Flyers fall to Penguins as they lose key piece and the game in second period originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Things went downhill for the Flyers on Monday night not long after Tyson Foerster went up the tunnel in pain.

The Flyers were rolled by the Penguins, 5-1, at Xfinity Mobile Arena. They also lost one of their top young goal scorers to an injury.

Foerster exited in a 1-1 game during the second period and did not return. He suffered an upper-body injury while unloading a shot on the Flyers’ second 5-on-3 power play.

After the Flyers came up empty, Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust each scored power play goals to give Pittsburgh control of the game in the middle stanza. Rodrigo Abols and Sean Couturier were both whistled for holding penalties.

It was a massive momentum swing. Just 43 seconds prior to suffering his injury, Foerster tied the game on the Flyers’ first 5-on-3 opportunity.

Coming off an impressive 3-1-0 road trip, Rick Tocchet’s club did not have a good start to this season-long six-game homestand.

For a second time this season, the Flyers (14-8-3) had a three-game winning streak snapped. They haven’t won four in a row since Feb. 6-12 of the 2023-24 season.

The Flyers are 1-1-0 in their four-game regular-season series against the Penguins (13-7-5). The first meeting saw some blood boil late in a 3-2 shootout win for the Flyers.

• Dan Vladar made 22 saves on 27 shots.

With two goals, Crosby continued to torture the Flyers. He now has 59 regular-season markers against the Flyers, the most of any player all-time.

In the final frame, Tommy Novak added a third power play goal for Pittsburgh. Not even two minutes later, Kevin Hayes scored the Penguins’ fifth goal.

Pittsburgh netminder Tristan Jarry stopped 27 of the Flyers’ 28 shots.

• Despite coming off his first two-goal effort of the season, Matvei Michkov was the first player on the ice Monday at the Flyers’ morning skate.

The 20-year-old winger did a lot of work in close and around the net with assistant coach Jay Varady. After Michkov failed to score on a couple of attempts, you could hear his competitiveness take over.

“He wanted to work on the down-low stuff, the backdoor, getting the puck up,” Tocchet said. “It’s funny, he was getting mad at himself, but that’s him, he wants to look at other avenues of scoring. And that’s one of them he can be really good at.”

Michkov was right there battling around the net on Foerster’s goal. He didn’t have a point on the night, but he has looked so much more like himself over the last three and a half weeks.

The Flyers will need more of that, too, if Foerster is to miss time.

Matvei Michkov doing a lot of in-close, deflection work with Jay Varady. After this, he moved to the side boards to do more. pic.twitter.com/H32XmiHuNC

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 1, 2025

• During the first period, Blake Lizotte gave Garnet Hathaway a blatant shot to the jewels right in front of the Flyers’ bench. Hathaway had just finished a hit on Lizotte, who then retaliated with his stick.

The Flyers failed to capitalize on the ensuing power play. Nineteen seconds later, Crosby had them in a 1-0 hole.

• The Flyers are back in action Wednesday when they host the Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET/TNT).

It's hard to believe that we are already two months into the 2025-26 NHL season, time is flying. After the first two months of the season, the Los Angeles Kings (12-6-7) currently sit at second place in the Pacific division with 31 points. They trail only the Anaheim Ducks who also have 31 points but hold the tiebreak over LA with their 15 wins. Through all the ups and downs it has been a solid start to the season for the Kings.

Today, we are going to dive into the best, and worst moments while recapping the hectic month of November. 

Los Angeles played 13 games in November, posting a record of 7-3-3 in that span. There is virtually no room for complaints when you collect 17 of a possible 24 points. Their play in November caused a notable improvement from October where they went 5-3-4. Even when they lose, the Kings have done a terrific job clawing out points as they currently have the second most overtime/shootout losses. Although it's not typically a stat to boast about, the NHL is a league where every single point matters.

Now let's get into the good, the bad, and the ugly for the month of November.

The Good

Locking Up Kempe

After months of negations and speculation, Adrian Kempe and the Kings finally got a deal done. On the afternoon of November 16th, the news broke that Kempe had agreed to a massive eight-year contract extension worth $85 million, with an AAV of $10.625 million. This was massive for the everyone involved as a major distraction went away. Since signing, Kempe has just two goals and one assist in six games played. Although the 29-year-old has struggled since putting pen to paper, his extension was the shining moment of the month in Los Angeles. However, in the Kings most recent victory against the Canucks he did just register his first multi-point night since October 23rd. Hopefully his recent effort is the beginning of a much needed hot-streak for the Kings official face of the franchise moving forward.

