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."
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.
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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
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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.
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COLUMBUS, OHIO - APRIL 4: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets skates on the ice during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on April 4, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/NHLI via Getty Images)
NHLI via Getty Images
Connor Hellebuyck finally has a new home after the Winnipeg Jets granted the three-time Vezina Trophy winning goaltender’s trade request in a deal that sent him to the New Jersey Devils on Friday.
The Devils sent center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.
The long-awaited trade ends months of speculation, a failed bid to move the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winner and 2024-25 NHL MVP in June, and the Jets’ suspension of Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp in a standoff that required the involvement of the league and the Players’ Association.
The 33-year-old Hellebuyck, who backstopped the U.S. to Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games in February, leaves Winnipeg after spending his entire 11-year career there. Hellebuyck joins Jack Hughes, who scored in overtime of the final to defeat Canada, with the Devils and immediately puts them closer to being a Stanley Cup contender.
When training camp opened, new Devils general manager Sunny Mehta said he was very comfortable with the team’s goaltending situation. Since then, Jake Allen and Nico Daws have combined for an .880 save percentage, which ranks 23rd among 32 teams.
It was not immediately clear how soon Hellebuyck might be ready to play for his new team. He has been skating in his home state of Michigan while trade talks were ongoing.
Hellebuyck has five seasons left on a seven-year contact with an annual salary cap hit of $8.5 million.
On Friday morning, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report that the New Jersey Devils were working with the Winnipeg Jets on a potential deal to bring 33-year-old goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey.
Sources: New Jersey and Winnipeg are working on a Connor Hellebuyck deal.
Hellebuyck, who helped lead the U.S. men’s hockey team to Olympic gold in February alongside Devils star forward Jack Hughes, requested a trade from Winnipeg this summer and did not report to training camp in September. His suspension for failing to report was set to expire Friday, Oct. 23.
In the afternoon, it was reported that in return New Jersey sent 24-year-old versatile foward Dawson Mercer, goaltender Nico Daws, 2026 12th overall pick Alexander Command, veteran forward Nick Bjugstad, a second round draft pick in 2029, and seventh round pick in 2027 to Winnipeg.
Last season, Mercer spoke with The Hockey News about the seemingly never-ending trade rumors that had followed his name.
“It has honestly been for a few years now, different trades, but that stuff is white noise,” he said back in January. “It doesn't matter. I don't really pay much attention to that stuff. That is all stuff out of your control. I come in here, try to get better every day, and help the team win. I love it here, so it is coming in and going out there every day with the guys.”
Mercer made his NHL debut with the Devils on Oct 15, 2021. He appeared in 410 consecutive games over the next five seasons, collecting 209 points (103 goals, 106 assists). He broke Scott Gomez's Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts record when he played his 141st consecutive game to start an NHL career at Prudential Center on Feb. 25, 2023.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Hellebuyck has spent his entire 11-season NHL career with the Jets. Winnipeg reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven of those seasons, making its deepest run in 2017-18, when it advanced to the Western Conference Final before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Individually, Hellebuyck has earned three Vezina Trophies as the NHL’s top goaltender and one Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s most valuable player.
The 33-year-old Michigan native is in the third season of a seven-year, $59.5 million contract.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
New Jersey opened the 2026-27 season with Jake Allen, 36, and 25-year-old Daws sharing goaltending duties. The duo has helped the Devils to a 6-4-0 record through 10 games, good for 12 points and the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot, behind the Toronto Maple Leafs. Additionally, Mehta claimed netminder Rémi Poirier off waivers from the Dallas Stars in late September.
The Devils are scheduled to face the Jets in Winnipeg for the first time this season on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
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The St. Louis Blues defeated the Vegas Golden Knights by a 6-2 final score on Thursday night.
Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Justin Barron played a major role in the Blues' win, as he had a monster game.
Barron scored a goal and recorded four points in the Blues' victory against the Golden Knights. With this, the former Canadiens defenseman had a game that he will remember for a long time.
After this impressive performance, Barron now has one goal and five points in seven games this season. This is after he had zero goals and nine assists in 52 games with the Nashville Predators this past campaign.
The Blues claimed Barron off waivers from the Predators ahead of the 2026-27 season. Clearly, after this game, St. Louis must be happy that they took a chance on the former Canadiens defenseman.
Barron spent four seasons with the Canadiens from 2021-22 to 2024-25. In 109 games with the Habs over that span, he posted 13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points, 131 hits, and a minus-11 rating.
Barron's time with the Canadiens ended when he was traded to the Predators in the deal that brought defenseman Alexandre Carrier to Montreal. This is a trade that has aged excellently for the Canadiens.
