The Winnipeg Jets are turning to one of the AHL’s hottest goaltenders in hopes of ending a rough stretch. Rookie Thomas Milic is set to make his NHL debut Saturday against the Nashville Predators, stepping in at a pivotal time with star netminder Connor Hellebuyck sidelined.

Winnipeg has lost three of its last four games since Hellebuyck’s exit, with Eric Comrie handling the bulk of the workload. Comrie, who has started four straight, has allowed 13 goals in those three losses and is again expected to start Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Projected /prəˈjektəd/ adjective
Estimated or forecast on the basis of current trends or data.@PlayNowManitoba | #GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/BBIlUq8J2n

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 28, 2025

Saturday's second leg of the road back-to-back will almost surely guarantee a Milic start as Comrie will get rest and Milic will get a favorable opponent for his NHL debut against the last place Predators. 

Milic has been one of the AHL’s hottest goaltenders this season with the Manitoba Moose. He arrives in Winnipeg on a four-game winning streak, posting a 5-2-2 record with a .921 save percentage, a 2.14 goals-against average, and a shutout. His overall AHL resume includes a 29-23-8 record and a 2.88 GAA, marking him as one of the league’s most promising young netminders.

TOE-MAS MILIC?! https://t.co/hXF7MXu3Zwpic.twitter.com/WGzXzsEhwo

— Manitoba Moose (@ManitobaMoose) November 13, 2025

With Friday’s matchup against Carolina still to be decided, a Jets win could ease some of the pressure on Milic. But if the team drops its fourth straight, the 22-year-old BC native could get his chance to step in on Saturday, potentially becoming the hero the Jets and their fans are hoping for. If Comrie cannot end Winnipeg’s recent slide, Milic could provide the spark the team needs to rally around and secure a much-needed victory.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are playing well above expectations so far this year. Lately, lead protection has led to a slump, leaving them at 10-8-5 for 25 standings points. This total had them just one spot below the playoff line on American Thanksgiving. 

Next up for them is a Black Friday matchup against the 7-12-4 (18 points) Nashville Predators. Nashville found themselves in 32nd place of the 32-team NHL on Thanksgiving, which has become quite the milestone for teams to be in a good spot when evaluating playoff odds. 

Special Night At United Center

Fans attending this game are in for a treat. This will be the on-ice debut of Chicago’s newest black jersey. It has been over a decade since the team had a black alternate sweater, and it’s finally back. Fans are expected to wear black in an effort to create a blackout atmosphere for the game. There will be a lot of energy in the building, with it also being a Friday night of a holiday weekend. 

There is a hat giveaway to the first 2,000 fans who enter the Atrium, which will open at 4:30 CT. The United Center doors will open at 5:30. It is recommended that you be in your seat by 6:45. 

see you at the UC!🖤

(wear black!!!) pic.twitter.com/A4XP1KBNmw

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 28, 2025

Scouting Nashville 

The Predators are struggling this year, but they still have great top players who can make a difference on every shift. They signed stars like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault last summer to join players who have been there for a while in Filip Forsberg, Juuse Saros, and Roman Josi. They also have Ryan O'Reilly, who drives everything in their top-six. 

Stamkos-O'Reilly-Evangelista

Forsberg-Haula-Marchessault

Bunting-McCarron-Wiesblatt

Svechkov-Wood

Hague-Josi

Skjei-Perbix

Stastney-Blankenburg

Wilsby

Saros

Like the Blackhawks, Nashville is prepared to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Changes are coming to the Predators organization soon, but they can still present a challenge on the ice. 

Projected Blackhawks Lines, Defense Pairs, and Starting Goalie

The Blackhawks are going to be getting Andre Burakovsky back in the lineup on Friday. He was a game-time decision on Wednesday, but ultimately didn't play.

Now, it is confirmed that he will be on the top line with Connor Bedard and Ryan Greene against the Predators. Tyler Bertuzzi will move down to play with Frank Nazar and Teuvo Teravainen. This version of the top six was magnificent for Chicago before Burakovsky's injury. 

Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky

Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teravainen

Donato-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Moore-Dach

Vlasic-Crevier

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Rinzel

Soderblom

Arvid Soderblom is going to be back in the net for the Blackhawks against the Predators. He last played in Chicago's 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, so he is looking for a bounce-back performance. 

If the Blackhawks go 11/7, it will likely be without Sam Lafferty and Landon Slaggert. Oliver Moore and Colton Dach will likely get shifts with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar throughout the night, which could lead to some depth chances. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game in the Chicagoland area, it can be seen on CHSN. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+. The puck will drop at 7:00 PM CT. 

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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The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed:

0:50: Could this year's Colorado Avalanche become the best regular-season team ever? And what is the key factor making them such a force this season?

