The New York Islanders have had what can only be described as a frustrating start, opening the year 3-3-1.
Moreover, the Islanders have alternated wins and losses through their first seven games of the year.
Already, there's trends forming that the Islanders will have to address to gain more consistency throughout their game.
First, one key is scoring first. The Islanders are 3-0-1 when they score first, with Thursday's loss to Ottawa representing the first time they've lost after scoring first. They still collected a point.
When they allow the first goal, the Islanders are 0-3-0, and have been outscored 12-6 in those three games.
Through three games, chasing games has not been conducive to success in any way. The Islanders are, to their core, a defensive-minded team.
They do not do nearly as well when they've got to chase the game and open up their own play to chase offense.
Playing from ahead, however, allows the Islanders to be stingier defensively, and more selective of when to fly forward for rush chances and try to overload their opponents.
A lot of people have pointed to special teams as a reason for New York's futility. While it's certainly been far from perfect, the Islanders' special teams units have done their job through seven games.
In each of their three regulation losses, the Islanders' special teams units have contributed at least one goal.
Against the Toronto Maple Leafs, whom the Islanders play for a second time on Saturday night, the Islanders allowed one Toronto power play goal, but Emil Heineman scored a short-handed goal.
The Islanders' power play went 0-4 in the one-goal loss, so that was certainly a notable area for improvement.
New York's next game was a 6-0 rout of the New Jersey Devils, and the Islanders scored on the power play, going 1/3 in the win.
Next, the New York Rangers scored a power-play goal in a 5-2 win over the Islanders, but the Islanders also scored one. Nobody could pin that game on the Islanders' special teams, either.
The Islanders scored a power play goal for a third-straight game against the Chicago Blackhawks in a 4-1 win, a game that Bo Horvat opened up with a power play goal.
Against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bolts went just 1-for-5 on the man advantage. The Islanders went 1-for-2, but still lost 5-3.
The Islanders won the special teams battle, but lost the game.
In the Islanders' next game against the Vancouver Canucks, the Islanders lost the special teams battle to the Canucks, but found a way to win 3-2 over Vancouver.
Finally, back to the Thursday, neither New York nor Ottawa struck on the power play in the tight shootout loss.
There's no clear trend through seven games about the special teams units, one way or another. New York's been above or at league average on the powerplay, a massive improvement from recent years.
Through seven games, the Islanders have yet to record a point if they've trailed at any point in the game.
That is, by far, the headline through their first seven games, entering a Saturday night game against the Maple Leafs.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home to face the New York Rangers tonight at 7:00 PM.
New York Rangers - 6-3-0 - 12 Points - Lost 2 - 2nd in the Metro
Columbus Blue Jackets - 2-3-0 - 4 Points - Lost 2 - 7th in the Metro
Teams Notes Per CBJ PR
The winning team has scored four-plus goals (including SO goals) 11 times in the last 13 outings overall and in 15 of the last 18 games of the series dating back to Oct. 29, 2021.
The Jackets have a 24.0 percent power play percentage in the last nine games at Nationwide Arena in the series (6-of-25).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Conor Garland has scored in each of his last two games against New York (2-0-2) and has 7-2-9 in 14 career contests vs. the club.
Matthew Knies has collected points in five of his six career games vs. the Rangers (3-2-5).
Sean Monahan has tallied 5-9-14 in 20 career games vs. New York, with points in five of his last six contests (3-3-6).
Damon Severson has notched 5-18-23 in 48 career GP against New York, with points in back-to-back games against the club (1-2-3) and has points in seven of his past 10 meetings (1-6-7).
Zach Werenski has recorded 3-19-22with 5 multi-point efforts in 28 career games against New York, who notched 0-3-3 last time out on Mar. 19, 2026, and has 0-7-7 in his past five matchups.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 16.7% - 23rd in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 61.1% - 30th in the NHL
Goals For - 15 - 29th in the NHL
Goals Against - 21 - 15th in the NHL
RangersStats
Power Play - 22.2% - 10th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 92.9% - 3rd in the NHL
Goals For - 28 - 7th in the NHL
Goals Against - 21 - 11th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheRangers
The Blue Jackets are 26-24-1-7 Overall, and 15-16-0-2 at Nationwide Arena vs. New York.
Columbus has earned points in eight of the last 11 meetings against the New York Rangers (5-3-3).
CBJ have gone 24-of-28 (85.7 pct.) on the penalty kill in the last 12 contests of the series.
The last matchup between teams oin Mar. 19, 2026 saw 11 combined penalties, the most in the series since 14 recorded on Oct. 24, 2008.
Who To Watch For TheRangers
Alex Lafreniere leads the Rangers with 7 goals and 11 points.
Adam Fox leads NYR with 9 assists.
Goalie Dylan Garand is 3-2-0 with a SV% of .915.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 5 Games Missed
Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 5 Games Missed
Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 5 Games Missed
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 19
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
TV: CBJHN (Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo)
Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the New York Rangers tonight at 7:00 PM.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have assigned forward Dakota Joshua to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on a long-term injured reserve conditioning loan, according to the American Hockey League transactions log.