Kings And Adrian Kempe Agree To Long-Term Contract ExtensionThe Los Angeles Kings secured superstar Adrian Kempe for eight more years, keeping a key piece of their future in Los Angeles.

Six Game Road Trip

The Kings began a six game road trip in Pittsburgh on November 9th, and for the first time all season, the Kings played four games in a calendar week. In those four games, LA went for 4/4 with victories over the Penguins, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, and Senators. At that point, the trip was already a huge success. They did lose to the Capitals and Sharks in the final two games, but managed to finish with a 4-1-1 record, collecting 9 of a potential 12 points. Road dominance was easily the on-ice highlight of the month for LA as they now have a 9-2-4 record away from home.

Play of Darcy Kuemper

Veteran goaltender Darcy Kuemper was the star of the month for the Kings. In November, Kuemper went 5-2-2 and was the main reason that some games were competitive. In nine games last month, the 35-year-old posted a 1.99 GAA as well as very respectable .920 SV%. Kuemper's best game came on November 24th in a 2-1 victory over the Senators where we saw the netminder stop 27/28 shots while posting a 1.15 GSAx. After two months, Kuemper is now 8-4-5 with a 2.39 GAA, .907 SV%, and a GSAx of 11.1. 

The Bad

Drew Doughty Injury

On November 15th, Kings legendary blue-liner Drew Doughty blocked a shot in a bout with the Senators, prompting him to exit the game. The 35-year-old has not been seen in action since. He was originally designated as 'week-to-week' before being placed on injured reserve on November 20th. Although he remains on the IR, Doughty did skate on November 29th but there was no update on his current status. Before being sidelined, Doughty had two goals and six assists for eight points in 19 games. He even became the Kings all-time leader in goals by a defenseman when he scored his 162nd career goal on November 4th against the Jets, passing Rob Blake.

Kings Defenseman Drew Doughty Out ‘Week-To-Week,’ Will Not Play Against CapitalsLos Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty has been sidelined with a lower-body injury that he suffered on Saturday. He'll miss Monday's clash with the Washington Capitals.

Warren Foegele's Health & Production

It has been an incredibly rough start to the season for Kings forward Warren Foegele who dealt with injury and offensive struggles. At the end of October, Foegele was injured after being on the receiving end of an awkward body check. He missed five games before returning to the lineup on November 9th. In the next eight games, the 29-year-old was playing well, scoring three goals in the span. On November 25th, Foegele left practice early and has been listed as day-to-day since with no update otherwise. A brutal blow for the speedy winger who was seemingly finding his game after a very shaky start to the season. In 18 games, Foegele has just four goals.

Devastating Loss To The Ducks

On November 28th, the Kings played in perhaps the biggest game of the season so far. They did battle with the Ducks in a game where first in the division was up for grabs. After a hard fought 40 minutes the score was 2-2 and early in the third period LA took a stranglehold on the game after scoring two quick goals to take a 4-2 lead. It seemed as if they were going to steal two massive points from their divisional foe until the lead slipped away from them as the Ducks tied the game with just 1:31 left. Anaheim then went on to win in a shootout, resulting in the worst loss of the year for the Kings. Despite the frustrating result, the rivalry between these two teams has reached another level level as this game could very well be a playoff preview.

How Likely Is A Freeway Face-Off First-Round Playoff Series?It's a new era of the Freeway Face-Off as the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles are neck and neck in the Pacific Division standings. With that, it may not be long before we see a first-round matchup between the two teams for the first time ever.

The Ugly

Andrei Kuzmenko Situation

Last summer, the Kings signed forward Andrei Kuzmenko to a one-year contract extension worth $4.3 million with the expectation that he would continue to perform how he did after joining the team at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Last season, Kuzmenko played 22 games with LA where he put up five goals and 12 assists for 17 points with a +6 rating. In the same amount of games played this season, he has just three goals and four assists for seven points with a -3 rating. After he scored in the first game of the month against the Devils, the 29-year-old failed to register a point the rest of November. He was also healthy scratched three times last month. Of course there is a ton of hockey to be played this season but Kuzmenko has not lived up to expectations thus far.