5:13: To rebuild or not to rebuild? That's the question surrounding the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks. Let's answer the question for each of them.

9:34: The Anaheim Ducks are finally starting to see some payoff from their rebuild. Should they take advantage of a strong start to get upgrades in the trade market right now? 

12:49: The Flyers are sitting just outside a wild-card spot right now. Do the Flyers have enough to help push themselves up in the standings? 

17:08: Kevin Weekes reported that Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry is one of the goalies drawing significant interest as an option for the Edmonton Oilers. Is Jarry a good solution to the Oilers' goalie struggles? Who else do we think they could be targeting? 

22:47: The Montreal Canadiens have claimed forward Sammy Blais off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thoughts on this move by Montreal? 

BetMGM Playbook 

26:19: Odds for the five most likely Stanley Cup finalists. We share the five odds of what teams will play in the Stanley Cup final. Out of these matchups, which one is the most likely to actually happen? 

27:35: Which of the matchups would be the most exciting to watch? 

30:50: What matchup is your personal pick for the Stanley Cup final? 

Rapid Fire 

33:46: Which team has the most to be thankful for right now?

35:36: What do you like more: afternoon games or evening games?

38:47: The next NHL expansion team will cost $2 billion. If you had $2 billion lying around, would you pay that? And where would you want the team to be?

40:38: Yay or nay: a player shouldn't have fun the night after a loss

Should The Flames, Canucks And Predators Rebuild? by The Big Show

Watch the full episode on YouTube

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

As reported yesterday, according to Pierre LeBrun, the Montreal Canadiens are interested in Nashville Predators’ center Ryan O’Reilly. Given how well O’Reilly is playing and the kind of leadership and experience he provides, that’s hardly surprising. However, as one of the top options available on the market, he won’t be cheap.

LeBrun believes the price could be a first-round pick and an A-level prospect. The first-round pick part shouldn’t be an issue for the Canadiens. As long as they manage to get back in a respectable shape, their first-round pick shouldn’t be too high, and nowhere near the Gavin McKenna territory, but who does Barry Trotz consider an A-level prospect in the Canadiens’ organization?

Canadiens: Demidov Reaches Important Milestone
Canadiens: For Better Or For Worse
NHL Rumors: Should Canadiens Bring Back Maple Leafs Forward?

Would he be interested in David Reinbacher? Jacob Fowler? Adam Engstrom? As things stand and given how things have gone since he was drafted, Reinbacher’s value is probably lower than it should be. The Habs' depth at right-shot defensemen isn't great, and trading him away for a temporary fix at center wouldn’t be excellent asset management.

Given how things are unfolding in the crease right now, Fowler seems like an untouchable player for the Canadiens’ management. Even if the Canadiens are not relying as much on their goaltenders as they once were because they are more productive offensively, having a game breaker in net is a crucial part of a winning team. Even if O’Reilly would be a massive addition to the Canadiens’ lineup, I can’t see a world in which Kent Hughes is willing to sacrifice Fowler to get him.

Then, there’s Engstrom, who’s been playing some incredible hockey in the AHL, earned himself a call-up and a first game in the NHL this past week. Was that because the Canadiens want to keep the likes of Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj on their toes, or does the Habs’ brass want to showcase him? This could be an intriguing possibility.

Perhaps Nashville would also want to test the water on Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky (he was drafted as a winger but has played as a center in the KHL this year). Still, it would make little sense to flip future possible centers for one that will be around for a season and a half or so.

I don’t see a possibility for a player like Owen Beck, Joshua Roy or Sean Farrell being enough to convince Trotz to send his most prized asset to Montreal, but could he be tempted to roll the dice on the often-injured Kaiden Guhle? Granted, he’s not a prospect anymore, but when he is playing, he’s incredibly useful to the team, and he's signed to a very team-friendly contract: he’s committed to four more seasons with a $5.55 M cap hit. Is Trotz a bit of a beating man? Time will tell…

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The relationship between Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube and William Nylander is fascinating.

Over the year and a quarter that Berube has been in charge, we've seen countless interactions between the coach and Nylander where they've sputtered at each other. It's occurred during games, and we've even seen it at points when Berube talks to the media.

They have an open line of communication, which is a good thing.

In some cases, however, those interactions can turn sour. And according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, that's what happened between Nylander and former Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe at one point.

Friedman said that Keefe would often push Nylander, as Berube does, going back to their days with the AHL's Toronto Marlies after the forward was drafted by the Maple Leafs back in 2014.

"The organization has protected him a lot. He was (Brendan) Shanahan's first pick; Shanahan really protected him," Friedman said. "He was Shanahan's guy. His first-ever first-rounder, and he had a lot invested in him. They've paid him really well; that's the ultimate belief in him."

