In their first game following a successful Western Canada road trip, in which they notched six of a possible six points to bring their winning streak to four games, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins at Honda Center on Sunday evening.
The Ducks entered play just two points out of the second wild card spot, with a game in hand on the Utah Mammoth, which was somewhat surprising, given that prior to their win streak, they had only won one of their previous eight.
The Pens entered play on the second half of a back-to-back, as they snapped their own four-game winless streak against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. In the standings, they were just two points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers, who sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Following a first period benching that lasted the remainder of the Ducks’ 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Friday, Sam Colangelo was replaced in the depth chart by Frank Vatrano. That represented the only line/pair change for head coach Joel Quenneville.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:
Killorn-Carlsson-Caulfield
Gauthier-Granlund-Sennecke
Myatovic-Washe-Vatrano
Malott-McQueen-Nesterenko
LaCombe-Helleson
Mitchell-Luneau
Mintyukov-Warren
For the fourth time in five games, Laurent Brossoit got the start for the Ducks, with Ville Husso serving as backup. Lukas Dostal was scratched and given the night off. Brossoit stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced. Arturs Silovs got the start for Pittsburgh and saved 20 of 24.
“Overall, some positive things: the power play, killed some penalties, that five-on-three early. They got some power plays at the end, but LB (Laurent Brossoit) was pretty good today,” Quenneville said after the game.
Game Notes
Over 15 minutes of this game was played on special teams, which is how Anaheim’s been generating the majority of their offense, and this game was no different, as they tallied three goals on four opportunities. Discipline at key moments (like at the end of a game or while already down a man) will be important to iron out, as power plays can only bail a team out so often.
Laurent Brossoit: The Ducks have been struggling to get timely, important saves from their expected No. 1 starter, Lukas Dostal, to this point in the season. Brossoit has now won all four games he’s started for the Ducks since he was recalled from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, and in this game, when the Pens were pressing to climb back into the game at various points, he was there to meet every challenge.
Notably, he was efficient with his puck tracking, found perimeter shots through and around traffic directly in front of him, and swallowed the vast majority of shots, getting freezes as opposed to fighting those shots off and putting potential rebounds back in play.
Cutter Gauthier: After his third hat trick in five games, Gauthier is now on pace to finish the season with 73 goals. That’s obviously unlikely to happen, but his ability to provide the Ducks with needed instant offense is undeniable, and next to Mikael Granlund, who can find him with deceptive passes from throughout the offensive zone and on the rush, they represent one of the more deadly setup/finishing duos in the NHL.
In this game, Gauthier attacked downhill, found soft ice, scored on a no-look power play goal, and each seemed more effortless than the last. His release is as deadly and heavy as anyone’s in NHL history, and he’s remarkably deceptive with it.
Top Four Defensemen: According to TOI, the Ducks’ top four defensemen, as it stands, are Jackson LaCombe, Drew Helleson, Pavel Mintyukov, and Tristan Luneau. All four were counted on to provide offense when the team needed to get out to a lead and defend a late lead while fending off a pressing Pens attack.
LaCombe played his third consecutive game of logging over 30:00 TOI. Over 11 of those minutes came on special teams, and at 5v5, he was tasked with taking on the challenge of matching up against Pittsburgh’s top line of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Rickard Rakell. He notched three assists, and provided a safety net as a reliable breakout option, provided smart pinches, and blocked several shots at key times in the game.
Helleson, LaCombe’s partner, played one of the better games of his career, as he was difficult to compete against in tight areas, boxed out the front of the net, and made simple, effective decisions with the puck. Tristan Luneau was creative and dynamic with the puck on his stick at the point. His activations and mobility at the blueline were a consistent threat that opened up several other opportunities for his teammates.
Pavel Mintyukov has seen a confidence boost since his three-point performance against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Notably, he’s less frantic during retrieval sequences, and rather than losing a battle or sending a weak rim up the wall, he’s skating pucks out of danger, changing the angles on outlets, and/or leading exit sequences.
For the second game of their four-game homestand, the Ducks will host the Nashville Predators on Wednesday at 7 pm PST.
BOSTON (AP) — Elias Lindholm, Mikey Eyssimont and Morgan Geekie each scored a goal in an opening period that started out testy, carrying the Boston Bruins past the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Sunday.
Jeremy Swayman made 40 saves, 17 coming in the first period, for the Bruins, who improved to 7-0-0 at home by winning their fourth straight game a day after placing young star James Hagens on injured reserve.
JJ Peterka added a goal for Boston, which owns a plus-21 goal differential at TD Garden. David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha each added two assists.
Carter Verhaeghe scored a power-play goal for the Panthers, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 32 shots. Florida has lost three of four games.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, SABRES 1
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Tomas Hertl scored two goals and Vegas won their third straight game, over Buffalo.
Hertl scored both of his goals in the third period to help put the game away for the Golden Knights, who finished their road trip 3-0-1.
Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner also scored for Vegas while Adin Hill made 27 saves.
Beck Malenstyn scored and Colten Ellis made 21 saves for Buffalo, which has lost two of its last three games.
Marner opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 12:17 of the second period following a turnover by Tage Thompson.
Eichel, who was the Sabres first-round draft pick in 2015 and traded to Vegas in 2021, made it 2-0 one minute and 26 seconds later with his eighth goal of the season. He has seven goals and three assists in eight games against Buffalo in his career.
JETS 4, LIGHTNING 3
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Mark Scheifele scored on a 5-on-3 power play with 1.6 seconds left and Winnipeg beat Tampa Bay after blowing a late three-goal lead.
Scheifele scored on a one-timer from the high slot off a feed from Cole Perfetti.
After Brayden Yager gave Winnipeg a 3-0 lead on a power play at 8:10 of the third with his first NHL goal, the Lightning tied it in a 4:07 burst. Brandon Hagel scored with 9:38 to go, and Pontus Holmberg struck twice — with 5:59 left and 5:33 remaining.
Perfetti, Morgan Barron and Brayden Yager also scored for Winnipeg (7-8-3), and Stuart Skinner made 18 saves. The Jets have won three in a row after dropping nine straight.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 21 shots for Tampa Bay (11-4-2) in the opener of a three-game trip The Lightning had won three in a row.
DEVILS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 0
TORONTO (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for his first shutout with New Jersey and the Devils beat Toronto.
Acquired from the Winnipeg Jets last month after demanding a trade, Hellebuyck became the first goalie in franchise history to win each of his first five games with the club.
The Devils are set to play at Winnipeg on Tuesday night, with general manager Sunny Mehta saying Sunday night that Hellebuyck will not play. Hellebuyck had his first shutout of the season and the 46th of his NHL career.
Timo Meier scored twice for New Jersey (13-5-0), which has won nine of its last 10 games. Nico Hischier, with a goal and an assist, and Connor Brown, into an empty net, provided the rest of the offense. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt each had two assists.
Anthony Stolarz stopped 25 shots for Toronto (8-9-2). The Maple Leafs have lost three straight and five of their last six in regulation.
