DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 23: Nazem Kadri #91 of the Colorado Avalanche scores a goal during the first period of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Ball Arena on October 23, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
As the Colorado Avalanche returned home in search of a win, they hosted the always formidable opponent in the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was the hosts who got the scoring started early and often in a 6-3 Avalanche win.
The Game
Opening the game the Lightning had a few dangerous shots in the Avalanche zone but it was the home team who got on the board first. On their first shot on goal, Devon Toews converted for Colorado on a back door feed from Martin Nečas. Jaden Schwartz appeared to get Colorado’s second goal on a deflected rebound he apparently kicked in but it was waived off. Not to worry, the Avalanche got it back minutes later on the power play. TJ Hughes found Nazem Kadri in the slot for the 2-0 lead, and that’s how the first period would end.
That score didn’t last long after the puck dropped on the second period as Fedor Svechkov finished off a rush chance just 24 seconds in to give Colorado a three goal lead. Near the halfway mark of the period, the Lightning finally answered back on a power play goal from Jake Guentzel who found the puck on the backdoor after it bounced off of Brock Nelson. Soon after, Artturi Lehkonen got in on the fun and restored the three goal lead once again. By this point Colorado got into a bit of penalty trouble and Jake Guentzel scored right as the power play expired. Jared Bednar challenged for a high stick but lost and the goal stood as did the 4-2 score at the end of 40 minutes of play.
To start the third period Nathan MacKinnon got his moment to celebrate as his goal put Colorado up 5-2. The Lightning tried to make it interesting on a goal from former Colorado Eagles and Utah Grizzlies defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous who was found uncovered in the slot but shortly after Martin Nečas scored into the empty net to get Colorado back on top 6-3. Despite getting outshot 34-24, it was a good bounce back win for the Avalanche who enjoyed the comforts of home to come out on top.
Takeaways
Logan O’Connor entered the lineup and played in first game of the 2026-27 season and played just under 15 minutes. He brought the physicality while getting his game up to speed. Taylor Makar also made his sesson debut for the Avalanche after getting called up this morning. He played eight minutes and took a minor penalty, one of which gave the Lightning five power plays this evening.
While it seemed the top line would take charge on leading in this game, especially after crafting the game’s opening score, but it was the third line of Svechkov, Schwartz and Hughes who left an impression in this much-needed win. They contributed to the goals which broke the game open and have settled in together as a line.
Upcoming
A quick trip to meet with Chris MacFarland’s new-look Nashville Predators on Sunday, October 25th. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. MT.
DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists, Nazem Kadri scored his first goal of the season and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 on Friday night.
Devon Toews, Fedor Svechkov, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas also scored as Colorado rebounded from back-to-back road losses. Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves.
Jake Guentzel scored twice and Charle-Edouard D’Astous added another for the Lightning, who saw their three-game winning streak halted. Nikita Kucherov was held in check and remains a goal or assist away from becoming the franchise’s career points leader. He has 1,137 points and is tied with Steven Stamkos.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 18 of 23 shots, including one off the mask on MacKinnon’s liner.
Guentzel’s goal with 42.7 seconds left in the second period made it 4-2. The Avalanche unsuccessfully challenged the play for a missed stoppage. The Lightning went on the power play but couldn’t score. They struggled on the power play all evening.
MacKinnon’s goal with 15:42 remaining gave Colorado a 5-2 cushion. Necas sealed it with a late empty-net tally.
Logan O’Connor returned to the lineup after missing the start of the season with a lower-body injury. He recently lost his father, Myles, a former NHL defenseman, at age 59.
The game featured the league’s currently longest-tenured coaches in Jon Cooper and Jared Bednar. Cooper took over the Lightning in March 2013 and has won two Stanley Cups. Bednar was hired by Colorado in August 2016 and captured one Cup — in 2022 over the Lightning.
CANADIENS 4, BLACKHAWKS 1
CHICAGO (AP) — Jake Evans scored twice and assisted on Kaiden Guhle’s goal and Montreal beat Chicago.