How William Nylander Has Gotten Off To The Best Start Of A Season In His NHL Career With Maple LeafsNylander's 20 points through 11 games put him in the upper echelon of NHL scoring this season.

During the 2021 COVID-19 season, when Amazon was following the Maple Leafs for their 'All or Nothing' series, there was reportedly a moment when Nylander and Keefe got into an argument, which was removed from the final cut of the show released later that year.

"In the first Amazon (series) they did, the 'All or Nothing', there was a scene in there that the Leafs and the NHLPA and his agent all fought to have taken out, and it wasn't supposed to happen. Like, everybody was supposed to be like, 'It's there, you have to say yes.' But the Leafs, the players' association, and the agent, it was an argument between Keefe and Nylander, and those three felt strongly it made Nylander look bad," Friedman reported.

"And initially, Amazon fought it. They're like, 'Nope.' But (the three groups) put up such a stink that eventually they won their way. So this is a marriage, and like I said, I know Nylander drives some people crazy, but he's been good for them, and they've been good for him.

"Just watching (Berube and Nylander's interactions), I wonder where this is going. Because it's boiling over in a very frustrating time for the team. If it was me, I think I would be able to handle it, but I'm not seeing 100 percent what's happening, so I can't say for sure."

This report follows Nylander and Berube being pictured passionately speaking to each other during Wednesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. A few moments prior, Nylander was the last Toronto player back during a Blue Jackets four-on-two, which Joseph Woll ended up stopping.

Berube and Willy pic.twitter.com/PysnOCnuoe

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 27, 2025

Nylander has been red-hot all season long for the Maple Leafs, scoring 11 goals and 31 points in his first 20 games of the year. The 29-year-old leads the Maple Leafs in scoring and is tied for fifth in the NHL for points and tied for fourth in assists.

Latest stories:

Dakota Joshua Returns To Maple Leafs Lineup After Healthy Scratch; Could Max Domi Be Out Against Capitals?

Why The Maple Leafs Have Gone Back To A Five-Forward Power Play, But With Auston Matthews As The Quarterback

Maple Leafs Lose Sammy Blais To Waivers After Canadiens Re-Claim The Forward

The Detroit Red Wings reassigned defenseman Erik Gustafsson to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, ending a short stint with the NHL club that include just one apperance.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have assigned Erik Gustafsson to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and activated Michael Rasmussen from IR. pic.twitter.com/Q4GudHauzA

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 28, 2025

Gustafsson was recalled last Sunday after Detroit lost Simon Edvinsson to injury, but the 33-year-old veteran drew into the lineup just once in the team's 6-3 loss on Wednesday to the Nashville Predators. He now returns to Grand Rapids, where he has been one of the key contributors to the Griffins’ remarkable 14-1-0-1 start. Gustafsson leads all Griffins defensemen in points per game, recording eight assists through ten appearances.

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

His strong AHL play has caught the attention of teams around the league. Several insiders reported that Detroit had explored potential trade options in recent weeks to find the veteran blueliner another NHL opportunity, though no deal ultimately came together.

Gustafsson brings a long résumé of NHL experience, highlighted by his breakout 60-point campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018–19, when he tallied 17 goals and 43 assists in 79 games. He later posted 42 points with the Washington Capitals in 2022–23 and followed with a 31-point season for the New York Rangers in 2023–24.

Since joining Detroit, Gustafsson has appeared in 60 games, registering 18 points. However, he has struggled defensively during his tenure, finishing with a minus-19 rating.

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ANAHEIM, CA — The prevailing narrative around the Los Angeles Kings remains mystified. For years, the organization confidently asserted its structural superiority over the "rebuilding" Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, believing it had completed the hard part and secured its place in the league's upper tier. The Kings, they thought, had earned a permanent seat among the contenders. Let’s shatter that thought.

Today, their structural advantage is revealed as a rigid, high-cost trap. Great possession team, hard to watch for flashy offensive hockey. The Kings, with their size and slow backend mobility, are indisputably a playoff team—a strong defensive club with possession metrics that guarantee relevance. Yet, they remain stubbornly outside the bubble of the truly elite, forever a team of close to the cap spenders built for launching pads for other clubs in the first round. Meanwhile, their California rivals are charting paths toward clear, high-ceiling futures, accelerating their timelines and leaving the Kings stuck in the obscure middle ground.

The Kings are paying the price for the premature exit from their rebuild during the COVID era. That rush to contend left the pipeline depleted (Brock Faber and Gabriel Vilardi traded), blocking an assortment of mid- to low-tier top-end prospects but acquiring soluble pieces towards a win-now schematic, and the cap that has been mostly restricted. The result is a structural flaw that permeates the entire offense.

