Avalanche Make Roster Shakeup With Chicago Showdown Approaching

It's been a difficult start to the season for Colorado Avalanche forward Logan O'Connor, both on and off the ice. After spending the opening weeks recovering from a lower-body injury, the 30-year-old is now working his way back into the lineup while dealing with the loss of his father.

O'Connor's father, Myles, a former NHL forward, died unexpectedly on October 6 in Calgary. At the time, O'Connor was nearing his return from injury, but understandably stepped away from the team following his father's passing.

He eventually made his season debut on October 23, logging 14:41 of ice time in Colorado's 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He appeared in two more games before missing Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames to attend his father's memorial service.

Gavin Brindley was recalled from the Colorado Eagles to fill the vacancy and played 12 minutes against Calgary. His stay with the Avalanche didn't last long, though.

With O'Connor rejoining the team for its upcoming road trip, Brindley has been reassigned to the Eagles. Colorado will face the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday before traveling to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

O'Connor is still looking for his first point of the season, although his value to Colorado goes well beyond the scoresheet. He's a hard-working, physical forward who brings speed, experience and a reliable presence to the Avalanche's bottom six.

And given everything he's been through over the past month, simply having him back with the team is welcome news.

As we reported earlier Monday, the Avalanche also recalled defenseman Keaton Middleton from the Eagles.

With Josh Manson expected to miss approximately eight weeks because of an ankle injury, Noah Juulsen is set to take his place in the lineup. But head coach Jared Bednar wanted an extra defenseman available for the two-game road trip, and Middleton got the call.

The big, physical blueliner gives Colorado a seventh defenseman to work with if needed, although he's unlikely to see any game action over the next two days. For now, his presence is more about having another option available than making an immediate change to the defensive pairings.

The Avalanche have some work to do away from home. Their road performances have been a source of frustration early in the season, and this back-to-back presents an opportunity to start turning things around.

Colorado (8-5-1) enters Monday's matchup third in the Central Division, while Chicago (4-9-1) sits at the bottom of the standings. Puck drop at the United Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

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Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks (6 p.m. MT)

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 20: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period on March 20, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Tonight, the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks will meet for the first time in the 2026-27 regular season. The Avalanche come in on a two-game winning streak after victories over the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames last week. Conversely, the Blackhawks are on a two-game losing streak with losses to the Red Wings and Bruins. Will the Hawks buck the trend, or will the Avalanche stack another win, this time a divisional one?

Colorado Avalanche: 8-5-1

The Opponent: Chicago Blackhawks (4-9-1)

Time: 6:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, ESPN+ (0ut-of-market)

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche got back to a relatively healthy lineup against the New Jersey Devils, but it lasted about 2 periods as defender Josh Manson struggled to leave the ice, and he was later announced as missing at least 8 weeks with a lower-body injury. Colorado has recalled Keaton Middleton from the Colorado Eagles, but Evan Rawal reports it’s strictly to have an extra defender for the back-to-back.

Colorado has looked better since Nic Roy returned to the lineup, as his arrival has created a more balanced forward group. Moreover, the first power-play unit scored last time out on a nice shot from Martin Necas. The goal came with Necas inhabiting the flank that we are used to seeing MacKinnon on. Let’s see whether his staying on that dot is a focused approach or a one-off.

This is a game the Colorado Avalanche should win (on paper), so it will be interesting to see how they come out, as the Avalanche have struggled to start on time, especially in road contests.

Artturi Lehkonen’s 11 goals in 14 games put him on pace for 60+ goals this season. Obviously, the chances of that happening are slim to none, but it’s reasonable to track whether he reaches 30 goals for the first time in his pro career, and he’s on a torrid pace. Speaking of 30-goal seasons, Gabe Landeskog is also on track toward the third of his 13-year career.

Projected Lineup:

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Nicolas Roy
Jaden Schwartz — Nazem Kadri — T.J. Hughes
Logan O’Connor — Parker Kelly — Fedor Svechkov

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Brent Burns — Sam Malinski
Brett Kulak — Noah Juulsen

Note: Tonight’s lineup is still hard to pin down. The Avs sent Gavin Brindley back to the AHL after the Calgary game, and Logan O’Connor out for personal reasons. It’s unclear if LOC made the trip, as he’s still listed as day-to-day with no word otherwise.

Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago will be without former Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram tonight, so he will miss out on rocking the new Hometown Remix kits officially announced this morning. Chicago’s is all green, and I know the history and all, but to me it just looks like a practice jersey.

It looked like the addition of Byram, accompanied by the existence of Connor Bedard and the Patrick Kane reunion, might be enough to get Chicago back to being a playoff team, but with Byram unavailable for most of October and Bedard missing the first six games of the season, they haven’t been able to garner any early-season returns.

The Hawks felt like their last game was their best performance, that being the OTL to the Boston Bruins, so perhaps they are building toward something now that Bedard is back. The first overall pick in 2023 had a goal and an assist against the B’s and will have a tough test tonight against Colorado.

Projected Lineup:

Roman Kantserov — Connor Bedard — Ryan Donato
Tyler Bertuzzi — Anton Frondell — Andrew Mangiapane
Oliver Moore — Frank Nazar — Patrick Kane
Cole Smith — Ryan Greene — Teuvo Teravainen

Alex Vlasic — Ian Cole
Wyatt Kaiser — Artyom Levshunov
Ethan Del Mastro — Sam Rinzel

Goaltenders

It’s looking like Mackenzie Blackwood vs. Spencer Knight, but only Spencer’s start has been officially confirmed. With Colorado on a back-to-back, the divisional game feels more important, so you go with your starter, Blackwood, who’s looked better and better as the season has gone on. How about that glove save against Calgary?

Editor’s Note: Imagine I almost published this article without sharing the Avalanche Hometown Remix announcement!

A Former Golden Knights Fan Favorite Has Resurfaced In New York

Remember Ben Hutton? Well, the former Vegas Golden Knights defenseman might be getting another chance to stick around in the NHL.

The New York Islanders announced Monday that they've signed Hutton to a professional tryout (PTO), giving the 33-year-old a chance to earn a spot on their roster.

Hutton spent the last five seasons in Vegas. And if you're good at math, you've probably already figured out that he was part of the Golden Knights' Stanley Cup-winning team in 2023.

He wasn't exactly the guy everyone was buying jerseys for, but Hutton was one of those players you didn't mind seeing in the lineup. He knew his role, didn't need much attention and was there when the Golden Knights needed him.

And believe it or not, he actually had his best goal-scoring season last year.

Hutton scored six goals in 55 games, a career high, and added nine assists to finish with 15 points. He also played seven games during Vegas' run to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, recording one assist.

For a guy who spent much of his time in Vegas as a depth defenseman, that's not a bad way to finish his tenure.

Hutton has been around the NHL for quite some time, too. He broke into the league with the Vancouver Canucks in 2015 and later played for the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs before joining the Golden Knights in 2021.

He's played 575 NHL games over his career, putting up 139 points on 30 goals and 109 assists.

And while his numbers probably won't blow anyone away, Hutton does have something a lot of players would love to have on their résumé: a Stanley Cup championship.

He also has a gold medal from the 2016 IIHF World Championship with Canada, so winning isn't exactly unfamiliar territory for him.

Whether he ends up sticking with the Islanders remains to be seen. A PTO doesn't guarantee a contract, and Hutton will have to earn his place.

But for Golden Knights fans who remember him from that 2023 championship team, it's good to see a familiar face getting another opportunity.

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Islanders Sign Veteran Defenseman To PTO

The New York Islanders announced on Monday that they have signed left-shot defenseman Ben Hutton to a Professional Tryout.

Per the release:

Hutton, 33, recorded 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 55 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season, setting a career high in goals. He added one assist in seven games during Vegas’ run to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

Over parts of 11 NHL seasons with the Vancouver Canucks (2015-19), Los Angeles Kings (2019-20), Anaheim Ducks (2020-21), Toronto Maple Leafs (2020-21), and Golden Knights (2021-26), Hutton has totaled 139 points (30 goals, 109 assists) in 575 career games. He was a part of Vegas’ 2023 Stanley Cup Championship team. The Brockville, Ontario native was originally selected by Vancouver in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. 

