Last month, the Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators in exchange for the Vegas Golden Knights' 2027 second-round pick.

The Canadiens' decision to trade Struble was understandable. While he was a solid defenseman for Montreal, their blueline was crowded. Thus, it made sense that the Canadiens flipped him for a second-round pick.

Now, Struble is making an impact for the Predators, as the former Canadiens defenseman just had a strong game for them. 

During the Predators' most recent contest against the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 11, Struble scored a goal and recorded an assist. With this, Struble has now recorded his first multi-point game in the NHL.

Struble's contributions for Nashville against the Ducks were also important. His goal tied the game at 1-1 during the first period, while his assist was on Nils Hoglander's goal that gave Nashville a 2-1 lead in the second period.

With this multi-point game, Struble now has three goals and one assist in 15 games for Nashville since being traded by the Canadiens. He is also making an impact with his physicality, as he has recorded 41 hits for the Central Division club. 

It will now be interesting to see if the former Canadiens defenseman can build off his strong game for Nashville from here. 

The Avalanche are back on the road Thursday night, taking on the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre after picking up a 6-3 win over Toronto earlier this week.

Gabriel Landeskog scored twice, while Brock Nelson, Devon Toews, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas also scored. 13 Avalanche players recorded at least one point, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 28 saves on 31 shots.

Colorado has been getting production throughout the lineup, with 13 players recording a point in Tuesday’s win. They’ll face a Senators team coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Washington. Ottawa held a 2-1 lead in that game before Pierre-Luc Dubois tied it in the third period and Cole Hutson scored the winner in overtime.

The Senators beat Colorado 5-2 the last time these teams met, back on January 28 in Ottawa. That result was one of the exceptions in a matchup the Avalanche have generally controlled. Colorado has won seven of the last eight meetings, outscoring Ottawa 45-24 over that stretch.

Nathan MacKinnon has been particularly productive against the Senators, with seven goals in his last eight games against them. That includes the four-goal performance in Colorado’s 6-4 win on December 21, 2023. Cale Makar has 16 points in 11 career games against Ottawa, while Artturi Lehkonen has 20 points in 28 games. Lehkonen also leads the Avalanche with 13 goals this season.

Ottawa has some players capable of making things difficult, too. Tim Stutzle leads the Senators with 23 points and 14 assists, and his nine goals are tied with Drake Batherson for the team lead. Batherson has 18 points, while Shane Pinto is next with 14 points and seven goals.

Scott Wedgewood will start for Colorado. He’s had success against Ottawa over his career, going 5-1-0 with a 2.85 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in seven appearances. His numbers this season haven’t been nearly as good, though. Wedgewood is 1-3-1 with a 4.02 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage. Mackenzie Blackwood has taken on more of the workload, leaving Wedgewood in a different role than he had a season ago.

Linus Ullmark is set to return for Ottawa, making his first appearance since October 21. He was off to a strong start before the injury, going 7-1 with a .945 save percentage. Ullmark has a 2-1-1 career record against Colorado, with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. He hasn’t beaten the Avalanche in nearly four years.

The January meeting showed Ottawa can make Colorado pay when given the opportunity. The Avalanche have had the upper hand in this series, but they’ll be looking to avoid another result like that one as they continue their road trip.

Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. local time at Canadian Tire Centre.

Carolina Hurricanes veteran forward Taylor Hall is set to reach a massive career milestone, as he's in line to play in his 1,000 career NHL game on Thursday.

And to make the moment even more special, it's coming in the middle of the NHL Global Series as the Hurricanes are currently in Helsinki, Finland taking on the Seattle Kraken.

"I'm lucky to have played in the league this long. It's cool. For different guys it means different things and I think it's really exciting for me to do it [with Carolina] a team with which we a Stanley Cup and there are some really good memories here. Had a son born here and all that and just a lot of really good things have happened here, so to play 1,000 games with this team is very cool."

In fact, Taylor Hall will be the only player in NHL history to play their 1,000 career game outside of North America and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman pointed out too that Hall's first ever NHL game came on the same date as the Hurricanes' last international trip to Finland (Oct. 7, 2010).

Despite being a first overall pick in 2010, Hall has been through his fair share of ups and downs, being on quite a few bad teams and also dealing with some major injuries.

"If you go first overall, I feel like you've gotta play a lot of games," Hall said. "I started when I was 18 and I was able to have the opportunity right away. I'm definitely grateful that my body has held up after some injuries and all that and hopefully I have a lot more to go."

However, he's had a career resurgence in Carolina, which wound up with him securing the Stanley Cup last season.

"Early in his career, it was more about the talent," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Lately, certainly since he's gotten here, he's more so morphed into a good, solid, all-around player that still has a lot of that talent. He's adapted to his game to doing what we needed him to do and he's done a great job with it."

And the secret to Hall's longevity?

"I think, to be cliche, you just have to enjoy every day. There's so many good things that can happen from playing hockey in general and when you get to play it at this level, on a team like this, you don't take it for granted because one day you're not going to have this. That's what I relish the most."

