The Pittsburgh Penguins had everything going for them on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs until they didn't. 

They played two of their best periods all season to start the game. They were ferocious in all three zones. Ben Kindel once again showed that he belongs in the NHL. Erik Karlsson was a monster in the offensive zone and scored his first goal of the season. Harrison Brunicke was looking calm and composed on the third pair. He was simplifying things after his rough outing in Winnipeg. Tristan Jarry was potentially on his way to another shutout. 

Then, the third period happened. Auston Matthews made the Penguins pay when they fell asleep early in the period, and the rest snowballed from there. The Penguins completely fell asleep in their own zone, and to make matters worse, Jarry had the worst period of his season to date. He gave up a weak goal on the first William Nylander goal to make it 3-2, and one could argue he should've saved his second goal that tied the game. He also wasn't sharp on the game-winner from Bobby McMann. 

It was a period of horrors for the Penguins, and they simply couldn't stop the bleeding. Not even getting a point out of that game, let alone a win, is inexcusable. Per Bob Grove, it's only the third time in the Penguins' history that they've lost a game in which they led by three or more goals heading into the third period.

Everyone was looking for a response after Saturday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, even though the process was mostly there. Yes, they no-showed the first three minutes of the game and were put in a 2-0 hole pretty quickly, but the process was mostly there for the rest of the game. They didn't get the saves and didn't convert on their high-quality chances. Sometimes, that happens. 

They were getting the saves and finishing their chances in the first 40 minutes on Monday, and felt it was enough to win with a full period to go. When you have a team pinned down on the mat like that, especially when you're holding them to eight shots through two periods, you have to go for the knockout blow. 

The Penguins have had an outstanding start to the season and are still in a good spot in the Metropolitan Division. The points that they have earned to this point aren't suddenly going to go away. However, now that they blew that lead, it's time to see what this team is made of. The schedule isn't going to get easier for the rest of this week, with matchups against the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and Los Angeles Kings on the horizon. 

Penguins Forward Exits Maple Leafs Matchup With InjuryThis Penguins forward's night ended early due to injury.

The Capitals have lost four in a row going into Wednesday's matchup against the St. Louis Blues, but were still a playoff team last year. They're favored to return to the playoffs this year and are getting great goaltending from Logan Thompson, plus solid production from Tom Wilson, Aliaksei Protas, and Dylan Strome. Alex Ovechkin is always a threat to score, but has been limited to only two goals in 12 games to start the year. 

Jack Hughes is a strong Hart Trophy favorite right now and the biggest reason why the Devils are off to a 9-4-0 start. He has 10 goals and 16 points in 13 games, and when he's playing at this level, there aren't many players in the league who are better than him. Couple that with the fact that the Penguins often struggle to win in Newark, and it potentially gets real dicey. 

The Kings may be off to a rough start, but they still have some good players in Adrian Kempe (who also loves scoring against the Penguins), Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, Brandt Clarke, and Quinton Byfield. Byfield, in particular, is close to a point-per-game (10 points in 13 games) and could be on his way to really breaking out after back-to-back 50+ point seasons. 

We're going to find out really quickly whether Monday's collapse was just a blip on the radar or a sign of things to come before the Penguins head to Sweden. 

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The Ottawa Senators get a little break from game action this week. Following their 4-3 overtime loss in Montreal on Saturday night, which ended a run of six games in ten days, the Senators won't face off again until this Thursday night in Boston against the Bruins. 

The Senators went 4-1-1 in those six games, and on Monday, head coach Travis Green took a moment to give some credit to his fourth-line winger and enforcer, Kurtis MacDermid, a player who's been in and out of the lineup and hasn't gotten much media or fan love in the first month of the season.

Green was asked by TSN 1200's Gord Wilson about the play of Lars Eller, and the coach quickly spun the topic over to MacDermid. Green had obviously heard or read some of the media and fan critiques of having the enforcer in his lineup.

"I've liked that line with Eller, MacDermid and Zetterlund in different ways," Green said. "I know there's been a little talk about Dermi being in the lineup. We're 4-1-1 with McDermid in the lineup. And I don't know if there's been any talk about that.

"He brings an element that is hard to find, but he also understands that he might not play that much some nights."

Green pointed to the flexibility that brings, allowing him to give extra minutes to some of his top guys without anyone's nose being out of joint. 

"We've scored two goals by being able to put Drake Batherson or someone else out with that line. They scored a big goal against Calgary and scored one in Montreal the other night."

When asked how MacDermid directly impacts the lineup, Green drove home the obvious point about toughness. At 6-foot-5, 233 pounds, the guy is a handful.

