Category: NHL

The St. Louis Blues have condemned what they called an antisemitic protest during a game last week at Enterprise Center.

Blues chairman and governor Tom Stillman says arena staff and law enforcement removed activists who displayed anti-Israel banners during Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Activists displayed banners, including one reading “Israel Kills” with a crossed-out Star of David surrounded by red markings resembling blood. The banners appeared in at least two locations: rinkside seats and a private box overlooking Sections 111 and 112.

Other signs displayed from the private box read “Free America From Israel” and featured images of the Statue of Liberty.

On Monday, the Blues released a statement from chairman Stillman on X.

“The St. Louis Blues organization — and I personally — condemn antisemitic rhetoric in all forms,” said Stillman. “The vile messages of hate briefly displayed at our game last Thursday were unfortunate and unforgivable, and not remotely representative of our fans or our hometown. Our arena staff and local law enforcement responded immediately to confiscate the prohibited banners and eject the offending individuals. Antisemitism has no place in our community, and we will never allow it in our building.”

The Blues remain on home ice for the next two games, concluding their five-game homestand against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, Oct. 29.

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues have condemned what they called an antisemitic protest during a game last week at Enterprise Center.

Signs that read “Israel Kills” and “Free America from Israel” were held by fans in the stands Thursday when the Blues played the Vegas Golden Knights.

In a statement on Monday, Blues owner Tom Stillman called the signs “vile messages of hate” that were “unfortunate and unforgivable.”

Stillman said the fans who held the banners were ejected from the arena.

The 2026 Freedom Convoy, which said it was responsible for the protest, disagreed with Stillman's characterization of the signs.

“Criticizing Israel is in no way, shape or form antisemitic,” the group said in a statement.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

CALGARY — John Chayka offered strong support for head coach Jim Hiller’s management of 18-year-old forward Gavin McKenna’s ice time while also raving about the early-season contributions of Easton Cowan.

Speaking at the club’s morning skate ahead of their game against the Calgary Flames on Monday, Chayka addressed the Leafs’ handling of McKenna, who has seen reduced minutes in certain late-game situations as the coaching staff prioritizes defensive reliability when protecting leads. Chayka described the approach as healthy development rather than a setback.

“I know Jim and the coaching staff loves working with him. I think he’s gotten better pretty much every game. There’s been ups and downs like any player, but a lot of good trends. I think when it comes to protecting a lead, you know, as a coaching staff, trying to win hockey games at the NHL level. And, you know, for all of Gavin’s offensive gifts, again, coming into the league, playing without the puck, when you’re used to having the puck your whole life,  you’d probably guess there’s players on the roster that they get paid to play better defensively.

"For a coaching staff, being on those players more heavily probably makes logical sense. But, you know, as we work through the development process with Gavin, and that’s what it is, I have no doubt that, you know, his time will come, and he’ll continue to build up trust and confidence with the coaches, and I think that’s all really healthy, actually. I think it’s actually the right thing for his development, and candidly, I thought Jim handled it well and continues to build a relationship with Gavin, and I think it’s going to be a really good relationship over a long period of time.”

Hiller came under fire from fans and media when McKenna was benched for half of the second period and the entire third period and overtime of a 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 15 where he logged a career-low 6:36.

During Toronto’s current four-game winning streak, McKenna’s ice time has hovered around the 11-minute mark.

Turning to Cowan, Chayka said the young forward has exceeded early expectations and brings the type of complete game the organization values.

“It’s tough to say he hasn’t exceeded expectations. At the same time, he’s a good player. He’s a really good player that impacts the game a lot of different ways. And, yeah, he’s been great. And any time you get young players like that, progressing like that, it gives you a shot in the arm. We saw a lot of these flashes at the American League level. To do what he did at that age was pretty special. But then to go elevate at this level, it’s been nice — found money for sure.”

When asked whether Cowan has become untradeable, Chayka was direct.

“I don’t think any player is untradable, but he’s a good player. He’s everything you’d want at Toronto Maple Leafs. He loves the Leafs, is passionate about it, plays a 200-foot game, does whatever it takes, in the gym, doing extra on the ice. It’d be tough to ever improve on a player like that.”

It’s clear the Leafs are high on Cowan right now, who has fit in well on the first line with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic. Cowan has five goals and seven assists in 13 games.

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It's no secret that the Florida Panthers play physically and walk a fine line in terms of what is legal and illegal on the ice. 

