For the first time during the 2025-26 season, the Chicago Blackhawks are in the middle of a 0-3-0 stretch. Losing three regulation games in a row is never a good thing in the NHL, but now the focus has to become finding a way out of the slump. 

A lot has happened during that three-game sample. The first game was a loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night. Chicago had a 2-0 lead but allowed the Kraken to win it in regulation, 3-2. 

The middle game on Friday, the second half of a back-to-back, was a 9-3 clobbering at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. This, the one road game during this losing streak, was Chicago's worst game of the year. 

The third of three straight losses came on Sunday night against the Colorado Avalanche at the United Center. This was a 1-0 win for the Avalanche. Despite being shut out, the team and head coach believed that they bounced back nicely following the bad game against the Sabres two nights prior. 

"Even with the second, I think if we repeat that performance, we win lots of games," said head coach Jeff Blashill. "The other team is going to push back. That's just the reality of life. I thought we did an excellent job in our structure [and] an excellent job with some of the things we talked about that we didn't do in Buffalo."

Now, at 10-8-4, they are below the playoff line, but they are mixed in with all of the other bubble teams trying to find a way into the top-8. 

These are 5 thoughts following this 0-3-0 stretch ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night: 

1. Connor Bedard is incredibly important to the Chicago Blackhawks organization both on and off the ice. Every other fan in the crowd is wearing a #98 jersey, and he is their best player in between the whistles by far. 

They gave him an "A" when Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson were out of the lineup at the same time, and didn't take it away when Dickinson came back. 

Jeff Blashill also publicly disagreed with the referees after the game on Thursday against the Kraken. Although Bedard doesn't want to be showing up referees during the play, Blashill made it clear he was on his player's side. 

With this new leadership role and his newfound elite scoring touch, the pressure is on Team Canada to select Bedard for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Blackhawks are doing everything they can to help him on that journey. 

2. Ilya Mikheyev is one of the top penalty killers in the league. He helps them score a handful of goals at even strength, along with his work in the defensive zone, but his work on the PK is second to none. 

There are a few players on the team who have skillsets made for killing penalties, but everything is led by the play of Mikheyev in this situation. The Blackhawks have an 83.3 kill percentage, which is a unit that has been consistently in the top-10 all season long. 

3. Nick Lardis is a high-end prospect. While playing with the Rockford IceHogs this weekend, Lardis scored four goals in two games played. 

This isn't something that directly impacted results for Chicago, as he is still working up to his NHL debut, but he is proving over and over again that he deserves his chance soon.

The Blackhawks have not been without injuries to forwards this season, and Lardis has the pedigree to make him a "next man up" candidate. 

If Lardis continues to make plays and score goals, he may force Kyle Davidson's hand regardless of whether there is an injury or not. 

4. Ryan Greene has had a good stretch of play. With the injuries that the Blackhawks have had this year, Greene has been given opportunities up and down the lineup. 

So far this season, Greene has just two goals and four assists, but his play with and without the puck is helping everyone around him be better. Once he starts finishing a tad bit more, he will be a valuable depth piece on a winning team. 

Against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, Greene had a handful of high-quality chances to score in the first period alone. Eventually, those will start going in more. Throughout his development, he has never sacrificed playing the right way for offense. If he keeps that mentality, he will carve out a great career. 

5. Early in the season, it seemed like the Blackhawks would eventually have to stop going with the 11/7 strategy. There have been multiple times where a forward gets hurt, and the Blackhawks are down to 10, but the benefit this has on the defense can't be overstated. 

Outside of Matt Grzelcyk and Connor Murphy, all of the Blackhawks' defensemen are young. Having more options allows Jeff Blashill to be easier on them with their ice time. If someone is having a tough stretch, they can play in a smaller role. If someone is playing well, they can earn minutes. 

There is still an outside chance that they move to 12/6 full-time this year, but Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, and Kevin Korchinski are all down in Rockford as well. The 11/7 strategy may be beneficial to them if they get called up at any point down the stretch. As long as whoever is playing continues trending up, Blashill will keep it going. 

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

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Another game there for the taking for the St. Louis Blues, another game that frustratingly slips away.

This time, another 3-2 setback to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday.

The Blues (7-10-6) got goals from Dylan Holloway and Brayden Schenn, and Joel Hofer made 17 saves on the fourth game of a season-high five-game road trip where the Blues are now 1-1-2 with one final game Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.

"I didn't think we played with the requisite of intensity and connected and puck support that we've been playing with the three previous games," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said.

Let's look at Monday's game observations:

* First 10 minutes of third where game was lost -- In a 1-1 game on the road, the Blues were in a good spot to grab at least perhaps a point, maybe two with a strong final period.

But they got pinned into their zone to begin the third, had a chance to get a puck out that caromed away eventually and a redirection in front by Alexis Lafreniere of Vladislav Gavrikov's left point wrister just 40 seconds in gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead and getting that all-important go-ahead goal:

GAVI WITH THE SHOT FROM FAR OUT + LAF DEFLECTS IT IN. pic.twitter.com/eIR2o6Hrbj

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 25, 2025

And when Adam Edstrom made it 3-1 at 8:56 of the period on a shot from in tight surrounded by three Blues on the play, it would be a tall task for a team struggling to score more than two goals to make a comeback:

GAVI ➡️ EDDY pic.twitter.com/s5z0trqtXM

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 25, 2025

It would wind up being the 20th and final shot on goal for the Rangers in the game.

"Obviously not the way we wanted to start it for sure," Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. "Tough to go down two in the third."

* Blues inability to win when scoring first -- Monday marked the 13th time the Blues scored first in a game, and it was a beauty of a goal when Holloway tied for the team lead with his sixth, and the line did a great job of forechecking pucks back after Parayko's initial keep-in from the right point:

Big goal in the Big Apple pic.twitter.com/0shOXGmUaS

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 25, 2025

It marked the eighth time in the past nine games the Blues have scored first, but they fell to 5-3-5 in those games when the league on average, teams that score first win roughly 67 percent of the time.