"People know who's tough in the league and who's not," Green said. "He's a great teammate, he's great in the locker room, and understands his role. And we've played some hard teams that are known for being tough as well."

That would include the Senators' season opener in Tampa Bay, where MacDermid lost the only bout he's been in so far. It was Kurtis on Curtis action, with rookie forward Curtis Douglas trying his hand against the veteran. Even for an established NHL heavyweight, the kid's reach at 6-foot-9 will make him tough for anyone to contend with. In his only other fight, Douglas held his own against Mathieu Oliver.

On Saturday night against the Canadiens, MacDermid played only 2:04 and took a costly penalty that led to a Montreal power play goal. Zach Bolduc had checked Jake Sanderson into the Canadiens' bench and then dropped and covered up when MacDermid arrived to take exception.

That's part of the challenge of employing a true NHL heavyweight: very few players are willing to add MacDermid to their dance card. Arber Xhekaj is one of those players, but when MacDermid openly challenged him on Saturday, Xhekaj declined. 

I've been critical of MacDermid's ability to contribute outside of his toughness. When you think about it, every team that's ever rostered an enforcer had a more skilled player in the organization they could be using instead. But they sacrifice that to have a player who can serve and protect.

I will continue to maintain that there is a real benefit to having a true heavyweight in the lineup, whether it's MacDermid, Xhekaj, Douglas, Olivier or someone else. Having a guy on your bench who's capable of protecting teammates and mopping the ice with people – even if he never actually does that night – can not only improve opponents' behaviour, but it can also infuse confidence into your team.

And keep in mind, none of these tough guys are ever in the game at the expense of a highly valuable NHL player. No team runs so deep that their 12th forward is all that impactful.

Some people are bullish on the matter, strongly believing one-dimensional enforcers are a waste of a roster spot and a ridiculous, archaic concept.

But a lot of NHL head coaches, including Green, Martin St. Louis, and Jon Cooper, who's probably the best head coach in the game. still strongly believe in them. And they have a lot more knowledge, experience, and a lot more at stake than the Monday morning quarterbacks on social media.

More Sens Headlines at The Hockey News Ottawa:

Senators at Montreal: Former Canadiens Forward Says Ottawa 'Feels Like Home'
Senators Winger Nick Cousins And The NHL's Unofficial Frontier Justice System
Calgary vs Ottawa: Comparing First-Rounders Yakemchuk and Parekh
Tyler Kleven Interview: His Game, His Offseason, And Travis Green's Tough Love
What's Going On With Fabian Zetterlund's Lack of Production?
Senators Walk The Early Season Fine Line Between Disaster And Success

K’Andre Miller will not face his former team on Tuesday night when the Carolina Hurricanes play the New York Rangers. 

Miller was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 31 for a lower-body injury he suffered in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 20. 

His move to injured reserve is procedural by the Hurricanes to make room on the roster for Pyotr Kochetkov. 

The 25-year-old defenseman has missed the team’s last five games, but Rod Brind'Amour does not envision Miller being out for much longer. 

“I was kind of hopeful that he'd maybe make the trip and give it a go,” Brind'Amour said of Miller’s injury status. “I don't think that's going to happen, but I don't anticipate that one being too much longer.”

The Hurricanes and Rangers completed a sign-and-trade during the offseason that sent Miller to Carolina, as he signed an eight-year, $60 million contract.

Another Pittsburgh Penguin has hit a career milestone. 

In Monday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, goaltender Tristan Jarry suited up for his 300th career NHL game. He is third goaltender in team history to hit the 300-game mark, with the others being Tom Barrasso and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Accoring to Penguins PR, Jarry's 157 wins are the most in franchise history by a Penguins' goaltender through 300 games.

Tristan Jarry is the third goaltender in @penguins history to reach 300 games with the team.

Jarry's 157 wins entering tonight are the most by a Pittsburgh goaltender through 300 games in franchise history. https://t.co/nktpMDTfQZ

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) November 4, 2025

Jarry is in the third season of a five-year contract. The 30-year-old netminder is off to a sizzling start this season, as he was 5-1 with a .923 save percentage and a 2.35 goals-against average going into Monday's game. 

In his 10-season NHL career with the Penguins, Jarry has a .910 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average. Jarry sits third on the Penguins' all-time win list for goaltenders.

Can The Penguins Take Advantage Of A Weak Metropolitan Division?When projecting how everything would look one month into the 2025-26 NHL season, most people didn't have the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> as one of the league's top teams.&nbsp;

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Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Corey Schueneman is on the move. 