Dreadful Power-play

There isn't much to say about the Kings production with the man advantage, besides that it's absolutely dreadful. The Kings have a 14.1% success rate on the power-play which is good for 28th in the NHL. In their last 10 games, LA has gotten 31 power-play opportunities, scoring on just three of them. Brace yourself, because this is hard to look at. 3 for 31 equates to 9.6%. It's hard to believe a team with guys like Kempe, Fiala, Kopitar, and Byfield has struggled to score with a man advantage but here we are. Anze Kopitar leads the team with just three power-play goals.

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 Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond

Here's what former NHL goalie Devan Dubnyk, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed:

0:36: The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their winning streak to seven games. What can you attribute to their success? 

2:30: Will the Bolts be able to sustain this?

5:43: Connor Bedard capped off a four-point night against Anaheim by chirping the Ducks' bench. These two teams play again on Sunday – can we expect any fireworks?

7:40: Is it exciting to see the Hawks and Ducks play meaningful games? 

9:53: Mike Matheson signed a five-year, $30-million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. Thoughts on this signing for Montreal? 

11:50: What is the importance of Matheson's presence for the Canadiens? 

14:35: Jakob Chychrun now leads all NHL defensemen with 10 goals – Washington teammate Charlie Lindgren says the Canadian should be at the Olympics. Do you agree?

19:09: Carter Hart was recalled from his conditioning loan with AHL Henderson. As of Monday, he is eligible to be in the lineup. What do we see as Carter Hart's role with the team?

23:43: For Devan, what's it like playing in the AHL as a goalie versus the NHL?

26:10: New York Islanders winger Kyle Palmieri tore the ACL in his left knee and will be out for six to eight months. Do the Islanders have enough to stay in the hunt while banged up? 

30:03: The New York Rangers placed Adam Fox on injured reserve, and he's week to week. Will they still be in the playoff race by the time Fox returns?

33:16: Out of the top 10 NHL point leaders, who is the most surprising player on the list? 

35:34: Another week, another chance to name a player who had a hot or cold week.

37:05: Who has the best third jersey this season?

39:15: QMJHL Victoriaville wore jerseys that looked like farmers' overalls recently. Did Dubnyk ever wear a novelty jersey in your career?

41:04: Dubnyk's favorite jersey he's ever worn

How Important Is Mike Matheson To The Canadiens? by The Big Show

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri has landed the latest, and potentially final, opportunity to extend his NHL career. 

Fabbri has signed a professional tryout agreement with the Charlotte Checkers, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. 

The Checkers have signed forward Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout (PTO).

➡️https://t.co/5mhKlShCmXpic.twitter.com/5z1zEYjTOW

— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 1, 2025

Fabbri had initially signed a PTO agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier in the fall after not being re-signed by the Anaheim Ducks. While he performed well in Training Camp and the pre-season, Fabbri wasn't able to land a roster spot in Pittsburgh and was released. 

Fabbri's time with the Red Wings, which began in November 2019 after he was acquired from the St. Louis Blues for checking forward Jacob de la Rose, came to a close in 2024 when he was dealt by general manager Steve Yzerman to the Anaheim Ducks, who are managed by his former Red Wings teammate and assistant GM Pat Verbeek. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

In his first and only season in Southern California, Fabbri recorded eight goals and eight assists during yet another injury-shortened campaign. He underwent surgery in November to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, which sidelined him for several weeks.

As if that weren’t enough, he also sustained a season-ending hand injury in February.

Fabbri’s NHL career, which began when the St. Louis Blues selected him 21st overall in 2014, has been marked by more major injuries than many players face in a lifetime.

He tore the ACL in his left knee twice with the Blues, then tore the ACL in his right knee while with Detroit in 2022. He later missed the final weeks of the 2022–23 season after undergoing yet another surgery on his left knee.

He was even named the Red Wings’ Bill Masterton Trophy nominee that season for his perseverance and dedication. 

A Stanley Cup champion with the Blues in 2019, Fabbri has tallied 106 goals with 110 assists in 442 regular season games while adding another five goals and 11 assists in 30 postseason games. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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 Toronto Maple Leafs can take a moment to exhale.

