The Carolina Hurricanes are close to returning another of their injured starters as defenseman K'Andre Miller is looking more and more like he'll be ready to go on Thursday.

The 25-year-old blueliner has missed the Canes' last six games with a lower-body injury, but he's been practicing with the team over the past two days and on Wednesday, he was taking reps back alongside his normal partner, Jalen Chatfield.

"We'll see," Miller said when asked if he feels he'll be ready for Thursday. "Gonna talk with the medical staff and we'll kind of make our decision from there."

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour had been hoping that the defenseman would be ready for Tuesday's game against New York, but has insisted that Miller is very close to returning still.

"We'll find out in the morning," Brind'Amour said on Wednesday when asked about Miller's availability against Minnesota. "It's definitely, like I said the other day, getting closer. I would hope that he'll play tomorrow."

Before the injury, Miller had been off to a great start in Carolina, with two goals, four points, six hits and eight blocks in six games. He was also controlling a 58.14 CF% and 52.48 xGF%, while outscoring opponents 4-3 in his minutes.

"He couldn't have played much better to start," Brind'Amour said on Miller. "I was so impressed with just his range, his skating ability, which fits perfectly. He was kind of doing it all for us there until he went out. It's a big piece we've been missing."

He was logging big minutes for the Hurricanes and getting used in all situations, so it was a tough blow for the team to lose him, especially given the number of injuries that followed his.  

"Obviously you never want to be out of the lineup, but health comes first at the end of the day," Miller said. "Figured I'd just use the couple of games off to try and get my body back where I want it to be."

With Miller (and more) out with injury, the Canes had to rely on quite a few rookies on the backend, but the team has managed to find ways to win despite the inexperience on the blueline.

"They've been doing unbelievable," Miller said on the rookies. "It's been really fun to watch from a different perspective. I think they've done such a great job. Everybody knows with having three or four guys in your lineup that obviously haven't played NHL games is tough on them, but I think they've done a great job of responding to the adversity and we've gotten some really big wins when we've needed them."

While the young guys have done well enough, getting actual veteran NHL players back in the lineup will go a long way for the Hurricanes.

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By Gary Pearson, BetMGM

Will the New York Rangers’ poor puck luck continue, and can the Pittsburgh Penguins maintain their dream start? Are the Anaheim Ducks for real, and will the real Linus Ullmark please stand up? 

And is Steve Yzerman’s seemingly fruitless project in Detroit finally destined to take the next step?

I answer those questions while weighing in on whether the aforementioned NHL teams will make the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Ottawa Senators (Yes) (-120)

The Senators had a rocky start to the season. Yet, they are right in the mix despite losing five of the first seven games and seeing their former Vezina-winning goaltender sport the worst goals saved above expected (minus-8.1). 

Linus Ullmark, as he did last season, should improve. As importantly, the Sens will get their heart and soul back in the next month. If they remain within reach when Brady Tkachuk returns from injury, their playoff chances will be in good shape. 

Detroit Red Wings (Yes) (+105)

One of the pacesetters in the Atlantic Division, the Detroit Red Wings have flown out of the gate. Eight of their first nine wins came against playoff teams from last season, five of which have short Stanley Cup odds and are among the Stanley Cup favorites.

Their electric start comes despite having the fourth-worst goals differential above expected at 5-on-5. I expect a positive regression in that respect, which should reinforce their playoff pedigree. 

The +105 odds imply a 48.78 percent chance of advancing to the dance.

Anaheim Ducks (No) (-150)

I don’t recall this much buzz emitting from Anaheim since the original naming of the franchise. Sitting pretty atop the Pacific Division with the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights, the Ducks’ odds to make the playoffs have shortened to +125. 

While the seventh-youngest team (26.92 years) deserves all of their early-season plaudits, inexperience will catch up to them over the course of a long, gruelling season. I’m also cognizant of the fact that seven of their opening 11 games were against non-playoff teams from last season.

Pittsburgh Penguins (No) (Odds)

When will the bubble burst for rookie coach Dan Muse? 

The Penguins are off to a start resembling the script of a Disney fairy tale. Look beyond their win-loss record, though, and you’ll unearth some disconcerting signs. 

Until recently, the Pens had the third-best goals differential above expected, which has since dropped to 12th at 5-on-5. 

Currently, they have the fourth-best goals against above expected in all situations (minus-9.34). I can’t see the goaltending duo of Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs sustaining that elite standing, nor do I believe that no-longer-a-kid Sid will finish among the league leaders in goals.

New York Rangers (Yes) (+105)

As the NHL’s second-best road team and worst in their own rink, the Rangers are navigating a perplexing dichotomy. However, I don’t foresee their Madison Square Garden horror show continuing. 

With the second-best expected goals differential and the fourth-most expected goals at 5-on-5, it’s only a matter of time before their puck luck turns around. 

And now that coach Mike Sullivan has adapted to life in the Big Apple, don’t be surprised when his team stops singing the blues on home ice.

Advanced stats are according to moneypuck.com.

The Chicago Blackhawks have inserted a lot of good young players into their lineup who have become NHL regulars in the last few seasons. Connor Bedard, Sam Rinzel, Frank Nazar, Alex Vlasic, and Artyom Levshunov are examples of young men who have not had any need to come out of the lineup for an extended period since making it on a full-time basis. 

There is a lot more where that came from. Not every single one of Kyle Davidson’s selections is going to pan out, just based on simple probabilities, but that same math suggests that even more help is on the way based on the volume of talent in the organization. 

There are five prospects, in particular, who seem like players who could be impacting the NHL roster by this time next year. 

Oliver Moore

The Chicago Blackhawks called up Oliver Moore on Monday ahead of their game against the Seattle Kraken. He made his NHL season debut, which was his 10th game played in the league. 

In those 10 games, Moore has four assists. He is still looking for his first NHL goal. All of his skills, especially his speed, are going to allow him to score a lot in this league. By this time next season, he may be a key contributor to all areas of the game. 

