Category: Ice Hockey

DENVER — Martin Nečas recorded two goals and two assists to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 6–3 victory at Ball Arena on Thursday night, securing their fifth consecutive win while sending the Buffalo Sabres to their fifth straight loss. 

Nathan MacKinnon picked up an assist to extend his point streak to 11 games (eight goals, 15 assists), while Gabriel Landeskog netted the 250th goal of his NHL career and Gavin Brindley contributed a goal and an assist for the Avalanche (12–1–5). Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 19 shots in the win. 

NHL (@NHL) on X52 SECONDS IN ⏰ Martin Necas makes it look so easy!

For the Sabres, former Colorado defenseman Bowen Byram found the scoresheet, while Tage Thompson contributed a goal and an assist. Jordan Greenway added a tally of his own for Buffalo (5-8-4), a club mired in a five-game skid and losers in eight of their last nine. 

Goaltender Alex Lyon surrendered two goals on three shots before being pulled at 6:10 of the opening period in favor of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who steadied the net with 26 saves in relief.

Nečas delivered a four-point performance in response to consecutive outings that head coach Jared Bednar characterized as below his usual standard. 

"I thought Marty had a really nice bounce back game," he stated. "He's had, not from a lack of effort, but probably not his most detailed last couple of games. He had a meeting this morning with (Dave Hakstol) and looked at some things; he was better tonight, and he found the back of the net a couple of times, so a big performance by him to get back on track."

First Period 

Just 52 seconds into the game, Cale Makar spotted Nečas streaking down the middle and sent him on a breakaway. Nečas buried a top-shelf wrister past Lyon to give Colorado an early 1–0 lead. 

A short time later, Buffalo’s Beck Malenstyn got into it with a couple of Avs, but the confrontation cooled quickly once Landeskog grabbed hold of his helmet and ripped it off. Officials stepped in, and no penalties were issued. 

At 6:10 of the period, the Avs extended the lead to 2–0 when Artturi Lehkonen punched in a rebound off a Sam Malinski shot. 

Following the second goal, the Sabres pulled Lyon in favor of Luukkonen. 

Buffalo answered not long after, capitalizing when Blackwood mishandled a cover attempt, allowing former Av Byram to score against his old team. 

Two minutes later, Colorado struck again to make it 3–1. Brindley fed Ross Colton at the blue line, and Colton redirected the puck to Brock Nelson, who quickly snapped a wrist shot over Luukkonen’s right shoulder to restore the two-goal cushion. 

Nearly four minutes after that, the Avs got caught napping. Buffalo’s Owen Power lofted the puck into Colorado’s defensive zone, and Jordan Greenway hustled to win the race, batting it out of the air past Blackwood to cut the deficit back to one. 

Late in the period, Landeskog scored off a rebound, but the goal was waved off after officials ruled that Jack Drury had committed goaltender interference on the play. 

Second Period 

Early in the second period, Josh Manson one-timed a shot from the point off a pass from Brent Burns, but Luukkonen slid to his right to make the save. 

Colorado went on the penalty kill at 6:30 after Landeskog was called for tripping Byram. Once the Avs killed it off, the Sabres took their turn in the box after Owen Power tripped Necas along the boards. The Avs immediately turned on the jets off the rush on the ensuing power play, with MacKinnon carrying the puck up ice and snapping a quick shot, only for Luukkonen to snag it with the glove. 

MacKinnon headed to the box moments later after falling and swinging his stick into Byram’s knees, drawing a slashing call. The Sabres capitalized on the power play when Thompson blasted a one-timer off a feed from Isak Rosen past an outstretched Blackwood. 

Gavin Brindley, the young phenom, came up big once again, giving the Avs a 4–3 lead with 3:22 left in the period. He took a pass from Manson and fired a wrister that beat Luukkonen blocker-side, sending the home crowd into pure jubilation. 

Third Period 

The Avalanche opened the final period on the power play after Tyson Kozak was assessed a high-sticking minor on Ross Colton. No blood was drawn, so the call remained a standard two-minute infraction. Colorado’s top unit generated several high-quality chances, but Luukkonen stood tall, turning away each attempt with poised, technical efficiency. 

Moments later, Sam Girard—making his first appearance in 15 games following an upper-body injury—nearly authored a storybook return. He fired a shot from the left circle toward a wide-open net, only for Luukkonen to sprawl across the crease and deflect it in a highlight-reel save that ultimately rang off the post. 

Meanwhile, Taylor Makar, younger brother of Cale, delivered a performance well beyond what might be expected less than 24 hours after being recalled from the Colorado Eagles. Though Luukkonen denied his scoring attempts, Makar was a persistent presence in the Sabres’ zone, applying sustained, intelligent pressure and consistently driving play in Colorado’s favor. 