In just seven of those games, they've continued to forge forward and increase the lead, and it's impossible to gain each and every point when scoring first, but the Blues, who have 20 points on the season, have left 11 points on the table in this instance.

"That's the difference in winning games, burying those chances," Holloway said. "It's good to get those chances, but we've got to bear down and score."

And considering the Rangers came in a woeful 1-7-1 on home ice, scoring just 13 goals and shut out in a franchise-most five of those games, this was a chance to not only extend a lead against a team that has had trouble scoring and lost four in a row.

* Rangers tying goal opened door for struggling home team -- Up 1-0, the Blues were in a good spot until Vincent Trocheck tied it 1-1 at 10:06 of the second period.

The Blues had multiple forward lines on the ice that needed to get a puck in deep, but it never made it past the opposing side's blue line, and therefore, defensemen Cam Fowler and Logan Mailloux's shift was extended way too long at 2:19 each. Oskar Sundqvist, who was one who had a chance to get a puck deep but it got knocked down in the neutral zone, keeping the Blues' D on the ice, was on for over two minutes himself until he could finally get a change right before the goal, and on the goal, the Blues left an opening on an up pass through the middle creating a 2-on-1 that Trocheck wristed into the top right corner:

Some slick passing + Troch puts it away. pic.twitter.com/ZPxAIGdKzG

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 25, 2025

"Yeah it is an extended shift and that's why in the second period there tends to be more goals scored in the league because it's hard to get your changes in the second and the five guys got to help each other get their changes," Montgomery said. "Forwards always get off the ice, D-men don't because they've got to stay. Then the next guys that come out, they've got to make sure they're protecting good and that they're helping out the D, so they can get off the ice."

* Hofer made key saves early to give Blues chance to go ahead -- The numbers on the night don't look great for Hofer (.850 save percentage), but his saves on Braden Schneider at 8:24 of the first period and Mika Zibanejad at 15:45 of the first period allowed the Blues to stay in a 0-0 game.

* Goal scoring has dried up -- Monday marked the fifth straight game that the Blues scored two or fewer goals, and it coincides with their goaltending being better of late.

And this comes with Brayden Schenn, who scored his first goal in 12 games on Saturday in a 2-1 win at the New York Islanders, now has goals in back-to-back games when Pavel Buchnevich's shot caromed off the Blues captain and past Igor Shesterkin with 1:15 remaining to make it 3-2, but that's as close as the Blues would get:

Hockey players will score goals any way they've gotta score 'em. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/tej600UCbr

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 25, 2025

But Schenn missed a breakaway in the first period at 8:24 of the first period, even though it was at the end of a shift. Jake Neighbours had a great chance to give the Blues a 2-1 lead at 16:42 of the second period off a shot from the slot after a Robert Thomas pass. Schenn also fanned on an open look in the bumper with 3:16 remaining in the game while the Blues were on a four-minute power play, and Holloway whiffed on a hard pass by Thomas in tight with 19.3 remaining that would have tied the game.

All the lack of goal scoring has coincided with the top guys not getting it done. 

Jordan Kyrou hasn't scored in five games; Thomas has one goal in 10 and no points the past three games; Jimmy Snuggerud has no points the past four games and one goal in 12; Buchnevich now hasn't scored in 15 games; and from the defense, Fowler and Parayko each hasn't scored yet this season. 

This team needs its top players to produce, or these results will look all too familiar.

* Power play had chance to be difference -- Yes, the Blues' power play has been good, and it's 12th in the league at 22.4 percent. But going 0-for-4 (the last one was only three seconds at the end of the game) did them no favors and they produced only three shots on them.

The one that had to be frustrating was a double-minor given to Brett Berard for high-sticking Neighbours, who was also high-sticked by Schneider in the second period, with 5:51 left. It was there where Schenn fanned on his attempt, and the Blues passed on a couple open looks with 2:41 remaining.

"Yeah there were a couple of shots that were passed up," Montgomery said. "We whiffed on a great chance to tie the game up, right at the net front (Holloway's chance late), in a pulled goalie situation. We need to start making some of those plays in those areas so that we can have wins where we come from behind and get on a streak."

* Mailloux looked better -- Mailloux, who was called back up from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Saturday after playing five games with the Thunderbirds (two goals), was a minus-2 in the game and played 13:59 but I thought he was more assertive in this game that any of the previous ones he played in prior to being sent down.

He attacked more confidently, played a physical role, and he rung a shot off the post when Montgomery put him on the ice during the third-period power play. There was nothing he could have done differently on the goals that were scored while he was on the ice.

"I thought Mailloux was very assertive," Montgomery said. "I liked him on the PP there at the end when we gave him an opportunity. I thought he was very aggressive and had a good shot-first mindset, but made some passes. The minus-2, I know the second goal, he had nothing to do with it."

Mailloux, who was playing alongside Cam Fowler, had one hit and one blocked shot with one shot on goal.

"I kind of felt more like myself out there," Mailloux said. "I was moving pucks, getting in the play, getting some shots off. So unfortunate kind of ending, but I felt better for sure."

Blues Forward Cleared Unconditional Waivers, Signs With CanadiensAfter walking away from final year of two-year contract that paid AAV of $2.1 million, Alexandre Texier signs reported one, year, $1 million contract with MontrealSt. Louis Blues Weekly Prospect Report (Nov. 23)Another Russian in KHL opening eyes in Fyodorov; Carbonneau keeps pace with QMJHL scoring lead; Jiricek extends point streak to 11; Harenstam continues to sizzle in Sweden

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2025 CNBC NHL franchise valuations: See how all 32 teams rank originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The highest-valued NHL team still reigns in Canada.

