It was a special Saturday matinee at Ball Arena in Denver, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Quebec Nordiques’ move to the Rockies, the Colorado Avalanche was wearing its alternate jersey, which is pretty much the Quebec Nordiques’ uniform. For those who grew up watching the Battle of Quebec, it was special to see the Montreal Canadiens taking on their old rivals.

After three consecutive wins, the Habs turned up for the game oozing confidence. They started in promising fashion, taking control early on thanks to a high-sticking penalty to Brock Nelson less than four minutes in. Both of the Canadiens’ man-advantage units produced good looks, but Mackenzie Blackwood stopped every shot he faced during the penalty kill, and even though the Habs led 8-3 in shots, the score remained 0-0.

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The Tide Turned

If Nelson didn’t look good when he took a penalty early on, he more than made up for it by scoring the first two goals of the game for the Avs. Until the second was given to Gabriel Landeskog in the end. The first came on an awkward play. The back of Arber Xhekaj’s blade collided with Alexandre Carrier’s skate, which made the former fall in front of Jakub Dobes, who barely moved as the shot came in in the commotion.

Colorado does deserve some praise, however, as all five players touched the puck before Nelson got it by Dobes—a fantastic buildup. Just under six minutes later, Nelson struck again, but this time he did it while Josh Anderson and Gabriel Landeskog crashed into the net. The goal was awarded, and the Canadiens decided to challenge the decision, to no avail.

After losing that challenge, the Habs looked shellshocked and couldn’t find their rhythm back before the end of the first frame, or before the end of the game, really.

A Well-Oiled Machine

If the Canadiens learned a lot from the Washington Capitals' rugged play in the playoffs last season, they were given a master class in offensive play on Saturday night. Jared Bednar’s men played with such poise and fluidity that at times it looked like they were alone on the ice.

They never had any trouble getting out of their zone; their passes were sharp and accurate, and there was so much chemistry on their play that it made you wonder if they all grew up together playing on the local ice rink.

Nelson might have been the catalyst, but nobody played a bad game for Colorado. The Canadiens’ man-on-man defensive system couldn’t keep up with all the permutations.

By the time the puck dropped on the third frame, the Canadiens were already out of the game and looked ready to head back home. So much so that on Devon Toews’ goal, the Habs were down to four men on the ice because someone forgot to come on as Josh Anderson got back on the bench.

Another Elite Duo?

The rare bright spot for the Canadiens during this game was seeing Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky start to connect on the ice. Not only did the pair produce the Canadiens’ first goal, but they also created other scoring chances, which is no small task against a defence as efficient as Colorado’s.

Élite #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/DrfoeqhH0e

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 29, 2025

It looks like Slafkovsky feels more important on that line than he did riding shotgun with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. While he was the complement to the first-line duo with Demidov, he is now part of a duo; he’s a headliner, and he plays as such.

The sample is still too small to know for sure, but there are some sparks between the two, and one could think that the more they get to know each other on the ice, the better they’ll become.

The Habs’ power play produced another goal in a lost cause when Lane Hutson took a shot from up high, one that he wouldn’t have taken a year ago. I don’t know what was said or done to the sophomore blueliner to make him shoot more, but it’s great that he does it more. It makes the Canadiens’ power play much harder to defend, as he is a viable shooting option. It stops opponents from leaning towards other players who shoot more, like Caufield, for instance.

Cette rondelle avait des yeux 🚀

Laner unleashes#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/uhBgbgWF8e

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 29, 2025

Speaking of the diminutive winger, he registered an assist on that power play goal, which allowed him to keep his point streak alive with a point in a seventh consecutive game.

While getting outperformed like this is never good for any team, the truth of the matter is that four out of six points on this tough road trip is a result anyone would have been happy with before taking off from Montreal. As weird as it may seem to say when the final score was 7-2, Dobes didn’t play a bad game. He finishes his night with an .805 save percentage, but he didn’t really give up bad goals.

The Canadiens will now have a day off on Sunday, and they’ll get back on the ice in Brossard on Monday morning to get ready to take on their divisional rival, the Ottawa Senators.

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The Hockey News released the top 20 players for their Top 100 Players 21-And-Under list, and without much surprise, Chicago Blackhawks youngsters Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, and Artyom Levshunov all made the cut.