Prior to his professional career, Hutton spent three seasons at the University of Maine (2012-15), recording 65 points (28 goals, 37 assists) in 108 games. He was named to the NCAA East Second All-American Team in 2013-14, when he posted 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 35 games.

Internationally, Hutton represented Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, earning a gold medal and recording one assist in five games.

Flyers' Cole Knuble Quickly Becoming Key for Young Team

Amid a trying start to the season, the Philadelphia Flyers have learned lots about their current team, and lots about their prospects as well. Most importantly, while dealing with a rash of injuries, the Flyers discovered that many of their top prospects are ready to do battle at the NHL level.

The emergence of 2023 first-round pick Oliver Bonk, for example, is deservedly oft-talked about. After all, the 21-year-old defenseman came into the season with only one game of NHL experience, and didn't make the roster out of training camp initially.

Now, he seems to be firmly entrenched as a top-four defenseman on this young Flyers team, which he's only made younger by entering the fray.

Of course, for every player filling a big role, another player has to fill the smaller roles, and that is exactly what 2023 draft classmate Cole Knuble has done in the bottom-six for the Flyers.

Playing in what is just his first full season of professional hockey after three years in the NCAA with Notre Dame, Knuble survived just six AHL games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before being called up by the Flyers.

Six NHL games later, and it's looking like Knuble might never be back in the AHL.

In his second NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres, the 22-year-old scored twice, opening the scoring and providing the dagger in the 3-1 win. Then, Knuble helped snap the three-game losing streak that followed, scoring an empty-netter to seal the deal in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Utah Mammoth.

Rather quickly, Knuble's hockey IQ, nose for net, speed, and forechecking have made him an indispensable piece in the Flyers' bottom-six, a role he could occupy for the foreseeable future.

Flyers' Matvei Michkov Reacts to Russia's Impending International ReturnFlyers' Matvei Michkov Reacts to Russia's Impending International ReturnAfter a new court ruling, budding Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov is ready to live out his dream of playing for Russia internationally.

"It's definitely something I take pride in," Knuble said after Monday's Flyers practice. "You kind of evaluate your game based on certain things, like bringing energy and forechecking, maybe a couple hits. So, I think I'm getting better at it."

After taking the time to soak in his son's NHL debut earlier in October, former Flyers standout Mike Knuble has been giving Cole some pointers here and there as the youngster's time with the big club continues.

"We talked about last night [vs. Utah], like learning, getting better at forechecking, and that kind of becomes your go-to, like that's your goal," Cole said of dad Mike. "Maybe in the past we judge games based on how much I had pop. Still want to make plays, but taking pride in the forecheck, I would say."

Knuble has played up and down the lineup during his brief stint with the Flyers, including on the first line with Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak, and the fourth line with Sean Couturier and Noel Acciari.

"That was fun last game, playing with those two," Knuble said. "Obviously, two veterans, so it's pretty easy to play with them. They're predictable."

Like Denver Barkey before him, Knuble's combination of skill, versatility, motor, and intelligence trump his average 5-foot-10 size, and he's fast become an important player for the Flyers, maybe sooner than most had expected.

Golden Knights Unveil Hometown Remix Jerseys, but Are They Worth Buying?

The Vegas Golden Knights have finally unveiled their Hometown Remix jerseys, and judging by the early reactions, not everyone is ready to go all in.

The casino-inspired design features a black base with green and gold accents, roulette-themed sleeves and a jade-green shoulder pattern resembling a casino table. Playing-card symbols and custom numbers add to the gambling theme, while a reference to 2017 pays tribute to the franchise's first season.

The jerseys are part of a league-wide collaboration with Fanatics, with all 32 NHL teams receiving special uniforms celebrating their hometowns.

Vegas will wear them five times this season, beginning Nov. 15 against Vancouver, followed by games against Carolina, Buffalo, Columbus and Winnipeg.

Fans can purchase them through the Golden Knights Team Store, Fanatics and select team retail locations.

Did the Golden Knights Get It Right?

I've already received multiple text messages from close friends telling me they don't like these jerseys. Others have said the complete opposite. The reaction has been pretty mixed.

Well, here's what I think. I actually think they're pretty cool.