The Toronto Maple Leafs remain No. 1 on CNBC’s list of NHL valuations for 2025 at $4.3 billion, a lead of $500 million over the second-highest team. It also is $2.1 billion above league average. Toronto in 2024 had a valuation of $3.8 billion and sat $1.89 billion above league average.

Trailing the Maple Leafs in the top three are the same two teams from 2024. The New York Rangers are second with a valuation of $3.8 billion, a $300 million increase. In third are the Montreal Canadiens, which also rose by $300 million to hold a $3.4 billion valuation.

There has been a slight shakeup in the top five, though. While the Los Angeles Kings remain No. 4 at $3.15 billion, the Edmonton Oilers ($3.1 billion) have bumped down the Boston Bruins ($3.05 billion) to seize the No. 5 spot.

Rounding out the top 10, in order, are the Chicago Blackhawks ($2.75 billion), Philadelphia Flyers ($2.6 billion), Washington Capitals ($2.5 billion) and Detroit Red Wings ($2.47 billion)

With the average NHL team now worth $2.2 billion, 15% more than last year, what’s behind the increase? CNBC senior sports reporter Michael Ozanian broke it down with the most important factor.

“The increase in values for NHL teams largely stems from their national media rights deal,” Ozanian said. “So, earlier this year, Rogers Communications, which has the national rights for National Hockey League games in Canada, they signed a new deal with the NHL that’s more than a 100% increase over their existing deal. And what analysts are telling me in the media space that sort of advise and consult for teams and leagues and networks, is that the next deal for the United States? The next national deal is likely also see a doubling in value.”

The national media deals are significant in hockey because the money involved are split evenly among the 32 teams. Whether a team is in Winnipeg or in New York, winning or losing, the revenue share is equal.

So, why do the Maple Leafs have a sizeable lead over the Rangers, who are located in the biggest U.S. market? Ozanian explained that it stems from the difference between national media revenue versus local TV rights.

“The local TV rights, particularly those rights on regional sports networks in the U.S., are under a lot of pressure,” Ozanian started. “They’re … being reduced. So, for example, in the case of the New York Rangers MSG Networks, which sort of went under some reorganization because it didn’t have the cash to pay its debt, the Rangers are taking an 18% haircut to their local TV rights. Other teams in the U.S. have taken similar cuts to their local TV rights …

“… These teams, with a combination of free TV rights and streaming, which is where a lot of these distribution is headed, may eventually make up the difference for what they’ve lost. There are some rights, but for now the Canadian teams have a big advantage because they’ve been getting actually huge increases in their local TV rights.”

For some teams, controlling the arena they play in can also be a key contributing factor to a high valuation. For example, the Bruins, who routinely collects healthy net ticket revenue, also benefit from non-NHL events at TD Garden.

“The Celtics, the NBA team that shares that arena, they’re just tenants,” Ozanian said. “They sort of have a lease agreement with the Bruins, so it’s the Bruins that get money from concerts and things like that at the building.”

A similar process could unfold for the Flyers, who will move into a new arena in 2030 alongside the Philadelphia 76ers. So, along with the Flyers recently pushing across price increases for the first time in a while, the stadium value and control will help boost the team’s valuation further.

But an extra caveat to the new arena is the sponsor name. Previously named Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers had limited themselves to other financial companies being sponsors in the building due to the name. Now named Xfinity Mobile Arena, there’s more potential for growth.

“… It’s opened up a huge space in financial services, which are a big category in terms of sponsoring an arena, either naming rights or various ads and sponsors on the inside of the building,” Ozanian said. “And those sponsorship revenues and advertising revenues at the arena are kept by the team…So having that new naming rights partner is another big advantage to the Flyers and a big reason why they’re in the top third of our list.”

On the flip side, the bottom five NHL teams in terms of valuations fare differently for multiple reasons. The San Jose Sharks are ranked No. 28 with a valuation of $1.55 billion. Lurking behind the Sharks are the No. 29 Winnipeg Jets ($1.46 billion), No. 30 Ottawa Senators ($1.44 billion), No. 31 Buffalo Sabres ($1.42 billion) and last-place Columbus Blue Jackets ($1.4 billion).

The Blue Jackets remained in last place but grew from their previous $1 billion valuation, while the Jets rose from No. 31 to 29. The biggest shakeup involved San Jose dropping from No. 25 last season ($1.4 billion) to the bottom five, as the new-look Utah Mammoth climbed to No. 27.

Why has that been the case for a franchise located in the Bay Area? For one, San Jose ranked second to last in the league last season in regular-season ticket revenue.

“The Sharks have just had a lot of trouble generating a consistent interest of fans last season,” Ozanian started. “… They only brought in $44 million for the whole season and regular season ticket row. The typical NHL team brings in somewhere around $80 million, so they’re doing about half of what the typical team does.”

But the Sharks have plenty of potential to bite its way up the list, including looking for a new owner, as Ozanian explained.

“I would have to say that the Sharks … are a, for lack of a better term, an underperforming team in the sense that they’re not in a huge market, but it’s a fairly high net worth market and they should be doing better,” Ozanian said. “They’re a team that I wouldn’t be shocked if somebody was eyeing a potential buyer and said, if I bought this team, I could increase the revenue significantly.

“They control the building. So there’s an opportunity there. Hence revenue not just from NHL games, but also from non-NHL events. They also recently extended their lease there, so they’ll have a buyer that would look at that and say, you know, I have controlled this arena for a while. So I have to say it’s an interesting situation that I think an investor would have to consider.”

It appears a Pittsburgh Penguins' netminder - and one of their young forwards - is one step closer to his return to game action.

