Category: Ice Hockey

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have assigned Mason Geertsen to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

Geertsen was placed on waivers on Nov. 20 and went through them unclaimed. Due to this, the Sabres were able to send him down to Rochester, where he should now be a solid part of the AHL squad's roster. 

Geertsen has played in five games this season with the Sabres, where he has posted zero points, one shot, eight hits, and 12 penalty minutes. His most recent appearance for the Sabres was on Nov. 4 against the Utah Mammoth, where he had 3:49 of ice time.

The Buffalo Sabres have assigned forward Mason Geertsen to the Rochester Americans (AHL).

— Buffalo Sabres PR (@SabresPR) November 21, 2025

Geertsen spent this past season exclusively in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights, where he recorded five assists, 77 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating. In 447 career AHL games over 10 seasons, Geertsen has recorded 19 goals, 69 points, and 840 penalty minutes. 

Alexandre Texier cleared waivers on Friday and has been assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League.

The 26-year-old was designated a non-roster player on Thursday when the St. Louis Blues activated Jake Neighbours off injured reserve and needed a roster spot for him.

The next step for Texier, who is in the final year of a two-year, $4.2 million contract he signed after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 28, 2024 for a 2025 fourth-round pick, is to either report to the Thunderbirds or come to a mutual agreement with the Blues to terminate his contract and become a free agent.

Texier played in just eight games this season and had one assist and 31 games last season in which he had six goals and five assists.

“For ‘Tex,’ he's an outstanding young man and just didn't find any kind of path this year to consistently stay in the lineup,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said on Thursday.

The Blues also assigned defenseman Hunter Skinner, who made his NHL debut in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 14, to Springfield on Friday but made no corresponding move to bring anyone else up.

Observations From Blues' 3-2 Overtime Loss Vs. FlyersBlues have lacked killer instinct all season, another example on Thursday; fifth two-goal lead turns into lost points; Faulk putting in results offensively; critical mistake late in second period allows Flyers back into game; creating chances, not finishing is haunting this team at the moment

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Tonight, November 21, 2025, the Pacific Coliseum prepares to host yet another primary tenant within its storied halls. Before BC’s first ever PWHL team, the Vancouver Goldeneyes, take to the ice for the first time, let’s reflect on the Vancouver Canucks’ history at the Rink on Renfrew. 

October 9, 1970 marked the first game the NHL’s Canucks ever played at the Coliseum — though the WHL Vancouver Canucks spent a few years prior occupying the ice. This inaugural roster included names like eventual Canucks General Manager Pat Quinn, leading points getter André Boudrais, and the first captain in Canucks history, Orland Kurtenbach. 

While it took awhile, Vancouver’s first playoff game played at the Coliseum came on April 17, 1975 — five years after their inaugural season. In a series against a powerhouse Montréal Canadiens team that was, frankly, a little uneven in terms of scoring, the Canucks won Game 2 on the road but ultimately lost the series in overtime in Game 5. After that, the post-season became a more frequent occurrence for the Canucks, who qualified for the playoffs in four of six seasons. 

It was in 1982 when the Pacific Coliseum hosted the Stanley Cup Finals for the first of two occasions in its history. After three straight first-round losses to the Philadelphia Flyers and expansion-fellow Buffalo Sabres, who they faced twice, Vancouver took down their division-rival Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, and the Chicago Blackhawks to advance to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history. Unfortunately, the New York Islanders were simply too powerful for the Canucks, who fell in four games to Mike Bossy and his team. 

From there, Vancouver’s team shifted, twisting from the era of Stan Smyl, Dave Babych, and other Canucks greats, to the new-gen at the time synonymous with the flying skate. Aside from their Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1982, Vancouver’s first playoff series win came in 1992, when they took down the Winnipeg Jets in seven games. The first game of this series at the Coliseum took place on April 18, with the Jets winning by a score of 3–2. 

