Flyers finish homestand 2-2-2 after suffering shootout loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rick Tocchet warned against the Hurricanes’ relentless pressure.

“Full-out blitz,” the head coach said. “It’s the way they play.”

The Flyers didn’t handle it well enough Saturday night, especially when trying to protect a lead, as they lost to Carolina, 4-3, in a shootout at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

“There are positives, I’m going to take the positives,” Tocchet said. “I think we’ve just got to start to learn when teams put pressure on us, we’ve got to find the pressure; we can’t back off. That’s what I believe in.”

Jackson Blake scored the lone tally in the skills competition.

Trevor Zegras, Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny and Bobby Brink came up empty for the Flyers.

Samuel Ersson suffered just his fourth career shootout loss in 16 opportunities.

Tocchet’s club relinquished a 2-0 lead in the second period. The Hurricanes turned up the dial and had the Flyers defending a lot.

“We were pretty bad,” Brink said of the second period. “We just lost battles, didn’t support each other great. We stopped taking it to them and let them take it to us.”

Seth Jarvis handed the Flyers their first deficit when he scored on a breakaway with 7:34 minutes left in the third period.

Brink, Zegras and Carl Grundstrom provided the Flyers’ goals. Grundstrom answered Jarvis’ goal just 23 seconds later.

Zegras and Konecny had a chance to win it in the final minute of overtime, but couldn’t convert on a 2-on-1 rush.

The Flyers (16-9-5) went 2-2-2 on their season-long homestand. Three of the losses came against top-10 teams — this one to Carolina, a 3-2 regulation decision to the Avalanche and a 3-2 overtime decision to the Golden Knights.

“I give the guys a lot of credit for this year, what they’re doing,” Tocchet said. “There are going to be some times that we’ve got to figure this out when teams make a push.”

His club dropped to 7-4-5 in games decided by one goal. It has gone to overtime 12 times. It’s now 5-1 in the shootout.

The Flyers are 0-0-2 in their four-game regular-season series with the Hurricanes (20-9-2). They’ve lost 15 of their last 17 games against Carolina(2-9-6).

• In the first game of a back-to-back set, Ersson made 18 saves on 21 shots for the Flyers.

The 26-year-old had a massive stop on Jordan Staal in the final seconds of overtime.

“We have a ton of confidence in our goalies,” Nick Seeler said.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Alexander Nikishin erased the Flyers’ 2-0 lead in a span of just over five minutes. Ehlers scored six seconds after Ty Murchison had a pass get picked off in the neutral zone. Nikishin then had a shot go off Noah Cates’ skate and past Ersson.

Hurricanes netminder Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 15 of the Flyers’ 18 shots.

Brink and Zegras gave the Flyers their 2-0 lead in the first period. Brink made a sharp move before sniping one past Kochetkov. Zegras scored off a very good feed from Konecny.

“I thought we got off to a good start,” Zegras said. “Kind of expected a big push [from Carolina], I think we just kind of got on our heels a little bit instead of playing that same game. They’re a real good team, we kind of expected that. I thought we responded and made some adjustments in the third. Obviously a tough one in the shootout.”

• Through 30 games with the Flyers, Zegras has already matched his goal total from all of last season.

He had 12 in 57 games with the Ducks. He’s at 12 goals and 30 points for the Flyers.

Talk about a change of scenery doing wonders. Tocchet has raved about how coachable the 24-year-old has been. General manager Danny Briere has to be thrilled about the return on the trade so far.

• The Flyers’ struggling power play was costly two nights ago in the team’s overtime loss to Vegas.

And against Carolina, they didn’t go on a single power play.

Tocchet has harped on the Flyers needing to generate more through the middle to create second and third opportunities on the man advantage. They’ve gotten away from that and entered Saturday night 5 for 38 over their last 16 games.

“I think we revert to bad habits,” Tocchet said after morning skate. “We need a chunk of guys to take ahold of it. We talked about it at the start of the year, it’s going to be a work in progress.”

• Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen remained out, but both defensemen will be on the Flyers’ four-game road trip and are close to returning, Tocchet said after morning skate.

York has been out the last four games with an upper-body injury.

Ristolainen is nearing his season debut. Has been recovering from surgery in March on a second triceps tendon rupture.

Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York at morning skate.

Both will be on the Flyers’ road trip and are close to returning, per Rick Tocchet. pic.twitter.com/j9oumDUtdf

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 13, 2025

• The Flyers and Hurricanes are right back at it Sunday when they meet at Lenovo Center (5 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

Flyers finish homestand 2-2-2 after suffering shootout loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rick Tocchet warned against the Hurricanes’ relentless pressure.