Goaltender Tristan Jarry - out since Nov. 4 with a lower-body injury - was a full participant in Penguins' practice on Monday, as was 22-year-old forward Ville Koivunen. Jarry took reps with the main squad - along with tandem partner Arturs Silovs - while Koivunen skated with the defensive group. 

Rookie Sergei Murashov - who is 1-1-1 with a .913 save percentage and 1.90 goals-against average - still participated in practice but was the third goaltender in the rotation. 

Jarry, 30, was off to a good start this season before his injury, as he is 5-2 with a shutout and a .911 save percentage. He has worked hard to rebound from a tough season in 2024-25, which included waivers, an AHL stint, and an .893 save percentage.

Koivunen got off to a slow start production-wise this season, and he ended up in the AHL for a short stint, where he produced four goals and 11 points in six games before getting the call back to the big club. He has just two points in 11 games with the Penguins so far, but he had started to build some momentum in his game prior to his injury.

With the Penguins severely injury-depleted right now - and with a 2-4-3 record in November - they'd welcome back any of their injured players as soon as possible.

Forwards Justin Brazeau, Rickard Rakell, and Noel Acciari also skated before practice, and previously injured defenseman Jack St. Ivany - along with rookie Harrison Brunicke, who was a healthy scratch for seven straight games - was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) for a conditioning stint.

'It's A Dream Come True': Penguins' Prospect Tristan Broz Grateful For Those Inolved In Journey To NHLWhen a media scrum formed around <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' forward prospect Tristan Broz - just <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-top-forward-prospect-recalled-from-ahl">recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Monday morning</a> - after practice, something a bit unusual happened.

---

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Through two periods, the Kings looked stuck in purgatory. Their offense sagged, and every promising rush ended in a turnover. A switch flipped beginning in the third period when Los Angeles delivered in the clutch, something they’ve struggled to accomplish this season. 

Brandt Clarke delivered a power play goal, avoiding overtime to send the Senators packing in a gritty Kings 2-1 win over Ottawa. 

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Kings, where they looked awful, especially down the stretch in overtime games, failing to close out in the clutch, but today they showed up in late-game situations. 

You OTT to love that. #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/E3ony8XlTd

— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 25, 2025

Ugly Start by Both Teams

Ottawa controlled the game through the first two periods, outshooting Los Angeles and winning nearly 70% of its faceoffs. But the Kings survived thanks to their goaltending and defensive group that didn’t bend when needed to make a stop. 

Still, the Senators were in it all game when winger Fabian Zetterlund hit a big shot that went high in the air past the Kings' defenders and into the net in the third. This game felt like it would end the same way it always has for the Kings: in overtime, and they would lose consistently. 

Kings Close it Out

But, instead, the Kings got a wake-up call that they desperately needed and didn’t let the game go into an extra period. 

After the game-tying shot from the Senators, just a few minutes later, the Kings earned their chance to take the game away from Ottawa, who took a costly penalty. On the following play, Clarke, consistently becoming one of the Kings' best players this season, stepped into the middle of the ice and hammered a big shot through traffic to break the tie. 

FIRE US UP CLARKIE pic.twitter.com/iq59rAUUBq

— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 25, 2025

The puck whistled past every Ottawa defender and gave the Kings their first lead of the night. 

From there, the King tightened up their defense in the final minutes of the game as Clarke’s goal held serve and fended off Ottawa’s final push. 

The performance wasn’t pretty for the Kings. The opening minutes of the game were flat and ugly. But, a win is a win, especially in a year where the Pacific Division is looking like a dog-fight. It was a big Monday night win for the Kings to secure a much-needed win to get back in the win column.

Up next, the Kings will travel to Anaheim on their one-game road stand to take on the Ducks at 1:00 p.m. EST. 

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When a media scrum formed around Pittsburgh Penguins' forward prospect Tristan Broz - just recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Monday morning - after practice, something a bit unusual happened.

Instead of waiting for a reporter to break the ice with a question, Broz took it upon himself to begin the makeshift press conference in front of a locker stall at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry that now had his name above it. 

"Before we get started, I'd just like to thank a couple people, if that's alright," Broz said.

After some nods, he began, Oscars acceptance speech-style: 

"I'd like to thank, obviously, all my family and my parents, my grandparents. I'd like to thank all the coaches in my life... Bernie McBain, my old hockey coach. Greg May, high school at Blake. Pierre-Paul Lamoureux. Cary Eades at Fargo. David Carle, Tavis McMillan, 'Fergie' [Dallas Ferguson], Ryan Massa, Denver. All the coaches in Wilkes... Kirko [Kirk MacDonald], 'Lukes' [Nick Luuko], 'Bugsy' [Brad Malone], 'Brooksy' [Sheldon Brookbank]. All the boys down there and everyone that's helped me along the way.

"It takes a village to get here, so I'd like to thank all those people."

The Penguins' second-round pick (58th overall) in 2021 - humble as they come - was on the team bus back from Providence and in the middle of a card game with Owen Pickering and a few other WBS teammates when he missed the initial call from WBS GM Jason Spezza.

And - without the advice of his teammate and good friend - he may have put off reaching back out to his GM.

Penguins' Prospect Tristan Broz Almost Ignored Jason Spezza's Call To Share He'd Been Promoted - Community PostMonday was an exciting day for Pittsburgh Penguins' top forward prospect Tristan Broz, as he was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) and will likely make his NHL debut Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres.

"I was actually playing cards, and I missed Spezz's call," Broz said. "And I think I texted him something back like, 'Can I call you back in, like, 10 minutes?' Then I showed Picks, and he's like, 'What are you doing? Go call him back.' So I went back in the bathroom and called him."

And once Broz heard the news from Spezza, he said he fell to his knees, knowing his lifelong aspiration had been realized. 

