It has been exactly two weeks since Pittsburgh Penguins' rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke dressed for a game day. 

And, now, the 19-year-old is eligible for an AHL loophole that may benefit both him and the Penguins.

As of Sunday's win against the Nashville Predators, Brunicke was a healthy scratch for a fifth consecutive game at the NHL level, meaning he is now eligible to be sent to the AHL on a conditioning loan.

Normally - per the current NHL-CHL agreement - teenagers are not eligible to play in the AHL. However, with this loophole, Pittsburgh can loan Brunicke to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins for a maximum of either 14 days or five games. They can only do this once, and WBS is scheduled to play exactly five games within the next 14 days. 

Brunicke - selected 44th overall by the Penguins in 2024 - has played in nine games at the NHL level this season, which means his entry-level contract has not yet been activated. His last NHL appearance came in a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 3, and he was a minus-2 in that game alongside fellow defensive prospect Owen Pickering.

It has been a bit of a mixed bag for Brunicke to begin his NHL career, as he has shown high-ceiling potential in transition and offensively but is still working to get up to speed on NHL reads and his net-front work. Should the Penguins elect to send him to WBS on a conditioning loan, it would push out their decision on activating his entry-level contract, and the end of the stint would also bring him closer to the World Junior Championship - which Brunicke is eligible to be lent to Team Canada for.

Opinion: Despite Struggles, Brunicke Should Remain With PenguinsThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> made a flurry of moves Tuesday, sending young blueliner Owen Pickering back to the AHL, placing three others on injured reserve, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-call-up-3-players-announce-several-roster-moves">and recalling two veterans and top goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov from the AHL</a>.

At the end of his 2024-25 junior season with the Kamloops Blazers - in which Brunicke worked around a wrist injury setback and registered five goals and 30 points in 45 games - he played in 10 regular season games with WBS as well as in two postseason contests. By the end of his AHL stint, he rounded into top form, as he put up a goal and two points in the two playoff games playing in WBS's top-four as an 18-year-old. 

Pittsburgh's next game is Friday against the Minnesota Wild, and WBS also plays Friday, when they will travel to Hartford, Conn. to take on the Wolf Pack.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Defenseman Exceeds Expectations, Eyes NHL Roster SpotHeading into the 2025-26 season, the&nbsp;<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>&nbsp;have shifted the focus to youth and development. Rutger McGroarty Shines In Return As WBS Penguins Complete Weekend SweepSaturday marked the return for one of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' top forward prospects.&nbsp;

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The Florida Panthers continued their second-longest homestand of the season on Monday night when they welcomed the Vancouver Canucks to Sunrise.

On a night there was no shortage of offense that will have both coaches wanting to set the game tape on fire, Florida found the back of the net eight times, skating to an 8-5 victory at Amerant Bank Arena.

Florida played some very strong defensive hockey during the game’s early stages, holding Vancouver without a shot for the game’s first 11 minutes.

Just a few minutes later, the Canucks broke the ice for the first goal of the night.

Sergei Bobrovsky thought he had the puck covered after a wraparound chance by Drew O’Connor, but the puck slipped under Bob’s glove and right back to O’Connor, giving Vancouver a 1-0 lead with 5:10 to go in the first period.

A tripping penalty on Uvis Balinskis gave Vancouver a power play moments after their goal, and the visitors made sure to take advantage.

Right off the ensuing draw, Vancouver quickly got set up and Jake DeBrusk slammed home a perfect cross-ice pass from Keifer Sherwood to five Vancouver a 2-0 lead on consecutive shots.

The two-goal lead didn’t last long, though.

Carter Verhaeghe found A.J. Greer gliding into the Canucks’ zone, and his quick wrist shot went sailing past the blocker of Jiri Patera to get the Cats on the board with 4:12 to go in the period.

Florida then cashed in with a power play goal in the final seconds of the period to tie the score at two.

Seth Jones worked a nice give-and-go with Sam Reinhart while crossing the Canucks blue line, and then Jones went in all lone on Patera and beat him five hole with just 7.7 seconds on the clock.

It didn’t take long once the second period began for Florida to take their first lead of the game.