Nečas scored his second of the night with 3:07 when he one-timed a shot in the slot from MacKinnon to give the Avalanche a 5-3 lead. Landeskog subsequently added an empty-net goal with less than two minutes to go in regulation to seal a 6-3 win for the Avalanche, although it appeared Nečas was going to go for the hat trick, he instead put his team first and served up a freebie for the captain to get him on the board.

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On Thursday, the Winnipeg Jets fell 5–3 to the Seattle Kraken, marking their fourth loss in five games as the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners continue to navigate unfamiliar territory.

Winnipeg led on three separate occasions but couldn’t find the insurance goals needed to put Seattle away. The Kraken relentlessly pushed back, scoring three times in the third period to take control. Still, there were bright spots for the Jets. Alex Iafallo scored for the second straight game after a brief point drought, and his goal also gave captain Adam Lowry his first point of the season thanks to a sharp setup. Mark Scheifele did his part with a goal, an assist, and a drawn penalty as he tried to spark a comeback, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.

Newest Injury Report Brings Encouraging News For JetsThe Winnipeg Jets announced Thursday that Dylan Samberg and Gustav Nyquist are back ahead of Thursday's matchup versus the Seattle Kraken.

The game started off as a defensive slugfest as both sides are known for their elite defense with the Jets finally cracking the mold and getting the first goal on the board half-way through the first. After a clean breakout of their end, Winnipeg found themselves with a four-on-two odd man rush with Alex Iafallo rushing towards the netfront. Jets captain Adam Lowry holds the puck until just the right moment and fires through a pass that re-directs off Iafallo and goes in for the go-ahead goal for Winnipeg. 

Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) on XChemistry levels are off the chart 📈🤩

The Kraken were anxious to even up the score and applied an aggressive forecheck that the Jets weren't ready for. After battling for the puck in the boards, Jaden Schwartz regains possession for the Kraken by pressuring the Jets defense. Schwartz gets the puck back along the board with Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko making sure to get in front of the net for a chance. The former second overall pick by the Rangers gets in position and tips a Schwartz shot past Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck for the tying goal. 

Things were tied after the first but the Jets lethal top line didn't waste long to make their presence felt. Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele found room behind the Seattle defense and opened up for a breakaway as defenseman Neal Pionk, hit him with a perfect breakout pass for a solo chance. Scheifele buries the shot to put the Jets back up. 

The Kraken weren't done there as they again fought back four minutes later to tie things up. Seattle kept the puck in Winnipeg's end for a lengthy possession and their chance came when Kraken forward Ryan Winterton worked the puck to infront of the Jets net and with a few bounces found Vince Dunn's stick. The Seattle defenseman was able to get enough of it to direct the puck past Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck to tie the game at two goals a piece.

Each side battled hard for the win, and the intensity showed on special teams as both traded power-play goals. The Jets closed out the second period with a strong cycle that left star winger Kyle Connor open in the high slot for a one-timer, and he made no mistake, beating Seattle’s Philipp Grubauer.

Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) on XKYLE CONNOR on the POWER PLAY 😏

Seattle came out energized after killing another penalty early in the third. They turned that momentum into a response on their next power-play opportunity, setting up a play eerily similar to Winnipeg’s goal. Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen ripped a one-timer from nearly the same spot Connor had scored from, snapping it past Hellebuyck to tie the game for the third time and keep the Kraken within striking distance.

The momentum was firmly on Seattle's side following some scrums that energized the home crowd. Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo tries to keep up with Seattle's Jordan Eberle but the former first overall pick freed himself up for a perfectly-timed cross crease pass from Kraken center Matty Beniers for the Kraken's fourth goal on the night and giving them their first lead. Eberle sealed the win with an empty-netter for his second goal of the night, as he and Matty Beniers combined to torch the Jets on the final two tallies. Winnipeg’s last-minute push couldn’t overcome the resulting two-goal deficit. 

Without a goal on Thursday, Nyquist has failed to score in his first 12 games of the season, marking his slowest start of his career, tying his longest goal drought to begin a season since his rookie year in 2011-12.  Winnipeg's Tanner Pearson also continue his scoring drought, now at 13 games with many fans wondering if he'll continue to hold his spot in the lineup moving forward. 

Moose Battle Back From Two-Goal Deficit To Edge IceHogsShots denied, comeback ignited. Moose shock IceHogs with stunning shorthanded and power-play goals to secure a dramatic victory.

The Jets will look to rebound Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada when playing the Calgary Flames in an all-Canadian clash that fans won't want to miss. The matchup will be the last stop of Winnipeg's lengthy five-game road trip and will see them return home to play the Columbus Blue Jackets next Tuesday. 

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The Boston Bruins’ seven-game winning streak started after a 7-2 loss in Ottawa on October 27th and that's where it went to die as well. The Senators once again blew an early 2-0 lead, but this time, thanks to a pair of late goals from Tim Stützle, they recovered to defeat the Bruins 5-3 at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night.

With the victory, the Senators improved their record to 9-5-4, good for a three-way tie for top spot in the Atlantic with Boston and Montreal. The Canadiens were clobbered by Dallas on Thursday night 7-0 but still hold the edge by virtue of playing one fewer game than the Senators.