They don't back down from anyone and want their opponents to have a certain level of fear, but are the Panthers pushing it too far?

Through 12 games, the Panthers rank 32nd in the NHL in average penalty minutes with 15.1. The Calgary Flames, who rank 31st in the NHL, average just 12.8 penalty minutes. There is a clear gap.

With a 6-4-2 record and 14 points on the season, the Panthers haven't been overly affected by it, but they're still in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers have the sixth-ranked penalty kill in the NHL, killing 84.9 percent of their penalties, but this path is a recipe for disaster. 

So far, the Panthers have played three teams that rank in the top 10 in power-play percentage: the Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks, and Minnesota Wild. The Panthers lost two of those three games. They defeated the Hurricanes in the season opener without allowing a power-play goal, but they lost 4-3 to the Sharks and gave up a power-play goal, and they allowed one power-play goal in a 4-1 loss to the Wild. 

With the in-your-face approach and personnel the Panthers deploy, they'll never be at the top of the penalty minute rankings, but they could be smarter in how they approach their physical play.

'Arrogance And Softness': Paul Maurice Blasts Panthers Following Second Straight Lopsided DefeatFuming after back-to-back blowouts, Florida's bench boss takes the blame for his team's sudden identity crisis. Now, a looming practice session threatens to shake the resilient roster awake.

Offsetting penalties and fights aren't an issue. If players like Bokondji Imama, Garnet Hathaway, and the Tkachuk brothers rack up penalty minutes through fights, they don't hurt the team. But players like Radko Gudas, Dmitry Kulikov, Niko Mikkola, and Aaron Ekblad have all taken at least four minor penalties. 

That puts the Panthers at a disadvantage too often and puts too much pressure on the penalty kill and goaltending. 

The Panthers have played only two divisional games so far, and in November and December they'll face many Atlantic Division opponents. Those teams will capitalize on their power-play opportunities if the Panthers give it to them. 

This isn't to say the Panthers need to change who they are, but they can definitely play smarter and take fewer penalties. 

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The Detroit Red Wings wrap up their four-game road trip on Monday evening with a clash against the Edmonton Oilers, and it will be a milestone night for goaltender Michal Postava.

Postava, whom the Red Wings recently called up from the AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins because of an injury to Daniil Tarasov, will get his first career NHL start at Rogers Place, as announced by head coach Todd McLellan. 

Per @DetroitRedWings head coach Todd McLellan, Michal Postava will make his first NHL start in net tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. #LGRW

— Jonathan Mills (@JonathanDMillsy) October 26, 2026

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

Before being called up, Postava continued to build on what was a stellar first year in North America in 2025-26, going 4-0 with a strong 1.25 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage.

Last season, Postava, who had been signed as an undrafted free agent, took hold of the starters reins from now-former Red Wings prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa, finishing with a 17-6 record.

Deadline For Unsigned Red Wings' D Simon Edvinsson Getting Closer By The Day The Detroit Red Wings have until Dec. 1 to sign RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson to a new contract, or to trade him to a club that will sign him; otherwise, he'll not be eligible to play this season.

He also was the starter for Grand Rapids in the Calder Cup Playoffs, posting a 4-4 record with a 2.09 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. 

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Mark Jankowski - Carolina

The Stanley Cup champions have four former Sabres on their roster, including Taylor Hall, who missed the last two weeks with an upper-body injury. Jankowski, who split time between the AHL and NHL in 2021-22 and played 19 games in Buffalo, had his best offensive season in seven years last season with 21 points and has been on fire this season, with six goals in nine games. 

Evan Rodrigues - New Jersey

The 33-year-old played parts of five seasons in Buffalo and has been well-traveled since, with stops in Pittsburgh, Toronto, Colorado, and Florida. He was dealt to the Devils last summer in the deal for goalie Jacob Markstrom and has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 11 games.  

Logan Stanley - NY Islanders

The big blueliner was acquired from Winnipeg along with Luke Schenn last March, and had five assists in 25 regular season and playoff games with the Sabres. Stanley remained unsigned until late September, when he hooked on with the Isles on a one-year, $1.5 million deal. In 11 games, he has equaled his offensive output in Buffalo, with five assists.  

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Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL  

James Reimer - NY Rangers 

The veteran journeyman played 22 games with the Sabres in 2024-25, and after a stop in Ottawa last season, is joining his ninth club, signing a one-year veteran minimum deal with the Rangers after earning a shutout in Hartford on an AHL deal last week. 

