DALLAS - The Ducks are embarking on a two-game road trip and looking to extend their winning streak to five games. They are currently tied for first in the Pacific Division with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Anaheim has been powered by the dynamic duo of Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, who have 18 and 16 points. Both of them are riding seven-game point streaks, the first pair of teammates to record simultaneous point streaks of at least seven both at the age 21 or younger since Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in 2016-17.

Carlsson received a five-minute major and a game misconduct on Tuesday for a hit on the Florida Panthers' Evan Rodrigues during Tuesday’s game, but did not receive any supplementary discipline from the Department of Player Safety.

Takeaways from the Ducks 7-3 Win over the PanthersGauthier ignited the offense with a hat trick, powering the Ducks past the Panthers with a dominant offensive performance.

“It happened pretty fast,” Carlsson said. “I was trying to get the puck from Troy (Terry), and I didn’t have anywhere to go. And (Rodrigues) is shorter than me, so I just go straight into him. It's just unfortunate that he was so low and I'm taller, so just went straight into his head.”

The Dallas Stars are currently fifth in the league in power play percentage (31.1), powered by the likes of Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. Johnston's four power play goals are tied for fourth in the NHL. The Ducks are middle of the pack in penalty kill percentage (79.5), but have killed 10 of their last 12 penalties.

“They’re looking to get their power play to get their game offensively, and they’re good at it,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “The skill level’s high-end. Patience, play recognition, options. I think that (assistant coach Ryan McGill) does a nice job getting the PK ready and on our opponents and what they’re intending to do. It’ll be a good test for us as well, but I think there’s some improvement on our end of it killing-wise. Denying entries, possession, recognizing pressure points. They’re getting better.”

“You’re just trying to be in position so they can't set up exactly the way they want it,” Carlsson said. “Troy and I like to go on offense (on the PK) too, they have to have to know that. So that gives us a little bit of advantage to it.”

“They’re pretty similar (to the Panthers),” Olen Zellweger said. “Good pace, good forecheck. 
And I think Dallas is pretty good at maintaining possession of the offensive zone. Lots of good forwards, just a good team overall. Different challenges, but similar. We’re gonna have to play really sharp and execute well.”

Through 12 games, the Ducks lead the league in goals per game with 3.92. They are also top-5 in the league in shots per game with 31.4. Gauthier is currently tied for first in the league with 10 goals and is second in the league in shots with 58.

“I feel like we're playing exactly the way we want,” Carlsson said. “Sure, sometimes we make unnecessary dangles and stuff on the blue line, but I feel like we play hockey. We know when to put it deep and not. A lot of shots is the key, too.”

“We always talked last year about increasing our shots, but there’s not really a blueprint to do it,” Zellweger said. “I feel like this year, we're skating well, maybe playing more free. Creating more opportunities to shoot and get scoring chances. I don't think there's one specific thing, it’s just a bunch of different things you’re adding to create more rushes and more o-zone time.”

Roope Hintz (undisclosed) and Radek Faksa (illness) will both be game-time decisions for the Stars, who rolled out a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen for their game on Tuesday. 

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Ducks Projected Lines

Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry
Cutter Gauthier - Mason McTavish - Beckett Sennecke
Nikita Nesterenko - Ryan Poehling - Alex Killorn
Ross Johnston - Jansen Harkins - Frank Vatrano

Jackson LaCombe - Drew Helleson
Olen Zellweger - Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov - Ian Moore

Lukáš Dostál (projected)

Stars Projected Lines

Jason Robertson - Wyatt Johnston - Mikko Rantanen
Tyler Seguin - Roope Hintz - Mavrik Bourque
Oskar Bäck - Sam Steel - Colin Blackwell
Adam Erne - Radek Faksa - Nathan Bastian

Esa Lindell - Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley - Ilya Lyubushkin
Lian Bischel - Alex Petrovic

Jake Oettinger (confirmed)

Thursday’s NHL schedule features nine games filled with high-stakes matchups, promising fast-paced action, dramatic finishes, and plenty of highlight-reel moments. One of the night’s most compelling showdowns pits Sidney Crosby and the Penguins against his longtime rival Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.

Pittsburgh started strong at 8-2-2 but has dropped four of its last six. The team now looks to rebound at home against a Washington squad coming off a dominant 6-1 win over St. Louis and facing a quick turnaround.