The move, reported Friday, signals progress for the 30-year-old after he opened the 2026-27 season on LTIR with an abdominal/core muscle injury he had been dealing with since the offseason. Joshua participated in training camp but was never able to progress the injury to a point where he could be effective in game action. He was listed as day-to-day early in camp, then week-to-week, before the club formally placed him on LTIR on Sept. 30 alongside Max Domi. That designation requires a projected absence of at least 10 games and 24 days and provided the Leafs with temporary cap flexibility while Joshua recovered.
The earliest Joshua could come off LTIR to be in a Leafs lineup would be Oct. 22 when the club hosts the New York Rangers.
Under the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, an LTIR conditioning loan is distinct from a standard conditioning loan. A regular conditioning loan (CBA Section 13.8) cannot exceed 14 consecutive days, requires the player’s consent, and keeps the player on the NHL roster and payroll while the Commissioner retains the right to investigate any potential circumvention of waivers or the cap. For players already on the bona fide long-term injury/illness exception, the conditioning loan is shorter and more targeted: it is limited to a maximum of six days or three games (whichever comes first), again requires the player’s agreement, and is intended solely to assess fitness to return. The club and player can mutually agree to extend it for up to two additional games.
His injury history has limited his availability since the extension. In 2024-25 with the Canucks he missed the start of the season after surgery for testicular cancer and later dealt with a leg injury, finishing with 14 points in 57 games. Last season, his first in Toronto, he recorded 10 goals and 18 points in 55 games while averaging just over 12 minutes a night. A lacerated kidney in late December cost him 19 contests, and he also sat out the final four games of the regular season with an upper-body issue.
Getting into AHL games will give the Leafs a clearer read on whether the core injury has healed enough for Joshua to return to his physical, forechecking style and contribute in a bottom-six role. With the club already navigating other injuries and a rebuilt supporting cast under coach Jim Hiller, a successful stint could accelerate his activation once the medical staff clears him.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 12: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins blocks a shot by Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on March 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (3-4-1, 7 points, 6th place Metropolitan Division) @ Vegas Golden Knights (7-2-0, 14 points, 1st place Pacific Division)
When: 10 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Locally televised game on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and SCRIPPS, streaming for out of market at ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The road trip continues Monday in Salt Lake City. The Penguins then have two days off before returning to Pittsburgh for a three-game homestand, starting Thursday against the Florida Panthers.
Opponent Track: The Pens are about to take on one of the hottest teams in the NHL. The Golden Knights have won six of their last seven games, most recently including consecutive wins over the Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames in which the team outscored their opponents by a total of 11-4.
Season Series: The Penguins won’t have to wait long for another meeting with the Golden Knights, which are coming to Pittsburgh Nov. 3.
Hidden Stat: Only the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers have spent a higher percentage of their game time in the offensive zone than the Golden Knights so far this season, according to NHL Edge.
Hidden Stat II: The Penguins haven’t won on the road against the Golden Knights since January 2022, when Jason Zucker, Teddy Blueger and Jake Guentzel led the Pens to a comeback victory.
Getting to know the Golden Knights
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone
Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner
Trevor Connelly – Tomas Hertl – Raphael Lavoie
Braeden Bowman – Nic Dowd – Marc Gatcomb
DEFENSEMEN
Brayden McNabb / Shea Theodore
Jeremy Lauzon / Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin / Dylan Coghlan
Goalies: Carter Hart, Adin Hill
Potential scratches: Ville Heinola, Parker Wotherspoon (week-to-week, upper body)
Injured Reserve: Victor Olofsson
Season-ending LTIR: Alex Pietrangelo
Parker Wotherspoon won’t be reuniting with his former teammates tonight. The Golden Knights announced Monday the defenseman is week-to-week with an upper body injury after starting the season on the team’s second pairing alongside Rasmus Andersson.
The Golden Knights’ top power play unit of Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Tomas Herl and Shea Theodore has been dangerous so far this season. Vegas is one of seven NHL teams that has converted on more than 25 percent of their power play opportunities so far this season.
Carter Hart has made the bulk of starts for the Golden Knights so far this season. After a rocky 18-game campaign last season he has a .911 save percentage and 2.35 GAA through six appearances in net.
Mark Stone is heading into tonight fresh off a natural hat trick in the third period of the Golden Knights’ win over the Flames. He has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his first nine games of the season.
Jack Eichel is second only to Connor McDavid for the NHL production lead with 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) through nine games. His latest tally was a shorthanded strike against the Flames.
The Penguins will need to be alert early. Brett Howden scored the eighth-fastest goal in Golden Knights history when he opened scoring just 25 seconds into Thursday’s game.
Egor Chinakhov was a late scratch ahead of Friday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Penguins said he’s being evaluated for a lower-body injury. If he can’t skate tonight, Ville Koivunen could slot into the lineup again in his place.
Sergei Murashov is likely slated for the start tonight after Arturs Silovs made 27 saves on 32 shots from the Avalanche.
