The Florida Panthers came up shot while in search of their first four-game winning streak of the season.

Playing in the second game of a three-game homestand, the Panthers never led while falling 5-3 to the visiting Detroit Red Wings on Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena.

After scoring the first goal in each of their past two games, the Panthers found themselves trailing early after surrendering an early tally to the Red Wings that came off the stick of Carter Mazur.

It took about ten minutes of game time, but Florida did eventually find the equalizer.

A quick backhand pass by Carter Verhaeghe found Sam Reinhart in the slot, and Reino’s quick wrister beat former Panthers goalie Daniil Tarasov to knot the score at one with 5:41 left in the opening period.

Detroit went back in front shortly after the intermission, though.

Star forward Alex DeBrincat finished off an odd-man rush by sending a long wrist shot past a moving Jacob Markstrom, picking up his seventh goal of the season.

That’s how the score would remain until late in the middle frame, when a Red Wings power play led to Florida’s second tally of the evening.

With Lars Eller leading an odd-man rush despite the Panthers being down a man, Aaron Ekblad drove to the net and grabbed his own rebound, backhanding a shot from the side of the net that went off Tarasov and over the goal line.

Once the third period arrived, it didn’t take long for the Red Wings to give Florida a quick slap in the face.

Goals by Justin Faulk and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard 45 seconds apart had the Panthers facing a sudden two-goal deficit, with less than a period to attempt a comeback.

Sam Bennett gave Florida some late life, slamming home a great pass by Matthew Tkachuk to bring the Cats back within one with 3:20 to go.

Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Panthers would get.

Props to Tarasov, as the former Cats’ tendie came up with saves on seven of Florida’s eight high danger shots, per Natural Stat Trick.

To his credit, Markstrom stopped nine of the 10 high danger shots he faced, but he also allowed four goals on a night his expected goals against was 3.21.

Alas, on to the Blackhawks.

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Photo caption: Nov 2, 2026; Sunrise,Florida, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) moves the puck againstFloridaPanthersdefenseman Seth Jones (3) during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Colorado Avalanche have completely flipped the script at the United Center.

After falling behind 2-0 early, Colorado rallied with goals from Nazem Kadri and Jaden Schwartz to even the score before Kadri struck again in the second period. Schwartz added his second of the night with just 10.6 seconds remaining, sending the Avalanche into the third period with a 4-2 lead over the Blackhawks on the road in Chicago.

First Period

It was an unfortunate start for Colorado, as Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser was credited with a goal after his point shot deflected off Cale Makar and past Mackenzie Blackwood, who couldn't track the puck in time.

The Avalanche had a chance to respond after Ethan Del Mastro was called for interference, but they failed to capitalize on the power play. Their road struggles continued at the 7:05 mark when a costly turnover by Nazem Kadri led to a 2-on-1 rush. Connor Bedard fed Roman Kantserov for a one-timer over Blackwood's glove to make it 2-0.

Past the halfway point of the period, Brock Nelson was called for high-sticking after accidentally catching Ryan Donato with the blade of his stick while attempting to change lines.

Colorado appeared to get on the board with 6:38 remaining when Nathan MacKinnon set up Devon Toews for a one-timer that Martin Necas redirected past Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight. Chicago challenged for goaltender interference, however, and officials in Toronto overturned the goal, ruling that Gabe Landeskog interfered with Knight.

The Avalanche eventually got one that counted. Kadri pounced on a rebound that Knight couldn't cover, diving forward to poke the loose puck across the goal line and cut Chicago's lead to 2-1.

Just 26 seconds later, Colorado had its equalizer. Jaden Schwartz finished off a beautiful pass from T.J. Hughes with a one-timer past Knight to pull the Avalanche even at 2-2.

Things got chippy shortly after when Artyom Shumenov caught Cale Makar in the face with an elbow. Martin Necas stepped in to defend his teammate, dropping the gloves with Shumenov. Both received roughing penalties, while Shumenov was also assessed a four-minute penalty for the hit. Colorado couldn't capitalize on the ensuing power play.

