Good night from four offseason additions not enough in Flyers' OT loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers couldn’t pull out a close game Thursday night, falling to the Golden Knights in overtime, 3-2, at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

They never led as Trevor Zegras and Noah Juulsen each had game-tying markers.

Rick Tocchet’s club was unable to convert on a power play with under five minutes to go in the third period.

Vegas took advantage as Mark Stone scored the game-winner in OT for the Golden Knights. Travis Konecny had a turnover that led to Stone’s goal eight seconds later.

The Flyers (16-9-4) dropped to 2-2-1 on their season-long six-game homestand.

Tocchet’s club is 7-4-4 in games decided by one goal. It has gone to overtime 11 times.

“He’s doing a great job,” Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I knew he would. He did that in Vancouver. He’s building an identity I think here with the Flyers. He was part of an identity here years ago and I think he’d like to sort of reestablish that.”

Carter Hart made his return to Philadelphia with the Golden Knights (15-6-9), but the former Flyers goaltender was not in net. The 27-year-old backed up Akira Schmid. Hart is three games into his new opportunity with Vegas after being found not guilty in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial.

The Flyers and Golden Knights meet again Jan. 19 in Las Vegas.

Carter Hart back in Philadelphia. He’s the backup tonight, so he won’t face the Flyers. pic.twitter.com/GgvOu12n1Z

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 11, 2025

• Dan Vladar continued to answer the bell for the Flyers. He was not the reason they lost.

The 28-year-old denied 18 of 21 shots.

Vegas capitalized on the Flyers having too many men on the ice in the second period. Stone scored a power play goal to hand the Flyers a 2-1 deficit.

The Flyers fell behind 1-0 for the 20th time this season. In the first period, they were slow to get back after Christian Dvorak had an offensive-zone turnover, which eventually led to Zach Whitecloud’s transition goal.

Schmid stopped 17 of the Flyers’ 19 shots.

• Despite the loss, general manager Danny Briere had to feel good about his offseason additions after this one.

Dvorak had two assists, giving him 21 points through 29 games. The free-agent signing is on pace to shatter his career high of 38 points.

Zegras’ goal was his 11th in 29 games. Last season, the trade acquisition finished with 12 in 57 games for the Ducks.

Juulsen, a depth signing on the back end, tied the game at 2-2 in the second period. It was his first goal with the Flyers.

And the free-agent addition Vladar gave the Flyers another reliable outing.

• Travis Sanheim made excellent read and pass to set up Zegras’ game-tying 1-1 goal in the first period.

• Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen joined healthy scratches Nicolas Deslauriers and Egor Zamula on Thursday morning for a competitive skate that featured contact.

York missed a third straight game with an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old defenseman has been considered day to day.

“He’s going to have a really hard practice today, a lot of pushing and shoving on the ice and see how he reacts off it,” Tocchet said Thursday morning. “I think this is the day we’ll know how close he is to playing.”

Ristolainen is inching closer to his season debut, which could come before the Dec. 24-26 NHL holiday break.

“I’d be shocked if he hadn’t played before Christmas, to be honest with you,” Tocchet said.

The 31-year-old defenseman has been recovering from surgery in March on a second triceps tendon rupture.

Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York going through contact with Nicolas Deslauriers and Egor Zamula at optional morning skate. pic.twitter.com/nTNoLjZyVm

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) December 11, 2025

• The Flyers wrap up their homestand Saturday when they welcome the Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

Sharks stun Maple Leafs in come-from-behind OT win by ‘playing for each other' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Scotiabank Arena was rocking on Thursday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs took a 2-0 lead over the visiting Sharks nearly 15 minutes into the second period. 

But in the end, it was the home team’s crowd that was left stunned after San Jose tied the game 2-2 late in the third period and went on to win 3-2 in overtime.

ALEX FOR THE WENNBERG 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GWbBOB0nVy

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 12, 2025

The Sharks, coming off a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, never quit in the face of steep adversity. 

It truly was a resilient team effort that fueled San Jose’s gritty victory north of the border.

“It’s up and down,” prefaced center Alex Wennberg postgame, after scoring the overtime winner. “But the way we play [and] how hard we work for one another, we’re never giving up. 

“Today — a lot of guys are from Toronto — [we] showed some character [and] found a way to get the win for everyone. [Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic] played unbelievably. We talked about finding ways to win games; I mean, I say it all the time. But it’s all that matters right now.”

"It's all that matters right now."

Alex Wennberg detailed the Sharks' unrelenting effort in Toronto 💪 pic.twitter.com/LZDSbzMkOJ

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 12, 2025

Wennberg finished with the game-winner and two assists. Defenseman Dmitry Orlov scored his first goal as a Shark. Center Macklin Celebrini and left wing William Eklund each had one assist. Nedeljkovic collected 30 saves. And defenseman John Klingberg, continuing his recent resurgence, finished with one goal and one assist.

San Jose could’ve accepted its fate on the road in another country. However, the Sharks kept swimming and trusted each other to find life, especially in the final frame.

“Just when we came in [to start the third period], the belief that we could still come back and win the game was fully there in the room; everybody believed it,” defenseman Sam Dickinson said, enjoying the outcome of his first NHL game in his hometown. “I think when we went out there, that was all it was, just going out playing for each other, wanting to get a win.

“And we came out with the result we wanted.”

All three goals from tonight's comeback win 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Jmhun9cCrJ

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 12, 2025

The promising stats and electric moments were rewarding. But as Wennberg and Dickinson echoed, winning is all that matters to San Jose.

And after Thursday’s thriller, the Sharks received news they value: they now have possession of the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot.

If that wasn’t the definition of a team win for the Sharks, then who knows what is.

