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MacKinnon's Landmark Night Propels Avalanche to 6-3 Win over Rangers

It was an extended break for the Colorado Avalanche after their 4-1 win against the New York Islanders. However, the Rangers are looking to bounce back after a 3-2 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite some pushback throughout the night, it's the Avalanche who come out on top tonight, in a 6-3 win.

Period 1

The period started well with the Avalanche starting quickly, but it quickly subsided as Samuel Girard was called for interference. On the power play, Mika Zibanejad looked like he was ready to blast a one-timer, but quickly switched it to a slap pass to J.T. Miller, who fakes out Scott Wedgwood and Miller is easily able to tap it in, taking the quick 1-0 lead. The Avalanche get a chance of their own on the power play when Vincent Trocheck is called for interference, but they are unable to convert.

Unfortunate sight as Gavin Brindley, who has been a spark plug as of late, leaves the game 10 minutes into the first period. He took a hard check into the boards, but his shoulder went hard and awkwardly first, and he looked in pain. Same Carrick is called for interference, but the Rangers do a good job of killing it off. It's Nathan MacKinnon, in front of the net, who bats in the rebound from Martin Necas’ shot, tying the game 1-1 and ending the period. That goal now pushes him ahead of Peter Stastny for second-most points in franchise history.

Nathan Mackinnon Passes Peter Stastny for Second Most Points in Franchise HistoryNathan Mackinnon Passes Peter Stastny for Second Most Points in Franchise HistoryWith his goal against the New York Rangers, Nathan MacKinnon has surpassed Peter Stastny to move into second place in franchise history for points.

Period 2

Before the period started, Brindley was seen heading onto the ice to get some reps to see how he's feeling, but he was back in the tunnel very shortly and later confirmed a lower-body injury and would not return to the game. Carrick finds Adam Edstrom on a 2-on-1 breakaway, and Edstrom with an excellent re-direct finish to take the lead, 2-1.

Connor Sheary is called for holding, but the Avalanche can’t convert on the power play. Makar completes a great passing play from Necas and MacKinnon as he beats Shesterkin with a wrap-around goal to tie it 2-2.

Period 3

Cuylle is called for tripping early into the period, and the Avalanche gets an early power play opportunity. Sam Malinski sends a great stretch pass to Brock Nelson, who rifles one past Shesterkin to make it 3-2. Notably, Wedgewood first made a great save and passed the puck to Malinski, so Wedgewood is credited on the goal, and it is his first career NHL point.

Carson Soucy is called for hooking, but the Avalanche can’t convert on the opportunity. Jack Drury is called for tripping, and the Avalanche head to the penalty kill for the second time of the night. It's J.T. Miller who deflects Adam Fox’s shot into the net to tie the game 3-3. MacKinnon, right after the faceoff, rebounds and bats in Makar’s shot, which rang off the post, helping the Avalanche retake the lead, 4-3.

Brodzinski is called for holding, but the Avalanche fails to capitalize on the power play once again. Shesterkin is pulled with 1:30 left in the third, but Makar, right as he enters the bench, rips one across the ice and in to make it 5-3. Ross Colton finishes the game with another empty net goal and ends the game 6-3.

The Avalanche is back in action on Saturday, November 22, as they head on the road to face the Nashville Predators.

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Red-Hot Wedgewood to Start in Net Against RangersRed-Hot Wedgewood to Start in Net Against RangersScott Wedgewood looks to remain in top form tonight against the New York Rangers, who have had an up-and-down season.
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Observations From Blues' 3-2 Overtime Loss Vs. Flyers

It feels like a script from Groundhog Day when it comes to the St. Louis Blues.

At least when a game goes beyond 60 minutes.

For the sixth time in as many tries, the Blues can’t hammer down the second point, again falling in overtime, 3-2 against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Travis Sanheim’s goal at 3:50 of overtime enabled the Flyers (10-6-3) to erase a two-goal deficit, their third two-goal deficit erased against the Blues (6-9-6) this season. The Flyers won 6-5 in a shootout on Nov. 14, erasing 3-1 and 5-3 deficits in that game.