Two years later, the Canucks took part in their second — and final — Stanley Cup Final at the Coliseum. After back-to-back competitive regular-season records of 42–26–12 (1992) and 46–29–9 (1993), Vancouver managed to pave their path to within championship grasp by taking down the Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, and Toronto Maple Leafs. With their series against the New York Rangers tied at one win apiece, Vancouver came back to the Pacific Coliseum to try and make a push for the Stanley Cup, but left their homestand with two losses. Their lone home victory in the 1994 Stanley Cup Final came in a sudden-death Game 6. 

The Canucks played their last game at the Coliseum on May 27, 1995, losing 4–3 in overtime against the Blackhawks during their second-round playoff series. This came after Vancouver took a series win against the St. Louis Blues in the first round, winning one of the three home games they played in. May 11, 1995, marked the last Canucks playoff win that fans at the Coliseum saw. 

While the Canucks and the Pacific Coliseum have since moved on from one-another, creating even more team history with other venues and sports across the lower mainland, the history enshrined within its walls still lingers. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have the second half of a back-to-back situation on Friday night. They will make a one-game trip to New York to play the Buffalo Sabres. This is their first such scenario of the 2025-26 season. 

The first half didn’t go well for the Blackhawks. After playing well through the first 40 minutes, the Blackhawks allowed the Kraken to come back and win 3-2. There was some controversy at the end, along with some costly mistakes in between the whistles. 

Connor Bedard's Late Unsportsmanlike Penalty Allows Kraken To Complete ComebackThe Chicago Blackhawks were defeated by the Seattle Kraken at the United Center on Thursday night.

Buffalo, unlike Chicago, is not doing well in its rebuild. At 7-9-4, they have 18 points, which is good for last place in the Eastern Conference and 29th place in the entire league. Once again, the Sabres are failing to meet any expectations. 

Black Alternate Sweaters

On Friday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced the return of their legendary black alternate sweaters. They will wear them for a total of seven games in 2025-26. 

Blackhawks Announce Return Of Legendary Black Alternate JerseyThe Chicago Blackhawks announced that their legendary black alternate jersey will make its return.

Scouting Buffalo 

There is no shortage of talent in Buffalo. Their lack of success is mismanagement of said talent. Stars like Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, and Alex Tuch lead the way, while good depth players like Josh Doan, Owen Power, Bowen Byram, and Jack Quinn are capable of making a difference. 

It is the bottom of the lineup that fails the top players, which is where the mismanagement comes in. Add in the fact that they haven’t made the playoffs since 2011, and you have a team that fails to be confident in themselves from top to bottom. 

Doan- Thompson -Tuch 

Zucker-McLeod-Quinn

Kozak -Ostlund -Rosen  

Greenway-Krebs- Malenstyn 

Samuelsson-Dahlin

Byram-Timmins 

Bryson-Power

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was in the starter’s net for the Sabres during Friday’s morning skate. Lukkonen, like every Sabres goalie to play this year, has had a rough go, but his career numbers against the Blackhawks are excellent. 

Although the Sabres are struggling, they have a few solid wins on their resume and play hard. If the Blackhawks don’t take this lineup, especially the guys at the top, seriously, they will have a hard time winning. 

Projected Blackhawks Lines, Defense Pairs, and Starting Goalie

In Friday night’s loss to the Seattle Kraken, the Blackhawks lost Andre Burakovsky to an injury. In that game, they had their typical 11/7 strategy implemented, with Landon Slaggert sitting out along with the injured Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson. 

Without Burakovsky and no call-ups, they are going to have an 11/7 situation again, with Landon Slaggert drawing back in. 

Greene-Bedard- Bertuzzi

Moore-Nazar-Teravainen

Dach-Donato-Mikheyev

Slaggert-Lafferty

Vlasic-Crevier

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Rinzel

Soderblom

The line rushes during warmups will provide more clarity on this, but Greene and Bertuzzi have both had chemistry with Bedard before. Moore is also more than capable, and there is proof of it, with Frank Nazar and Teuvo Teravainen. 

With it being just 11 forwards, and down to the last 11 forwards on the NHL roster, expect more ice time for Bedard and Nazar throughout the game as double shifters.

