Nov 9, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov (1) skates his rookie lap before making his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings at PPG Paints Arena. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Another former ECHL player saw his lifelong dream come true on Sunday.

Former Wheeling Nailers goaltender Sergei Murashov made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.

While the Penguins ultimately fell 3-2 to the Kings, the 21-year-old netminder accounted himself well. Murashov stopped 24 of 27 shots faced, making several key saves to keep his team in the game.

“I need some time just to watch video and see what more I can do better, where I was good,” Murashov said after the game. “But overall, I just like how I felt for all the game. I enjoyed it. Again, just a huge thanks to my team, because it’s [their] third game in four days, and they were battling.”

One of Murashov’s biggest saves came off a 2-on-1 rush by the Kings in the middle frame. Alex Laferriere took the puck off a Penguins turnover, raced up ice, and fed Quinton Byfield on the doorstep. Murashov stretched his full 6-foot-2 height to make a critical stop and preserve what was then a 2-1 Pittsburgh lead.

Murashov played in the ECHL for the Wheeling Nailers last season and became the 70th former Nailer/Thunderbird to reach the NHL with his debut on Sunday.

Murashov began his North American professional career last season with the Nailers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. His first campaign in Wheeling was outstanding, as he went 17-7-1 with a 2.40 goals against average and a .922 save percentage in 26 games.

The Yaroslavl, Russia native etched his name in the Wheeling record books twice, as he set team records for the longest winning streak by a goaltender (13) and the longest point streak by a goaltender (15; 14-0-1). He allowed two goals or fewer in 15 of 26 games and recorded at least 30 saves on 13 occasions.

One of Murashov's most notable performances was his first ECHL shutout, a 42-save effort against the Tulsa Oilers on Feb. 22.

In addition to his success in Wheeling, Murashov has thrived in the American Hockey League with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He is 17-5-0 in 23 career appearances in the AHL, as he went 12-3-0 last season. He is off to a 5-2-0 start this year.

The netminder earned AHL Goaltender of the Month honors for his 5-1-0 record in October, and also earned AHL Player of the Week honors. Those are the second and third league honors for Murashov, who was November's ECHL Rookie of the Month with the Nailers last season.

Murashov’s first NHL save on Sunday came against Adrian Kempe, who scored his 200th career goal earlier this season.

In addition to being the 70th former Nailer/Thunderbird to reach the NHL, Murashov is the 18th to do so as a goaltender, the 20th to debut with the Penguins, and the fifth to debut as a goaltender for Pittsburgh. Prior to Murashov, the last Wheeling player to make his NHL debut with the Penguins was fellow goaltender Casey DeSmith, who did so on Oct. 29, 2017. DeSmith is now the backup goalie for the Dallas Stars.

In a fun twist, Murashov's NHL debut came on the one-year anniversary of his WesBanco Arena debut, as he made 27 saves to lead the Nailers past the eventual Kelly Cup Champion Trois-Rivières Lions, 4-3, on Nov. 9, 2024.

Sunday’s loss was the Penguins’ third in the last four games, but they have to be encouraged by the solid debut of Murashov, who continues to turn heads with each rung of the professional ladder he climbs.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.

FREE GIFT ISSUE + 12 ISSUES + FREE DIGITAL ARCHIVE + FREE SHIPPING*** Canada Post Strike update - as of October 15, 2025 -  Please be aware that Canada Post is now in a rolling strike.  While they are accepting mail, delivery times could be longer than expected.  US orders are not impacted. WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PRINT & DIGITAL ARCHIVE SUBSCRIPTION > FREE GIFT ISSUE* of your

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Milestone Monday rewinds to Nov. 10, 1962, when Chicago Black Hawks netminder Glenn Hall did something he hadn't done in seven years: not play.

In fact, it's what Hall didn't do that night against the Montreal Canadiens that cemented how impressive his 502 consecutive games played NHL record really is.

What started in 1955 with the Detroit Red Wings and ended in 1962 with the Hawks became hockey history.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.  

If we’ve learned anything over the last week, it’s not to underestimate Gavin Brindley. 

The 21-year-old delivered the knockout blow in overtime Sunday night, capping a breakout performance that signaled, unequivocally, his arrival at the NHL level. Brindley netted the game-winner on his very first shift of extra time, extinguishing the team’s notorious five-game overtime curse—a streak that had become a running jest despite the Avalanche’s standing as the league’s preeminent squad.  

NHL (@NHL) on XGAVIN BRINDLEY IS YOUR OT HERO!! 😱 The @Avalanche win it in @Energizer overtime!

Although Brindley’s rise has been swift, his first career game-winning goal carried an element of surprise, coming immediately after a brief absence due to a concussion sustained against the Vegas Golden Knights on October 31. Yet even amid that setback, The Hockey News inadvertently caught a glimpse of the sheer passion Brindley harbors for the game. 

Brindley Is a Kid That Loves This Game 

Moments before puck drop for the Avalanche-Lightning matchup on November 4, the elevator doors opened to reveal a man, shorter than this writer, clad in a beanie and black hoodie, clearly animated—whether from haste, excitement, or a combination of both. He beamed and announced, simply, “I passed! I’m playing this weekend.” 