The Avalanche outshot Chicago 14-4 in the opening 20 minutes, carrying plenty of momentum into the second after erasing the early two-goal deficit.

Second Period

Colorado found itself shorthanded early after Kadri cross-checked Ryan Greene from behind while the two battled for a loose puck. With just three seconds remaining on the penalty kill, Oliver Moore was called for tripping T.J. Hughes, giving the Avalanche a brief power-play opportunity. Colorado couldn't convert, marking its third unsuccessful man advantage of the night.

Blackwood continued to come up big at the other end, making a spectacular split save to rob Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard. The stop sent Bedard tumbling over Blackwood's left pad and into the net.

After coming up empty on their fourth power play, the Avalanche finally made their fifth count. Kadri redirected a blast from Makar past Knight for his second goal of the night and fourth of the season, putting Colorado in front 3-2.

The Avalanche also managed to kill off a late cross-checking penalty to Noah Juulsen. Knight kept Chicago within striking distance moments later, denying Nathan MacKinnon on a beautiful backhand.

But Colorado had one more punch to deliver before the intermission. With just 10.6 seconds remaining, Sam Malinski fired a wrist shot from the point, and Schwartz got just enough of his stick on it to redirect the puck across the goal line. His second goal of the night gave the Avalanche some much-needed breathing room and a 4-2 lead heading into the third period.

Third Period

Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane left the game in the second period and was absent from the bench to start the third. He was later ruled out for the remainder of the night with what appeared to be a lower-body injury.

The Avalanche caught a fortunate break on what could only be described as a double doink. Frank Nazar rang the puck off both posts, sparing Mackenzie Blackwood from potentially giving up a goal.

Brock Nelson was sent to the penalty box at 8:02 for tripping Nazar, but Colorado once again came through on the penalty kill. The Avalanche successfully killed off the infraction, improving to a perfect 4-for-4 on the night in a much-needed response from a unit that had struggled in recent games.

It's been a difficult start to the season for Colorado Avalanche forward Logan O'Connor, both on and off the ice. After spending the opening weeks recovering from a lower-body injury, the 30-year-old is now working his way back into the lineup while dealing with the loss of his father.

O'Connor's father, Myles, a former NHL forward, died unexpectedly on October 6 in Calgary. At the time, O'Connor was nearing his return from injury, but understandably stepped away from the team following his father's passing.

He eventually made his season debut on October 23, logging 14:41 of ice time in Colorado's 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He appeared in two more games before missing Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames to attend his father's memorial service.

Gavin Brindley was recalled from the Colorado Eagles to fill the vacancy and played 12 minutes against Calgary. His stay with the Avalanche didn't last long, though.

With O'Connor rejoining the team for its upcoming road trip, Brindley has been reassigned to the Eagles. Colorado will face the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday before traveling to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

O'Connor is still looking for his first point of the season, although his value to Colorado goes well beyond the scoresheet. He's a hard-working, physical forward who brings speed, experience and a reliable presence to the Avalanche's bottom six.

And given everything he's been through over the past month, simply having him back with the team is welcome news.

As we reported earlier Monday, the Avalanche also recalled defenseman Keaton Middleton from the Eagles.

With Josh Manson expected to miss approximately eight weeks because of an ankle injury, Noah Juulsen is set to take his place in the lineup. But head coach Jared Bednar wanted an extra defenseman available for the two-game road trip, and Middleton got the call.

The big, physical blueliner gives Colorado a seventh defenseman to work with if needed, although he's unlikely to see any game action over the next two days. For now, his presence is more about having another option available than making an immediate change to the defensive pairings.

The Avalanche have some work to do away from home. Their road performances have been a source of frustration early in the season, and this back-to-back presents an opportunity to start turning things around.