“Full-out blitz,” the head coach said. “It’s the way they play.”

The Flyers didn’t handle it well enough Saturday night, especially when trying to protect a lead, as they lost to Carolina, 4-3, in a shootout at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

“There are positives, I’m going to take the positives,” Tocchet said. “I think we’ve just got to start to learn when teams put pressure on us, we’ve got to find the pressure; we can’t back off. That’s what I believe in.”

Jackson Blake scored the lone tally in the skills competition.

Trevor Zegras, Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny and Bobby Brink came up empty for the Flyers.

Samuel Ersson suffered just his fourth career shootout loss in 16 opportunities.

Tocchet’s club relinquished a 2-0 lead in the second period. The Hurricanes turned up the dial and had the Flyers defending a lot. Seth Jarvis then handed the Flyers their first deficit when he scored on a breakaway with 7:34 minutes left in the third period.

Brink, Zegras and Carl Grundstrom provided the Flyers’ goals. Grundstrom answered Jarvis’ goal just 23 seconds later.

Zegras and Konecny had a chance to win it in the final minute of overtime, but couldn’t convert on a 2-on-1 rush.

The Flyers (16-9-5) went 2-2-2 on their season-long homestand. Three of the losses came against top-10 teams — this one to Carolina, a 3-2 regulation decision to the Avalanche and a 3-2 overtime decision to the Golden Knights.

Tocchet’s club dropped to 7-4-5 in games decided by one goal. It has gone to overtime 12 times. It’s now 5-1 in the shootout.

The Flyers are 0-0-2 in their four-game regular-season series with the Hurricanes (20-9-2). They’ve lost 15 of their last 17 games against Carolina(2-9-6).

• In the first game of a back-to-back set, Ersson made 18 saves on 21 shots for the Flyers.

The 26-year-old had a massive stop on Jordan Staal in the final seconds of overtime.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Alexander Nikishin erased the Flyers’ 2-0 lead in a span of just over five minutes. Ehlers scored six seconds after Ty Murchison had a pass get picked off in the neutral zone. Nikishin then had a shot go off Noah Cates’ skate and past Ersson.

Hurricanes netminder Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 15 of the Flyers’ 18 shots.

Brink and Zegras gave the Flyers their 2-0 lead in the first period. Brink made a sharp move before sniping one past Kochetkov. Zegras scored off a very good feed from Konecny.

“I thought we got off to a good start,” Zegras said. “Kind of expected a big push [from Carolina], I think we just kind of got on our heels a little bit instead of playing that same game. They’re a real good team, we kind of expected that. I thought we responded and made some adjustments in the third. Obviously a tough one in the shootout.”

• Through 30 games with the Flyers, Zegras has already matched his goal total from all of last season.

He had 12 in 57 games with the Ducks. He’s at 12 goals and 30 points for the Flyers.

Talk about a change of scenery doing wonders. Tocchet has raved about how coachable the 24-year-old has been. General manager Danny Briere has to be thrilled about the return on the trade so far.

• The Flyers’ struggling power play was costly two nights ago in the team’s overtime loss to Vegas.

And against Carolina, they didn’t go on a single power play.

Tocchet has harped on the Flyers needing to generate more through the middle to create second and third opportunities on the man advantage. They’ve gotten away from that and entered Saturday night 5 for 38 over their last 16 games.

“I think we revert to bad habits,” Tocchet said after morning skate. “We need a chunk of guys to take ahold of it. We talked about it at the start of the year, it’s going to be a work in progress.”

• Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen remained out, but both defensemen will be on the Flyers’ four-game road trip and are close to returning, Tocchet said after morning skate.

York has been out the last four games with an upper-body injury.

Ristolainen is nearing his season debut. Has been recovering from surgery in March on a second triceps tendon rupture.

Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York at morning skate.

Both will be on the Flyers’ road trip and are close to returning, per Rick Tocchet. pic.twitter.com/j9oumDUtdf

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 13, 2025

• The Flyers and Hurricanes are right back at it Sunday when they meet at Lenovo Center (5 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

It has been a whirlwind of a season for Pittsburgh Penguins' young defenseman Harrison Brunicke.

After making the NHL roster out of training camp, Brunicke played in only a few games before finding himself a frequent healthy scratch, with his most recent NHL game coming in a Nov. 3 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was then sent on an AHL conditioning loan to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) for five days, where he showed well. And - most recently - he was loaned to Team Canada for World Junior Camp.

Now, he finds himself likely slotting in a prominent role for Canada.

