Why Warriors' upcoming homestand signals critical juncture in how season unfolds

Why Warriors' upcoming homestand signals critical juncture in how season unfolds originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There is no five-alarm fire surrounding the Warriors, but there are enough matches gathering that their upcoming five-game homestand, even in the first six weeks of the NBA season, can be a tipping point.

After playing 12 of 17 games on the road, the Warriors return to Chase Center on Friday to face the Portland Trail Blazers, whose ninth-place position in the Western Conference has them only one slot beneath eighth-place Golden State. Then come the 10th-place Utah Jazz, the third-place Houston Rockets, the last-place New Orleans Pelicans and the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder.

Houston and OKC present real challenges, but a loss to any of the other three would signal a troubling setback for the Warriors.

With perplexing chatter emanating from their semi-successful six-game road trip – comments regarding “agendas” and the usual agitation related to Jonathan Kuminga’s role and future – the Warriors surely know their work thus far invites legitimate skepticism. They are reeling, looking to Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green to make all the necessary corrections that, perhaps, can deliver them from the fate of the play-in tournament.

That’s what awaits, and what a failure it would be, if the Warriors can’t pull themselves together and begin climbing up the standings.

Coach Steve Kerr, who bemoaned the lack of practice time during their six-game road trip, the upcoming schedule provides enough time for at least two, maybe three, practice sessions. There will be ample opportunity to roll out video and offer constructive criticism.

“The schedule does turn our way,” Kerr told reporters Wednesday night in Miami, after a 110-96 loss to the Heat concluded the six-game road trip. “But we need to take advantage of it. We’ve got to get better.”

Turnovers continue to be an issue. Despite frequent imploring from the likes of Kerr and Butler, the Warriors’ 17.1 giveaways per game are more than only the Dallas Mavericks 17.2. Golden State is dead last in turnover ratio at 16.8, roughly one of every six possessions.

For the league’s least physically imposing roster, one that struggles to rebound (22nd in the league) and gain extra possessions, taking care of the ball is essential for any chance of contending.

To be clear, these Warriors are not built as the great teams of yore, when they offset turnovers by pounding the glass, defending like a pack of wolves and drowning opponents in a torrent of 3-pointers.

“We just got to get back to giving a damn about every single possession, which is easy,” Butler, who uncharacteristically committed nine giveaways in his last two games, told reporters in Orlando after a 121-113 loss to the Magic on Wednesday. “But it’s definitely going to start with me not turning the ball over.”

Yet even a cursory glance at the Warriors is enough to know their problems go beyond turnovers. All three victories on the recent road trip required magnificent performances, with Curry scoring 46 points in one game and 49 in the next, followed by a career-high 32-point outburst from Moses Moody – the third time in four-plus seasons he topped 25 points.

Where is the balanced offense? Curry and Butler combined for a highly efficient 67 points in Orlando and walked off the floor with a bitter L, largely because the bench missed 15 of 23 shots and was outscored 35-22 by Magic reserves.

Brandin Podziemski over his last 10 games shot 40.2 percent from the field, including 36.7 percent from deep. Buddy Hield over his last 10 shot 39.5 percent, including 29.1 beyond the arc. Quentin Post is at 45.8 and 31.3 over his last five games. Kuminga has come off the bench only once this season, playing only 12 minutes before sore knees sent him to the bench.

There is a lot that needs repair before the Warriors can emerge from the fog they’ve been for three weeks, losing seven of 12 games. From Kerr to Curry to Butler and Green, there is belief that who they have been does not accurately represent who they are.

“We’re a connected team,” Kerr said Wednesday night. “We’ve got a good vibe, a good group. (But) we’ve got some improvement to make on the floor and that’s the main thing.”

Both De’Anthony Melton and Seth Curry should arrive in the coming weeks. That should add a layer of proficiency to the roster.

If the Warriors can’t find their best, beginning with this homestand, they could slog into the same undesirable position they were in last February, when desperation forced a major trade in hopes a late surge could salvage the season.

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Fights Break Out, Emotions Flare in Utah Mammoth's 4-1 Loss to Golden Knights

When you lose three consecutive overtimes the way the Utah Mammoth has recently, emotions are going to be all over the place.

Against the Islanders, Utah had a questionable call before its loss; with the Ducks, it was a last-second, game-tying goal that ultimately led to an OT loss; and to top it all off against the Sharks, Utah managed to come back from a 2–0 deficit only for Macklin Celebrini to finish the game with a hat trick.

Despite dealing with all those tough moments, the Mammoth never let emotions get the better of them and kept competing all the same. But in a 4–1 loss to the Golden Knights, it was clear that Vegas forward Cole Reinhardt stirred up emotions the Mammoth couldn't move past.

Nov 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) and Vegas Golden Knights left wing Cole Reinhardt (23) fight during the second period at Delta Center. (Rob Gray-Imagn Images).

It wasn't that Reinhardt did anything illegal or even dirty, but it was clear Utah wasn't happy with him after he laid out a massive hit on Kevin Stenlund, lowering his shoulder as Stenlund was collecting the puck.

With Stenlund slow to get up, Utah was immediately displeased with Reinhardt's hit. In fact, play stopped within seconds because Brandon Tanev personally confronted Reinhardt, resulting in a cross-checking penalty.

The powerful hit from Reinhardt was legal and didn't appear to be dirty, but the hit on Stenlund clearly lingered with Utah as play continued.

Tempers didn't flare immediately, even after both Jack Eichel and Ben Hutton scored just 19 seconds apart to put Vegas up 2–0.