During the third period of Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Oliver Ekman-Larsson went to the dressing room with an upper-body injury and didn't return. Despite several people saying he'd be alright after the game, there were still questions about whether Toronto would lose another defenseman to injury.

It wasn't only that; Ekman-Larsson's first-period goal against the Penguins put him one game closer to Maple Leafs history. He has tallied a point in nine straight games for Toronto and is one game away from tying the franchise record for the longest point streak by a defenseman.

The record was set by Tom Kurvers, who had points in 10-straight games during the 1989-90 season.

So there was a bit of relief when the defenseman stepped onto the ice for practice on Monday afternoon in Florida. He returned to the same spot he played on Saturday night, alongside Morgan Rielly on the top defense pairing.

#Leafs lines at practice Dec. 1/25

Knies-Matthews-Domi
Cowan-Tavares-Nylander
Joshua-Roy-McMann
Lorentz-Laughton-Robertson
Extra, Maccelli, Jarnkrok

Rielly-OEL
McCabe-Stecher
Benoit-Myers
Mermis

Woll
Hildeby @BodogCApic.twitter.com/wg2LHgzz0S

— David Alter (@dalter) December 1, 2025

"Nothing major," Ekman-Larsson said when asked what kept him out of the third period against Pittsburgh. "Yeah, I'm not giving much there, but I'm fine. I'm feeling good. So just taking care of the body and making sure that it was all good."

Ekman-Larsson has been one of Toronto's top-producing players this season. The 34-year-old has registered four goals and 16 assists through 25 games this season, all while averaging 20:46 of ice time.

His 20 points are tied with Rielly for the most among Maple Leafs defensemen. Even at his age, Ekman-Larsson is playing a strong two-way game.

"Yeah, he's got a full package that way," said Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube.

"He likes to be physical and get involved. And obviously, he has the ability to shoot pucks and make plays, which he has. He's done a great job for us. Like I talk about, he's a selfless player. He does what we ask of him, where to play, right side, left side. He does a lot, and it's been very good for a while now."

'That's What Happens When You Get Scratched': Max Domi Responds With Big Game Vs. Penguins After Maple Leafs' BenchingDomi's two points came in the back half of Toronto's lopsided win over the Penguins.

Not only is he among the top in points for Maple Leafs defensemen, but Ekman-Larsson is also first for points among Swedish-born defenders. The second spot belongs to Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who has five goals and 18 points in 27 games.

Ekman-Larsson chalked up his strong start to the season to shooting the puck more and moving his legs. He added that the number of points he puts up doesn't creep into his mind much and that much of his focus is on helping the Maple Leafs win hockey games.

But did Ekman-Larsson know on Monday that he was one game away from a franchise record, and that he could do it against his former Florida Panthers teammates?

"No, I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me," he laughed. "No pressure."

Latest stories:

Maple Leafs' Brandon Carlo Returns To Toronto 'To Get Looked At By Doctor' After Injury Setback

'Nothing You Need To Worry About': William Nylander Shines In Return After Illness, Deflects Questions On Absence

Oliver Ekman-Larsson Approaches Maple Leafs Record But Exits With Upper-Body Injury vs. Penguins

Sometimes, an NHL player can have a hot week despite their team being on a cold streak and vice-versa.

Take Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley, for example. He had seven points in four games this past week despite the team going 1-3-0 and suffering a lower-body injury against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

Dylan Strome, meanwhile, had an assist in four games this past week, while the Washington Capitals had a perfect 4-0-0 week.

But for these players featured in this week's edition of who's hot and cold in the NHL, they played important roles in their squad's successes or struggles since Nov. 24.

Hot: Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are third in the NHL after starting the season 1-4-2. Kucherov's reliable heaps of offense lead the way.

In four games over the past week, Kucherov generated a league-leading nine assists and 10 points. He's on a five-game multi-point streak and a nine-game point streak, totalling 17 points since Nov. 15. The 32-year-old's season stats now include 21 assists and 32 points in 23 games.

You can see, then, why Kucherov is so crucial to Tampa Bay's blueprint for success. When he's feeling it, Kucherov can be a threat as a goal-scorer as easily as he can be a threat as a playmaker. He supplies exactly what's asked of him, even when what's asked of him is quite a lot. 

