The start of a three-game road trip will being a new set of challenges for the St. Louis Blues, who open against the Ottawa Senators from Canadian Tire Center in Kanata, Ontario at 6:30 p.m. (Blue Note+, ESPN 101.1-FM) on NHL’s Frozen Frenzy where all 32 years are in action.

The Blues (2-2-1) are coming off a come-from-behind 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, while the Brady Tkachuk-less Senators are off to a surprisingly 5-1-0 start, which included a 4-1 win at the New Jersey Devils on Monday.

The teams have a lot of numbers they’d like to improve in, but for the Blues, it’s been a strong start, especially on the penalty kill under new assistant coach Greg Cronin with a 14-for-15 start (93.3 percent), which is good for fourth in the NHL while overall, allowing 3.20 goals-per game which is overinflated by the 6-1 debacle loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

“Incredibly happy with our D-zone coverage and our tracking, very happy with our D-corps and their aggressiveness, 200-foot hockey,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said Monday. ‘Too inconsistent with our offensive habits of having someone at the net and having two on the inside. Our reloads have been inconsistent, which has led to less O-zone time as well and PK, very good; PP, not good enough. Goaltending has been good.

“I think our defensive sticks are vastly improved. We cause way more turnovers on forecheck, D-zone coverage, neutral zone. It’s been an emphasis of the staff, but again, a lot of that PK credit goes to Greg Cronin. He was brought here to improve our defensive habits and so far, he’s done an excellent job in it, and I know it’s a small sample size, but our players like the way we’re penalty-killing. They like the aggressiveness of it.”

The power play is 29th at 9.3 percent, which is just 1-for-11, also under a new assistant coach in Vinny Prospal.

On Monday, the Blues ran Adam Jiricek at the point on one unit, with Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway on the flanks, Jake Neighbours on the bumper and Jimmy Snuggerud at the net front, while Cam Fowler ran the other point along with Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish on the flanks, Pavel Buchnevich in the bumper and Dalibor Dvorsky at the net front.

“It’s good to give penalty kills different looks and obviously we weren’t generating much previously,” Montgomery said. “Our last game on the power play, we only had one opportunity, but the chances were significantly better and the puck movement was better.”

The idea now is to draw more power play chances, with the team only averaging just over two per game.

- - -

More to Saturday’s win included the fight Ross Johnston had with Blue Jackets enforcer Mathieu Olivier, one of the tougher customers in the league:

I expected this to start the game but here it was early in the second. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/EgVY8BQVEn

— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) October 11, 2026

It came in the first minute of the second period with the Blues down 2-0 and now showing much jump.

Johnston gave his teammates no indication it was coming and feels it’s probably better that way.

“The game happens so fast,” Johnston said. “So many things can lead to certain things. I’m not necessarily a premeditated person. I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t thinking about it. I think you’re pretty aware of who every team has, so on, so forth. I don’t talk it up, I don’t brush it up. You brush it off when it goes wrong and doesn’t look good if you talk about it and it goes well, it still doesn’t look good. I don’t talk about it, things can happen in a game and it can come out of nowhere. Let things fall is what I’m trying to say.

“(Olivier’s) tough. He’s as tough as they come. He plays the game the right way, plays the game honest and plays a lot. I’ve got a lot of respect for a guy like that.”

Montgomery said he had no idea it was coming.

“I don’t know him well enough to know that yet, and it’s great to see,” he said. “I know I don’t want that job.”

Part of the job Montgomery did say he likes is Johnston’s ability to talk on the bench and on the ice that seems to spark his teammates.

“I don’t know, you get comfortable the older you get maybe,” Johnston said. “The teams I’ve been on, you see how they had success and you see certain plays that have success. I think I’ve seen both sides of that. I think being able to watch the game and seeing little plays, maybe give little IQ’s to help the team out, especially when it’s not going well is maybe where it stems from. Just trying to be a little bit vocal and if it gets too quiet, talk to the boys, keep everything light. We’ve been in every game we’ve played so far (except Colorado). Just got to keep rolling the way we have been.”

- - -

The Blues did not hold a morning skate on Tuesday but did show off their projected lineup, and it appears Dylan Peterson will make his NHL debut in front of family and friends after being recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Sunday.

Peterson is expected to move into the lineup for Zach Dean.

Also, Joel Hofer is expected to start in goal.

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Dylan Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud

Connor McMichael-Mason McTavish-Jonatan Berggren

Jake Neighbours-Dalibor Dvorsky-Pavel Buchnevich

Ross Johnston-Pius Suter-Dylan Peterson

Philip Broberg-Adam Jiricek

Justin Barron-Colton Parayko

Cam Fowler-Brandon Carlo

Joel Hofer is projected to start in goal; Jordan Binnington would be the backup.

Healthy scratches could include Zach Dean and Theo Lindstein. Alexey Toropchenko (upper body), Tyler Tucker (knee), Logan Mailloux (hand) and Dillon Dube (neck) are out.

- - -

Senators Projected Lineup:

Warren Foegele-Tim Stutzle-Drake Batherson

Andre Burakovsky-Dylan Cozens-Ridly Greig

Michael Amadio-Shane Pinto-Claude Giroux

Fabian Zetterlund-Stephen Halliday-Nick Cousins

Thomas Chabot-Jordan Spence

Tyler Kleven-Carter Yakemchuk

Hoyt Stanley-Jorian Donovan

Samuel Ersson is projected to start in goal; Linus Ullmark would be the backup.

Healthy scratches could include Hayden Hodgson. Jake Sanderson (undisclosed), Artem Zub (knee), William Eklund (ankle), Kurtis MacDermid (upper body) and Cameron Crotty (illness) are out. Nikolas Mantipalo (upper body) departed Monday night’s game and is questionable.

Blue Note+ To Simulcast 10 Games Over-The-Air Exclusively On Gray Media’s First Alert ABC During 2026-27 SeasonGray’s newly acquired ABC affiliate (ABC 32) in St. Louis and affiliates in 10 other markets will air Blues games on select Thursday's throughout the season beginning Oct. 22St. Louis Blues Prospect Report (Oct. 11): Throw Those Hats For Maddox Dagenais; Aleksanteri Kaskimaki Continues to Press For His Opportunity2026 first-round pick nets hat trick for Quebec; after impressing in NHL training camp, Springfield forward keeps pushing to get his chance with Blues

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Chicago Blackhawks (1-5-0) will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2-1) for Tuesday night action at the United Center. Three of the game’s greatest of all time, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Patrick Kane, are going to share the ice once again. 

The Blackhawks are coming off a terrible loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Penguins earned a big shootout win over the Dallas Stars last time out. In most years, a Tuesday night in October between two teams from the opposite conference won’t build too much excitement. However, this is a special scenario. 

For one, this game is going to be a part of the NHL’s Frozen Frenzy. Starting at 5 PM CT, every team in the NHL will play with staggered start times. The Blackhawks are right in the middle of it with their game against the Penguins. 

🚨NHL #FrozenFrenzy is tomorrow with all 32 teams in action!

