On Tuesday, the Winnipeg Jets find themselves in a must-win situation as they take on the Florida Panthers, looking to put an end to their five-game losing streak. 

It marks Winnipeg’s longest skid since January, when the club dropped 11 consecutive games. Before that, the Jets’ last stretch of at least five straight losses came in March 2024, when they lost six in a row. Extended slumps have been uncommon for Winnipeg, and the team will be eager to put this one behind them as quickly as possible. 

Tuesday’s matchup could present an opportunity to do just that as the Jets have enjoyed considerable success against Florida in recent years, winning six of their last eight meetings dating back to December 2022. That includes their most recent encounter on January 31, when Winnipeg secured a 2-1 victory with Eric Comrie between the pipes.

This time around, another backup goaltender is expected to get the call, with Clay Stevenson to make his fourth start of the season. The 27-year-old faces another challenging assignment but has shown he can handle the pressure. The Drayton Valley, Alberta native should have a reasonable opportunity to keep the Panthers in check, considering Florida owns the 11th-worst in the NHL with a 2.83 goals per game average.

Stevenson has also impressed in recent appearances, holding his own against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes with a 34-save performance after turning aside 29 shots against the Pittsburgh Penguins in his first start and win of the season. Through three starts, he owns a respectable 3.08 goals-against average and will look to give Winnipeg the goaltending it needs to get back on track.

The Jets offense will hope to bail out their goaltender as they have rarely this season. After managing just one goal at the Heritage Classic versus the Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg now ranks fourth-worst in the NHL in scoring, averaging only 2.45 goals per game. 

The club will be hoping to take advantage of a Florida team expected to start Akira Schmid, who has surrendered at least three goals in four of his six starts this season and allowed five goals on 30 shots in his lone career start against Winnipeg when playing for the New Jersey Devils in 2023.

Winnipeg Jets' expected line combinations for Sunday, October 25 vs. Montreal:

Connor-Scheifele-Perfetti

Iafallo-Björck-Vilardi

Rosén-Lowry-Mercer

Koepke-Barron-Niederreiter

Samberg-Pionk

Ferraro-Salomonsson

Fleury-DeMelo

Stevenson

Healthy Scratches: Bauer, Lambert

Injured: Morrissey, Namestnikov, Bjugstad

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The New York Rangers got bad news early in the season: Igor Shesterkin was injured and ruled out for the rest of the year, leaving a gaping hole in their crease. In the days that followed, the team’s associate director of player personnel, Garth Joy, and goalie scout Scott Clemmenson attended games at the Bell Centre. The Montreal Canadiens have three NHL-caliber goaltenders, but unfortunately, Samuel Montembeault, seen as the most likely to be moved, got injured in practice days before Shesterkin and hasn’t played since then. He skated on Tuesday morning, but he wasn't in full gear. 

Update: James Reimer has let in the first TWO shots as a New York Ranger. pic.twitter.com/qYOhFVtJ8o

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) October 26, 2026

The Rangers urgently needed help in front of the net and bet on 38-year-old veteran James Reimer, signing him to a PTO with their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack. He made a good impression, winning his only game with them 2-0 against the Providence Bruins on Friday, October 23. As a result, the Rangers signed him to a one-year deal, and on Monday night he made his debut with the Broadway team. Things didn’t go as well as he had hoped, though; he was in net for only 20 minutes and surrendered three goals on eight shots. The Rangers lost to the Los Angeles Kings 6-3. Where does that leave New York?

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They have no interest in trading for a goaltender on a long-term contract, since Shesterkin will be back next season and under contract for another six years. Jonas Korpisalo is also injured and considered week-to-week, but he’s not a starter. Meanwhile, Renaud Lavoie said Montembeault was expected back in two weeks, and Jacob Fowler has been on fire for the Habs.

The American has almost made it impossible for Kent Hughes to send him back to the Laval Rocket. Fowler has proven his worth, and the team oozes confidence when he plays. At this stage, sending him away would be puzzling, to say the least. Hughes hasn't wanted to keep three goaltenders, but he hasn’t found fair value for Montembeault on the trade market. Now, though, both the Canadiens and the Rangers find themselves in a pickle. Neither is in a position of strength, which could make both teams more likely to compromise. Unless, of course, the Rangers are confident that Reimer will bounce back. They will likely give him the chance, but he won’t have much of a leash. The Canadiens should keep tabs on that situation, at the very least.

