CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Florida Panthers at the United Center for a Sunday afternoon matinee. With the Panthers being one of the elite teams in the NHL based on their pedigree, the Blackhawks knew they would have to match that level of play for 60 minutes if they were going to have a chance.
The Blackhawks are in the middle of a run against many of the league's top teams. Jeff Blashill spoke before the game about how this is a good thing for his young group as they work towards becoming a winner themselves.
The Blackhawks are currently a team that gets off to a great start early in the game and lets it fall apart shortly after taking a lead. Well, this game had a similar start.
The Blackhawks took a 1-0 lead at 2:34 of the first period. Kevin Korchinski, who was inserted into the lineup for this game, threw one towards the net that was batted out of midair to Ryan Greene, whose first of the year gave the Blackhawks the lead.
When the first period was over, however, it was 2-1 Panthers thanks to goals scored by Sandis Vilmanis and Matthew Tkachuk. Once again, the Blackhawks couldn't get out of the first period with the lead after going up 1-0.
Unlike most games so far this season, however, the Blackhawks didn't totally fall apart in the second period. After being blown out on the shot clock in the first period (15-6), they kept it even at 9 apiece in the second.
The Blackhawks also scored the only goal of the middle frame. Roman Kantserov scored on a low shot immediately after receiving a pass from Patrick Kane. Connor Bedard also collected an assist on the goal. That 2-2 score held through the second intermission.
In the third period, the Panthers began with the advantage in terms of overall play, but they were unable to break through before the Blackhawks started to find their legs. An unfortunate line change, however, allowed Lars Eller to skate in and snipe one past Spencer Knight with 2:23 remaining.
The Blackhawks desperately tried to tie it with Knight on the bench for the extra attacker, but they were unable to get it done. The 3-2 score held as the final.
The power play (and special teams in general) were the biggest issue for the Blackhawks in this game. They went a stunning 0/7 with the man advantage and allowed 1 power-play goal to Florida on their 4 tries.
If the Blackhawks converted on just one of their chances, they would have at minimum earned 1 standings point in the game. Instead, their league-worst power play got even worse, and they got nothing in the standings. For a team that has trouble scoring as it is, missing this many times on the power play is going to sink them even further.
The Chicago Blackhawks will end their 7-game homestand on Tuesday. They will welcome the Los Angeles Kings to the United Center. After that, they will hit the road for two games against the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins.
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The Florida Panthers got off the schneid on Sunday afternoon in Chicago.
Fresh off a pair of frustrating, multi-goal defeats, the Panthers earned themselves a gritty 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
It wasn’t a great start for Florida, as the Cats were bogged down in their own zone during the early minutes of the game.
Chicago was able to capitalize when Ryan Greene finished off a quick play that saw a point shot by Kevin Korchinski go wide, but Andrew Mangiapane was below the goal line and quickly popped the puck to a wide-open Greene in the slot.
Just like that, it was 1-0 Blackhawks at the 2:34 mark.
That was apparently the wakeup call that Florida needed.
After a few strong shifts by the Panthers to change the momentum, Sandis Vilmanis pounced on a Sam Reinhart rebound to knot the score at one about four minutes later.
Florida then pulled off a couple strong penalty kills, including an extended 5-on-3, before Seth Jones fired a shot from distance that hit off Matthew Tkachuk’s body and went into the net, giving the Panthers their first lead of the day.
A tally by Roman Kantserov, the only goal scored in the second period, would send the game into the final frame knotted up at two.
That’s how the score would remain until the game’s final minutes.
Catching Chicago in a bad line change, Aaron Ekbald found Lars Eller all alone at the Blackhawks’ blue line with nobody in a red sweater anywhere close to him.
Eller walked in all alone on Spencer Knight and fired a shot from the right circle that sailed past Knight’s blocker and into the far side of the net with just 2:23 remaining.
Lars Eller with the LATE goal as the Hawks were changing for the lead 🚨
A few big saves by Akira Schmid later and Florida was back on the winning side of things.
Schmid came up huge throughout the game, but he came up with several crucial stops during the third period, including a couple breakaways and a big blocker stop on Patrick Kane in the final seconds.
He finished the game with 20 saves, including stops on eight of the nine high danger shots he faced, according to Natural Stat Trick.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year, $3 million contract to end a contract stalemate with a restricted free agent yet to play this season.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions announced the deal Sunday, coming after Nikishin's name had been mentioned as a potential trade candidate as he sat out to start the year.
“We’re glad that Alexander is returning to our group,” Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. “This has been a long process, but we look forward to him re-entering our locker room ready to contribute with the Hurricanes, as he did during a Stanley Cup championship season last year.”
The 25-year-old Nikishin was a third-round pick in the 2020 draft and had been considered a prized prospect. He made his NHL debut when he was pressed into duty due to injuries in the 2025 playoffs, which ended with a loss to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
Nikishin played 81 regular-season games last year and posted 11 goals, 22 assists and a plus-18 rating. He worked as a third-pairing defenseman while appearing in 17 of 19 postseason games as the Hurricanes won their second Cup, the other coming in 2006.
The Vegas Golden Knights are coming home with a three-game losing streak and a growing list of questions about how quickly they can rediscover the habits that fueled their strong start.
