The Vegas Golden Knights will turn to Adin Hill between the pipes Friday night as they look to protect home ice against a Nashville Predators team that has opened the 2026-27 season with an impressive 10-4-5 record.
Hill was the first goaltender off the ice during Friday’s morning skate, a strong indication that he will get the start at T-Mobile Arena. The 30-year-old netminder has given Vegas plenty of reason for confidence early in the campaign, posting a 7-2-0 record through his first nine appearances, along with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
His early-season form marks a welcome turnaround from a difficult 2025-26 campaign. Hill finished last season with a 10-9-6 record, a 3.04 goals-against average and a .871 save percentage. However, sources told The Hockey News that injuries played a significant role in his struggles, offering important context behind his disappointing numbers.
Now looking much sharper to open the new season, Hill will have an opportunity to continue building momentum against a Nashville club that has been one of the stronger teams in the early standings.
Here is how both teams are expected to line up Friday night.
Nashville Predators (10-4-5) – Projected Lineup
Forwards
Steven Stamkos – Ryan O’Reilly – Mavrik Bourque
Filip Forsberg – Shane Wright – Nils Hoglander
Reid Schaefer – Alexander Kerfoot – Vitali Pinchuk
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Adam Edstrom
Defensemen
Roman Josi – Adam Wilsby
Brady Skjei – Nick Perbix
Daemon Hunt – Jayden Struble
Goaltenders
Juuse Saros
Justus Annunen
Scratched: Nicolas Hague, Ilya Lyubushkin
Injured: Jonathan Marchessault (lower body), William Trudeau (upper body)
Vegas Golden Knights (13-5-2) – Projected Lineup
Forwards
Trevor Connelly – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone
Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner
Ivan Barbashev – Tomas Hertl – Victor Olofsson
Braeden Bowman – Nic Dowd – Marc Gatcomb
Defensemen
Shea Theodore – Brayden McNabb
Jeremy Lauzon – Rasmus Andersson
Parker Wotherspoon – Dylan Coghlan
Goaltenders
Adin Hill
Carter Hart
Scratched: Raphael Lavoie
Injured: Noah Hanifin (undisclosed)
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where the Golden Knights will look to make the most of home ice against a Predators squad that has made a strong start to the season.
While Montreal Canadiens Cole Caufield made history Thursday night by becoming the first Hab to score in eight consecutive games against the Boston Bruins, the team also achieved an impressive feat. The 5-2 win over the divisional rival meant that the Sainte-Flanelle got at least a point in its last 12 games. That hasn’t happened since the 1992-93 season, when the team won the last of its 24 Stanley Cups, which was an unexpected one as well.
What’s even more impressive, though, is that all those games were played without Russian sophomore Ivan Demidov, a key part of the Canadiens’ core. Furthermore, six of those games were played without team captain Nick Suzuki, while defenseman Mike Matheson also missed a sizeable chunk of matches. While some will say the results were skewed by great goaltending, mainly from Jacob Fowler, the fact is that the goaltender is an integral part of the team; it’s not a cheat code.
How many games can the Canadiens take that sequence to? Time will tell, but getting Demidov back would certainly help. While the Habs haven’t spelled out a new target date for his return, they announced this week that he would take part in a public signing session on November 22. That signing session was meant to happen earlier this season, but it was postponed because of his injury. Therefore, logic dictates that he should be back in the lineup by then; otherwise, he wouldn’t have committed to a signing session.
Montreal has five games left until then: the Avalanche and the Flyers at home, and a three-game road trip in three days against the Rangers, the Devils, and the Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. That’s bound to be a challenge, especially with the back-to-back games against the Devils and the Canes. When will Jakub Dobes come back in net? Will he be able to keep the streak intact? The next few games promise to be very interesting.
CNBC has released its valuations for all 32 NHL teams. As per the report, all valuation figures are in U.S. dollars, with multiple teams surpassing the $4 billion mark for the first time. The Toronto Maple Leafs lead the league at $5.4 billion, while the Columbus Blue Jackets are the lowest-valued team at $1.65 billion.
As for the Vancouver Canucks, they sit 15th at $2.5 billion. According to CNBC, that is up from the $ 2.2 billion reported in 2025. The Canucks did fall in overall position, as they were ranked 12th last year.