It was reminiscent of a child barreling down the stairs on Christmas morning. The relief that his injury had not been more severe, coupled with the fact he would be shedding the red non-contact jersey and returning to the ice at full capacity, had him practically sprinting. Naturally, we asked Brindley for permission to share the news on X (formerly Twitter), which he graciously granted before sprinting off to his next destination. 

Brindley carried that same energy into the weekend’s action. In his first game back, he contributed a goal and an assist as Colorado cruised to a 9–1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. It was a dominant team effort, with 12 players recording at least one point and eight posting multi-point games, Brindley included. And this is a player coming off a concussion, yet his energy and drive have proven to be completely overwhelming for the opposition.  

We knew from training camp and the preseason that this Brindley kid was going to be something special, but there’s a difference between excelling on the ice when there’s no one around and shining when the lights are at their brightest, but Brindley has gone above and beyond.  

Acquired from Columbus last June, the rookie mustered only a single assist through his first 10 games. But as soon as he scored his first-career NHL goal on October 11 en route to 5-4 overtime against the Dallas Stars, it’s like a lightning bolt went off. Now Brindley has four points—two goals and two assists—in his last four contests. He plays with the heart and soul of a player who wants to be in this league for a long time. 

Brindley needed to make a strong first impression—and he did. With Logan O’Connor soon returning from his second hip surgery, a roster spot will be up for grabs. Brindley has already cleared two major hurdles: he excelled in training camp and preseason, and he has exceeded expectations in the early part of the regular season. Simply put, Gavin Brindley has firmly secured his place in the lineup. 

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

The Detroit Red Wings welcomed one of their top prospects, center Nate Danielson, for his NHL debut this past Sunday, slotting him on the third line alongside Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton. Danielson finished the game without a point but recorded four shots on net from five attempts and added one takeaway.

Todd on Nate “we wanted to see him now, so we could make some decisions perhaps on some other players”

Interesting. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/3otzuaKBAo

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) November 10, 2025

The 21-year-old Red Deer native logged 15:16 of ice time, with 11:46 at even strength and 3:30 on the power play, ranking sixth among all Red Wings forwards, ahead of players like James van Riemsdyk, Marco Kasper, and J.T. Compher. While Danielson struggled on the faceoff dot, winning just two of ten draws, his effort and hustle were clear. Despite Chicago scoring five goals, none came with Danielson on the ice, and he helped limit high-danger chances, spending most of his night in the neutral zone or generating offensive pressure in the Blackhawks’ end.

In his first shift, Danielson drove to the front of the net and redirected a point shot through his legs, creating a scoring opportunity on the goaltender. On his second shift, he made a heads-up play behind the net, cutting off Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom and jumping into the glass to keep the puck in Chicago’s zone. Defensively, Danielson was strong, covering for teammates and limiting scoring chances, though he had one misstep when a breakaway slipped behind him when he was covering for the defense but Detroit goalie John Gibson came up big with two key saves to keep the play from turning into a goal.  

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

Brandsegg-Nygård Nets First Goal, Griffins’ Historic Win Streak Snapped in Loss To WolvesBrandsegg-Nygård ignites with his first AHL goal, but a gritty shootout loss ends the Griffins' historic streak.

He was active on the power play, working in with the second unit as a defenseman with Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Danielson made plays where he would work the puck low to set up teammates as well as getting open for chances himself like when he had a one-timer chance that was blocked. Danielson’s hustle in the neutral zone and transition game was notable, often picking up loose pucks and quickly moving them to the point. 

Offensively, he created scoring chances through quick passes and puck cycles, including a cross-crease attempt for Finnie and a setup for Marco Kasper in the slot. He showed grit in battles along the boards, tying up opponents to maintain possession, and even engaged physically to support teammates during scrums behind the net.

Despite a few missed opportunities, such as a loose puck that could have led to a high-danger chance, Danielson remained resilient, recovering quickly like when he was about to fall into the boards on one shift. It scared many at first as Danielson fell into the boards into his same shoulder that he just came off the injury reserve after injuring. He quickly got up though, stripped the puck off a Blackhawks forward and worked the puck back into Chicago's zone. 

Danielson will look to build on the performance and hopefully record his first NHL point Thursday, when the Red Wings take on the Anaheim Ducks at home.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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

The Colorado Avalanche are currently at the top of the NHL standings with a 10-1-5 record and 25 points. Former Montreal Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen has certainly played a role in the Avalanche's strong start to the 2025-26 season.

Lehkonen has had an excellent start to the campaign, as he has recorded six goals, nine assists, 15 points, and a plus-13 rating in 16 games. With numbers like these, there is no question that the former Canadiens forward is producing strong offense this season for the Avalanche.

Lehkonen is also showing no signs of slowing down as the season continues. In his last four games, the former Canadiens winger has recorded four points. This included him scoring two goals in the Avalanche's most recent contest against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 9. 