Working with the puck in Vancouver’s zone following a faceoff, Luke Kunin found a Noah Gregor rebound and deposited the puck into a yawning cage at the 2:23 mark of the middle frame.

They weren’t done there.

A perfect no-look pass from behind the net by Sam Reinhart found the stick of Evan Rodrigues on the doorstep, and his fifth goal of the season gave the Panthers a 4-2 lead.

Then, just 67 seconds later, Anton Lundell collected a Brad Marchand pass from the corner and his shot from inside the right circle went over Patera’s blocker to make it five straight goals by the home team.

A mere 38 seconds after that, Elias Pettersson finished off a 2-on-1 with Evander Kane to cut into Florida’s newfound lead, making it 5-3 with 12:05 to go in the second period.

Less than two minutes into the final frame, Pettersson scored again, this time flipping a quick backhand over Bobrovsky’s glove to make it a one-goal game.

After a Jeff Petry high stick just moments after the goal, Vancouver’s Filip Hronek finished off a rush play to tie the game at five with 16:46 to go.

Just 48 seconds after that, Sam Bennett deflected a point shot by Niko Mikkola past Patera to quickly put the Cats back in front.

Jones would add a second power play goal with 11:41 to go in the period, taking a smart pass from Reinhart after cutting down from the point and one-timing the puck into an open far side of the cage.

A Marchand empty-net goal with 1:46 to go would seal the deal for the Panthers.

Thirteen goals. Wow, what a night.

On to the Devils.

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Photo caption: Nov 1, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) celebrates with defenseman Seth Jones (3), defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) and right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) after the game against the Dallas Stars at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

It’s long past time to dispense with the euphemisms: Scott Wedgewood isn’t merely playing like a No. 1 goaltender — he is one. 

They say you ride the rested goaltender, the one who gives you the best chance to win on any given night. For the Avalanche, the numbers make a compelling argument. In 19 appearances last season, Scott Wedgewood posted a career-best 1.99 goals against average along with a .917 save percentage. This year, through 15 starts, many of them against opponents coming in on lengthy winning streaks, Wedgewood has remained remarkably consistent, carrying a 2.17 goals against average while matching that same .917 save percentage. 

NHL (@NHL) on XHOW DID SCOTT WEDGEWOOD MAKE THAT SAVE!? 😱 Incredible.

Since the end of last season, critics have insisted that Wedgewood’s career resurgence was a mirage and that, sooner or later, he would deliver the kind of disastrous performance that would drag him back to the form he showed in his early years with the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes and the New Jersey Devils. But what can anyone say about him now? 

Outpacing The Reigning League MVP 

Let’s not forget that Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck is the reigning recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy, recognized as the most valuable player in the entire league for the 2024–25 season. Yet at this moment, Scott Wedgewood isn’t merely outperforming Hellebuyck in every meaningful category; he sits atop the entire NHL in all of them — wins, goals against average, and save percentage. Even more striking is the fact that several goaltenders across the league have logged more starts than Wedgewood this season and still do not have even half his number of victories. 

Goalies Who Found New Life Late in Their Careers

Wedgewood isn’t the first goaltender to experience a dramatic late-career revival. The most fitting comparison is Chris Osgood, a key figure on the Detroit Red Wings’ 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup–winning teams. Osgood was always a reliable presence in net, but he was rarely considered among the league’s elite for sustained stretches. Detroit even moved on from him in the 2002 offseason to acquire Dominik Hasek, prompting Osgood’s departure to the New York Islanders. 

He eventually returned to the Red Wings in 2005, and three years later delivered one of the finest seasons of his career. In 2008, at 35 years old, Osgood posted a career-low 2.09 goals against average and backstopped Detroit to its most recent Stanley Cup championship. Meanwhile, the aging Hasek, though no longer the dominant force he once was, concluded his Red Wings tenure as the backup — but still as a champion. 

Another example is Tim Thomas, who didn’t find his footing in the NHL until his mid-30s. But then everything changed. He won the Vezina at 34, the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup at 37, and posted some of the best statistical seasons of his career well after most goalies begin to fall off the cliff. 