To recap, for all the anxiety and so-called troubling moments in the first month, no one in the Atlantic Division has more points than the Ottawa Senators. Stützle ended the night with two goals and an assist, Leevi Meriläinen made 18 saves for the Senators, and Michael Amadio extended his points streak to six games.

Claude Giroux got the game started with a power play goal less than 2 minutes into the game. The Senators created some space for themselves with some excellent passing just prior to the goal. Finally, Giroux one-timed a cross-ice pass from Stutzle to give the Senators a 1-0 lead.

Dylan Cozens made it 2-0 at the end of the period with another one-timer. Fabian Zetterlund outmuscled his man behind the Boston net and hit Cozens all alone in the high slot area.

Boston pushed back in the second on Morgan Geekie’s 12th goal of the season, which would be the only goal of the second period.

Just over a minute into the third, Shane Pinto scored his ninth goal of the season. On the day of his new four-year extension, Pinto ends his nine-game goalless drought.

After starting the year going scoreless in the team’s first seven games, Amadio has now put up a point in nine of his 11 games since. His assist tonight was a perfect saucer pass to Shane Pinto, who redirected it into the net. It was a fine gift to Pinto for signing his new four-year extension earlier in the day.

The Senators seemed to be in good shape at that point at 3-1, but their lead would last barely four minutes. With the Bruins on the power play, David Pastrnak appeared to cut into the lead with his 11th goal of the year, but it was overturned on an offside challenge. On the same power play, though, Pastrnak got one that counted to cut the lead to 3-2.

Less than 2 minutes later, former Senator Mark Kastelic tied the game, chipping a puck past Meriläinen.

That's when Stützle went to work. His hard wrist shot on a perfect pass from Drake Batherson gave Ottawa a 4-3 lead with under 6 minutes to play, and then Stützle put the contest to bed with an empty-net goal. As with the Pastrnak situation, Stützle had a chance at a do-over: Stützle hit the post on an empty-net try but then scored for real to ice the game.

The Sens limp out of this one with more injury concerns on the blue line. Already without Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson played the second half of the game with a sore hand after blocking a shot. And Nick Jensen, who's barely a month into his comeback from hip resurfacing surgery, hobbled off the ice at the end of the second and did not return.

Head coach Travis Green had no update on Jensen's status. If Jensen and Chabot both can't go on Saturday, this may create an opportunity for top prospect Carter Yakemchuk.

The Senators have now only lost once in regulation in their last 12 games, but their schedule now gets a bit quirky. The Sens have only one game in the next week and it happens on Saturday at home against the Los Angeles Kings. Then the club is off until next Thursday when they begin a long seven-game road trip. Saturday's game against the Kings will be their last home game until December 4th.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

On Friday, the 2025-26 NHL Global Series kicks off. 

And so will a key stretch of games for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

The team is currently 9-5-3 with 21 points, which is good enough for third in the Metropolitan Division standings and sixth in the Eastern Conference. Other teams in the division and in the conference have finally caught up to the Penguins in games played, and it seems everyone is one a somewhat level playing field.

And that's part of what makes this upcoming stretch of games for the Penguins so important. 

The Penguins will play two games against the Nashville Predators in Sweden on Friday and Sunday before they come home to face off against the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 21 in the first of a back-to-back. They play the Seattle Kraken - who have enjoyed a surprising start to the season at 8-4-5 - before playing games in succession against the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning, all teams outside of the current playoff picture. 

But, from there, the gauntlet starts - and it doesn't really get any easier for the rest of the season since the schedule is more condensed because of the Olympic break. Starting Dec. 7 until the holiday break beginning on Dec. 24, the Penguins play 10 games in 17 days, and seven of those teams are in the playoff picture. One of the teams that isn't, too, is the Edmonton Oilers, who the Penguins have struggled mightily against in the last several seasons.

Suffice to say, banking points in this stretch is critical for the Penguins - and they understand that the Global Series isn't just a nice week-and-a-half vacation for them. It's stretches like this that a team looks back on at the end of the season - playoffs or not - and realizes the importance of the points they did or didn't accrue.

What To Know: NHL Global Series Feat. The Pittsburgh Penguins And Nashville PredatorsThe 2025-26 NHL Global Series is finally here, and the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators">Nashville Predators</a> are gearing up for their two-game set at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

"At the end of the day, we're here for two games, four big points," forward Kevin Hayes said. "No matter where you're playing, you want to set yourself up for later down the line this season. Starting this morning - starting last night - it's kind of back to business, and when the puck drops, you're going for two points."

With eight of the next nine opponents outside of the playoff picture, it's easy to simply expect results, too. But given their most recent five-game set - when they lost four out of five games despite outplaying opponents for most of that stretch - they still need to play a full 60 minutes of hockey in each of these games to bank the points and give themselves some padding heading into a really tough stretch of the season. 