Allowing Hutton to score as quickly as he did was starting to push Utah closer to its breaking point, as the Mammoth laid some hits of their own, but it hadn't yet led to anything too big.

But as Vegas continued to get into Utah's defensive zone and take shots, Utah finally snapped when Reinhardt came looking for a rebound opportunity against Karel Vejmelka.

Suddenly, three Mammoth players, led by Mikhail Sergachev, came at Reinhardt all at once, sparking a brawl between both teams.

“I obviously did not like the way we responded to the emotion of the game," said André Tourigny. "We had a good first period, then we arrived in the second, and stuff happened to [Kevin Stenlund]. I didn’t like the way we reacted to it at first. We got emotional and got out of our game. They took over, and it was difficult for us to get back at it."

The brawl took a long time for the referees to break up. As soon as it looked like it had concluded and players were slowing down, another separate fight began, including Cooley’s right hook against Kaedan Korczak.

In total, five penalties were called against both teams, with Logan Cooley racking up two roughing penalties of his own.

Though Utah would manage to score shortly after the scuffle in the form of Nate Schmidt’s first Utah Mammoth goal, the team simply couldn't stay disciplined and gave up two more goals to Vegas.

And once again, another fight broke out, this time with Jack McBain and Vegas' Keegan Kolesar dropping their gloves.

It wasn't long after the McBain fight before it felt like Utah had given up trying to make a comeback in this game.

"It's like we plug one hole, another hole opens," said Ian Cole. "We need to really look at our game as a whole and our attitude and how we approach it and whether winning matters to us."

The loss to Vegas was certainly one of the toughest of the season, as Utah had yet to lose in such a manner at home.

But with a game against the Rangers just around the corner, Utah will have to figure out its emotions fast if it wants a win against a team with one of the best road records in the NHL (9-3-1).

Canucks Strong Effort Not Enough In 4-2 Loss To The Stars

Despite a strong effort, the Vancouver Canucks fell 4-2 to the Dallas Stars on Thursday night. Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson found the back of the net while Kevin Lankinen stopped 20 of the 24 shots. With the loss, Vancouver drops to 9-11-2 on the season and 3-6-1 at home. 

Thursday night's loss was arguably one of the Canucks best performances of the year. They outshot the Stars 36-24 while going two for two on the penalty kill. Unfortunately, mistakes cost Vancouver as bad pinches and missed assignments led to four Dallas goals. 

"We're competing," said Head Coach Adam Foote post-game. "I mean, we competed. We didn't quit. It seems like we've been doing that all year. As far as the resiliency, you know,  it's a game of mistakes, right? Dallas had a couple as well, and it's going to happen. We were right there tonight. It was a good game."

One player who had a strong night for the Canucks was Pettersson, who extended his point streak to five games. On top of his goal, Pettersson was tied for the team lead with six shots while winning 16 of his 21 faceoffs. Post-game, Pettersson was frustrated by the result despite the team's strong effort.

"Not good enough if we lost," said Pettersson. Definitely, it's a good team over there. Definitely did enough to win. Yeah, wasn't enough today."

As for a storyline from this game, that would be the power play. While Vancouver did score with the man advantage, they went one for five and could not capitalize on a five-on-three man advantage. Post-game, Pettersson was asked about the five-on-three and said, "We had a minute-twenty. Have to get a goal there. Games like this, tight and special teams can win us the game. I know we got one on the power play, but when we get a long five-on-three, we need to get a goal."

The frustrating part of this game was the Canucks inability to get a goal during the second period. While Vancouver was the better team for most of the night, they dominated the second period, outshooting the Stars 15-6. In the end, luck was not on their side as Jake Oettinger was able to shut the door for the final 40 minutes. 

After a game like the one on Thursday, the question moving forward is, can the Canucks replicate this performance? Yes, they made some costly mistakes, but overall, Vancouver played a strong game that should have resulted in a win. Unfortunately, games like this happen, as the Canucks leave Thursday night without collecting a crucial two points in the standings. 

Nov 20, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) watches as Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save on forward Jake DeBrusk (74) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Stats and Facts:

- Elias Pettersson scores his 200th goal with the Canucks (regular season + playoffs)

- Jake DeBrusk extends his point streak to three games

- Linus Karlsson scores his second goal in the last three games

- Vancouver records over 35 shots for the third time this season

Scoring Summary:

1st Period:

00:55- DAL: Mavrik Bourque (3) from Justin Hryckowian
3:06- VAN: Linus Karlsson (3)
7:44- DAL: Jason Robertson (12)
14:25- VAN: Elias Pettersson (7) from Jake DeBrusk and Kiefer Sherwood

2nd Period:

No Scoring

3rd Period:

10:47- DAL: Colin Blackwell (2) Radek Faksa from Oskar Bäck
18:29- DAL: Mikko Rantanen (10) from Jamie Benn

Up Next:

The Canucks will get a few days off before finishing up their two-game homestand against the Calgary Flames. These two teams met earlier this season, with Vancouver picking up a 5-1 home win. Game time on Sunday is scheduled for 6:00 pm PT. 

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Kings Can’t Catch A Break In Shootouts

In a tight Pacific Division showdown at San Jose, the Los Angeles Kings lose a heartbreaker in overtime to the Sharks, 4-3, resulting in the same pattern of Kings losses. 

San Jose struck first. Adam Gaudette and Ty Dellandrea opened the game to score a pair of goals, putting the Sharks at a 2-0 lead. Los Angeles would rally late in the first period with Joel Armia cutting the lead in half, giving the Kings some spark of energy to end the period. 

In the second period, Anze Kopitar tied the game after a great shot that went past Cody Ceci and Trevor Moore into the net. The Sharks, though, would never quit, as they answered back quickly to restore the lead. 