Vegas has surrendered 14 goals during the skid, following consecutive 6-2 losses to Tampa Bay and St. Louis, and Saturday’s 2-1 overtime defeat at Columbus.
But the latest setback offered a different concern. After struggling to keep opponents off the scoreboard, the Golden Knights tightened things considerably and still couldn’t generate enough offense to finish the job.
At 8-4-1, Vegas has room to correct its course. With two home games ahead, beginning Tuesday against Ottawa, three storylines deserve the closest attention.
1. Can Vegas make its defensive improvement stick?
Saturday represented progress after two games in which defensive breakdowns repeatedly became goals.
Carter Hart stopped 18 shots, and Vegas limited Columbus to one regulation goal. That gave the Golden Knights a foundation they badly needed after allowing six goals in consecutive outings.
The challenge now is making that structure repeatable.
Following the loss in St. Louis, coach Ryan Craig addressed hesitation when players had opportunities to pressure the puck.
“When you have a chance to close, we want you to go,” Craig said. “The four other guys are reading off you.”
That connection is essential. When one player pressures and the others hesitate, passing lanes open and opponents gain space to attack.
Coming home should give Vegas an opportunity to reinforce those reads through practice and familiar routines. The next step is carrying Saturday’s tighter coverage into another complete game while maintaining enough pressure to force opponents into mistakes.
One improved defensive performance offers encouragement. Consecutive performances would provide stronger evidence that the correction is taking hold.
2. When will the penalty kill stop deciding games?
The Golden Knights survived regulation Saturday, but their penalty kill couldn’t survive overtime.
Adam Fantilli’s power-play winner extended a troubling stretch: Vegas has allowed a power-play goal in five consecutive games.
That leaves almost no margin when the offense stalls.
The overtime situation was especially unforgiving, with Shea Theodore serving a holding penalty and Columbus enjoying a four-on-three advantage. Still, the larger issue extends beyond one penalty or one coverage decision.
Vegas needs cleaner clears, coordinated pressure and fewer opportunities
for opponents to establish possession and move the puck through dangerous areas.
Discipline matters, too. A struggling penalty kill becomes an even greater liability when it must repeatedly protect a tie or preserve a narrow lead.
For a team trying to regain control of games, special teams must become a source of stability. Right now, opponents believe one opportunity can change the outcome.
3. Can the offense recover without sacrificing structure?
Vegas has scored five goals in its three losses, a sharp drop from the 17 it scored during its preceding three-game winning streak.
Tomas Hertl supplied Saturday’s lone goal by finishing a rebound. That sequence offered a useful reminder of where offense can come from when cleaner opportunities disappear: traffic, second chances and persistence around the crease.
Mitch Marner missed both road games while staying in Las Vegas for his child's birth. His availability will be worth monitoring, but the offense is spread throughout the lineup.
The Golden Knights need more sustained possessions and more players arriving in scoring areas together.
They also must resist forcing plays simply because goals have become harder to find. That approach risks reopening the defensive problems they began addressing in Columbus.
The opportunity at home is straightforward: build on the improved defending, repair the penalty kill and generate offense that doesn’t depend on trading chances.
THIS WEEK
Tuesday vs. Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Vegas opens its two-game homestand against an Ottawa team coming off a seven-goal performance against the Rangers, including a Drake Batherson hat trick. Containing Batherson and Tim Stutzle will test whether the Golden Knights can build on their improved defensive effort in Columbus.
Friday vs. New Jersey Devils, 3 p.m.
The Nevada Day matinee brings a Devils team bolstered by Connor Hellebuyck, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner New Jersey acquired from Winnipeg. If Hellebuyck gets the start, Vegas will need traffic, rebounds and sustained pressure to challenge him. With Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt driving New Jersey’s attack, the Golden Knights must generate those chances without exposing themselves defensively.
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (5) picks up a loose puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Nationwide Arena.
Talk about an exciting weekend! The New Jersey Devils kicked it off with the Connor Hellebuyck blockbuster trade. The big news was on everyone’s mind heading into Saturday afternoon’s game and following the 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
“There should be a lot of noise about it. It's a huge splash for our team, our market,” Jack Hughes stated after the Devils' third win in a row. The Hellebuyck deal is where this week’s Devils Notebook begins. With a few days to process the trade, it’s a good time ot look at some lessons and takeaways from the deal for both the Devils, the Winnipeg Jets, and the NHL.
5 Lessons From The Connor Hellebuyck Trade
1. The best time to trade a player is early; the value only goes down from there. The analogy is a car: once it’s purchased, the value is at its highest. In the Jets’ case, they had offers when the draft took place.
There were reports that the Buffalo Sabres wanted to acquire Hellebuyck, and other teams were willing to move top draft picks to make the deal happen. Instead, the Jets waited, hoping the trade request from their goaltender would subside and that a better offer would come later.
Weeks turned into months, and the Heritage Classic, combined with a team-imposed suspension ending, put an official clock on this trade. The Jets had to get it done this weekend. Devils' general manager, Sunny Mehta, made his offer to acquire Hellebuyck at a time when he knew the Jets were desperate to get a deal done.
The return for many hockey fans appears underwhelming. The Devils gave up Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, Alexander Command, and two future draft picks. However, none of the draft picks were first-rounders, and Mercer is the only NHL-ready skater in the return.