And that stretch doesn't get any easier after the holidays, either. Pittsburgh will play 20 games in 40 days, and - just like everyone else - they return from the near-three-week Olympic break in February to a crazy schedule ending the season, which involves 19 games in 34 days by the end of March. 

Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. Nashville Predators Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins will try to end their two-game losing streak on Friday.

If the Penguins can manage at least three points in Sweden and approximately 12 of 18 possible points in these nine games, that's a win. They need to keep pace with a Metropolitan Division that has struggled a bit in the earlygoing but is beginning to pick up some steam - especially in the wild card picture, where three Metro teams in the New York Rangers, Flyers, and Blue Jackets are within one point of a playoff spot and have been playing some good hockey as of late. 

Last year, a 1-3-1 stretch coming into this road trip may have left the team disheartened. But, this year, things are different - and there is a belief in the locker room that the group can keep this thing going in a positive direction and steer toward its first playoff berth in four years. 

"Last year, I felt like goals would go in, and we were like, 'Oh no, here we go, not again.' And, this year, I feel like whether we're winning or losing, it's the same belief until the final second of the game," Hayes said. "I've only been in two games. But just watching from up top and seeing the vibe in the locker room, that's what it kind of feels like."

Penguins' Fast Start Has Erik Karlsson's Fingerprints All Over ItErik Karlsson is off to an outstanding start to the 2025-26 season and is a big reason why the Pittsburgh Penguins are in a playoff spot.

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LAS VEGAS --New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer scored at 17:59 of the first period on the power play to give his team a 2-0 lead. His sixth goal of the season has him tied with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar for the league lead in goals among defensemen.

 

Matthew Schaefer takes advantage of Jack Eichel losing his stick killing a penalty, and fires a laser guided bullet for a #Isles 2-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/wiZf581UJq

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) November 14, 2025

Through his first 17 career games -- with two periods to go in Game No. 17 -- Schaefer has 13 points, with six goals and seven assists. 

Of Schaefer's six goals, four have come on the power play, as he's been instrumental in the club's improved power play. 

An 18-Year-Old's First Trip To VegasIslanders rookie Matthew Schaefer discusses his first long NHL road trip, a new card game he learned, and what he expects against Vegas in an exclusive one-on-one.

Schaefer is now tied with Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov for most points by a rookie this season. His four power-play goals through his first 17 NHL games tie Bryan Trottier as the only players in franchise history to accomplish that feat. 

His four power-play goals also doubles Noah Dobson's power-play production from 2023-2025. 

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

Coming into Thursday evening's game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Detroit Red Wings had scored a combined two goals in their last three games, all regulation losses. 

There was no better opportunity to break out of their funk against a high-flying opponent, and they made the most of it by finding the back of the net six times as part of their 6-3 victory at Little Caesars Arena. 

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on X#REDWINGS WIN!!! #LGRW

Perhaps just as significant was the Red Wings breaking out of their special teams woes, scoring twice with the man advantage while also keeping the Ducks off the scoresheet while they were shorthanded.

With the win, the Red Wings improved their record to 10-7 and moved back to within two points for top spot in the Atlantic Division. 

Following a scoreless opening 20 minutes of play, the Red Wings struck first after defenseman Moritz Seider beat goaltender Lukas Dostal with a seeing-eye shot from the point. 

Both teams would go back and forth from that point on, as the Ducks knotted the score thanks to a goal from Cutter Gauthier.

Detroit's Michael Rasmussen, who has been a healthy scratch on multiple occasions this season, scored a highlight-worthy goal as he fired a blistering shot past Dostal, only to have Chris Kreider respond for the Ducks soon afterward. 

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

Not even 60 seconds later, rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka restored the lead with his second goal of the season. 

Just 50 seconds into the third period, Alex DeBrincat deflected a Seider shot past Dostal on the power-play, giving Detroit their first two-goal lead of the evening.

While the Ducks managed to make things close thanks to a deflection tally from Mikael Granlund, Detroit once again went up by two after Dylan Larkin converted on a two-on-none rush with Lucas Raymond. 

DeBrincat then added an empty net goal for his second tally of the game, sealing the victory. 

Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, who was making his second start of the season against his former Ducks teammates, made several key saves in the first period during the scoreless tie.

After making 15 saves, Gibson was replaced by Cam Talbot for the third period. He had been hit in the mask twice by shots and also fell to the ice late in the second period after being sideswiped by a Ducks player.

There was no official explanation for Gibson's departure, but head coach Todd McLellan confirmed following the game that it was an upper-body issue; he didn't elaborate further. 

The Red Wings will be back on home ice on Saturday evening for a tilt against the Buffalo Sabres, who had beaten them in regulation last month. 

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The Pittsburgh Penguins had their final practice on Thursday before playing the Nashville Predators in the NHL's Global Series in Sweden on Friday.

This will be the first of two meetings against the Predators in Sweden before the teams play again for the second and final time on Sunday. 