On Saturday, during the first day of World Junior camp, Brunicke was on a top-four pairing with 2025 first-round pick Kashawn Aitcheson, who was selected 17th overall by the New York Islanders. Aitcheson, a big, hard-hitting blueliner, has 19 goals and 32 points in 27 games this season for the Barrie Colts of the OHL.

Brunicke, 19, was loaned to the WJC by the Penguins in order to give him some big, meaningful minutes on what is presumed will be a stacked Canada roster for this year's tournament. The decision to pair Brunicke with Aitcheson - one of the CHL's best defensemen - indicates that he will probably be in a lot of high-stakes situations, should the pairing stick.

What Brett Kulak Brings To The Penguins After Trade From EdmontonThe Pittsburgh Penguins got Brett Kulak back in the Tristan Jarry deal, and he has the tools to help this team.

Canada's lines for camp today.

Brady Martin is expected to join the team later today. #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/uPEH8ooeDc

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 13, 2025

Brunicke is also expected to be in the mix for Canada's leadership group, assuming he breaks camp.

Canada's World Junior camp runs from Dec. 13-23 before a brief holiday hiatus. Final rosters are due Dec. 24, and the World Junior Championship will take place in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn. on Dec. 26 - Jan. 5.

'It Just Made Sense For Us To Do It At This Time': Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas Gives Insight On Jarry TradeIt's safe to say that <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/breaking-penguins-deal-tristan-jarry-to-edmonton-oilers">the trade sending Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday</a> - which returned goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick - surprised a whole lot of people, fans and players alike.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

The Buffalo Sabres have made some roster moves.

The Sabres have announced that they have called up forward Noah Ostlund from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. The Sabres also shared that they have assigned forward Trevor Kuntar back to Rochester. 

Ostlund has played in 20 games so far this season with the Sabres, where he has recorded three goals, three assists, 12 blocks, and a plus-1 rating. Down in the AHL with Rochester this season, he has recorded three goals, seven assists, and 10 points in seven games.

With Ostlund being a former first-round pick and one of the Sabres' most promising prospects, fans will naturally be keeping a close eye on him during his latest call-up. 

Kuntar, on the other hand, just made his NHL debut during the Sabres' Dec. 11 contest against the Vancouver Canucks after landing an NHL deal with Buffalo earlier this week. During his debut, Kuntar recorded one hit and a minus-1 rating in 5:12 of ice time. 

Down in the AHL this season with the Amerks, Kuntar has posted nine goals, four assists, 13 points, and 43 penalty minutes in 24 games. 

The Edmonton Oilers had themselves a big day on Dec. 12, as they brought in multiple new players. Goaltender Tristan Jarry was their biggest addition of course, as the Oilers will be hoping that he provide them with more stability between the pipes.

Jarry was not the only player who the Oilers acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in this deal, however, as Edmonton also landed forward Sam Poulin. While Poulin is more of an under-the-radar addition for Edmonton, he should not be ignored. 

Before being traded to the Oilers, Poulin was in the middle of a strong season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 22 games with the AHL club before the move, he posted nine goals, 11 assists, 20 points, and a plus-8 rating. This is after he recorded 19 goals and 43 points in 57 games with the AHL club this past season. 

Poulin has struggled to cement himself as a full-time player at this point in his career, however. In 15 games with the Penguins over four seasons, the 6-foot-2 forward has posted two assists and 20 hits. While the 24-year-old winger has yet to break out at the NHL level, perhaps getting a fresh start with the Oilers could help him take a step forward in his development. 

Poulin has been showing signs of promise at the AHL level this season, so there is ultimately no harm in the Oilers taking a chance on. The possibility of him taking that next step and becoming a bottom-six forward for the Oilers should not be ruled out. Yet, at a minimum, he should serve as a serviceable call-up option for the Oilers. 

During the 2025 NHL off-season, the Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Zack Bolduc. This was one of the most intriguing trades of the summer, as it involved two former first-round picks. 

Mailloux has had a tough start to his Blues tenure. In his first 19 games with the Central Division squad, the 6-foot-3 defenseman recorded just one assist to go along with an ugly minus-18 rating. He was also briefly sent down to the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, earlier this season, where he posted two goals in five games. 

While Mailloux has had a tough start with the Blues, he has now broken the ice. 

During St. Louis' Dec. 12 contest against the Chicago Blackhawks, Mailloux scored his first goal as a member of the Blues. It was a good goal, too, as the former Canadiens defenseman beat Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight with a nice wrist shot. 

Mailloux will now be looking to build off this big moment with the Blues. There is no question that the young blueliner has good potential, and it will be interesting to see if he can tap into it more as the season rolls on. 

Mailloux was selected by the Canadiens with the 31st overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In eight games over two seasons with Montreal, he posted two goals and five points. 

