The Buffalo Sabres are the worst team in the Eastern Conference. And given that we’re approaching the one-third point of the season, that makes it a great time to hand out grades for Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams, coach Lindy Ruff, and Sabres players. 

We started on the process by grading Adams, and in today’s column, we’re focusing our attention on Ruff. Let’s get to it: 

Lindy Ruff, Coach

Grade: D 

The Lowdown: The blame for the Sabres’ current 10-11-4 record can’t completely be laid at the feet of Ruff. But since Oct. 24, Buffalo has gone 6-7-4 – totals that, in other NHL markets, could be grounds for dismissal. So Ruff has to own his team’s performance, and figure out how to improve this team before their Stanley Cup playoff aspirations are dead and buried for the 15th consecutive season.

Grading The Sabres At The One-Third Mark Of The Season: GM Kevyn AdamsWith the Buffalo Sabres struggling, GM Kevyn Adams is facing intense scrutiny. Has he made the right moves, or is a drastic shakeup needed?

When you’ve won just six times in your most recent 17 games, you have to consider one of two possibilities: the first is that you simply don’t have the talent to win consistently; and the second is that you have neither the structure nor the motivation to do so. Now, the Sabres aren’t utterly bereft of high-end NHL players. So we’re of the opinion that, simply put, Buffalo just isn’t getting the best out of the talent that it currently has. 

That means that Ruff (and Adams) are ultimately to blame for where the Sabres are in the standings right now. And although Ruff has escaped an ‘F’ grade in this story, he’s much closer to that mark than he is to an above-average grade.

Sabres Goalie Roulette Not Working, Samuelsson In Concussion ProtocolBuffalo's three-goalie rotation has not contributed to consistent performance between the pipes

This return to Buffalo will almost assuredly be Ruff’s final pit stop after a long career as an NHL bench boss. But the way things are going, he’s on track to go out not with the ‘bang’ of one last winning stretch, but with the ‘whimper’ of another season lost to underwhelming performances and outright letdowns. And that means Ruff has enormous pressure to turn things around before it’s too late. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Wilson had two goals and an assist, and the Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders 4-1 on Sunday.

Alex Ovechkin and Aliaksei Protas each scored an empty-net goal as the Capitals extended their win streak to four games. Logan Thompson made 30 saves.

Bo Horvat scored for New York, and Ilya Sorokin had 14 saves.

The Islanders have lost three straight and four of five overall. They dropped to 1-3-2 in matinee games this season with six remaining.

Wilson opened the scoring when he tapped in a pass from Ovechkin on the power play at 7:37 of the first period. Ryan Leonard, the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft, also picked up an assist on the play.

Sorokin misplayed a puck behind his own net and set up Wilson for his team-high 15th goal with 6:02 left in the second.

Horvat buried a bouncing puck near the top of the crease to make it 2-1 with 6:17 remaining in the third.

The Islanders went 1 for 3 on the power play. They have converted two of their last 34 chances with the man advantage.

Up next

Capitals: At Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Islanders: Host Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins made a roster move on Sunday ahead of their game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

After losing 7-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Penguins sent forwards Tristan Broz and Danton Heinen back to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Broz made his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, then was healthy scratched for Friday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Saturday's game against the Leafs. 

Broz is a young player that the Penguins are really excited about. He almost made the NHL roster out of training camp before he was one of the final cuts. If he produces for WBS again (he already has eight goals and 13 points in 18 games), it won't be long before he's called back up.

Heinen also started the season in WBS after not making the NHL roster out of camp. He compiled five goals and 14 points in 10 games before he was called up by the Penguins. He only racked up one assist in nine games before he was sent back down. 

There's a chance that one or both of Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari return on Monday since they've been making a ton of progress with their respective injuries. 

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

By Dillon Collins, feature writer

Looking back on his career, Matt Murray calls his introduction to the NHL both “surreal” and “unexpected.”

Drafted 83rd overall by Pittsburgh in 2012, he was outstanding in his first full season of pro hockey with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, setting an AHL record for the longest shutout streak at 304:11 and setting a record for most shutouts by an AHL rookie goaltender (12). He earned his first NHL call-up just 10 days shy of Christmas 2015. He started 13 regular-season games with Pittsburgh, winning nine of them and posting a .930 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average.