🏒5p | The Point | ESPN2, ESPN+
🏒6p | ESPN tripleheader begins
🏒6:15p | Start of 13 games on Power Play | ESPN+
🏒7p | Frozen Frenzy whip-around show | ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN+

More: https://t.co/yLepGIChMo | *All ET pic.twitter.com/cJK9olUEho

— Andrea DiCristoforo (@DreWithESPN) October 12, 2026

Scouting Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Penguins overachieved in 2025-26, and they are trying to do so again in 2026-27. With their core aging, the rest of the group is young and trying to establish themselves in the NHL. 

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

Kuzmenko-Kindel-Koivunen

Dewar-Lizotte-Robertson

Carlile-Karlsson

Girard-Korczak

Stastney-Letang

Andrei Kuzmenko was not in the lineup last game due to injury, but you can expect him back against the Hawks. If he does, in fact, play, the second line with Novak and Malkin is where he’ll slot in. 

Former Blackhawks defenseman Trevor Van Riemsdyk will not be on the early part of Pittsburgh’s trip due to injury, so he won’t have a chance to skate in the building where he won a Stanley Cup. 

Even in the year 2026, most of what Pittsburgh does goes through Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. They also have Erik Karlsson now, who is an older player in the league but still borderline elite. 

Although Malkin doesn’t play center as much anymore, he is still incredibly effective when it comes to helping drive a line offensively. Between him and Crosby, Blackhawks defenders will have their hands full. 

Whether it’s Arturs Silovs or Sergei Murashov in net, the Penguins could use an upgrade. However, these guys are capable of making saves as long as the team in front back-checks hard, breaks the puck out, and doesn’t make bad turnovers. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks are going to, at long last, have Connor Bedard back in the lineup. He has spent the off-season, training camp, and the first couple of weeks of the season recovering from shoulder surgery that he had early in the summer. 

Now, after intense dedication to working his way back, he is going to get in the lineup to try to help his team win. With him centering the top line, this is what the Hawks will look like: 

Kantserov-Bedard-Kane 

Bertuzzi-Frondell-Teravainen

Smith-Greene-Greenway 

Moore-Toninato-Donato

Byram-Levshunov

Vlasic-Cole

Kaiser-Rinzel

Knight

Nick Lardis is going to be the healthy scratch, with Connor Bedard coming back. With Frank Nazar out due to a suspension, they are keeping Dominic Toninato up to play center. When Nazar returns, Toninato will return to the Rockford IceHogs. Whether Lardis stays as the healthy scratch with both Bedard and Nazar in the lineup remains to be seen. 

Spencer Knight is projected to start for Chicago. He comes in with a 1-3-0 record, a 3.80 goals-against average, and an .885 save percentage. Those brutal numbers are more on his team’s defense in front of him, but even he would admit that there is another level he can get to. If he reaches that level soon, his numbers will start to be more on par with his career totals. 

Bedard's First Game As Captain, Playing Alongside Patrick Kane

Connor Bedard's 2026-27 Debut Will Be His First Game As Captain & First Alongside Patrick KaneThe Chicago Blackhawks will have Connor Bedard back in the lineup on Tuesday. This will be his first game as captain and his first with Patrick Kane.

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. It can be seen locally on CHSN. Nationally, you can stream it on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Carter Hart has been a thorn in the Colorado Avalanche’s side before, helping the Vegas Golden Knights sweep Colorado in the Western Conference Final. But his latest outing was one he would probably like to forget, and it could open the door for Adin Hill to get another start.

Hart gave up three goals in just over five minutes during Monday’s 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Matt Boldy, Maxim Shabanov and Danila Yurov all scored in the first period, putting Vegas in an early hole.

Hart settled down after that, stopping the rest of the shots he faced. Vegas also made a push late in the game, with goals from Rasmus Andersson and William Karlsson cutting Minnesota’s lead to 3-2. However, Joel Eriksson Ek’s empty-net goal ended any hopes of a comeback.

Hart finished with 24 saves on 27 shots, dropping to 3-2-0 in five starts this season. It was his second loss of the campaign and the second time in five appearances he has allowed more than two goals.

Adin Hill could get the chance to take over Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. According to reports, Hill is the likely starter as Vegas plays the second game of a back-to-back. Hart could return Thursday against the Calgary Flames.

For the Golden Knights, the priority is getting more consistent play in net. Both goaltenders have shown they can bounce back from rough starts, but Vegas cannot afford to keep digging itself into early holes.

And for Avalanche fans, Hart’s recent struggles are probably exciting to some degree, albeit it would be nice if that were to occur while both teams were facing off against one another.

The Golden Knights have eliminated the Avalanche in each of their last two playoff meetings, including a six-game series in 2021, when Colorado entered the postseason as the Presidents’ Trophy winners. If these rivals meet again in the playoffs, hopefully the Avalanche can turn the tables this time around.

The Florida Panthers suffered a second consecutive loss on Monday afternoon, dropping a matinee in Buffalo 5-3 to the host Sabres.

Panthers starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom played a strong first period, stopping nine of 11 shots, including all four high danger shots sent his way by Buffalo.

Markstrom did not return for the second period, though, with backup netminder Akira Schmid finishing off the game for Florida.

Afterward, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice provided an update on Markstrom, indicating that the injury was nothing sinister.

“It just tightened up so we pulled him,” said Maurice. “We’ll see. There’s no injury there we don’t think that we can’t deal with, just standard stuff.”

Through five starts, Markstrom has been solid for the Panthers between the pipes.

He’s stopped 85 of the 94 shots he’s faced, good for a .904 save percentage to go with a tidy 2.03 goals against average.

When facing high danger chances, that’s where Markstrom has really shined for Florida.

According to Natural Stat Trick, Markstrom has saved 23 of the 25 high danger shots he’s faced, which would rank him third among goaltenders who have seen at least 20 high danger shots this season.

Hopefully for the Panthers, whatever kept Markstrom from finishing Monday’s game wont be anything that lingers.

There was also something else that happened Monday in Buffalo that is worth a mention.

New Panthers forward Brady Tkachuk picked up his first point with the team, picking up an assist on Sam Reinhart’s first power play goal of the game.

It was no ordinary assist, either, as Tkachuk sent a perfect pass that was also between-the-legs and backwards-facing to Reinhart, who then had a yawning cage to deposit the puck into.

BRADY TKACHUK BETWEEN-THE-LEGS FEED TO REINHART TO TIE IT 😮‍💨

Brady has his FIRST point with the Panthers 👀 pic.twitter.com/Q4PidJhStX

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 12, 2026

We’ll see if this leads to the younger Tkachuk starting to pile up some points, as his brother Matthew now has a five-game point streak going in which he’s scored three goals.

So far through six games, Brady Tkachuk has the one point, 15 shots on 31 attempts, 26 hits, nine penalty minutes and a minus-5 on-ice rating while winning 61.3% of the 31 faceoffs he’s taken.

“I’ve been fine with his game,” said Maurice. “He’s netfront and battling all night, one went for him. I thought he was close to that happening five or six times since he’s been here, so I haven’t spent any time worrying about his points. He’s fine.”