This matchup offers plenty of intrigue for fans and bettors alike, with the potential for explosive scoring and standout individual performances. We’re aiming to build on early-season momentum after a perfect 3-0 Tuesday on Stars-Oilers picks, plus a win in Wednesday’s Pad Stack Challenge. That challenge now holds a 5-1 record over the past six days.

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

Expect Offensive Fireworks As Lightning Take On Golden Knights in VegasWitness a high-octane showdown as the offensively potent Lightning aim to exploit the Golden Knights' recent struggles on home ice.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals Best Bets

Penguins ML (-105)

Alex Ovechkin Over 0.5 Points (-154)

Ben Kindel Over 0.5 Points (+115)

Bryan Rust Anytime Goal (+175) Longshot Pick

Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are set to face off again on Thursday, continuing one of the NHL’s most storied rivalries. The Penguins will look to build on their rest from Monday’s game, while the Capitals aim to regroup after a dominant win on Wednesday that ended a four-game losing streak.

Both teams have split their last eight matchups, making this an evenly matched contest. Pittsburgh should be able to hold onto the upper hand of rest as Washington will have the fatigue of playing the night before as well as travelling. The Capitals also used a good amount of their offense Wednesday when blowing out the Blues 6-1 and could fail to follow up the performance. 

History suggests this could be another tight battle as Crosby and Ovechkin have squared off 99 times, with 73 regular-season games and 25 playoff matchups. Over those matchups, Crosby has racked up 125 points, with Ovechkin recorded 101 points. The Penguins hold the edge in this clash between two hockey legends with a 55-39-4 record, although recent games have often been closely contested.

Ovechkin, fresh off his 900th career goal on Wednesday versus the St. Louis Blues, remains a reliable offensive threat, having scored in his last game against the Penguins in April. Crosby continues to drive Pittsburgh’s attack, while his linemate in 18-year-old Ben Kindel has been an impactful rookie after being drafted 11th overall this past draft and looks poised to make his mark with his first career NHL assist.

Crosby or his longtime winger Bryan Rust, who scored 31 goals last season, should be able to get Kindel his milestone with Rust entering Thursday with seven goals in his last 11 games against Washington as well as four goals over his last six games.

Offensively, both teams have shown flashes of explosiveness, including two consecutive matchups with seven or more combined goals. However, the overall trend of their head-to-head history suggests that high-scoring games are not guaranteed, with only 14 of the last 25 meetings exceeding seven goals.

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After four days without a game, the Ottawa Senators return to action on Thursday night with a road game against the Boston Bruins. On the one hand, after six games in 10 days, the respite from a busy schedule was welcome. On the other hand, they've been playing some good hockey, going 4-1-1 in that six-game stretch, and might have preferred not to interrupt the positive momentum.

But one would imagine there's a heavy preference for the former mindset. With a condensed schedule in an Olympic year that now sees them play six games in 10 days once again, teams are happy to embrace any rest and recovery time that the schedule allows.

As the Montreal Canadiens were on Saturday night, the Bruins will be in foul humour on Thursday, looking to get even. In Montreal's case, they wanted physical revenge for Nick Cousins' slash on star rookie Ivan Demidov. For Boston, they'd like to push back after getting whalloped by the Senators in Ottawa 7-2 on Oct. 27.

The Bruins seem to have used the sting and venom from that loss as fuel. They've ripped off four straight victories since then, beating the New York Islanders twice, and also posting wins over the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes.

Overall, Boston has been a streaky lot in the first month. They won their first 3 games, lost their next six in regulation, and now they've won five of their last six.

The Bruins will welcome back their former star goalie, Linus Ullmark, who won the 2023 Vezina Trophy with the club. That performance has created sky-high expectations in Ottawa that Ullmark has yet to live up to.

Analytics: Can Senators Goalie Linus Ullmark Replace Another Slow Start With Another November Heater?An analyst recently questioned Ullmark's intensity, and Ullmark questioned some aspects of his own offseason prep. Between that and his current numbers, there are goaltending concerns again in Ottawa.

In 130 games over three seasons with the Bruins, Ullmark had an 88-26-10 record, a .924 save percentage, and a 2.28 goals-against average. Sens fans no longer need him to get back to that level.