Here were a look at the lines: 

Kindel-Crosby-Rust

Novak-Malkin-Mantha

Dewar-Lizotte-Koppanen

Koivunen-Hayes-Tomasino/Heinen

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Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Clifton-Brunicke

Dumba-Graves

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Heinen appears to be the odd-man out at forward, meaning that Philip Tomasino would get the spot on the fourth line. It's put up or shut up time for him since he has really struggled to open the season. 

Brunicke has been scratched for three games in a row, but if he returns on Friday, his entry-level contract would kick in since it would be his 10th NHL game. 

All three goaltenders (Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov, and Filip Larsson) got work during practice, but if head coach Dan Muse keeps up the rotation, Silovs would start on Friday. Larsson is up as a third goaltender for this trip after Murashov made his NHL debut last Sunday. 

A win would get the Penguins to 10-5-3 and snap a two-game losing streak.

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The Florida Panthers played their first home game in nearly three weeks on Thursday night when they welcomed the Washington Capitals to Sunrise.

Florida fell behind early but were quick to battle back, defeating the Capitals 6-3 at Amerant Bank Arena.

Washington took a 1-0 lead on a nice deflection by Brandon Duhaime that came on the heels of several great saves by Daniil Tarasov at the 8:25 mark of the first period.

Exactly 27 seconds later, Evan Rodrigues pounced on a Niko Mikkola rebound in the slot and beat Logan Thompson to quickly tie the game at one.

Florida would then take their first lead of the night early in the second period.

Just after the Capitals killed off a Tom Wilson holding penalty, Cole Schwindt deflected a point shot by Gus Forsling that eluded Thompson to give Florida a 2-1 edge at the 3:05 mark of the middle frame.

The Panthers doubled their lead later in the period, and this time they did it while on the power play.

A long shot by Carter Verhaeghe was stopped by Thompson, but Sam Reinhart was right there to backhand the rebound into the net to give the Cats a 3-1 lead with 5:22 to go in the second period.

It didn’t take long once the final period began for Washington to cut into Florida’s lead.

Former Panthers draft pick Justin Sourdif scored a tap-in goal off a great feed from Jakob Chychrun less than a minute into the third.

Florida reclaimed their two-goal lead a few minutes later, when Anton Lundell fed a wide-open Reinhart in the slot and his shot sailed past the flailing glove of Thompson to make it 4-2 Panthers.

With Nick Dowd serving a double-minor for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct, Florida added a fifth goal on a shot by Seth Jones that at first appeared to hit off the crossbar, but replay showed it quickly went in and out of the top of the net.

Caps defenseman Rasmus Sandin got a long shot past Tarasov with 7:20 to go, cutting the Cats lead back down to two, but that would be as close as they would get.

Eetu Luostarinen scored from just inside Florida’s blue line with 90 seconds to go, giving Florida a 6-3 lead.

Assisting on the goal was Brad Marchand, his second point of the game, giving him 1,000 points in his NHL career.

On to the Lightning.

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Photo caption: Nov 13, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) scores against the Washington Capitals during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Some effective former NHL coaches could find work again in case teams make a change before the winter.

The NHL’s coaching business is a highly cut-throat line of work. The coaching carousel spins faster than ever, with multiple coaches each year finding themselves fired or out of a job in some fashion.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see that happening again in 2025-26. The Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators have had some early-season struggles despite their coaches being in the job for at least one year, and for all we know, another team may decide to shake things up.

Waiting in the wings are veterans who’ve had success at the NHL level.

The list begins with former Dallas Stars coach Peter DeBoer, who has yet to win the Stanley Cup but has advanced to the playoffs semifinals seven times and the final twice.

In the last 10 seasons, DeBoer's teams – the San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights and Stars – made the playoffs nine times. In three of those seasons, his team finished first in the division during the regular season.

The Stars fired DeBoer following a third-straight exit in the Western Conference final and questionable comments regarding Jake Oettinger's goaltending. But if a team's looking for someone just to jump the hurdle and not only get into the playoffs but win a round, DeBoer is an enticing option.

That said, DeBoer isn’t the only veteran coach available to be hired.

Longtime NHL bench boss Peter Laviolette is also a free agent. While it's unlikely the Predators hire Laviolette for a second stint with the franchise, he is only two seasons removed from steering the New York Rangers to the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s best regular-season team.

Laviolette is the first coach in NHL history to lead six different teams to a playoff spot, and the Sabres might consider his pedigree as a key factor in making him the ideal choice for Buffalo.

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Otherwise, many other coaches might jump at the chance to coach again.

Former Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau is one such coach, even if he doesn’t have a Stanley Cup to his credit. Boudreau is known for instilling confidence in his players and giving his teams the new coach bump, so being tasked with doing the same in Nashville, Buffalo or elsewhere wouldn’t be out of his wheelhouse.

