Category: NHL

After a three-game road trip that saw them go 2–1–0, the Vancouver Canucks will be spending the next four games at home, taking on the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and Winnipeg Jets. This means the Canucks have the opportunity to snag a possible eight points within the span of the week, which would do great damage in the standings to their Pacific Division opponents. Let’s make some guesses as to how this homestand will go for the Canucks. 

November 5 vs. Chicago Blackhawks 

Some may be quick to dismiss the Blackhawks, as this stretch of home games features opponents who currently sit at the top of the NHL’s standings. However, this shouldn’t be the way Vancouver approaches tonight’s game, as they did only take their game against Chicago via shootout back in October. Since Thatcher Demko has started the past two games, it would make sense for Kevin Lankinen to get the start tonight, just as he did back in October. On the other side of the ice, expect Spencer Knight to start for Chicago, as Arvid Söderblom was given the start in the Blackhawks’ most recent game on Monday. 

Chicago’s special teams put them around the middle of the pack, with their penalty kill (80.8%, 15th in the NHL) being a bit better than their power play (17.5%), which sits at 21st in the NHL. While the Canucks did score two goals on Monday with the man-advantage, neither of these came from their top-unit. With Quinn Hughes taking part in his second game since returning from injury, Vancouver’s first-unit is due for a goal or two. 

Prediction: Canucks 5, Blackhawks 3 

Three Stars for Vancouver: Quinn Hughes, Kevin Lankinen, Elias Pettersson 

November 8 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Canucks’ second game of their homestand is against the Blue Jackets, who will take on the Calgary Flames tonight before heading to Vancouver for Saturday’s game. Columbus has looked strong so far this season, with the Blue Jackets occupying the fourth spot in the Metropolitan Division. As of November 5, the Blue Jackets are currently tied for the fourth-most 5-on-5 goals-for in the NHL with 30 while sporting the third-lowest goals-against at 5-on-5 with only 20. Their special teams work, on the other hand, may be one of their biggest weaknesses. Columbus has scored only five goals on the power play so far this season, while surrendering 12 power play goals against. 

As for goaltending, Elvis Merzļikins and Jet Greaves has split their starts pretty evenly so far for Columbus, with Merzļikins taking the team’s November 2 game against the New York Islanders. If Greaves gets the start tonight, Merzļikins will likely be the starter on Saturday. In the event that Vancouver starts Lankinen on Wednesday, Demko would be the most likely candidate to start on Saturday, with Lankinen then coming in on Sunday against the Avalanche. 

Prediction: Blue Jackets 3, Canucks 2 (OT) 

Three Stars for Vancouver: Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, Thatcher Demko 

November 9 vs. Colorado Avalanche

As of November 5, the Avalanche are the top team in the entire NHL, having only lost once in regulation but five times in overtime. It will be very hard for the Canucks to shut down the lethal offence of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Nečas, especially given that Vancouver is missing a good chunk of their top penalty killers in Teddy Blueger and Conor Garland. However, the Canucks have found success against Colorado in the past, as the team won all three of their matches against the Avalanche last season including shutting them out back in February. 

Vancouver’s biggest shot at winning against Colorado comes in overtime, as the Avalanche have lost all five of their games that have gone past regulation. The Canucks, on the other hand, have yet to give up a game in overtime or a shootout (though the prediction for their Columbus game negates that stat). While this game marks the second-half of a back-to-back for both teams, Colorado will be travelling to Vancouver from Edmonton, putting the circumstances of the game in the Canucks favour — albeit slightly. 

Prediction: Canucks 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) 

Three Stars for Vancouver: Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood, Kevin Lankinen 

November 11 vs. Winnipeg Jets

Vancouver’s fourth and final game of this homestand is against the Jets next Tuesday. Winnipeg, near the top of the NHL’s standings with a 9–4–0 record, welcomed back their captain Adam Lowry on Tuesday night after the forward started the season rehabilitating hip surgery done in May. The Jets have been a strong team all over the ice this season, placing in the top-half of the NHL in power play (22.7%), penalty kill (88.7%), and faceoff wins (51.9%). The only lapse in the Jets’ power that seems to be a target is their ability to generate shots and scoring chances. They’re within the bottom-10 in the NHL in shots per game with 26.8, and have generated a ninth-lowest scoring chances for with 356. 

From now until the 11th, the Jets only play in two games. Winnipeg backup Eric Comrie has played in three games so far this season against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, and New York Islanders, winning all of them. Whether he gets the start over Connor Hellebuyck or not will depend on who starts the Jets’ next couple of games. For Vancouver, if Lankinen takes the game against the Avalanche, then all signs will point to Demko starting against Winnipeg. 

Prediction: Jets 3, Canucks 1

Three Stars for Vancouver: Jake DeBrusk, Evander Kane, Thatcher Demko 

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Things are going to get real from here on out in the NHL power rankings.

With the first month completed, we’re going to see which NHL teams are for real and which ones are the pretenders.

Remember, American Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, and historically, it’s been a very good predictor of which teams will make the post-season. In a league with so much parity, banking points early can provide a cushion when the playoff races heat up in the final weeks of the season.

As with all previous seasons, there has been no shortage of surprises. The Penguins, for example, are surprisingly good, while the Blues have been surprisingly bad. In this week’s NHL power rankings, we take a look at which players and storylines have been the most surprising for each team.

1. Colorado Avalanche (8-1-5, +13. PR: 1)

For a team with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, it’s a little shocking they’ve lost three in overtime and twice in the shootout. Their only regulation loss came, surprisingly, against the Bruins, which nearly blew a 3-1 lead and were outshot 33-19. Locking up Martin Necas for eight years quickly was a smart move, and the Avs look poised to make another deep run. 

2. Winnipeg Jets (9-4-0, +12. PR: 3)

It’s deja vu all over again. Excellent goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck and then relying on one line that can score. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how consistent the Jets have been and proving last season was no fluke despite lacking the depth that a lot of other elite teams possess. 

