Six games into the season, it’s time to have a conversation about Sidney Crosby and the first line.

The stats are what they are, and they’re not good. Crosby only has two assists on the young season – and no points in the last four games. His play hasn’t been as bad as the lack of stats might look, Crosby was strong in the last game against Dallas where he blocked three shots and also scored a shootout goal. In a positive sign, he has 13 shots on goal at 5v5 on the season and hasn’t yet been rewarded. The numbers haven’t been there lately, and the power play (0-for-12 in the last four games) has also grown cold at an unfortunate time, though Crosby’s lack of elevation on the power play is a contributing cause in that area.

The scene is similar for linemate Rickard Rakell, who like Crosby has no goals and two assists on the season. Rakell only has six 5v5 shots on goal and like Crosby has no points in the last four games and played even quieter at times, quite the departure from the last two seasons when he’s scored 59 total goals and been one of the more consistently dangerous players on the ice. Hasn’t been the case at all this year, Rakell’s been as pedistrian as they come.

The total goals scored with Crosby+Rakell on the ice at full strength is 5-5 right now, and 10-6 without them on it. On one hand, that’s a good sign the rest of the team has been pitching in. On the other hand, the Penguins are bound to struggle when their top line isn’t pulling their weight offensively. That’s been the case for the last five games (2-2-1 record) following the opening night blowout win over the deliciously hapless Philadelphia Flyers. Not much has come easily for the Pens after that, and it doesn’t take any time going down the roster to figure out where that is starting.

For now, the team is not making changes to the top line. It started out with Nick Richardson joining Crosby and Rakell then Bryan Rust took his familiar spot on that line soon after he returned from injury. That trio was in tact at practice on Monday in Pittsburgh, before the team heads out on a challenging road trip out west.

Penguins lines and D-pairs:

Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Kuzmenko-Kindel-Koivunen
Dewar-Lizotte-Robertson

Carlile-Karlsson
Girard-Korczak
Stastney-Letang
(Lapierre-Soderblom)

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) October 12, 2026

Coach Dan Muse said last week, the placement of wingers for Crosby was more game-to-game based on how the team would be best positioned. Yet the team remains opting for familiarity more than other directions. At the end of last season, Egor Chinakhov spent time on Crosby’s wing. Chinakhov, himself, hasn’t started out hot, with no goals in his last five games and no points in the last four either. Robertson added some energy but also got removed after he lost a puck battle in the defensive zone that directly led to a goal against.

Dan Muse, on the thought process behind reuniting Bryan Rust with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/zovUmdvXHr

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) October 9, 2026

As always, with Sidney Crosby, the takes of overreactions is instant and dramatic. He’s famously scored above a point per game all 21 of his seasons, yet this season has not gotten onto track, so it’s not all without merit. Troublingly, over the first few weeks of the season he’s looked every bit of his 39 years, without a lot of the sharpness, skating and creativity that’s been on display for the last 20+ years.

That presents something to track on this road trip and as the season moves along. What will the best version of the first line look like? Will Crosby get up to speed and find more ways to impact the game? It’d be hard not to, one would think, even though his days in the MVP chase are over. The power play (and Crosby’s performance on it) has to improve and will be another area to watch about Crosby finding ways to make plays and get back on the scoreboard. Is he old and greatly diminished or just starting uncharacteristically slow?

Overall, all this has to be weighed about seeing an all-time great in the winter of their careers. Crosby, after all, entered the season with only 417 games of his career where he didn’t record a point. That pales in comparison to the 517 games he has with multi-point games, so seeing even a couple week stretch or a few games in a row without standing out makes for an uncomfortable adjustment.

For now the Penguins are going back to chemistry and known familiarity (Rakell, Rust) instead of younger options to play with Crosby. Given Crosby’s playing style and the benefits of playing with known quantities, there’s a lot to be said for that approach. The question might become just when and how they decide to mix things up and how much longer it will take to get there.

—

In other news: injured defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk was not on the ice for practice Monday. van Riemsdyk is said to be day-to-day, the team only has six defensemen healthy at the start of their trip, barring a move to IR for van Riemsdyk and calling up a defenseman from the AHL.

The Montreal Canadiens had a day off on Sunday, but defenseman Lane Hutson spent time on the Bell Centre ice. He wasn’t working on his game solo; he was there for the NHL First Shift program.

The NHL/NHLPA First Shift program is aimed at children ages 6 to 10 who have never played minor hockey in Canada or participated in the First Shift program. It aims to make hockey fun, accessible, safe and affordable.

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On Sunday, two groups of children spent 60 minutes skating on the Bell Centre ice. Participants thought they were skating on the Bell Centre ice; they had no idea Hutson was joining tham. Of course, Youppi! was also present; you cannot have a kids’ activity without the Canadiens’ mascot.

Abi Leard’s 9-year-old daughter, Aria, took part in the second 60-minute slot and was delighted to see the star defenseman join them on the ice. The youngster was so impressed that she couldn’t stop talking about the experience long after it ended, and she was getting ready for a show-and-tell on Tuesday.