The problem for the Jets is that their hands were tied. Hellebuyck had a no-trade clause and could pick his destination. Moreover, they had to trade him, and the rest of the league knew it.
That said, GM Kevyn Chevedeyoff waited until the last minute, even though he had better offers earlier. Many people would criticize Jim Rutherford for making trades well before deadlines, whether it was the Bo Horvat or Quinn Hughes deals. However, that approach gave the Vancouver Canucks the best possible offers, and when the best offer is on the table, it’s best not to wait.
2. Eventually, every GM must make a big swing to take a good team and put it over the hump. Mehta is coming over from the Florida Panthers, who were known for their aggressive approach under GM Bill Zito. Only three players on the back-to-back Cup-winning teams were drafted and developed by the team (Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, and Anton Lundell). The rest were signed in free agency or added in trades.
Zito’s early years as the Panthers team builder featured under-the-radar trades that turned into home runs. The Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett trades came at a low cost and gave them two top-six forwards. However, Zito had to take the big swing to turn the Panthers into a Cup contender.
That swing was Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers gave up a lot to get him, sending MacKenzie Weegar and Jonathan Huberdeau to the Calgary Flames. However, the Tkachuk move changed the team and built it for Cup runs.
Eric Tulsky operated the same way when he took over as the Carolina Hurricanes GM. His big swing was the Mikko Rantanen trade, yet what made that move more impressive is that he realized it wouldn’t work out and flipped the star to the Dallas Stars for Logan Stankoven, who became an integral part of the 2026 Cup-winning team (interestingly, the Rantanen addition also gave the Hurricanes Taylor Hall, who was also a pivotal part of the playoff run).
Sure, these trades can backfire. Nobody wants to be the GM who trades away Nick Suzuki for Max Pacioretty, yet everyone wants to be the Vegas Golden Knights, who made that deal along with the Jack Eichel and Mark Stone trades to build the 2023 Cup team.
Mehta is operating the same way but at a higher speed. He made his safe bets early on in his tenure, acquiring Amadeus Lombardi, Luke Evangelista, and a handful of depth players with upside in the offseason. Now, he’s ready to take swings. Hellebuyck is the big one who takes a Devils team that’s 7-4 and puts them in the contention conversation.
3. Great teams can never have enough depth. When Mehta took over the Devils, it was a priority to add depth both on the NHL roster and at the American Hockey League level. Having the extra players helps when the injuries pile up, but also allows a GM to make a trade and not worry about the fallout.
Mehta moved Mercer, a valuable middle-six winger, in the Hellebuyck trade. Yet he had the luxury of trading him because Evangelista, Anthony Mantha, and Jesper Boqvist, three players he acquired this summer, were playing a similar role and could fill that void.
While it’s tough to trade Daws, a goaltender who was developed in the Devils farm system, the move was possible because of the Rémi Poirier waiver claim. If Hellebuyck isn’t ready for a few weeks, Jake Allen can take on the majority of the workload while Poirier can start a game or two.
Adding depth also adds resources to the team. The Devils were in a better position to make this trade now than they were at the draft because of all the moves Mehta made.
4. Goaltending doesn’t make the biggest difference, but it makes enough of a difference. The conversation around the Devils and goaltending after the trade was whether Hellebuyck adds enough value to make a difference. Does any goaltender move the needle enough to turn a team into a Stanley Cup contender? The recent Cup winners, notably the Hurricanes and Golden Knights, proved that a team doesn’t need to spend big on the position or have a clear-cut number one to win it all.
Mehta, who comes from an analytical background, addressed this topic at Hellebuyck’s introductory press conference. “I think that the spread is narrower than most people think, but that doesn't mean the spread is zero at all,” he stated regarding the impact of elite goaltending.
It’s worth adding that the position is tougher to predict. So, why make a move for a goaltender when the deal can flop? If the goaltending position is tricky to predict, where do you want to bet? You want to bet on a person that has a large sample size of excellent results who's on a good cap hit. That's literally the three things that hit with Connor,” Mehta added.
A great goaltender might add a few wins or steal a few games. Similarly, the gap between good and great coaching might be a game or two. However, that’s the difference between making and missing the playoffs. More importantly, a game or two can be the difference between winning a series or two. With Hellebuyck in the net, the Devils have enough of an edge over their division rivals to make the playoffs. If he plays at a high level, they might have the advantage over any team in a playoff series. And that’s a strong enough argument for Mehta to make this trade.
5. One move in a vacuum might not work out, but if it opens the door for other star players, then it makes the initial deal worthwhile. The John Tavares contract, for example, wasn’t a great one for the Toronto Maple Leafs, arguably an overpay. That said, that deal convinced other star players to join the Maple Leafs and, more importantly, convinced the young core at the time that they were building something special (even if they didn’t in the end).
A more relevant example to the Devils is the Sergei Bobrovsky contract. When the Panthers signed the goaltender, it was viewed as a terrible deal that was sure to age poorly. However, that contract was the first move to build them into a contender. By signing a star goaltender, it convinced other players that they were willing to buy in and make a push for a Cup.
The Devils made a handful of moves to convince Hellebuyck to lift his no-trade clause and join them. The direction that the team is heading in convinced him that they are trending in the right direction.