FLAMES 4, FLYERS 3, OT
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Matt Coronato scored at 4:08 of overtime to give Calgary a victory over Philadelphia.
Zane Parekh, Zach Whitecloud and Joel Farabee, while short-handed, also scored for the Flames (8-9-1). Yegor Sharangovich had two assists.
Flames goalie Devin Cooley, in his first game back after missing five because of a lower-body injury, made 32 saves.
Denver Barkey, Noel Acciari and Owen Tippett scored for Philadelphia (4-10-5), and Sean Couturier added two assists. Dan Vladar stopped 22 shots.
Farabee tied it on a short-handed breakaway midway through the third period.
DUCKS 5, PENGUINS 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cutter Gauthier continued his scoring rampage with his third hat trick in eight days, and captain Mikael Granlund had a goal and three assists in the Ducks’ fifth consecutive victory, over Pittsburgh.
Gauthier’s empty-net goal in the final minute gave him three goals and an assist for the Ducks, who became the first team since the 1988-89 Los Angeles Kings to score at least five goals in eight consecutive games.
Gauthier extended his goals streak to six games and his points streak to a career best-tying eight games with his fourth multi-goal performance during this electric sequence, including three of his four career hat tricks. He has scored eight of his 13 goals in this six-game stretch on power plays.
Jackson LaCombe had three assists and tied a Ducks record with an assist in his 10th consecutive game. Laurent Brossoit made 32 saves for his fourth victory in four starts in Anaheim’s net.
Kris Letang and Rickard Rakell scored 6-on-4 power-play goals in the third period after Pittsburgh had fallen behind 4-0. Evgeni Malkin had two assists and Arturs Silovs stopped 20 shots for the Penguins, who snapped a four-game skid Saturday night at Los Angeles in the opener of their California trip.
ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 8: Spencer Stastney #24 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Killorn #17 of the Anaheim Ducks battle for position during the first period at Honda Center on November 8, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Pregame
Ville Koivunen picked up a day-to-day undisclosed lower body injury in last night’s game, Andrei Kuzmenko steps into his spot in the lineup. Arturs Silovs rotates in to get the start in goal.
The Ducks also brought some of the actors from the Mighty Ducks movies and woo, these Hometown Remix sure hit the ‘90s nostalgia sweet spot. There’s been some mixed reviews and spotty acceptance of some of the team’s choices, would have to imagine this concept is about as universally loved as it’ll get. That front crest is so much better than Anaheim’s typical webbed foot D looking thing and the color scheme of the green/yellow/purple is just iconic. Hard to believe after all these years this is the first movie-inspired jersey the NHL team has gone with.
We are Ducks, and Ducks fly together!
Marguerite Moreau (Connie), Matt Doherty (Averman), Justin Wong (Kenny Wu), and producer of the films, Jordan Kerner, fly with us! pic.twitter.com/OMIJBKEoCg
Great start for the Pens, including the Crosby line and then the Lizotte line getting plenty of pressure and time in the offensive zone. The good will goes out the door when Erik Karlsson steps up and Beckett Sennecke and the puck both get behind him for a breakaway, though Sennecke skies the shot to avoid issues.
Kaedan Korczak takes the first penalty of the night. Pittsburgh holds on until one second remains on it, Mikael Granlund is the first to a rebound kicked in his direction and the return effort hits the back of the net. 1-0 Anaheim.
Shortly after that, the Pens are back to the penalty box, it’s Crosby this time for a cross-check. No goal on it this time.
Pittsburgh gets their footing back under them, another good shift by the top line and after that Ben Kindel is tripped by Tristan Luneau to grant the first Pens power play. Not much comes of it.
Well, it was a good opening and closing five minutes for Pittsburgh, then the penalties came and their defensive structure got (pardon the pun) a little loosey goosey against the Ducks, giving up two 3-on-1 rushes that they were able to survive in the middle of the period.
Second period
Pittsburgh gets some power plays early, Rickard Rakell gets held and then just 23 seconds into the power play, Tommy Novak has his lip opened up by an Alex Killorn high stick, leading to 1:37 of a 5v3 advantage for the Pens.
Jackson LaCombe blocks away a sure goal with his skate, there’s a whistle with 41 seconds left in the 5v3 and Pittsburgh elects to use their timeout very early in the game in order to get their top players a breather and talk strategy.
It doesn’t pay off, they try to move the puck and find Kindel, his shot misses the net. From there the team bumbles around, finding ways to lose the puck and getting no where.
Pittsburgh gets called for a penalty, the Ducks strike again for their second PPG of the night. Cutter Gauthier makes a slick no look shot that fooled everyone in white thinking he would probably be passing. 2-0.
The bottom starts dropping out, Granlund finds Gauthier with a nice pass that again exposes the Pens’ defensive structure with only one player anywhere near the net. Gauthier scores his second goal of the night, right along the ice again. 3-0.
Repeated missed opportunities and repeated Gauthier goals put the Pens down 3-0 and it doesn’t even feel that close at the second intermission.
Third period
Blake Lizotte goes off for a tripping minor early in the period, the Ducks try to set Gauthier up for the hat trick, that doesn’t work. The second group comes out and Tristan Luneau shoots from the point with traffic and Silovs doesn’t catch up in time. 4-0 on the third PPG of the game for Anaheim.
The Pens get a power play with over 13 minutes to go and pull Silovs to make it a 6v4 advantage. Kris Letang joins the top power play and it pays off with Letang’s first goal of the season. 4-1 game.
Pittsburgh keeps pushing to get back in the game. Silovs is pulled again with 7:40 to go when the team gets an offensive zone faceoff. They force Anaheim into an interference penalty. Silovs stays on the bench for the team to try another 6v4 power play. It works again, this time with Crosby making a short pass over for Rickard Rakell to smack in. 4-2 game with 6:18 to play.
The push continues with the fight against the clock. The Pens pull Silovs for a third time with about three minutes to go and nearly score during a net-front scramble that again sees a Duck defender block a shot that was going into the net. The empty net luck finally runs out, Gauthier scores from long-range to get his hat trick and set the final score at 5-2.
Some thoughts
Rutger McGroarty was called up for an extra body in lieu of the Koivunen injury but didn’t play. He did play Friday and Saturday in the AHL and then make the cross-country trek to join the NHL club, it can be annoying when young players are recalled and not dressed but this decision made some sense. (Of course, it’ll make less if/when McGroarty doesn’t play again on Wednesday if he’s still with the NHL club by then).
Anaheim has the second ranked power play in the NHL, not a great idea to send them to the power play twice in the first ten minutes of action!
The Pittsburgh PK rotation in play is interesting, and not really a good interesting. Karlsson ended up at the top of the box, where a forward would usually be. The next PK, it was Korczak who ended up in the same spot. This required forwards to be down low and have to defend near the net, which doesn’t seem like the most sound strategy. That it happened twice for a defenseman fine with rotating out far from the net within a few minutes stood out as noteworthy.
