Category: Ice Hockey

Well, there certainly wasn’t much to write home about in this one. 

In their first game since returning from the NHL Global Series, the Pittsburgh Penguins were beat down by a hot Minnesota Wild team, 5-0. Minnesota was 7-2-1 coming into the contest, and they buried the Penguins early with three first-period goals. 

After Kirill Kaprizov tipped a Jared Middleton shot for a fourth goal, Penguins’ goaltender Arturs Silovs was pulled in favor of Sergei Murashov, who stopped nine of 10 the rest of the way. 

Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson improved to 6-7-2 and earned the 19-save shutout.

Matt Boldy started things off pretty early on for Minnesota, as he was left all alone at the net-front and deked out Silovs for his 12th goal of the season at just 3:57. Joel Eriksson-Ek followed up with a power play goal midway through the first in the waning seconds of a Blake Lizotte double-minor for high-sticking, and Marcus Johansson scored the third goal for Minnesota just two minutes later on a wrister from the right circle.

Then, a little more than a minute into the second period, Jake Middleton floated a puck toward the net from the right point, and Kaprizov tipped it on the way in to make it 4-0. Boldy added his second of the game near the end of the second to secure the 5-0 win. 

So what went wrong in this one?

“Everything, honestly,” defenseman Ryan Shea said. “As a team, we were bad in the neutral zone. Turned a lot of pucks over in the neutral zone. I don’t know. They got a couple tip goals, pretty much goals off turnovers. So, we just gotta clean up all that, and it’s pretty frustrating.”

Final. pic.twitter.com/dnAQxojcUP

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 22, 2025

Truth be told, the Penguins looked like a team that had last played Sunday on another continent and were thrown back into the fire to face one of the league’s hottest teams. Of course, those aren’t excuses, but it’s safe to say that the Penguins’ situation probably didn’t help matters going into this one. 

Still, one saving grace is that they will get right back to work against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, which sometimes helps to flush a bad loss like this out of the system. 

“I think it’s huge because in less than 24 hours, we get the chance to go at it again," Shea said. "I know, for me, it’s definitely a positive because you can actually go to sleep knowing that you gotta bring your best game tomorrow. That’s what we’re going to do, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Takeaways: Penguins Put Together Strong Response Game, Take Home 3 Of 4 Points In NHL Global SeriesThe Pittsburgh Penguins secured three out of four possible points at this weekend's NHL Global Series against the Nashville Predators - it couldn't have come at a better time.

Here are a few thoughts and takeaways from this one:

- I don’t think it was for a lack of effort. I am not going to question this team on that because they have done nothing to indicate they’ve been at all checked out this season. 

But, man, they had absolutely nothing Friday.

I do believe there’s a difference between “lack of effort” and it simply not being your day. This certainly wasn’t the Penguins’ day. 

And - again - the best way to wash games like this out of your system is to get right back on the ice the next day. The Penguins will have a chance to redeem themselves Saturday when they face the Kraken, and - at the very least - I expect a much, much better start to Saturday’s game. 

- This was not a good showing for the Penguins’ first line or for the Shea-Kris Letang pairing. 

I’ll start with the Penguins' second defensive pairing, which was on the ice for all five goals against. They were just brutal in this game, and as of late, they’ve been guilty of quite a lot of turnovers and missed defensive assignments. 

By Shea’s own admission, they need to be better.

“I don’t know what it was, it was just not really clicking with our execution,” Shea said. “And we got burned for it. Me and Tanger, we definitely got burned for it, and it’s pretty frustrating coming off a good last game in Sweden. For us to win, I think I got to be better in that case. 

“It’s pretty frustrating, and just lucky that I didn’t break every stick that I have after a game like that.”

Penguins Have Found Their Ideal Fourth-Liner In Connor DewarPittsburgh Penguins forward Connor Dewar has been outstanding this season.

Well, that’s quite a quote from Shea. And I will take his word for it that they’ll come back better Saturday.

As for the first line? Unfortunately, this is becoming a bit too regular of an occurrence. They were on the ice for three goals against, and Boldy’s goal was a result of missed coverage by Crosby and Rust. Crosby needed to take away the slot there, and Rust needed to stay on his man, Boldy.

It’s worth noting that Crosby was a career-worst minus-20 last season, and Rust was a career-worst minus-21. They’re even and minus-2, respectively, so far this season.