Once Jeff Blashill feels comfortable, he is going to use Moore on the penalty kill. He believes that his speed will allow him to be great at it. Not only will he help in keeping the opposition from scoring, but that burst could help him get short-handed chances of his own.

The Rockford IceHogs run a different PK scheme than they do in Chicago, so he wants Moore to have a practice or two doing it before putting him on that assignment. 

Roman Kantserov 

The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Roman Kantserov in the second round, 44th overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft. Now, at age 21, he is one of the most prolific goal scorers in the KHL. 

Playing for the Metallurg Magnitogorsk, he has 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points in 23 games. It's one thing to be a point per game player that young in the KHL, a league full of veteran pros, and it's another to be scoring goals as often as he does. 

When the Blackhawks are able to bring him to North America, he will have the tools needed to translate that to the ice in the NHL. It won't be long before he's scoring goals in Chicago.

Nick Lardis

On Tuesday, the American Hockey League announced that Rockford IceHogs forward Nick Lardis was the AHL's Rookie of the Month for October. 

Rockford IceHogs Forward Nick Lardis Is Recognized By AHL - Community PostOn Tuesday, the AHL recognized Nick Lardis of the Rockford IceHogs as the Rookie of the Month for October. 

In the 8 October games, Lardis had 4 goals and 8 assists for 12 points. To go from dominating the OHL to producing at a high level in the AHL means that his skills translate to the pro game. Next for him is showing he can play in the NHL.

That transaction will come sooner rather than later. With Oliver Moore already up, you'd think that Lardis is next on the list in terms of forwards on the IceHogs waiting for the call. By this time next year, if all goes well, Lardis will be making an impact in the NHL. 

Sacha Boisvert 

Sacha Boisvert was one of the best freshmen in college hockey, playing for North Dakota in 2025-26. Now, after transferring to Boston University, he is looking to help the team get to yet another Frozen Four. 

Jay Pandolfo's team always seems to get there at BU, and Boisvert is a key to that success. In six games played so far this year, Boisvert has 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points. 

It's isn't all about offense for Boisvert, though. He is capable of producing at a high level, but he never takes a shift off in the defensive zone. 

Becoming a great two-way bottom-six center is exactly what the Blackhawks need from a player with Boisvert's set of skills. If he becomes even better than that, regardless of his minutes in the NHL, the Blackhawks will be that much better of a team. 

Anton Frondell

The Chicago Blackhawks made Anton Frondell the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Since then, he decided to sign with the team but play the 2025-26 season in the Swedish League. 

That has turned out to be a great decision for him as he seems to be improving every day. He could have played in the NHL and fit in, but this is better for his long-term development. 

In 17 games played with Djugardens of the SHL, Frondell has 8 goals and 4 assists for 12 points in 17 games. For the SHL, and for being a teenager, those are impressive numbers. 

Is Frondell going to be a two-way center like his own personal player comp, Aleksander Barkov, or will he fit in more on the wing with the Blackhawks?

That remains to be seen once they get him over to North American hockey on a full-time basis. The tools are there for him to be a high-end player, no matter which route they go. 

It is not likely that all five of these guys, or any player in the system for that matter, will be a superstar in the NHL. What they can become, knowing that potential stars like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, and Artyom Levshunov are already in the lineup, are players who contribute to the overall success of the team in different ways. 

They could be stars like one of those aforementioned players, or they could become impact depth guys like Ryan Greene. You need those types to win Stanley Cups. 

You may notice that all five of the players listed here are forwards. Well, the Blackhawks have a plethora of young defensemen already on the NHL team. Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Louis Crevier, Alex Vlasic, and Wyatt Kaiser are already fighting for ice.

There are also Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, and Kevin Korchinski in the AHL just waiting for their chance. It is unclear who among those waiting will stick around long term, so it's hard to say who will impact the team by this year next year. 

In goal, Spencer Knight is the number one for the foreseeable future. Arvid Soderblom and Drew Commesso are both working on becoming full-time starting goalies, which may take some time to figure out.

Right now, these five forwards listed are the youngest players in the organization who may start impacting the NHL club any time from now through next year. 

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

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The Calgary Flames (3-9-2) return home after a four-game road trip where they went 1-2-1 to face the Columbus Blue Jackets (7-5-0)

The Blue Jackets, while ranked 29th in even-strength time on ice, are fourth in shots on goal and sixth in goals scored, proving to be a mighty offence.

Their top playing line of Dmitri Voronkov-Sean Monahan-Kirill Marchenko is tied for fourth in the league in scoring the most goals (9) for lines that have played more than 100 minutes of 5v5 hockey. This line is also tied for giving up the least goals (1) for lines in that category.

When it comes to the power play, they are ranked 23rd and they don't often get to go on the man-advantage as their time on the ice in power play situations (50:38) is the second-lowest in the league. On the other hand, Calgary has been on penalty-kill the fourth-longest (83:34) and as we mentioned in our Three Takeaways for the Flames-Flyers game, Calgary has had BOTH its regulation wins in games where it had been short-handed the least without giving up a goal (2:00 vs Rangers, 1:37 vs Flyers). The only other game where the Flames were short-handed for a lower time was against Vegas on Oct. 18 (1:45), but they gave up three power play goals in that nightmare of a contest.

On the Flames blue line, the duo of Rasmus Andersson-Kevin Bahl is tied with five other pairs for third in giving up the lowest goals (5) for pairs that have played 125 minutes or more of even-strength hockey.

On the Blue Jackets' defence, Columbus has given up the sixth-most shots on goal and the 10th-most high-danger scoring chances.

Their main duo is Zack Werenski-Denton Mateychuk who are tied with four other pairs in conceding the second-lowest goals (4) for pairs that have played at least 125 minutes of even-strength hockey.

The main strength with Columbus lies within net: they are number one in save percentage in even-strength situations. Both of their goalies have a save percentage of above 0.900 after starting in six games each and it's been confirmed that in Wednesday's contest, Jet Greaves will be goaltender for Columbus. He currently carries the lower GAA of the two at 2.68 with a 3-3-0 record.

