According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Buffalo Sabres have placed Mason Geertsen on waivers. 

Geertsen has appeared in five games this season with the Sabres, where he has recorded zero points, eight hits, 12 penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating. This is the first time that he has played at the NHL level since the 2021-22 season when he was a member of the New Jersey Devils. 

The Sabres signed Geertsen to a two-year contract this off-season. This was after he posted five assists, 77 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating in 31 games this past season with the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Teams looking for more toughness could consider claiming Geersten off waivers. However, if he passes through waivers unclaimed, the Sabres will then be able to assign him to their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Artūrs Šilovs is enjoying quite a fast start to what is, technically, considered his rookie season in the NHL. 

The native of Riga, Latvia suited up for the Vancouver Canucks in 10 games during the 2024 playoffs, and he performed pretty well for a guy with only nine games of NHL experience spread across two seasons prior to that. Unfortunately - for the Canucks' sixth-round pick in 2019 - the emergence of Kevin Lankinen in Vancouver and the commitment to veteran Thatcher Demko didn't leave much room for Šilovs going forward with the Canucks, even though he led the Abbotsford Canucks to their first-ever AHL championship last season with a .931 save percentage and five shutouts through 24 games.

So, he was dealt to the Penguins this summer for a fourth-round pick and a lower-level prospect. And he's made a huge impact so far.

Heck, the 24-year-old's .917 save percentage this season has been enough to catch the attention of folks around the league, as he is involved in some early-season Calder Trophy talks. In fact, he has been one of the best goaltenders in the league up to this point, with the third-highest save percentage among NHL goaltenders with at least 10 appearances. 

There's no doubt that Šilovs came to Pittsburgh with a lot to prove and some pressure to perform, and he has risen to the occasion thus far. But what some may not know is that Šilovs has also already performed well at the highest levels of international hockey - and he will have another chance to do so for Team Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina. 

As one of the first six players named to Team Latvia's Olympic squad - Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender ⁠Elvis Merzļikins, Canucks forward Teddy Blueger, Tampa Bay Lightning center ⁠Zemgus Girgensons, Philadelphia Flyers center Rodrigo Abols, and Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis⁠ ⁠Balinskis are the others - Šilovs is getting an opportunity that he hasn't yet experienced, even if he has thrived on Latvian national teams. 

Good luck opening the door on these four... 🚪

The future is looking VERY bright for these young goalies! pic.twitter.com/05V4QxYeoA

— NHL (@NHL) November 20, 2025

“It’s always an honor to represent your country, especially [for the] Olympics," Šilovs said. "NHL players didn’t have a chance to play in the past, what, 10 years? I think it’s a great opportunity to see the best of the best, especially representing the national team... it’s a special team. Everyone is doing anything for the cause.”

And saying he's "thrived" on Latvia's national teams is a bit of an understatement. He turned heads at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, when he put up a .952 save percentage and 1.22 goals-against average in four appearances despite a 2-2 record - giving his team a chance in every game. For IIHF competition in general that year, Šilovs appeared in six games and posted a whopping .968 save percentage and 0.87 goals-against average against some high-level competition, including Sweden and Finland.

He followed that up in 2023 with a .921 save percentage in 10 appearances at the World Championship, which - once again - caught the attention of many, especially since Latvia was one of the biggest surprises of that tournament when they won the Bronze Medal game over Team USA, 4-3, and went 7-3 overall in the tournament.

Canucks Blueger & Šilovs Named To Latvia's 2026 Winter Olympic Games Preliminary RosterTeddy Blueger and&nbsp;Artūrs Šilovs are headed to the Olympics. The two Vancouver Canucks players were among the first six named to <a href="https://x.com/IIHFHockey/status/1934496913610486061/photo/1">Latvia's&nbsp;preliminary roster</a> for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. As for the other four named, they were Elvis Merzļikins,&nbsp;Uvis Balinskis,&nbsp;Zemgus Girgensons and former Canucks draft pick,&nbsp;Rodrigo Ābols.

Of course, Šilovs was a huge part of the team's success. But he gave a lot of credit to the fans and to the fact that high-level hockey is becoming more and more prevalent in his home country. 

“I think more guys are now playing outside of Latvia, and we can see a lot of junior guys are playing Canadian or American or or somewhere else and top in Europe," he said. "So I think it gives a lot of experience for the guys, and when they get together for, like, U20s, or their first international game, I think they have a confidence that they’ve already played against good players. There’s a lot of [draft picks] and guys who are probably going to play in the NHL like two, three years later.

"So, I think that gives confidence for a lot of guys. You’ve already seen the skill, what can happen and what can’t happen, and I think just getting experience. Because if you’ve never seen anything like that, it’s really hard to say, ‘Oh, we’re going to play good.’ I feel like, for smaller countries and for less developed countries which don’t have hockey that much, it’s really tough. You can’t compare the guys who play in their local tournament and then try to play against some of the best, right?”

BREAKING: Abbotsford Canucks Win 2025 Calder Cup After a magical <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/the-abbotsford-canucks-road-to-the-2025-calder-cup-final">playoff run</a> filled with standout performances, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/it-s-all-about-the-next-game-abbotsford-canucks-discuss-calder-cup-finals-game-5-mentality">Abbotsford Canucks</a> have officially won the 2025 Calder Cup. This is Abbotsford’s first Calder Cup win in franchise history and their first time making it out of the second round since their inaugural season in 2021. They clinched the Calder Cup after a 3–2 Game 6 win against the Charlotte Checkers in the Calder Cup Finals. The last time the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a>’ AHL affiliate made it to the Calder Cup Finals was when the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/looking-back-on-the-2015-utica-comets-run-to-the-calder-cup-finals">Utica Comets</a> did so in 2015.&nbsp;

And playing against some of the best internationally - in addition to his playoff experience in both the AHL and NHL - has given Šilovs that "ice-in-the-veins" mentality that is a requirement for the NHL's best goaltenders. Part of the reason so many folks are excited about what prospect Sergei Murashov could do at the highest level is because of that exact thing. 

Well, Šilovs has it, too. He plays at his best when the stakes are highest, and no stage is too big for him. And that hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates and his coach.

"He's gained some really good experiences in his career so far, and he's obviously still a relatively young guy," Muse said. "I think those things, they seem to all kind of stack up. To have that run that he had last year, and then to have the playoffs before, and then you also look at some of the different experiences that he's had in international play... you look at it and see he's not that old. He's got all these things already, and you own those now. You own those experiences, and you carry them with you."

Like some of his teammates in Sidney Crosby (Canada), Erik Karlsson (Sweden), Rickard Rakell (Sweden), and Bryan Rust (USA), playing on, arguably, the biggest possible stage at the Olympics is a huge motivating factor for Šilovs this season, especially since - again - he has never had the chance to participate prior to 2026. 