Some honorable mentions include Dwayne Roloson, who backstopped the Edmonton Oilers to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final and remained a dependable starter well into his early forties, and Mike Smith, the former Arizona Coyote–turned–Oiler, who posted a .923 save percentage at age 39 while carrying Edmonton to the 2022 Western Conference Final. The Oilers’ run ended there—Colorado swept the series in four games en route to the Stanley Cup they ultimately claimed. 

So what we’re witnessing with Scott Wedgewood, albeit rare, is not a new phenomena. This is something that has happened in the sport before and everyone should be grateful that they get to witness this sort of resurgence again, regardless of what team you’re rooting for. 

Bednar Stands Firm 

What this means for Mackenzie Blackwood, moving forward, could very well define the trajectory of his NHL career. After the 6–3 win over the Anaheim Ducks, Jared Bednar made it clear he intends to start the goaltender who is not only rested but also gives Colorado the best chance to win. Right now, that’s Wedgewood. And if Blackwood can’t rediscover his form, the organization might as well make it official and anoint Wedgewood as the starter. Blackwood, in three starts this season has a record of 2-0-1 with a 3.28 goals against average and a .870 save percentage. There's a clear-cut favorite.

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After a strong preseason, Detroit Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard earned a surprising spot on the team's main roster coming out of training camp. However, after nine games in which he recorded an assist and delivered 28 hits, the 20 year old Norwegian winger was reassigned to the AHL. The goal was to give him more ice time than the limited bottom six role he held in Detroit and to help him continue developing important parts of his game.

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on XShoutout MBN 👏

The Hockey News recently spoke with Brandsegg-Nygard about his transition back to the AHL. After appearing in five games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, he has returned to the team and still looks confident in both his abilities and playing style. That level of confidence should reassure Red Wings fans that one of the organization’s top prospects is not discouraged by the move.

Brandsegg-Nygard has now played six games with the Griffins this season, scoring two goals and adding one assist. When asked about the adjustment, he expressed that he is genuinely happy with the environment in Grand Rapids. The Griffins have started the season strong and are viewed not just as playoff hopefuls like Detroit, but as one of the top teams in the AHL.

"Yeah I mean they've done a really good job at the beginning of the season and the vibe of the group here is good, too so, I mean, I really like being here," Brandsegg-Nygard explained "I'm gonna go out there and do my job and do what I can to help the team win."

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on XMBN 🚀

Fans often worry about young players losing confidence when they move between leagues, but Brandsegg Nygard does not seem concerned. He continues to project self assurance and focuses on staying positive even during challenging stretches.

"Confidence goes up and down but at the end of the day, I always know what I can do on the ice and and always like trying to think as best as I can possible because, if you start to think negative, everything just goes bad," Brandsegg-Nygard said "So by just trying to stay positive, and when you stay positive, it's easy to have confidence, too."

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

While the reassignment seemingly did not affect his confidence, Brandsegg-Nygard admitted that making the Red Wings roster at all was a surprise. He was simply grateful to experience NHL action earlier than he had expected.

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on XMBN on the doorstep! #LGRW

"Yeah like I said it was a dream come true to get in and I wasn't expecting to start with them this season, so that's what was a little bonus and I was pretty happy with that," Brandsegg-Nygard stated.

He also acknowledged that one of the biggest areas he needs to improve is his speed of decision making at the NHL level, noting that the pace of play requires quicker reads and execution.

"I'm a young player, so there's always something to work on. I mean, just trying to, like, make faster plays that's one thing I think I have to work on, especially in NHL," Brandsegg-Nygard said "When everything goes faster, trying to, like, make the decision faster and everything just makes everything faster."

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on XLarks to MBN. 🤌

Brandsegg-Nygard finished the interview by sharing some of the meaningful advice he received from Red Wings veterans. He said he appreciated learning from pros like Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane, observing how they handle themselves each day and using that guidance to shape his own development.

"Couple of them said just go out there and be yourself. Just show everyone that you're good enough to be here and hopefully, I get up soon. I know what to do, so I'm just trying to focus on that and just trying to improve myself," Brandsegg-Nygard stated.