Dustin Wolf is confirmed in net for Calgary and will be hoping for an encore of the game against the Flyers.

As for the Flames power play, this game might give them the opportunity to try something new as Columbus' penalty-kill is the second-worst in the league.

Bottom Line

This is a tough match-up, but the Flames can come away with a win if they can get a good performance from Wolf and don't commit foolish penalties on the ice. There's also the part about getting past the top save percentage team in even-strength hockey, but if they do that, they're golden.

 

The American Hockey League announced Wednesday that former Grand Rapids Griffins forward Alexandre Giroux will be inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame during the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Illinois. The ceremony, scheduled for February 11, will honor Giroux alongside Chris Bourque, Jim Wiemer, and Wendell Young, cementing his legacy as one of the league’s all-time greats.

🌟THE CLASS OF 2026🌟

Recognized by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee as the latest group of enshrinees are Chris Bourque, Alexandre Giroux, Jim Wiemer and Wendell Young.

🔗: https://t.co/ySr0sBhAmUpic.twitter.com/TeanpP0JSn

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) November 5, 2025

Giroux’s professional journey began in the 2001-02 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the team’s inaugural campaign in the AHL and final season as an affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. After a strong rookie season with 27 points in 70 games and a plus-five rating for the West Division champions, Giroux followed Ottawa’s move to a new AHL affiliate, joining the Binghamton Senators. Despite his talent, NHL opportunities were limited.

The AHL announced that former Griffins forward Alexandre Giroux will be inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame during the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Illinois #GoGRG

DETAILS | 🔗 https://t.co/MGoPxXl2Hlpic.twitter.com/thTsWGe6Pv

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) November 5, 2025

His fortunes changed in 2003-04 when the Senators traded him to the New York Rangers. He was immediately assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he spent the season before earning his first NHL appearance with the Rangers. In 2006, Giroux signed a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals and scored his first NHL goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 16. He later joined the Atlanta Thrashers’ AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, before returning to the Capitals organization at the 2008 trade deadline.

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

12/10/08: BOS @ WSH: Alexandre Giroux, 1st of the season (3rd of career) Assisted by Viktor Kozlov and Tom Poti pic.twitter.com/UdU5C7quqp

— Random NHL Goal a Day (@NHLGoalADay) December 13, 2024

Giroux’s AHL success reached its peak with the Hershey Bears, where he helped lead the team to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2009 and 2010. During this period, he achieved feats few in league history can match, including consecutive 50-goal seasons, a 60-goal campaign, a record 15-game goal streak, and league MVP honors in 2008-09. He compiled 139 goals and 255 points over two seasons. Over his 11 AHL seasons, Giroux reached seventh on the all-time goals list with 368, finishing his career with 704 points in 771 games and adding 103 points in 118 playoff contests. His clutch play included a record five career playoff overtime goals.

Happy Alexandre Giroux day to those who celebrate! Technically it was yesterday but it was nearing midnight in Hershey when Giroux scored a legendary goal in Hershey Bears history. pic.twitter.com/oRoWgFQNjg

— Bears Hockey Nation (@HBHNationBlog) June 12, 2023

Although his NHL career was limited to 48 games with the Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Capitals, and Edmonton Oilers, totaling 12 points, Giroux’s professional impact extended overseas. He competed in Russia’s KHL, Switzerland’s Swiss-A league, and France with Grenoble, helping the team win a league title. He concluded his career in Quebec with Thetford Assurancia of the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey.

Giroux becomes the fourth former Grand Rapids player to enter the AHL Hall of Fame, joining Michel Picard, Bryan Helmer, and Darren Haydar. From his start in Grand Rapids to his record-setting AHL dominance and international ventures, Alexandre Giroux’s career represents perseverance, skill, and a deep passion for the game, making him a deserving addition to hockey’s Hall of Fame.

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A stat is a stat.

Following Tuesday's overtime 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, the Nashville Predators are now 0-4 in games decided in the overtime period and 1-4 in games that have gone beyond regulation. 

The loss to the Wild was vastly different from the rest. The Predators did a decent job with the possession battle, which has stung them in the past.

With 1:22 left in overtime, Justus Annunen knocked the net off its left mooring and it began to slide. Marcus Johansson's first shot attempt, while the net had started to move, hit the side of the net. If it had gone in, it would've counted as the puck would've gone into the net if it was still on its mooring. 

The issue with the goal came on Johansson's rebound shot, which went in. He got the puck off the side of the net, which wouldn't have happened if the net had been still on its mooring. After review, the officials stood by their original call of it being a good goal. 

"It's a weird play. I can see the confusion, but the confusing part for us was why it was so emphatically called a goal," Steven Stamkos said. "I get it. If the net comes off and the puck goes in right away, it's no problem. But he missed the net and the puck actually bounced back to him because the net was sideways.

"My interpretation of the rule is that if the net wasn't off, the puck wouldn't have come back to him." 

Losses to the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 16 and the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 3 saw the Predators looking ahead to the shootout. Predators head coach Andrew Brunette even said following the game against the Canucks that he liked his team's chances more in the shootout. 

Against the Canadiens, Cole Caufield scored the game-winner with three seconds left in overtime, and Brock Boeser won the game for the Canucks with two seconds left in overtime. 

Both situations saw the Predators lose a board battle, with two players in the scrum and the puck getting knocked out to the opposing player in open space. Caufield caught a drop pass into the slot and Boeser was all alone from the left side of Juuse Saros. 

The loss to the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 11 saw the Predators' opponent fully dominate the possession battle. Nashville couldn't generate a single shot, let alone a rush down the ice, before Dylan Guenther made a move past Fedor Svechkov and scored. 

It was nearly a similar situation against the Canucks as defenseman Quinn Hughes slowed play down to give Vancouver a possession advantage.