And if his track record - and his play so far this season - is any indication, he should give Team Latvia a pretty good chance to remain competitive in every game during the tournament. And he is excited for the opportunity. 

“I’ve never been in an Olympics, so it’s just awesome to be a part of it," Šilovs said. "[It's my] first time for the Olympics to experience things, experience the way it is there, and see how the Olympics work. So, yeah, it's just very exciting.”

'It's Huge For Me': Olympics Big Motivating Factor For Penguins' Players This SeasonThe 2026 Olympic Games in Milano Cortina are a huge motivating factor for several Pittsburgh Penguins' players like Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust - as well as for the entirety of the NHL.

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The St. Louis Blues and the Buffalo Sabres each put a player on NHL waivers on Thursday.

The Blues waived Alexandre Texier, while the Sabres put Mason Geertsen on the wire, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Both players can be claimed in the next 24 hours. If no team puts in a claim, they’ll be sent down to their respective AHL clubs.

This is Texier’s second season in St. Louis. He’s made eight appearances this year, recording one assist while averaging a career-low 10:15 of ice time. Last season, he put up six goals and 11 points in 31 contests.

His best season came a year before that, in his last campaign with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played 78 games, recording 12 goals and 30 points and averaging 15:11 of ice time.

Friedman reported that Texier’s waiver assignment isn’t to terminate his contract, “but it’s possible we go down that route if (he’s) not claimed.”

This would be a similar situation to when center David Kampf and the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed to part ways, with his contract being terminated to pursue another NHL opportunity. He went on to sign with the Vancouver Canucks.

Texier hasn’t played in the AHL since his time with the Cleveland Monsters in 2018-19. He played seven matches and recorded a point per game.

The 26-year-old is in the final year of a two-year contract, earning $2.1 million against the salary cap.

Texier will represent Team France at the 2026 Olympics, as he was named to the team’s preliminary roster.

Geertsen, meanwhile, has 30 games of NHL experience.

The 30-year-old defenseman, who has played left wing before, has featured in five games for the Sabres, getting his first taste of NHL action since the 2021-22 season when he played 25 games for the New Jersey Devils.

The frequent fighter hasn’t recorded an NHL point in his career, with a minus-seven rating and 89 penalty minutes.

In the off-season, Geersten signed a two-year contract with Buffalo at $775,000 of average annual value.

Ahead of this season, he spent three straight seasons in the AHL, featuring for the Utica Comets and the Henderson Silver Knights. In that span, he made 150 AHL appearances, registering 10 goals and 19 points.

During this year's Hockey Fights Cancer month, the Sabres shared the story of Geertsen's cancer diagnosis in 2024.

After suffering an injury in a warmup, he went for an MRI on Nov. 27, 2023, when the doctor thought Geertsen could have lymphoma, which can weaken bones. He was eventually sent to a cancer center in California after the season for an extensive biopsy, after which he was diagnosed with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Treatment began in August 2024 and concluded in mid-September, allowing him to make it to the start of camp two days later. He is in remission, and he and his wife, Clarity, launched the Geertsen Opportunity Foundation to help make hockey more accessible and inclusive for youth across Canada and the United States.

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Aside from the Colorado Avalanche leading the NHL power rankings and a few bottom dwellers, are we really sure where each team stands a month-and-a-half into the season?

There are more than 20 teams (!) within four points of each other and 27 teams with a points percentage of .500 or better.

Keep in mind American Thanksgiving is this time next week, which means those outside the playoff picture better get into a groove soon and start banking points. 

Check out these select stats as of Wednesday morning at the quarter mark of the 2025-26 season per NHL Public Relations:

• 76 games have been tied after 55 minutes of action, the second-most ever at the quarter mark
• 90 games have required overtime, the most at the quarter mark
• 81 percent of the games have been considered "close games," meaning they were decided by a one-goal margin or a two-goal margin with an empty-netter, the highest rate in history
• 43 percent of the games have featured comeback wins, a top-three rate in history

Just an insane amount of parity. Let's dive into this week's NHL power rankings.

1. Colorado Avalanche (13-1-5, +31. PR: 1)

The Avs are on pace for 133 points, which would be the second-highest total in the cap era behind the 2022-23 Bruins, which finished with 135. I looked at the power rankings for that season, and since Oct. 26, the Bruins never ranked lower than third. I think this Avs team is better, which is a pretty scary thought.

2. Dallas Stars (12-5-3, +9. PR: 6)

The Stars are 6-2-1 so far this month and, in one week, turned a minus-1 goal differential into the seventh-best in the league. One storyline that’s not getting enough attention is Jason Robertson’s staggering offensive output that’s reminiscent of his 2022-23 season, where he finished fourth in Hart voting.

3. Winnipeg Jets (12-7-0, +12. PR: 5)

After losing three straight in California – more a testament to how much they’ve improved, honestly – the Jets went 3-1-0 and remain incredibly consistent. Their three-game losing streak is the longest they’ve had since March of last season, playoffs included. 

4. Carolina Hurricanes (13-5-2, +15. PR: 2)

They Hurricanes were absolutely robbed by Jesper Wallstedt on Wednesday night, but the cracks were showing a little bit with a loss to the Oilers just 19 seconds into overtime and then narrowly beating the Canucks in a comeback overtime win.

Five NHL Squads Most Likely To Hoist The Stanley CupThe five NHL teams with the shortest Stanley Cup odds are perennial contenders, and there's plenty of reason to believe one of them can get the job done this year.

5. Anaheim Ducks (13-6-1, +11. PR: 3)

A bit of a hiccup with a three-game losing streak, and if it were last season or the season before, it would’ve snowballed into something worse. Instead, they gutted out two comeback wins against the Mammoth and Bruins. These Ducks are built different. 

6. Los Angeles Kings (10-6-4, -1. PR: 7)

Pretty impressive stretch in their road trip so far, going 4-1-0 with some really close wins thanks to solid goaltending. When the Kings defend like they do – even without Drew Doughty – and get goaltending like that, they’re hard to beat. But, please, can someone tell Jim Hiller to play Brandt Clarke on the power play?! 

7. Tampa Bay Lightning (10-7-2, +3. PR: 10)

They keep rolling even without several key players, and they’re now 9-3-0 since starting 1-4-2. It’s a slight concern for the Lightning and Team Canada, but Brayden Point has three goals and a minus-10 rating through 19 games.

8. Chicago Blackhawks (10-5-4, +15. PR: 14)

This is the best stretch of hockey the Hawks have played in seemingly eons, going 5-0-1 with some dominant performances from Connor Bedard. OK, NHL, now you can put them back in the Winter Classic again because they’re fun to watch.