Here's the thing. These jerseys are supposed to incorporate elements of your hometown, and if you're making a jersey about Las Vegas without putting some green on it, you're kind of missing the point.

This town is all about money. Gambling, casinos and entertainment are a huge part of what makes Vegas what it is.

And nothing says casino culture quite like this sweater.

Could they have done more? Sure.

I think they could've added a little more flair, maybe something representing other countries and cultures. After all, tourists fly into Vegas from all over the world to gamble, attend shows and enjoy everything else this city has to offer.

But I'm not an artist, so I couldn't tell you exactly how they should've pulled that off. And honestly, outside of that, I don't really see what else they could've added without overdoing it.

I like the black, the green and the overall concept. It represents Vegas, and that's what matters to me.

Would I buy one? I think so.

If another fan doesn't like it enough to spend money on it, who cares? It's not the end of the world.

We're here to watch hockey anyway, right?

And if the Golden Knights are winning games in these jerseys, I doubt anyone will care too much about what they're wearing.

Hometown Remix misses with Islanders fisherman, but other NHL jerseys look sharp

Fanatics and the NHL unveiled their Hometown Remix jerseys on Monday, Nov. 2, and the New York Islanders' snarling fisherman logo has risen from the depths.

That's not a good thing.

That logo, which was first used in 1995, was derided as the "Gorton's fisherman"and lasted only two seasons. It was cut pretty early during a fan-designed contest for a third jersey in 2027-28, with a lighthouse the winning bid.

But now the fisherman jersey will be worn for select home games this season. At least, the Buffalo Sabres didn't bring back the Buffaslug jersey, opting for the snorting buffalo head, instead.

The Hometown Remix does mix things up. The currently orange Anaheim Ducks will be green. The Chicago Blackhawks also switched to green, from red. The black-and-gold Pittsburgh Penguins shift to their early colors with a mix of dark blue and light blue. The Los Angeles Kings revert to purple.

The Washigton Capitals' sharp-looking Capitol dome logo is back, and the Detroit Red Wings add Hockeytown above their winged wheel.

Some teams go a different route. The Tampa Bay Lighting feature a skull, the Carolina Hurricanes display mascot Stormy, the Columbus Blue Jackets have the scary loud cannon that causes visitors to jump, the Utah Mammoth have a U and a tusk and the Seattle Kraken use an anchor, ironically in a season when the team doesn't seem weighed down.

The best one: the San Jose Sharks.

The shark looks more menacing than the regular logo, it's not biting a stick and it's popping through the letters SJ.

Enough to frighten a fisherman.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hometown Remix misses with Islanders fisherman, but other NHL jerseys look sharp

William Stromgren Set to Make Season Debut With Flames Against Sharks

William Stromgren will make his season debut with the Calgary Flames tonight against the San Jose Sharks following his recent recall from the Calgary Wranglers.

Stromgren has been off to a strong start in the AHL, recording three goals and eight assists for 11 points through 11 games. His point total currently ranks tied for fourth in the league.

Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

The 23-year-old forward appeared in three NHL games last season during his first career recall. He knows the opportunity is limited and will be looking to make the most of his chance.

“Three games is not a lot, just take the most out of it, but I think just ‘play it simple’ is going to be the game plan tonight,” he said of his previous NHL experience last season.

For Stromgren, the focus will be on making the small plays and adjusting to the pace and style of the NHL.

“It’s different, you’ve got to be able to adapt if you want to play up here,” he told the media after morning practice.

Stromgren is expected to line up alongside Jonathan Costagna and Adam Klapka.

Flames head coach Ryan Huska outlined what he wants to see from the young forward in his first game back with the club.

“I’m looking for him to move his feet. I’m looking for him to be a very direct and straight-line player tonight,” Huska told the media.

The Flames selected Stromgren in the second round (45th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Blues Assign Logan Mailloux To Springfield On Conditioning Assignment

The St. Louis Blues have assigned defenseman Logan Mailloux to Springfield of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment, the team announced on Monday.

The 23-year-old underwent surgery on his right hand on September 28 after suffering the injury in the Blues’ final 2026 preseason game, a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and has missed the first 14 games of the regular season. 