Justin Faulk scored both Blues goals, his first multi-goal game since Oct. 19, 2022, and Joel Hofer was sharp in goal despite the loss, stopping 25 shots.

Let’s look at Thursday’s game observations:

* No killer instinct – It’s built into an alarming trend this team doesn’t seem to know how to get out of, what winning teams don’t do.

As mentioned above, the Blues have led the Flyers three times in two games by two goals – and lost, albeit in extra time.

Where is the killer instinct? Where was the putting the foot on the throat and extending a 2-0 lead into 3-0, 4-0, like the New York Islanders – who by the way happen to be the next opponent on Saturday afternoon – did against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, winning 5-0.

There were several opportunities with quality chances to not only score, but to get pucks on net.

And for a capper, Jordan Kyrou had a glorious chance in OT to win the game but was denied on the doorstep by Dan Vladar with 2:19 to play.

Jake Neighbours, who returned after missing 12 games and played really well, was denied on a first-period breakaway, and Alexey Toropchenko, whose forecheck helped set up Faulk’s first goal, backhanded a shot wide of the net on a break-in in the second period.

Brayden Schenn, who had eight(!) shots on goal in the game (10 attempts), and Pavel Buchnevich combined for 11 shots on goal in this game; they actually looked good together throughout the game creating opportunities, but consolation prizes aren’t mattering anymore. These two veterans, making a combined $14.5 million in cap space, have combined for four goals in 21 games. It’s just not good enough.

Schenn is a heart-and-soul guy, and you can’t question his grit and determination, and we all know Buchnevich simply isn’t getting the job done offensively, were very noticeable playing with Dalibor Dvorsky Thursday, with a Corsi-for of 22-8. Those are great numbers, but pucks have got to start going into the net. It was probably the best line of the night for the Blues, but the bottom line is results, and finishing was an issue.

And Kyrou, making plays in the game again, had four shots on goal but there was a backhand in front of decided for whatever reason not to sling at the net in the second, and had that glorious chance from Robert Thomas in OT. You have to start finishing.

It’s no wonder the leading scorer on the Blues (Kyrou, Faulk and Neighbours) this season only has six goals in 21 games.

Sure, you credit Vladar for making some quality saves himself, but this group isn’t closing out games and extending leads, and that’s a big reason why their record is what it is.

It started Oct. 25 against the Red Wings, when a 4-0 lead turned into a 6-4 loss; a 2-0 lead against the Seattle Kraken on Nov. 8 turned into a 4-3 OT loss; the 3-1 and 5-3 leads against the Flyers turned into a 6-5 shootout loss and again on Thursday, 2-0 turns into only one point. Just there alone that’s five precious points lost from the bank.

Remember these if this team gets on a run and happens to fall short in the end.

* It was the perfect road game, then a first goal allowed broke a bad seal – Sure, as we mentioned about having the killer instinct to extend a 2-0 lead, but the Blues were getting the kind of road game they wanted for the most part and needed.

That game should have been at the least, 2-0 going into the third period, but there was the breakdown, late in the second period – the Kryptonite period – for the Blues, that gave the Flyers life.

Trevor Zegras, who killed the Blues last week as part of a line with Owen Tippett and Christian Dvorsk, was able to keep a puck alive with Pius Suter, who wasn’t able to kill it initially, and get it down low after Tyler Tucker, who did not have a good game, inexplicably left protecting the ice he needed to try and jump in to help Suter and in essence, left the low slot open for Tippett to quickly tip a puck to Rogrigo Abols, who came in with a whopping two goals in his career, to beat Hofer with 2:03 left in the period and make it a 2-1 game and now it’s a one-shot game:

* Tying goal came off a turnover – Even at 2-1, the Blues were still in good position, but the tying goal came off the stick of Tyson Foerster, off an initial giveaway by Tucker.

The defenseman, who was minus-2 in 11:19 of ice time, was being pressured from behind by Noah Cates, and he was looking for an option on the opposite side, but instead of perhaps protecting the puck in the corner and get help or even slamming it hard on a rim off the boards, he softly throws it behind and around that was picked off and back behind the Blues net. Cates then wins the battle with Tucker behind the net and Travis Konecny is able to win a puck away from Thomas to the point to Emil Andrae, who quickly pivots a pass to Foerster and he one-times a slap shot by Hofer, who was screened by Faulk, to the near side at 11:49 and it was a 2-2 game:

* Hofer gave the Blues a chance – Hofer was strong. He made a number of quality saves and, all you ask of your goalie, is to give you a chance, and he certainly did.