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LAS VEGAS -- Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart left Tuesday's morning skate with an apparent injury after making a butterfly save during a 2-on-1 drill.

Hart immediately skated off the ice slowly with a noticeable limp, raising concerns about his availability moving forward.

The Golden Knights did not immediately provide details about the nature or severity of the injury.

“No update. He left morning skate. He’s being evaluated. He’s in good hands,” the head coach said. “We’ve got a plan here moving forward either way. We’ll be ready for tonight.”

The coach also confirmed that Adin Hill will start Tuesday night's home game against the Ottawa Senators at T-Mobile Arena.

Hart, 28, has started eight games this season, compiling a 4-3-1 record with a 2.76 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. He has stopped 176 of 198 shots, including a 26-save performance in a 2-1 overtime victory over Los Angeles.

He most recently made 18 saves in Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss at Columbus.

Hill, 30, enters Tuesday's game with a 4-1-0 record, a 2.95 goals-against average and .882 save percentage in five starts this season. The veteran netminder was instrumental in leading Vegas to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2023, going 11-4 with a 2.17 GAA, two shutouts and a playoff-best .932 save percentage during that postseason.

Hill is coming off a difficult outing Thursday in St. Louis, where he surrendered six goals on 31 shots in a 6-2 loss. His championship pedigree gives Vegas an experienced option in net as the Golden Knights await further evaluation of Hart's injury.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart (79) tracks the rebound of his save against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Nationwide Arena.

Drew Doughty isn’t ready to call it a career just yet. In fact, as the Los Angeles Kings defenseman approaches his 37th birthday on Dec. 8, retirement still feels a long way off.

Doughty, a 19-year NHL veteran, finds himself in the final year of his eight-year, $88 million contract. But while the end of that deal brings questions about his future, Doughty believes he still has plenty left in the tank. 

“I think I can play until over 40,” Doughty told NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti. “I believe I can. I’ve just got to stay healthy. The want to do it hasn’t dropped, so, until I lose that, I’m not going to retire.”

For Doughty, the goal is simple: finish his career on his own terms, and ideally, do it all in Los Angeles.

The Kings selected him No. 2 overall in the 2008 NHL Draft, and he has since become one of the franchise’s greatest players, winning two Stanley Cups and a Norris Trophy while spending his entire career with the organization.

With general manager Ken Holland hoping to sign him to an extension before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in July 2027, Doughty has made it clear he’s willing to be flexible to make that happen.

“I feel like I’m performing better than I have in my past two seasons. So, I think that I’ll take a team-friendly deal and stay in L.A. That’s my plan,” Doughty said.

And what’s keeping him going at this stage of his career? The answer hasn’t changed.

“The Stanley Cup, that’s what motivates me,” he said. “I love being around my teammates. When I retire, I’ll be crying like a baby, I’ll tell you that much. I just love the game of hockey. I love the families that we create in hockey, and I love the competition the most. And to try to get a Cup.”

At nearly 37, Doughty knows the end will come eventually. But as long as the desire is still there, he has no plans to let the game go.

On October 27, 1995, 31 years ago today, the Detroit Red Wings did something the NHL had never seen before. 

Coach Scotty Bowman rolled out the Russian Five, marking the first time any team in history had used five Russian players on the ice together in an NHL game. The group was elite, headlined by Sergei Fedorov, who was joined by standout talents in Vladimir Konstantinov, Slava Kozlov, Slava Fetisov and Igor Larionov. The five had come together only days earlier, when Detroit acquired Larionov in a trade that sent Ray Sheppard to San Jose.

Detroit went on to blank the Calgary Flames 3-0, with Kozlov and Larionov each scoring and the unit generating 15 of the team's 25 shots on goal.

The Russian Five would go on to score 117 of Detroit's 325 goals in the 1995-96 season, a year in which the Red Wings won an NHL-record 62 games but fell to Colorado in the Western Conference Final. Later in 1997, Detroit would go on to sweep the Philadelphia Flyers for their first Stanley Cup in 42 years.

Of the five, Fedorov became the true superstar as the Hall of Fame forward recorded 483 goals and 696 assists for 1,179 points in 1,248 NHL games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and, this past season, had his No. 91 retired by the Red Wings.