I don’t normally read into plus-minus. But you just don’t typically see numbers that drastic from a top forward line, especially one that puts up as many points as Crosby’s. 

Simply put, they need to find a way to be better in their own zone. I think having a responsible two-way player like Rickard Rakell or Filip Hallander would serve them well. Oh wait, they’re injured. Rutger McGroarty would suffice as well, but he literally just returned from injury in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS).

Dewar is fine for now, but he doesn’t provide enough offensive punch to be a solution. 

For Pittsburgh Penguins' Olympic Goaltender Artūrs Šilovs, No Stage Is Too BigPittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs - acquired from the Vancouver Canucks over the summer - has proven he can perform when the stakes are highest and will get another chance with Team Latvia at the 2026 Olympic Games.

- This was a tough one to assess for goaltending simply because the Penguins played so poorly in their own zone. 

But Silovs was certainly not sharp. 

Not much he can do on a ridiculous deke move by Boldy, although a poke check may have worked. The third goal wasn’t the best. And I didn’t like the fourth goal despite it being tipped. Kaprizov tipped it in the high slot, and it was coming in slow enough that Silovs, perhaps, could have gotten a better read on it. 

Murashov was fine after taking over. There’s absolutely nothing he could have done on Boldy’s second goal, which was another deflection right at the net-front as a result of blown defensive coverage. 

Murashov will probably get the net Saturday. We’ll see how he responds. 

- I don’t think Ben Kindel has looked quite the same ever since getting bumped up to play alongside Crosby for a few games. He’s played the last two as the third-line center again, but he’s still been relatively quiet.

Something to keep in mind with young players - especially teenagers - is that there are going to be highs and lows unless you’re at a Crosby kind of level. I don’t think he’s been at his best for the last handful of games, but that’s not an indictment on him. 

The Penguins have said that they have Kindel and Harrison Brunicke on development plans. I know it’s not ideal to sit Kindel with the plethora of injuries the Penguins currently have, but I don’t think it’s the worst idea to give him a rest day during one of their upcoming games. 

With Philip Tomasino clearing waivers, they have the ability to option him to WBS and call up someone else in Kindel’s place, even for a day. I know the team just had a pretty lengthy break between games, but I’d say consider it.

'We Always Want Him To Know What The Plan Is': Dubas Provides Update On Brunicke SituationPittsburgh Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas elaborates on the plan for 19-year-old defenseman Harrison Brunicke, who is now eligible for an AHL conditioning loan.

- I’ve said it before, but it’s worth saying again: I’m not sure how long the Penguins can sustain with the injuries they currently have. 

Their offense has largely dried up, which tends to happen when two top-six forwards in Rakell and Justin Brazeau are out of the lineup. They don’t have enough scoring depth to attempt replacing those guys in any meaningful way. It also doesn’t help that their AHL team has been dealing with its fair share of injuries, too.

This team needs to find a way to tread water until they start getting a bit healthier. This is certainly the stretch for them to do it, as they mostly face teams not currently in playoff position.

At the end of the day - in stretches like this - they need their big guys to step up in big ways. In the last five games, Crosby, Rust, Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha, Erik Karlsson, and Letang have combined for just four goals and 10 points. 

As the top-six sources of offense in your lineup right now? That’s not nearly good enough. They have to start generating more and finding the back of the net, or this could be a rough stretch until Rakell and Brazeau return.

Penguins Notebook: Injured Players Skate, Vibes High To Close Out PracticeAfter an optional practice Tuesday, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> took to the ice Wednesday for a longer session that included everyone.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!     

On Thursday night, the Chicago Blackhawks had a tough loss to the Seattle Kraken. They allowed a two-goal lead to slip away in regulation and came away with nothing. 

They were allowed to let it go quickly, with the second half of a back-to-back against the Buffalo Sabres. This was Chicago's first back-to-back of the season as they traveled upstate to New York to take on the team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference. 

Buffalo, despite their spot in the standings, has a ton of talent. It was on full display in this game as they ran the Hawks out of town with a 9-3 demolition. 

Tyler Bertuzzi, who was playing in his 100th game as a Blackhawk, scored twice, and Alex Vlasic scored the third goal for Chicago. Connor Bedard assisted on both of Bertuzzi's goals, giving him 31 points on the season, which is tied with Macklin Celebrini for third in league scoring. 