The St. Louis Blues have announced that they have traded Schueneman to the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenseman Calle Rosen. 

Schueneman kicked off his NHL career with the Canadiens, as he made his NHL debut with them in 2021-22. In 31 games over two seasons as a member of the Canadiens, Schueneman posted two goals, five assists, seven points, 52 blocks, and a minus-4 rating.

Schueneman primarily played with the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket, during his time with the organization. In 130 games with Laval from 2020-21 to 2022-23, Schueneman recorded 13 goals, 33 assists, 46 points, and a plus-16 rating. 

Scheuneman's time with the Canadiens ended when he signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche during the 2023 NHL off-season. 

In nine games this season with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, Schueneman posted one goal and five assists. He will now look to make an impact with the Hershey Bears after being acquired by the Capitals. 

The Dallas Stars will host the 2027 NHL Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.

The game in the retractable-room stadium will take place on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2027, with the Stars’ opponent yet to be named.

"The National Hockey League is thrilled to bring the spectacle of an NHL Stadium Series game to Arlington and one of the world's most spectacular sports settings, AT&T Stadium," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a news release. 

"Ever since its opening in 2009, Jerry Jones has been advocating for an outdoor game at this amazing venue. And we are delighted to partner with the Cowboys and Stars – two franchises dedicated to the fans of North Texas – and to create another unique fan experience for a market that has long been a hockey success story and welcomed us so enthusiastically when the 2020 NHL Winter Classic was played at the Cotton Bowl."

Dallas has only played one outdoor game since relocating from the Minnesota North Stars ahead of the 1993-94 season. They hosted the Nashville Predators at the Cotton Bowl Stadium on New Year's Day of 2020. The Stars defeated the Predators 4-2 in that Winter Classic affair.

That game drew the third-largest crowd in NHL history, with a total of 85,630 fans in attendance.

AT&T Stadium seats around 80,000 fans but can fit up to 100,000 with standing room. In addition, the Cowboys are averaging an attendance of 93,061 so far this NFL season. 

With that, only two NHL games have had crowds larger than 90,000.

When the Columbus Blue Jackets took on the Detroit Red Wings in last year’s Stadium Series matchup, Ohio Stadium seated 94,751 fans.

In 2014, the Toronto Maple Leafs played the Red Wings at Michigan Stadium in a Winter Classic contest. That game holds the record for the largest crowd at an NHL game with 105,491.

With AT&T Stadium’s capacity, this game, including the Stars and an unknown opponent, could challenge those all-time attendance numbers.

“Hosting the NHL Stadium Series with the Dallas Stars is another great example of the vision we've always had for what AT&T Stadium could be beyond football," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. 

"The game will be another proud moment for us and being able to provide a world-class fan and team experience in partnership with two outstanding organizations, the NHL and the Stars, will be very special."

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It's only been 11 games, but it feels safe to say that the Carolina Hurricanes have struck gold with their Russian rookie.

After years of waiting and building hype, it feels like everybody's astronomical expectations for 2020 third-round pick Alexander Nikishin are being affirmed every night when he steps out onto the ice.

Because Nikishin has just simply been tremendous for Carolina.

With two goals and six points in 11 games, Nikishin is second amongst Canes defensemen behind only Shayne Gostisbehere (7) and ranks third amongst all rookie blueliners.

The Russian defender has also been on the ice for 14 goals (the most by any Hurricanes defenseman) and only six goals against and he controls a 53.70 CF% and 50 xGF%, despite logging heavy, top-four minutes already as a rookie.

Alexander Nikishin has started his NHL career on a three-game point streak.

The only other rookies in franchise history to start their first season on a three-games or more point streak are:

Jamie McBain (2010-11): 4 games, 5 points
Bernie Johnston (1979-80): 3 games, 5 points

— Ryan Henkel (@RyanHenkel_) October 15, 2025

"I think he's understanding — and there's still a ways to go — how hard you have to play in this league, for every shift, during your shift," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Once he really understands that, you're going to really see his game take off because it's coming."

Already, the Canes have been leaning on the former KHL superstar, with him logging over 20 minutes of game time in six of his last seven outings due to the injuries to Carolina's blueline.

But he's earned those minutes and has been handling them tremendously well for a player with less than 20 games of NHL experience under his belt.

"He's been noticeable in a real positive way," Brind'Amour said.

Nikishin has also been averaging 1:34 of penalty kill time per game and has been on the ice for just one goal against, but also one shorthanded goal.