His best save of the game was a highlight reel stop with his glove on a Zegras one-timer on a Philadelphia power play at 8:15 of the third that kept it a 2-1 game:

* Faulk came ready – Faulk had just four goals in 78 games last season and already in his 21st this season and 1,001st NHL game in his career, he now has six and is just one off the NHL lead for defensemen.

He gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at 5:31 of the first period after a solid forecheck by Toropchenko separating Andrae from the puck behind the net to Oskar Sundqvist, who found the D-man at the right point and his shot found its way through with Toropchenko and Nathan Walker at the net providing traffic:

It was a great shift by the fourth line setting the tone.

And on his power-play goal at 12:08 of the first that made it 2-0, Neighbours did what he always does, gets gritty along the wall, does enough to keep a puck free for it to get back to Kyrou, who finds Neighbours low, and the forward’s seam pass to Faulk just inside the top of the left circle gave him a chance for a one-timer:

* Neighbours affect, especially early – Neighbours played 14:13 in his first game since Oct. 25 and you come to appreciate the little things he does that others don’t do on a consistent basis.

He’s always in on the forecheck, making smart decisions with the puck on chips, working, trying to free his linemates up for good ice, things that seem to go unnoticed to go with three hits in the game but was a minus-1.

* Suter, Thomas lines did not generate nearly enough – The reason the Blues had Schenn, Dvorsky and Buchnevich on the ice is because they were creating. The line with Dylan Holloway, Suter and Kyrou, along with Neighbours, Thomas and Jimmy Snuggerud did not.

Suter’s line was 3-13 Corsi-against, and Thomas’ line was 5-13. Suter and Holloway combined for one shot on goal, and Thomas, Neighbours and Snuggerud each had one shot on goal.

* Costly miscommunication leads to OT goal – The Blues had an offensive zone draw in Philadelphia’s zone, but Schenn lost it to Sean Couturier, and the two of them were tied up for a bit as the puck was being rimmed around the left. But Cam Fowler made a read to stay with his guy, which was Konecny on a pinch, who easily got to the puck and fed Sanheim for what amounted to be a 2-on-0 with Samheim keeping and wristing the winner past Hofer from the inner slot. The problem was Buchnevich, instead of staying with Sanheim, also went to Konecny and gave Sanheim an open lane to get the pass and move up ice with an odd-man break. Buchnevich could not catch Sanheim, and there’s your game, and another frittered away point:

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Connor Bedard's Late Unsportsmanlike Penalty Allows Kraken To Complete Comeback

After losing to the Seattle Kraken earlier this month on the road, the Chicago Blackhawks came into this next matchup looking to return the favor. 

Through the first 40 minutes of the game, the Blackhawks were playing some of the best hockey that they've played in years. 

Early in the second, Tyler Bertuzzi, fresh off his injury return, scored to make it 1-0. This beautiful play started with a stretch pass by Alex Vlasic to Frank Nazar, who sent it to Teuvo Teravainen before he passed it to Bertuzzi for the goal.  

About halfway through the middle frame, Teuvo Teravainen scored a goal of his own.  After being the first to a dump-in on the power play, Bertuzzi made a neat swat pass to Teravainen, who made it 2-0. 

After the middle frame ended, the Kraken took over. At one point, the Blackhawks went on a 14-minute run without a shot on goal. With two goals in two minutes before the third period was halfway over, it was a brand new game. 

The game-changing play came in the final five minutes, when Connor Bedard was hooked on a breakaway, but there was no call. Bedard, as angry as he's ever been on the ice in his NHL career, showed up the referee and earned an unsportsmanlike penalty. 

On the ensuing power play, Jaden Schwartz scored to make it 3-2 Kraken. From there, that stood as the final score as the Blackhawks were unable to tie it with Spencer Knight on the bench. 