Hutson was generous with his time, skating along, chatting with the kids, and posing for several pictures with the young participant. It’s great to see the defenseman so invested in the community and embracing Montreal. While some American players are looking for a way out of Canada, Hutson signed an eight-year deal to remain in Montreal and has been a joy to have in town.

During the Canadiens’ Christmas break last season, Hutson also surprised fans at a Bleu, Blanc, Bouge outside rink and played shinny hockey with those who were there, even recruiting Ivan Demidov to join him the second time he went. These young players are absolute gems in a market and fully understand how important hockey is in Montreal and how much fans love the game.

---

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Game 6 - 10/12/26 - 1:00 pm at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

Buffalo – 2-3-0 | - 4 points – 7th place in the Atlantic Division

Florida – 2-1-2 | - 6 points – 5th place in the Atlantic Division

 

Special Teams

Buffalo

Power Play – 5.9% (T-30th)

Penalty Kill – 62.5% (30th)

Florida

Power Play – 3.6% (32nd)

Penalty Kill - 77.3% (T-20th)

 

Top Scorers

Buffalo

Tage Thompson: 5 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 5 PTS

Owen Power: 5 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 PTS

Rasmus Dahlin: 5 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PTS

Florida

Matthew Tkachuk: 5 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 4 PTS

Lars Eller: 5 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 3 PTS

Sam Bennett: 5 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 3 PTS

 

Starting Goalies

Buffalo –  Colten Ellis (1-1-0, 2.91 GAA, .880 Sv %)

Florida  – Jacob Markstrom (2-1-1, 1.70 GAA, .916 Sv %)

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL 

Sabres Line Combinations and Pairings 

Forwards

Peyton Krebs - Tage Thompson - Josh Doan

Zach Benson - Noah Ostlund - Jack Quinn 

Jiri Kulich - Josh Norris - Konsta Helenius

Ryan McLeod - Sam Carrick - Beck Malenstyn

Ex. Justin Danforth

Defense

Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin 

Owen Power - Zach Metsa

Olen Zellweger - Louis Crevier 

Ex. Matt Grzelcyk 

Goaltenders

Colten Ellis

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Notes

Buffalo has earned at least one point in four of its last five meetings with Florida (3-1-1).

The Sabres have earned back-to-back wins against the Panthers and a win tonight would mark the team’s first winning streak of three or more games against Florida since Oct. 11, 2019 to Jan. 4, 2020 (three games).

Buffalo has recorded six power-play goals on 15 power-play opportunities (40.0 percent) in its last five games against Florida.

Buffalo is tied for the fifth-fewest goals allowed in the third period among all NHL teams (3).

Owen Power has posted five points (1+4) in Buffalo’s first five games. 

Rasmus Dahlin (26:32) and Power (26:02) rank sixth and eighth, respectively, in time on ice per game among all NHL skaters.

Ryan McLeod is riding a three-game assist streak against the Panthers and he has posted four assists in that span.

In his last four games against Florida, Peyton Krebs has notched five points (2+3), including one goal in each of his last two appearances against the Panthers.

Josh Doan has posted four points (3+1) in four games against the Panthers as a member of the Sabres.

Tage Thompson has recorded a point in four consecutive matchups with Florida (1+3).

Dahlin has registered 10 points (2+8) in his last 10 games against the Panthers and he is riding a four-game home point streak against Florida, the longest such streak by a Sabres defenseman all-time.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has recorded a .910 save percentage and a 3.14 goals-against average in six career games against the Panthers. In his only career start against Florida on Jan. 12, 2026, Colten Ellis made 28 saves on 31 shots (.903).

 

Injuries

Alex Lyon (upper body)  

Conor Timmins (lower body; injured reserve) 

Jason Zucker (sports hernia; injured reserve) 

Topias Leinonen (lower body; injured reserve) 

Jack Rathbone (lower body; injured reserve) 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

In sports, ownership means nothing until it means everything. The Arizona Coyotes saw it firsthand when the team was sold and relocated; the Utah Mammoth are constantly reminded of what competent leadership looks like. 

The Philadelphia Flyers haven’t been the same team since Ed Snider passed away, going from Stanley Cup caliber to a perennial playoff team to consistently being out of the playoffs. The Detroit Red Wings certainly haven’t been the same team since Mike Ilitch passed away.

The New Jersey Devils face the Ottawa Senators and the Red Wings on back-to-back nights. It’s hard to ignore the value ownership has had on both teams, especially with how they’ve looked in recent years. More importantly, they are a reminder for the Devils, who have a competent leadership group but one that might keep an eye on. 

The Subtle Changes In The Senators Under Michael Andlauer

It’s not a coincidence that the Senators became a playoff team shortly after Michael Andlauer took over as owner. Sure, they were rebuilding for a few seasons and preparing for multiple playoff appearances, but they’ve been a better team from the top down, and it’s made the difference in each of the past two seasons. 