A former Chicago Blackhawks forward has hit the waiver wire.

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have placed former Blackhawks first-round pick Lukas Reichel on waivers.

The Blackhawks traded Reichel earlier this season to the Canucks in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. This was after Reichel was the subject of several trade rumors, as he struggled to find his fit with the Blackhawks.

The Canucks hoped that Reichel would thrive with a change of scenery, but the young forward has only struggled more. In 14 games with the Canucks since the trade, he has recorded zero goals, one assist, and a minus-5 rating. He also became the odd man out in Vancouver's lineup, as he has not played since their Nov. 28 contest against the San Jose Sharks. 

Reichel was selected by the Blackhawks with the 17th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In 174 games over five seasons with the Blackhawks, he recorded 22 goals, 36 assists, 58 points, and a minus-60 rating. 

The Chicago Blackhawks are set to take on the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. This is the second half of a back-to-back for Chicago. In these situations (second half of back-to-backs), the Blackhawks have been beaten both times badly. 

Now, the Blackhawks have a chance to make that issue right. They lost 3-2 to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night, and now they need to find a way to play well one night later. 

Scouting Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings employ Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane. He plays there with Alex DeBrincat, and the two are very solid together. Kane is not a superstar producer anymore, but he's still very good and a threat to create offense on every shift. 

Finnie - Larkin - Raymond

DeBrincat - Copp - Kane

Rasmussen - Compher - Berggren

Soderblom - Kasper - Danielson

Edvinsson - Seider

Chiarot - Sandin Pellikka

Johansson - Hamonic

Gibson

The Detroit Red Wings have a lot of young talent in addition to Kane and DeBrincat, who are solid veterans who help them calm the waters. 

Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka are the youthful players on the team, while captain Dylan Larkin drives play. All-in-all, this is a solid group that can win any game. 

Cam Talbot started in their last game, so you can expect to see John Gibson in the net for the Wings. As long as everyone plays their game in front of him, he should give his team a chance. 

Patrick Kane is sitting on 497 career goals. A hat trick against his old team would put him in the exclusive 500 goals club. In the event that this doesn't happen, Kane will reach the milestone shortly after. 

Patrick Kane on Verge of Major Milestone as He Faces BlackhawksPatrick Kane was one of the core pieces and superstars for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> during their dynasty that hoisted three Stanley Cups, but the team went into a rebuild and he was traded in 2022-23.

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks will not have Connor Bedard in this game. He injured himself on Friday night, and an update will be provided on Monday. 

Jeff Blashill Provides Tough Update On Connor Bedard's Injury StatusAfter their loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill provided a tough update on Connor Bedard.

In his place, the Blackhawks are going to have Nick Lardis called up from the Rockford IceHogs. He will make his NHL debut against the Red Wings. 

There was no morning skate for the Blackhawks, so there is no way of knowing exactly how things will line up. Warmups will indicate the lines, defense pairs, and goalie decision for Chicago. It is hard to even project the lineup because of Bedard's absence and Lardis' addition. 

Arvid Soderblom is likely going to start in the net as Spencer Knight went against the Blues on Friday night. That will be confirmed or denied during the warmups as well. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game locally, it can be found on CHSN. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM. 

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

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 Winnipeg Jets could be on the verge of handing rookie goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis his NHL debut Saturday night when they host the Washington Capitals, a possibility that has sparked widespread speculation among fans and media alike.

Questions around the Jets’ starting goaltender emerged earlier Saturday after the team released its projected lineup on X, formerly known as Twitter, accompanied by the caption: “No indication has been made on tonight’s starting goalie.” The vague wording immediately fueled speculation that Winnipeg may be preparing to give DiVincentiis his first NHL start.

The uncertainty comes as veteran backup Eric Comrie continues to shoulder a heavy workload in the absence of regular starter Connor Hellebuyck, who remains sidelined. Comrie has started seven consecutive games for the Jets, a demanding stretch that could prompt the coaching staff to give him a much-needed night off.

While Comrie has battled through the stretch, results have been mixed. He has won just one of his last six starts, and with Winnipeg looking to stabilize its play and manage workloads, the idea of a fresh look in goal has gained traction.

Dom with a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIG STRETCH pic.twitter.com/DJqHCMT8JU

— Manitoba Moose (@ManitobaMoose) November 15, 2025

DiVincentiis’ recall has been widely anticipated within the organization and among fans. The 20-year-old netminder impressed during training camp and the preseason, positioning himself as a legitimate option should the Jets need depth in goal.