After the game was over, Connor Bedard took full responsibility for the loss. He wouldn't comment on what he said to the official, but he did say he can't let that happen again. 

“I’ve got to control my emotions in a better way." Bedard said. "I put our team in a vulnerable spot.” 

Jeff Blashill was not happy with the officiating at all, but he also acknowledged that Bedard knows better. It's a lousy way to lose a game if you're the Blackhawks, but it is a learning experience for a young superstar. 

"It better have been really personal to be that sensitive about it, because you're deciding games," Blashill said of the official making the call on Bedard. "So if it was super personal, I wasn't there, I don't know, but it better have been really personal if you're not going to have enough thick skin to just keep playing through."

In the loss, Spencer Knight made 24 saves on 27 shots. It's three goals against, but redirects and a power play goal against are more of a reflection of the team than Knight. Expect Arvid Soderblom to play in the second half of a back to back, and Knight to get the nod again on Sunday.

Burakovsky Injury

During the first period, Andre Burakovsky left the game after being hit in the head by Ryan Lindgren. Jeff Blashill also ruled him out for Friday's game but is unclear about the future beyond that. 

Watch Every Blackhawks Goal

Up Next For Chicago

For the first time in 2025-26, the Chicago Blackhawks have a back-to-back situation. They are flying to New York to take on the Buffalo Sabres. This will be a one game trip, as they are coming back to Chicago for a tilt against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. 

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Sloppy Red Wings Blanked 5-0 By Islanders On Home Ice

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On a night where the Detroit Red Wings were hoping to avenge their 7-2 setback against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena last month, the visiting Islanders instead gave Detroit more of the same on Thursday evening. 

The Red Wings were completely shut down by goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who stopped all 29 shots that he faced as part of New York's 5-0 victory at Little Caesars Arena. It was his second shutout of the season. 

Meanwhile, the statistics of Red Wings goaltender John Gibson took another hit, as he allowed five goals on 27 shots, though more than a few of them were deflections. 

The Islanders have now outscored the Red Wings in both games they've played by a 12-2 margin. 

The game overall was a complete reversal of their previous two victories over the New York Rangers and Seattle Kraken, in which they were completely dialed in defensively. 

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

The Islanders took a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Calum Ritchie and Maxim Shabanov. Ritchie's goal was the result of a defensive breakdown by Detroit, while Shabanov's was after Detroit lost a defensive zone faceoff. 

Early in the second period, Detroit's Lucas Raymond had a golden opportunity to cut the lead in half when he broke in alone on Sorokin, only to have his five-hole attempt stopped.

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Just seconds later, the Islanders increased their lead to 3-0 after Mat Barzal's shot from the top of the slot deflected past Gibson. Bo Horvat then made it 4-0, capping a passing play with a one-time shot past Gibson from the face-off circle.

Not long after Nate Danielson was denied his second goal in as many games on a breakaway attempt of his own in the third period, Shabanov cut through both Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson to score his second goal of the night, making the score 5-0 for the Islanders.

Despite the loss, the Red Wings remain in first place in the Atlantic Division standings thanks to the 8-4 loss by the Montreal Canadiens as well as the 4-3 loss by the Boston Bruins on Wednesday evening. 

The Red Wings will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday afternoon. 

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Max Shabanov scores twice as Islanders blank Red Wings, 5-0, for second straight win

DETROIT (AP) — Max Shabanov had two goals and an assist, and Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots for his second shutout of the season as the New York Islanders beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-0 on Thursday night.

Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist, Matthew Barzal and Bo Horvat also scored, and Casey Cizikas had two assists as the Islanders finished 6-1-0 on a seven-game road trip. It marked the second time in franchise history New York won six or more games on a trip — first since Feb. 19 to March 6, 2016.

Sorokin had five saves in the first period, 15 in the second and nine in the third to get his 24th career shutout.

John Gibson finished with 21 saves as Detroit snapped a four-game point streak (3-0-1).

The Islanders’ fourth line of Shabanov, Ritchie and Cizikas accounted for three goals and four assists. Shabanov, playing in his ninth career game, had one goal and two assists prior to Thursday’s outburst. The 20-year-old Ritchie scored his second goal of the season and third of his career.