The Senators were previously owned by Eugene Melnyk. He was regarded as one of the worst owners in hockey, someone who turned Ottawa into the opposite of a destination and a place where players wanted to leave as soon as they hit free agency. The Senators still have that chip on their shoulder, notably after power forward Brady Tkachuk demanded a trade this summer. However, there’s a sense that players are willing to stay and play in the market for Andlauer.  

Devils Notebook: The Marathon Season, Taking Wins With A Grain Of Salt & MoreEvery Sunday of the NHL season, Mike Fink empties out the notebook with some thoughts, quick hits, and anything in between on the New Jersey Devils.

Under Andlauer, they’ve managed to re-sign and extend core players on the roster. More importantly, they have the right people leading the team, from Steve Staios as the general manager to Travis Green as the head coach. Ryan Smith, who owns the Mammoth, once noted that the best owners hire the right people and get out of the way, and Andlauer, to his credit, has done that. 

It’s hard to pinpoint what Andlauer does that makes him a great owner, or if he’s a great one at all. After all, going from the bottom of the league to the baseline is a significant improvement. What is different are the small things. 

The improvements that have changed the culture and the efforts to turn Ottawa into a destination have gone a long way. They’ve turned the Senators into a well-run team not overnight but over a few seasons, and there’s a good chance this team is competing for a Stanley Cup in a few years. Their hot start despite the loss of a star player speaks volumes about the culture that’s already been built, and that starts with Andlauer. 

The Red Wings Haven’t Been The Same Team Since Mike Ilitch Passed Away

In recent weeks, a conversation around the NHL, especially with the Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson drama plus a power vacuum in the front office, has been: “Could you imagine any of this happening under Mike?” The response is a defiant shake of the head. 

Larkin, who grew up in Michigan and wanted to be a Red Wing his whole life, is asking for a trade. Edvinsson, who is at a stalemate with his contract negotiations, is skating overseas and prefers a trade. The late Ilitch wouldn’t let things get to this point, and there’s a good chance he’d personally fly to Sweden in an attempt to appease his young defenseman. 

It speaks to the reality that the team has changed since his son, Chris, took over the team. The Red Wings became a powerhouse when he ran them, as close to a dynasty as there was in the 1990s and 2000s. They won four Stanley Cup titles and lived up to the “Hockeytown” name. 

Devils Need More Players Like Nico Hischier Who Lead By ExampleAs the Devils build on a 4-1 win on Saturday afternoon, they must find more players who can lead by example. Good thing captain Nico Hischier is one of them.

It’s worth noting that Ilitch ran the team at a different time. There was no salary cap, and the Red Wings spent heavily on the roster, outspending most, if not all, teams in the league. While it’s hard to gain that edge in today’s game (which explains a decline of the empire under the late Ilitch), owners still find ways to spend big and, conversely, cut corners outside of the cap. 

The current Red Wings are cutting corners but also not making the extra push to spend on the team. The free agency classes have been underwhelming, and they’ve been tough negotiators on contract extensions, including the Larkin one a few seasons back. Some of this can be blamed on GM Steve Yzerman, but many owners will either handcuff or push their front offices. Many fans were frustrated with Yzerman yet are starting to view him in a different light, knowing he didn’t have the extra help from the ownership. 

The Devils Ownership Situation Won’t Doom Them But Could Set Them Back 

Josh Harris and David Blitzer have owned the Devils since 2013. For the most part, they’ve been willing to spend and invest in the team. They knew Sunny Mehta was the right person to take over as the GM this summer and made sure they hired the young, rising-star executive. 

Likewise, the Devils don’t handicap their GM or coaches. When they have a chance to make a big move or a significant hire, they usually do, or at least they are in the running for top free agents or coaches. 

Sunny Mehta Is Cautious About Hitting The Reset Button: Just Ask VancouverThe Canucks are a grim reminder of what a rebuild looks like. The losses pile up, and things are tough for a few years. It’s why the Devils, who also have a new GM, are cautious about going down that path.

That said, like the Red Wings, there’s a feeling that the team hasn’t been the same since John McMullen sold the team in the early 2000s. McMullen helped build the Cup-winning teams with the help of Lou Lamoriello running the front office. The Devils are still searching for a team to bring them back to those glory days. 

Moreover, the current ownership group doesn’t exclusively own the Devils. They purchased the Washington Commanders in 2023 and have owned the Philadelphia 76ers since 2011. Many NHL teams are wary of their teams taking a backseat when their ownership is also invested in other teams in other leagues. The Pittsburgh Penguins ran into this issue when they were owned by the Fenway Sports Group, and the Buffalo Sabres became a bottom-feeder team, one with a 14-year playoff drought around the same time that Terry Pegula purchased the Buffalo Bills. 

It’s not always an issue for NHL teams when the owner is invested in multiple teams. The Colorado Avalanche are owned by Stan Kroenke, who is invested in multiple leagues, yet the Avalanche have remained a top-tier team. It also hasn’t been an issue for the Devils. That said, it’s worth keeping tabs on, especially if the team continues to come up short of expectations. 

