A key rival to the Colorado Avalanche made a trade today that is designed to improve their longstanding issues between the pipes.

But the question is, was this the right decision?

The Edmonton Oilers made a major move Friday, acquiring Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry in a multi-piece deal.

Edmonton sent netminder Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Jarry and forward Sam Poulin. The Oilers later completed a second trade, shipping a 2027 third-round pick to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Spencer Stastney as they continued reshaping their back end.

“I think my game is in a pretty good spot.”

Stuart Skinner speaks after stopping 27 of 28 shots in tonight’s #Oilers victory. @Enterprise | #LetsGoOilerspic.twitter.com/eqxI4omnNn

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 12, 2025

Jarry, 30, is in his 10th NHL season — all with Pittsburgh — and has posted a 9-3-1 record in 14 appearances this year, along with a .909 save percentage, a 2.66 goals-against average, and one shutout. His career numbers are solid, with a 2.74 GAA and a .909 save percentage. However, when the lights have been brightest, Jarry’s performance has dipped. In eight playoff games, he has surrendered 26 goals, posting a 3.00 GAA and an .891 save percentage — a noticeable drop-off from his regular season form.

Desperation?

Even in the offseason, there were reports that the Oilers were “desperate” to make a change to their goaltender situation. It was reported that Edmonton was even considering making a trade with the Detroit Red Wings for Cam Talbot, who is not exactly a spring chicken. He turns 39 years old next season. And it appears that desperation has only grown as the Oilers have the second-worst team save percentage in the NHL this season (.873). At this point, you have to consider it a miracle that the Oilers have even managed to make the playoffs the last few seasons, let alone back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. But that speaks to how powerful their offense has been behind the leadership of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But at some point, the ice is going to crack. Skinner and backup Calvin Pickard have been just as stable as the average marriage in the United States.

But is this an upgrade? Perhaps from a regular season standpoint. Skinner’s numbers are slightly better from a playoff perspective. We have to keep in mind that Skinner did have three shutouts the previous postseason. While he certainly gave his teammates plenty of issues, they also couldn’t have made it to the Cup Finals without him last year. Talk about a roller coaster.

Jarry is signed through the 2027-28 season with a $5.375 million cap hit.

Skinner is signed through this season, and his contract carries an average annual value of $2.6 million. Kulak is also signed through 2025-26, and his contract carries an average annual value of $2.75 million. Both are set to be unrestricted free agents next summer.

Avalanche Fans Have It Easy

We have Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, and notably, the latter is currently tied for second in the league with 14 wins, all while posting the lowest goals-against average (2.11) of any NHL goaltender at the moment. Despite overcoming a minor back injury and a harrowing collision during the shootout against the Nashville Predators over the weekend, Wedgewood appears well-positioned to regain his momentum.

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The Buffalo Sabres have had a shaky 2025-26 season, and it has already led to multiple of their players being discussed as trade candidates. A few Sabres who have been brought up as potential trade candidates include Alex Tuch, Bowen Byram, and Ukko-Pekkka Luukkonen.

However, if the Sabres end up being sellers this season, they could have an under-the-radar trade candidate to watch: goaltender Alex Lyon. 

The Sabres are currently full of goaltenders, as they have Luukkonen, Lyon, and Colten Ellis on their NHL roster. They also have a notable goalie prospect in Devon Levi in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. With this, it certainly seems possible that the Sabres could part ways with a goalie before the season is over.

While Luukkonen's name has come up as a trade candidate, his $4.75 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season could make him a hard player to move. Lyon, on the other hand, could be a valuable trade chip for the Sabres as he is a solid backup with an affordable $1.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season. This could lead to teams calling who are looking for help between the pipes. 

In 16 games so far this season with the Sabres, Lyon has recorded a 5-6-3 record, a 3.13 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage. Overall, he has been solid for the Sabres, and this could lead to him generating some interest. 

Less than 25 hours after their dominant win over the St. Louis Blues, the Nashville Predators have made a transaction. 

They have traded defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. 

Nashville now owns 11 selections in the 2027 NHL Draft – four in the third round; two in the fourth round; and one in the first, second, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.