Rasmus Ristolainen - Philadelphia

The former Sabres first-rounder has been oft-injured in recent seasons, but was impressive for Finland at the Milano-Cortina Olympics and down the stretch for the Flyers on their playoff run. This season, after playing three games, the 31-year-old missed three weeks and returned for one game before suffering an upper-body injury that is expected to keep him out for two weeks. 

Alex Tuch - Washington

If you could not see Tuch killing the Sabres in his first meeting with them, then you don’t know hockey. The 30-year-old winger was sent to Washington in a sign-and-trade with the Sabres in June. In the first year of his eight-year deal with the Capitals. Tuch leads the club with seven goals, including a pair in a 4-3 overtime victory over Buffalo on Saturday. 

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Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler has been playing excellently for the Original Six club.

Now, Fowler has been rewarded by the NHL because of it.

The NHL has announced that Fowler has been named the league's Third Star of the Week from Oct. 19 to Oct. 25. When looking at how well Fowler played during this past week, it is easy to understand why.

In his two appearances this past week for Montreal, Fowler had a 2-0-0 record, a 1.00 goals-against average, and a .964 save percentage. This included him stopping 20 out of 21 shots against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 23 and saving 33 out of 34 shots against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 25.

Fowler has been very good for the Canadiens this season in general, too. In six appearances this campaign with Montreal, he has a 5-1-0 record, a .924 save percentage, a 1.79 goals-against average, and one shutout.

With this, Fowler is only continuing to impress as he gains more NHL experience. It will be interesting to see if he can stay hot for the Habs from here.

The Chicago Blackhawks brought 8 defensemen to their NHL roster out of training camp. Two of them, Ethan Del Mastro and Kevin Korchinski, have mostly been rotational players if they are needed due to injury or performance.

Bowen Byram has missed the last handful of games with an upper-body injury. For the first few, the head coach tapped Ethan Del Mastro to come into the lineup. However, Kevin Korchinski was used on Sunday against the Florida Panthers. 

Kevin Korchinski, like most of his small sample size in the 2026-26 training camp, preseason, and regular season, played very well against the Panthers. In a lot of ways, he was the best defenseman on the team for 60 minutes. 

NHL Game Score Impact Card for Chicago Blackhawks on 2026-10-25: pic.twitter.com/aEJObmwVrQ

— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) October 25, 2026

This is the type of performance that makes you question the point of him sitting out at all. He seems to be one of the six best defensemen in the organization at this time, but he's not treated like it. Even after this game, it doesn't sound like head coach Jeff Blashill was as impressed as one would have thought. Blashill had his compliments for Korchinski, but there was plenty of "coach speak" with critiques as well. 

"I thought he did a lot of good things," Blashill said of Korchinski. "He's going to want the change back, but I thought there were moments where he did good stuff. He's got a habit of drifting back when he's got the puck in the neutral zone. We want him to plant his feet and go North. He played solid. His pair with Rinzel - both of them did a lot of good things. It's unfortunate he had the tough change."

It is hard to tell, based on Blashill's postgame quotes, whether or not Korchinski will get to follow up this game with another. Sure, he had the tough change, but that doesn't change the fact that he was the team's best defender over the course of the 60 minutes. That may be true even if you include the forwards.  

There is no easy way to approach Korchinski's situation, and he knows that. It has been a very up-and-down start to his NHL career, but he certainly has the tools to become an everyday contributor. He is aware that one good game doesn't mean he'll even get to dress in the next. Whether that's fair or not, he has accepted it and will continue to work until he is an everyday player. 

"Every day you have to earn it," Korchinski said about getting to play again after a good showing. "It starts with showing up the next day and proving myself again. The past doesn't matter. You want to be good in the present and help the team win. You have to be good every day. It's a hard league. That's the approach you want to have to be a difference maker and have a long career." 

Korchinski has the right attitude. Everything he said is spot on. However, if he doesn't play against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, the Blackhawks are announcing to the world that his being in the lineup has nothing to do with his prior performance. Would he like the one bad line change back? Sure. But other defensemen have had way worse plays that didn't result in being scratched. 

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Despite their current 10-game losing streak, not all is doom-and-gloom for the Vancouver Canucks organization at the moment. Down in the AHL, the Abbotsford Canucks have won their past five games — and, for the most part, Jacob Quillan has been part of it all.  