The New York Islanders entered the 2026 NHL Draft with two clear focuses. First, drafting the best player available with the 13th overall pick.

That pick became Malte Gustafsson, whose stock has only risen since draft night. Over the weekend, Gustafsson posted another assist. That was his fourth point in eight games to start his season in the SHL.

Last year, Gustafsson posted three assists in 27 games. In just eight games, he's surpassed that total already.

The next focus for New York was adding some quality depth on the right-side of their defensive prospect pool. In the fourth round, New York drafted collegiate defender Lincoln Kuehne, who is currently at Arizona State.

The Islanders then drafted Vladimir Dravecky in the fifth round, 141st overall. 

Dravecky has gone on to become perhaps the single most-exciting Islanders prospect aside from the first-round picks in the system.

First, Dravecky opened eyes at the team's NHL training camp, even earning one preseason game where he quarterbacked the power play. 

After such an experience, it might be normal to expect Dravecky to have a slower start back in the OHL with the Guelph Storm. 

That has not come close to happening. In Dravecky's first five games back, he posted one goal and four points in five games, a strong start for the defender.

Last week, the Islanders signed Dravecky to his entry-level deal, giving another reason for the Islanders' prospect to maybe unintentionally take his foot off the gas.

Then came Saturday night against the Owen Sound Attack.

Dravecky torched the competition on every level.

The defender posted two goals and three assists for a jaw-dropping five-point night in a 10-5 blowout victory. Those five points led the team, and his two goals tied for the most on the night.

He scored a buzzer-beating goal at the end of the second period with a snappy wrister:

What a week for Vladimír Dravecký

• Signed his entry-level contract with the #Isles
• Had a five-point night (2G, 3A) vs. Owen Sound
• Leads all OHL defensemen in scoring with 9 points in 6 games pic.twitter.com/lf5MjCF0pv

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) October 11, 2026

Dravecky continues to raise the bar at each and every turn. The Czech defender continues to track as a complete steal for the Islanders on draft night.

Hamilton Hammers Head Coach Jay McKee told everyone on Day 1 of Rookie Camp that Dravecky's going to be a total steal.

"With Vlad being a late pick, for me, it was one of the steals of the draft for sure at that pick," McKee said after Day 1 of Rookie Camp.

Since that day, everything Dravecky's done has just turned the excitement dial further up.

All the Islanders can do is continue to hope he keeps developing and makes his way to the franchise sooner than later.

The New York Islanders are in the midst of a transitional year, as they look to retool on the fly into being a contender around Matthew Schaefer.

Over the last two seasons, the Islanders have tried a few different styles of depth defensemen. More often, they've utilized the more physical, veteran defender archetype.

However, on ex-Islander was not. Adam Boqvist, who spent parts of 2024-25 and the entirety of 2025-26 with the Islanders, was a waiver claim during times of major injury issues.

The Islanders claimed him off waivers from the Florida Panthers in January 2025, after he had signed with Florida the previous summer.

Boqvist, the 8th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, had not broken out the way either the Chicago Blackhawks or the Columbus Blue Jackets had hoped.

The Islanders took the chance, but it didn't lead to a breakout or consistent playing time. Boqvist played 17 games in 24-25, in which he posted two goals and 8 points. It looked like there could be something there, but the Islanders had a crowded blue line when everyone became healthy.

In 2025-26, Boqvist could not showcase the talent. He played just 28 games, and only posted 4 assists in those games. 

Boqvist, now 26, mainly served as the team's 7th defenseman, and ultimately the Islanders chose to let the defender walk to free agency in July.

The Swedish defender could not find an NHL home, despite holding out through training camp season.

Sunday, Boqvist signed with Geneve-Servette Hockey Club on a two-year deal in the Swiss National League.

Nouvelle pépite en ville: ADAM BOQVIST est un Grenat ! 🦅

Le GSHC est fier d’annoncer la signature du défenseur Adam Boqvist jusqu’au terme de la saison 27-28. Auteur de 103 points en 280 matchs dans la meilleure ligue du monde, nous rejoint avec effet immédiat ! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DHQfLWQ9ms

— Genève-Servette HC (@officialGSHC) October 11, 2026

The contract ends his time in North America for the time being, as he returns to Europe and a chance to receive consistent play time.

It was not always pretty, but the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to at least get something out of this past week by taking three out of four points against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars on Friday and Saturday.

Even though the week got off to a bad start with back-to-back losses against the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals, there were times where you could get a glimpse of what this team is capable of when they really start playing their game.

After no-showing the first 25 minutes against the Capitals, I thought they mostly carried the play over the remainder of that game. The numbers largely backed that up. Capitals goalie Logan Thompson was simply amazing.

After no-showing the first 40 minutes against Columbus, they at least rallied on the scoreboard and put together a passable third period. Not great. Maybe not particularly good. But passable.

The game against Dallas on Saturday was probably their best game of the season when you take into account the quality of the opponent (one of the best teams in the NHL), the fact they were playing a rested team on the second half of a back-to-back with travel, and the way they completely locked everything down and played a mostly clean, solid game. It was not the most exciting game they have played so far this season, but that is probably what they needed.