And although fellow Jack Adams Award-winner Gerard Gallant is coaching the KHL's Shanghai Dragons, you’d have to think he’d drop that gig to get back into the NHL if the opportunity arose. He's a player's coach who knows when to discipline players and promote high-tempo hockey.

There’s a reason why teams consistently have hired veteran coaches to turn things around – they’ve shown they can rise to the challenge of the high-stakes NHL game, and they’re banked on doing it again.

As a result, don’t be shocked to see Buffalo, Nashville or any struggling club to go with a familiar face if they do decide to make a coaching change. Whether it’s DeBoer, Laviolette, Boudreau, Gallant or someone else, experienced coaches have a proven appeal for teams looking for a change of message and messenger.

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The demise of the 2024-25 Buffalo Sabres can be directly attributed to their dramatic crash-dive to last November and early December, when they fell out of a playoff spot just prior to American Thanksgiving after a 1-0 shutout loss to Minnesota and went winless in 13 straight games. The Sabres emerged from that skid a dozen points out of a playoff spot and essentially their season was over with before Christmas. 

Although the cause of Buffalo’s recent struggles are not in their control, the club almost a year later on the precipice of another precipitous fall, as the Sabres are in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-7-4 record, six points out of third in the Atlantic Division, five point behind the second wild card spot, winless in six road games (0-4-2) and facing the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche on Thursday in Denver.  

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The Sabres have been debilitated by injuries to key players, losing two top centers in Josh Norris and Jiri Kulich, a pair of top-six wingers in Jason Zucker and Zach Benson, an important role player addition in Justin Danforth, and the absence of team captain Rasmus Dahlin for personal reasons. 

Buffalo takes on the Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings in the second-half of their four-game road swing before returning home for four in a row against Edmonton, Calgary, Chicago, and Carolina. The Sabres are 5-3-2 at KeyBank Center and were booed off the ice after being shut out 3-0 by the struggling St. Louis Blues last Thursday. The club will reach the quarter mark of the season next week, and if they do not begin to show signs of life, the fate of GM Kevyn Adams is all but certainly sealed.  

 

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The Wraparound has a new episode full of rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Adam Kierszenblat discussed in this episode:(insert full episode if possible, otherwise megaphone link)

Will The Tkachuk Bros Grow The NHL? by The Wraparound

0:00: Was Shane Pinto’s extension a fair deal for the Ottawa Senators?

3:48: Will Brady and Matthew Tkachuk’s new podcast help attract a wider audience to the NHL?

7:50: Can Corey Perry be an X-factor for the Los Angeles Kings this season?

12:55: Could Bo Horvat earn a spot on Team Canada?

17:30: Is Josh Morrissey one of the NHL’s most underappreciated defensemen?

20:55: Will David Pastrnak become the Boston Bruins’ all-time leader in goals?

25:29: Breaking down the top WHL prospects to watch at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge

28:02: Do the Colorado Avalanche have a goaltending tandem capable of winning a Stanley Cup?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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The Calgary Flames will add a fresh dose of skill and energy to their lineup tonight, as forward Rory Kerins is set to draw in against the San Jose Sharks after being recalled from the AHL on Thursday.

Kerins has been one of the Wranglers’ most reliable producers to start the season, posting 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in 13 games, placing him eighth in AHL scoring. The 23-year-old credits a strong, consistent start for the confidence he brings into his return to the NHL.

“Very comfortable coming back up here and seeing everyone, and it’s fun,” Kerins told reporters Thursday.

“I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent down there… I feel good about my game and confident.”

Kerins is projected to skate alongside Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee - as reported by Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg - a trio that has the potential to form one of Calgary’s more dynamic offensive lines. With the Flames in clear need of scoring support, the opportunity arrives at an ideal time.

This isn’t Kerins’ first look with the big club. Despite limited NHL action last season, he made an impression—four assists in five games, finishing plus-3, and showing notable poise for a 2020 sixth-round pick. His track record suggests that his upward trajectory is no fluke.

The offensive instincts have been there for years. His final OHL season with the Soo Greyhounds remains a defining example: 118 points (43g, 75a) in 67 games, a breakout display of elite vision and playmaking ability.

He carried that momentum into last year with the Wranglers, scoring a career-high 33 goals and leading the team with 61 points, further reinforcing his status as one of Calgary’s most intriguing young assets.

Kerins also made an early statement in preseason, scoring the game-winning goal on the power play and adding an assist in a 4–1 victory over Seattle on September 23.

Now, the question shifts to whether he can hold down a spot in the NHL. The Flames, battling for consistency and searching for an offensive spark, could certainly use someone with Kerins’ creativity and pace. This recall provides him with a legitimate opening—one he’s been working toward for years.

If his development curve is any indication, Kerins may be stepping into the right role at the right moment.

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The Detroit Red Wings are nearing the quarter mark of their centennial season, which has featured a notable youth movement.

Four rookies have already appeared in multiple games so far. Forwards Emmitt Finnie and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, along with defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, earned roster spots thanks to strong performances in both training camp and the preseason.