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Photo caption: Sep 29, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers goaltenderJacobMarkstrom(25) leaves the ice after warm ups before a game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Three games. Two goaltenders. Two victories and one defeat. And a developing storyline for the Vegas Golden Knights that could become a key factor in their success this season.

The Golden Knights have demonstrated they can win with either Carter Hart or Adin Hill between the pipes. They've also learned that neither is immune to difficult stretches, especially in the opening period, when mistakes can quickly change a game's complexion.

Monday's 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild provided the latest example.

Hart surrendered three goals during a five-minute stretch of the first period before settling down, finishing with 24 saves as Vegas saw its four-game winning streak snapped.

The performance was reminiscent of Hill's start against Toronto four nights earlier, when he allowed three goals on the Maple Leafs' first six shots before recovering to backstop a 4-3 shootout victory.

In between, Hart delivered perhaps the most complete goaltending performance of the Golden Knights' young season, stopping 26 shots in Saturday's 2-1 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings.

Three performances, each with its own challenges, have given first-year coach Ryan Craig an early glimpse of what his goaltending tandem can offer—and where improvements are still needed.

Another Early Deficit Raises Questions

Monday's setback in Minnesota unfolded in a familiar fashion.

Vegas played a competitive opening stretch before the Wild erupted for three goals in 5:07, beginning with Matt Boldy's rebound goal at 11:50 of the first period.

Maxim Shabanov scored a power-play goal at 14:32, and Danila Yurov extended Minnesota's lead to 3-0 at 16:57.

For the second time in three games, the Golden Knights found themselves facing a three-goal deficit before the first intermission.

Hart wasn't solely responsible for the breakdown. Defensive lapses, positioning and the inability to quickly regain composure contributed to Minnesota's surge.

But the goaltender was once again left confronting the challenge of keeping his team within striking distance.

To Hart's credit, he did not allow another goal on 15 shots over the final two periods.

Rasmus Andersson scored early in the second period, and William Karlsson brought Vegas within 3-2 midway through the third.

The Golden Knights pressed for the equalizer before Joel Eriksson Ek sealed Minnesota's victory with an empty-net goal.

Hart finished with a .889 save percentage, allowing three goals on 27 shots.

The loss dropped Hart to 3-2-0 in five starts.

And while Monday was a setback, it did little to diminish the confidence his teammates had expressed after his previous appearance.

Hill's Comeback Against Toronto Provides a Blueprint

If there was a positive lesson to be drawn from Monday's loss, it was that Vegas had already experienced a similar situation and demonstrated an ability to recover.

Thursday's matchup against Toronto began disastrously for Hill.

Jack Roslovic scored 34 seconds into the contest, Easton Cowan converted a breakaway, and Nick Paul made it 3-0 just 8:37 into the game.

Hill had allowed three goals on six shots.

But instead of allowing the situation to deteriorate, the veteran goaltender settled down and gave his teammates an opportunity to rally.

Vegas dominated the remainder of the contest, eventually tying the game before Trevor Connelly scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout.

Hill stopped 21 of 24 shots in regulation and overtime and made the decisive shootout save against John Tavares.

Craig praised his goaltender's ability to recover.

"I think the guys picked Hilly up and he responded," Craig said. "As our team got better, Hilly got better."

Mitch Marner was equally impressed with Hill's composure.

"I feel like Hilly's so calm and confident himself, regardless of what happens before, so you see that tonight," Marner said. "Just stayed with it. We have a lot of trust in either of those boys in net. So, when we needed him massively, he made some big saves."

That trust has become an important component of Vegas' early-season identity.

Hill, who helped lead the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2023, understands the demands of playing in high-pressure situations.

Through his first two appearances this season, Hill is 2-0-0 with a 2.41 goals-against average and .886 save percentage.

Those numbers aren't spectacular, but his ability to overcome Thursday's difficult start illustrated the mental resilience necessary to succeed at the position.

Hart Demonstrates His Value Against Los Angeles

Saturday's victory over the Kings offered perhaps the clearest example of why Craig has confidence in Hart.

The 28-year-old goaltender stopped 26 of 27 shots, finishing with a .963 save percentage in a tightly contested game that required patience and precision.

His biggest contribution came during a Los Angeles five-on-three power play, when a timely save helped preserve the tie and energized the crowd at T-Mobile Arena.

Craig recognized the significance of the moment.

"Well, it energized us. That's what it did for us," Craig said. "I thought the building got alive after that."

The coach credited his penalty killers for their work during the sequence but emphasized Hart's contribution.

"But Carter came up big when we needed him to make a save," Craig said.

Hart also denied Quinton Byfield early in overtime, setting the stage for Marner's winning power-play goal at 2:40.

Afterward, Hart downplayed his individual performance.

"I mean, just I think just compete and just trying to make saves," Hart said. "Really, that's about it."

His understated approach reflected the mentality Craig has been trying to establish throughout the lineup.

For Hart, the performance also represented another encouraging step after serving as Vegas' primary postseason goaltender during its run to the Stanley Cup Final last spring.

Hart started all 22 of the Golden Knights' playoff games, providing valuable experience in pressure situations that could prove important as the season progresses.

A Goaltending Competition Worth Watching

Through seven games, the Golden Knights have relied on both goaltenders, with Hart receiving five starts and Hill two.

Hart's totals include his 24-save performance on Monday. Combined, the tandem has made 154 saves on 171 shots for a .901 save percentage.

Hart's workload suggests Craig has been comfortable giving him the majority of the starts, although Hill's championship experience and undefeated record provide another viable option.

The challenge isn't necessarily deciding which goaltender deserves the No. 1 designation.

It's determining how to maximize both players over the course of an 82-game season.

Craig has already demonstrated a willingness to trust his goaltenders through difficult stretches rather than making immediate changes.

That approach was rewarded Thursday when Hill recovered against Toronto and again Saturday when Hart delivered against Los Angeles.

Monday's loss offered another reminder that consistency remains a work in progress.

The Golden Knights have allowed three first-period goals twice in their past three games, a concerning trend that extends beyond goaltending.

Defensive coverage, puck management and composure all contribute to a team's ability to protect its netminders.

And while both Hart and Hill have demonstrated the capacity to recover from difficult starts, repeatedly asking them to overcome early three-goal deficits isn't a sustainable formula.

Finding Consistency Between the Pipes

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Vegas' goaltending situation is the confidence that continues to exist throughout the dressing room.

Marner's comments following Thursday's victory were particularly revealing.

The Golden Knights aren't approaching their goaltending tandem with uncertainty. They believe either player can provide the saves necessary to win.

And while Monday's result exposed areas requiring improvement, it also reinforced the importance of maintaining perspective during the opening weeks of a long season.

Hart has already delivered several strong performances, including victories against Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Hill has won both his starts, including Thursday's comeback against Toronto.

Neither has recorded a shutout, and both have experienced periods when the opposition has dictated play.

But their combined five victories have helped Vegas establish itself among the early contenders in the Western Conference.

The Golden Knights return to action Tuesday at Nashville, where the second game of a back-to-back presents Craig with another opportunity to evaluate his goaltending options.