2026 CNBC NHL Team Valuations:
Toronto Maple Leafs: $5.4B
New York Rangers: $4.7B
Montréal Canadiens: $4.1B
Los Angeles Kings: $3.9B
Edmonton Oilers: $3.7B
Philadelphia Flyers: $3.6B
Boston Bruins: $3.5B
Chicago Blackhawks: $3.35B
Washington Capitals: $3.2B
New Jersey Devils: $3.1B
Detroit Red Wings: $3.05B
New York Islanders: $3B
Tampa Bay Lightning: $2.7B
Carolina Hurricanes: $2.66B
Vancouver Canucks: $2.5B
Vegas Golden Knights: $2.45B
Minnesota Wild: $2.33B
Colorado Avalanche: $2.27B
Dallas Stars: $2.26B
Calgary Flames: $2.25B
Seattle Kraken: $2.2B
Florida Panthers: $2.15B
Anaheim Ducks: $2.1B
Pittsburgh Penguins: $2B
Nashville Predators: $1.95B
St. Louis Blues: $1.9B
Utah Mammoth: $1.85B
San Jose Sharks: $1.8B
Winnipeg Jets: $1.75B
Ottawa Senators: $1.72B
Buffalo Sabres: $1.7B
Columbus Blue Jackets: $1.65B
Nov 9, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (88) celebrates his goal with forward Brock Boeser (6) against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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.
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.
The Colorado Avalanche may have to navigate the coming stretch without their biggest superstar.
Following Nathan MacKinnon’s lower-body injury in Thursday night’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre, the Avalanche have recalled forward Gavin Brindley from their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
MacKinnon kicking off the rush against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Credit: Nick Turchiaro - Imagn Images
MacKinnon exited Thursday night's game against Ottawa after appearing to injure his right side while attempting a reverse hit on Senators defenseman Artem Zub. His final shift came at the 8:15 mark of the second period. MacKinnon initially remained on the bench before heading down the tunnel and did not return for the remainder of the game.
Nathan MacKinnon in a previous interview.
Brindley, known for his speed and offensive ability, has been called up several times this season. He previously spent time with the Avalanche while forward Logan O’Connor recovered from a lower-body injury and during O’Connor’s absence following the death of his father, Myles Connor.
Brindley has made the most of his opportunities with the Eagles this season, recording 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 10 games. His point-per-game production has helped keep him in the conversation as an option whenever Colorado needs reinforcements up front.
He has yet to find the back of the net in five NHL appearances this season, recording one assist while averaging 8:54 of ice time per game.
Brindley has already come close to delivering a memorable moment at the NHL level this season. In Colorado’s Oct. 14 matchup against the Dallas Stars, he appeared to score a beautiful wrist-shot goal, prompting the goal horn to sound and the arena to erupt in celebration. However, the excitement was short-lived. A replay revealed that the puck had struck both posts without crossing the goal line, leaving Brindley heartbreakingly close to his first NHL goal of the season.
The Avalanche ultimately fell 3-2 in a shootout, but Brindley’s near-miss provided one of the night’s most memorable moments.
Now, with MacKinnon potentially sidelined for an undetermined period of time, Brindley gets another opportunity to make an impact at the NHL level. His speed and offensive upside could give Colorado another option as the team looks to navigate the absence of one of the most important players in its lineup.
On this day in 1999, Detroit Red Wings star winger Brendan Shanahan scored the 400th goal of his NHL career in a 1-1 tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was a landmark moment for one of the league's premier power forwards, who was in the middle of a Hall of Fame career in Detroit.
Shanahan was far from finished as he would go on to retire with 656 goals and 698 assists for 1,354 points in 1,524 games, along with 2,489 penalty minutes and was one of the rare players in all of NHL history to finish with more than 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes.
After being the second overall pick by the New Jersey Devils in 1987, Shanahan would also play for the St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers, and returned to the Devils to close out his career.
His ten seasons in Detroit were the defining stretch of his career as over a decade in a Red Wings sweater, he won three Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998 and 2002, and added an Olympic gold medal with Canada at the 2002 Winter Games. His historic career would earn him a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013 and was named one of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players in 2017.