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

The Anaheim Ducks are the NHL’s surprise team of the 2025-26 season. After seven consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs and finishing as one of the NHL’s bottom 10 teams, the Ducks sit atop the Pacific Division standings and are one of the must-watch teams in the league due to their combination of talented young stars and high-event brand of hockey.

Since early in the season, the Ducks have been a team on the tip of everyone’s tongues. From podcasts to blogs to national broadcasts, different Ducks’ roster players have been highlighted by several outlets at varying points through the first 30 games of the season.

In the season’s infancy, Chris Kreider grabbed headlines, as he made a quick positive impression with his brand new club, scoring four goals in his first three games with Anaheim after spending his first 13 years with the New York Rangers.

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Shootout Win over the Penguins

Ducks’ Husso Impressing In Extended Opportunity

The "Trouba Train" Appeared over the Weekend, Causing Injury and Sparking Discussion

The narrative briefly shifted to Cutter Gauthier in early November, as by Nov. 6, he was the goal-scoring leader in the NHL, notching 10 goals (to go along with six assists) through his first 12 games on the season.

Finally, up until this week, the main headline-grabber on the Ducks roster was (and still is to a degree) budding superstar Leo Carlsson, who sits tied for eighth among the NHL’s scoring leaders with 38 points (16-22=38) through his first 30 games of the season.

The spotlight has shifted slightly again, as after back-to-back-to-back two-point games, rookie Beckett Sennecke is currently the NHL’s scoring leader among rookies and has catapulted himself into the Calder Trophy conversation. Through 30 games, Sennecke has tallied 26 points (10-16=30), giving himself a cushion on Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov, who has 23 points (6-17=23) in 29 games, and New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who has 22 points (8-14=22) in 31 games.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence. These guys have so much talent, and they’re so young,” Ducks forward Alex Killorn said after the Ducks' 7-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. “For them to get points and to get confidence, momentum, you don’t see a ton of guys that young that are comfortable protecting the puck against NHL guys after coming over from juniors. He does such a good job with his poise, it’s pretty rare to see in a guy that’s that young.”

From a statistical perspective, what’s further impressive are the facts that 22 of his 26 points have come at even strength, and 12 of his 16 assists are primary assists. He’s firmly on Anaheim’s second power play unit, has only played 50:58 TOI with a man-advantage, and has only registered three power play points (1-2=3).

His primary assist count and 5v5 production highlight his play-involvement on a stride-by-stride basis and ability to drive his line consistently.

Before the season, there were questions about what the best approach was to his development. His only options were to remain in the NHL or return to the OHL to play another year with the Oshawa Generals. The Ducks decided to keep him on the roster to start the year and see how he would develop.

He struggled to adjust during his preseason and rookie camp performances, specifically in the areas of wall play and puck management. Regardless, and following a preseason injury to center Ryan Strome, Sennecke was placed on the Ducks’ second line with Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier, giving him every opportunity to succeed and maintain his position in the lineup and in the NHL.

“Maintain” can now be considered an understatement. He scored four points (2-2=4) in his first three NHL games and made several typical “rookie” adjustment mistakes during his first few weeks in the league, but has since not only kept his head above water, but he’s now one of the most impactful offensive weapons on one of the NHL’s best offensive teams.

“I think with every game, every practice, especially, you get more comfortable making those plays, especially at the top of the zone,” Sennecke said after the Ducks’ 4-3 shootout win over the Washington Capitals on Friday, where he logged his first of three straight two-point games. He scored a goal and added a highlight-reel assist in that game, where he mohawked at the top of the offensive zone to freeze Caps forward Connor McMichael, before slicing high to low in the zone and finding a streaking Gauthier in the slot.

“You definitely don’t want to turn it over up there,” Sennecke continued. “It’s something you kind of get used to with time, how much space you have, how much defenders are going to bite, and that’s what you’re trying to get them to do as an offensive guy.”

Impressively, Sennecke has translated the aspects of his game that made him a dynamic player in the OHL over the past two seasons, leading up to and following his selection as the third-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. His puck skills stand out as elite, but he’s now manipulating the best defenders in the world while both cleverly and aggressively attacking defensive structures, and creating high-danger opportunities seemingly out of thin air. His forechecking and recognition of opposing attacks have led to him disrupting multiple plays and turning pucks up ice and into offensive sequences.

“Yeah, he’s got evasiveness that is a little bit unpredictable,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said of Sennecke’s skill. “A lot of guys haven’t seen him yet, and I think they’re still trying to gauge him with what the next move could be, because he’s so slippery. He’s got that long reach; sometimes it looks like you’ve got him, but he finds a way to keep on that puck. I think his (linemates) have been doing a good job to complement him as well.

“It’s a great asset to have, a great strength in the skill department,” Quenneville added when asked about Sennecke’s deception. “Whether it’s deceiving or deception, whether it’s speed, or where the puck is off your stick, being aware of what he’s going to do with his stick, it’s an art, and you have to appreciate when you have guys that are able to do it, and you get to enjoy it some nights.”

What has come as a welcome surprise has been his willingness and approach toward battling his way to the front of the net, whether on or off-puck. He’s constantly mixing it up with opposing net-front defenders and pushing boundaries when trying to find the line when it comes to how much he can get away with in that area of the ice. Simply put, he’s a hockey player and a competitor.

“He’s doing great. He’s a young player. He’s big, he’s strong, he can pull a puck,” Ducks forward Ross Johnston said of the Ducks’ youngest roster player, with whom he’s played on a line for spells during the season. “As a power forward, he’s nice to play with because he can finish, and you’ve just got to feed him the puck.”

Sennecke turned a specific area of weakness into a strength: his wall play. In the preseason and in his first few NHL games, he struggled engaging against some of the strongest and wittiest opponents he’d faced to date, often getting pushed off the puck or struggling to make quick, smart decisions. Since then, he’s been baiting defenders, rolling off of them, or moving pucks to teammates or safe areas before having to battle. He’s keeping his feet moving on-puck, drawing attention and opening up space for himself and teammates on the ice.