Red Wings fans will need to wait a little longer for the Norwegian winger to fully develop, but his early NHL showing provided a glimpse of the physical presence he can bring. With continued improvements in key areas, Brandsegg Nygard could be a player to watch closely next season.

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The Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers have completed a trade, with the Senators sending defenseman Maxence Guenette to the Flyers for defenseman Dennis Gilbert. 

Gilbert has one assist in six games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season. 

The 29-year-old has three goals and 20 points in 111 career NHL games over parts of seven seasons, he recorded an assist in four games with the Senators next season. 

A third round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015, Gilbert has 58 points in 194 career AHL games. He will serve as depth for Ottawa as they deal with an injury to Thomas Chabot. He can play a big role for Belleville if he ends up in the AHL.

Guenette was an unsigned RFA when the trade occurred and promptly agreed to a a one-year, two-way contract that pays him $225,000 at the AHL level with the Flyers. 

Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) on XTRADE ALERT: We’ve acquired defenseman Maxence Guenette from Ottawa in exchange for defenseman Dennis Gilbert. We have also agreed to terms with Guenette on a one-year, two-way contract. https://t.co/T6i6n9iPhj

The 24-year-old had nine goals and 23 points in 58 games for the Belleville Senators last season. 

A seventh round selection of the Senators in 2019, Guenette is pointless in eight career AHL games and has 116 points in 236 career AHL games. 

The Sainte-Foy, Que., native will serve as depth for the Flyers and should immediately slot into a top four role with the Phantoms. 

The Nashville Predators announced Monday that forward Joakim Kemell has been reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals. 

Kemell was recalled from Milwaukee on Nov. 10 following the announcement that Zachary L'Heuruex would miss 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury.

Kemell was with the Predators for their road game against the New York Rangers and a pair of games in the NHL Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden, but he did not play in either. 

He has played in just two games with Nashville this season, against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 9 and the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 13. Kemell has played six games in Milwaukee, scoring a goal and five assists. 

With Kemell being reassigned, this could mean that forward Cole Smith is ready to return to the lineup. Smith suffered an upper-body injury in the Predators game against the Calgary Flames on Nov. 1. It was announced the next day that he'd be out for 3-6 weeks. 

The Nashville Predators host the Colorado Avalanche next on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. CST and Bridgestone Arena. The Milwaukee Admirals will face the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday, Nov. 21, at 9 p.m. CST at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson. 

After starting the season injured, Pittsburgh Penguins top prospect Rutger McGroarty kicked off his 2025-26 campaign with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Nov. 15 against the Springfield Thunderbirds. McGroarty certainly started the year off in a solid way, as he scored a goal in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 3-1 win. 

With McGroarty being one of the Penguins' most promising youngsters, seeing him start the year off with a goal is certainly encouraging. They are expecting the 2022 first-round pick to become a big part of their roster in the future, so he is undoubtedly a player to keep a very close eye on now that he is back to being healthy.

If McGroarty can continue to produce offense for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it very well could lead to him getting called up to Pittsburgh's NHL roster in the near future. Thus, the 21-year-old forward will be looking to stand out down in the AHL from here. 

McGroarty completed his first professional season in 2024-25, where he primarily played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In 60 games with the AHL squad this past campaign, he recorded 14 goals and 39 points. He also had one goal and three points in eight NHL games with Pittsburgh during the 2024-25 season. 

Overall, McGroarty has shown promise, and it will be interesting to see what he can do during his second pro season from here. 

Two players will be making their Vancouver Canucks debuts on Monday against the Florida Panthers. David Kämpf will draw into the lineup while Jiří Patera will start in goal. Kämpf will replace Conor Garland for Vancouver, who is listed as day-to-day after leaving Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Kämpf was signed to a one-year contract on Saturday after the Toronto Maple Leafs terminated his contract. The 30-year-old has plenty of NHL experience with 143 points in 536 games. Kämpf is known as a defensive center who should help the Canucks both on the penalty kill and in the faceoff dot. 

As for Patera, Monday will be his first NHL start since March 26, 2024. Over his NHL career, the 26-year-old has posted a 3-3-1 record with a .902 save percentage. As for this season, Patera has played five games in the AHL, posting a 1-2-2 record with the Abbotsford Canucks. 