9. New Jersey Devils (13-5-1, +5. PR: 4)

Yes, the Devils have 13 wins, but it was a lucky Groundhog Day of sorts. Consider these performances over the past two weeks: needed a late-game goal from Timo Meier against the Habs to force overtime, blew a 1-0 lead against the Pens but won in a shootout, needed a late-game goal (and all-time performance) from Simon Nemec against the Hawks to force overtime, blew a 2-0 lead against the Caps but won in a shootout. And they capped all that off with a 5-1 loss to the Lightning and devastating news that Jack Hughes would miss up to eight weeks due to a freak accident where he cut his finger on glass. Wild scenes. 

10. Pittsburgh Penguins (10-5-4, +12. PR: 9)

Not a lot to work off of with only two games played over the past week, but they nearly swept the Global Series and again keep defying the odds. Worth noting the Pens are tied-second in regulation wins with 10, trailing only the Avs. 

11. Detroit Red Wings (12-7-1, even. PR: 15)

Is there another goalie who makes everyone look stupid after getting written off every season more than Cam Talbot? The veteran Wings netminder keeps getting cast aside, but you’re telling me the Oilers or Flyers couldn’t use this guy? He’s tied-fourth in wins and tied-11th in GAA among goalies with at least 10 appearances.

12. San Jose Sharks (9-8-3, -6. PR: 18)

Other than the Avs, name a more entertaining team right now. The Sharks are 9-4-1 after another horrific start, but the mindset has completely shifted from “let’s not lose by too much” to “we can definitely win this game.” Bedard-versus-Celebrini outdoor game, who says no? By the way, the Sharks and Hawks don’t face each other until Feb. 2, which is way too late, but they do play each other twice in the last week of the regular season, including the Hawks’ season finale. 

13. Minnesota Wild (10-7-4, -4. PR: 22)

The “Wall of St. Paul” has taken over the crease, and Jesper Wallstedt stole a win from the Canes on Wednesday to give the Wild their seventh win in nine games. They’re 7-1-1 so far in November. 

14. Montreal Canadiens (10-6-3, -3. PR: 8)

Growing pains or simply coming back down to earth? The Habs suddenly cannot score, and they’re 2-3-3 with only one regulation win.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Injuries Could Send The Devils And Canadiens Into The Trade MarketThe New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens could be shopping around for help after notable players like Jack Hughes, Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach were sidelined by injuries.

15. Ottawa Senators (9-6-4, -1. PR: 17)

The Sens are 3-1-3 so far in November, but it’s been a rollercoaster ride. It’s somewhat concerning how many leads they’ve blown, or even nearly blown, during that time. The good news is Brady Tkachuk seems ready to return soon. 

16. Boston Bruins (12-10-0, -1. PR: 16)

The Bruins might be the streakiest team in the league. After winning seven straight, they’ve lost three of their past four and lost Charlie McAvoy indefinitely after he took a puck to the face. I’m not sure how they manage to rank 10th in goals-for per game with only two scoring threats right now in David Pastrnak and *checks notes* Morgan Geekie. 

17. New York Islanders (11-7-2, even. PR: 23)

The Isles are 5-1-0, but three were overtime wins, and it was a truly bizarre finish in Dallas where a game-tying goal by the Stars with 0.1 seconds remaining was called back because no one knows what goalie interference really is. Still, it’s a good result as they conclude their seven-game roadie. 

18. Vegas Golden Knights (9-4-6, +5. PR: 11)

The Knights are at times brilliant and at times perplexingly bad, especially when it comes to taking care of the puck, which is frustrating considering their talent. They’re 4-4-2 since their four-game winning streak, with sweeps by the Panthers and Lightning, two teams they just can’t seem to beat in the regular season.

19. Florida Panthers (10-8-1, -1. PR: 20)

After starting the season 3-0-0, the Panthers have won consecutive games just once. A bit of a tough team to figure out sometimes because they won when they got outshot against the Knights and Caps, and also won when they allowed five goals on 15 shots against the Canucks. 

20. Washington Capitals (10-8-2, +7. PR: 19)

Caps coach Spencer Carbery might’ve found some combos that work with a 3-1-1 record after losing Pierre-Luc Dubois. Given the goaltending landscape, Logan Thompson is further cementing his spot on Team Canada, including head-to-head wins against two other hopefuls in Darcy Kuemper and Stuart Skinner.

21. Utah Mammoth (10-7-3, +1. PR: 12)

I had a feeling this would happen because the Mammoth are such a young team that can be really streaky. They’ve lost three straight in overtime – a bit of bad luck there – to bring their record to 2-5-3 since their seven-game winning streak.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (9-6-3, even. PR: 13)

The Flyers still somehow have a winning record even though they haven’t been particularly good or consistent. For such a low-event team, though – few shots, fewer goals – they’ve been pretty entertaining to watch at times.

23. Seattle Kraken (9-5-5, -3. PR: 27)

Yes, they look like a pretty decent team, but no, I’m not buying their stock. The Kraken should hang around the playoff race all season, alternating wins and losses, but this team still hasn’t taken that extra step. They had a head start against the likes of the Ducks, Sharks and Blackhawks with favorable expansion rules, but they’ve clearly fallen behind.

24. New York Rangers (10-9-2, +1. PR: 24)

I’m convinced the true engine of this team is Vincent Trocheck, who’s been excellent since returning. A 6-3 win on home ice brought hope the Rangers could score again, but they got outshot 42-19 and scored only one goal against the Wings in their next home game.

Canucks Chose Wisely In Pushing Miller — Not Pettersson — Out The Door Last SeasonAfter J.T. Miller looked like he gave up playing defense in a viral clip that led to a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, hockey fans from New York to Vancouver ripped into the Rangers captain, who is off to a horrendous start in the Big Apple.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs (9-9-2, -4. PR: 21)

Maybe Joseph Woll can turn this ship around, but it’s been a pretty ugly stretch for the Leafs so far. They say good goaltending can mask a lot of issues – it clearly did last season – but the number of injuries has also exposed a lack of quality depth. 

26. Columbus Blue Jackets (10-8-2, -3. PR: 26)

The Jackets are playing quite well but don’t really have the results to show for it, and they’ve had some bad bounces along the way. On the bright side, Adam Fantilli seems ready to be a full-time No. 1 center.

27. Edmonton Oilers (9-9-4, -15. PR: 25)

Some ugly stats for a team that’s playing really ugly right now. The Oilers are tied-last with only four (!) regulation wins. They have allowed the most goals in the league, even though they have the 11th-best PK and allow the sixth-fewest shots per game. Their .870 save percentage at 5-on-5 this season is the lowest in league history since naturalstattrick.com started keeping track in 2007-08, and virtually no team has been below .890.  

28. Vancouver Canucks (9-10-2, -10. PR: 28)

You can’t fault the Canucks for their effort, and they rely far too much on Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson to do everything. They’ve been horrible defensively, which is funny because Adam Foote in his prime would’ve never allowed this. 