Then, with Marc-Andre Fleury dealing with post-concussion symptoms as the playoffs began, Murray stepped in to start 21 of the team’s 24 contests as the Penguins went on to edge San Jose to win the 2016 Stanley Cup. Murray had only just turned 22 during the Eastern Conference final.

The following season, the Penguins repeated as Stanley Cup champions. Murray started 47 games, earned a slot on the NHL’s all-rookie team and finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting. In the playoffs, he won seven of 10 starts after replacing a hot-and-cold Fleury in the conference final and finished with a sparkling 1.70 GAA and .937 SP.

The back-to-back Cups gave him an understanding of the true cost of success at an elite level.

“It taught me a lot about winning, but also about the sacrifice and the price of winning,” said Murray, now 31. “And there is a major, major price. All that stuff, I’m sure, accelerated the wear and tear on my hips. I was basically in shambles the whole time physically, so there’s a major price to winning like that. But there’s no better feeling once you get through it.”

The Penguins traded Murray to Ottawa on Oct. 7, 2020. However, his tenure in Canada’s capital was short-lived, as the Sens flipped him to division rival Toronto in the summer of 2022. With injuries mounting, Murray only suited up for a combined 54 NHL/AHL regular- and post-season games over the next three seasons.

But his hip issues dated as far back as his pro debut in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton nearly a decade prior.

“The unfortunate part about when you’re dealing with injuries, the way I have, is that most of the time your energy is going towards fighting those injuries or fighting back from those injuries,” he said. “At the time, I was probably 21, maybe even 20 years old. It just sounds a little early to be having double hip surgery.”

Murray’s choice to take on the “pretty severe” bilateral hip surgery on Oct. 9, 2023, came at the cost of nearly the entire 2023-24 season. But it was a boost to his quality of life.

As he entered the summer of 2024 fully healthy for the first time in his professional career, the then-30-year-old Murray opted to re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This summer, he signed with the Seattle Kraken, reuniting with former colleagues Jason Botterill, Lane Lambert and goalie coach Colin Zulianello.

He now has a chance to rediscover his game and play meaningful minutes with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds while providing depth at the NHL level alongside Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer.

“You want to be in an environment that you enjoy going to every day and where you’re going to be put in a position to have some success,” Murray said. “I knew that’s what I would get with the people here. I think that’s all you could ask for as a player.”

Reflecting on his decade in the pros – filled with pleasure and pain, and the highs and lows that have dominated his career – Murray has one key piece of advice for his younger self.

“Chill out and enjoy it,” he said. “I think you learn that as you get older. If you’re young, you’re full of energy but also full of nervous energy and some anxiety. That would probably be the main thing. Just chill out, enjoy the ride. And that’s what I’m doing now.”

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This is an excerpt of a feature that appeared in The Hockey News' Prospects Unlimited issue. We profile plenty of top prospects such as Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Zeev Buium and Marco Kasper. 

Elsewhere in the issue, we take a look at each NHL team's prospect pool, and we explore several PWHL teams, as well as features on the AHL, ECHL and the NCAA. 

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t simply end four-game their road trip on Monday night—they closed it, sealed it, and stamped it in a 5–2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

On the second half of a back-to-back, against a team undefeated in regulation at home, with tired legs and little margin for error, the Flyers had a lot of circumstances working against them, but played hard throughout the 60 minutes.

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1. Dan Vladar Stole the Moments That Needed Stealing

There’s a certain type of win that feels less like a goalie “doing his job” and more like a goalie changing the temperature in the building. This was one of those nights for Dan Vladar.

New Jersey pushed hard consistently—and pushed even harder once the Flyers built a lead—but Vladar did the thing great goalies do: he shut the door exactly when his team needed a stop to stabilize the game. His saves weren’t quiet, either. They were sprawling, edge-of-the-crease, full-extension moments that sucked the air out of the Devils’ forecheck and kept the Flyers from drowning under New Jersey’s speed and transition pressure.

Vladdy was EVERYWHERE.#PHIvsNJD | @BankofAmericapic.twitter.com/e9NO3nfM10

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 30, 2025

In a building where no opponent had earned a regulation win this season, Vladar gave the Flyers a backbone. And on the second night of a back-to-back, that’s the difference between hanging on and actually finishing the job.