“I think he’s strong now, I think he’s only going to get stronger,” Quenneville said when asked about his puck protection ability and how he plays in the small areas of the ice. “With him, he’s long, and he’s got that reach, and he’s deceptive, and he can put it in different areas and not lose momentum when he’s getting it back up to where he needs it. He’s tricky.”

Sennecke will have to maintain this level of production, perhaps even increasing it if he’s to overtake Schaefer in the Calder Trophy conversation. For how impressive Sennecke’s been, Schaefer is currently the New York Islanders’ undisputed #1 defenseman, tied for 11th in scoring among all NHL defensemen, and averages 23:36 TOI per game, including 3:36 on the power play and 1:15 on the penalty kill. He’s already one of the best defensemen in the NHL.

BetMGM currently has Schaefer favored to win the Calder Trophy, with -210 odds. Sennecke is right behind him with +375 odds, and Demidov is third with +550 odds. There are still over 50 games left to play in the season, and a lot can change very quickly. The Ducks are simply happy to have Sennecke on board and making such a sizable impact game-to-game.

“He’s perfect. He’s growing into the game, for sure,” Ducks leading scorer Leo Carlsson said when asked about having Sennecke as a teammate. “He’s getting stronger and better, too. He’s just so dangerous, so unpredictable with the puck. He’s going to be insane in a few years.”

Takeaways from the Ducks 7-1 Victory over the Blackhawks

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Shootout Win over the Capitals

Takeaways from the Ducks 7-0 Loss to the Mammoth

The NHL is bringing its annual Winter Classic to South Florida, an experience that promises to be much more than just a hockey game.

This season, the 2026 Winter Classic will take place at loanDepot park, home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins, and feature the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers hosting the New York Rangers, an Original Six franchise that is celebrating its centennial season.

Next week, the league will begin its takeover what's normally a baseball haven and turn it into a hockey winter wonderland, which will be interesting to see in Miami. 

The process of installing the ice and transforming the baseball field into a hockey rink will be quite an undertaking, which is why it will start several weeks ahead of the game itself. 

Speaking of the game, in addition to attending the southernmost outdoor hockey game in NHL history, fans coming to the event will have plenty to do in and around the ballpark.

That’s because the league is holding an outdoor fan festival that it’s calling the 2026 Enterprise NHL Pregame.

The festival will take place on Jan. 2 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. will be open to all Winter Classic ticket holders.

It will be held in West Lot 3 and the West Plaza of loanDepot Park.

Among the many interactions and experiences that will be offered at the festival will be a face-off challenge presented by Discover, a shooting drill activation presented by Energizer, a personalized Winter Classic trading card setup by Upper Deck as well as other activities and product samples from Body Armor, Jersey Mike’s, Fanatics, Perry Ellis and more.

There will also be a special appearance from the most historic trophy in sports, the Stanley Cup.

The NHL on TNT crew will hold a special live performance ahead of the game, featuring the broadcast crew of Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter and Lian McHugh.

For more information on the NHL's Winter Classic Pregame outdoor festival, click here.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Robby Fabbri was always hopeful to return when it all began but wasn’t sure if it would happen.

But there he was, wearing the Bluenote again after the St. Louis Blues selected the forward with their first-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.

“When you leave, you never think you’re going to go back, right,” Fabbri said. “But I loved my time here, a lot of memories here, so just very excited to be back. I know my family is as well.”

The 29-year-old, who was just a baby-faced kid when he was here his first stint that ended with a trade to the Detroit Red Wings in 2019, was smiling from ear-to-ear in the locker room after a morning skate Thursday prior to the Blues (11-13-7) facing the Nashville Predators (11-14-4) at 7 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM). Fabbri will be in the lineup, playing on a third line with Pius Suter and Dalibor Dvorsky, with a feeling like no other.

“It’s going to be a long time,” Fabbri said. “You get that feeling when I’ve come back from my injuries (two major knee injuries in St. Louis) and a lot of things like that. This last little bit adversity-wise has been pretty up there, pretty tough compared to some injuries and stuff like that. To get back out here and to do it in a Blue Note again is going to be really exciting.”

Fabbri signed a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $775,000 NHL, $300,000 AHL on Wednesday after playing three games with Charlotte of the American Hockey League with the Blues down five forwards (Jimmy Smuggerud, Jordan Kyrou, Nick Bjugstad, Nathan Walker and Alexey Toropchenko) due to various injuries.

“It kind of just worked out pretty quick,” Fabbri said. “I was in Charlotte playing some games and some injuries were happening over here, but they were watching some games and it kind of just came about early in the week and we just finished it up. I’m glad it was quick and I’m glad it was here.”

It was a difficult summer for Fabbri, who was playing for a contract for the first time since he was drafted. Stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers on professional tryouts yielded no contract.

“My injuries have kind of prepped me for adversity like this,” Fabbri said. ‘This is obviously a different type of adversity. Any free agent loves to sign on July 1st and be done with it. That’s just now how it went for me, but at the end of the day, I’ve done it my whole career. I’ve had to come back and prove myself after every injury and after anything that’s ever happened. I think I’m prepped to do that. I’ve prepared to do that unintentionally my whole career. It was a difficult summer, but I just had my second daughter (Sophia) two weeks ago. So that distraction and my two-year-old right now (Mara), family means the most always. I’m just thankful for my wife and for them to be there for this.”

The transition should be seamless, considering Fabbri was part – albeit a smaller role at the time – of the Stanley Cup-winning Blues in 2019, and will play with teammates Brayden Schenn, Robert Thomas, Oskar Sundqvist, Colton Parayko and Jordan Binnington, as well as coaches Steve Ott and David Alexander on that roster.