ORCHARD PARK, NY - JANUARY 01: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck in the third period of the NHL Winter Classic against the Buffalo Sabres at the Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 1, 2008 in Orchard Park, New York. The Penguins won the game 2-1 in a shoot out. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Evgeni Malkin’s demeanor last night caught some attention on social media. Malkin barely celebrated scoring a goal, and didn’t emerge from the tunnel (as the standard to take a little lap on the ice and acknowledge the home crowd) when named one of the game’s three stars. That behavior could be explained by the news today Malkin would not practice due to an illness. Forward Egor Chinakhov, dealing with a lingering minor injury that’s had him in and out of the lineup over the last week, was also absent.
Forwards Egor Chinakhov (lower-body) and Evgeni Malkin (illness) will not practice today. pic.twitter.com/IgdUUOL1pp
Practice held some intrigue, the Penguins took to the ice in blue pants and helmets to work in their gear before the upcoming Hometown Remix altenate jerseys make their debut on the November 3rd home game against Vegas.
The text is believed to be a Caeser cypher message of: “What’s old is new”.
There have been a couple of conflicting images floating around social media. One is an Andy Warhol-inspired type of jersey that frankly looks a little too out there of a concept to be an actual NHL jersey.
There’s another rumored design where the Pens will use a retro logo of the ‘fat’ Penguin crest that the team used back in their inaugural 1967-68 season. That would be a fitting touch for the club now celebrating it’s 60th year. This might have more truth behind it than the Warhol design, being as the team is reportedly already selling the logo in their store on a hat.
with the #HometownRemix reveal just around the corner, here’s what we know so far…
Going back to that first logo certainly would fit the “What’s old is new” messaging.
Whether there’s an official reveal ahead of time or not, what we do know is that the Penguins will be back in blue jerseys for the first time since 2013 soon enough. They’re scheduled to wear these Hometown Remix jerseys ten times this season, in a couple weeks on November 3rd.
The Chicago Blackhawks (3-6-0) are finally going to be back in game action following their six days away. During that time, they practiced hard and had some rest, as there is a lot of the season- nearly 90%- in front of them.
The Montreal Canadiens (4-3-2) are in town for their one trip to the United Center. They have a better record than the Blackhawks, but they would tell you that they are off to a lackluster start. After making it to the Eastern Conference Final in the spring, they have high expectations.
Scouting Montreal
The Montreal Canadiens will be without their captain, Nick Suzuki, for 2-4 weeks, starting with their match in Chicago. This ends his Ironman streak of 546 consecutive games. With Suzuki missing, this is how their lineup is projected to look:
Slafkovsky – Kapanen – Caufield
Anderson – Newhook – Kreider
Bolduc – Danault – Texier
Dach – Evans – Beck
Hutson – Dobson
Carrier - Guhle
Xhekaj – Engstrom
Fowler
Dobes
This projected lineup is good, but there is a massive hole at center without Suzuki in the mix. They are also without winger Ivan Demidov, who has been missing for most of the season so far. Chicago fans who enjoy the draft know Demidov well, as he was an option for the Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Draft, but they opted for defenseman Artyom Levshunov.
Even without those two, guys up front like Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield can carry the weight. They aren’t as dynamic a team without Suzuki and Demidov, but they are trying to push through with what they have.
It’s a good group on defense, but Lane Hutson is a budding superstar in this league. He has the offensive tools that may allow him to win a Norris Trophy or two in the future. His partner, Noah Dobson, is also a very good two-way defender. Dobson makes it easy for Hutson to play his game without worry.
If the Blackhawks are going to win, they must exploit Montreal’s weakness down the middle, make life hard on the top pair of Hutson-Dobson, and get traffic in front of whichever goalie gets the start.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks are as healthy at forward as they’ve been all season. They have the full group available to them for this game. That includes Andrew Mangiapane, who skated in a regular-contact sweater during practice on Thursday, but he is expected to be a healthy scratch.
On defense, Bowen Byram has been missing for a few games with what the team is calling an upper-body injury. They have recently said that he is trending in the right direction.
Kantserov-Bedard-Kane
Bertuzzi-Frondell-Teravainen
Moore-Nazar-Donato
Smith-Greene-Greenway
Vlasic-Cole
Kaiser-Levshunov
Del Mastro-Rinzel
Knight
You can expect Ethan Del Mastro to continue skating in Byram's spot on defense. He won’t be on the top pair like Byram, but he would be the guy to dress. Kevin Korchinski, who can’t seem to buy ice time in games that count, would be the healthy scratch.
Up front, Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, and Ryan Greene are getting the reps at center. Although Roman Kantserov and Oliver Moore are more than capable of playing the position, Jeff Blashill enjoys having them on the wing. Only time will tell if that’s actually the best course of action.
Speaking of Kantserov, his line with Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane has been good. Even against the Dallas Stars, who shut down the Hawks all game, the Bedard line had a great chance or two.
Overall, Montreal isn’t Dallas, but that’s especially true as they navigate through injuries. Weaknesses are there to be exposed, and the Blackhawks have shown they can do it to the non-elite teams. Against middle-of-the-pack squads, they have a chance. Montreal is likely better than that, but they haven’t started the season playing like an elite team, and the Blackhawks are trying to take advantage.