Vancouver will look to earn another two points tomorrow as they take on the Panthers. Last season, the Canucks picked up wins in both meetings, including a 3-2 overtime win in Florida. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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On Sunday night, Scott Morrow made his New York Rangers debut after being called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League earlier that day.

The Rangers acquired Morrow over the summer as part of the sign-and-trade deal with the Carolina Hurricanes centered around K’Andre Miller. 

During training camp, Morrow was given an opportunity to make the opening-night roster, as he played in multiple preseason games while practicing on the second power-play unit. 

He was one of the last players to be sent down to the AHL before the start of the 2025-26 season. In 11 games for the Wolf Pack, Morrow recorded one goal, one assist, and two points.

With Will Borgen out with an upper-body injury, the Rangers called up Morrow, and he was immediately slotted into the lineup in place of Urho Vaakanainen. 

The 23-year-old defenseman played 9:56 minutes in his NHL season debut, the fewest amongst all Rangers blueliners. 

However, Rangers assistant coach David Quinn praised Morrow for his performance. 

Why The Rangers Decided To Send Gabe Perreault Back Down To The AHLWhat did we learn about Gabe Perreault through his three-game stint with the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a>?

“I liked his game. I thought Scotty did a good job,” Quinn said. “I thought he kept it simple. He moves the puck well, gets us out of our end when we needed to get out of our end when the chances presented themselves. I thought he defended well.”

Borgen’s injury status remains a mystery, so it’s possible Morrow could find himself back in the lineup on Tuesday night when the Rangers go up against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

When Mason Appleton of the Detroit Red Wings shot the puck into the New York Rangers' empty net at the buzzer Sunday, Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick was having none of it.

He jumped onto the ice, along with his teammates, to spark a 'brawl' that resulted in a two-minute minor and a couple of misconducts.

Quick said the Red Wings shouldn't have been surprised. Well, they were, at his overreaction. There was considerable criticism for Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin, who did nothing in response. Perhaps that's because nothing happened. They had lost the game and, well, maybe Zibanejad and Panarin are a little more mature at accepting that than Quick is.

For guys who always go on about how tough and resilient they are, NHL players are sure easily offended, eh? You can't hit our player. You can't show us up by shooting into an empty net after we just spent the past 60 minutes getting outplayed and losing on home ice again.

Watch the video column up above for more.

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Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff provided an update of some on the club’s lengthy list of injured players, a list which had a familiar name added to it. Defenseman Michael Kesselring, who returned to the lineup on October 28 after missing nearly a month with an unspecified injury, left the Sabres 5-4 overtime victory over Detroit early in the third period. 

"He's gonna be further evaluated today, but obviously it's going to be a little bit of time for him. I don't have a time frame yet." Ruff said after the morning skate at KeyBank Center. 

The Sabres recalled defenseman Zach Metsa from AHL Rochester on Monday, but based on the morning skate, Jacob Bryson will take Kesselring’s spot in the lineup against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. 

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Ruff also provided some optimistic news on winger Jason Zucker and center Josh Norris. Zucker has been out with a viral illness since November 1 and according to the Sabres head coach the veteran winger had not had solid food for nine days, Norris was injured on a faceoff in the season opener on October 9. Both were on the ice before practice. 

 "I think the soonest we could see (Zucker) is by this coming weekend. It's the first time they've been on the ice, haven't practiced. This is just the early stages," Ruff said. “(Norris) has done better, which is encouraging for sure. I think we originally thought a little bit longer, but he's feeling real good."

In other Sabres related news, former blueliner Dennis Gilbert was traded from Philadelphia back to Ottawa for defenseman Max Guenette. The Buffalo native was traded by the Sabres to the Sens last March in Dylan Cozens / Josh Norris deal and signed with the Flyers as an unrestricted free agent in July. Gilbert will report to the Sens AHL affiliate in Belleville. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

Nineteen games into the 2025-26 season, things are going pretty well for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

They are tied for third in the league in regulation wins with 10 as well as goal differential at plus-12. They sit third in the Metropolitan Division at 10-5-4 with 24 points, which puts them in a playoff position. They are also third in team goaltending and save percentage at .917.