Cold: Brady Skjei, D, Nashville Predators

Two seasons ago with the Carolina Hurricanes, Skjei posted 13 goals and 47 points in 80 games. This year, with the sad-sack Predators, the 31-year-old blueliner has been largely invisible – including this past week, when he generated zero points and a minus-2 rating in four games. 

Skjei has only six points and a minus-16 rating in 25 games this year. Those are hardly the numbers the Preds wanted from him when they signed him to a seven-year contract worth $7 million per season two summers ago. But going through five percent of the season without even a secondary assist has to be particularly concerning for Nashville management.

Hot: Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars

The Stars have gone 8-1-1 in their past 10 games, and they're on a four-game win streak.

In the past week, Johnston put the team on his back. On Sunday against the Ottawa Senators, he recorded a hat trick and his second four-point game of the week to give him five goals and nine points in four games.

The 22-year-old Johnston – who began a five-year contract worth $8.4 million annually – now has 16 goals and 30 points in 26 games, putting him in a tie with star Jason Robertson as the top goal-scorer on the Stars. 

Johnston is well on his way to surpassing his career highs of 33 goals and 71 points, set last season. And although Robertson and star right winger Mikko Rantanen have more points than Johnston, the youngster is establishing himself as one of Dallas' most dangerous producers.

Cold: Cam Talbot, G, Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings have done well with Talbot for most of this year, as he began the past week with a 9-2-0 record.

But since then, Talbot has gone 0-2-1, allowing 11 goals on 67 shots for a 3.69 goals-against average and a .836 save percentage. His save percentages in his three games were .800, .821 and .895. In that third game, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, Talbot had 0.44 goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com, but in the two starts before that, that stat was in the negatives.

The 38-year-old Talbot isn't in danger of losing playing time to veteran John Gibson, whose numbers this season are considerably worse than Talbot's. But the Wings do need Talbot and their defense to ratchet up their games if they're to withstand the competition in the Atlantic Division and hang onto a playoff berth. 

Hot: Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning

Not only did Kucherov have an outstanding week, but Vasilevskiy did as well for the Lightning. He had a 3-0-0 record, .955 SP and 1.33 GAA since Nov. 24, when he shut out the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Vasilevskiy stopped 85 of 89 shots he saw this week, and it doesn't get much better than that for a goalie. The Lightning have a workhorse and a dynamic force in net who ranks fifth in goals saved above expected, at 13.6. While his stats weren't immune from the Lightning's rough start to the season, his 2.32 GAA and .918 SP make it seem like it never happened.

---

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 Pittsburgh Penguins will start December with a game against one of their biggest rivals. 

They're set to play the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia on Monday. This is a Flyers team that has won three in a row and five of six. They recently beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Saturday. 

The Flyers have gotten great goaltending from Dan Vladar this season, and he is set to start in this game. He is 10-4-1 with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. 

The Flyers have also gotten some great play from forward Trevor Zegras. He has nine goals and 24 points in 24 games after the Flyers acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason. He has been everything they have needed and then some. 

Travis Konecny has also been good to start the year, racking up five goals and 19 points. Owen Tippett, who is tied for second on the Flyers in goals with Matvei Michkov, has also played well. 

The Penguins will be making a few lineup changes for Monday's game after they sent Tristan Broz and Danton Heinen back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday. They recalled Rutger McGroarty and Boko Imama before the morning skate on Monday, and head coach Dan Muse confirmed after the skate that both players will be in the lineup. 

McGroarty was skating on the "kids" line with Ben Kindel and Ville Koivunen, and Imama was skating on the fourth line with Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte. 

Tristan Jarry will start in goal after another stellar performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

Connor Clifton looks likely to replace Matt Dumba after he skated on the third pair with Ryan Graves.

Here's what the full lines looked like during the morning skate:

Forwards

Hayes-Crosby-Rust

Novak-Malkin-Mantha

McGroarty-Kindel-Koivunen

Dewar-Lizotte-Imama

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Graves-Clifton

---

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

---

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

It is hard to stick out as a prospect in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. There have been so many good ones over the last handful of years, and many of them are already making their mark on the NHL roster. 