The numbers reflect a promising individual night for the 30-year-old defenceman, who finished with three shots on goal, three blocked shots, one hit and a power-play assist while skating 31 shifts. Raddysh was on the ice for Marchenko’s first goal at 13:10 of the opening period, when he and John Tavares set up the right winger’s finish that gave Toronto a 2-1 lead. That assist extended Raddysh’s point total to four in eight games this season.
Yet the Leafs (3-3-2) could not hold a 4-2 advantage heading into the third period. Buffalo (4-3-1) scored twice in a span of just over two minutes to tie the game before Owen Power won it at 3:14 of overtime on a feed from Jack Quinn. Toronto managed only four shots in the third period after generating 15 and 11 in the first two frames, respectively. Overall, the Sabres outshot the Leafs 35-30.
Raddysh told The Hockey News after the game Thursday that the Leafs felt good entering the final regulation period after controlling play and forcing turnovers earlier.
“I just think we sat back a little bit. They’re a good rush team and take great chances from our mistakes. And I think when we saw that in the third period there, we just kind of sat back and let them come at us.”
He described the shift in approach as the difference between the first 40 minutes and the third.
“We made a mistake by sitting back. We just can’t give them an inch, and we kind of gave it to them. The first two periods, we played in their end, made them make the mistakes and give us the puck, and we kind of did that in the third period for them.”
Prior to the third, Raddysh felt the Leafs’ defensive structure was effective when they stayed aggressive and used their skating.
“Just trying to get up in the rush, trying to move our feet and defend with our feet and be skating,” he said. “We did that good. They were turning the pucks over to us and flipping them out to us, and we were just going right back at them.”
HOW COULD YOU EVER DOUBT THE SABRES DOWN TWO HEADING INTO THE THIRD PERIOD
MATTIAS SAMUELSSON IS THE GREATEST GOAL SCORER WE'VE EVER SEEN
“Not the result we wanted, but learn from your mistakes and get better for next game,” he said.
The Leafs host the New York Islanders on Saturday.
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Through nine games, the Philadelphia Flyers are the worst offensive team in the NHL, but the good news is that they could get a big boost from their top prospects if and when they deem necessary.
As we have been harping on for the better part of two weeks, the Flyers at least partially put themselves in this position by their own doing.
Top winger prospect Alex Bump was a healthy scratch just four games into the season, and soon after he was replaced by veteran Michael Bunting on the NHL roster.
Meanwhile, Bump, since being sent down, has recorded a goal in each of the four games he's played in for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Overall, the 22-year-old has five goals, two assists, and seven points in four AHL games this season, and is quickly proving to the Flyers that his demotion was a mistake.
Surging alongside Bump is 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko, who did not make the Flyers' NHL roster out of training camp for the first time in three seasons since being drafted.
Jett Luchanko taking a major leap?
Jett Luchanko is finally producing offense, which has long been a question mark in his game. (Photo: James Guillory, Imagn Images)
The 20-year-old is quickly finding his groove in his first professional season, having already tallied a goal - his first as a professional player - and five assists in six games for the Phantoms.
In 14 AHL games across parts of two seasons, Luchanko has a goal, eight assists, and nine points, and that doesn't include the six points he recorded in seven Calder Cup playoff games in 2025.
Overall, Luchanko has 15 points in 21 games at the AHL level and, well, he might very well end up being one of those players who excels more at the pro level than the junior level because of the differences in how the game is played.
Indeed, Luchanko is not an offensively-oriented high-wire act, but he brings hockey IQ, superb attention to detail, speed, and playmaking to the table at his best. And, with years of the Flyers hammering the point home, it looks like the former 13th overall pick is finally taking initiative to shoot the puck, too.
There is a case to be made that, maybe the Flyers shouldn't break up a good thing with the Phantoms and instead just take their licks with the players they have for now.
Bump, Luchanko, and Cole Knuble have all played well early in the season, and the older prospects, like Hunter McDonald and Jacob Gaucher, have complemented them in kind.
The Flyers also learned last year that weakening the farm team too fast can have consequences, as the Phantoms crashed and burned out of playoff contention without Bump and Denver Barkey, combined with a slew of injuries that depleted them further.
At the same time, the Flyers called up Oliver Bonk and immediately thrust him into top-pair duties, and now it doesn't look like the 21-year-old will be returning to the AHL level any time soon.
It's a tough judgment call for the Flyers to make, as they generally prefer to let their young players to develop at an appropriate pace.
In Bonk's case, he proved and has continued to prove that he is ready for the NHL level, and it is now a matter of when, and not if, Bump and Luchanko do the same.