The team successfully installed Quinton Byfield as the top center, and he is showing all the signs of a top-tier defensive playmaker. However, his 6.8% shooting percentage illustrates the larger problem: Byfield has yet to find synergy with elite sniper Adrian Kempe and become an elite center in this league. The organization has thrust him on a poor man’s Edmonton Oiler nuclear line, a combination that has crushed the Kings increasingly so, four seasons in a row. The Kings are forced to rely on a theoretically powerful combination that doesn't produce the output of the total skill that is thrown together. The Kings lack the organizational flexibility—the cap space or prospect capital—to get the missing winger who could unlock the roster’s ability to capitalize on the team's outstanding possession metrics and possibly Byfield’s true scoring potential. The Kings cannot get better without making a painful, difficult trade.

The Rivals’ Freedom

In stark contrast, the Ducks and Sharks are operating from positions of immense organizational freedom. The Anaheim Ducks have stunned the league and are atop the Pacific Division, their "uncohesive talent" coalescing faster than anyone predicted. They traded away players like Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale to commit to a physical, structured identity, anchored by the impressive play of Leo Carlsson. More importantly, the Ducks project to have significant cap space, allowing them to acquire a star defenseman or another high-end forward to optimize a winner without compromising their core.

Leo Carlsson with a little "Who's Sweden's No. 1 Olympic Center Now?" stick lift on Elias Pettersson.#FlyTogetherpic.twitter.com/NbpEEI9tAK

— Zach Cavanagh (@ZachCav) November 27, 2025

The San Jose Sharks, despite the massive dead cap on their books now, are staring at a future defined by financial wealth. Their cap space clears to over $54 million next season. This will allow them to skip years of gradual building and immediately surround the young, explosive trio of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund with premier veteran free agents. Their long road has become a high-speed acceleration lane.

The Kings' dilemma is clear: they have built a rigid structure that locks them into being a good, but never great, team. Their cap space is gone, their draft capital is spent, the structural integrity of their offense is questionable, and their defensive core remains suspect.

Their choice is not about joining the elite but about managing the inevitable decline of Drew Doughty, as the team is witnessing in real time, and the Anze Kopitar retirement is rapidly approaching. It is pivotal that Ken Holland and company manage these contracts without collapsing into another complete rebuild, certainly not a reason he was brought in in the first place.

While the Ducks and Sharks have the flexibility to make high-impact choices that accelerate their windows, the Kings are trapped by negligible forks in the road—only able to choose between two painful options: trade the remaining future to go all in, or trade a core veteran to free up money. Right now, the team is positioned to double, if not triple down on past mistakes, sailing directly for an iceberg while continuously confirming their course. The Kings may have arrived first for playoff contention. Still, they have parked themselves in the most precarious position in the Pacific: a perennial playoff team defined not by its ambition, but by a year-to-year, ever-shrinking ceiling.

With 30 points in 20 games this season, Macklin Celebrini joins some ridiculously elite company 😳 pic.twitter.com/i2Wbtj1mdZ

— NHL (@NHL) November 19, 2025

The divergence in the California triangle is perhaps best illustrated by the recent playoff picture. The Kings have achieved the organizational goal of consistency, securing a spot in the postseason for four consecutive seasons—a proud mark of stability that neither Californian rival can touch. However, this consistent relevance has only underscored their ceiling; the Kings have not advanced past the second round during this entire run, remaining a playoff fixture but never truly in the conversation for elite contender status. In contrast, the Ducks (last in 2018) and Sharks (last in 2019) have not seen playoff action in recent years, their absence a direct consequence of the organizational teardowns that yielded Carlsson and Celebrini, amongst a glut of homegrown high-end talent from both organizations.

This current quiet period for their rivals has been the necessary cost of their impending acceleration, meaning the Ducks and Sharks have traded short-term playoff droughts for the long-term promise of genuine Cup contention. The Kings' consistent just-good-enough playoff presence has solidified their current middle-ground predicament.

The Montreal Canadiens locked up defenseman Mike Matheson to a five-year, $30-million contract extension on Friday.

The 31-year-old's new $6-million cap hit kicks in next season and runs through 2030-31.

Matheson, 31, is in the final year of his eight-year contract he signed with the Florida Panthers in October 2017. Across those eight years, he carried a $4.875 million cap hit.

Matheson becomes the fourth Canadiens defenseman to be signed to a contract through at least the 2030-31 campaign. Kaiden Guhle signed a six-year contract extension in July 2024, while Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson signed eight-year deals this year.

In 22 games played this season for the Habs, Matheson has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. He’s second on the team behind Dobson in scoring among blueliners. 

The Pointe-Claire, Que., native also has a plus-13 rating, which is a team high. It's tied for 13th-best in the NHL, sharing that spot with Colorado Avalanche D-man Josh Manson and Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli.