They're more than ready to settle for something that falls just halfway between his Boston numbers and what he's done for the Sens so far this season, which is allowing 3.41 goals against per game with an .861 save percentage.

Leevi Merilainen guarded the Sens' cage in the recent beatdown of the Bruins, but Ullmark is expected to get the call on Thursday. The veteran won both starts against his old mates last season, making 14 saves in November's 3-2 overtime win, and 22 saves in a 6-3 victory in March.

The Sens lineup remains mostly the same, with newcomer Jordan Spence expected to be a healthy scratch for the ninth time in 14 games.

Face off is 7 pm.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington was a hot topic on Wednesday night, but not because of a highlight-reel save or an outstanding performance against the Washington Capitals. 

Instead, fans and media personalities pointed at the Canadian goaltender because Alex Ovechkin became the first NHL player ever to score 900 regular-season goals, and Binnington appeared to put the puck in his pants before returning to his crease.

Linesman Michel Cormier noticed and stayed with Binnington until he handed over the puck. And of course, the NHL on TNT broadcast caught it all.

“His eBay account would’ve been popping off after this game,” Colby Armstrong said.  

Reactions poured in on social media about Binnington, who allowed four goals on 15 shots and was eventually replaced by Joel Hofer.

“At least he can say he saved a puck tonight,” @VIKERRonX posted on X.

Jordan Binnington Tried To Steal Alex Ovechkin's 900-Goal Puck And Hide It In His PantsThe Blues netminder wasn't happy any of the festivities after Ovechkin scored career goal No. 900.

For some fans, they were not surprised to see Binnington try to pull off a stunt like this one. He's been in the middle of scrums around his crease on more than one occasion, including when he went after Ryan Hartman for bumping into him as he scored.

He even threw a water bottle at Nazem Kadri following a loss to the Colorado Avalanche during the 2022 playoffs.

“A very Binnington thing to do,” @TheMagelk posted.

“Binner doing this checks out,” said @chi2phi.

With Wednesday's 6-1 loss to Washington, Binnington now has a 3-5-2 record this season with a 3.34 goals-against average and .859 save percentage.

With his save percentage this season, Jordan Binnington probably just wanted to see what a puck looked like. https://t.co/eLuJI7SGTw

— Ken Campbell (@Ken_Campbell27) November 6, 2025

Hockey writer Brady Trettenero contrasted Binnington’s reaction to Ilya Sorokin, who gave Ovechkin his stick and posed for a photo together when he broke the all-time regular-season goal record against the New York Islanders last season.

Barstool Sports referenced the famous Louvre heist that took place on Oct. 19.

“Jordan Binnington tried to pull off the greatest heist since the Louvre got robbed,” it said on X.

After the game, The Hockey News’ beat reporter for the Capitals, Sammi Silber, asked Ovechkin post-game about Binnington trying to steal his milestone puck.

Washington’s captain laughed.

“I’m not going to comment.”

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Sometimes it's just not your night, and Wednesday, Nov. 5, was not the Seattle Kraken's night.

Matching up with a San Jose Sharks team that has struggled to keep the puck out of their net and kill penalties, the Kraken managed just one goal and went 0-for-6 on the power play. The one goal the Kraken did score was off the stick of Ryan Winterton.

It was his first career NHL goal, scoring it in his 34th NHL game. 

With the Kraken trailing 1-0 after Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring, Winterton had what could likely be considered his best NHL shift. He flew into the zone with the puck and was turned away on a Grade A rush chance by Yaroslav Askarov. He then got himself open for a one-time opportunity in the slot, but the play was broken up. He remained engaged in the play and was first to a loose puck. Once he corralled the puck, he fired it into the top corner. 

really really winted this one! pic.twitter.com/rYvQ2wB6jn

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) November 6, 2025

Unfortunately for the Kraken, that's the only production they would get. They threw 30 shots at Askarov, but the Sharks' 23-year-old netminder turned away 29 of them. 

While the offensive aspect of the Kraken's game was fairly muted, the defensive structure was wayward. They only gave up 23 shots, but many were top-notch chances. 

The Sharks' final two goals of the game were breakaway markers, and to make matters worse, they came within 30 seconds of each other. 

A performance like last night's happens occasionally, although coach Lane Lambert would like to limit the frequency of such occurrences. The Kraken are back in action on Saturday against a St. Louis Blues team that is in a major slump. 