Whether Hill gets the assignment or Hart returns to the crease, the expectation remains the same.

Give the Golden Knights an opportunity to win.

And if the first seven games have demonstrated anything, it's that Vegas has two goaltenders capable of doing exactly that — even if the path toward establishing consistency remains unfinished.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for a brief two game homestand and will face the Florida Panthers tonight at 6:15 PM. 

Florida Panthers - 2-2-2 - 6 Points - Loss 2 - 6th in the Atlantic

Columbus Blue Jackets - 2-2-0 - 4 Points - Loss 1 - 6th in the Metro

Teams Notes Per CBJ PR

• After being out for pre-season and the Jackets’ first two regular-season games, Damon Severson made his season debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 9, scoring a goal and an assist (1-1-2).
• The Blue Jacket lead the league in faceoff % with a 58.6% win %.
• Columbus is currently 5th in the Metro, 13th in the East, and 25th in the league. 

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

• Charlie Coyle has 10-7-17 in 33 career GP vs. Florida with 6-4-10 in 17 career home games against the Panthers.
• Danton Heinen has 4-9-13 in 24 career GP vs. Florida, with points in four of his last six matchups (1-3-4).
• Matthew Knies has 3-3-6 in 12 career GP, including three multi-point games that have all occurred on home ice (6 GP).
• Sean Monahan has 8-7-15 with five multi-point efforts in 22 career matchups and has notched 5-5-10 in 11 career home contests vs. Florida.
• Valeri Nichushkin has collected 2-4-6 in 13 career games vs. Florida, with all points in his last four meetings against the club.
• Cole Sillinger has 3-2-5 in 11 career GP, and has goals in two of his past four against Florida (2-1-3).
• Carson Soucy has picked up 1-1-2 in back-to-back games against Florida and has notched 4-2-6 in 13 career matchups.

Blue Jackets Stats 

• Power Play - 20.0% - 19th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 75.9% - 23rd in the NHL
• Goals For - 12 - 24th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 14 - 14th in the NHL   

Panthers Stats 

• Power Play - 9.4% - 28th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 74.1% - 24th in the NHL
• Goals For - 12 - 24th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 17 - 21st in the NHL

Series History vs. ThePanthers

• The Blue Jackets are 27-21-8 Overall, and 17-7-4 at Nationwide Arena vs. Florida. 
• Columbus has picked up points in four straight games against Florida (1-0-3), with three of the past four games having gone past regulation.

Who To Watch For ThePanthers

• Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with 3 goals and 5 points. 
• Lars Eller leads the Panthers with 3 assists. 
• Jacob Markstrom is 2-1-1 with a SV% of .904%.
• Akira Schmid is 0-1-1 with a SV% of .868%. 

Injured Reserve & Other Injuries

• Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 4 Games Missed
• Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 4 Games Missed
• Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 4 Games Missed

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 16

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

TV: CBJHN (Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo)   

Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the Florida Panthers tonight at 6:15 PM 

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Rieger Lorenz isn’t wasting any time making his presence felt with the Minnesota Wild.

Just two games into his NHL career, the 22-year-old forward has already displayed the qualities that helped earn him his first opportunity at the highest level.

Speed, physicality, relentless forechecking and a willingness to stand up for himself have all been evident in Lorenz’s first two appearances.

During Monday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Grand Casino Arena, Lorenz continued to make an impression, contributing to Minnesota’s third goal and dropping the gloves for his first NHL fight.

For Wild head coach John Hynes, those contributions are exactly what the organization hoped to see from the young forward.

“A lot of speed and a high competitiveness factor on the forecheck,” Hynes said. “I think, I don’t know if you saw it or not, but even I think his first shift in Florida was a forecheck, and he got a point-blank slot shot right there.”

“He’s hard on the puck and very competitive. Seems like he’s responsible and understands how to play without the puck.”

Lorenz’s impact was particularly noticeable on Minnesota’s third goal against Vegas.

After the Golden Knights failed to secure a loose puck, Lorenz used his speed and aggressive forechecking instincts to pressure the play, helping create an opportunity that Bobby Brink capitalized on.

It was the type of sequence that illustrated why Lorenz has been able to make an immediate impression despite having limited NHL experience.

“I felt a little bit jittery in the first two shifts there,” Lorenz said. “So I think, you know, when that loose puck’s there, that’s my job as a forechecker, to go get it. And I was lucky that Bobby made an unbelievable play.”

Danila Yurov puts the @mnwild up by three! 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/nqeKo1t7rx

— NHL (@NHL) October 13, 2026

That ability to create opportunities through pressure is something Hynes has already identified as one of Lorenz’s biggest strengths.

“When you see him, what he brings is, he’s a hard guy, very competitive and hard on the puck,” Hynes said. “But his speed has certainly been a factor as well.”

However, Lorenz’s offensive contributions weren’t the only thing that caught attention Monday.

The young forward also found himself involved in his first NHL fight, showing that he isn’t intimidated by the physical demands of the league.

Lorenz explained that the altercation began after he finished a check and was confronted by his opponent.

“I was trying to do my job. I kind of finished my check up there, and he kind of grabbed me,” Lorenz said. “And I’m always willing to go.”

When asked whether his opponent had initiated the fight, Lorenz made it clear that he wasn’t going to back down.

“I think also, watch the video. I think he kind of dropped his gloves, and then, like I said, I’m not going to shy away from it.”

That willingness to compete physically is something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates.

Michael McCarron, who knows a thing or two about the physical side of hockey, praised Lorenz for how he handled his first NHL fight.

“Yeah, it was good,” McCarron said. “Lauzon is no weak opponent for your first fight. That’s a big boy. He knows what he’s doing.”

“I thought Rieger did a great job. He stood in there and he’s willing to stand up for himself. He did a great job.”

what a beauty pic.twitter.com/xD5nd0KLU2

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 13, 2026

Beyond the physicality, Lorenz is also making an impression with his maturity.

Following the victory, Lorenz had the opportunity to recognize one of his teammates by presenting McCarron with the team’s postgame helmet.

Rather than focusing on Hughes' two points or Wallstedt's night, Lorenz highlighted the work McCarron had done throughout the game.

“He had some huge blocks. He was a dog in the faceoff dot and also on the forecheck,” Lorenz said. “He had some awesome forechecks for our team.”

“And when we had the momentum against us, I think he went out there and did a solid job to turn it back in our favor.”

For Hynes, that decision offered another glimpse into Lorenz’s character.

“New guy in the organization, but just really good head on his shoulders, sharp kid,” Hynes said. “I think a little bit wise beyond his years. He seems like the kind of guy that just gets it. Whether it’s hockey or a little bit of life or a situation, he seems like he’s on top of things.”

Monday’s game also carried additional significance for Lorenz.

The former University of Denver forward is no stranger to Grand Casino Arena, having previously played in the building during his collegiate career.

Now, he’s experiencing those moments on an entirely different stage.

“It’s pretty cool,” Lorenz said. “It seems like all the biggest moments of my hockey career have happened in this arena. So it’s pretty nice to kind of keep on that train.”