If Lehkonen continues to produce offense like this, he could very well end up setting new career highs with the Avalanche this season. Time will tell what happens on that front, but it is clear that the former Canadiens forward is feeling it right now. 

The Canadiens selected Lehkonen with the 55th overall pick of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. In 396 games over six seasons with the Habs from 2016-17 to 2021-22, he posted 74 goals, 149 points, and a minus-2 rating. 

The Ottawa Senators continue to rise closer to the surface in the Atlantic.

They defeated the Utah Mammoth 4–2 on Sunday night at Canadian Tire Centre for their second win in as many nights. Leevi Meriläinen made 29 saves for the Senators, who now have just one regulation loss in their last 10 games (6-1-3). Ottawa leaned heavily on its secondary scoring to knock over the Mammoth, with goals from Nick Cousins, Ridly Greig, Jordan Spence, and Michael Amadio.

1. Meriläinen Makes His Case

Leevi Meriläinen was making his first start since October 27, a surprising stretch of inactivity given Linus Ullmark’s inconsistent start to the season. Meriläinen’s return gave the coaching staff plenty to think about after another calm, controlled performance in goal.

Yes, his season debut against Buffalo was a rough one, surrendering eight goals to the Sabres. But in his two games since he’s looked composed and confident, giving Ottawa a chance to win in each case. Meriläinen’s ability to make timely saves was crucial on Sunday.

2. Support Staff Steps Up

Ottawa’s depth came through in a big way.

• The backup goalie played well got the win.

• Ridly Greig opened the scoring with just his second goal of the season and first in 13 games.

• Nick Cousins scored his third goal of the season.

• Jordan Spence notched his first as a Senator, as fans continue to wonder, how much longer will the Sens keep a point-per-game (7) defenseman as a part-time player? With Spence moving up to play the second half of the game with Thomas Chabot, the answer appears to be: not much longer at all.

Getting contributions from across the lineup, which is crucial for any hockey team at any level, will be a major factor in Ottawa’s success this season.

3. It's A-Me, Amadio

Michael Amadio is starting to make it harder to describe his offense as “secondary.” The veteran forward scored his fourth goal in as many games and now sits third on the team with six goals this season.

A former 50-goal scorer in the OHL, Amadio’s production won't continue at this pace, but this run has been a pleasant surprise for a team that doesn't have a top 30 NHL scorer.

Former Ottawa Senator GM Passes Away At Age 70Mel Bridgman, the Senators' first GM, has passed away at the age of 70

4. The Mammoth Are (Is?) Fast

The Mammoth showed why they’re gaining a reputation as one of the NHL’s quicker teams. Both of their goals came off solo rush efforts, including a highlight-reel effort from Nick Schmaltz, who beat Jake Sanderson wide and cut to the net to score. It marked the second straight game Sanderson has lost a one-on-one showdown, after being victimized by Matvei Michkov on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Clayton Keller added another similar goal for Utah, forcing the Senators to make in-game adjustments to handle the pace.

“That’s a quick team over there,” head coach Travis Green told the media. “I thought the first period we did some good things, but their speed was an advantage for them. They were on top of us a couple of times, but we adapted, our defense made a few adjustments, and I liked the rest of our game for sure.”

With the win, Ottawa continues its slow but steady climb up the Atlantic standings at 8-5-1. The Sens have a busy week with home games against Dallas on Tuesday, Boston on Thursday and Washington on Saturday.

More From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Ullmark: "There Are So Many Things I'd Like To Say To All The Doubters"
More Details On Scamming Accusations From Arthur Kaliyev's Ex-Girlfriend
Travis Green Shows Some Love For His NHL Heavyweight

Monday’s NHL slate may be small, but it’s packed with excitement as four high-stakes matchups promise fast-paced action, dramatic finishes, and plenty of highlight-reel moments. One of the night’s most intriguing games features the Columbus Blue Jackets taking on the defending back-to-back Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers.

Columbus enters the matchup on a three-game skid, while Edmonton has also struggled with losses in six of its last eight. Both teams are desperate to turn things around. The Blue Jackets are looking to rediscover the momentum that fueled their earlier four-game winning streak, and the Oilers are eager to restore their reputation after suffering a 9–1 blowout loss to the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

For those following our betting challenge, we start with a modest $10 bankroll and aim to grow it through smart, data-driven wagers. In past runs, we’ve turned profits into triple-digit totals. Tonight’s same-game parlay focuses on the Oilers–Blue Jackets matchup, presenting a great opportunity to rebound after our recent hot streak cooled off. Our bankroll had climbed to $264.60 before taking a loss in last Tuesday’s Golden Knights–Red Wings game, but we’re ready to get back on track.

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: Blue Jackets +1.5 & Over 4.5 Goals (-114)

The Oilers’ long-standing goaltending issues continue to be a major problem, with no stability in net. This weakness has cost them dearly during both of their recent Stanley Cup Final runs. So far this season, Edmonton is allowing an average of 3.44 goals per game, ranking among the NHL’s bottom five teams defensively. Their offense has not been able to make up the difference, which was clear on Saturday when they were dominated at home by Colorado.