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Unfortunately, the injury woes have continued for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On Thursday, the Penguins were forced to recall yet another player from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - their AHL affiliate - because of an injury to yet another player. Forward Joona Koppanen was the one who got the call, and the team also announced that forward Filip Hallander is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. 

Koppanen, 27, played in 11 NHL games for the Penguins last season and registered a goal. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound forward re-signed with the Penguins for one year this past offseason, and he was waived at the conclusion of training camp and re-assigned to WBS after going unclaimed.

He has a goal and two points in six AHL games for WBS this season, and Penguins' head coach Dan Muse confirmed that Koppanen will be in the lineup Thursday against the Washington Capitals. 

Hallander, 25, made the NHL team out of training camp and has a goal and four points in 13 games on the season so far. His injury adds to a rapidly growing list of ailments for the Penguins, as they just placed forwards Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari - as well as goaltender Tristan Jarry - on injured reserve Tuesday. 

Forward Rickard Rakell and defenseman Caleb Jones were already on injured reserve for the Penguins, and they joined a list that already included forwards Rutger McGroarty and Kevin Hayes, goaltender Joel Blomqvist, and defenseman Jack St. Ivany, among others.

Hayes, 33, skated with the team in a full capacity on Wednesday and appears close to a return.

Penguins' Forward Appears Close To ReturnMore than likely, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> won't have to wait much longer for one of their forwards to return to the lineup.&nbsp;

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When the Toronto Maple Leafs cut ties with president Brendan Shanahan after last season, there was always a sense that it wouldn’t be long before he was back working in the NHL in one shape or form.

When TSN's Darren Dreger reported Shanahan was rejoining the NHL's hockey operations department, it wasn’t exactly a surprise.

But it may not be very long until Shanahan gets another shot at running an NHL team.

Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos listed the Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators as teams that may be looking for an executive to help them turn the corner from being out of the Stanley Cup playoff mix year in and year out.

If Shanahan showed one thing in his lengthy tenure with the Maple Leafs, it’s that he can build a team that consistently makes the playoffs by bringing in experienced staff, finishing a rebuild and adding effective pieces around their core. A current sad-sack team like the Sabres and Blackhawks should be ecstatic to hand the reins over to Shanahan.

The Sabres have the makings of a strong core with Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Alex Tuch if they re-sign him, but NHL fans know well how badly they have struggled at transitioning out of a rebuild and stepping into the playoffs.

Chicago, meanwhile, is still in the thick of a rebuilding stage and drafted Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and Alex Vlasic. In net, they acquired Spencer Knight, who has elite potential. The supporting cast hasn't always successfully helped those young guys on the ice, however, and Shanahan could help ensure the right pieces are in place.

As for the Predators, which have first-time GM Barry Trotz running hockey operations and David Poile staying on as a senior advisor, Shanahan could provide more support to Trotz as the team tries to rebound from a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan O'Reilly, Roman Josi, Brady Skjei and Juuse Saros are all in their 30s, and they're not playing like a playoff team, so Shanahan could guide this squad either through a rebuild or through a rejuvenating retool.

What If Brendan Shanahan Joined A Potential NHL Expansion Franchise?Brendan Shanahan is a free agent. But where will he go next?

When Shanahan joined the Maple Leafs in 2014-15, the team had made the playoffs only once in the previous nine years. In his 11 years there, Shanahan helped steer Toronto to the post-season nine times, or eight times if you don't include the play-in round loss in 2020.

Now, playoff success was much more difficult for Shanahan’s Leafs to come by. But that was true early in Shanahan’s career as an NHL player with the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues, and he eventually managed to figure things out and win three Stanley Cup championships with the Detroit Red Wings. And clearly, there’s a possibility the same will be true for Shanahan as a hockey executive.

There’s no doubt Shanahan’s current role with the NHL is a pit stop. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly even suggested the same to Postmedia. And the lessons he learned in Leafs Land could serve Shanahan very well as he tries to get back into the winner’s circle.

Shanahan is a Hockey Hall of Famer because he was one of the best competitors the game has ever seen. And the motivation to succeed is the fuel for him to demonstrate that he’s now a stronger, wiser hockey man than the one who left his Leafs job.