“Obviously, we’re so well supported here in Minnesota, and it’s just a pleasure playing in front of these fans.”

For a player just beginning his NHL career, Lorenz has already provided plenty of reasons for the Wild coaching staff to take notice.

His speed has created pressure, his physicality has added another dimension to Minnesota’s bottom six, and his maturity has impressed both teammates and coaches.

Two games certainly aren’t enough to determine what Lorenz’s long-term role with the Wild will look like. But if his first two NHL appearances are any indication, the young forward understands exactly what he needs to do to stick around.

And he isn’t going to shy away from doing it.

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The Vancouver Canucks (2–5–0) begin the second-half of their six-game road trip when they face the New York Islanders (2–3–0) tonight. Both teams will enter today’s game after suffering losses on the weekend. Vancouver comes into today’s game after suffering a 6–2 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday, while the Islanders’ last matchup saw them lose 5–3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. 

One of the biggest storylines following the Canucks throughout their road trip thus far has been their goaltending. From back-to-back performances from Kevin Lankinen resulting in six goals-against, to wacky equipment issues for Leevi Meriläinen, Vancouver’s goaltenders have taken center stage since they made it out east. 

Things have been especially difficult for Lankinen, who is currently sporting a 6.88 GAA and .786 SV% through the start of the season. While the goaltender has been given relatively difficult matchups in relation to Vancouver’s schedule (such as starts against the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes), Lankinen’s numbers have been worrisome so far through 2026–27. The fact that the Canucks have looked very much like a team still figuring things out defensively doesn’t help. 

It’ll be interesting to see who Vancouver opts to start heading into Tuesday’s matchup, though considering the fact that Lankinen technically hasn’t gotten a full game off since October 3 (as he played in five minutes of Saturday’s 4–1 loss to the New Jersey Devils), it’d make sense for Meriläinen to step in against the Islanders. 

Players To Watch: 

Jonathan Lekkerimäki 

One player who has quietly impressed in Vancouver’s first games of the 2026–27 season is Jonathan Lekkerimäki. The forward has spent the majority of the early season on a line with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, with the trio doing a consistently fair job of generating offence for their team. His two goals and three assists are currently tied for third on Vancouver in points.  

Bo Horvat

Former Canucks always seem to do well against their ex-team, and Bo Horvat is no exception. Since being traded to the Islanders in January of 2023, Horvat has averaged a point-per-game pace against Vancouver through five matchups. He enters today’s game riding a five-game point streak to start the 2026–27 season, with four of these points being goals.  

Vancouver Canucks (2–5–0): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 2–6–8

Paul Cotter: 4–2–6

Jake DeBrusk: 3–2–5

Jonathan Lekkerimäki: 2–3–5

Linus Karlsson: 1–4–5

Goaltenders: 

Kevin Lankinen: 1–5–0

Leevi Meriläinen: 1–0–0

New York Islanders (2–3–0): 

Points: 

Bo Horvat: 4–2–6

Brayden Schenn: 2–3–5

Logan Stanley: 0–4–4

Matthew Schaefer: 0–4–4

Jean-Gabriel Pageau: 1–2–3

Goaltenders: 

Ilya Sorokin: 2–2–0

Semyon Varlamov: 0–1–0

Game Information: 

Start time: 4:45 pm PT

Venue: UBS Arena 

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: KiSS West Coast 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra Reveals Why Jamie Oleksiak Was A Healthy Scratch Against The Rangers

3 Standouts From Game #7: Rangers 6, Canucks 2

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Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2-1, 7 points, 3rd place Metropolitan Division) @ Chicago Blackhawks (1-5-0, 2 points, 8th place Central Division)

When: 8:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: Local broadcast on Chicago Sports Network and Sportsnet Pittsburgh, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: This is the start of a four-game road trip, which continues this weekend with a back-to-back in Denver (Friday) and Las Vegas (Saturday) before wrapping up Monday in Salt Lake City.

Opponent Track: The Blackhawks have been outscored 26-12 during their 1-5 start to the season. The Hawks are riding a two-game losing streak into Tuesday after most recently losing 5-2 to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes.

Season Series: The Penguins won both games of this season series last year, winning 7-3 against a team missing Connor Bedard in December before claiming a 6-2 victory in January.

Hidden Stat: The Blackhawks have had one of the worst power plays in the NHL so far this season after going 1-f0r-14 on the man advantage through six games. The home team will see if that changes tonight with the potential return of Connor Bedard.

A look at the first power play unit with Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/lNt6oJT6en

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 12, 2026

Getting to know the Blackhawks

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Roman Kantserov – Connor Bedard – Patrick Kane

Tyler Bertuzzi – Anton Frondell – Teuvo Teravainen

Cole Smith – Ryan Greene – Jordan Greenway

Oliver Moore – Dominic Toninato – Ryan Donato

DEFENSEMEN

Bowen Byram – Artyom Levshunov

Alex Vlasic – Ian Cole

Wyatt Kaiser – Sam Rinzel

Goalies: Spencer Knight, Arvid Soderblom

Potential scratches: Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro, Nick Lardis

Injured Reserve: Andrew Mangiapane

Suspended: Frank Nazar

• Connor Bedard could be making his season debut for the Blackhawks, and his first appearance alongside Patrick Kane on Chicago’s new top line, after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and missing the start of their campaign. He rejoined practice without a no-contact jersey Sunday, and multiple reporters indicated Monday he could be in the lineup against the Pens.
• Based on Monday’s practice lineup, second-year forward Nick Lardis will be the odd man out if Bedard is able to play tonight.

Chicago head coach Jeff Blashill said Connor Bedard is trending towards being a “coach’s decision” on Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh.

He paused then laughed and said: “We’ll see how that goes.”

I think that means he’s probably playing, #Blackhawks

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 12, 2026

New Blackhawks powerplay units

PP1
Bertuzzi
Bedard-Kantserov-Kane
Byram

PP2
Moore
Teräväinen-Donato-Frondell
Rinzel

— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) October 12, 2026

• Bedard missed 12 games last season with a shoulder injury before returning to the lineup. He then suffered another injury in practice in early July and underwent surgery. Unlike his last return from a shoulder issue, Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said Bedard won’t have restrictions such as a ban on face-offs. Blashill also noted Bedard might need some additional time to adjust to game speed before producing, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Jeff Blashill on Connor Bedard:

“He came back last year and still had restrictions on him: no faceoffs and things like that. There’s mental hurdles involved with that. With this one being surgically repaired, it’s in a great spot.”

But he cautioned it’s “not easy to just jump…

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 12, 2026

• Frank Nazar is serving out the back half of a two-game suspension for a hit to the head of the New York Islanders’ Bo Horvat.

Season stats
via hockeydb

• Rookie Roman Kantserov, who could be skating on Bedard’s wing opposite Kane tonight, scored the first goal of his NHL career on a breakaway in the Blackhawks’ Saturday loss to the Hurricanes.