How To Watch

The game can be seen on CHSN and heard on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. Those outside of Chicago interested in catching the game can find it on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 6 PM CT at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. 

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.

The NHL fined Dallas Stars right winger Mikko Rantanen $2,000 for two citations of embellishment.

The league's hockey operations flagged Rantanen on two occasions this season, which automatically triggered the fine.

The first incident, which triggered a warning, came from Dallas' Oct. 16 game against the Vancouver Canucks. The second incident happened just over a minute into the third period of the Stars' game against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 11.

Rantanen skated by the Senators' crease and got tangled up with netminder Linus Ullmark. Ullmark raised his right arm, and Rantanen appeared to grab it. Both players fell to the ice.

NHL Hockey Operations tracks all games, logs all penalties for diving or embellishment and flags plays not called on the ice that it determines deserved such a penalty. In both incidents, Rantanen was not assessed a penalty.

Ottawa Senators' Nick Cousins Fined For EmbellishmentThe NHL's hockey operations department flagged Nick Cousins for two incidents that violated the league's embellishment and diving rule this season.

Rule 64 of the NHL rulebook is designed to punish players and teams that embellish to draw a penalty, increasing the severity of the punishment the more it happens. Here's what happens when a player is cited for embellishment or diving under Rule 64:

• First citation: warning
• Second citation: $2,000 fine
• Third citation: $3,000 fine
• Fourth citation: $4,000 fine
• Fifth citation onward: $5,000 fine each

If a team combines for four fines, whether it's a player or collective team receiving the fine, the coach starts to get fined:

• Four fines total: coach is fined $2,000
• Five fines total: coach is fined $3,000
• Six fines total: coach is fined $4,000
• Seven-plus fines total: coach is fined $5,000 each

The fined money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Rantanen, 29, has 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 21 games this season. The Nousiainen, Finland, native also received a game misconduct penalty for boarding New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov on Nov. 18 but didn't receive supplementary discipline.

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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.

Friday’s schedule is light, featuring just four games, but it still promises compelling matchups, most notably the return of Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks after a viral moment in Thursday’s loss to the Seattle Kraken.

Bedard was hooked on a breakaway attempt, and the 20-year-old center was furious when no call was made. He was subsequently penalized for abuse of officials, and the Kraken capitalized on the power play to steal the game. Now, in the second half of a back-to-back, Bedard and the Blackhawks aim to bounce back against the Buffalo Sabres, who have won two of their last three contests.

For those tracking our Pad Stack challenge, the strategy remains the same. We started with a $10 bankroll and continue to grow it through careful, research-driven bets. Our most successful streak ended Monday at a season-high $411.47, only to be derailed by a last-minute empty-net goal from the Florida Panthers against our Vancouver spread. After a tough Thursday swing on a Leafs-Blue Jackets same-game parlay, we’re resetting at $10 and looking to rebound. Our confidence is high heading into Friday’s Blackhawks-Sabres matchup, and we’re ready to make it count.

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.

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

Picks: Connor Bedard Over 0.5 Points & Blackhawks +1.5 (+100)

We can anticipate a big bounce-back performance from Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks in a spot where few expect it. Chicago has dropped all three of its matchups against the Sabres with Bedard in the lineup, though he’s recorded points in two of those games. This season, Bedard has 29 points in 20 games, including an impressive run of 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points over his last 12 contests, second in the NHL during that stretch, trailing only Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon by three points. 

Buffalo has historically dominated Chicago, winning seven of the last eight meetings, and they enter Friday on a roll, winning two of their last three games. The Blackhawks also haven’t won in Buffalo since 2019, losing four straight trips to the Queen City. That could change this time, as this Chicago team is vastly different than past teams. 

They sit at 10-6-4 overall but have been one of the NHL’s best betting teams, going 16-4 against the spread (ATS). Notably, one of those losses came as a favorite, meaning Chicago is 16-3 as an underdog. In contrast, the Sabres have a lesser 7-9-4 record this season, are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games, and are just 1-5 on the puckline as a favorite this year. A wager on this same-game parlay would double our current bankroll of $10, leaving us with $20 to work with heading into the biggest day for hockey in the week on Saturday.