The Blues announced at the time of surgery that Mailloux would be re-evaluated in eight weeks, pitting a potential timeline for a return as early as late November but perhaps it's been pushed forward like that of Alexey Toropchenko, who returned after just four weeks with a shoulder injury after he was to be re-evaluated in six weeks when he was injured in the season opener against the Dallas Stars.

It'll be interesting to see what the Blues do with their blue line when Mailloux can return. Adam Jiricek, a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has benefited most with his playing time, and Justin Barron, a waiver wire pickup from the Nashville Predators on Sept. 28, has also greatly taken advantage of an opportunity. And there's also the case for when Tyler Tucker (knee) I'd able to return, then what? Lots of questions in the coming days and weeks to the Blues' blue line.

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Public Skate: Bruins vs. Golden Knights

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 22: Elias Lindholm #28 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his goal with teammate Pavel Zacha #18 against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period at the TD Garden on January 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to another night of Bruins hockey, folks!

We’ve got some Monday Night Hockey on tap for this evening, with the Vegas Golden Knights in town.

Vegas has been off since losing to New Jersey in Vegas on Friday, so they should be well rested.

Hopefully they flew in early to take in the sites, have a lobster roll, etc.

While not exactly an airtight effort, the Bruins emerged from Saturday’s game with Chicago with an energizing win. Let’s hope they can build off of that against what should be a tougher overall opponent.

Bruins! Golden Knights! ON CAUSEWAY STREET!

Discuss.

Helenius Out Week-To-Week, Four Sabres Return For Practice

The Buffalo Sabres practiced at KeyBank Center on Monday after returning from a successful road trip, highlighted by three wins over Pacific Division foes San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles.  The club appeared loose and positive after their recent success, and welcomed back a number of injured players, who are working their way back to active duty. 

Jiri Kulich - The young forward was cleared from concussion protocol after taking a puck to the head area before the Sabres headed out on the road trip. Kulich skated on a line with Peyton Krebs and Tage Thompson. 

"Jiri's  back.  He's  passed  his  test,  so  he's  back  full  bore  in  practice.  I  thought  he  had  a  good  day .  He  had  a  couple of  good  days  skating  here. P robably  if  that  trip  was  a  little  longer,  he  would  have  joined  us.  So  we'll  see  what  tomorrow  brings  for him."

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL

Owen Power has 11 points to lead all Sabres defensemen.

Konsta Helenius - Helenius suffered an upper-body injury in the win over the Sharks on October 27, and was sent back to Buffalo for evaluation. Head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that the 20-year-old will be out week-to-week. 

Zach Benson - The feisty winger left the 3-2 win over the Kings in the third period on Saturday and was not on the ice on Monday due to a maintenance day.

"We don't anticipate (him) being (out)  very long,” Ruff said. “I  think it's just day-to-day.  I  know for a fact he's going to rehab skate tomorrow.  Whether  he  practices  with  us,  we'll  see."

Alex Lyon - After a setback last month, Lyon is cautiously optimistic that he is close to being ready to return.

"I  probably  just  pushed  a  little  too  hard,  too  early,  I  don't  even  know  that  it  was too  soon.  It  just  wasn't  quite  right  yet,  and  so I  kind  of  had  to  hit  the  pause  button  there  and  make  sure  things  were  good.” Lyon said. “The  medical  staff  was  very  patient  with  me,  and  they  did  a  great  job  of  helping  me  out.” 

Conor Timmins and Justin Danforth - The veteran defenseman has been out since the preseason with a lower body injury, while the veteran forward has been out since the overtime loss to Montreal on October 17. Both skated while the Sabres were on the road and Ruff indicated that they will see if there is any progress to their condition after practicing for the first time.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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Thompson Named NHL First Star Of The Week

The Buffalo Sabres returned home to begin a four-game homestand on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators after earning seven of a possible eight points going 3-0-1 on a four-game road trip, with an overtime loss in Washington and three wins over San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. Tage Thompson was the scoring star in the California sweep and on Monday was named the NHL First Star of the Week.