Roman Kantserov has his first NHL goal, and it was a beauty! 👏

Rookie Firsts presented by @DrinkBODYARMORpic.twitter.com/gGrzxYLVWs

— NHL (@NHL) October 11, 2026

• Spencer Knight is in line for another season as the Blackhawks’ top goaltender after starting 55 games last season. He’s started four of the Hawks’ six games, and he made 25 saves on 27 shots in their lone win of the season so far against the St. Louis Blues.

the dark Knight between the pipes ⚔️

on Tuesday’s game Spencer notched 25 saves for his 25th win with the Blackhawks!

🥅 | @RotoRooterpic.twitter.com/6yB41nDhI7

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 8, 2026

And now for the Pens

Projected lines (based on Monday’s practice)

FORWARDS

Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Andrei Kuzmenko – Ben Kindel – Ville Koivunen

Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Nick Robertson

DEFENSEMEN

Declan Carlile / Erik Karlsson

Sam Girard / Kaeden Korczak

Spencer Stastney / Kris Letang

Goalies: Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov

Potential Scratches: Elmer Soderblom, Hendrix Lapierre

IR: Ryan Graves, Justin Brazeau, Trevor van Riemsdyk

• van Riemsdyk hit IR yesterday, backdated to 10/9. That means he could be eligible to return as soon as the following game on Friday night, if his health allows it. The Pens haven’t announced any call-ups from the AHL for the interim, but they do have an open roster spot and only six healthy defensemen. (A pre-emptive welcome back to the NHL roster, Ilya Solovyov?)
• It looks like there’s a chance Andrei Kuzmenko draws into the lineup tonight after an extended absence from the non-roster list. Based on practice, that would mean Hendrix Lapierre and Elmer Soderblom are the odd men out, given that Koivunen also rotated back in.

Dan Muse, on Andrei Kuzmenko: "I still want to touch base with him and have conversations, but he was a full participant. He looked good. We’ll have some conversations and figure things out for tomorrow."

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) October 12, 2026

The Vancouver Canucks have struggled out of the gate, going 2-5-0 through their opening seven games of the Manny Malhotra era. They've been outscored 35-24 and are currently riding a four-game skid.

On the flip side, as they enter their Tuesday night matchup against the New York Islanders, they're looking to keep a different streak going.

Since UBS Arena opened its doors, the Canucks have gone 5-0-0. Not only that, but they are the only NHL franchise to not have lost in Elmont yet, with all of their wins coming in regulation:

Mar. 3, 2022: Van 4, NYI 3

Feb. 9, 2023: Van 6, NYI 5

Jan. 9, 2024: Van 5, NYI 2

Mar. 26, 2025: Van 5, NYI 2

Dec. 19, 2025: VAN 4, NYI 1

In that game on Feb. 9, Anthony Beauvillier scored the go-ahead goal, a low-slot tip in his first game back after being dealt to Vancouver as part of the package that brought the Islanders their current captain, Bo Horvat. 

The Islanders have alternated losses and wins since opening night in Toronto, as they try to get back on track against the Canucks after falling 5-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. 

The Canucks fell 6-2 to the Rangers on Sunday.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:45 PM ET with all 32 NHL teams in action. The NHL's Frozen Frenzy begins at 6 PM ET, with games starting every 15 minutes after that. 

Before heading to Washington on Tuesday night, the Montreal Canadiens will host the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre. The two teams played a nail-biting second-round series last season. The Habs won on an Alex Newhook overtime goal in Game 7, but the Sabres had a 39-25 shot advantage that night and felt they should have won the series. On Tuesday night, they’ll have a chance to avenge their elimination.

In the regular season, the two teams met four times and split the series, each winning one at home and one on the road, and both scoring 13 goals. They could not have been more evenly matched. Unlike the Canadiens, though, the Sabres made many offseason changes, bidding farewell to Alex Tuch, Bowen Byram, Jordan Greenway, Logan Stanley, and Luke Schenn, to name a few. They’ve added Louis Crevier, Olen Zellweger and Dennis Gilbert. Over six games this season, they scored 16 goals and went 3-3-0, leaving them in sixth place in the Atlantic Division, they leapfrogged the Habs last night with a win over the Florida Panthers. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are 2-2-1 with five points for seventh place in the Atlantic Division and 23rd in the league, having scored 15 goals.

Canadiens’ Hutson Spends Time With The Kids
Canadiens: A Vote Of Confidence For Xhekaj?
Fowler: Maybe Buffalo’s Jealous Now...

The Sabres are struggling in net. Alex Lyon has yet to make his season start and is day-to-day; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has one win, a 4.02 goals-against average, and a .782 save percentage; and Colten Ellis has one win, a 2.91 GAA, and an .880 SV. Meanwhile, in Montreal, Jakub Dobes also has one win with a 4.43 GAA and a .856 SV, while newly recalled Jacob Fowler is 1-1-0 with a 1.46 GAA and a .938 SV.

At Monday’s practice, the Canadiens spent a lot of time working on their anemic power play ( a single goal in 17 opportunities for a 5.9% success rate), which is currently 31st in the league, just like the Sabres’. Florian Xhekaj returned to practice but left after a few minutes, clearly still bothered by a minor ailment. St-Louis refused to confirm whether he’d run the same formation with 11 forwards and seven defensemen or to confirm which goaltender would get the first game of the back-to-back.

In the regular season, Dobes has a 3-0-0 record against the Sabres with a 2.00 GAA and .937 SV, while Fowler has lost his only start against Tuesday night’s visitors, posting a 4.13 GAA and a .846 SV. Will St-Louis give the youngster a third straight start, or will he let Dobes back between the posts? Hard to sit Fowler after he pitched a perfect game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Florida native was absolutely flawless through regulation, overtime and the shootout.

As for the Sabres, Ellis got the start on Monday against the Florida Panthers, so it makes sense for Luukkonen to start. The former has a 1-0-0 record against the Habs, surrendering three goals in a 5-3-win last season and a .870 SV, while the latter is 2-2-0 with a 3,95 GAA and a .871 SV.

Up front, captain Nick Suzuki has 26 points in 21 games against the Sabres, the same total as newcomer Chris Kreider, but the veteran has faced them 40 times to reach that total. Sniper Cole Caufield ranks third with 16 points in 18 games.

Tage Thompson leads the Sabres in points against the Habs with 23 points in 20 games; Rasmus Dahlin has 21 points in 24 games; and Jack Quinn comes in third place with six points in 12 games. Unfortunately for Buffalo, Dahlin was injured in Sunday's game and didn't make the trip to Montreal. 

Beware, the game starts at 6:30 PM, and you can catch it in French on RDS 2 and in English on TSN 2. It will be the first of four duels between the two sides this season. The Canadiens have won six of their last 10 games against the visitors and will no doubt hope to improve that record. Jake Brenk and Pierre Lambert will be the officials on the night while  Ryan Daisy and Tommy Hughes will be the linesmen. 

---

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Bruce Cassidy isn’t behind an NHL bench, where he hoped to be by now, but he’s certainly not sitting on his hands.

The veteran coach is currently at Canada’s women’s national team’s selection camp in Quebec City, helping out as Hockey Canada prepares for November’s World Championships in Denmark.

The 2023 Stanley Cup champion coach was named special adviser to Team Canada general manager Danièle Sauvageau last month, but most of his focus has naturally been on helping support head coach Kori Cheverie.