29. Buffalo Sabres (7-9-4, -13. PR: 30)

The return of Rasmus Dahlin certainly gives the Sabres a boost, but they’re also still missing four players who could play in their top six and a top-four defenseman who could really round out their defense. For a team that allows a lot of shots and goals, trying to juggle a three-goalie rotation doesn’t make things any easier.

30. St. Louis Blues (6-9-5, -23. PR: 29)

Nobody in the world could’ve stopped that William Nylander winner in overtime, but the Blues continue to show very little consistency. The Blues nearly allowed the Flames to stage a comeback win, blew a two-goal lead twice against the Flyers and got thoroughly outplayed by the Knights. 

31. Calgary Flames (6-13-3, -18. PR: 32)

The good news is Matt Coronato’s found his groove, but Dustin Wolf still isn’t nearly as good as he was last season. If you’re going to be bad, at least be somewhat entertaining, and the Flames can’t even do that with the league’s worst offense in goals-for per game and power-play efficiency.

32. Nashville Predators (6-10-4, -21. PR: 31)

The only thing getting smashed in Smashville these days is themselves.

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Earlier this month, the Chicago Blackhawks went on a season-long six-game road trip. Part of their trip was a visit to Washington state to play the Seattle Kraken. 

In that match, the Kraken defeated the Blackhawks 3-1. It was one of Seattle's more impressive wins of the season, but not one the Hawks can't bounce back from in their own barn. 

The Kraken, like the Blackhawks, are enjoying one of those surprisingly good starts to the season. Many had them right there with the Blackhawks at the bottom of the league before the year began, but at 9-5-5, they are on the playoff bubble in the Western Conference. 

Connor Bedard & Oliver Moore

The Chicago Blackhawks have a superstar in Connor Bedard. He's developing into one of the best players in the NHL. With 29 points in 19 games played so far this season, there is potential for this to be a special breakout season. In his most recent game, Bedard scored his second hat trick of the year. 

There is also Oliver Moore, who scored a goal and had an assist of his own in the same game that Bedard had a hat trick. Having multiple players that can support Bedard is important, and Oliver Moore is among the most talented of them. 

Connor Bedard’s Skating, Leadership, & Production Make Him One Of NHL’s Brightest Young StarsThe Chicago Blackhawks are developing a special player as Connor Bedard is turning into a superstar. Oliver Moore's Recent Production Makes Blackhawks Even More DangerousThe Chicago Blackhawks have been a dangerous team so far this season. Oliver Moore is making the team even deeper offensively.

Scouting Seattle 

The Kraken don't have one superstar that carries them daily, but there are a lot of very good players on their roster that can make a difference on any given night. 

A lot of their success hinges on Joey Daccord, who has been a solid goaltender again for them so far this season. The Blackhawks will either face him or Philipp Grubauer, who has had some success in the NHL as well. 

Marchment-Beniers-Eberle

Schwartz-Stephenson-Winterton

Tolvanen-Catton-Wright

Kartye-Gaudreau-Nyman

Dunn-Larsson

Lindgren-Montour

Evans-Oleksiak

If Berkly Catton, one of Seattle's top prospects, can live up to his draft status on a nightly basis, they are pretty deep down the middle with him, Matty Beniers, and Chandler Stephenson. On the back end, their defense is led by Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson, who are two good players to anchor the top pair. 

Projected Blackhawks Lines, Defense Pairs, and Starting Goalie

During the morning skate on Thursday, Tyler Bertuzzi, Jason Dickinson, and Connor Murphy were all out there. Bertuzzi, who has missed the last couple of games, is going to play against the Kraken. Murphy will be in as well. 

Jason Dickinson, who has confirmed he won't return to the lineup until he feels 100 percent, will take another game away. Also, Landon Slaggert skated as an extra forward, making it another 11/7 game for Chicago. 

Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky

Bertuzzi-Nazar-Moore

Teravainen-Donato-Mikheyev

Dach-Lafferty

Vlasic-Crevier

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Rinzel

Knight

Spencer Knight is going to get the start for the Chicago Blackhawks. This is the first half of a back-to-back situation, the first such situation for them in 2025-26. It is fair to assume that Arvid Soderblom will go against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, and then back to Spencer Knight on Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche. 

How To Watch

The game can be seen on CHSN and heard on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. Fans outside of Chicago interested in catching the game can find it on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7 PM CT. 

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

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.

If you've been following the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins site and team news cycles in general, there is a lot of chatter about what the immediate future holds for 19-year-old rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke. 

The young, CHL-eligible blueliner has played in only nine of 19 games with the NHL club this season - one more game would trigger his entry-level contract - and he has been a healthy scratch for five consecutive games, which means he is now eligible for an AHL conditioning loan. 

With Brunicke not having seen NHL game action since Nov. 3 - and it becoming apparent that the team is a bit hesitant both to trigger his entry-level contract and to send him back to junior hockey - he has been caught a bit in the middle, which has not been an easy thing for the teenage defenseman, who has never sat this long consecutively while healthy at any level of hockey.

"I want to play. That's, kind of, the thing," Brunicke said. "Right now, it's obviously tough watching all the time, but like I said, it's my job just to show up and do the best I can, and my time will come. They have a plan for me."

And after this week's episode of The GM Show with Josh Getzoff, it seems Kyle Dubas and company are well-aware of the options available to Brunicke and are prepared to exercise whatever option is best for both him and the Penguins. 

"I think our view with Harrison - we've had continual direct conversation with him, his agent Darren Hermiston, they've been great - we always want him to know what the plan is and where we're going with it. I think this week here, we want to continue to have him work with the coaching staff, development staff, just with the lack of number of games."

GMKD offers Major Harrison Brunicke updates
- He will remain in Pittsburgh this weekend
- World Juniors could be in play
- 14 day AHL conditioning stint could be in the cards
- What's best for HB45 is best for the Penguins
📺 @SNPittsburgh
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Dubas did speak with Getzoff specifically on the possbility of exercising the AHL conditioning loan, which is five games or 14 days-maximum - whichever comes first - and must be approved by the league. It appears to be something they're weighing heavily - but they also want to time it right.

"If you get approved to do the conditioning stint, I don't think you want to burn through unnecessary days," Dubas said. "In his case as well, part of our thinking is we want to see if we go down that path and use the conditioning stint with Wilkes-Barre - we'll make that decision probably after this weekend - we also want to have it in a spot where, if we are going to potentially look at the World Juniors, if he's going to be someone that Team Canada would want on their team, we don't want him to go and then have another number of weeks off and not be in a good position for that."

Brunicke impressed Penguins' brass - as well as teammates and fans - with his training camp as an 18-year-old in 2024, which almost earned him an NHL roster spot right out of his draft year, similar to Ben Kindel's situation this season. He followed up last year's training camp with yet another impressive showing this time around, and he did earn himself a spot on the opening night roster. 