Bedard and Bertuzzi, and their linemate Ryan Greene (who had an assist as well) all played well in this bad loss. Outside of them, it was a mostly lousy game for Chicago, as indicated by the 9-3 final score in favor of Buffalo. 

Arvid Soderblom was in the net for the Blackhawks, and he stayed in for all nine goals against. He has been a fantastic backup so far this season, but this wasn't his night. With that said, most of Buffalo's goals were not Soderblom's total fault. The team did not play well in front of him. 

Jeff Blashill chose to avoid pulling Soderblom, but Spencer Knight is now going to be completely fresh for the next game, which will take place on Sunday night. 

Some nights just don't go well in the NHL. Every team has five or six really bad games. This is one for the Blackhawks. Chicago lost every period 3-1, was outplayed in every area of the ice, and couldn't keep the Sabres from answering every time they scored. 

Watch Every Blackhawks Goal

a goal in his 100th game as a Hawk✅ pic.twitter.com/YyOL3ObmLD

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 22, 2025

right on target🎯 pic.twitter.com/Bc1PELJ2um

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 22, 2025

teamwork🤝 pic.twitter.com/JtpV0SVeA2

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 22, 2025

Up Next For Chicago

This is the type of loss that you learn from, throw in the garbage, and move on quickly. The thing is, Chicago will be going from the bottom team in the East to the top team in the West. The Colorado Avalanche are going to be at the United Center for Sunday night hockey. This is, up to this point, the biggest test of the season for this young Blackhawks team coming off two straight regulation losses. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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.

Former Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel has had a strong start to the 2025-26 season with the Golden Knights, and that is only continuing to be the case as the campaign rolls on. 

During his most recent appearance on Nov. 20 against the Utah Mammoth, Eichel scored two goals and recorded an assist in the Vegas Golden Knights' 4-1 win over the Central Division. With this, Eichel was certainly a notable reason for the Golden Knights' victory over Utah in this contest. 

With this latest big game for the Golden Knights, Eichel has now recorded 10 goals, 17 assists, 27 points, and a plus-7 rating in 20 contests this season. With this, there is no question that the former Sabre is having a very good start to the campaign with the Golden Knights. This comes after he posted 28 goals and set new career highs with 66 assists and 94 points in 77 games for Vegas in 2024-25. 

In 375 games over six seasons with the Sabres from 2015-16 to 2020-21, Eichel recorded 139 goals and 355 points. 

Apr 4, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; A hockey fights cancer ambassador holds the puck during the ceremonial puck drop with Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) and St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) before the game at Bridgestone Arena. Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Amid the noise of on-ice struggles and rumors of roster changes involving the Nashville Predators, a battle of a completely different nature is taking place every day, all over the world: the fight against cancer.

Each season, the NHL and its teams hosts a Hockey Fights Cancer night – typically in November – to raise awareness and funds for their local cancer community.

Now in its 27th season, Hockey Fights Cancer unites the global hockey community through storytelling and meaningful events to fundraise for cancer research, to educate and empower more fans to learn about cancer risk factors and to take action to get screened for certain cancers.

The Nashville Predators Foundation will host its first of two Hockey Fights Cancer nights this season on Saturday, when the Preds take on the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena at 7 Pm CT.

The Foundation is looking to build off the support seen during its Hockey Fights Cancer efforts last season, which raised $229,365.25 for the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund.

“We are excited to host our first Hockey Fights Cancer Night of the 2025-26 season,” Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King said in a news release. “These nights are incredibly impactful for our organization as we use our platform to support cancer patients and their families. We are asking SMASHVILLE to join us in the fight against cancer through bidding in our silent auction or donating directly to the 365 Fund. Every dollar we raise goes straight to pediatric cancer research at Vanderbilt."

The Predators organization has had cancer affect members of its family over the past several years. Last July, Erin Daunic, wife of current Preds play-by-play television voice Willy Daunic, passed away at 54 from the illness. Lexi Rogers, the daughter of the team’s equipment manager Pete Rogers, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. Sheila Crisp, wife of former broadcaster Terry Crisp, was also diagnosed several years earlier. Equipment manager Craig “Partner” Baugh is a prostate cancer survivor.

