Whether it’s an Original Six franchise or one of the more recent teams to join the league, all NHL teams have one thing in common: they possess dedicated fan bases. And while some may appear to be more dedicated than others – at least in how they fill up their team’s respective arena – they are all dedicated nonetheless.

Around Halloween, we took a look at the NHL teams that had the highest average attendance over the past five seasons, with the Montreal Canadiens emerging as the top dog. But what about the teams at the opposite end of the spectrum? Today, we will be laying out five teams with the lowest average attendance over the past five seasons.

For the purposes of this list, we will be excluding the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons due to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the league’s attendance numbers during that period. With that in mind, we will focus on the average attendance numbers from the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Additionally, we will be omitting both the Arizona Coyotes and the Utah Mammoth from this list. While both of these teams would have made up the top two spots on the list, the now-defunct Coyotes played in Mullett Arena, which has an NHL capacity of 4600, during their final two NHL seasons from 2022-23 to 2023-24. This extremely low attendance capacity, compared to other teams, felt unfair to include in this list. 

With the Mammoth, firstly, the team has been in the league for less than two seasons, and secondly, their attendance numbers themselves have been greatly hindered by renovations to convert their arena, the Delta Center, from the strictly basketball home of the Utah Jazz of the NBA, to an arena that can better house NHL hockey. So, including the Mammoth, like with the Coyotes, felt a bit unfair.

With that in mind, let’s get to it.

5. Anaheim Ducks

When you account post-season and even regular-season success, the Anaheim Ducks finding themselves in the basement of the league’s average attendance numbers does not come as a surprise. In the five seasons analyzed, the Ducks averaged just 15,821 fans per game, while their arena, the Honda Center, has a hockey attendance capacity of 17,174; much of this can be attributed to the team’s lack of success over the past half-decade or so.

The Ducks’ downward attendance trajectory has coincided with the franchise's longest playoff drought, which now stands at seven seasons – the third-longest active post-season absence in the league. However, the Ducks had their highest attendance since 2018-19 last season, with an average of 15,806 per game according to HockeyDB. With the team currently leading the Pacific Division and looking dominant, that number could easily rise, especially if the Ducks continue to thrive and return to the playoffs. 

4. New Jersey Devils

While the New Jersey Devils have been an overall successful franchise in the team’s 42-year history, winning three Stanley Cups and making the post-season 24 times during that span, a more recent lack of playoff success or even qualification has caused the team’s attendance totals to slip in recent years. 

In the five seasons analyzed for this list, the Devils had an average attendance of 15,738.4 per game, nearly 2000 less than the Prudential Center’s hockey capacity of 17,625. And since the last time the Devils made it to the Cup final in 2011-12, the team has only surpassed the 17,000 mark twice. The first time was the 2012-13 season, also a lockout-shortened season, then in 2023-24, the team had an impressive average attendance of 17,598.

If the Devils can achieve more significant playoff success this season and beyond, and we believe they likely can, perhaps their attendance average can shift out of the league’s basement.

3. New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are an interesting case, as the team hasn’t performed poorly necessarily. The team has made the playoffs in eight of the last 13 seasons, and two of those appearances saw them make it to the Eastern Conference finals in 2020 and 2021, and 2023-24 saw the team post their best average attendance total in Islanders history with 18,099.

However, last season, a season where the team failed to make the post-season, the Islanders saw that number dip to 15,979. Another factor at play for the team is their attendance numbers from when they played at Barclays Center from 2015-16 to 2019-20, where the hockey capacity was just 15,795. During the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, the Islanders weren’t even able to reach that capacity, averaging 12,627 in those two seasons, and those years significantly reduced the average for the purposes of this list to 15,248.8.

Hopefully, the new-look Islanders, led by top rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, can get more fans in the seats and allow them to thrive again.

2. San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are a victim of a lack of recent success, and that is why they find themselves with the second-lowest spot on this list. As a whole, the Sharks’ franchise history has been filled with success, with the team, despite never winning a Stanley Cup, missing the playoffs only six times between 1991-92 and 2018-19. But it is in more recent years that the Sharks have faltered, and it is reflected in their attendance numbers.

The Sharks have been a rebuilding team for the past few seasons and have missed the playoffs for the past six seasons. If you look at their season-to-season attendance averages, the peaks that they reached in years like 2014-15, with 18,708 in attendance on average, have fallen off to an average of 15,092 in the years discussed in this list. 

There is some hope for a resurgence as the current 2025-26 average of 14,832 is the highest the team has had since the 2019-20 season, but with the team still struggling to make any real noise in the Pacific Division, it may still be some time before we see the SAP Center filled to its capacity.

1. Winnipeg Jets

Considering the regular-season success the Winnipeg Jets have had in recent memory – notably last season when they won the Presidents’ Trophy with the best regular-season record in the NHL – it may be a shock to see the Jets at the bottom in average league attendance, yet here they are. And while the reason for this could simply be attributed to the fact that the team has the smallest arena capacity at just 15,321, there are bigger issues at play.

Even with this small arena capacity, the Jets have been unable to average a sold-out crowd in all of the last three seasons. Even when you take the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons into account, which together had an average attendance of 15,535, the average for the years included in this list still comes out to a concerning 14,594.2.

Even this season, the team is only averaging 14,096 – nearly 300 less on average than last year’s total. Perhaps fans are becoming fed up with tremendous regular-season play followed by playoff mediocrity, but no matter what theory you have, there is only one conclusion, and it’s that the Jets have failed to put butts in the seats in Winnipeg.

---

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Buffalo Sabres have had their share of issues through the first third of the NHL season, with a crippling series of injuries to key players, a continuing high level of inconsistency, and managing only one win on the road, but as the club is getting their injured players back, their goaltending has not contributed to them being able to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. 

On Wednesday, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed three goals on 18 shots in a 4-2 loss in Pittsburgh, and on Friday Alex Lyon allowed five goals on 23 shots in a 5-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Lyon, who was making his first start in nearly three weeks, took ownership of his performance after the game. 