Evans’ third point, a feed to Guhle with 1:34 left in the second period, matched his career high. Montreal is 4-1-1 in its last six games, while Chicago has dropped two straight and four of its last six.
A wide-open game tightened up late in the first period, which worked to Montreal’s advantage. Chicago opened the scoring on Connor Bedard’s second goal of the season 4:23 in, but the Canadiens began to control the play, and by mid-period were limiting Chicago’s chances.
Jacob Fowler, who made 20 saves, was lightly tested the rest of the game despite five Chicago power plays, and needed to make only three saves in the final period.
Evans’ first goal of the game and season tied it with 2:31 left in the first. His second, a wrist shot over goalie Spencer Knight’s stick side with the Canadiens skating short-handed, gave Montreal a 2-1 lead 7:51 into the second period.
Guhle also beat Knight on the stick side, his shot from the left point screened by Josh Anderson.
Mike Matheson added an empty-net goal with 2:38 remaining.
CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks returned to the ice for game action on Friday night for the first time in 6 days. This long time spent idle gave the Blackhawks time to practice and rest in preparation for the rest of the long season.
In their black alternate sweaters for the first time in 2026-27, the Hawks played host to the Montreal Canadiens. Right off the bat, the Blackhawks looked like the team that had lots of rest going in. After getting through the first shift of the game, where Montreal controlled the puck, the Blackhawks started to take control for a while.
At 4:23 of the first period, Connor Bedard scored to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Patrick Kane made a heads-up play in the neutral zone to feed Bedard for a rush. The Blackhawks' captain didn't miss with a snipe.
Between the Hawks being off for 6 days and them being shut out by the Dallas Stars in their most recent game, that was the first goal they scored in over a week of real time.
Later in the first period, Jake Evans scored to tie the game at 1. Former Blackhawks 3rd overall pick Kirby Dach made the play to set up the tying goal, Evans' first of the season. That 1-1 tie made its way into the first intermission.
In the second period, the Blackhawks had a couple of power-play chances early. They've been using 5 forwards with the man advantage with Bowen Byram out, and it hasn't been working. Without a defenseman out there, they are prone to giving up shorthanded opportunities.
One of those short-handed chances came back to bite them, as Jake Evans scored his second of the game after the Hawks allowed another odd-man rush. This goal gave the Habs a 2-1 lead - their first of the game.
In the third period, there were chances for both sides, but the only goal scored was an empty-netter for Montreal. The 4-1 score held as the final, as the Blackhawks skated off with another lackluster loss to a better team.
Spencer Knight made 24 saves on 27 shots. He would always say that he should have every save, but that is far from true. Between short-handed chances galore and lackluster effort at even strength in the second half of the game, it would be hard for any goalie to win. If the Blackhawks want to keep this two-game losing streak from getting ugly, they must be better at protecting the house.
The Chicago Blackhawks will welcome the Florida Panthers on Sunday for their 11th game of the season. This will be Chicago's 5th game out of 7 straight at home.
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.
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues recalled defenseman Quinton Burns from Springfield of the American Hockey League late Friday night.
The 21-year-old, a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, played in seven games for the Thunderbirds this season and had one assist and 29 penalty minutes.
After Theo Lindstein was sent down to Springfield on Thursday night, the Blues were left with six healthy defensemen, and although it is not likely that Burns makes his NHL debut on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes, it gives the team an extra blue liner while in the midst of a five-game homestand, and it will be Burns' first taste of NHL life during the season.
The Smiths Falls, Ontario native has six assists and 121 penalty minutes in 38 AHL regular-season games.
Lindstein played for the Thunderbirds on Friday in their 3-2 loss to Charlotte.
"He’s a big part of what we want to do and we have guys playing really well," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said about Lindstein. "So this is an opportunity for him to go get some game action so when he gets back up here, it hasn’t been a week like it was the last game he played. He’s just going to come back in here and get in the lineup and take someone’s job."