Larionov, known as "The Professor," recorded 169 goals and 475 assists for 644 points in 921 NHL games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008. Kozlov was the youngest of the five but still put together a great career, posting 853 points in 1,182 NHL games, with the later part of it spent with the Buffalo Sabres and Atlanta Thrashers.

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On the blue line, Fetisov was the veteran of the group with the former captain of the Red Army playing for the New Jersey Devils before coming to Hockeytown. He was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001 after recording 36 goals and 192 assists in 546 NHL games.

Konstantinov was the group's enforcer, with a hard-hitting style that earned him the nicknames "Vladiator," "Vlad the Impaler" and "the Red Shark" from media and fans. He finished his career with 47 goals and 128 assists for 175 points in 446 games and led the league in plus-minus (+60) in 1995-96. Tragedy struck six days after the 1997 Stanley Cup win, when Konstantinov was critically injured in a limousine crash that ended his career.

Detroit dedicated the following season to Konstantinov and swept Washington to repeat as champions in 1998. Captain Steve Yzerman put the Cup in Konstantinov's lap, and Fetisov and Larionov pushed his wheelchair on the victory lap.

The five changed how North Americans viewed Russian players and how puck possession was taught, leaving a legacy that still shapes the game today.

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Tonight, the Minnesota Wild and Utah Mammoth square off in what could be a tone-setting matchup.

As it stands, the Wild and Mammoth are in first and second place in the Central Division, respectively. The Wild hold an 8-3-2 record with 18 points, while the Mammoth sit second with an 8-4-0 record and 16 points.

The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche sit not far behind, but with how the Wild and Mammoth have started the season, we could see these two teams fighting it out for first place all season.

While this game won't determine who is better going forward, it could be a momentum-building win.

The Wild made the playoffs and won a series last year, but they have higher aspirations this year. As for the Mammoth, they finally broke into the playoff picture but were defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the opening round. 

The two teams have had success this season, but in different ways, which makes tonight's fixture so intriguing.

The Wild have been potent defensively, ranking third in the NHL in goals allowed. They allow the seventh-fewest shots on goal, and although their penalty kill has had struggles of late, they rank tied for 15th. Much of their success can be attributed to their defensive structure, especially since they haven't had Brock Faber at all this season, but they can also point to goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who's been outstanding.

His .918 save percentage ranks eighth in the NHL, and he's tied for first with seven wins. As for the Mammoth, they haven't been as sharp defensively, but they've made up for it offensively. Karel Vejmelka has won six games this season but has only posted an .878 SP.

'I Think He's A Really Special Player For Us,' Joel Eriksson Ek Continues To Be A Catalyst For The Minneosta WildJoel Eriksson Ek's effect on the Minnesota Wild is once again flying under the radar, but coach John Hynes and linemate Kirill Kaprizov know just how valuable he is to the team's success.

As a team, the Mammoth allow 3.33 goals per game (tied for 22nd) but do an effective job limiting shots on goal, ranking third. Their penalty kill has struggled, ranking 29th in the NHL. The Wild average 3.15 goals per game (14th in the NHL) and fire the third most shots on goal (31.3). With the seventh-ranked power play, the Wild could take advantage of the Mammoth.

But the same goes for the Mammoth. Offensively, they rank fifth in goals per game (3.83), fourth in shots on goal (30.4), and have the NHL's best power play, converting on 38.1 percent of their man advantages. 

The Mammoth's top unit consists of Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, and Mikhail Sergachev. They move the puck quickly, boast heavy shots, and always look to create numerical advantages, especially 2-on-1s. 

The Mammoth are 4-1-0 at home to start the season and are coming off a 5-4 overtime comeback win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tonight's matchup should be riveting, with little to separate the two clubs. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. CST at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

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After a day off on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins returned to practice Tuesday in anticipation of their next tilt Thursday, when they host the Utah Mammoth.

And, given what their injury situation was prior to the day off, there was a sight for sore eyes.

Center Ben Kindel, who experienced a vasevagal episode on the team plane shortly after takeoff from Salt Lake City International Airport on Oct. 20 that prompted an emergency landing, was back on the ice for practice. The 19-year-old was full-contact, and he was working on a second line alongside Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, who were also both out of the lineup for Saturday's 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators but skated Sunday.

It's only been one week since Kindel was hospitalized. Now, he is back on the ice, and he is grateful to be back.  