However, late in the third period with just under a minute left, Adrian Kempe scored to make it 3-3, off the excellent feed from Kevin Fiala and Kopitar. The goal was set again for another thrilling overtime game in which the Kings have gone nine times this season and now, with the loss, have a 4-5 record in the extra period. 

Neither team could score in overtime, so it went to a shootout. In the shootout, the Kings missed all their chances to score and win, giving the Sharks plenty of chances to convert and secure the win. 

The Kings did hold some advantages during the match. They outshot the Sharks 34-24 and won more than half the faceoffs, 53.33 vs 46.7. But those numbers don’t mean anything if the visiting team comes up short on the ice. 

The Sharks were the more physical team with 26 hits to Los Angeles’ 12, consistently making it challenging for the Kings. Despite the loss, the Kings still ended their road 4-2, losing the last two games in Washington and now in San Jose, but had a good stretch and have turned their season around. 

But the one thing Los Angeles still struggles with is its inability to convert in shootout situations when they're presented.

Next up, Los Angeles will return home tomorrow to host the Boston Bruins at 10:30 P.M. EST. 

The Rangers' Loss To The Avalanche Is A Wake-Up Call For Where They Truly Stand

 Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers had trouble keeping up with the Colorado Avalanche's speed and explosiveness, en route to a 6-3 loss on Thursday night. 

Before getting to what went wrong for the Blueshirts, there were parts of the game that Rangers fans should be encouraged about. 

There was a lot of pressure mounting on J.T. Miller going into this matchup, as he had only scored one goal in his previous nine games, which prompted him to criticize himself after the Rangers’ Tuesday night loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. 

To open up the contest, Miller scored a quick power-play goal, a big weight lifted off of the captain’s shoulders, and to make matters better, Miller struck gold on the man advantage later on in the game. 

The Rangers had two power play opportunities on the night and it was clicking on all cylinders. Mike Sullivan made an adjustment to the first power-play unit dating from their last game, replacing Will Cuylle with Vincent Trocheck, who played the bumper position, which allowed Artemi Panarin to move to his strong side and Mika Zibanejad on the backside, giving him a one-timer chance and just overall more room to operate with the puck. 

Miller played the netfront position to perfection, scoring a tap-in goal off of a feed from Zibanejad and deflecting Fox’s shot from the point. 

“We obviously scored a couple of power-play goals. I thought they were really good,” Sullivan said. “They were moving the puck. That was one of the more high-pressure kills in the league. They really put pressure on you to make plays. And I thought the guys, they executed really well.”

Those were the positives, but there was a lot that went wrong for the Rangers. 

The Rangers, clearly going up against the more talented and explosive team, applied a more defensive strategy and tried to take whatever the Avalanche would give them. 

While the Rangers hung around and even held a couple of leads, they weren’t able to keep up with Colorado's up-pace tempo for a full 60 minutes. 

The Avalanche decimated the Rangers in transition and were able to create offensive chances through their blazing speed. 

With the Blueshirts on their toes throughout the entire night, Colorado was able to draw five penalties. 

Despite a strong performance on the penalty kill from the Rangers, when you allow a team the likes of the Avalanche to get five power-play attempts, you’re going to pay a price, and that’s exactly what happened.

Colorado’s power play went 1-5, but got a critical goal from Brock Nelson in the third period. 

“When you play a team like that and take that many penalties, it makes it hard,” Sullivan said of all of the penalties the Rangers committed. “I thought from a structure standpoint, our penalty kill had way better semblance of structure in the defensive zone. They're a hard team on the entries, because they come with so much speed and dynamic.”

Mike Sullivan Adjusts Top-Six Forward Line Combinations Due To Lack Of Offensive Production  Mike Sullivan Adjusts Top-Six Forward Line Combinations Due To Lack Of Offensive Production Mike Sullivan made a significant shake-up to his top-six forward unit ahead of the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a>’ Thursday night matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche currently hold the best record in the entire NHL, sitting at 14-1-5. The talent differential between Colorado and New York was prevalent and glaringly obvious to the watchful eye.  

The Rangers have been playing a much more structured and defensively sound game compared to last season. 

However, they don’t have the same level of talent and offensive explosiveness that a team like the Avalanche possesses, so it’s difficult to remain competitive in these sorts of matchups. 

“I thought we were opportunistic, finding ways to stay in the game,” Sullivan said. “That’s definitely the best team that we’ve played all year and they might be the best team in the league right now with how explosive they are.”

This game was almost a wake-up call to where New York truly stands among the league’s best teams. 

The reality is that while the Rangers have continued to make strides since Mike Sullivan’s arrival, they are far off from the ultimate goal of being a true Stanley Cup contender. Watching them against the Avalanche only heightened and validated that perspective. 

The Rangers will be back in action on Saturday night against the Utah Mammoth.

Batherson's Late Goal Gives Ottawa Senators 3-2 Road Victory Over Anaheim Ducks

Drake Batherson’s goal with under two minutes to play in regulation gave the Ottawa Senators a 3–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. It was a memorable evening for Senators rookie Stephen Halliday, who not only played his first NHL game but also recorded a gorgeous assist on Shane Pinto’s game-tying goal.

The Senators got on the board first. Late in the first period, Dylan Cozens sprinted down the left wing and dropped the puck to Nick Jensen, who dropped it to Nick Cousins. Cousins unleashed a slap shot that beat Petr Mrazek to make it 1–0 Ottawa.