Although Brandsegg-Nygård was eventually returned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins after nine NHL games, Detroit soon called up Nate Danielson, making him the fourth rookie to skate with the club this season. 

NHL (@NHL) on X2023 ninth overall pick Nate Danielson will officially make his NHL debut today in Detroit! 🐙 Welcome to the League!

Danielson, Detroit's first pick (ninth overall) in the opening round of the 2023 Draft, likely would have made the team out of Training Camp had it not been for an injury.

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

During his NHL debut on Sunday afternoon, he fired four shots on goal while playing in 15:16 of total ice time as part of Detroit's 5-1 setback against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks while centering the third line. 

Following Thursday’s morning skate, Danielson said the biggest difference he’s noticed between the AHL and the NHL is just how thin the margin for error is, as mistakes at the NHL level can cost your team far more quickly than in the AHL.

"The most challenging is just the execution. I feel like it's a fine line, up here if you make a mistake, it'll probably be capitalized on and end up in the back of your net, whereas in the AHL it might not be," Danielson said. "Just a fine line with that, and I think it's pretty easy to come since (I had) a good Training Camp and do all the same stuff down in Grand Rapids."

Danielson then said that he's leaned on advice from some of the older veterans on the team, all of whom have made the transition for him coming from the Griffins a smooth one. 

"For sure, they're all super good about it," Danielson said about his Red Wings teammates. "Everyone's been super helpful with me in making the transition easy."

Danielson, who previously played in the WHL for both the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Portland Winterhawks, spent his first full AHL season in 2024–25 with the Griffins. He scored 12 goals and added 27 assists in 71 regular-season games, then added a goal in three Calder Cup Playoff appearances.

Before being called up to the Red Wings, Danielson already contributed a goal with four assists in five games with the Griffins so far this season. 

"It's A Must": Todd McLellan Directly Challenges Red Wings' Secondary Scorers Who Aren't Producing Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan has directly challenged some of Detroit's secondary scorers who aren't producing as they should.

Following practice earlier this week, head coach Todd McLellan pointed to the offensive struggles of some players on the Red Wings roster combined with Danielson's strong Training Camp as the reasons behind his promotion. 

“Danny’s here because he played really well at Training Camp,” McLellan said. “We have some players that are struggling right now, and we thought he could inject a little life and some enthusiasm into the team and maybe provide us with some offense. He’s earned the right to do that after training camp."

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The Grand Rapids Griffins announced Thursday that they have signed veteran goaltender Dustin Tokarski to a professional tryout (PTO), adding a seasoned presence in net as the team battles through injury troubles at the position.

Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) on X. @CopperRockGR Building Strong Update: The Griffins signed goaltender Dustin Tokarski to a professional tryout #GoGRG DETAILS | 🔗 https://t.co/Jtq5BHD4Pk

Tokarski, 36, was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fifth round (122nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot goaltender has built a 16-year professional career, appearing in 444 AHL games and 86 NHL contests since making his debut in the 2009–10 season. He is best remembered for his standout performance with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2013–14 campaign, when he started five playoff games against the New York Rangers, posting a 2–3 record with an impressive 2.60 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. That run included a memorable highlight, a spectacular stick save on New York’s Carl Hagelin.

Last season, Tokarski appeared in six NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes, compiling a 4-2-0 record with a 2.18 goals-against average (GAA) and a .902 save percentage. He spent most of the campaign in the AHL with Chicago, posting an 11-8-1 record, 2.84 GAA, and .897 save percentage.

A two-time Calder Cup champion (2012 Norfolk, 2019 Charlotte), Tokarski also competed in the 2013-14 AHL All-Star Game and led the league in wins (32) during the 2011-12 season with Norfolk. Over his AHL career, he owns a 227-154-41 record with 30 shutouts, a 2.58 GAA, and a .910 save percentage, having suited up for Norfolk, Syracuse, Hamilton, St. John’s, San Diego, Lehigh Valley, Hartford, Charlotte, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Rochester, and Chicago.

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

At the NHL level, Tokarski has played for Tampa Bay, Montreal, Anaheim, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Carolina, compiling a 27-36-12 record with three shutouts, a 3.08 GAA, and a .902 save percentage in 86 regular-season games.

Before turning pro, Tokarski was a standout in the junior ranks, finishing as a WHL champion (2008) and Memorial Cup champion (2008) with the Spokane Chiefs, where he was named the Memorial Cup Most Outstanding Goaltender and won the Stafford Smythe Trophy as tournament MVP. Internationally, Tokarski captured gold with Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championships.

The move comes as the Griffins continue to navigate injuries to both of their regular goaltenders, Sebastian Cossa and Michal Postava. In recent weeks, Grand Rapids has experimented with short-term tryouts to stabilize the crease, including signing goaltender Luke Pavicich to a PTO. Pavicich did not see any game action behind ECHL call-up Carter Gylander and was later released from his tryout, returning to the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings.