"I've kind of just been getting back to normal. Obviously, a couple of weird days, but it feels normal now just being back with the guys. So, just excited for the rest of the year."

Kindel said he started working out a day or two after returning to Pittsburgh that Wednesday and that he started more intensive training over the weekend. Tuesday marked his first day back on the ice, although he had ample opportunity to get off-ice work in.

In recalling the experience, Kindel didn't reveal anything that wasn't already known to the public through GM and POHO Kyle Dubas's press conference as well as the team's official press release. But he's ready to put it in the past. 

"I wouldn't say it's that tough. For me, it's in the past now," Kindel said. "It's out of my head. Can't control what happened, just got to move forward. That's where my head's at, just looking to move forward now. So, I'm definitely not dwelling on anything or have anything holding me back coming into this weekend."

Prior to his medical episode, Kindel had two goals and four points in nine games on the season, and he was a staple as the team's third-line center. Even in the two games that Kindel missed - Saturday's game and Thursday's 4-0 rout of the Florida Panthers - there was a fair amount of lineup shuffling that occurred, particularly within the middle-six. 

Dubas: Ben Kindel Had 'Vasovagal Episode' On Team PlanePittsburgh Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas cleared up what happened during Ben Kindel's medical episode on the team plane Tuesday, which prompted an emergency landing and required hospitalization.

The Penguins were coming off of a four-game winless road trip before Kindel's incident, and they have won both games since. Hendrix Lapierre and Elmer Soderblom reentered the lineup, and young forwards Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes pitched in during Saturday's win. Lapierre centered the second line in both games, and he and Ville Koivunen have developed some chemistry and were, arguably, the team's best line in those two contests.

So, that's a combination that will likely stick Thursday on the third line. Tommy Novak has been working on the first line with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell and has seen some success there, so Kindel took Novak's regular spot between Chinakhov and Malkin.

Of course, the Penguins practice again Wednesday, so these are not necessarily combinations that will stick. However, it is something to watch, given how the other lines have developed together in the games Kindel missed.

"You don't have a lot of these days where you get multiple practice days in a row, so it was an opportunity for us today to see some things," head coach Dan Muse said following Tuesday's practice. "We've still got to check some boxes in terms of some of the guys that are coming back, just in terms of how they're progressing, and I think that can dictate things a little bit for lines. 

"But that was a thing today. Obviously, Geno and Chinny have played together in the past. I think 'Lappy' and 'Koivy' have been playing well together - very well together - so you got some pairs there that we're looking at and building some lines off of, but we'll take it a practice at a time here."

'It Felt So Good': Takeaways From Penguins' Comeback Overtime Win Over PredatorsFueled by a late comeback, the Penguins earned two points in an overtime thriller against the Nashville Predators on Saturday as a follow-up to their best performance of the season.

Of course, some things could change over the next couple of days. Kindel does have a very small sample size playing with Chinakhov and Malkin from last season, and he did see a brief stint in the top-six on Crosby's wing as well. It seems he may finally be getting another opportunity to be elevated in the lineup, should the combinations stick and everyone be ready to go Thursday.

Regardless of how it all shakes out, however, Kindel is ready to pounce on the opportunity to get back out there and help the team continue to string some wins together.

"I'm just going try and do whatever I can to help the team," Kindel said. "Obviously, if I get an opportunity to play with Geno and Chinny, that would be awesome. They're both great players offensively, and hopefully, we can see what we can do, if that is a line. 

"Wherever they put me, I'm just happy to go out there and try and do my best wherever and help the team win."

Penguins' Young Defenseman Embraces 'Full Circle' NHL MomentPenguins' defensive prospect Chase Pietila - recalled from the AHL Saturday - is ready to take his game to the next level, and he's glad to be experiencing it with an old friend.

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On Tuesday, New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe announced that the newcomer will make his season and team debut in a tough matchup against the red-hot Dallas Stars. 

It will be Hellebuyck's first start since April 13, when he made his final appearance as a member of the Winnipeg Jets, a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in which he allowed six goals on 38 shots. The Stars enter Tuesday having won their last five straight games and will look to make it six versus the Devils.

The Michigan native has solid career numbers against Dallas, though they have soured of late. In 32 career meetings, Hellebuyck is 14-12-6 with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. Over his last seven matchups with the Stars, however, the 33-year-old has just one win, with a 3.20 goals-against average and a .876 save percentage.