Pete DeBoer discussed his meritocracy and in-game demotions for Cal Ritchie and Anthony Duclair: “The players make those decisions for me.” [Post | THN]
Five early questions for the Isles, including what the hell can be expected of Mat Barzal. [Newsday]
Semyon Varlamov did his job the other night, but the team couldn’t hold up their end. [Post]
Island Ice podcast with Andrew Gross: The ups and downs that are sure to continue, plus Logan Stanley. [Newsday]
Elsewhere
Well-traveled former Islanders coach Rick Bowness has the cantankerous old-man thing going early and hard with the Blue Jackets, who he says should be embaraassed for their poor defensive play thus far. “I’m not a babysitter. I’m too old to be a babysitter for these guys.” [NHL | Sportsnet]
Former Blue, Oiler, Penguin, Duck, Blue, Golden Knight, Blue, Senator, Red Wing, and Senator David Perron has signed with the Stars for his 20th season. [NHL]
The Oilers are off to a great star that will ultimately be undone by their goaltending, but Mike Babcock admitted to playing his top stars too much during their loss to the Mammoth. [Sportsnet]
On the winless Kings and Flyers, Sidney Crosby on pace for only 48 points, and more. [Sportsnet]
The Saturday afternoon game between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals should be a fun one with plenty of offense. The Capitals are coming off a game where they scored five goals, while the Devils are coming off two games where they combined for 12 goals.
It’s also a game that, like the one against the New York Rangers the other night, will say a lot about where the Devils stand in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils are 4-3 and look like a middle-of-the-pack team, but a win against the Capitals proves they can beat anyone in their division.
The Capitals are also a prime example for many teams of how it’s possible, with the right moves and patience, to retool on the fly. To remain competitive, turn over the roster, and not move on from the core. The Devils are hopeful they can do the same, at least after the first offseason of general manager Sunny Mehta’s tenure.
Capitals Took Some Swings To Revitalize Their Core
In the 2022 offseason, the Capitals took a chance on Dylan Strome. He was a good but not great player with the Chicago Blackhawks, someone they didn’t see as part of their plans. The Capitals saw him as a late-bloomer who still had his best in front of him.
Two years later, the Capitals made a move for Pierre-Luc Dubois, a 25-year-old center who previously played on three teams. That same offseason, the Capitals made a move for Jakob Chychrun, hoping he’d hit his stride in Washington.
All three moves worked out and gave the Capitals a new core to build around. Strome was a point-per-game player in 2024-25, while Chychrun became the scoring defenseman to take the offense to another level.
Fast forward, and the Capitals rolled the dice with a busy summer, acquiring Alex Tuch, Boone Jenner, and Jordan Kyrou. To varying degrees, all three moves are paying off and turning the Capitals into a Cup contender.
Mehta took similar swings this summer. Luke Evangelista is at a similar point in his career as Strome was when he joined the Capitals. Declan Chisholm, like Dubois, saw multiple teams move on from him before he ended up with the Devils. Mehta hopes these players become key parts of the Devils this season.
It will take time before the Devils find out if the swings paid off. There’s plenty of hope that it will, with the new players fitting in with the core so far. Moreover, there’s a chance some of them become building blocks for the future, whether it’s Evangelista or Amadeus Lombardi, who has shown flashes as a depth forward.
Finding Depth
The biggest difference between the Capitals and the Devils recently is the depth. The Devils might have just as good, if not better, a core than the Capitals, considering Alexander Ovechkin is in the twilight of his career. It’s the production that comes from the bottom six and the second or third pair that made the difference.
Like the offseason moves, the Capitals slowly added depth to their roster. Matt Roy isn’t a household name, but a key part of their defense. Likewise, a handful of the prospects initially filled in but slowly worked their way up in the lineup.
The Devils are still searching for depth. The recent games suggest they’ve found it, whether it’s Anthony Mantha and Evan Rodrigues leading the third pair or Johnathan Kovacevic and Brenden Dillon rounding out the defense. The Devils have won three of their past four and look like a complete team, something they want to see throughout the season.
Adding Young NHLers Through The Pipeline
For years, the Capitals have had a strong farm system thanks to their American Hockey League team, the Hershey Bears. The Bears are one of the few independently owned teams in the AHL and focus on winning first and developing second. It’s a contrast to the rest of the league, but it created a culture that helped prospects develop.
It all came together with the Capitals' turnaround. It started with depth players joining the NHL roster, whether it was Ethan Frank or Ivan Miroshnichenko. Now, they have some high-end prospects joining the team, including Ilya Protas, who is a middle-six center, and Andrew Cristall, who is an exciting winger who is still developing with the Bears.
It’s unlikely Mehta wants the same thing with the Utica Comets, where the AHL team’s primary focus is winning. However, he wants something similar to what the Florida Panthers had with the Charlotte Checkers: a winning culture that helped the players develop and join the NHL team ready to go.
A hot start from the Comets is a promising sign that a winning culture is being developed. It’s allowing the prospects to take strides forward, whether it’s defenseman Anton Silaev or 22-year-old forward Lenni Hämeenaho, who has a team-leading five points in three games. It’s a bright spot for the Devils, who hope to have the reinforcements soon enough.
Boston Bruins (6-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (0-3-2, in the Pacific Division)
Los Angeles; Saturday, 9 p.m. EDT
LINE: Kings -138, Bruins +113; over/under is 6
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Kings take on the Boston Bruins as losers of five straight games.
Los Angeles is 0-3-2 overall and 0-2-0 in home games. The Kings have given up 21 goals while scoring 11 for a -10 scoring differential.