Bedard was given the No. 2 spot on this list, with San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini being the only player ranked ahead of him. Seeing Bedard make the top two is understandable, as the 20-year-old center is already a legitimate star in the NHL. He is also taking a massive step forward this season, as he has already recorded 14 goals and 33 points in 24 games. 

Frondell was given the No. 13 spot on THN's list. The 2025 third-overall pick has all the tools to become an impactful NHL player, so it makes sense that he is being ranked as one of the best young players in hockey. The 6-foot-1 forward is having a solid start to the 2025-26 season with Djurgardens IF, recording nine goals and 14 points in 23 games thus far. 

As for Levshunov, he has picked up the No. 15 spot on THN's rankings. The 20-year-old defenseman has been breaking out for the Blackhawks this season, as he has recorded one goal and 12 points in 23 games. 

The Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks faced off for the first time this season on Friday. They see each other for a total of four times in the regular season.

However, that may not be the last of the Freeway Face-Off as there is potential to see a first-round playoff matchup between the two Californian teams.

After Anaheim’s 5-4 overtime win against Los Angeles, the Ducks lead the Pacific Division, with the Kings right behind them with a two-point difference.

Ducks Stun Kings in Shootout After L.A. Blows Two-Goal Third-Period LeadThe Kings had the game in their hands — and let it slip through their gloves. Up two goals in the third period, Los Angeles unraveled stunningly, watching a sure win dissolve into a demoralizing loss.

As of right now, the standings wouldn’t set up a first-round matchup, but with how close each team is to each other in the division, and the rest of the league for that matter, it wouldn’t take much to see teams get moved around after a few outings.

The circumstances that would allow the Ducks and Kings to face off in the first round of this year’s post-season aren’t all that complicated, nor far-fetched.

To match up in the playoffs’ preliminary stages, Anaheim and Los Angeles must control the second and third spots in their division, or one team finishes first in the division and the opposing team in either the first or second wild-card spot, depending on the makeup of the other division in the Western Conference, the Central Division.

As mentioned, it wouldn’t be surprising if the stars aligned for a Freeway Face-Off first-round series since the difference between the Pacific’s leaders and fifth place is just four points.

The last time Los Angeles and Anaheim played against each other in the playoffs was in 2014. They met in the second round, which saw the Kings take the series in seven games. Los Angeles went on to win its second Stanley Cup in franchise history.

In terms of meeting in the first round, that has never happened in the history of these two franchises’ existence. Specifically for the Ducks, they haven't seen playoff hockey since 2018, when they were swept by the San Jose Sharks.

The Freeway Face-Off rivalry would reach heights never before seen.

Not to mention, there’s a great dynamic in terms of the contrast between the two organizations. While the Kings have some youngsters like Brandt Clarke and Quinton Byfield, the roster is filled with veterans, including captain Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty.

For the Ducks, they’re scattered with veterans like Alex Killorn, Chris Kreider, Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba. But the main driving factor with this Ducks team is their youth, including Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Beckett Sennecke, and more.

It would make for a great playoff series, and fans may not have to wait many more seasons to witness it.

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The Montreal Canadiens are enjoying a renaissance season, putting together a 13-7-3 record to sit in second place in the competitive Atlantic Division. And things got even better on Friday when the Canadiens signed veteran defenseman Mike Matheson to a five-year contract extension with an average annual salary of $6 million. 

Matheson’s extension solidifies Montreal’s defense corps for the foreseeable future, as their top-four blueliners – Matheson, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle are all under contract at least through the 2030-31 season, at a total combined annual cost of $29.9 million. With the rising salary cap ceiling, this quartet could be one of the better-bargain groups of D-men in the league.

But what is equally compelling is the potential to add more pieces to the competitive puzzle for the Habs. As it stands, Montreal currently has $3.61 million in cap space – a number that rises to $11.97 million by this season’s March 6 trade deadline. As of next season, the Canadiens project to have $20.1 million in space. Some of that will have to go to RFAs Zack Bolduc, Kirby Dach and Arber Xhekaj, but that still leaves more than enough space to bring some veteran help aboard.

And with Matheson now locked up, there’s only one place Montreal needs help with: at forward. It’s unlikely the Canadiens re-sign often-injured winger Patrik Laine – at least, if he doesn’t take a major hometown discount to stay a Hab. So Montreal is going to need a bona fide point-producing forward – most likely, a second-line center to take some of the heat off of top-line center Nick Suzuki. 