The Senators controlled the play and had the lion’s share of the chances in the first and early in the second, but Mrazek was excellent and kept the score close, allowing his teammates to find their legs after playing Boston 24 hours earlier.

The Ducks finally pushed back on a goal by Bennett Senecke after some rough Ottawa defense. Anaheim's Leo Carlsson broke into the Senators’ zone, leading a three-on-three rush. Cozens peeled away to attack Carlsson, who was already covered. Carlsson fed Cutter Gauthier for a 2 on 1 with Sennecke, bearing down on Artem Zub.

Gauthier actually fanned on his shot attempt, but Zub, who was poke checking and backing in too far, allowed Gauthier to regroup and finish the play, passing the puck over to Sennecke who tied the game at 1.

A minute and a half later, the Ducks made it 2–1 when Chris Kreider dished a perfect saucer pass to Mason McTavish, who was sprinting to the far post and redirected the puck past Linus Ullmark.

But with under a minute left in the period, Shane Pinto scored his 10th of the season to tie the game 2–2. Driving to the net, he was poke-checked by Mrazek, but the puck deflected off Pinto’s shin pad and in. He was set up by Stephen Halliday on a perfect pass — Halliday’s first NHL point in his first NHL game.

The Senators had a great chance with under six minutes to play in the third. Claude Giroux had a semi-breakaway, and realized he was about to be caught, so he dropped it back to Michael Amadio who got it to Pinto who was denied by Mrazek.

Finally, with just under two minutes to play, Jake Sanderson’s shot from the left point was deflected in by Drake Batherson, and that stood up as the winning goal, despite the Ducks' best efforts.

They had a couple of great chances at the end, but Ullmark made a tremendous skate save on Sennecke, who was in close. Then Troy Terry looked poised to score the game-tying goal on a cross-ice pass and one-timer, but his stick shaft exploded, denying him what probably would have been an easy equalizer.

The Sens may gave endured another injury loss on the blue line. Nikolas Matinpalo took a hard hit from Radko Gudas as he was taking a shot and the Sens defenseman slid hard, back first, into the end boards. Head coach Travis Green, as is custom, had no information on the injury after the game.

The Senators now improve to 10-6-4, one point out of first in the Atlantic. They'll be at San Jose on Saturday afternoon at 7 pm Eastern.

MacKinnon's Landmark Night Propels Avalanche to 6-3 Win over Rangers

It was an extended break for the Colorado Avalanche after their 4-1 win against the New York Islanders. However, the Rangers are looking to bounce back after a 3-2 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite some pushback throughout the night, it's the Avalanche who come out on top tonight, in a 6-3 win.

Period 1

The period started well with the Avalanche starting quickly, but it quickly subsided as Samuel Girard was called for interference. On the power play, Mika Zibanejad looked like he was ready to blast a one-timer, but quickly switched it to a slap pass to J.T. Miller, who fakes out Scott Wedgwood and Miller is easily able to tap it in, taking the quick 1-0 lead. The Avalanche get a chance of their own on the power play when Vincent Trocheck is called for interference, but they are unable to convert.

Unfortunate sight as Gavin Brindley, who has been a spark plug as of late, leaves the game 10 minutes into the first period. He took a hard check into the boards, but his shoulder went hard and awkwardly first, and he looked in pain. Same Carrick is called for interference, but the Rangers do a good job of killing it off. It's Nathan MacKinnon, in front of the net, who bats in the rebound from Martin Necas’ shot, tying the game 1-1 and ending the period. That goal now pushes him ahead of Peter Stastny for second-most points in franchise history.

Nathan Mackinnon Passes Peter Stastny for Second Most Points in Franchise HistoryNathan Mackinnon Passes Peter Stastny for Second Most Points in Franchise HistoryWith his goal against the New York Rangers, Nathan MacKinnon has surpassed Peter Stastny to move into second place in franchise history for points.

Period 2

Before the period started, Brindley was seen heading onto the ice to get some reps to see how he's feeling, but he was back in the tunnel very shortly and later confirmed a lower-body injury and would not return to the game. Carrick finds Adam Edstrom on a 2-on-1 breakaway, and Edstrom with an excellent re-direct finish to take the lead, 2-1.

Connor Sheary is called for holding, but the Avalanche can’t convert on the power play. Makar completes a great passing play from Necas and MacKinnon as he beats Shesterkin with a wrap-around goal to tie it 2-2.

Period 3

Cuylle is called for tripping early into the period, and the Avalanche gets an early power play opportunity. Sam Malinski sends a great stretch pass to Brock Nelson, who rifles one past Shesterkin to make it 3-2. Notably, Wedgewood first made a great save and passed the puck to Malinski, so Wedgewood is credited on the goal, and it is his first career NHL point.

Carson Soucy is called for hooking, but the Avalanche can’t convert on the opportunity. Jack Drury is called for tripping, and the Avalanche head to the penalty kill for the second time of the night. It's J.T. Miller who deflects Adam Fox’s shot into the net to tie the game 3-3. MacKinnon, right after the faceoff, rebounds and bats in Makar’s shot, which rang off the post, helping the Avalanche retake the lead, 4-3.

Brodzinski is called for holding, but the Avalanche fails to capitalize on the power play once again. Shesterkin is pulled with 1:30 left in the third, but Makar, right as he enters the bench, rips one across the ice and in to make it 5-3. Ross Colton finishes the game with another empty net goal and ends the game 6-3.

The Avalanche is back in action on Saturday, November 22, as they head on the road to face the Nashville Predators.


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Red-Hot Wedgewood to Start in Net Against RangersRed-Hot Wedgewood to Start in Net Against RangersScott Wedgewood looks to remain in top form tonight against the New York Rangers, who have had an up-and-down season.

