The Islanders were heavily outshot and often outplayed on a night where Ilya Sorokin faced 50 shots, but a nice balance of scoring provided enough of a cushion to get a regulation point after the Devils erased a 4-2 deficit to win in overtime on a controversial Jack Hughes breakaway.
Anthony Duclair, Victor Eklund and Simon Holmstrom each had goals to spread the scoring around. (Matthew Schaefer also scored, but come on he’s expected to.)
The teams traded quick goals in spurts through the first two periods. The Islanders got on the board thanks to alert play by Emil Heineman to set up Duclair when Jake Allen was unable-by-law to touch a dump in outside the trapezoid. The Devils tied it 17 seconds later, but the Isles answered two minutes after that with Matthew Schaefer’s fifth goal of the season.
Eklund’s goal to make it 4-2 midway through the second was mostly Tony DeAngelo’s shot after a good stretch of Isles pressure, but Eklund was in the paint to knock the rebound in, and Heineman was also there in case the Swede didn’t get to it first.
A thorough scrum late in the second created five penalties, with the Islanders somehow getting the extra, giving New Jersey a power play that carried over into the final period.
And trailing by two entering the third, the Devils started it with a relentless push that continued after that power play expired. Ilya Sorokin made a medley of saves before Luke Evangelista used a mix of hand-eye coordination and luck to corral an airborne rebound behind the net, then whiff but have it bounce in off Sorokin’s back.
Then the Islanders got into costly penalty trouble, which frustrated them since they hadn’t received a call all night, but the penalties they took were undeniable.
A 5-on-3 caused by a tough-luck Adam Pelech high stick was killed off well, but the Devils used the remaining 5-on-4 to get the equalizer that had appeared to be coming for a while.
Of course, had the Islanders received any makeup calls, it probably wouldn’t have mattered since their power play is terrible. But the lack of calls really stood out when Schaefer was taken down by Luke Hughes on a rush in overtime, leading to a 2-on-0 rush the other way where Jack Hughes scored the game winner.
Was it a penalty? Debatable, though you’ve certainly “seen it given” in the modern NHL where any arm-wrap risks getting called. Schaefer’s leg appeared to give out on its own, but Hughes’ arm was around him in a way that is sometimes whistled if it’s in the second period. It was an ironic turn, given the two young defensemen went at it, gloves on, during that scrum earlier in the game.
Anyway, the Devils went the other way and scored, and Sorokin took the L and five goals against on a night where he made 45 saves, a ton of them with a high degree of difficulty.
The Isles salvage one point to take with them on their way to California.
TORONTO (AP) — Alex Newhook scored twice in the first period, Jacob Fowler made 26 saves and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Saturday night.
Chris Kreider and Zachary Bolduc also scored for Montreal (11-3-3). The Canadiens have won seven of their last eight games.
William Nylander and Gavin McKenna scored for Toronto (8-8-2), and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots. The Maple Leafs have lost two straight and four of five in regulation.
The Canadiens opened the scoring at 5:56 of the first when Newhook’s pass in front of Bobrovsky pinballed into Toronto’s net after a giveaway by McKenna started the sequence. Newhook then tipped in Kaiden Guhle’s point shot with 6:54 left.
The Canadiens made it 3-0 on a breakaway with 7:03 to go in the second when Kreider intercepted McKenna's pass at Montreal’s blue line and beat Bobrovsky past his blocker. Toronto’s rookie winger was benched for the rest of the period.
Nylander blasted a one-timer on a power play at 6:19 of the third to get the Maple Leafs on the board before McKenna popped in a loose puck 55 seconds later, but Bolduc responded on a man advantage to make it 4-2 with 7:45 to go.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche put together a dominant second-half performance to earn a 4-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Ball Arena.
After a sluggish start that saw Detroit control much of the opening period, Colorado found its footing, capitalized on its opportunities, and never looked back.
Martin Necas led the way with a four-point performance, recording two goals and two assists. Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon each finished with three points, contributing a goal and two assists apiece.
At the other end of the ice, Mackenzie Blackwood turned aside all 27 shots he faced to record his first shutout of the season, the 18th of his NHL career, and his seventh as a member of the Avalanche.
Here are our takeaways from Colorado's 4-0 win.
Blackwood Stands Tall
The Avalanche didn't exactly get off to the start they wanted.
Detroit played with a sense of urgency, brought more energy, and appeared to have the fresher legs early on. The Red Wings dictated the pace, putting Colorado on its heels and forcing the Avalanche to spend much of the opening frame defending.
After being outshot 13-1 to start the period, Colorado was fortunate that the game remained scoreless.
A big reason for that was Blackwood.
At one point, a defensive breakdown left 21-year-old Emmitt Finnie with an opportunity in front of the net. Blackwood came up with a gorgeous save on Finnie's backhand attempt, keeping Detroit off the scoreboard.
It was exactly the kind of stop Colorado needed, particularly given how much the Red Wings had controlled the early going.
Blackwood continued to give his teammates a chance to settle into the game, eventually turning in a perfect performance with 27 saves.
The shutout was his first of the season, the 18th of his career, and his seventh with Colorado. That moves him into a three-way tie for sixth place on the Avalanche's all-time shutout list alongside Alexandar Georgiev and Craig Anderson.
Finding Their Game
Despite struggling through much of the opening period, the Avalanche eventually began to find their footing.
Colorado picked up the pace down the stretch, generating more pressure and doing a better job of getting into the dirty areas of the ice. The Avalanche started creating high-danger opportunities and putting Detroit goaltender Daniil Tarasov to work.
It was a much-needed response after a sluggish start, and it gave Colorado some momentum heading into the second period.
More importantly, the Avalanche carried that momentum into the middle frame and began making the most of their opportunities.
The Power Play Delivers
Colorado's special teams played a major role in putting this game away.
The Avalanche earned their first power play early in the second period after Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot was sent to the penalty box for elbowing.
The man advantage didn't exactly get off to an encouraging start. Almost immediately, Colorado surrendered a shorthanded opportunity, allowing Red Wings forward Sheldon Dries to fly through the neutral zone and drive toward the net. Fortunately for the Avalanche, his shot hit nothing but iron.