Likewise, the Hellebuyck trade sends a message to the room that this front office is willing to go all in. It also sends the message to players on other teams that the Devils are making a push to win a Cup, and it’s a place worth signing in free agency or waiving a no-trade clause to join.
Can Mehta Acquire Dylan Larkin? Don’t Put It Past Him!
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported this week that Dylan Larkin expanded his trade list to include 10 teams. Larkin has a no-trade clause, but with the Detroit Red Wings refusing to move him, he’s willing to open up the list to teams that can make a favorable offer. The Devils were one of the teams on that list.
Even after acquiring Hellebuyck, there’s always room for improvement, and the Devils are far from finished. “We're never done. We're never done, but I'm excited about the roster, and you guys know that; we talked about that in training camp,” Mehta stated after the Hellebuyck addition.
At first, it seems unlikely that the Devils can make this trade. After all, other teams have more assets to move. However, the Devils have everything in place to make a trade happen, notably because of the depth they’ve stocked up on this offseason.
If the Red Wings want young NHL-ready players, the Devils can offer Arseny Gritsyuk or Luke Evangelista. If they want prospects, the Devils have Anton Silaev and Lenni Hämeenaho in their system. They also have two 2027 first-round picks.
In short, Mehta has enough to put together a strong package. The asking price for top-six centers is usually three pieces, and while the Red Wings will want more for Larkin, they might settle for that price.
Larkin, at first glance, isn’t the player that the Devils need. They are set up in the middle with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. However, he’s a versatile forward who can play anywhere in the lineup and impact the game in different ways. Adding him gives the Devils forward unit another dimension.
Cynically, it’s easy to look at the Devils and think that they are trying to assemble the USA Olympic super team (minus the Tkachuk brothers). Why stop at Hellebuyck or Larkin? They might as well add Zack Werenski at the trade deadline, especially if the Columbus Blue Jackets are sellers. Plus, they can sign Quinn Hughes in the offseason.
That said, Larkin might become Mehta’s next target. And as Mehta has shown, when he has a target, he’s willing to make the right offer to get it done.
Now Is A Good Time To Hit The Road
The Devils haven’t had a real road trip yet this season. They’ve played three of their first 11 games on the road, but the rest of their games have been at Prudential Center. This week, they have a back-to-back against the Dallas Stars (Oct. 27) and Colorado Avalanche (Oct. 28) before wrapping things up against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 30.
“It’s actually great that we have a road trip. We haven't really had an actual trip yet, so I think it's good for our group,” Jake Allen mentioned after the third consecutive home game. It’s good for teams who need a “simple road game,” which typically happens when teams have minimal practice time. It also helps teams that are playing the right way, as they can build a hot streak.
It’s specifically beneficial for the Devils, who are looking to bond as a team, especially now that Hellebuyck is joining them. “I remember coming here when I got traded, and we went right on the trip, and I thought it was great for me,” Allen added. Allen, like Hellebuyck, is a veteran goaltender who needed time with the team both on and off the ice. A road trip provides it.
“Perfect timing to get on the road. We've accomplished what we needed to here on this home stand. Our game's in a really good place right now,” Brenden Dillon stated. It’s a good time for the Devils to build on their hot streak and move up in the standings.
The question many fans have is whether Hellebuyck will start a game on the upcoming road trip. Hellebuyck is ready to go, something he told Mehta the moment the trade was official, and he confirmed during his introductory presser. It speaks to his competitive drive. However, it’s still up in the air, and the Devils will figure it out as things play out.
Quick Hits
Dillon couldn’t stop beaming and holding back his excitement when talking about Hellebuyck. The two were teammates in Winnipeg and knew each other well, allowing him to help with the move. “I think my wife's texted his wife about places to live and not to live, where to where to go. He's got two kids right around my two. So, it'll be great,” Dillon noted.
Both players are at a similar point in their careers. Both Dillon and Hellebuyck are in their 30s, have families, and are looking to win a Cup before retiring and settling down.
While the media was waiting to speak to Sheldon Keefe in his pregame availability against the Kings, I asked Amanda Stein, the Devils team reporter and media aficionado for the past decade, if Hellebuyck was the best goaltender she’s covered. Before joining the Devils beat, she covered the Montreal Canadiens, so Carey Price was the best goaltender she’s covered.
Seconds later, a handful of reporters were debating which goaltender was better and who was the greatest of all time. Is Carey Price in the top 10? What about Marc-Andre Fleury? It was a fun moment before everyone gathered around Keefe to discuss Hellebuyck and the state of the Devils.
Arseny Gritsyuk scored on an empty net in Saturday’s 3-1 win to extend his scoring streak to five games. He now leads the Devils with six goals on the season. The Devils were hoping for a breakout season from Gritsyuk, and so far, he’s delivered.
After acquiring Hellebuyck, Mehta admitted it was exciting to get the deal done. “Yeah, it's exciting. They're all exciting, though. Every trade we make, every transaction, every signing, every contract, everything. It's why I love this job. It's, you know, I love it. I love the action,” Mehta noted. It’s the feeling that the Devils, the fans, and everyone in between have right now. It’s an exciting time for the Devils!
What’s on your mind from the past week? What will you keep an eye on in the upcoming matchups? Comment below!