Penguins Notebook: Injured Players Skate, Vibes High To Close Out PracticeAfter an optional practice Tuesday, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> took to the ice Wednesday for a longer session that included everyone.

Since then, the 44th overall pick in 2024 has displayed that he needs a bit more seasoning in his own zone and around the net-front, but he has also shown enough positive otherwise for the Penguins to keep him around and remain hesitant about sending him back to the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers for the rest of the season. 

While the conditioning stint - and, simply, more NHL experience - could certainly bode well for Brunicke, Dubas and the Penguins are also mindful of what the team needs at this juncture. With the Penguins in the playoff picture and playing pretty well in general, a balance needs to be struck between Brunicke's development and the necessity of winning hockey games.

Penguins' Rookie Defenseman Eligible For AHL StintIt has been exactly two weeks since <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke dressed for a game day.&nbsp;

And they're always going to keep both things in mind when trying to determine next steps for him.

"[We're] always doing what's best for the Penguins as our guide, but we also have to be mindful of what's best for Harrison and whatever he's going to embark upon," Dubas said. "And so, there's a number of different factors in play in the short run here this week and going through this weekend. He'll remain in Pittsburgh and continue to do very diligent work with our performance and development staff.

"And then - I would say after this weekend - we'll sit and see where we feel things are at relative to playing here, conditioning in Wilkes-Barre, and all of the other options that are available to him over the next month, month and a half."

Opinion: Despite Struggles, Brunicke Should Remain With PenguinsThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> made a flurry of moves Tuesday, sending young blueliner Owen Pickering back to the AHL, placing three others on injured reserve, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-call-up-3-players-announce-several-roster-moves">and recalling two veterans and top goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov from the AHL</a>.

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Gabe Perreault still has some aspects of his game he needs to refine before being fully ready to take on the trials and tribulations of the NHL. 

There was a lot of hope and excitement when the New York Rangers called up Perreault. 

However, after playing just three games for the Blueshirts, it was clear that the pace of the NHL game was too advanced for the 20-year-old forward, and he wasn’t as prepared to take on a full-time role with the Rangers as we may have originally anticipated.

Mike Sullivan and the coaching staff envisioned Perreault playing a top-six role, providing the Rangers with a much-needed offensive spark. 

While he played on a line with Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller at times, Sullivan constantly moved him down to the team’s third line down the stretch during his three-game stint.

“We've seen some really good things he's done. Obviously he's got real good offensive instincts, sees the play really well,” Sullivan said of Perreault. “He thinks the game on a high level. I think where his opportunity for growth and improvement is really just strength on the puck and a little bit of quickness. And I think they go hand in hand. 

“As a young player, it's just physical maturity. The speed of the game and the size and the strength of the players at this level is second to none. For most young players, that's one of the challenges in making the jump to being an impact player at this level.”

How can Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny get the most out of Perreault and better prepare him for the NHL?

Brett Berard Grows Mentally Stronger Through Difficult Stretch To Start The Season in AHLDuring the 2024-25 season, Brett Berard was one of the most talked-about prospects in the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a>’ pipeline.&nbsp;

Potulny has been happy with Perreault’s level of play in the AHL and feels that he’ll continue to grow through game repetition at the professional hockey level. 

“Gabe has been really good here,” Potulny said. “His first two-three-four games, he was kind of getting settled in the league, and  then he over the next three or four games, I think he had like eight points... I think he gets his stick on a lot of pucks that you wouldn't think he'd be able to. I think just playing against men over and over and over, it's gonna improve.”

In 10 games with the Wolf Pack this season, Perreault has recorded five goals, five assists, and 10 points. 

Perreault played on the Wolf Pack’s first line alongside Jaroslav Chmelař and Justin Dowling upon officially returning to the Wolf Pack lineup on Tuesday, while also serving a role on the first power-play unit.

Thursday's slate of NHL action is chalk full of marquee matchups across the league with 12 games for fans to enjoy. One of the most intriguing games on the board is the league's most valuable franchise in the Toronto Maple Leafs, looking to bounce back after losses in five of their last eight games when facing off against a team that normally gives them trouble in the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

For anyone following our Pad Stack challenge, the mission has not changed. We began with a ten dollar bankroll and continue to grow it through calculated, research-driven plays. 

Our previous run ended on Monday at a season-high total of $411.47 before a last-minute empty-netter from the Florida Panthers spoiled our Vancouver spread. We are now rebuilding after resetting to $54.25, boosted by the Washington Capitals offensive outburst against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. Our aim is to keep climbing with a confident selection from Thursday's Leafs-Jackets clash. 

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

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

Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, Avalanche's Cale Makar Already Near-Locks in NHL Award RacesAn 18-year-old phenom and a Norris contender are dominating early NHL award races, setting impressive records and dazzling fans.

Picks: Leafs ML, Over 5.5 Goals, Kirill Marchenko Over 0.5 Points (+350)

The last time these teams met, the Blue Jackets overwhelmed a struggling Maple Leafs defense by scoring six times in a 6–3 victory. Toronto has shown some signs of improvement on the defensive side, highlighted by its 3–2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, but the issues are still very much present. The Leafs rank second-worst in the league in goals allowed per game at 3.70, a weakness that has been masked only by their strong offense, which averages 3.50 goals per game and sits among the NHL’s top four.

Toronto’s games have consistently turned into high-scoring matchups, and Thursday’s game is expected to follow the same pattern. Columbus has won six of its last nine meetings with Toronto, with many of those contests producing plenty of goals. The teams have combined for six or more goals in ten of their past thirteen games, and Toronto’s defensive troubles suggest that this trend will continue.

The Blue Jackets have also found some momentum, winning three of their last five games, which should give them confidence heading into this matchup. Even so, this is a spot where Toronto is positioned to rebound at home. A win here would help them reverse both their recent record against Columbus and their overall trend of losing five of their last six games.

Toronto will likely still concede a few goals, and one of the biggest threats is Columbus forward Kirill Marchenko. The 25-year-old winger leads the team with eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 20 games. He has also performed well against the Leafs recently, earning points in three of their last four meetings for a total of one goal and three assists.

Combining a Blue Jackets player to record a point with a Leafs win creates a strong same-game parlay opportunity. A wager of $54.25 on this parlay would return a profit of $189.88 for a total payout of $244.13, giving us a nice boost heading into the weekend.

Are The Detroit Red Wings For Real?Detroit's surprising start defies middling stats. Can a youth-fueled surge finally end the playoff drought?

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The Detroit Red Wings head into Thursday’s matchup versus the New York Islanders with momentum after a milestone filled win over Seattle, highlighted by Dylan Larkin’s 600th point and Nate Danielson’s first NHL goal. Detroit has won three of its last four and will rely on Danielson’s growing confidence, subtle lineup shifts from coach Todd McLellan, and the red hot play of Lucas Raymond, who enters with four straight multi-point games and a five-game scoring streak.