Colorado would make Detroit pay for the penalty, however.
Martin Necas opened the scoring after a rebound found its way onto his stick, leaving him with a wide-open net to shoot at. Later in the period, Nathan MacKinnon unleashed a blistering one-timer off a feed from Cale Makar to extend Colorado's lead to 2-0.
The Avalanche weren't finished there.
After Moritz Seider was assessed an additional two-minute roughing penalty following a fight with Gabe Landeskog, Colorado went back to work on the power play.
Makar made Detroit pay, ripping a shot through traffic to give the Avalanche a commanding 3-0 lead.
Colorado's ability to capitalize on its special-teams opportunities proved to be a major difference in the game. After a relatively quiet start offensively, the Avalanche found another gear and consistently made Detroit pay for its mistakes.
Martin Necas Leads the Offensive Charge
Necas was arguably the most dangerous offensive player on the ice, finishing the night with two goals and two assists for a four-point performance.
His first goal opened the scoring and gave Colorado the breakthrough it desperately needed after Detroit controlled much of the first period.
But Necas' impact went well beyond finding the back of the net. His ability to create offense, make plays, and generate opportunities for his teammates was on full display throughout the night.
A four-point performance is an impressive way to cap off a dominant team effort, and Necas continues to show just how valuable he can be to Colorado's offensive attack.
Nathan MacKinnon's Undersold Leadership
Nathan MacKinnon doesn't always get the credit he deserves for his leadership.
He's quiet, intense, and perhaps misunderstood by those who don't get to see what he brings to the room and the ice every day.
But there was a small moment on Colorado's opening goal that caught my attention.
Before the play developed, MacKinnon appeared to motion with his stick toward Necas, seemingly directing him to get into position and establish himself in a more dangerous area of the ice.
Necas followed through. T.J. Hughes unloaded a turnaround shot, the puck traveled through the crease, and it landed right on Necas' tape for an easy finish.
It's a subtle detail, and perhaps one that could easily go unnoticed while watching the game. But it's also a great example of the kind of awareness and communication that makes MacKinnon such an effective leader.
Being able to recognize an opportunity, make an adjustment on the fly, and communicate that to a teammate in the middle of a play isn't easy. It takes an understanding of the game that goes beyond simply making the next pass or taking the next shot.
MacKinnon finished the night with a goal and two assists, but his ability to read situations, make those around him better, and lead through the little details deserves just as much attention.
Sometimes leadership isn't about giving a speech or wearing a letter. Sometimes it's about recognizing what needs to happen before anyone else does — and making sure your teammates are in the right position to make it happen.
Nazem Kadri Can Still Bang
Nazem Kadri hasn't lost his willingness to get involved when things get physical.
During one sequence, T.J. Hughes was roughed up following a whistle, taking a pair of solid cross-checks from Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider.
Kadri wasted little time stepping in, immediately delivering a two-piece of punches to Seider that left the Detroit defenseman bloodied around the nose.
Both players were assessed roughing penalties, but Kadri certainly made his presence felt.
Later, Seider and Gabe Landeskog got into a spirited altercation of their own after Seider threw the Avalanche captain to the ice. The two exchanged punches before officials stepped in, with both players receiving five-minute majors for fighting and Seider picking up an additional two minutes for roughing.
It was another reminder that Colorado isn't afraid to get involved when things get physical. And regardless of the situation or the opponent, Kadri isn't one to shy away from sticking up for a teammate.
A Complete Team Effort
After a slow start, the Avalanche put together the kind of performance that should leave them feeling good about their game.
Necas led the offensive charge with four points, Makar and MacKinnon each recorded three-point nights, and Colorado's power play came through when it mattered.
Most importantly, Blackwood was outstanding between the pipes, stopping all 27 shots he faced to secure the shutout.
It wasn't the prettiest start, but Colorado found its game, took control, and finished the night with a convincing 4-0 victory.
The Penguins played a full 60 minutes Thursday, getting contributions from up and down their new-look lineup. They were without the services of forwards Bryan Rust and Ben Kindel - who were both placed on injured reserve Thursday - and it appears they will be without another forward Saturday.
Forward Evgeni Malkin, who missed Friday's team practice with an illness and who registered a goal and two points in Thursday's win, was ruled out by Penguins' head coach Dan Muse after the morning skate, which Malkin participated in. Forward Egor Chinakhov, who is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, is expected to miss his second consecutive game.
In addition, defenseman Sam Girard was officially placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, and the Penguins recalled forward Avery Hayes from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) to fill Malkin's hole in the lineup.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs - who posted a 25-save shutout Thursday - will get his second consecutive nod in goal Saturday.
There were no line rushes during the Penguins' optional morning skate, and it is difficult to tell where Hayes will fit into a lineup that was already shorthanded to a pretty large degree. He has had some legitimate chemistry with Rutger McGroarty in WBS, and both had nine points in six AHL games, so it won't come as a surprise if they begin the game on the same line.
The Predators are coming into this one 3-3-3 to start the season, and the Penguins are 7-0-2 in their last nine games against Nashville. They currently sit seventh in the Central Division standings and have a minus-7 goal differential.
36-year-old center Steven Stamkos has started the season hot with four goals and 10 points in nine games, and projected starting goaltender Juuse Saros is 3-2-2 with a .906 save percentage in seven appearances.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X."
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche return to Ball Arena on Saturday night looking to put an end to a two-game losing streak when they host the Detroit Red Wings.
Colorado has dropped its last two games, including a 3-2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators, and will be looking to get back in the win column against a Detroit team dealing with similar struggles.
The Avalanche have had the upper hand in this matchup for quite some time, winning 14 of their last 16 meetings with the Red Wings while outscoring them 66-29 over that stretch. Detroit did manage to get the better of Colorado in their most recent meeting, however, earning a 2-0 shutout victory at Little Caesars Arena on February 2.
Colorado will have Mackenzie Blackwood between the pipes Saturday. He has been a difficult goaltender for Detroit to solve, winning three of his last four starts against the Red Wings. In eight career appearances against Detroit, Blackwood has a 4-3 record, a 2.54 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.