Great Bob Grove stat (well not so great for Blake Lizotte): Lizotte has lost 11 straight defensive zone faceoffs while on the PK. That’s a big issue since Lizotte typically takes the first PK faceoff and those draws are in the d-zone. Overall, the non-Crosby faceoffs of the first period were two wins and nine losses, which was at five wins and 14 losses by the end of the second. Immediately losing puck possession so consistently has mounted into a major problem for this team. When Lizotte was in the box, Kindel took the duty of the first PK faceoff, he lost and broke his stick in the process – the puck ended up in the net seconds later.
It’s very petty but it doesn’t stop me from doing a little smile when remembering Gauthier elected to not want to sign with the Flyers after they drafted him. Maybe a little less happy when he starts snapping goals in left and right, but better it happens 2x a season instead of four.
Tonight had shades of the Vegas game for last week when Pittsburgh got a long 5v3 power play in a perfect spot to change the game (though down 1-0 in the second period tonight is of course a little different than a tie game late in the third like back then) only to not score. Then watch the opponent get a power play and quickly score a back-breaking goal. Not exactly the type of deja vu that you want to go through.
Just from the box score, a 2/5 night for the power play will look better than this one actually was, given the long 5v3 that went south at a key time of the game. It doesn’t help that aforementioned great Ducks power play was even better, going 3/4 and putting the game out of reach until a comeback effort that was too big of a hole and too little time for the Pens to have a real shot.
Liked the idea for the coaches to call the timeout early on in the game and try to give the players another crack at it. Having Novak back in the room getting repairs on his lip didn’t help matters, but at this point there’s still three future Hall of Famers on the ice in that situation. They have to find a way to get it in the net.
At least Letang got the power play something for the night with a goal. Nothing fancy, just a slapshot from the middle of the ice. Keeping it simple and putting pucks on target is the best thing they can do right now. Great stat from the SNP crew that tonight’s goal was only the second regular season goal for Letang in calendar 2026 (and the last was way back on January 1st!). Letang did score two goals in the playoffs.
Malkin had two power play assists tonight. He did get a PPA last night vs LA which was his first of the season in that ledger and his first power play point since way back on the second game against Montreal on 10/3. He’s had some injury issues, nice to see three PPA this weekend after being dry all year to that point.
A sixty minute game can’t be boiled down as simply as two plays, but it’s hard to avoid the final pre-empty net score of 4-2 and the fact two Ducks defenders blocked shots going into empty nets. It’s almost impossible to imagine Penguin players doing the same, most of them tend to end up out of picture view to the net when the goals go in. That, of course, wasn’t the true difference in why one team won and the other lost, though it does stand out just the same.
Not a new feeling, the Penguins are just missing that little extra bit right now that it takes to win games. Usually that comes from the power play failing gloriously and the defense getting out of sorts leading to goal(s) against. Both of those elements have been on display regularly this season and certainly were a big part of the story tonight. In theory, they’re pretty close, yet they fail to get there so regularly that it is a very real gap between winning and what they’re typically capable of. One more on the road on Wednesday night in San Jose before returning home.
The play by Luke Hughes on Saturday night still stands out. Not the fight with Matthew Schaefer, although that’s noteworthy as well. The play does involve Hughes and Schaefer, though.
It’s the overtime play where Hughes closes in on Schaefer, who has a chance to end the game with a breakaway goal. Then, Hughes breaks up the scoring chance, steals the puck, and sends it up the ice to his brother Jack Hughes for the overtime winner.
The play might have been a penalty, or at least a borderline call. It’s how Schaefer felt afterwards, expressing frustration on the ice. However, that play speaks to the improvements Hughes has made on defense, allowing the New Jersey Devils to win that game 5-4 and become one of the top teams in the NHL.
Hughes is where this week’s Devils notebook should start. After all, it’s been quite the week for the young defensemen. He’ll get a deep dive, but first, some thoughts on the recent 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs Remind The Devils Of The Woes They Addressed
The 4-0 final indicates that the game was lopsided. The play was even at the start but the Devils wore the Maple Leafs down and pulled away. The pace and how the Devils took over was a reminder of many issues that had to be addressed this season to become a contender.
The noticeable one was a slow defense, which the Devils fixed and the Maple Leafs stil have. Throughout the latest game, Jack Hughes and the fast-paced skaters blew by the Maple Leafs defensemen, many of which are veterans in their 30s who have lost a step.
Outside of Luke Hughes, the Devils defense is older yet doesn’t play that way. One reason why is the Declan Chisholm addition, as the 26 year old defenseman adds a burst of speed to the third pair, and he gets ice time when the matchups call for it.
Speaking of wearing the opponent down, the Devils managed to do so to the Maple Leafs despite playing with 11 forwards. Another issue general manager Sunny Mehta addressed this offseason was the depth and he wanted the forward unit to have multiple lines that could come at teams. They have throughout the season and they wore down the Maple Leafs.
The other key is in the net. The Maple Leafs thought their fix was signing Sergei Bobrovsky, which is fair considering his playoff success. The problem is that they are relying on two goaltenders who have slowed down in the regular season with injuries and don’t have a workhorse who can get them throught the season. It’s costing them as the Maple Leafs lost their third game in a row and sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
The Devils meanwhile addressed their issues in the net with the Connor Hellebuyck move. It’s a risk considering his playoff woes but his success in the regular season has boosted the Devils. His 23-save shutout against the Maple Leafs was his best start as a Devil and proved why he was worth making the move to acquire. He gives them stability in the net while the rest of the roster makes them an early season Cup contender.
Luke Hughes Leaning Into His Strengths To Become An Elite Defenseman
Hughes has always been a great skater, which has typically helped him offensively. According to NHL Edge, his 30 bursts in the 20-22 miles per hour range are tied for sixth-most among defensemen in the NHL. He is not only fast but also accelerates and joins plays in a hurry.
This season, he’s leaning into his speed to impact the games defensively. The play in overtime against Schaefer is a prime example, as he chases down the Islanders defenseman and breaks up the scoring chance. It’s also become a common occurrence for Hughes, where he’ll close in on the skater with the puck and either break up a rush chance or a shot in the slot.
Moreover, it allows Hughes to play in the right position or, more accurately, circle back into position in the defensive zone. It’s something Keefe has preached to the defense throughout the season, and noticed during the hot streak. “I think that the guys away from the point of contact or away from the puck have worked to get back to position and have been more disciplined to be in position so that if something happens, if a puck gets through, somebody's there to clean it up,” Keefe noted after the Oct. 24 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
While Hughes is an aggressive defenseman, often joining the play on offense, he has the speed to make up for it on the defensive end, and it’s reflected in his 1.4 defensive point shares, which are second-most on the Devils behind only Brett Pesce.
Speaking of Pesce, another factor is the improvements from Hughes. Young defensemen who are learning the position but have the skill offensively need a veteran on their pair to both cancel out their mistakes and teach them firsthand. Pesce has done that in the past, and it’s paying off this season.
It’s also a reminder that Hughes needed time to learn the position. Defensemen typically need NHL action and games to develop. Hughes is 23 and closing in on 250 games (he’s nine away, following the game against the Maple Leafs).