Shanahan's influence continued after he hung up his skates as he served as the NHL's senior vice president of player safety, then became president of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014, a role he held through 2025.
During that time, he oversaw a major rebuild of the franchise, including the hiring several general managers and the drafting of core players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Toronto made the playoffs every year of his tenure, though it struggled to break through in the postseason.
With his time in Toronto over, Shanahan's next move is one of the more intriguing storylines around the league. Detroit remains the team most closely tied to his legacy, and a return to the organization where he won his Cups would carry obvious appeal.
The Red Wings, who are chasing their first playoff berth in more than a decade could benefit from bringing back the franchise icon. Any reunion is speculation for now, and neither side has publicly said a deal is in the works.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
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.
The Buffalo Sabres were hoping that their success this season on the road would provide a magic tonic after regulation losses to Ottawa, Vegas, and Tampa Bay on their four-game homestand, but in spite of playing a more disciplined game against the club with league’s second worst record and worst goal differential, the Sabres lost 3-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime at the United Center on Thursday.
The loss is the Sabres third in a row and fourth in the last five games, and in those defeats, they are averaging less than two goals a game.
Owen Power and Tage Thompson scored for Buffalo, but Frank Nazar scored his second of the game midway through the third period to tie the game and should have been penalized in overtime after what Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff considered an obvious interference penalty. Ryan Donato scored at 3:12 of overtime to snap the Hawks six-game losing skid.
“It’s a penalty in any league. It’s a call you’ve got to get. It’s a call that has to be made. The guy turns and sticks his ass out and dumps our guy. Make the call.” Ruff said. “You can’t interfere with the guy, just basic interference, the call’s right there in front of them.”
Do the Sabres need to consider trading for a scorer?
Buffalo has earned points in eight of their nine road games (4-1-4), but their under .500 record at KeyBank Center has them falling behind in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Currently, the Sabres are eight points behind Tampa Bay and Montreal, and seven points in back of Boston for the top three spots in the Atlantic, and six points in back of Ottawa and four points behind both Florida in the race for the two wildcard spots.
“We’ve got to start winning games for sure.” Ruff said. ”Getting a point is OK, but we have to start winning games.”
GM Jarmo Kekalainen reportedly is looking to add some offensive help, but only a few clubs are expected to be willing to make trades at the quarter poll of the season. The club’s current struggles are symptomatic of Kekalainen’s inability or unwillingness to bring in offensive help after the departure of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram last summer, and an overreliance on the club’s youngsters being able to step up.
The New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals are at an uncanny halfway point in their matchups. Both teams are in the middle of a home-and-home matchup and have played two of the four games in the season series. The Capitals took the first meeting on their home ice 4-2, and the Devils evened up the score with a 5-2 win on Thursday night on their home ice.
The Capitals and Devils are also shaping up to be in the playoffs and Cup conversation by the end of the season. The Devils are 14-6, and after acquiring Connor Hellebuyck, they look like a team moving full steam ahead to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Capitals, at 10-7, haven’t looked like a juggernaut but have the talent to be a top team by the end of the season.
Both teams will likely buy at the trade deadline, or even beforehand. They are in a position to make a move or two and possibly a splash that changes their outlook by the end of the season. It wouldn’t shock anyone if the Capitals or Devils make the big trade, and the question is which team is more likely.
The Capitals Have The Pieces To Make The Next Big Swing
The fascinating aspect of the Capitals is that they have a great roster but also prospects on top of prospects. Specifically, they have young NHL-caliber players who can’t crack the lineup. Ivan Miroshnichenko is a healthy scratch on most nights, while Bogdan Trineyev is a 24-year-old power forward that teams look for come playoff time, yet is stuck in Hershey.
Speaking of the Hershey Bears, the Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate, they have prospects who will make an impact soon enough. Those same prospects can also be a big part of a blockbuster trade.
Andrew Cristall, for example, is a 21-year-old winger with the skill to play on an NHL team’s middle six. However, the Capitals have a surplus of wingers, with many of them locked in long-term, including Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou, who were both acquired in the offseason.