"It's been a while since I've won a game, and for me, that's really the most important thing and (it's) just disappointing and I got to find a way to do a little bit more." Lyon said. "My job is to stop pucks and that's all I'm going to focus on. I'm not going to beat myself up over it, but (it's) important that everybody holds themselves accountable."

 Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Guerin Gathering Info On Possible Olympic Options 

The Sabres goaltending situation is not ideal, but was something that was thrust upon them after Luukkonen was injured prior to and during training camp. It necessitated signing Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year contract (who terminated his deal last week and signed with Spartak of the KHL) and claiming rookie Colten Ellis on waivers from St. Louis. The club continues to carry three goalies on the NHL roster and all three have had limited runs as the primary starter, but none have taken the bit and run with it, and head coach Lindy Ruff says that is a difficult situation to navigate. 

"It's not an easy process to go through. It's not easy for them. It's not easy for myself, but it is, and was based on the fact that we had a goaltender we didn't know if he was gonna be healthy or not," Ruff said. “ "I think we've done a good job trying to work through it. Alex was working on some stuff with his game and that was the reason we didn't play him. He missed more time than we (would have liked) and you don't want to see a guy sit down long in between games." 

With both Luukkonen and Lyon coming off subpar outings, it is possible that Ellis, who last started in a 6-2 loss to Calgary, gets the start in Minnesota on Saturday. 

Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson left the ice midway through the third period after a collision with Devils forward Timo Meier.  Ruff indicated that the blueliner was in concussion protocol and did not have an update, but with the Sabres playing on Saturday, it is possible that Zach Metsa subs in for Samuelsson against the Wild. 

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

ST. PAUL, Minn - Despite what some visiting broadcasts think, rookie Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt is not going to change up his postgame win celebration any time soon.

It has become his thing and something no other goalie does.

"There’s no reason to change, I don't think," Wallstedt said postgame. "I think I now look as much forward to do it as maybe the fans do seeing it, so that one’s not going anywhere."

Wallstedt, 23, made 39 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday to end the Avs' streak of ten wins in a row.

The rookie net minder now leads the league in goals-against average (1.93), save percentage (.938) and shutouts (3). He is 7-0-2 on the season and has yet to lose in regulation. Wallstedt is now 6-0-0 in his last six starts with a 1.14 goals-against average, a .967 save percentage and three shutouts.

Colorado came into Friday's game against the rookie goaltender with ten-straight wins. After stopping three shots in overtime and 39 overall, the Wild and the Avs went to a shootout.

Wallstedt entered the shootout 7-for-7 and left the win going 2-for-3. Only Martin Necas scored on Wallstedt.

After Matt Boldy beat Scott Wedgewood, who leads the NHL in wins, Wallstedt had to make a save to win it. After stopping the NHL's leading goal-scorer and point getter, Nathan MacKinnon, Wallstedt was tasked with stopping the NHL's leading point getter among defenseman, Cale Makar.

The Wall of St. Paul stood tall and handed the Avalanche their first loss in 11 games and first since Nov, 1.

Jesper Wallstedt stops Cale Makar, Wild win in a shootout pic.twitter.com/o9tsE7g9Te

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) November 28, 2025

"I just let them make the first move I guess. MacKinnon, it’s hard when he starts chopping the puck there with his stick, he goes fast. I’ve never played him before. I’ve never seen something like that before either. So it was fun. It’s definitely, it’s where you want to be; you want to compete against the best players," Wallstedt said on the thought process in the shootout. "I love shootouts, and doing that against the best shootout takers in the world are pretty special. I felt like I had a good read on both, or on all three really but lost my edge on the first one. So otherwise I would have saved it."

Wallstedt has three wins in three shootouts this year and has allowed one goal on ten attempts. In all three of those he has done the same celebration of shooting an arrow before his team mobs him.

Where did it come from?

"I have no idea. I think I’ve kind of seen it probably when I was younger in the NHL or somewhere else. I thought it looked cool," Wallstedt said. "I don’t think a lot of other goalies do it right now so maybe it’s my thing right now."

But, 92.5 FM Denver's Altitude Sports Radio is not a fan.

"Makar tried to go five hole, save made by Wallstedt and he celebrates like he's won the Stanley Cup. He has not."

Wallstedt may not have won the Stanley Cup but he did just beat the best team in the World, as Conor McGahey said on the call, after stopping the best player in the World and the best defenseman in the World to end the Avalanche's ten-game winning streak.

They can call Wallstedt’s celebration whatever they want, but the rookie just joined a long list of Minnesota players who’ve sent Colorado home unhappy. For a franchise that’s been bounced twice in unforgettable Game 7 fashion (2003 and 2014), you’d think a simple arrow pose would barely crack the top 10 most painful moments.

If anything, Wallstedt kept it respectful. Maybe he could’ve pantomimed the whole 2003 handshake line or Andrew Brunette's celebration, when the Wild beat one of the best rosters ever constructed, and Colorado fans would’ve recognized the choreography instantly.

The Wall of St. Paul T-Shirts

what do ya know about The Wall of St. Paul 😌 pic.twitter.com/kSFgV8Aavl

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) November 28, 2025

Wallstedt's performance this year has even sparked a t-shirt that the whole team wore before the game on Friday.

As for where it came from or if he had expected it, Wallstedt had no idea.

"No idea. I saw it on Instagram or something, I got tagged in it I think. And I thought it looked sick. And then I kind of, definitely did not expect it to be in the locker room. Kind of a weird feeling. I got in here and I’m like, ‘I asked Ekker, am I supposed to wear it or is that kind of weird wearing your own shirt?’ Yeah so I ended up not wearing it," Wallstedt said.

It is so sweet, even head coach John Hynes wants to get his hands on one.

“No, I saw all the T-shirts around but I’m going to have to get one. I didn’t get one before the game but maybe now.”