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.

After being off since Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins will return to action on Friday night against the Minnesota Wild.

The Penguins are coming off a 4-0 shutout win over the Nashville Predators in the NHL's Global Series, while the Wild are coming off a 4-3 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.

After starting slowly, the Wild have found their game, winning three in a row and seven of their last nine. They are making their move in the standings and are tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Blackhawks currently have the tiebreaker since they have a game in hand. 

Kirill Kaprizov has really gotten going for the Wild and has compiled 11 goals and 24 points in 21 games. Matt Boldy has also been fantastic this season, totaling 11 goals and 22 points in 21 games. 

In goal, Filip Gustavsson is the starter for this game, despite backup Jesper Wallstedt having a stellar season. He may be the backup and only has seven starts, but he has a .926 save percentage and a 2.20 goals-against average. 

Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins after he was the first goaltender off at the morning skate. He was tremendous in his last start on Friday and was the only reason the Penguins got a point in that game against the Predators. He's been one of the best goaltenders in the league to start the year and ranks 10th in the NHL in goals saved above expected with 8.4.

Here's a look at what the rest of the lineup could look like, based on Thursday's practice:

Forwards: 

Dewar-Crosby-Rust

Hayes-Malkin-Mantha

Novak-Kindel-Poulin

Koppanen-Lizotte-Heinen

Defensive pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Graves-Clifton

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Puck drop for Friday's contest is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond

Examining The NHL's Playoff Picture At The Quarter Mark by The Big Show

Here’s what Ryan Kennedy, Katie Gaus and Gary Pearson discussed:

0:45: We’ve reached the quarter mark of the NHL’s regular season, and some of the teams in a playoff position (and out of one) are a big surprise. Which team not in this current playoff picture is the biggest surprise?

4:40: Which series would you love to see actually happen? 

8:15: Stuart Skinner's save percentage is now at .882, among the worst in the NHL. Do the Oilers have a goalie problem or a defense problem? Or both?

12:43: The Winnipeg Jets gave prospect Brad Lambert's representation permission to find a trade partner. Will he ever become a top-six forward? Where would Lambert be a good fit?

16:16: Elliotte Friedman reported the Ottawa Senators are looking to hit a home run on the trade market. In what scenario should Ottawa swing for a home run in a trade?

20:02: Thoughts on Matthew Schaefer being added and his chances of earning a spot on Team Canada?

24:00: Which players on Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off squad should not be on the Olympic team?

28:01: Conversations have started circulating about whether or not Gavin McKenna is the undisputed No. 1 overall pick at this upcoming draft. So, is he?

BetMGM Playbook

33:52: What are you seeing from the Colorado Avalanche that makes them such a powerhouse? 

36:07: Have the Carolina Hurricanes done enough to start to show that they have that potential to make it past the Eastern Conference final?

37:39: Between Florida and Vegas, who do you feel more confident in?

Rapid Fire

39:15: Who should be the three goalies for Canada’s men’s Olympic team? 

40:55: Calgary Flames backup Devin Cooley said this: "You really have to ground yourself... I just go, 'Nothing matters, nobody cares, we're all going to die,' I just say that over and over again." What's the weirdest goalie quote you can think of?

42:32: What will be the best Californian NHL team in three years: Los Angeles, Anaheim or San Jose?

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

The Montreal Canadiens had a tough time against the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre on Thursday night. Not only did they lose the game 8-4, but another player got injured. Just like in last year’s playoffs, Washington’s resident tough guy Tom Wilson found a way to hurt the Habs without scoring a goal.

With the Capitals leading 3-2 in the second frame, Wilson lined up Jake Evans by the boards and landed a big hit on him. After the game, coach Martin St-Louis said he didn’t like the hit and he found it high. Evans only played one shift after taking that blow to the head, and given his concussion history, that is a worry.