Since its inception during the 2013-14 season, the 365 Fund, created by former Predators legends Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber, has raised over $4 million in donations and in-kind contributions to advance pediatric cancer research efforts at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Saturday night’s game will feature six patient ambassadors from Monroe Carell who will take part in various in-game activities including: High-fiving the team as they take the ice for warm-ups; meeting with the game’s referees pre-game as part of the NHL Officials Association’s Zebras Care initiative; joining the team on-ice for the starting lineup and national anthem; participating in a ceremonial puck drop; riding the Zambonis; and welcoming the team back to the ice for the second period as the Mayor of SMASHVILLE.

During practice this past Wednesday, Preds goalie Juuse Saros wore a custom mask honoring the four in the Preds family affected by cancer. Saros will wear the mask on Saturday.

Bigger than sports 💜

Juice debuts an extra-special Hockey Fights Cancer mask, honoring four members of our organization affected by cancer:

Craig “Partner” Baugh
Sheila Crisp
Lexi Rogers
Erin Daunic pic.twitter.com/BIuSM59bb8

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) November 19, 2025

“A lot of people are involved, unfortunately, with cancer within the last couple years,” Saros said Wednesday. “I thought I would honor all those people by fighting against it.”

Fans can bid on the mask in the Preds Foundation’s Hockey Fights Cancer auction by texting PREDS to 76278. The auction will close at the start of the third period of Saturday's game. Vaughn Hockey donated the mask, and David Gunnarsson of DaveArt donated the paint job.

To help make a bigger difference, the Preds Foundation is calling on SMASHVILLE to support Hockey Fights Cancer, the 365 Fund and the imperative cancer research taking place at Monroe Carell. There are a number of ways fans can get involved: wearing lavender to Saturday’s game; bid on silent auction items; and donate to the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund.

The goal is to raise $36,500 through these donations.

"We are so very grateful for the long-standing support of the Nashville Predators and the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund that spans well over a decade and that truly has made a difference in the lives of children and their families," Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, said in a statement. "Each season, we look forward to the Hockey Fights Cancer games that highlight our partnership with the Nashville Predators, raise support for childhood cancer efforts and also celebrate our pediatric cancer patients. I absolutely love to see the joy and hope that the Nashville Predators and Hockey Fights Cancer bring to our patients and families during these events."

Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint initiative of the NHL and NHL Players’ Association and powered by the V Foundation for Cancer Research presented by AstraZeneca.

The Predators’ second Hockey Fights Cancer Night will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, during their game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bernie Parent's love for people and Flyers comes through in celebration of life originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

As Scott Tharp watched all the miffed drivers whiz by Bernie Parent on the highway, he, of course, saw the legendary goaltender remain unfazed.

Parent was driving Tharp and others home from a 2018 outdoor game in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was going a cool 45 miles per hour in the left lane. Once he finally budged and moved his way to the right lane, some cars let him have it.

“Bernie rolled down his window and took both hands off the wheel to put his Stanley Cup rings out the window,” Tharp said. “And then turned to those of us in the car and said, ‘How about that? They’re cheering for me!'”

You could not bring down Parent’s zest for life and happiness.

“Bernie only ever saw good in others,” Tharp, the president and CEO of Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education, said.

That was abundantly evident Friday night as the Flyers held a celebration of life for Parent, who died Sept. 21 at the age of 80. His wife, fans and former teammates sat in the lower bowl at Xfinity Mobile Arena, remembering the fun-loving, dominant goalie who led the Flyers to their back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 1974 and 1975.

“Bernie was a titan of our franchise,” Dan Hilferty, the Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO and Flyers governor, said. “For many, he is the quintessential Philadelphia Flyer. You cannot tell the story of the Flyers without talking at length about Bernie Parent.”

Video tributes and pictures were played on the arena’s giant scoreboard, which was flanked by Parent’s retired No. 1 and the Flyers’ Stanley Cup champion banners.

The Hockey Hall of Famer won the Vezina Trophy twice as the NHL’s top goalie and the Conn Smythe Trophy twice as the league’s postseason MVP.

“When you win two Stanley Cups, it takes the best that everybody on that team can give,” Bob Clarke, a fellow franchise legend, said. “It just so happened that Bernie’s best was better than the rest of our best and we got two Stanley Cups because of Bernie.”

Well before he became the NHL’s deputy commissioner, Bill Daly remembered when Parent crushed his childhood dream of the Rangers hoisting the Stanley Cup. The Flyers knocked out New York en route to their first championship.