Brind'Amour also has the Russian working with the second power play grouping, but with the team's lack of opportunities on the man advantage over the last three games, he hasn't yet been able to showcase his skills there.

While it may take some time for him to fully grasp the Hurricanes' systems and NHL speed, it's clear that Nikishin already has the physical toolkit to be a true game breaker.

The 6-foot-4 defenseman leads the Hurricanes in hits on the year and in fact, is tied for the fourth most amongst all NHL defensemen in hits (34).

Need some help waking up this Saturday?

Alexander Nikishin laying the BOOM might help 💥 pic.twitter.com/x89CTLcUZK

— NHL (@NHL) November 1, 2025

He also holds the top two hardest shots on the team according to NHL Edge, with a 98.97 (which is also the fifth hardest shot recorded this season amongst all players around the league) and 96.08 mph slapshot.

His skating has also been pretty good for a big guy, with an 85th percentile max skating speed (22.20mph) and being in the 90th percentile for speed bursts over 20mph (15).

"That's a great physical specimen back there," said current partner Sean Walker. "A great piece that we've added with such a big, powerful body that can skate well and make great plays."

Nikishin put it on a tee 🚀 pic.twitter.com/CprBX6p9q4

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 1, 2025

To top it all off, he has some snarl to his game too, standing up for teammates on multiple occasions. 

"I like that sandpaper that he has," Brind'Amour said. "I think there's a lot more in there too. I think he's trying to figure that out too, how that all works."

What's crazy though, is that Brind'Amour feels that Nikishin is just scratching the surface.

"There's a lot to like, but I think he's just getting by on raw talent versus the actual structural stuff that we have to shore up," Brind'Amour said. "There's still some things that are not great in a sense of, 'Okay, you need to be here or there,' or just reading the play. It'll come and it is coming, it's getting better and better the more we work with him, but it's not an easy position to walk into and then ask a kid to basically be playing top-four minutes right off the hop. That's a ton to ask and he's done a great job, he'll just get better as he goes.

"He's an older kid, so that's good, but he's coming from a different league. It's not the same. Yeah, there's talent and size, but it's the pace and the intensity of each shift. It's night and day. I think he's figuring that out."

Alexander Nikishin helps save a goal for the #Canes!

The defenseman gives up his body in the crease, and it stays out. pic.twitter.com/RmbrgMwK8D

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) October 29, 2025

Nikishin is already cementing himself as a top defensemen for the Hurricanes and if still has as much room to grow as his coach says, then the rest of the league better watch out.

"He plays well, has points, good ice time," said teammate and fellow countryman Pyotr Kochetkov. "I really like how he's played and adapted to the system. He's gotten better every day and he's very good for this organization now and in the future"

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Ottawa Senators winger Nick Cousins answered the bell and paid the price on Saturday night.

Cousins agreed to square off against rugged Montreal Canadiens' defenseman Jayden Struble in the third period of the Senators' 4-3 overtime loss at the Bell Centre. The Sens winger took a punch to the face that landed so hard and so flush, it took him out of the game.

Like it or not, this is the NHL's unofficial frontier justice system at work, a system that's been around for more than a century. 

Struble all but admitted after the game that he fought Cousins to get even with him for a September 30th slash on Ivan Demidov during a preseason game in Quebec City.

“When you have a guy like that taking a shot at your young star player, that was a bad play, none of us liked it," Struble told the media. "We were thinking about it. It was on our minds. You can’t just go around trying to hurt our best players.”

At practice on Monday in a scrum with the local media, Cousins seemed none the worse for wear, save for a few battle scars. He took some accountability for his slash, which was why he accepted the fight.

"Sometimes you gotta answer the bell for your actions," Cousins said. "I mean, I'm certainly glad that Demidov is okay. I think definitely I've gotta take care of my stick there a little bit better, and yeah, sometimes you gotta answer the bell, and I did that. It's over with, and we kind of move on now."

As Cousins mentioned, Demidov's wrist wasn't badly damaged that night. But it was a nasty slash with serious intent behind it, so the Canadiens had every right to be ticked off. Cousins was removed from the game and fined by the NHL, and Saturday night was the Habs' first chance for real revenge.

Like an old western, the Habs called Cousins out onto the street, demanding satisfaction. Cousins finally obliged in the third period, and if he hadn't, the Canadiens would have continued to make life extra miserable for him in future games.

The matter now appears to be settled, especially with Cousins losing the fight. That's important because sometimes if a player agrees to a fight and does too well, then suddenly the matter isn't settled. 

I know. It's complicated.