With the AHL’s Manitoba Moose this season, DiVincentiis has been among the league’s more consistent goaltenders. Despite a 6-7-1 record that reflects the challenges faced by the Moose, he has posted a respectable 2.49 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage, numbers that underscore his individual performance and poise beyond his years.

Jets Aim to Snap Lengthy Losing Streak Against Scorching Hot CapitalsThe Winnipeg Jets aim to snap their losing streak against a red-hot Capitals team led by Olympic hopefuls in Tom Wilson, Logan Thompson.

Head coach Scott Arniel has not confirmed a starter for Saturday’s matchup, leaving open the possibility that Winnipeg could turn to Comrie once again or the rookie against a flaming hot Capitals team led by Alex Ovechkin.

If DiVincentiis does get the nod, it would mark a significant milestone in his development and offer the Jets a glimpse of a potential future piece between the pipes. For now, the team remains noncommittal, but all signs point to a decision that could come right up until puck drop.

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.

Power of friendship helps spark Sharks' historic comeback victory over Penguins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

When impossible odds were stacked agains them, the Sharks turned to the most powerful tool there is.

Love.

San Jose’s historic 6-5 comeback OT win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at PGG Paints Arena will be one Sharks fans talk about for generations to come. But when we reflect on the miracle that occurred on that ice, it must be remembered what propelled the inconceivable scenario that played out before us.

The power of friendship.

With San Jose facing a seemingly insurmountable 4-1 third-period deficit, Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon delivered what easily could’ve been a knockout blow to the Sharks’ morale by laying vicious hit on Will Smith.

Instead, it lit a burning fire under San Jose as William Eklund and Macklin Celebrini immediately came to their teammate’s defense, with the latter earning a 4:00 penalty for roughing in the process.

BEST FRIENDS STICK TOGETHER 🩵 pic.twitter.com/e2SEokNzgs

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 13, 2025

“You hate to see one of your teammates go down,” Celebrini told reporters after the game. “Anyone would have done that if it happened to any guy on our team. That’s the kind of group we have and how close we are … I don’t think any of us like to see our teammates go down and take a hit like that. I think [Eklund] did a good job kind of jumping in there and I felt like I had to have his back.”

"I think that's the kind of group we have and how close we are."

Macklin Celebrini on him and William Eklund standing up for Will Smith 🥹 pic.twitter.com/lRrjwTItau

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 13, 2025

While the Penguins quickly added another power-play goal — their third of the afternoon — it would be the last time the home crowd had anything resembling something to cheer for on Saturday.

With 12:27 remaining in the third period, John Klingberg continued his recent hot streak by launching a screamer of a wrist-shot past Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs.

John Klingberg gets one back for Team Teal pic.twitter.com/wdiu97aS01

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 13, 2025

While it might have seemed like too little, too late in the moment with San Jose still sitting in a 5-2 hole, Klingberg’s power-play goal did just enough to breathe life into a Sharks team that didn’t realize it just took the first step toward a generational victory.

Eklund, Alex Wennberg and Adam Gaudette;s gritty effort with 5:41 remaining pulled the Sharks even closer.

William Eklund pulls another back for the Sharks 👀 pic.twitter.com/zBXdZxCI25

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 13, 2025

Penguins forward Bryan Rust appeared poised to eviscerate any hopes of an incredible comeback when he squared up to shoot on San Jose’s empty net after the Sharks pulled goalie Yaroslav Askarov in favor of throwing an extra attacker on the ice.

But as any true miracle entails, there would be some form of divine intervention as Rust’s shot narrowly missed the net and instead ricocheted off the post.

Game of inches 🙂 pic.twitter.com/D88bho4ALh

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 13, 2025

Just 22 seconds after Rust’s shocking miss, Celebrini did what franchise players do. He rose to the occasion and sent a rocket slap shot into the back of the net to pull San Jose within one goal of what seemed like an impossible lead to overcome just mere minutes before.

MACKLIN SCORES AN ABSOLUTE ROCKET OF A ONE-TIMER TO BRING THE SHARKS WITHIN ONE 🚨 pic.twitter.com/0l3vqgrec0

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 13, 2025

Before anyone watching could register what was unfolding before them, Tyler Toffoli found the back of the net with 1:38 remaining in the game to bring the Sharks and Penguins level, leaving Pittsburgh fans in attendance frozen in a solemn silence of disbelief.

TOFF TIES IT UP!!!!!

THE SHARKS JUST ERASED A 5-1 DEFICIT IN A MATTER OF MINUTES 🤯 pic.twitter.com/t4uWcNm3wr

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 13, 2025

Entering overtime, the Sharks placed themselves in a position where it would seem like they committed a heist to come away with the bare-minimum point they would be entitled to after storming back in epic fashion.