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.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

'Structure Over Speed': How the Wild’s Structure Neutralized Colorado’s Elite Rush GameWild's disciplined structure stifled Colorado's elite rush attack. Learn how defensive execution and forward support neutralized the Avalanche's potent offense.

- Kirill Kaprizov Becomes Fastest Player In Wild History To 200 Goals.

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

- Vinnie Hinostroza Out 4-To-6 Weeks With Lower-Body Injury.

- Wild Will Commit To A Goalie Rotation Between Gustavsson and Wallstedt.

- Wild's Marco Rossi Is Out Week-To-Week With Lower-Body Injury.

For most of the first 40 minutes against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins looked like a team fighting itself. 

The execution wasn't there. The power play wasn't clicking and had actually cost them a shorthanded goal against. They surrendered a goal with three seconds remaining in the middle frame to go down by two, and it looked like they didn't have much life.

But Bryan Rust and Sidney Crosby certainly had something to say about that. 

Crosby scored twice, Rust scored once, and Kris Letang potted the game-winning goal in overtime as the Penguins completed a 4-3 comeback win over the Jackets to secure their first OT win of the season. They scored three unanswered goals, starting with Rust's goal just 13 seconds into the third period that set the tone for the rest of the game. 

The third period largely belonged to the Penguins thanks to Rust, Crosby, and goaltender Tristan Jarry, who was forced to make some tough saves to keep the score tied at 3-3 for the back half of the third. He stopped 26 of 29 Columbus shots on goal throughout the evening.

But Rust's goal was the turning point, and it came after he went down the runway twice in the second period with apparent injuries.

Tonight's win, by the numbers ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vxx8VZdH8p

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 29, 2025

"The third period was great," head coach Dan Muse said. "I mean, just the start of it, the way you come out there... just try to turn the momentum for us to start that period, especially after the way the second [period] ended. So, obviously, that was a huge shift, huge goal. Thought we had some good follow-up for it."

Crosby opened the game's scoring a little more than six minutes into the game, when the first line of Crosby, Rust, and Kevin Hayes was pressuring in the offensive zone. Letang found Crosby on the doorstep for a shot-pass, and Crosby once again went down to one knee to redirect it and give the Penguins the 1-0 lead. 

From there, Columbus took over. Sean Monahan scored with just over six minutes remaining in the first after a lengthy period of sustained zone time for the Jackets, and Brendan Gaunce took advantage of an out-of-sorts Penguins' power play about four minutes into the middle frame to register his first goal of the season shorthanded off a two-on-one. And with time expiring in the second, star defenseman Zach Werenski - more than likely a lock for Team USA's Olympic roster - put Columbus up 3-1 with a rocket from the top of the left circle. 

Penguins Defenseman Erik Karlsson Hits New Milestone On FridayPittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson hit a new milestone on Friday night.

But that's when Rust came in and shifted the momentum. Erik Karlsson made a nice play on a pinch along the right wall to squirt the puck out to Rust, who wristed one from the top of the right circle and past Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves to bring the game to within one. Then - approaching the midway point of the third - Crosby scored a goal that will probably end up being one of his best of the season.

Tommy Novak got the puck near the left wall in the neutral zone on a feed from Parker Wotherspoon, and he quickly attempted a cross-ice pass to a breaking Crosby on the right side. Crosby, recognizing the pass was a bit behind him - allowed the pass to bank off the boards and ahead of him. He turned on the jets to get to the puck before Greaves could poke check and ahead of Jackets' defenseman Ivan Provorov, brought it in, and quickly went backhand-to-forehand to go top-shelf over Greaves and tie the game at 3-3. 

The goal also put Crosby into a tie with Dale Hawyerchuk at 640 career goals for 15th all-time.

SIMPLY SIDSATIONAL 👑 pic.twitter.com/wKUKERuJgK

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 29, 2025

The rest of the period was played pretty evenly with chances at both ends, but Jarry and the Penguins held strong to force overtime. Then - just 59 seconds into the extra frame - Evgeni Malkin won a puck battle on the left wall in the offensive zone and got the puck to Letang, who broke toward the slot. He fed it to Novak, who gave it back to Letang for a nice give-and-go and shot from the low slot to improve Pittsburgh's OT/SO record to 1-5.

"I think the big takeaway here for tonight is there's going to be games you're playing well, and you're down, " Muse said. "The ability to there to just stay with it, to know that it's another time, it's another situation that we now own, knowing that you can go into a third period in a situation like started the period and come out with a win... great to get the overtime win."

---

Here are a few takeaways from this one:

- I thought this was the best game that the Penguins' first line has played in quite a while. Rust has been off his game lately, and he showed up in a big way Friday. Crosby has also not been producing at his customary rate over the last couple of weeks, but he came through - and he's also now scoring at a 53-goal pace this season, which would be a career-high for him.

Sidney Crosby Climbs NHL All-Time Goals List<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' captain Sidney Crosby has been known throughout his career as one of the NHL's all-time great playmakers.

And as for Hayes? I thought he played a nice game and was a good complementary piece to the other two. 

Hayes doesn't always get enough credit for the playmaker he is. He certainly isn't the fastest skater, but he's one of the smartest, and he consistently makes good decisions with the puck on his stick. I don't think he's a long-term solution for the Penguins on the top line, and there are going to be some nights where he doesn't quite look as good as he did Friday.

But, given how injury-depleted these Penguins are right now, they may be able to get away with him slotting in there for a few more games while they wait for guys to get healthy.

- On the contrary, I didn't think this was a particularly strong game from the second line. I liked Malkin's play in overtime, but they were hemmed in their own zone for most of the evening five-on-five. Malkin skated with Anthony Mantha and Novak, and Danton Heinen got a few shifts in place of Novak later on in the game. 

This line is really, really missing Justin Brazeau. He, along with Noel Acciari, has been skating with the team in a non-contact capacity. And he can't come back soon enough. 