Those types of players don’t grow on trees, but the great thing about where the Canadiens are in their competitive cycle is that above-average free-agent centers will be encouraged by the team’s ascent in the Atlantic standings and happily sign up to play in Montreal. Or if they are already a part of another team, they could waive any no-trade or no-move clause to be a Canadien. 

Who could that be? It’s difficult to pinpoint one single NHLer who would be ideal for the Habs, but a player similar to Nashville Predators pivot Ryan O’Reilly would be the kind of player Montreal GM Kent Hughes is looking for. Of course, O’Reilly probably wouldn’t want to play in the high-pressure environment of Montreal, as a short stretch as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs a couple of seasons ago didn’t end with O’Reilly choosing to stay in Toronto when he became a UFA. 

That said, a player like O’Reilly – someone with Stanley Cup-winning experience, and someone who can play hard-nosed defense while chipping in with some secondary scoring, would fit the bill rather well in Habs Land. Montreal’s strong start to the current season gives Habs management the leverage to not overpay on the trade or free-agent front to acquire that kind of veteran.

Regardless of what the Canadiens do with their cap space, it’s clear with every passing game that Montreal is turning a corner in their development. Keeping Matheson is an endorsement of the Habs’ current core, and as the Canadiens grow as a group, it will become much easier to be a destination for veterans seeking a legitimate shot at winning a championship. So while things look great right now, even better days are ahead for this organization. 

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Winnipeg Jets rookie goaltender Thomas Milic experienced a true mixed bag in his NHL debut on Saturday, turning aside 30 of 34 shots in a 4–1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 21-year-old delivered several impressive moments and helped stabilize the Jets during extended stretches of pressure, but also showed areas that will need sharpening at the NHL level.

Milic was tested immediately as Carolina controlled the early pace and outshot Winnipeg heavily in the opening minutes. The rookie responded with eight saves in the first 11 minutes, including key stops on two Hurricanes power plays that prevented the game from slipping away. Winnipeg briefly gained momentum, but Carolina struck first when defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere carried the puck deep before feeding Winnipeg-born forward Seth Jarvis in the high slot. Jarvis released a low wrist shot that slipped just past Milic for the opening goal.

Milic continued to impress in the second period with ten more saves while helping kill off three additional Hurricanes power plays. One of those penalties came from a rookie mistake when Milic played the puck outside the crease behind the net. After discussing the call with the officials, he returned to the crease and delivered several calm, composed stops to erase the mistake.

Despite Milic’s efforts, defensive breakdowns around the crease created ongoing challenges. Winnipeg struggled to clear traffic from the front of the net and Milic was often forced to make stops through heavy screens. Midway through the second, Carolina capitalized when Logan Stanley and William Carrier battled for position in front and Jordan Martinook snapped a shot through the crowd that beat Milic for the Hurricanes’ second goal.

Marty with the quick release 💪 pic.twitter.com/VUVZFwdrtf

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 29, 2025

The defensive issues resurfaced minutes later. Jarvis found space in the high slot and fired another quick shot over Milic’s glove for his second of the night against his hometown team. Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey drifted across Milic’s line of sight, making the save even more difficult. All three goals to that point beat Milic on the glove side, a weakness Carolina appeared to identify early as they repeatedly targeted that area.

Milic’s most concerning moment came in the final seconds of the game when Alexander Nikishin launched a point shot from the boards that beat him clean on the blocker side. It was a stoppable shot from distance and marked the lone goal of the night that did not involve traffic or a defensive lapse.

Alexander Nikishin - Carolina Hurricanes (3) pic.twitter.com/wSscbt2Opl

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) November 29, 2025

Milic’s debut showcased both promise and growing pains. He was composed, competitive and strong on the penalty kill, yet the Hurricanes exposed technical areas that will need refinement. With 30 saves behind a defense that struggled throughout the night, the young netminder showed he may have the tools to build on this first NHL appearance as he gains more experience.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Hagel scored twice and Jonas Johansson made 11 saves as the Tampa Bay Lighting beat the New York Rangers 4-1 Saturday to extend their winning streak to seven games.

Nick Paul and Jake Guentzel also scored and Nikita Kucherov had three assists as the Lightning ended New York’s three-game winning streak. Tampa Bay is 7-0-0 since Nov. 18 and has outscored opponents 30-10 in that span.