Heading into Monday’s matchup, the Oilers will be desperate for a strong response after widespread criticism suggesting they lack what it takes to make the playoffs, let alone return to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Blue Jackets are also looking to end their recent skid. Even though they enter as significant underdogs, they have won five of their last seven meetings with Edmonton. Goals should be expected in this matchup, as these teams have combined for four or more goals in 11 straight games against each other.

Columbus has also struggled on the defensive end, ranking 12th-worst in the league with a 3.21 goals-against average this season. However, the Blue Jackets have been strong against the spread, going 8-3 when listed as underdogs. The Oilers, in contrast, have one of the league’s worst betting records at 4-12 against the spread this season.

With a $10 bankroll, a wager on the Blue Jackets and the over at -114 odds would return a profit of $8.80 for a total payout of $18.80. With a full NHL slate scheduled for Tuesday, it is an ideal opportunity to build on momentum and continue growing the bankroll.

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

The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road to face the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.

The Edmonton Oilers are going to come into this game angry. The Oilers were absolutely demolished by the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday by a score of 9-1. They will be looking to let out some frustration and blow the doors off the Jackets. They come into the game 4-3-3 in their last 10 games and have lost three straight games, and they desperately need a win.

The Blue Jackets, on the other hand, have also lost three straight and sit at NHL .500 with a record of 7-7. Much like Edmonton, Columbus really needs to break out of this slide. The Jackets typically play tough in Edmonton; they just can't get the wins. All-time, they are 9-23-0-2 on the road inside Rogers Place. Yeah, not good. 

Something positive needs to happen for the Dean Evason and the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight. 

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play - 14.7% - 29th in NHL
• Penalty Kill - 70.7% - 27th in NHL
• Goals For - 43 - 25th in NHL
• Goals Against - 45 - 15th in NHL

Oilers Stats

• Power Play - 33.3% - 2nd in NHL
• Penalty Kill - 81.8% - 12th in NHL
• Goals For - 47 - 14th in NHL
• Goals Against - 55 - 26th in NHL

Series History vs. Oilers

• Columbus is 27-36-3-3 all-time, and 9-23-0-2 on the road vs. Edmonton.
• The Jackets are 5-2 in the last 7 games against the Oilers.
• The CBJ went 1-1 vs. the Oilers last season.

Who To Watch For The Oilers

• Connor McDavid leads the Oilers with 17 assists and 22 points.
• Leon Draisaitl leads Edmonton with 10 goals.
• Stuart Skinner is 4-4-3 with a SV% of .889.
• Calvin Pickard is 5-2-2 with a SV% of .836.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Oilers

• Zach Werenski has 8 points in 12 games against the Oilers.
• Sean Monahan has 27 points in 45 games.
• Cole Sillinger has 9 points in 8 career games against Edmonton.

Injuries - Gudbranson on IR

• Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 6 games - IR

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 16

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.  

Let us know what you think below.

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.

When Kent Hughes decided that Alexander Romanov was expendable and struck a deal with the New York Islanders for their first-round pick in 2022, he was doing it because he needed a second-line center. He thought the Chicago Blackhawks' Kirby Dach would be it. After three seasons and two significant knee injuries, whether he can be that player for the Montreal Canadiens remains in doubt. He has played in only 48% of the Canadiens' games since being acquired, making it hard to know what he can really do.

In his first season in Montreal, he showed some great flashes, and at some point, there were even fans ready to crown him first circle over Nick Suzuki. Needless to say, those days are long gone. This is the last year of the bridge contract Dach signed when he arrived, and that means this season is a significant one for him, and so far, so good.

Canadiens: Caufield And Demidov Putting Up Impressive Numbers
Former Canadiens Forward Just Keeps Dominating
Canadiens: Time To Explore Another Option?

When playing with Zachary Bolduc and Brendan Gallagher this season, he has six points in eight games, for a total of seven points in 12 matches. Projected on 79 games (since he’s missed three games so far), that’s a 46-point pace, which would be the highest total of his career. Since being reunited with Gallagher in the game against the Philadelphia Flyers, he has four goals in three games, and after scoring a beauty on the breakaway, he was shown on the Canadiens’ bench sharing a laugh with coach Martin St-Louis, which illustrates the good mindset he’s in.

TVA Sports (@TVASports) on XToute une feinte de Kirby Dach et Martin St-Louis apprécie!

At the faceoff dot, he’s got a 45.9% success rate, which is over five percent better than he has ever had in his career. On Thursday night in New Jersey, he won the five face-offs he took, which is an excellent sign of improvement. Speaking about Dach’s play this season on Saturday night, the coach said:

I was really happy he scored at the end . He’s another guy who I feel like is really trying to play with the right intentions, in terms of on the other side of the puck, and he’s getting rewarded. It’s so nice when a player’s really bought in, and working at it, and asking questions, and looking at video, and his actions are actually matching what he’s saying when he’s talking… His habits are matching what he says that he wants. It’s rare (players playing the right way) don’t get rewarded, especially with the tools that he has. The game almost becomes a little bit easier. Not that it’s easy, but easier in the sense that you’re always in the right spots, and when you do that, you’re going to touch the puck more. You’re not just working hard, you’re not just sweating, you’re actually playing with a lot of purpose on the ice. And that’s what he’s doing. And you want those players to get rewarded.