Colorado (8-5-1) enters Monday's matchup third in the Central Division, while Chicago (4-9-1) sits at the bottom of the standings. Puck drop at the United Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

Tonight, the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks will meet for the first time in the 2026-27 regular season. The Avalanche come in on a two-game winning streak after victories over the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames last week. Conversely, the Blackhawks are on a two-game losing streak with losses to the Red Wings and Bruins. Will the Hawks buck the trend, or will the Avalanche stack another win, this time a divisional one?

now you can rep the spirit of Chicago in our brand new Hometown Remix jersey 💚 get yours now, in-store and online

shop hometown remix now 💚 ➡️ https://t.co/2ful6LyqIppic.twitter.com/OBTc1hriQ9

— Blackhawks Store (@BlackhawksStore) November 2, 2026

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche got back to a relatively healthy lineup against the New Jersey Devils, but it lasted about 2 periods as defender Josh Manson struggled to leave the ice, and he was later announced as missing at least 8 weeks with a lower-body injury. Colorado has recalled Keaton Middleton from the Colorado Eagles, but Evan Rawal reports it’s strictly to have an extra defender for the back-to-back.

No injuries, Avs say. They want an extra defenseman for the back-to-back. https://t.co/ZHATMORvoX

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) November 2, 2026

Colorado has looked better since Nic Roy returned to the lineup, as his arrival has created a more balanced forward group. Moreover, the first power-play unit scored last time out on a nice shot from Martin Necas. The goal came with Necas inhabiting the flank that we are used to seeing MacKinnon on. Let’s see whether his staying on that dot is a focused approach or a one-off.

This is a game the Colorado Avalanche should win (on paper), so it will be interesting to see how they come out, as the Avalanche have struggled to start on time, especially in road contests.

Artturi Lehkonen’s 11 goals in 14 games put him on pace for 60+ goals this season. Obviously, the chances of that happening are slim to none, but it’s reasonable to track whether he reaches 30 goals for the first time in his pro career, and he’s on a torrid pace. Speaking of 30-goal seasons, Gabe Landeskog is also on track toward the third of his 13-year career.

Projected Lineup:

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Nicolas Roy
Jaden Schwartz — Nazem Kadri — T.J. Hughes
Logan O’Connor — Parker Kelly — Fedor Svechkov

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Brent Burns — Sam Malinski
Brett Kulak — Noah Juulsen

Note: Tonight’s lineup is still hard to pin down. The Avs sent Gavin Brindley back to the AHL after the Calgary game, and Logan O’Connor out for personal reasons. It’s unclear if LOC made the trip, as he’s still listed as day-to-day with no word otherwise.

Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago will be without former Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram tonight, so he will miss out on rocking the new Hometown Remix kits officially announced this morning. Chicago’s is all green, and I know the history and all, but to me it just looks like a practice jersey.

#Blackhawks D-man Bo Byram will not play this evening against the Colorado Avalanche.

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) November 2, 2026

It looked like the addition of Byram, accompanied by the existence of Connor Bedard and the Patrick Kane reunion, might be enough to get Chicago back to being a playoff team, but with Byram unavailable for most of October and Bedard missing the first six games of the season, they haven’t been able to garner any early-season returns.

The Hawks felt like their last game was their best performance, that being the OTL to the Boston Bruins, so perhaps they are building toward something now that Bedard is back. The first overall pick in 2023 had a goal and an assist against the B’s and will have a tough test tonight against Colorado.

Projected Lineup:

Roman Kantserov — Connor Bedard — Ryan Donato
Tyler Bertuzzi — Anton Frondell — Andrew Mangiapane
Oliver Moore — Frank Nazar — Patrick Kane
Cole Smith — Ryan Greene — Teuvo Teravainen

Alex Vlasic — Ian Cole
Wyatt Kaiser — Artyom Levshunov
Ethan Del Mastro — Sam Rinzel

Goaltenders

It’s looking like Mackenzie Blackwood vs. Spencer Knight, but only Spencer’s start has been officially confirmed. With Colorado on a back-to-back, the divisional game feels more important, so you go with your starter, Blackwood, who’s looked better and better as the season has gone on. How about that glove save against Calgary?