New Penguins' Winger On Pace For Career-Highs This SeasonOne year ago, right wing Anthony Mantha tore his ACL on a freak kind of play as a member of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames">Calgary Flames</a>.&nbsp;

- I thought he was a bit better tonight, but Ben Kindel's game has fallen off a bit since about Game 15 or so. He's just not the puck hound we saw in that first stretch, he's turning the puck over more, and he isn't driving offense at the rate he was prior to his brief stint on the first line with Crosby and Rust. 

But, hey, that's okay. Young players are going to go through stretches of down play, especially players as young as Kindel who have not experienced the grind of a full 82-game season. 

With Tristan Broz in the fold for now, it wouldn't surprise me to see him and Kindel get some kind of rotation at third-line center, just to give Kindel some rest days that he was supposed to get earlier on but couldn't because of the injury situation. 

- That said, I'm not sure I agreed with the decision to take Broz out of the lineup altogether on Friday. 

Unlike Kindel, this is a player who is used to the grind of a full professional season and back-to-back tilts. Yes, Broz missed two months with mono last season in the AHL, but he proved capable of handling the AHL schedule prior to that, which is 72 games long. 

How we're lining up in Columbus.#LetsGoPenspic.twitter.com/KFFS5sQDJP

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 28, 2025

I'd love to see Kindel, Broz, and Ville Koivunen play together Saturday in place of Heinen. Broz can play wing or center, so I don't think it will be a huge problem for him to make that shift when Kindel is in the lineup. 

Give me the "kid line." Broz and Koivunen have real chemistry, and so do Koivunen and Kindel. So let's try it.

- And speaking of Koivunen, I thought he played another nice game on Friday. The simply just cannot buy a goal right now. 

I do think there are some timing issues he still needs to work out at the NHL level. He tends to hold onto pucks too long, he waits too long to pull the trigger on shots sometimes, and he looks so desperate to get the monkey off his back that he's almost trying too hard and forcing plays.

But he's generating chances, he's creating offense, and he's often putting himself in the right spots to finish chances. The goal he so desperately needs will come if he keeps playing like this. 

And, on that note: Penguins' fans need to be more patient with young players.

5 Things The Penguins Should Be Thankful ForAmerican Thanksgiving is upon us, and that means <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-have-passed-the-thanksgiving-benchmark">folks start talking benchmarks</a>, playoffs, and trade deadline storylines around the NHL.&nbsp;

Yes, on rare occasions, you'll get players like Kindel, who make an impact immediately upon arrival. But most of the time, there is going to be a period of adjustment for young players entering the league for the first time. We've seen that with Rutger McGroarty, who very clearly wasn't ready at the start of last season, got sent to the AHL for the season, and was a better player upon his return. We've seen that with Harrison Brunicke, who started off well for the first few games then ran into some trouble after. 

Let's not forget that Koivunen is just 21 games into his NHL tenure and - like Kindel - got off to a roaring start to his NHL career with seven points in eight games last season. He's had a slow start, but he's so close to breaking through. 

So, patience needs to be exercised with Koivunen, and it will need to be exercised with others. The Penguins will have a lot of young talent debuting over the next handful of seasons, and expectations for these young players in their first sustained taste of NHL hockey need to be tempered. As mentioned before, even Kindel has hit a bit of a rough stretch after a wildly impressive start.

Therefore, let's pump the brakes on calling a guy a "career AHL-er" 21 games into his career.

Penguins' Top Prospect Rutger McGroarty Extends AHL Goal-Scoring Streak<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' top prospect Rutger McGroarty can't stop scoring goals for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins.

- And, about McGroarty...

He scored yet another goal for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) on Friday, making that four consecutive games with a goal in the four games he's been back from injury. He has six points in those four games as well. 

The Penguins could sure use some scoring depth, and McGroarty is blowing return-to-play expectations out of the water so far in WBS. I know there is a plan in place to ease McGroarty back into game action before making further decisions regarding where he will play the rest of the season.

But I do think there comes a point where needs for the NHL roster - and performance - outweigh whatever preconceived plan came about.

WBS plays the Hershey Bears Saturday. If McGroarty continues his torrid start, I don't think it would be the worst idea to give him an NHL look sooner than expected. The Penguins need all the scoring help they can get right now, and McGroarty is showing that he's, arguably, already capable and ready for NHL minutes this season.

He's definitey one to keep an eye on in the coming days.

Penguins Have Passed The Thanksgiving BenchmarkThe Pittsburgh Penguins are in a playoff spot at Thanksgiving, which could be huge.

---

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

The online countdown of the top 100 hockey players aged 21-and-under comes to an end with the top 20.

The Hockey News' Prospects Unlimited issue's annual ranking of hockey's youngest talent is compiled by Ryan Kennedy, and while he uses our Future Watch rankings as a resource, this is a completely independent compilation.

Future Watch is based on a survey of NHL scouts, while the PU Top 100 is cobbled together by Kennedy based on his projections of what the players will be once they hit their primes.

Since different positions have different prime years, take that to mean we are projecting how good these forwards will be when they are 23 or 24 years old, the defensemen when they are 24 or 25 and the goalies when they are 25 or 26.

The birth year cutoff for this year’s list is 2004. Ages noted are as of Oct. 1.

As we share the top 100 list on TheHockeyNews.com, you can see the full list with player bios and draft information for each of them right now by being a subscriber to The Hockey News and accessing the Archive or by opening the magazine if you've already received it in your mailbox.

Catch up on the players ranked 21st to 40th, 41st to 60th, 61st to 80th and 81st to 100th.   