Matheson also leads the team with 24:50 of average ice time, which is less than he’s averaged in the last two campaigns. He ranks 10th in the NHL in that category.

Speaking of Matheson’s last two seasons, that’s when he struck a career high. In 2023-24, he matched a personal best of 11 goals and beat other bests with 51 assists and 62 points. He finished third on the team in points that season, sitting behind captain Nick Suzuki and right winger Cole Caufield.

Matheson has played parts of 11 seasons in his NHL career since the Panthers drafted him 23rd overall in 2012. His new contract sets him up to play through another five. He’ll be 37 once his new deal expires.

He's played 649 career games in the NHL, registering 78 goals and 279 points.

Correction: Matheson's cap hit is $6 million, not $5 million.

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Heading into the American Thanksgiving weekend, the Edmonton Oilers were two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

That's prompting media conjecture that they could pursue a goaltending upgrade in the trade market.

Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos claimed “the strongest speculation” tied the Oilers to Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues. Meanwhile, ESPN's Kevin Weekes stated that Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins was among the goalies “drawing significant interest as a potential option” for the Oilers.

Concerns over the performance of goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have kept the Oilers in the rumor mill since the regular season began.

One suggestion was that they should attempt to sign Sergei Bobrovsky when the Florida Panthers starter becomes a UFA next July. Apart from the fact that the Panthers will likely re-sign Bobrovsky, waiting until next summer won't help the Oilers now.

Another proposed that the Oilers pursue Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators. That was assuming Saros would agree to waive his no-movement clause, while ignoring the fact that the Oilers can't afford his $7.74 million average annual value.

Kypreos considers Binnington unlikely to be part of any retooling project by the Blues because he has a year left on his contract. As for Jarry, he has three more seasons remaining on his deal. He shares the Penguins' net with Arturs Silovs, while promising Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist are with their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

As part of the return for Binnington, Kypreos suggested the Oilers send Skinner to St. Louis. He felt they could also try to pry away a defenseman from the Blues. Meanwhile, Weekes pointed out that Jarry played his junior hockey with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journalobserved that Binnington carries an average annual value of $6 million while Skinner's is $2.6 million. He felt it would take a significant sweetener to convince the Blues to retain part of Binnington's salary to make the dollars work for the cap-strapped Oilers.

Staples cited Oilers insider Bob Stauffer claiming that he felt the Jarry rumor made more sense. However, Stauffer also noted the difficulty the Oilers would face taking on Jarry's $5.375-million cap hit. The Penguins wouldn't have much need for taking on Skinner in return because of their goaltending depth.

Acquiring Binnington or Jarry is a long shot for the Oilers, assuming they're not on their respective no-trade lists. They'll have to convince the Blues or Penguins to retain salary, and that could cost them what few promising youngsters they have in their system, along with their 2027 first-round pick, since they no longer have one in next year's draft.

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Birthday Backcheck features Calgary Flames right winger Blake Coleman, who turns 34 on Nov. 28.

Coleman scored his 300th career point in his 649th game against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 23. He's been a valuable secondary scorer who isn't afraid to throw hits when needed.

The player the New Jersey Devils selected 75th overall in 2011 became a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning. But some of the Plano, Texas, native's biggest goals came against his home-state squad, the Dallas Stars. Watch the full video for more in Coleman's Birthday Backcheck.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.      

After going 0-for-4 on the man advantage in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, the New York Islanders' power play sits at 12.7 percent, which ranks 31st in the NHL.

For the most part, this season, the power play has actually looked dangerous, but the goals aren't coming. Against Boston, that was probably the weakest the man advantage has looked, but some great setups just went by the wayside. 

The Islanders have the third-most scoring chances on the power play this season (148), but the second-fewest goals (10), with an Expected Goals for of 21.58. 

"I just feel like our power play has been playing really well," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said following Wednesday's loss. "And sometimes it's like our PK. Our PK right now is playing with a lot of confidence. Maybe, sometimes, it's just a matter of having a little bit more confidence around the net, and our power play will click. You get one, you get two—all of a sudden, I mean, you feel confident. And I feel like that's always missing, because we are doing everything right."

Roy touched on but let's elaborate a bit on the traffic part. 

When the Islanders have had success on the power play, more often than not it's when Schaefer, at the point, keeps things simple. When he sees traffic in front, he has the innate ability to get his wrist shot through. 

When the Islanders don't have success, it's when Schaefer, Mathew Barzal, and Jonathan Drouin are playing too much perimeter hockey. While you do have to credit some of the opposition's penalty killers who have clogged up the lanes, especially Bo Horvat in the bumper spot, too often the Islanders are trying to find the perfect pass.

"We seem dangerous," Barzal said. "When we're moving it around well, and looking at the net and attacking the net, we got a lot of threats out there. So, as long as we're just moving around and creating threats, I feel like we're always dangerous. We got good players in the unit."