Observations From Blues' 3-2 Overtime Loss Vs. Flyers

It feels like a script from Groundhog Day when it comes to the St. Louis Blues.

At least when a game goes beyond 60 minutes.

For the sixth time in as many tries, the Blues can’t hammer down the second point, again falling in overtime, 3-2 against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Travis Sanheim’s goal at 3:50 of overtime enabled the Flyers (10-6-3) to erase a two-goal deficit, their third two-goal deficit erased against the Blues (6-9-6) this season. The Flyers won 6-5 in a shootout on Nov. 14, erasing 3-1 and 5-3 deficits in that game.

Justin Faulk scored both Blues goals, his first multi-goal game since Oct. 19, 2022, and Joel Hofer was sharp in goal despite the loss, stopping 25 shots.

Let’s look at Thursday’s game observations:

* No killer instinct – It’s built into an alarming trend this team doesn’t seem to know how to get out of, what winning teams don’t do.

As mentioned above, the Blues have led the Flyers three times in two games by two goals – and lost, albeit in extra time.

Where is the killer instinct? Where was the putting the foot on the throat and extending a 2-0 lead into 3-0, 4-0, like the New York Islanders – who by the way happen to be the next opponent on Saturday afternoon – did against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, winning 5-0.

There were several opportunities with quality chances to not only score, but to get pucks on net.

And for a capper, Jordan Kyrou had a glorious chance in OT to win the game but was denied on the doorstep by Dan Vladar with 2:19 to play.

Jake Neighbours, who returned after missing 12 games and played really well, was denied on a first-period breakaway, and Alexey Toropchenko, whose forecheck helped set up Faulk’s first goal, backhanded a shot wide of the net on a break-in in the second period.

Brayden Schenn, who had eight(!) shots on goal in the game (10 attempts), and Pavel Buchnevich combined for 11 shots on goal in this game; they actually looked good together throughout the game creating opportunities, but consolation prizes aren’t mattering anymore. These two veterans, making a combined $14.5 million in cap space, have combined for four goals in 21 games. It’s just not good enough.

Schenn is a heart-and-soul guy, and you can’t question his grit and determination, and we all know Buchnevich simply isn’t getting the job done offensively, were very noticeable playing with Dalibor Dvorsky Thursday, with a Corsi-for of 22-8. Those are great numbers, but pucks have got to start going into the net. It was probably the best line of the night for the Blues, but the bottom line is results, and finishing was an issue.

And Kyrou, making plays in the game again, had four shots on goal but there was a backhand in front of decided for whatever reason not to sling at the net in the second, and had that glorious chance from Robert Thomas in OT. You have to start finishing.

It’s no wonder the leading scorer on the Blues (Kyrou, Faulk and Neighbours) this season only has six goals in 21 games.

Sure, you credit Vladar for making some quality saves himself, but this group isn’t closing out games and extending leads, and that’s a big reason why their record is what it is.

It started Oct. 25 against the Red Wings, when a 4-0 lead turned into a 6-4 loss; a 2-0 lead against the Seattle Kraken on Nov. 8 turned into a 4-3 OT loss; the 3-1 and 5-3 leads against the Flyers turned into a 6-5 shootout loss and again on Thursday, 2-0 turns into only one point. Just there alone that’s five precious points lost from the bank.

Remember these if this team gets on a run and happens to fall short in the end.

* It was the perfect road game, then a first goal allowed broke a bad seal – Sure, as we mentioned about having the killer instinct to extend a 2-0 lead, but the Blues were getting the kind of road game they wanted for the most part and needed.

That game should have been at the least, 2-0 going into the third period, but there was the breakdown, late in the second period – the Kryptonite period – for the Blues, that gave the Flyers life.

Trevor Zegras, who killed the Blues last week as part of a line with Owen Tippett and Christian Dvorsk, was able to keep a puck alive with Pius Suter, who wasn’t able to kill it initially, and get it down low after Tyler Tucker, who did not have a good game, inexplicably left protecting the ice he needed to try and jump in to help Suter and in essence, left the low slot open for Tippett to quickly tip a puck to Rogrigo Abols, who came in with a whopping two goals in his career, to beat Hofer with 2:03 left in the period and make it a 2-1 game and now it’s a one-shot game:

* Tying goal came off a turnover – Even at 2-1, the Blues were still in good position, but the tying goal came off the stick of Tyson Foerster, off an initial giveaway by Tucker.

The defenseman, who was minus-2 in 11:19 of ice time, was being pressured from behind by Noah Cates, and he was looking for an option on the opposite side, but instead of perhaps protecting the puck in the corner and get help or even slamming it hard on a rim off the boards, he softly throws it behind and around that was picked off and back behind the Blues net. Cates then wins the battle with Tucker behind the net and Travis Konecny is able to win a puck away from Thomas to the point to Emil Andrae, who quickly pivots a pass to Foerster and he one-times a slap shot by Hofer, who was screened by Faulk, to the near side at 11:49 and it was a 2-2 game:

* Hofer gave the Blues a chance – Hofer was strong. He made a number of quality saves and, all you ask of your goalie, is to give you a chance, and he certainly did.

His best save of the game was a highlight reel stop with his glove on a Zegras one-timer on a Philadelphia power play at 8:15 of the third that kept it a 2-1 game:

* Faulk came ready – Faulk had just four goals in 78 games last season and already in his 21st this season and 1,001st NHL game in his career, he now has six and is just one off the NHL lead for defensemen.

He gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at 5:31 of the first period after a solid forecheck by Toropchenko separating Andrae from the puck behind the net to Oskar Sundqvist, who found the D-man at the right point and his shot found its way through with Toropchenko and Nathan Walker at the net providing traffic:

It was a great shift by the fourth line setting the tone.

And on his power-play goal at 12:08 of the first that made it 2-0, Neighbours did what he always does, gets gritty along the wall, does enough to keep a puck free for it to get back to Kyrou, who finds Neighbours low, and the forward’s seam pass to Faulk just inside the top of the left circle gave him a chance for a one-timer:

* Neighbours affect, especially early – Neighbours played 14:13 in his first game since Oct. 25 and you come to appreciate the little things he does that others don’t do on a consistent basis.

He’s always in on the forecheck, making smart decisions with the puck on chips, working, trying to free his linemates up for good ice, things that seem to go unnoticed to go with three hits in the game but was a minus-1.

* Suter, Thomas lines did not generate nearly enough – The reason the Blues had Schenn, Dvorsky and Buchnevich on the ice is because they were creating. The line with Dylan Holloway, Suter and Kyrou, along with Neighbours, Thomas and Jimmy Snuggerud did not.

Suter’s line was 3-13 Corsi-against, and Thomas’ line was 5-13. Suter and Holloway combined for one shot on goal, and Thomas, Neighbours and Snuggerud each had one shot on goal.

* Costly miscommunication leads to OT goal – The Blues had an offensive zone draw in Philadelphia’s zone, but Schenn lost it to Sean Couturier, and the two of them were tied up for a bit as the puck was being rimmed around the left. But Cam Fowler made a read to stay with his guy, which was Konecny on a pinch, who easily got to the puck and fed Sanheim for what amounted to be a 2-on-0 with Samheim keeping and wristing the winner past Hofer from the inner slot. The problem was Buchnevich, instead of staying with Sanheim, also went to Konecny and gave Sanheim an open lane to get the pass and move up ice with an odd-man break. Buchnevich could not catch Sanheim, and there’s your game, and another frittered away point:

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Connor Bedard's Late Unsportsmanlike Penalty Allows Kraken To Complete Comeback

After losing to the Seattle Kraken earlier this month on the road, the Chicago Blackhawks came into this next matchup looking to return the favor. 

Through the first 40 minutes of the game, the Blackhawks were playing some of the best hockey that they've played in years. 

Early in the second, Tyler Bertuzzi, fresh off his injury return, scored to make it 1-0. This beautiful play started with a stretch pass by Alex Vlasic to Frank Nazar, who sent it to Teuvo Teravainen before he passed it to Bertuzzi for the goal.  

About halfway through the middle frame, Teuvo Teravainen scored a goal of his own.  After being the first to a dump-in on the power play, Bertuzzi made a neat swat pass to Teravainen, who made it 2-0. 

After the middle frame ended, the Kraken took over. At one point, the Blackhawks went on a 14-minute run without a shot on goal. With two goals in two minutes before the third period was halfway over, it was a brand new game. 

The game-changing play came in the final five minutes, when Connor Bedard was hooked on a breakaway, but there was no call. Bedard, as angry as he's ever been on the ice in his NHL career, showed up the referee and earned an unsportsmanlike penalty. 

On the ensuing power play, Jaden Schwartz scored to make it 3-2 Kraken. From there, that stood as the final score as the Blackhawks were unable to tie it with Spencer Knight on the bench. 

After the game was over, Connor Bedard took full responsibility for the loss. He wouldn't comment on what he said to the official, but he did say he can't let that happen again. 

“I’ve got to control my emotions in a better way." Bedard said. "I put our team in a vulnerable spot.” 

Jeff Blashill was not happy with the officiating at all, but he also acknowledged that Bedard knows better. It's a lousy way to lose a game if you're the Blackhawks, but it is a learning experience for a young superstar. 

"It better have been really personal to be that sensitive about it, because you're deciding games," Blashill said of the official making the call on Bedard. "So if it was super personal, I wasn't there, I don't know, but it better have been really personal if you're not going to have enough thick skin to just keep playing through."

In the loss, Spencer Knight made 24 saves on 27 shots. It's three goals against, but redirects and a power play goal against are more of a reflection of the team than Knight. Expect Arvid Soderblom to play in the second half of a back to back, and Knight to get the nod again on Sunday.

Burakovsky Injury

During the first period, Andre Burakovsky left the game after being hit in the head by Ryan Lindgren. Jeff Blashill also ruled him out for Friday's game but is unclear about the future beyond that. 

Watch Every Blackhawks Goal

Up Next For Chicago

For the first time in 2025-26, the Chicago Blackhawks have a back-to-back situation. They are flying to New York to take on the Buffalo Sabres. This will be a one game trip, as they are coming back to Chicago for a tilt against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. 

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2025-26 NBA Power Rankings: Timberwolves, Raptors, Rockets, and Pistons rise up! Bucks, Heat drop down

Week 5 in the NBA is underway, and much like the first month, the Oklahoma City Thunder claim the top spot with the Denver Nuggets right behind. The West claims by top four spots and two new squads make my top 10 as Miami and Milwaukee get bumped!

All Championship odds are courtesy of DraftKings.

Vaughn Dalzell‘s Week 5 NBA Power Rankings

Oklahoma City Thunder Primary Logo
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (15-1)
NBA Finals odds: +185
Points Leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.0)
Rebound Leader: Isaiah Hartentstein (11.0)
Assist Leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6.5)

Since the first two games of the season went to 2 OT, Oklahoma City has won by an average of 20.3 points and 10 straight games by double-digits. Their 15-1 mark has been an incredible start to the season and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a top two favorite for MVP.