Red Wings Ride Hot Streak Into Clash With Schaefer, Red-Hot IslandersLarkin milestone-bound, Danielson arrives. Can Detroit's hot streak survive a red-hot Islanders squad and rookie sensation Schaefer?

The Islanders arrive just as hot with five wins in their last six, powered by emerging rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who leads New York in minutes and contributes heavily in all situations. Detroit contained Schaefer in their first meeting, but the Islanders still broke through for seven goals with big contributions from Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman.

New York will likely turn to Matt Barzal as an offensive spark given his strong history against Detroit, while Horvat looks to rebound from inconsistent matchups with the Red Wings. Detroit’s top line of Raymond and Larkin has typically produced well against the Islanders and will be counted on again to drive the offense. With both teams trending upward and several young talents taking center stage, the matchup sets up as a competitive test for Detroit as they aim to avenge their earlier season loss.

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Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs. New York (Thursday):

DeBrincat – Larkin – Raymond

Kasper – Compher – Kane

Finnie – Danielson – Appleton

Rasmussen – Copp – van Riemsdyk

Edvinsson – Seider

Chiarot – Sandin-Pellikka

Johansson – Hamonic

Gibson

"Feeling More Comfortable": Nate Danielson Thrilled After First Career Goal Detroit Red Wings rookie forward Nate Danieson picked up the first goal of his NHL career during Tuesday evening's tilt against the Seattle Kraken.

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The headlines don't look great.

Neither do the highlights. Or, rather, the low-lights.

After J.T. Miller looked like he gave up playing defense in a viral clip that led to a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, hockey fans from New York to Vancouver ripped into the Rangers captain, who is off to a horrendous start in the Big Apple.

"New York Rangers Regret Making Former Vancouver Canucks Star JT Miller Captain After What's Happened," wrote Canucks Daily.

"J.T. Miller Is Dragging The Rangers Down And Everyone Sees It," wrote Blue Line Station.

"9 Vancouver Canucks Players Are Outscoring J.T. Miller Right Now," wrote Daily Hive Vancouver.

Even Miller agrees he's been a mess so far this season.

"At some point you look in the mirror," he told reporters after the Rangers lost 3-2 to the Golden Knights. "Speaking on behalf of myself, I certainly expect a hell of a lot more production than what I have."

Rangers' Penalty-Kill Struggles And J.T. Miller's Harsh Criticism Of Himself Headline Loss To Golden Knights The New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> started their three-game road trip on a sour note, losing 3-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

It's been less than a year since Miller was traded to the Rangers. But the verdict is in: the Canucks appear to have made the right decision in pushing Miller — not Elias Pettersson — out the door in the midst of last year's drama-filled season.

Since the trade, which saw Miller traded to the Rangers on Jan. 31 in exchange for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a first-round pick, both teams have obviously struggled. Neither made the playoffs last year. And with the NHL at the quarter mark of this season, neither is currently in a playoff spot.

That being said, Miller has struggled far more than Pettersson has.

After 21 games, Miller has four goals and is sixth on the Rangers in scoring with 10 points. It is his worst per-game production since 2014-15. Pettersson, who had the second-worst season of his career last year, meanwhile has rebounded with six goals and 19 points in 21 games. Only Quinn Hughes has produced more.

"I’ve never really gauged my game on points," Miller told reporters. "Typically, when I bring my game, the points come. That being said, this year, it seems like nothing’s really going in the net… So it’s making me frustrated. It’s hard to control that."

It's not just Miller who is feeling frustrated.

The Rangers brought in the 35-year-old veteran last year to help turn around a season that went off the rails. This year, they went one step further and named him captain in hopes of changing their losing culture. Miller even created T-shirts that said "No BS."

But as many have pointed out, in the game against Vegas it was Miller who brought  "The Most BS Effort Ever Shown On A Hockey Rink."

For Canucks fans, this has to be a relief. After all, the debate last season was over whether the team should part ways with Miller or Pettersson. At the time, you could have made the argument that both needed to be gone. But in choosing Miller over Pettersson, the Canucks may have dodged a bullet.

As many have pointed out, it's not just Pettersson who looks like a different player now that Miller is not around.

Looking At How These 5 New Canucks Have Performed In The First Quarter Of 2025–26Here's how these 5 new Canucks have performed so far throughout 2025-26.

Kiefer Sherwood, who had 19 goals last season, has exploded out of the gates with 12 goals in 21 games.  Brock Boeser, who had 25 goals last season, already has 8 goals in 19 games. And Conor Garland is on pace for a career-best 62 points.

Sure, the Canucks (9-10-2) have slightly worse record than the Rangers (10-9-2). But except for the weekly — if not daily — trade speculation surrounding Hughes, it's been mostly drama-free in Vancouver.

That's a lot more than what the Rangers can say.

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DENVER — Tristen Nielsen has been recalled by the Colorado Avalanche ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the New York Rangers, the team announced. 

Nielsen was previously called up ahead of the November 4 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which the Avalanche won 3-2, marking his NHL debut. He skated eight shifts and logged 5 minutes and 25 seconds of ice time.

The 25‑year‑old forward has appeared in 16 games this season with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, recording nine goals and five assists for 14 points.

Why Nielsen Was Recalled

The recall comes as the Avalanche continue to manage a lower-body injury sustained by Valeri Nichushkin. He left the ice during the third period of Colorado’s 8-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on November 11 after blocking a shot. Head coach Jared Bednar later confirmed that Nichushkin would be sidelined on a week-to-week basis. While the injury is not considered severe, it is significant enough to keep him out of action. Nichushkin resumed skating on Wednesday in a non-contact sweater.

With Gavin Brindley moving up to the second line to fill Nichushkin’s role and Logan O’Connor not yet ready to return, the Avalanche are likely to continue cycling players from the AHL for the foreseeable future.

The most recent AHL call-up was Taylor Makar, younger brother of Cale Makar, who has appeared in three NHL games this season and has made a notably strong impression.

A native of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Nielsen played a key role in the Abbotsford Canucks’ 2025 Calder Cup championship. During the 2024-25 season, he recorded 28 points in 67 regular-season games and added nine points across 24 playoff contests, both career highs for postseason production. His five playoff goals ranked tied for fifth on the Abbotsford roster.

The 5-foot-10, 192-pound forward has steadily built his professional resume since turning pro prior to the 2021-22 season. He spent four seasons with Abbotsford before joining the Avalanche organization, compiling 122 points (55 goals, 67 assists) in 238 AHL regular-season games and contributing 17 points in 36 Calder Cup playoff appearances. Nielsen signed an entry-level contract with Vancouver in 2023 after posting a career-high 41 points in 64 AHL games the previous season and has reached double-digit goals in each of his last four campaigns.