Spencer Knight is in the starter’s crease at morning skate. Blackhawks host Avalanche tonight.

I don’t see Bowen Byram on the ice. pic.twitter.com/UcKeYQNKcg

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 2, 2026

Editor’s Note: Imagine I almost published this article without sharing the Avalanche Hometown Remix announcement!

REMIX! #GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/fsSkZ01iWs

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) November 2, 2026

Remember Ben Hutton? Well, the former Vegas Golden Knights defenseman might be getting another chance to stick around in the NHL.

The New York Islanders announced Monday that they've signed Hutton to a professional tryout (PTO), giving the 33-year-old a chance to earn a spot on their roster.

Hutton spent the last five seasons in Vegas. And if you're good at math, you've probably already figured out that he was part of the Golden Knights' Stanley Cup-winning team in 2023.

He wasn't exactly the guy everyone was buying jerseys for, but Hutton was one of those players you didn't mind seeing in the lineup. He knew his role, didn't need much attention and was there when the Golden Knights needed him.

And believe it or not, he actually had his best goal-scoring season last year.

Hutton scored six goals in 55 games, a career high, and added nine assists to finish with 15 points. He also played seven games during Vegas' run to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, recording one assist.

For a guy who spent much of his time in Vegas as a depth defenseman, that's not a bad way to finish his tenure.

Hutton has been around the NHL for quite some time, too. He broke into the league with the Vancouver Canucks in 2015 and later played for the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs before joining the Golden Knights in 2021.

He's played 575 NHL games over his career, putting up 139 points on 30 goals and 109 assists.

And while his numbers probably won't blow anyone away, Hutton does have something a lot of players would love to have on their résumé: a Stanley Cup championship.

He also has a gold medal from the 2016 IIHF World Championship with Canada, so winning isn't exactly unfamiliar territory for him.

Whether he ends up sticking with the Islanders remains to be seen. A PTO doesn't guarantee a contract, and Hutton will have to earn his place.

But for Golden Knights fans who remember him from that 2023 championship team, it's good to see a familiar face getting another opportunity.

The New York Islanders announced on Monday that they have signed left-shot defenseman Ben Hutton to a Professional Tryout.

#Isles announce that they have signed LHD Ben Hutton to a PTO.

Played for #VegasBorn the previous 5 seasons.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) November 2, 2026

Per the release:

Hutton, 33, recorded 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 55 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season, setting a career high in goals. He added one assist in seven games during Vegas’ run to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

Over parts of 11 NHL seasons with the Vancouver Canucks (2015-19), Los Angeles Kings (2019-20), Anaheim Ducks (2020-21), Toronto Maple Leafs (2020-21), and Golden Knights (2021-26), Hutton has totaled 139 points (30 goals, 109 assists) in 575 career games. He was a part of Vegas’ 2023 Stanley Cup Championship team. The Brockville, Ontario native was originally selected by Vancouver in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. 

Prior to his professional career, Hutton spent three seasons at the University of Maine (2012-15), recording 65 points (28 goals, 37 assists) in 108 games. He was named to the NCAA East Second All-American Team in 2013-14, when he posted 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 35 games.

Internationally, Hutton represented Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, earning a gold medal and recording one assist in five games.

Amid a trying start to the season, the Philadelphia Flyers have learned lots about their current team, and lots about their prospects as well. Most importantly, while dealing with a rash of injuries, the Flyers discovered that many of their top prospects are ready to do battle at the NHL level.

The emergence of 2023 first-round pick Oliver Bonk, for example, is deservedly oft-talked about. After all, the 21-year-old defenseman came into the season with only one game of NHL experience, and didn't make the roster out of training camp initially.

Now, he seems to be firmly entrenched as a top-four defenseman on this young Flyers team, which he's only made younger by entering the fray.

Of course, for every player filling a big role, another player has to fill the smaller roles, and that is exactly what 2023 draft classmate Cole Knuble has done in the bottom-six for the Flyers.