Surely that would be an acceptable result given where they stood down 5-1 midway through the third period, right?

Not for these Sharks, who were determined to deliver the Hollywood ending that even the most talented scriptwriters would struggle to conjure up.

With just over two minutes remaining in overtime, Klingberg dangled one of the NHL’s all-time greats in Sidney Crosby to set up a two-on-one against Penguins defenseman Kris Letang as Celebrini him to his right.

Klingberg passed the puck to Celebrini, who quicky returned it to set up a finish that will be etched into the memories of Sharks fans forever.

SHARKS WIN!!! SHARKS WIN!!!!

ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE COMEBACKS YOU'LL EVER SEE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vZHWaeb91B

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 13, 2025

Klingberg being the one to put the final exclamation mark on a mind-boggling comeback victory was poetic in more ways than one.

The veteran blueliner has dealt with his fair share of adversity as he struggled to begin his first season with the Sharks. But while the outside noise echoed, Klingberg’s teammates maintained their belief in him and the body of work he has put together during his 13-year NHL career.

Klingberg now has seven points in his last four games, including three goals that played a crucial role in back-to-back comeback wins on the road for the Sharks.

The Swedish defenseman has seen it all on the ice after playing in 668 regular-season NHL games, but Saturday’s win simply resonated on a different level even for the most seasoned of veterans.

“Unbelievable comeback,” Klingberg said on “Sharks Postgame Live.” “We didn’t like our game, obviously they out shot us bad for two periods, but we felt like we were kind of hanging in there even if the scoreboard didn’t show it. Resilient group, that’s one of the craziest comebacks I’ve been a part of for sure.”

With the Sharks currently holding the Western Conference’s second and final wild card spot, this could end up being the type of victory that plays a critical role in a tightly packed playoff race.

San Jose will face more deficits this season. And not all of them will have the storybook ending that Saturday’s win in Pittsburgh did. But you can be assured this team will always fight until that final horn blares.

“We’re a team that’s grinding for sure. We’re right in it, we don’t give up,” Klingberg said. “Credit to all the guys, that’s a big thing to do stuff like that, it builds a lot of confidence.”

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

Game info 

Who: Nashville Predators (12-14-4, 8th Central) at Colorado Avalanche (22-2-7, 1st in Central) 

When: 8 p.m. CST 

Where:  Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado 

TV: WTVF Channel 5 

Radio: 102.5 The Game 

Line (via BetMGM): Predators +1.5, Avalanche -1.5. Over/under 6.5 (+100/-120). 

First line flourishing 

The Nashville Predators' first line has been massive to the team's success over the last eight games. 

Steven Stamkos has 10 points in eight games, which included a four-goal game in Thursday's 7-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Luke Evangelista now has 13 points in nine games, which include four multi-point games. Ryan O'Reilly, who has been the Predators' top player all season, has five points in five games. 

The trio has been the driving force behind the Predators' winning six of their last eight games, including a 4-3 shootout victory over the Avalanche on Tuesday. O'Reilly had the lone shootout goal in that game. 

Saros locked in 

Outside of the 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, where Saros was pulled for Justus Annunen, Saros has been playing some of his best hockey of the season. 

In December, in five games started, he has a 4-1-0 record with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. It's a massive jump from the .873 save percentage and 3.35 goals against average from November. 

In the win over the Avalanche, he had a season-best 39 saves on 42 shots. Two nights later, he made 24 saves on 26 shots in the win over the Blues. In the five games played in December, Saros had three 30+ save performances. 

Preds playing short 

With Cole Smith still out and the Predators trading Spencer Stastney to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, Nashville will be playing with 11 forwards and six defensemen on this two-game road trip. 

General manager Barry Trotz said that the roster should be filling up soon, with Justin Barron nearing a return and the Stastney trade allowing the team to work younger forwards into the system. 

However, ahead of their game against the Avalanche, the Predators' only roster transaction was sending an injured Zach L'Heureux down to Milwaukee. The Predators have been playing short over the last few games and have seemed to thrive with lower numbers. 

Facing top-ranked Avs 

Despite handing the Avalanche a loss on Tuesday, that has not dethroned them from the top spot in the NHL. Following the loss in Nashville, the Avalanche ripped off a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday, seeing six different Colorado players score. 

Nathan Mackinnon leads the league in points (53 points) and goals (25 goals). Martin Necas is third in the league in assists with 29 and Avalanche players own four of the top five best plus/minuses in the NHL (MacKinnon 37, Necas 30, Cale Makar 29, Lehkonen 37).