But it isn't accurate to frame the Sept. 30th slash as some completely random thing. In all likelihood, it was Ottawa's attempt at its own frontier justice for an incident that had happened a few moments before in that game. Carter Yakemchuk, the Senators' 2024 first-rounder, had just been jumped by Florian Xhekaj, who caught Yakemchuk with several punches.

According to the unofficial code, Ottawa had two options. Go after Xhekaj to get even with him directly, or go after their 2024 first-rounder. Cousins apparently chose the latter.

Then, in the whataboutism of NHL frontier justice, the Canadiens would probably push back on you and remind you of Hayden Hodgson's hit from behind on Alex Newhook shortly before in that same game. 

At some point, as Linus Ullmark might describe it, the NHL world of frontier justice starts to sound a little immature, like two scrappy boys, standing in front of their dad, and yelling...

"He started it!"
"No, he started it!"
"Shut up!"
"No, you shut up!"

In theory, Cousins should be off the hook now, but does the frontier justice system demand another response? Return fire? Revenge for the revenge? 

Should enforcer Kurtis MacDermid get after Struble? Struble does outweigh Cousins by almost 20 pounds. Is that something?

For those of you scoring at home, if the Sens do respond in the next game, that would be Ottawa answering back to Montreal's reply to the Sens' answer to the Habs' response to the reply to the answer.

Who knows when this thing all started? Maybe it was that time King Clancy called Newsy Lalonde a rapscallion?

But some people think that if the NHL just came down harder on these dirty plays, on the ice or at the department of player safety, then the players wouldn't ever have to take things into their own hands like this.

I doubt that.

Let's say Cousins got a 40-game suspension for his slash on Demidov. For one, the players' association would lose its mind. It exists to protect player money, not safety. But in the current culture, even if Cousins did get pounded with a 40-game ban, Struble or Arber Xhekaj would still have been waiting for him, hoping to unleash a 40-punch pounding.

The NHL could start throwing the book at those who violate the existing intent to injure rule. It would take some time to learn the lesson and undo the culture, but players would come around... eventually. But that would have to mean the end of fighting, which by definition is an intent to injure. 

No, there will be none of that.

The league's decision-makers are still an old boys' club, and they're perfectly fine with fighting and the way things are. So make no mistake, dirty NHL plays and the ensuing frontier justice aren't going away anytime soon.

More Sens Headlines at The Hockey News Ottawa:

Calgary at Ottawa: Comparing First-Rounders Yakemchuk and Parekh
Tyler Kleven Interview: His Game, His Offseason, And Travis Green's Tough Love
What's Going On With Fabian Zetterlund's Lack of Production?
Senators Walk The Early Season Fine Line Between Disaster And Success
Weekly Farm Report: Sogaard Injured As B-Sens Sweep Toronto

The tail of Brennan Othmann with the New York Rangers continues to be disappointing. 

From being called up and down from the American Hockey League, the 2021 first-round pick still has failed to salvage a full-time role with the Rangers. 

The latest case of disappointment came when the Rangers called up Othmann for their four-game road trip, but he only played in one game before being scratched out of the lineup for the remaining three matchups.

The 22-year-old forward was ultimately called back down to the AHL on Sunday, capping off yet another underwhelming NHL stint. 

The decision from Mike Sullivan came as he’s looking for more out of Othmann’s game and wants him to get real game action, which the Rangers can’t provide for him. 

“We talked to Otter just about attention to detail, a little bit of predictability and reliability with his respect to his game away from the puck and that being an important element of him earning his way on the roster as a regular,” Sullivan said. 

“The other aspect of it is, we don't want any one player, especially young players sitting on the sidelines. He was in the West Coast trip with us. He played one of the games. We would rather see him get into game action, so he has an opportunity to learn through those experiences. He's a young player. He's he's got a lot of his career in front of him, and so just balancing, if he's not in the lineup at the NHL level, does it make sense to have him as the extra forward, or does it make sense to allow him to go back to Hartford and get into the games and play in 18-plus minutes.”

Noah Laba's Emergence Has Had A Ripple Effect On The Rangers The emergence of Noah Laba has opened up a world of possibilities for the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a>.&nbsp;

What does the future hold for Othmann with the Rangers?

Recently, Othmann’s name has been the subject of trade rumors. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Oct. 16 that the Rangers are open to the idea of trading the 22-year-old forward, and these recent events will only ignite more speculation.

A trade certainly seems as if it could be in the cards, but for now, Othmann will continue to play big minutes in Hartford and prove himself with the hopes of eventually working his way back up to the NHL.