Horvat scored his team-high 14th goal in the second period. He has eight goals and six assists in his last 11 games.

The teams combined for 58 penalty minutes, including three 10-minute misconduct infractions — Detroit’s Marco Kasper late in the 2nd period, and the Red Wings’ Ben Chiarot and the Islanders’ Scott Mayfield at 9:04 of the third.

Ritchie and Shabanov staked the Islanders to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Barzal and Horvat scored during the first six minutes of the second for a four-goal advantage. Shabanov converted a backhander for his second goal at 6:52 of the third.

Up next

Islanders: Host St. Louis on Saturday night to open a seven-game homestand.

Red Wings: Host Columbus on Saturday night.

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Islanders Dominate Red Wings 5-0 To Climb To Third In Metropolitan Division

The New York Islanders steamrolled the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, beating the Atlantic Division's No. 1 team 5-0. They go 6-1-0 on their seven-game road trip and now sit alone in third place in the Metropolitan Division as they gear up for a seven-game homestand. 

Ilya Sorokin turned aside all 29 shots that came his way for his second shutout of the season and second in five starts. He stopped 33 shots in a 5-0 shutout of the New York Rangers to begin the road trip. 

It was domination early by the Islanders, via the fourth line. 

Calum Ritchie scored his second goal in as many days after a nifty, quick feed from Maxim Shababov at 6:46 of the first:

Then, off a Ritchie offensive-zone face-off win, Casey Cizikas taps the puck to Shabanov, who roofed the puck high blocker side to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead at 14:54 of the first:

The surge continued in the second period. At 3:19 of the middle frame, just after Ritchie left the ice after being high-sticked, Mathew Barzal jumped on a loose puck in the high slot, before he beat Gibson high glove side, with the shot getting deflected to extend the Islanders' lead to 3-0:

Bo Horvat got in on the fun at 5:04 of the second. Off a set play, Horvat won the offensive zone draw to Ryan Pulock before opening up for a one-time finish inside the right dot for his 14th goal of the season:

With his 14th goal of the season, Horvat now sits in a three-way tie with Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draistaitl, and Morgan Geekie for the NHL lead. 

The Islanders weren't done just yet. Shabanov scored his second of the game, recording his fourth point, as he split the seas before he beat Gibson low glove side at 6:52 of the third to give the Islanders a 5-0 lead:

The Islanders played the final 10:56 with just five defenseman following a scrum that saw Mayfield receive two minor penalties and a 10-minute misconduct. 

Long Island is back at it on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues for the first of a back-to-back, and the first of a seven-game homestand. 

Puck drop against the Blues is slated for 3:30 PM ET. 

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Devils outshoot Panthers but fall, 1-0, for second straight loss

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots, Sam Reinhart scored in the opening period and the Florida Panthers beat the New Jersey Devils 1-0 on Thursday night.

It was Florida’s first 1-0 regulation win in the regular season since Dec. 23, 2017, against Ottawa. The Panthers had a 1-0 overtime win at Columbus last season.

Bobrovsky has 51 shutouts, tied for 28th in NHL history. The Devils were blanked for the first time this season, wasting a 23-save effort from Jake Allen.

Reinhart collected the puck around the blue line, got around New Jersey’s Luke Hughes before beating Allen over the shoulder. It was Reinhart’s 11th goal of the season, and Bobrovsky made it stand up — staving off a flurry in the final minute to seal the win.

It marked the second time this season New Jersey failed to get a standings point in back-to-back games. The Devils lost at Tampa Bay on Tuesday; they also had consecutive regulation losses in Colorado and San Jose on Oct. 28 and 30.

The Panthers celebrated defenseman Jeff Petry’s 1,000th game — a milestone reached earlier this week — in a pregame ceremony.

Petry’s four children wore the sweaters of his four previous teams, Edmonton, Montreal, Pittsburgh and Detroit, and the family was presented with a number of gifts from both the Panthers and the NHL. Every player on the Panthers warmed up for the game wearing a sweater bearing Petry’s No. 2 on the back instead of their own; those will be auctioned for charity.