20. Keaton Verhoeff, D, 17 years old, North Dakota Fighting Saints
NHL Draft: 2026

19. Porter Martone, RW, 18, Philadelphia Flyers
Michigan State (Big Ten)

18. Tij Iginla, C, 19, Utah Mammoth
Kelowna (WHL)

17. Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, 21, Montreal Canadiens
Montreal (NHL)

16. Zayne Parekh, D, 19, Calgary Flames
Calgary (NHL)

15. Artyom Levshunov, D, 19, Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago (NHL)

14. Landon DuPont, D, 16, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
NHL Draft: 2027

13. Anton Frondell, C, 18, Chicago Blackhawks
Djurgarden (Swe.)

12. Michael Misa, C, 18, San Jose Sharks
San Jose

11. Zeev Buium, D, 19, Minnesota Wild
Minnesota (NHL)

The super-skilled blueliner may have only just finished his college career, but he's already seen some big-game NHL action.  Go to the full feature on Buium by clicking here.   

10. Beckett Sennecke, RW, 19, Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim (NHL)

9. Matthew Schaefer, D, 18, New York Islanders
NY Islanders (NHL)

8. Matvei Michkov, RW, 20, Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia (NHL)

7. Ivan Demidov, RW, 19, Montreal Canadiens
Montreal (NHL)

6. Leo Carlsson, C, 20, Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim (NHL)

5. Lane Hutson, D, 21, Montreal Canadiens
Montreal (NHL)

4. Gavin McKenna, LW, 17, Penn State Nittany Lions (Big Ten)
NHL Draft: 2026

3. Adam Fantilli, C, 21, Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus (NHL)

2. Connor Bedard, C, 20, Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago (NHL)

Although the Blackhawks have struggled the past two years, they have one of the game's premier young stars in Connor Bedard. If they can continue to get better and add help, other teams better watch out.  Go to the full feature on Bedard by clicking here.   

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, 19, San Jose Sharks
San Jose

There's no denying the fact it's been a tough cruise for the Sharks the past few years. But with Macklin Celebrini leading the way, San Jose is posed to get back on track.  Go to the full feature on Celebrini by clicking here.

---

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.

Everything is going horribly for the Nashville Predators this season. They currently have an 8-12-4 record and are at the very bottom of the NHL standings.

With the Predators having another nightmare season, they are emerging as likely sellers. One player who has been generating a lot of chatter in the rumor mill due to this is veteran forward Ryan O'Reilly. 

O'Reilly is certainly a player that playoff clubs would love to get their hands on. Mainly because the 34-year-old forward is still an impactful two-way center with a Stanley Cup on his resume. His contract also adds to his appeal, as he has a very reasonable $4.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season.

With all of this, let's take a look at three teams that could be great fits for O'Reilly if the Predators officially move him. 

Montreal Canadiens

In a recent episode of TSN Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun reported that the Canadiens are one of the teams interested in O'Reilly. With the Habs needing help at the center position, it would be excellent for the franchise if they won the O'Reilly sweepstakes.

If the Canadiens acquired O'Reilly, he would give them a prime upgrade for their second-line center spot. He would also be a great mentor for the Canadiens' young players to have around as the Original Six club looks to continue to trend in the right direction. 

New Jersey Devils 

The Devils also stand out as a potential suitor for O'Reilly. It's also worth noting that the Devils were reportedly interested in him leading up to the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

If the Devils landed O'Reilly, their center depth would be among the NHL's best once Jack Hughes returns from injury, as they would have a trio of Hughes, Nico Hischier, and O'Reilly, which would be simply lethal. 

Detroit Red Wings

O'Reilly and the Red Wings could also be a wonderful match. When looking at the Red Wings' current forward group, it is fair to argue that they could use another impactful center. Bringing in a player like O'Reilly would provide them with just that, and he could slot perfectly as their second-line center.

Furthermore, with the Red Wings being a team on the rise, looking to make the playoffs, adding a veteran who has had plenty of success, like O'Reilly, could help improve their chances.

---

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Montreal Canadiens are in Denver today to take on the Colorado Avalanche, one of the league's hottest teams. Nathan MacKinnon currently leads the scoring race with 39 points in just 23 games, while linemates Martin Necas (30 points) and Artturi Lehkonen (21 points) are also flying high. As always, Cale Makar leads all defensemen in points with 30, seven points ahead of his nearest pursuer, Josh Morrissey.

After making way for Samuel Montembeault for Friday afternoon’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Jakub Dobes will be back in the Habs’ net this afternoon. The Czech rookie faced the Colorado Avalanche once in his young career, his second game last January. The netminder was named the first star of the match after backstopping the Habs to a 2-1 shootout win, stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced in regulation and the two shots he faced in the shootout, finishing the night with a .957 save percentage. This is the kind of play the Sainte-Flanelle will need from him on Saturday afternoon.

Canadiens Shock Golden Knights In Vegas
What Should The Canadiens Be Willing To Give For Ryan O’Reilly?
Canadiens Sign Mike Matheson To Long-Term Extension

The offence will have its work cut out for it, too, since the Avalanche are getting some of the best goaltending in the league this season. The tandem formed by Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood has been firing on all cylinders. The former has a .918 SV while the latter has an impressive .928 SV.

In fact, Wedgewood is doing so well that he’s been mentioned as a goaltending possibility for Team Canada at the Olympics. The national side must think outside the box, given that Adin Hill is injured and both Montembeault and Jordan Binnington are struggling this season.

However, Wedgewood, who has played most of the Avalanche game this season, has only faced the Habs once and came out on the losing end of the duel with a 4.45 GAA and a .778 SV. That could have been encouraging news for the Canadiens, but Blackwood’s record against the Habs is almost flawless. He’s 5-0-2 against the Sainte-Flanelle and has a 2.47 GAA and a .922 SV. Since Wedgewood was in the net on Friday against the Minnesota Wild, expect Blackwood to be in the crease on Saturday.

The Avalanche are 6-3-1 in the last 10 duels between the two sides, and they’ve won the last one, a 5-4 shootout win last March while Montembeault was in net, allowing four goals on 37 shots. Colorado was riding a ten-game winning streak until it lost 3-2 in the shootout to the Wild on Friday night.