The Predators have pushed a game past overtime once this season, which was a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings in a shootout on Oct. 25. Nashville has also shown a third-period fight in these eventual overtime losses, forcing the game into extra time against the Canucks and Wild. 

Brunette and multiple players have said it's "a coin flip" in overtime, but with the Predators constantly struggling in 3-on-3, the issue may be deeper than chance. 

After a three-game road trip that saw them go 2–1–0, the Vancouver Canucks will be spending the next four games at home, taking on the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and Winnipeg Jets. This means the Canucks have the opportunity to snag a possible eight points within the span of the week, which would do great damage in the standings to their Pacific Division opponents. Let’s make some guesses as to how this homestand will go for the Canucks. 

November 5 vs. Chicago Blackhawks 

Some may be quick to dismiss the Blackhawks, as this stretch of home games features opponents who currently sit at the top of the NHL’s standings. However, this shouldn’t be the way Vancouver approaches tonight’s game, as they did only take their game against Chicago via shootout back in October. Since Thatcher Demko has started the past two games, it would make sense for Kevin Lankinen to get the start tonight, just as he did back in October. On the other side of the ice, expect Spencer Knight to start for Chicago, as Arvid Söderblom was given the start in the Blackhawks’ most recent game on Monday. 

Chicago’s special teams put them around the middle of the pack, with their penalty kill (80.8%, 15th in the NHL) being a bit better than their power play (17.5%), which sits at 21st in the NHL. While the Canucks did score two goals on Monday with the man-advantage, neither of these came from their top-unit. With Quinn Hughes taking part in his second game since returning from injury, Vancouver’s first-unit is due for a goal or two. 

Prediction: Canucks 5, Blackhawks 3 

Three Stars for Vancouver: Quinn Hughes, Kevin Lankinen, Elias Pettersson 

November 8 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Canucks’ second game of their homestand is against the Blue Jackets, who will take on the Calgary Flames tonight before heading to Vancouver for Saturday’s game. Columbus has looked strong so far this season, with the Blue Jackets occupying the fourth spot in the Metropolitan Division. As of November 5, the Blue Jackets are currently tied for the fourth-most 5-on-5 goals-for in the NHL with 30 while sporting the third-lowest goals-against at 5-on-5 with only 20. Their special teams work, on the other hand, may be one of their biggest weaknesses. Columbus has scored only five goals on the power play so far this season, while surrendering 12 power play goals against. 

As for goaltending, Elvis Merzļikins and Jet Greaves has split their starts pretty evenly so far for Columbus, with Merzļikins taking the team’s November 2 game against the New York Islanders. If Greaves gets the start tonight, Merzļikins will likely be the starter on Saturday. In the event that Vancouver starts Lankinen on Wednesday, Demko would be the most likely candidate to start on Saturday, with Lankinen then coming in on Sunday against the Avalanche. 

Prediction: Blue Jackets 3, Canucks 2 (OT) 

Three Stars for Vancouver: Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, Thatcher Demko 

November 9 vs. Colorado Avalanche

As of November 5, the Avalanche are the top team in the entire NHL, having only lost once in regulation but five times in overtime. It will be very hard for the Canucks to shut down the lethal offence of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Nečas, especially given that Vancouver is missing a good chunk of their top penalty killers in Teddy Blueger and Conor Garland. However, the Canucks have found success against Colorado in the past, as the team won all three of their matches against the Avalanche last season including shutting them out back in February. 

Vancouver’s biggest shot at winning against Colorado comes in overtime, as the Avalanche have lost all five of their games that have gone past regulation. The Canucks, on the other hand, have yet to give up a game in overtime or a shootout (though the prediction for their Columbus game negates that stat). While this game marks the second-half of a back-to-back for both teams, Colorado will be travelling to Vancouver from Edmonton, putting the circumstances of the game in the Canucks favour — albeit slightly. 

Prediction: Canucks 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) 

Three Stars for Vancouver: Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood, Kevin Lankinen 

November 11 vs. Winnipeg Jets

Vancouver’s fourth and final game of this homestand is against the Jets next Tuesday. Winnipeg, near the top of the NHL’s standings with a 9–4–0 record, welcomed back their captain Adam Lowry on Tuesday night after the forward started the season rehabilitating hip surgery done in May. The Jets have been a strong team all over the ice this season, placing in the top-half of the NHL in power play (22.7%), penalty kill (88.7%), and faceoff wins (51.9%). The only lapse in the Jets’ power that seems to be a target is their ability to generate shots and scoring chances. They’re within the bottom-10 in the NHL in shots per game with 26.8, and have generated a ninth-lowest scoring chances for with 356. 

From now until the 11th, the Jets only play in two games. Winnipeg backup Eric Comrie has played in three games so far this season against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, and New York Islanders, winning all of them. Whether he gets the start over Connor Hellebuyck or not will depend on who starts the Jets’ next couple of games. For Vancouver, if Lankinen takes the game against the Avalanche, then all signs will point to Demko starting against Winnipeg. 

Prediction: Jets 3, Canucks 1

Three Stars for Vancouver: Jake DeBrusk, Evander Kane, Thatcher Demko 

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Things are going to get real from here on out in the NHL power rankings.

With the first month completed, we’re going to see which NHL teams are for real and which ones are the pretenders.

Remember, American Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, and historically, it’s been a very good predictor of which teams will make the post-season. In a league with so much parity, banking points early can provide a cushion when the playoff races heat up in the final weeks of the season.

As with all previous seasons, there has been no shortage of surprises. The Penguins, for example, are surprisingly good, while the Blues have been surprisingly bad. In this week’s NHL power rankings, we take a look at which players and storylines have been the most surprising for each team.

1. Colorado Avalanche (8-1-5, +13. PR: 1)

For a team with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, it’s a little shocking they’ve lost three in overtime and twice in the shootout. Their only regulation loss came, surprisingly, against the Bruins, which nearly blew a 3-1 lead and were outshot 33-19. Locking up Martin Necas for eight years quickly was a smart move, and the Avs look poised to make another deep run. 