Along with the speed is the puck-handling ability, a quality that turns defense into offense. It’s something many defensemen were taught at the development level, where possession and the ability to move the puck out of the defensive zone and into the offensive zone are prominent in Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Schaefer’s play. The Devils' young defenseman has focused on his puck handling to help the defense and offense.
“He's controlling the pace, he's controlling the puck, and he wants the puck on his tape,” Connor Hellebuyck stated after the game against the Blues when asked about Hughes and his defensive play. “Guys like that, they have a way of really pushing the other team back,” Hellebuyck added. When Hughes is on the ice, the opponent is on their heels and can’t forecheck the way they typically would, knowing the pressure the defenseman can generate the other way.
What about his play on the offensive end? His career-high for goals came in his first full season in the NHL, scoring nine in 2023-24. Hughes has six goals and 11 points through 18 games. It’s a credit to his willingness to shoot and take on a more aggressive mindset in the offensive zone.
Hughes won’t be in the Norris Trophy conversation. Likewise, he’s not one of the handful of elite defensemen in the NHL. However, the best teams in the NHL often have an elite number-one defenseman. The Devils look like they found their answer in Hughes.
Timo Meier’s Fight To Be A Team Player
In the game against the St. Louis Blues, Timo Meier dropped the gloves with Jake Neighbours after the Blues skater delivered a big hit on Nico Hischier. Meier was given a game misconduct for instigating the fight.
After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe said something interesting about fighting and the way it’s changed recently. “The guy who threw the hit is often the first one to get his gloves off and throw the first punch. That’s happening a lot around the league.” It suggests that when a player delivers a hit, even if it’s clean, they are anticipating a fight right away.
I reached out to multiple former NHL enforcers turned scouts (as an aside, a surprising number of former enforcers are now scouts) for their thoughts on this. Here are three takeaways about what’s happening in the league.
The player who delivers the hit is anticipating a fight, whether it’s a clean hit or not. They might not drop their gloves, but they have their head on a swivel, knowing someone is likely coming after them.
When a hit happens, it’s easy to miss it. However, the skaters must make a snap decision. Either they can play on or drop the gloves and stick up for their teammates. They must make this decision with the game being played at warp speed, and ignoring the hit for a few seconds can make the skaters look like bad teammates.
It’s why most players will stand up for their teammates and drop the gloves regardless of the hit. Meier wants to be known as someone who will stand up for his captain, and likewise, the coaching staff wants to see players respond. The opposite was on display last season when Radko Gudas injured Auston Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit, and the lack of a response from the Maple Leafs was a bad look.
A problem is how these fights are officiated. Meier was given a game misconduct for instigating. It’s a side effect of fighting returning to hockey and referees not being used to seeing them, certainly not as often as they used to.
Moreover, the NHL has turned over many of the older officials recently, many of whom have retired, for younger refs. The pros are that they can skate with the players and keep up with plays. They see more. The downside is that they are making more calls both because they see more and don’t have the same feel for the game. They’ll make the right call by the book but not for the flow.
That’s also been a trend in the NHL. The refs are making more calls and calling more penalties. The Devils game against the Edmonton Oilers had a combined nine penalties called, which disrupted the flow of the game and made it longer. It’s a fine line between making the right calls and managing the game, making sure it’s not too long (plus, allowing the players to police the game themselves). The younger officials are still learning where the line is and how to control a game because of it.
As for Meier, it’s been a frustrating season for him. It’s what made his two-goal night against the Maple Leafs a relief. He’s been playing the right way yet hasn’t had the puck luck. He was due for a big game and finally got it.
Quick Hits
The Utica Comets swept their back-to-back this weekend. The Devils' American Hockey League affiliate is 8-2 and has the best winning percentage in the North Division (third-most points). They are a good team, and oddly enough, they mirror how the Devils are built.
The Comets have four forward lines that come at teams in waves, a young rising star on the defense (in this instance, it’s Devils prospect Anton Silaev), and steady goaltending. It’s great for the Devils' future and the present.
With Anthony Mantha out and missing time, the Devils might turn to one of the Comets to add depth for the time being. Stefan Noesen is the go-to call-up considering his time with the Devils, and he’s a depth veteran. Riley Tufte is a power forward who can slide in on the fourth line. Then there’s Lenni Hämeenaho, a 23-year-old forward who leads the AHL team with eight points in 10 games, the one fans will want to get a glimpse of.
The Devils' 4-3 win over the Oilers was in a shootout. It’s always fascinating to see who goes in the shootout and how coaches decide who takes a shot. Every team has the usual suspects (for both teams, it was Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl), but then some coaches must guess, rely on instinct, or rely on what the players say.
The Devils went with Evan Rodrigues for the third attempt and Arseny Gritsyuk for the fourth and game-winner. “Putting together historical data, stats, and how guys have done. Rodrigues is right up there with our top guys, especially if you just factor in recent years,” Keefe stated on the selection, adding Gritsyuk has a small sample; he’s only taken one shot in the NHL, but he’s done well in the KHL previously, and obviously he's the hot hand.” It’s something Keefe had in his back pocket for the Devils' first shootout, and it worked. Chances are the next time the Devils are in a shootout, they’ll go with Hughes, Bratt, and Grityuk.
The upcoming week will be an interesting one, to say the least. It starts with the big news on Sunday night that Hellebuyck won't start the Tuesday night game against the Jets, a game many anticipated he would get the nod for, as it's the first time he makes the trip back. There will be plenty of coverage of it here at The Hockey News.
The Calgary Flames found a way to get the job done Sunday night, overcoming three separate deficits before Matt Coronato played overtime hero in a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
With overtime needed to decide a winner, Coronato buried the game-winner with just 51.7 seconds remaining, sending the home crowd home happy.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
It was a relatively quiet opening period until the Flyers broke through at the 12:46 mark. Sean Couturier put a shot on Devin Cooley, who kicked out the initial attempt, but Denver Barkey was right there to collect the rebound and fire it past the Flames goaltender to make it 1-0 Philadelphia.
The Flames responded with some sustained offensive-zone pressure and found an equalizer at 15:26. Zayne Parekh showed off his skating ability, walking through two Flyers defenders before driving toward the net and ripping a shot into the far-side top corner past Dan Vladar. Yan Kuznetsov and Yegor Sharangovich picked up the assists as Calgary tied the game 1-1.
Philadelphia regained the lead early in the second period. Just 2:16 into the frame, Noel Acciari got his stick on a rolling point shot from Nick Seeler, redirecting it past Cooley to put the Flyers ahead 2-1. Couturier collected his second assist of the night on the play.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Once again, the Flames had an answer.
At 5:59, Aydar Suniev found Zach Whitecloud, who stepped into a wrist shot and picked the blocker side of Vladar with a well-placed attempt. It was Whitecloud’s first goal of the season, tying the game 2-2. Sharangovich added his second assist of the night.