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When the Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks back in mid-October, in large part due to a bad late goal surrendered by Sergei Murashov, it seemed to break his confidence a little bit. He did not have a good game to begin with, and that goal seemed to be the one that really pushed him over the edge. His next two starts, against the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens, were ugly. Very ugly. He allowed five goals in each start, had a sub-.800 save percentage, and looked like a young goalie that was struggling to find himself.

That seems to be changing over his past two starts. That was especially true in Wednesday’s 3-2 shootout win against the San Jose Sharks, where he stopped 34-of-36 shots through overtime, and then stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout.

It was a breakout game of sorts for him, and one of the best starts of his (very) young career.

Things started to turn around for him in the first game of this road trip in Los Angeles when he stopped 26-of-28 shots in a 5-2 Penguins win. The two goals he allowed were more flukey than anything else, with both coming off weird bounces (one off the glass behind the net that fell right in Corey Perry’s lap, and another that took a weird bounce off Penguins defenseman Kaedan Korczak). I will not go as far as to say he stole the game, but he was really good. He did what he needed to do, played a strong game, and took a big step forward.

On Wednesday night in San Jose, he was closer to stealing it.

Not only did he make the 34 saves (again, on 36 shots) through overtime and the three shootout saves, he bailed out an especially leaky defense on several occasions, made some high-level saves on Grade-A scoring chances, and perhaps most importantly, seemed to play with sky-high confidence. He not only looked really good, he looked in control. It was a highly, highly encouraging start, continuing an encouraging stretch of starts for him, and an producing an even better result.

I have been saying all along this season that goaltending will be one of the big wild-cards that determines the success of this team, and you have to be prepared for some ups-and-downs with them. Especially Murashov, given that he is a 22-year-old rookie in his first full season of NHL hockey. There are going to be some highs and lows. Goalies are the most volatile position in the sport, and it is even more true with young goalies.

Murashov has already had a lot of the peaks and valleys.

Including Wednesday’s game in San Jose, he has had four starts this season where his save percentage topped .914, while he combined to save 6.54 goals above expected in those starts. That is really, really good. Top-level starter kind of stuff. He has also had three starts where his save percentage has been .815 or lower, and was minus-6.62 in goals saved above expected. Obviously, not as good. That is a young goalie for you, though. You just have to have some patience here.

I am not going to go as far as to say he completely stole Wednesday’s game, because that would unfairly undersell the chances the Penguins created offensively. Even though they only scored two goals through overtime, they did create a lot of opportunities. The goalie at the other end of the ice, Yaroslav Askarov, was just as good as Murashov in that game and easily took a few potential goals off the board for the Penguins. They could have absolutely scored four or five goals in that game.

Murashov did, however, bail out their defensive play.

It was an interesting goalie matchup because Askarov, now 24, is not that far removed from being in the position that Murashov is in now. He arrived in San Jose in a trade with the Nashville Predators (with a first-round pick going the other way) and figured to be a key part of their rebuild. He has had a lot of inconsistencies and struggles playing behind a really bad defense (and a mostly bad team). He is starting to figure out and put things together and has actually been a bright spot for the Sharks this season, having stopped 5.2 goals above expected through Wednesday’s game. The fact the Sharks are still so bad in the standings is more of a testament to how bad the rest of the team is and how bad their defense still is than anything regarding Askarov.

I would still like to see Murashov be further ahead than where Askarov is two years from now, and be a better player as he gets to that point, but it does kind of show just how unpredictable and how much of a process this is. Remember, Marc-Andre Fleury was not an immediate success his first couple of years in the league. There were a lot of growing pains in there, and even some trips back to the minors. Granted, he was even younger than Murashov is now, and I am not expecting Murashov to have Fleury’s career, but the point remains the same — expect some of this. Nothing should be a surprise here.

The Penguins have improved their farm system significantly over the past two years, creating some real prospect depth and some young players that have a chance to be NHL regulars. The problem is there really is not anybody that projects to be a superstar level player. At least not yet.

In terms of skaters, Ben Kindel is probably the closest, and while I do think we are underselling his upside a bit, even if he becomes a star-level player in the future, he is most likely not going to be on that top-tier list among NHL players. Maybe an All-Star. Not quite a superstar.

Murashov is probably the one guy in the organization that has a chance to be that sort of superstar, game-changing level player. It just so hard to project it because of the position and the volatility of it. His ceiling is probably higher than any young player they have. His floor is also potentially lower than most of them. But if he does get to that ceiling? Or even close to it? That would be significant. Having one of your home-grown players that turns out to be a star-level playing being a goalie is a big development. They just have to get him there.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have added another player from the Toronto Marlies to its roster.

The club called up forward Brendan Brisson and the forward was on the ice for the club's optional skate ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

Brisson, the son of NHL super agent Pat, is the Marlies' leading scorer with eight goals and nine assists in 14 games this season. The Leafs signed Brisson to a one-year, two-way contract on Sept. 4, 2026, that pays him the NHL minimum of $850,000 at the NHL level and $300,000 at the AHL level, per PuckPedia.com.

To make room for Brisson on the club's 23-player roster, the Leafs moved Colton Sissons to injured reserve. The player sustained a lower-body injury in a 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

Leafs have called up Brendan Brisson from the Marlies this morning. @Ozoon_CAhttps://t.co/ndc4GfkXff

— David Alter (@davidalter) November 12, 2026

It's not clear at the moment if Brisson will play. Zack MacEwen, who was injured in the club's most recent game on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche, did not practice on Wednesday and was seen wearing additional support around his wrist during the club's optional skate.