Stastney has seen a massive uptick in his game this season, scoring nine points in 30 games and recording 10 penalty minutes. It's the first season of his NHL career where he's been a regular in Nashville. 

He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, 131st overall, by the Predators. Stastney wouldn't join the Predators organization until 2021, playing four years at Notre Dame. 

Stastney played his first professional season with the Milwaukee Admirals during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 13 points in 56 games. He also had five points in 16 playoff games.

He also earned his first call-up that season, playing eight games with the Predators and recording two points. 

In the 2024 preseason, Stastney failed to report to Predators training camp and would start the season out in Milwaukee. He'd later reveal that he had been struggling with depression and anxiety, and had entered the NHLPA's player assistance program. 

Stastney exited the program in December 2024 and was called up to Nashville in January, where he played 23 games and recorded 3 points.

During his time in the Predators organization, Stastney has played  81 games, scoring three goals and recording 15 assists for 18 points. 

The Predators face the Colorado Avalanche next on Saturday at 8 p.m. CST in Denver. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made a blockbuster move.

On Wednesday, the Penguins sent goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick. 

Skinner, 27, is currently in the final season of a three-year contract that pays him $2.6 million per season. He has an 11-8-4 record this season to go along with a 2.83 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage.

Kulak, 31, is in the final season of a four-year deal that pays him $2.75 million annually. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound left-side blueliner has two assists on the season and is a minus-7, and he's coming off a career year offensively in 2024-25 that featured seven goals and 25 points in 82 games. 

The Penguins have acquired goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and the Edmonton Oilers 2029 second-round draft pick in exchange for goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin.

Details: https://t.co/b80VaipsNRpic.twitter.com/ONFgHKq0Tr

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 12, 2025

Jarry was off to a roaring start for the Penguins this season, going 9-3-1 with a .909 save percentage through 14 appearances, which is in stark contrast to a career-worst season in 2024-25 that saw him get waived by the Penguins and featured an .893 save percentage and 3.12 goals-against average. The 30-year-old Alberta native - who played for the Edmonton Oil Kings - has three years remaining on a contract that owes $5.375 million annually, and Edmonton is responsible for that full amount.

Poulin, 24, is a former first-round pick (21st overall in 2019) who hasn't quite been able to find his footing at the NHL level. In 15 career NHL games, he has two points and six penalty minutes. For Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) this season, Poulin had nine goals and 20 points in 22 games, leading the team in both goals and points. 

Takeaways: Penguins Fail To Respond, Fall To Montreal Canadiens For Third Straight LossThere have been a handful of tough losses this season for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>, as there are for any team in the NHL. And, typically, the Penguins have been able to respond well when things aren't going their way.&nbsp;

---

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The Edmonton Oilers had a busy morning on Friday, just ahead of hopping on a flight to travel to Toronto for a game on Saturday versus the Maple Leafs. The Oilers made two trades, first acquiring goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick. Second, they added defenceman Spencer Stastney from Nashville for a 2027 third-rounder.  

TRADE 🔄 The #Oilers have also acquired defenceman Spencer Stastney from the @PredsNHL in exchange for a third-round draft selection in 2027. pic.twitter.com/f8MkGxBl02

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 12, 2025

Pittsburgh did not retain any salary on Jarry in the trade and the deal is essentially money in and money out. Brett Kulak (2.75M) and Stuart Skinner (2.6M) were both pending UFAs, while Jarry has two seasons remaining on his current contract at a cap hit of $5.375 million. 

Skinner was a very well respected player in the Oilers' locker room and incredibly nice. He was always willing to talk about his ups and downs and never shied away from the tough questions, of which there were many. He backstopped the Oilers to two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances, but the Oilers ultimately fell short both times to the Florida Panthers. Skinner often played well, but took a lot of heat for his inconsistencies. 

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There were rumors for a couple of weeks that the Oilers had interest in Jarry. The trade, reported by one outlet as done, had not been completed, in part because the Oilers did not want to move Skinner in the deal. A change of heart must have taken place as Skinner was beginning to find his game for the Oilers. Meanwhile, Jarry was continuing to put up solid numbers for the Penguins. 