Now Hellebuyck gets a fresh start in New Jersey. The Devils acquired him in a six-asset trade package that sent Dawson Mercer, recent 12th overall pick Alexander Command, depth center Nick Bjugstad, depth goaltender Nico Daws and a pair of draft picks to Winnipeg.

Hellebuyck finished his tenure with the Jets with a 345-208-55 record, a 2.58 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in 625 games. He leads the franchise in nearly every major goaltending category, including games played, wins, losses, overtime losses, shutouts, time on ice, goals-against average and save percentage.

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It wasn’t that long ago that Alexander Georgiev was the guy in net for the Colorado Avalanche. He was winning games, made the All-Star Game and played a huge role for a team with Stanley Cup hopes.

Now he has no job.

Georgiev enjoyed some success in Colorado. He tied for the NHL lead with 40 wins in 2022-23, then led the league outright with 38 victories the following season.

Of course, the numbers weren’t always great. His save percentage dropped to .897 in 2023-24, and things plummeted the following year.

After struggling in Colorado, Georgiev was traded to the San Jose Sharks, hoping a change of scenery would help him get back on track.

It didn’t.

He finished his time with the Sharks with a .875 save percentage and a 3.88 goals-against average across 31 appearances.

After a brief stint in Buffalo, Georgiev eventually headed back to Russia and joined Spartak Moskva in the KHL. And honestly, he looked better.

He finished the regular season with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 24 appearances.

His playoff run wasn’t quite as successful, as he went 1-4 in five appearances, but he still managed to post a .918 save percentage.

So, it’s not like Georgiev completely forgot how to stop pucks.

The bigger question is whether NHL teams believe he can do it consistently over here again.

Is Another NHL Chance Coming?

The season is already a month old and Georgiev remains out of the picture. The New York Rangers might need an extra hand as well as the Edmonton Oilers, but Mike Babcock would likely have him run out of town if we’re being honest.

The end of his NHL tenure, as far as we know, was rather bad. So you can’t blame teams for wanting to avoid Georgiev like the plague or I guess if you want to use a recent example, COVID-19.

For now, the former Avalanche starter remains homeless in the NHL, and with the season already underway, the clock is ticking on his chances of getting back.

Things were looking up for the Philadelphia Flyers when Rasmus Ristolainen returned from a three-week absence, though the defenseman's comeback was ultimately short-lived. Fortunately, though, the Flyers just received some good injury news, and reinforcements are on the way.

With Ristolainen expected to miss approximately two more weeks with a re-aggravation of his previous injury, the Flyers played the Finn on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 24.

By creating a roster spot with that transaction, the Flyers paved the way for Cam York, who has been out since Oct. 8 with a hand injury, to return from injured reserve.

York, 25, had only played in five games for the Flyers this season and got off to a slow start, recording no points and stumbling to a -6 rating.

This hasn't been York's first rodeo with the injury bug, either. The Flyers' top-four defenseman played just 66 games in 2024-25, and 74 games last season.

But, now that he's back once again, it's a big boost for the Flyers, who need to reduce Travis Sanheim's workload at some point.

Flyers Strong Fit for Castaway Capitals 1st-Round Pick on NHL Trade BlockWith their roster deficiencies, the Philadelphia Flyers look like a really nice fit for Washington Capitals outcast Ivan Miroshnichenko.

Sanheim has been averaging a whopping 26:39 of ice time over the Flyers' last five games, playing top penalty kill minutes in addition to serving as the second unit power play quarterback with David Jiricek a healthy scratch for the last two games.

York, who scored a career-high seven power play points last year, could jump right back into that role to replace Sanheim if he's feeling up to it in his first game back. and Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet and assistant coach Todd Reirden will have more options at their disposal with York entering the lineup for Tuesday night's game against Columbus.

In another move at least partially related to injury, the Flyers recalled forward Jacob Gaucher from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Gaucher was assigned to the AHL on Sunday; Owen Tippett, who has been day-to-day since Oct. 15, could have returned, but he's not quite close enough to returning to action. Tippett has been skating away from the rest of his Flyers teammates as of late.

The Chicago Blackhawks (3-8-0) had a better showing against the Florida Panthers on Sunday afternoon, but they still managed to skate away with nothing in the standings. 