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Thursday’s NHL slate features nine games packed with high-stakes matchups, setting the stage for fast-paced action, dramatic finishes, and plenty of highlight-reel moments. One of the evening’s most compelling showdowns is the Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Vegas is coming off a narrow 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday but has managed just two wins in its last five games. The Golden Knights will aim to build on that victory and defend their home ice, where they’ve traditionally been dominant. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay enters the game looking to bounce back after a loss to the Colorado Avalanche that snapped a five-game winning streak, a stretch that included a 2-1 home victory over these same Golden Knights.

For those new to our betting challenge, we start with a modest bankroll of $10 and work to grow it through smart, data-driven bets. In previous runs, we’ve turned our profits into triple-digit totals. Tonight’s same-game parlay zeroes in on the Tampa-Vegas matchup, offering a prime chance to regain momentum after our recent hot streak cooled off. 

Our bankroll had climbed to $264.60 before taking a loss in Tuesday’s Golden Knights-Red Wings game, but we’re back on track with a current total of $21.50 after cashing in on our picks from the Maple Leafs’ win over the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday. 

Jack Eichel’s MVP Case Strengthens Amid Golden Knights’ Dominant StartEichel's offensive explosion fuels the Golden Knights' hot streak. Can this star-studded lineup carry him to MVP glory?

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

Picks: Over 4.5 Goals & Lightning First Period +0.5 (-115)

The Golden Knights rarely struggle against many opponents, but the Lightning are one team they haven’t quite figured out yet. After losing to Tampa Bay earlier this season, Vegas has now dropped four of their last five matchups against the Bolts, following a stretch where the Golden Knights had won four of the previous five. This could be a potential bounce-back game for Vegas, though history suggests a tough battle ahead. The two teams have alternated wins in all seven of their meetings in Las Vegas, and if the trend continues, Thursday would be Tampa Bay’s turn to win and even the series at four victories each.

With two elite teams on the ice, the difference-makers will need to step up, as both rosters have players capable of taking over a game. Tampa’s 2–1 win earlier this season was also the first time in the history of the matchup that the teams combined for fewer than five goals, which suggests an offensive surge could be on the horizon Thursday night.

To boost the odds, adding another leg to the parlay makes sense, focusing on Tampa Bay’s strong first-period performances with the Lightning holding a +3 first-period goal differential this season, compared to the Vegas’ -1 mark this season. That number improves to +4 for Tampa on the road, while Vegas shows a modest increase to +1 at home. 

With a current bankroll of $21.50, a wager on the Lightning and the over at -115 odds would return a profit of $18.92, bringing the payout to $40.42 in return. With a full NHL slate lined up for Friday, it’s the perfect opportunity to ride the momentum and keep building the bankroll.

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

While it’s very early in the season, earlier this week, ESPN released an article listing their favourites for the NHL trophies so far, and the Montreal Canadiens are doing very well, to say the least.

While it’s not a Hab, their favourite when it comes to the Norris Trophy awarded to the top NHL defenseman, Cale Makar is. They have Mike Matheson listed as a finalist. While he struggled last season, Matheson has been nothing short of spectacular, and while he has no more power play time, he still has seven points, just one behind teammate Noah Dobson, and he’s got a plus-eight differential. Not many people could have seen that one coming, especially considering how many talented defensemen there are on this Canadiens’ blueline.

Canadiens: Trying To Get Back To Their Winning Ways In New Jersey
Canadiens Players All In For Movember
Canadiens Finally Get Burned After Playing With Fire

As things stand, ESPN wouldn’t give the Calder Trophy to a Canadiens’ player for the second year in a row; they would award it to the New York Islanders’ first-overall pick at the last draft, Matthew Schafer. Making Ivan Demidov a finalist. Given how well the young defenseman performed out of the game and how he’s become a significant part of the Islanders’ team right away, it’s understandable. I’m not sure that will hold all season, though. Demidov has now been put on the Canadiens’ first power play unit, and he’s shining brighter night after night. I’m not saying it’s impossible that he finishes as a runner-up in the Calder Trophy race. Still, with so much of the season left, he could overtake the Islanders’ rookie, especially if his point production explodes.

While Jakub Dobes isn’t mentioned as a possibility in the Calder Trophy talk in the article, his red-hot start makes him a finalist for the Vezina trophy behind Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, who they consider the leader. Connor Hellebuyck joins Dobes as a finalist.