Brendan Brisson on the ice at Leafs skate @TSN_Sportspic.twitter.com/gqnfUxSJnR

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 12, 2026

More will be clear following the skate.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for a three-game homestand and will face the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at 7:00 PM.     

Tampa Bay Lightning - 12-4-2 - 26 Points - Won 1 - 2nd in the Atlantic

Columbus Blue Jackets - 7-9-0 - 14 Points - Lost 2 - 7th in the Metro  

Series History vs. TheLightning

• The Blue Jackets are 19-29-1-6 Overall, and 13-12-1-2 at Nationwide Arena vs. Tampa Bay. 
• Columbus swept the season series in 25-26. 
• The winning team has scored four goals or more in 15 of the past 16 contests overall since Apr. 25, 2021, with the teams combining for six-plus tallies in 13 of those games.
• The Blue Jackets have won the past three games vs. Tampa Bay at Nationwide Arena and are 5-2-0 at home since Apr. 28, 2022.
• The winning team has won by multiple goals in 13 of the last 15 meetings, including 10 by three or more goals.

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

• Adam Fantilli has 2-6-8 in 7 career GP vs. the Lightning, including points in 5-straight games (2-5-7).
• Charlie Coyle has 9-11-20 in 34 career games and has posted assists in his last four contests vs. Tampa Bay (1-5-6).
• Kent Johnson has 3-4-7 in 13 career GP, including 3-2-5 in his past six outings against the Bolts. 
• Matthew Knies has 11-7-18 with six multipoint efforts in 12 career GP, including four multi-point outings in his past six (7-7-14).
• Zach Werenski has 8-17-25 with five multi-point outings in 27 career GP, including posting points in 14 of his last 16 games overall (7-15-22) as well as eight of his past nine home outings (4-9-13).
• Cole Sillinger has 3-5-8 in 14 career GP, with points in four of his past six overall (2-3-5).
• Sean Monahan has 9-9-18 in 22 career GP and has 4-5-9 in his last eight home games.

Blue Jackets Stats 

• Power Play - 17.1% - 27th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 73.9% - 22nd in the NHL
• Goals For - 39 - 32nd in the NHL
• Goals Against - 51 - 8th in the NHL   

Lightning Stats 

• Power Play - 21.2% - 18th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 72.5% - 25th in the NHL
• Goals For - 71 - 4th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 55 - 12th in the NHL

Who To Watch For TheLightning

• Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with 18 assists and 26 points. 
• Brandon Hagel leads the Bolts with 11 goals. 
• Dennis Hildeby is 3-0-1 with a SV% of .880. His last start was on Nov. 7. 

Injured Reserve & Other Injuries

• Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 16 Games Missed - Lightly skating. Could return soon.
• Conor Garland - Upper Body Injury - 1 Games Missed - No timeline for a return.

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 41

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

TV: CBJHN - Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo. DirecTV Ch. 660 (streaming), 660-1 (satellite). U-Verse (1735/735)

*Thursday's game will be available via simulcast in the following markets: Cleveland (WUAB, MyNet, 43.1), Cincinnati (WXIX, Rock Entertainment Sports Network, 19.3), Dayton (WZCD, Rock Entertainment Sports Network, 32,1). Lima (WFND, Rock Entertainment Sports Network, 19.1), Louisville (WDRB, MyNet, 41.2 or WBKI, CW, 58.1), Lexington (WKYT, CW, 27.2), Charleston-Huntington (WSAZ, MyNet, 3.2), and Bluefield-Beckley (WVVA, MyNet, 6.3).

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Ahead of Wednesday night's 3-2 overtime loss to the Oilers, Flyers general manager Danny Briere met with the team and asked them to focus on hockey amidst the Matvei Michkov trade rumors. And despite the loss, the team played like it had something to prove.

Naturally, playing against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Oilers is a tough task for anyone, especially with McDavid putting up video game numbers with his 49 points in 20 games this season.

McDavid's only assist came on the power play, as he and Draisaitl combined for just two assists in the contest.

"I think we, especially against a team like that, don't want to open up the game, and you want to stick to the game plan and be patient. I thought, for most part of the night, we did a good job at creating plays, putting pucks deep when we needed to, and making plays when we had to," said Flyers captain Sean Couturier.

To start the game, the Flyers played a pretty strong first period, out-shooting the Oilers 13-6. Michkov nearly picked up an assist on a no-look pass to Jamie Drysdale, but Oilers goalie Tristan Jarry made a great save going post to post.

In the second period, a tough sequence from Oliver Bonk led to an Oilers goal. The rookie Flyers defenseman stood guard in front of Dan Vladar, but lost track of his man, Zach Hyman.

A missed slap shot from long range caromed off the boards and right to Hyman, who shook Bonk and deposited past Vladar for an easy goal while falling.

Just under 10 minutes later, Hyman put the Oilers ahead 2-0 on the power play, scoring in the blue paint and cashing in on an interference penalty from Bonk.