“He knows enough guys in this room, including trainers and coaches,” Schenn said. “He’s going to come here, I know he’s super excited to be here. He always wanted to come back here and have another crack at it. We’re excited to have him back and he’s equally, if not more excited, to be wearing a Bluenote again.

“I talked to him this morning on the way to the rink and it’s seamless. You go into a new team and you don’t know anyone or not many people here you know, but he feels right back at home again. When you have that mentality and mindset, the adjustment period isn’t as long and he’ll be able to hopefully come right in and make an impact for us. Just a great guy to be around too. He brings a lot of energy, will have a voice in the room, he’s not afraid to talk.”

Fabbri is now obviously more mature and a wiser player than his first stint in St. Louis.

“I’ve obviously grown up off the ice, but I think my game’s matured, just positionally and everything like that over the years, even with experience, learning the right way to play,” Fabbri said. “I probably had a little junior still in me when I was here in St. Louis early on. But I think my game’s matured a lot, being able to play on both sides of the puck, penalty kill, power play, all those types of things has evolved over the years.”

Blues coach Jim Montgomery said on Wednesday Fabbri would be in the lineup, and his decision to start him playing with Suter and Dvorsky was almost a no-brainer.

“This guy has over 100 goals, has been known as an offensive player for a long time, so his speed, his smarts his tenacity in and around the net, his ability to finish should complement those two guys well,” Montgomery said.

Fabbri, who has 216 points (106 goals, 110 assists) in 442 NHL games, wore No. 15 when he was first with the Blues, then No. 14 with the Red Wings and last season when he played for the Anaheim Ducks, No. 13. He’ll wear No. 9 this time around with the Blues.

“I wore nine in junior,” Fabbri said before joking, “This is kind of just a fresh start, a new era of myself. Some guy by the name of Steve Ott had nine when I came in my first year, so that was kind of taken early on. I just wanted to kind of change it up and get a fresh start over here.”

A fresh start and a fresh perspective.

“The transition is kind of seamless from the staff to the players, just a lot of familiar faces,” fabbri said. “It makes it easy for any player to come into a locker room. It’s just exciting to get back to work with these guys that you won a championship with.”

- - -

The Blues will be going back to some familiar faces on Thursday on their blue line.

Montgomery is reuniting Cam Fowler with Parayko and Philip Broberg and Justin Faulk as the top four once again, a quartet that was instrumental in the team’s success last season that fueled their run to the playoffs.

“Really, it’s just the familiarity like last year,” Montgomery said. “We were at our best when the pairings were like that. That’s a little bit of it, and it feels like our D-corps got a little stale in the last game, so just giving them a new outlook. You’ve got a different partner, maybe you get excited again, just fresh energy.”

And some of those things that need to look different that were detriments on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins?

“Our D-zone coverage, stopping in the D-zone, boxing out at the net front,” Montgomery said. ‘We didn’t do a good enough job last game, our habits got away from us. And then conversely playing to the goal line and being ready and having that mentality that, ‘we’re going to play the right way for 60 minutes and grind out a one-goal win.’”

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich

Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Mathieu Joseph

Pius Suter-Dalibor Dvorsky-Robby Fabbri

Hugh McGing-Oskar Sundqvist-Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko

Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk

Tyler Tucker-Logan Mailloux

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Matt Luff and Matthew Kessel. Jordan Kyrou (lower body), Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns), Nathan Walker (upper body) and Nick Bjugstad (upper body) are all out.

- - -

Predators Projected Lineup:

Steven Stamkos-Ryan O’Reilly-Luke Evangelista

Filip Forsberg-Fedor Svechkov-Matthew Wood

Michael Bunting-Erik Haula-Jonathan Marchessault

Reid Schaefer-Michael McCarron

Nicolas Hague-Roman Josi

Brady Skjei-Nick Perbix

Spencer Stastney-Nick Blankenburg

Adam Wilsby

Juuse Saros will start in goal; Justus Annunen will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Tyson Jost. Ozzy Wiesblatt (upper body), Cole Smith (lower body) and Justin Barron (lower body) are out.

Blues Make Official Signing of Dillon Dube To AHL Professional TryoutThe forward was one of five players from Canada's 2018 World Junior team charged with sexual assault from an incident in June of 2018, acquitted earlier this year

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Who'd have thought that a contingency waiver claim could stake a claim as the potential number one netminder on a perennial contender, while making NHL history at the same time?

It sounds crazy, but that's exactly what Brandon Bussi is doing for the Carolina Hurricanes.

The 27-year-old netminder has seized the opportunity presented to him and he's seemingly cemented himself as the Canes' number one netminder.

To start his NHL career, Bussi has a 0.909 save percentage, one shutout and an 9-1-0 record, becoming just the fifth goaltenders in NHL history to record nine wins within their first 10 career starts (Igor Shesterkin, Frederik Andersen, Bob Froese, Frank Brimsek).

And he'll be getting the chance to do something only one other netminder in NHL history has done tonight as he is set for start number 11.

Bussi will be getting the chance to join Bob Froese as the only other goalie in NHL history to win 10 wins in his first 11 starts (Froese started his career 12-0-1) on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals, the second time he's started in consecutive games so far this season.

"I don't think we envisioned him going in an every-day rotation or a back-to-back, but he's earned that," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour Thursday morning.

You'd think that an NHL rookie would be a little caught up in the emotions of everything that's gone on along the way, but if you asked the 27-year-old netminder if this stretch or the moments within it have even felt surreal, you'd probably be fairly surprised by his blasé attitude.

"My job is to stop the puck as much as I can and I just take it day-by-day," Bussi said. "It feels good to get wins. Our team's been playing really well in most of these wins if not all of them, so it feels good. Gonna try and keep it going.