Down in the AHL, Nick Lardis is doing everything he can to earn his first career NHL call-up. After scoring 71 goals for the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL last season, he came into this year looking to translate that success to pro hockey. 

Lardis was impressive in training camp and during the preseason, but due to his status in the organization, combined with the limited roster space, he was assigned to the AHL to start the year with the Rockford IceHogs. 

The questions of his success in major-junior translating to pro hockey have been answered. He has been incredible with the Hogs. After his three-point performance against the Milwaukee Admirals on Sunday, he now has 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 20 games played. 

When down 1-0, Lardis made a great play that led to Joey Anderson tying the game. That 1-1 score held into the third period. It was then Nick Lardis who scored a power play goal to give the Hogs their first lead of the game. He later scored his second of the game to make it 3-1. 

Milwaukee added a second goal before the game was over, but Rockford held on to win 3-2. Lardis decided to take over again and lead his team to victory. 

Watch Every Nick Lardis Point

Lardis & Anderson putting on the pressure to tie the game 😤 https://t.co/ULdCxzLjPNpic.twitter.com/lrBHI1yM5m

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) November 30, 2025

Not to be dramatic but this is a must see power play goal 😳 https://t.co/wAKzRYUfNnpic.twitter.com/vbueNdxj6Q

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) December 1, 2025

We’ll take that, thank you!! https://t.co/lva6O41SRNpic.twitter.com/yPnP8JxlTn

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) December 1, 2025

Next Up For Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis and the Rockford IceHogs take on the Colorado Eagles on Friday, December 5th at 7 PM CT. This will take place at the BMO Center in Rockford. Eventually, especially if he keeps up his point-per-game pace, Lardis will get to make his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

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.

Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Sebastian Cossa has been named the AHL Player of the Week after a flawless three-start stretch that helped the team extend its record-setting season start to 16-1-0-1.

Cossa posted a 1.33 goals-against average, a .945 save percentage, and a shutout against the Iowa Wild last Sunday, cementing his impact between the pipes. The 15th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft has been sensational this season, boasting an 8-1-0 record with two shutouts, a 1.56 GAA, and a .942 save percentage in nine appearances.

Brick Wall Award: Accepted 👊‼️ #GoGRG

DETAILS | 🔗 https://t.co/SxdkN8Fkr1pic.twitter.com/YAm4W8bPR3

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 1, 2025

He leads the AHL in both goals-against average and save percentage and ranks among the top in wins and shutouts. This marks the second time in his career he has earned Player of the Week honors, previously doing so in February 2024.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Cossa reached a major milestone earlier this season against the Texas Stars, notching his 50th career win as a Griffin and joining an elite group of eight goaltenders in franchise history to reach that mark. He also recorded a career-high five-game win streak from October 10 to November 19 and is currently on a three-game winning streak.

Over four AHL seasons, Cossa has posted a 52-26-14 record with five shutouts in 93 games, alongside a 2.43 GAA and .912 save percentage. Last season, he made his first AHL All-Star Classic and ranked among league leaders in minutes, games played, goals-against average, and save percentage, finishing with a 21-15-6 record.

“I’ll take that” - Cossa 🤣🥅 pic.twitter.com/ywsDV6AbKN

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 22, 2024

Cossa’s hot play has put him on the radar for an NHL call-up, especially as Red Wings veterans John Gibson (3.59 GAA, .865 save percentage) and Cam Talbot (2.88 GAA, .887 save percentage) struggle this season. He has already proven he can handle the NHL stage, making his debut last December in Buffalo with a 6-5 victory, stopping 12 shots and three in the shootout.

With Cossa in net, the Griffins’ historic start shows no signs of slowing, and the young goaltender continues to make a strong case for his future at the NHL level.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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.

Four of five players acquitted of sexual assault in this year's Hockey Canada trial have pro contracts as their NHL suspensions end.

A judge in London, Ont., found Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote not guilty of sexual assault in July. They were initially charged in connection with allegations stemming from the aftermath of a 2018 gala celebrating that year's Canadian world junior team.

All of them but Dube now have a contract after Foote signed with the AHL's Chicago Wolves on Monday.

The NHL announced in September the five players were suspended until Dec. 1, but they were eligible to sign contracts as of Oct. 15. The league's investigation concluded that while the players' conduct wasn't criminal, it did not meet the "highest level of moral integrity."