Does Barzal think that they need to simplify things at all?

"I don't think so...we're definitely looking for like Bo Horvat shooting from the slot. I mean, if we can get one look at that versus four average looks, I'll take that all day," Barzal said. "We feel dangerous. I mean, everyone in the building knows it's dangerous, so we just gotta find a way."

With how tight the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference are, the Islanders are fortunate, with their lack of power-play success, to find themselves in the wild-card spot at Thanksgiving. Seventy-seven percent of teams in a playoff spot by then make the playoffs. 

However, the difference between first in the Metro and last in the division is 5 points. And over these first three games of the seven-game homestand, the Islanders' power play struggles are why they are 1-2-0.  The team has scored just two total goals over those three games, with the power play going 0-for-10. 

Roy did mention that he would talk with power-play coach Ray Bennett on Thursday to see what he thinks about maybe changing up some of the personnel. 

One thing the Islanders may consider is taking Drouin off the first unit. While he is a fantastic playmaker, he isn't really a threat to shoot from the right flank. That allows the opposing PK to focus on Horvat in the bumper. 

The same can be said about Barzal at the left flank, who is more often than not looking for Horvat once he gets the puck. 

Until the Islanders have two players on the flanks who are true one-time threats, it will be hard not to score consistently on the man advantage. Even if those players don't rifle ones, if the opponent thinks the one-timer is coming, that will likely open up space for Barzal or Drouin to tap one to Horvat -- just a thought. 

We saw this power-play story last season, finishing the campaign at 12.6 percent, 31st in the NHL. Had the power play been 10 percent better, the Islanders likely would have made the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Despite being in a playoff spot right now, the inability to come through on the man advantage could hinder this team's ability to stay in the hunt as the season progresses. 

However, if the power play starts to find success, the Islanders will have a strong chance not just of making the playoffs, but of becoming one of the more dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Vancouver Canucks (10–12–2) are making their second stop in a four-game road trip with a match against the San Jose Sharks (11–10–3) this afternoon. This marks the Canucks’ second game in California this week, as they most recently took down the Anaheim Ducks in a 5–4 win. San Jose is coming off a colossal 6–0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche — a team Vancouver will face once they’ve played all three California teams during this road trip. 

Vancouver’s win on Wednesday came about in somewhat of a surprising manner. The team mimicked Anaheim’s high-flying, low-defence style of hockey and generated 37 total scoring chances-for throughout all 60 minutes of play — something that hasn’t happened often this season. Since October 9, they’ve only hit above 40 scoring chances-for three times; against the Avalanche (40), Dallas Stars (41), and Chicago Blackhawks (44). While they shouldn’t completely abandon the defensive aspect of the game, Vancouver will want to repeat the success they had in generating chances when playing the Sharks. 

One thing to take note of when it comes to San Jose’s brand of play is that they’re currently tied for last in the NHL in shots per game with 24.3. In terms of shots and scoring chances, they have only eclipsed 40 once — during their 4–3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on October 28. If the Sharks have a hard time producing chances and generating shots, the Canucks could use that to their advantage by putting up more of their own. 

Both the Canucks and the Sharks will play games the day after this matchup, with Vancouver facing the Kings at 7:00 pm PT on Saturday and San Jose taking on the Vegas Golden Knights in Nevada at the same time. Each team will want to be strategic with who they start in net, especially Vancouver considering the fact that their goaltending situation is currently up in the air. 

Players To Watch: 

Arshdeep Bains 

While he didn’t end up on the scoresheet in the Canucks’ Wednesday night game against the Ducks, Bains played a big role in helping his line generate offence. Wednesday was his first time slotting back into the lineup after being held out for five games and he ultimately made a difference, providing great forecheck during the opening goal. While the team’s skate on Thursday indicated that Bains may not be playing alongside Abbotsford teammate Max Sasson, the forward could be skating with Lukas Reichel, who will provide Bains and Karlsson with a similar level of speed. 

Macklin Celebrini

Many Canucks fans have paid close attention to Celebrini’s talents knowing he is from North Vancouver and currently has a brother in the Canucks organization. Vancouver connection aside, however, Celebrini has surpassed all expectations so far this season and leads his team in scoring with 14 goals and 20 assists in 24 games played. He is currently tied for second in the NHL in overall points, matching Connor McDavid’s total in one less game played. 

