CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks were defeated by the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night at the United Center. It was a 5-2 loss to an Avalanche team that is deeper than the Blackhawks in every way. 

The problem for the Blackhawks is that they lost more than just the hockey game. They also lost Patrick Kane due to injury. At the end of the second period, he left the ice for the locker room and did not return for the third period. 

After the game was over, head coach Jeff Blashill provided a negative update. Kane will not make the team's upcoming road trip, which will include stops against the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes. 

Going up against three teams that have Stanley Cup aspirations without Kane will make it even more difficult to come out with any points. Beyond that stretch of games, only time will tell when Kane is able to return. 

In 15 games so far this season, Kane is second on the team in scoring with 8 points and leads them with 8 assists. He isn't the Patrick Kane who won Hart Trophies and Stanley Cups, but he is still one of their best players. Without him in their top-nine forward group, a dangerous player is missing. 

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The NHL regular season is long, and one game isn’t a large enough sample size to draw a reliable conclusion. Even the best teams fall into a rut, so if you want to know what a team is really made of, then it’s better to look at a stretch of games. The Vegas Golden Knights are in one of those ruts right now, but slowly but surely, they’re climbing out of the hole they dug.

After going 8-2-0 in their first 10 games, the Golden Knights have won just one of their last six. Tonight, they fell 3-2 in a shootout; however, despite the loss, their display against the Boston Bruins on Monday was the best they’ve played in weeks.

When you’re going through that kind of a rough patch, taking a step in the right direction doesn’t necessarily translate directly to the win column. But tonight, the Golden Knights finally felt like they got to their game, and that makes all the difference.

“All in all, definitely a step in the right direction for the way we’ve been playing,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said following the 3-2 shootout loss. “Two [points] is better than one, but you take the good with the bad.”

“We got a point,” said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig. “Now we move on to Pittsburgh, and we build on it. That’s our job— just kind of build on it and get two tomorrow.”

1. Outran the Bear

The Golden Knights got themselves into trouble very early in the second period. They were already down 1-0 when forward Braeden Bowman took an elbowing penalty, which sent the Bruins to a five-minute power play.

A five-minute major penalty means that the power play doesn’t end if the opposing team scores. And when Morgan Geekie scored just 34 seconds in, it didn’t look great for the Golden Knights.

“They scored 30 seconds in,” said Mark Stone. “It was a quick one. But we killed the last four and a half.”

“It was big for us,” said Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin following the 3-2 shootout loss. “They have a good power play over there. After you give up that first one early, sometimes momentum can swing in their favor, and you can get on your heels a little bit. 

“I thought we did a good job, just staying aggressive, staying with it, and not giving up too much after that,” Hanifin finished. “I thought we did a good job [killing the rest of the penalty] after they scored that second one, and we started to take the game over a little more after that.”

The Golden Knights ultimately failed to complete the comeback, but holding the Bruins to just one goal on that power play proved a huge difference maker because they clawed their way back and forced overtime. The Golden Knights stole a point, which was due in no small part to their penalty kill.

“I thought our leaders did a great job of leading us,” said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig following the 3-2 shootout loss. “We get down a forward there when we lose Bones, but we stayed with it. Even going down 1-0 and giving up the power play goal, they get through that kill. There were moments of the game where we were able to tilt the ice, and I thought that did a lot for us to get us going.”

2. Out of the Frying Pan, Onto the Scoresheet

The Golden Knights didn’t win tonight, but they did dodge a massive bullet in the first period. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy hit Trevor Connelly into the boards, and the young forward went down hard. Connelly was slow to get up, went down the tunnel, and didn’t return for the remainder of the period.

Connelly was on the bench to start the second, and he didn’t miss a shift for the remainder of the night. 

“Give him a ton of credit,” said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig. “He’s a young kid in this league, and he’s continuing to show why he belongs here.”

Connelly had some real jump to his game after returning, and it ended up paying off in a big way. At 7:23 in the third period, he cut toward the net and banked Noah Hanifin’s pass off Jeremy Swayman and in.