According to them, one Canadiens player would be a Trophy winner if the voting were held today: captain Nick Suzuki. While he’s near the top of the league in points, ESPN considers him, so far, the best defensive forward and has him as their favourite to win the Frank J. Selke Trophy. He received 24% of the first-place votes in the exercise. On top of having 18 points in 13 games, his defensive play has been exceptional, as evidenced by the fact that the Canadiens are averaging just 1.03 goals per 60 minutes when their leader is on the ice. The three finalists they mentioned all had 14% of the first-place votes, 10% less than Suzuki.

As for coach Martin St-Louis, he was surprisingly not mentioned in the early Jack Adams conversation. That can be explained by the fact that so many teams are having surprising starts to the season. The Pittsburgh Penguins, who everyone believed would crash and burn early, are playing well, and that nets Dan Muse the title of favourite, while Joel Quenneville and Andre Tourigny are the runner-ups, thanks to their team’s superb form so far this season. If the Canadiens keep playing as they are, though, I would be shocked if St-Louis wasn’t a finalist for the second year in a row when all is said and done.

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

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Game day 

Who: Philadelphia Flyers (7-5-1) at Nashville Predators (5-6-4)

Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn. 

When: 7 p.m. CST 

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game 

Betting line (via BetMGM): Nashville +1.5 Montreal -1.5. Over/under: 5.5 (-110/-110) 

Predators lose to Wild in overtime on technicality 

After Steven Stamkos scored with 0.3 seconds left in the third period to tie the game, 2-2, the Wild responded with a shocking goal of their own in overtime. 

With 1:22 left in overtime, Predators goalie Justus Annunen dislodged the left mooring of the net. Minnesota's Marcus Johansson's shot attempt went off the side of the net, but rebounded back to him due to the angle at which the net was dislodged. 

Johansson put the rebound over the goal line, and it was ruled a goal, as officials deemed the puck would've gone into the net if it hadn't been dislodged. The issue comes with Johansson's second attempt, as he wouldn't have gotten the rebound if the net hadn't been off its mooring.

Stamkos sounded off after the game. 

"It's a weird play. I can see the confusion, but the confusing part for us was why it was so emphatically called a goal," Steven Stamkos said. "I get it. If the net comes off and the puck goes in right away, it's no problem. But he missed the net and the puck actually bounced back to him because the net was sideways.

"My interpretation of the rule is that if the net weren't off, the puck wouldn't have come back to him." 

Takeaways: Despite Outplaying Wild, Nashville Predators Fall In Overtime On TechnicalityThe Nashville Predators tied the game as the clock ran out in regulation, only to lose in frustrating fashion in overtime.

Zachary L'Heureux enters lineup 

Following Cole Smith's week-to-week upper body injury, Zachary L'Heureux has been recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals.

He dressed for the Predators' game against the Wild on Tuesday, but did not play, as Tyson Jost played on the left wing of the fourth line. 

L'Heureux was a regular in Nashville last season, playing in 62 games and scoring 15 points. He's played seven games in Milwaukee this season, scoring six points. 

Nashville Predators recall Zachary L'Heureux from Milwaukee AdmrialsAfter an injury sidelines a forward, L'Heureux returns to Nashville's lineup, ready to contribute to the Predators' next game.

Scouting the Flyers 

The Predators and Flyers will be facing off for the second time this season, with Philadelphia winning the last meeting, 4-1, on Oct. 30. 

In that game, the Predators went down 2-0 in the second period off goals from Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale. Matthew Wood scored his first career NHL goal in the first period to cut into the Flyers' lead. 

Zegras scored on the power play in the third period, and Travis Konecny added an empty net goal. Zegras had three points on the night with two goals and an assist. Nashville outplayed Philadelphia, outshooting them 33-18. 

The Flyers have struggled a bit since that win, going 1-2-0 over their last three games. They suffered back to back losses to Toronto and Calgary before defeating Montreal in a shootout on the road. 

Zegras, who was acquired by the Flyers from the Ducks in the offseason, leads Philadelphia in scoring with 15 points in 13 games (four goals, 11 assists). 

The Flyers have also emerged as the most penalized team in the NHL, logging 184 penalty minutes this season. Nashville has 129 PIM. 