Stan Bowman spoke to the media after the trade and said that Calvin Pickard will remain with the Oilers. He also noted on the Oilers targeting Jarry: “He’s a big part of the reason their team is off to such a great start. I think watching his performance, it solidified in our mind he is the goalie we had seen for many years.”

This brings Jarry back to Edmonton, although he never played with the NHL club. The Oilers wrote in their release: "A former Edmonton Oil King and 2014 Memorial Cup champion, Jarry was Pittsburgh's second-round selection in the 2013 NHL Draft (44th overall) and appeared in 307 games for the club over 10 seasons including his single game debut in 2016-17. The Surrey, B.C. native has also appeared in eight playoff games over three postseasons."

Jarry brings a strong resume, posting a 9-3-1 record, 2.66 GAA, and .909 save percentage in 14 games this season, along with two NHL All-Star appearances and 161 career wins.

Defenceman Spencer Stastney adds depth after recording nine points in 30 games this season.

Forward Samuel Poulin provides organizational scoring, tallying 135 points in 207 AHL games and appearing in 15 NHL contests.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

A former Montreal Canadiens defenseman is on the move.

The Edmonton Oilers have traded former Canadiens defenseman Brett Kulak to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a big swap.

Here are the full trade details, which include the Oilers bringing in goaltender Tristan Jarry from Pittsburgh. 

Oilers Get: 

• Tristan Jarry
• Samuel Poulin

Penguins Get: 

• Stuart Skinner
• Brett Kulak
• 2029 Second-Round Pick

While Kulak is not the biggest name in this trade, he still has the potential to be a very solid addition to the Penguins' roster. It is no secret that the Penguins needed another left shot defenseman, and Kulak now gives them a good one with plenty of experience. 

Kulak appeared in 31 games this season with the Oilers before being traded to Pittsburgh, where he posted two assists and 38 blocks. 

In four seasons with the Canadiens from 2018-19 to 2021-22, Kulak recorded 11 goals, 34 assists, 45 points, 96 penalty minutes, 216 blocks, 258 hits, and a plus-4 rating in 215 games.

Alexander Wennberg buried the winner just 2:49 into overtime, capping a spirited San Jose comeback as the Sharks erased a two-goal deficit and edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 on Thursday night.

Following an offside review, the goal was confirmed and the Sharks improved to 15-14-3 on the year, while the Leafs fell to 14-11-5

John Klingberg delivered a standout performance with a goal and an assist, while Dmitry Orlov supplied the remaining offense for San Jose (15-14-3). Alex Nedeljkovic was sharp throughout, turning aside 28 shots, and Wennberg—who orchestrated much of the Sharks’ push—added two primary assists to accompany his OT heroics.

Auston Matthews and Dakota Joshua found the back of the net for Toronto (14-11-5), which couldn’t hang on to its early cushion. Dennis Hildeby made 29 saves in a solid outing, and William Nylander chipped in with a pair of assists as the Leafs settled for a single point despite a strong start.

SHARKS CLAW BACK

Matthews pushed the lead to 2–0 midway through the second period, ripping home a power-play marker for his 13th of the season — and his fourth in the past seven outings. The strike finally broke Toronto’s brutal 2-for-28 slump with the man advantage, offering a momentary sigh of relief for a unit that has labored for weeks.

San Jose fought back when Orlov snapped Hildeby’s shutout streak at 132 minutes, six seconds, wiring home his first of the campaign to cut the deficit to 2–1 heading into the intermission. Klingberg later dragged the Sharks level, blasting a point shot through traffic in the dying minutes of regulation after Barclay Goodrow’s earlier pinball-style tally was negated on an offside challenge in the third.

Toronto’s night grew even more precarious on the back end. Already missing top defenders Chris Tanev (upper-body) and Brandon Carlo (lower-body), the Leafs lost Oliver Ekman-Larsson early in the final frame when Sharks winger Adam Gaudette fell awkwardly onto his left ankle along the boards.

Notables

Wennberg sealed the victory in overtime with a slick, instinctive finish, deftly kicking the puck from his skate to his stick in tight before sliding it past Hildeby for the decisive goal.

Matthews scored career goal #414, pulling within seven markers of  Mats Sundin (420) for the most goals in Maple Leafs history.