“Trevor took a big hit in the first period, then came back and scored a huge goal for us,” said Golden Knights captain Mark Stone following the 3-2 shootout loss. “He’s a resilient guy, and it was good to see him get rewarded in the third.”

3. A Step in the Right Direction

The Golden Knights have won just one of their last six games, and they’ve only scored 13 goals over that stretch. They’ve had scoring chances, but, much like in tonight’s game, they’ve struggled to finish them off.

The difference between tonight’s game and the five games that came before it is that the Golden Knights looked more like themselves tonight. They played a more complete defensive game and held an offensively talented team to just two goals.

“I think most of it’s just making the next play. I think we had some pretty good chances to score some more goals tonight,” said Mark Stone postgame. “All in all, definitely a step in the right direction for the way we’ve been playing. Two [points] is better than one, but you take the good with the bad.”

“The effort was there, and that’s the important thing in the long run,” Noah Hanifin agreed following the 3-2 shootout loss. “There’s gonna be some good and some bad in every game, but I thought tonight, we competed. The effort was there. We battled, and it’s just about making that next play and putting the puck in the net, and that’ll come for us.”

BOSTON (AP) — David Pastrnak slipped a shot past Carter Hart to break a shootout stalemate and give the Boston Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night.

Boston’s Jeremy Swayman stopped Vegas’ Trevor Connelly, Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner to set up Pastrnak for the winner in the third round.

James Hagens scored his sixth goal of the season, and Morgan Geekie added a power-play goal to help Boston to its sixth consecutive home victory.

Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Pavel Zacha and Pastrnak had assists for the Bruins, who’ve won two in a row following back-to-back losses. Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves.

Connelly tied it 7:23 into the third period when he gathered a loose puck in front of the net and slipped it past Swayman. Noah Hanifin and Marner assisted. Mark Stone also scored for Vegas.

The Golden Knights have lost five of their last six since starting the season 8-2. They also continue to struggle killing off power plays, having allowed a power-play goal in seven of their last eight games.

Carter Hart had 25 saves for Vegas.

RED WINGS 5, PANTHERS 3

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Justin Faulk and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård scored 45 seconds apart early in the third period, goalie Daniil Tarasov defeated his former team and surging Detroit beat Florida.

Faulk had a power-play tally to put Detroit up 3-2 at 2:08 of the third, and Brandsegg-Nygård lifted one over the glove of Florida goalie Jacob Markstrom from deep in the slot to give the Red Wings a two-goal edge.

Carter Mazur got his first NHL goal for Detroit to open the scoring, Alex DeBrincat got his seventh of the season for the Red Wings and Emmitt Finnie sealed it on an empty-netter for three seconds left. Tarasov, who spent last season backing up Sergei Bobrovsky with the Panthers, stopped 23 shots for Detroit.

Aaron Ekblad scored his first goal of the season — and the third short-handed goal of his 13-year career — for Florida, while Sam Reinhart scored his eighth of the year for the Panthers. Markstrom made 24 saves in his first game since Oct. 17.

Florida saw its three-game winning streak snapped. The Panthers never led, with Mazur’s goal putting the Wings up 1-0 and DeBrincat making it 2-1 after early in the second after Reinhart tied the game with 5:41 left in the opening period.

Sam Bennett got his fourth of the year for Florida, with Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk assisting in a 6-on-5 opportunity with 3:21 left.

AVALANCHE 5, BLACKHAWKS 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Nazem Kadri and Jaden Schwartz scored two goals apiece, and Colorado beat struggling Chicago for its third consecutive win.

T.J. Hughes had two assists as Colorado improved to 15-4-0 in its last 19 games against Chicago. Devon Toews scored an empty-net goal with 2:22 left, and Mackenzie Blackwood finished with 21 saves.

Chicago dropped to 1-5-1 in its last seven games. Forward Patrick Kane departed in the second period with an upper-body injury, and defenseman Bowen Byram missed his eighth consecutive game with an upper-body injury.