Quillan, 24, has had a hot start to his time as part of the AHL Canucks. Previously part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, the forward joined Abbotsford for their home-opener on October 17 after being moved with forward Brandon Buhr for centre Aatu Räty. Since his first game with Abbotsford, Quillan has registered at least one point in each of his four games. 

Quillan’s most recent outing saw the forward score a hat-trick against the Calgary Wranglers, helping his team along to a 4–2 win. This was Quillan’s second-career AHL hat-trick — his first came in the 2025–26 season against the Belleville Senators — and now brings his season total up to four goals and two assists with Abbotsford.  

“It’s been pretty good — just pretty standard stuff, just getting a feel of the systems and the players, and getting to know the guys and stuff,” Quillan said after the game regarding the move to Abbotsford. 

Notably, Quillan has spent his past two games centering Abbotsford’s top-line, consisting of himself, Kole Lind, and Trey Fix-Wolansky. 2025 first-round draft pick Braeden Cootes previously held the role, but has been absent due to a lower-body injury that is likely to keep him out of his team’s upcoming road trip. 

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The Buffalo Sabres now have to deal with questions about their immediate future and their sluggish start to the 2026-27 season without the possibility of bringing in  goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, as the saga involving the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner and the Winnipeg Jets ended on Friday with the deal to the New Jersey Devils for center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, 2026 first rounder Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, and a pair of draft picks. 

The Sabres were reportedly among the leading contenders for the 33-year-old, going back to last June and the NHL Draft, but they were not alone in their interest. On the most recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, 

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman detailed what the various clubs offered for Hellebuyck, but he admittedly could not specify what Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen was prepared to give up. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was reportedly part of a trade for Hellebuyck before July 1, but once his five-team no-trade clause kicked in, moving him to another club to clear his salary and recoup or obtain some assets likely became a complicating factor.O 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL  

Another factor that killed any chances of a trade before the draft was the Sabres ask of swapping the fourth overall pick, acquired from Chicago in the Bowen Byram deal; for the Jets eighth overall selection. Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff had targeted Swedish forward Viggo Bjorck at #8, and wanted the fourth overall outright as part of the trade.

Friedman mentioned Sabres center Josh Norris, but he had heard that the Jets were concerned about his injury history. Ryan McLeod was the subject of some

speculation as being part of the deal, but was not a name that Friedman had heard. He also assumed with it well known that Winnipeg was looking for young centers or young retainable forwards that they would have asked about Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius or Jack Quinn. 

 

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James Reimer is set to make his first start for the New York Rangers on Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings after signing a one-year, $850,000 contract over the weekend.

With Igor Shesterkin suffering a season-ending injury and Joonas Korpisalo being placed on injured reserve, the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, brought Reimer in on a PTO.

In the wake of Shesterkin’s absence, Dylan Garand started seven consecutive games, with Spencer Martin only making one appearance in relief of Garand during the team’s 7-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 15.

Garand, who started the season off hot, giving up just four goals in his first four starts of the season, is beginning to show cracks in his game as he’s continued to shoulder a heavy workload.

After Garand gave up 10 goals through the Rangers’ most recent two-game road trip, Reimer was brought in to help take some pressure off Garand, providing a steadier goaltending presence in place of Martin.

Despite heading into a six-day break following Monday’s game, Mike Sullivan and the coaching staff deemed it beneficial to give Garand a rest and get a look at Reimer in game action.

"Well, I think we're asking a lot of Dylan,” Sullivan said. “He just had seven starts in a row, and there's a certain attentional focus that's required with the goaltending position. As I said yesterday, it's the only position where you're on the ice for the full 60 minutes, and even if the play is down the off ground of the rink, it still requires attentional focus. 

“And so I think there's a physical challenge to it, but there's also a mental challenge to it. And so we feel just based on our discussions with our goalie coaches, both in Hartford and here, that Rhymes is in a position to  go in the net and help us win. So those are the main reasons why we made the decision today."

Reimer has 16 years of NHL experience, having played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators.

The 38-year-old goaltender most recently played for the Senators during the 2025-26 season, recording a 7-4-2 record, a .886 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average.

“He obviously has a significant body work in the league,” Sullivan said of Reimer. “He’s been a quality goalie. It’s never easy to get thrown right into the fire, but if anyone can handle it, it’s a guy like him that has the experience level and understands the position and how he can have success.”