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2. Owen Tippett Reaches Two Career Milestones.

Owen Tippett’s 100th career goal and 200th career point weren’t just nice round numbers. They were a snapshot of the player he has been looking to grow into: a physical, fast, disruptive winger who creates his own offense and forces defenders to give him space.

He added an assist, earned an empty-net goal via penalty, and logged yet another multi-point night—the kind of all-situations, assertive performance that defines good wingers. Tippett has been trending upward as of late, but this one felt like it could be the beginning of a breakthrough: a statement game in a tough building that showed what it looks like when his speed and pace take over.

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3. Matvei Michkov Continues His Rise Into Real Flyers History.

Another game, another point, and another moment where Matvei Michkov reminded everyone that he’s not just talented—he’s special.

His seventh goal of the season extended his point streak to three games and, more notably, marked his 33rd career goal, passing Peter Zezel for the fourth-most goals by a Flyers player age 20 or younger. (He will turn 21 on Dec. 9.)

The names ahead of him? Oh, you know, just Eric Lindros, Simon Gagné, and Mike Ricci.

Michkov’s game in Newark was another example of his growing edge and opportunism—how he reads the play, how he anticipates pockets of space, and how he converts chances with a shooter’s confidence. 

MM39 knew exactly where to be. #PHIvsNJD | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/wjAO9uJrdH

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 30, 2025

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4. The Core Playmakers Drove the Offense—and Did It the Right Way.

The Flyers have enjoyed some incredibly balanced scoring across all four lines, but a core of difference-makers has been established, and they showed up against the Devils.

Travis Konecny had another multi-point night, continuing to look like the emotional and competitive spark of this team.

Trevor Zegras, now with points in both games against New Jersey and in back-to-back outings, added another goal and assist to lead the Flyers with 24 points.

How Trevor Zegras Is Rebuilding His Game—and His Reputation—with Flyers There's a moment from the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a>' shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday that sums up everything you need to know about <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/what-every-flyer-needs-this-season-in-one-sentence">Trevor Zegras</a> right now.

Travis Sanheim logged two assists, stabilizing the defense while driving play north with confidence.

Cam York, already leading all Flyers defensemen in points, added his 11th assist, building on his growth as a transitional driver.

Christian Dvorak, quietly having one of the most balanced, consistent seasons of any Flyer, picked up his 10th assist and 16th point, keeping him third in team scoring.

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5. This Win Said Something.

Beating the Devils in Newark this season? No one had done it in regulation. Doing it on tired legs? That’s another layer. Doing it while protecting a lead instead of chasing one—a scenario that has challenged the Flyers at times this year—adds another wrinkle.

The Flyers managed the neutral zone, protected the slot, finished chances when they appeared, stuck together when the Devils surged, won the goaltending battle, and stayed composed under late pressure. They didn’t blink. And in the final game of a road trip, that’s often the hardest thing to do.

Rick Tocchet notched his 300th career win as an NHL head coach, and you couldn’t script a more fitting performance to capture the identity he’s imprinting on this group: hard, fast, competitive, resilient, and full of players stepping into more responsibility..

Goaltender Laurent Brossoit appears to be nearing a return from a lengthy injury that he suffered in the 2023-24 playoffs.

He suffered a knee injury, forcing him to miss the remainder of those playoffs, and he missed the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Brossoit isn’t far out from a conditioning stint in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ farm team. 

With this situation, the Blackhawks already carry Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom on the roster between the pipes. In addition, Brossoit’s $3.3-million cap hit is a lot to carry for a netminder who hasn’t played in well over a year.

Therefore, on “Saturday Headlines,” Friedman reported that Chicago has given other teams permission to speak with the 32-year-old about a potential trade. This transparency also allows other clubs to understand the goaltender’s situation.

“The Blackhawks have given teams permission to talk to him,” Friedman reported on Saturday. “So you can understand what his situation is, what his exact surgery was, what the process is back.”

With this report, all signs point to a potential trade for Brossoit. However, his cap hit would remain an obstacle.

“Not everybody can take that,” he said. “There might be some work that needs to be done here.”