Fortunately, the Flyers were able to fight back a bit, as Tyson Foerster sniped a shot past Jarry in the dying seconds of a Flyers power play to bring Philadelphia within a goal with 3:11 left in the second.

Flyers Don't Want to Trade Matvei Michkov; What Steps Are Next?In the aftermath of the Matvei Michkov trade rumors, the Flyers face the difficult task of finding calm in the storm.

Through two periods, the Flyers were out-shooting the Oilers 28-13, and the 2-1 deficit they carried was certainly uncharitable to how they played.

Tasked with tying the game, the Flyers had a surprisingly ineffective third period, getting out-shot 9-4 by the Oilers. Coming to the rescue, defenseman Travis Sanheim scored his third of the year, powering his way to Jarry's crease and stuffing the puck in to tie the game at 2-2.

Rasmus Ristolainen, who returned from injury for the second time this season, picked up his first assist of the season on Sanheim's goal, and Michkov added a secondary assist.

"Felt alright, obviously practicing and skating. Never the same [as] playing a game, but, obviously, it was fun to be back and be in the battle with the guys," Ristolainen said after the game

Overtime, unfortunately, was more of the same for the Flyers. Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard ended the game in just 47 seconds, taking advantage of an unfortunate bounce off the stick of Drysdale, who initially made a nice play to break up a pass.

Leading to the Oilers' game-ending possession, Owen Tippett made an unusual line change, advancing the puck into the the Edmonton zone, fumbling his handle, and handing the puck off instead of regrouping and getting off the ice.

Christian Dvorak, who was left to battle the Oilers 3-on-1 by himself, hucked the puck blindly up the boards to McDavid, who raced down the other way and helped orchestrate the winner.

"There's not much I can say other than the guys played really good hockey. Structured, we had some chances," head coach Rick Tocchet assessed postgame. "I guess the only negatives are, overtime is something... we gotta figure this out. But that's the only negative for me. The whole game was real positive."

Vladar made 21 saves on 24 shots in the contest, while Ristolainen played 18:24 in his return to action. Notably, Michkov led all Flyers forwards in ice time with 20:44, including 4:43 on the power play.

Veteran forward Noel Acciari suffered an injury after being tripped by Jarry late in the second period, and the Flyers subsequently ruled him out for the night with an upper-body injury. Tocchet did not have an update on Acciari after the game.

Avry Lewis-McDougall of The Hockey News contributed to this story.

Wednesday night was the final game of the Pittsburgh Penguins California swing and their last late night contest for quite some time which East Coast fans will be happy to hear. After games against the Kings and Ducks in Southern California, the Penguins traveled north to take on the San Jose Sharks in a 2026 Stanley Cup rematch in the building where the team won the Stanley Cup that season.

Pens Points…

When the Penguins drafted Ruck Twin No. 1 in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, it became obvious they were planning on drafting Ruck Twin No. 2, which they did in the second round, keeping the two together and further strengthening a special bond between them. [PPG]

Everyone knows the big names the Penguins could potentially shop in a trade when the time comes, but don’t be surprised if there are some names that haven’t popped up in rumors as of yet being shipped out if the right deal comes together for all sides. [The Hockey News]

NHL News and Notes…

It’s a sad state of affairs for hockey in the Keystone State at the moment. While the Penguins struggle to win games, the Philadelphia Flyers are in the same boat with extra drama piled on top as trade request rumors surround former first round pick Matvei Michkov. [Sportsnet]

Nick Cousins was on the receiving end of one of the more brutal hits you will see in the NHL this season. Cousins was knocked out cold by a body check from Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun and will miss the next 7-10 days as a result. [ESPN]

Buffalo Sabres (8-7-3, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (4-13-1, in the Central Division)

Chicago; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST

LINE: Sabres -155, Blackhawks +126; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks look to stop their six-game losing streak when they take on the Buffalo Sabres.

Chicago is 4-5-0 in home games and 4-13-1 overall. The Blackhawks have gone 1-7-0 when they commit more penalties than their opponent.

Buffalo has gone 4-1-3 in road games and 8-7-3 overall. The Sabres have a 7-1-3 record in games they score three or more goals.

The teams match up Thursday for the second time this season. The Sabres won the previous matchup 4-3.

TOP PERFORMERS: Roman Kantserov has nine goals and two assists for the Blackhawks. Connor Bedard has four goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.

Zachary Benson has two goals and 13 assists for the Sabres. Tage Thompson has scored seven goals with five assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blackhawks: 1-8-1, averaging 1.8 goals, 3.1 assists, four penalties and 8.5 penalty minutes while giving up four goals per game.

Sabres: 4-4-2, averaging 2.9 goals, 5.3 assists, 4.3 penalties and 9.7 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.

INJURIES: Blackhawks: Patrick Kane: out (upper-body), Ryan Ellis: out for season (back), Bowen Byram: out (upper-body).

Sabres: Louis Crevier: day to day (undisclosed), Matt Grzelcyk: out (lower-body), Konsta Helenius: out (upper-body), Justin Danforth: out (upper-body), Alex Lyon: out (upper-body).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Nashville Predators (10-4-5, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (13-5-2, in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights take on the Nashville Predators with a four win streak intact.