"He doesn't get shaken," said teammate Seth Jarvis. "I think obviously the position he was in coming in, a bad goal or something could have ruined his confidence, but I think he's incredibly confident in himself and knows that. And for us, knowing we have a guy back there that makes timely saves and will bail us out when need be is huge."

Hurricanes Goalie Brandon Bussi Unveils New MaskHurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi debuts a custom mask, a vibrant tribute to autism awareness and personal family connection, featuring unique artistry.

---

Bussi is writing quite the story in Carolina and it's only been getting better and better.

It's gone from a feel good story of a rookie doing well, to actually looking like a potentially game-changing acquisition for the Hurricanes.

"It doesn't matter if you're 22 or 26, especially when you're a goalie," said teammate Taylor Hall. "There's no direct path to being what you are and when you're big and athletic like he is in the net, you just need to keep going. I think he's only going to get better and better."

The 6-foot-4, New York native has positioned himself as the top netminder not only for the Hurricanes but currently in the league as well.

And it isn't like Bussi has been insulated by the Canes' play either. Sure, he's not facing 30 shots a night, but the saves that he's being asked to make are shorthanded breakaways, 2-on-1s, and overall just multiple high-danger chances game after game and he's been absolutely incredible.

"That's what goaltending's really about," Brind'Amour said. "If you can make the saves at crucial times, that's what I think goaltending is really about. You're supposed to make the ones you're supposed to make and make a couple that you're not supposed to make, but when you make them, I think, is real important too."

Bussi is currently leading the Canes in goals saved above expected (7.5) according to moneypuck.com and is actually leading the entire league in high-danger save percentage (0.888) according to NHL Edge.

"He's been great for us," Brind'Amour said. "He's come up with the timely saves and that's how I sum it up. Because it's not like we've bene leaving him out to dry or giving up 40 shots a night. It's not that, but if there's a breakaway here or there all of a sudden, those are huge moments in tight games and every game, you could kind of say the same story. Timely saves that allow us to have a chance. That's what you ask of him."

---

While essentially an unknown to the league and the greater hockey world when he made his NHL debut, Bussi wasn't just a random claim by the Hurricanes.

The Western Michigan University product went undrafted out of college, but a strong three seasons with the Providence Bruins put him on the Hurricanes' radar.

His name kept coming up in organizational meetings during the summer and he was a player that the team knew they'd want to keep an eye on.

"He was somebody I identified in the summertime," said Hurricanes goaltending coach Paul Schonfelder. "He obviously ended up signing in Florida, but he was somebody who was on my list of people to go after. I had him down as somebody who, he obviously played down in the American league for three years, but was ready to make that jump to the NHL."

And as fate would have it, a chance came on the waiver wire and the rest is history.

"The hockey world can be crazy at times," Bussi recalls.

From one of the hundreds of players hoping and praying for the chance to prove their mettle, to standing on the verge of making NHL history in just a few months.

"I think they know who he is now," Jarvis said. "He's been electric. He's the best guy. No one I'm happier for."

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The Philadelphia Flyers are in the final legs of their home-heavy December schedule, with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights tonight. 

For the second straight game, Philadelphia will roll out the same group that brought home a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, giving head coach Rick Tocchet some more in-game views of guys like Nikita Grebenkin, Carl Grundstrom, and Ty Murchison, who all fared quite well in Tuesday night’s game.

And with the Golden Knights in town, every detail matters.

1. Dan Vladar Stars In Net.

Dan Vladar starts against the Golden Knights, making it clear the Flyers want to keep him in rhythm. 

Lineup update for #VGKvsPHI: Goaltender Dan Vladar gets the start in net. pic.twitter.com/nPNvBIr25r

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 11, 2025

His recent outings have featured calm movement, efficient positioning, and—maybe most importantly—a growing sense of predictability for the players in front of him. They know what mistakes he can erase and what situations they can’t leave him exposed to.

Vegas is a stylistically different challenge from San Jose. They funnel pucks from the points, crash for second chances, and rarely attack in straight lines. Vladar’s game thrives when he’s reading the first shot cleanly; Vegas will test whether he can manage the second and third.

2. No Lineup Changes Against Vegas.

Rick Tocchet is riding the same group that won in San Jose, meaning Ty Murchison draws back in for his second NHL game, Nikita Grebenkin stays in the bottom six, and Carl Grundstrom remains in after scoring his first Flyers goal.

'My Heart Was Beating About a Hundred Beats Per Minute': Ty Murchison on His Flyers Call UpOn Sunday, Ty Murchison sat in Lehigh Valley’s facility thinking it would be a normal morning—practice, meetings, the routine that has been both comfort and crucible for a 22-year-old defenseman trying to force his way into the conversation.

None of this is surprising. The structure worked against the Sharks, and Vegas—despite being a stronger team—profiles similarly in one important way: they test depth. Their third and fourth lines don’t play “safe.” They forecheck with purpose, run quick cycles, and finish checks like it’s a scrimmage day.

Keeping the Flyers’ current lineup intact signals trust in their depth and, just as importantly, gives Murchison another chance to experience NHL pace without the disruption of new partners or new roles.

Stability isn’t just comfort; it’s consistency of expectations. Tocchet is choosing consistency.

3. The Andrae–Drysdale Pairing Is Working, and Working Well.

If the Flyers needed a pairing to surprise them this season, it was this one.

Tocchet has been notably enthusiastic about the Emil Andrae–Jamie Drysdale duo, praising a combination of swagger, poise, and decision-making that’s turning them into an increasingly reliable option. 

On Andrae, Tocchet said, “He’s got some swagger… he’s not afraid to make some plays.” Meanwhile, speaking about Drysdale: “He’s got a lot of deception… he wheels the puck… he’s probably one of our best.”