The Rangers heard boos from the Madison Square Garden crowd as they fell to 2-8-1 at home where they have been shut out five times and scored once on three other occasions. New York is 11-4-1 on the road.

Hagel scored at 10:53 of the opening period as his shot deflected off Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy’s skate. He made it 2-0 with his team-best 15th goal at 8:57 of the second when he slid his own rebound past Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin.

Defenseman Darren Raddysh and Kucherov assisted on both goals.

Kucherov has a nine-game points streak of four goals and 14 assists. He leads the Lightning with 32 points. Raddysh has 11 points in his last seven games.

J.T. Miller ruined Johansson’s shutout bid with his seventh goal at 17:31 of the second. Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad assisted.

Paul scored at 2:02 of the third to make it 3-1. Rookie defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous also assisted.

Guentzel added an empty-netter at 19:41.

Fox left the game at 7:03 of the third after he was checked hard into the boards by Hagel. Fox’s left arm appeared to absorb the brunt of the hit.

Shesterkin made 31 saves.

The Lightning outshot the Rangers 11-2 in the first. New York didn’t register its first shot on goal until the 9:29 mark.

The Lightning were missing injured defensemen Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak, as well as forward Brayden Point, out for a fourth-straight game.

Up next

Rangers: Hosting the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

Lightning: At the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

The Vancouver Canucks are 20 games into the 2025–26 season. After their chaotic 3–2 loss to the San Jose Sharks last night, they currently sport a record of 10–13–2 throughout the season. Here’s how they’re performing compared to the rest of the NHL. 

Team Stats 

Vancouver’s team numbers don’t look fantastic at this particular moment. They’re within the bottom-five in the NHL in four categories: their overall record (10–13–2), points-percentage (0.44), goals-against (93), and penalty kill (70.5%). In three of these categories, they fall within the bottom-three in the league. With that being said, they currently rank 12th in goals-for with 76 and 14th in power play percentage with 21.6% — the only two stats in which they place within the top-15. 

Individual Skaters

The Canucks’ numbers produced by individual skaters are kind of all-over the place. Vancouver’s TOI stats say a lot about how the team has deployed their players throughout the year, as they have placed within the top-10 in overall (Filip Hronek, 609:48), power play (Quinn Hughes, 102:24), and penalty killing (Marcus Pettersson, 89:22) TOI. As well, Kiefer Sherwood still remains within the top-three in the NHL in hits with 103, only 11 away from Yakov Trenin’s league-leading 114. 

Goaltenders

Despite Kevin Lankinen taking the bulk of the games throughout the season, Thatcher Demko still ranks first on the team in the majority of categories such as SV% (.903), goals against average (2.80), wins (5), and high-danger SV% (.837). With that being said, the Canucks’ goaltending group does not crack the top-10 in the NHL in any of these stats. Their highest-ranked goaltending stat is the amount of high-danger shots-faced by Lankinen, who ranks 15th in the NHL in that category.  

Vancouver’s next five games consist of a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings tonight and a game against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Then, the Canucks return home for a weekend back-to-back against the Utah Mammoth and Minnesota Wild, as well as a game against the Detroit Red Wings the week after. 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Canadian defenseman Calvin de Haan, 34, has signed a two-year contract extension with Rögle BK, the SHL club announced on Friday.

This is de Haan’s first season playing in Europe after a lengthy career in North America, which included over 600 NHL games with six different teams.

De Haan has nine points in 18 games so far for Rögle, who currently sit third in the 14-team SHL with 47 points in 24 games.

“I think Calvin’s game speaks for itself and we obviously want to continue to see in green and white in the future,” said Rögle sports director Hampus Sjöström. “He’s a stable defender and has leadership qualities that are of great benefit to our group. It feels great that Calvin and his family are enjoying themselves so well here in Rögle and Ängelholm and I look forward to continuing our collaboration for another two seasons.”

In addition to de Haan, Rögle’s roster includes ex-NHLers Mark Friedman, Karson Kuhlman and Fredrik Olofsson.

Swedish Club Rögle Signs Another Ex-NHLer American right winger Karson Kuhlman, 29, has signed a one-year contract with Rögle BK, the SHL club announced on Sunday. The signing comes just three days after <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/former-nhl-d-man-signs-two-year-deal-in-sweden">R</a><a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/former-nhl-d-man-signs-two-year-deal-in-sweden">ögle announced the signing of former NHL defenseman Mark Friedman</a>.