The banged-up Blackhawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by defenseman Wyatt Kaiser and rookie Roman Kantserov. Connor Bedard extended his point streak to six games with an assist on Kantserov’s sixth goal on a 2-on-1 rush.

The Avalanche rallied with two goals in 26 seconds. Kadri poked home a loose puck on the goal line at 15:23, and a wide-open Schwartz scored from the left circle at 15:49.

Colorado grabbed its first lead after Bedard was sent off for holding Kadri 13:10 into the second period. Kadri got a piece of Cale Makar’s wrist shot from just inside the blue line.

Kadri has four goals this season — all in the last six games.

FLAMES 2, SHARKS 1

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Fourth-line wingers Adam Klapka and William Stromgren scored, Dustin Wolf made 26 saves and Calgary beat San Jose.

Klapka opened the scoring on a wrist shot with 5:24 left in the first period off a feed from center Jonathan Castagna. William Stromgren batted in his first of the season at 9:14 of the third, with Klapka and Castagna assisting.

Sam Dickinson pulled San Jose within a goal with 8:03 left in the third, beating Wolf with a wrist shot.

Yaroslav Askarov stopped 20 shots for the Sharks.

Calgary improved to 7-8-0, and San Jose fell to 7-8-1.

CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks took the ice on Monday night against a Central Division rival, the Colorado Avalanche. For years, the Avalanche have been one of the NHL’s best teams, and expectations are no lower this season. 

On the day of their reveal, the Blackhawks wore their 2026-27 Hometown Remix uniforms, which feature a green base for the first time in franchise history. The rich St. Patrick’s Day history that exists within Chicagoland is on full display with these. 

Once the puck was dropped, the Chicago Blackhawks looked like a completely different team than we've seen so far this season, especially considering it is against the Colorado Avalanche. Just 57 seconds into the opening frame, Wyatt Kaiser scored to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead. He put an innocent shot on net, and it was deflected in off Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar. 

At 7:05, Roman Kantserov made it 2-0 Blackhawks with his 6th goal of the season. He took a very nice pass from Connor Bedard and blasted it home to double the lead. 

The Blackhawks have had a hard time holding leads throughout games, however, and that was on full display in this one. They couldn't even get out of the first period with a lead.

The Avalanche put three past Spencer Knight, but the first one (a Marty Necas deflection goal) was waved off due to goaltender interference. However, the goals scored by Nazem Kadri and Jaden Schwartz sure counted. The 2-2 tie held through the first intermission. 

There was a lot of action in the second period, but the only goal was scored by Kadri, his second of the game. This was a tip-in goal, assisted by Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon. That's a trio known for making life difficult for their opponent. 

Right as the period was about to expire, Colorado scored a 4th goal. Like Kadri, Schwartz scored his second of the game as it squeaked through the paraphernalia of Spencer Knight. 

One of the key stories from the game is the injury status of Patrick Kane. He left in the latter stages of the second period and did not return. Of course, an update will be provided here on The Hockey News when one is available. 

In the third period, the Blackhawks started to find their legs again. They got back to what was working in the first 10 minutes of the game, which was skating hard, controlling the pace of play, and giving themselves chances. 

The Blackhawks were never able to, despite outshooting them 9-4 in the final frame, score another goal, let alone tie it up. After the Avalanche added an empty-net goal, the 5-2 score stood as the final. 

This was another example of the Blackhawks losing a game that they once controlled by multiple goals; they just didn't wait to surrender the lead this time around. Colorado is one of the best teams in the NHL, and they have been for half a decade, but the Blackhawks showed they aren't even close. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

from 98 to 80 ✅ pic.twitter.com/JqLMgVVo7f

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 3, 2026

from 98 to 80 ✅ pic.twitter.com/JqLMgVVo7f

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 3, 2026

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks will now hit the road for one of the most difficult road trips the NHL has to offer, which is the southeastern United States trip through North Carolina and Florida. They will face the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes in that order on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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The Vegas Golden Knights didn't get the two points they wanted Monday night, but they may have rediscovered something equally important as they continue their road trip.