Eventually, the Capitals must make a decision on these prospects and young NHLers. They can flip them for another elite talent who helps them win now and still have enough in the system not to worry about mortgaging the future.
Mehta Operates Differently & Won’t Stop Making Big Moves
The Devils' general manager Sunny Mehta has proven he’s a unique executive. His aggressive moves in the offseason, the Hellebuyck blockbuster, and the decision to sit Hellebuyck after his much-anticipated return to Winnipeg prove that he’s not a traditional GM and is willing to make bold moves, even if they are questioned.
During Hellebuyck’s 22-minute press conference on Tuesday before the game against the Winnipeg Jets, the goaltender spoke about his decision to ask for a trade. He also mentioned something fascinating about the Devils' front office when asked about the decision to start the backup, Jake Allen, instead.
“They handle business differently than I’m used to,” Hellebuyck stated in his presser. While he was talking about the goaltending decision, it also applies to how the front office, specifically Mehta, operates.
He’s willing to be aggressive and make a big trade. He’s also shown creativity in making big trades, whether it’s moving depth players or adding players through minor moves to create flexibility. It’s why it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Devils make another big move at some point.
“We’re never done. We’re never done,” Mehta stated ahead of Hellebuyck’s introductory press conference with the Devils. If the Devils are one of the best teams in the league by the trade deadline and they are trending in that direction, Mehta can make a small, under-the-radar deal or take another swing.
The Capitals Are All-In This Season
This isn’t a typical season for the Capitals. It’s Alexander Ovechkin’s last season in the NHL. The all-time leader in goals and one of the game’s greats announced that he’s retiring after this season.
The Capitals want him to retire on a high note. Ideally, that’s another Stanley Cup title, something Ovechkin and the team experienced in 2018, yet haven’t come close to since. This is the year for them to have that success.
The offseason moves set them up for a successful season. Plus, the Capitals already have a strong roster in place and young, emerging stars, including Cole Hutson and Ryan Leonard. It puts them in a position to become buyers at the trade deadline and make an all-in push for a deep playoff run.
What Move Will The Capitals Or Devils Make Next?
Dylan Larkin has both the Capitals and the Devils on his trade list. He also checks off a few boxes for both teams as a top-six center who can move to the wing and impact the game in multiple ways. While the Capitals and Devils have their top-six centers at the moment, they can use more versatility in their lineup, especially come playoff time.
Zach Werenski is a fascinating name to keep tabs on. The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman who won the Norris Trophy last season is a free agent after next season and might look to sign elsewhere if the team continues to struggle (so a trade is possible). The catch is that the Capitals have two scoring defensemen already on their roster, while the Devils have Luke Hughes emerging as an elite two-way defenseman (plus, there’s another Hughes the Devils might have their eyes on).
For the Capitals specifically, Nikita Kucherov would be an intriguing addition. The Tampa Bay Lightning have no interest in trading the reigning Hart Trophy winner, and Kucherov’s style of play doesn’t fit in the Capitals' top six. That said, he’d take them to another level, and from a sentimental perspective, he’ll play alongside his fellow countryman Ovechkin.
The Capitals and the Devils are in positions to make a move or two. It will be intriguing to see which team ends up putting the next blockbuster together.
After eight years of serving in the U.S. Army, James King received some news that made a difference for his family: medical debt tied to his wife’s hospitalization had been erased.
King and his family attended the Vegas Golden Knights’ Military Appreciation Night on Wednesday, Nov. 11, where the team recognized veterans who benefited from a new NHL debt relief initiative.
The Golden Knights, Buffalo Sabres and NHL teamed up to erase $1.5 million in debt for more than 600 U.S. veterans and their families in recognition of Veterans Day. The relief came through Operation Line Shift, the league’s partnership with ForgiveCo.
Veterans in the Las Vegas area received $500,000 in debt relief. Another $400,000 went to veterans and families in Western New York.
The Golden Knights hosted the Utah Mammoth at T-Mobile Arena, while the Sabres welcomed the Tampa Bay Lightning. Both teams used the games to recognize members of their military communities as part of the NHL’s 2026 Veterans Appreciation Night, which was also featured on TNT Sports platforms and presented by Navy Federal Credit Union.