Now it is time for a new week with three more games and the start of a very difficult road trip.

The big questions that need answered this week:

• How the lineup continues to shake out. Ville Koivunen sat on Saturday with Elmer Soderblom taking his place. I have been higher on Koivunen so far than most, but will that lineup change continue?
• Andrei Kuzmenko figures to return soon. Who comes out for him? Is it Soderblom and Koivunen?
• Is Nicholas Robertson going to stay on the fourth line with Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar? He deserves a higher spot in the lineup given the way he has played, but that line has also been dominant together, accounting for a 2-0 goals advantage, a 66.1 percent expected goal share in 23 minutes of 5-on-5 ice-time, and doing all of that despite having only one offensive zone start to 18 defensive zone starts.
• Will the top line ever get going as constructed? It has objectively been the worst of their lines right now, with each of the other three all putting together strong shifts, creating chances, and creating goals. The first line is not doing any of that, despite getting mostly all offensive zone starts.
• How will the goalie rotation play out, and how much Sergei Murashov will we see vs. Arturs Silovs? Both goalies had really great games this past week.

As for the games ahead…

Things start on Tuesday night with the road trip beginning against the Chicago Blackhawks.

You do not want to take anything for granted at the NHL level, and there is no such thing as a “should win” game, but this is a game you really want to win. Especially given the rest of the road trip. Chicago is still one of the youngest teams in the league as part of its rebuild, but it is also, by every objective measure, still one of the worst teams in the league by a very significant margin.

They have been lousy so far.

They enter Tuesday’s game with a 1-5 record, have been outscored by a 26-12 margin, and have managed only a 38.8 expected goal share during 5-on-5 play. The San Jose Sharks (31.5 percent) and Philadelphia Flyers (30.4 percent) are the only two teams with a worse mark.

There is not a lot of experience here, and there is still some doubt as to when Connor Bedard will return to the lineup. It is possible he plays Tuesday to make his 2026-27 season debut against the Penguins, but that is still not yet known.

Bottom line: This team stinks, at least by NHL standards. It does not do anything well, and even with a lot good, young, talented players on the roster, they are at times overmatched and clearly flawed. Bowen Byram has also had a miserable start to the season after Chicago traded the No. 4 and 45 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft for him, and then gave him $12.5 million per season over the next six years.

You really want to win this game. It is not getting any easier after this.

The road trip continues on Friday with the first half of a back-to-back against the Colorado Avalanche.

Colorado will be coming off two consecutive games against Dallas before playing the Penguins, but it has won three of its first five games to start the season. As expected, the offense has been nearly unstoppable. Colorado has already scored 24 goals in five games, including three different games with six goals or more.

This is going to be one of the biggest challenges yet for a Penguins defense that has struggled through the first two weeks. Whichever goalie starts this game is also going to have to put a lot of important work in.

Nathan MacKinnon already has 10 points in the first five games, while defenseman Cale Makar is already up to seven points.

The Penguins then have to play 24 hours later against another Western Conference Stanley Cup contender in the Vegas Golden Knights.

Vegas will be rested in that game as the Penguins travel into Vegas after playing the day before, and that is only going to add to the challenge. The Golden Knights enter the week having won five of their first six games, and their stars are shining already. Jack Eichel has 12 points in his first six games, while Mark Stone already has seven points. Mitch Marner, Victor Olofsson and Tomas Hertl all have five points each.

The one thing that might work in the Penguins favor in these two games is the fact both Colorado and Vegas have had some early goaltending issues. The Penguins forward depth might be able to exploit that a little bit.

The Penguins only managed to get three out of a possible eight points this past week, and this week is going to be an even bigger challenge given the opponents. You really want to get those two points in Chicago on Tuesday night. From there, you just have to hope to find a way to get two more the rest of the week. Whether that is splitting the back-to-back, or finding a way to get at least one point in each of the Colorado and Vegas games, you would really like to find a way to hang with these teams. The game against Dallas looked like an encouraging step in that regard. Now they have to build on it.

Colorado Avalanche News

• The Colorado Avalanche can no longer afford to ignore Mackenzie Blackwood’s struggles, especially when the team can rely on Scott Wedgewood. [The Hockey News]

• Avalanche’s Trent Miner clears waivers and is sent to Loveland. [Pro Hockey Rumors]

• Calgary retail guru and former NHLer Myles O’Connor, father of Logan O’Connor, dies suddenly at 59. [Calgary Herald]

• Coach Jared Bednar calls out players after loss to Leafs. [Sports Illustrated]

News Around the League

• Winnipeg Jets fan tracks Hellebuyck’s lost salary with ‘funny, informative’ site. [Global News]

• Shesterkin out for season for Rangers with lower-body injury. [NHL]

• Panthers’ Brad Marchand to miss six weeks with injury. [Sportsnet]

• Detroit Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin caught off guard by Montreal fan’s chants “we want Larkin”. [TSN]

• Ottawa Senators’ Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle to assist CHEO. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Melanson diagnosed with vascular aneurysm, out indefinitely for Kraken. [NHL]

• Family of Hamilton-born hockey player Matthew Mayich says new university review into his collapse falls short. [CBC]

• Hockey N.S. launches pilot program to teach young players about consent, hazing. [Global News]

After Jacob Fowler’s heroics in the Montreal Canadiens' shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, the young netminder was named the game's first star, and after a live interview on Sportsnet, he was made available to the media in the dressing room. He faced a barrage of questions about the game, the shootout, and his position in the organization. The pack of journalists moved on to the next player; we chose to talk to him about something a little different. 