Boston has gone 3-1-0 in road games and 6-2 overall. The Bruins have a +12 scoring differential, with 30 total goals scored and 18 given up.
Saturday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season.
INJURIES: Kings: Jakub Dvorak: out (upper-body), Mats Zuccarello: out (undisclosed), Kevin Fiala: out (leg), Jan Jenik: out (undisclosed), Alex Turcotte: out (undisclosed).
Bruins: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Rasmus Andersson has moved on from Calgary, but he hasn't stopped caring about the people he left behind.
As the Flames stumble through the early stages of a rebuild, the former Calgary defenceman has a message for fans: have faith.
Andersson spent nine seasons with the Flames before joining the Vegas Golden Knights, giving him plenty of firsthand experience with the expectations that come with playing in Calgary. He knows how much the team means to the city, which is why watching it struggle isn't easy.
But speaking with Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, Andersson pointed to a reality that can get lost when losses start piling up. Calgary made the decision to rebuild, and that process was never going to be pretty from the start.
“You just can't have it both ways,” Andersson said, addressing fans calling for changes amid the team's disastrous opening stretch.
The Flames have stumbled out of the gate, going 1-6 through their first seven games. They’ve scored just 14 goals, the second-fewest in the league ahead of only the Los Angeles Kings (11), while their 35 goals against are also the second-most, trailing only the Vancouver Canucks (41).
The 29-year-old isn't dismissing the frustration. He's simply reminding supporters that building a contender takes more than a few good weeks, particularly when a roster is going through significant changes.
Andersson still keeps tabs on his old club, even if he doesn't follow the day-to-day conversation as closely as he did while playing there. Seeing familiar faces in a very different lineup has been an adjustment, but his feelings toward the organization haven't changed.
He remains in touch with his former teammates and the coaching staff, while hoping to see Calgary’s younger players develop into established NHL talents. The bonds he formed during his nine years with the Flames haven’t faded just because he’s moved on.
“They’re all gonna be friends for the rest of my life,” Andersson said.
Life in Las Vegas has treated him and his family well. He signed a seven-year, $59.5-million contract this summer and is settling into his new surroundings, but Calgary hasn't become just another stop in his career.
The Scotiabank Saddledome, where his son took his first strides on skates, still holds plenty of memories. With the Flames nearing the end of their time in the building, Andersson is looking forward to returning in February.
He may be on the other side now, but there's no hard feeling toward Calgary. If anything, he wants to see the rebuild work — and give the fans who supported him for nine years a reason to celebrate again.
DENVER — Sports are largely the theatre of the unexpected.
We’ve seen it throughout history, from Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson to the Arizona Diamondbacks beating the New York Yankees in the World Series. More recently, the Milwaukee Brewers reminded us that money doesn’t guarantee success, spending $146.2 million less than the two-time reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers before sweeping them out of the National League Championship Series.
The Colorado Avalanche are coming off a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ball Arena. T.J. Hughes scored his first goal, Nathan MacKinnon had a four-point night, Artturi Lehkonen is off to the best start of his professional career, and Mackenzie Blackwood is making his critics look foolish.
Things are going well for Colorado. But Monday’s matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers is the kind of game the Avalanche cannot afford to take lightly.
Philadelphia has yet to win through its first nine games. Suggesting that a winless team could pose a serious threat might sound ridiculous, but I’ve covered sports long enough, particularly boxing, to know that records don’t always tell the whole story.
Just ask Anthony Joshua.
When Andy Ruiz Shocked the Boxing World
In 2019, Joshua was widely considered the king of the heavyweight division. The British fighter and 2012 Olympic gold medalist held three of boxing’s four major world titles, with Deontay Wilder holding the fourth. Despite years of anticipation, Joshua and Wilder never fought.
Joshua was preparing to make his American debut against undefeated contender Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller in New York. Miller, who was promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions, was supposed to be Joshua’s opponent for a major world title defense.
I had a personal connection to the promotion through my friend Clifford Mass, an investor in the company who also served as its vice president of business development.
On April 16, 2019, I received information from multiple sources that Miller had scored a pair of hat-tricks—but not the kind celebrated on the ice.
Miller failed three separate drug tests, testing positive for three different performance-enhancing substances: EPO, human growth hormone, and GW1516. He had previously failed a drug test as a kickboxer and had refused testing on another occasion.
I texted Mass what I knew to be true. His response, following a string of profanities, was memorable: “You just delivered the worst news I’ve gotten in a long time. Oh well.”
Miller was pulled from the card, leaving promoters scrambling for a replacement.
Enter Andy Ruiz Jr.
Ruiz was undefeated and had remarkably fast hands, but his physique didn't fit the typical image of a heavyweight champion. Some observers made jokes about his build, comparing it to a stack of jelly rolls. Few expected him to beat Joshua.
What happened in the ring, however, was nothing short of stunning
Joshua scored an early knockdown, and it looked as though the fight might go according to plan. But he became reckless, at times appearing to admire his own work rather than remain focused on Ruiz. The challenger took advantage, dropping Joshua four times before stopping him in the seventh round in one of the biggest upsets in modern sports history.