3. Vegas Golden Knights (7-2-3, +8. PR: 4)

Over the past few seasons, the Knights have had one of the most productive bluelines in the league. So far this season, they’ve produced one goal, and you’ll never guess from who… (Kaedan Korczak)

4. Carolina Hurricanes (8-4-0, +12. PR: 6)

Pyotr Kochetkov returned and immediately shut out the Rangers – it’s not hard to do these days – but I think the biggest development has been Logan Stankoven locking down the second-line center spot behind Sebastian Aho. They’ve been looking forever and seem to have finally found someone they like.

5. Montreal Canadiens (9-3-1, +7. PR: 8)

Jakub Dobes has come out of nowhere to go 6-0-0 to start the season, and with Sam Montembeault getting tagged with four goals and another loss Tuesday against the Flyers, it could be Dobes’ net going forward. Another name: Nick Suzuki. At this point, it’d be a travesty if he were left off Team Canada.

6. Utah Mammoth (9-4-0, +9. PR: 9)

The Mammoth were a popular dark horse pick so I don’t think their success is all that surprising, but I didn’t expect their goaltending to be so solid. Karel Vejmelka has an .894 SP, but his quality start percentage is the highest of his career, per hockey-reference.com, and he has become reliable on a nightly basis.

7. New Jersey Devils (9-4-0, +6. PR: 2)

Aside from a brilliant performance from Jacob Markstrom against the Kings, the Devils looked pretty horrible on their four-game roadie, losing three games and allowing 17 goals (!) in those losses. No question, I think the biggest surprise has been Dawson Mercer, who hasn’t looked this good since his first two seasons after scoring just 69 points over the last two seasons.

8. Dallas Stars (7-3-3, -2. PR: 5)

The lack of scoring is a little perplexing. The Stars rank tied for 26th in goals-for per game and hired Glen Gulutzan away from the Oilers to improve their power play, which it has, but they’re also tied for last in goals-for at 5-on-5. 

9. Anaheim Ducks (8-3-1, +11. PR: 15)

The Ducks rattled off three straight wins against some pretty tough teams over the past week and outscoring them 16-6, including a season sweep of the Panthers. They’re the biggest surprise in the West this season.

10. Detroit Red Wings (9-5-0, +2. PR: 7)

They toughed out a road trip with two shootout wins, including a bizarre game against the Kings where they were outshot, blew a lead, seemingly lost in overtime, only to get the call reversed. The biggest surprise is the pieces of the Yzerplan falling into place as the Wings hunt for a playoff spot. 

11. Columbus Blue Jackets (7-5-0, +4. PR: 12)

The goaltending has been very good with Jet Greaves (.916 SP) and Elvis Merzlikins (.917 SP). We knew the Jackets could score (except on the power play), but for the longest time, they couldn’t get any stops consistently. Their record doesn’t look like much now, but don’t be surprised if they go on a run here. A few seasons ago, they couldn’t string two wins together.

12. Toronto Maple Leafs (7-5-1, even. PR: 14)

After ranking eighth in goals allowed per game last season, I thought the Leafs’ problem would be scoring, not defending. Anthony Stolarz’s .896 SP is misleading – he’s been their best player some nights – but I do think they miss Joseph Woll in a big way. 

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (8-4-2, +9. PR: 10)

Pick one. The Pens have been the best feel-good story of the season so far, making one last push in the twilight of the Crosby-Malkin-Letang Era. I do think the biggest surprise, however, is rookie Ben Kindel, who was a bit of a surprise pick at No. 11 this past summer after being ranked 21st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Penguins' Ben Kindel Is Playing His Way Off The Canadian World Junior TeamPittsburgh Penguins rookie Ben Kindel continues to strengthen his case to stick around in the NHL, which could be bad news for Canada's world junior squad.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (7-5-1, +3. PR: 17)

I think the Flyers have been better than anyone expected, but not because Matvei Michkov has emerged as their franchise player, with one goal in 13 games. We shouldn’t write them off too early, or even praise them too soon, because it does look like Dan Vladar is coming down to earth after a surprisingly strong start.

15. Los Angeles Kings (6-4-4, -4. PR: 19)

The Kings are 5-1-2 since their horrific start, joining a handful of teams that have managed to turn their season around in the first month. Kevin Fiala has 10 points in 14 games, dispelling previous notions about his slow starts.

16. Washington Capitals (6-5-1, +2. PR: 11)

That’s four straight losses and three games where they scored one goal or fewer. And they’re without Pierre-Luc Dubois for an extended period. Oof. It’s been interesting to see Tom Wilson playing arguably the best hockey of his career right now at 31 years old, especially for a player who plays such a taxing physical style and already has a lengthy injury history. 

17. Edmonton Oilers (6-5-4, -2. PR: 13)

I think the most surprising thing, even before the season, was the Oilers’ decision to run it back with their current goaltending tandem. It can be good, but it’s not good enough very often, and we’re stuck asking the same questions over and over again. 

18. Tampa Bay Lightning (6-5-2, +1. PR: 21)

This is definitely the Lightning we know. They’ve gone 5-1-0 after a rough first few weeks, with their only loss coming against the Avalanche. I’m surprised we even talk about the Lightning at all in the first month; they usually like to give the league a head start before showing in late November and December why they should still be feared. 

19. Florida Panthers (6-6-1, -7. PR: 16)

Yes, the two-time defending Cup champions are ranked last in the East, though they’re not ranked as such in the NHL power rankings because we know how good they really are. However, Sam Bennett, who was supposed to fill a significant portion of the void left by Aleksander Barkov, has mostly been invisible, and their top scorer is 37-year-old Brad Marchand. 

20. New York Rangers (6-6-2, -3. PR: 22)

This one’s easy: they can’t score. They’re shockingly 0-5-1 on home ice and were shut out again Tuesday against the Canes. At some point, they should turn it around; Artemi Panarin’s on an unsustainable cold streak, and their expected goals actually aren’t this bad. 

21. Seattle Kraken (6-2-4, even. PR: 18)

A couple bounces, and the Kraken might be on a five-game winning streak, and the conversation would be different, but alas, they’re 3-2-2 in their last seven and 1-0-1 in a quiet week. Their scoring has been a nice surprise; this might be just the second time they’ve had at least two players score 60 points in the same season. 