Now, the Blackhawks will end their 7-game home stand by welcoming the Los Angeles Kings (3-5-2), who haven’t been doing much better. The Kings have played one fewer game than the Blackhawks but still slightly edge them out in the overall league standings. 

The Kings are closer to the Blackhawks in overall talent than some of their previous (and future) opponents, which should allow both sides to gain some confidence in certain areas of the game. 

Scouting Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Kings are coming into this game after playing the night before. They defeated the New York Rangers 6-3 at Madison Square Garden and now have to play the Blackhawks after a long night of travel from New York. 

Last season, captain and franchise icon Anze Kopitar hung up his skates after a Hall of Fame-worthy career. Now, with Drew Doughty finishing out his playing days as the team’s captain, they are retooling on the fly. They don’t like being one of the worst teams in the Pacific so far, but it’s the reality of the situation until they pull themselves out of it. The Kings expect to be in the playoffs every year. Most of the time, they get their wish. 

Panarin - Laferriere - Kempe

Moore - Byfield - Ward

Laughton - Haula - Armia

Lee - Helenius - Perry

Gustafsson - Clarke

Edmundson - Doughty

Anderson - Dumoulin

Forsberg

Darcy Kuemper started in goal for the Kings against the Rangers, so the Blackhawks are likely to see Anton Forsberg in this one. They will be without Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Fiala, and Alex Turcotte, who are all working their way back from injuries. 

At forward, the Kings don’t have Kopitar anymore, and a few guys are on the IR, but that doesn’t mean that they have no talent. This group is led by former Blackhawks star Artemi Panarin, who brings a dynamic ability to generate offense as well as anyone.

On defense, Doughty is still a notable player, but Brandt Clarke is their new number-one guy. Having the elder future Hall of Famer on the same team is quite helpful. If the young Blackhawks want to beat the Kings, pushing the pace against their aging group is one of the keys. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks are right there with the Kings at the bottom of the NHL standings. They've lost 3 straight games, and a couple of them have been lousy efforts. Now, they have a chance to bounce back against a team that should be less fresh than they are. 

Kantserov - Bedard - Greene

Bertuzzi - Frondell - Donato

Moore - Nazar - Kane

Smith - Greenway - Teravainen

Vlasic - Cole

Kaiser - Levshunov

Korchinski - Rinzel

Knight

Spencer Knight is going to make his 7th start in a row, and his 12th start out of Chicago's 12 games so far. Jeff Blashill said he is going to find time to play Arvid Soderblom at some point, but there have been no back-to-backs yet. That has allowed them to keep going with Knight, who gives them the best chance to win. 

The lines are in a blender again. Ryan Greene, who scored his first goal of the season last time out, is going to be on the top line with Connor Bedard and Roman Kantserov. Greene spent a lot of time with Bedard last season, and it was a decent line. Jordan Greenway will go down and be the fourth-line center in Greene's place. 

Patrick Kane is moving down to play with Frank Nazar. Oliver Moore will be the third forward on the line as he returns from being a healthy scratch. Andrew Mangiapane comes out for Moore. 

On defense, Bowen Byram is not ready to come back yet. He has been skating in a non-contact sweater, but won't play against the Kings. Kevin Korchinski played well enough to earn another game, but it was fair to wonder if Jeff Blashill would agree to do it. Well, Korchinski is going to be in on Tuesday night with another chance to prove himself. 

Chicago's Power Play

The Blackhawks are going to try the 5-forward top power play unit again. It hasn't worked well for multiple reasons, but Jeff Blashill is sticking with it. The two units will look like this to start the game on Tuesday:

Unit 1:

Bertuzzi

Kane-Kantserov-Bedard

Teravainen

Unit 2:

Greene

Nazar-Donato-Frondell

Rinzel

The change that Blashill made to address the issue is flipping Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard. If that doesn't get the top unit going, it will be time for them to make more changes to the personnel within the units. 

If they don't get out of the basement of the power-play rankings, it is going to be incredibly difficult to turn their season around. After going 0/7 against the Florida Panthers on Sunday, look for them to work hard to finally get one. 

Blackhawks Won't Turn Season Around Without Fixing Power Play ResultsThe Chicago Blackhawks will not turn their season around unless they fix the issues that plague them on the power play.

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. It can be seen locally on CHSN. Nationally, you can stream it on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT. 

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The Vegas Golden Knights are on a three-game skid and will look to get back into the win column on Tuesday. They host the Ottawa Senators at T-Mobile Arena.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PST.