On Friday’s edition of 32 Thoughts, the podcast, Friedman and co-host Kyle Bukauskas made connections with the Edmonton Oilers, a team that has struggled to find consistency and good performances in the crease.

Brossoit has ties to Edmonton, playing parts of four seasons with the organization between 2014 and 2018. He also featured in five seasons for the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, winning a WHL championship in 2011-12.

In his NHL career, he was a regular backup goaltender before his injury.

During his last season with the Winnipeg Jets, he played 23 games, putting up a 15-5-2 record, along with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and three shutouts.

He’s had multiple impressive seasons like that 2023-24 regular season, including stints with the Vegas Golden Knights, and another with the Jets, that turned out to be his best season statistically.

He was a part of Vegas’ Stanley Cup-winning team in 2022-23. He made 11 regular-season appearances, registering a 7-0-2 record with a 2.17 GAA and a .927 SP. 

In those playoffs, he made eight starts, winning five games for the Golden Knights. He posted a 3.18 GAA and an .894 SP.

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When the Montreal Canadiens took on the Colorado Avalanche yesterday, they did it without Jayden Struble, who was ruled out because of an upper-body injury. This meant that Arber Xhekaj could remain in the lineup as he was initially due to make way for rookie Adam Engstrom.

After making his NHL debut with the Utah Mammoth, the young Swede was a healthy scratch in the game against the Vegas Golden Knights and reintegrated the lineup for Saturday’s game.

Canadiens’ Prospect Puts On A Show
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Canadiens Destroyed By The Nordiques

Xhekaj didn’t have a great game against Colorado, not many Habs did, of course, but it is evident for him as he took a tumble in front of Jakub Dobes on the first goal of the game and completely lost his man in coverage on the second goal. The rugged defenseman did, however, land nine hits in the game, not that it made much of a difference in a one-way affair, but he still accounted for a third of the Canadiens’ hits throughout the game in 13:46 on the ice.

Meanwhile, Engstrom skated for 13:29 and was one of the only three Canadiens’ players to escape a negative differential on the night. The rookie took one shot, landed one hit and blocked two shots. If Struble sits for a few games, the youngster is likely to get even more comfortable on the ice as he really doesn’t look out of place, so much so that when Struble is ready to return, Martin St-Louis could have a tricky decision on his hands.

While Xhekaj brings a lot of physicality and grit, Struble has shown this season that he, too, can bring it. A couple of weeks ago, in a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on November 15, it was Struble who dropped the gloves four seconds in to try and energize his team. Xhekaj also did it less than four minutes later, but Struble certainly showed that he’s willing to do what needs to be done and that he’s not afraid to get physical.

In 22 games this season, Xhekaj has landed 41 hits (third on the team), which is five more than Struble, who has 36, but in just 19 games. Interestingly, neither is topping the Canadiens in that category; the two leaders are Juraj Slafkovsky with 44 hits in 24 games, followed by Zachary Bolduc with 42 in as many games. As for Engstrom, he only has a single hit in his two games, but physicality is not something he’s known for.

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For a couple of weeks now, Laurent Brossoit has been skating ahead of Chicago Blackhawks practice. Since signing with Chicago ahead of 2024-25, Brossoit has been injured and has appeared in no games.

Now, he appears to be close to ready for a conditioning stint in the AHL with plans to get back to the NHL shortly after. Before coming to Chicago, Brossoit was one of the best backups in the NHL and was hoping to help them stabilize the position.

They have since done that without him. Spencer Knight is the long-term starter, and Arvid Soderblom has been a solid backup. Drew Commesso is also in Rockford waiting for his chance.

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Brossoit is expected to be moved following his conditioning stint with Rockford. The Blackhawks are not going to get a needle-moving asset for him, but they will be allowing the player to get his career back on track. That will be a respected move by Kyle Davidson.

The latest around the league 👀@FriedgeHNIC covers it all on Saturday Headlines 📰 pic.twitter.com/qhGkaci5Ta

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 30, 2025

Brossoit has put in a lot of hard work to get to this point following his injury. It didn’t work out for him in Chicago, and their timelines no longer align, but there is still a chance that this will work out well for all parties.

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.

With Kyle Palmieri out for the season after tearing his ACL, the New York Islanders have recalled forward Marc Gatcomb from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. 