Thompson led the NHL with eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in the three games, which improved their record to 7-4-3 this season. After assisting on the Zach Benson’s empty net goal in the 2-0 win over the Sharks on Tuesday. The big forward then scored a natural hat trick and a pair of assists in a 7-6 victory over the Ducks on Thursday, followed by a pair of goals in a 3-2 victory over the Kings on Saturday afternoon. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL

Owen Power leads Sabres defensemen with 11 points

"(We)had  a  good  trip  out  there,  and  started  to  play  a  little  more  consistent and (found) our  game," Thompson said after practice on Monday.  Yeah, "(I'm)  feeling  pretty  good  about where my  games at.  I  felt  good  about  it  really  all  season. Some  games  they're  going  to  go  in  for  you,  and  some  games  are  not.  But I  feel  like  for  the  most  part,  generating  some  pretty  good  looks  and  playing  some  pretty  solid  hockey.  So we  just  gotta  continue  to  build  off  it  and  keep  finding  ways  to  do  better."

Thompson has 10 goals in 14 games, and is setting a torrid pace that would top his career-high 47 goals in 2022-23. The Sabres are relying on his production more than ever this season, as the only other player who is meeting or exceeding expectations so far is winger Jack Quinn, who is second in team scoring with 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) and sophomore center Noah Ostlund with four goals. For the Sabres to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons, Buffalo will have to get more depth scoring contributions to stay in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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Penguins Practice Shorthanded As Injury Woes Worsen

The Pittsburgh Penguins returned to practice on Monday after Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but were without two players who played in that game. 

Before practice started, Penguins PR posted on X that Evgeni Malkin and Kaedan Korczak would miss practice due to injuries and are day-to-day. Both players played against the Canadiens on Saturday and finished the game. 

In response to this news, the Penguins called up forward Justin Brazeau from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after he was down there on a conditioning stint. 

Penguins head coach Dan Muse confirmed after practice that Brazeau is available for Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights. He's also not super concerned with Malkin's injury. 

Other practice notes

- With the new injuries, the lines were a bit jumbled at practice. However, this is what they looked like:

Novak-Crosby-Rakell

Kuzmenko-Kindel-Chinakhov

Koivunen-Lapierre-Brazeau

Dewar-Lizotte-Robertson

- Putting Kuzmenko with Kindel is super interesting and it's time for the former to start producing. He has yet to score this season and that needs to change. 

- I still like the fourth line quite a bit, and it was good to see the top line finally produce on Saturday, even in a loss. Sidney Crosby was sensational in that game and he'll need to keep playing at that level if the Penguins want to get out of this rut that they're in. 

- The defense rotated because of Korczak's injury, but don't be surprised if Jake Livanavage comes up from WBS if Korczak goes on injured reserve. Livanavage has been great to start the year with two goals and eight points in nine games. 

- The Penguins will return to action on Tuesday against the Golden Knights. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET. 


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Oilers Goaltending Holds Strong Despite Injuries To Andersen And Levi

In their last three games, the Edmonton Oilers have allowed one goal with Tristan Jarry and Matt Tomkins in net during the team's road trip through New York.

Jarry recorded consecutive shutouts against Calgary and the New York Islanders, while Tomkins made 27 saves in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Edmonton has been without Frederik Andersen since training camp, and Devon Levi's recent groin injury has left Jarry and Tomkins responsible for manning the net. During which time, Jarry recorded 120 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal.

It's a positive development for a player whose future in Edmonton was being questioned there for a while after losing the confidence of Oilers fans last season.

“With Dev hurt, I knew I'd get a little bit more work,” Jarry said following Saturday's win over the Islanders. “So just being able to take care of that opportunity and kind of just run with it… It's been fun, to say the least.”

Jarry stopped 18 shots against New York after shutting out Calgary, although Edmonton's defence has been vital to their recent success.

“Anytime you can have a stretch like that, you're obviously feeling pretty good,” Jarry said. “The guys are doing a great job keeping pucks to the outside.”

“We're trying to create a plan that works all year long, and then at playoff time,” Babcock said following Saturday's win. “Our priority right now is to be better without the puck, try not to give up as much and learn to play that way every night.”

Tomkins made his Oilers debut against the Rangers, playing his seventh NHL game and first since April of 2024. He's spent much of his professional career playing in the AHL, ECHL, and Swiss Hockey League, and was originally drafted by Stan Bowman during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012.