The broadcast included an interview with Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin, whose family has several members with military service. Hanifin was listed as week-to-week after suffering an injury during Sunday’s 4-1 win over Buffalo.
The support wasn’t limited to Las Vegas and Buffalo. All 32 NHL teams took part in military appreciation events throughout the season, with special games and in-arena recognition for active service members, veterans and their families.
Through Operation Line Shift, the NHL and its teams had erased a total of $3.75 million in debt for more than 2,100 veterans and their families.
For families like the Kings, that help meant one less financial burden to carry. And that’s a lot more meaningful than any pregame ceremony.
While most of the Montreal Canadiens’ offense came from depth players in Thursday night's 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins, one member of the first line got on the boards: Cole Caufield. The American sniper, picked 15th overall in the 2019 draft, found the back of the net for the eighth straight game against the Habs’ divisional rival. That’s an impressive feat on its own, but he’s the first player in Sainte-Flanelle history to do it.
That’s right, no Canadiens player had ever scored in eight consecutive duels against the Bruins before Caufield on November 12, 2026. That’s a first in nearly 102 years. The Habs may be nearly 117 years old, but the Bruins will “only” turn 102 years old on December 1, 2026.
Caufield now has 14 points in 15 games against Boston, including 12 goals. The sharpshooter is at his best against the Bruins; the only teams he’s scored more goals against are the Ottawa Senators and the Buffalo Sabres, with 13 lamplighters against both. However, he’s faced the Senators 17 times and the Sabres 20 times, giving him more opportunities to find the back of the net.
His least frequent victims? The Los Angeles Kings (a single goal in eight games), the Winnipeg Jets (two goals in 13 games, both in the same game 10 days ago), and Saturday’s visitors at the Bell Centre: the Colorado Avalanche (two goals in eight games). It’s interesting to see he has so few goals against the Jets, even though he played them so many times in 2020-21, when the league realigned its divisions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given his knack for finding the back of the net on Saturday night, Mr. Saturday night, as many call him, may add to his total against Colorado. Although the Habs' next visitors are only 11th in the league with 25 points in 20 games, the Canadiens have only won four of their last 10 games against Jared Bednar’s team. They could definitely use some goals from their scoring ace Saturday night, even if the Avs are without Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, who both exited the game against the Senators on Thursday night.
The Detroit Red Wings have now lost five straight regulation games, with the latest setback the toughest to swallow.
The Red Wings held a 4-1 lead over their divisional rival Florida Panthers midway through the second period Thursday evening, only to watch the host Panthers score four unanswered goals and seize victory from the jaws of defeat.
"We didn't do a good enough job of attacking in the third period, and we sat back too much," said forward J.T. Compher, who scored his second goal of the campaign in the first period.
Goals from Compher, Andreas Englund, Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper gave Detroit a 4-1 advantage before Florida began to shift the momentum with a goal in the dying seconds of the second period, giving the Panthers some life heading into the third.
"Momentum is a funny thing in sports," said head coach Todd McLellan. "We had all of it until the goal at the end of the second period, and had a chance to regroup coming out into the third, and then took a penalty 30 seconds in a long way from our net, and they really got rolling."
While McLellan believes the group found their footing in the third period, they didn't sustain it.
"We just couldn’t sustain it enough," he said. "We lost that aggressiveness to go the other way. We were trying to play mistake-free hockey, and they capitalized.”
The Red Wings will lament the fact that Thursday was another game in which they held a multi-goal lead and ultimately ended up with zero points in the standings.
"There’s been games this year where we didn’t have it and we went back and got it, so we got that down," said McLellan. "But today, we gave it back.”
Detroit has no choice but to immediately try and regroup for when they conclude their road swing against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who defeated them by a 4-1 final score earlier this month to begin the current five-game skid, on Saturday evening.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
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.
Reaching 500 career starts is a major achievement for any NHL goaltender. Darcy Kuemper hit that mark Thursday night, but the milestone came with a performance he’d probably rather forget.
Kuemper became the 87th goaltender in NHL history to make 500 career starts as the Los Angeles Kings hosted the New York Islanders at Crypto.com Arena. Unfortunately, the night didn’t go as planned. He allowed four goals on 20 shots before being pulled, finishing with a .800 save percentage in a 5-2 loss.