22. Chicago Blackhawks (5-5-3, +1. PR: 20)

I think the biggest compliment you can give the Hawks is that they’re competitive. In a season where almost every team has a points percentage above .500, the Hawks beating the likes of the Mammoth and Lightning, and hanging with the Oilers, Habs and Panthers, is a testament to how much they’ve improved. It’s especially surprising following a very quiet summer.

NHL's Eastern Conference Has Incredible Historic ParityEvery team in the NHL's Eastern Conference is playing at .500 hockey or better entering November. That is anything but normal.

23. Minnesota Wild (5-6-3, -11. PR: 25)

The Wild have been a high-event but not-so-good defensive team for two seasons now, but the biggest difference this season has been the play of Filip Gustavsson. He’s got the bag, and now he has to prove it, and things have been slightly improved lately.

24. Vancouver Canucks (7-7-0, -5. PR: 23)

Kiefer Sherwood has become somewhat of a cult hero. It’s easy to forget that the record setter for hits in a single season was once known as a scorer; he scored 75 points in 57 games in the AHL one season and averaged 0.92 points per game in the AHL throughout his career. He’s clearly never going back.

25. Boston Bruins (8-7-0, -2. PR: 27)

They’ve been incredibly streaky, and Jeremy Swayman is either excellent or in danger of losing his job. He was given a partial pass last season after a contract holdout, but I think he’s very, very far from being a lock to be USA’s No. 3 goalie in February.

26. New York Islanders (6-5-2, -3. PR: 28)

The most surprising thing about the Isles this season is that they’re actually watchable. There’s an understanding that anyone who hurts a hair on Matthew Schaefer’s head is going to get mobbed, and they look far more energized and faster than ever.

27. St. Louis Blues (4-7-2, -16. PR: 24)

Considering how good they were under Jim Montgomery last season, this season has been a total disaster so far. They’re inconsistent, and their goaltending has been horrible; Jordan Binnington is not playing like he wants to be Canada’s No. 1 after a strong showing at the 4 Nations Faceoff. 

28. Ottawa Senators (6-5-2, -3. PR: 26)

Tough to gauge the Sens without their captain, but Linus Ullmark has been really poor this season after a promising first season with his new club. He’s faced 30 or more shots only once (!) this season and allowed two goals or fewer just three times, and in one of those games, he faced only 13 shots.

29. Buffalo Sabres (5-4-4, -2. PR: 29)

Bad luck or just Sabres luck? They’ve played five straight games that went to extra time and lost four of them in overtime. Obviously, goaltending – what’s going to happen with Devon Levi? – and injuries have been hot topics, but I think the most surprising storyline that’s been developing over multiple seasons is how a club blessed with so much talent seem to attrition itself back into rebuild mode every decade or so.

30. San Jose Sharks (4-6-3, -11. PR: 31)

Take away the horrendous 0-4-2 start, and the Sharks are actually 4-2-1 since then, though three of those wins came in overtime. I think the surprise, albeit a mild one, is how quickly Macklin Celebrini has established himself as a dominant offensive player in the NHL. 

31. Nashville Predators (5-6-4, -12. PR: 30)

The loser point skews things, but the Preds were lucky to earn half the points they did over the past week. They were down 3-1 against the Canucks, and Steven Stamkos scored with 0.3 seconds (!) left against the Wild to force overtime in both games. I think what’s most surprising is the Preds haven’t been mentioned much in the rumor mill, or very active in trying to fix this poorly constructed roster. 

32. Calgary Flames (3-9-2, -17. PR: 32)

It’s a surprise that a borderline playoff team last season is this bad. Like, lottery-bound bad. A lot of it has been the Flames' subpar goaltending, but their offense hasn’t been good, and top defenseman MacKenzie Weegar is minus-12.

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Wednesday’s NHL schedule features five games filled with marquee matchups, promising fast-paced action, dramatic finishes, and highlight-worthy moments. One of the night’s most intriguing games has the Toronto Maple Leafs coming off a thrilling four-goal comeback win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. They now face one of the league’s hottest teams, the 9-4-0 Utah Mammoth.

If you’re new to our betting challenge, here’s how it works. We start with a modest bankroll and aim to grow it using smart, data-driven wagers. In past runs, we’ve turned just $10 into triple-digit profits. Tonight, our same-game parlay focuses on the Toronto-Utah matchup, providing a great opportunity to rebuild momentum after our recent hot streak came to an end. Our bankroll had climbed to $264.60 before taking a loss in Tuesday’s Golden Knights win over the Red Wings. Now we’re ready to heat back up and continue the climb after going a perfect 3-0 with our picks in last night’s Oilers-Stars game.

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

Are The Pittsburgh Penguins For Real?Crosby and Malkin are revitalized, leading league-leading Penguins. Can this aging core sustain a Stanley Cup push with solid goaltending and surprisingly deep support?

Picks: Mammoth +2.5 & Over 5.5 Goals (+115)

The Utah Mammoth have begun their first season under their new identity in impressive fashion, suffering only four losses so far. However, they will look to rebound on Wednesday after dropping two of their last three games. Their recent struggles have come from defensive lapses rather than offensive shortcomings, as they still managed to score five goals despite giving up ten in those two defeats. The defense showed improvement in Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres.

Utah now heads to Toronto for the second leg of their road back-to-back. The Maple Leafs feature one of the league’s top offenses this season, ranking third in goals scored, but they have also struggled defensively, ranking fifth-worst in that category. Toronto’s stars William Nylander and Auston Matthews led the way in a 4-3 win over the Penguins on Monday, combining for three of the team’s four goals, while Matthews assisted Bobby McMann on the fourth. The Leafs’ top players appear to be heating up as they try to climb out of an early 7-5-1 start.

Utah should be able to challenge Toronto’s attack with their own strong offense, which sits just inside the league’s top ten. The Mammoth have developed a reputation for competing hard in tough matchups, holding a 6-4 record against the spread over their last ten games. Toronto has faced Utah only twice in franchise history, winning both games by a single goal, with each contest featuring six or more total goals.