Last week, we published an article about Fowler’s new mask and wanted to get his thoughts on it and tell him how honored Diane Bibaud was by his gesture. The Florida native explained:

Yeah, I mean, I always look for kind of different ways to honor the organization, but when they [Sylabrush’s Sylvie Marsolais and Alexandre Mathys] had the idea to put her on the side of the mask and do a little tribute to her, I saw it and immediately said that was an incredible thought, and I’m happy she likes it; I was hoping she did.

Could The Canadiens And The Rangers Help Each Other?
Fowler Shines and Bolduc Put The Game Away Netting The Canadiens Two Much-Needed Points.
Canadiens Power Play Worryingly Inefficient

Interestingly, after we published our article about the mask last week, Curtis Cook, the Buffalo Sabres arena organist, shared it on X and said it was cool that Fowler did it. The masked man had a good laugh when we told him about that and joked:

Maybe Buffalo’s feeling a little jealous now, their guys need to do it too.

- Challenge extended as a certain How I Met Your Mother character would say...

Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler honored organist Diane Bibaud by including her on his mask this year. How cool! https://t.co/3YbqrVZgVs

— Curtis Cook (@sabresorgan) October 9, 2026

Will Alex Lyon or Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen rise to the challenge, or will Fowler’s gesture remain one of a kind across the league? Time will tell...

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Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

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The New York Rangers have been one of the surprising teams early in the 2026-27 NHL season and now they have to overcome a devastating blow.

Goalie Igor Shesterkin, a Vezina Trophy winner, has been ruled out for the season after suffering a lower-body injury on Oct. 9.

With backup Joonas Korpisalo also hurt, the goaltending duties now fall to Dylan Garand, who had been scheduled to start a fifth season in the American Hockey League.

So far so good. He stopped 19 of 21 shots against the Vancouver Canucks in his first game as the No. 1 goalie. That follows a shutout in his earlier start, and the Rangers sit second in the Metropolitan Division.

Here are the USA TODAY's NHL power rankings nearly two weeks into the 2026-27 season (number is parentheses is change from preseason power rankings):

32. Calgary Flames (-1)

The Flames are in a rebuild, but they are off to a disastrous start, being outscored 27-8 in their first five games. They waived Connor Zary.

31. Philadelphia Flyers (-10)

The Flyers (0-5-2) have lost their first seven games for the first time in franchise history. They're dealing with some injuries (Travis Konecny, Rasmus Ristolainen), but are also getting burned by giveaways. They have added free agent Michael Bunting.

30. Chicago Blackhawks (-1)

The Blackhawks' 1-5 record is a combination of facing tough opponents while also missing captain Connor Bedard. He's practicing in a regular jersey as he works to come back from offseason shoulder surgery.

29. Detroit Red Wings (-3)

Dylan Larkin was booed heavily when introduced in the opener amid his trade request then heard "We want Larkin" chants in Montreal. Meanwhile, defenseman Simon Edvinsson headed to Sweden while awaiting a contract resolution.

28. Los Angeles Kings (-4)

Offseason acquisition Mats Zuccarello is week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. He had one assist in three games for the winless Kings.

27. Vancouver Canucks (+5)

The Canucks have jumped from 31st in goals last season to ninth this season. But coach Manny Malhota will have to work on the defensive side. They've given up four or more goals five times, including a 9-7 loss.

26. Buffalo Sabres (-15)

The Sabres haven't made up for departed free agent Alex Tuch's scoring touch. Zach Benson, who was going to help after a strong playoffs, has one assist in his first five games.

25. New York Islanders (0)

Ilya Sorokin is off to a strong start with a 1.77 goals-against average. The team lost defenseman Alexander Romanov to an ACL injury but report progress on injured Mathew Barzal.

24. Columbus Blue Jackets (-2)

The Blue Jackets are going without a captain to start the season, when it appeared that Zach Werenski could get the role. The reigning Norris Trophy winner is averaging a league-best 29:35 in ice time this season.

23. Nashville Predators (-4)

The Predators have made things interesting, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to the Canadiens but also blowing 2-0 and 3-0 leads in losses.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins (-7)

Sidney Crosby had no goals this season. He had no points and was a minus-4 in his meeting with Alex Ovechkin.

21. St. Louis Blues (-6)

Newcomers Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael have been productive with two goals and two assists each in five games.