Ruiz became an instant celebrity. Credit: USA Today
That's what makes this story relevant to Colorado.
The Flyers Have Already Burned Colorado Once
On paper, the Avalanche have a significant advantage over Philadelphia. Colorado's 36 goals are tied for the NHL lead with the Vegas Golden Knights, the same team that swept the Avalanche out of the Western Conference Final this season.
The Flyers, meanwhile, have scored just 11 goals through nine games, the fewest in the league. Their 33 goals allowed also ranked third-worst in the NHL as of publication, behind only the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
But a struggling team can still have players capable of changing a game in a hurry. And the Flyers have already shown Colorado what that looks like.
On January 23 at Ball Arena, Philadelphia handed the Avalanche a 7-3 loss. Owen Tippett recorded a hat trick and an assist, while Matvei Michkov had two goals and an assist. Denver Barkey and then-Flyer Bobby Brink also scored.
Colorado fell behind 2-0 in the first period but fought back, scoring three times in the second to tie the game at 3-3. Then everything fell apart. Philadelphia scored four times in the final period, turning a competitive game into a blowout that head coach Jared Bednar described as “horrible.”
The Flyers were 23-17-9 at the time, so they weren't the winless team we're seeing now. Still, the result should serve as a reminder that Philadelphia can hurt Colorado when the Avalanche make mistakes.
And that's been a concern for Colorado at times. The Avalanche have occasionally played down to their opposition, leading to costly turnovers and defensive breakdowns. Against a team desperate for its first win, those mistakes could be all the encouragement Philadelphia needs.
The last thing Colorado wants is to hand the Flyers their first victory of the season. A 7-3 loss to a winless opponent would be an ugly result, especially for a team with championship aspirations.
No Game Is Won on Paper
The Avalanche have more than enough talent to win this matchup. MacKinnon and the offense are producing, Hughes is finding his footing, Lehkonen is playing some of the best hockey of his career, and Blackwood has been answering his critics.
But none of that matters if Colorado takes its foot off the gas.
Joshua was the heavyweight champion, and Ruiz was the replacement almost nobody expected to win. Yet Ruiz seized his opportunity, and Joshua never recovered.
Colorado doesn't need to fear Philadelphia, but it does need to respect the matchup. The Flyers have struggled badly, yet they've beaten the Avalanche convincingly before. That alone should be enough to get Colorado's attention.
Monday should be a game the Avalanche expect to win. The challenge is making sure they don't start playing as though they've already won it.
Because sports have a funny way of punishing teams that underestimate their opponents. And the Avalanche have already seen what can happen when the unexpected becomes reality.
Before heading out for a four-game road trip to the Tri-State area, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Boston Bruins on Friday night at Honda Center.
The Ducks are coming off a disappointing 4-2 loss to the basement-dwelling Calgary Flames on Tuesday, while the Bruins came into this game on a three-game winning streak, outscoring opponents by a total of 17-5.
Anaheim was without their captain, Mikael Granlund, for this game, who is listed as “day-to-day” with an upper-body injury. With both Granlund and center Ryan Poehling unavailable for this game, head coach Joel Quenneville inserted Cutter Gauthier, who had missed the Ducks’ previous game with his own upper-body injury, at second-line center and dressed talented rookie winger Nikita Klepov.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:
Killorn-Carlsson-Klepov
Nesterenko-Gauthier-Sennecke
Vatrano-McQueen-Caulfield
Greer-Washe-Malott
LaCombe-Warren
Mintyukov-Luneau
Hinds-Helleson
Lukas Dostal got the start for the Ducks for the sixth time in seven games to open the season and stopped 18 of 22 shots. He was opposed by Michael DiPietro in the Boston crease, who stopped 25 of 27.
“A little bit of our details we lost towards the end of the second and the third,” defenseman Jackson LaCombe said after the game. “Then we couldn’t score on the power play. That definitely hurt us. So, we just got to be more disciplined and sharper in our execution.”
Game Notes
After 40 minutes, the Ducks were seemingly in control of this game and dictating 5v5 play. Special teams had been the Ducks’ driving factor toward their early success this season, but this game flipped that script entirely, as their power play didn’t convert on any of their five opportunities and their penalty kill allowed three goals on four attempts.
Cutter Gauthier: Gauthier hadn’t played center for an entire game since he debuted in the NHL in the spring of 2024. He didn’t miss a beat in this game, proving to be the true goal line to goal line centerman that Quenneville’s systems require. His skating ability in defensive zone coverage rapidly eliminated time and space for attackers, and he did well to recover from broken exits and fill lanes while backtracking to the top of the crease.
He translated his off-puck prowess to breakouts, where he put himself in positions to receive second passes out of the zone while at full speed, and when he was transporting in neutral ice, he did well to navigate sticks and bodies while maintaining possession. If Gauthier can stick as the second-line center or fill in for spurts, he will solve a lot of the Ducks’ roster construction question marks early in the year.