A $10 wager on the Mammoth and the over at +115 odds would cashed for a $11.50 profit, pushing the total payout to $21.50 in return. With a loaded NHL slate ahead on Thursday, it’s the perfect time to ride the momentum and keep stacking that bankroll. 

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.

By now, the highlights of rookie Matthew Schaefer doing something special in a game are becoming a nightly occurrence.

Unfortunately for the New York Islanders defenseman, so too are the attempts from opponents to physically knock him off his game.

There was the game against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 25, when Mason Appleton went after Schaefer in the dying seconds of a 7-2 blowout win for the Islanders. Two nights later, Schaefer picked up his first roughing penalty after getting tangled up with Philadelphia Flyers winger Nikita Grebenkin. 

And on Tuesday night, the Boston Bruins once again targeted the youngster with defenseman Nikita Zadorov cross-checking Schaefer to the ground and then delivering a cheap shot to Schaefer's face as he was on the ice.

To the Islanders' credit, Schaefer's teammates came to his defense, with Anthony Duclair and Anders Lee literally jumping on top of the 6-foot-7 and 255-pound Zadorov.

"We're a family here… I know they always have my back, and they know I will always have their backs," Schaefer told reporters post-game.

That's the kind of response you love to see. But at the same time, the message isn't exactly being delivered in a way that prevents this from happening again.

Following the game, Zadorov basically laughed off the response from the Islanders and their fans, who flooded his Instagram with nasty direct messages.

"Get out of my DMs and go to the rink to cheer for your team," Zadorov replied. "That place was a library tonight."

Nikita Zadorov Trolls Islanders & Fans After Schaefer ScrumThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> found a way to win another hockey game last night, toppling the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> 4-3 in a shootout.

In other words, Schaefer is not off-limits. Not by a long shot.

One month in, it is clear that the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, who has five goals and 11 points in 13 games, is skating with a target on his back. It's also clear that despite the Islanders' best intentions, Schaefer keeps getting attacked.

Some might argue that this is a rite of passage for any young player. After all, Sidney Crosby picked up 110 penalty minutes as a rookie in the NHL, while Connor McDavid missed almost half his rookie season after fracturing his clavicle on a dirty hit from Philadelphia's Brandon Manning.

That is the path that Schaefer is on. 

The more games he plays, the more teams are going to target him. Eventually, he's going to either have to fight back (like Crosby) or risk a major injury (like McDavid), unless Islanders management steps up and does something.

“Teams are starting to see how good he really is,” Duclair told reporters. “Obviously, you want to be hard on good players. We try to do the same with their star players, so he definitely is going to have a target on his back all year. We’re here to protect him.”

It's one thing for the players to have his back. But it's now time for GM Mathieu Darche to do the same.

Which raises the question: how much more can Schaefer take before the Islanders get an enforcer to protect their most valuable asset?

Remember, this is not a veteran. Schaefer, who is 18 years old, is basically a kid. Last year, he was playing in major junior against other teenagers. Now, he's getting roughed up by a hulking man in Zadorov who weighs 255 pounds.

When Auston Matthews was a rookie, the Leafs signed Matt Martin to "keep the flies off", as then-coach Mike Babcock said. The San Jose Sharks took a similar approach this season by trading for heavyweight Ryan Reaves as protection for Macklin Celebrini.

Martin, who happens to be Schaefer's landlord this season, is no longer playing. But after watching Schaefer get continually roughed up, the Islanders might want to bring back Martin or at least trade for an enforcer who can act as a bodyguard.

Perhaps they already have the answer on their team in defense partner Scott Mayfield. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound blueliner has 488 career penalty minutes and has fought tough guys Garnet Hathaway, Kurtis MacDermid, Ryan Lindgren and Andreas Englund in the past two years. But he's only had one fight per season in the past four, according to hockeyfights.com.

If they don't find someone to answer the bell more often, this could be a long — and painful — season for the Islanders rookie. 

"Eventually, he’s going to have the same protection that the star players get,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy told reporters. “I hope (the wait for that is) not too long.”

---

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The road has not been a friendly place for the Florida Panthers so far this season.

Florida began a four-game trip on Tuesday night in Anaheim and to say it did not go well would be a bit of an understatement.

While the Cats were able to erase multiple deficits, the overwhelming Ducks proved to be too much for Florida to handle and ultimately pulled away late, prevailing 7-3.

Considering the game was tightly contested for the majority, there are some positives that can be plucked from this one, but overall, it was another stinker.

Let’s get to Tuesday’s takeaways:

GAME GOT AWAY FROM THEM

Florida was down 1-0 and 2-1 before eventually clawing their way to a 3-2 lead midway through the game.

Unfortunately, between taking too many penalties and allowing an uncharacteristic amount of rush opportunities, the Panthers saw the game slip from their grasp.

It’s troubling when a team that generally plays a very structured game starts to come apart at the seams, and that’s what we saw from the Cats in Anaheim.

“I think at 3-3, it's a game,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “It was probably even at that point, but we wouldn't like very much what happened after 3-3 in the manner that it happened. We were into some pretty simple reads, or simple one-on-one plays, that we weren’t anywhere near to a standard that we would have, and we spent too much time in the penalty box on soft penalties.”

DUCKS’ SPEED MADE IT TOUGH

Despite the several areas that Florida struggled, credit must go to the Ducks for sensing a weakness and pouncing.

Anaheim kept their foot on the gas all night, constantly putting the Panthers on their heels and keeping them wondering where the next rush would be coming from.

Overall, yes, Florida played a decent game at even strength, there were still several holes in the Cats’ D that the Ducks exploited on several occasions.

“They play a fast, skilled game, and they really try to beat us up the ice,” said Panthers forward Noah Gregor. “We try and play a really tight gap game, and sometimes, if guys aren't in the right spots, they get breaks.”

FACING EVERYONE’S BEST

Not that this is anything new, but no matter which building the Panthers are lacing up their skates to go to battle, they know they’ll be facing the best their opponent has to offer.

That’s what happens when you’re the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

Last season, Florida was better equipped to handle the challenge based solely on the fact that they were a healthier squad.

Now they’re facing those same difficult tests, night after night, but doing so without some of their most important players.