Korpisalo skated for the first time on Sunday since being placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury as he inches toward a return to the lineup.

At 38 years old, Reimer has done everything he’s wanted to at the professional-hockey level but is still excited about what might come of this opportunity with the Rangers.

“I'm really content with my NHL career,” Reimer said via Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic. “I don't need to play. I want to play. I love playing this game, and so if the situation is right and it works for my family and whatnot, then it's something you stay ready for and you make it happen. That was kind of my mindset.”

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As the Detroit Red Wings wrap up their four-game road trip Monday night against former head coach Mike Babcock and the Edmonton Oilers, the deadline for RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson continues to inch closer.

Edvinsson has emerged as Detroit's second-most important defenseman behind Moritz Seider, yet he remains unsigned 11 games into the 2026-27 season.

Edvinsson must sign a contract with Detroit (or another team if the Red Wings trade his rights) by the afternoon of Dec. 1. Otherwise, he will be ineligible to play for the remainder of the season.

Recently, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Red Wings are "disappointed and surprised" that they've not been able to make any headway with Edvinsson, who is back in North America and recently met with interim GM Shawn Horcoff in person. 

"I think they're a little bit disappointed about how they haven't been able to budge Edvinsson to this point," Friedman said on his recent '32 Thoughts' podcast. "I think they're a bit disappointed and surprised." 

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

Edvinsson reported to Training Camp last month despite not having a contract in hand, and participated in on-ice drills with his teammates sans scrimmages.

But once the preseason began and he still didn't have a contract, his frustration reached a point where he returned to his native Sweden - a move that Horcoff said that he didn't anticipate. 

"I didn't expect that," Horcoff said on Oct. 2. "We were excited when he came over, it was encouraging. I would say that's not that common, so we were excited when he came here.

Of course it's disappointing when he went back, but, he's a priority for us."

The fact that Edvinsson met in person with Horcoff days ago and that no contract has been signed, combined with the Swedish blue liner's alleged preference to be traded, isn't encouraging for the prospects of a deal being hammered out before the Dec. 1 deadline. 

That said, there is still time for the two sides to reach a new agreement that would keep the physically imposing defenseman with the Red Wings. 

One positive that has emerged from the contract standoff is that it's given a chance for youngsters Anton Johansson and William Wallinder to showcase their skills on Detroit's blue line. 

And while both players have showcased positive aspects in their young careers, the Red Wings would be best served by having their established defenseman back in action as quickly as possible - or, if that bridge has been burned beyond repair, to recoup as many assets as possible for him in a deal. 

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It’s been an excellent weekend for the Montreal Canadiens. They picked up four points in their first two games without captain Nick Suzuki and stayed focused, even as an outdoor game brought its fair share of challenges and distractions.

Still, it wasn’t all work and no play for the Canadiens, and after Saturday’s practice, they held a family skate with friends and families. Kaiden Guhle skated with his parents on the outdoor rink; the Xhekaj brothers did the same, and other players brought their wives and kids.

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Paoloa Anderson and Daryanne Montembeault showed off the custom winter clothes the kids received, and both wore the special jackets the players’ wives and girlfriends received. As always, the Canadiens organization takes care of its own, and they made sure everyone got mementos from the event.

The most impressive looks, though, were the goalie gear worn by both Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler. Their masks were once again very well done and painted by the talented Sylvie Marsolais from Sylabrush. Unfortunately, only one goalie got to show off his gear in-game, but that’s how it goes. Still, Dobes’ mask, a tribute to both Ken Dryden and Jose Theodore, the first netminder to wear a toque over his mask at an outdoor game, was spectacular and matched his red, beige, and blue gear. You could really tell the top part was a toque. As for Fowler, his featured his nickname in the same stitching used on the Heritage Classic jerseys, along with the Canadiens’ logo for the event and the team’s nickname.

Which of these #HeritageClassic setups do you like best? 🔥

Watch the 2026 @TimHortons NHL #HeritageClassic TONIGHT at 7 PM ET on @Sportsnet, @TVASports, & @NHL_On_TNT! pic.twitter.com/rxQf7Z5ejB

— NHL (@NHL) October 25, 2026

Meanwhile, the coaches wore some very nice vintage attire, jackets and hats that looked like someone had gone back in time to grab them. Overall, some great looks were on display, but nobody lost sight of what mattered, and St-Louis’ quote about being 100% in the moment from Saturday clearly resonated with his crew. They were all in when it was time to have fun with friends and family on Saturday night, but by the time the puck dropped, they were focused on winning an important game and had forgotten the unusual setting.