Power Play: Perhaps they missed Mikael Granlund’s detailed presence. Perhaps Boston’s PK and coaching staff found some flaws in Anaheim’s tactics. Perhaps a combination of the two, compounded with a foreign (to this season) lack of execution, but Anaheim had difficulty gaining clean entries and finding time and space along the perimeter.
Regardless of the entry wrinkle they attempted, the Ducks struggled to keep pucks moving down the wall and into a setup after the trailer dished to the outside after gaining blue. They lacked the decisiveness to which we’d become accustomed within their structure and reverted to rimming pucks behind the net to incite battles elsewhere in the zone, battles they often lost before Boston cleared the zone.
Nikita Klepov: On the Ducks top line for the first time in his two-game career, Klepov was afforded the time and space to operate that he wasn’t in his debut, as in this game, he played alongside Leo Carlsson, who garners ample attention, and Alex Killorn, who provides veteran details to maintain possession and keeps pucks moving north by finding linemates in space.
Klepov was able to display aspects of why the Ducks decided to make the trade to draft him and eventually decide to have him start the season in the NHL. He was smart, tenacious, and manipulative with the puck on his stick and cycling. He found Carlsson in space multiple times, unlocking a bit of Carlsson’s cycle potential, and seemed to generate quality opportunities at will, especially from below the dots. His composure and dictation were far beyond what is expected from a young rookie in his second career game.
Breakouts: At 5v5, the area where the Ducks had struggled most coming into this one was on their breakout and exit sequences. Though they deploy a blueline consisting of six players 25 years old and younger, they showed more composure and confidence in corners and behind their net on retrievals.
Their ability to draw forecheckers low, thwart them, and buy time for their outlets to gain position or find open ice led to cleaner exits than displayed through the first six games, an encouraging sign moving forward.
Next, the Ducks will head to the New York metropolitan area to start their four-game road trip, beginning on Monday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden at 4 pm PST.
The Pittsburgh Penguins came out like a house on fire against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night, but couldn't sustain it for a full 60 minutes.
They played a strong 20 minutes and took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, then allowed four more goals to lose 5-2. The Penguins had no answer for the Avalanche's pushback to start the second period, and their defensive zone woes continued in a second straight loss.
Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust scored for the Penguins. Malkin made a beautiful move to the slot to score his fourth goal of the season, and Rust scored 29 seconds later off a great pass from Sidney Crosby.
- Let's get some of the positives out of the way. Sidney Crosby played his best game of the season on Friday, and it wasn't close. His pass for Rust's goal was great, and it felt like he had eyes in the back of his head all game.
He was threading the needle beautifully and even had some glorious chances of his own. He's very much back after a slow start, which will be a big deal if the Penguins can get out of this rut.
- I didn't mind the Penguins' 5v5 play at all and thought they got plenty of quality chances throughout this game. However, the problem is that nobody outside of Malkin or Rust could finish their chances.
Rickard Rakell had a glorious semi-breakaway in the second period, but Mackenize Blackwood turned it aside. Andrei Kuzmenko was stoned on the doorstep during a third-period power play. Tommy Novak was denied twice. Ville Koivunen had a ridiculous tip earlier in the game when it was still 2-1, but it hit the post.
It simply wasn't their night.
- Speaking of Koivunen, this was his best game since opening night against the Flyers. He fit well on the Malkin line in place of injured Egor Chinakhov and made a beautiful play to start the rush that led to Malkin's goal. He was engaged all game long and, as mentioned above, almost had a highlight-reel goal, but it hit the post.
It was a much-needed performance from him.
- Alright, let's get to the negative. Just like Tuesday, special teams killed the Penguins in this one. They were way too passive on the penalty kill, allowing the Avalanche to do whatever they wanted on the power play.
T.J. Hughes's goal won't be scored as an official power-play goal, but it may as well be one since he scored it immediately after the penalty expired. Declan Carlile was too slow and didn't get to Hughes in time, giving him an easy goal.
- As for the power play, what more is there to say? The first unit is an absolute disaster right now and needs to be broken up. The zone entries are pitiful, and even when the unit gains the zone, the players fold under pressure, leading to easy clears. If you ask me, they need to experiment with Rakell and Malkin on PP2. They look lost on the first unit.
- Declan Carlile was a mess on the top pair again. This has been a theme over the last week: he looks out of his depth. He's trying to do way too much and isn't opting for the simple plays.
He was out to lunch in his own zone and didn't look comfortable. It'll be interesting to see whether Muse moves him away from Karlsson so he can face some lesser competition and regain some confidence
- I also didn't like Karlsson's game tonight. He was making some strange decisions with the puck in the offensive zone and wasn't winning his assignments in his own end. I know he has seven points (all assists) in eight games, but the Penguins need more from him if they want to get to where they want to be this year.
- The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Penguins since they have a matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Like the Avalanche, the Golden Knights are one of the best teams in the NHL and have been steamrolling teams since the season began.
It would behoove the Penguins to take two points in that game and split the back-to-back before they close out this four-game trip with the Utah Mammoth, who are also red-hot, on Monday.