As the Philadelphia Flyers eagerly anticipate the return of numerous injured veterans, another roster move has been made, freeing up a spot in the lineup if needed.
On Sunday, the Flyers announced that forward Jacob Gaucher has been re-assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he'll get back to playing in a top-line role next to top center prospect Jett Luchanko.
With Gaucher off the NHL roster, the Flyers have exactly one spot available on their 23-man roster, with key veterans Travis Konecny, Cam York, and Owen Tippett candidates to be activated from injured reserve to fill the spot.
Konecny, 29, is yet to resume skating and has been out for the Flyers since Oct. 8. The Flyers' two-time 30-goal-scorer is likely at least a week or two away from a return at this point.
As for York, though, the 25-year-old has returned to full participation in practice for the Flyers, skating on a defense pair with Rasmus Ristolainen during Friday's session at the Flyers Training Center.
Ristolainen, of course, made his return against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday afternoon, playing for the first time sinec Oct. 3.
Tippett has been considered day-to-day by the Flyers since suffering an upper-body injury in a game against Detroit on Oct. 15, and given that Gaucher, a forward, is the latest to leave the club, it certainly seems as though Tippett is next in line to come back from injury.
Tippett, 27, has been dealing with his injury for some time now, according to head coach Rick Tocchet, and the speedster finally got to a point where it was better to sit out and rest, having absorbed a heavy check from defenseman Moritz Seider in the Detroit game.
Of note, Gaucher served as the Flyers' fourth-line center for Saturday's game against Anaheim, slotting in between Denver Barkey and rookie winger Cole Knuble.
Previously, Gaucher had played wing next to Sean Couturier and Michael Bunting for the Flyers, though lines have regularly been in flux with the team's nine-game winless start, followed by a three-game win streak.
Although Tippett has largely struggled for the Flyers this season, scoring just one goal, one assist, and two points in nine games, his presence will surely be welcomed back by a Flyers team that has been featuring Noel Acciari in a top-six role as of late.
Tippett has scored at least 27 goals for the Flyers in three of the last four seasons, and if he can get going again, the Flyers will be much more likely to dig themselves out of the Eastern Conference's basement going forward.
The Colorado Avalanche will take on the Nashville Predators Sunday evening at Bridgestone Arena, and two familiar faces will be waiting on the other side.
Ross Colton and Jack Drury are set to face their former team for the first time since leaving Colorado in the offseason.
Neither departure was exactly simple. Colton was traded to Nashville alongside goaltender Isak Posch in a cost-cutting move that brought goaltender Magnus Chrona and two draft picks back to Colorado. Drury, meanwhile, was dealt with forward Chase Bradley and a draft pick in exchange for Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux. Drury’s situation was a little more complicated, as the restricted free agent turned down multiple contract offers, leaving Colorado with limited options.
Nathan MacKinnon following Colorado's 6-3 win over Tampa.
Still, both players left their mark on the Avalanche. Drury was a reliable fourth-line center who brought defensive responsibility and consistency, while Colton provided a physical edge and timely scoring. After a disappointing regular season that saw him benched for Colorado’s first two playoff games, Colton found his game again and delivered some much-needed bite when the stakes were highest. Unfortunately, even that wasn’t enough to save the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche from a second-round sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Colton finished his Colorado tenure with 42 goals and 51 assists in 214 regular-season games, adding three goals and six assists in 23 playoff appearances. Drury, who arrived in Colorado as part of the Mikko Rantanen trade with Carolina, recorded 15 goals and 21 assists in 115 regular-season games. He also chipped in four goals and three assists in 20 playoff games, including a huge goal in Game 3 against Vegas that gave Colorado a 3-0 lead before the Avs let the game slip away late.
Now, both will get their first crack at their former club in Predators colors.
Avalanche Looking to Keep the Offense Rolling
Nashville enters Sunday’s matchup at 3-3-4 through 10 games, while Colorado is looking to build on Friday’s 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning after dropping its previous two contests.
And yes, Artturi Lehkonen — not Nathan MacKinnon — leads the Avalanche in goals. Lehkonen has found the net nine times in 11 games, while MacKinnon continues to do MacKinnon things with seven goals and 13 assists for a team-high 20 points.
MacKinnon has two goals and four assists in his last five games against Nashville, while Martin Necas has recorded one goal and two assists over his last five meetings with the Predators. Lehkonen, meanwhile, has been a thorn in Nashville’s side throughout his career, piling up seven goals and seven assists against the Predators.
For Nashville, former Avalanche forward Ryan O’Reilly is coming off a hat trick against Colorado in the teams’ most recent meeting on January 16. Filip Forsberg has scored 20 career goals against the Avs in 43 games, including three in his last five, while Steven Stamkos has 12 goals against Colorado in 31 career matchups.
So, if the Avalanche defense was hoping for a quiet night, that probably isn’t happening.
A Goaltending Reunion, Too
The expected matchup in net is Scott Wedgewood against Justus Annunen, adding another layer of intrigue to an already familiar-feeling game.
The two goaltenders were traded for one another in a series of moves following Colorado’s acquisition of Mackenzie Blackwood in exchange for Alexandar Georgiev. Now, they’ll face off against their former organizations, with both looking to make their old teams regret letting them go.