- St-Louis on Dach

Of course, 46 points in a season isn’t really worthy of a top-end second-line center, but Dach is improving daily, and it takes time for a player to get results when he plays the St-Louis way. Just look at Cole Caufield, who saw his goal production go down momentarily while he was learning to play the way his coach wants him to play. Speaking of Caufield, he had this to say about what makes the big center perform so well after the last game:

I'd say confidence, and you know, just him getting his legs back. I think, obviously, nobody truly knows what he's been going through the last couple of years, and that's the type of player we expect in this room. He's been doing that consistently for the past 5-6 games. It definitely makes our team a lot deeper, and I'm proud of him for how hard he's worked, and the success. There's more to come.

- Caufield on Dach

The sniper clearly believes there’s more to come from Dach, and it does seem to trend that way. There are already talks that his performance might be worthy of getting another try with Ivan Demidov on his wing, and while I understand the point, I wouldn’t rush it. Dach and Demidov are both doing well on their respective lines right now, and playing with Gallagher and Bolduc, there’s less pressure on Dach. I’m not advocating for never playing them together, but for now, with the team winning and their respective lines being productive, I’d stick to the current formula.

Somewhere down the line, they will be reunited. They have to, since it’s Dach’s contract year and Kent Hughes is higher on Dach’s ceiling, but there are still 67 games left in the season. That’s plenty of time, as long as he remains healthy, of course, but you can’t rush the process just in case he gets injured again.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Dennis Hildeby did as much as he could in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 5-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Fresh off a call-up from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Saturday afternoon, the 24-year-old has seen 67 shots combined from the Hurricanes and Boston Bruins in the last two days. And he looked strong despite the .894 save percentage on Sunday night vs. Carolina.

"He made a lot of saves," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said after the loss. "I mean, we gave him, what, three breakaways in the second period? Maybe four, I don't know. I lost count. You know, (the loss) has nothing to do with the goalie."

What was going through Hildeby's mind when the Hurricanes were skating in all alone, one after another, in the middle frame?

"I mean, it happens," he said.

"You just got to try and stop them. It's not going to look like that entire game. It's just for that certain moment that things aren't going that well, so yeah, we had some fortunate bounces there with the bar and the post, like I said."

‘It’s Obviously Not Up To Par’: Anthony Stolarz Assesses His Play After Being Pulled By Maple Leafs In Loss To The BruinsAnthony Stolarz has seen his play decline as the Leafs' goaltender has seen an increased workload.

Toronto was up in the game 4-2 before the Hurricanes stormed back with three unanswered goals. Carolina's 47 shots on goal were the most Hildeby has ever faced in his NHL career. Matter of fact, it's the most shots he's ever faced during his professional career in North America.

"They threw a lot of pucks to the net, which can get tough," Hildeby said. "We created some chances, but a couple of mistakes there from me there, on the third especially, which kind of messed up our two-lead there."

Through two games with the Maple Leafs, Hildeby has a .910 save percentage. He got the start against the Hurricanes to allow Anthony Stolarz to get rest after being yanked early in the second period against the Bruins.

Omar (@TicTacTOmar) on Xthese are all from this period lead or no lead, this has got to stop

We don't know what Stolarz would've brought had he played on Sunday. However, we do know one thing: if the Maple Leafs need to go to Hildeby again at some point, I'd say there's confidence from Berube to put him in the net.

"Yeah, I mean, he's the reason why we had a chance to win the hockey game," said John Tavares. "I thought he was phenomenal. A heck of a job on the PK, especially in the third period too. Tight hockey game. So, he was great."

---

Below is more from Hildeby after the game on his performance, plus what it was like to be a part of the Hockey Hall of Fame game.

Q: Overall, how did you feel about your performance?
A: Tough to analyze shortly after, but yeah, a lot of good stuff, but a couple of bad stuff too, which kind of cost us there, so yeah, it's tough to analyze.

Q: What were the mistakes in the game?
A: I just forgot to stop the puck there. Yeah, I know a lot of shots, which was fun.

Q: A chunk of those shots coming from breakaways and giveaways, how difficult was that to deal with? 
A: Yeah, a breakaway is harder than a shot from the blue line usually, so it's definitely a harder chance, but I had some luck there with the post and the bar a couple of times.

Q: What was it like to be part of the Hall of Fame game, the ceremony or the game? What was it like to be part of a night like this?
A: It was fun. I saw some great legends there. I wasn't really too sure about where I was supposed to stand. I didn't really know much before, but I had a ton of fun. It just sucks we couldn't get them a win.

Q: What was it like seeing Mats Sundin there?
A: It's always a pleasure. I've run into him before. He’s quite a huge legend in Sweden and in Toronto, obviously, so it's always fun seeing him.