It is what it is, and you’re not going to hear the Panthers complaining, but that doesn’t make it any easier to endure.

At some point, the Cats will need to start finding results if they’re going to keep pace in the standings until the injured list starts to shrink.

“Everybody has factors that they deal with at the start of each year, and we know what ours are,” Maurice said. “Some of them are earned, and we're proud of them, so we expect to get everybody's best.”

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Photo caption: Jan 21, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal as defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) plays for the puck against Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) during the second period at Honda Center. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens have made a roster move, as they have recalled defenseman Marc Del Gaizo from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket. 

With this roster move, the Canadiens will now have an extra defenseman on their roster for their road game against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 6. 

Del Gaizo joined the Canadiens this off-season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with them in free agency. This was after he recorded two goals, seven assists, nine points, and a minus-3 rating in 46 games this past season with the Nashville Predators. He also posted eight goals, 12 points, and a plus-10 rating in 30 AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2024-25.

Les Canadiens ont rappelé le défenseur Marc Del Gaizo du Rocket de Laval.

The Canadiens have recalled defenseman Marc Del Gaizo from the Laval Rocket.#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/o9a2wi2tCF

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 5, 2025

Del Gaizo has played in six games this season with Laval, where he has recorded one assist, four penalty minutes, and a plus-2 rating. 

In 55 career NHL games over two seasons, Del Gaizo has recorded two goals, 10 assists, 12 points, 23 penalty minutes, 63 blocks, and 91 hits. 

Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. During the game, Pittsburgh legend Evgeni Malkin took an aggressive slash at Winnipeg defenseman Logan Stanley. It was quietly announced on Sunday that Malkin would be fined $5,000 for his actions.

That was a healthy slash from Evgeni Malkin on Logan Stanley 😳 pic.twitter.com/a2JfGHdbwX

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 1, 2025

The incident occurred late in the first period as the two players battled behind the Jets’ net. Malkin appeared to feel that Stanley was being too rough, and in retaliation, he two-handed Stanley on his left side. Malkin received a minor penalty on the play for slashing. The $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Malkin has a long history of supplemental discipline throughout his 19-plus years in the NHL, including multiple fines and suspensions. Most recently, he was fined $5,000 last November for slashing Boston’s Nikita Zadorov and has previously served suspensions for various stick-related incidents. 

Jets Captain Adam Lowry ‘Super Motivated’ to Finalize Long-Term ExtensionJets captain Adam Lowry returns, driven to ink a long-term deal. Prospects are bright as Winnipeg aims to secure its cornerstone player.

Despite the penalty, Malkin recorded his 15th assist of the season on a Sidney Crosby goal. The Jets went on to win the game 5-2. The Penguins carried that frustration into Monday’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where they blew a 3-0 lead. They allowed four unanswered goals in the third period to lose 4-3, dropping their third game in their last four contests. 

Contract year Logan Stanley has arrived. pic.twitter.com/oRJGard4ta

— Connor Hrabchak (@ConnorHrabchak1) October 19, 2025

Stanley was back in action Tuesday as the Jets suffered a surprising 3-0 shutout loss to the LA Kings, though none of the goals came during his shifts. The 27-year-old defenseman has seen bright spots this season, being relied upon for 17-20 minutes a night while adding more point production than he ever has before in his career. So far this season, Stanley has a career-high two goals with four assists for six points in 13 games, including two multi-point games.

Kings Blank Jets 3-0 in Lowry’s ReturnKings dominate Jets 3-0 in a physical contest. Kuemper shines with a shutout, while Lowry’s return sparks no offense for Winnipeg.

The Buffalo Sabres entered their match against the Utah Mammoth with a short-handed roster, as illnesses to winger Jason Zucker and center Jiri Kulich necessitated the recall of center Noah Ostlund. The 21-year-old Ostlund combined with countryman and Rochester linemate Isak Rosen for his first NHL goal in the third period, but the Sabres registered only an anemic 18 shots and lost 2-1 in overtime at KeyBank Center on Tuesday. 

Alex Lyon was the standout performer for Buffalo, stopping 33 shots and keeping the game scoreless through 40 minutes and allowing only Nick Schmaltz’s goal in regulation, but for the fifth straight contest, the Sabres went to extra time. In those five games, the club has lost four in overtime to Toronto, Columbus, Boston, and Utah, and won only against Washington in a shootout on Saturday. Clayton Keller’s game-winner extended the Sabres consecutive point streak to seven, but handed them their fourth loss in five games. 

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“(Lyon) played great. You need your goalie to play great. The number of bodies and pieces we had to move around, we needed our goalie to play well and he did that for us.” Ruff said after the game. “(Playing) three-on-three is about winning one-on-one battles. We had our chance, (Alex) Tuch went down, but our coverage wasn’t good enough, we lost coverage on the high cycle and let Keller in.”  

In a tightly compacted Eastern Conference, the lost points early in the season have the Sabres outside of a playoff spot. Had they earned the extra point in half of their overtime losses, they would be in third place in the Atlantic Division. Instead, they are one point out of last place playing mostly on home ice the first five weeks of the season. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly trying to find a new home for center David Kampf. He's been buried in the minors due to a roster and salary-cap crunch.

Kampf, 30, is in the third season of his four-year contract with an annual cap hit of $2.4 million. He also carries a 10-team no-trade list for this season.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Kampf was taking some time away from the Marlies to consider his future with the Maple Leafs. He mentioned that some observers wondered if the veteran center might seek a mutual contract termination to sign with another NHL club. However, that seems unlikely given he's signed through next season.

TSN's Darren Dreger reported last Thursday that the Leafs were also exploring the idea of trading Nick Robertson. He claimed they have time for the 24-year-old left winger, but if they were to move him, they'd want a comparable player in return.

Maple Leafs' Kampf Could Have A Rocky Road Ahead Of HimDavid Kampf's future with the Toronto Maple Leafs hangs in the balance as he takes some time away from the Toronto Marlies to think things over.

Turning to the Edmonton Oilers, speculation persists that they could make some moves to accommodate the return of sidelined players, such as forwards Zach Hyman and Mattias Janmark and defenseman Alex Regula.