The Canadiens will need to keep a close eye on scoring race leader Nathan MacKinnon, the center has seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 19 games against the Habs. As for former Canadiens player Lehkonen, he’s got five points in as many games against his former team, while stud defenseman Makar has 10 points in just nine duels with the Sainte-Flanelle.

Up front for the Canadiens, Cole Caufield will look to extend his point streak to at least 7; he has two goals and five assists over the last six games. The sniper has only four points in six games against Saturday afternoon’s hosts, and now would be a good time to increase that production. As for Zachary Bolduc, who has five points in the last two games, he’s got three goals in five duels with the Avs and will be eager to keep his own point streak going. Meanwhile, captain Nick Suzuki has nine points in as many games against Colorado.

Puck drop is set for 3:00 PM and you can catch the game on ALT, TSN2, RDS. 

After the duel, Montreal will be making its way back home and will enjoy a deserved day off on Sunday before getting back to work in Brossard with a practice scheduled for 10:30 AM on Monday in readiness for the duel with the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Center on Tuesday night.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

It’s been a rough holiday week for the Florida Panthers.

Over the past few days, the Panthers have lost consecutive games on home ice for the first time this season, a pair of defeats that that bookend the Thanksgiving holiday.

Florida was outscored 9-5 in losses to the Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames, with the latter defeat stinging a bit more due to the combination of familiar faces on the Flames bench and the poor record they arrived in Sunrise with.

Now the Cats get a few days to lick their wounds and figure out how to get back on the winning side of things.

Let’s get to Friday’s takeaways:

OVERCONFIDENT?

Things felt like they were going Florida’s way early in this one.

Before the first period was three minutes old, the Panthers already had a multi-goal lead.

Those two goals were on the team’s first two shots, but Florida failed to build on their momentum and instead allowed Calgary to get the game back to even by the second TV timeout.

For a team like Calgary that has struggled for much of the season but only recently started to find some consistency, they saw a window of opportunity to pounce on the Panthers and boy did they take it.

“When you score two like that, you think you're going to just generate all you want, and when that doesn't happen, you get some frustration built into your game,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “We didn't move the puck very easily tonight, but the expectation that we should isn't realistic. We would have to closer support, and probably suffer the things that frustrate us a little bit a little bit differently, a little change in mindset on what our expectations are every time we touch the puck.”

TOO MUCH MEAT ON BONE

Scoring three goals on 40 shots is usually a recipe for victory.

Three goals isn’t a ton, but recaching the 40-shot milestone generally indicates a night where you possessed the puck quite a bit, or at least enough to make a three-goal output stand up.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, that was not the case on Friday afternoon.

Flames goaltender Devin Cooley was outstanding, stopping eight of Florida’s 10 high danger shots and holding them to just the three goals on a day there the Panthers’ expected goals was 5.96.

It didn’t help that 31 of Florida’s shot attempts were blocked on their way to the net.

“We got 85 shot attempts. It's fine. You get 39 to the net, but you've left an awful lot of zone time,” said Maurice. “Some are good blocks. Their team gets paid too, and we have to be mindful of that. And then I thought, maybe two areas: There were one on one battles where we weren't quite as good as we will need to be to expect to win a game, and then a little slowness in our offensive game.”

GOOD TIME FOR DAYS OFF

After dropping back-to-back contests on home ice, the Panthers will get three days between games to (as their starting goaltender would say) reset, regroup and refocus.

While you never want to go into a period of off time on a down note, the positive is that this will give Maurice and his staff a chance to break down the areas they feel the team is struggling and deliver those adjustments to the team.

“You've got to take the chances that you have to recover, but at the same time, we got a whole bunch of stuff we got to work on and get better, so this will be a good chance for us to do that,” Maurice said.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers can't build on quick start, lose 5-3 to suddenly surging Flame

Panthers continue season-long homestand against lowly Flames

Aaron Ekblad Avoids Injury; Will Suit Up On Friday For Panthers

Three takeaways: Panthers can't build on strong start against Flyers, Carter Verhaeghe starting to turn a corner

Late goals doom Panthers in 4-2 loss to Philadelphia

Photo caption: Nov 28, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley (1) makes a save against Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their winning streak to six games with their 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 28. Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Hagel chipped in during Tampa Bay's win, as he scored a goal. 

With his goal against the Red Wings, Hagel extended his ongoing goal and point streaks to four games. Over that span, he has recorded six goals, 10 points, and a plus-9 rating. With this, there is no question that the former Blackhawks forward is feeling it right now in a big way. 

With his ongoing hot streak, Hagel has now recorded 13 goals, 12 assists, 25 points, and a plus-13 rating in 23 games so far this season with the Lightning. When noting that the former Blackhawk started the year with only one assist in seven games, it is clear that the former Blackhawk has bounced back from his ice-cold start.

Hagel spent three seasons with the Blackhawks from 2019-20 to 2021-22. In 108 games with the Blackhawks over that span, he recorded 30 goals, 31 assists, and 61 points. His time with the Blackhawks ended during the 2021-22 campaign when he was traded to the Bolts. 

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson continued his stellar season on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

He got an assist on Bryan Rust's goal at the beginning of the third period, giving him 684 for his career. His 684 assists are 12th in NHL history among defensemen. He's 28 away from tying Scott Stevens for 11th on the all-time list. 

That assist gave him his 885th point, tying Peter Forsberg for the eighth-most points among Swedish players in NHL history. 

With his helper on Bryan Rust's goal, Erik Karlsson tied Peter Forsberg for the eighth-most points among Swedes in NHL history (885) AND moved into 12th place on the League's all-time assist list among defensemen (684) 👏 pic.twitter.com/dBDHiS8G5f

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) November 29, 2025

Karlsson has been the Penguins' best defenseman this season, compiling one goal and 15 points in 23 games. He's been great in all three zones and continues to drive offense from the blue line. 

After Bryan Rust made it a 3-2 game, Sidney Crosby scored his second goal of the game to tie it before Kris Letang won it for the Penguins in overtime. It was the Penguins' first overtime win of the year. 