“Bernie contributed to breaking the heart of a 10-year-old boy in 1974,” Daly said. “Yes, that would be me. Yes, I was raised as a die-hard New York Rangers fan growing up in North Jersey.”

Fans in attendance gave Daly some good-natured boos.

“Passionately committed to the team despite years and years of postseason failure, 1974 was supposed to be a different year for the Rangers, finally an opportunity to win a Stanley Cup,” Daly said. “But Bernie and the Flyers had different ideas.”

Parent was not just a fearless goalie who donned that iconic white mask. He was also a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

“I’m so lucky and blessed that I was able to be his daughter, his only daughter,” Kim Parent said in a video message. “Like, how lucky am I? I am so grateful. The bond that we shared was something that means the world to me.”

The Montreal native became devoted to the Philadelphia area, making it his home.

“You were such a huge part of his life,” his wife Gini Parent said. “Bernie didn’t just play for the Flyers; he played for you, the fans.”

Parent was a true ambassador for the Flyers’ organization and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education program. He was always happy to see fans and take pictures.

“I can remember numerous occasions where he had his Stanley Cup rings, he would share them, you’d look over and there’s a couple of kids wearing his rings,” Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones said in a video message. “I think that’s something fans really appreciated, but I think we all can learn from, because he took the time to make sure he shared his success with everybody else.”

Joe Watson probably could have shared Parent stories all night and into the morning. He had known Parent since 1963, before their title-winning days with the Flyers. He called it “an honor and a privilege” to be Parent’s teammate.

“I know Bernie’s up there laughing and smiling and everything else,” Watson, who fought back tears, said. “He’d love to be down here. But I look forward to seeing you again my friend.”

The NHL’s 2025-26 season has reached the quarter mark, and the playoff race is already intense.

It’s a great time to look at which teams are surprisingly in a playoff spot heading into Friday's games. Here are five of them in alphabetical order. 

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks were believed to be a team on the rise, but few believed they were going to rise to the top of the Pacific Division or even near it.

But after 21 games, Anaheim has a 13-7-1 record, including a 7-2-1 home mark. They've played one more game than the Vegas Golden Knights, but with a one-point lead, Anaheim is first in the Pacific. That’s a huge positive surprise for a franchise that has been one of the league’s worst for many years now.

The Ducks have been thriving in no small part due to their high-octane offense, which sits third in the NHL with 3.57 goals-for per game. Leo Carlsson is tied for fifth in NHL scoring, with 28 points, and Cutter Gauthier, Troy Terry and the injured Mikael Granlund are also averaging at least a point per game.

Anaheim’s defense needs work, but this is a young Ducks team that is still learning how to compete at both ends of the ice. When they get to that point, Anaheim is going to be one of the NHL’s most dangerous squads.

BetMGM's odds of Anaheim making the playoffs: 1.53 (-189)

Chicago Blackhawks

Like the Ducks, the Blackhawks have been stuck in the unfortunate part of the competitive cycle. But thanks to young stars, such as centers Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, Chicago has put together a 10-6-4 record, good for fourth place in the Central Division and a wild-card spot entering Friday's action.

Bedard has 29 points in 20 games, and goaltender Spencer Knight has been exceptional, with a .922 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average. He leads all NHL netminders in goals saved above expected, with 14.2, according to moneypuck.com.

The Hawks still need time to flesh out their roster, which isn’t deep enough for this team to be considered a legitimate Cup threat. But for the first time since the Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews Era, the Hawks aren't an easy out.

BetMGM's odds of Chicago making the playoffs: 5.75 (+475)

New York Islanders

Coming off a season in which they finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, the Islanders looked like they needed a rebuild more than anything. Now, they're looking like a retool could suffice.

The Isles have been a competitive group, with a 12-7-2 record and a 7-2-1 mark in their last 10 games. That’s put them into third place in the Metropolitan Division – a lofty place few thought they’d be.

With 2025 No. 1 draft pick Matthew Schaefer as a foundational talent, the Islanders have been blessed by the hockey gods. But Bo Horvat has been outstanding, with 14 goals and 25 points in 21 games. Their second-leading scorers are Kyle Palmieri and Mathew Barzal, with 16 points. And off-season acquisitions Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin have 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Goaltender Ilya Sorokin had a rough start to the season. But after the team switched goalie coaches on Oct. 22, he's had a 5-2-2 record, .924 SP and 2.07 GAA.