Next Game

The Sharks travel to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Pens will look slightly different entering the game as they'll have a new starting goaltender. 

The Penguins traded goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin to the Edmonton Oilers in a deal that sends Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round draft pick back to Pittsburgh.

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.

On Sept. 26, New York Islanders defenseman Ethan Bear blocked a shot in the club's second-to-last preseason game, which came against the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena. 

He left the game with an apparent upper-body injury and did not return. Since then, it's been radio silence. 

While Bear, who signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 on July 1, wasn't a shoo-in to make the Islanders roster, the expectation was that he'd provide some depth and leadership to a young Bridgeport Islanders blue line. 

The Relationship Between Islanders Mathew Barzal & Newcomer Ethan Bear When the <a href="http://thn.com/isles">New York Islanders</a> signed defenseman <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/islanders-sign-goaltender-david-rittich-defenseman-ethan-bear-on-day-one-of-nhl-free-agency">Ethan Bear</a> to a one-year, two-way deal, it didn't seem like anything more than a depth signing.&nbsp;

Bear served as the alternate captain of the Hershey Bears, the Washington Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate, recording 46 points (10 goals, 36 assists) in 62 games last season. 

He was placed on Season-Opening Injured Reserve (SOIR). That meant that he didn't count against the Islanders' 23-man active roster or salary cap. 

However, with Alexander Romanov out for the rest of the season and the Islanders using a few rookies in Travis Mitchell and Marshall Warren, along with veteran Adam Boqvist, could Bear be a factor at some point in the season?

The Hockey News has been told that Bear sustained what is believed to have been a wrist injury when he blocked that shot. 

Bear has been rehabbing in Bridgeport and is expected to be back in a few weeks. 

Defenseman Isaiah George, who played 33 games for the Islanders last season, has been sidelined in Brideport since Nov. 14. He is expected to return this weekend. 

ELMONT, NY -- When the New York Islanders returned to UBS Arena for a seven-game homestand on Nov. 22 following a dominant 6-1-0 road trip, the hope was that they could continue their strong play.

Despite playing well enough to do just that, Patrick Roy's squad struggled to score, going 1-3-1 while being outscored 13-7. 

And things certainly weren't going to get any easier once the calendar flipped to December. The final two games of the homestand were against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche, before hitting the road for a Florida back-to-back against Tampa, again, and the Florida Panthers.

After that? 

The Islanders would then return home to face the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, and Tampa Bay.

Sheesh.

They'd need home ice to turn into an advantage pretty quickly.

Credit to the Islanders for not changing how they were playing at all, and finally, the results came. 

The Islanders held on to defeat Tampa 2-1. They exploded against Colorado, beating them 6-3 before shutting out Tampa 2-0 in Florida. They struggled against the Panthers, falling 4-1, but they didn't let that take the wind out of their sails.

In a back-and-forth game, they overcame a late blown lead, defeating Vegas 5-4 in a shootout in their home return, before dominating the Ducks on Thursday night, en route to a 5-2 victory.

With their latest win, the Islanders have now won four straight home games for the first time since a six-game win streak before the Four Nations break last season, and they sit a point back of first place in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference.

They've outscored their opponents 18-10 over their last four home games and now sit at 9-6-2 on home ice, to go along with an 8-4-1 record. 

To fully appreciate what the Islanders just did in Elmont. Tampa leads the Atlantic Division. Colorado leads the Central Division. Vegas leads the Pacific Division, with the Ducks tied in points with Vegas. 

Can the Islanders keep the home win-streak going when they host the Lightning for a Saturday matinee on Saturday, the day when Pat LaFontaine heads into the Islanders' Hall of Fame?

The Islanders are now 18-11-3, a season-high seven games over NHL .500. If the Islanders beat Tampa on Saturday to sweep the season series, their potential 41 points would lead the Eastern Conference. 

DENVER — Whether you’re a casual observer or a devoted hockey aficionado, keeping pace with Nathan MacKinnon’s ever-expanding list of milestones can feel like a daunting task. But take heart — even Coach Jared Bednar admits he finds it difficult to track them all. 