2. Winnipeg Jets (9-4-0, +12. PR: 3)

It’s deja vu all over again. Excellent goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck and then relying on one line that can score. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how consistent the Jets have been and proving last season was no fluke despite lacking the depth that a lot of other elite teams possess. 

3. Vegas Golden Knights (7-2-3, +8. PR: 4)

Over the past few seasons, the Knights have had one of the most productive bluelines in the league. So far this season, they’ve produced one goal, and you’ll never guess from who… (Kaedan Korczak)

4. Carolina Hurricanes (8-4-0, +12. PR: 6)

Pyotr Kochetkov returned and immediately shut out the Rangers – it’s not hard to do these days – but I think the biggest development has been Logan Stankoven locking down the second-line center spot behind Sebastian Aho. They’ve been looking forever and seem to have finally found someone they like.

5. Montreal Canadiens (9-3-1, +7. PR: 8)

Jakub Dobes has come out of nowhere to go 6-0-0 to start the season, and with Sam Montembeault getting tagged with four goals and another loss Tuesday against the Flyers, it could be Dobes’ net going forward. Another name: Nick Suzuki. At this point, it’d be a travesty if he were left off Team Canada.

6. Utah Mammoth (9-4-0, +9. PR: 9)

The Mammoth were a popular dark horse pick so I don’t think their success is all that surprising, but I didn’t expect their goaltending to be so solid. Karel Vejmelka has an .894 SP, but his quality start percentage is the highest of his career, per hockey-reference.com, and he has become reliable on a nightly basis.

7. New Jersey Devils (9-4-0, +6. PR: 2)

Aside from a brilliant performance from Jacob Markstrom against the Kings, the Devils looked pretty horrible on their four-game roadie, losing three games and allowing 17 goals (!) in those losses. No question, I think the biggest surprise has been Dawson Mercer, who hasn’t looked this good since his first two seasons after scoring just 69 points over the last two seasons.

8. Dallas Stars (7-3-3, -2. PR: 5)

The lack of scoring is a little perplexing. The Stars rank tied for 26th in goals-for per game and hired Glen Gulutzan away from the Oilers to improve their power play, which it has, but they’re also tied for last in goals-for at 5-on-5. 

9. Anaheim Ducks (8-3-1, +11. PR: 15)

The Ducks rattled off three straight wins against some pretty tough teams over the past week and outscoring them 16-6, including a season sweep of the Panthers. They’re the biggest surprise in the West this season.

10. Detroit Red Wings (9-5-0, +2. PR: 7)

They toughed out a road trip with two shootout wins, including a bizarre game against the Kings where they were outshot, blew a lead, seemingly lost in overtime, only to get the call reversed. The biggest surprise is the pieces of the Yzerplan falling into place as the Wings hunt for a playoff spot. 

11. Columbus Blue Jackets (7-5-0, +4. PR: 12)

The goaltending has been very good with Jet Greaves (.916 SP) and Elvis Merzlikins (.917 SP). We knew the Jackets could score (except on the power play), but for the longest time, they couldn’t get any stops consistently. Their record doesn’t look like much now, but don’t be surprised if they go on a run here. A few seasons ago, they couldn’t string two wins together.

12. Toronto Maple Leafs (7-5-1, even. PR: 14)

After ranking eighth in goals allowed per game last season, I thought the Leafs’ problem would be scoring, not defending. Anthony Stolarz’s .896 SP is misleading – he’s been their best player some nights – but I do think they miss Joseph Woll in a big way. 

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (8-4-2, +9. PR: 10)

Pick one. The Pens have been the best feel-good story of the season so far, making one last push in the twilight of the Crosby-Malkin-Letang Era. I do think the biggest surprise, however, is rookie Ben Kindel, who was a bit of a surprise pick at No. 11 this past summer after being ranked 21st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Penguins' Ben Kindel Is Playing His Way Off The Canadian World Junior TeamPittsburgh Penguins rookie Ben Kindel continues to strengthen his case to stick around in the NHL, which could be bad news for Canada's world junior squad.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (7-5-1, +3. PR: 17)

I think the Flyers have been better than anyone expected, but not because Matvei Michkov has emerged as their franchise player, with one goal in 13 games. We shouldn’t write them off too early, or even praise them too soon, because it does look like Dan Vladar is coming down to earth after a surprisingly strong start.

15. Los Angeles Kings (6-4-4, -4. PR: 19)

The Kings are 5-1-2 since their horrific start, joining a handful of teams that have managed to turn their season around in the first month. Kevin Fiala has 10 points in 14 games, dispelling previous notions about his slow starts.

16. Washington Capitals (6-5-1, +2. PR: 11)

That’s four straight losses and three games where they scored one goal or fewer. And they’re without Pierre-Luc Dubois for an extended period. Oof. It’s been interesting to see Tom Wilson playing arguably the best hockey of his career right now at 31 years old, especially for a player who plays such a taxing physical style and already has a lengthy injury history. 

17. Edmonton Oilers (6-5-4, -2. PR: 13)

I think the most surprising thing, even before the season, was the Oilers’ decision to run it back with their current goaltending tandem. It can be good, but it’s not good enough very often, and we’re stuck asking the same questions over and over again. 

18. Tampa Bay Lightning (6-5-2, +1. PR: 21)

This is definitely the Lightning we know. They’ve gone 5-1-0 after a rough first few weeks, with their only loss coming against the Avalanche. I’m surprised we even talk about the Lightning at all in the first month; they usually like to give the league a head start before showing in late November and December why they should still be feared. 

19. Florida Panthers (6-6-1, -7. PR: 16)

Yes, the two-time defending Cup champions are ranked last in the East, though they’re not ranked as such in the NHL power rankings because we know how good they really are. However, Sam Bennett, who was supposed to fill a significant portion of the void left by Aleksander Barkov, has mostly been invisible, and their top scorer is 37-year-old Brad Marchand. 