Full quote from St. Louis:
“My favourite people are the people that are 100 percenters. In anything you do in life, you’re only going to be the best if you give it 100 per cent. You want to be a good dad? It’s not about being 100 per-cent present, but when you’re present you have… https://t.co/sWl13XVzX4

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) October 25, 2026

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Montreal Canadiens•Laval Rocket•Luke Mittelstadt•

The 2026-27 NHL season hits one month old this week and two Connors have dominated the recent news.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is off to a red-hot start that puts him in Wayne Gretzky territory if he can sustain it.

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets and New Jersey Devils pulled off a blockbuster trade with award-winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck heading to the Metropolitan Division. The move happened on the day that Hellebuyck was eligible to return from his team-imposed suspension for failing to report to training camp amid a trade request.

How did those items affect NHL teams' outlooks? Here are USA TODAY Sports' NHL power rankings:

NHL power rankings

Number in parentheses is the change from the previous power rankings two weeks ago:

32. Vancouver Canucks (-5)

The Canucks are at the bottom of the NHL standings again amid a 10-game losing streak. The latest was to the Wild in former captain Quinn Hughes' return to Vancouver. He got a goal and his 500th career point in the game. The league's worst penalty kill gave up two more goals.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (-1)

Connor Bedard is back from injury and averaging a point a game, but offseason acquisition Bowen Byram is out with an injury. The defenseman with the $12.5 million cap hit has one point in six games.

30. Los Angeles Kings (-2)

The Kings were the last NHL team to pick up their first win of the season. Scoring (2.33 goals per game) and penalty killing (65.5 percent) have both been a problem. Mats Zuccarello will miss the Oct. 26 game.

29. Philadelphia Flyers (+2)

They finally won in their 10th game, ending a team-record worst start, and are now on a 3-1 run. Matvei Michkov has led the way with six goals and two assists in his last five games.

28. Calgary Flames (+4)

The Flames are turning things around with a 4-1 run after an 0-5 start in which they were often blown out. That includes wins against Anaheim, Carolina and Minnesota.

27. Columbus Blue Jackets (-3)

Coach Rick Bowness called out players again after a 7-3 loss to Florida. "If they're not embarrassed, we don't want them on the team," he said. The Blue Jackets played a couple stronger games afterward before a 6-2 loss to Toronto.

26. Anaheim Ducks (-20)

The Ducks rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Flyers and end a five-game losing streak. Leo Carlsson, whom the Flyers signed to an offer sheet (the Ducks matched), had a goal and an assist in the game.

25. Detroit Red Wings (+4)

With Hellebuyck traded, will fellow U.S. Olympic goal medalist Dylan Larkin be next? The Red Wings center and former captain reportedly has expanded the number of places where he'd accept a trade to 10 teams. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned.

24. Pittsburgh Penguins (-2)

Forward Ben Kindel is on the injured list after he collapsed on an Oct. 22 flight. General manager Kyle Dubas described the incident as a "vasovagal episode." According to the Mayo Clinic, that occurs "when you faint because your body overreacts to certain triggers."

23. Buffalo Sabres (+3)

Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had been mentioned in trade rumors involving Hellebuyck but is staying. He has given up at least three goals in every game, including two to former Sabre Alex Tuch in a loss to the Capitals.

22. Winnipeg Jets (-8)

The Jets received goalie Nico Daws, forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, prospect Alexander Command and two draft picks in the Hellebuyck trade. They lost the Heritage Classic in their first game after the trade. Mercer had two shots and no points in his Jets debut.

21. St. Louis Blues (0)

Offseason acquisitions Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael are playing on the second line. McTavish is tied for the team lead with six goals and 10 points.

20. New York Islanders (+5)

Coach Peter DeBoer's Islanders lost 6-3 in his return to Dallas, where he led the Stars to three consecutive Western Conference finals berths before being fired. Everyone kept focus on the game, not the return. "I think what's important is the way we won the game, not who we were playing," said Stars forward Jason Robertson, who scored two goals.

19. Nashville Predators (+4)

The Predators scored four power-play goals on Oct. 25 against the Avalanche, their most in a game since 2012. That 4-for-7 performance moved them to the league's third-best power play at 33.3 percent.