The Avalanche scored a 6-2 victory over the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. MacKinnon pushed the Avalanche ahead 4–1 at 7:18 of the second period, ripping a wrist shot through a quartet of bodies for his 25th goal of the season. The tally — the 392nd of his career — lifted him past Joe Sakic for the most goals in franchise history since the team’s move to Colorado in 1995–96. 

Bednar Unaware of Milestone

The Hockey News asked Bednar for his thoughts on MacKinnon’s historic night — assuming he was aware of the record — and invited him to reflect on what it has meant to watch MacKinnon evolve into one of the NHL’s premier players. 

His reaction said it all. 

“It’s awesome. I mean whenever you have a guy with that type of determination and leadership style, you want him to have success, and you want him to be firing on all cylinders,” Bednar said of MacKinnon. “And he was a horse on the puck tonight. 

“I can’t keep track of his milestones because it seems like he’s getting one every game, so I don’t even know which one you’re talking about, but he was really good tonight, highly competitive at the point of the puck and patient with the puck and still making plays, making dangerous plays and difficult plays all night.” 

Milestone City 

Bednar isn’t wrong. Since early November, MacKinnon has been amassing milestones at a remarkable pace. On November 10, he surpassed franchise icon Peter Stastny with his 381st career goal, moving into sole possession of third place on the Avalanche’s all-time list. 

Just 10 days later, a goal against the New York Rangers propelled him past Stastny once more — this time for second place in franchise history in points. And on Thursday, MacKinnon reached yet another pinnacle: first place on the Avalanche’s all-time goals list since the franchise relocated to Colorado. 

Of course, this should not be conflated with combined Nordiques–Avalanche history. Joe Sakic still maintains a commanding lead in that broader category, having scored 625 goals over his illustrious career. Yet, considering the Avalanche have existed in Colorado for just over 25 years and MacKinnon has been in the league for only 12, the fact that he now stands alone atop any franchise leaderboard is a testament to his extraordinary talent and sustained excellence. 

And perhaps, by season’s end, MacKinnon will continue to raise the standard even higher. His 25 goals and 53 points currently lead the NHL, while his 28 assists place him tied for fifth, just behind three players who sit at 29. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid holds the league lead with 32 assists. 

The significance of this cannot be overstated: it has been nearly three decades since a player led the NHL in goals, assists, and points at the conclusion of a season. Mario Lemieux was the last to accomplish the feat, back in 1996. In an era where elite talent is separated by the narrowest of margins, Nathan MacKinnon may well be the player capable of achieving such a rare and extraordinary milestone. 

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.

Pastrnak hits Bruins milestone as win streak reaches four games originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins entered Friday tied for first place in the Atlantic Division, and the return of David Pastrnak is a huge reason why.

The superstar right wing recently missed five games with an injury. Since returning to the lineup against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, Pastrnak has completely dominated offensively with seven points and 10 shots in two games.

He picked up three assists in a 5-2 win over the Blues, and then he scored twice with two more assists in a 6-3 victory over the Jets in Winnipeg on Thursday night.

“I’m feeling good. I feel like with every shift I’m a little better,” Pastrnak told NESN postgame. “It’s not easy coming back from injury. Sometimes it can be more mental than the physical (aspect). It’s been good.

“I came into the (team) winning and the boys were playing unbelievable hockey before I came back, so I’m just trying to jump in and join. It’s always easy when the team is winning.”

His performance against the Jets was particularly impressive. Pastrnak got the Bruins on the board in the first period with a power-play goal.

David Pastrnak with an absolute RIP to tie the game! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/vYckwlRQI0

— NHL (@NHL) December 12, 2025

It was the 403rd goal of his Bruins career (he scored an empty-net goal in the third period, too), moving him past Rick Middleton for sole possession of fifth place on the team’s all-time leaderboard.

1. Johnny Bucyk: 545 goals
2. Phil Esposito: 459
3. Patrice Bergeron: 427
4. Brad Marchand: 422
5. David Pastrnak: 404

Pastrnak has a great chance to reach No. 1 in a couple years, and he could get as high as No. 3 before the end of the season. What did Pastrnak think of hitting this impressive milestone?