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.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are making their chances count and keeping Tampa Bay at arm’s length. Colorado took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission, answering the Lightning’s push with timely goals from Fedor Svechkov and Artturi Lehkonen, while Jake Guentzel scored twice on the power play to keep Tampa within striking distance. The Lightning lead 27-17 in shots on goal, but the Avalanche have made the most of their opportunities.
First Period
Martin Necas found Devon Toews in front of the net just 68 seconds into the game, with Nathan MacKinnon picking up the assist to give Colorado an early lead.
Jaden Schwartz appeared to tie the game nearly five minutes in, but the goal was waved off after he kicked the puck past Mackenzie Blackwood. Colorado capitalized shortly after, scoring on the power play at 5:52 with Brandon Hagel in the box for tripping. Nazem Kadri buried a pass from T.J. Hughes in the low slot to double the lead.
Martin Necas following practice on Monday.
Tampa had its chances, controlling possession at times and forcing Colorado’s defense to scramble around its own net. The Lightning also kept the Avalanche’s top line on the ice for extended shifts and tested Blackwood with a flurry of shots, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Despite being outshot 12-9, Colorado took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Second Period
Fedor Svechkov made it 3-0 just 24 seconds into the period, knocking in his own rebound past Andrei Vasilevskiy. Svechkov appeared to be looking for T.J. Hughes at the backdoor, but after Vasilevskiy poke-checked the puck, the rebound fell right back to Svechkov, who finished the play.
Logan O’Connor, playing for the first time this season after recovering from a lower-body injury and dealing with the loss of his father, was called for a two-minute goaltender interference penalty. Vasilevskiy had left his crease to make a save near the backdoor, and O’Connor, closing in quickly, had little time to avoid the collision. Colorado killed off the penalty.
Tampa later earned a 4-on-3 power play after Taylor Makar tripped Conor Geekie. Following the whistle, Sam Malinski cross-checked Dominic James, sparking a brief scuffle along the boards. Both players received roughing minors. On the ensuing power play, Jake Guentzel cut into Colorado’s lead, punching in a rebound off a one-timer from Charle-Edouard D’Astous.
After Colorado killed off a tripping penalty to Lehkonen with 7:10 remaining, the winger got his own goal back. MacKinnon set him up in the low slot, and Lehkonen buried his ninth goal in 11 games to restore the Avalanche’s three-goal cushion at 4-1.
Unlike in their previous two games, the Avalanche were making their chances count while doing a better job defensively and breaking up Tampa’s plays.
Colorado was called for too many men on the ice with less than three minutes remaining, and Tampa struck again on the power play. Brayden Point fed Guentzel at the doorstep for his second goal of the night, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
The Avalanche challenged the goal, arguing that the puck had hit the upper netting before crossing the line. After an extensive review, officials determined the puck had hit the glass, not the netting, and the goal stood.
Through 40 minutes, Colorado held a 4-2 lead, but Tampa continued to pour on the pressure, building a 27-17 advantage in shots on goal.
OTTAWA — After Connor Hellebuyck was traded to the Devils on Friday, the Metropolitan Division is officially a gauntlet of goaltending.
The deal — which features Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, Alexander Command, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-rounder as the return for the longtime Jets goalie — puts arguably the three best goaltenders in the world in the tri-state area.
Teams will have to face Igor Shesterkin (when he returns from injury next season), Ilya Sorokin and Hellebuyck during the New York-New Jersey swing.
Connor Hellebuyck was traded to the Devils on Friday. Getty Images
The Capitals also have Logan Thompson, a goalie with a career .911 save percentage, manning their net.
“I mean, Sorokin, Hellebuyck, Shesterkin, it’s a lot of good goalie [play],” Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan said after practice at Canadian Tire Centre on Friday. “There’s a lot of good goalies. It’s going to challenge our shooters.”
Since the 2020-21 season, when Sorokin made his NHL debut, the three tri-state netminders round out the top four save percentages in the league among goaltenders with at least 150 games played over that span.