18. San Jose Sharks (-2)

No. 2 overall pick Ivar Stenberg is tied for the rookie scoring lead with 12 points. He has a rookie-best seven of those on the power play.

17. Washington Capitals (-8)

With Vincent Desharnais expected to be out four to six weeks after an emergency appendectomy, the Capitals claimed defenseman Jack St. Ivany off waivers from the Jets.

16. New York Rangers (-12)

The Rangers signed veteran goalie James Reimer as they cope with a season-ending injury to Igor Shesterkin. He's scheduled to start on Oct. 26. Dylan Garand, handed the No. 1 role, has lost three of his last four games, though one was a 1-0 shootout loss.

15. Colorado Avalanche (-7)

The Avalanche dealt away some depth during the offseason and it's showing. They have fallen to a 6-5-1 record after losing three of their last four. Colorado was 7-1-4 last season after 12 games.

14. Florida Panthers (+1)

The Panthers became the first team in NHL history to record three consecutive natural hat tricks. Brady Tkachuk had the first two and Carter Verhaeghe had the third. But they have been dealt another injury blow when goalie Jacob Markstrom was hurt in practice.

13. Montreal Canadiens (+7)

Playoff hero goalie Jakub Dobes continues to struggle while Jacob Fowler continues to shine. That includes the Heritage Classic, where Fowler made 33 saves for a 2-1 win against the Jets.

12. Seattle Kraken (+1)

The Kraken's depth will be tested after Jared McCann suffered a lower-body injury. He will miss 10 weeks and has been placed on the injured list.

11. Toronto Maple Leafs (+7)

Auston Matthews has rebounded nicely from his injury-filled 2025-26 season. He's among the league leaders with 19 points in 13 games.

More: 2026 Sports Equinox: World Series, WNBA Finals, NFL, NBA, NHL on same day

10. New Jersey Devils (+9)

The Devils get a bump because they won the Hellebuyck trade sweepstakes. They were off to a solid start even before acquiring the three-time Vezina Trophy winner.

9. Ottawa Senators (+3)

Senators fans booed Brady Tkachuk on his return to Ottawa and got the win. However, goalie Linus Ullmark left the game with an injury and was placed on injured reserve.

8. Dallas Stars (+9)

The Stars have signed veteran forward David Perron as insurance after injuries to Matt Duchene and Oskar Back. He'll be playing in his 20th NHL season once he suits up.

7. Tampa Bay Lightning (-2)

Nikita Kucherov became the Lightning's all-time scorer, passing Steven Stamkos with an assist on Oct. 24. The 2025-26 MVP has 1,138 career points.

6. Utah Mammoth (+4)

The Mammoth lead the league in power play percentage at 38.1 percent, slightly above the Oilers. Clayton Keller leads the way with 10 power play points. The team also had been linked to Hellebuyck rumors.

5. Vegas Golden Knights (-2)

Despite trading 37-goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev, the Golden Knights are scoring at a higher pace this season. Jack Eichel has 19 points in 13 games.

4. Minnesota Wild (+7)

Defenseman Quinn Hughes gave an update on his mindset as he's eligible for an extension. "My two feet are planted in Minnesota and, you know, something could happen soon. I'm not really too sure," he told reporters on Oct. 24. "I'm really enjoying playing here."

3. Boston Bruins (+4)

Rookie James Hagens has had a strong start with nine points in 12 games despite playing a little less than 13 minutes a game.

2. Edmonton Oilers (0)

Connor McDavid is having an otherworldly start, averaging three points a game during his season-opening 11-game point streak. The Oilers have the top three scorers in the league in McDavid (33), Leon Draisaitl (23) and Evan Bouchard (tied for third at 21).

1. Carolina Hurricanes (0)

They lead the league in points and that's without defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract on Oct. 25. Stanley Cup-clinching goalie Brandon Bussi still hasn't reclaimed his form (yielding a five-point game to McDavid) but Pyotr Kochetkov is 6-0 with a 1.70 goals-against average.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL power rankings: Connor McDavid on fire; Devils land Connor Hellebuyck

Given the way the four-game Western road trip went, and given the number of players that missed games this week due to illness or injury, it is really easy to be impressed with the way the Penguins handled this past week’s worth of games.

It did not have a great start in Utah.