Vegas is 13-5-2 overall and 6-3-0 at home. The Golden Knights have a 6-3-0 record when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent.

Nashville has gone 3-1-3 in road games and 10-4-5 overall. The Predators have a 5-2-0 record when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent.

Friday's game is the second time these teams meet this season. The Golden Knights won the previous meeting 5-2.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell Marner has three goals and 20 assists for the Golden Knights. Victor Olofsson has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

Steven Stamkos has 11 goals and nine assists for the Predators. Filip Forsberg has scored six goals and added eight assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 5-3-2, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.5 assists, three penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

Predators: 7-1-2, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.9 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: Noah Hanifin: out (undisclosed).

Predators: Jonathan Marchessault: day to day (lower body), William Trudeau: out (upper body).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

CALGARY, Alberta — Glenn Gawdin made his return to the NHL on Wednesday night against the organization that gave him his start.

Taking on the Flames, who signed him to an entry-level contract in November 2017, when the team that drafted him — the Blues — opted not to, Gawdin made his Rangers debut and appeared in his first NHL game in just over 2 ½ years.

Asked to reflect on his journey to this opportunity with the Blueshirts, the 29-year-old center cited “a lot of emotions.”

“It’s been a few years since I played an NHL game,” Gawdin said before centering the fourth line between Eeli Tolvanen and Jaroslav Chmelar in the Rangers’ 3-1 win over Calgary. “In the back of my mind, I knew if I continued to work, the opportunity might come again. So that’s the mindset that I had is put your head down and keep working.”

With five goals and nine assists through 16 games, Gawdin was tied with Liam Greentree for the Wolf Pack lead in points at the time of the recall.

Wednesday night marked his 14th NHL game across five seasons. In his previous 13 contests, Gawdin recorded just one assist during the 2020-21 season with the Flames.

He said he planned to “keep it simple,” be reliable and play with pace in his first NHL game since March 6, 2024. Logging a game-low 6:27 of ice time, Gawdin won two of six faceoffs.

“Pretty good as of late,” Gawdin said of how his game has been coming along in Hartford. “I think I could say I had a slow start, but I think I found it the last little bit. The team’s also having more success. I think credit to the coaching staff and everybody down there that helped me find my game.”

Mike Sullivan has veered away from using Will Cuylle as his third-line center, an experiment that lasted just three games.

The Rangers head coach reverted to deploying four true centers, utilizing Luke Glendening in Edmonton before recalling Gawdin for Calgary.

Asked if the Cuylle experiment was over, Sullivan said it was “for now.”

Defenseman Sean Durzi participated in the Rangers’ morning skate Wednesday in a red noncontact jersey again.

With an empty-net goal Wednesday night, Tye Kartye has scored in three of the past four games.

Las Vegas, N.V.– How long had it been since the Vegas Golden Knights scored five goals in one game? Well, as Rose DeWitt Bukater (I had to look up her last name) said in the 1997 film Titanic, “It’s been 84 years.” It obviously didn’t take 84 years– it’s only been 10 games–, but that seemingly endless trend came to a halt on Wednesday when the Golden Knights beat the Utah Mammoth. 

Tonight, the puck just seemed to go in for them in a way it hadn’t in quite some time. The Golden Knights, who averaged just 2.44 goals in their past nine games, took advantage of a shorthanded Mammoth team and scored five.

“It feels good [to score goals],” said Ivan Barbashev. “On the road trip, it felt like every single game was pretty close. But at the same time, I don’t think we played well enough in some of the games in the first 10 to 15 minutes on the road trip. But we did a really good job today.”

With an assist on Jack Eichel’s first-period goal, Golden Knights captain Mark Stone moved within spitting distance of becoming the franchise’s all-time point leader. Stone, who has 415 points in 419 games, is two points behind Jonathan Marchessault, who finished his Golden Knights career with 417 points in 514 games.

“[Stone] is smart enough to find the right areas, and I think that goes to his hockey IQ,” said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig in October. “We’ve seen it here, time and time again, since he’s gotten to our organization. He finds ways to get to the right spot. He finds ways to impact the game by being in the right areas, both defensively and offensively.”

1. The Barbie Show

Forward Ivan Barbashev scored twice tonight in the Golden Knights’ 5-3 win. His first goal was the kind he’s made his living scoring: he went to the net, parked himself back-door, and capitalized when Victor Olofsson whiffed on a shot.

His second was an early candidate for the goal of the year.

“I saw some space between the defensemen and just tried to make a move,” said Barbashev following the 5-3 win. “It was nice to score a goal.”

After Olofsson found him flying up ice with speed, Barbashev danced through two Mammoth defensemen, Mikhail Sergachev and Mackenzie Weegar. Then he drove to the net and beat goaltender Sebastian Cossa five-hole while falling after Weegar tripped him.

“It was absolutely disgusting,” said Olofsson when asked about his linemate’s goal. “[Barbashev] turned a couple guys inside out. It was just cool to see. I was so close; I just watched the whole play, and it was very beautiful.”

Barbashev was out to defend the two-goal when the Mammoth pulled Sebastian Cossa for the extra attacker, but missed two shots at empty net that would have given him his second career hat trick.