The Edmonton Oilers have dealt with a series of injuries this season, but as players return to the lineup, roster spots are becoming increasingly limited. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the team is exploring trade options for defenseman Troy Stecher, who has been serving as the Oilers’ seventh defenseman but could find a full-time role elsewhere.

Reports indicate that Edmonton Oilers are actively exploring moving Troy Stecher.

The reason: the Oilers have a surplus of defencemen, several returning from injury.

📹 Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/xh7GcEHIqu

— Bleed Oil Blue (@BleedOilBlue) November 2, 2025

Stecher, 31, is a reliable two-way defenseman who previously spent time with the Detroit Red Wings before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a seventh-round pick in March 2022. A return to Detroit could make sense for both sides. The Red Wings have struggled defensively in recent games, allowing 27 goals in their last seven games, which is the second-most in the NHL during that stretch. Adding Stecher would be an upgrade over their current bottom-pairing right defenseman, Travis Hamonic, and he is also four years younger.

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

Troy Stecher! #LGRWpic.twitter.com/hpa7zQyUBU

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 1, 2021

There is reason to believe Stecher would be open to a reunion with the Red Wings as he originally chose Detroit as a free agent in 2020, and the team’s strong start to this season could make the opportunity even more appealing. The organization is already familiar with his work ethic and steady play, which could make him a natural fit on the blue line once again.

Stecher is coming off a Stanley Cup Final run with Edmonton, who acquired him along with a fourth-round pick from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a seventh-round pick. While he did not record any points in his eight postseason appearances, he finished with a +2 rating and provided dependable minutes in key situations. His extended playoff experience also includes an impressive stretch with the Kings, where he scored two goals and two assists in four playoff games after joining the team from Detroit.

For the Red Wings, adding Stecher would bring both experience and stability to a defensive group that needs improvement if they want to maintain their early-season momentum. With plenty of cap space and the likelihood that Stecher’s trade value remains modest, potentially costing only a mid-round pick, this could be a low-risk, high-reward move as Detroit looks to strengthen its roster for a potential playoff push.

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The shootout doesn't have the same luster as it used to when it was first introduced to solve ties in the NHL in 2005-06.

When teams are hosting 41 home games a year (and starting next season, 42), they need a mechanism to ensure games have a finite ending point rather than endless hours of overtime. That’s what shootouts guarantee in a way no other end-game solution can. Fans deserve a game-winner in a reasonable period of time during the regular season.

That said, it’s clear the shine is off the bumper for shootouts. It’s a non-team-based solution that narrows things down to a goalie and a few shooters. So, of course, people are going to want games to end before they reach the shootout stage.

That said, another 1-on-1 competition is just as exciting as always despite happening less often than it used to.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman brought up an interesting point on Saturday about penalty shots. He voiced his concern that on-ice officials aren’t calling enough penalty shots – and recent statistics bear that out.

Last season, there were 32 penalty shot attempts in the NHL. That’s the fewest in an 82-game season since 2000-01. The 2023-24 season saw 49 penalty shots, compared to 52 in 2022-23. Dating back to 2005-06, which saw a season-high 103 penalty shots, the average number of attempts in a season is 54.

Friedman mentioned some examples from Saturday's action that were or should have been penalty shots. On one play between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens, Juraj Slafkovsky received a minor penalty for holding when he and two teammates were "hacking and whacking" at Senators center Shane Pinto, who had a breakaway. Meanwhile, Tim Stutzle hooked Lane Hutson while the Habs defenseman was on a breakaway, and he did receive a penalty shot, igniting the crowd.

You can decide for yourself whether the fewer penalty shots last season were a result of referees being less liberal in calling them, or whether players are more disciplined. In any case, Saturday was an example of how we could have seen at least one more attempt that engages the viewer and can change the game.

We should encourage the NHL to instruct referees to be more open to calling penalty shots, which is "designed to restore a scoring opportunity which was lost as a result of an infraction being committed by the offending team," according to the NHL rulebook.

The four conditions that must be met to call a penalty shot are that the infraction must have taken place in the neutral zone or attacking zone, it must have been committed from behind, the player who had possession of the puck was denied a reasonable chance to score, and there must have been no opposing player between the player with the puck and the goaltender.

In Pinto's case, the only opponent he had in front of him was the goalie, and while he had the puck, Slafkovsky held him up in the neutral zone. There are almost certainly other situations like this one on a weekly and monthly basis that met the criteria for a penalty shot and yet were called something else.