#Isles Transaction: Marc Gatcomb has been recalled from loan (Bridgeport). https://t.co/V5fkxZYwNu

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 30, 2025

Gatcomb, 26, played in 39 games for the Islanders last season, showcasing a combination of skillsets that the Islanders were longing for. 

He's physical, is responsible defensively, can move up the ice but also brought a scoring touch, potting eight goals in 25 games, adding one assist. 

This season, Gatcomb played in just one game, the team's home-opener, a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. He was placed on waivers back on Oct. 22 because of his $900,000 cap hit. 

Before placing Pierre Engvall on LTIR -- he's out for the season with an ankle injury that required surgery -- the Islanders wanted to get as close to the cap ceiling so that they could take full advantage of LTIR. By waiving Gatcomb and calling up, at the time, Matthew Highmore ($775K) and Marshall Warren ($825K), the Islanders got as close to zero as possible.

With Gatcomb up, the Islanders are no longer accruing cap space as they are exceeding the cap by $855,497, dipping into a little of Engvall's LTIR money. 

Likely Reason Why Islanders Waived Marc GatcombIslanders free up cap space and a roster spot by waiving Marc Gatcomb, paving the way for a crucial defenseman recall amidst Romanov's injury.

In 15 games with Bridgeport, Gatcomb recorded eight points (four goals, four assists). 

We'll see if he gets into the lineup on Sunday when the Islanders battle the Capitals at 1 PM ET. 

NEWS

Blue Jackets' Werenski Named NHL's Second Star Of The WeekWerenski explodes for eight points in four games, climbing the Blue Jackets' all-time scoring list. NHL's Second Star shines.

The NHL has released their three stars of the week and to no surprise Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski was named as the Second Star of the week.

Werenski was joined by Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson who was named the First Star and San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini who was named Third Star.

Blue Jackets Sign Veteran Defenseman Brendan SmithThe Blue Jackets have announced the signing of veteran defenseman Brendan Smith to a&nbsp;one-year, two-way National Hockey League/American Hockey League contract for the 2025-26 season. Smith will join the CBJ on Tuesday, per GM Don Waddell.&nbsp;

The Blue Jackets have announced the signing of veteran defenseman Brendan Smith to a one-year, two-way National Hockey League/American Hockey League contract for the 2025-26 season.

Defenseman Dysin Mayo Sent Back To ClevelandColumbus recalled Mayo on October 30th.

 Per the Blue Jackets Roster report, Defenseman Dysin Mayo, who was recalled by Columbus on October 30th, has been sent back to Cleveland. 

Mayo played in one game on November 5th against Calgary. He played 7:33 of ice time, took three shots, and was a minus-1. 

Dean Evason Gives Injury UpdatesThe Jackets have lost 35 man-games to injury

Kirill Marchenko - Seeing a doctor today about an injury John Davidson called "a muscle injury." It isn't expected to be serious according to Davidson. Evason said he's seeing a doctor today.   

Mathieu Olivier - Left last night's game and looked to be in discomfort. He was ruled out soon after. Evason said Olivier is also seeing a doctor. It's believed to be an upper body injury. 

Boone Jenner - Suffered an injury last week. It was originally reported that he'd miss 4-5 weeks, but he is skating and Don Waddell told NHL Radio late last week that he'd be back a lot sooner. 

Erik Gudbranson - Has missed the last 15 games and is on IR. Evason says he is skating and could be nearing a return. 

Blue Jackets' Brendan Smith To Make Debut Against Maple LeafsVeteran defenseman Brendan Smith, cut in preseason, faces his hometown Maple Leafs in his Blue Jackets debut tomorrow.

According to reports, newly signed Brendan Smith is set to make his Columbus Blue Jackets debut tomorrow night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Smith, 36, signed with the club yesterday after being cut by them in preseason from a professional tryout. The contract is a one-year, two-deal, worth $800,000.

Blue Jackets' Luca Pinelli Makes NHL Debut Against Maple LeafsHometown hero Luca Pinelli steps onto the NHL ice for his highly anticipated debut against the Maple Leafs tonight.