Divisional rankings 

Central 

1. Colorad: 14 GP, 8-1-5, 21 pts 

2. Winnipeg: 13 GP, 9-4-0, 18 pts 

3. Utah: 14 GP, 9-5-0, 18 pts 

4. Dallas: 13 GP, 7-3-3, 17 pts 

5. Chicago: 14 GP, 6-5-3, 15 pts 

6. Nashville: 15 GP, 5-6-4, 14 pts 

7.  Minnesota: 14 GP, 5-6-3, 13 pts 

8. St. Louis: 14 GP, 4-8-2, 10 pts 

Metropolitan

1. New Jersey: 13 GP, 9-4-0, 18 pts 

2. Pittsburgh: 14 GP, 8-4-2, 18 pts 

3. Carolina: 12 GP, 8-4-0, 16 pts 

4. Washington: 13 GP, 7-5-1, 15 pts 

5. Philadelphia: 13 GP, 7-5-1, 15 pts 

6. NY Islanders: 13 GP, 6-5-2, 14 pts 

7. Columbus: 13 GP, 7-6-0, 14 pts 

8. NY Rangers: 14 GP, 6-6-2, 14 pts

Earlier this week, we noted recent speculation about Evgeni Malkin's future with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He and his teammates are off to a better-than-expected start to this season, but some observers question if it's sustainable and if Malkin would be open to a move at the NHL trade deadline.

However, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos suggested the Penguins' strong start could take Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell out of the rumor mill if they can remain in the playoff chase. Those players have frequently surfaced in media trade chatter since the summer, but Kypreos doesn't see them going anywhere if they're still in the hunt for a postseason berth.

The Penguins' start has also silenced the trade rumors that were buzzing about Sidney Crosby at the start of the season. TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported that Penguins GM Kyle Dubas' plan remains building for the future while staying competitive this season.

LeBrun wondered if the Penguins could stay in playoff contention this season but acknowledged that their current performance has ended the Crosby trade chatter, at least for now.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest Trade Talk About The Maple Leafs, Oilers And Penguins The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to find a new home for David Kampf, the Edmonton Oilers could move a depth player or two to make room for returning veterans, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the market for a left-shot defenseman.

Meanwhile, the ongoing woes of the Calgary Flames have ensured that Nazem Kadri remains a fixture in the rumor mill.

The 35-year-old center celebrated his 1,000th NHL game on Wednesday, scoring a goal in a 6-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Some pundits have linked Kadri to the Montreal Canadiens, suggesting he would address their need for a second-line center. However, Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette considered Kadri to be an unsuitable option, citing his age, $7 million average annual value through 2028-29 and history of undisciplined play.

Kypreos believes the Carolina Hurricanes could be a suitor for Kadri, pointing out that they've relentlessly pursued a top player in the trade market since last season. However, Kypreos also claimed that the Hurricanes are on Kadri's no-trade list.

The Hurricanes could request permission from the Flames to speak with Kadri and his agent and try to sell them on Carolina. If the Hurricanes make a substantial pitch, Flames GM Craig Conroy could try to convince Kadri to accept a trade.

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Back in September, the Buffalo Sabres signed goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year, $825,000 contract. 

Georgiev did not make the Sabres' NHL roster out of training camp and was placed on waivers before joining their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In two games this season with Rochester so far, he has recorded a 0-2-0 record, a .896 save percentage, and a 3.57 goals-against average. 

With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Colten Ellis, and Devon Levi all being ahead of Georgiev on the Sabres' depth chart, the fit just has not been there. 

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Sabres are looking to move Georgiev. 

"They are trying to find a new home for Alexandar Georgiev," Friedman wrote in his latest 32 Thoughts column. 

Teams in need of some goalie depth could consider pursuing Georgiev when noting that he has a low cap hit. Yet, he also just had a tough 2024-25 season split between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, posting a 15-26-4 record, a .875 save percentage, and a 3.71 goals-against average.

In 303 career NHL games split between the New York Rangers, Avalanche, and Sharks, Georgiev has recorded a 151-108-26 record, a .903 save percentage, and a 2.99 goals-against average. He was also an NHL All-Star in 2023-24.

The Detroit Red Wings remain in second place after their four-game road trip out West, an impressive feat despite some concerning signs. Before heading west, the Red Wings stopped in Missouri and surprised the Blues by winning both legs of their home-and-home series. That accomplishment looks a bit less impressive now, considering St. Louis has stumbled to a last-place start.