"It's a dream come true," Broz said. "I mean, I've just been through so much to get here, and what a journey it's been. When Spezz told me, I dropped to my knees. I was like, this is... man, it's been a lot of emotion and a lot of hard work, and really, a lifelong commitment to getting better and loving the game to get here. So, it was really an emotional moment. Really special."

And he didn't wait long to tell his family, including his parents, who were emotional upon hearing the news.

"I think it made it probably more real, just seeing their reaction," Broz said. "It was really cool, you know? My mom was crying, my dad was just grinning ear to ear. They're so happy, and they've put so much into this emotionally, financially, just time commitment driving me to rinks. So, it's just as much their moment as it is mine, and yeah, they're super happy. It was really cool."

Penguins Loan Top Defensive Prospect Harrison Brunicke To AHLThe Pittsburgh Penguins are giving teenage top defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke a chance to reset at the AHL level with a conditioning loan.

In some ways, Broz's recall is something that has been anticipated for a while. The 23-year-old from River Falls, Wisc. was actually supposed to be called up at the end of the 2024-25 season, but a near-two-month bout with mononucleosis staved off those plans. 

So, Broz got back to work this season in training camp, where he thoroughly impressed and almost earned a roster spot. Even though it didn't ultimately work out the way he was hoping at the end of camp, he got back to work and produced eight goals and 13 points in 18 games as WBS's first-line center.

"I thought I had a really good camp and put myself in a really good [spot]. Thought I had a good chance to make it, and it didn't go my way," Broz said. "But that's how life works sometimes. You can't just quit. So, I just kept playing hockey and doing the thing I love, and kept working hard at, really, everything. I wouldn't say it was just one thing, but just be more consistent and just continue to get better at everything, learning game by game."

Tristan Broz opened today with a genuine, humble nod to everyone who helped him turn a dream into reality.

More on his first-ever call-up to the NHL: https://t.co/pz7oMqiPd1pic.twitter.com/Wbbospfnh3

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 24, 2025

And he credits his teammates in WBS for his success this season and last, as the team is currently leading the Atlantic Division at 13-4-1 after a back-to-back sweep this past weekend.

"We got a really good team down there," Broz said. "I think our record speaks for itself down there with the boys. And I think playing with really good players throughout the year and playing a really good system. I thought just the way we play is a lot a of fun, always having the puck and stuff. So, I credit a lot to that."

And his new head coach was impressed by both Broz's training camp showing and by what he heard from reports, so he hopes the young centerman can continue to build on that. 

"I got really strong reports," coach Dan Muse said. "I think, when you go back, he had a strong training camp, too. Training camp matters. It matters a lot. He made a good impression, and he earned that during camp. He goes in there, and he goes down to Wilkes, and he follows it up.

"He's playing well on both sides of the puck. He's making plays. He's impacting the game offensively. We want him to jump in and continue on what he's doing."

It's Time For Penguins To Pull Trigger On Youth TalentWith a <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/takeaways-penguins-lose-heartbreaker-to-seattle-kraken-fall-out-of-playoff-position">2-1 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken</a> on Saturday, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> officially fell out of a playoff position for the first time in the 2025-26 season.&nbsp;

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For a second straight game, the Nashville Predators were behind the ball less than 20 seconds into a game and could not recover.

Sacrificing a goal 11 seconds into the game was just the beginning as the Predators were blown out by the Florida Panthers, 8-3, on Monday at Bridgestone Arena. 

It's the most goals the Predators have allowed in a game since they lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets, 8-4, on April 1, 2025, and it's their eighth loss in nine games. 

 Similar to their loss to the Avalanche on Saturday, the goal scored in the first minute of the game came off a dump into the zone and the opponent loading up the left side of the ice. 

Carter Verhaeghe got to the puck first after it was dumped into the Predators' zone off the face-off and was able to find A.J. Greer on the left side of the slot for a quick shot and score.

On the second goal, Sam Reinhart shoved Nick Perbix off the puck behind the net before moving it to Uvis Balinskis and then Evan Rodrigues for the goal. 

Filip Forsberg and Fedor Svechkov both scored in the first period to tie the game at two. It was Svechkov's first goal of the season and just his second point of the year. 

Jesper Boqvist scored 59 seconds later to give the lead back to the Panthers and Sam Bennett scored off a rebound to restore Florida's two-goal lead. All in all, there were six goals in the first 20 minutes of the game. 

In the second period, Gustav Forsling scored a shot from the point to bump the Panthers' lead to 5-2. Goalie Juuse Saros was pulled for Justus Annunen after allowing five goals on 15 shots. 

Nick Blankenburg responded on the power play two minutes into the third period to cut the Panthers' lead back down to two and possibly start a Nashville rally. It was just the 11th Predators power play goal this season 

The comeback effort was silenced as Florida scored three unanswered goals, walking away with a whopping 8-3 victory. 

Nashville had a wide 39-26 shot advantage and won 57.1% of its face-offs. It had also converted on 1-of-3 power play opportunities and was in the box just twice. Florida also gave away the puck 15 times and the Predators outhit the Panthers, 25-19. 

Florida also had just four shots in the second period and seven in the third period, meaning that it scored four goals on 11 shots in the 40-minute stretch. 

Statistically, Nashville was the better team, but its defense faltered at every turn. This was the second time this season that Saros had been pulled and Annunen is still winless on the year. 

Saros made 11 saves on 16 shots. Annunen had seven saves on 10 shots. 

The Predators have been outscored 15-3 in their last three games, and have not won at home since Nov. 1. If Nashville doesn't defeat the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, it'll finish the month of November 1-5-1 at Bridgestone Arena. 

It faces two road challenges next in the Detroit Red Wings (Wednesday) and the Chicago Blackhawks (Friday). Detroit is second in the Atlantic Division and Chicago has a surprising start to the year at 10-8-4. 

The Predators need some momentum, as they are ranked dead last in the NHL with 16 points in 22 games. 