It seems somewhat obvious to say it, but empowering the officials to hand out penalty shots on rush attempts that are bogged down by obstruction is a great thing. And remember, the NHL is in the entertainment business. What’s more entertaining than a penalty shot? (Haha, very funny, everyone who tried to answer that question with “a cycle game that leads to a blocked shot.” We see you.)

If you hate shootouts, we get it. Hockey is a team sport, so team-based ends to hockey games make most people happy. But while a penalty shot is virtually the exact same element of the game that a shootout is, the difference has to do with the timing of it.

You could get a penalty shot as soon as the game begins, and that would lead to terrific drama as teams get out of the gate. A late-game penalty shot also could decide the winner. And if referees do get more liberal with penalty shots, you could also, in theory, get multiple penalty shots in the same game. Dare to dream.

Last season, there were only seven penalty shot goals, the lowest total in that department since 1995-96. That may be an outlier, but it should be concerning for league officials. Penalty shots always are on highlight reels, and the NHL should want more of that, wherever they can get it. 

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The Buffalo Sabres continue their three-game homestand against JJ Peterka and the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday On Saturday, the Sabres played without winger Zach Benson, who was struggling with a lower-body injury. At practice on Monday, the club skated without another two forwards. 

Center Jiri Kulich and veteran winger Jason Zucker and c were not on the ice at KeyBank Center on Monday. Kulich saw only one shift in the third period of the Sabres 4-3 shootout victory over Washington, while Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that Zucker was battling an illness.   

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"Kulich is just dealing with an issue that couldn't play through. Zucker is sick, so I think he's doubtful for tomorrow too," Ruff said. "We've got some roster stuff we definitely have to talk about the next hour or so to make a decision....I'm gonna say I don't think Zucker is gonna feel well enough to play and then we've got one other guy that we don't know, so we're gonna have to take a hard look at what we can do." 

Buffalo called up winger Isak Rosen for Saturday’s game and the Rochester Americans leading scorer continued his offensive production by registering his first NHL goal in the first period, beating Washington’s Charlie Lindgren. Based on the possible lack of availability of Zucker and Kulich, it is possible that the Sabres insert Mason Geersten on the fourth line, and may have to recall center Noah Ostlund for the second time. If not, it is possible that Ruff goes with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

Canadian goaltender Louis Domingue, 33, has been released by Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Monday.

According to the club’s website, “Domingue is leaving Sibir due to family reasons.”

Family is a commonly cited reason for terminating a KHL contract. During the 2024-25 season, Anton Slepyshev, Linden Vey, Tony DeAngelo and Ryan Merkley all left their teams on similar grounds – Vey and DeAngelo resurfaced in other leagues shortly thereafter.

In 11 games for Sibir this season, Domingue had a goals-against average of 3.83 and a save percentage of .892. Sibir has the worst record in the KHL’s Eastern Conference with seven wins in 21 games and the third-worst record in the league.

Another Goalie Moves From NHL To KHL Canadian goaltender Louis Domingue, 33, has signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Thursday.

Originally from Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., Domingue played junior hockey for the Moncton Wildcats and Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, and was drafted in the fifth round, 138th overall, by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2014 and 2025, Domingue played 144 NHL regular-season games and seven more in the playoffs for the Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.

In the 2018-19 season with Tampa Bay, he played 26 games backing up Andrei Vasilevskiy and posted a 21-5-0 record – including a run of 11 straight wins – as the Lightning tied an NHL record with 62 regular-season wins (since broken).

After playing only two regular-season games for Pittsburgh in 2021-22, injuries to Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith forced Domingue into the Penguins’ starting role during the playoffs. He entered Game 1 of the first round in the second overtime period against the Rangers and played in six of seven games that series, which Pittsburgh lost.

In each of the past two seasons, Domingue played one game and won for the Rangers, but otherwise spent the rest of the time in the AHL.

Ilya Samsonov Signs Multi-Year KHL DealGoaltender Ilya Samsonov returns to the KHL, signing with Sochi after his NHL chapter concludes. A potential North American clause offers a path back.

It’s time to kick off a new week with more big NHL and hockey topics on The Hockey News Big Show.

What's Fuelling The Penguins' Success The Most? by The Big Show

Here’s what former NHL goaltender Devan Dubnyk, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:41: What's more heartbreaking: the Oilers' Game 7 loss, or the Blue Jays' Game 7 loss? 

2:35: Is this just a hot start to the season for the Pittsburgh Penguins, or can they sustain this? 

4:25: What is contributing more to the Penguins' success: the goaltending or the scoring? 

6:24: Who can step up to fill in Chris Tanev's spot if he's gone for an extended period of time? 