But then the Penguins returned home for Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers, and Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators, and played what might have been their two best back-to-back games of the season. I know, Florida presented a scheduling advantage due to the Panthers’ travel and a back-to-back situation, and Nashville isn’t really a contender. But the Penguins had been in Florida’s shoes multiple times this season and nobody felt sympathy for them, and while Nashville isn’t a contender, the Predators came back on Sunday and absolutely steamrolled the Colorado Avalanche.

So, what I’m saying is, take the points where you get them.

Even better than the wins is just the reality that the Penguins played two really good, really clean games. They were the better team in both games, even if they trailed for a good portion of the Nashville game. Given the way they played it would have been incredibly frustrating to not get at least a point out of that game.

They ended up getting two.

Now they have a four-day break before their next game on Thursday night when they get a quick rematch with Utah, this time at home.

We already know what Utah is capable of, and that’s a really good hockey team that is, again, going to present a formidable challenge. They are fast, deep, and one of the best offensive teams in the league. They enter the week sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.83) and still have the No. 1 power play unit in the league (38.1 percent). For as much as the Penguins struggled in the first meeting, they still put together a strong third period that put them into a position where they were a highlight reel, last-second save away from actually tying the game. It did not produce a point, but it did at least set some wheels in motion to maybe build some momentum for the two games that followed.

After hosting Utah on Thursday, the Penguins travel to Montreal on Saturday to play the Canadiens for the second time this season.

The Penguins won the first meeting in a wild overtime game in the second game of the season. It was a game that saw the Penguins dominate early, and then experience one of their biggest flaws from 2025-26 and let a three-goal third period lead slip away. They were able to salvage it with a Tommy Novak overtime goal.

After losing three of their first four games of the season, Montreal has responded by going 5-1-1 in the past seven games.

Saturday’s game will be its first game back home after a long road trip, while the Canadiens are also currently without top center Nick Suzuki, who will be sidelined for several weeks. That takes a big player away from them (arguably their best player), and puts a big dent in their already questionable center depth, but the rest of the roster has enough talent that will still make Montreal a tough, tough opponent.

In terms of opponents, the Penguins are still in the middle of a brutal stretch, which not only continues this week, but also into next week with home games against the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins.

While the opponents are still tough, the days off this week come at a great time. Not only due to the injuries, but also the fact the Penguins have played a lot of hockey with a lot of travel in a short period of time.

What is going to be really interesting to watch this week is what the Penguins do when some of these players start coming back.

Ben Kindel could be back at practice.

Justin Brazeau is getting closer.

Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov are probably going to be returning.

That is going to force some people back out of the lineup. Probably Rutger McGroarty. Perhaps Avery Hayes. I would not be opposed to taking Andrei Kuzmenko out of the lineup right now.

The two players I do NOT want to see come out of the lineup are Ville Koivunen and Hendrix Lapierre. Koivunen looks like a player that is starting to figure things out and get the confidence he had been lacking a year ago. He is not only producing more, he just looks like a different player. He does not look as perpetually frustrated as he did a year ago. The puck is coming off his stick quicker. The playmaking and passing has been sensational. He and Lapierre also seem to have something cooking with one another. In 45 minutes of 5-on-5 ice-time together the Penguins are outscoring teams 5-0 with them on the ice, while also having a better than 80 percent expected goal and scoring chance share. It is a small sample size, and it has come with some favorable offensive zone starts, but they are feasting on it right now. I want to see what they can keep doing.

That is going to be the big dilemma for Dan Muse, because not only are they playing well, the “fourth” line of Connor Dewar, Elmer Soderblom and Nick Robertson has also been really, really good. I also put “fourth” line in quotes because even though they are listed as fourth on the depth chart, the Penguins are balancing their ice-time so much that it does not really matter what anybody’s designation is. They also played the third-most minutes on Saturday.

The other big question: Will we see Sergei Murashov in goal this week?

Arturs Silovs has started three games in a row, and played quite well in the past two games, while Murashov has struggled early on. We should not be surprised that Murashov is having some growing pains, and he did not respond well in his most recent start after the game in Chicago. He is going to get back in there at some point, and there is still good reason to believe he will play better than he has, but I wonder how long Muse will keep riding the hot hand (such as it is after two games). You want to see Murashov play, but after the past two games Silovs played it would be tough to take him out right now. At least as it relates to Thursday’s game.

Interesting week ahead with two tough games and some big lineup decisions. Winning Thursday’s game would be a good start, and then see if you can get at least a point out of Montreal. Reasonable goal.