Up next: Nashville Predators (6-12-4) at Detroit Red Wings (13-9-1) on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at Little Cesars Arena at 6 p.m. CST 

The Florida Panthers hit the road on Monday for a quick business trip to Tennessee.

Playing their only game away from Sunrise in the span of about a month, Florida took on the Nashville Predators and came away with a resounding 8-3 road victory.

The Cats got off to a great start, scoring right off the game’s opening faceoff.

After the puck was dumped into the Nashville zone by Seth Jones, Carter Verhaeghe picked it up below the goal line and came back behind the net before sending a quick pass toward the slot.

A cutting A.J. Greer one-timed the puck past the blocker of Juuse Saros to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead just 11 seconds into the game.

Florida continued to keep the pressure on, and just over five minutes later, they doubled their early advantage.

Defenseman Uvis Balinskis had a great look from the slot that was stopped by Saros, but Evan Rodrigues was in a great spot at the side of the crease to snap home the rebound and give Florida a 2-0 lead at the 5:42 mark.

Exactly 70 seconds later, Filip Forsberg scored a frustrating goal from a sharp angle.

The weak shot from the right corner somehow got between Daniil Tarasov and the goal post, putting the Predators on the board just under seven minutes into the game.

A rebound goal by Fedor Svechkov would tie the score at the 10:32 mark of the opening frame after a backhand from the slot off the stick of Ozzy Weisblatt was stopped by Tarasov.

Jesper Boqvist’s third goal of the season would put the Panthers back in front less than a minute later.

His breakaway attempt slid right through the legs of Soros to give Florida a 3-2 lead exactly 59 seconds after Svechkov’s goal.

Florida’s two-goal lead would be restored with just over four minutes left in the period.

Coming into the Predators zone on a rush, Greer’s shot from the left boards was kicked out by Soros, but an attempt to clear the rebound by Svechkov went off the shins of Sam Bennett before fluttering into the net to make it 4-2 Cats.

Florida made it a three-goal advantage just 84 seconds into the middle frame when Gus Forsling’s point shot grazed the leg of Nick Perbix on its way past Soros.

That would mark the end for Nashville’s starting goaltender, as Justus Annunen replaced Soros after Florida scored on five of its 16 shots on goal.

An early third period power play would give the Predators an opening back into the game, and they took it.

Right off the draw after a Jeff Petry tripping penalty, Nick Blankenburg’s long wrist shot found its way through a maze of bodies and past Tarasov at the 2:11 mark of the final frame.

It didn’t even take three minutes for the Panthers to answer, and it was Greer netting his second goal of the game, once again off a primary assist from Carter Verhaeghe.

Sam Reinnart got in on the fun near the midway point of the period while both teams were skating four-on-four.

Catching the Predators in a line change, Evan Rodrigues came into the offensive zone and fired a shot that went off the pads of Annunen, but the rebound went right to Reinhart at the side of the net.

His 13th goal of the season and 11th in his past 14 games gave the Panthers a comfortable 7-3 lead.

A snakebit Carter Verhaeghe got in on the fun before the Cats got out of Dodge.

Greer made a great ally-oop pass that Verhaeghe sped down the ice to catch up with, and his patient backhand went over Annunen’s glove to make it 8-3 Florida.

It was just Verhaeghe’s third goal of the year, and his first since Oct. 21 in Boston.

For Greer, the assist was his third point of the night and gave him a career-high +5 on-ice rating to go with his career-high-tying two goals.

On to the Flyers.

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Photo caption: Nov 24, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Panthers center Jesper Boqvist (70) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. (Steve Roberts-Imagn Images)

Fans of the Buffalo Sabres came into this season hopeful they’d end the team’s record of 14 consecutive seasons with no Stanley Cup playoffs. Instead, the Sabres have wailed and flailed on their way back to an all-too-familar place: at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

The Sabres’ season will soon have reached its midpoint, and the only thing the Sabres have achieved is notoriety. This is why we’re not falling for Buffalo’s great team results, as they’re using only a small sample size. Talk to us when the season is halfway through and the Sabres have crawled their way back to relevancy.

Until then, y’all better believe fans are going to be incensed at Buffalo’s futility at climbing out of the hole the Sabres have dug for themselves. Nothing else matters. No roster changes or building for the building for the future. This is truly a win-or-bust season if ever there was one.

The days of Sabres management spinning their wheels and pleading for fan patience are at an end. And this is the only issue that matters. Every game, without fail, will dictate the reception players get from the paying customer. And if you’ve missed the post-season for a decade-and-a-half, your fans are going to start to ignore you as a team and instead take up a hobby – you know, putting tiny ships in a bottle, or kicking rocks. Things like that.

Sabres Win Again, But Buffalo Fans Need To See Many More Wins Before Getting ExcitedThe Buffalo Sabres' recent win streak is a spark, but a long, tough schedule demands sustained excellence to truly ignite their playoff hopes.

Something else to be mindful of – the Sabres have little room for error. They can’t afford injuries, as their lack of NHL depth is clear. They also can’t afford prolonged stretches of games where they lose four or five in a row. The Atlantic Division will maul you, so the Sabres have to be aware they have to hit the gas and really climb up the Eastern rankings.

There can be no more excuses. No more looking to the future. All that matters in Western New York is ending that embarrassing playoff drought. And through the first quarter of the season, they’ve shown they’re not worthy of being a playoff team 

NEW YORK (AP) — Alexis Lafreniere scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Igor Shesterkin made 20 saves as the New York Rangers snapped a four-game skid with a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Monday night.

Lafreniere put the puck past Blues netminder Joel Hofer 40 seconds into the final period for his fifth goal this season.

Vincent Trocheck and Adam Edstrom also scored for the Rangers, who won for just the second time in 10 home games. New York is 2-7-1 at Madison Square Garden. Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox each had two assists.