The game was the NHL debut for Panthers rookie Jack Devine, a two-time national champion at Denver, who was called up with Florida now missing seven would-be regulars in the lineup because of injuries.

Up next

Devils: At Philadelphia on Saturday night.

Panthers: Host Edmonton on Saturday night in a rematch of the last two Stanley Cup Finals.

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Bobrovsky, Panthers shut down Devils to earn gritty 1-0 victory

The Florida Panthers welcomed the high-flying New Jersey Devils to Sunrise on Thursday night.

What turned out to be a battle of two strong goaltenders went the Panthers way, as they squeaked by the Devils 1-0.

Despite being outshot 9-2 over the game’s first 12 minutes, it was the Panthers that scored the game’s opening goal.

It started with Sam Reinhart picking up the puck and flying down the right side boards into the Devils zone, with Luke Hughes covering him close.

Reinhart made a quick backhand-forehand move through Hughes’ stick and snapped a shot over the shoulder of Jake Allen to put the Cats up 1-0 with 7:02 to go in the first period.

That’s how the score would remain for much of the game, as Sergei Bobrovsky for Florida and Allen for the Devils continued to come up with big save after big save.

Credit to New Jersey for putting on a valiant attempt to tie the game down the stretch, but they failed to get one past the Cats’ tendie.

Bobrovsky finished with 31 saves, including all nine of the high danger shots sent his way by New Jersey, to earn his second shutout of the season.

On to the Oilers.

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Photo caption: Nov 20, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save against New Jersey Devils center Juho Lammikko (83) during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

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Report: Canadiens Tried To Sign New Canucks Center

David Kämpf (© David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens are dealing with plenty of injury trouble right now. This is certainly the case at the center position, as both Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach are currently sidelined. 

With the Canadiens being bitten by the injury bug, they reportedly tried to sign a recent free agent.

According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, the Canadiens were one of the teams that pursued center David Kämpf before he signed his one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks. 

"They tried on David Kämpf, but the veteran free-agent center chose Vancouver last weekend," LeBrun wrote about the Canadiens.

The Canadiens pursuing Kämpf is understandable, as it is clear that they could use more depth down the middle. However, now that he has joined the Canucks, the Canadiens will need to explore their options elsewhere.

Kämpf became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) last week after mutually terminating his previous contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was after he appeared in four games this season with their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, where he recorded one assist. He then quickly signed his new deal with the Canucks after hitting the market. 

Had the Canadiens successfully signed Kämpf, he would have had the potential to be a nice addition to their bottom six and penalty kill due to his solid defensive play. He has also had a 50.9 faceoff winning percentage or better in seven out of his previous eight NHL seasons, so he would have helped the Habs in that area. 

In 537 career NHL games, Kämpf has recorded 48 goals, 95 assists, 143 points, and 243 takeaways. 

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Penguins Have Found Their Ideal Fourth-Liner In Connor Dewar

It's been a little over eight months since Pittsburgh Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas acquired forward Connor Dewar from the Toronto Maple Leafs just before last season's trade deadline.

Dewar came over with defenseman Conor Timmins for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Mar. 7. Dubas was familiar with both players and wanted to give them a shot to earn another contract once the 2024-25 season ended. 

At the time, Dewar had only compiled three points (all assists) in 31 games. He was a different player for the final 17 games of the year, totaling four goals and seven points. He was one of their best forecheckers below the goal line and was also feisty around the net and along the boards. 

Dewar was a great fit for the bottom six, leading Dubas to sign him to a one-year deal for the 2025-26 season. Timmins had the opportunity to earn himself a similar deal, but Dubas opted to trade him to the Buffalo Sabres during the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Fast forward to this season, and Dewar has been one of the best players in the bottom six. He has played in only 19 games but has already matched his total goal output from last year (four) and has six points. Outside of that, he has been doing a great job of being one of their best forecheckers and bringing some extra snarl on the fourth line. He's the straw that stirs the drink on that line and has helped give the Penguins momentum when they have needed it.

Oct 18, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Iorio (22) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar (19) battle for position in front of the net during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

He's also a big part of the Penguins' penalty kill, which ranks fourth in the NHL. The PK has killed off 24 of the last 25 penalties, and Dewar is super impressed with the work assistant coach Mike Stothers has put into that unit. 