Columbus Blue Jackets' rookie Luca Pinelli is set to make his NHL debut tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pinelli, 20, is a native of Stoney Creek, Ontario has an awesome opportunity to play his NHL debut against the team that he grew up watching. 

Cannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Toronto Maple LeafsBlue Jackets fought hard but fell in OT. Hear directly from players and coaches on the thrilling matchup and what's next.

Zach Werenski:

• Not pleased that they lost the point
• Team is sick of blowing leads and losing in OT
• No time to dwell on the loss, need to move forward
• Praised Woll for his effort
• Team needs to work on getting a bigger cushion heading into the third
• Felt the team's process is good
• Liked Pinelli's confidence

Waddell Provides Update On Blue Jackets' Jenner & FantilliContract talks for key Blue Jackets Boone Jenner and Adam Fantilli are on hold until February. Waddell confirms mutual desire to reach agreements.

“I’ve talked to both representations from both players (Fantilli and Jenner), along with some other not only free agents but restricted to guys and, you know, pretty much we’ve all agreed let’s play to the Olympic break. There’s no big rush, you know, from any end."

From THN's Archive: Starting From ScratchBefore filling the dressing room, a fresh franchise must first stock its off-ice roster with brass and bird dogs. Vegas has quietly compiled some of the best in the business

Initially, Minnesota and Columbus had talked about working together to maximize the talent both could land. According to that year’s rules, if a team lost a goalie in the draft, for example, it couldn’t lose a defenseman. And if a team lost a defenseman, it couldn’t lose another. So if the Blue Jackets wanted a certain blueliner from Pittsburgh, they could have told the Wild not to take a Penguins goalie ahead of time.

From THN's Archive: Division Domination The Central Division is the most talented in the NHL, with five dangerous teams all capable of making the playoffsCannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh PenguinsPlayers and coaches weigh in as the Blue Jackets once again falter in overtime against the Penguins, fueling season-long concerns.

Sean Monahan:

• Tough to handle losing like that "losing sucks"
• When you go into the third with a lead, they need to find a way to bring it home
• Believes it is on those in the room to figure it out
• Felt the team didn't react well to the Penguins' early third period goal
• Team needs to do the little things to keep the puck out of their net
• Mentioned that their mindset should be, every time you step on the ice, you play to win the game

GAME PREVIEWS & RECAPS

Columbus Blue Jackets (25 pts) vs. Washington Capitals (24 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 21-27-1-10 all-time, and 10-14-1-4 on the road vs. Washington.

Series History vs. The Capitals 

• Columbus is 21-27-1-10 all-time, and 10-14-1-4 on the road vs. Washington.
• The Jackets are 6-5-1 at Capital One Arena in the last 12 games.
• The CBJ went 2-1-1 vs. the Caps last season.
• The Capitals won the first meeting of the season 5-1 on October 24th.

Blue Jackets Lose Werenski & Olivier To Injury, Game to Capitals The Blue Jackets record now sits at 11-9-3 with 25 points.

Denton Mateychuk(5) scored the only goal for Columbus, and Elvis Merzlikins got shelled in a 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday night. 

This one was hideous. There's no other way to put it. Burn the tape. 

Columbus Blue Jackets (25 pts) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (21 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 23-20-1 all-time, and 10-11-0 at home vs. Toronto.

Series History vs. The Maple Leafs

• Columbus is 23-20-1 all-time, and 10-11-0 at home vs. Toronto.
• The Jackets are 6-2 in the last 8 against the Maple Leafs, and have scored 5-plus goals in every win.
• The Blue Jackets have won three straight against Toronto at NWA.
• The CBJ are 2-0 against the Leafs this season.

Columbus Blue Jackets Lines, Defensive Pairings, & Scratches For Today's Game vs. Toronto Maple LeafsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are at home tonight to play the Toronto Maple Leafs. Blue Jackets Blow Late Lead; Lose To Toronto In OTThe Blue Jackets are now 11-9-4 and have 26 points.

Zach Werenski(8) scored the only goal for the Blue Jackets, and Jet Greaves was phenomenal in a 2-1 OT loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. 

Stop me if you've heard this one before. The Blue Jackets blew a late third-period lead and then lost the game in overtime. This feels like a Groundhogs Day scene starring Bill Murray, except we are all Bill Murray. 