After a Friday night road trip to Utah, Oklahoma City has a three-game home stand against Portland, Minnesota, and Phoenix as arguably their toughest three-game stretch since the season started.

Denver Nuggets Primary Logo
2. Denver Nuggets (11-3)
NBA Finals odds: +500
Points Leader: Nikola Jokic (29.1)
Rebound Leader: Nikola Jokic (13.2)
Assist Leader: Nikola Jokic (11.1)

Denver was on a nasty seven-game winning streak before the Chicago Bulls on the second night of a back-to-back snapped it. The Nuggets are now 8-1 in the last nine games and rank top three overall in offensive and defensive efficiency on the year.

Nikola Jokic has triple-doubled in nine out of 14 games this season and has 30 or more points in six of his past nine contests to become the latest MVP favorite.

Los Angeles Lakers Primary Logo
3. Los Angeles Lakers (11-4)
NBA Finals odds: +1500
Points Leader: Luka Doncic (34.6)
Rebound Leader: Luka Doncic (8.8)
Assist Leader: Luka Doncic (9.0)

The Lakers are on a three-game winning streak and 4-1 over the last five games as they welcomed LeBron James back to the mix this week. The Lakers trailed the Jazz in his return, but turned up the heat and won 140-126.

The Lakers rank 11th and 17th in offensive and defensive ratings to start the year, so LeBron can clearly assist in that department. After a road game at Utah, Los Angeles has a four-game home stand that includes a meeting with the Clippers on NBC and Peacock.

Houston Rockets Primary Logo
4. Houston Rockets (10-3)
NBA Finals odds: +850
Points Leader: Kevin Durant (25.5)
Rebound Leader: Alperen Snegun (10.4)
Assist Leader: Alperen Snegun (7.4)

Houston is on their second five-game winning streak of the season! The Rockets are a streaky team, but showing major signs of potential with wins over Cleveland, Orlando, Portland, Washington, and Milwaukee in the past five games.

The Rockets have the NBA's highest rated offensive efficiency and with all their length and youth, Houston is seventh on defense. We all knew Houston would be good, but all three losses have come to top 10 teams in the NBA (Thunder, Pistons, Spurs).

Cleveland Cavaliers Primary Logo
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-6)
NBA Finals odds: +900
Points Leader: Donovan Mitchell (30.2)
Rebound Leader: Evan Mobley (8.6)
Assist Leader: Donovan Mitchell (5.3)

Cleveland is 7-3 to start November with wins over Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee to name a few. The Cavaliers are eighth in offensive rating and 13th in defensive rating during that span. Cleveland is four games through a six-game home stand that has started 2-2. Nine of the next 13 games at home for Cleveland, so I expect this team to continue climbing the rankings.

Detroit Pistons Primary Logo
6. Detroit Pistons (13-2)
NBA Finals odds: +3500
Points Leader: Cade Cunningham (27.3)
Rebound Leader: Jalen Duren (11.9)
Assist Leader: Cade Cunningam (9.9)

Detroit has now won 11 straight games and continues to move up in the top 10! The Pistons won back-to-back games with no rest over the Pacers and Hawks to reach double-digits on this winning streak. During this streak, Detroit owns the third-best defensive rating and the seventh-ranked offense.

New York Knicks Primary Logo
7. New York Knicks (9-5)
NBA Finals odds: +1600
Points Leader: Jalen Brunson (28.0)
Rebound Leader: Karl-Anthony Towns (12.8)
Assist Leader: Jalen Brunson (6.4)

The Knicks got Jalen Brunson back for Dallas and earned a much-needed 113-111 win. New York is 2-2 in the past four games and went 1-1 versus Miami without him. New York has nine wins, but only three have come against teams with winning records so far (Minnesota, Cleveland, Miami).

Minnesota Timberwolves Primary Logo
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-5)
NBA Finals odds: +1400
Points Leader: Anthony Edwards (25.2)
Rebound Leader: Rudy Gobert (9.9)
Assist Leader: Julius Randle (6.1)

Anthony Edwards is back and Minnesota is rolling! Since Nov. 5, when Edwards returned, Minnesota ranks sixth in offensive and defensive efficiency. The Timberwolves are 6-1 in the last seven games and 6-2 since his return. Edwards is averaging 25.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists over 32.8 minutes per game in that span.

San Antonio Spurs Primary Logo
9. San Antonio Spurs (11-4)
NBA Finals odds: +5000
Points Leader: Victor Wembanyama (26.2)
Rebound Leader: Victor Wembanyama (12.9)
Assist Leader: Stephon Castle (7.5)

San Antonio followed up its back-to-back losses to Golden State with three straight wins all by nine or more points. Without Victor Wembanyama, this team has to be dropped a spot or two. While San Antonio is 3-0 without Wembanyama following wins over Sacramento, Memphis, and Atlanta — who are a combined 17-31.

Toronto Raptors Primary Logo
10. Toronto Raptors (10-5)
NBA Finals odds: +10000
Points Leader: Brandon Ingram (20.9)
Rebound Leader: Scottie Barnes (7.8)
Assist Leader: Immanuel Quickley (6.1)

How did this happen? Sure, I could put the Warriors, Bucks, Suns or Trail Blazers on this list at No. 10, or maybe another team, but the Raptors have surprised with two over the Cavaliers, and 76ers each, plus the Bucks this month.

Toronto is on a five-game winning streak and is 9-1 over the last 10 games following a 1-4 start. The Raptors were being slept on, but people are awake now. With Washington, Brooklyn, Cleveland, Indiana and Charlotte one the next five games— I like the chances the Raptors keep their heater going.