Canadiens Coach Is Disappointed About What He Considers A Regression
NHL Rumors: Should Canadiens Target Blues Forward?
Canadiens: Hughes Won’t Jump The Gun

Last Saturday, both Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj dropped the gloves early against the Boston Bruins, but on Thursday, neither of them paid a visit to Wilson. That’s the same Wilson who changed the course of the playoff series last season when he obliterated Alex Carrier with a bone-crushing hit.

Jake Evans went back to the dressing after this encounter with Tom Wilson pic.twitter.com/13hou59uGx

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 21, 2025

I’m not a big fan of fighting in the NHL, but the high hit on Evans did look like something that would have warranted retaliation. Why didn’t Xhekaj jump on Wilson to settle the score? I know he wasn’t on the ice at the time, but he could have done so later. It’s something he would have done without any hesitation a couple of seasons ago. Does he lack confidence because he has lost his last couple of fights? Does he fear that taking a penalty could get him out of the lineup? If your tough guy doesn’t know that he can step up in a moment like that, when does he think that he can? Have the Canadiens denatured Xhekaj?

There’s no denying that he plays a more mature game and doesn’t fight as often as he once did, but he is still seen as a protector for his teammates, and he missed a good opportunity to act yesterday. The same could be said of Jayden Struble, who’s competing with Xhekaj for the sixth defenseman role when Kaiden Guhle comes back.

Not only was there no call on the play, but three seconds later, Jacob Chychrun scored the Capitals’ fourth goal of the game. Montreal bounced back nicely with Nick Suzuki scoring 38 seconds later, but the Canadiens still came up short.

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The Manitoba Moose announced a pair of goaltending moves on Thursday, as hometown netminder Isaac Poulter has been called up from the Norfolk Admirals to provide depth in the crease, while Thomas Milic was promoted to the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets following an injury to regular starter Connor Hellebuyck.

The @NHLJets Hockey Club announced today the team reassigned goaltender Isaac Poulter from the @NorfolkAdmirals to the #MBMoose.

The Moose also announced the team loaned forward Chase Yoder to the Admirals.

🗞️ | https://t.co/qAyYTWF9H6pic.twitter.com/V1ivdPD4wz

— Manitoba Moose (@ManitobaMoose) November 21, 2025

Hellebuyck is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks while recovering from a minor arthroscopic knee procedure, prompting the Jets to turn to Milic, who had been manning the Moose net. Poulter, 24, will step in to fill the void at the AHL level.

Jets Stunned As Hellebuyck Sidelined, Hot Prospect Could Make NHL DebutHellebuyck sidelined, creating a golden chance for hot prospect Milic to seize the net and potentially debut Friday.

This season, Poulter has appeared in seven games for Norfolk, posting a 4-3-0 record with a 2.85 goals-against average (GAA) and a .915 save percentage (SV%). The Winnipeg native brings previous AHL experience, having recorded a 16-13-7 record with a 2.86 GAA and .898 SV% in 2024-25 while playing for the Utica Comets.

Across his AHL career, Poulter has appeared in 77 games, compiling a 40-24-11 record, 2.88 GAA, .900 SV%, and five shutouts. He also boasts a 19-11-2 record in 35 ECHL contests split between the Admirals and Adirondack Thunder, with a 2.83 GAA, .912 SV%, and one shutout.

#ThrowbackThursday: One year ago, Isaac Poulter made 54 saves and Ryan Smith scored in OT in Game 3 of the North Division Final. pic.twitter.com/koXvB8S9yj

— Adirondack Thunder (@ECHLThunder) May 8, 2025

In related roster moves, Moose forward Chase Yoder has been reassigned to the ECHL. Yoder, a former Providence Friar, recorded one point in eight games this season. During his final collegiate season in 2024-25, he notched 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in 37 games and finished his NCAA career with 62 points (32G, 30A) over a program-record 172 contests. Drafted 170th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020, Yoder has yet to make his NHL debut.

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.

SAN JOSE, CA — When the Los Angeles Kings acquired Andrei Kuzmenko at last season’s deadline, he helped transform an offensively barren roster into one of the league’s most dangerous even-strength teams down the stretch and the most lethal power play in the postseason.