Columbus Blue Jackets (26 pts) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (27 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 19-30-9 all-time, and 13-11-4 at home vs. Pittsburgh.

Series History vs. The Penguins

• Columbus is 19-30-9 all-time, and 13-11-4 at home vs. Pittsburgh.
• The Jackets are 5-4-1 in the last 10 against the Pens overall, and 5-5 in the last 10 at home.
• The CBJ are 1-0 against the Pens this season.

Columbus Blue Jackets Lines, Defensive Pairings, & Scratches For Today's Game vs. Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are at home tonight to play the Pittsburgh PenguinsBlue Jackets Blow Two Goal, Third Period Lead; Lose To Pittsburgh In OTThe Blue Jackets record is now 11-9-5 with 27 points.

Sean Monahan(3), Brendan Gaunce(1), and Zach Werenski(9) provided the offense for Columbus is a losing cause, while Jet Greaves could only stop 20 of 24 Penguins shots. 

No, you're not imagining things. The Jackets did, in fact, blow yet another two-goal third-period lead. 

Up Next: The Blue Jackets travel to New Jersey to take on the Devils.   

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander made his return to the lineup on Saturday and immediately helped his club defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-2.

Nylander picked up the primary assist on Easton Cowan’s goal, which put Toronto up 2-1 in the first period , and the club never relinquished the lead from there. The star Swede faked out goaltender Arturs Silovs, winding up for a shot before passing to Cowan, who buried the puck.

The play drew praise from the Leafs' own goaltending staff. "William Nylander comes down by the hashmarks loading for a one-timer, I think every goalie in the league will freeze,” Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby said of the play. “But it was a great pass, and that's just what he does".

William Nylander and Easton Cowan connect for a beauty 🤌 pic.twitter.com/Vufp9Ei1bp

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 30, 2025

Nylander’s return came after he missed the previous game on Friday against the Washington Capitals due to an undisclosed illness. After the Penguins game, Nylander was asked about the ailment, and it was clear he didn’t want to go into any detail.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” he said.

🎙️ | William Nylander | Post Game vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | Nov 29 pic.twitter.com/AfFM5sinG8

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 30, 2025

It is unusual for Nylander to be out of the lineup, as the star player has been known to be quite durable. This absence came just one day after he missed Leafs practice due to what the team had described as maintenance. He had previously missed three games due to a lower-body injury sustained after a hit from Buffalo Sabres forward Jason Zucker.

‘He Needs To Feel Right’: Why William Nylander Continues To Be A Game-Time Decision For The Maple LeafsNylander sustained a lower-body injury on Friday, and despite participating in a full practice, the Leafs need to see how the player feels in warmups.

Given his recent injuries and maintenance day, the potential for Nylander to miss Saturday’s game wasn't the surprise; the reason was. Nevertheless, Nylander reportedly informed Coach Berube at Saturday morning's team breakfast that he was fit to play.

Despite missing four games this season , Nylander leads all Maple Leafs in scoring with 32 points (11 goals and 21 assists). His 1.52 points per game ranks him third in the NHL among qualified players.

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ST. PAUL, Minn - In a game between the Minnesota Wild (14-7-5) and the Buffalo Sabres (10-11-4), forward Mats Zuccarello recorded his 700th career NHL point.

The 5-foot-8 winger became the first Norwegian player to reach the milestone in NHL history. He is also the only Norwegian to have over 112 NHL points.

Zuccarello ➡️ Kaprizov ➡️ Back of the net

Kirill has seven goals in as many games!

NHL x @massmutualpic.twitter.com/9HEjRxAvBZ

— NHL (@NHL) November 30, 2025

Zuccarello, 38, also became the third undrafted player in NHL history to record 700 points. He  joins Martin St. Louis (1,033) and Artemi Panarin (896) as the three players to do it.

"It doesn't really mean anything right now, but one day when I retire, I'd probably look back and it's a cool achievement," Zuccarello said on the achievement. "But right now it's tough to think about winning those games, especially, .. I wish they’d count that goal as a goal as well. It would be a 701, you know?"

What Zuccarello was talking about in the last part of the quote was the puck he put in the net in the third period that tied up the game at 2-2.