Wedgewood has posted a 2.23 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in seven career games against Nashville, giving Colorado a steady option between the pipes. Annunen, meanwhile, lost his only career appearance against the Avalanche despite turning in a respectable .925 save percentage.
With former teammates on both sides, a couple of familiar goal scorers and a goaltending matchup with a little extra history, Sunday’s game has plenty of potential storylines.
The puck drops at 6 p.m. local time from Bridgestone Arena. And for Colton and Drury, it’s their first chance to show the Avalanche exactly what they’re missing.
The Buffalo Sabres have continued to put forth incomplete efforts this season, that is costing them valuable points in the standings. The Sabres have dug themselves early holes in most of their first 11 games, but the club uncharacteristically took an early lead, before squandering it in the second period in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Saturday.
Former Sabre Alex Tuch scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with 1:18 remaining in overtime, to hand Buffalo their third straight loss. Jack Quinn and Josh Doan staked Buffalo to a 2-0 lead, but Tuch and Dylan Strome erased that lead, and Strome scored his second of the game to give Washington the lead after 40 minutes. Noah Ostlund tied the contest in the third, but the Sabres were outshot in the game 34-21.
“When you play against your former team…you always want to score. To be able to get the game-winner was pretty special.”
"There were mistakes by both teams. They capitalized on a couple of ours, and I thought we could have capitalized on a couple of theirs late," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. " I thought we possessed it for a while (in overtime).. We just didn't make the right decision on a couple plays. I thought we could have, tried to get some subtle picks in. The play on the goal, we're still in man-on-man coverage, and one of our forwards let go.
Tuch, who leads the Capitals with seven goals, got a fortunate bounce off of a Buffalo player past goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen late in the first, and scored from the slot to give Washington the win.
"I thought (Alex) played well. I guess you'd have to say (he was)) pretty fortunate on the first one." Ruff said. " I think he had one or two looks in the game, but I thought he played well. I just expected him to play well, and I thought he did."
The Sabres were without forward Jiri Kulich, but Ruff indicated that he was feeling better after getting hit with a puck in the face at practice on Friday. The 22-year-old is hoping to join the club for the California leg of their four-game road swing, but will have to pass tests in Buffalo before reuniting with his teammates. The head coach also indicated that with Alex Lyon still not ready to play, backup Colten Ellis will see action in one of the three games against San Jose, Anaheim or Los Angeles.
The game is a strangely personal one for the Islanders, as it will be the first time the team plays against Mikko Rantanen after his dirty hit ended Alexander Romanov's season last year.
It's also Islanders' Head Coach Peter DeBoer's first game against his old team. Dallas fired DeBoer following the 2025 Western Conference Finals, in which the Edmonton Oilers knocked off Dallas in five games.
The #Isles believe the best way to get back at Mikko Rantanen for his reckless hit on Romanov is to win.
Aside from the personal business, it's huge measuring stick game for the Islanders.
The Stars are a consensus top-five Stanley Cup favorite. They're one of the very best teams in the NHL, with a loaded roster.
Later on this trip, the Islanders take on Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild, another Stanley Cup favorite.
Both games are on the road, with a trip to Nashville sandwiched between the two games.
Through 10 games, the Islanders are 5-3-2. They seem to have turned the corner under DeBoer, with their play consistently improving game by game.
Their odds to make the playoffs have reflected that, with New York and the Washington Capitals virtually tied in odds on Moneypuck.com for the third spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Most pundits have the Islanders in a tier below the true contenders.
But why?
The Islanders have the biggest pieces sorted. They've got a superstar goalie. They've got a generational defenseman.
The biggest need would be another scoring forward, sure. But they've improved their odds this much without Mathew Barzal for the entire season to date.
The Rangers have signed goalie James Reimer to an NHL deal.
For the second consecutive year, James Reimer turned a PTO into an NHL deal — and this one will help the Rangers’ goaltending puzzle.
The Rangers signed the 38-year-old Reimer to a one-year contract for the $850,000 veteran minimum after he was released from his PTO with AHL Hartford earlier Sunday, according to The Post’s Mollie Walker.
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Reimer made just one start with the Wolf Pack, posting a 35-save shutout Friday, and will now give the Blueshirts an established veteran alongside rookie Dylan Garand with Igor Shesterkin out for the season and Joonas Korpisalo on long-term injured reserve.
Reimer has played in 538 career NHL games, beginning his career with the Maple Leafs in 2010-11 and logging 14 games — with a 7-4-2 record, an .886 save percentage and a 2.42 goals against average — with the Senators last year. With his performance Friday, he became the second-oldest goaltender to record an AHL shutout since Wade Flaherty (40 years, 62 days) in March 2008.
In the short-term, Reimer’s addition is a telling sign about Spencer Martin, who the Rangers selected over Garand last year as the backup when Shesterkin was injured and who was Garand’s backup currently. Garand has made seven consecutive starts since Shesterkin’s right skate jammed into the post against the Capitals, and while Garand has impressed with plenty of strong performances, he has recorded just a 1-3-1 record with an .869 save percentage over the last five games.