Vancouver Canucks (10–12–2): 

Points: 

Quinn Hughes: 2–20–22

Elias Pettersson: 7–14–21

Kiefer Sherwood: 12–4–16

Brock Boeser: 8–7–15

Filip Hronek: 2–13–15 

Goaltenders: 

Kevin Lankinen: 4–7–2

Thatcher Demko: 5–4–0

Nikita Tolopilo: 1–0–0

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

San Jose Sharks (11–10–3): 

Points: 

Macklin Celebrini: 14–20–34

Will Smith: 7–14–21

William Eklund: 5–9–14

Dmitry Orlov: 0–13–13

Philipp Kurashev: 6–6–12 

Goaltenders: 

Yaroslav Askarov: 8–6–1

Alex Nedeljkovic: 3–4–2

Game Information: 

Start time: 1:00 pm PT 

Venue: SAP Center

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Calgary Flames (8-14-3) will play the second of their four straight road games early Friday as they face the defending Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers (12-10-1).

Don't let the Panthers recent slump fool you.

While Florida may be two spots shy from the basement of the Eastern Conference, out of their 52 goals scored in even-strength hockey, 32 of them have come from high-danger shots (high-danger goals), comprising of 61.54% of their goals. That is the highest of any team so far. This Florida group does not rely on lucky bounces and "puck luck" and scores quality goals.

The only problem with Florida is that their shots on goals and 52 goals are the 13th-fewest. But that is still impressive considering their time on the ice in even-strength situations is the fourth-lowest in the league.

Regardless, Calgary can ill-afford to let Florida to get any lucky goals in starting now, considering the three goals scored by Tampa Bay two days before in the first six minutes of their game were not high-danger goals. The last of them was an own goal by Kevin Bahl.

The Flames' offence also did rebound back, putting up their highest number of high-danger scoring chances (HDCF) in a game (19) this season in even-strength situations. Calgary has gone three straight games (14 vs Stars, 10 vs Canucks, 19 vs Lightning) where they've put up double-digit HDCF . They almost made it four straight, but they were one short and put up nine against the Sabres. So close...

That shows this Flames team has found their mojo to put up quality shots now.

They'll be hoping to continue that against a Panthers' defence that allow the 10th-fewest high-danger scoring chances against (HDCA).

By the way, just to put it out there, in that same list, Tampa Bay allows the third-fewest HDCA, but the 19 that they gave up to Calgary was the most given up out of all of their (Lightnings') 23 games so far. Some food for thought...

While the Flames have given up the eighth-fewest HDCA in the league, they are in the midst of a six-game streak where they've given up at least seven HDCA. In three of these games, they've given up at least one high-danger goal, with three by Chicago in their Nov. 18 encounter.

Where the Panthers lack in even-strength TOI, they make up on the power play as their TOI in the man-advantage is the fourth-most (70:38) in the league in the month of November.  Their power play percentage of 19.0% ranks them in the middle of the pack at 15th. Calgary's penalty kill percentage of 86.5% (32-for-37) is ranked eighth in the month of November. The team has also scored a shorthanded goal in each of the last two games.

It's the power play where the Flames struggle with, being the second-worst at 10.3% despite having the fifth-most PP TOI (67:22) this month. Florida's PK is ranked 17th.

The expected goalie for Calgary is Dustin Wolf who had a terrible start in the last game. But the Flames could also turn to Devin Cooley who has the lowest GAA (1.86) for netminders that have played at least seven games.

For the Panthers, two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky is as good as they come. Although right now, his save percentage is under 0.900, which the Russian netminder has always put up by the end of seasons where he has played at least 31 games in his Hall of Fame NHL career.  The other option Florida could go with is a less-tested Daniil Tarasov who has a record of 2-3-1, GAA of 2.45 and save percentage of 0.913.

Bottom Line

The quality shots for Calgary has only improved: they were 20th in HDCA before Oct. 19. Since then, they have the second-most and are now 11th. That has to continue against Florida and more importantly translate to goals.

This defence has allowed the 15th-most shots on goal this month, but they haven't been quality shots so the blue line should play as they they've always been doing.

The power play is a long shot but would love to see a successful score off one.

Penalty-kill and whoever is in net need to do their thing.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are at home to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at Nationwide Arena.  

The Pittsburgh Penguins come into Columbus having gone 3-4-3 in their last 10 games and are losers of 5 of 7. They currently sit with 27 points and are 5th in the Metro. 

The Metro Division is wacky right now, so every single point matters. The New Jersey Devils sit atop the Metro with 31 points, while the Blue Jackets and Rangers sit 7th and 8th with 26 points. So, Columbus would be wise to win this game in regulation and not let the Pens get any points. 

The Blue Jackets are 4-2-4 in their last 10 games and can beat this struggling Penguins team. 

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play - 16.1% - 25th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 74.6% - 27th in the NHL
• Goals For - 67 - 25th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 77 - 24th in the NHL

Penguins Stats

• Power Play - 31.4% - 1st in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 85.2% - 5th in the NHL
• Goals For - 68 - 23rd in the NHL
• Goals Against - 57 - 2nd in the NHL

Series History vs. The Penguins

• Columbus is 19-30-9 all-time, and 13-11-4 at home vs. Pittsburgh.
• The Jackets are 5-4-1 in the last 10 against the Pens overall, and 5-5 in the last 10 at home.
• The CBJ are 1-0 against the Pens this season.

