puck through traffic.

“Those guys are so fun and easy to play with,” Bowman said. “They get puck in right areas, they hang onto pucks when it’s necessary.”

Connelly scored the winner at 18:18, capitalizing on a rush with Eichel before changing his shooting angle with a toe drag. Eichel and Rasmus Andersson earned assists.

Connelly said he looked for open ice while matching Eichel’s speed, trusting that the veteran would find him or create something himself.

“I feel like just every game, every practice getting more comfortable,” Connelly said. “I think it’s a new experience for me.”

His willingness to make a play in a decisive moment has become a valuable part of Vegas’ road trip.

“I think just trusting my abilities and going out there and giving it my best effort,” Connelly said.

Hart gave the Golden Knights time to find that finish. Vegas outshot Detroit 34-26, while Daniil Tarasov made 32 saves for the Red Wings, who fell to 7-7-3.

Vegas went 0-for-3 on the power play but killed both Detroit opportunities in the third period.

“Guys did a good job of boxing guys out and tying up sticks,” Hart said.

For Hart, the result reflected a team learning to win through different circumstances.

“It’s not always going to be pretty, it’s not always going to be perfect,” he said. “And tonight I thought we just stuck with it and found a way to win.”

Craig saw progress beyond the standings.

“Actually like this game better than the first two,” he said. “I liked our first period a lot. What we didn’t get was rewarded, right?”

The reward eventually came, with two young forwards providing the offense a veteran group needed.

KEY MOMENT

Craig’s decision to move Connelly alongside Eichel and Stone paid off with 1:42 remaining. Connelly found space on the rush, changed the shooting angle and delivered the goal that turned a potential overtime game into a regulation victory.

KEY STAT

Five of six. The Golden Knights have earned five of the six available points through three games of their road trip, following a shootout loss in Boston with consecutive victories in Pittsburgh and Detroit.

WHAT A KNIGHT

Connelly scored for the third consecutive game, giving him a goal at every stop on the trip.

“He’s super skilled,” Hart said. “You can tell he just loves the game and he’s making the most of his opportunity.”

UP NEXT

Vegas concludes its four-game road trip Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres. Puck drop is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Pacific.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Trevor Connelly (24) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring 30 against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.

If there was any game to look forward to on the Utah Mammoth’s five-game road trip across Pennsylvania and Eastern Canada, it was definitely Thursday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. A young exciting Canadiens team fresh off an Eastern Conference Final appearance, fired up after an embarrassing loss to the Winnipeg Jets where they blew a 4-0 lead late in the third vs another young and exciting team in the Mammoth.

It was just as good a game as many expected it to be, too. It wasn't just because the Mammoth wore their Hometown Remix jersey against the Canadiens' red home jersey, creating a beautiful color vs. color matchup. Nine goals were scored between the two teams as the game went the distance. Someone had to lose in overtime, and that ended up being the Mammoth, as Cole Caufield scored the game-winner to give the Canadiens a 5-4 win.

It wasn’t a bad game by the Mammoth either. In the first period, they found themselves actually keeping up with the Canadiens. Logan Cooley scored his ninth and 10th goals of the season to open up the game. While the Canadiens tied the game before the end of the first and outshot the Mammoth, it was only by three shots.

However, as the game went on, the Mammoth found themselves being outshot by a wider and wider margin. In the second, the Canadiens outshot their opponents 15-8. Yet, two things saved the Mammoth from losing the lead. One of those things was Cooley scoring his third goal of the game for his second hat trick of the season and on the road trip.

Red hot in Mountain Blue. 🔥 Cools tallies another!

2-0, Utah. pic.twitter.com/HTI2mNOM57

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) November 6, 2026

Cooley is now up to 11 goals in the season, which ties him for fifth in the entire NHL with Auston Matthews. He is also tied for first in the league in hat tricks with Brady Tkachuk and Cutter Gauthier. Maybe most impressive is that he is now the fastest active player to record five hat tricks, which bests Alex Ovechkin.