"He's a great communicator," Dewar said after Wednesday's practice. "He's very detailed. He gives us a lot of trust and belief in ourselves. He's been great."

This year's PK under Stothers is much more aggressive than it was in the last couple of seasons under former assistant coach Mike Vellucci. The penalty killers, especially Dewar, aren't giving up easy zone entries and are doing a great job taking away the high-danger areas. Great goaltending obviously helps matters, but the penalty killers are making life really easy for the goalies, especially over the last several games. 

For Pittsburgh Penguins' Olympic Goaltender Artūrs Šilovs, No Stage Is Too BigFor Pittsburgh Penguins' Olympic Goaltender Artūrs Šilovs, No Stage Is Too BigPittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs - acquired from the Vancouver Canucks over the summer - has proven he can perform when the stakes are highest and will get another chance with Team Latvia at the 2026 Olympic Games.

Due to injuries, Dewar has been forced to take on a top-line role next to Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust, and the early returns haven't been bad. Per Natural Stat Trick, Dewar and Crosby have played 21:13 at 5v5 this year and have been on the ice for 51.7% of the expected goals and 70% of the scoring chances. It's only temporary since the Penguins are down multiple top six forwards, but Dewar hasn't missed a beat since being elevated.

Once he likely goes back down to the fourth line, he will be reunited with Blake Lizotte, and the two of them have been quite the duo to start the season. They're both wrecking balls and feed off one another in each game, including when they're cycling in the offensive zone.

Dewar has been a great find by Dubas and there's a good chance he will earn himself a new deal with the Penguins if he continues to have a good season.

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NHL Rumors: Should Canadiens Target Blues Forward?

Alexandre Texier (© Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)© Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

In his most recent 32 Thoughts column, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman questioned if the Montreal Canadiens could make sense as a landing spot for St. Louis Blues forward Alexandre Texier. This was after he reported that rumors are out there that Texier is considering terminating his contract with the Blues.

Following Friedman's column, the Blues placed Texier on regular waivers on Nov. 20. However, Friedman also noted that the Blues and Texier could still mutually terminate his contract if he goes through regular waivers unclaimed. 

With Texier being available on regular waivers, should the Canadiens consider claiming him before his current contract potentially gets terminated? The 26-year-old center currently has a $2.1 million cap hit until the end of this season, which is not necessarily cheap for his role. He has also not played much this season, posting one assist in eight games so far. This is after he had six goals and 11 points in 31 games with St. Louis this past season. 

Texier has shown in the past that he can produce decent offense, as he posted career highs with 12 goals, 18 assists, and 30 points in 78 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023-24. This was after he had 11 goals and 20 points in just 36 games with Columbus during the 2021-22 season. 

Overall, while Texier could be a decent depth pickup for the Canadiens, his current $2.1 million cap hit could very well make the Canadiens stay away. However, if he clears regular waivers and then gets his current contract terminated by the Blues, he could be a low-risk target for the Canadiens to bring in at a lower price through free agency. 

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NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins Have 2 New Targets To Consider

Brad Lambert (© Brett Holmes-Imagn Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a nice start to the season, as they have a 10-5-4 record and are third in the Metropolitan Division. When noting that they had low expectations heading into the season, there is no question that fans should be happy with how they have played out of the gate. 

With the Penguins starting the year off so well, they should be open to the idea of adding to their roster. However, with Pittsburgh retooling, they should specifically pursue young players who would help them beyond this season.

Two interesting young players recently entered the rumor mill who would have the potential to be a strong addition to the Penguins' roster. Let's discuss both of them now. 

Brad Lambert, F, Winnipeg Jets 

NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that the Jets have granted Brad Lambert permission to seek a trade. When noting that Lambert is a former first-round pick and just 21 years old, he stands out as a potential fit for the Penguins. 

Lambert has had trouble cementing himself as a full-time NHL player with the Jets, but he certainly could change that on a team like the Penguins. The young forward has good potential and could become a nice part of Pittsburgh's roster if he takes that next step. 