The Islanders struck first when former Kings forward Brayden Schenn capitalized on a rebound. Trevor Moore answered for Los Angeles, briefly bringing the game level, but New York took control from there.
Matthew Schaefer put the Islanders back in front on the power play, and Victor Eklund extended the lead to 3-1 after finishing a rush set up by Schenn.
The Kings had a chance to get back into the game on a five-on-three power play. Artemi Panarin’s shot created a rebound that Quinton Byfield put away, with Kevin Fiala picking up an assist in his first game back in the lineup. The goal cut the deficit to one, but Los Angeles couldn’t build on the momentum.
New York restored its two-goal cushion early in the third period when Simon Holmstrom found the net after the Kings failed to clear a loose puck from the slot. An empty-net goal later sealed the 5-2 result.
For Kuemper, the milestone still stands as a significant career accomplishment. But with the Islanders finding the net four times against him on just 20 shots, it was a tough way for the former Stanley Cup champion to celebrate the honor.
The New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Thursday in the opening game of a home-and-home series. New Jersey received offensive contributions from all three players recalled from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, each finding the back of the net.
"It's a Utica hat trick," Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said with a smile.
Evan Rodrigues scored the game's opening goal on the power play while he was on the second unit with Dougie Hamilton, Luke Evangelista, Timo Meier, and Arseny Gritsyuk. It was the first of two points for the 33-year-old.
With four minutes remaining on Declan Chisholm’s penalty against Aliaksei Protas, Washington tied the game with a goal from Ryan Leonard. It was the Capitals' seventh shot on Connor Hellebuyck while on the man advantage.
Entering the game, Washington and New Jersey were tied for first in the NHL with seven total comeback wins this season.
A little over two minutes into the second period, the Capitals took a 2-1 lead off an even-strength goal by Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Lenni Hämeenaho tied the game with his first of the season after being recalled from Utica on Wednesday. Defenseman Brenden Dillon and Hämeenaho’s linemate, Cody Glass, picked up the assists.
"Yeah, it wasn't a pretty one, but I'll take that every day of the week," Hameenaho said. "It was a good shot from Dilly, and I think it hit my glove and went in."
In his Devils debut, defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, another call-up from Utica, scored the game-winning goal at the 6:27 mark of the third period. Thursday night marked the third game in three nights for the 25-year-old.
""I like to play, so I was actually pumped," Kolyachonok said.
With under three minutes remaining, Stefan Noesen scored to give New Jersey a 4-2 lead. Jack Hughes hit the empty net to secure the team’s seventh win in Newark.
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck improved his record with the Devils to 6-0-0.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much 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.
Shane Pinto opened and closed the scoring on Thursday night as the Senators defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime at Canadian Tire Centre.
The victory was the Senators' third in their last four games, a stretch in which they've collected seven of a possible eight points. The Sens improved to 12-6-2 on the season as they continue to bank valuable points in the Eastern Conference standings.
Jake Sanderson and Drake Batherson were both asked about Artem Zub on the day of his 400th career game..
Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson also scored for the Senators, who jumped out to a 2-0 lead before watching Colorado score three unanswered goals to take the lead in the third period.
Artturi Lehkonen, former Senator Parker Kelly and Gabriel Landeskog supplied the offence for Colorado, which overcame its early deficit but couldn't hold onto the lead.
The game also marked the return of Linus Ullmark, who made his first start since suffering a lower-body injury on October 21 against Florida. Ullmark stopped 25 shots to earn the victory, his seventh in as many starts this season.
The night started well for the Senators, with Pinto opening the scoring at 7:11 of the first period. After blocking a Brent Burns shot, Pinto raced down the ice, beat his man for the puck, then whipped it past Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood.
Stützle doubled the lead six minutes later, converting a setup from Fabian Zetterlund to give the home team a 2-0 advantage after 20 minutes. Stützle was all alone in front, patiently pulled the puck to his backhand and tucked it in.
But the Avs gradually worked their way back.
Lehkonen scored on the power play late in the second period, and then it was Kelly who tied the game with a shorthanded goal early in the third.
Things got worse for the Sens when Landeskog scored another power-play goal midway through the final period, giving the Avalanche a 3-2 lead.