The Islanders are still likely to need more time and talent to grow into a top team in the league, but they are feisty and intent on demonstrating the road back to relevancy will be fast-tracked.

BetMGM's odds of the Islanders making the playoffs: 2.15 (+115)

Pittsburgh Penguins

Few, if any, pundits had the Penguins as anything other than an also-ran team this season.

Instead, the Pens have been in a playoff spot right out of the gate, holding the first wild-card spot in the East on Friday. While they’ve cooled off of late, going 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, Pittsburgh has played well enough to quieten trade rumors involving stars Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.

The Penguins’ defense – second-best in the league at 2.47 goals against per game – is their biggest surprise. Last year, they ranked 29th in that category. Goaltender Tristan Jarry has bounced back, although he's currently injured, and trade acquisition Arturs Silovs has a .917 SP and 2.44 GAA.

While there may be some regression ahead for Pittsburgh in the days and weeks ahead, the Pens’ strong start means their fans may get to enjoy one more playoff run with Crosby, Malkin and Letang.

BetMGM's odds of Pittsburgh making the playoffs: 3.40 (+240)

Five Most Intriguing NHL Odds To Make Or Miss The PlayoffsBurning questions surround five NHL teams with playoff odds that are worth a closer look.

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken took a step backward last season, finishing 13th in the Western Conference with a 35-41-6 record. But after making a few roster tweaks – and after hiring Lane Lambert to be their coach – Seattle has surged up the standings, posting a 10-5-5 record to sit in third place in the Pacific.

They're scoring by committee, with eight players posting at least 10 points. And the Kraken have the league’s sixth-best defense at 2.70 goals against per game.

They’re going to need more time to stock their roster with high-end talent, but Seattle’s start ensures that they’re likely to stay in the playoff race all season long.

BetMGM's odds of Chicago making the playoffs: 3.40 (+240)

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.

After extending their losing streak to five games following their 8-4 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Montreal Canadiens have made a notable roster move. 

The Canadiens have announced that they have recalled forward Florian Xhekaj from their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. In addition, the Canadiens announced that forward Joshua Roy will remain on the NHL roster, after initially stating that he was heading back to Laval. 

Xhekaj is a prospect who many fans have been wanting to see get his first chance on the Canadiens' roster, and it is now coming to fruition. The 6-foot-4 forward has appeared in 16 games this season with Laval, where he has recorded two goals, four points, and 44 penalty minutes. This is after he recorded 24 goals, 35 points, and 175 penalty minutes in 69 games this past season with Laval.

With Xhekaj being called up, the Canadiens will be adding more bite and toughness to their lineup.

Erratum : Les Canadiens ont rappelé l’attaquant Florian Xhekaj du Rocket de Laval. Joshua Roy demeure avec les Canadiens.

Erratum: The Canadiens have recalled Florian Xhekaj from the Laval Rocket. Joshua Roy remains with the Canadiens. pic.twitter.com/TaieDtFBif

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 21, 2025

As for Roy, he has recorded zero points, two shots, and an even plus/minus rating in three games this season with the Canadiens. Down in the AHL with Laval this season, he has posted four goals, seven points, and a plus-4 rating in 10 contests. 

The Ottawa Senators reportedly made a roster move on Friday. According to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, the Senators have placed 26-year-old Swedish winger Olle Lycksell on waivers for the purpose of reassignment. Lycksell was recently placed on injured reserve with a concussion, but now he's apparently ready to return, and if he clears, he's likely headed back to Belleville for the second time this season.

Lycksell cleared waivers coming out of training camp but made Ottawa's roster to open the season. The Sens sent him to Belleville 12 days later (Oct. 17), but brought him back on Oct 21. He's played just six games in Ottawa this season, scoring one goal, and two games in Belleville, where he's been held pointless.

In 51 career NHL games with the Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, Lycksell has tallied two goals and 10 assists. But he's been an elite AHL player the past three seasons, putting up 128 points in 136 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. That intrigued the Senators enough to sign him to a one-year two-way contract on July 1.

With Lycksell ready to play, the Senators had the option on Friday of sending Stephan Halliday back down, a forward who's waivers-exempt. But after his nice NHL debut on Thursday night in Anaheim, including a fine setup on Shane Pinto's tying goal, it appears the Sens are keen to book a little more Halliday time until either Ridly Greig or Brady Tkachuk is ready to return.