Dylan Holloway and Brayden Schenn scored for St. Louis, and Hofer made 17 saves.

Holloway opening the scoring late in the first period.

Trocheck tied it midway through the second, taking a pass from Jonny Brodzinski and firing the puck past Hofer for his fourth goal.

After Lafreniere made it 2-1, Edstrom increased the lead with 11:04 left in the third. Schenn got the Blues within 3-2 with 1:15 remaining.

The Rangers had to kill off a four-minute high-sticking penalty assessed to Brett Berard in the third. Berard made his season debut following his recall from Hartford of the AHL.

The Rangers (11-12-2) — who played without injured captain J.T. Miller for the second straight game — are still last in the Metropolitan Division.

Up next

Blues: At New Jersey on Wednesday to conclude a five-game trip.

Rangers: At Carolina on Wednesday.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Connor Brown had a goal and an assist each and the New Jersey Devils beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Monday night in a matchup of two of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference.

Alex DeBrincat, James van Riemsdyk and Dylan Larkin scored for Detroit.

New Jersey scored three goals in the first period on just eight shots for a 3-1 lead after one, snapped a three-game losing streak, and got its first win in regulation since beating the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Nov. 1.

The Devils’ previous four wins occurred in either overtime or the shootout.

New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom made 32 saves, 13 in the third period.

Hischier scored his fourth goal in five games and added an assist on Meier’s first-period goal for the 102nd multipoint game of his Devils’ career.

Cody Glass snapped a 1-1 tie for New Jersey in his first game back after missing the previous four games with an upper-body injury. He replaced Juho Lammikko on the Devils third line.

Van Riemsdyk, who grew up in New Jersey, scored a power-play goal in his 1,100th game that got the Red Wings to within 3-2 in the second period.

Moritz Seider added two assists for Detroit, who lost for just the second time in its last seven games.

Brown moved the Devils’ lead to 4-2 from Dawson Mercer later in the second period before Larkin scored his 13th goal in the third period.

Cam Talbot had 15 saves for Detroit.

Up next

Devils: Host St. Louis on Wednesday night.

Red Wings: Host Nashville on Wednesday night.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

The Detroit Red Wings dominated the New Jersey Devils in the shot totals on Monday evening, but unfortunately for Detroit, they didn't lead where it matters.

The Devils escaped with a 4-3 victory in regulation at Prudential Center despite a furious late-game push by the Red Wings to try and knot the score.

Following the final horn, multiple scraps broke out on the ice between the two clubs. 

Back home Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/WFP7UgiHaV

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 25, 2025

With the setback, the Red Wings dropped to 13-9-1 so far in their centennial campaign. 

The Devils found the back of the net first thanks to a deflection goal from Timo Meier, only to have Alex DeBrincat score his second goal in as many games to tie things up.

The Devils then scored twice in short order thanks to Nico Hischier and Cody Glass, taking a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

New Jersey native James van Riemsdyk brought the Red Wings back to within a goal with his second tally of the season in the second period, but a brutal turnover by defenseman Travis Hamonic soon afterward resulted in Connor Brown restoring New Jersey's two goal lead.

The Red Wings pressed for the equalizer, and made it a one-goal game again as Dylan Larkin buried a shot from the slot past goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

Detroit also felt they should have been on the power-play late in regulation, but Jonas Siegenthaler's blatant interference on Lucas Raymond in the neutral zone was somehow missed by both referees. 

It was a rare subpar outing for goaltender Cam Talbot, who finished with 15 saves on the 19 shots he faced. Markstrom was far busier, turning aside 32 of the 35 shots Detroit fired his way. 

The Red Wings will return home to face the Nashville Predators on Wednesday evening. 

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The Hall of Fame credentials for Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane are already guaranteed, and he's added yet another impressive milestone to his resume.

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

With an assist on teammate Alex DeBrincat's first period goal on Monday evening against the New Jersey Devils, Kane moved past former Red Wings forward Brendan Shanahan for sole possession of 29th place in the NHL's all-time points list with 1,355. 

That's THE CAT! #LGRWpic.twitter.com/YU9wl734cK

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 25, 2025

Kane, who has 860 career assists, is just 35 shy of passing Phil Housley for the most in the career of an American born player.

Speaking of former Red Wings, he's also just 20 points away from passing Mike Modano for the most points in the history of the NHL by an American born player. 

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Mikko Rantanen will miss the Dallas Stars’ upcoming road game against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday as he serves an automatic one-game suspension.

On November 18, with under a minute remaining in regulation, Rantanen skated through a check by New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield and checked Alex Romanov from behind, propelling him violently into the end boards. Romanov was eventually assisted off the ice. Rantanen was given a five-minute major for boarding, which carries an automatic game misconduct.

The NHL did not discipline Rantanen for the hit, citing the slight contact from Mayfield, a decision that did not sit well with many fans. While Mayfield may have slowed him slightly, that hardly explains Rantanen’s forward thrust that carried him through Mayfield and into Romanov, though that was the rationale offered after the fact.

Can of Worms

In discussions with my colleagues, we reached a consensus. The NHL’s decision not to suspend Rantanen for the hit on Romanov risked setting a troubling precedent. Hockey is a contact sport, yet such leniency could encourage players to take liberties that endanger their peers. What was especially surprising, however, was that it would be Mikko Rantanen himself repeating the same behavior just days later against the Calgary Flames, charging out of the penalty box and plowing through Matt Coronato. 

Mikko Rantanen receives 5 and a game for this hit, in a game he shouldn’t have been playing in because of his 5-minute boarding major on Tuesday.

pic.twitter.com/k8pfSlYS92

— Drew Livingstone (@ProducerDrew_) November 23, 2025

"Dallas’ Mikko Rantanen has been automatically suspended for one game under Rule 23.6, Physical Infractions Category," the NHL Department of Player Safety said in a statement on X. "In regular season League games, any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconduct penalties in the Physical Infractions Category, before playing 41 consecutive regular season League games without such penalty, shall be suspended automatically for the next League game of his team."