Though Shesterkin leads the pack with a .916 save percentage, which is tied with Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark, Hellebuyck and Sorokin are tied with the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy at .915.
The Rangers’ No. 1 goalie, who is out for the season with a knee injury he sustained in the club’s’ sixth game, has the best goals against average of the trio since 2020-21 at 2.51.
Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers is sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Getty Images
Hellebuyck (2.55) has a slight edge over Sorokin (2.58) in that category.
The Hellebuyck-to-New Jersey trade was a blockbuster that finally ended the 33-year-old’s saga in Winnipeg.
After missing the playoffs last season, Hellebuyck requested a trade out of Winnipeg despite five seasons remaining on his contract. The Jets, Hellebuyck and his agent made it public at the end of August.
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin protects the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Crowned the best goaltender in the world as he accepted his Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Milan in February, Hellebuyck is now bringing his talents to the East Coast.
For the second straight practice, Sean Durzi did not participate for what the Rangers are describing as “maintenance” purposes.
Asked if there was concern about the 28-year-old defenseman not being able to play Saturday against the Senators, Sullivan did not offer much.
“I don’t know. He’s got a maintenance day right now,” he said. “We’ll see how he is, and we’ll make a decision.”
Matthew Robertson was recalled from Hartford late Friday night, which gives the Rangers two extra defensemen in case Durzi is unavailable.
Late in the third period in Monday’s win over the Ducks, Durzi blocked a shot that hit his hand. It’s unclear if there’s any correlation between the play and his maintenance days, but Durzi notably didn’t log any shorthanded minutes in Toronto on Thursday.
After turning a professional tryout agreement into a one-year contract, Luke Glendening is eligible to make his Rangers debut any game now. Sullivan wouldn’t commit to when that would be.
“We’re taking each day as it comes,” he said. “You know, see how he feels, and then we’ll make decisions game by game here. But we feel like he’s getting closer.”
Eeli Tolvanen did not participate in practice Friday for personal reasons.
DENVER — Taylor Makar has been recalled to the Colorado Avalanche as the team prepares to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.
Makar has gotten off to a strong start with the Colorado Eagles, recording three goals and one assist in six games this season. In 12 NHL appearances last season, Makar has yet to record a point.
The 25-year-old forward was selected by Colorado in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft and spent four seasons playing college hockey, including three years at UMass Amherst before transferring to the University of Maine.
In his final season at Maine, Makar recorded 18 goals and 12 assists for 30 points in 38 games. He also put up 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in 52 games with the Eagles last season.
Martin Necas after practice on Monday.
The Avalanche are expected to dress 12 forwards against Tampa Bay after frequently using an 11-forward, seven-defenseman lineup this season due to injuries to Nicolas Roy, Logan O’Connor and Zach L’Heureux.
O’Connor is set to return to the lineup Friday, while Gavin Brindley, who has played in each of Colorado’s last four games, is heading back to the minors.
The Avalanche (5-4-1) will face a Lightning team (6-2) coming off a 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Vegas, of course, was the team that swept Colorado out of the Western Conference Final back in May.
The Avalanche return to Denver after a disappointing road trip that saw them drop consecutive games. Colorado fell 3-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers, who entered the matchup with just one win on the season, before losing 4-3 to the New Jersey Devils. The Avalanche trailed 4-1 in that game before Artturi Lehkonen scored twice late, but New Jersey had controlled much of the matchup.
Head coach Jared Bednar didn’t mince words when discussing his team’s performance, telling Altitude Sports Radio that they were “two of the worst games I’ve seen our team play in years.”
Colorado will look to turn things around Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Taylor Makar could provide a fresh face in the lineup. The forward is off to a strong start with the Colorado Eagles, recording three goals and an assist in six games, and will look to carry that production over as he searches for his first career NHL goal.
The Pittsburgh Penguins reshaped their blue line this summer, making a few moves to give the defense corps an entirely new look.
And one of the casualties of that reshaping became a bit of a casualty with his new team, too.