Offensively, Nathan MacKinnon continues to lead the way for Colorado. He has nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points through 17 games, while also recording three goals and two assists in his last five games against Detroit. MacKinnon has been unusually quiet in the goal column recently, going without a goal over his last three outings. Artturi Lehkonen has picked up some of that scoring responsibility, leading the Avalanche with 12 goals.
Colorado has plenty of offensive firepower, but its recent defensive struggles have contributed to the team’s current skid. The Avalanche will need a more complete performance at both ends of the ice, particularly against a Detroit team that has shown it can capitalize when given opportunities.
The Red Wings arrive in Denver with a 7-7-3 record after consecutive losses to Tampa Bay and Vegas. Their latest setback was a 2-1 defeat at home against the Golden Knights on Thursday. Detroit has struggled to generate consistent offense, and that will be a concern against an Avalanche team capable of turning defensive mistakes into scoring chances.
Alex DeBrincat leads Detroit with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 17 games. With Dylan Larkin currently away from the team amid his ongoing trade situation, DeBrincat has become an important presence for the Red Wings as they try to navigate the uncertainty surrounding their captain.
Detroit’s biggest advantage may come from its younger players. The Red Wings’ rookies have combined for 23 points through 17 games, leading the NHL in rookie scoring. They will need that production to continue if Detroit hopes to keep up with Colorado.
In goal, Daniil Tarasov is expected to get the start for Detroit. He has been one of the team’s most dependable players early in the season, posting a 1.79 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. Tarasov stopped 32 of 34 shots in Thursday’s loss to Vegas, giving his team a chance despite the lack of offensive support.
Saturday’s matchup presents an opportunity for both clubs to put their recent struggles behind them. Colorado will look to take advantage of home ice and its success against Detroit, while the Red Wings will try to find some offensive momentum as they begin a five-day road trip. The Avalanche have controlled this series in recent years, but Detroit’s shutout win in February serves as a reminder that Colorado cannot take this matchup lightly.
DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 02: Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood #39 of the Colorado Avalanche defends against Andrew Copp #18 of the Detroit Red Wings at Ball Arena on February 02, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
New look, old rival: the Colorado Avalanche debut their Hometown Remix jersey collection as their two game home stand wraps up against the visiting Detroit Red Wings.
The new threads may be a fresh coat of paint for the Avs, but perhaps revisiting a decades-old rivalry could bring them some new life to go with them.
Colorado Avalanche (9-6-2)
The Opponent: Detroit Red Wings (7-7-3)
Time: 7:00 P.M. MST/9:00 P.M. EST
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), DSN (Detroit Local Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Area – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are coming off of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators as they head into tonight’s contest. Former Avs forward Ross Colton put the Avs down early, but Jaden Schwartz responded to tie things up. After trailing 2-1 to start the second period, Parker Kelly scored to tie things up again. Minutes after overtime began, Devon Toews would be called for a questionable hooking penalty, leading to the eventual game-winner. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped twenty-two of twenty-five shots in the game.
Over the course of the week, the Avs been forced to play catch-up to the opposition. While they were able to overcome an early two-goal deficit to Chicago on Monday, they couldn’t duplicate the same results against Columbus or Nashville. The entire first line of Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Nečas have not scored a goal since Halloween. Even a slight bump in production from any of these players could have meant the difference in a close game like Thursday’s against Nashville.
In speaking to reporters yesterday, head coach Jared Bednar emphasized the importance of better defensive play over offensive output. “I would give up some [offensive] production over the first sixteen games for a better defensive effort,” he said. “That’s where I’m at. I think the offense will take care of itself.
Bednar didn’t have much of an update regarding the injured Zachary L’Heureux, other than that it was a long-term injury and there isn’t a timeline for his return.
Blackwood returns to the crease tonight to wrap up the home stand.
MacKinnon still leads all skaters in points (27) and assists (18). Lehkonen leads the team in goals (12).
The Avs split the season series against Detroit last year, winning by a 5-0 margin on the road on January 31.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nicolas Roy Jaden Schwartz – Nazem Kadri – T.J. Hughes Parker Kelly – Fedor Svechkov – Logan O’Connor
Defense: Cale Makar – Brett Kulak Devon Toews – Sam Malinski Noah Juulsen – Brent Burns
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Detroit Red Wings
Even with the moves made in the offseason, Detroit has struggled to find its footing. They sit in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 7-7-3 record and having lost three of their last four games, their most recent coming this past Thursday at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights at Little Caesars Arena by a 2-1 decision. Neither team scored until Anton Johansson scored early in the third period, but Vegas countered with two goals of their own to secure the win. Tarasov, playing in the place of the injured John Gibson, stopped thirty-one of thirty three shots on goal.
Gibson, who sustained a lower body injury during Detroit’s 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning this past Tuesday, returned to practice yesterday. His status is currently unknown. Barring any updates as the day progresses, Tarasov will likely get the start again tonight against Colorado.
Tonight marks the beginning of a four game road trip for Detroit before hosting Boston at home on November 18.
DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond lead all Detroit skaters in points (16). Arvidsson leads the team in goals (8), while Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider lead the team in assists (10). Defenseman Ben Chiarot leads all Detroit skaters in penalty minutes (21), with Kolesar a close second (20).
Detroit defeated Colorado by a 2-0 decision during their previous visit to Denver on February 02.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Alex DeBrincat – Emmitt Finnie – Viktor Arvidsson Michael Brandsegg-Nygård – Andrew Copp – Lucas Raymond Michael Rasmussen – J.T. Compher – Nate Danielson Carter Mazur – Sheldon Dries – Keegan Kolesar
Defense: Ben Chiarot – Moritz Seider William Wallinder – Justin Faulk Andreas Englund – Anton Johansson
Between the Pipes: Daniil Tarasov Michal Postava
NOTE: Don’t forget to download the new SB Nation app for a more mobile-friendly way to follow tonight’s action and engage with Mile High Hockey’s match threads. Commenting and interacting with your communities is easier than ever before with the Game Chat feature. The app is currently available in the U.S. and Canada on iOS and Android devices.
Former Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Daniil Tarasov quietly signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings this off-season. This was after he had a 13-15-3 record, a 3.05 goals-against average, and an .895 save percentage in 33 games for the Florida Panthers last season.