The Flyers took their third lead of the game at 15:07, capitalizing on the power play. Owen Tippett found a loose puck in the slot, spun around and fired it past Cooley to give Philadelphia a 3-2 advantage.
The Flames needed another response, and they got one from an unlikely situation.
At 8:27 of the third period, Martin Pospisil turned the puck over at centre ice, allowing Joel Farabee to jump on the opportunity. Scoring against his former team, Farabee broke in alone on Vladar, made a slick move to his backhand and slid the puck underneath the goaltender’s pad for his seventh goal of the season.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The game was tied 3-3.
Vladar came up with two enormous pad saves in the late stages of regulation to keep the game even and send the contest to overtime.
With 51.7 seconds remaining in the extra frame, the Flames found their opening. Calgary moved quickly up ice, with Matvei Gridin feeding Coronato, who made no mistake, firing the puck past Vladar to secure the 4-3 victory.
The Flames completed the comeback and picked up two points in front of their home fans.
Three Takeaways
1. Zayne Parekh continues to impress
Parekh’s first-period goal was another example of the skill and offensive instincts that make him such an exciting young defenceman. He walked through two Flyers defenders, used his skating ability to create space and finished with a terrific shot into the far-side corner.
He’s been putting together more consistent efforts on both sides of the puck, although there’s still some learning to do. There were moments Sunday when he looked a little disconnected, but the talent is undeniable. The more experience he gets, the more comfortable he’ll become.
2. Cooley gives the Flames a chance
It was good to see Devin Cooley back between the pipes for Calgary. Despite allowing three goals, he battled throughout the night and made several important saves to keep his team within reach.
One of the highlights came shortly after Philadelphia’s second goal, when Cooley came up with a terrific glove save. He’s shown an ability to stay locked in regardless of what’s happening in front of him, and that kind of composure gives the Flames a chance to win games.
3. Sharangovich finds the scoresheet
Yegor Sharangovich turned in a productive night offensively, recording a pair of assists in the victory.
He’s a player the Flames need to generate offence from, and he was involved in several key moments Sunday. His work on Parekh’s goal and Whitecloud’s equalizer helped Calgary stay within striking distance throughout the game.
The two assists were a welcome contribution from a player who can be an important part of the Flames’ offensive attack.
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Matt Coronato scored at 4:08 of overtime to give the Calgary Flames a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night.
Zane Parekh, Zach Whitecloud and Joel Farabee, while short-handed, also scored for the Flames (8-9-1). Yegor Sharangovich had two assists.
Flames goalie Devin Cooley, in his first game back after missing five because of a lower-body injury, made 32 saves.
Denver Barkey, Noel Acciari and Owen Tippett scored for Philadelphia (4-10-5), and Sean Couturier added two assists. Dan Vladar stopped 22 shots.
Farabee tied it on a short-handed breakaway midway through the third period.
Up next
Flyers: At Vancouver on Monday night.
Flames: Host the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.
TORONTO (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for his first shutout with New Jersey and the Devils beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 on Sunday night.
Acquired from the Winnipeg Jets last month after demanding a trade, Hellebuyck became the first goalie in franchise history to win each of his first five games with the club.
The Devils are set to play at Winnipeg on Tuesday night, with general manager Sunny Mehta saying Sunday night that Hellebuyck will not play. Hellebuyck had his first shutout of the season and the 46th of his NHL career.
Timo Meier scored twice for New Jersey (13-5-0), which has won nine of its last 10 games. Nico Hischier, with a goal and an assist, and Connor Brown, into an empty net, provided the rest of the offense. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt each had two assists.
Anthony Stolarz stopped 25 shots for Toronto (8-9-2). The Maple Leafs have lost three straight and five of their last six in regulation.
Meier opened the scoring at 8:28 of the second period when he was left alone in front after a faceoff in the offensive zone. The winger doubled the advantage with 7:16 left in the period when a Hughes' shot deflected off Meier and past Stolarz.
Hischier made it 3-0 on a power play at 9:49 of the third, and Brown iced it into the empty net. Hischier assisted on Meier’s first goal to become the third Swiss-born player in NHL history with 500 career points, joining Roman Josi (799) and Kevin Fiala (528).
The Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2026 was honored before the puck drop. Carey Price, Patrice Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Keith Tkachuk and Cindy Curley are set to be enshrined in the player category Monday. Brian Burke will go in as a builder.
Everyone knows by now that the Edmonton Oilers can't seem to keep their goaltenders healthy.
Edmonton entered training camp with three goaltenders, and just 10 games into the season, two were injured, forcing the Oilers to use four different goaltenders and dress an emergency backup.
At least things are starting to improve.
Devon Levi returned from a groin injury on Saturday, Tristan Jarry is healthy after missing Thursday's game against Anaheim with an illness, and Frederik Andersen remains sidelined with an injury he suffered during the offseason.
The Oilers had some decisions to make about their goaltending heading into October, and injuries have taken care of most of them.
Levi won six of his first seven starts before suffering a groin injury against Carolina on Oct. 22. He apparently felt something wrong during the third period, though it was of little concern to him at the time.
“I wasn't going to get out of that game unless I was dead,” Levi said.
Probably not what the medical staff wanted to hear.
Levi missed seven games, leaving Jarry responsible for most of Edmonton's starts. The 31-year-old recorded consecutive shutouts against Calgary and the New York Islanders, as well as some pretty reliable goaltending during their road trip through New York.
“With Dev hurt, I knew I'd get a little bit more work,” Jarry said following the Islanders game. “So just being able to take care of that opportunity and kind of just run with it… It's been fun, to say the least.”
Matt Tomkins also got an opportunity to play, making 27 saves in Edmonton's 4-1 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The 32-year-old Edmonton native entered that game with just six NHL starts and no league appearances since April 2024.
Then Jarry got sick.
Edmonton dressed Tomkins and emergency backup goaltender Brett Epp against Anaheim on Thursday night, since Andersen and Levi were still unavailable.
Having an emergency backup sitting on the bench in November probably wasn't something Stan Bowman expected when he put together this roster.
Fortunately, Levi returned on Saturday night against Vancouver, stopping 20 shots in Edmonton's 4-2 win. Jarry was healthy enough to serve as his backup, and Tomkins was reassigned to Bakersfield.
“It was a tight game,” Levi said afterward. “I love playing those games, going into the third period (tied) 1-1, knowing that I’m probably going to have to come up with one or two (big saves). Love it, man. So it was a fun game.”
“He's got all the characteristics of a gamer,” Jason Dickinson said. “He fights hard, he battles hard, he's been itching to get back. It's definitely good for us to have him.”
Edmonton now has two healthy goaltenders who have been playing well, and Andersen's eventual return will give the organization more hope.
Jarry has earned more opportunities with his recent performances, Levi has won seven of eight games, and Andersen was originally expected to be the starter.
The Oilers are 12-3-3 through 18 games, and their goaltending has been reasonably reliable despite everything that's happened, but four goaltenders and an emergency backup before 20 games is getting a little ridiculous.
Maybe somebody really should check for a curse.