Born in Carp. Ont., de Haan played junior hockey for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals and was chosen 12th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2011 and 2025, de Haan played 679 NHL regular-season games for the Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche and New York Rangers, recording 149 points and 249 penalty minutes. He also recorded five points in 38 playoff games.

De Haan split last season between the Avalanche and Rangers. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound rearguard was traded to the Rangers along with Juuso Parssinen, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick in 2025. In return, the Avalanche received Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey, and Hank Kempf.

Internationally, de Haan represented Canada at one U-18 IIHF World Championship, two World Juniors and at the 2017 World Championship.

American Ex-NHL D-Man Finds Another Swedish TeamFormer NHLer Luke Witkowski returns to Sweden, joining a stacked Brynäs IF squad aiming for a championship rebound.

Every week in the NHL delivers goals, chaos, and occasionally, absolute gems on the microphone. Our “Say What?” series features some of the strangest, funniest, and most telling quotes from players, coaches, and executives around the league. 

This week, the quotes cover everything from a goaltender responding to being told the fans no longer want him to coaches disliking the use of analytics.

Here are the lines that made us stop scrolling and say… what?

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"They're just looking at numbers from people that could be in Russia in a basement, having cigarettes and cashews, telling them their scoring chances. So we're going to depend on our guys, and really recognize what we believe has to be fixed and what doesn't." - Adam Foote

The Vancouver Canucks' coach doesn't plan to call out a player for having poor analytics, although they've allowed the most high-danger chances against in the NHL, according to naturalstattrick.com.

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"We’re in the business of lifting each other up." - Stuart Skinner

After being told the fans want another goaltender and not him, Stuart Skinner had a classy response to Hall of Fame journalist Jim Matheson when he said he chose to be a goalie, and fan criticism comes with the gig. He knows he can be better, but his teammates don’t share the same opinion as some fans do. 

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“I guess it’s just part of the gig.” - Kiefer Sherwood

The forward is on the trade block after saying he wanted to sign an extension with the Vancouver Canucks. He knows that the team is looking to trade him as they’ve made several veterans and UFAs available. 

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“Since I was a kid, all I wanted was to wear a Habs jersey. Five more years in the best city in the world, a place I’m lucky to call home.” - Mike Matheson

The defenseman signed an extension with the Montreal Canadiens this week, a five-year deal worth $6 million per season. He knows he could have gotten more on the open market, but he’s comfortable where he is. 

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"The coach didn't take a stupid pill last week." - Brian Burke

Brian Burke commented on coach Kris Knoblauch being a good coach despite recent shortcomings and how he believes the Edmonton Oilers simply have to work their way out of their slump.

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“There's always pivots and different times where you have to adjust and make changes,” - GM Craig Conroy

After Don Maloney came out and said the Flames had no desire to trade several assets and were going to try to compete, fans reacted negatively. Things got worse when Maloney wouldn’t comment on a Conroy extension. The deal got done this week, and Conroy set the record straight. 

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“No one's giving up. No one's getting negative. We're going to keep pushing and keep grinding.” - Morgan Rielly

Morgan Rielly tried to stay positive after a loss as the Maple Leafs get set to play the Pittsburgh Penguins. Things have not gone well for Toronto this season, and there's already talk about focusing on next year instead. 

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“I feel like I could take down an NFL running back.” - Brady Tkachuk

When asked by his brother on their podcast if he thought he could tackle Derrick Henry, Brady said he believed it was about mindset, and he thought he could. Matthew responded, “You’re a f*cking idiot.”

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After notching another win, his sixth in seven career starts, Carolina Hurricanes netminder Brandon Bussi has been making a case for a larger workload.

The 27-year-old netminder waited quite a while for his shot in the NHL, but has certainly been making the most of his opportunity now that he's here.

In seven games, Bussi has a 6-1-0 record and a 0.899 save percentage. While that number doesn't seem as impressive at first glance, he has north of 0.890 in six of his starts and above 0.910 in four.

The American netminder also leads the Canes' three netminders with 2.7 goals saved above expected and he also is rocking a 0.900 high-danger save percentage, which is in the 99th percentile amongst all NHL netminders this season.