We are seeing the star power from Cooley that we saw at the beginning of last season before his serious injury. What’s more impressive than last season, though, is the fact that he’s doing it split from his usual linemate, Dylan Guenther. It’s showing that Cooley can play with anyone and still produce.

“I think it's just trust and instincts, trying to play with some confidence right now,” Cooley said. “When you're feeling good, you have confidence. That's when you know you feel like plays start to open up and they start to go in.” 

It’s not just on five-on-five where Cooley is scoring. He’s helping the Mammoth power play continue to be the best in the league. It was especially hot on Thursday, with the unit going three-for-five. That included what seemed to be Nick Schmaltz’s go-ahead goal in the third period that was assisted on by Cooley, making it a four-point night for him.

Cools sets up Schmaltzy for a power play goal! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/NrwSaRw5uM

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) November 6, 2026

The penalty kill wasn’t too shabby either, going three-for-four. Part of the reason for that was the stellar play from Sebastian Cossa in his first-ever second consecutive start. While he finished with an .857 save percentage, his play was better than what the stats say. Cossa came up especially big towards the end of the second and third periods when the Mammoth were on the penalty kill.

He was the other reason why the Mammoth stayed in this game despite being outshot. Cossa at times had the Canadiens shooting at him like a shooting gallery during the penalty kills. The goaltender ended up making 30 saves on 35 shots. He does not deserve to be blamed for this loss at all. In fact, if anything, Cossa deserves to start on either Saturday against the Ottawa Senators or Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

“He was good,” head coach André Tourigny said. “Especially in the second period, he made a few big saves, allowed us to stay in the game, and was a big reason why we got the point.”

Even the overtime winner from Caufield was scored on a two-on-one opportunity that was going to be a hard one for Cossa to save. He can’t save all 35 shots that the Canadiens put up when the Mammoth only had 20.

COLE CAUFIELD WINS IT IN OVERTIME 🔥🚨 pic.twitter.com/JAuuHUaQyW

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 6, 2026

What went wrong for the Mammoth? Five-on-five play wasn’t great. Three of the four goals scored by them were on the power play. Only 13 of the 20 shots were on five-on-five. Not to mention, the Mammoth took way too many penalties that put Cossa to work.

“You don't want to give up goals; you need to play to not give up goals,” Tourigny said. “If you play like that, you get burned. I didn’t like our mindset. I think our guys worked. That's never the problem. But we need to be better away from the puck.” 

Nate Schmidt did end up leaving during the game with an upper-body injury and didn’t return, leaving the Mammoth with just five defensemen for most of the game. We’ll see if he returns for Saturday’s game.

The Mammoth did get a point, with the Canadiens winning in overtime. It helps them stay second in the Central Division, with the Dallas Stars only a point back. That’s big.

“It's really important,” Tourigny said. “We need to keep building on that, and we need to always be angry to want more and more.”

However, the Mammoth would’ve liked to get two points. Imagine if they hadn’t surrendered that late goal to Adam Engström. Imagine if they got more shots during five-on-five play. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Yet, the Mammoth shouldn’t walk away from this one beating themselves up. The Canadiens are a good team, second in the Atlantic Division. Taking this team to overtime and getting a point isn’t bad. There were some good aspects from this game that they can take into Saturday’s game, like the power play and Cossa.

“He (Cossa) was really good in a lot of those big moments, and I thought they got a few good looks in the slot, and he was right there making big saves,” Cooley said. “The pressure we're applying up ice in the zone, when you apply pressure, and you don't give them a lot of time and space. It's hard to make plays on the power play. I think that's obviously a positive, and we’ll take that moving forward.”

It was an exciting and close game on Thursday against the Canadiens, showing some of the most exciting teams in the NHL pitted against each other. It was a very good test for the Mammoth indeed, and they showed that while there are things to fix in the next game, there is a lot to like.

The Mammoth will take on the Senators next on Saturday. The Senators are 10-6-1 and are coming off a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.