On Friday, the Winnipeg Jets placed former Penguins' defenseman Jack St. Ivany on waivers. The 6-foot-4, 197-pound blueliner was dealt to the Jets this summer in exchange for forward David Gustafsson, who is currently playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins, Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate.
In four games with Winnipeg this season, St. Ivany has no points, is a minus-1, and has averaged 13:31 of ice time per game.
St. Ivany, 27, was a fourth-round pick (112th overall) of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2018. He signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent in the summer of 2022, and his play for WBS that season and in his 14 NHL games during the 2023-24 season - particularly, on the defensive side of the puck - earned him a three-year contract worth $850,000 annually with Pittsburgh.
The next two seasons didn't fare quite as well for St. Ivany at the NHL level, and as a result, he was between the NHL and AHL levels from 2024-2026 before he was traded to Winnipeg. In 57 career NHL games, St. Ivany has amassed nine assists.
The Buffalo Sabres, losers of three of their last four games and tied with Montreal at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, head out on a four game road trip, starting with their first meeting with former teammate Alex Tuch in Washington on Saturday. The club will then head west for a swing through California to finish out the month of October against San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles, but they could be without one of their key youngsters.
Forward Jiri Kulich was struck by a puck at the start of practice at KeyBank Center on Friday. The 22-year-old was bloodied and helped off the ice.
"(It) didn't look good. I don't have an update,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after practice. “We'll get (an update) as soon as he's been evaluated, but he's at the doctor now."
The 22-year-old has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in eight games. Kulich had his minutes limited in training camp after missing most of last season with a blood clot issue and has missed two of Buffalo’s 10 games, including last week’s 5-4 overtime win over Toronto because of precautionary reasons
#Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff on Jiri Kulich getting injured at practice "(it)didn't look good. I don't have an update....he's been evaluated. pic.twitter.com/N6mLwDL467
In other Atlantic Division injury news, Canadiens center Nick Suzuki is expected to be out two-to-four weeks with a hand injury. The Habs are tied with the Sabres at 10 points after losing to San Jose 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday, and have been looking to add a second line center since last season. The Suzuki injury leaves Montreal stretched thin even more up the middle, with Oliver Kapanen, Alex Newhook, and Kirby Dach likely have to move up into top six roles.
The Ottawa Senators got defenseman Jake Sanderson back against Florida on Wednesday, but lost former Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark to a groin injury in the third period. Ullmark was place on injured reserve on Thursday, but it is unknown how long he will be out.
The Sabres will have to keep pace in the competitive Atlantic playing on the road the rest of the month, as they trail first place Boston by seven points, and a cluster of three teams (Tampa Bay, Ottawa, and Toronto) at 14 points.
On Friday morning, before the Winnipeg Jets traded Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils, sources told The Hockey News that the New York Islanders could serve as a third team in a potential Hellebuyck deal, depending on the destination.
The Jets have also been scouting the Islanders over the last few games.
Ultimately, New Jersey and Winnipeg completed the blockbuster without needing a third team to asbord salary or take on player for roster purposes.
However, had Hellebuyck landed elsewhere, a third-party facilitator may have been necessary.
The deal: Winnipeg traded Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils for forward Dawson Mercer, injured forward Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, 2026 first-round pick Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
The Islanders, off to a 5-3-2 start through 10 games, are missing that elusive goal scorer and still have questions about their defense.
General manager Mathieu Darche currently has $1.986 million in available space, but the Islanders can create additional flexibility by moving on from injured defenseman Alexander Romanov.
Under the new CBA, the Islanders could receive up to $3.97 million in relief by placing Romanov on LTIR. They also have the option to place him on Season-Ending LTIR, which would give them $6.25 million in relief, but he'd be ruled out of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs if the Islanders qualified.
Darche has been involved in the trade market this season but has yet to take part.
To the relief of many in NHL circles, the saga swirling around goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has finally come to a close, as the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner was dealt to the New Jersey Devils on Friday for center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, 2026 first-rounder Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, and a pair of draft picks.