NHL Should Have Suspended Rantanen Longer

Revisiting the hit on Romanov, who is now sidelined for five to six months following shoulder surgery sustained in the play, it is evident that Rantanen’s intent was to deliver a forceful impact. While Mayfield’s contact may have slightly altered his trajectory, there is little doubt that his objective was to drive Romanov into the boards. Rantanen extended his arms—a motion rarely seen in the context of a conventional hockey stop, but one commonly employed to deliver a hit, which is what happened.

If the play had truly been unintentional, and Rantanen had merely “lost control” to the detriment of Romanov’s season, it seems unlikely he would engage in similarly reckless behavior just two games later. Yet he did, charging out of the penalty box and targeting Matt Coronato. This was not a simple boarding incident; Rantanen took at least five strides before reaching Coronato, meeting the criteria for charging as well. Boarding, charging, two game misconducts in less than a week—and all of it resulting in only a one-game suspension—raises serious questions about the league’s disciplinary standards.

What are we actually doing? What is the point of having a Department of Player Safety if we're not actually taking safety seriously. It's like having a department in the government dedicated to balancing the budget while consistently being in debt and not actually doing the things the people voted for you to accomplish.

The issue extends beyond setting a poor precedent, as the optics are equally troubling and demand serious scrutiny. According to NHL rules, a player must accumulate two game misconducts within a 41-game span to trigger an automatic suspension. When a player reaches that threshold in just a matter of days, it seems reasonable to question whether a more substantial penalty is warranted. The league could have easily imposed a four- or five-game suspension on Rantanen if it chose to exercise stricter judgment. It is, after all, the NHL’s prerogative, but should another player sustain a serious injury due to what appears to be leniency, the consequences for the league’s credibility could be severe.

Sports Betting

It is also important to recognize that the NHL faces a significant dilemma with sports betting. A 2018 Nielsen Sports study estimated that the league’s annual revenue could increase by at least $216 million from sports betting alone, a figure that has likely grown considerably in the years since. Suspensions can be costly for business. Much like in combat sports, where a fighter testing positive for a banned substance can disrupt events and revenue, leagues often calibrate penalties to minimize financial disruption. First-time offenders typically receive six-month suspensions, which coincides roughly with the natural cadence of a fighter’s career, thereby limiting the impact on the sport’s revenue stream.

For the NHL, however, the priority should be clear: protecting players must take precedence, regardless of the team or the business considerations involved.

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One of the biggest surprises of the early NHL season has been the rapid rise of the New York Islanders. Entering the year, expectations were modest. After holding the first overall pick along with two additional first-rounders, the franchise seemed ready to focus on long-term growth rather than immediate success.

That outlook changed quickly. Their top selection, Matthew Schaefer, has been a tremendous hit. His electric start has energized the entire organization and helped push the Islanders to a shocking 13-8-2 record that almost no one saw coming.

Schaefer’s breakout is only part of the story as several veterans have turned back the clock, led by Bo Horvat. The 30-year-old center looks like the same player who put up 68 points two seasons ago. He currently leads the team with 14 goals, 11 assists, and 25 points in 23 games. Riding alongside Horvat is Emil Heineman, formerly a depth winger in Montreal, who has flourished on the top line with nine goals and six assists.

Another key contributor is Mathew Barzal, the most recognizable Islander, who has added 17 points in 22 games while anchoring the second line. Having both Horvat and Barzal controlling the center of the ice has been an underrated advantage and a major reason behind New York’s early success.

Still, no player has changed the team’s trajectory more than Schaefer. The rookie defenseman has burst onto the scene with remarkable poise, logging heavy minutes in every situation and seeming to break a new record every night. At 18 years and 70 days old, he became the youngest player in NHL history to score an overtime goal, surpassing Sidney Crosby’s mark from 2005. 

During a six-game point streak to begin his career, he put up seven points with two goals and five assists, becoming the youngest defenseman ever to accomplish that feat. His outstanding play has not only made him the clear favorite for the Calder Trophy but has also sparked early conversation about his potential spot on Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics.

The Islanders have also benefited from Ilya Sorokin regaining his form. The goaltender owns a 2.64 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage, and a 7-6-2 record, providing stability in net.

All of this raises an important question. Are the Islanders legitimate playoff contenders, or will their early momentum eventually fade? We saw a similar story last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who went on an emotional run in honor of the late Johnny Gaudreau before running out of steam and narrowly missing the postseason.

Sportsbooks appear cautious as well. Schaefer is the heavy Calder favorite at -238, but the Islanders' playoff odds have already tightened to +110. For believers, this may be the last chance to buy in at value.

Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, Avalanche's Cale Makar Already Near-Locks in NHL Award RacesAn 18-year-old phenom and a Norris contender are dominating early NHL award races, setting impressive records and dazzling fans.

It is hard not to believe when you look at the teams they have beaten. Some wins have been driven by energy, but others have been convincing statements. In only their fourth game, they defeated the Oilers 4-2,  they beat several of the league’s best teams, including the Capitals, Devils, Golden Knights, and Stars. Their dominance over the Atlantic-leading Red Wings has been especially notable, outscoring Detroit 12 to 2 in their two meetings.

Within the Metropolitan Division, the Islanders have been just as impressive. Excluding their first two games of the season, they have gone 4-1-1 in their last six divisional matchups. With teams like the Capitals, Penguins, Blue Jackets, and Flyers still early in various stages of their rebuilds, there is little reason to think New York cannot remain in the top three.

The Islanders have quickly become one of the most entertaining teams in hockey, and they continue to show that they are worth believing in.

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