“It’s been great,” Cassidy told The Athletic on Monday. “I’ve been going to training camps for 45 years as a player and then as a coach. So we have one here. It’s what you’re used to. Just getting back involved, watching video, getting familiar with some of the players here, helping to prepare practice, going on the ice, teaching again.

“Just trying to stay in a routine, so to speak. Great people here. This opportunity came up, and it’s really helped fill that void. It’s been great. I can help out and I’m learning while I’m here.”

Cheverie was named head coach Sept. 24, and Cassidy has enjoyed getting to know her.

“She’s great, really organized,” said Cassidy, the 2020 Jack Adams Award winner as NHL coach of the year.

The Hockey Canada assignment will keep Cassidy busy this fall right through November, when he plans to attend the World Championship in his role. After that? Well, he’s going to see what the rest of the season brings as far as his NHL future.

But in the meantime, the extra free time has its benefits, too.

“I’ve seen a lot of my son playing hockey on weekends. He’s 16, so that’s been great,” said Cassidy, who along with his wife has stayed in Las Vegas, where their daughter is a senior in high school this year.

Cassidy will also do the odd TNT game in studio in Atlanta.

“Those are always fun to do. Those guys are fun,” Cassidy said of the TNT panel.

But an NHL bench is where he belongs. He’ll patiently wait for that phone to ring.

It’s a similar situation to the one Peter DeBoer was in a year ago, when DeBoer was biding his time before the New York Islanders came calling late in the season. Now Cassidy is at the top of the food chain as the most likely coach to get hired if and when there’s an NHL opening.

Of course, the awkward thing for any coach in between jobs is that he isn’t wishing for any pals to get fired.

“They’re all colleagues and some of them friends,” Cassidy said. “I can’t say I know every single NHL coach well, but most of them you interact with somewhere along the line, and some are really good buddies.”

Also, the Vegas Golden Knights will still have to give a team permission to speak to Cassidy, as he remains under contract with them until June 30, 2027.

“Nothing’s changed,” Cassidy said. “They have to give permission. That’s how they left it. So there’s nowhere to go with that until a potential opportunity comes up. We’ll see where it goes. We’ll see if something comes up. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, you know?”

It’s been well documented that the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings were denied permission to speak to Cassidy last spring during the Golden Knights’ playoff run. And the NHL confirmed Vegas was well within its rights to do so, as Cassidy doesn’t have the “out” language in his contract that some other coaches have.

Whatever the case, Cassidy missed out on that NHL hiring cycle. He’s turned the page. He’s ready for the next one.

One thing I always ask a coach in this position: What has he learned after time to decompress and self-analyze that he will bring with him to his next NHL gig?

“Well, I don’t want to change who I am,” Cassidy said. “I’ve always thought I’m a pretty direct coach. I hold people accountable, and my teams play a certain way. But I think it’s always about how you message. You’ve always got to reflect on that. That’s the biggest thing I’ll probably look at again.”

“Again,” because he did the same after being fired by the Boston Bruins.

How can he improve the messaging? He won a Cup in Vegas, then got fired nearly three years later. Lots to digest in there.

“You win the Cup, you want to stay at that standard. How do you get that message across without pushing the guys (too far) and trusting they know what it looks like to win?” Cassidy said. “The first year after the Cup, you do that, and you lose early in the playoffs — you’re like, ‘OK, we’re not the same team. We’ve got to move on. We’re not the defending champs anymore.’

“So how are you messaging that every day and yet the guys in the room know they’ve won and they know what it takes? I think that was the biggest challenge in Years 3 and 4, that I would self-reflect and maybe say I should have done it this way or that way.”

No question there’s been some soul-searching and self-diagnosis going on there. You have to evolve. You have to learn. Or you get left behind.

In the meantime, his current gig comes at a perfect time, just as DeBoer’s work for the men’s national team came at the perfect time a year ago.

“Pete did work with Hockey Canada last year, as well, ahead of the Olympics,” said Cassidy, who was part of that Olympic staff with DeBoer. “That’s why I thought this was a really good fit, because you’re coaching. And you’re coaching women (for the first time), so you’re going to learn something. But you’re still breaking down video. You’re coaching.

“This has been a lot of fun. They’re a good group.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Vegas Golden Knights, NHL, Women's Hockey

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Tuesday, Oct. 13 will be a busy day and night in the NHL with all 32 teams in action.

ESPN is holding its fourth annual NHL Frozen Frenzy, with the 16-game slate starting at 6 p.m. ET and staggered every 15 minutes to allow for whip-around coverage on ESPN2.

The day starts at 5 p.m. ET with The Point on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The first game is the New Jersey Devils at the Detroit Red Wings at 6 on the main ESPN channel. The whip-around coverage starts at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and runs through midnight.

ESPN will also broadcast the Colorado Avalanche-Dallas Stars game at 8:30 p.m. and the Boston Bruins-San Jose Sharks game at 11 p.m.

NHL power rankings: Rangers surprise, Flyers disappoint early

Here's a look at the full schedule for Tuesday, how to watch and stream and ranking the best games:

NHL Frozen Frenzy schedule

All times Eastern

• New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings, 6
• Florida Panthers at Columbus Blue Jackets, 6:15
• Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens, 6:30
• Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes, 6:45
• Seattle Kraken at Philadelphia Flyers, 7
• Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers, 7:15
• St. Louis Blues at Ottawa Senators, 7:30
• Vancouver Canucks at New York Islanders, 7:45
• Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks, 8
• Minnesota Wild at Winnipeg Jets, 8:15
• Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars, 8:30
• Vegas Golden Knights at Nashville Predators, 8:45
• Toronto Maple Leafs at Utah Mammoth, 9
• Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks, 9:45
• Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30
• Boston Bruins at San Jose Sharks, 11

How to watch NHL Frozen Frenzy

ESPN will broadcast three games: New Jersey at Detroit, Colorado at Dallas and Boston at San Jose. ESPN2 will show whip-around coverage on all the games from 7 p.m. to midnight. John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes will host that.

How to stream NHL Frozen Frenzy

Fubo carries ESPN. The whip-around program can be streamed on Disney+ and the ESPN app. Individual games can be streamed on ESPN+.