In net, Scott Wedgewood, a former Predators player, has the second most wins in the league with 13, the fourth best goals-against average (2.11) and sixth best save percentage (.919).

Backup Mackenzie Blackwood is also ranked as one of the top goaltenders in the league with a 2.19 goals against average (sixth) and a .920 save percentage (tied-fourth). 

As a team, the Avalanche have only lost at home twice this season, once in regulation to the New Jersey Devils, 8-4, on Oct. 26 and the other to the Dallas Stars, 5-4, in a shootout on Oct. 11. 

After snapping a three-game losing slide on Thursday night in Columbus, the Ottawa Senators hope they’ve entered the start of better days. Prior to their 6–3 victory over the Blue Jackets, the Senators had lost five of their previous six games and, as a result, slipped badly in the Eastern Conference standings.

On Saturday afternoon (2 p.m.), the Senators will face the Minnesota Wild, who will surely be forgiven if their heads are still spinning from the blockbuster news of the past 24 hours.

On Friday, the Wild acquired star defenceman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenceman Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft.

The timing is perfect for the Senators, because not only is this probably a major shock to the Minnesota dressing room, pulling well-liked teammates away from the team, but Hughes – the crown jewel in the deal – won't be ready to make his debut with the Wild until Sunday against the Boston Bruins.

The Senators should come into this game feeling good about themselves offensively. Tim Stützle had two goals against Columbus, Drake Batherson had a goal and two assists, Dylan Cozens had three helpers, and Claude Giroux, Michael Amadio, and David Perron each had a goal and an assist.

But at 17-9-5, the Wild will be a much tougher out than the Blue Jackets. 

The Senators will make at least one change to their lineup. With the injury to Lars Eller in Columbus, he won’t be available for at least the next two games and probably longer, so it’s a good bet that Stephen Halliday will take his spot as the fourth-line centre. Olle Lycksell was called up from Belleville on Saturday morning, but Kurtis MacDermid is expected to dress as a 12th forward.

And why not? He doesn't play much, but the Sens are 7-1-2 when MacDermid suits up.

The official line combinations won’t be known until closer to game time, but here are the projections from NHL.com.

Senators projected lineup

Brady Tkachuk — Tim Stützle — Fabian Zetterlund
David Perron — Dylan Cozens — Drake Batherson
Michael Amadio — Ridly Greig — Claude Giroux
Kurtis MacDermid — Stephen Halliday — Nick Cousins

Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub
Tyler Kleven — Jordan Spence
Nikolas Matinpalo — Nick Jensen

Leevi Merilainen
Linus Ullmark

Scratched: Dennis Gilbert, Olle Lycksell
Injured: Thomas Chabot (upper body), Shane Pinto (lower body), Lars Eller (lower body)

Along with Hughes, the Wild have some key players out of the lineup right now, including Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Foligno and former 67s defenseman Jacob Middleton. Former Senator Vladimir Tarasenko is on the top line with Kirill Kaprizov and Danila Yurov, a rare all-Russian line.

Wild projected lineup

Kirill Kaprizov — Danila Yurov — Vladimir Tarasenko
Marcus Johansson — Joel Eriksson Ek — Matt Boldy
Yakov Trenin — Ryan Hartman — Nicolas Aubé-Kubel
Ben Jones — Nico Sturm — Tyler Pitlick

Jonas Brodin — Brock Faber
Daemon Hunt — Jared Spurgeon
Zach Bogosian — David Jiříček

Filip Gustavsson
Jesper Wallstedt

Scratched: Quinn Hughes, Matt Kiersted
Injured: Marcus Foligno (lower body), Vinnie Hinostroza (lower body), Mats Zuccarello (upper body), Jacob Middleton (upper body)

Faceoff is 2 pm Eastern.
TV: TSN5, TVAS, 
Audio: TSN 1200 AM, TSN1200.ca

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

After A Hot Start, Senators' Veteran Goes Ice Cold And Now Joins Injury List
Popular Former Ottawa Senator Forward Attempting Comeback At Age 38
Four Ottawa Senators Make Annual List Of Most Punchable NHL Players
Should Drake Batherson's 'Kicked In' Goal Have Counted?
Former Senator Now Tearing It Up In Switzerland

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their third-straight game at home on Saturday. 

They lost the previous two games against the Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens and are trying to redeem themselves against a young, exciting San Jose Sharks team. The Penguins beat the Sharks 3-0 back on Oct. 18 when the Penguins were on their annual California trip. 

The Sharks were 0-3-2 at the time, but are now 15-14-3 and in the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Macklin Celebrini has been on an absolute tear this season, compiling 15 goals and 44 points in 32 games. He's doing everything he can to try to make the Team Canada Olympic roster. 