20. Montreal Canadiens (-13)

Playoff hero Jakub Dobes has a 4.43 goals-against average and .856 save percentage. The Canadiens have called up Jacob Fowler, who had a shutout in his last start.

19. New Jersey Devils (-5)

The Devils have fared well against bottom-rung teams but were blown out by the Islanders and lost to the Mammoth.

18. Toronto Maple Leafs (0)

No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna went without a point in his first three games but has four in his last three games. William Nylander has been strong, including five points in his last game.

17. Dallas Stars (-13)

Goalie Jake Oettinger has been impressive with a 0.74 goals-against average and has given up one goal in his last three games.

16. San Jose Sharks (-1)

Macklin Celebrini missed two games with a lower-body injury. The Sharks went 1-1 in his absence and he scored in his return to give him six points in three games.

15. Florida Panthers (-12)

The Panthers, dealing with injuries to captain Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand, lost a home opener for the first time in eight years. The injuries will keep those players out at least six weeks, but that's less than the situation originally looked.

14. Winnipeg Jets (+14)

The Jets were getting decent goaltending in the absence of award-winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck (trade request). Waiver pickup Clay Stevenson had a shutout but lost 5-1 in his last game.

13. Seattle Kraken (+17)

The Kraken are getting scoring up and down the lineup as they jumped to No. 3 in scoring after being in the bottom five last season. Fourth-liners Frederick Gaudreau, Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton have combined for 13 points in the last two games.

12. Ottawa Senators (+15)

The Senators are surviving the trade of Brady Tkachuk. Now they must deal with an ankle injury to William Eklund, the team's top offseason acquisition who's out "for an extended period of time."

11. Minnesota Wild (-6)

Defenseman Quinn Hughes doesn't have a contract extension, but he's continuing to make his case for a huge payday with a five-game point streak and 27:31 in average ice time.

10. Utah Mammoth (0)

The Mammoth have the league's best power play at 40 percent. Nick Schmaltz has four power-play goals and Dylan Guenther has three. Guenther and Clayton Keller have six points each with the man advantage.

9. Washington Capitals (-3)

All-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin has announced this is his final season. He needs 10 goals to break Wayne Gretzky's record of 1,016 combined regular season/playoff goals after scoring in his fifth game of the season.

8. Colorado Avalanche (-7)

The Avalanche are dominating on offense with a league-best 5.20 goals per game. But their defensive play has been inconsistent as they blew a 3-0 lead against the Maple Leafs.

7. Boston Bruins (+6)

The Bruins rebounded from a loss to the Senators with routs of the Mammoth and Flyers. And now they're getting Charlie McAvoy back from his six-game suspension.

6. Anaheim Ducks (+17)

Leo Carlsson is leading the team in scoring after getting a then-record contract and newly named captain Mikael Granlund ranks second.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning (+3)

Defenseman Victor Hedman, who missed much of last season for personal reasons., is averaging 14 minutes a game this season. He picked up his first point of the season in his fifth game. Free agent signee is averaging nearly 20 minutes and has four points.

4. New York Rangers (+16)

The Shesterkin news has dominated recently, but another big story is a breakout for Alexis Lafreniere. The 2020 No. 1 overall pick is averaging more than a point a game, aided by a four-point game. He has never topped 57 points in his career.

3. Vegas Golden Knights (+9)

Center Jack Eichel is off to a MVP-caliber start with 12 points in his first six games. His closest teammate is five points back.

2. Edmonton Oilers (+7)

Defenseman Evan Bouchard is among the early Norris Trophy candidates. He was the first defenseman in NHL history to score five points in his opener and had eight points after two games. His six goals are tied for the overall league lead.

1. Carolina Hurricanes (+1)

The defending champions have won five in a row since losing their first two. They're getting balanced scoring. First-liner Sebastian Aho has six goals in his last six games and fourth-liner Mark Jankowski is on a four-game goal streak.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL power rankings: Rangers surprise, Flyers disappoint early

Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…

Defenseman Spencer Stastney made his Pittsburgh debut Saturday in a 3-2 shootout win over the Dallas Stars, just days after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in a trade for forward Filip Hallander. The 26-year-old played alongside Kris Letang and earned praise from coach Dan Muse for his skating, anticipation and ability to adjust quickly to a new team. [Trib Live]

The Penguins assigned defenseman Ilya Solovyov to its AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, on Saturday afternoon after going unclaimed on waivers. [Trib Live]

Mathew Dumba, who spent last season with the Penguins, but the bulk of his professional career with the Minnesota Wild, has announced his retirement from the NHL. [CBS News Minnesota]

News and notes from around the NHL…

The New York Rangers are preparing to move forward without star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who will miss the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury. Rookie Dylan Garand is primed to take on an expanded role despite limited NHL experience. [NHL]

The Carolina Hurricanes remain open to bringing back restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin, despite his absence from training camp amid a contract dispute. [Sportsnet]

New Jersey Devils forward Evan Rodrigues has been fined $5,000 for high-sticking Vancouver Canucks forward Marco Rossi in Saturday’s 4-1 win. [TSN]

Vancouver Canucks (2-5, in the Pacific Division) vs. New York Islanders (2-3, in the Metropolitan Division)

Elmont, New York; Tuesday, 7:45 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Vancouver Canucks enter the matchup against the New York Islanders as losers of four in a row.