Karlsson will look to keep climbing the ranks in these respective categories when the Penguins return to action on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

---

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

Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby has been known throughout his career as one of the NHL's all-time great playmakers.

But he continues to impress in the goal-scoring department, too. 

With two goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday in a 4-3 overtime win, Crosby tied Dave Andreychuk at 640 career tallies to enter the top-15 in NHL history. Next up for Crosby is Brendan Shanahan at 656.

Moving on up ⬆️

With two goals tonight, Sidney Crosby entered the NHL's top-15 all-time goals list by tying Dave Andreychuk with 640 career tallies 👏 pic.twitter.com/9RP4KrGXLA

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) November 29, 2025

Crosby, 38, is in the midst of his 21st NHL season and among the league's top-five in goals. The Penguins' captain is on pace for 53 goals this season, which would be a career-high mark. He is also on pace for 89 points, which would be his all-time best 21st consecutive season at point-per-game or higher. 

In his NHL career, Crosby has 640 goals and 1,712 points. He is just 12 points shy of breaking Mario Lemieux's franchise record for points and entering the NHL's top-eight all-time in scoring. 

---

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

For the first time in a month, the Nashville Predators have won back to back games.

Powered by goals from Luke Evangelista and Ryan O'Reilly, the Predators defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, on Friday at the United Center in Chicago. 

It's the first time since Oct. 25 that the Predators have won back-to-back games, and the first time this season that Nashville has won back-to-back games in regulation. 

The Predators had a slow start to the game as Ryan Donato scored the long goal of the first period to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. In the second, rookie Matthew Wood scored his seventh goal of the season off a pass up the boards from Nic Hague that sprung Wood for the game-tying goal. 

Later, Steven Stamkos got the puck on the opposite side from Nick Blankenburg and tapped it in on the backhand for a 2-1 lead. It was Blankenburg's third point in two games. 

Ryan Greene scored on the power play to tie the game back up at two, but Evangelista responded in the final five minutes of the period. He'd scored off a Stamkos rebound to give Nashville a 3-2 lead. Stamkos now has four points in two games after recording just three points in 21 games. 

In the third period, O'Reilly netted his second point of the game, scoring off a centering feed from Evangelista to the slot. Evangelista also finished with two points. 

Teuvo Teravainen scored in the third period for Chicago, but it wasn't enough. 

The line of Stamkos, Evangelista and Reilly logged 10 minutes of ice time and generated six shots. 

Nashville outshot Chicago, 29-27 and 62.9% of face-offs. The Predators struggled to stay out of the box as they had 10 penalty minutes to the Blackhawks' six. Nashville also went 0-for-2 on the power play and 3-of-4 on the penalty kill. 

Juuse Saros picked up the win, making 24 saves on 27 shots for a .889 save percentage for his sixth win of the season. 

Up next: Winnipeg Jets (12-11-0) at Nashville Predators (8-12-4) on Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. CST at Bridgestone Arena. 

The Chicago Blackhawks returned to action on Friday night, and there was an extra sense of excitement entering the game. 

For one, the team has been much better this year. They came in 10-8-5, which is right on the playoff bubble in the Western Conference. Even if they don't end with the most spectacular record of all time, this season will be remembered as the first stepping stone to winning. 

It is a Black Friday matchup against a division rival in the Nashville Predators as part of a weekend celebration. With the holiday season fully underway, it is an exciting time to be around the NHL as things are getting good. 

Chicago debuted their new black alternates, which it hasn't worn a version of since 2009. They coupled it with a blackout as fans were encouraged to wear black to the game.

It didn't come until the final minute of the first period, but Ryan Donato kicked things off on the scoresheet with his 8th goal of the season. 

Nashville took almost no time on the game clock to tie it up, however, as they scored at 1:46 of the second period. Matthew Wood scored the equalizer. At 7:18 of the second period, Steven Stamkos scored to give Nashville the lead. 

Ryan Greene evened things up again at 15:14 of the middle frame with a power-play goal. Greene has had tons of chances lately, but the finishing hasn't been as consistent in his game yet. This goal may be the marker he needed to gain his confidence back. 

Two goals in the third period for Nashville (Luke Evangelista and Ryan O'Reilly) gave them a two-goal advantage. Despite Teuvo Teravainen's "puck luck" goal to get them within one, the Blackhawks were unable to tie it and lost 4-3. 

The Blackhawks didn't play particularly well in this game and it cost them points against one of the worst teams in the NHL. They only have good teams on the schedule in the immediate future, so they must force that to bring out the best in them again. 

Watch Every Blackhawks Goal

a goal delivered by ryan donato😀 pic.twitter.com/yQxjU2QDkS

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 29, 2025

another power play goal✔️ pic.twitter.com/DjMoIUP24C

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 29, 2025

BOOM BOOM BOOM pic.twitter.com/hoauy6joVh

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 29, 2025

What's Next For Chicago

Next up for the Blackhawks is one more home game to wrap up a long stretch of games at the United Center. This one will come on Sunday afternoon against the Anaheim Ducks, who have been on a roll this season. After that, they will hit the road for a handful of games. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Anaheim Ducks netminder Lukas Dostal (25) has been the sole reason for several of Anaheim’s wins over the past two seasons. A season ago, he played behind one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL since the 2004-05 lockout, and this season, the Ducks are once again in the basement in terms of expected goals against per 60 minutes (3.03), 31st, behind only the Vancouver Canucks (3.08).

Again, to begin the 2025-26 season, he’s had to carry a heavy load early for Anaheim, as they continue to adjust to new defensive and offensive systems as well as several new faces on their roster. To date this season, Dostal has posted an 11-5-1 record, a .904 SV%, and has saved 10.1 goals above expected (10th in the NHL).

Dostal practiced with the Ducks on Tuesday, but was ruled out of Wednesday’s game against the Canucks ahead of the team’s morning skate with an upper-body injury, and was given a “day-to-day” designation. The team announced just before warmups, ahead of their Black Friday game against the Los Angeles Kings, that Dostal would miss the next 2-3 weeks.