“I sure did [think it was going in],” said Barbashev ruefully. “But then it just kept turning and turning.”

2. Back With a Bang

The Golden Knights played tonight without defenseman Noah Hanifin, who is week-to-week. However, Parker Wotherspoon, who missed the last 13 games with an upper-body injury, returned to the lineup. Wotherspoon played 15:31 and drew the penalty that led to Victor Olofsson’s first goal of the night.

“Parker played well,” said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig. “We saw some of the poise he had with the puck… As the game went on, he got better and better and more comfortable. Missing 13 games at this time of year is tough.”

This is just Olofsson’s third game back in the lineup after also missing 13 games. Olofsson scored the go-ahead goal on the power play early in the second period, and recorded two primary assists in both of Ivan Barbashev’s goals.

“I feel better and better,” Olofsson said after the game. “I think I’ve been a little rusty, but it feels like I’m getting there and feeling more confident. My legs feel a little bit better now after a few games.”

3. Paid the Electric Bill

The Golden Knights have an electric power play. It was their most dangerous weapon last season, and that has continued early this season. However, it looked disjointed in their past two games, and they entered tonight 0-for on their last six power-play opportunities.

The buck stopped just two minutes and 15 seconds into the first period. 

Jack Eichel, who scored just one power-play goal in 74 games last season, ripped a one-timer past Sebastian Cossa after a slick fake-shot pass from Mitch Marner. That goal was the first of the game, and with tonight’s win, the Golden Knights improve to a perfect 9-0-0 when scoring first.

The power play came up big again just 3:07 into the second period. Victor Olofsson scored in transition to give the Golden Knights a lead that they didn’t relinquish.

Head coach André Tourigny did say pregame that when you expect something to happen, nothing usually happens. Most were expecting a close, physical game on Wednesday between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights, a rematch of the teams’ first-round playoff series against each other in the spring.

However, it was instead a game that the Golden Knights ran away with starting in the second period, and a very injured Mammoth squad couldn’t do much other than keep within a goal or two of their opponents, losing 5-3. They leave Sin City, set to play their next five games at home after playing 13 of their 19 games on the road.

When the Mammoth released their injury report right before warm-ups, saying that their game against the Golden Knights was going to be an uphill battle is probably the best way to put it. Dylan Guenther and Nate Schmidt were both placed on injured reserve, joining John Marino. Logan Cooley was also announced to be injured, with his status as day-to-day.

The only bit of good news in the injury report was the reactivation of Kailer Yamamoto off of injured reserve. Daniil But was also recalled from the Tucson Roadrunners and made it on time to play in Wednesday’s game. With the Roadrunners, But really hasn’t done much offensively. He’ll make flashy moves but then overthink things and often gets humbled with a hit or two from his opponents. It was a similar story on Wednesday.

Daniil But is already in Vegas and is skating in warm ups. #TusksUppic.twitter.com/r6lUsVclCz

— Chase Beardsley (@ChaseBeardsley_) November 12, 2026

“He had a good moment early, and then after that he went through a little bit of adversity and a few reads, but that's what I thought of his game,” Tourigny said. “I think he had a great first period.”

Someone who had a great game was Jack McBain. The forward got three points, including his second goal of the season off a top-shelf shot. His linemate, Lawson Crouse, also had a very good night with two points. It was the only line that really connected throughout Wednesday’s game.

A beauty from Bainer! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/8yjRnNQVjE

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) November 12, 2026

McBain was someone who needed to get going. He hadn’t scored since Oct. 8 against the Boston Bruins and hadn’t produced a point since Oct. 19 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crouse has also been struggling to produce as of late, with his last goal coming on Oct. 6 against the New Jersey Devils. Luckily, his line found some luck against the Golden Knights.

“The first one, my goal, was a puck going to the net,” Crouse said. “It popped out perfectly on the weak side. Then a great shot by Bainer, and then another great pass by Bainer. You love to see it from Boehner. He's a guy who does everything right. A true teammate, and nice to see him get rewarded.”

🚨 Crouser finds the back of the net!

Tied up, 1-1. pic.twitter.com/Sas4kjPhL6

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) November 12, 2026

Andrew Peeke also produced assists on the goals. He’s had a sneaky good season so far with eight points in 19 games. 

Back to Crouse and McBain: those two guys needed to step up, and they did. They aren’t the only ones. Anders Lee has struggled to score as of late. Michael Carcone hasn’t done much since returning from injury. Vincent Trocheck’s last goal came Oct. 22. He’s approaching double digits in games since his last goal.

The reason why it’s so critical they have to step up and start producing now is that the Mammoth have run into some very challenging injury issues. There are the four aforementioned players and now Nick Schmaltz. Schmaltz took a hard hit on the boards that forced him into the locker room. He returned for a couple of shifts and then left the game. The Mammoth later announced he was questionable to return with a lower-body injury.

That is three of the Mammoth’s top five forwards who were sidelined for most of Wednesday’s game. Even worse, the Schmaltz injury ended up distracting the Mammoth as the Golden Knights piled on three goals in five minutes that ultimately won them the game.