Who To Watch For ThePenguins

• Sidney Crosby leads the Pens with 13 goals.
• Evgeni Malkin leads the team with 18 assists and 24 points.
• Goalie Tristan Jarry is 6-2-0 with a SV% of .914. His last start was on November 27th against the Sabres.
• Arturs Silovs is 4-3-4 with a SV% of .907. His last start was on November 21st against the Wild.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Penguins

• Zach Werenski has a stat line of 4-9-13 in 22 career games against Pittsburgh.
• Charlie Coyle has 21 points in 35 games.
• Adam Fantilli has 3 points in 5 games against the Pens.

Injuries 

• Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 16 games - IR
• Boone Jenner - Upper Body - Missed 8 Games - IR
• Kirill Marchenko - Lower Body - Missed 2 Game
• Mathieu Olivier - Upper Body - Missed 1 Game

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 39

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 93.3 The Bus, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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The Philadelphia Flyers still very much need star talent, especially on defense, but, sometimes, risk outweighs reward, and trying to trade for Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is one of those risks.

The Canucks would be wise to move on from Hughes, 26, as soon as they know for certain the superstar defenseman won't remain with the club beyond 2027, when he's expected to hit free agency and join brothers Jack and Luke on the New Jersey Devils.

Now, if the Devils wanted to get Hughes for two early pushes at a Stanley Cup before they need to sign the eldest brother to a new contract that far exceeds his current $7.875 million cap hit, it makes all the sense in the world for them to pursue a trade.

Blue chip defense prospects like Anton Silayev (2024 No. 10) and Seamus Casey (2022 No. 46) would be attractive pieces for the Canucks to chase, and the Devils, who are now trying to compete annually, still have their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks.

What would the Flyers need give up to match a package of that caliber? And would it be worth it at this stage?

Too much, and no, it wouldn't be.

The links to the Flyers have been obvious, given Hughes's strong relationship with Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet and his two brothers playing locally.

Missed Opportunity? Ex-Flyers Prospect Reaching Heights of NHL Superstars After Controversial TradeThe Flyers and Flyers fans have to be feeling pretty bad about how good Cutter Gauthier has been playing for the Ducks this season.

Even NHL insider Frank Seravalli has made that connection, but that is just about the only perspective from which this has any legs for the Flyers.

Franchise forward Matvei Michkov has had an underwhelming sophomore season - at least partially due to his significantly decreased average ice time - and other young players have regressed in lockstep.

The core of the defense has not changed at all, and the goaltending picture is improved but still curious; Sam Ersson has struggled, and, can Dan Vladar maintain this level of play past the winter?

Plus, top 2025 draft choice Porter Martone is not on the NHL roster yet and is only 19 years old.

Because Hughes cannot sign an extension with the Canucks, Flyers, Devils, or any other NHL team until July 1, 2026, the Flyers would be, at worst, parting ways with significant assets to get two seasons, including this one, out of Hughes without a new deal in place.

When accounting for lost assets, like draft picks and roster players (Tyson Foerster? Michkov? Jett Luchanko or Oliver Bonk?), the Flyers may not even have a good enough team left over to make those two seasons worthwhile.

At the time of this writing, Noah Cates and Christian Dvorak are the team's de facto top-six centers, with a combination of Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, and Foerster flanking them.

Michkov has been saddled with third-line minutes next to Sean Couturier and Bobby Brink, and Nikita Grebenkin has, for better or for worse, failed to displace Nick Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway in the lineup after a promising start to his first season with the Flyers.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Forward Not Out of the Woods Yet?The Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly not thrilled with another season of inconsistent scoring contributions from Owen Tippett.

These pre-existing issues, on top of trading the farm and having to outbid the Devils or other contenders for Hughes, make such an endeavor wholly unworthwhile in the big picture.

Hughes, like Michkov, was drafted seventh overall; the Flyers are best off drafting and developing their own players and adding talent in other ways.

For example, buying low on disgruntled Anaheim Ducks defender Pavel Mintyukov, who is supremely talented himself, would be a suitable alternative, especially if the Flyers can bring the Russian to or near his full potential as a player.

The Flyers can then allocate their high-value draft picks, or other prospects, to bring in proven talent if they wish.

Martone and Michkov are two top-six wingers for the future, and it's all but guaranteed Zegras and Foerster are part of that conversation, too.

Center and defense are still two questions the Flyers must address, and they need to come up with a solid plan before doing anything rash, such as trading for Quinn Hughes with no way of protecting themselves.