When talking about Jamie Drysdale and Emil Andrae, Rick Tocchet said their hockey IQ and quickness helps make up for them being a smaller pair. He listed some guys that those qualities remind him of, joking that, “maybe I shouldn’t say [Quinn] Hughes right now.”

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) December 11, 2025

What stands out is what Tocchet likes: not their skill in isolation, but their judgment. They aren’t throwing pucks away. They aren’t defaulting to safe plays out of habit. They manage risk thoughtfully—and that’s harder to coach than systems play.

Vegas forechecks aggressively and layers pressure through the neutral zone. This pairing will get a meaningful test in whether they can maintain their calm, their spacing, and their ability to play with the puck on their terms rather than Vegas’s.

If they handle this well, the Flyers may have found a long-term second pair solution sooner than expected.

4. The Depth Scoring Trend Will Matter Even More Tonight.

Philadelphia’s scoring against San Jose wasn’t just balanced—it was diversified in how chances were created. They got goals from a grinder (Carl Grundstrom), a transition-driven center (Noah Cates), and a support-playmaker (Christian Dvorak). They also had assists scattered across the roster.

Against Vegas, they’ll need something similar. The Golden Knights don’t crumble when top players strain to create offense. They’re built to smother first lines and force secondary groups to beat them. If the Flyers rely solely on Travis Konecny and the top unit to generate momentum, the game will likely tilt toward Vegas by attrition.

The Flyers have been trending toward evenly distributed scoring for several weeks; this game is the kind of matchup where that trend either becomes a habit or fades under pressure.

Depth isn’t a luxury in this matchup—it’s a requirement.

5. The Game’s Tempo Will Hinge on Puck Discipline.

Vegas thrives on opponents who get impatient. They bait teams into stretch passes, jump on lateral plays through the neutral zone, and turn blocked shots into counterattacks.

The Flyers’ best games this season have come when they force teams to earn every foot of ice. Their worst games come when they shortcut the process.

Two factors will decide which version shows up: Clean puck management from the defense, especially from Andrae, Drysdale, and Murchison, and the forwards’ commitment to short support, not hopeful lead passes.

Vegas doesn’t need odd-man rushes to score, but they’re extremely good when they get them. Keeping this game five-on-five in structure is probably the Flyers’ best path.

Projected Lines

Philadelphia Flyers

Forwards:

Trevor Zegras - Christian Dvorak - Travis Konecny

Matvei Michkov - Sean Couturier - Owen Tippett

Nikita Grebenkin - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink

Carl Grundstrom - Rodrigo Abols - Garnet Hathaway 

Defense:

Nick Seeler - Travis Sanheim

Emil Andrae - Jamie Drysdale

Ty Murchison - Noah Juulsen

Goalies:

Dan Vladar

Sam Ersson

Vegas Golden Knights

Forwards:

Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Braeden Bowman

Mitch Marner - Brett Howden - Mark Stone

Reilly Smith - Tomas Hertl - Pavel Dorofeyev

Cole Reinhardt - Colton Sissons - Keegan Kolesar

Defense:

Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin - Zach Whitecloud

Ben Hutton - Kaedan Korczak

Goalies:

Akira Schmid

Carter Hart

LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights and Lotus Broadcasting are switching stations, literally.

From 98.9 FM to 94.7 FM, the Golden Knights will have a new radio home beginning Thursday, Dec. 18.

The team’s games have been broadcast on 98.9 FM since the teams joined the NHL in 2017.

Lotus Broadcasting believes the transition to 94.7 FM will bring increased signal strength to provide listeners an upgraded and more reliable listening experience.

The broadcast will now include an HD signal, expanding coverage throughout Southern Nevada, while giving listeners more ways to access Golden Knights programming.

Golden Knights fans can also find the broadcast on KOMP 92.3 HD2, further broadening availability across the valley.

All Golden Knights programming and on-air personalities remain the same, including game broadcasts with Dan D’Uva and Gary Lawless, pre/intermission/postgame coverage with Ryan Wallis and the VGK Insider Show with Wallis and Daren Millard.

The team’s AM station on 1340 AM remains unchanged, consistent with what listeners have been accustomed to since the inaugural season.

PHOTO CREDIT: Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) celebrates his goal ahead of during during the third period at UBS Arena.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Montreal Canadiens for the first time this season on Thursday night. 

It will be the first of three meetings between these two teams after the Penguins won all three meetings last year. They outscored the Canadiens 18-6 in those three games. 

The Penguins are coming off another brutal loss on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks, and it was a game that they should never have lost. They had a power play with 17 seconds left in regulation, but the Ducks beat the buzzer with a shorthanded goal with .1 seconds left, thanks to forward Beckett Sennecke. The game then went to a shootout, which the Penguins lost. 

It's the second-straight game that the Penguins surrendered a late lead in the third period when it looked like they were going to secure two points. If they find themselves in that situation again on Thursday night, they need to close the door since points are at a premium right now. 

The lineup for the Penguins will mostly be the same outside of Tristan Jarry starting in goal. Arturs Silovs started in goal on Tuesday. 

Here are the expected lines: 

Forwards

Novak-Crosby-Rust

Mantha-Hayes-Brazeau

McGroarty-Kindel-Koivunen

Dewar-Heinen-Acciari

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Graves-Clifton

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The Canadiens come into this game with a 15-11-3 record, good for fourth in the Atlantic Division. They have lost two in a row and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. 

Rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler is set to make his NHL debut for the Canadiens in this contest. He has played in 15 games for Laval in the AHL this year and has compiled a 10-5 record with a 2.09 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. 

Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens in points with 33 and Cole Caufield in goals with 16. Caufield is making a strong push for the Team USA Olympic roster, which should be finalized over the next few weeks.