Before turning professional, Nielsen spent six seasons in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen and Vancouver Giants, tallying 175 points in 241 games. He served as an alternate captain for Vancouver in 2020-21 and finished tied for eighth in league scoring during the COVID-shortened season. Nielsen also appeared in 26 WHL playoff games and skated alongside current Avalanche goaltender Trent Miner from 2018 to 2021.

The Game

The Avalanche (13-1-5) take on the New York Rangers (10-9-2) Thursday evening at Ball Arena to conclude a four-game homestand. Coverage kicks off at 7 p.m. local time. 

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Jake Neighbours is back.

The St. Louis Blues forward was activated off injured-reserve on Thursday and is expected to make his return to the lineup against the Philadelphia Flyers (6 p.m.; FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM). To make room for the 23-year-old, the Blues non-rostered forward Alexandre Texier and placed the 24-year-old on waivers.

This could turn out to be another Brandon Saad situation, according to section 16.12 of the NHL's collective bargaining agreement found on page 124, where the team puts Texier on waivers at 1 p.m. (CT) Thursday, and the player could can -- if unclaimed -- go to Springfield of the American Hockey League or in Saad's case, ask for mutual termination of contract in order to become a free agent and sign wherever he chooses. That's what happened with Saad last season and be signed with the Vegas Golden Knights. Texier is in the final year of a two-year, $4.2 million ($2.1 million average annual value) contract he signed after the Blues acquired him from the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 28, 2024 for a 2025 fourth-round pick. 

Of course, depending on what happens, Texier could report (he will still be paid his full remaining $2.1 million) but first step is being put on waivers, which would be expected.

Neighbours, who is tied for the team lead in goals (six) in just eight games, has missed 12 games with a right leg injury stemming from a blocked shot Oct. 18 against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Blues can use the boost in the top nine, for sure, perhaps as high as top six, from a player who was off to a rock solid start to his season with seven points in eight games.

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On Thursday, the Detroit Red Wings return to action after a thrilling win on Tuesday over the Seattle Kraken that saw several major milestones like captain Dylan Larkin recording his 600th point while rookie Nate Danielson potted his first career goal. Detroit looks to continue their recent hot streak with three wins in their last four games when hosting rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer and the New York Islanders. 

It'll be the 132nd all-time matchup between these two teams and should be a good one as the Islanders have also been red hot with five wins in their last six games with their only loss coming against the top seed in the league in the Colorado Avalanche. It should be an interesting test for Detroit to take on this new look team and how they'll handle a new face taking over the hockey world like Schaefer.

Hockey Fights Cancer Night 💜

🏒 7:00 P.M.
📺 @FanDuelSN_DET
📻 @971theticketxyt
🎟️ https://t.co/zBxXvMUnbO
🤝 @comericabankpic.twitter.com/uEVzfD59wV

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 20, 2025

Lineup Storylines

Red Wings top prospect Nate Danielson finally arrived on Tuesday with his first career goal, a second goal on a highlight reel play but was called off due to former Griffins linemate Emmitt Finnie being caught offside before the former Grand Rapids duo brought their talents to the NHL stage and combined on a game-winning goal for the Red Wings. It was fantastic for any Detroit fan to see Danielson finally look comfortable and confident as many who have seen him play know that once he gets confident and moving the way he'd like to, that's when he truly unlocks his high-end potential. 

Line Combinations: Red Wings vs. IslandersLarkin, Raymond, and Danielson look to ignite Detroit's offense against a surging Islanders squad featuring rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer.

From plays where he deked through entire teams or snipes with his lethal shot, Danielson is now a player to look out for and will be tested against a tough Islanders team that is red hot with their defense even hotter. New York has a 2.17 goals against average during their recent six-game hot streak with their last matchup versus Detroit going well with just two goals allowed.

The lines are expected to experience a subtle shift once again as Red Wings bench boss Todd McLellan is going to look for the Griffins connection once again. McLellan will look to move Finnie down to the third line to play with Danielson while veteran winger Mason Appleton takes the other wing. Marco Kasper will get to play with Patrick Kane once again on the second line with J.T. Compher centering. 

For New York, you can always count on Islanders bench boss Patrick Roy to smash the Schaefer button. If you have not seen a New York game this season and are curious to see what Schaefer can do, you will get ample oppurtunity on Thursday. The 18-year-old Hamilton, Ontario native has the most minutes on the Islanders by a significant margin, playing on the top defense pairing, power play and penalty kill. From the blue line, he’s generated more shot attempts than anyone on the roster and has shown impressive quickness, ranking second on the team in takeaways while also clogging lanes with the fifth-most blocks.

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

Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, Avalanche's Cale Makar Already Near-Locks in NHL Award RacesAn 18-year-old phenom and a Norris contender are dominating early NHL award races, setting impressive records and dazzling fans.

He’ll be a key player for the Red Wings to track on Thursday, especially since they’ve only faced him once this season and were able to hold him off the scoresheet. In that meeting, Detroit couldn't handle the rest of the Islanders offense, surrendering seven goals in a 7–2 loss. Early season breakout for New York in Emil Heineman scored twice and has carried that momentum forward, entering Thursday with 14 points in 20 games. The former Montreal forward has thrived alongside the red-hot Bo Horvat, who continues to pace the Islanders with a team-leading 24 points in 20 games.

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (-133) | NYI ML (+110)

DET -1.5 (+180) | NYI +1.5 (-222)

O/U 6.0 Goals

Detroit's Lucas Raymond has been white hot with four straight multi-point games and riding a five-game point streak. He's totaled two goals and eight assists for ten points over the five games and has made the Red Wings top line lethal once again.

New York's win over Detroit earlier this season snapped a four-game winning streak in the matchup and could mean we will likely see a bounce back game for the home team on Thursday. Raymond should lead the way although he doesn't have the greatest history in this matchup. 

The Swedish winger has points in just four of his last seven games versus the Islanders, tallying three goals and two assists for five points. He'll look to keep his hot streak alive and score for the third straight game as well as the third time in his last four matchups versus New York. Top line center Dylan Larkin should be able to help get Raymond on the board once again as this is a matchup he normally excels in. The Michigan native has points in five of his last six games versus the Islanders, recording four goals and two assists for six points. 

To combat the Red Wings top line, we would expect New York's answer to be Horvat as their top line center, however the 30-year-old London, Ontario native has struggled in this matchup. He did get a pair of assists in their last matchup earlier this season but prior to that, Horvat had gone five straight games versus Detroit without recording a point.

Thursday, they may need more secondary options and that very well could come from the second line in Matt Barzal. The high-flying center has produced decent numbers this season like 15 points in 19 games but when playing against the Motor City hockey club, he finds ways to get the puck in the net. Barzal has four goals and 21 assists over his last 25 games versus the Red Wings, including eight multi-point performances and one five-assist game back in 2018.