Oilers Officially Reveal Hometown Remix Hockey JerseyOilers Officially Reveal Hometown Remix Hockey JerseyEdmonton breaks tradition with its new Hometown Remix Hockey jersey design.

“It's been a long road, for sure,” Tomkins said afterward. “It's been tough, but it's been enjoyable at the same time. I love to play, my career has taken me all over the world, and I've enjoyed every step.”

Connor McDavid opened the scoring just 50 seconds into the game, Colton Dach added two goals, and Evan Bouchard finished with three points.

Tomkins made several important saves in the second period, helping Edmonton maintain its lead before the Oilers eventually secured their third consecutive win.

“He's an unbelievable dude. He worked so hard this summer in Edmonton and just so happy for him,” McDavid said. “Obviously, (MSG) is a cool place to play, a special building. I'm happy for him.”

Jarry Posts Back-to-Back Shutouts as Edmonton Blanks Islanders 4-0Jarry Posts Back-to-Back Shutouts as Edmonton Blanks Islanders 4-0Tristan Jarry's shutout and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ offensive surge keep the Oilers undefeated on the road, while Connor McDavid extends his record-breaking season start in New York.

The Oilers have now won seven consecutive road games to open the season, improving to 11-2-2 and sitting near the top of the NHL standings.

Babcock's defensive system has been producing some encouraging results, and Jarry has been making the most of his opportunity with Andersen and Levi unavailable.

Edmonton's goaltending was one of the biggest concerns heading into the season, and through 15 games, it's been one of the more encouraging parts of Babcock's team.

Reactions: Penguins Reveal Hometown Remix Jerseys

After a lot of teasing and anticipation, the NHL finally did a league-wide reveal of each team's new Hometown Remix jerseys for the 2026-27 season. 

There were a lot of interesting designs. And the Pittsburgh Penguins certainly had one of the more interesting ones. 

In a nod to the team's history and to the city of Pittsburgh, the new jerseys are navy blue with powder blue secondary coloring in the form of stripes on the sleeves, shoulder, and pants, and they have gold accents throughout. In addition, they feature the the igloo shoulder patch that has become popularized in recent years, offset detailing on the logo and the numbers, and the different colors of Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods on the bottom in-seam of the jersey — all in the unique style of '60s pop art to represent Pittsburgh native and artist Andy Warhol.

But the most noticeable and controversial element? The polka-dots on the yellow of the Penguins' logo and in the numbers, which is designed to be a comic-style design that brings out the pop art element and general graphic design elements from the '60s. 

And, yes, the polka-dots do a lot to really bring the 60s pop art style to life, and they are quite a bit smaller and jump out in a different way than they did on the two-dimensional leaks that were circulating weeks ago. While the jersey is certainly representative of both the Penguins' history and of Pittsburgh's history, the opinion on the dots as well as the choice to go back to blue were controversial among fans and media.

Here are some of the social media reactions to the jerseys:

Patrick Damp (@synonymforwet.bsky.social)Patrick Damp (@synonymforwet.bsky.social)You can yell at me all you want, the contrasting blues, the full kit, these kick ass.Mark Lazerus (@marklazerus.bsky.social)Mark Lazerus (@marklazerus.bsky.social)Oops. My bad. But still.

ESPN ranked the Penguins' Hometown Remix jerseys as the very best at No. 1, while The Athletic had them ranked at No. 12.

Personally, I love these. It's cool that the Penguins actually did something unique here and successfully incorporated both their team history and the city's history in a coherent design. Perhaps the only thing that's missing is a gold bridge on the socks or something. 

If the captain approves, that's good enough for me. 

Here is the full Remix jersey schedule for the Penguins:

- Nov. 3 vs. Vegas Golden Knights
- Nov. 28 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
- Dec. 6 vs. San Jose Sharks
- Dec. 18 vs. Seattle Kraken
- Jan. 21 vs. Anaheim Ducks
- Feb. 2 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
- Mar. 9 vs. Ottawa Senators
- Mar. 25 vs. New Jersey Devils
- Mar. 30 at Philadelphia Flyers
- April 1 vs. New York Islanders

What do you think of the Remix jerseys? Sound off in the comments!


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