Detroit then traveled to California and opened the trip strong against the Los Angeles Kings but nearly gave the game away after allowing two goals in 40 seconds late in the third period. They managed to escape with a shootout win. The following night, they faced the difficult task of completing a road back-to-back and fell short losing 5–2 to Anaheim.

Two days later, they faced the young and improving San Jose Sharks, who pushed Detroit to the limit before the Red Wings prevailed in yet another shootout victory. The trip concluded this past Tuesday in Las Vegas, where Detroit battled hard against the Golden Knights. They held their own defensively against one of the best offenses in the league but were ultimately shut out in a narrow 1–0 loss.

4 games, 7 points. 🐱

Cat is our @xfinity player of the week! pic.twitter.com/I7NAzcDbZA

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2025

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

Depth scoring proved to be an issue throughout the road trip, with stars Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, and captain Dylan Larkin carrying most of the offensive load. Overall, the team managed only 12 goals while allowing 13 across the five games. Of those 12 goals, the top trio accounted for seven, highlighting the growing problem of limited secondary scoring.

SWEET BABY RAY pic.twitter.com/bha6rCYD4M

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2025

Forwards Emmitt Finnie and Jonatan Berggren, both hot before the trip, went without a point over the five games. J.T. Compher also failed to record a point, while veterans James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton, and Andrew Copp each went without a goal, though all contributed at least one assist, with Appleton collecting two. It is also worth noting that van Riemsdyk scored the shootout winner against San Jose, providing some impact there.

It is difficult to be overly critical of Detroit’s recent stretch given the length and difficulty of the road trip, but there is a sense that the team’s early-season momentum has slowed. After starting 5–1–0, the Red Wings have gone 4–4–0 since, with two of those wins coming in shootouts. Seven of their last eight games have been on the road, which helps explain the recent dip in form, but the Red Wings now have a chance to reset as they return home for a seven-game stretch, with only a quick trip to New York next Sunday interrupting the homestand.

If Detroit can regain the balanced scoring and energy that defined their early-season success, they can reestablish themselves as a legitimate playoff contender. If not, the conversation will shift toward whether their hot start was merely a brief surge rather than a sign of true progress. The next few games will be pivotal in determining that answer for both the Red Wings and their fans.

Red Wings Prospect Carter Bear Bringing Grit And Growth After NHL ExperienceDetroit's 2025 first round pick Carter Bear embraces a more physical game, showing grit and growth in Everett. His NHL preseason experience is fueling this impactful development.

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When the Montreal Canadiens take on the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, Jakub Dobes will be in the net. Even though Samuel Montembeault was the uncontested number one last season, both goaltenders will have played the same number of games this season.

This is not a problem, nor is it a controversy. While once upon a time having a number one and a number two goaltender was a must, nowadays, there are examples of a 1A and 1B pairing working just fine. Did anybody complain about the Boston Bruins when Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark split the workload 50-50? They didn’t because both netminders allowed the team to win.

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Besides, when Jacob Fowler is ready to graduate to the NHL, one of the two may have to move, and the higher their value, the better for the team. Until that moment comes, though, it’s perfectly fine for the winning goaltender to get the net.

While the Canadiens had an atrocious first period on Tuesday night and Montembeault gave up three quick goals, he could hardly be blamed for them, and he bounced back admirably, stopping the next 30+ shots sent his way, only allowing another one as he was vulnerable after dropping his stick. It was a reassuring performance from the starter, indicating he has turned a corner. However, ultimately, the Canadiens still lost the game, which is why it’s perfectly logical for Dobes to get the net in New Jersey on Thursday.

Bear Hug!!!

Boston Bruins Goaltender, Linus Ullmark, congratulates fellow Goalie, Jeremy Swayman, on his win against the Buffalo Sabres#NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/BCcMnahXcZ

— Micheline 📸 (@MiMiV4682) November 25, 2021

Suppose he has another great game and plays a significant role in a Canadiens’ victory. In that case, he should also be on duty on Saturday night at the Bell Center against the Utah Mammoth, especially since they’ve been impressive this season. It’s also worth mentioning that Montembeault hasn’t had an excellent record against them, 1-0-1 with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage. In this super-competitive Eastern Conference, where no team has a winning percentage below .500, every win and every point counts.

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