The Chicago Blackhawks are starting to heat up, as they won have each of their last two games. This includes an impressive 8-3 win over the St. Louis Blues in their last contest on Oct. 15. 

Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev has been a notable reason for the Blackhawks' ongoing winning streak, as the 31-year-old has been red-hot during it. Over his last two games, the 6-foot-2 winger has recorded three goals and four points. 

Mikheyev's hot streak started against the Utah Mammoth, as he scored twice in the Blackhawks' 3-1 win. Then against the Blues, Mikheyev scored the game-opening goal at the 3:02 mark of the first period and then recorded an assist on Ryan Donato's third-period goal that gave Chicago a 6-2 lead. 

With this, there is no question that Mikheyev is playing some wonderful hockey right now. The Blackhawks will be hoping that the veteran forward can keep this kind of play up. If he does, it would be great news for the Blackhawks. 

It will now be interesting to see how Mikheyev builds on his strong play from here. There is no question that he has been a great fit for the Blackhawks since his arrival. 

The Vegas Golden Knights announced goaltender Carter Hart will be joining the organization.

Hart was one of the five members of Canada’s 2018 world juniors team who were found not guilty of sexual assault in a trial that took place earlier this year in London, Ont. The other players are Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote.

Since being acquitted, the NHL announced on Sept. 11 it will reinstate the five former NHLers. Oct. 15 was the first day they could officially sign with new teams, but The Athletic's Chris Johnston and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Hart is on a tryout with Vegas for now.

"Following the reinstatement decision agreed on by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association, goaltender Carter Hart will be joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization," the team said in a statement Thursday. "The Golden Knights are aligned with the process and assessment the NHL and NHLPA made in their decision. We remain committed to the core values that have defined our organization from its inception and expect that our players will continue to meet these standards moving forward."

Hart and any of the other four players who sign contracts won’t be able to begin conditioning with their teams until Nov. 15 or play in the NHL until Dec. 1.

With that in mind, Hart can officially make his Golden Knights debut as early as Dec. 2 when Vegas hosts the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 27-year-old hasn’t played an NHL game since Jan. 20, 2024. He made 25 starts in what was his sixth season for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023-24.

In that season, he registered a 2.80 goals-against average, .906 save percentage, one shutout and 12-9-3 record before stepping away from the team.

As for Vegas’ goaltending situation, starting netminder Adin Hill suffered a lower-body injury during their game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. He didn’t return after the first period, and backup goaltender Akira Schmid subbed in to play the final two periods. The length of Hill’s injury is yet to be announced.

All Five Former World Junior Players Found Not Guilty In Hockey Canada Sexual Assault TrialWarning: coverage of the Hockey Canada trial includes details of alleged sexual assault that may be disturbing to readers.

When the NHL announced it would reinstate Hart, McLeod, Formenton, Dube and Foote, the league called the events that led to sexual assault allegations after a 2018 Hockey Canada gala were "deeply troubling."

"The league expects everyone connected with the game to conduct themselves with the highest level of moral integrity," the league said at the time. "And, in this case, while found not to have been criminal, the conduct of the players involved certainly did not meet that standard."

The NHLPA said it was pleased the players were reinstated.

"The players co-operated with every investigation," the players union said. "Upon their full acquittal by Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia, we initiated discussions with the NHL regarding the players' return to work. To avoid a protracted dispute that would cause further delay, we reached the resolution that the league announced (on Sept. 11). We now consider the matter closed and look forward to the players' return."

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Coming off their first regulation loss of the season, the Nashville Predators are looking to bounce back against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday at 6 p.m. CST at the Bell Centre. 

The Predators kept pace with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, but saw the Maple Leafs pull away in the third period for a 7-4 win. The result is not indicative of the score,as Toronto scored two empty-net goals. 

Here is what you need to know ahead of the Predators road matchup in Montreal. 

Game day 

Who: Nashville Predators (2-1-1) at Montreal Canadiens (3-1-0) 

Where: Centre Bell, Montreal, QC, Canada 

When: 6 p.m. CST 

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game 

Betting line (via BetMGM): Nashville +1.5 Montreal -1.5. Over/under: 6 (-105/-115) 

Starters: Nashville - Juuse Saros; Montreal - Jakub Dobes 

New line changes, potential scratches 

The Predators mixed up three of their four forward lines during morning practice on Thursday. 