“I’m honored,” Pastrnak told NESN postgame. “I’m very aware of where I play, and the organization and the amount of history the Boston Bruins organization has. I’m very honored and humble. Just trying my best and keep working harder. There’s only one thing missing for me, and that’s what I’ll be chasing.”

Pastrnak also showed off his elite playmaking skill. He’s one of the best goal scorers in the league, but his passing remains underrated. Pastrnak has tallied 63 assists in each of the last two seasons, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him reach that level again in 2025-26.

He does a tremendous job setting up his teammates with Grade A scoring chances. His pass to Elias Lindholm to set up a goal that gave the B’s a 5-3 lead with 5:17 left in the third period was a good example.

WHAT A DISH BY DAVID 🍝 pic.twitter.com/sisTomT4Cw

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 12, 2025

Pastrnak’s four points Thursday gave him a team-leading 36 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 27 games.

It could be tough for anyone to overtake Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon in the Hart Trophy race. Not only is MacKinnon leading the league in scoring, the Avalanche have a league-best 22-2-7 record.

But if the Bruins make the playoffs and Pastrnak hits the 100-point mark for the fourth straight season, it’s possible that he could be a finalist for the award. Few players are more valuable to their team than Pastrnak.

The Bruins have overachieved to this point. A lot of experts picked them to miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year. And while there’s still a lot of hockey left to be played, the ability for this Bruins team to overcome adversity of all kinds has been impressive.

“The whole year we’ve been put in different situations and we’ve been able to win different kinds of games,” Pastrnak told NESN. “That gives the team confidence. Same thing with injuries. Some top players came out and the guys who stepped in played amazing hockey and helped the team win and be productive.

“That’s the identity — next man up and we stick together as one team.”

William Nylander picked up a pair of assists in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks.

“It was the best game I've seen him play in a while,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Nylander. “He was engaged. When I see him skating and handling the puck and keeping the puck and doing things he did tonight with the puck, I know he was ready to go.”

Nylander’s line was Toronto’s best at 5-on-5, with Dakota Joshua scoring Toronto’s only even-strength goal of the game. The unit had an expected goals share of 85 percent in the 11:15 of ice time they logged together, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

“I thought they played great. But we had a lot of chances tonight. So it's a positive thing,” Nylander said. “I mean, if we would have scored a couple more, we would have won. But, yeah, I thought we played a good game.”

Nylander slid into the role while Bobby McMann served a one-game suspension for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand. With McMann set to return, does it make sense for Nylander to move back up, or should he remain on the third line?

It’s a question the Leafs will have to mull over before taking on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

While Nylander lamented not scoring enough, Berube chose to focus on the Leafs' inability to hold the lead in the third period—particularly during a late 6-on-5 sequence where Nylander was one of several players unable to clear the puck from harm's way.

“I still think we're not where we need to be. We could be better. And it's the third period for me showing that,” Berube said. “Goalie out, we have an opportunity to get the puck out a couple times. We don't do it. It's things like that that cost us tonight in the game.”

John Klingberg ties it late pic.twitter.com/h6aypB9Fkc

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 12, 2025

The difference in emphasis between Berube and Nylander speaks to how differently they view things at times. Nylander leads the Leafs in points with 34, four more than the next player (John Tavares with 30).

It is difficult for the head coach to be too critical, especially when Nylander provided all the offense. However, the mistakes Berube highlighted didn’t occur while Nylander was skating with his third-line unit.

That success builds a case to keep him there, but it creates a roster puzzle regarding McMann. The solution might be as simple as scratching Nick Robertson, but Berube has a decision to make.

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All eyes were on the Montreal Canadiens’ crease on Thursday night as Jacob Fowler was making his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The rookie was attempting to follow in some sizeable footsteps as three goaltending greats of the Habs’ past had had their first start there as well: Ken Dryden (a 5-1 win in March 1971), Patrick Roy (a 5-3 win in October 1985) and Carey Price (a 3-2 win in October 2007). The latter reached out to Fowler after hearing he had been called up and told him to go out there and have fun.

The collective effort was also under the microscope after the Tricolore had given a few questionable performances over the last few weeks, prompting GM Kent Hughes to recall not only Fowler, but also Adam Engstrom and Owen Beck.