New York has a 2-1-0 record at home and a 2-3 record overall. The Islanders serve 13.4 penalty minutes per game to rank eighth in NHL play.

Vancouver has a 1-3-0 record in road games and a 2-5 record overall. The Canucks are 1-4-0 in games their opponents commit fewer penalties.

Tuesday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season.

INJURIES: Islanders: Mathew Barzal: out (knee), Alexander Romanov: out (acl).

Canucks: Thatcher Demko: out (hip), Akil Thomas: out (undisclosed), Filip Chytil: out (shoulder), Mackenzie MacEachern: out (undisclosed), Jack Thompson: out (undisclosed).

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

The AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins lost their first two games of the 2026-27 season before quickly putting those losses behind them this weekend. 

They earned their first win on Saturday, crushing the Hartford Wolf Pack 7-1, and it was the Bill Zonnon show. Zonnon scored twice in the second period and added an assist in the win. 

He made that first goal happen, leading the rush early in the second period before collecting the puck behind the net and stuffing it home. 

Billy Z collects and cashes in! pic.twitter.com/DPvgFdndFM

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 10, 2026

Zonnon's second goal came from the net-front when he banged home a rebound off a pass from Mikhail Ilyin along the left well. 

Atley Calvert, Avery Hayes, Tanner Howe, Mikhail Ilyin, and Owen Pickering also scored in the win. 

The fun continued on Sunday with a 6-2 win for WBS over the Providence Bruins. Zonnon notched his third goal of the season less than a minute into the middle frame. He came streaking down the left side and fired an absolute laser past the Bruins goaltender. 

Zonnon has three goals and five points in four games.

Billy Z’s got his third goal in 2 games! pic.twitter.com/UZZVUaV0ue

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 11, 2026

Phil Kemp, Tristan Broz, Oliver Okuliar, and Rutger McGroarty (two goals) also scored for WBS in this game. 

Speaking of McGroarty, he was fantastic in this game, adding two assists to his two goals. He saw the ice extremely well, and forechecked his butt off. His second goal was a thing of beauty: he took a lead pass on the left side and made a gorgeous forehand-to-backhand move before elevating the puck to the top shelf of the net. 

RUT AGAIN pic.twitter.com/BDem7317ZK

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 11, 2026

McGroarty may not be with the NHL club right now, but there will come a time when he is needed this season. When that happens, he'll do everything he can to make sure he never goes back down to the AHL. 

WBS is now 2-1-1-0 and will play the Cleveland Monsters in their next two games this Friday and Saturday. 

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It's no mystery to anyone that the NHL's Department of Player Safety has a long history of inconsistency when it comes to handing out discipline to players. 

And, on Saturday, a former Pittsburgh Penguin was involved in a play that many thought was suspension-worthy.

New Jersey Devils forward Evan Rodrigues - who played for the Penguins from 2019-2022 - was approaching the faceoff dot with Vancouver Canucks center Marco Rossi during the Saturday tilt between the teams. Prior to the draw at center ice, Rossi gave Rodrigues a nudge on the shoulder with his right hand, and in response, Rodrigues speared Rossi in the throat.

On Sunday, the Department of Player Safety fined the 33-year-old Rodrigues $5,000, which is the maximum allowable under the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). He received a spearing penalty on the initial play, but upon review, it was reduced to a double-minor.

The video shows Rodrigues making a distinct spearing motion right at Rossi's throat, which is why many thought both the double-minor and the $5,000 fine was not nearly enough. However, on the other side of the spectrum, some thought Rossi went down rather easily.

Evan Rodrigues has received the maximum $5,000 fine allowed under the CBA for this high-sticking play on Marco Rossi. pic.twitter.com/G0Bg0zK6bD

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 11, 2026

At the end of the day, though, there is a precedent for intentional stick plays with the intent to injure. For example, Penguins' forward Evgeni Malkin received a four-game suspension during the 2021-22 season for a cross-check to the face of Nashville Predators' defenseman Mark Borowiecki, and he was assessed a five-game suspension last season for a slash to the face of Rasmus Dahlin. 

Although those cross-checks and slashes may appear more violent - and they were - spears have a history of automatic punishment because of the intentionality behind them. For example, defenseman Tony DeAngelo and forward Brad Marchand have both been suspended for spears in the past, and neither were to the neck or head of an opponent.

Was the double-minor and the fine was enough for Rodrigues, or should it have been more than that? How much did Rossi's reaction affect the ruling? Join The Pittsburgh Penguins Roundtable Community and leave a comment to join the discussion. 

Former Penguins Defenseman Retires After 13 NHL SeasonsThis former Penguins defenseman is calling it a career.

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