Friedman felt they could try to move Troy Stecher. The 31-year-old depth defenseman is in the final year of his contract with an affordable average annual value of $787,500.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journalcited NHL insider Frank Seravalli saying the same thing to Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer. Servalli also suggested defenseman Ty Emberson as a trade candidate and didn't rule out Janmark being shopped.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins could seek a replacement for sidelined defenseman Caleb Jones, who is out of action for eight weeks with a lower-body injury.

Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reported sources said Penguins GM Kyle Dubas was kicking tires in the trade market for a left-shot defenseman. One option could be Erik Gustafsson of the Detroit Red Wings, who is currently playing for their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.

If you're wondering whether Dubas might target Emberson or Stecher, they won't address the Penguins' blueline needs because they're right-shot rearguards.

---

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road to face the Calgary Flames in game two of a five-game road trip. 

The Blue Jackets must be careful in this game, as they might just be walking into a trap. 

The Flames are currently dead last in the NHL with 8 points and are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games. They did, however, beat the Philadelphia Flyers in Philly last Sunday, so you could call them hot. But as we know, when the Jackets visit Western Canada, it's tough sledding, even when the other team is bad. 

For the Jackets, HC Dean Evason said yesterday that young defenseman Denton Mateychuk is fighting an injury and may not be available for tonight's game. Dysin Mayo was called up last week to fill the hole left by injured Erik Gudbranson, and he might make his CBJ debut if Mateychuk can't go. 

The Jackets absolutely need to win and get these points in the bank. The entire Eastern Conference is separated by 6 points, and the Metro by 5 points, so every point matters. 

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play - 16.7% - 23rd in NHL
• Penalty Kill - 66.7% - 30th in NHL
• Goals For - 39 - 19th in NHL
• Goals Against - 36 - 11th in NHL

Flames Stats

• Power Play - 13.5% - 29th in NHL
• Penalty Kill - 77.4% - 18th in NHL
• Goals For - 30 - 32nd in NHL
• Goals Against - 47 - 26th in NHL

Series History vs. Flames

• Columbus is 36-25-0-8 all-time, and 15-15-0-4 on the road vs. Calgary.
• The Jackets are 9-3-2 in the last 14 games against the Flames.
• The CBJ went 1-1 vs. the Flames last season and are 4-1-1 in the last six.

Who To Watch For The Flames

• Blake Coleman leads the Flames with 5 goals.
• Nazem Kadri leads all Calgary players with 10 points.
• Dustin Wolf has started 12 of 14 games for the Flames. He is 3-8-1 with a SV% of .884%

CBJ Player Notes vs. Flames

• Zach Werenski has 11 points in 14 games vs. Calgary.
• Sean Monahan has 11 points against his former team.
• Charlie Coyle has 14 points in 33 games against the Flames.

Injuries - None

• Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 4 games

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 13

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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ST. PAUL, Minn - No one could have expected the final result of this game based on the first two periods. The Minnesota Wild (5-6-3) opened the first period with five high-danger chances against.

Constant turnovers led to multiple chances for the Nashville Predators (5-6-4). But Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson stood tall.

After a bad penalty by Michael Bunting, the Wild got their second power play chance of the opening period. Kirill Kaprizov and the top power play in the league, executed. It was Kaprizov's ninth goal of the year.

You don't want to give Kirill Kaprizov that much time and space 😮 pic.twitter.com/odIwYzwFXU

— NHL (@NHL) November 5, 2025

Even with the lead, the Wild's bad defensive play leaked into the second period. At one point Nashville outshot the Wild, 13-2. Matthew Wood tied the game at 1-1 after a turnover by Tyler Pitlick in the second.

But Zeev Buium answered on the power play to regain the lead. He jumped up into the slot and redirected a pass from Brock Faber into the back of the net past Justus Annunen.

“We always talk about good power plays everyone can play everywhere," Buium said. "You can’t be uncomfortable playing spots you’ve never played before. When you’re moving and you’re playing off instinct and just playing for each other, things like that can happen. Brock made a great play. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be the net-front guy.”

Faber to Buium. PPG and it’s a beauty. 2-1 #mnwildpic.twitter.com/ta3dsbuH5z

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) November 5, 2025

"Yeah, that was a good read," Wild head coach John Hynes said on the goal. "I think it was a nice read by Fabes too. I think the guy was in the shot lane for that shot tip play. So that was a good look."

Nashville continued to press in the third period but Gustavsson stood his ground. The Predators pulled Annunen for the extra attacker with about two minutes left.

The Wild had a chance at the empty net in the offensive zone but neither Matt Boldy or Joel Eriksson Ek could score.

Nashville went all the way back down and got the Wild trapped in the defensive zone. After a few icings and three face-off losses by Eriksson Ek, the Predators somehow tied it.

It came after Eriksson Ek went to clear the puck with two seconds left but the puck hit the ref along the boards. It then landed on the stick of Nick Blankenburg who later fed one to Steven Stamkos on the far side.

Stamkos, who hadn't scored or gotten a point in his last nine games, fired a one-timer that flew past the left shoulder of Gustavsson and into the net with 0.3 seconds left.

BUZZER BEATER STEVEN STAMKOS pic.twitter.com/XQ7giwhAEu

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) November 5, 2025

"All those one timers, you never know where they're shooting," Gustavsson said on the goal. "I don't think they know themselves either. I just missed it I guess."

Stamkos added: "Well, I took a peek at the clock with about eight seconds left. I knew any opportunity we’re gonna have to get the puck off quick. And we did a great job again of controlling the puck. We had some looks, some retrievals, some battles and just tried to get a shot off. Got a nice pass from Blankie and nice to see that go in."

After review it was clear that Stamkos scored with time still on the clock which sent this one to overtime.

Another possession type of overtime led to a very controversial goal.

Annunen, who had knocked the net off a different time, went to push off of the post when Kaprizov fed it across to Marcus Johansson. As Johansson went to shoot it, the net came off.

The referees instantly awarded it a goal even though the puck never went into the net.

"Yeah, I mean, I thought the explanation was, in his opinion, it was a goal," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "I disagree with his opinion but that’s the way it is."