“We went through adversity in the game with some injuries, and I think we lost our focus, and that cost us the game,” Tourigny said. “At that moment, we gave up three goals, and we got pulled out of the game there. I liked the fight after we came back. That was positive, but I think we can be more connected and a little bit more stingy.”

You can point to that second period as a major reason the Mammoth lost. Yes, there were those three goals, but it goes deeper than that. The Mammoth were outshot 15-5 in the second period. That is not a recipe for winning games.

Something that contributed to that second period was the final penalty the Mammoth took in the game. Crouse went off for tripping, which led to Victor Olofsson’s power-play goal. That helped fuel the two goals that followed, including Ivan Barbashev’s beautiful highlight-reel goal. The Mammoth’s penalty kill wasn’t bad. It actually came up big in the first by killing a five-on-three penalty. However, they took too many penalties, and it caught up with them.

BARBASHEV WITH AN INSANE MOVE TO SPLIT THE DEFENSE AND SCORE IT 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/yGmoBQKSWf

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 12, 2026

"We need to play our game and play a full 60,” Crouse said. “We talk a lot about our pace, our speed, and how we want to play. We got to do that. Staying out of the box is going to be a big priority. We've got to find ways to not take those penalties."

The Mammoth have now dropped three straight games. They have now dropped to the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They now have five everyday players out with injuries. It’s a frustrating time right now for the team.

Goaltending hasn’t been good either for quite some time. While Sebastian Cossa wasn’t necessarily bad, he put up an .821 save percentage. You can blame the blueline for a couple of those goals, but goaltending still needs to start consistently posting a .890 save percentage or better, and neither Cossa nor Karel Vejmelka has done that this season.

“I will need to look at the tape to analyze all the goals and all the scoring chances,” Tourigny said. “I think he made great saves during the game. We'll have to look at all the goals and have a better read on it.”

The Mammoth don’t get much of a break either. They play again less than 24 hours after Wednesday’s loss. The injured and the players still kicking get no rest. Perhaps giving someone like Ben McCartney a chance in the lineup might inject some life into the lineup. Whatever can give them energy, the Mammoth need to do it.

In the locker room, it’s simple. Whether the coaches and general managers do something to energize the team, the locker room needs to rise and step up. The Mammoth need everyone at their best. That hasn’t happened recently. It needs to start now if the Mammoth want to start winning again.

“We talk about adversity, and these are the moments when we all need to rise up,” Crouse said. “Everyone in the locker room needs to demand more of themselves, and that's what we're going to do.”

The Golden Knights are a good team. They deserved to win Wednesday’s game. To make the playoffs, though, the Mammoth need to win those tough games, and they need to start doing it soon to keep pace with the rest of the Western Conference.

The Mammoth will play the St. Louis Blues next on Thursday at the Delta Center. The Blues are 8-8-2 and are coming off a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights returned to T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday, looking to carry the momentum of a successful road trip into their homestand.

For one dominant period, they looked every bit like a team finding its offensive rhythm.

Ivan Barbashev scored twice, Victor Olofsson finished with a goal and two assists, and Mitch Marner collected three assists as the Golden Knights defeated the Utah Mammoth, 5-3.

WEDNESDAY KNIGHT WINS 🦩 pic.twitter.com/HTxRqjc4UZ

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 12, 2026

Vegas erupted for three goals in the second period, using relentless puck pursuit, sustained offensive-zone pressure and opportunistic finishing to take control of the game.

After completing a 3-0-1 road trip that featured disciplined defensive hockey and timely goaltending, the Golden Knights demonstrated they could combine that same defensive commitment with an aggressive offensive attack.

The victory wasn't without adversity.

Utah trimmed a three-goal deficit to one in the third period, but Brett Howden delivered a timely response to restore Vegas' two-goal advantage and extinguish the Mammoth's comeback hopes.

"I thought we did a good job of getting back to our game whenever we kind of felt like the momentum shifted," Howden said. "Whatever line was going out there, we kind of needed a pushback. I thought we did a good job of getting the game back in our hands."

The performance also highlighted the growing chemistry between Barbashev, Olofsson and Tomas Hertl, a combination that repeatedly frustrated Utah with extended offensive-zone possessions.

Olofsson said the Golden Knights' ability to keep the Mammoth defending for long stretches proved particularly important.

"I think we played quick," Olofsson said. "We played most of it in their end and had a lot of long shifts. I felt like they couldn't really get off the ice."

Key Moment: Howdy Howden!

The Golden Knights had already established control with a three-goal second period, but Utah refused to go quietly.

After the Mammoth cut Vegas' lead to 4-3 in the third, Howden answered just 72 seconds later, redirecting a shot from William Karlsson into the net to restore the two-goal cushion.

The goal represented exactly the type of response the Golden Knights needed after allowing Utah to regain momentum.

Interestingly, Howden wasn't entirely certain how the puck had entered the net.

"Carly said he didn't really have much of a play, so he just tried getting it on net," Howden said. "I just tried finding my way to the net. Didn't even see it. Just somehow went off me and in."

Score correction: 🗣️ Brett Howden makes it 5-3!! Hand up, that one's on me, guys! pic.twitter.com/vEY1DeA6yX

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 12, 2026

Howden acknowledged he initially wasn't sure whether the puck had struck him or his stick, and the confusion continued during the celebration.