Out of the Top 10

Miami Heat Primary Logo
10. Miami Heat (9-6)
NBA Finals odds: +15000
Points Leader: Norman Powell (25.4)
Rebound Leader: Kel’el Ware (10.0)
Assist Leader: Daivon Mitchell (7.3)

The Miami Heat are on a two-game winning streak, but dropped two straight before that and is 6-5 over the last 11 games. The Heat split contests with the Cavaliers and Knicks over the past few weeks, so this team is still staying afloat as a 11-20 ranked squad.

Milwaukee Bucks Primary Logo
6. Milwaukee Bucks (8-8)
NBA Finals odds: +5500
Points Leader: Giannis Antetokounmpo (31.2)
Rebound Leader: Giannis Antetokounmpo (10.8)
Assist Leader: Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.8)

Is the fall off happening for Milwaukee? The bucks have dropped three consrucigve games and four of the past five. For the first time all season, Milwaukee is .500 with eight wins and eight losses. Next up is the hottest team in the NBA — the Pistons, then Portland, Miami, and New York. I don't like it.

New to the Top 10:

Minnesota Timberwolves Primary Logo
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-5)
NBA Finals odds: +1400
Points Leader: Anthony Edwards (25.2)
Rebound Leader: Rudy Gobert (9.9)
Assist Leader: Julius Randle (6.1)

The Timberwolves are 4-2 in the last six games and 6-2 since Anthony Edwards return. While the record is impressive, Minnesota has beaten Washington, Dallas, Sacramento twice, and Utah twice with losses to Denver and New York. Minnesota actually hasn't beaten a team with a winning record yet and can with a road game at Phoenix next.

Toronto Raptors Primary Logo
10. Toronto Raptors (10-5)
NBA Finals odds: +10000
Points Leader: Brandon Ingram (20.9)
Rebound Leader: Scottie Barnes (7.8)
Assist Leader: Immanuel Quickley (6.1)

Toronto has put together four-game and five-game winning streaks so far this season as one of the biggest surprises. The Raptors have a top 10 rated offense and in the middle of the pack for defense through 15 games. Let's see how long this lasts!

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

Sloppy Red Wings Blanked 5-0 By Islanders On Home Ice

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On a night where the Detroit Red Wings were hoping to avenge their 7-2 setback against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena last month, the visiting Islanders instead gave Detroit more of the same on Thursday evening. 

The Red Wings were completely shut down by goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who stopped all 29 shots that he faced as part of New York's 5-0 victory at Little Caesars Arena. It was his second shutout of the season. 

Meanwhile, the statistics of Red Wings goaltender John Gibson took another hit, as he allowed five goals on 27 shots, though more than a few of them were deflections. 

The Islanders have now outscored the Red Wings in both games they've played by a 12-2 margin. 

The game overall was a complete reversal of their previous two victories over the New York Rangers and Seattle Kraken, in which they were completely dialed in defensively. 

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The Islanders took a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Calum Ritchie and Maxim Shabanov. Ritchie's goal was the result of a defensive breakdown by Detroit, while Shabanov's was after Detroit lost a defensive zone faceoff. 

Early in the second period, Detroit's Lucas Raymond had a golden opportunity to cut the lead in half when he broke in alone on Sorokin, only to have his five-hole attempt stopped.

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Just seconds later, the Islanders increased their lead to 3-0 after Mat Barzal's shot from the top of the slot deflected past Gibson. Bo Horvat then made it 4-0, capping a passing play with a one-time shot past Gibson from the face-off circle.

Not long after Nate Danielson was denied his second goal in as many games on a breakaway attempt of his own in the third period, Shabanov cut through both Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson to score his second goal of the night, making the score 5-0 for the Islanders.

Despite the loss, the Red Wings remain in first place in the Atlantic Division standings thanks to the 8-4 loss by the Montreal Canadiens as well as the 4-3 loss by the Boston Bruins on Wednesday evening. 

The Red Wings will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday afternoon. 

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Max Shabanov scores twice as Islanders blank Red Wings, 5-0, for second straight win

DETROIT (AP) — Max Shabanov had two goals and an assist, and Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots for his second shutout of the season as the New York Islanders beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-0 on Thursday night.

Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist, Matthew Barzal and Bo Horvat also scored, and Casey Cizikas had two assists as the Islanders finished 6-1-0 on a seven-game road trip. It marked the second time in franchise history New York won six or more games on a trip — first since Feb. 19 to March 6, 2016.

Sorokin had five saves in the first period, 15 in the second and nine in the third to get his 24th career shutout.

John Gibson finished with 21 saves as Detroit snapped a four-game point streak (3-0-1).

The Islanders’ fourth line of Shabanov, Ritchie and Cizikas accounted for three goals and four assists. Shabanov, playing in his ninth career game, had one goal and two assists prior to Thursday’s outburst. The 20-year-old Ritchie scored his second goal of the season and third of his career.

Horvat scored his team-high 14th goal in the second period. He has eight goals and six assists in his last 11 games.

The teams combined for 58 penalty minutes, including three 10-minute misconduct infractions — Detroit’s Marco Kasper late in the 2nd period, and the Red Wings’ Ben Chiarot and the Islanders’ Scott Mayfield at 9:04 of the third.

Ritchie and Shabanov staked the Islanders to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Barzal and Horvat scored during the first six minutes of the second for a four-goal advantage. Shabanov converted a backhander for his second goal at 6:52 of the third.

Up next

Islanders: Host St. Louis on Saturday night to open a seven-game homestand.

Red Wings: Host Columbus on Saturday night.