Now, Tarasov is impressing during the early stages of his Red Wings tenure.
While Tarasov has a 2-2-2 record, his stats show that he is playing very well for the Red Wings right now. His .929 save percentage is currently the second-best in the NHL for goalies who have played at least five games. He also has an impressive 1.79 goals-against average, which is the third-best in the NHL.
Tarasov has also had a .923 save percentage or better in four of his appearances this season. This included him saving all 30 shots he faced against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 10, excluding the shootout.
With this, there is no question that Tarasov is playing well for the Red Wings early on. If the former Blue Jackets goalie keeps this kind of play up throughout the season, he could land himself a nice raise with his next deal.
Tarasov was selected by the Blue Jackets with the 86th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In 65 games over four seasons with the Blue Jackets, he posted a 19-34-6 record, an .898 save percentage, and a 3.44 goals-against average.
Steven Stamkos' career has been legendary to say the least. The Nashville Predators forward is continuing to establish himself as one of the NHL's all-time top goal scorers. On Saturday afternoon, he built on that even further as he claimed the fifth spot on both the power-play goal and game-tying goal leaderboards.
Stamkos scored a power-play goal late in the first period to tie things up at 1-1 against the St. Louis Blues after Jimmy Snuggerud gave the visitors' a lead just a few minutes prior. That goal marked the 248th power-play goal of Stamkos's career, pushing him past legendary Los Angeles Kings winger Luc Robitaille for the fifth-most in NHL history. Now, he'll be chasing Teemu Selanne who scored on the man advantage 255 times in his career.
The goal was also Stamkos's 130th career game-tying goal, which moved him past Jaromir Jagr for the fifth-most in NHL history. He currently trails just Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Gretzky, Dave Andreychuk, and Joe Sakic. Sakic is directly ahead of Stamkos, with 132 tying goals according to the NHL Media site.
As the season progresses, Stamkos can continue to move up these leaderboards. The main question remaining though, is how far can he go before he calls it a career? Only time will tell.
The Senators return to Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday night looking to build on a hard-fought victory in Buffalo. They'll welcome the Utah Mammoth for the first meeting between the two clubs this season.
It's a matchup between two teams that have enjoyed nearly identical starts. Both enter the game with 10-6-1 records and 21 points.
Travis Green talks about facing Utah and Shane Pinto's 300th game (Senators YouTube).
What's New?
Despite their solid start to the season, the Senators still have zero room for error. They're the top wild card team in the East, which is tracking to be ridiculously tight again this season. The top three Atlantic teams (Boston, Montreal, and Tampa Bay) all have points percentages of .713 or better.
The Senators are coming off Thursday's 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, a game in which Shane Pinto and Michael Amadio scored third-period goals to erase a 1-0 deficit.
Samuel Ersson made 24 saves in the victory, continuing an impressive turnaround after a shaky start to his Sens career. Ersson has now won consecutive starts while allowing just two goals, and he'll get another opportunity Saturday night.
Utah, meanwhile, is coming off a wild 5-4 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
Who's Hot?
Against the Habs, Logan Cooley got his second hat trick in four games. There's nothing Cold about Cooley, who has 10 of his 11 goals in just the last seven games.
But he's not the only guy to worry about. The Mammoth are the only team in the NHL with four guys who've hit the 20 point mark already.
Captain Clayton Keller leads the Mammoth with 22 points. Nick Schmaltz, who once had a seven-point game against the Senators, has 20.
But perhaps Utah's biggest surprise in the 20-point club is defenceman Mikhail Sergachev. The former Montreal Canadiens first-rounder in on pace for a career year, sitting fourth among all NHL defencemen in points (20).
Tim Stützle is the only 20-point man for the Sens, and continues to establish himself among the NHL's elite offensive players. The Senators centre has nine goals and 22 points through 17 games. Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson are also point a game players for the Sens.
Line combinations and Injury Updates
The Senators are gradually getting healthier, but several important players remain unavailable.
Linus Ullmark participated fully in Friday's practice but isn't ready to return from his lower-body injury. Ersson will make another start, with Jonas Johansson serving as his backup.
Ridly Greig is also dealing with a lower-body injury and remains day to day.
Warren Foegele, Andre Burakovsky and William Eklund are still out and aren't likely to be back anytime soon. Tyler Kleven missed Wednesday's game but was a full participant at practice on Friday. Senators head coach Travis Green mentioned a couple of game-time decisions but didn't say who they were.
Senators Projected Lines
Nick Cousins – Tim Stützle – Fabian Zetterlund
Philip Tomasino – Shane Pinto – Drake Batherson
Michael Amadio – Dylan Cozens – Claude Giroux
Samuel Blais – Stephen Halliday – Hayden Hodgson
Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence
Tyler Kleven – Carter Yakemchuk/Nikolas Matinpalo
Goaltenders: Samuel Ersson, Jonas Johansson
For Utah, defenceman Nate Schmidt was hurt against Montreal, joining John Marino and Maveric Lamoureux on the injury list. Forward Kailer Yamamoto is also unavailable.
Mammoth Projected Lines
Anders Lee – Barrett Hayton – Clayton Keller
Logan Cooley – Vincent Trocheck – Lawson Crouse
Jack McBain – Nick Schmaltz – Dylan Guenther
Michael Carcone – Kevin Stenlund – Liam O'Brien
Mikhail Sergachev – Mackenzie Weegar
Artem Duda – Andrew Peeke
Dmitri Simashev – Nick DeSimone
Goaltenders: Karel Vejmelka, Sebastian Cossa
The Senators will celebrate Alumni Night on Saturday, welcoming back several former players, many of whom played in a Battle of Ontario alumni game in Peterborough on Friday night.
Participating players included Craig Anderson, Mike Fisher, Chris Neil, Wade Redden, Shaun Van Allen, Jason York, Brian McGrattan, Shean Donovan, Jesse Winchester, Dean McAmmond, Laurie Boschman and Scott Greenham. Chris Phillips and Peter Schaefer were behind the bench.
The game will also mark Shane Pinto's 300th career NHL game.