20. New York Rangers (6-6-2, -3. PR: 22)

This one’s easy: they can’t score. They’re shockingly 0-5-1 on home ice and were shut out again Tuesday against the Canes. At some point, they should turn it around; Artemi Panarin’s on an unsustainable cold streak, and their expected goals actually aren’t this bad. 

21. Seattle Kraken (6-2-4, even. PR: 18)

A couple bounces, and the Kraken might be on a five-game winning streak, and the conversation would be different, but alas, they’re 3-2-2 in their last seven and 1-0-1 in a quiet week. Their scoring has been a nice surprise; this might be just the second time they’ve had at least two players score 60 points in the same season. 

22. Chicago Blackhawks (5-5-3, +1. PR: 20)

I think the biggest compliment you can give the Hawks is that they’re competitive. In a season where almost every team has a points percentage above .500, the Hawks beating the likes of the Mammoth and Lightning, and hanging with the Oilers, Habs and Panthers, is a testament to how much they’ve improved. It’s especially surprising following a very quiet summer.

NHL's Eastern Conference Has Incredible Historic ParityEvery team in the NHL's Eastern Conference is playing at .500 hockey or better entering November. That is anything but normal.

23. Minnesota Wild (5-6-3, -11. PR: 25)

The Wild have been a high-event but not-so-good defensive team for two seasons now, but the biggest difference this season has been the play of Filip Gustavsson. He’s got the bag, and now he has to prove it, and things have been slightly improved lately.

24. Vancouver Canucks (7-7-0, -5. PR: 23)

Kiefer Sherwood has become somewhat of a cult hero. It’s easy to forget that the record setter for hits in a single season was once known as a scorer; he scored 75 points in 57 games in the AHL one season and averaged 0.92 points per game in the AHL throughout his career. He’s clearly never going back.

25. Boston Bruins (8-7-0, -2. PR: 27)

They’ve been incredibly streaky, and Jeremy Swayman is either excellent or in danger of losing his job. He was given a partial pass last season after a contract holdout, but I think he’s very, very far from being a lock to be USA’s No. 3 goalie in February.

26. New York Islanders (6-5-2, -3. PR: 28)

The most surprising thing about the Isles this season is that they’re actually watchable. There’s an understanding that anyone who hurts a hair on Matthew Schaefer’s head is going to get mobbed, and they look far more energized and faster than ever.

27. St. Louis Blues (4-7-2, -16. PR: 24)

Considering how good they were under Jim Montgomery last season, this season has been a total disaster so far. They’re inconsistent, and their goaltending has been horrible; Jordan Binnington is not playing like he wants to be Canada’s No. 1 after a strong showing at the 4 Nations Faceoff. 

28. Ottawa Senators (6-5-2, -3. PR: 26)

Tough to gauge the Sens without their captain, but Linus Ullmark has been really poor this season after a promising first season with his new club. He’s faced 30 or more shots only once (!) this season and allowed two goals or fewer just three times, and in one of those games, he faced only 13 shots.

29. Buffalo Sabres (5-4-4, -2. PR: 29)

Bad luck or just Sabres luck? They’ve played five straight games that went to extra time and lost four of them in overtime. Obviously, goaltending – what’s going to happen with Devon Levi? – and injuries have been hot topics, but I think the most surprising storyline that’s been developing over multiple seasons is how a club blessed with so much talent seem to attrition itself back into rebuild mode every decade or so.

30. San Jose Sharks (4-6-3, -11. PR: 31)

Take away the horrendous 0-4-2 start, and the Sharks are actually 4-2-1 since then, though three of those wins came in overtime. I think the surprise, albeit a mild one, is how quickly Macklin Celebrini has established himself as a dominant offensive player in the NHL. 

31. Nashville Predators (5-6-4, -12. PR: 30)

The loser point skews things, but the Preds were lucky to earn half the points they did over the past week. They were down 3-1 against the Canucks, and Steven Stamkos scored with 0.3 seconds (!) left against the Wild to force overtime in both games. I think what’s most surprising is the Preds haven’t been mentioned much in the rumor mill, or very active in trying to fix this poorly constructed roster. 

32. Calgary Flames (3-9-2, -17. PR: 32)

It’s a surprise that a borderline playoff team last season is this bad. Like, lottery-bound bad. A lot of it has been the Flames' subpar goaltending, but their offense hasn’t been good, and top defenseman MacKenzie Weegar is minus-12.

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Wednesday’s NHL schedule features five games filled with marquee matchups, promising fast-paced action, dramatic finishes, and highlight-worthy moments. One of the night’s most intriguing games has the Toronto Maple Leafs coming off a thrilling four-goal comeback win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. They now face one of the league’s hottest teams, the 9-4-0 Utah Mammoth.

If you’re new to our betting challenge, here’s how it works. We start with a modest bankroll and aim to grow it using smart, data-driven wagers. In past runs, we’ve turned just $10 into triple-digit profits. Tonight, our same-game parlay focuses on the Toronto-Utah matchup, providing a great opportunity to rebuild momentum after our recent hot streak came to an end. Our bankroll had climbed to $264.60 before taking a loss in Tuesday’s Golden Knights win over the Red Wings. Now we’re ready to heat back up and continue the climb after going a perfect 3-0 with our picks in last night’s Oilers-Stars game.

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 Pittsburgh Penguins For Real?Crosby and Malkin are revitalized, leading league-leading Penguins. Can this aging core sustain a Stanley Cup push with solid goaltending and surprisingly deep support?

Picks: Mammoth +2.5 & Over 5.5 Goals (+115)

The Utah Mammoth have begun their first season under their new identity in impressive fashion, suffering only four losses so far. However, they will look to rebound on Wednesday after dropping two of their last three games. Their recent struggles have come from defensive lapses rather than offensive shortcomings, as they still managed to score five goals despite giving up ten in those two defeats. The defense showed improvement in Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres.