"I felt like I knew that it hit me, but afterwards I looked up and I seen that he was celebrating," Howden said. "I kind of felt bad. I wasn't really sure, so I kind of apologized to him on the bench."

The goal also illustrated the importance of maintaining an aggressive approach rather than allowing Utah to dictate the closing minutes.

Howden said the Golden Knights recognized the need to remain disciplined, particularly when the game became increasingly physical.

"When that happens, especially the way the game was going, I thought we had full control of the game," he said. "We were just trying to stay with that, just trying to play hard and play an honest game and keep the momentum going for our team."

Key Stat: 3 in 5:09

The Golden Knights scored three goals in a span of 5:09 during the second period, transforming a 1-1 game into a commanding 4-1 advantage.

Olofsson broke the tie with a power-play goal at 3:07, Barbashev followed at 4:51 and added his second at 8:16.

Goal of the year candidate from Barbie??? 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/xYND320St4

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 12, 2026

The offensive explosion demonstrated how effective Vegas can be when it combines quick puck movement with extended possessions and a willingness to attack the net.

Vegas also scored twice on the power play, with Jack Eichel opening the scoring at 2:15 of the first period.

But the second-period dominance wasn't simply a product of finishing opportunities. It was the result of forcing Utah into extended defensive shifts and limiting the Mammoth's ability to generate offense through the neutral zone.

Olofsson said the Golden Knights deliberately exploited the second period's long change.

"That was kind of how we wanted to spend the second period, taking advantage of the long changes," he said.

The defensive commitment was equally important against a Utah team capable of creating dangerous opportunities in transition.

"We were very disciplined, picking guys up, and didn't give them any easy offense that way," Olofsson said. "We didn't have too many turnovers as well that gave them free offense."

Howden believed the team's increased willingness to attack the net also made a difference.

"We had more of that net mentality, more of that attack mindset," he said. "Good things happen when you have that mindset."

What a Knight: Victor Olofsson

Olofsson continues to make his presence felt as he works his way back into the Golden Knights' lineup.

The veteran winger finished with a goal and two assists, playing a significant role in Vegas' second-period surge while helping establish his line with Barbashev and Hertl as an increasingly productive combination.

Vic on the power play just hits different 😤 pic.twitter.com/L1thrlUsSt

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 12, 2026

Olofsson's return has provided another offensive weapon for a team that has relied heavily on defensive structure and opportunistic scoring during its recent stretch of success.

And his chemistry with his linemates was evident throughout Wednesday's victory.

Perhaps the most entertaining moment came when Olofsson was asked about his setup on one of Barbashev's goals.

The pass, as it turned out, wasn't exactly intentional.

"Unfortunately, it's not, but I wish," Olofsson said. "I fanned on that pretty good and ended up being a perfect pass."

The accidental assist was only part of an impressive offensive performance.

“There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.”

- Victor Olofsson, probably 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZEH1Xocucy

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 12, 2026

Olofsson also watched Barbashev produce one of the game's most spectacular individual efforts, maneuvering through Utah defenders before finishing a highlight-reel goal.

"It was absolutely disgusting," Olofsson said. "He turned a couple guys inside out. It was just cool to see. I was so close, I just watched the whole play."

Beyond his three-point performance, Olofsson's improving physical condition offers another encouraging development for Vegas.

"Better and better," he said when asked how he feels after returning from injury. "I think it's been a little rusty, but it feels like I'm getting there and feel more confident. Even my legs feel a little bit better now after a few games."

Olofsson also praised the chemistry developing with Barbashev and Hertl, noting their ability to protect the puck and create space for one another.

"They're really good passers, both of them," he said. "They're strong on the puck and can protect it well. I try to find that open ice, and they've been finding me nicely out there."

For a Golden Knights team looking to build on its successful road trip, Olofsson's continued improvement could prove especially valuable as the homestand progresses.

Up Next

The Golden Knights continue their homestand Friday when they host the Nashville Predators at T-Mobile Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. Pacific.

Vegas will look to build on Wednesday's offensive performance while maintaining the defensive discipline that has fueled its recent success.

With contributions coming from throughout the lineup, improving chemistry among its forward combinations and a willingness to respond when opponents seize momentum, the Golden Knights are showing signs of becoming a more complete team.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Ben Kindel scored in regulation and had the lone shootout goal and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Wednesday night after blowing a two-goal lead in third period.

San Jose star Macklin Celebrini scored with 8:28 left, and set up Mason Marchment’s tying goal with 4:11 remaining.

The Penguins then survived a San Jose power play for the final 43 seconds of overtime after Kris Letang was sent off for holding Sam Dickinson's stick.

Sergei Murashov made 34 saves for the Penguins through overtime, then ended the tiebreaker by stopping Will Smith in the third round. Kindel scored on the first attempt of the shootout.

Samuel Girard opened the scoring for Pittsburgh on a slap shot at 8:57 of the first period, and Kindel connected on a power play at 3:28 of the third.

Yaroslav Askarov stopped 33 shots for San Jose.

Up next

Penguins: Host Ottawa on Saturday night.

Sharks: At Utah on Saturday night.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here