Latest stories: 

John Tavares Calls Maple Leafs’ Loss To Hurricanes Immature

‘We Just Went Right Off The Rails’: Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Frustrated With Team’s Defensive Mistakes in Back-to-Back Losses

‘The Boys Were Losing It Laughing’: Maple Leafs’ Nick Robertson Recalls Favorite Memory Playing With Hockey Hall-Of-Famer Joe Thornton

The New York Islanders snapped their two-game skid on Saturday inside Madison Square Garden, kicking off what’s to be a massive seven-game road trip through the heart of November.

For the final six teams on this road trip, it’s the first meeting of the season for the Islanders, all except against the Detroit Red Wings at the tail end of the trip. All six teams are at least two games above .500, and all but Detroit and Utah are in the top two of their division.

Starting strong against the struggling New York Rangers became almost a must-win for the Islanders, as the Blueshirts are currently the worst team they’ll face during this gauntlet away from UBS Arena.

Tonight, the first game will be against the New Jersey Devils, the last game in the Eastern Time Zone for 10 days for the Islanders.

The Devils have won three of their last four games, and will be a team that enjoys playing with speed in the same way the Islanders do. The key to surviving against them will be structured play, otherwise New Jersey can poke some serious holes in New York’s defense.

After tonight, the Islanders ship out west, beginning with a Thursday night game in Las Vegas, where the Golden Knights await. Through their first seven trips against Vegas, New York’s gone 4-3-0, with Vegas being a top team every year throughout their franchise’s history.

This year, Vegas added Mitch Marner, making a deadly team that much more dangerous. 

The very next night, the Utah Mammoth plays host to the Islanders, kicking off what will be three-straight games against Central Division foes, all against teams with a record above .500.

It’s a quick turnaround for New York, bouncing between time zones for a road back-to-back against high-speed teams, something that could easily exhaust the Islanders.

Unfortunately for the Islanders, the road isn’t getting any easier after that. After just one off day, they’ll be in Denver for a Sunday night clash with Brock Nelson and the Colorado Avalanche. The game would be Calum Ritchie's first against the team that drafted him, too.

Colorado is 10-1-5 thus far, and on Saturday decimated the Edmonton Oilers 9-1. It’s not going to be easy by any stretch of the word.

In case you think it gets any easier, the Islanders close up the Western swing 48 hours later, squaring off with the Dallas Stars in Texas.

If you’re exhausted just thinking about playing Vegas, Utah, Colorado and Dallas, just remember those four games come in six days, with long travel dotting the way, including that time-zone switch between Vegas and Utah.

Every single point the Islanders can earn out west will be monumental, as the schedule is nothing less than a brutal gauntlet against some of the best teams in the NHL in an abbreviated trip. 

It all ends next Thursday, when on the way back home from Texas, the Islanders fly northeast to Detroit, where the Red Wings host the Islanders. The Islanders pummeled Detroit 7-2 in UBS Arena on October 23, when Detroit came in on the second half of a back-to-back.

Last year, the Red Wings swept the Islanders, with all results coming in regulation.

Nothing’s a given about this road trip. If the Islanders can scratch a .500 or better record over the next six games, it’ll go a long way to keeping them in the fight.

During a compressed schedule due to the Olympics in February, survival over the long haul becomes the biggest key.

While obviously dominating on this road trip and going on a run would be the best-case scenario, it's a brutal stretch for any team. Just gritting out points to keep themselves afloat is the biggest key throughout this run.

After this stretch of games, the Islanders get rewarded with a seven-game home stretch, and 13 of their next 17 at UBS Arena, with the all 17 getting played inside the Eastern Time Zone.

It all starts tonight in New Jersey, with puck drop coming just after 7 o’cloc

On Sunday, the Chicago Blackhawks ended their six-game road trip with a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. With a 3-2-1 trip, the Blackhawks are now 8-5-3 for 19 standings points. This latest victory put them in a top-three spot of the Central Division. 

There have been many key contributors to this success, and one of them is Artyom Levshunov. The 2024 second overall pick has been great lately, as he is starting to show why he was such a highly touted prospect. 

Levshunov's two assists against the Red Wings give him six on the six-game road trip. He is now up to nine in 15 games on the season. Levshunov is still awaiting his first career NHL goal, but that will come soon enough. The chances are there for both him and his teammates.

With the way his development has come along since the beginning of training camp, it is clear that Jeff Blashill has been great for him. 

For one, Blashill moved Levshunov to the first power play unit when they were struggling. He replaced Sam Rinzel on the top unit, and they've taken off since. Levshunov finds lanes to make great passes to the forwards in areas where they can then make creative plays towards the net. 

Since that move, the power play has taken off, including a 3/3 performance against the Red Wings on Sunday. Levshunov assisted on two of those three goals. 

"He's definitely continuing to get better," Blashill said of Levshunov on Sunday after their win over the Wings. "Probably at the end of the game tonight, he got a little bit loose. We had a conversation earlier in the year about attacking the game and being assertive. He's a guy who plays on his instincts, and his instincts are good."