And with Pyotr Kochetkov once again dealing with injury and Frederik Andersen struggling a bit, it makes sense to give Bussi a little more of a runway with how well he's been playing.

"Yeah, for sure," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "We've kind of thrust him into some weird situations. He doesn't know when he's starting based on the health of the other guys, but I think he's done a good job. Last night, he came up with two really crucial saves at crucial times and helped us keep playing our game, and obviously win. He's earned every start he's had, and he's definitely earned the next one, whenever that is."

Brandon Bussi makes a massive breakaway save on Kyle Connor in the third period!

The "BUS-SI" chants from the Lenovo Center crowd that followed were incredible. 👏 pic.twitter.com/xWYPk4CUnO

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) November 29, 2025

Bussi has only started sporadically so far in the NHL, but he's used to a pretty steady workload, as across parts of four seasons in the AHL, the New York native appeared in 111 games (5, 32, 41, 33) and posted a 0.915 save percentage.

While he might not have been a known name when the Hurricanes first claimed him off of waivers, he's definitely been putting himself on the map.

"I think they know who he is now," said Seth Jarvis. "He's been electric. He's the best guy, so there's no one I'm happier for."

"I didn't know much about him, but I knew the name because we had talked about him a lot," Brind'Amour said. "I heard that name going around in the offseason, but I never even saw him play. But he's just a good dude. That's number one. Like, I love that part of it. You can just talk to him for a couple of minutes and know that this guy gets it. So that's a thing that stands out. And then can he stop pucks? Well, yeah. That's obviously something he's done for us really well."

Hurricanes Goalie Brandon Bussi Unveils New MaskHurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi debuts a custom mask, a vibrant tribute to autism awareness and personal family connection, featuring unique artistry.

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'He's Ready To Make That Jump': Brandon Bussi To Make First NHL Start In San JoseThe Carolina Hurricanes look to be in line to see an NHL debut tonight as goaltender Brandon Bussi is slated to make his first career start in San Jose after being the <a href="https://x.com/Real_Max_Miller/status/1978171483609309396">first to leave the ice at Tuesday's morning skate</a>.

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The second annual CHL USA Prospects Challenge has come and gone. USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) took care of business in game one, defeating Team CHL by a score of 4-2. The NTDP was outshot 44-26, but American goaltender Brady Knowling, who also has a Canadian citizenship, stood tall with a 42-save performance in front of all the scouts. 

Game 2 was another back-and-forth, close contest between the two squads. The NTDP led for the majority of the game, but QMJHL’s Xavier Villeneuve scored on the power play to put Team CHL on top and win 4-3. 

With both teams winning one game apiece, a “Super Overtime” was held after regulation on game two to decide bragging rights. 

USA’s Victor Plante let off a lethal release that beat Guelph Storm netminder Zachary Jovanovski under the glove, and the Americans got their sweet, sweet revenge. 

VICTOR PLANTE SCORES THE SUPER OVERTIME WINNER 🥇

Team USA wins the #CHLUSAProspectsChallenge. pic.twitter.com/aqpnF7MRlE

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 27, 2025

There was a mixed bag of reactions to Team CHL. Brantford Bulldogs forward Caleb Malhotra was outstanding and certainly raised his draft stock, but there were a lot of individualistic performances. 

Perhaps the team could’ve used someone like Owen Sound Attack’s star forward Pierce Mbuyi? 

Leads OHL Draft-Eligible Prospects In Points

Mbuyi was the most obvious, and questioning, omission from Team CHL’s roster. The former seventh-overall pick from the 2024 OHL Priority Selection has been nothing short of spectacular since coming into the league. His rookie campaign was memorable, and he’s carried over that momentum into his NHL draft season. 

The most obvious reason why Mbuyi should’ve been on Team CHL is that he leads all 2008-born NHL draft-eligible players in scoring from the OHL. Only J.P. Hurlbert from the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL has more points than Mbuyi in the entire CHL (not including Jaxon Jacobson, who is draft-eligible in 2027). 

DO NOT sleep on PIERCE MBUYI of the Owen Sound @AttackOHL who is 5th in scoring in the OHL!