There are a lot of things going right for this team up to this point. But perhaps the biggest early factor in their success is their special teams units.

As of Monday, the Pittsburgh's power play sits atop the NHL at 34.1 percent, while their penalty kill is now top-four at 85.7 percent. The penalty kill has killed off eight consecutive penalties and 24 of its last 25, and the power play has converted on seven of its last 16 opportunities - including three times against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 6.

Overall, they are the best special teams unit in the NHL.

Both units seem to have found new life under the Penguins' new coaching staff, and - in addition to the work that power play coach Todd Nelson and penalty kill coach Mike Stothers have put in - there is simply a lot of buy-in from players this season. 

"Those guys have done a great job just in terms of outlining the plan, communicating the plan, working with the players there on the special teams," head coach Dan Muse said. "I think the nice thing about both of them - and this is a credit to them and the work that they've put in is just the growth that you've been able to see since the beginning of the year. I think that's been pretty consistent, and that's what you want to have there with your special teams.

At the moment, Pens' PK now up to #5 in NHL at 85.7%. Pens are only team in NHL with both special teams ranked top-5 in the league (PP is #1).

— Bob Grove (@bobgrove91) November 16, 2025

"It's such a big part of the game. But both guys have done an amazing job there just in terms of that preparation that goes into it for our side, looking at the opponent - the game-to-game, it always changes a bit based on your opponent - and just making sure that the players are in a position to go out there and execute."

 After a few abysmal seasons on the man advantage - which, arguably, cost them two consecutive playoff berths - the Penguins finally began to turn things around last season under former assistant coach David Quinn, now with ex-Penguins' head coach Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers. Last season, the power play operated at pretty high efficiency as well, clicking at a 25.8 percent rate and finishing sixth in league rankings. 

But the power play has found a whole new level this season, and a lot of that can be credited to the work Nelson has put in. 

"Todd's been awesome," Rust said. "He's given us a blueprint on what to do, and I think he's also given us the leeway to kind of play with a little bit of a creativity. Which, I think there's obviously a fine line of getting too out of control. But I think we're in a good spot right now, and we're trying to continue to keep getting better and keep on building."

How Todd Nelson Has Transformed The Penguins' Power PlayThe Pittsburgh Penguins have the top power play in the NHL, and Todd Nelson is a major reason why.

Even if the power play trending in the right direction has been a continuation from last season, the same can not be said about the penalty kill. The unit started off well last season under longtime former assistant Mike Velucci, and it fell into the bottom half of the league during the latter part of the season. This year, it seems as though Stothers has the team playing a little more aggressively man-to-man, and he's been deploying some power play guys like Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson, and Rickard Rakell due to their familiarity with power play reads.

Whatever the reasoning behind the success of both units this season, the early work is paying dividends for a team that not many expected would be anything more than a bottom-10 squad this season. 

"I think it has changed a little bit just based on injuries, so I think it's about everybody being on the same page, being organized, and executing," Sidney Crosby said. "For the most part, you don't want to change your game plan night-to-night, so I think that we're pretty consistent in how we want to approach it. And there are always little tweaks depending on who you play, but I think it's been pretty clear as far as the mindset of the group.

"That has a lot to do with the way [Nelson and Stothers] are structuring it and organizing it, and it's up to the guys to go out there and execute."

Takeaways: Penguins Put Together Strong Response Game, Take Home 3 Of 4 Points In NHL Global SeriesThe Pittsburgh Penguins secured three out of four possible points at this weekend's NHL Global Series against the Nashville Predators - it couldn't have come at a better time.

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Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat was nothing short of snakebitten for the first several games of the centennial campaign, as he wasn't able to find the back of the net despite multiple glorious opportunities that either rang the iron or were denied thanks to a miraculous save.

That's since changed, as DeBrincat is back to his usual scoring ways. As has been the case throughout his career, when the puck starts going in for him, it tends to in bunches. 

DeBrincat has scored five goals in his last three games, including back-to-back contests in which he tallied twice. 