Will Smith has also been fantastic, racking up 12 goals and 29 points in 32 games. Smith and Celebrini play together on the top line and are one of the top young duos in the NHL. The Penguins will need to be on high alert each time they're on the ice. 

Yaroslav Askarov will start in goal against the Penguins and has been solid this season, compiling a .903 save percentage and a 3.14 goals-against average. 

The Penguins won't have goaltender Stuart Skinner or defenseman Brett Kulak available for this game since they're still dealing with immigration issues. The Penguins acquired both players in the Tristan Jarry trade on Friday. 

With that in mind, the Penguins recalled young goaltender Sergei Murashov from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on an emergency basis for Saturday's game. The goalie tandem for Saturday will be Arturs Silovs and Murashov, with Silovs starting. 

Rickard Rakell will also be back in the lineup for the first time since Oct. 25. He will be a big boost to the lineup since he's one of the Penguins' best scorers. 

Puck drop for this contest will be at 3 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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The Chicago Blackhawks are starting to slide a bit, but their record of 13-12-6, with 32 points through 31 games played, is better than anyone would have thought coming into the year. They are only 1 point shy of a playoff spot in December, which would have sounded even crazier in September. 

The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are established contenders in the Central Division. Recent play has put the Blackhawks in 5th place, as those two teams are ahead of Chicago, along with the Minnesota Wild and Utah Mammoth. 

Only the Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, & Nashville Predators trail. Winnipeg and St. Louis were both highly competitive playoff teams last season, so they are likely to improve as the season progresses. That alone will make the climb in the division that much tougher. 

A transaction took place that will make the climb even worse, as a team ahead of the Blackhawks went from being a playoff contender to a Stanley Cup contender. The Minnesota Wild acquired superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. 

HUGHES news 🗞️

Full details » https://t.co/PpC2JGsH89pic.twitter.com/Q1ACNWUQvG

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 13, 2025

Vancouver received forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a 2026 first-round pick. It’s a large haul for the Canucks, but the Wild are getting the second-best defenseman in the world. 

Now, the Wild are one of the top NHL teams, making it three super-elite teams in the Central Division. That makes it even harder for the Chicago Blackhawks to become one.

Although the Blackhawks are getting better, so is the division. The Wild is adding a defender who is a point-per-game, dynamic superstar. With Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber, and two elite goalies, the core of this team is as good as it gets. 

Chicago's next matchup with Minnesota will come on January 27th, with two more that follow that. It's going to be an extra tough matchup as long as Quinn Hughes is there. 

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The Detroit Red Wings will conclude their long road trip on Saturday in Chicago against the Blackhawks, who will be without star Connor Bedard due to a shoulder injury. Bedard, the 2023 first overall pick, has been sensational this season with 44 points in 31 games, ranking third in the NHL in scoring. His absence comes at a time when the Blackhawks have struggled offensively, winning just three of their last 12 games.

Detroit, meanwhile, is regaining momentum after a brief setback, and recent contributions from veterans Andrew Copp and James van Riemsdyk have bolstered their scoring depth. Copp has thrived alongside Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane, while van Riemsdyk has scored six goals in his last eight games, however he's expected to get a day off Saturday. Detroit’s defense has still been an issue, conceding an average of three goals per game, highlighting the importance of strong goaltending from John Gibson, who has recently posted back-to-back standout performances.

Chicago’s offense has cooled without Bedard, placing more pressure on veteran winger Tyler Bertuzzi, who has 19 points over his last 16 games. The Blackhawks’ defensive struggles persist, allowing 3.67 goals per game over the recent slump. Historically, these teams’ matchups have been high-scoring, with seven of the last nine meetings totaling six or more goals.

Detroit’s DeBrincat-Kane duo will be central to the offensive battle, while Bertuzzi remains Chicago’s primary threat. Goaltending could play a pivotal role, with Gibson aiming to maintain his hot streak and Arvid Soderblom having previously delivered a standout 45-save performance against Detroit. The game promises to be a compelling clash of Detroit’s surging offense and Chicago’s efforts to overcome the loss of their breakout star.

Red Wings Look To Extend Surge Against Blackhawks Missing Connor BedardThe Red Wings finish their road trip in Chicago against a struggling Blackhawks team missing injured star Connor Bedard.

Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs. Chicago (Saturday):

Finnie – Larkin – Raymond

DeBrincat – Copp – Kane

Soderblom – Danielson – Kasper

Rasmussen – Compher – Berggren

Edvinsson – Seider

Chiarot – Sandin-Pellikka

Johansson – Benard-Docker

Gibson

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