Canadiens’ Mentor Trip
Canadiens Scratching Arber Xhekaj For Prospect vs. Penguins
Canadiens: Another Goaltender Debut In Pittsburgh?

The Blueprint Of A Perfect Frame

The Sainte-Flanelle came ready to play and was firing on all cylinders in the first frame, not only offensively speaking, but on the other side of the puck as well. As soon as they lost the puck, Martin St-Louis’ men flipped their internal switch to defence, and their forecheck allowed Alexandre Texier to score the first goal of the game, but also his first as a member of the Canadiens.

On paper, it was an unassisted goal because it came from a Kris Letang turnover, but the Canadiens had done such a good job of trapping the Pens in their zone that the quintet had been on the ice for almost two minutes, and a tired player is prone to mistakes.

After 20 minutes, Montreal had a 1-0 lead and was leading 9-4 in shots on net.

The Man Of The Hour

If Fowler was nervous about making his NHL debut, it didn’t show, not even for a second. The youngster had to wait a long time to receive his first shot as the Habs were playing such a good defensive game, but he was ready when it came. He looked calm and collected in net, wasn’t overplaying the puck and was not wasting any energy with unnecessary movement.

If the first frame was like dipping his toe in the water, the second was like diving in the deep end. After playing a fantastic first, the Canadiens’ collective effort dipped in the second stanza, but Fowler welcomed the challenge with open arms. He faced 16 shots in those 20 minutes, and he saved them all, not once looking panicked or out of his depth.

Even when a hard shot from the blueline was deflected right in front of him, he picked it up like a ripe apple from a tree, effortlessly and calmly. His rebound control, when he gave rebounds, was also impressive. On one play, he made a pad save and sent the puck right to Juraj Slafkovsky, who launched the attack which led to Brendan Gallagher’s goal.

Fowler faced another 15 shots in the final frame and surrendered two goals. One came from in close as Sidney Crosby fed Bryan Rusk with a backhand, and the second was a point shot through heavy traffic on the power play. Lane Hutson came to the rescue in the dying minutes as the Penguins were attacking with an extra skater, but overall, this was as good a debut as Fowler could have hoped. 36 saves on 38 shots for a .947 save percentage.

The American netminder’s family looked on as he claimed his first career win and made what they all had dreamt of for so long a reality. They were initially set to attend a Christmas party tonight, according to the young netminder, but they had to change their plans, something they won’t complain about. As much as the Canadiens tried to downplay his call-up, this performance is sure to excite this fanbase.

Jacob Fowler's mom, Kerri, was emotional seeing her son get his rookie lap ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kwxtp5TfC6

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 12, 2025

As a side note, he faced seven shots from a player who was the best in the world for a long time in Sidney Crosby, and he stopped them all. The youngster wasn’t star-struck or intimidated at all. He has one job to do, and he did it.

After the game, Gallagher said that he thought he was calm in the net, didn’t need to make a lot of movement, and had a good demeanour—three essential qualities for a goaltender that can inspire his teammates.

Secondary Scoring

The Canadiens had struggled to score at even strength of late, but on Thursday night, the bottom-six showed up and had an impact. As previously mentioned, Texier scored the first goal, and Gallagher the second. The veteran has had a tough time this season, and this goal is sure to ease some of the pressure he’s under. Still, the goal was his 241st; he now trails Mats Naslund by only two goals for 14th place in franchise history.

Owen Beck almost had his first career goal, but it was waved off for offside after a coach’s challenge. That would have been some more secondary scoring.

The Right Reaction

If the Canadiens were unable to stop the hemorrhage against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, they didn’t have that problem in Pittsburgh. On the contrary, when the Pens found the back of the net, it took the Canadiens just 15 seconds to regain their three-goal lead when Juraj Slafkovsky set up an Oliver Kapanen goal. That was the rookie’s 10th of the season, meaning he now leads all rookies in goals ex aequo with the Anaheim Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke. Furthermore, he’s now the second-highest goal scorer for the Canadiens; Cole Caufield, with 17 goals, is the only one who has more.

Un 10e but cette saison pour Kapanen!