Ryan O'Reilly is now centering Filip Forsberg and Steven Stamkos on the first line. Fedor Svechkov is centering Tyson Jost and Luke Evangelista on the second line. Michael McCarron is center Cole Smith and Ozzy Weisblatt on the fourth line. 

Brady Martin and Joakim Kemmel are the extra forwards. Nick Blankenberg is the extra defenseman. 

The third line combination of Jonathan Marchessault, Erik Haula and Michael Bunting remained the same. 

It seems that the Predators' focus remains on getting Stamkos going, as he has one point in four games and no goals. The second line has struggled to find its groove, but now having a veteran player like Jost in the mix may spark something. 

Martin has not played on this road trip, which is part of developing him and spreading out his first nine games, according to Predators head coach Andrew Brunette. He could potentially be scratched again on Thursday. 

Kemell didn't play in the Predators' last game against the Maple Leafs and logged just 9:46 minutes in Nashville's 4-1 win over Ottawa on Monday. 

Andrew Brunette Addresses Nashville Predators Center Brady Martin's Healthy ScratchesThe Nashville Predators head coach discusses the 18-year-old's development and back-to-back healthy scratches.

Juuse Saros playing critical role early on 

Saros has been one of the things that has been keeping the Predators afloat as they try to figure out their offense and even their defense. 

The Predators starter has made 89 saves on 94 shots in three games, posting a 2-0-1 record. The loss to Toronto, where Justus Annunen played the entire game, proved that Saros is making up for the Predators' defensive lapses early on. 

A lot of what Annunen gave up in the loss to the Maple Leafs could be pinpointed back to defensive mistakes and their inability to get back in time. 

Saros will start on Thursday and may continue to prove how much of a force he has been this season. 

Nashville Predators defense struggled to support Annunen in loss to Maple Leafs Aside from two empty net goals in the third period, the<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators"> Nashville Predators'</a> defense struggled to support goalie Justus Annunen in their <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/game-day/takeaways-nashville-predators-fall-in-hard-fought-fashion-to-maple-leafs">7-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs </a>on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Scouting Montreal 

After losing their first game of the season, the Canadiens have rattled off three straight wins, most recently upending the Seattle Kraken, 5-4, in overtime on Tuesday at home. 

Nick Suzuki has jumped out as one of the top playmakers in the league early on, with six assists in four games. Cole Caufield also has three goals and two assists for five points in four games.

Montreal is also the sixth highest scoring team in the NHL, averaging 3.75 goals a game.  

Similar to the Predators, the Canadiens power play is also struggling with 17.6% efficiency. 

Canadiens: Taking On The PredatorsEverything you nee to know about the Montreal Canadiens' game against the Nashville Predators tonight at the Bell Centre.

Inactive players 

Nashville: Nicolas Hague (upper body) 

Montreal: None 

The Ottawa Senators have made a move to bolster their forward depth, recalling left winger Arthur Kaliyev from the Belleville Senators. The recall comes after the Sens placed Brady Tkachuk (hand/wrist) on injured reserve, and as the Sens prepare to host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre.

Kaliyev signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Sens on July 2, reuniting with a hockey operations team that's familiar to him. He spent three seasons in the OHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs, a junior career that provided Sens GM Steve Staios, who used to run the Bulldogs, with a clear opinion of the player's skill set and character.

But the 24-year-old has not yet been able to replicate his junior numbers in the pro ranks. His 95 goals over two seasons in Hamilton are nothing more than a distant memory.

Kaliyev enters the recall with 202 NHL games under his belt, putting up 75 points (38 goals, 37 assists) during stints with both the Kings and the New York Rangers. 

Kaliyev failed to make the Sens out of training camp but collected two assists in his first two games with Belleville. The Sens are hoping his shooting ability might be able to provide an offensive spark, particularly on their power play, utilizing one of the best releases in the game. After winning their opener, Ottawa has lost three games in a row.

Last season, Kaliyev was derailed by two separate clavicle fractures. The first injury occurred in training camp; after returning in January with the Kings, he was placed on waivers and claimed by New York. In his 14 games with the Rangers, he logged three goals and one assist before suffering a second fracture in the same shoulder, forcing him to end his season prematurely.

He acknowledged that joining Ottawa may give him one of his best opportunities: “Ottawa knows me well … To come here, this was my best option.”

There's no word yet on whether he'll suit up on Thursday night or not, but Ottawa probably represents the last chance for Kaliyev to prove he can still be an NHL asset.