But the NHL is an unforgiving ecosystem, and few players have felt that turbulence more than Kuzmenko. In his short time in North America, he has already been cycled through multiple systems, coaches, and lineup roles. What once looked like an instant fit in Los Angeles has quickly shifted into uncertainty.

Last year’s chemistry with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe was undeniable in that 20 game burst, but it has completely evaporated to start 2025–26. After seven points in his first 13 games as a plus three, Kuzmenko’s momentum stalled. His usage cratered with a 7:32 showing in Montreal and a 7:50 game in Pittsburgh, followed by three straight scratches. He has not registered a point in five games and now sits at seven points in 18 games as a minus one.

When Kuzmenko is rolling, he is a surplus scorer who can flirt with 30 goals. When he is not, he becomes a liability for a team that is desperate for middle-six production. That volatility is precisely why the Kings offered only a one-year extension. The risk and reward are written directly into his stat line.

Why did Andrei Kuzmenko actually miss so much time? Because what is forgiven to Kucherov and Pastrnak is not forgiven to Kuzmenko. He is absolutely the worst in the league in OZ and NZ Giveaways per 60

But he could have gotten more trust, it's true #GoKingsGohttps://t.co/faPHZnquTTpic.twitter.com/y8yXx6A36T

— Benchrates (@benchrates) November 20, 2025

To be a true top six forward in the modern NHL, players must contribute on both sides of the puck. Kuzmenko’s defensive game remains the gap in his profile, much like fellow countryman Ilya Kovalchuk. KHL imports tend to arrive as finished products. This is who he is. The question is whether that “finished product” aligns with a forechecking, pressure driven, board play oriented Kings identity. Right now, it often does not.

To his credit, Kuzmenko had strong moments against a resurgent Sharks team, especially on the power play where his scoring instincts still flash. At five on five, he logged the eighth most minutes among forwards, reflecting that “just outside the mark” tweener status. Not quite top six at even strength, but elevated into that tier through special teams usage. His underlying numbers were respectable with chances even at four to four and shots seven to six against, but not truly impactful.

And that is the story. Kuzmenko is noticeable and polarizing almost entirely because of the power play. If not for an outstanding performance by Yaroslav Askarov, the Kings likely would have converted on one of their man advantages, with Kuzmenko heavily involved. But this league does not reward hypotheticals. Production is king, and this King needs to produce.

His one year, 4.3 million dollar contract looks more and more like a temporary solution. Either he finds his touch again or he becomes a natural trade piece if Los Angeles looks to add another forward. The front office will not hesitate to exchange volatility for reliability.

There is still a useful player inside Kuzmenko. Maybe he becomes a specialty weapon. Maybe a sheltered offensive winger who boosts the power play. But just like any professional looking for the next pay grade, the output must match the price.

So far, it has not. And unless his scoring returns, this may be his final season in Los Angeles.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson is the team's most notable pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) this season. The 31-year-old defender has been a very important part of the Canadiens' blueline since his arrival, so all eyes will be on him as we continue to move toward the 2026 NHL off-season. 

Due to how well Matheson continues to play for the Canadiens, he has been handed some praise. 

Sportsnet's Luke Fox recently ranked the NHL's top 2026 UFAs, and Matheson was given the No. 4 spot on the list. With this, Matheson ranked ahead of other notable pending UFAs like John Carlson (Washington Capitals), Nick Schmaltz (Utah Mammoth), and Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins).

Matheson has had a strong start to the 2025-26 season, so it is understandable that he is being viewed among the NHL's top pending UFAs right now. In 19 games so far this season with the Canadiens, the left-shot defenseman has recorded three goals, seven assists, 10 points, and a plus-9 rating.

This is after Matheson had 31 points in 80 games with the Canadiens in 2024-25 and recorded 11 goals and set career highs with 51 assists and 62 points in 82 games with Montreal in 2023-24. 

With all of this, Matheson would be a very popular target in free agency if he hits the market. Yet, given how good of a fit he has been on the Canadiens, it would not be surprising if they worked hard to keep him around. 