On that note, Tkachuk hopes to return (and come off IR) within the week. Greig is said to be day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, but with Senators' head coach Travis Green being so consistently cloak-and-dagger with his roster and/or injury information, who knows?

If he clears waivers, Lycksell is expected to immediately join the AHL's Belleville Senators. The B-Sens are in Laval this weekend, where they play on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

NHL Insider Says Senators Are 'Looking To Hit A Home Run' On The Trade Market
Former Senators Defenseman Returns To Ottawa In Monday Trade With Philadelphia
Arthur Kaliyev Heating Up, Now Third In AHL Goal Scoring
Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions In Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)
Four More Years: Shane Pinto Signs Four-Year Extension

Things are not going well for the Calgary Flames so far this season.

The Flames are at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 6-13-3 record and 15 points. This is after they just missed out on the playoffs last season, finishing the year with a 41-27-14 record and 96 points. They even had more points than the New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens, which made the playoffs in the East.

A crucial part of Calgary's success last year was the play of rookie Dustin Wolf. He started the season splitting the starts with then-backup Dan Vladar, then gradually got more assignments as he played exceptionally well for a rookie netminder. He finished as a finalist in the Calder Trophy race.

Now, Wolf has had some ups and downs this season as he's taken on more responsibility, with an .892 save percentage, 3.08 goals-against average and one shutout.

But while the Flames are struggling immensely early on, another goaltender – Devin Cooley – has been a big bright spot for them.

Oh Devin Cooley. Never ever change. pic.twitter.com/nbzzkmKlcI

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 20, 2025

After spending all of last season in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers, Cooley beat out free-agent signing Ivan Prosvetov for the Flames' backup job out of training camp. And he quickly dismissed questions about whether Calgary needed a proven NHL veteran to give Wolf the type of backup support that Vladar gave.

In fact, Cooley's been excellent.

While he has a 1-2-1 record, he leads all NHL goaltenders who have played six or more games with a .935 save percentage and a 1.80 goals-against average. He also has six goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com.

With numbers like these, there is no question that Cooley is playing some very strong hockey right now. He is also showing no signs of slowing down as the season continues, either. In his most recent appearance against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 19, he stopped 28 out of 30 shots, which equates to a .933 save percentage. 

Cooley has also shown great consistency early on, as he has had a .921 save percentage or better in five out of his six appearances this season with the Flames.

When noting that the 28-year-old Cooley had only six games of NHL experience before this season, which were all with the San Jose Sharks in 2023-24, him playing this well with the Flames is undoubtedly impressive. It will be interesting to see if the Los Gatos, California, native can continue to stay hot for the Flames, but he has been a fun story early on in 2025-26. 

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A quarter of the way into the NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves in unfamiliar but welcome territory: sitting atop the Atlantic Division with a winning record, a wave of rookies making meaningful strides, and milestone moments piling up faster than they have in over a decade. It has been, by nearly every measure, a season to remember.

But amid the glowing storylines and energized fan base, a handful of concerns continue to simmer beneath the surface. At the center of the quiet discontent is a respected veteran who has long been considered part of the team’s leadership core in forward Andrew Copp.

Copp, 31, entered the season looking for a rebound year as his production has dropped every season since his first with the Red Wings when he recorded nine goals and 33 assists for 42 points. He's continued to be a two-way player with a stabilizing presence in the locker room and a key contributor on special teams. Yet his offensive production has again dipped, this time to an alarming level. 

Through 21 games, Copp has recorded just one goal, an empty-net tally, and seven assists for eight points. He is currently on pace for just four goals, which would mark the lowest total of his NHL career, while his projected 30 points would fall fairly in line with his last two seasons but remains well short of expectations for a player carrying a $5.625 million cap hit.

With Detroit fans growing increasingly vocal about their frustrations with general manager Steve Yzerman and several of his personnel decisions, Copp has become one of the most heavily scrutinized names. Certainly not because of his character, as he remains one of the most beloved players in the dressing room and has even worn the "A" at times with the organization, but because of what his contract means for a team trying to take the next step.

Complicating matters even worse is Copp has a modified 10-team no-trade clause, which limits Detroit’s flexibility. Even if the Red Wings wanted to move him, the combination of his cap hit, declining scoring touch and lack of trade candidates would make any deal difficult to execute.