Their defensive identity.

After falling behind by two goals, the Golden Knights responded with aggressive checking, timely penalty killing and a third-period equalizer from rookie Trevor Connelly before falling 3-2 in a shootout to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.

Can't keep Trev down 🦅 pic.twitter.com/uJwgcn2ilK

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 3, 2026

Captain Mark Stone scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season on the power play, while Connelly delivered his fifth goal to complete the comeback. Mitch Marner contributed two assists, bringing his season total to 17 points and his career total to 51 in 31 games against Boston.

The Vegas Golden Knights have scored a goal. Jeremy Swayman makes the save on Tomáš Hertl but Mark Stone makes a nifty move in front of the net.

2-1, Bruins

pic.twitter.com/FQFFnOHEPh

— Hannah Kirkell (@h_kirk6) November 3, 2026

James Hagens scored his sixth goal of the season and Morgan Geekie added a power-play goal to give Boston a 2-0 lead in the second period before Stone answered. Connelly tied the game 7:23 into the third period, converting a feed from Noah Hanifin, with Marner collecting his second assist.

After a scoreless overtime, David Pastrnak beat Carter Hart in the third round of the shootout, while Jeremy Swayman denied Connelly, Jack Eichel and Marner.

Hart finished with 25 saves for Vegas, while Swayman stopped 21 shots for Boston, which won its sixth consecutive home game. The Golden Knights have lost five of their last six games after opening the season 8-2.

The Golden Knights (9-5-2) earned a point despite their fourth consecutive game without a victory, while the Bruins (11-4-1) continued their strong start at home.

More importantly for Vegas, the defensive effort represented a noticeable improvement for a team that entered the contest having surrendered 14 goals during its previous three games.

"I thought there was a commitment to it, a heaviness to it, an engagement," Golden Knights coach Ryan Craig said of his team's checking. "When we got going, our checking was the reason for it."

Craig credited his team's leadership for keeping the Golden Knights composed after falling behind and losing a forward during the game.

"I thought our leaders did a great job of leading us," Craig said. "We stayed with it."

Stone echoed that assessment, emphasizing that the Golden Knights were more aggressive defensively while remaining disciplined in their positioning.

"All in all, definitely a step in the right direction for the way we've been playing," Stone said. "So obviously two is better than one, but take the good with the bad."

Key Moment

Vegas faced a potentially devastating situation when Boston capitalized early during a five-minute major penalty against the Golden Knights.

Rather than allowing the Bruins to turn the extended man advantage into a commanding lead, Vegas killed off the remaining penalty time and gradually seized momentum.

The Golden Knights entered the game ranked 26th in the NHL on the penalty kill at 69.4%, including a 64.7% success rate on the road. Their ability to withstand the remaining four-plus minutes of Boston's power play proved pivotal.

"I thought that kill did a lot for us to get us going," Craig said.

The Golden Knights eventually completed their comeback when Hanifin moved down the wall and delivered a pass toward the backdoor, where Connelly found an opening and converted.

The goal forced overtime, where Vegas generated opportunities but couldn't finish before Boston prevailed in the shootout.

"I saw some guys going net and just tried to put it in that area," Hanifin said. "Luckily Trev found that soft spot and put it in."

Key Stat

Boston entered Monday having scored at least five goals in five consecutive home games.

That streak ended against a Golden Knights team that limited the Bruins to two goals through regulation and overtime, an encouraging defensive performance against a physical opponent that entered the game averaging 3.67 goals per contest.

The Bruins had also won five consecutive games at TD Garden, where they entered with a 6-1-0 record.

Vegas' ability to limit Boston's offensive opportunities was especially encouraging after the Golden Knights had allowed 14 goals over their previous three games.

"We were connected, which is limiting the chances against and kept their shot volume down," Hanifin said. "I thought we did a good job just taking care of our net front after that."