9:15: Is losing a defensive defenseman like Tanev worse than losing an offensive defenseman?

10:33: How much should Ottawa Senators fans be concerned about Linus Ullmark's play? 

12:55: Is Ullmark likely to turn things around quickly based on what you've seen from him in the past?

14:50: What kind of trade value does Edmonton Oilers D-man Troy Stecher hold on the market? 

16:30: Is there a hole the Oilers are trying to fill in their lineup? 

18:50: The New Jersey Devils agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $6 million annually with Jacob Markstrom. Thoughts on this deal?

20:40: Who is the starter for New Jersey if the playoffs were to start today? 

23:08: What goes into being a good backup goalie on and off the ice? 

25:48: The Montreal Canadiens are the first team in NHL history to win five of their first 12 games in overtime. Does it matter if they're going to overtime often if they continue to win?

28:34: What is making Montreal so good in overtime?

30:10: Are you starting to come around on whether the Habs are real contenders? 

34:00: Yay or nay: wearing dark helmets with white uniforms, as the Senators and Capitals did over the weekend?

35:20: Free-agent goaltender Ilya Samsonov signed in the KHL. Will he ever return to the NHL?

37:30: Name one player you think is on a hot streak right now and one player who is on a cold streak.

40:40: Has Father Time finally come for Alex Ovechkin? 

42:40: How much Halloween candy did you eat over the weekend?

Watch the full episode here

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

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off an overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. The Hawks played a great game against one of the best teams in the NHL, but the Oilers came out on top in the 3-on-3. 

Facing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in overtime is incredibly difficult, but the Blackhawks played well enough otherwise. Every time Edmonton pulled ahead in regulation, the Blackhawks found a way to even it up. 

Despite it being a loss, it’s a game to build on. The skaters kept up with the speed and skill of Edmonton, and Spencer Knight was great in net. 

Now, the Blackhawks will play game three of a six-game road trip. This one will come in Washington against the Seattle Kraken. 

Scouting Seattle

The Seattle Kraken have had a shockingly good start to the 2025-26 season. At 5-2-4, they’ve been a bit fortunate to collect overtime points, but they are right there in the mix. Since coming into the NHL as the 32nd expansion team, things have not been as smooth for them as they would have hoped, but things are looking good right now. 

Seattle’s last game, like Chicago’s, was a loss in overtime. Their OTL came at home against the New York Rangers. They are going to be looking for a bounce-back game just as much as the Blackhawks. 

Tolvanen - Beniers - Eberle

Schwartz - Stephenson - Kakko

Marchment - Wright - Nyman

Kartye - Meyers - Winterton

Dunn - Larsson

Lindgren - Montour

Mahura - Oleksiak

Daccord

The Kraken have a nice mix of veterans and young players on the team. Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle are two-thirds of a solid top line. Chandler Stephenson and Shane Wright add depth down the middle with decent wingers all over. 

On defense, they have some great players who can make a difference. Vince Dunn, Brandon Montour, and Adam Larsson are the leaders back there. 

The heart and soul of this team, however, is Joey Daccord. He has been a solid NHL goalie so far this season, so the Blackhawks will have their work cut out for them when trying to score. Bodies in front, being hard on the forecheck, and showing off some skill will be necesarry. 

Projected Blackhawks Lines, Defense Pairs, and Starting Goalie

On Monday afternoon, the Blackhawks announced that they called up Oliver Moore. He is going to make his Chicago Blackhawks season debut against the Kraken in this game. In addition to this move, Chicago has placed Jason Dickinson on injured reserve, retroactive to October 30th. 

Later in the afternoon, the Blackhawks announced that they have also sent Landon Slaggert down to the Rockford IceHogs.

Arvid Soderblom is going to start in the net. In front of him, lines and defense pairs won't be known for sure until warmups, as the morning skate in Seattle was optional. 

They will, if they go 11/7 again, look something like this: 

Greene - Bedard - Burakovsky 

Teravainen - Nazar - Bertuzzi 

Donato - Dach - Mikheyev

Moore - Foligno

Vlasic - Rinzel

Kaiser - Levshunov

Grzelcyk - Murphy

Crevier

Soderblom

With Dickinson out and Moore in, that makes Sam Lafferty the healthy scratch out of the forward group. Until Jeff Blashill dresses 12 forwards, it is assumed that they will continue with this strategy. 

How To Watch

Local TV viewers can find the game on CHSN, and out of market folks can find it on ESPN+. It can also be heard on local radio AM 720 WGN. The puck will drop shortly after 9 PM CT. 

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.