Utah now heads to Toronto for the second leg of their road back-to-back. The Maple Leafs feature one of the league’s top offenses this season, ranking third in goals scored, but they have also struggled defensively, ranking fifth-worst in that category. Toronto’s stars William Nylander and Auston Matthews led the way in a 4-3 win over the Penguins on Monday, combining for three of the team’s four goals, while Matthews assisted Bobby McMann on the fourth. The Leafs’ top players appear to be heating up as they try to climb out of an early 7-5-1 start.

Utah should be able to challenge Toronto’s attack with their own strong offense, which sits just inside the league’s top ten. The Mammoth have developed a reputation for competing hard in tough matchups, holding a 6-4 record against the spread over their last ten games. Toronto has faced Utah only twice in franchise history, winning both games by a single goal, with each contest featuring six or more total goals.

A $10 wager on the Mammoth and the over at +115 odds would cashed for a $11.50 profit, pushing the total payout to $21.50 in return. With a loaded NHL slate ahead on Thursday, it’s the perfect time to ride the momentum and keep stacking that bankroll. 

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By now, the highlights of rookie Matthew Schaefer doing something special in a game are becoming a nightly occurrence.

Unfortunately for the New York Islanders defenseman, so too are the attempts from opponents to physically knock him off his game.

There was the game against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 25, when Mason Appleton went after Schaefer in the dying seconds of a 7-2 blowout win for the Islanders. Two nights later, Schaefer picked up his first roughing penalty after getting tangled up with Philadelphia Flyers winger Nikita Grebenkin. 

And on Tuesday night, the Boston Bruins once again targeted the youngster with defenseman Nikita Zadorov cross-checking Schaefer to the ground and then delivering a cheap shot to Schaefer's face as he was on the ice.

To the Islanders' credit, Schaefer's teammates came to his defense, with Anthony Duclair and Anders Lee literally jumping on top of the 6-foot-7 and 255-pound Zadorov.

"We're a family here… I know they always have my back, and they know I will always have their backs," Schaefer told reporters post-game.

That's the kind of response you love to see. But at the same time, the message isn't exactly being delivered in a way that prevents this from happening again.

Following the game, Zadorov basically laughed off the response from the Islanders and their fans, who flooded his Instagram with nasty direct messages.

"Get out of my DMs and go to the rink to cheer for your team," Zadorov replied. "That place was a library tonight."

Nikita Zadorov Trolls Islanders & Fans After Schaefer ScrumThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> found a way to win another hockey game last night, toppling the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> 4-3 in a shootout.

In other words, Schaefer is not off-limits. Not by a long shot.

One month in, it is clear that the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, who has five goals and 11 points in 13 games, is skating with a target on his back. It's also clear that despite the Islanders' best intentions, Schaefer keeps getting attacked.

Some might argue that this is a rite of passage for any young player. After all, Sidney Crosby picked up 110 penalty minutes as a rookie in the NHL, while Connor McDavid missed almost half his rookie season after fracturing his clavicle on a dirty hit from Philadelphia's Brandon Manning.

That is the path that Schaefer is on. 

The more games he plays, the more teams are going to target him. Eventually, he's going to either have to fight back (like Crosby) or risk a major injury (like McDavid), unless Islanders management steps up and does something.

“Teams are starting to see how good he really is,” Duclair told reporters. “Obviously, you want to be hard on good players. We try to do the same with their star players, so he definitely is going to have a target on his back all year. We’re here to protect him.”

It's one thing for the players to have his back. But it's now time for GM Mathieu Darche to do the same.

Which raises the question: how much more can Schaefer take before the Islanders get an enforcer to protect their most valuable asset?

Remember, this is not a veteran. Schaefer, who is 18 years old, is basically a kid. Last year, he was playing in major junior against other teenagers. Now, he's getting roughed up by a hulking man in Zadorov who weighs 255 pounds.

When Auston Matthews was a rookie, the Leafs signed Matt Martin to "keep the flies off", as then-coach Mike Babcock said. The San Jose Sharks took a similar approach this season by trading for heavyweight Ryan Reaves as protection for Macklin Celebrini.

Martin, who happens to be Schaefer's landlord this season, is no longer playing. But after watching Schaefer get continually roughed up, the Islanders might want to bring back Martin or at least trade for an enforcer who can act as a bodyguard.

Perhaps they already have the answer on their team in defense partner Scott Mayfield. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound blueliner has 488 career penalty minutes and has fought tough guys Garnet Hathaway, Kurtis MacDermid, Ryan Lindgren and Andreas Englund in the past two years. But he's only had one fight per season in the past four, according to hockeyfights.com.

If they don't find someone to answer the bell more often, this could be a long — and painful — season for the Islanders rookie. 

"Eventually, he’s going to have the same protection that the star players get,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy told reporters. “I hope (the wait for that is) not too long.”

---

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The road has not been a friendly place for the Florida Panthers so far this season.

Florida began a four-game trip on Tuesday night in Anaheim and to say it did not go well would be a bit of an understatement.

While the Cats were able to erase multiple deficits, the overwhelming Ducks proved to be too much for Florida to handle and ultimately pulled away late, prevailing 7-3.

Considering the game was tightly contested for the majority, there are some positives that can be plucked from this one, but overall, it was another stinker.

Let’s get to Tuesday’s takeaways:

GAME GOT AWAY FROM THEM

Florida was down 1-0 and 2-1 before eventually clawing their way to a 3-2 lead midway through the game.

Unfortunately, between taking too many penalties and allowing an uncharacteristic amount of rush opportunities, the Panthers saw the game slip from their grasp.

It’s troubling when a team that generally plays a very structured game starts to come apart at the seams, and that’s what we saw from the Cats in Anaheim.

“I think at 3-3, it's a game,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “It was probably even at that point, but we wouldn't like very much what happened after 3-3 in the manner that it happened. We were into some pretty simple reads, or simple one-on-one plays, that we weren’t anywhere near to a standard that we would have, and we spent too much time in the penalty box on soft penalties.”

DUCKS’ SPEED MADE IT TOUGH

Despite the several areas that Florida struggled, credit must go to the Ducks for sensing a weakness and pouncing.