The head coach has trust in the player, which is paramount to his development if he is going to continue playing in the NHL over the AHL. Blashill runs the 11/7 strategy in most games, which is meant to help the young defensemen stay fresh. Levshunov has been the one to benefit most from this. 

When the Blackhawks selected Levshunov second overall in the 2024 draft, they envisioned him being a guy who can play on a top pair for an elite team. Well, with Sam Rinzel and Alex Vlasic also there with him, there is no pressure. They can just roll out really good defensemen regularly. 

Blashill won't go with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen forever, but it's helping Levshunov (and other young guys) grow into their NHL bodies. The impact being made on Levshunov is clear every game.

His compete, love for his teammates, and desire to be the best are all things he does on his own. Creating good habits to impact his game for the better is where Blashill comes in handy. 

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

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

The Florida Panthers will wrap up their four-game western swing on Monday night when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights.

Florida has won just one of three so far on the trip, though it can be argued that they've deserved a better result. 

After kicking off the roadie with an embarrassing 7-3 loss in Anaheim, Florida put together one of their strongest outings of the season two nights later in Los Angeles, defeating the Kings 5-2.

Unfortunately for the Cats, they weren’t able to build any momentum on the victory, at least in the standings, due to them getting goalied by Yaroslav Askarov on Saturday night in San Jose.

Florida dominated the final 40 minutes of that game but couldn’t get the puck past San Jose’s spectacular young goaltender and ultimately had to accept the undeserved defeat.

Now, if the Panthers can wrap up the road trip with a strong, resounding win in a very tough building to play at, it would go a long way toward treating this adversity-filled expedition as a positive experience.

This game will also be the second and final meeting between Florida and the Golden Knights this season.

They previously locked horns just over two weeks ago, a game the Panthers were quite pleased with.

Sergei Bobrovsky, who is expected to start on Monday, turned aside 26 shots while helping the Cats to a 3-0 win over Vegas.

We’ll see if they find a way to pull off a repeat performance in a building that, for many of these players, comes with some pretty harsh memories.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Monday’s matchup in Vegas:

Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

Jesper Boqvist – Sam Bennett – Mackie Samoskevich

A.J. Greer – Cole Schwindt – Noah Gregor

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Dominic Sebrango – Jeff Petry

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers dominate in San Jose everywhere except the scoreboard, drop another tough road battle

Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich Will Be Out Three Months After Undergoing Surgery

The Panthers Den: Startling defeat in Anaheim sandwiched between two wins against solid teams

The Hockey Show: Historic puck heist, mascot savant and Julian McKenzie

Three takeaways: Panthers get back to basics, receive big efforts from pair of veterans

Photo caption: Nov 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)

The Buffalo Sabres are back to their losing ways, falling Saturday to the Carolina Hurricanes by a 6-3 score. Two days earlier. They were shut out by the lowly St. Louis Blue Jackets. So they’ve now put together a trio of three-game losing streaks this season and sit dead-last in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.

And if Buffalo loses its next two games – a distinct possibility, given that they’ll be taking on the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche – the Sabres will have lost eight of their past 10 games. 

If you’re a new Sabres fan, you have to be shuddering at those nuggets of info. If you’re a long-time, long-suffering Sabres fan, you have to be sighing in exasperation at them. It’s a familiar feeling in Buffalo – excuses, letdowns, anything but consistently above-average performances.  

And it isn’t just *that* the Sabres are losing it’s *how* they’re losing. Indeed, their last two defeats have come in regulation time, robbing them of the so-called “loser point”. If they did get one or two more loser’s points, Buffalo would be right there in the thick of things. Instead, they’re on the periphery.

We’ve been saying it frequently because it bears repeating: the Sabres have to win far more series than not, and when Buffalo does lose – they need to earn as many loser’s points as possible. It’s going to take somewhere in the area of 40-45 wins to make the Stanley Cup playoffs this season, and that means the Sabres will need to improve on the 36 wins they posted last season.

Sabres Entering Stretch That Could Spell End Of The Line For GM, CoachThe Sabres once again are in a difficult stretch. And if they can't win more consistently, the jobs of GM Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff are in serious jeopardy.

After the Mammoth and Avalanche games, the Sabres will take on the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers ,Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks. The Wings and Oilers present a serious challenge for Buffalo, but the games against the sad-sack Flames and Blackhawks are games the Sabres absolutely need to win in if they’re going to be a playoff team this season.

The Sabres can’t keep meandering along and expect to be a playoff team. Buffalo has been bitten hard by the injury bug this year, but the time for excuses has come and gone. We’re more or less at the 20 percent mark of the season, and that sound you hear is the tick-tick-ticking of the clock that’s counting down this iteration of the Sabres. 

Sabres And Mammoth Clash Twice In Next Week -- Which Team Would You Rather Have?The Buffalo Sabres and Utah Mammoth face off twice in the next eight days, but which team has the superior roster?