What a Knight: Trevor Connelly

The 20-year-old rookie continued making his presence felt with one of the biggest goals of his young NHL career.

Connelly, who now has five goals and five assists for 10 points in 16 games, showed resilience after absorbing a heavy hit in the first period, returning to deliver the third-period equalizer.

"He's a resilient guy," Stone said. "He came back and scores a huge goal for us."

Craig offered similar praise for a player continuing to demonstrate that he belongs at the NHL level.

"A young kid in this league, continuing to show why he belongs here," Craig said.

Connelly's goal highlighted his offensive instincts, particularly his ability to recognize open space and capitalize on Hanifin's developing play.

Up Next

The Golden Knights travel to Pittsburgh for Tuesday's matchup against the Penguins, completing a quick turnaround after Monday's shootout defeat.

"We got a point," Craig said. "Now you move on to Pittsburgh and we build on it. That's our job, is now to build on it and get two tomorrow."

Photo Caption

Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) and Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) go for a loose puck during the second period at TD Garden.

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Following their disappointing 5-4 setback against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon, the Detroit Red Wings knew they needed to rebound on the road against the divisional rival Florida Panthers.

Thanks to the key contributions of several young players, they did just that. 

Carter Mazur scored his first NHL goal, while Michael Brandsegg-Nygård scored what ultimately proved to be the game-winning tally as part of Detroit's 5-3 win over the Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday evening.

#REDWINGS WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/XTuvHX5hQ2

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2026

With the win, the Red Wings improved their record to 7-5-3 through the first 15 games of the 2026-27 campaign. 

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

It was Mazur who struck first during the game's opening period, whistling a shot from the right face-off circle past goaltender Jacob Markstrom for the milestone goal. 

While the Panthers tied the score thanks to Sam Reinhart, it was Alex DeBrincat who soon registered his seventh tally of the season early in the second period. 

Florida once again knotted the score thanks to an unfortunate break while trying to kill off a Red Wings power play, as defenseman Aaron Ekblad banked the puck in off the skate of former teammate Daniil Tarasov from below the goal line. 

"Keep Moving Forward": Red Wings Begin Two-Game Divisional Road Swing The Detroit Red Wings have no choice but to rebound from their disappointing 5-4 setback on Saturday afternoon when they face two straight divisional opponents on the road starting on Monday evening.

However, the Red Wings responded as well as one could hope, thanks to a pair of goals early in the third period less than a minute apart. Justin Faulk blasted a shot past Markstrom's glove on the power play, followed by Brandsegg-Nygård finishing a nifty feed from Lucas Raymond in front of the net. 

While Panthers forward Sam Bennett managed to cut the lead to a single goal with Markstrom on the bench, Florida was unable to secure the equalizer. Forward Emmitt Finnie sealed the victory with his seventh tally of the campaign in the waning seconds of regulation. 

Tarasov, who played last season for the Panthers, picked up the win by making 23 saves, while Markstrom countered with 24 saves. 

The Red Wings will next make the short trip to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning on Tuesday evening. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alas, on to the Blackhawks.

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

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

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

First Period

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Second Period

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

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

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

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

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

Third Period

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Blackhawks Store (@BlackhawksStore) November 2, 2026

Colorado Avalanche

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

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

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) November 2, 2026

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

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

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

Projected Lineup:

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

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

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

Chicago Blackhawks

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

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

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) November 2, 2026

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

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

Projected Lineup:

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

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

Goaltenders

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

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

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

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 2, 2026

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

REMIX! #GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/fsSkZ01iWs

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) November 2, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Played for #VegasBorn the previous 5 seasons.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) November 2, 2026

Per the release:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flyers' Matvei Michkov Reacts to Russia's Impending International ReturnAfter a new court ruling, budding Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov is ready to live out his dream of playing for Russia internationally.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Did the Golden Knights Get It Right?

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

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

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

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

And nothing says casino culture quite like this sweater.

Could they have done more? Sure.

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

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

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

Would I buy one? I think so.

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

We're here to watch hockey anyway, right?

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