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WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Mark Scheifele scored on a 5-on-3 power play with 1.6 seconds left and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on Sunday after blowing a late three-goal lead.
Scheifele scored on a one-timer from the high slot off a feed from Cole Perfetti.
After Brayden Yager gave Winnipeg a 3-0 lead on a power play at 8:10 of the third with his first NHL goal, the Lightning tied it in a 4:07 burst. Brandon Hagel scored with 9:38 to go, and Pontus Holmberg struck twice — with 5:59 left and 5:33 remaining.
Perfetti, Morgan Barron and Brayden Yager also scored for Winnipeg (7-8-3), and Stuart Skinner made 18 saves. The Jets have won three in a row after dropping nine straight.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 21 shots for Tampa Bay (11-4-2) in the opener of a three-game trip The Lightning had won three in a row.
Winnipeg went 3 or 5 on the power play, and Tampa Bay was 0 for 4.
It’s been five years since the Vegas Golden Knights acquired Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabres, but today’s game at KeyBank Center made one thing clear. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed; when he returns to Buffalo, the crowds that once chanted his name will remain committed to voicing their displeasure when he has the puck.
But on Eichel’s game-winning goal, the puck was on and off his stick and in the back of the net so fast that the crowd didn’t get the chance to boo.
“It’s always nice to win,” said Eichel following the 4-1 win. “It’s a place I spent a lot of time, so it’s always good to come in here and get a win.”
Tonight’s victory ends the Golden Knights’ four-game Eastern Conference road trip on a high note. They have won three in a row and picked up points in all four games.
“Our execution rose, I thought, as we went through the trip,“ said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig. “Our level is continuing to climb. We’re 19 games in. So I’d expect our game to continue to get better, and when it strays a little bit, it’s our job to get it back.”
“It was a really good road trip for us,” agreed Eichel. “There were some tight games, some timely goals, and some huge saves. A lot of credit to the guys; after a long road trip, they found a way to win here in the afternoon. We’ll head home with seven of eight [points].”
1. A Rough Start
The Golden Knights beat the Sabres and scored four goals for the first time in five games. However, the Sabres came out hot and outshot the Golden Knights 14-6 in the first period. The only reason that Buffalo didn’t take the lead was the stellar play of their goaltender, Adin Hill.
“They came out hard,” said Hill following the 4-1 win. “It’s their building. But we just kind of held on. We obviously weren’t our best that period, and our power play didn’t get it going. But we found a way to keep it 0-0 at the end of the period. And our guys blocked a lot of big shots. Yeah, we held on.”
Hill was incredible in net, stopping 28 of the 29 shots he faced and saving 2.54 goals above expected.
“The first wasn’t very pretty by us,” said Mitch Marner following the game. “I think a lot of people would probably agree with that. Our goalie’s been unreal for us here these last few weeks. Hiller made some big saves when we needed him to.”
2. A Spotless Record
When teams are chasing the game, anything can help swing momentum in their favor. Usually, taking three consecutive penalties doesn’t help; today, however, the Golden Knights gained momentum from three second-period penalty kills.
“Sometimes a kill can get you going,” said Mitch Marner following the 4-1 win. “I think it kind of gets you on your toes more; it gets you anticipating plays. I think we did a really good job with our first kill going into our second, and obviously capitalizing once on the kill, and then capitalizing once right after. So both were big moments of the game.”
Since only allowing one goal on a 5-minute major against the Boston Bruins, the Golden Knights have killed off eleven straight penalties.
“We’ve had some timely kills, some big kills, and it was important to do that,” said Jack Eichel. “I thought our penalty kill had been good even earlier in the year; they were just finding ways to score. I think we’ve done a good job keeping the puck out of our net. Special teams are a big part of our game, and we’ve done a good job the last little bit on our PK.”
3. The Fastest Knight
With a goal and an assist in today’s game against the Sabres, Mitch Marner became the fastest player to record 100 points as a Golden Knight. He reached 100 points in 98 games, narrowly beating Mark Stone’s record of 103 games.
Marner sprung William Karlsson on a shorthanded breakaway during the first kill of the game, and later scored a beauty on a shorthanded breakaway of his own.
“I didn’t really know what I was doing until I did it. So that keeps people guessing as well,” said Marner. “There was pretty good ice out there, so I trusted myself pretty confidently. It’s always fun to see one drop. It’s been a while. I don't want to grip the stick too much, but I do like to see one go.”
Marner also assisted on Tomáš Hertl’s first goal of the game, which came just a minute and 17 seconds after the Sabres got on the board and cut the Golden Knights’ lead to one. Before getting off the ice for a change, Marner picked off Rasmus Dahlin’s bank pass and sent Hertl flying into the zone with speed. Hertl cut around Owen Power, took it to the net, and stuffed it home.
“It was a great response by our guys,” said Adin Hill following the 4-1 win. “[Buffalo] got that one goal there to make it a 2-1 game, and then maybe 2 shifts later Herts finds a way to bury one. It’s huge when you get that insurance goal.”
After a critical win Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings to snap a four-game losing streak, the Pittsburgh Penguins head to Anaheim Sunday to take on the red-hot Ducks in the second leg of their three-game California road trip.
Although much remains the same regarding their lineup, Pittsburgh did make a few moves prior to Sunday's game. The team announced that forward Ville Koivunen is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and in a corresponding move, forward Rutger McGroarty was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate.
McGroarty has played in only two NHL games this season and has six goals and 12 points in nine AHL games. He will not be in the lineup against the Ducks.
In Koivunen's place, forward Andrei Kuzmenko will slot in. Kuzmenko, 30, was signed to a one-year, $5 million contract this offseason but has been a healthy scratch for the last two games. He has just one point in 11 games this season but will have the chance to make a statement against a team he is familiar with as an ex-King.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs will get the start in net after a 26-save winning performance from rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov on Saturday. He is 5-5-1 with an .876 save percentage this season.
Forwards Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin Tommy Novak-Ben Kindel-Egor Chinakhov Andrei Kuzmenko-Hendrix Lapierre-Justin Brazeau Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Nick Robertson
Defense Spencer Stastney-Erik Karlsson Sam Girard-Kaedan Korczak Declan Carlile-Kris Letang
According to Penguins' historian Bob Grove, the Ducks have scored five or more goals in seven straight games. The Penguins lost both contests against Anaheim last season, one being on a late penalty kill, and the other in overtime after a literal last-second goal.
Leo Carlsson has six goals and 26 points in 17 games this season.
Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X."
Even after heading to the West Coast with a mostly healthy roster, the Pittsburgh Penguins still could not escape the injury bug.
A day after their 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings Saturday, the Penguins announced that forward Ville Koivunen is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will not play in the second leg of the Penguins' back-to-back. They will take on the Anaheim Ducks Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET.
In a corresponding move, forward Rutger McGroarty - who just played Saturday in Charlotte with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - was recalled and joined the team in Anaheim.
Koivunen, 23, has two goals and six points in 15 games this season. He has been playing on the third line with Hendrix Lapierre and Justin Brazeau, the latter of whom has played in the last three games after returning from an injury sustained in the preseason.