Until the very end, the Buffalo Sabres were connected to the gold-medal winning netminder, as recently as this week leading up to the deal, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on Thursday’s 32 Thoughts podcast that the Sabres and the Utah Mammoth were hoping that Winnipeg would feel the pressure of moving Hellebuyck prior to the end of his suspension on Friday, and that they were waiting for the asking price would come down.
Hellebuyck trade confirms that Sabres believe Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is their goalie going forward.
The rumors may have understandably caused a distraction with Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who reportedly could have been part of a trade for Hellebuyck around the NHL Draft in June, and may have been moved elsewhere had GM Jarmo Kekalainen been able to consummate a deal.
"(You) kind of learn to deal with (the rumors). You can't escape it," Luukkonen said after being informed about the trade. "I don't go automatically to read (trade rumors), but I think anybody who says that they don't see it or they don't read it. They're lying, because you can't really escape it nowadays. If I'm not on social media, my friends will send it to me. So you can't escape it and I think and it's a stupid mentality to think that ' if I don't see it, it's not happening.' "
Luukkonen is focused on being more consistent after an up-and-down start to the season, something that head coach Lindy Ruff is looking for from his starter, who is expected to make his fifth start in a row against Washington on Saturday.
" I think there's been just key saves at key times in the games for us that has really made a difference. We know that there's kind of a threshold (Luukkonen) gets to when he plays a number of games, and then we need to get somebody else in the net." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "I think any time a goalie gets to roll a few games in a row, he gets a little bit of momentum and starts to feel good about parts of his game."
VOORHEES, N.J. — Cole Knuble absorbed some serious licks in his first two NHL games.
The hits were so heavy and loud, they caught the attention of the Flyers in a few ways.
In concern, but also admiration.
“He may not want to take those hits every game,” Travis Sanheim said with a laugh Friday after practice.
But the Flyers know the fearlessness of the 5-foot-10 Knuble has been a good thing. The 22-year-old forward will take a hit to make a play. He’ll attack the net without hesitation. And that has all led to early success.
In just his second NHL game, Knuble scored his first two goals, helping lead the Flyers to a 3-1 win Wednesday night over the Sabres. Both plays came right around the net.
“I think it’s just the style that he plays, he wants to go to those areas,” Sanheim said. “He competes at a high level and isn’t afraid out there as a young guy. He does a lot of the little things right, his attention to detail is great. It was nice to see him get two the other night.”
Not only has he scored a couple of goals, but he has also made winning type of plays late in the game. Ones that have required a beating on the body. Knuble has clearly embraced a bottom-six role. He has played 12:04 minutes per game, but Rick Tocchet didn’t rule out an increase in ice time.
“The thing with him, he can probably get more,” Tocchet said. “He will get more if he continues his path. But he has embraced who he is — he’s a hard forechecking guy. … He has taken the puck to the net more than anybody. He has taken three huge hits. That’s the one thing I’ve got to talk to him about. But twice he made a play, he knew he was going to get hit to make the play. That takes a lot of guts and courage.
“For him, just continue that path and then minutes will come, position will come up higher in the lineup if you continue to embrace who you are. Which he is.”
In the third period of his NHL debut Monday night, Knuble made a strong play to the net. But when he arrived there with the puck, he was flattened by a check from Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson.
Trevor Zegras couldn’t help but smile Friday when he was asked about Knuble’s moxie. His suggestion to the youngster was occasionally slowing down and finding the trailer.
“I was telling him, ‘Just pull up and hit the late guy sometimes,'” Zegras said with a laugh. “He doesn’t need to put his body on the line in every situation. But for a young guy to get to those areas and those spots, it’s pretty amazing.”
Knuble’s third game should be a fun atmosphere. The Flyers on Saturday welcome the Ducks to Xfinity Mobile Arena (1 p.m. ET/NBCSP). The two teams have become a budding rivalry, ignited by Cutter Gauthier’s refusal to play for the Flyers. Zegras, a former Duck, added a chapter to the rivalry last season.