The Philadelphia Flyers returned from a four-day break, back home and playing the St. Louis Blues for the second time in just under a week.

Things didn't get off to an ideal start for the Flyers, but if this group has developed one reliable habit, it’s refusing to let an imperfect start dictate the ending. Down 2–0, the Flyers clawed back—first through Rodrigo Abols, then Tyson Foerster—before Travis Sanheim capped things off in overtime with a shot that sent the building into a collective exhale.

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1. A Pattern They Don’t Want, but Know How to Handle

The Flyers admitted postgame that the opening half was not what they envisioned after four full days between games. St. Louis dictated the early pace, attacked the middle of the ice, and built a 2–0 lead in a way that felt uncomfortably familiar—clean entries, net pressure, and the Flyers a half-step behind on retrievals. For a team that spent days drilling intensity and physicality into their practice habits, the first period felt out of sync with the intention.

But here’s the thing about this group: even when the start is rough, the response is never passive.

Once the Flyers got through their early miscues, the second period carried a noticeable shift in tempo. More puck support, more structure, and more engagement in battles along the boards. They started generating zone time—real, layered, sustained zone time—and the game eventually tilted. It wasn’t always clean, and it wasn’t always pretty, but it was incremental progress within the game itself, something they’ve grown surprisingly good at.

Sanheim told media postgame, "It's not the start you wanted. In saying that, you have four days off. It takes a little bit to get your mind and your legs back into. I thought we started to find our game toward the second half."

Nick Seeler echoed the sentiment, calling this result "another resilient win for us," one that they "need to build on and continue to work at those first-period starts."

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2. Dan Vladar Keeps Them in It With Some of His Most Acrobatic Work Yet

The storyline doesn’t work without Dan Vladar, who delivered another sharp performance to keep the Flyers in this game.

Vladar’s best moments came in those scrambles: sprawling back-door stops, lateral slides through traffic, and a couple of saves where the mechanics mattered less than the refusal to concede the goal.

The Blues’ early push could have easily turned 2–0 into something insurmountable. Vladar made sure it didn’t.

Dan Vladař v prodloužení podržel svůj tým, aby o minutu později Travis Sanheim vystřelil výhru pro @NHLFlyers. 🔥#LetsGoFlyers#Vladarpic.twitter.com/cY0Bw0TECH

— NHL Česko (@NHLcz) November 21, 2025

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3. Travis Sanheim’s OT Winner Caps Another Resilient Night for Him

If Travis Sanheim didn’t want to wait for the committee to decide whether he’s playing like an Olympic-caliber defenseman, he gave his own argument in overtime.

The winner was a product of patience and confidence: Sanheim got the puck, realized how much space he had to go forward, and then finished with conviction. It was calm but assertive—exactly the tone he’s been setting in his game.

SANNY ENDS IT IN STYLE. #PHIvsSTL | @fwwebbpic.twitter.com/ncYywkM6AI

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 21, 2025

His season has been full of these moments: leadership by presence, and a steadiness that lets him punch above his narrative weight. As the Flyers continue to navigate inconsistent portions of their lineup, Sanheim’s reliability (and occasional game-breaking contributions) have become a foundational part of why they stay competitive in tight games.

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4. The Flyers Can’t Keep Doing This—But They Also Keep Figuring It Out

No team wants a reputation built around digging out of early holes, especially not after a four-day break intended to reset habits and sharpen attention. 

But the resilience is real. And in overtime, where the Flyers have been unexpectedly comfortable this season, they once again showed the ability to elevate their pace and execution under pressure.

Goals from Rodrigo Abols and Tyson Foerster prove that every single line is ready to fire, and when one guy breaks through, the floodgates seem to open. And against a stubborn, structured Blues team—one they’ve now beaten twice in less than two weeks—they've once again shown that they're building four lines that are always ready for battle.

Another comeback. Another overtime. Another sign that the Flyers have a backbone they can lean on, even when their best hockey takes a period or so to find