DENVER — Artturi Lehkonen isn't one to make a big deal out of himself. He'd rather do his job, score his goals and move on to the next game.
That's part of what makes him so good. It's also why the Colorado Avalanche shouldn't wait much longer to get a contract extension done.
Lehkonen scored twice in Thursday night's 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ball Arena, giving him six goals through eight games. His previous best through eight games was three, set during the 2024-25 season.
He's never started an NHL season like this, and he's doing it in the final year of his contract.
Lehkonen signed a five-year, $22.5 million deal with Colorado in July 2022, just after helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup. He hasn't signed an extension, and if he keeps scoring at this pace, his next contract could get a lot more expensive.
The funny thing is, Lehkonen probably wouldn't give himself much credit for any of it.
Earlier this month, I asked him how he prepares for those moments when a game is on the line. His answer was about as humble as you'd expect.
“I don't know, it's... Just trying to find that being in the right place at the right time, I guess.”
That's Lehkonen. Six goals in eight games, a history of scoring huge playoff goals, and he makes it sound like he's just getting lucky.
But there's a reason he's always around when the Avalanche need a goal.
Lehkonen goes to the net. He fights for loose pucks. He does the work in the corners and isn't afraid to take a hit to make a play. He's not waiting for the perfect opportunity to score. He works until one comes his way.
We've seen what that looks like in the playoffs. Lehkonen scored the overtime winner against Edmonton in the 2022 Western Conference Final before scoring the goal that clinched the Stanley Cup against Tampa Bay. A year earlier, he scored in overtime to send Montreal to the Final.
He has a knack for showing up when it matters. That's not luck. That's who he is as a player.
And now he's putting up career-best numbers to go with everything else he brings to Colorado.
The Avalanche have plenty of stars, but players like Lehkonen are a big part of what makes a team successful. He can score, defend and play the hard minutes. He doesn't need the spotlight, and he doesn't need to be the best player on the ice to make a difference.
Even his teammates know how much he brings to the team.
Mackenzie Blackwood, who made 29 saves in Thursday night's win, summed it up perfectly when talking about Lehkonen after the game.
"Art is like the unsung hero... He doesn't get enough credit."
It's a fitting description of a player whose value goes well beyond the scoresheet. The goals are just making his impact harder to ignore.
Colorado still has to manage its salary cap, and there's a long way to go this season. But the Avalanche know what Lehkonen brings. He's already helped them win a championship, and he's showing again why he's such a good fit.
The longer they wait, the more expensive he could potentially become.
Lehkonen will probably keep doing what he's always done. He'll shrug off the goals, give credit to his teammates and get ready for the next game. He isn't going to make a public fuss about his contract or tell anyone how much he's worth.
That's fine. He shouldn't have to.
Joe Sakic needs to make sure the business side gets taken care of.
DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had three assists and a power-play goal, Artturi Lehkonen scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Friday night.
T.J. Hughes scored his first NHL goal, while Mackenzie Blackwood settled in after a shaky start to stop 29 shots.
Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead after scoring 29 seconds apart midway through the first period. The Avalanche erupted for five straight tallies, including three in the second period.
Colorado finished 1 of 4 on the power play in the Avalanche debut of assistant coach Brett McLean. He’s in charge of the unit after Dave Hakstol left to take over as head coach of the men’s hockey program at Arizona State.
Lehkonen’s second goal tied it 25 seconds into the second period. Captain Gabriel Landeskog had a goal nearly four minutes later for his 83rd career go-ahead score. He’s tied with Mikko Rantanen for sixth-most in Avalanche history. Hall of Famer Joe Sakic tops the list with 210.
Hughes got free down low and poked in a pass from MacKinnon. He was hugged by Cale Makar and then playfully squirted with water by Landeskog as Hughes made his way past the bench.
Sidney Crosby notched his 1,110th career assist to move into sole possession of seventh place in NHL history. He’s also one assist shy of matching Ray Bourque (1,111 with Boston) for the most in league history with a one franchise.
BRUINS 4, DUCKS 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Elias Lindholm assisted on the tying goal and scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, leading Boston past Anaheim for its fourth straight victory.
David Pastrnak scored a tying power-play goal and Frederic Brunet got his first NHL goal for the Bruins, who roared back from an early two-goal deficit and improved to 6-2-0.
Less than five minutes after Pastrnak converted a give-and-go with Lindholm, the Ducks failed to mark Lindholm during a power play and allowed him to tap in a pass from Pavel Zacha with 11:39 to play. Matthew Poitras added another goal with 3:40 left on James Hagens’ second assist of the night.
Michael DiPietro made 25 saves in his second start of the season for the Bruins.
Beckett Sennecke got his fifth goal and Tim Washe also scored for the Ducks, who have lost three straight home games while giving up 13 goals. Lukas Dostal stopped 18 shots.
Ducks captain Mikael Granlund sat out with an upper-body injury, and goal-scoring winger Cutter Gauthier filled in by moving to center for the first time in his NHL career.