This summer, there was another element with the Flyers’ offer sheet to Leo Carlsson. Anaheim ended up matching the offer to keep its franchise center from leaving for the Flyers.
“As players, you kind of just wait and see what happens,” Zegras said. “I mean, we never really had him. It would’ve been cool, but it didn’t work out, so it is what it is.”
The Flyers are expecting a lively crowd Saturday.
“We came in this morning, a lot of us were talking about it in the room,” Denver Barkey said. “Just remember last year’s game, how intense that was. There’s a little bit more to it this year again I think. We’re all looking forward to it, it’s a big game, Saturday, 1 o’clock, can’t beat it. Get a good sleep tonight, we’ll be ready tomorrow.”
The injury bug on the defense for the Toronto Maple Leafs continues, as the team announced that Marshall Rifai and Nick Blankenburg were both placed on IR. With that, defensemen Dakota Mermis and Cole McWard were recalled from the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
Rifai and Blankenburg's injury comes on top of the team losing Chris Tanev earlier in the season, yet 20-year-old D-man Ben Danford hasn't gotten a chance, and Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller explained why.
"I think the one mistake you can make is maybe trying to rush people, and so we've got good options," Hiller explained after Friday's practice. "So you know he was considered, but you know the time is Mermis and McWard."
Danford has played six games in the minors so far this year, recording three assists along the way for the Marlies. He missed one game this season with a lower-body injury, but has played in the team's last three games.
He first made his professional hockey debut in last year's playoff campaign. Danford featured in 16 Calder Cup appearances, scoring a goal and two points in Toronto's championship run.
Also, going back to training camp, while Morgan Rielly dealt with his viral condition, Danford filled in with the first group, which was predominantly an NHL roster.
Of the two call-ups on the back end, Mermis was the first to get reps on the third pairing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He played 11 games with the Leafs last season and is familiar with Ekman-Larsson.
"We have played a little bit before, so I know him well and obviously a good player and you know what you're getting," Ekman-Larsson said of Mermis. "He's a hardworking defenseman and makes that first pass easy and quick. So I like his game."
Outside of Mermis' 11 games last year, he has a total of 89 games played in the NHL. With an opponent such as the Edmonton Oilers coming up, the 32-year-old would be one of the more reliable options in Toronto's system as the team looks to fill the gaps on the blueline.
"I think that's that's easier for him for sure," Hiller said of Mermis, citing his NHL experience. "He's played a lot. He played well. Mature, strong player. I think he's you know he's kind of NHL ready I would say. So we're not worried about him if he's to go in. Played really well in the pre-season too, by the way."
McWard comes in with much less experience in the NHL. He's featured in just nine outings, three of which were with the Vancouver Canucks last year. Hiller hasn't interacted with him much, considering they're both new to the team and have never had a history before, but the bench boss understands what the 25-year-old can bring.
"Well, it's funny. I was talking to him - I think I coached against him in his first NHL game, so I've seen him play in the league," Toronto's head coach recalled. "He does a good job. Been good with the Marlies, and when he gets his chance, I'm sure he'll be fine."
The Maple Leafs open up a western Canadian road trip beginning with their battle against the Oilers this Saturday, followed by the Calgary Flames on Monday, then south of the border to visit the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, and back up to British Columbia to see the Canucks next Saturday.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
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.
Paul Cotter had a dream start to his Vancouver Canucks career. Over his first four games, he scored four goals and, at the time, was the only player in the NHL to find the back of the net at even strength, on the power play and shorthanded. Unfortunately, the offence has dried up for Cotter since, as he has just one assist over his last eight appearances.
Despite the lack of production, Cotter is still logging some decent ice time. He has surpassed the 14-minute mark in 11 of his 12 games and is averaging 15:01 per night. In an interview with The Hockey News, Cotter recapped his first month with the Canucks.