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Yet Detroit’s coaching staff continues to lean on Copp in critical moments, largely because of his role on the top penalty-kill unit. Though now skating on the fourth line, he still averages over 14 minutes per game because of his work on Detroit's penalty kill, that has transformed the unit for from the worst in the NHL last season to a respectable 13th overall this year. 

Still, internal pressure is on the horizon as the Red Wings are continuing to get surging young talent pushing upward from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, with several prospects eager for NHL minutes. Among them is Carter Mazur, who was nearing an NHL look before suffering an injury. Once healthy, Mazur could force Detroit’s hand, or at least apply the pressure necessary to spark improvement from Copp.

What a slick little pass from Emmitt Finnie to Carter Mazur! pic.twitter.com/IErr5a1Fti

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 23, 2025

League insiders suggest the Red Wings have quietly explored their options regarding Copp, though no imminent move appears realistic. With the salary cap expected to rise next season, Copp’s contract may feel less burdensome over time but for now, Detroit is likely tied to him for the next two years.

For a team finally emerging from its rebuild, the Copp conundrum is less a crisis and more a stubborn complication. The Red Wings know what he brings as a leader, penalty killer, and steadying on-ice presence. They also know they are not getting the level of offensive production they are paying for and will continue to nag at fans until things turn around. Until then, the Red Wings may simply have to make the best of the situation, trusting that Copp’s intangible value and the rising cap environment will ease the sting over time.

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During the 2025 NHL off-season, the Montreal Canadiens acquired forward Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux. This was after Bolduc had a solid breakout year for the Blues in 2024-25, posting new career highs with 19 goals, 17 assists, and 36 points in 72 games. 

Bolduc started off his Canadiens tenure on fire, recording three goals and four points in his first three games. However, since then, he has only posted one goal and two assists over his last 17 games. This included him going without in nine straight games from Oct. 28 to Nov. 17. 

Bolduc broke his pointless streak in the Canadiens' most recent matchup against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 20, as he recorded an assist on Nick Suzuki's second-period goal. Now, the Canadiens will be hoping that Bolduc can build off this and get his offense going again. 

If Bolduc can regain his early-season form, it would be big news for a Canadiens club that is dealing with serious injury trouble right now. It will be interesting to see if he will heat back up for the Canadiens from here. 

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Winnipeg Jets have granted top prospect Brad Lambert permission to seek a trade. 

With the Chicago Blackhawks being a team on the rise and Lambert being a young forward with high potential, should the Original six club consider pursuing him? 

Lambert has shown signs of promise early on during his career at the American Hockey League (AHL). His top season was in 2023-24 with the Manitoba Moose, as he posted 21 goals, 34 assists, and 55 points in 64 games. However, he did see his offensive numbers drop this past season with Manitoba, as he finished the year with 35 points in 61 games. 

Lambert also showed off his offensive talent during the 2022-23 season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds, as he recorded 17 goals and 38 points in 26 regular-season games. He also had six goals and 26 points in 17 playoff games for the Thunderbirds that year. 

Lambert is still looking to cement himself as a full-time NHL player, but he has played in some games for the Jets. In 10 games over three games with Winnipeg, he has recorded one goal and three points. However, with the Jets having such a deep forward group and being in win-now mode, Lambert has had trouble landing a permanent role with them. 

While this is the case, there is no question that Lambert still has the potential to become a top-six forward due to his skill. With this, he could be a very interesting player for a young team like the Blackhawks to take a chance on. At 21 years old, he could be a long-term option for the Blackhawks if he took that next step, which also adds to his appeal. 

According to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, the Ottawa Senators have placed former Philadelphia Flyers forward Olle Lycksell on waivers. 

Lycksell joined the Senators this off-season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Atlantic Division club in free agency. He has played in six games this season with Ottawa, where he has recorded one goal, two hits, three blocks, and a minus-2 rating.

However, Lycksell has not played for the Senators since their Nov. 8 contest against the Flyers, as he was in concussion protocol. 

With Lycksell being placed on waivers, this indicates that the former Flyer is ready to return to action. If he clears waivers, the Senators will then be able to assign him to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Belleville Senators. 

Lycksell was selected by the Flyers with the 168th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In 45 games with the Flyers over three seasons from 2022-23 to 2024-25, he posted one goal, 10 assists, 11 points, and a minus-6 rating. He also had 52 goals, 76 assists, and 128 points in 134 games with the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.