We’re nearly at the point of no return with this group of Sabres talent, and Buffalo's players know it. It’s time for this Sabres team to either put up or shut up. And the time for the Sabres to do so is right now.

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

After a brief two-game road trip and before another three-game road trip, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night at Honda Center. The Ducks entered play on a six-game winning streak and having won eight of their prior nine games, including the night before in Las Vegas, where they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in OT.

The Jets dropped back-to-back games to the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks to kick off the California leg of their six-game road trip.

Game #15: Ducks vs. Jets Gameday Preview (11/09/25)

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 OT Win over the Golden Knights

Before the game, the Ducks activated forward Ryan Strome off IR, but he did not make it into the lineup for this game. The Ducks went with the same lineup that earned them their last four victories.

The Jets inserted Cole Perfetti into their lineup for this game for his season debut.

Lukas Dostal returned to the Ducks’ net for the start of this game for the 12th time in the Ducks’ first 15 games of the season. He stopped 23 of 24 shots.

In the Winnipeg crease, Eric Comrie got the start and saved 17 of 21.

Game Notes

This was the Ducks’ best 60-minute, 200-foot effort of the season. They’d made a habit of starting games slowly and ramping up after getting settled. No such thing happened in this game. In every situation (5v5, power play, penalty kill), the Ducks were aggressive and dictated the flow of play.

They were cohesive in the defensive zone, which sparked rush opportunities, where they were ever-dangerous and effective, before winning pucks back and going to work on the cycle. The stars kept shining, and the unsungs made every little decision right to keep pucks and bodies away from Dostal.

"There's still some small stuff we need to get better at, which says a lot about our team," Leo Carlsson said after the game. "That we can get better, which is nice as well."

Defensive Zone Coverage: The Ducks’ coverage had one notable, if slight, hiccup that wound up in the back of their net. On occasion, they’re susceptible to sorting issues after pressure has been established. If there’s an activated defenseman or reactivated high F3, the center and/or weak-side defenseman has been a split second late to recognize and eliminate a seam.

Other than that, and in every zone, they played more defensively flawless hockey than they had at any point this season. They were killing plays early, recovering when pucks didn’t make it to safety, and forechecking in waves to continue attacking at every turn. A subtle, yet impactful benefit of switching to a zone coverage system comes when loose pucks find their way to corners and the boards. Defensemen now have a better probability of winning loose pucks due to not having to shadow an attacker throughout the entire zone. In man-to-man, every puck is a 50/50 by default.

61-23-45: Cutter Gauthier has established himself as an elite NHL goalscorer in his second year in the league. So, of course, he subverts expectations and has taken his playmaking abilities to an unexpected level. He’s drawing the attention of defenders, both at 5v5 and on the man-advantage, before manipulating the on-puck assignment and finding his linemates in dangerous ice. Beckett Sennecke could have had a few more than the two he potted in this one, thanks to Gauthier alone.

"I thought he had the puck a lot," head coach Joel Quenneville said of Gauthier after the game. "Even when it wasn't his, he found a way to get it back. I think he's having a more effective stick and he's a threat to shoot from anywhere. 

"His release is pretty good. Sometimes, it's drawing a lot of attention, that shot. Then all of a sudden, things are opening up, and he's god good play recognition and can make seam passes. He had a couple of nice plays."

Speaking of Sennecke, with the puck on his stick, he’s clearly becoming more comfortable in open ice and along the walls, as he’s now dictating and driving offense for his line for extended stretches. He’s scanning and anticipating on the defensive side of the puck, and his stick is breaking up plays and igniting odd-man opportunities.

McTavish is filling in the vacancies in Gauthier’s and Sennecke’s games, specifically, small-area play, where McTavish’s skill, size, and motor are on full display.

20-91-19: The Ducks’ top six was everything they’d have been expected to be in this game. Chris Kreider continues his dominance below the bottom of the circles, and Troy Terry has developed a rapport with Leo Carlsson in transition. Terry’s manipulation of defenders just inside the offensive blueline has become an area Carlsson has recognized as one where attention will be off him, and he can find space where Terry can feed him for potent downhill looks.

Ryan Poehling/Penalty Kill: The Ducks' PK had a good showing after a shaky stretch against the Dallas Stars and Golden Knights. The PK goes into an all-out pressure when pucks are on the boards, and are looking to pounce on any that are fumbled that they can turn up ice the other way. When attackers had clear possession, they were smart to recover and protect the middle, so as not to expose seams and keep pucks on the perimeter.

Poehling, in particular, and with his speed, was a one-man play killer in the middle of the ice in the defensive zone. He got sticks on pucks on the forecheck and broke up passing attempts in every zone. He’s one of the aforementioned unsungs of this game.

The Ducks, the NHL’s second-best team, will continue their gauntlet schedule of Cup contenders on Tuesday, when they’ll travel to Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche, the NHL’s best team.

Ducks Hot Start May Mean Olympic Consideration for Some Players

Takeaways from the Ducks 7-5 Win over the Stars

Takeaways from the Ducks 7-3 Win over the Panthers