Playing in what is just his first full season of professional hockey after three years in the NCAA with Notre Dame, Knuble survived just six AHL games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before being called up by the Flyers.

Six NHL games later, and it's looking like Knuble might never be back in the AHL.

In his second NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres, the 22-year-old scored twice, opening the scoring and providing the dagger in the 3-1 win. Then, Knuble helped snap the three-game losing streak that followed, scoring an empty-netter to seal the deal in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Utah Mammoth.

Rather quickly, Knuble's hockey IQ, nose for net, speed, and forechecking have made him an indispensable piece in the Flyers' bottom-six, a role he could occupy for the foreseeable future.

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"It's definitely something I take pride in," Knuble said after Monday's Flyers practice. "You kind of evaluate your game based on certain things, like bringing energy and forechecking, maybe a couple hits. So, I think I'm getting better at it."

After taking the time to soak in his son's NHL debut earlier in October, former Flyers standout Mike Knuble has been giving Cole some pointers here and there as the youngster's time with the big club continues.

"We talked about last night [vs. Utah], like learning, getting better at forechecking, and that kind of becomes your go-to, like that's your goal," Cole said of dad Mike. "Maybe in the past we judge games based on how much I had pop. Still want to make plays, but taking pride in the forecheck, I would say."

Knuble has played up and down the lineup during his brief stint with the Flyers, including on the first line with Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak, and the fourth line with Sean Couturier and Noel Acciari.

"That was fun last game, playing with those two," Knuble said. "Obviously, two veterans, so it's pretty easy to play with them. They're predictable."

Like Denver Barkey before him, Knuble's combination of skill, versatility, motor, and intelligence trump his average 5-foot-10 size, and he's fast become an important player for the Flyers, maybe sooner than most had expected.

The Vegas Golden Knights have finally unveiled their Hometown Remix jerseys, and judging by the early reactions, not everyone is ready to go all in.

The casino-inspired design features a black base with green and gold accents, roulette-themed sleeves and a jade-green shoulder pattern resembling a casino table. Playing-card symbols and custom numbers add to the gambling theme, while a reference to 2017 pays tribute to the franchise's first season.

The jerseys are part of a league-wide collaboration with Fanatics, with all 32 NHL teams receiving special uniforms celebrating their hometowns.

Vegas will wear them five times this season, beginning Nov. 15 against Vancouver, followed by games against Carolina, Buffalo, Columbus and Winnipeg.

Fans can purchase them through the Golden Knights Team Store, Fanatics and select team retail locations.

Did the Golden Knights Get It Right?

I've already received multiple text messages from close friends telling me they don't like these jerseys. Others have said the complete opposite. The reaction has been pretty mixed.

Well, here's what I think. I actually think they're pretty cool.

Here's the thing. These jerseys are supposed to incorporate elements of your hometown, and if you're making a jersey about Las Vegas without putting some green on it, you're kind of missing the point.

This town is all about money. Gambling, casinos and entertainment are a huge part of what makes Vegas what it is.

And nothing says casino culture quite like this sweater.

Could they have done more? Sure.

I think they could've added a little more flair, maybe something representing other countries and cultures. After all, tourists fly into Vegas from all over the world to gamble, attend shows and enjoy everything else this city has to offer.

But I'm not an artist, so I couldn't tell you exactly how they should've pulled that off. And honestly, outside of that, I don't really see what else they could've added without overdoing it.

I like the black, the green and the overall concept. It represents Vegas, and that's what matters to me.

Would I buy one? I think so.

If another fan doesn't like it enough to spend money on it, who cares? It's not the end of the world.

We're here to watch hockey anyway, right?

And if the Golden Knights are winning games in these jerseys, I doubt anyone will care too much about what they're wearing.

Fanatics and the NHL unveiled their Hometown Remix jerseys on Monday, Nov. 2, and the New York Islanders' snarling fisherman logo has risen from the depths.

That's not a good thing.