He has 27 points in 19 games as a 2026 #NHLDraft eligible prospect! #Hockey

Check out this ROCKET🚀The goalie didn't even see it! pic.twitter.com/jhZA4NrO08

— NHL Draft Prospects (@NHLDraftPros) November 8, 2025

Mbuyi is tied for fifth in OHL scoring. He’s recorded 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points. Owen Sound’s top line of himself, Tristan Delisle, and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Harry Nansi has been a force this season, and Mbuyi has adopted a more advanced playmaking game, while also developing a pesty side to him. 

Mbuyi was given a disrespectful “C” grade by NHL Central Scouting (NHLCS) in their preliminary rankings for the 2026 draft. Yes, he’s undersized for the NHL, and there’s still plenty of work to be done in his defensive play and puck management, but the CHL USA Prospects Challenge is meant to showcase the most talented players coming out of the CHL. Mbuyi deserved to be on that list of players. 

Reigning OHL Rookie of the Year

As previously mentioned, Mbuyi had an incredible rookie season as a 16-year-old with the Attack. He set a franchise record for most points by a rookie with 52 points in 63 games, and was one goal shy of tying Colby Barlow’s record for most goals (finished with 29). 

Mbuyi’s season concluded with him receiving the OHL’s Emms Family Award for the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year.

The “C” grade he was given by NHLCS indicates that they view him as a potential fourth-to-fifth-round candidate. However, TSN’s Director of Scouting, and former NHL GM, Craig Button, had him ranked 21st in his November rankings. For reference, Button had nine players from the CHL above Mbuyi, four from the OHL (Chase Reid, Ethan Belchetz, Caleb Malhotra, Nikita Klepov).  

With the season Mbuyi is currently having and being the reigning OHL Rookie of the Year, well, that is just another clear reason why the Mississauga, Ontario, native should’ve been at the recent prospects showcase. 

Swing and a goal🤩

2026 #NHLDraft prospect Pierce Mbuyi batted in his own rebound on the breakaway en route to an @AttackOHL win, earning the @deltabingo_ Play of the Night! pic.twitter.com/aptgyHn1E2

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 22, 2025

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No matter how high the Islanders climb in the competitive Metropolitan Division race, they'll have to play the remainder of this season without one of their trusted veterans.

The team announced on Saturday that center Kyle Palmieri suffered a torn ACL in Friday's shootout loss to the Flyers at UBS Arena, and he's slated to undergo surgery with a recovery timeline of six to eight months.

Palmieri hurt his left knee early in the second period, when he collided with Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale and fell awkwardly along the corner boards. 

Impressively enough, the Islanders' alternate captain got up under his own power moments later and proceeded to steal the puck from Flyers blue-liner Emil Andrae in the offensive zone and deliver the assist on a goal for Emil Heineman.

Palmieri didn't participate in the goal celebration -- he immediately left the ice and walked gingerly down the tunnel with trainers.

The brutal injury snaps Palmieri's streak as one of hockey's most durable players, as he'd played 223 consecutive games across five-plus seasons with the Islanders.

In the middle of a two-year, $9.5 million extension signed this past spring, Palmieri logged 18 points (six goals and 12 assists) across 25 games this season. 

The Islanders (13-9-5) are currently tied for fourth place in the Metro standings with 29 points. They'll continue a lengthy seven-game homestand on Sunday against the Capitals.

Kyle Palmieri gets the takeaway and Emil Heineman scores his 10th goal of the season 👏 pic.twitter.com/lBDanfeXM4

— Islanders Videos (@SNY_Islanders) November 28, 2025

Nov 28, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with his teammates during the third period at United Center. David Banks-Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators swept their two-game Thanksgiving road trip with a 4-3 triumph in Chicago over the Blackhawks Friday at United Center.

Luke Evangelista, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly each had a goal and an assist, with O’Reilly lighting the lamp for what would eventually be the game-winner. He did the same in the Preds’ 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Wednesday night.

Evangelista picked up his 100th career NHL point with a goal that put Nashville in front 3-2.

Matthew Wood also got in the scoring column, and goalie Juuse Saros made 24 saves to pick up the win.

Prior to Friday’s game, the Preds recalled forward Reid Schaefer from Milwaukee. He recorded three hits and two blocked shots in 10:22 of ice time in his NHL debut against the Blackhawks.

On Saturday, the Preds come back to Bridgestone Arena for a rematch against the Winnipeg Jets, who handed them a 4-1 defeat Oct. 19 in Winnipeg. Nashville gave up three goals in the first period and couldn’t recover.

Saturday’s game is the second of three meetings between the two teams. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the matchup.