The Golden Knights last played on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. They tied it up less than seven minutes after Columbus pulled ahead, and kept the game close for the remainder of regulation. Shea Theodore took a penalty early in overtime; the Blue Jackets scored on the ensuing power play, and the Golden Knights fell 2-1 in overtime.

The Senators last played on Saturday against the New York Rangers. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead, fought off New York’s comeback attempt, and scored two empty-net goals to secure a 7-4 win.

Carter Hart left morning skate early with an apparent injury. Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig said that Hart is being evaluated and that Adin Hill will start in goal. Hill has a 4-1-0 record and an .882 save percentage in five games played this season.

Samuel Ersson is projected to start in net for the Senators. Ersson has a 0-3-0 record and an average save percentage of .835 in five games played this season.

The Golden Knights have lost their last three games and are looking to shake things up. Jonas Røndbjerg and Ville Heinola will enter the lineup for Raphael Lavoie and Dylan Coghlan.

Golden Knights Lines

Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Mark Stone

Brett Howden — William Karlsson — Mitch Marner

Trevor Connelly — Tomáš Hertl — Braeden Bowman

Marc Gatcomb — Nic Dowd — Jonas Røndbjerg

Defense

Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore

Jeremy Lauzon — Noah Hanifin

Ville Heinola — Rasmus Andersson

Goaltenders: Carter Hart / Adin Hill

Projected Senators Lines

Fabian Zetterlund — Tim Stützle — Claude Giroux

Warren Foegele — Dylan Cozens — Drake Batherson

Ridly Greig — Shane Pinto — Michael Amado

Nick Cousins — Stephen Halliday — Andre Burakovsky

Defense

Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub

Tyler Kleven — Jordan Spence

Nikolas Matinpalo — Carter Yakemchuk

Goaltenders: Samuel Ersson / Jonas Johansson

Special Teams

VGK power play: 24.4%, 9th

VGK penalty kill: 67.7%, 28th

Senators power play: 11.5%, T-29th

Senators penalty kill: 79.1%, 17th

Game Notes

Last season, the Golden Knights dropped both games against the Senators, finishing 0-1-1. They are 12-2-2 against Ottawa all time.

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone is on a seven-game point streak against the Senators. Stone has four goals and 12 points in eight career games against his former team.

Jack Eichel leads the Golden Knights in scoring this season with 19 points in 12 games. Eichel has 15 goals and 35 points in 25 career games against the Senators. 

Tim Stützle leads the Senators in scoring this season with 16 points in 12 games. Stützle has two goals and 10 points in 10 career games against the Golden Knights. 

Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart has a 2-3-0 record and an average save percentage of .900 in five career games against the Senators.

Senators goaltender Sam Ersson is 1-0-0 with a .960 save percentage in one career game against the Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights are 5-2-0 at home this season; the Senators are 3-2-0 on the road.

On Monday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman appeared on the FAN Hockey Show and provided a new update on the situation between the Detroit Red Wings and restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson. 

The 23-year-old has reportedly grown tired of the organization and the prolonged delay in getting a new contract, having been eligible for over a year. It sounds increasingly like Detroit is looking to move on from the issue and potentially trade the sixth overall pick from 2021. 

"There's a lot of interest in Simon Edvinsson," Friedman said, noting that Detroit is asking a fairly high price. He added that he thinks "the talks there are really picking up."

Friedman also spoke about Edvinsson and Detroit's other player on the way out, center Dylan Larkin, on Saturday during Rogers Saturday Night Hockey.

"The Red Wings continue to take calls on both players; we have heard...they have been asking about young centers either in the NHL or not yet there," Friedman said on his Saturday Headlines segment.

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Insider Reports Rule Out Some Suitors in Dylan Larkin SweepstakesAs trade rumors swirl around Detroit’s star center, new reports reveal why Philadelphia, Boston, and Utah are fading while Minnesota and Montreal emerge as the primary front-runners.

Several clubs have reportedly shown interest in Edvinsson, including the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, Utah Mammoth, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, and each has some intriguing pieces Detroit could target. 

The Blues have Dalibor Dvorský, a top-ten pick in 2023, while the Flyers have a pair of young center prospects in Jack Berglund and Jett Luchanko. The Mammoth could offer marquee center prospects Ethan Belchetz and Caleb Desnoyers. 