Watch NHL on Fubo

Ranking the best NHL Frozen Frenzy games

• 5. Buffalo at Montreal, 6:30: These teams played a hard-fought seven-game playoff series last season, with the Canadiens advancing to the Eastern Conference finals in an overtime win. Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes led the way, but Jacob Fowler has started the Canadiens' last two games this season.
• 4 Washington at Carolina, 6:45: The defending champion Hurricanes take on the Capitals, with both teams expected to challenge for the Metropolitan Division title. Washington's Alex Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season on Sunday and now trails Wayne Gretzky (1,016) by nine goals for most combined regular-season and playoff goals. This is his last season in the NHL.
• 3. Boston at Sharks, 11: A chance to watch Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks' rising star and newly named captain. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is returning from his six-game suspension and making his season debut.
• 2. Colorado at Dallas, 8:30: The Avalanche, Stars and Wild are the elite teams in the Central Division and it's best to finish first to avoid a tough No. 2 vs. No. 3 first round. This game will play a role in that.
• 1. Pittsburgh at Chicago, 8: Connor Bedard is expected to make his season debut as Blackhawks captain after offseason shoulder surgery. Just as in his NHL debut, Bedard will face the Penguins and superstar Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh captain is off to a slow start this season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ESPN’s NHL Frozen Frenzy is back: Best games, TV info as 32 teams play

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

With a half dozen games under their belt in the new season, it’s time for the Pittsburgh Penguins to head out on their first extended road trip of the 2026-27 season. Beginning tonight in Chicago, the Penguins will head west to Denver, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City for a daunting stretch that sees them take on three playoff teams from last season along with a Chicago side that has given them plenty of issues over the years despite more recent struggles. [Pensburgh]

Puck drop tonight is set for 8:00 PM Eastern and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh. Tonight is also the NHL’s annual ‘Frozen Frenzy’ which will see all 32 teams in action.

Pens Points…

A slow start for Sidney Crosby isn’t completely out of the ordinary, but given the early season results, you may expect Dan Muse to shake up the lines to give Crosby a different look. If practice is any indication, that does not appear to be the case as of yet. [Pensburgh]

Some trade news broke late Monday afternoon as the Penguins announced a deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Coming over from Buffalo is defenseman Ryan Johnson in exchange for defensemen Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch. Johnson is a former first round draft pick (2019). [Penguins]

All signs are pointing to Connor Bedard making his season debut for the Blackhawks later this evening against the Penguins. He was a full participant in practice on Monday and look to be ready to play his first game since being named captain of the team over the summer. [NHL]

Kaeden Korczak is still getting acclimated to Pittsburgh and a new style of play, but he’s been proving his worth thus far. After being acquired in the offseason, the Penguins plan for Korczak isn’t just be a body on the blue line, but a major factor in the long term plans. [PPG]

Still listed as a non-roster player, it appears Andrei Kuzmenko is nearing a full return to the Penguins lineup, possibly as soon as tonight. Kuzmenko was a full participant in practice on Monday but no final decision was given by Dan Muse. [Trib Live]

Some non-hockey Penguins adjacent news: Austin Lemieux, son of franchise legend Mario Lemeiux, qualified for his first PGA golf event. Lemieux qualified for the upcoming Bermuda Championship by scoring a fitting 66 at his qualifying event in Florida. [Sportsnet]

NHL News and Notes…

Auston Matthews posted nine points in three games last week and was named the First Star of the Week by the NHL on Monday. Jake Oettinger was nearly unbeatable in goal and was named Second Star with Alex Lafreniere taking home Third Star honors. [NHL]

Amidst turmoil after placing their current head coach on leave, the Arizona Sun Devils are expected to hire former Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken bench boss Dave Hakstol as the next head coach of the program. [ESPN]

It’s time for the NHL’s ‘Frozen Frenzy’ with all 32 teams in action. Coverage begins on ESPN2 at 5:00 PM with the first game beginning at 6:00 PM with remaining contests being on staggered start times throughout the evening all the way up until 11:00 PM. [ESPN]

The Vegas Golden Knights might be the most resilient team in hockey. Their style of play stays consistent despite no matter the circumstances— it doesn’t matter if they’re up by two or down by three. And when they are down by three, they put their heads down and chip away at their opponent’s lead. 

That’s exactly what they did on Monday. After the Minnesota Wild took advantage of a stretch of bad play in the first period, the Golden Knights found themselves in a 3-0 hole for the second time in their last three games. 

On Thursday, the Golden Knights snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. But tonight, they didn’t have another multi-goal comeback in them.

This team never throws in the towel, so they clawed their way back and made things interesting. The Golden Knights outshot the Wild 12-6 in the third period, but failed to find the equalizer and ultimately fell 4-2 after the Wild hit the empty net. 

“They can be [a frustrating team to play against],” said defenseman Brayden McNabb following the loss. “They’re well structured. If we’re on our game, we can break them down. We saw that through stretches in this game. It’s just a matter of staying with it when things aren’t going your way, and not snowballing to three goals in 10 minutes.”

1. Clash of the Titans 

Special teams often dictate the outcome of a hockey game, and this one was no different. Heading into tonight’s game, both the Wild’s power play and penalty kill ranked third in the league; the Golden Knights had the third-ranked power play and the 16th-ranked penalty kill.

To say that the Wild won the special teams battle would be an understatement. It wasn’t even close. They converted on their only power play opportunity of the game, and their penalty kill was perfect against five Golden Knights power play opportunities.

“We had some chances,” said William Karlsson following the loss. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t break it down and get the puck behind the goalie.”

It wasn’t just that the Golden Knights couldn’t score on the power play— they also gave the Wild shorthanded opportunities. When the Golden Knights were on the power play, high-danger scoring chances were 4-2 in favor of Minnesota. 

“They won the special teams battle,” said Brayden McNabb postgame. “We like our PK, and we have faith in our PK and our power play. It just wasn’t our night.”

2. Stop the Bleeding

All things considered, the Golden Knights played a solid game on Monday. It’s hard to say that a goaltender played well while letting in three goals, but Carter Hart did. The Golden Knights were without Parker Wotherspoon tonight due to an upper-body injury, but Dylan Coghlan played very well in his season debut. And their first six games of the season suggest that tonight’s special teams struggles are almost certainly an outlier.

The problem was that the Golden Knights allowed the Wild to score three times in five minutes and seven seconds.

“We have to manage it better and stop the bleeding,” said William Karlsson. “At the end of the day, it’s just one goal. We’ve got to have the mindset of trying to take back momentum and get some o-zone time.”

“Those six minutes cost us,” agreed head coach Ryan Craig following the 4-3 loss. “I didn’t love our composure right at that point, but it doesn’t concern me. I think it’s just that we have to be fully aware of it a little bit quicker to get it back at that point.”

3. The Golden Lining

When you look up and down the lineup, the Golden Knights have no shortage of offensive talent. It’s rare for them to have any trouble generating chances. There are nights, however, where they just can’t convert on those chances.

Sometimes they run into a hot goaltender. Sometimes they get unlucky. Sometimes it just isn’t their night. 

It doesn’t always matter if those chances result in goals, especially not this early in the season. What matters is that the Golden Knights are consistently creating high-danger scoring chances. 

The Golden Knights’ second line, composed of Brett Howden, William Karlsson, and Mitch Marner, is usually responsible for generating much of their 5-on-5 offense. That was certainly the case tonight— that line outshot their opponents 9-5 and created four high-danger scoring chances while allowing only one. They’ve struggled to consistently convert on those chances, but as the season progresses, that becomes less and less of an issue. 

Last Thursday, Brett Howden got off the schneid. Tonight, it was William Karlsson’s turn to score his first of the season.

“I saw their D was kind of low in our zone, so I figured maybe I could beat him up the ice,” said Karlsson following the 4-2 loss. “Mitch got it up to Howie, and then Howie with the nice little sauce. Then you just have to shoot it.”