After having Toronto review it, it still remained a goal. The Wild left the ice satisfied with the win and the Predators stayed on the ice to try and get an explanation.

Marcus Johansson is granted the OT winner on the ice after the net was kicked off, I don't know how this stands pic.twitter.com/xbmyhCKdBg

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) November 5, 2025

It is safe to say the Predators were not happy with the call but the rules clearly state that it is indeed a goal.

"The net clearly comes off. I don't know how the ref can stand there with a straight face and call it a goal, and then they call Toronto, and they still decide to call it a goal," Predators forward Michael McCarron said. "I mean, I'm dumbfounded. I feel like we got screwed tonight. I don't know how they can call that a goal, really. I mean, we outplayed the other team quite a bit tonight. I think we had our A game. We were going. We found a way to score at the end there late.

"Unfortunately, we weren't able to hit them where it hurts early in the in the second period, in the middle of second period, where we were all over them. I think that's really where we've got to have that killer instinct to put them away in that second period, and then it comes down to that, which is unfortunate. I still don't understand. I'd love to hear some more clarification on that how the NHL can think that's a goal. Unfortunate. We played our butts off tonight, and I think we deserve better."

Well here is what the NHL had to say.

Rule 63.7: In the event that the goal post is displaced, either deliberately or accidentally, by a defending player, prior to the puck crossing the goal line between the normal position of the goalposts, the Referee may award a goal. In order to award a goal in this situation, the goal post must have been displaced by the actions of a defending player, the attacking player must have an imminent scoring opportunity prior to the goal post being displaced, and it must be determined that the puck would have entered the net between the normal position of the goal posts.

Credit to Johansson. Even though the net was off, he still shot the puck as if the net was in place. This helped him get credit with the goal.

“No. I mean I didn’t know really what happened. Didn’t know if we were supposed to celebrate or not. Just kind of didn’t know what the call was going to be," Johansson said. "When it’s pushed off like that, maybe it’s the right thing to do. But thankfully I put it in even though the net wasn’t there.”

Nonetheless, the Wild will take it. A win is a win. We are now 14 games into the season and the Wild just won two straight games for the first time all season. They started the homestand 0-2-2 but finished it with two wins.

Time will tell if the Wild can build off of this or not with the back-to-back coming up on Thursday and Friday. But the win was huge to say the least.

“Yeah definitely," Johansson said on finishing the homestand with two wins. "We can’t do anything about the past now, but we need to keep building off of this, building and get some confidence off these wins and move in the right direction.”

Ahead of their Nov. 5 contest against the Utah Mammoth, the Buffalo Sabres called up prospect Noah Ostlund to their NHL roster. With the Sabres having multiple forwards sidelined, Ostlund was immediately inserted into the Sabres' lineup against the Mammoth, and he took advantage of it.

With 12:10 left in the third period, Ostlund tied the game up at 1-1 by scoring his first career NHL goal. It was a nice one, too, as he fired a feed from Isak Rosen past Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka for the goal.

Before his goal against the Mammoth, Ostlund was held off the scoresheet in each of his four games this season with Buffalo. He also did not get on the scoresheet in his first eight career NHL games with Buffalo this past season. As a result, this was not only his first NHL goal but also his first NHL point.

First @NHL goal for Noah Ostlund! 🚨#LetsGoBuffalo | #sabrehoodpic.twitter.com/fPRiGyq7b9

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 5, 2025

Ostlund immediately scoring after getting called up to the Sabres' roster is certainly a good thing for the 2022 first-round pick. He stood out positively, and he will now be looking to continue with the Sabres from here. If he does, it should open the door for him to get more opportunities with the NHL club this season.

Ahead of Wednesday's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Utah Mammoth, John Tavares will receive his flowers, both figuratively and literally.

The 35-year-old scored his 500th career goal one week ago against the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was supposed to be a moment for the Maple Leafs to celebrate, but it was instead overshadowed by the enormous 6-1 scoreline at the time, and the loss that followed. 

"It's really hard to comment on it right now," Tavares said after the 6-3 defeat to the Blue Jackets.

"I understand the question and appreciate it, but you play this game to win as a team, and it's all about the team. You'd like to have made more of an impact in the game, but for sure in the days ahead and moments ahead, I'll appreciate it more."

Tavares struck a different tone about the subject on Tuesday, a day after the Maple Leafs' comeback win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and almost 24 hours before the organization holds a ceremony for the historic milestone.

"Yeah, it'll be special," he said, with a smile.

"To hit a mark like that. You never take it for granted. Even though it came in the fashion that it did, you know, you appreciate each and every goal that went in and how difficult it can be."

John Tavares tallied a third-period marker and became the second player to reach the 500-goal milestone while playing for the @MapleLeafs (also Mats Sundin on Oct. 14, 2006). #NHLStats

Watch now in 🇨🇦 (@Sportsnet ONE, @TVASports), 🌎: https://t.co/dT34F4MhkCpic.twitter.com/uthT6kmCHa

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) October 30, 2025

Only 48 other players in NHL history have hit the historic 500-goal mark. Tavares has scored 228 of those markers with the Maple Leafs and 272 with his former club, the New York Islanders, whom he was drafted by in 2009.

"So many of them, you just have to do the easy part and just push the puck over the line. So, you know, grateful for my teammates, all the support through my years here in Toronto and obviously in New York as well," Tavares added.

"Coaches, staff, family, everyone that helps me on a daily basis through the journey I've been on in my career. So, yeah, it'll be nice to take a few moments and to share with everyone. Definitely don't take it for granted, and like I said, just want to keep it going."

Not only did Tavares hit that milestone, but the veteran forward also tallied his 500th point with his second team in October, becoming only the fourth player in NHL history — alongside Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Ron Francis — to achieve the feat.

"It's great to come to the rink every day and see what he does and trying to pick up things from him and learn too," said Matias Maccelli, who's only been a teammate of Tavares' for a few months.

"I mean, he’s a future Hall of Famer. I mean, he's just a phenomenal player."

'What A Feeling, Especially For Your Hometown Team': Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan Pots First NHL Goal Against FlyersCowan's first NHL goal comes in his ninth career game with the Maple Leafs.