"I'd say that I'm very fortunate to be playing the minutes that I'm playing," said Cotter. "I've been asking and praying throughout my career to be around 15+minutes, and that's what I'm getting. So, on one hand, it's been great being put in situations that I've been asking for, and I've been on the power play, penalty kill, different situations and stuff I've done well with, but now it's the consistency to keep it. Past couple games, I don't think that I've been good enough in that role for my liking at least."
Cotter is the type of player who usually impacts the game outside of the scoresheet. He plays a physical game and can consistently get in on the forecheck thanks to his speed. As Cotter explained, he needs to improve those areas of his game to have a successful campaign.
"It's not even as much production. Like, scoring goals and getting assists, that's always awesome and fun. But for myself, one of my biggest assets, I think, is getting pucks back on the forecheck. Physicality is always going to be there no matter what so, really think I can work on that. I think for me, getting into the offensive zone, forecheck, getting pucks back, holding on to pucks, creating possession time in the O-zone, that's one of my strong suits. And felt for whatever reason, if I'm not connected to some guys or whatever it has been the past couple of games, that's on me. Once that starts clicking for me, that's when I start feeling good, not content and a little bit more happy with my play."
Like Cotter, Vancouver jumped out to an impressive start, winning two of their first three games. Since then, though, the wheels have come off for the Canucks, and they are currently on a nine-game winless streak. When asked about the team's morale, Cotter spoke about the challenges of staying positive when the team is constantly losing.
"It's difficult to do that. In times like this, I think the morale really isn't there as much as the perseverance and kind of being dialled in; the preparation needs to be better. Obviously, when teams are on a winning streak, or you're feeling good, things might be a little bit looser. You're able to play with a little bit more swagger. The fun comes out then. But when you're losing games in a row, that looseness isn't there. In order to get that back, we need to dial into our game. Once we're playing our game consistently, then the results should come in. That's when you know, hate to say a little bit looser, but you start to feel it a little bit more. Each guy's lines are starting to click. That's when the energy gets going, and the morale gets up."
During a rebuild, fans and the media often throw around the term moral victory. A moral victory usually happens when a team like Vancouver plays hard against a stronger team but still comes up short on the scoreboard. According to Cotter, while there are positives that can be taken away from a loss, players aren't focused on wins that don't matter to the standings.
"Yes and no. I'd say more so no. Obviously, you want positive. You want a positive mindset. You want to bring your teammates up and do what you can, especially if you're an older guy or a leader. Like, that's your responsibility. It's not always be negative, but there are times when constructive criticism comes into play. At the end of the day, we are fighting for a win. And if we don't get that, then we failed. So, in a way, yes, you can't be all negative. Have to have some positivity. Each one of us throughout the game has a couple good shifts or a couple good things that we do. We know that. But obviously, as professionals, I mean NHL players, we're perfectionists. So every mistake is magnified, especially when you're losing. And so those small victories kind of go unnoticed and disregarded when we're in a situation like this."
Based on his deployment so far, Cotter could play a big role for the Canucks this season. He appears to have earned the trust of the coaching staff, as not only is he getting time on special teams, but he has also featured in the top six on multiple occasions. A pending unrestricted free agent this off-season, a strong campaign for Cotter could also lead to a significant raise at the end of the year.
Oct 22, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Paul Cotter (47) skates in warm up prior to a game against the Detroit Red Wings 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 day has come. The Connor Hellebuyck saga in Winnipeg has finally come to an end. The three-time Vezina trophy winner is on the move. The lucky team?
Nick Bjugstad was a part of the deal that included Alexander Command, Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
The trade comes at the end of the suspension by the Jets for failing to report to training camp ahead of the season. He forfeited $927,835.05 in salary over his 24-day suspension.
Bjugstad, 34, has been on the long-term injury reserve to start the season. He was acquired by the Devils last year before the trade deadline.
The former Wild center spent two seasons in Minnesota where he recorded 13 goals, 17 assists and 30 points in 101 games.
The 6-foot-6 forward from Minneapolis, Minnesota, has 163 goals, 176 assists and 339 points in 821 career NHL games.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
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.