Anaheim kept their foot on the gas all night, constantly putting the Panthers on their heels and keeping them wondering where the next rush would be coming from.

Overall, yes, Florida played a decent game at even strength, there were still several holes in the Cats’ D that the Ducks exploited on several occasions.

“They play a fast, skilled game, and they really try to beat us up the ice,” said Panthers forward Noah Gregor. “We try and play a really tight gap game, and sometimes, if guys aren't in the right spots, they get breaks.”

FACING EVERYONE’S BEST

Not that this is anything new, but no matter which building the Panthers are lacing up their skates to go to battle, they know they’ll be facing the best their opponent has to offer.

That’s what happens when you’re the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

Last season, Florida was better equipped to handle the challenge based solely on the fact that they were a healthier squad.

Now they’re facing those same difficult tests, night after night, but doing so without some of their most important players.

It is what it is, and you’re not going to hear the Panthers complaining, but that doesn’t make it any easier to endure.

At some point, the Cats will need to start finding results if they’re going to keep pace in the standings until the injured list starts to shrink.

“Everybody has factors that they deal with at the start of each year, and we know what ours are,” Maurice said. “Some of them are earned, and we're proud of them, so we expect to get everybody's best.”

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Photo caption: Jan 21, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal as defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) plays for the puck against Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) during the second period at Honda Center. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens have made a roster move, as they have recalled defenseman Marc Del Gaizo from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket. 

With this roster move, the Canadiens will now have an extra defenseman on their roster for their road game against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 6. 

Del Gaizo joined the Canadiens this off-season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with them in free agency. This was after he recorded two goals, seven assists, nine points, and a minus-3 rating in 46 games this past season with the Nashville Predators. He also posted eight goals, 12 points, and a plus-10 rating in 30 AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2024-25.

Les Canadiens ont rappelé le défenseur Marc Del Gaizo du Rocket de Laval.

The Canadiens have recalled defenseman Marc Del Gaizo from the Laval Rocket.#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/o9a2wi2tCF

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 5, 2025

Del Gaizo has played in six games this season with Laval, where he has recorded one assist, four penalty minutes, and a plus-2 rating. 

In 55 career NHL games over two seasons, Del Gaizo has recorded two goals, 10 assists, 12 points, 23 penalty minutes, 63 blocks, and 91 hits. 

Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. During the game, Pittsburgh legend Evgeni Malkin took an aggressive slash at Winnipeg defenseman Logan Stanley. It was quietly announced on Sunday that Malkin would be fined $5,000 for his actions.

That was a healthy slash from Evgeni Malkin on Logan Stanley 😳 pic.twitter.com/a2JfGHdbwX

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 1, 2025

The incident occurred late in the first period as the two players battled behind the Jets’ net. Malkin appeared to feel that Stanley was being too rough, and in retaliation, he two-handed Stanley on his left side. Malkin received a minor penalty on the play for slashing. The $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Malkin has a long history of supplemental discipline throughout his 19-plus years in the NHL, including multiple fines and suspensions. Most recently, he was fined $5,000 last November for slashing Boston’s Nikita Zadorov and has previously served suspensions for various stick-related incidents. 

Jets Captain Adam Lowry ‘Super Motivated’ to Finalize Long-Term ExtensionJets captain Adam Lowry returns, driven to ink a long-term deal. Prospects are bright as Winnipeg aims to secure its cornerstone player.

Despite the penalty, Malkin recorded his 15th assist of the season on a Sidney Crosby goal. The Jets went on to win the game 5-2. The Penguins carried that frustration into Monday’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where they blew a 3-0 lead. They allowed four unanswered goals in the third period to lose 4-3, dropping their third game in their last four contests. 

Contract year Logan Stanley has arrived. pic.twitter.com/oRJGard4ta

— Connor Hrabchak (@ConnorHrabchak1) October 19, 2025

Stanley was back in action Tuesday as the Jets suffered a surprising 3-0 shutout loss to the LA Kings, though none of the goals came during his shifts. The 27-year-old defenseman has seen bright spots this season, being relied upon for 17-20 minutes a night while adding more point production than he ever has before in his career. So far this season, Stanley has a career-high two goals with four assists for six points in 13 games, including two multi-point games.

Kings Blank Jets 3-0 in Lowry’s ReturnKings dominate Jets 3-0 in a physical contest. Kuemper shines with a shutout, while Lowry’s return sparks no offense for Winnipeg.

The Buffalo Sabres entered their match against the Utah Mammoth with a short-handed roster, as illnesses to winger Jason Zucker and center Jiri Kulich necessitated the recall of center Noah Ostlund. The 21-year-old Ostlund combined with countryman and Rochester linemate Isak Rosen for his first NHL goal in the third period, but the Sabres registered only an anemic 18 shots and lost 2-1 in overtime at KeyBank Center on Tuesday. 

Alex Lyon was the standout performer for Buffalo, stopping 33 shots and keeping the game scoreless through 40 minutes and allowing only Nick Schmaltz’s goal in regulation, but for the fifth straight contest, the Sabres went to extra time. In those five games, the club has lost four in overtime to Toronto, Columbus, Boston, and Utah, and won only against Washington in a shootout on Saturday. Clayton Keller’s game-winner extended the Sabres consecutive point streak to seven, but handed them their fourth loss in five games. 

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“(Lyon) played great. You need your goalie to play great. The number of bodies and pieces we had to move around, we needed our goalie to play well and he did that for us.” Ruff said after the game. “(Playing) three-on-three is about winning one-on-one battles. We had our chance, (Alex) Tuch went down, but our coverage wasn’t good enough, we lost coverage on the high cycle and let Keller in.”  

In a tightly compacted Eastern Conference, the lost points early in the season have the Sabres outside of a playoff spot. Had they earned the extra point in half of their overtime losses, they would be in third place in the Atlantic Division. Instead, they are one point out of last place playing mostly on home ice the first five weeks of the season. 

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