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Thanks to his efforts, he's being recognized by the NHL and has been named the League's Second Star of the Week.

NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) on XJason Robertson, Alex DeBrincat and Quinn Hughes have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 16. 3 Stars of the Week presented by @GEICO #NHLStats: https://t.co/jzQu6auVfP

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He also scored Detroit's opening goal on Sunday evening against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in what would ultimately be a 2-1 Red Wings win. 

DeBrincat's two goals against the Ducks on Nov. 13 were part of a scoring barrage for the Red Wings, who broke out of an offensive slump that saw them tally only twice in their previous three games combined.

“It’s huge," DeBrincat said afterward. "Past couple of games, we struggled to put it in the net. We’ve had our chances, but just wasn’t going in. It’s just nice to put a few in the net, hopefully keep that going and get that confidence that we know we can play with good teams.”

DeBrincat, who is playing in his third season with the Red Wings, is currently on pace to match his goal total of 39 from the 2024-25 campaign. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks returned to practice on Monday morning. After a big win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the 9-5-4 Blackhawks are looking to keep the good vibes rolling. We all know the facts about being in a playoff position on American Thanksgiving, and the Blackhawks are so close to reaching that checkpoint.

Ahead of practice on Monday, there was a sight to behold. Laurent Brossoit was out there skating in full goalie gear. Since signing with the Blackhawks in the summer of 2024, Brossoit has not played a single game with the Blackhawks due to a knee injury. 

The plan for Brossoit from here, according to head coach Jeff Blashill, is for him to keep slowly working his way back to a full practice. It is almost certain that his first game action, if he ever gets to that point, will come in the AHL first before giving it a go in the NHL. 

Once practice started, Jason Dickinson was there, but Tyler Bertuzzi was not. Despite this, it is Bertuzzi who is a game-time decision, while Dickinson is not expected to play against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. 

Although they declared Bertuzzi a game-time decision, it sounds like he will sit out for another game. That means it will be an 11/7 situation for the Blackhawks once again. Same Rinzel would draw back into the lineup in that case. With Dickinson participating, the lines looked as follows:

Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky

Teravainen-Nazar-Moore

Dach-Donato-Mikheyev

Slaggert-Dickinson-Lafferty

Vlasic-Crevier

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Rinzel

Knight

Söderblom

Although Dickinson is close, he doesn’t want to play in any games until he knows for a fact that he’s at 100 percent. He made it clear that he doesn’t want to keep coming in and out of the lineup by aggravating the same injury over and over. 

Nick Foligno is also missing from the lineup. He blocked a shot in the Maple Leafs game on Saturday, and Jeff Blashill announced that the timeline looked like four weeks with a broken hand. Later in the day on Monday, the Blackhawks put him on Injured Reserve, retroactive to November 15th. 

Chicago’s going to feel the effects of losing Foligno in the leadership category. With him and Jason Dickinson both out of the lineup, two of their players who wear letters on their sweaters will be out. That leadership will have to come from elsewhere for the time being. Lately, the young guys have been showing they can handle that role both on and off the ice. 

Against the Flames on Tuesday, they may need some of that. When they met in Calgary earlier in the month, it was a physical game. Frank Nazar missed a few games because of a play that occurred during that contest, so there could be some fireworks in this meeting as well. 

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The Calgary Flames announced today that forwards Dryden Hunt and Sam Morton have been recalled from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, while Rory Kerins has been assigned to the Wranglers.

Morton, 26, earns his first call-up of the season after posting 12 points (4g, 8a) in 16 games with the Wranglers. He is in his third season with the Wranglers, and made his NHL debut late last season, scoring in his first game against the Los Angeles Kings. He signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Calgary Flames on July 9, 2025. The deal carries an AAV of $775,000.

Hunt, 29, has five goals and 16 points in 15 games with the Wranglers this season. He is a reliable option for NHL depth while serving as a top-six contributor in the AHL. He has appeared in 33 games with the Flames over the past three seasons. Calgary re-signed Hunt to a two-year, two-way extension on June 20 worth $825,000 AAV.

Kerins heads back to the Wranglers after his recent two-game stint with the big club.