Here's the latest on each player.

Carter Hart, G, Vegas Golden Knights

Hart, 27, signed a two-year contract worth $2 million annually with the Vegas Golden Knights in late October.

In preparation for his return to NHL action, Hart played three games for the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights. He went 1-2-0 in his three starts, posting a 3.07 goals-against average and .839 save percentage. He last played on Friday, stopping 12 of 16 shots.

Vegas recalled Hart from his conditioning stint on Sunday. The team faces the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday at home before embarking on a five-game road trip against five Metropolitan Division squads.

Cal Foote, D, Chicago Wolves (AHL)

Foote, 26, joined the Wolves on an AHL contract. The Wolves are the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, but Foote would have to sign an NHL contract to be eligible for a call-up.

Foote last played in 2024-25 for Liptovsky Mikulas in the top-tier league in Slovakia, finishing third on the team in scoring with 30 points in 38 games. He last played in the AHL in 2023-24 before taking a leave of absence. That season, he had nine points in 24 games for the Utica Comets.

Alex Formenton, LW, Ambri-Piotta (Sui.)

Formenton, 26, signed with Swiss National League club HC Ambri-Piotta in September. The contract runs through the international break at the end of December and carries an option through the end of the season.

In 20 games, Formenton has five goals, nine points and 36 penalty minutes.

Formenton remains an RFA whose NHL rights belong to the Ottawa Senators. If he doesn't sign a contract by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, he cannot play in the NHL this season.

The Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch reported the Senators have tried to trade Formenton's rights elsewhere in exchange for a draft pick. Senators GM Steve Staios and Formenton's agent, Darren Ferris, agreed over the summer that the player's best bet was a change of scenery.

As of Monday morning in Ottawa, there is "virtually no chance" a trade will happen, Garrioch reported.

Michael McLeod, C, Omsk (Rus.)

McLeod, 27, returned to Avangard Omsk in the KHL this season after playing part of the 2024-25 campaign with them.

In 17 games, McLeod has five goals and seven assists for 12 points. He ranks eighth on the team in scoring.

Last season, McLeod had six points in 16 games for Barys Astana in the KHL before joining Omsk and posting 13 points in 19 games. He added eight points in nine playoff matches.

While he, Hart, Formenton, Dube and Foote faced one charge each of sexual assault, McLeod faced an additional charge of party to the offense. He was found not guilty of both counts.

Dillon Dube, C, Unsigned

Dube, 27, has not played for a pro hockey team this season so far.

He last played for the KHL's Dinamo Minsk in 2024-25, recording four goals and 11 points in 42 games. He went without a point in four post-season games as well.

Dube played six season for the Calgary Flames, recording 127 points in 325 NHL games.

In September, Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy said at that point, the team was not interested in signing the UFA.

---

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 Charlotte Checkers announced they have signed free agent forward Robby Fabrri to a professional tryout (PTO).

Fabbri attended Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on a PTO but was released after suffering an injury.

The 29-year-old recorded eight goals and 16 points in 44 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season.

Originally a first round selection of the St. Louis Blues in 2014,  Fabbri has 106 goals and 216 points in 442 career NHL games with the Blues, Ducks, and Detroit Red Wings. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019. 

The Mississauga, Ont., native has six points in six career AHL games, he last played in the league with the San Antonio Rampage in Oct. 2018.

The Checkers have signed forward Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout (PTO).

➡️https://t.co/5mhKlShCmXpic.twitter.com/5z1zEYjTOW

— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 1, 2025

A gold medal winner with Team Canada at the 2015 World Junior Championship, Fabbri's offensive ability will be nice boost to an already strong Charlotte team as he looks to work his way back to the NHL.

The Florida Panthers AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, have signed veteran winger Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout.

The 29-year-old has played in 442 games in the NHL, scoring 106 goals and 216 points. His nine NHL seasons have been spent with the St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks. He was originally selected by the Blues in the first round (21st overall) in the 2014 NHL draft. 

Fabbri has little AHL experience, skating in just six games, but the skilled winger has found it increasingly difficult to lock down spots on NHL lineups. Last season with the Ducks, Fabbri scored just eight goals and 16 points in 44 games. 