The Rangers have signed goalie James Reimer to an NHL deal. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Garand has struggled with controlling rebounds and allowed five goals during the Rangers’ loss to the Senators on Saturday. Head coach Mike Sullivan has reiterated that the Blueshirts are cognizant of Garand’s workload, too, and Reimer’s addition will provide a window to potentially give Garand some rest.
“We’ve looked at the schedule, so we know where we’re at,” Sullivan told reporters in Ottawa on Friday. “We’ve looked at the body of work. The number of games that he’s played. We look at what we having moving forward and we’re going to try to make decisions accordingly. We’re well aware of what his workload is and where he’s at. … Do we anticipate moving forward giving him some rest? Yes.”
The next question is: How will the CBJ faithful treat Marchenko when he's introduced and when he's on the ice? I'm guessing very loud boos. He'll smile and act like it doesn't bother him, of course, but deep down, Kirill Marchenko loves to be loved, so this might affect him a tad.
Knies is entering this game in the middle of a cold streak. After starting the season with two goals and two assists in his first two games, he has gone five straight games without a point. Thus, the Blue Jackets forward is due for a bounce-back game, and it would not be surprising if it happens against the Maple Leafs.
Some even questioned whether or not they should be booing at all. They said that even though he asked out, it was the team's fault for him wanting out. Fair, but he still refused to re-sign here. Most fans, however, said he would get booed for asking out and not even giving the Jackets a chance to sign him.
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.
Denton Mateychuk(2) opened the scoring for the Blue Jackets, and Adam Fantilli(3-PP-GWG) finished off the Vegas Golden Knights just 59 seconds into the OT period to send the VGK home with a third straight loss. The win by Columbus also stops a 2-game losing streak.
Goalie Cam Talbot played exceptionally well, picking up his second win of the season by stopping 26 of 27 shots from the high-powered VGK.
Columbus was able to keep up with the Golden Knights for the most part and was able to grind out the win.
Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets are on the road to take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.
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The Rangers are adding goalie depth, signing James Reimer to a one-year deal.
Reimer recently joined the organization on an AHL tryout as the Blueshirts looked to bring in more experience at the position after losing All-Star starter Igor Shesterkin for the rest of the season.
The veteran stopped all 35 shots he faced, recording a shutout in his lone appearance with Hartford.
Now Reimer receives an opportunity in the pros, looking to provide some relief for rookie Dylan Garand, who has seemingly hit a wall after starting each of the last seven games.
Garand's allowed five goals in back-to-back contests, both of which resulted in losses.
As for Reimer, the 38-year-old last appeared in the NHL last season, recording a 2.42 GAA and .886 save percentage across 14 appearances with the Senators.
He's also spent time with the Maple Leafs, Panthers, Hurricanes, Sharks, Red Wings, Ducks, and Sabres over the course of his 16-year NHL career.
As part of the fanfare that comes with hosting an outdoor game, the city of Winnipeg hosted an old-timer’s game between the former Montreal Canadiens and the former Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Center on Saturday night. With nothing but pride and bragging rights on the line, fans who made it to the game got a good show and didn’t regret it.
The Habs alumni, coached by former blueliner and now media personality P.K. Subban, won 7-4 over the Jets alumni. The bench boss had plenty of talent to draw on, with Paul Byron, David Desharnais, Guillaume Latendresse, and Andrei Markov lacing them up for the Sainte-Flanelle. In net, Montreal chose the 2011 playoff hero, Jaroslav Halak, and Yan Danis, and it proved a winning formula.
Desharnais, who spent part of 10 NHL seasons in the Canadiens’ organization, led the charge with four points in a 7-4 triumph, a total matched by linemate Guillaume Latendresse on a line completed by Erik Cole. The big number 84 scored a brace like Byron, while Desharnais, David Savard and Cole also found the back of the net, with the latter scoring on an empty net.
Meanwhile, Ron Hainsey, Mark Stuart, Anthony Peluso and Blake Wheeler beat the Canadiens’ goaltenders, but it wasn't enough to give the home side a win. Andrew Hutchinson and Jason Kasdorf were the locals’ netminders.
With that game in the books, the two NHL teams can now get down to business at Princess Auto Stadium. The Jets will try to right the ship after four straight losses, while the Canadiens will try to build momentum after returning to winning ways Friday night. The puck drops at 7:00 PM for a game that will hopefully live up to its Heritage Classic billing.
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 16: Brent Burns #84 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against Ryan O'Reilly #90 of the Nashville Predators at Ball Arena on January 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Colorado Avalanche, fresh off a victory at home on Friday, are back on the road!
Tonight, they’ll take on the Nashville Predators in a matchup featuring some very familiar faces wearing opposing colors.
Colorado Avalanche (6-4-1)
The Opponent: Nashville Predators (3-3-4)
Time: 6:00 P.M. MDT/8:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), SCRIPPS (Nashville Local Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – Canada)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 on Friday night, snapping a two game losing streak. Nathan MacKinnon, who had been held off the scoresheet during the team’s back-to-back road games, led the way with a four point effort (1G/3A). Artturi Lehkonen scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season, which stood as the game-winner, and Mackenzie Blackwood turned aside thirty-one of thirty-four shots to pick up his fifth win of the season.
Friday’s game also marked the return of Logan O’Connor to the lineup. O’Connor, who had missed the first ten games of the season with injury, skated on a line with Parker Kelly and Taylor Makar, who had been called up from Loveland earlier in the day.