Spencer Knight will start in goal for Chicago. This will be his 5th straight start and 8th start over the first 10 games. The break between games 9 and 10 play a role in that, but they rely heavily on their number one goalie.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. It can be seen locally on CHSN. Nationally, you can watch it on NHL Network. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT.
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Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice had some strong words for his players on Thursday night.
His comments came shortly after Florida’s 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
It was the Panthers second lopsided defeat in as many days, following a 5-1 drubbing the night before in Ottawa.
“I don’t know if it’s (that) we’re on the spectrum of arrogance and softness that I’ve allowed to creep into our game,” Maurice said after the game. “I’m going to find that out here in a couple days.”
Florida had been riding high before hitting the road, winners of three straight games by a combined score of 18-8.
Something changed between an 8-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, a game that saw the Panthers record a pair of hat tricks (by Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett), and Wednesday’s rough outing against the Senators.
Still, the Panthers are a team that has been incredibly resilient over the past several seasons, rarely getting into lasting funks while often playing themselves back into form by relying on the systems they run.
This week, however, it seems something sinister has crept into the team’s efforts.
With a great opportunity on Thursday night to bounce back after the spanking by the Senators, and having the extra motivation of playing in front of a young goaltender making his NHL debut, the Panthers once again floundered.
“It’s very difficult to win in hockey games in this league when your team scores zero in front of you and gets what it deserves,” Maurice said after praising Cooper Black’s efforts in his first taste of national league action.
So what went wrong that has the team suddenly so out of whack?
“I’ve got to sort that out,” Maurice said. “I’ve got to figure out where it’s coming from. I think it’s coming from me, so I’ve got a good 48 hours to grind on that and come up with an answer.”
The Panthers were back on the road Friday, making the short trip from Pittsburgh to Chicago where they’ll face the Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon.
Florida has a practice scheduled for Saturday at the Blackhawks’ training facility, and it should be an interesting one.
“I just need to get their attention,” Maurice said.
Photo caption: Oct 22, 2026;Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Cooper Black (31) and defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) defend a shot byPittsburghPenguinscenter Sidney Crosby (87) during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
The Columbus Blue Jackets are already in a tough division, and the way this year has started, it's going to get even tougher.
There was big news dropped by several NHL Insiders this morning that will no doubt plung the Metro into an even deeper abyss.
Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck will be apparently be acquired by the New Jersey Devils in what is said to be a three team trade.
Hellebucyk, 33, is in the third season of a seven-year, $8.5 million AAV contract he signed with the Jets.
The Blue Jackets will now have to contend with Connor Hellebuyck, Brandon Bussi, Pyotr Kochetkov, Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov, Charlie Lindgren, Logan Thompson, and, when he's healthy, Igor Shesterkin.
The Jets get back Dawson Mercer, Alexander Command, Nick Bjugstad, Nico Daws, and two draft picks.
This won't be easy for the Blue Jackets to navigate, but then again, it never has been.
Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets are back home on Saturday to take on the Vegas Golden Knights.
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Theo Lindstein impressed during pre-season and earned a spot in the opening-night lineup, but after four games, he's back in the AHL.
Thursday night, the St. Louis Blues assigned the 21-year-old defenseman to the Springfield Thunderbirds. Lindstein played the first four games of the season, recording one assist while averaging 14:33 of ice time.
After those four games, Lindstein was replaced in the lineup by Justin Barron, a pre-season waiver claim. Since then, Lindstein has been a healthy scratch in six straight games, and after Barron posted a goal and four points against the Vegas Golden Knights, Barron doesn't appear to be leaving the lineup anytime soon.
The move to send Lindstein down to the AHL is wise. He is still very young, and playing in the AHL will do more for his development than sitting in the press box and skating as an extra at practice. Lindstein has shown more than enough to prove he will be an NHL-caliber defenseman for the Blues at some point.
As for the current makeup of the roster, Barron has excelled alongside Philip Broberg, Adam Jiricek has looked comfortable skating with Broberg or Colton Parayko and Cam Fowler and Brandon Carlo have been quite solid as the third pairing.
Additionally, Logan Mailloux and Tyler Tucker are working to recover from their injuries and return to play. They are both likely a few weeks out before they return. Up front, the Blues expect Alexey Toropchenko and Ross Johnston to return soon.
With their returns imminent, it's understandable why the Blues waived Zach Dean and now assigned Lindstein to the AHL.
The Thunderbirds play twice this week, both games on the road against the Charlotte Checkers. The Thunderbirds are currently 2-2-1 and sit in sixth place in the Atlantic Division.
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ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Washington Capitals defenseman Vincent Desharnais is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing a successful appendectomy.
The team said Friday he had his appendix removed on Thursday.
Desharnais, 30, is nine games into his first season with the Capitals after signing a four-year, $16.8 million contract with them as a free agent. He has three assists and is averaging more than 19 minutes of ice time.
The Laval, Quebec, native previously played for Edmonton, Vancouver, Pittsburgh and San Jose and helped the Oilers reach the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