He's played more than 60 games just twice in his NHL career. Although he hasn't had the individual success many thought he could achieve, he's won at multiple levels. He was part of the Blues' 2019 Stanley Cup win, won gold with Team Canada at the world juniors and won an OHL championship with the Guelph Storm. 

He hasn't played any professional hockey games since pre-season, when he was on a PTO with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so it may take a little while for Fabbri to get his legs under him, but he should be a top-end contributor on the Checkers once he does get back into game shape. 

The Checkers currently sit in fifth place in the Atlantic Division and are just three points back of third place despite playing three fewer games. The Checkers have struggled to score goals this season, and Fabbri should help the team improve offensively. 

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 have yet to confirm whether rookie goaltender Thomas Milic will start Monday night against the Buffalo Sabres as the situation mirrors last week when the team waited until the last moment to announce he would be making his NHL debut.

Milic’s first appearance in the league delivered a mixed but encouraging performance for fans. The 22-year-old from New Westminster, British Columbia stopped 30 of 34 shots and played a significant role in keeping the Jets competitive during difficult stretches. He made eight saves in the first 11 minutes and helped shut down four Carolina power plays throughout the game, showing poise in high-pressure situations.

His debut also included a few rookie moments as one power play opportunity for the Hurricanes resulted from Milic misplaying the puck behind the net, although he recovered and made important stops during the penalty kill. Defensive breakdowns in front of him led to three of the goals against, beginning with the opener when Shayne Gostisbehere carried the puck deep and found Winnipeg-born forward Seth Jarvis uncovered in the high slot. Jarvis released a low wrist shot that slipped past Milic for the game’s first goal.

Traffic in front of the crease remained a problem for Milic and the Jets throughout as the second goal against came in the second period, when Logan Stanley and William Carrier battled for position and Jordan Martinook snapped a shot through a crowd. Minutes later, Jarvis struck again from the high slot, uncovered while Josh Morrissey slightly drifted into Milic’s line of sight as the shot sailed over the rookie’s glove.

Jarvy does it again 👊 pic.twitter.com/I1zbQwyXur

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 29, 2025

All of the goals to that point beat Milic on the glove side, a concern as the Jets prepare for a Sabres team that features elite shooters in Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson. The most troubling moment for Milic came in the final seconds when defenseman Alexander Nikishin fired a point shot from the boards that beat Milic clean on the blocker side.

The Jets hope Milic can build on the experience and deliver a stronger performance if he gets the call against Buffalo. The matchup would typically be considered a step down in difficulty since Milic is coming off a game against the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres, however, have surged with five wins in their last eight outings while averaging 3.63 goals per game during that run, which ranks sixth in the NHL over the same span.

Winnipeg will need to tighten its defensive structure regardless of who starts in goal, but additional support would be especially valuable for a rookie still adjusting to NHL speed. The Sabres and Jets will take center stage as the featured game on Amazon’s Monday Night Hockey.

Jets Aim To Build Momentum Versus Surging SabresThe Jets look to build on their skid-snapping win and regain momentum as they take on a surging Sabres team that has won five of their last eight games.

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 St. Louis Blues have recalled center Aleksanteri Kaskimaki amid injury news to Jimmy Snuggerud and Alexey Toropchenko.

Snuggerud will be re-evaluated in six weeks following surgery to repair his left wrist, and Toropchenko has been given a week-to-week timeline after sustaining scalding burns to his legs in a home accident.

Amidst the injury news, Kaskimaki is earning his first call-up to the NHL and is likely to skate in his first career NHL game. The 21-year-old is participating in his second AHL season with the Springfield Thunderbirds and has scored four goals and seven points in 16 games. 

Kaskimaki is on pace for 17 goals and 30 points in 69 games, which would be in and around his rookie season totals of 11 goals and 34 points in 63 games. 

The Espoo, FIN native skated in three pre-season games this season, scoring a goal in his final outing against the Chicago Blackhawks. 

The Blues host the Anaheim Ducks tonight, and it has yet to be confirmed whether Kaskimaki will be in the lineup. Pius Suter was held out of the lineup with a lower-body injury on Saturday, but his current status is questionable. If he is unable to play, the Blues' third-round pick (73rd overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft will make his NHL debut. 

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.