Game Day

Who: Nashville Predators (8-12-4) vs. Winnipeg Jets (12-11-0)

Where: Bridgestone Arena

When: 6 Pm CST

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game

Betting line (via BetMGM):

Jets

-1.5 (+185)

O 6 (-115)

-125

Predators

+1.5 (-225)

U 6 (-105)

+105

InjuryUpdate

Jonathan Marchessault did not play Friday against Chicago and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Cole Smith is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

Defensemen Justin Barron and Adam Wilsby were healthy scratches against the Blackhawks.

Preds Leaders

Ryan O’Reilly (8g-10a) has taken over the team lead in scoring with 18 points, followed by Filip Forsberg (9g-8a) with 17 points. Evangelista (3g-12a) has 15 points, while Michael Bunting (5g-8a) and Erik Haula (4g-9a) each have 13 points. Wood is third on the team in goals with seven.

Following the win in Chicago on Friday, Saros is now 7-9-3 on the season with a 3.08 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. Justus Annunen collected his first win of the campaign on Wednesday in Detroit and is 1-3-1, 3.89, .850.

Nashville is 12-for-74 (16.2%), 23rd overall, on the man advantage. They rank 16th on the penalty kill at 80.3% (14-of-71).

Head To Head

Nashville is 4-5-1 in their last 10 outings against the Jets but have a 3-0-2 record in their last five contests against them at Bridgestone Arena.

Preds On A Roll

After getting an assist against the Blackhawks, Nick Blankenburg extended his point streak to three games (2g-2a) and reached the double digit point mark for the third time in his career.

Evangelista has scored five points over his last three contests.

With his multi-point night in Chicago, Ryan O’Reilly collected five points on the road trip (2g-3a) and leads all Nashville skaters in points.

In his last 12 games against the Jets, Steven Stamkos has nine points (4g-5a).

Scouting The Jets

Winnipeg is in a bit of a tailspin, having lost each of their last four outings. They’ve given up 16 combined goals over that span.

The Jets began their back-to-back set with a 5-1 loss in Carolina against the Hurricanes Friday night. After Winnipeg tied the score 1-1 when Mark Scheifele took advantage of a turnover, the Canes responded with four unanswered goals to put the game out of reach.

Scheifele leads the Jets with 13 goals and 30 points, followed by Kyle Connor with 11 goals and 28 points. Josh Morrissey has 18 assists and 23 points from the backend.

Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is out due to injury; netminder Thomas Milic made his NHL debut Friday night in Carolina and took the loss. Eric Comrie is 4-4-0 with a 3.02 GAA and .897 SP.

The Jets are 6-6-0 on the road this season. Scheifele leads the team with seven goals away from home ice, Kyle Connor leads with 10 assists, and Connor paces the club with 13 points in the opposing arena.

Winnipeg is 17-for-71 )23.9%) on the power play this season, ranking them sixth. Gabriel Vilardi leads with four power-play goals, Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey are tied for the lead in power-play assists with six, and Connor, Vilardi, and Morrissey are each tied for the lead with six power-play points.

On the penalty kill, the Jets are 12-of-80 (85.0%), sixth overall in the NHL.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play the second half of a back-to-back against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside PPG Paints Arena on Saturday night. 

The Penguins are coming off a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, in which they rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period. Kris Letang won the game in overtime, giving the Penguins their second-straight win. Sidney Crosby also scored two goals, and Bryan Rust scored in his second-straight game. 

Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry had another stellar start, making 26 saves on 29 shots. He's 16th in the NHL among all goaltenders in goals saved above expected (7.7).

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Washington Capitals on Friday before they gave up four consecutive goals to lose 4-2. The Leafs have lost three of their last four games and find themselves in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference with a 10-11-3 record. 

Star forward William Nylander missed Friday's game with an illness and it's unclear if he will be better for Saturday's game. He has been the Leafs' best player this year, compiling 11 goals and 31 points in 20 games. 

The Penguins will likely start Arturs Silovs in this contest since Jarry played on Friday. Silovs has been great this season and will try to keep his strong play going. 

Here were the lines that the Penguins went with on Friday:

Forwards

Hayes-Crosby-Rust

Novak-Malkin-Mantha

Heinen-Kindel-Koivunen

Koppanen-Lizotte-Dewar

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Graves-Dumba

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Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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