KAPPY ANSWERS RIGHT BACK#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/AiQtgRjsvF

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 12, 2025

After the game, the Canadiens flew to Newark, where they will enjoy a day off ahead of their Saturday night game against the New York Rangers. Considering the state of the goaltending in Montreal right now, it would make sense to have Fowler in net then as well, but we’ll see what the bench boss decides.

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While the Detroit Red Wings got off to a good start in Thursday evening's game against the Edmonton Oilers by generating multiple offensive chances, they weren't able to convert on them during the opening 20 minutes of play.

Meanwhile, the host Oilers capitalized on their first power-play opportunity of the night and controlled play on the scoreboard en route to a 4-1 win, giving the Red Wings their first regulation loss of their season-high six-game road trip and first since Nov. 28. 

Dylan Larkin, who leads Detroit with 17 goals on the season, said it simply came down to one team capitalizing on their chances and one not going so. 

“I thought it was maybe one of our better games of the trip in O-zone time and generating chances,” Larkin said. “They capitalized on their chances. We didn’t.”

“They started with a power-play goal to get their offense going. That was something we tried to avoid and weren’t able to tonight.”

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Oilers forward Zach Hyman registered a hat trick by scoring once in each period, including an empty-net tally late in regulation to seal the victory. 

The Oilers also got a goal from defenseman Mattias Ekholm, while goaltender Stuart Skinner picked up the win by making 27 saves. 

Detroit's Cam Talbot surrendered three goals while making 25 saves in the venue he once called home earlier in his career during his tenure with the Oilers. 

Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan, who once coached Edmonton, explained that there were still holes in Detroit's game to work on. 

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings

“The wins and points in the bank are great, but obviously we didn’t get them tonight, and sometimes, that can fool you a little bit," he said. "But at the end of the year, it doesn’t really matter how you got them. We still have to work on our game.”

The Red Wings will conclude their road trip on Saturday evening with a matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center, and will hope to avenge their 5-1 setback at Little Caesars Arena on Nov. 9. 

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The Florida Panthers ran into a buzzsaw on Thursday night.

Playing the back end of a back-to-back set, Florida was shellacked by the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche by a final score of 6-2.

Colorado jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when they scored on their first rush of the night.

A nice cross-ice pass by Martin Necas found a wide-open Sam Malinski, and his long wrist shot squeaked through Daniil Tarasov to give the Avs a 1-0 lead just 74 seconds into the game.

The Panthers tied the game about six minutes later, and the goal came from an unlikely source: Florida’s fourth line.

After a nice poke-check by Seth Jones, Noah Gregor picked up the puck and flew up the left side of the ice before driving toward the net. He then flipped a shot that went over the blocker of Mackenzie Blackwood to tie the game at one at the 7:21 mark.

A bad bounce led to Florida falling behind again shortly before the end of the period.

Gus Forsling was defending in front of Tarasov when a Valeri Nichushkin wrist shot hit him in the back and bounced to the side of the crease, where Brock Nelson extended his stick and got just enough of the puck to squeeze it between Tarasov’s skate and the goal post.

The Avalanche doubled their lead at the 5:05 mark of the middle frame when Gavin Brindley got his backhand on a Brent Burns rebound after the pair came down the ice on a 2-on-1.

A long wrist shot by Nathan MacKinnon got past a screened Tarasov just over two minutes later, suddenly making it 4-1 Colorado.

Artturi Lehkonen scored on what felt like Colorado’s tenth breakaway of the game, making it 5-1 Avalanche with 7:29 left in the second period.

Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog got in on the fun at the 6:18 mark of the third period, corralling a Necas rebound and beating a sprawling Tarasov to five the Avs a 6-1 lead on their 38th shot of the night.

Florida picked up a goal with just under seven minutes to go, but it may have come at a cost.

Mackie Samoskevich finished off a nice passing play with A.J. Greer and Evan Rodrigues, but when Greer made a spinning pass at the side of Colorado’s net, Josh Manson slid down to try and block the pass and took out Greer’s skates causing him to go feet first into the boards.

Greer went to Florida’s locker room afterwards and did not return.

On to Dallas.

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Photo caption: Dec 11, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) celebrates his goal with center Nathan MacKinnon (29) against Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) in the second period at Ball Arena. (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)