Goalie Matchup

Detroit: John Gibson (Season: 4-5-1 record, 3.32 GAA, .875 SV% | VS NYI: 4-4-1 record, 3.31 GAA, .899 SV% in 10 games)

New York: Ilya Sorokin (Season: 6-5-2 record, 2.92 GAA, .898 SV% | VS DET: 4-4-2 record, 2.47 GAA, .911 SV% in 11 games)

Two Former Michigan Teammates Hit Major NHL Milestones On The Same NightWolverines reunited: Larkin and Werenski hit monumental NHL point milestones on the same electrifying night, echoing their Michigan glory.

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The Ottawa Senators (9-6-4) return to action Thursday night in Anaheim, kicking off one of the longest and most demanding stretches of their season. After four full days between games, the Senators will now begin a seven-game, 13-day road trip that spans California, Nevada, Missouri, Texas, and Quebec before they finally return home in early December.

Ottawa hasn’t played since Saturday, giving them a chance to rest up before their travelling road show opens at Honda Centre on Thursday. 

The Road Ahead: 7 Games in 13 Days

Nov. 20 – at Anaheim Ducks – 10:00 p.m.
Nov. 22 – at San Jose Sharks – 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 24 – at Los Angeles Kings – 9:00 p.m.
Nov. 26 – at Vegas Golden Knights – 10:00 p.m.
Nov. 28 – at St. Louis Blues – 4:00 p.m.
Nov. 30 – at Dallas Stars – 6:00 p.m.
Dec. 2 – at Montreal Canadiens – 7:00 p.m.

Through three time zones and faceoff times all over the map, they finally return home on Dec. 4 to face the New York Rangers. The Senators will be fine if they can pull at least 7 points out of this trip. Anything less could be damaging in the very tight Atlantic Division.

As reported by Senators' host Jackson Starr, here’s how Ottawa lined up at practice on Wednesday:

Forwards

Perron – Stützle – Batherson
Greig – Cozens – Zetterlund
Amadio – Pinto – Giroux
Cousins – Halliday – Hodgson

Defence

Sanderson – Zub
Kleven – Spence
Matinpalo – Jensen

Goalies

Ullmark
Meriläinen

Senators in the Halliday Spirit

When the Senators called up Stephen Halliday on Tuesday, it looked like he might just be along to be a spare in case of injury. But it turns out that Lars Eller isn't fully healthy and isn't expected to play on Thursday, so that might open the door for Halliday, Belleville's leading scorer, to make his NHL debut. He took Eller's usual spot on the fourth line on Wednesday.

Sens Give Thanks For Probable Tkachuk Return Next Week

On this week’s Wingmen podcast, captain Brady Tkachuk shed more light on his recovery from last month’s thumb surgery. The Senators' captain revealed he hopes to rejoin the lineup about a week into the road trip and says he's targeting "hopefully, around Thanksgiving." Either way, the Sens will be in St. Louis for Thanksgiving Day, so Tkachuk will get to enjoy some holiday family time in the city he grew up in.

That would fall between the Vegas and St. Louis stops, and the captain's return would be a significant boost to a lineup that's hung in nicely without him.

What's Up, Ducks?

While the Senators were resting this week, the Ducks were busy doing them a favour on Wednesday night. Lukas Dostal made 36 saves for the Ducks (13-6-1) in a 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins.

Anaheim has now won six straight at home, and enters Thursday’s matchup surging under new head coach Joel Quenneville, who guided the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups and has also stepped into an ideal situation with a Ducks team that was ready to take flight. They've spent years collecting elite young talent during their rebuild, and now they lead the Pacific Division.

The Ducks' top six is particularly ridiculous with a pair of budding young Swedish superstars in Leo Carlsson, 20, and Cutter Gauthier, 21, leading the way. The duo has combined for 23 goals and 50 points in the first 20 games. Then you have Carp's Mason MacTavish, rejuvenated bull-in-a-china-shop Chris Kreider, and Troy Terry, who's over a point per game. 

Anaheim’s Lineup at Wednesday morning skate (via Ducks reporter Zach Cavanagh)

Forwards

Kreider – Carlsson – Terry
Gauthier – McTavish – Sennecke
Vatrano – Strome – Killorn
Johnston – Harkins – Nesterenko

Defence

LaCombe – Helleson
Zellweger – Trouba
Moore – Gudas

Goalies

Dostál
Mrázek

With Dostal getting the win in Boston on Wednesday, it's a good bet that former Ottawa 67 Petr Mrazek will start for the Ducks. Face off is at 10 pm.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions In Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)
Four More Years: Shane Pinto Signs Four-Year Extension
Creator Of 'New Heights' Gives Brady And Matthew Tkachuk Their Own Podcast

The Los Angeles Kings' signing of Adrian Kempe to a long-term contract extension earlier this week further depleted the top talent in next summer's NHL UFA pool.

Kempe joins Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov, Winnipeg Jets left winger Kyle Connor, Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel and Colorado Avalanche right winger Martin Necas among the stars who've opted to remain with their current teams.

That leaves Artemi Panarin sitting atop Sportsnet's Luke Fox's list of players eligible for UFA status on July 1. The 34-year-old New York Rangers left winger is finishing a seven-year contract with an annual cap hit of $11.64 million.

Fox indicated that Panarin has no interest in accepting a pay cut to stay in New York despite his age and declining stats. Meanwhile, the Rangers aren't keen to have a high-salaried player on their roster well into his late 30s.

The Rangers will likely hang onto Panarin if they're holding a playoff berth by the March 6 NHL trade deadline. If not, they will likely entertain trade offers. Fox's colleague Nick Kypreos suggested the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild as potential destinations for Panarin.

The Hurricanes made a big move last season by acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Avalanche last January. However, they traded him to the Dallas Stars before the deadline when he wouldn't agree to a contract extension. They might be reluctant to pursue Panarin merely as a rental player, but they could prefer that he accept less money on a shorter deal.

As for the Wild, Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic aren't convinced they'll pursue Panarin at the trade deadline. Russo doesn't see the sense of giving up assets when they could sign him on July 1 as a free agent. Smith doesn't think the aging winger is the right fit for the Wild in their quest to become a Stanley Cup contender.

Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames sits second on Fox's list. The 29-year-old defenseman is in the final season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $4.55 million. Fox indicated that Andersson hasn't closed the door on re-signing with the Flames, but their struggles this season suggest he'll be moving on.

Fox felt the Golden Knights seemed the prime landing spot for Andersson. They have the advantage of playing in a no-tax state, and could use a replacement for sidelined blueliner Alex Pietrangelo. However, Fox noted that they've got limited salary-cap space.

The Golden Knights could find a way to free up cap room to add Andersson's remaining cap hit within their payroll, perhaps by requesting the Flames retain half of it to make the dollars fit. However, the real sticking point is whether the Golden Knights have sufficient tradeable assets to win a bidding war for Andersson's services.

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