McGroarty has appeared in only two NHL games this season, but he has put together a solid start to his AHL campaign, recording six goals and 12 points in nine games. He recorded the game-tying goal in WBS's 4-3 overtime win over the Charlotte Checkers Friday in a two-point night.
In 34 career NHL games, McGroarty has four goals and nine points. It is unclear whether or not he will suit up for the Penguins Sunday against Anaheim, as forward Andrei Kuzmenko has also been a healthy scratch for the past two games and is available.
The Vegas Golden Knights needed their goaltender to help them survive the first period Sunday.
By the time they left Buffalo, they had plenty more to feel good about.
Tomas Hertl scored twice in the third period, Mitch Marner had a shorthanded goal and an assist, and Adin Hill stopped 28 of 29 shots as Vegas defeated the Sabres 4-1 at KeyBank Center.
Jack Eichel also scored against his former team, and Ivan Barbashev collected two assists for the Golden Knights (12-5-2), who finished their four-game Eastern trip 3-0-1.
“Some tight games and some timely goals and some huge saves,” Eichel said. “A lot of credit to the guys here after a long road trip finding a way to win here in the afternoon.”
Vegas outscored its opponents 11-6 during the trip, winning three straight after opening with a shootout loss in Boston.
Coach Ryan Craig pointed to a clear change after the opening period.
“Our ability to check, our ability to win pucks back, our level raised,” Craig said. “And it was the difference in the game.”
Buffalo outshot Vegas 14-6 in the first period, but Hill kept the game scoreless before the Golden Knights found their footing.
“We didn’t obviously have our best period,” Hill said. “But we found a way to keep it at 0-0 at the end of the period. Our guys blocked a lot of big shots.”
Marner and Eichel scored in the second period before Hertl put the Sabers away in the third. Beck Malenstyn scored Buffalo’s only goal as the Sabres fell to 8-6-3.
KEY MOMENT: 86 Seconds Marner, Eichel
The Golden Knights turned a Buffalo power play into the beginning of their breakthrough.
Marner scored an unassisted shorthanded goal at 12:17 of the second period, and Eichel followed just 86 seconds later to give Vegas a 2-0 advantage.
“I think sometimes the kill can get you going,” Marner said. “I think it kind of gets you on your toes more, gets you anticipating plays.”
Marner’s goal was Vegas’ fourth shorthanded tally of the season, tying the Golden Knights for the NHL lead.
His edge work helped produce the finish, though his later explanation suggested instinct played a significant role.
“I didn’t really know what I was doing until I did it,” Marner said. “So I think that obviously keeps people guessing as well.”
Eichel then scored his eighth goal of the season off an assist from Barbashev at 13:43.
The sequence rewarded a team that had stayed within reach during Buffalo’s stronger opening period. It also reflected the patience Marner believes has accompanied Vegas’ recent defensive improvement.
“The great thing is we’re not getting frustrated with not scoring goals,” Marner said. “We’re defending very, very well right now.”
Vegas killed 14 of 15 penalties during the four-game trip, a 93.3 percent success rate that helped protect narrow margins throughout the week.
The Golden Knights collected a point in Boston before winning one-goal games in Pittsburgh and Detroit. Their ability to keep opponents from converting with the extra skater repeatedly gave them an opportunity to secure points.
Craig traced the importance of those kills from the five-minute major in Boston through Sunday’s breakthrough.
“The Boston one keeps us in,” Craig said. “The Pittsburgh one late allows us for a chance to win the game. This one keeps us right at zeros, right, before Mitch scores. So very timely.”
For Eichel, the results represented a payoff for work that had been better than the early numbers suggested.
“I thought our penalty kill had been good even earlier in the year,” he said. “They were just finding ways to score, and I thought we’ve done a good job keeping the puck out of our net.”
That improvement fit the broader defensive picture. Vegas allowed two goals apiece in Boston and Pittsburgh, then one each in Detroit and Buffalo.
Hill and Carter Hart gave the Golden Knights a chance every night, while the penalty killers helped keep difficult stretches from becoming decisive ones.
“There’s a commitment to our team that is there,” Craig said.
WHAT A KNIGHT: Tomas Hertl
Hertl made sure Buffalo’s third-period breakthrough did not become the start of a comeback.
Malenstyn cut Vegas’ lead to 2-1 at 4:26, giving the Sabres more than 15 minutes to chase an equalizer.
“Two beautiful goals by Tommy,” Eichel said. “Gave us a little bit of comfort. And I thought we played well with the lead.”
The goals were Hertl’s eighth and ninth of the season. He also scored twice in Tuesday’s victory at Pittsburgh, giving him four goals over the final three games of the trip.
Both Pittsburgh goals came on the power play. Both Buffalo goals came at even strength.
Craig credited the defensive work that preceded Sunday’s finishes, including Marner’s checking and the backchecking before the transition on the second goal.
“Those goals in the third are a result of us checking,” Craig said.
UP NEXT
The Golden Knights return to T-Mobile Arena to face the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Pacific.
The game opens a five-game homestand that also includes Nashville, Vancouver and consecutive matchups against Dallas.
Vegas returns with 26 points through 19 games, although Eichel resisted declaring the successful trip a defining stretch of the season.
“I don’t know if you want to define your season on a trip in the early part of November,” he said. “But I think there’s a lot of things we can take from our game and what made us successful and what we did well.”
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) scores a goal on Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis (92) during the third period at KeyBank Center.
To begin a three-game California road swing Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins badly needed a win. They had a four-game losing streak to snap, and they were trying to avoid the basement of the Eastern Conference standings.
And they were finally able to break through.
Tommy Novak and Sidney Crosby recorded two goals each, and the Penguins beat the Los Angeles Kings, 5-2, to grab that much-needed victory. Rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov was excellent, stopping 26 of 28 Kings' shots and helping to shut the game down late.
It wasn't necessarily the prettiest of affairs the entire night through, but the W at the end of the night is what mattered most, no matter how it happened, for a team in the Penguins' position.
The scoring started less than two minutes into the game, when the Penguins' second line of Ben Kindel, Tommy Novak, and Egor Chinakhov was cycling in the offensive zone. Declan Carlile took a pass from Kris Letang and threw it on net from the point, where a rebound squirted out to the low slot. Novak was waiting there, and he turned around and threw it at the net to beat Darcy Kuemper and put the Penguins up, 1-0.
And Novak wasn't done. Just a few minutes later, the Penguins broke into the offensive zone on the rush. Kindel drove the middle and put a puck on net, with Kuemper made a save with his left pad but failed to control the rebound. Novak swooped right in to pick it up, and he potted his second of the game to make it 2-0.
Approaching the midway point of the opening frame, Corey Perry earned himself a garbage goal with some hard work to fend off Carlile at the net front, and the Ducks got some momentum to follow. They were pressing hard for the rest of the period, that is, until a penalty on Drew Doughty for interference with 2:22 to go.