Morgan Rielly was also giving Tavares praise on Tuesday afternoon. The 31-year-old has been teammates with Tavares ever since he signed a massive seven-year, $77 million contract with Toronto in 2018.

Rielly has witnessed everything from Tavares' career-high 47 goals the year he signed, his captaincy in Toronto, and the several important goals he's scored for the Maple Leafs over the years.

And on Wednesday night, he'll be there to watch his teammate receive an honor he rightly deserves.

"Yeah, it's incredible,"  Rielly said of Tavares' latest accomplishment.

"I mean, not many guys have done that. He's been an incredible player for a long time. You don't get the 500 goals without a massive level of commitment and drive. He's been a real role model for a lot of people."

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It will be a special night at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday, as Nazem Kadri reaches one of hockey’s most respected career milestones — his 1,000th NHL game. The Calgary Flames forward will become just the 12th player to hit the mark while wearing the Flaming C.

Captain, Mikael Backlund reached the millennium mark with the Flames last season. 

Kadri, who was drafted seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009, has carved out a career defined by resilience, intensity, and a fiery competitiveness that’s made him one of the league’s most respected two-way players. After stints in Toronto and Colorado — where he captured the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022 — Kadri brought his trademark edge and leadership to Calgary, quickly becoming a cornerstone of the franchise.

Ahead of the milestone, Kadri showed his lighter side at practice, donning a yellow non-contact jersey as a tongue-in-cheek nod to his upcoming achievement. But make no mistake — the 34-year-old is ready to go when the puck drops.

“To be physically and mentally ready for that many games, it’s an incredible achievement,” Kadri told the media on Tuesday. “I have so much thankfulness and gratitude at this point that I’ve been able to be put into this position to do what I love to do and to continue to do it.”

Known for his combination of grit and offensive creativity, Kadri has led the Flames in scoring for each of the past two seasons and once again paces the team this year with 10 points (3G, 7A). His blend of leadership and passion has made him a steadying presence in a locker room undergoing transition.

For Kadri, Wednesday’s game isn’t just another number — it’s a celebration of perseverance, growth, and the journey from a young draft pick in Toronto to a Cup champion and veteran leader in Calgary.

The Anaheim Ducks wrapped up a three-game homestand by hosting the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Tuesday, with hopes of extending their three-game winning streak to four. This was the second time the two teams faced each other in a week; the last result was a 3-2 shootout win by Anaheim.

Florida was coming off a 4-3 shootout win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday, arriving in Anaheim on two full days’ rest and hoping to kick off their west coast road trip on a high note.

The Anaheim coaching staff went with the same lineup that earned them their last win against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

Anaheim Ducks on the Tip of National Media Tongues

Game #12: Ducks vs. Panthers Gameday Preview (11/04/25)

Lukas Dostal got the start in net for the Ducks and saved 18 of the 21 shots he faced. Dostal stood in the opposite crease as Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped just 25 of 32.

The Ducks lost Leo Carlsson at the start of the third period when he received an interference major and game misconduct when his shoulder made contact with Evan Rodrigues’ head while the Ducks were on the power play. Nikita Nesterenko filled in admirably in his place for the remainder of the game.

Here are my notes:

The Ducks came out of the gate a bit out of sync, struggling to build plays from their own end against one of the NHL’s top forechecking teams. The game opened up soon after, but favored the Panthers early.

The Ducks made some adjustments, behind some opportunistic goals from Cutter Gauthier, and dialed in a bit of their freewheeling, ultimately dictating pace with a relentless forecheck, clever rush sequences, and elongated time on the cycle.

They rode the emotions of extracurricular skirmishes and capitalized on the open ice created from non-5v5 play.

Cutter Gauthier-This game was all about Gauthier. In less than 15 minutes of TOI, three of his six shots on goal found the back of the net, and he added a primary assist to boot. Two of his goals came on the power play off of right-flank one-timers, a spot he’d played in for his entire pre-NHL career, and he’s now translating those efforts to the NHL, finding and manipulating those open lanes to make himself a passing option, and burying pucks with confidence at will.

“It’s a pretty special night,” Gauthier said after the game. “(They’re) the defending Cup champ, so the most important thing was that we got the job done. So it was super fun.”

Gauthier became the first NHL player 21 or younger to score 10 goals in the first 12 games of a season since Auston Matthews in 2018-19 and now co-leads the NHL in goals. He was drafted to be a goal scorer, acquired by Anaheim to be a goal scorer, and is now scratching the surface of that potential, scoring in a variety of ways, utilizing several of his above-average attributes, and rounding out his “B” game in the process.

Breakouts and Regroups-This was the area where the Ducks struggled most early. It seemed as if they were anticipating the Panthers to deploy an ultra-aggressive forecheck and were taken aback when Florida’s focus was more on eliminating outlets rather than pressuring the puck.

The Ducks adjusted by having forwards support lower and shortening the distance for outlets, leading to cleaner exits and possession through neutral ice.

Rush Defense-Florida exploited the Ducks’ weak side defender in the neutral zone, who was either too stationary or displayed a poor gap, by sending the weak side forward cutting to the middle of the ice on counterattacks for stretch passes, leading to breakaways or semi-breakaways.

This was another area the Ducks cleaned up nicely as the game went on, taking away that option and forcing the puck carrier to make safer reads, after which the Ducks' backcheck or strong defenders sealed on the wall and killed the rush.

Nikita Nesterenko-Nesterenko notched a goal and an assist in this game and is becoming noticeably more comfortable with and without the puck as each game goes on, now 41 games into his NHL career. He’s evolved into a plus forechecker and is taking his time, making NHL reads, and keeping his feet moving with the puck on his stick to optimize rush and cycle chances. He can play all 12 forward positions, and may very well at this rate if head coach Joel Quenneville continues to have lineup spots in need of filling.

“You get more comfortable with every game,” Nesterenko said after the game. “The more puck touches you get, you assess different situations throughout the game. If you’re not throwing it away as much, you’re trying to possess it, that’s the name of the game.”

The Ducks will hit the road for two games against perennial cup contenders: the Dallas Stars on Thursday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, looking to extend their now-four-game winning streak.

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