Ivan Demidov is also off to a great start in his first full NHL season, racking up six goals and 23 points in 29 games. He's one of the strong contenders for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the NHL's top rookie. 

Defenseman Lane Hutson is also doing his thing and has five goals and 22 points in 29 games. 

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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The Detroit Red Wings have recalled veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins as an insurance option in case young blueliner Simon Edvinsson requires time to recover from a lower body injury sustained during Wednesday’s game against the Calgary Flames. The club has not yet provided a timetable for Edvinsson’s recovery, but the recall signals that his status is at least somewhat uncertain.

Gustafsson has already appeared in one NHL game for Detroit this season. In that outing he logged seventeen and a half minutes, registered two shots on goal and finished minus one in a loss to the last place Nashville Predators. Known as an offensive defenseman, he provided the type of puck movement Detroit expected from him but did not get on the scoresheet during his brief appearance.

There has been growing attention surrounding Gustafsson in recent weeks, with multiple reports linking the former Ranger to New York. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman has noted that the Rangers are looking for a power play quarterback who can fill in while Adam Fox remains out on long term injured reserve. Friedman included Gustafsson among the players the Rangers have checked in on, and his familiarity with their system plus his affordability makes him a logical short term target.

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

For the Red Wings the recall could serve several purposes as Edvinsson has already missed time this season due to what was described as an illness, and if the current injury lingers the team may prefer to let him recover fully rather than rush him back. At the same time Gustafsson gets an opportunity to showcase his value at the NHL level. If he performs well Detroit could benefit by boosting his trade stock ahead of a potential move. He has been a productive presence with Grand Rapids where he has recorded twelve assists in thirteen games and has been one of the Griffins’ most reliable veterans.

Gustafsson played 76 games for the Rangers during the 2023-24 season and finished with six goals and 25 assists for 31 points. Across ten NHL seasons he has appeared in 516 games. His best year came with Chicago in 2018-19 when he posted 60 points and established himself as one of the league’s more dynamic offensive defensemen.

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In a subscriber Q&A ran by The Athletic, questions were asked to St. Louis Blues assistant GM Tim Taylor. Questions ranged from prospects attending the world juniors to how some of their youngsters were performing in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Plenty of questions were asked about a boatload of prospects, but the current development trajectory of 2023 first-round picks Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein seemed to stand out.

Stenberg's 2025-26 season has been odd. In training camp and pre-season, he was noticeable for all the right reasons and caught the eye of coach Jim Montgomery several times. He demonstrated the skill that earned him the 25th overall selection, but he also showed a genuine desire to win puck battles and engage physically.

He was one of the final cuts during training camp, and the excitement following his strong pre-season was at an all-time high. Expectations grew, and the hope was that he would be a dominant force in the AHL. However, through 20 games, the 20-year-old has scored just two goals and seven points.

Despite that, Taylor and the Blues are happy with Stenberg's development.

"Otto is a very smart player. He doesn’t gain a lot of recognition around the ice because he does things that look easy, and he’s always in the right spot at the right time. He got his feet wet last season, and now he’s going through the trials and tribulations. It’s kind of like his second-year pro, where guys fall off a little bit, but then they get going again. He had a tough time at the start points-wise, but we’re happy with his play. I could see him playing some NHL games this year."

Lindstein, a fellow Swede and the third player the Blues drafted in the first round of the 2023 NHL draft, has also struggled a bit to put up points, but the Blues are big fans of other parts of his game. Taylor was asked if Minnesota Wild's Jonas Brodin was a good comparable for Lindstein, and Taylor was thrilled to see the comparison.

"This fan really knows their hockey — Brodin is a real good example! Theo has taken a big jump since the start of the year. The ebbs and flows of his game, it’s been really good. I thought it was going to be a harder transition, and we’d have to be patient with him. But he’s been a real pleasant surprise in that he’s handled the AHL grind very well. He’s the type of player where his growth is on a high incline from the start of the year until now."

In 22 games, the 20-year-old has notched just two goals and five points, but like Stenberg, the Blues believe the offense will come for Lindstein, and sooner, rather than later, we will see the pair of young Swedes in the NHL with the Blues. 

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

ELMONT, NY -- New York Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin (lower back) won't return against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night but is expected to return against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon. 

"He looks really good," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said following Thursday's morning skate. "We'll see if he's ready to play against Tampa, but I think there's a good chance he will be."

Drouin, 30, rejoined the Islanders for a team skate for the first time since warming up against the Colorado Avalanche a week ago before being a late scratch. 

Jonathan Drouin (back) joining #Isles for morning skate. First skate back with the team since taking warmups against the Avalanche. Was a late scratch.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) December 11, 2025

He did not travel with the team for their back-to-back against the Lightning and Florida Panthers this past weekend, as he was getting treatment on Long Island. 

Drouin had been skating on his own. 

Who will come out for Drouin remains a mystery. 

One of the biggest challenges of the season awaits the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

Fresh off an exhilarating, last-minute victory over the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday, the Panthers will complete a back-to-back set when they face off against the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche.

Florida will be searching for a season-high fourth straight victory and are attempting to turn a corner toward positivity following a tough start to their season.

That’s not terribly surprising considering the injury issues that Florida has had to endure.

The Panthers just got forward Eetu Luostarinen back in the lineup over the past week but have still yet to see Sasha Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk or Tomas Nosek this season and have lost Dmitry Kulikov, Jonah Gadjovich and Cole Schwindt to in-season injuries they have yet to return from.

Still, despite all that, the Cats are giving off some strong vibes lately, picking up wins over the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders and Mammoth over the past few days.

Now, though, Florida will face a team in the Avalanche who have lost just twice in regulation all season.