On that late power play opportunity for the Penguins, the second unit was on the ice with less than a minute to go. With 28 seconds left on the clock, Ville Koivunen got the puck in the slot and set the table nicely with a dish to Chinakhov at the top of the left circle, and he unleashed his patented wrist shot.
At first, it was ruled no-goal on the ice, but after a high-sticking penalty by L.A. with time winding down, officials went back and looked at it in what was a very short review. The puck had hit the back bar and came out quick enough for the official to miss it the first time, but it had no doubt crossed the goal line, and the Penguins led, 3-1, going into the second period.
The Kings came on strong again at the start of the second, and a Sam Girard hooking penalty led to a power play goal for Alex Laferriere to cut the Penguins' lead to 3-2. The teams traded some chances throughout the second period, but Pittsburgh got another late-period goal that was crucial.
Erik Karlsson cut through the slot after a difficult keep-in and sent a perfect pass over to a waiting Malkin, who blasted one behind Kuemper and into the net to make it 4-2. Upon further review, the shot ticked off of Crosby's jersey on the way in, so the goal was changed. The point Crosby earned on the goal put him into sole possession of sixth place on the NHL's all-tiime scoring list, passing Marcel Dionne, with his 1,772nd career point.
Even though there were chances here and there, the Penguins largely shut down the third period, and they especially shut down the final few minutes. With a minute and 16 seconds to play and with the net empty, Crosby won a foot race to a loose puck heading toward the L.A. zone, and he was interfered with. Although it would have been a goal, anyway, he dove to put the puck in for the final finish.
Here are a few takeaways from this one:
- Novak has been a revelation for the Penguins this season. He's always been a reliable player, but his offense has broken out in a big way.
He has seven goals and 14 points in 17 games to co-lead the team in goals alongside Nick Robertson. He's been a fixture in the top-six the entire season and on the power play. He's been excellent on the forecheck and does a lot of the little things to drive offense.
All of a sudden, he is a valuable trade chip, too. If the Penguins fail to turn things around, don't be surprised if some teams covet him, especially with a new thre-year extension kicking in next season.
- This was a heck of an effort for the second line in general, and it looks like Novak really helped bring out the best in Kindel and Chinkahov, who had been building some chemistry with Malkin on that line prior.
The third line of Koivunen, Hendrix Lapierre, and Justin Brazeau had a nice night, too, and were generating chances throughout.
One thing that loading up the top line with Crosby, Malkin, and Rickard Rakell has done is create some easier matchups for other lines. Teams need to send out their best to defend the Penguins' best, and it seems to have opened things up for other players.
We'll see how that unfolds over the next several games.
- It's been mentioned a few times, but Kaedan Korczak has been so consistently solid for the Penguins.
There is a ton of discourse out there about the trade that brought Korczak to Pittsburgh, which sent lefty Parker Wotherspoon the other way. While, yes, Wotherspoon was solid for most of last season next to Erik Karlsson on the top pairing, he is older at age 29, he faded in the back half of the season, and he had one year left on his contract.
Korczak, 25, is younger, has term, and has performed just as well as Wotherspoon did last season. A lot of Korczak's work is quieter, and he isn't quite as overtly physical as Wotherspoon. But the details are there in his game, and he also has 10 points in 17 games on the season.
That trade should age well for the Penguins, even if their left side was weakened because of it.
After a few rough outings in a row, he earned his first win of the season, and it was well-deserved. Although the Penguins were better in this one, they were far from perfect, and they made their fair share of mistakes in front of him. Neither goal was remotely his fault. And he answered the bell when he had to.
It will be interesting to see how the goaltender rotation operates moving forward. Arturs Silovs had a stretch of games where he was very good, but he's cooled off a bit. He has an .876 save percentage in 11 games. Murashov has an .880 save percentage in six.
Neither has lit the world on fire. If Silovs - who, presumably, will get the nod Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks - struggles at all in his next start or doesn't stand out in any particular way, Murashov should start Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks to close out the road trip.
- Crosby really looks like he has his legs in these recent games. He was very good Saturday. He's slowly finding his form again.
Maybe the early dooming with regards to the 39-year-old captain was a tad bit premature. Next up, Ron Francis.
Another third-period letdown resulted in another loss for the Flyers.
This time, the Flyers fell in overtime with a 4-3 decision Sunday night to the Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Matt Coronato won it for Calgary with 52 seconds left in the bonus period. The Flames had a 3-on-1 rush after Owen Tippett played the puck toward the net with two of his teammates looking for a deflection or rebound.
In the third period, the Flyers were burned by their old friend Joel Farabee. Instead of the Flyers building on their lead with a power play goal, they gave up a game-tying shorthanded goal to Farabee.
On the night, the Flyers relinquished three one-goal leads.
Tippett, Denver Barkey and Noel Acciari provided the team’s goals.
In their previous game, the Flyers had what Rick Tocchet felt was an “inexcusable” finish. They coughed up a 2-1 lead Thursday night with 6:08 minutes left and lost in regulation, 3-2, to the Rangers.
The Flyers have had 10 games decided by one goal. They’ve lost nine of those games (1-4-5).
Tocchet’s club has just four wins in its first 19 games. The Flyers are 4-10-5.
For some context, the 2006-07 Flyers — a team that finished 22-48-12 — had more wins through 19 games. That franchise-worst club was 5-12-2 at this point.
The Flyers see the Flames (8-9-1) again Dec. 11 when the teams meet at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
• Dan Vladar, facing his old club, did his job, almost willing the Flyers to a win.
He denied 22 of 26 shots.
The Flyers were hanging on in the third period.
With 1:06 minutes left, Vladar made a marvelous save on Martin Pospisil to keep the game tied. He also turned away Farabee twice in the final 2:46 minutes.
On Farabee’s shorthanded goal, Oliver Bonk tried to collect a loose puck along the offensive blue line, but the defenseman had it poked away. That sprung Farabee for a breakaway.
Calgary netminder Devin Cooley stopped 32 of the Flyers’ 35 shots.
Just 27 seconds after Acciari gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead in the second period, Cooley robbed Tippett with a sprawling glove save. It was a massive stop because it allowed the Flames to tie the game 3:16 minutes later on a Zach Whitecloud goal.
But Tippett broke through later in the middle stanza when he whipped home a power play goal.
In the first period, the Flyers were immediately defending after Barkey opened the scoring. Zayne Parekh split Tippett and Trevor Zegras a little too easily with a skillful play to tie the game at 1-1.
• Someone will have to step up on this five-game road trip for the Flyers. They’re 0-1-1 so far and it’s because they’re stumbling in crunch time.
They’re at least in these games. But they’re simply finding ways to lose them. And that’s a pretty concerning trend.
His goal gave them a 3-2 lead heading into second intermission. Tippett was highly active and finished with six shots. But the 27-year-old winger had a minus-4 rating.
If there’s a silver lining, maybe it’ll be Tippett’s goal. His production tends to come in bunches. We’ll see if this can start a run for him.
• The Flyers are right back at it Monday when they visit the Canucks (9:30 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