The Buffalo Sabres adjusted their lineup after a sluggish, inconsistent performance against Ottawa on Wednesday and capitalized on a tired Columbus Blue Jackets squad in a 5-2 win at KeyBank Center on Friday. The Sabres jumped on the Jackets, who beat Dallas 2-1 in a shootout at Nationwide Arena on Thursday, registering the first six shots on goal, with Jack Quinn scoring the opening tally.
Kent Johnson scored the tying marker for Columbus, but Josh Norris’s first of two goal late in the first seemed to sap whatever energy the Blue Jackets had left. Rasmus Dahlin, Norris, and Josh Doan scored in the middle frame, and the Sabres coasted to their fourth victory in the last five games.
"With them in a back-to-back game, it was important to get off to a good start, and knowing that they played a tough contest last night. T here's a lot of times you don't want to make excuses, but they've been up against some real good teams, and they've won some hockey games against good teams.... we really wanted to play a good first period, and I thought we played maybe one of our best."
How do the Sabres gain momentum after a sluggish opening month?
Norris finally broke out after registering just three points in 15 games, something that the Sabres are desperate for, as Tage Thompson and Quinn have accounted for nearly 40% of the club’s goals.
“I thought (he) skated through the neutral zone better, possessed the puck better, (he)got rewarded.” Ruff said. “(He had a) great shot on the 4-on-4 goal, but the next goal, got himself around the front of the net. And when you’re struggling, you’ve got to get inside.”
Buffalo will have a difficult road this week, with a Sunday afternoon matinee against the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights, and the finale of the homestand against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, before heading out on the road for five games, starting with the second of back-to-back games in Chicago on Thursday and the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- How many times have we heard the word “consistency” when it comes to the St. Louis Blues?
Often? Too Many times to count? Not often enough? Well, that last one’s not the case.
When it comes to the Blues, when they harp in on a particular part of their game, another disappears. On Saturday, they were looking for a much better start to the game against the Nashville Predators. They got it, but then things tailed off in the middle of the game. Other times, it would be vice versa.
On Saturday, the Blues started well, played well early, got a lead in this building for the second time in three weeks, but for the second time, succumbed and fell, 3-1, to the surging Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
The Blues (7-8-1) just can’t seem to lock in on the consistency. Thursday in a 5-4 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils, it was a poor start with more jump in the second despite falling behind 4-1 and then a surge in the third period for the second time on this trip that helped them get a point.
On Saturday, it was start well. Check. But then their play tailed off, for whatever inexplicable reason, again, and would up chasing the game before pushing again – not enough – and the Predators (8-4-5) were able to put on a defensive stand and not give the Blues any easy ice.
In the end, it’s a 1-2-1 trip.
Let’s dive into the key points …
* Good first period, bad penalty (I like Jim Montgomery’s answer on Adam Jiricek) – The things that Blues coach Jim Montgomery talked about before the game, being physical, emotional and playing with pace was definitely there in the opening 20 minutes, and the Blues were making a concerted effort of getting bodies to the net.
And when Jimmy Snuggerud scored a power-play goal at 13:07 to make it 1-0 Blues, a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle after some good low to high back to low puck movement after Mason McTavish hit the far post moments earlier, it was a reward for how the Blues managed the period:
Power play goal for St. Louis!
Scored by Jimmy Snuggerud with 06:53 left in the 1st. Assisted by Philip Broberg and Robert Thomas.
And let’s be honest here, the line that was leading the way with the physicality especially and leaving their fellow linemates in good areas on the ice was the Pius Suter line with Alexey Toropchenko and Ross Johnston.
“We had guys playing their asses off today,” Blues forward Dylan Holloway said. “I thought there were guys playing good hockey. I think our fourth line, Suter, ‘Torp’ and ‘Boss’ were playing great, leading the way with physicality. That’s just something we’ve got to replicate. We’ve all got to play like that more consistently. It’s a consistency thing and we definitely have to learn from that.”
But then came Nashville’s fifth-ranked power play to do what it does, and it came after a bad slashing minor by Adam Jiricek, a penalty that he will learn from and one he didn’t need to take.
Jiricek seemed to have a beat on the puck along the D-zone wall on Nils Hoglander but decided to take a whack with his stick and was called for slashing, and in the end, Steven Stamkos made the Blues’ sixth-ranked penalty kill pay when the Predators got bodies to the net off Filip Forsberg’s shot, and after a loose puck was swiped away from Joel Hofer, Stamkos deposited a one-timer to tie the game 1-1 at 16:07:
Power play goal for Nashville!
Scored by Steven Stamkos with 03:53 left in the 1st. Assisted by Filip Forsberg and Mavrik Bourque.
“It’s not a good penalty, but it’s someone that’s competing,” Montgomery said. “He’s taking the penalty because he’s whacking the guy’s stick to give himself more time. It’s not the best penalty, but he competes. He goes after pucks, he wants to be a difference maker.”
Fair enough, and in the first 17 games, it’s evident Jiricek is wanting to be that player. He will be soon enough.
* Offensive zone time, sustained pressure, forecheck disappeared in second period; allow lead on multiple breakdowns – The formula that worked well in the first period was absent in the middle 20.
The Blues had little to no zone time until the Robert Thomas line had a really good shift and chance in the final minute of the period.
The Blues did come out with a bit of a flurry right at the outset and had four of the first five shots at Juuse Saros, including traffic, which was good in the first period, but then disappeared and Nashville would get 12 of the next 13 shots on goal with the Blues doing a lot of defending and puck-chasing.
“It tailed off because we don’t commit to doing things the right way for 60 minutes,” Montgomery said. “We played a good, hard first 20 minutes. It’s a 1-1 game, we’re playing a good hockey team, we’ve got to stick with it, and you’ve got to keep playing the same way. We were very aggressive going to their net, we were physical, and if you keep doing that, you wear teams down, but right now, people can say it’s different things that we’re not doing, but it’s always something different and we need to be better. We need to be more committed to who we are and we need to work at a harder rate more consistently.”