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-4 Shootout Win over the Kings

Game #24: Ducks vs. Kings Gameday Preview (11/28/25)

The Ducks recalled Finnish goaltender Ville Husso before Wednesday’s game, and he started the Ducks’ game on Friday against LA, his first NHL action of the 2025-26 season. He posted a 6-4-3 record in the AHL, with a .908 SV% and three shutouts.

The Ducks will rely on Husso and regular backup Petr Mrazek. To date, Mrazek has started six games for the Ducks this season, has a 3-3-0 record, and an .881 SV%.

In the next three weeks, the Ducks will play eleven games, including seven on the road, mostly coming on a five-game road trip to the East Coast before returning to Anaheim on Dec. 19. The Ducks (31 points) exited Friday’s game in sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division, with only a two-point lead on the Kings (29), with the Seattle Kraken (28) and Vegas Golden Knights (28) just behind them.

The compressed NHL schedule and compressed NHL standings have left the Ducks in first place in the Pacific, but just four points separate them and the second wild card team (Utah Mammoth, 27 points), with the San Jose Sharks nipping at their heels. All that to say, this next 2-3 week stretch is tremendously important for Anaheim’s playoff odds.

They’ll have to tighten up several areas of their defensive game that have plagued them this season, including net-front defense, questionable pinches, and sorting assignments against rush attacks.

Husso and Mrazek have had relatively up-and-down NHL careers, and will have to be up to a difficult task if the players in front of them continue to surrender some of the chances that they have to this point in the season.

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-4 Loss to the Canucks

Beckett Sennecke Is More Than A Manchild

Pavel Mintyukov Returns to Ducks Lineup Impressing, Potentially Shifting Conversation

No period of good fortune endures indefinitely. 

The Colorado Avalanche saw both their 10-game winning streak and their run of three consecutive shutouts come to an end on Friday afternoon, as the Minnesota Wild edged them 3 to 2 in a shootout. The matchup lived up to its billing as a clash between the league’s two hottest teams, with Minnesota entering the contest on a six-game surge of its own. 

As The Hockey News noted in the game preview, no team can keep opponents off the score sheet indefinitely, and if there was a night when Colorado’s defensive wall might finally crack, this matchup was the likely candidate. Entering the contest, Kirill Kaprizov — fresh off an eight-year, $136 million dollar extension, the largest contract in franchise history — had already produced 14 goals and 14 assists in 28 games. He was the one to break Colorado’s shutout streak at 221 minutes and 42 seconds, redirecting a centering pass from Zeev Buium off his left skate and into the net early in the second period. The previous franchise mark, set in November 2001, stood at 192 minutes and 39 seconds. In any case, Colorado’s run was nothing short of historic. 

Kirill Kaprizov pots his second of the game and is officially on hatty watch! 👀 pic.twitter.com/4cGupujGU3

— NHL (@NHL) November 28, 2025

Kaprizov struck again with 1:57 remaining in the second period, one-timing Ryan Hartman’s wraparound pass from behind the net past Wedgewood to give the Wild a 2-1 lead. 

Of course, the Avalanche fought back valiantly, but it just wasn’t enough. 

Further Takeaways 

1. Landeskog Leads by Example 

If there is anyone still inclined to doubt that Gabe Landeskog is the heart and soul of this Avalanche team or question his drive to capture a second Stanley Cup, the video below makes it abundantly clear.  

This goal is exactly what makes Gabe Landeskog my favorite Avalanche player. #GoAvsGo

pic.twitter.com/e9QKcNfbyj

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) November 29, 2025

Landeskog ties it up!!#goavsgo@TheHockeyNews

— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) November 28, 2025

Landeskog unleashed a shot from a challenging angle, absorbed a high stick to the face, and collided forcefully with the boards in what was unquestionably a painful sequence. Yet he did not linger on the ice or succumb to frustration. Instead, he battled through the discomfort, regained his footing, and positioned himself perfectly to finish Nathan MacKinnon’s rebound for the crucial game-tying goal with just under nine minutes remaining in regulation. 

MacKinnon rarely displays unguarded emotion, but the way his face lit up the instant Landeskog scored revealed just how integral the captain is to both the team and the organization. 

2. Shootout Struggles Continue 

The Avalanche secured an overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks, courtesy of Gavin Brindley, yet Colorado remains in search of its first shootout win of the season. On the positive side, the team displayed resilience and determination. Martin Nečas converted the lone shootout goal, deftly sliding the puck past Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt in a smooth, elegant sequence. Despite the effort, it was not enough to claim the full two points. 

3. MacKinnon Reaches Another Milestone

Nathan MacKinnon became the first NHL player this season to reach 40 points, thanks to a two-point performance in the contest. He now leads the league in goals with 19 and overall points with 41. In assists, he ranks second with 22, trailing only Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid, who has 24 on the year. 

Nathan MacKinnon takes back the league lead in goals 🚨 pic.twitter.com/zJ2HUTbqnO

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 28, 2025

4. Girard’s Slipping?

Could Samuel Girard be on the verge of a healthy scratch? The 27-year-old has appeared in only nine of the 24 games this season following recovery from an upper-body injury. After sustaining a lower-body injury over the summer, he was poised to start the regular season but suffered a setback just a couple of games in. Known for his speed, puck movement, and versatility, Girard has yet to display the form he once had. 

In overtime, Sam Malinski saw ice time while Girard did not, signaling a potential shift in the pecking order. Meanwhile, Ilya Solovyov has been receiving additional work in practice with Avalanche skills coach Mark Popovic, suggesting he may be poised for a game appearance soon, possibly as early as tomorrow against the Montreal Canadiens.

Next Game 

The Avalanche (17-1-6) return to Ball Arena on Saturday to face the Canadiens (13-7-3). Coverage begins at 1 p.m. local time.  

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.