Pavel Mintyukov, D, Anaheim Ducks 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman recently reported that Mintyukov would like a trade from the Ducks if he continues to be scratched. If Mintyukov does become available, the Penguins should make a major push for the young blueliner. 

The Penguins should be looking to improve the left side of their defense. A player like Mintyukov could very well grab their attention, as he is also a former first-round pick who is only 21 years old. He has also already shown promise at the NHL level, as he recorded four goals and 28 points in 63 games during his rookie year in 2023-24. 

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Kings Vs Sharks Game Preview: Kings Looking to Win a Divisional Game

The LA Kings are in San Jose to take on the Sharks in a key divisional matchup. 

The Kings are coming off a 2-1 loss against the Washington Capitals as they look to try to leap ahead of Vegas for second in the Pacific. The Sharks are coming off a 3-2 overtime win over the Utah Mammoth, which saw Macklin Celebrini score a hat-trick. 

Projected Kings Lines

Here are the projected lines for the Kings:

Andrei Kuzmenko - Anze Kopitar - Trevor Moore

Kevin Fiala - Quinton Byfield - Adrian Kempe

Warren Foegele - Phillip Danault - Alex Laferriere

Joel Armia - Alex Turcotte - Corey Perry

Mikey Anderson - Brian Dumoulin

Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke

Jacob Moverare - Cody Ceci

Anton Forsberg

Phoenix Copley

Projected Sharks Lines

Here are the projected lines for the Sharks: 

Philipp Kurashev - Macklin Celebrini - Will Smith

William Eklund - Alexander Wennberg - Tyler Toffoli

Adam Gaudette - Ty Dellandrea - Collin Graf

Barclay Goodrow - Zack Ostapchuk - Ryan Reaves

Dmitry Orlov - Timothy Liljegren

Mario Ferraro - John Klingberg

Sam Dickinson - Vincent Desharnais

Yaroslav Askarov

Alex Nedeljkovic

Lines and Injuries 

The Kings will be without Darcy Kuemper tonight as he is scratched, so Phoenix Copley will back up Anton Forsberg. Andrei Kuzmenko returns to the lineup after being scratched in the last couple of games, and he will be on the first line alongside Kopitar and Moore. The second line for the Kings has also been altered, with Fiala, Byfield, and Kempe now on it, which could prove deadly for the Kings. The Kings also placed Drew Doughty on injured reserve. The Sharks are missing both Michael Misa and Jeff Skinner due to lower-body injuries. 

Key Factors

The Kings have to be aware of the young guys on this Sharks team. Macklin Celebrini has been one of the best players in the NHL this season, and his connection with Will Smith is something the Kings will have to pay attention to. The Kings, on the other hand, have switched up their entire lineup, and their second line on paper is seemingly their best line heading into tonight's game, so that line will be relied upon. 

The Kings will have to attack the Sharks' defence, as per NHL Edge, which ranks last in the NHL in defensive zone play. If the Kings can be in the offensive zone and generate chances while building momentum, they will score goals and succeed. 

If the Kings can get going offensively tonight, they can push the Sharks and walk away with a win. My prediction for tonight's game is a 4-1 Kings win. 

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Providence Bruins Sign Christian Wolanin And Shawn Element To PTOs

The Providence Bruins announced they have signed Calder Cup champion defenseman Christian Wolanin and forward Shawn Element to Professional Tryouts (PTOs).

Wolanin had 40 points in 58 regular season games before adding 10 points in 17 playoff games with the Abbotsford Canucks last season, playing a major role in the team winning the Calder Cup. 

The 30-year-old was arguably the top available AHL free agent before signing the PTO.

A native of Quebec, Que., he won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's Best Defenseman, was named to the league's First All-Star Team and led the league in points by a defenseman in 2022-23. 

A fourth round selection of the Ottawa Senators in 2015, Wolanin is third on the Abbotsford Canucks all-time scoring list. He has 177 points in 238 career AHL games and 23 points in 86 career NHL games. 

Element has one goals, five points and 28 penalty minutes in six games with the ECHL's Maine Mariners this season.

The 25-year-old has 29 goals, 55 points and 263 penalty minutes in 208 career AHL games with the Ontario Reign and Syracuse Crunch.