When Nashville’s Ross Colton put the Predators ahead for good at 2-1 at 9:02 of the period, it was the result of too easy of an transition up ice on a cross-ice pass, and when Jake Neighbours trying to intercept the pass at center ice, all three forwards on the line were caught up ice making it for an easy way for Jack Drury to find Colton in the middle of the ice open in the slot and shot over Hofer’s glove hand:
Nashville goal!
Scored by Ross Colton with 10:58 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Jack Drury and Roman Josi.
“I think it’s the same for every game,” Blues forward Connor McMichael said. “We dominate for 20 or so minutes and then we kind of fall asleep and then at the end of the game, we push again. You see what happens when that happens.
“They’re able to pot a few and then we’re playing from behind again and it’s a lot to come back from in this league. Definitely need to figure that out.”
* Why is consistency an issue with this core group – There are players on this team that are new to this, so they’re just trying to figure things out the right way.
For the players that have been at this for multiple seasons, it’s the same story game in, game out.
You hear the talk, and they say the right things regarding consistency and yet, it’s the word that continually comes back up game after game after game. When they find it, they don’t sustain it, and that’s a problem and has been.
Someone with a voice needs to step up and hold somebody accountable. It’s been beyond time.
“Your leaders need to set the standard, and they need to hold players accountable to it, that’s including coaches and then the foot soldiers in behind them, have to carry that torch as well,” Montgomery said.
“We’re having consistency problems, I’d say,” Holloway said. “We string together a good five minutes and then make some crucial mistakes that affect the game. As a group, we’ve got to worry about our consistency more. We need more for sure. I think guys are trying to pull in the right direction. There’s just some inconsistencies right now that we need to clean up.”
* Net front is trending up – That’s one area that the consistency seems to be on the up and up. The Blues are making an effort to get to the net more. It was evident again. Do they need more of it? Yes. Is it trending up? Yes. Saturday was about finding loose pucks, and it just wasn’t there.
“We get chances, but if you get the chances and you’re not scoring, it doesn’t really matter,” Holloway said. “It’s a results-based business. We need to start finding our way to put those in. Our mindset to get to the net more, it showed last game. We were able to string a couple goals together but didn’t get the result we wanted. And then tonight I thought we were generating chances, but the consistency is the problem for us.”
“I think when we’re at the top of our game, we’re keeping it simple,” McMichael said. “I think we’re a heavy team that is usually good on the forecheck. Whenever we stray away from that, that’s when we get into trouble, get a little too cute and a little too soft. Just stick to our game and that’s what we need to do.”
But it was evident in this game when Nashville got the lead, the Predators, who beat the Blues here 5-2 on Oct. 17, were committed to defending and protecting the lead, clogging up the middle of the ice and not giving the Blues any free ice.
“You can accept the middle of the ice being clogged up or you can travel through it,” Montgomery said. “We need to travel through it.
“Not (enough traffic) in the second period. First period, yes. In the third period when you’re trailing, there should be more opportunities than we had.”
Nick Perbix added the nail in the coffin with an empty-net goal at 18:31 to seal it after the Blues pulled Hofer.
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SEATTLE — To say the Rangers got Joonas Korpisalo back in their 18th game of the season Saturday afternoon wouldn’t be entirely accurate, considering the team barely had the Finnish netminder to begin with.
Korpisalo dressed as the Rangers’ backup for one singular game — the season-opening shutout loss in Boston — before a foot infection sidelined him for the next month. The Rangers announced the 32-year-old’s timeline to return simultaneously with the season-altering news of Igor Shesterkin’s season-ending injury, which unfolded just five games after the team put Korpisalo on injured reserve.
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So for the first five and a half weeks of the season, the Blueshirts had to endure and adapt without their original goaltending plan.
“It’s tough,” head coach Mike Sullivan said before Korpisalo made his Rangers debut against the Kraken. “That presents a unique challenge when both of your goalies get hurt for as long as they have to this point. I give the guys a lot of credit. They never look for excuses. It’s next-man-up mindset. Dylan Garand has done a real good job in goal for us, kind of taking the lead with respect to that. To get Korpy back is huge for us. He’s obviously a quality goaltender. It gives us the ability to share the workload a little bit. We’re excited to get him back in the mix, but I think the guys did a great job.
“Nobody’s looking for excuses. We’re trying to win with the group that we have, and the expectations don’t change. That’s the mindset. That’s the approach we’ve all taken.”
New York Rangers goalkeeper Joonas Korpisalo (70) warms up before a game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden in Boston, Sept. 29, 2026. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Entering Saturday’s game at Climate Pledge Arena, the Rangers had gone 5-5-1 since losing Shesterkin to a right knee injury that consisted of more than one structural issue. Shesterkin underwent his surgery, according to a source, and Sullivan has said he’s been around the team.
Garand was the one to relieve Shesterkin in net in Washington, and the rookie netminder had appeared between the pipes in every single game for the Rangers since then — even when that wasn’t the intention.
It’s been a big ask of a 24-year-old who came into the season with just three NHL games to his name.
Among the 11 NHL goaltenders who have appeared in at least 12 games so far this season entering Saturday’s slate of games, Garand’s .906 save percentage ranks fourth behind only the Wild’s Jeremy Wallstedt (.922), the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman (.913) and the Stars’ Jake Oettinger (.909).
His 2.52 goals-against average is also good for the fourth-best in the league, currently beating out the likes of Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.75).
New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand (33) saves a shot by Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, in New York. Jason Szenes for NY Post
While rebound control and stopping pucks off the rush have sometimes been a challenge, Garand has mostly delivered under the circumstances. The immense workload and emotional whiplash of the start to the season would overwhelm most players, but Garand has shown a maturity and mental fortitude befitting a full-time goaltender in the NHL.
That’s an encouraging sign for a Rangers team that may have to rely on a rookie in goal for the remainder of the season.
The Rangers are banking on Korpisalo stabilizing the team’s schedule in goal and, at the very least, alleviating some of Garand’s workload. When Sullivan tried to do so following Garand’s seventh straight start, the organization signed James Reimer off his professional tryout with the team’s AHL affiliate in Hartford and put him in against the Kings.
Joonas Korpisalo of the New York Rangers plays during the first period of an NHL preseason game against the New Jersey Devils, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in New York. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Reimer, who had been training with two junior teams, gave up two goals on the first two shots he saw before getting the hook after letting up three on eight shots.