That logo, which was first used in 1995, was derided as the "Gorton's fisherman"and lasted only two seasons. It was cut pretty early during a fan-designed contest for a third jersey in 2027-28, with a lighthouse the winning bid.

But now the fisherman jersey will be worn for select home games this season. At least, the Buffalo Sabres didn't bring back the Buffaslug jersey, opting for the snorting buffalo head, instead.

The Hometown Remix does mix things up. The currently orange Anaheim Ducks will be green. The Chicago Blackhawks also switched to green, from red. The black-and-gold Pittsburgh Penguins shift to their early colors with a mix of dark blue and light blue. The Los Angeles Kings revert to purple.

The Washigton Capitals' sharp-looking Capitol dome logo is back, and the Detroit Red Wings add Hockeytown above their winged wheel.

Some teams go a different route. The Tampa Bay Lighting feature a skull, the Carolina Hurricanes display mascot Stormy, the Columbus Blue Jackets have the scary loud cannon that causes visitors to jump, the Utah Mammoth have a U and a tusk and the Seattle Kraken use an anchor, ironically in a season when the team doesn't seem weighed down.

The best one: the San Jose Sharks.

The shark looks more menacing than the regular logo, it's not biting a stick and it's popping through the letters SJ.

Enough to frighten a fisherman.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hometown Remix misses with Islanders fisherman, but other NHL jerseys look sharp

William Stromgren will make his season debut with the Calgary Flames tonight against the San Jose Sharks following his recent recall from the Calgary Wranglers.

Stromgren has been off to a strong start in the AHL, recording three goals and eight assists for 11 points through 11 games. His point total currently ranks tied for fourth in the league.

The 23-year-old forward appeared in three NHL games last season during his first career recall. He knows the opportunity is limited and will be looking to make the most of his chance.

“Three games is not a lot, just take the most out of it, but I think just ‘play it simple’ is going to be the game plan tonight,” he said of his previous NHL experience last season.

"You got to be able to adapt to play up here."

William Stromgren sounds off on getting into the lineup for tonight's clash against the Sharks. pic.twitter.com/x0kM799Qdv

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) November 2, 2026

For Stromgren, the focus will be on making the small plays and adjusting to the pace and style of the NHL.

“It’s different, you’ve got to be able to adapt if you want to play up here,” he told the media after morning practice.

Stromgren is expected to line up alongside Jonathan Costagna and Adam Klapka.

Flames head coach Ryan Huska outlined what he wants to see from the young forward in his first game back with the club.

“I’m looking for him to move his feet. I’m looking for him to be a very direct and straight-line player tonight,” Huska told the media.

The Flames selected Stromgren in the second round (45th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

The St. Louis Blues have assigned defenseman Logan Mailloux to Springfield of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment, the team announced on Monday.

The 23-year-old underwent surgery on his right hand on September 28 after suffering the injury in the Blues’ final 2026 preseason game, a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and has missed the first 14 games of the regular season. 

The Blues announced at the time of surgery that Mailloux would be re-evaluated in eight weeks, pitting a potential timeline for a return as early as late November but perhaps it's been pushed forward like that of Alexey Toropchenko, who returned after just four weeks with a shoulder injury after he was to be re-evaluated in six weeks when he was injured in the season opener against the Dallas Stars.

It'll be interesting to see what the Blues do with their blue line when Mailloux can return. Adam Jiricek, a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has benefited most with his playing time, and Justin Barron, a waiver wire pickup from the Nashville Predators on Sept. 28, has also greatly taken advantage of an opportunity. And there's also the case for when Tyler Tucker (knee) I'd able to return, then what? Lots of questions in the coming days and weeks to the Blues' blue line.

Welcome to another night of Bruins hockey, folks!

We’ve got some Monday Night Hockey on tap for this evening, with the Vegas Golden Knights in town.

Vegas has been off since losing to New Jersey in Vegas on Friday, so they should be well rested.

Hopefully they flew in early to take in the sites, have a lobster roll, etc.