Suddenly, a game the Senators appeared to have under control was slipping away.
But Batherson came to the rescue. With just 3:56 remaining in regulation, Batherson pounced on a loose puck in the crease and scored his 10th goal of the season to force overtime.
That set the stage for Pinto, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, and got a lovely gift from Parker Kelly.
At 2:08 of overtime, Pinto intercepted an errant pass from Kelly in the Colorado zone and fired a wrist shot past Wedgewood for his second goal of the night and the 4-3 victory. He finished the evening with three points.
For Colorado, the loss of the point in overtime pales in comparison with the potential loss of their two superstars. Nathan MacKinnon and defenceman Cale Makar both left the game in the second period with lower-body injuries and did not return.
MacKinnon was injured after a firm cross check in the rib area from Artem Zub, who was playing his 400th career NHL game. It wasn't a violent cross check by any means, but it obviously caught Mackinnon in a vulnerable spot.
As for Makar, he just looked like he tried to change direction too quickly and damaged something.
The Sens hit the 20-game mark at 12-6-2, which incredibly, isn't enough for a spot in the Atlantic's top 3, but the win does leave them six points inside of the playoff picture with the first wild card. It also extended their points streak to four games (3-0-1).
The Sens are back in action Saturday when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Florida Panthers sent over 19,000 fans home happy on Thursday night after pulling off their latest thrilling comeback victory.
This time, the win came at the expense of the visiting Detroit Red Wings.
Florida scored the first goal of the night just 3:52 into the opening period when a Sam Reinhart backhand trickled through the arm and body of John Gibson and over the goal line.
From there, it was a slow and steady stream of goals by the Red Wings.
They led 2-1 after the first period and appeared poised to take a 4-1 advantage into the third period after Marco Kasper beat Akira Schmid at the 12:08 mark of the middle frame.
Panthers defenseman Gus Forsling had other plans.
With less than 30 seconds on the clock, Forsling wisely pinched into the Red Wings’ zone to help Florida maintain possession, which led to the puck finding its way to a wide open Forsling moments along the boards.
He walked the puck to the middle of the ice and fired a wrist shot that found its way past a screened Gibson with just 17.8 left in the middle frame.
The Panthers may have been carrying a two-goal deficit into the third period, but thanks to Forsling’s goal, they also suddenly possessed all the momentum.
“It was a huge goal at the end of the period,” said Forsling. “I think we got some juice from that and we brought it into the third.”
It didn’t take long for Florida to cut even further into Detroit’s lead.
Just as a Panthers power play expired, Carter Verhaeghe unleashed a one-timer that struck the leg of Red Wings defenseman Andraes Englund and bounced right to Anton Lundell at the side of the crease.
Lundell showed off his silky smooth hands, making a couple quick moves to slide the puck around Gibson’s pad and glove as he desperately tried to keep it out of the net.
Florida’s players celebrated, the crowd popped, and the comeback was on.
“The 4-3 goal, I thought that cemented that we were on it,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. “
For the next ten minutes, the Panthers continued a relentless attack on the Wings, but the score remained 4-3 in favor of the visitors.
That was until Niko Mikkola made a great play along the boards to block a Lucas Raymond clearing attempt and chase the puck into the corner to the right of Gibson.
He then elevated a pass over a sliding Moritz Seider toward the slot, where Lars Eller, seeing the puck in midair, choked up on his stick and batted it past Gibson to knot the score at four with 3:31 to go.
Florida goal!
Scored by Lars Eller with 03:31 left in the 3rd. Assisted by Niko Mikkola.
“He’s awesome,” Verhaeghe said of Eller. “He’s fun to play with. He protects the puck so well and he makes great plays.”
It was an impressive highlight reel goal that probably would’ve received more attention had it not been for the ridiculous play that was coming a few moments later.
As Florida continued to keep the pressure on Detroit, the new line of the Tkachuk brothers centered by Anton Lundell finished off a furious shift in the offensive zone with the game’s go-ahead goal.
The play started with Lundell digging the puck out of the corner to Gibson’s left and quickly sending a centering pass to Brady Tkachuk.