Colorado is an eye-popping 21-2-7, with their 49 points keeping them perched high atop the rest of the NHL.

To put that into perspective, no team in the Eastern Conference has even cracked 40 points yet.

As for the Panthers, their recent surge has moved them past Toronto, Columbus and the Ottawa Senators in the standings.

Entering play Thursday, Florida still remains three points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the final Wild Card spot and four points back of the Boston Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division.

With so much of the season still in front of them, the Panthers have plenty of time to climb back into a playoff spot.

A good showing against Colorado and a strong showing on their road trip will go a long way toward continuing that mission as Florida moves closer to the holidays.

Goaltending-wise, the Cats are expected to roll with Daniil Tarasov against the Avs after Sergei Bobrovsky played stellar while picking up the win over Utah the night before.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s tilt with the Avalanche:

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sam Reinhart

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Brad Marchand

Mackie Samoskevich – Evan Rodrigues – A.J. Greer

Noah Gregor – Jack Stucnicka – Jesper Boqvist

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Uvis Balinskis – Jeff Petry

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Photo caption: Dec 10, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; The Florida Panthers celebrate a win over the Utah Mammoth after the game at Delta Center. (Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

The Detroit Red Wings seem to be coming back to life after winning their third straight game on Wednesday in a road clash versus the Calgary Flames, where they were sensational to start the game but limped to the finish line in the final period before walking away with the 4-3 victory. It extended the team's winning streak to six games as they look to make it seven in the team's toughest stop of the road trip in Edmonton to take on the Oilers. 

Not to mention, it'll be the second leg of a back-to-back which should make it even more challenging for the Wings. You can truly never count out the Oilers thanks to their superstars in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as they proved that once again when facing off against the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night when McDavid orchestrated a late comeback with a tying goal in the final seconds. If the Red Wings hope to keep their hot streak alive, they'll need to come together for a complete performance from start to finish, which has been hard for them lately. The Oilers will look to make up for a 4-2 loss to the Red Wings earlier this season in a memorable game which rookie Emmitt Finnie scored his first NHL goal. 

Lineup Storylines

Detroit’s win on Wednesday again flipped the narrative, as the Red Wings finally started to get the depth scoring they had been missing. Andrew Copp, who had struggled for much of the season, delivered what was likely his best performance yet. 

The Michigan native recorded two assists on his new line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane, a combination that has recently begun to find its rhythm. Copp also made several strong defensive plays late in the game. This momentum did not extend to the rest of the team, as Detroit’s defense began to unravel in the final minutes. A shorthanded penalty shot added to the frustration, and despite the Flames picking up speed, the Red Wings offered little resistance. 

Rookie Emmitt Finnie gets his first career NHL Goal on the rebound 🚨🔥 pic.twitter.com/BGg2v3bKDY

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 19, 2025

Goaltender John Gibson did everything he could and has looked much more like the player Detroit expected when they acquired him. Filling in for Gibson will be former Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot, who has started to slow down with his play as of late but has great career numbers going against the team he played for from 2015 to 2019. 

Detroit will need a stronger defensive effort on Thursday if they hope to slow down Connor McDavid. The offense has little reason for concern as the current lineup continues to find ways to score, and the second line broke out in a big way on Wednesday by scoring three of Detroit’s four goals. With contributions coming from throughout the roster, the top unit with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond no longer has to shoulder all of the pressure and can afford an occasional quiet night.

For the Oilers, the same long-standing issues continue to haunt them, particularly in goal and on the back end. Edmonton has given up the fourth-most goals in the league this season with 104 against, and their goals against per game sits at 3.47 through 30 games, the fifth-worst mark in the NHL. Their offense is still keeping them competitive, as they hold the seventh-best goals per game average at 3.30, but they often struggle to keep pace in high-scoring games and frequently come out on the losing end.

Tuesday’s loss to Buffalo was a prime example as McDavid played hero in the final seconds to force overtime, but the Oilers quickly surrendered the winner to Alex Tuch only 33 seconds into the extra period. If Detroit hopes to come away with another victory, they will need to push the pace offensively and stay aggressive. Scoring early and keeping pressure on Edmonton will be crucial, especially since the Oilers have won four of their last seven games and are always one burst away from catching up. Detroit executed this approach well on Wednesday in Calgary, and a similar effort will be needed again.

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

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (+145) | EDM ML (-175)

DET +1.5 (-161) | EDM -1.5 (+135)

O/U 6.5 Goals

The Red Wings have done surprisingly well in this matchup as of late with wins in two straight over the Oilers with two goals against in each of the victories. They'll look to play a strong defensive game that has alluded them over their last few games with seven or more goals in eight of their last ten games. 

Their extended history versus Edmonton has included more defensive battles rather than top end goal scoring with six or fewer goals in eight of their last 12 matchups versus the Oilers dating back to January of 2019. This would make sense for Thursday's matchup as Talbot has had extended rest since his last start which was last Thursday and has great numbers in this matchup. Detroit was able to hold an elite Oilers offense to just two goals in their matchup earlier this season with their biggest point of success in the game being that they held McDavid to no points and snapped his nine-game point streak versus the Red Wings. 

Edmonton's Stuart Skinner will need to have a solid game if they hope to win and the 27-year-old has lost two straight starts to Detroit. However, the Edmonton native has started to pick things up as of late with a stellar 1.77 goals against average and a .929 save percentage over his last four starts entering Thursday.

Goalie Matchup

Detroit: Cam Talbot (Season: 9-4-2 record, 3.01 GAA, .883 SV% | VS EDM: 4-2-2 record, 2.05 GAA, .934 SV% in nine games)

Edmonton: Stuart Skinner (Season: 10-8-4 record, 2.91 GAA, .886 SV% | VS DET: 1-2-1 record, 2.96 GAA, .911 SV% in four games)

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