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Welcome back to The Hockey News' NHL Hot Seat Radar, where we're looking at who's facing more or less pressure to perform in the past week.

To be clear, not every person on the hot seat is in danger of losing their job or being traded. But if their seat is warming up based on recent results, they're facing pressure to turn the results around and get back on a better track.

As we noted last week, Calgary Flames coach Ryan Huska and Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette were on the hot seat, and their seats haven't cooled off any. So we're focusing this week partly on a couple of Maple Leafs and a Blues GM whose job isn't at risk but does have increasingly important work ahead of him.

But first, we return our focus to the Buffalo Sabres.

Red-Hot Seat: Kevyn Adams, GM, And Lindy Ruff, Coach, Buffalo Sabres

Ruff and Adams were also on the Hot Seat Radar last week, the Sabres are 0-3-0 in the past week, so their seats warm up even more.

Buffalo simply doesn’t have the depth of difference-makers, and that’s on Adams. And the Sabres don’t outwork many opponents. That’s on Ruff.

The logjam ahead of them in the Eastern Conference makes Buffalo’s road ahead extremely difficult. Their current stretch of four games in six days could either keep Buffalo somewhat close to the playoff battle or far out of it. They lost the first game of this stretch 5-2 against the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday.

There’s just too much not going the Sabres’ way to imagine that they’re going to overcome much of it and salvage their season. And the status quo with Buffalo’s management team is not going to stand. Unless the Sabres start stacking wins, Ruff and/or Adams may soon find themselves in the unemployment line. It’s that straightforward in Western New York.

Will Kevyn Adams' Lack Of Trades Cost Him The Sabres' GM Job?In the NHL, sometimes it's the trades you don't make as a GM that get you fired. Could Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams be next in that regard?

Warming Up: Craig Berube, Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs

Don’t look now, but the Maple Leafs have backslid into 15th place in the Eastern Conference and 27th in the NHL. This, from a top-five team in the league last season. They've been outscored 15-10 in the past week, with a 0-3-0 record.

Thus, everyone in Toronto is on a hot seat of sorts, but Berube has to take his share of the blame and quickly find out how to turn things around, or things will get ugly in Leafs Land.

This is not to say Berube is in danger of getting fired anytime soon. But after he’s experienced the highs of winning a division title in Toronto, he’s in the early stages of finding out how hard things can be when the Leafs slump.

He's turned a struggling team around 180 degrees before, when the Blues went from last in the league to the Stanley Cup championship in 2018-19. Now, he's under pressure to find answers for the Maple Leafs before a warm seat gets hot.

Warming Up: Doug Armstrong, GM, St. Louis Blues

Armstrong has earned his job security in St. Louis, and Alexander Steen is becoming the Blues' GM next year, anyway.

That said, Armstrong has his work cut out for him to allow Steen to hit the ground running next season, when Armstrong stays on as president of hockey operations. And the pressure's building on the Blues to pick a direction.

The Blues are 29th in the NHL with a 6-8-3 record, but they have gone 2-0-1 in the past week.

Armstrong won’t be changing coaches the way he did last year when he hired Jim Montgomery, so other things will have to change with the Blues if they cannot build on this points streak.

If the Blues stay this far down the standings, the pressure will be on Armstrong to get something of note in trades for players like Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou if their futures look bleak in St. Louis.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Are Brayden Schenn, Jordan Kyrou And Tage Thompson Trade Bait?Trade rumors continue to swirl around St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou, while teams are looking into the availability of Buffalo Sabres scorer Tage Thompson.

The Blues made a stunning late-season run into a playoff spot last season, so the door shouldn’t be closed on them changing their status in the standings. But the longer the Blues languish at the bottom, the hotter Armstrong’s seat will get to either retool the way he did when he traded Ryan O'Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko in 2023 or make hockey trades that refresh St. Louis' window of contention.

St. Louis doesn’t have the type of generational talent true Western Conference teams possess, and that means Armstrong’s biggest job will be to convert his current group of talent into long-term puzzle pieces.

Warming Up: Anthony Stolarz, G, Toronto Maple Leafs

Stolarz was a feel-good story in his first year as a Maple Leaf, posting a 21-8-3 record, .926 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average last season.

This year has been an entirely different story for the 31-year-old, who has a 6-5-1 record, an .884 SP and a 3.51 GAA. When you’re averaging a full goal per game more than you did last season, your seat is warming up.

Stolarz, who's unlikely to play Thursday due to an injury, has a new four-year contract extension that kicks in after this season, so he's sticking around. However, with tandem-mate Joseph Woll close to returning from a start-of-season absence, Stolarz may be in danger of losing the starter’s job if he doesn’t start to show he’s capable of being one. 

The Leafs are in dire need of wins, and if Woll does come in and deliver wins, Stolarz may find his opportunities cut back. There’s no room for error in Toronto, and Stolarz’s struggles may wind up putting him into the No. 2 role until he improves.

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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.