Gibson stopped Tkachuk’s attempt, but Brady’s momentum took him right to where Gibson’s rebound was heading, and that’s when the magic happened.
Without turning his head or even slowing down, Tkachuk sent a no-look backhand pass back across the zone to a waiting and wide open Lundell, who quickly wired a one-timer into the yawning cage with 2:40 to go.
Florida goal!
Scored by Anton Lundell with 02:40 left in the 3rd. Assisted by Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk.
“I don’t know how he found me,” Lundell said. “A no-look, falling pass, right on the tape. That was an unbelievable play.”
The win improved Florida’s record on the season to 11-7-2.
They are now 5-2-0 at Amerant Bank Arena, having played the fewest home games in NHL to date.
Of course, the Panthers are heading right back out on the road, playing a back-to-back this weekend in St. Louis and Dallas.
It’s the continuation of a tough stretch of games for Florida, one that Maurice said he knew would breed a couple tough outings.
“When I say I’m disappointed with our start, you know that’s coming on one of these seven (games) in 11 (days),” Maurice said. “Being able to handle it and stay in the game, even when you’re getting bad breaks around the net…some nights you’re ahead of the game, you’re playing great, you’re behind in the score but you’ve still got the belief. Tonight we were behind it, but we understood it. That was a pretty mature game.”
We’ll see how things continue to play out for the Panthers, but it seems they are heading toward greener pastures.
Once they return from this weekend’s quick doubleheader, Florida will finish out November with four of five games at home.
They are also expected to get both Sasha Barkov and Brad Marchand back from injury sometime during that span.
So while the current times are surely not bad – Florida currently holds a Wild Card spot and is four points back of Tampa for first in the Atlantic Division – it would make sense to think their best hockey remains ahead of them.
Photo caption: Nov 12, 2026; Sunrise,Florida, USA;FloridaPantherscenter Anton Lundell (15) celebrates with defenseman Seth Jones (3) and left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) after scoring against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 12: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates with Stefan Noesen #11 after defeating the Washington Capitals in NHL game at Prudential Center on November 12, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Connor Hellebuyck saved 26 of 28 shots, and three Utica call-ups, Lenni Hameenaho, Vladislav Kolyachonok and Stefan Noesen, helped to boost the Devils to a 5-2 win over the Capitals on Thursday. [Devils NHL]
Kovacevic update:
Pesce is sick and will not play tonight against the Caps. #NJDevils will call up Kolyachonok and he will play tonight.
Kovacevic is getting imaging done, and will miss some time per HC Keefe. More than “day-to-day” but timeline still TBD.
“Remember the New Jersey Devils’ finishing woes for the first week or two of the season? Those are no more (for now). The Devils were one of the worst-finishing teams in the NHL early on, but they’re scoring to expectations after a scoring surge. That’s true at five-on-five and at all strengths. What’s changed? And who’s leading the Devils’ charge?” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“In a season in which the New Jersey Devils have looked like a true Cup contender at 5v5 through the first twenty or so games, one aspect of their game has been legitimately lacking: the power play.” [Devils’ Advocates]
Hockey Links
Bill Guerin on Quinn Hughes negotiations: “I’m not putting deadlines on anybody, saying by this date or that date. I’m just kind of living day by day. At some point, we’re going to need to have some kind of discussion. But everyone knows where everyone stands. He knows. He’s got all of the information he needs. He knows how much we like him and how much we want to keep him. He’s just got to figure out what he wants to do.” [Sportsnet]
“In previous eras, having a defensemen leading an NHL team in scoring likely meant the roster was lacking offensive firepower elsewhere. In some cases that is still true, but there’s no denying the league’s crop of high-end blueliners are taking their offensive games to new heights.” [The Hockey News]
Which coaches are on the hot seat as we approach Thanksgiving? [The Athletic ($)]
“Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins will be out for a week to 10 days following a thunderous hit by Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun that was ruled as legal during Tuesday night’s game.” [ESPN]
World Juniors update:
The Canadian government has officially informed Hockey Canada and the IIHF that it will not issue visas to Russian players for the upcoming World Juniors. Players who already hold Canadian visas will also be ineligible to participate, even under a neutral flag, per Gord Miller. pic.twitter.com/Gpza3jBEkw