While not exactly an airtight effort, the Bruins emerged from Saturday’s game with Chicago with an energizing win. Let’s hope they can build off of that against what should be a tougher overall opponent.

Bruins! Golden Knights! ON CAUSEWAY STREET!

Discuss.

The Buffalo Sabres practiced at KeyBank Center on Monday after returning from a successful road trip, highlighted by three wins over Pacific Division foes San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles.  The club appeared loose and positive after their recent success, and welcomed back a number of injured players, who are working their way back to active duty. 

Jiri Kulich - The young forward was cleared from concussion protocol after taking a puck to the head area before the Sabres headed out on the road trip. Kulich skated on a line with Peyton Krebs and Tage Thompson. 

"Jiri's  back.  He's  passed  his  test,  so  he's  back  full  bore  in  practice.  I  thought  he  had  a  good  day .  He  had  a  couple of  good  days  skating  here. P robably  if  that  trip  was  a  little  longer,  he  would  have  joined  us.  So  we'll  see  what  tomorrow  brings  for him."

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL

Konsta Helenius - Helenius suffered an upper-body injury in the win over the Sharks on October 27, and was sent back to Buffalo for evaluation. Head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that the 20-year-old will be out week-to-week. 

Zach Benson - The feisty winger left the 3-2 win over the Kings in the third period on Saturday and was not on the ice on Monday due to a maintenance day.

"We don't anticipate (him) being (out)  very long,” Ruff said. “I  think it's just day-to-day.  I  know for a fact he's going to rehab skate tomorrow.  Whether  he  practices  with  us,  we'll  see."

Alex Lyon - After a setback last month, Lyon is cautiously optimistic that he is close to being ready to return.

"I  probably  just  pushed  a  little  too  hard,  too  early,  I  don't  even  know  that  it  was too  soon.  It  just  wasn't  quite  right  yet,  and  so I  kind  of  had  to  hit  the  pause  button  there  and  make  sure  things  were  good.” Lyon said. “The  medical  staff  was  very  patient  with  me,  and  they  did  a  great  job  of  helping  me  out.” 

Conor Timmins and Justin Danforth - The veteran defenseman has been out since the preseason with a lower body injury, while the veteran forward has been out since the overtime loss to Montreal on October 17. Both skated while the Sabres were on the road and Ruff indicated that they will see if there is any progress to their condition after practicing for the first time.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Buffalo Sabres returned home to begin a four-game homestand on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators after earning seven of a possible eight points going 3-0-1 on a four-game road trip, with an overtime loss in Washington and three wins over San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. Tage Thompson was the scoring star in the California sweep and on Monday was named the NHL First Star of the Week.

Thompson led the NHL with eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in the three games, which improved their record to 7-4-3 this season. After assisting on the Zach Benson’s empty net goal in the 2-0 win over the Sharks on Tuesday. The big forward then scored a natural hat trick and a pair of assists in a 7-6 victory over the Ducks on Thursday, followed by a pair of goals in a 3-2 victory over the Kings on Saturday afternoon. 

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Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL

"(We)had  a  good  trip  out  there,  and  started  to  play  a  little  more  consistent and (found) our  game," Thompson said after practice on Monday.  Yeah, "(I'm)  feeling  pretty  good  about where my  games at.  I  felt  good  about  it  really  all  season. Some  games  they're  going  to  go  in  for  you,  and  some  games  are  not.  But I  feel  like  for  the  most  part,  generating  some  pretty  good  looks  and  playing  some  pretty  solid  hockey.  So we  just  gotta  continue  to  build  off  it  and  keep  finding  ways  to  do  better."

Thompson has 10 goals in 14 games, and is setting a torrid pace that would top his career-high 47 goals in 2022-23. The Sabres are relying on his production more than ever this season, as the only other player who is meeting or exceeding expectations so far is winger Jack Quinn, who is second in team scoring with 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) and sophomore center Noah Ostlund with four goals. For the Sabres to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons, Buffalo will have to get more depth scoring contributions to stay in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race. 

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