The Maple Leafs are not deep at center but have top-six forward Easton Cowen and center prospect Tinus Luc Koblar. The Bruins may have the most options of all, with Fraser Minten, Dean Letourneau and Dans Ločmelis.

Detroit has plenty of options, and acquiring a reliable forward in return could also help open up the team’s defensive rotation, creating more opportunities for players who aren’t seeing regular minutes, such as Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

The Red Wings still have time to reach a decision, but Edvinsson must sign a new contract before the December 1 deadline for restricted free agents. Otherwise, he would be ineligible to play for the remainder of the season. If Detroit cannot reach an agreement by then, it could mark the beginning of the end for Edvinsson’s time with the organization.

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Trevor Connelly is just 20, but the Golden Knights rookie is already giving fans something to get excited about. He has four goals so far and is on pace for 26 this season. Not a bad start for the kid. 

Vegas hosts Ottawa Tuesday at 7 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Arena, looking to shake off Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Columbus. Tomas Hertl scored for the Knights, with Connelly and Braeden Bowman picking up assists, but Adam Fantilli ended things in overtime.

Ottawa won’t exactly be arriving quietly, either. The Senators just put up seven goals in a 7-4 win over the Rangers, their highest-scoring game of the season.

Eichel and Stone Have History Against Ottawa

Jack Eichel leads Vegas with 19 points, including six goals and 13 assists. He’s also had the Senators’ number over the years, scoring 15 goals in 25 career games against them. In his last eight matchups with Ottawa, he’s added five goals and five assists.

Mark Stone has eight goals and 15 points this season, and he’s picked up six points in his last four games against the Senators. Vegas will need its top guys to deliver if Ottawa’s offense gets rolling again.

And then there’s Connelly. Four goals already have him tied for the rookie lead, and his 26-goal pace is something Golden Knights fans can dream about. Of course, keeping that up for an entire season is another story, but the early returns are promising.

Can Vegas Slow Down Stützle?

Ottawa’s Tim Stützle is coming in hot, with 16 points on eight goals and eight assists. He’s scored in three straight games and has a point in four consecutive outings.

Vegas can’t afford to give him too much room, especially after what the Senators did to New York.

The Knights have a strong history against Ottawa, going 12-2-0 all time. A win Tuesday would be the 410th regular-season victory in franchise history and give Vegas a chance to get back on track at home.

After letting one slip away in overtime, the Golden Knights will be eager to make this one count.

The Los Angeles Kings thought bringing on an almost 40-year-old player would spark their offense, but instead, that player’s body has been sparked out twice by injuries.

Mats Zuccarello has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the Kings announced Monday. He will miss the team’s matchup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, with head coach Peter Laviolette offering no further details about the injury.

The timing is unfortunate for Zuccarello, who spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career in New York and became a fan favorite. Monday’s game offered another chance to return to his former home, but he’ll have to wait for another opportunity.

Another Setback for Zuccarello

The 39-year-old already missed three consecutive games earlier this month because of an undisclosed injury. He returned to the lineup last Tuesday against the Washington Capitals and appeared in each of Los Angeles’ next three games before this latest setback.

His most recent appearance came Saturday, when he logged 13:20 of ice time in a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

Unfortunately, the offensive numbers haven’t been encouraging either. Zuccarello has recorded just one assist through six games and has gone without a point in his last four appearances. He’s posted a plus-one rating while averaging 16:23 of ice time per game.

Los Angeles signed Zuccarello to a one-year, $1 million contract this summer after several injury-plagued seasons with the Minnesota Wild.

The move offered relatively little financial risk, but the potential reward was significant. Zuccarello had recorded at least 50 points in each of the previous five seasons, making him an appealing addition for a Kings team searching for more offensive production.

So far, staying healthy has been the biggest obstacle. Los Angeles needs its veteran addition available consistently, particularly when the offense is struggling to find its footing.

Kings Face Another Challenge

Los Angeles enters Monday’s matchup with a 2-5-2 record, sitting seventh in the Pacific Division despite winning back-to-back games last week.

Without Zuccarello, other forwards will need to shoulder more of the offensive responsibility against the Rangers.

For the Kings, the hope is that Zuccarello’s latest absence will be a short one. On the bright side, things are looking a little more encouraging between the pipes, giving Los Angeles at least one reason for optimism.