In comments on Saturday, head coach Jared Bednar again highlighted the progress his team has made and the hurdles of putting together a complete effort from start to finish. “Leading into those two games [on the road], I was starting to like where our game was coming. It was just a matter of putting together a full sixty. We went the other way, and then last night, I felt that was probably, like, as close as we could get to a full sixty even with the disruption of flow with all the penalties in the second period.”
Bednar also stated on Saturday that Nicolas Roy would accompany the team to Nashville, although he’s considered “questionable but doubtful” for playing on Sunday. As for the injured Zachary L’Heureux, he’s still considered “week-to-week”, but no timetable exists for his return. Taylor Makar also will be on the road trip.
MacKinnon still leads all skaters in points (20) and assists (13), and trails Lehkonen for the team lead in goals (7). Fedor Svechkov, who was drafted by Nashville in 2021, played the previous two seasons with the Predators before being acquired by the Avs, along with L’Heureux, during the offseason.
The Avs split the season series against Nashville last season, with both teams splitting victories at home and on the road.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nazem Kadri Jaden Schwartz – Fedor Svechkov – T.J. Hughes Logan O’Connor – Parker Kelly – Taylor Makar
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Nashville Predators
A decade ago, Nashville was at the height of its powers as a Stanley Cup contender. They made their first (and so far, only) appearance in the Stanley Cup Final back in 2017, only to lose to the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. Since then, Nashville has only advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs once, lost in the first round four times, and missed the playoffs three of the past four seasons. With general manager Barry Trotz stepping down at the end of last season, the organization wanted someone that had prior success in reshaping a roster into a legitimate playoff threat.
On June 02, they had their man: Chris MacFarland, who spent the previous four seasons as Colorado’s general manager, was brought in as Nashville’s general manager and president of hockey operations. On June 05, former Los Angeles Kings general manager Rob Blake was hired on as vice president of hockey operations. With both men having had success in Colorado at the executive and player levels now in place, a very busy summer was about to start in Smashville.
Nashville acquired left wing Ross Colton and goaltender Isak Posch from Colorado in exchange for Nashville’s third round pick in this year’s draft, Colorado’s own third round pick in the 2027 draft, and goaltender Magnus Chrona on June 16. Eight days later, Nashville acquired center Jack Drury from Colorado along with left wing Chase Bradley and Colorado’s third round pick in 2029 in exchange for left wing Zachary L’Heureux and center Fedor Svechkov.
Drury signed a five year, $22.5 million dollar contract extension on June 29. That same day, Nashville traded Colorado’s 2029 third round pick it had acquired in the Drury deal to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for left wing Nils Höglander. Prior to the start of free agency, center Adam Enstrom was acquired from the New York Rangers on June 27 in exchange for center Massimo Rizzo and Edmonton’s fifth round pick in 2029.
As free agency began, MacFarland set his sights on another Central Division rival. On July 01, he acquired right wing Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Dallas Stars in exchange for Nashville’s 2027 second round pick and Vegas’ third round pick in 2028. Three days later, Bourque signed a six-year, $33 million dollar contract with Nashville.
Despite their refreshed roster, Nashville has gotten off to a decidedly lukewarm start, sporting a 3-3-4 record through their first ten games of the season. However, they’ve also lost five of their previous six games, with their most recent loss coming last night in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. With goaltender Juuse Saros starting in goal against Pittsburgh, goaltender Justus Annunen will likely get the call against his former club, who will be well rested and ready when the teams take the ice tonight.
Steven Stamkos leads all Nashville skaters in points (11) and goals (5), captain Roman Josi leads the team in assists (8). Nicolas Hague leads all Nashville skaters in penalty minutes (13). Saros is credited with all three of Nashville’s wins this season. Annunen has played only one game this season with Nashville, having spent some time on injured reserve earlier this season.
Despite this game having all the markings of a schedule loss for Nashville, a win tonight could pull them one point behind Colorado in the Central Division standings.
Tonight’s game marks the beginning of a five game home stand at Bridgestone Arena, and their start of their four game series with Colorado.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Steven Stamkos – Ryan O’Reilly – Matthew Wood Filip Forsberg – Mavrik Bourque – Jonathan Marchessault Daemon Hunt – Alex Kerfoot – Nils Höglander Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Adam Edstrom
Defense: Roman Josi – Adam Wilsby Nicolas Hague – Jayden Struble Brady Skjei – Reid Schaefer
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
“Starts with protecting our net front,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said about four of the six goals surrendered.
Defenseman Dmitry Orlov put a finer point of emphasis: “We [don’t] battle, [don’t] win the battles when we have to. We’re not playing more hungry for the battles, for the puck, and [lose] focus sometimes.”
One Stathletes’ micro-stat underscores all of this. The Sharks gave up seven rebound shots last night. That’s their worst total of season.
Just for comparison, the Utah Mammoth give up 1.25 rebound shots against per game, best in the NHL, followed by the New Jersey Devils (1.73), Dallas Stars (1.9) and Carolina Hurricanes (1.92). These are, as of now, some of the better teams in the league.
The Sharks, however, are among the worst teams in this department: Their 3.42 rebound shots against per game is fifth-worst in the NHL.