Sullivan put his hand up for putting Reimer in an almost impossible position, which subsequently deprived Garand of the rest he desperately needed at that moment in time. As a result, Garand played in 12 consecutive games before he got this break on Saturday.
On Saturday, the Rangers put Reimer on unconditional waivers for the purposes of contract termination.
The addition of Korpisalo, however, should provide some much-needed relief in goal. How the Rangers deploy both Korpisalo and Garand moving forward is yet to be seen, but it will naturally be based on performance.
“Well, there was buildup, obviously, to Korpi’s return to play, just as far as workload in practice and then getting 10 people in front of him in a game situation,” Sullivan said. “That’s sometimes difficult to simulate in practice. Based on the progression of the workload, that’s when we felt that, from a readiness standpoint, that Korpi is in a position to succeed.”
Anyone who followed the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010s will remember Carey Price and P.K. Subban celebrating team wins with their trademarked celebration, “the triple low five,” until Michel Therrien forbade it, calling it too individualistic. Therrien couldn’t control the players’ friendship or the close bond that linked Price and Subban.
As two high-profile athletes in Montreal, big pieces of the Canadiens back then, they both attracted a lot of attention and coverage, and when Subban spoke to NHL.com last week, he made a valid point about just how big Price was in Montreal:
I don’t think the Canadiens will see a goaltender who will be talked about more than Carey Price until someone wins a Stanley Cup in that city. And even then, it may not happen. To come into the NHL the way he did, to be in the net at that young age, to go through everything that, as a young professional, he went through, to be under the microscope in Montreal?
Nobody -- nobody who reads this -- would be prepared to deal with that. They have no idea what it’s like to be in that position. He handled all that stuff, and he performed. To me, that’s remarkable. That’s more of a testament to who he is as a person than even hoisting the Stanley Cup, to a certain degree.
The former blueliner isn’t wrong. Back then, when you went to the Bell Centre for a game, you could see jerseys numbered 31 left, right, and center. At one point, Price said he couldn’t even go food shopping anymore, and it seemed like a lot for him, but he kept going and dealt with it. Lesser men would have called it quits and asked for a trade, saying they couldn’t deal with the pressure anymore, but not Price. Yes, he did once tell the media to “chill out” in a memorable preseason post-game scrum, but most of the time it looked like none of it affected him, no matter how much pressure or attention he got.
DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 02: Goaltender John Gibson #36, Moritz Seider #53 and Jacob Bernard-Docker #25 of the Detroit Red Wings defend against Parker Kelly #17 of the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on February 02, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
New look, old rival: the Colorado Avalanche debut their Hometown Remix jersey collection as their two game home stand wraps up against the visiting Detroit Red Wings.
The new threads may be a fresh coat of paint for the Avs, but perhaps revisiting a decades-old rivalry could bring them some new life to go with them.
Colorado Avalanche (9-6-2)
The Opponent: Detroit Red Wings (7-7-3)
Time: 7:00 P.M. MST/9:00 P.M. EST
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), DSN (Detroit Local Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Area – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The rivalry with Detroit is a far cry from what it used to be, but another late start won’t go over well in the eyes of many who believe that the Red Wings do, in fact, suck.
The Avalanche are coming off of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators as they head into tonight’s contest. Former Avs forward Ross Colton put the Avs down early, but Jaden Schwartz responded to tie things up. After trailing 2-1 to start the second period, Parker Kelly scored to tie things up again. Minutes after overtime began, Devon Toews would be called for a questionable hooking penalty, leading to the eventual game-winner. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped twenty-two of twenty-five shots in the game.
Over the course of the week, the Avs been forced to play catch-up to the opposition. While they were able to overcome an early two-goal deficit to Chicago on Monday, they couldn’t duplicate the same results against Columbus or Nashville. The entire first line of Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Nečas have not scored a goal since Halloween. Even a slight bump in production from any of these players could have meant the difference in a close game like Thursday’s against Nashville.
In speaking to reporters yesterday, head coach Jared Bednar emphasized the importance of better defensive play over offensive output. “I would give up some [offensive] production over the first sixteen games for a better defensive effort,” he said. “That’s where I’m at. I think the offense will take care of itself.
“There’s a lot of things in [Thursday] night’s game where I’m like, ‘Man, we could be so much better offensively,’ and that’s what I’m talking about. Like, the defending side was good, now, what do we do with the puck? So, they’ll see some of the good defensive stuff because it leads to like, okay, now we’re off. Now, what are we doing with it offensively. […] We have to keep expecting a lot from our team offensively, and we’re going to expect a lot from them on the defensive side and try to build it to where it’s really consistent in our game.”
Bednar didn’t have much of an update regarding the injured Zachary L’Heureux, other than to say that it was a long-term injury and doesn’t have a timeline for his return.
Blackwood returns to the crease tonight to wrap up the home stand.
MacKinnon still leads all skaters in points (27) and assists (18). Lehkonen leads the team in goals (12).
With the exception of Winnipeg, all Central Division teams are in action tonight. A win tonight can keep the Avs within reach of Utah and Dallas, while remaining ahead of Nashville, St. Louis and Chicago in the Central Division standings. The Avs split the season series against Detroit last year, winning by a 5-0 margin on the road on January 31.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nicolas Roy Jaden Schwartz – Nazem Kadri – T.J. Hughes Parker Kelly – Fedor Svechkov – Logan O’Connor
Defense: Cale Makar – Brett Kulak Devon Toews – Sam Malinski Noah Juulsen – Brent Burns
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Detroit Red Wings
Rather than leaning into the decades-long rivalry against Colorado, Detroit has had its hands full with a rivalry with one of their own. Captain Dylan Larkin, who’s trade demands request remains unfulfilled, informed Detroit’s front office on October 29 that he would not play for the team. The team responded by suspending Larkin without pay the same day.
“Dylan Larkin has informed us that he will no longer play for the Detroit Red Wings,” The organization announced in a statement on social media. “We are disappointed by his decision, particularly given his obligations to the organization and his teammates. We have therefore suspended Dylan without pay.”