Josh Doan meant to do that 😅 pic.twitter.com/vQo5f7pigE

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 30, 2025

Nonetheless, the Wild are now 9-0-2 with Zuccarello in the lineup. He has one goal and nine assists in those 11 games.

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- Marcus Foligno Placed On Injured Reserve, Out Week-To-Week.

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When the Montreal Canadiens put Samuel Blais on waivers at the start of the season, they knew there was a risk he would be claimed by a team and sure enough, the Toronto Maple Leafs picked him up. Now that many of their injured players were returning, the Ontarian club waived him as well, and since the Habs were the only team to put in a claim, they were able to assign him to the Laval Rocket, which they did.

Make no mistake, though, with the current injury situation in Montreal, it would be surprising if he weren’t called back up shortly, with one of the younger players sent back down to keep developing. Blais has already reached his full potential, whereas players like Jared Davidson would be more suited to a development role in the AHL.

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Davidson had a great season start in the AHL with nine goals and two assists for 11 points in 13 games, which was enough to earn him a call-up, but he was an healthy scratch for the last two games and in the one against the Utah Mammoth he only saw 5:23 of action, that’s not enough to make his presence in the NHL worth it. The 23-year-old would be much better served in Laval under Pascal Vincent’s guidance.

If the Canadiens decide to keep 13 forwards up even though they are back home for a couple of games, Florian Xhekaj should stay up, especially with Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators coming up. He’s done well in an admittedly small sample, picking up a point in four games and seven penalty minutes, on top of bringing a lot of fresh energy and physicality.

Meanwhile, in his first game in Laval, Blais scored two goals, including the game-tying one before scoring the game-winner in the shootout in the Rocket’s 5-4 win over Lehigh Valley.

Should Hughes opt only to keep 12 forwards, though, Blais could be a good option for the Canadiens given the current injury situation and the fact that Xhekaj could still use more AHL seasoning. With a fully healthy lineup, he’s a 13th forward. Still, right now, Patrik Laine, Kirby Dach, and Alex Newhook are all out, meaning that now’s the time Blais could get an opportunity to finally play his first official game with the Canadiens, after a detour through Toronto.

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The Detroit Red Wings have now gone four consecutive games without a victory, as they fell by a 4-3 final score on Saturday evening to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.

They did manage to salvage a point after Michael Rasmussen capitalized on a nifty pass from Patrick Kane late in regulation with goaltender Cam Talbot on the bench for an extra attacker.

Head coach Todd McLellan said that he appreciated the fact that his team rebounded to secure a point.

“They have that in them,” McLellan said about the fight his players showed on Saturday. “I thought we got through the neutral zone a little bit better and established the forecheck in the second half of the game that we didn’t have earlier in the game. That gave us a little more confidence.”

However, the Red Wings will lament the fact that they failed to capitalize on five power-play opportunities, including one in overtime. 

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Dylan Larkin, who extended his personal point streak to four games with assists on both goals, appreciated the battle that his teammates showed in the final 20 minutes of play. 

“It was good to get a point, we would have liked to get two, especially with the 4-on-3 in overtime, but we battled," Larkin said. "We stood up for each other, stood up for ourselves and I thought it was right there. It was a good battle game. A good game for us to maybe come together, show ourselves that we can play in different ways and when we’re not feeling well offensively, we can still play good defensively.”

The Red Wings and Bruins will once again face each other on Tuesday evening, this time at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. 

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Sharks one day will have to knock out rival Golden Knights after latest loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

LAS VEGAS — The Sharks are changing the narrative surrounding them, but it’s not completely changed yet.

The 4-3 loss to the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena was a reminder of both the Sharks’ progress this year, but also that they still are not likely a playoff-caliber team just yet.

San Jose fell behind 4-1 to Vegas because of errors forced and unforced, a familiar story in the recent Sharks-Golden Knights “rivalry”.

“We shoot ourselves in the foot a couple of those goals against, for sure,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, perhaps referring to Colton Sissons’ and Mitch Marner’s strikes.

In the last six years that San Jose has been out of the playoffs, Vegas has used them as a piñata, going 22-1-3.

“Maybe in years past, maybe their mentality was well, it’s not our night,” Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said.

But not these Sharks: Will Smith and William Eklund got Team Teal within a goal heading into the final frame.

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