The ongoing situation cost Steve Yzerman his general manager title over the summer, with Shawn Horcoff being named interim general manager in his place. The thirty-year old Larkin has five years remaining on his contract.
Despite the drama hanging over the team regarding their captain, Detroit has tried to soldier on as best as possible. Horcoff was especially busy as free agency began on July 01. Left wing Alex DeBrincat signed a seven-year, $91 million dollar contract extension, while free agents Viktor Arvidsson and goaltender Daniil Tarosov signed a two-year, $10 million dollar contract and a one-year, $2 million dollar contract, respectively. Right wing Keegan Kolesar was acquired via trade from the Vegas Golden Knights the same day.
Even with the moves made in the offseason, Detroit has struggled to find its footing. They sit in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 7-7-3 record and having lost three of their last four games, their most recent coming this past Thursday at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights at Little Caesars Arena by a 2-1 decision. Neither team scored until Anton Johansson scored early in the third period, but Vegas countered with two goals of their own to secure the win. Tarasov, playing in the place of the injured John Gibson, stopped thirty-one of thirty three shots on goal.
Gibson, who sustained a lower body injury during Detroit’s 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning this past Tuesday, returned to practice yesterday. His status is currently unknown as of this writing. Barring any updates as the day progresses, Tarasov will likely get the start again tonight against Colorado.
Tonight marks the beginning of a four game road trip for Detroit before hosting Boston at home on November 18. Prior to Thursday’s home game against Vegas, Detroit played in a back-to-back pair of games against Tampa and Florida to start the month.
DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond lead all Detroit skaters in points (16). Arvidsson leads the team in goals (8), while Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider lead the team in assists (10). Defenseman Ben Chiarot leads all Detroit skaters in penalty minutes (21), with Kolesar a close second (20).
Detroit defeated Colorado by a 2-0 decision during their previous visit to Denver on February 02.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Alex DeBrincat – Emmitt Finnie – Viktor Arvidsson Michael Brandsegg-Nygård – Andrew Copp – Lucas Raymond Michael Rasmussen – J.T. Compher – Nate Danielson Carter Mazur – Sheldon Dries – Keegan Kolesar
Defense: Ben Chiarot – Moritz Seider William Wallinder – Justin Faulk Andreas Englund – Anton Johansson
DENVER — One of the biggest challenges for any NHL coach is figuring out how to get the most out of every player. Some need help finding their confidence, others need to round out their game, and some simply need a coach to show them there's another level they haven't reached yet.
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has made a career out of doing exactly that.
As he prepares to coach his 800th game with the Avalanche on Saturday at Ball Arena, Parker Kelly and Martin Necas spoke with The Hockey News about the ways Bednar has helped them grow as players. Their experiences are different, but both point to the same strength: Bednar knows what he wants each player to improve and how to help them get there.
Parker Kelly speaks with The Hockey News following morning skate.
For Kelly, that meant discovering an offensive side to his game he didn't know existed. For Necas, it meant becoming more aggressive as a goal scorer and getting into the tougher areas of the ice.
Kelly joined Colorado from the Ottawa Senators and has steadily earned a bigger role with the team. Last season, he scored a career-high 21 goals, showing just how much his offensive game has developed.
He credits Bednar with playing a significant role in that progress.
"When I came over from Ottawa, I remember thinking how dialed in he is. He's very much a players' coach, his door is always open, and he's a great teacher of the game," Kelly said. "He has no problem showing you clips and helping you understand things so you can grow as a player.
"He's done a really good job of unlocking an offensive style of game in me that I didn't know I had."
Bednar's work with Necas offers another example. Last season, he saw an opportunity to make the forward more of a goal-scoring threat. Necas has an explosive shot, but Bednar wanted him to use it more instead of looking to pass. He also wanted to see more commitment to the defensive side of the game.
Necas responded with the best offensive season of his NHL career, finishing with 38 goals and 62 assists for 100 points. It was his first time reaching the 100-point mark.
Asked where Bednar has helped him improve the most, Necas pointed to his willingness to get into the dirty areas and become a more complete player.
"Going more into the dirty areas (of the ice) and scoring goals there," Necas said. "Just my all-around game, playing D, there's always space for improvement."
Bednar has spent 24 years coaching hockey, including 11 seasons in the NHL. His résumé includes championships at the ECHL, AHL and NHL levels, with titles alongside the South Carolina Stingrays and Lake Erie Monsters before leading Colorado to the Stanley Cup in 2022.
His approach to developing players has certainly evolved over that time, but Bednar doesn't believe the underlying philosophy has changed much.
The Hockey News asked him what, if anything, has changed in the way he works with players to help them reach their full potential.
"I'm sure there's lots of changes. I don't feel like it's that different, though," Bednar said.
He used Kelly as an example of how a player's needs change throughout his career. For someone just breaking into the NHL, the priority is earning the trust of the coaching staff and establishing a role.
"In a case of a guy like Parker Kelly, when you first break into the league, for a lot of guys, it's about survival," Bednar explained. "It's doing the things that your coach is real specific about to help you make sure you're a solid, trustworthy player, so you can stay in the league and then help the team."
Once a player has established himself, the expectations can expand beyond that initial role.
"As you get a little bit of experience, then it becomes a little bit more about, okay, you've established yourself as that type of player, like a defensive player, checker, penalty killer," Bednar said. "Then, as his next coach, it's about trying to help him grow into a more dangerous offensive player and become even more well-rounded."
The same applies to players who already bring plenty of offense. Bednar said those players need to find ways to become more reliable across the ice rather than focusing exclusively on their scoring.
"Some of our guys are really good offensive players, and we have to help shape and mold them into trustworthy 200-foot guys who just help them get more out of their game in any area," Bednar said.
For Bednar, it ultimately comes down to understanding the player and having conversations about where they want to improve.
"Just studying it and communicating with the players to where they think they can grow and finding a mutual ground on that, and just trying to help them out," he said.
That philosophy has helped Kelly uncover a new part of his game and pushed Necas toward becoming an even more dangerous offensive player. With 800 games behind Colorado's bench approaching, Bednar's ability to get players to buy into their own development remains one of his biggest strengths.