As for Tkachuk, the move to injured reserve isn't a surprise. The club has already said he'll miss at least four weeks with what's believed to be a wrist or hand injury suffered in the Nashville game on Monday. The only question now is whether he'll need surgery.

If he does, the timeline for recovery could be anywhere between 2-5 months. It all depends on the nature and severity of the injury, which is information we should be getting in the next day or two.

More Sens headlines at the Hockey News Ottawa:
Senators Lose Sebrango, Claimed Off Waivers By Florida
An Early Glance At The Senators' Goaltending Pipeline
Brady Tkachuk Likely To Miss A Month Of Action (At Least)
Another Tough Break For Josh Norris, A Player Ottawa Still Roots For
Yakemchuk Reflects On Playing First Pro Game Saturday

You never get a second chance at a first impression, and a handful of NHL rookies didn't waste theirs.

We have seen some really encouraging performances for first time NHLers, and there have been guys who are fighting to get into the lineup. 

Teams are deploying development plans for some youngsters, looking to control their workload and give them a ramp-up period to playing full-time pro hockey. It’s an interesting time of year as we are starting to have the conversations around whether some rookies will be getting the nine-game trial or if they are going to stick around full-time. 

While some players, such as Ivan Demidov and Sam Rinzel, gave us their impressions late last season, we’re getting a look at so many NHL rookies for the first time. Let’s look at some of the first impressions from around the league. 

Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

The first overall pick in the 2025 draft came as advertised.

Schaefer's mobility and puck skill have been so entertaining, but they’ve also been incredibly effective at the NHL level. The 18-year-old's defensive game has had some hiccups, but he has been pretty solid overall. 

His first NHL goal went in exactly how we all expected it to – crashing the net and banging it in! Sarcasm aside, Schaefer’s injury issues from his draft season are in the rearview mirror, and the competitive, skilled young defender looked every bit of a first overall pick. 

Schaefer's Calder Trophy odds on BetMGM: 4.40 (+340)

Michael Misa, C, San Jose Sharks

With just one NHL game under his belt, Misa has 15:06 of action to go off of.

There were moments when the 18-year-old made some really nice plays, pulling the puck off the wall or supporting the breakout. It wasn’t some sort of fantastic game, but he wasn’t given much of an opportunity to do anything fantastic.

Hopefully, we get to see Misa in a more offensive role and he sticks around the NHL because he doesn’t have much left to prove in the OHL.

Misa's Calder Trophy odds on BetMGM: 31.00 (+3000)  

Easton Cowan, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

It has only been two games, but the Leafs' 20-year-old rookie has been pretty impressive.

Cowan has the opportunity of a lifetime, playing alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, and he’s making the most of it. He has just one assist through two games, but he’s found a way to consistently make excellent plays. His intelligence and playmaking have been on full display. 

His underlying stats are impressive, as he leads the Leafs at 5-on-5 in shot share, scoring chance percentage and expected goals percentage, according to naturalstattrick.com. If he can continue to play even close to this level, he will find himself not only in the NHL for the rest of the season but on the top line the whole time.

Cowan's Calder Trophy odds: 51.00 (+5000)

Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes

We did get a small glimpse of Nikishin in last year’s playoffs, but this has been our real first impression of him.

It’s been a long few years as Canes fans watched Nikishin, 24, evolve into one of the KHL’s best overall defenders, but the wait was well worth it. He’s shown off his physicality, crushing guys along the boards and in open ice. He’s shown intelligent tracking in his own end, and he’s done an excellent job of killing play on the cycle. 

The biggest question about Nikishin when he came over to North America was whether his offensive numbers would translate. We’re seeing him move the puck quite well, though, and he’s picked up three assists so far. Nikishin hasn’t found the back of the net with his big shot, but he’s come as advertised for the most part.

Nikishin's Calder Trophy odds: 26.00 (+2500)

Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild

Just like Nikishin, we had a brief glimpse of Buium last post-season, but he has truly shown what he’s capable of to begin this campaign.

Buium's offensive game has been unreal, racking up five points through four games while quarterbacking the power play. The 19-year-old’s skating and puck skill are excellent, silencing any doubters about whether he could produce at the NHL level.

That said, his defensive game remains a work in progress. Much like Lane Hutson in Montreal last season, Buium came out of college and leaned into what makes him special while working on the defensive side of things. If there is progress throughout the year similar to Hutson last season, we could be looking at a Calder Trophy candidate.

Buium's Calder Trophy odds: 11.00 (+1000)

Five Rookies Who Scored Their First NHL Goal On The WeekendThis season, there has been a notable number of young, talented players who are entering their rookie season.

Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks

With two goals and two assists through three games, Beckett Sennecke's arrival has been quite impressive for the Ducks.

His offensive skill is on full display. There are still moments of questionable decisions or trying to skill his way out of problems, but Sennecke, 19, has been a breath of fresh air in Anaheim. 

The Ducks probably won't be very good this year, so allowing Sennecke to work through some issues at times won't be an issue. Seeing him play with the kind of speed and skill the Ducks have lacked gives them a replacement for the wow factor that Trevor Zegras provided before he fell out of favor with the team. Now, they'll hope Sennecke can develop into a well-rounded player.

Sennecke's Calder Trophy odds: 17.00 (+1600)

Arseny Gritsyuk, RW, New Jersey Devils

Gritsyuk's KHL highlights tantalized Devils fans over the last few years, and now, they get to see him up close.

Gritsyuk is a slick playmaker who has lived up to every bit of hype and more. There were questions about whether his skill would translate because he was so reliant on it, but he’s been fantastic. 

The 24-year-old has stepped into the Devils' lineup and looked great with anyone he’s played with. This is the kind of depth scoring the Devils have needed, and he could be a big difference-maker. He is a point-per-game player through three games, but even though that’s likely to slow down, he looks great so far.

Gritsyuk's Calder Trophy odds: 31.00 (+3000)

Emmitt Finnie, LW, Detroit Red Wings

The surprise of the pre-season, Finnie not only made the Wings roster but ended up playing alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.

Finnie, 20, is a meat-and-potatoes kind of player, but as a seventh-round pick in 2023, there was no thought to him making the opening night lineup until he forced his way onto the roster. 

He has two assists in his first four games, and his hard-nosed game in the corners and around the net have been the perfect complement on the top line. Finnie might not be a star, but sometimes, you need someone who connects plays and fills the gaps of the skill players.

Finnie's Calder Trophy odds: 81.00 (+8000)

NHL Rookies Who Made Opening Day Lineups In The West: Sennecke, Misa, Savoie And MoreThe new NHL season brings a new crop of rookies.

Ben Kindel, C / Harrison Brunicke, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

Kindel and Brunicke were surprise additions to the Pens roster to open the season, and the team seems to have a development plan for the rookie duo going forward. Brunicke sat out Tuesday's game.

Kindel was drafted 11th overall this past June, and there was no expectations that the 18-year-old was going to make the roster. Brunicke, 19, is a year removed from his draft, but he was fully expected to play one more year in the WHL. With a weak blueline and a strong camp, Brunicke entered the NHL lineup. 

We may not see insane point totals from either of these players, but if they can get a full season of NHL experience under their belt at this age, they will be better for it.

Kindel has all of the playmaking skill and energy you want from a middle-six center, so while he could be destined for the nine-game trial, he could easily solidify himself in the top nine for the year.

Brunicke has all of the physical tools you want to see from a blueliner, and he’ll just have to continue making good decisions to stay in the NHL.

Kindel's Calder Trophy odds: 67.00 (+6600)

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Former Rochester Americans forward Brett Murray has signed a contract with the DEL's Nürnberg Ice Tigers, the team announced Thursday. 

Murray finished tied for 13th in the AHL with 27 goals last year and was second on Rochester with 49 points in 66 games while serving as an assistant captain. 

The 27-year-old attended Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on a PTO but did not earn a contract.

A fourth round selection of the Buffalo Sabres in 2016, Murray has 100 goals and 206 points in 325 career AHL games and two goals and six points in 26 career NHL games, all with the Sabres/Americans organization. 

Murray is a prime example of why the AHL's veteran rule needs to be revamped. A 27-year-old who finished 13th in goal scoring should be someone teams are aiming to keep around and is the type of player the league should be incentivizing to keep in North America.  

 For more AHL news keep an eye on The Hockey News' Google News feed. 

Easton Cowan is loving life as a rookie in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 20-year-old has played two games alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on Toronto's top line. He registered his first NHL point on Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators on a goal from Matthews.

Cowan has looked strong on the ice and very comfortable playing with Matthews and Knies. Part of that is because of the skill he possesses to play that high in the lineup. Another side of it, however, is his teammates allowing him to feel comfortable in what's a big career moment.

Brandon Carlo joked on Tuesday about Cowan having an eye-opening experience during one of the team dinners. "It was pretty funny because there was a lot of things where he was like, 'I've never had this before', 'I've never had this before', and I remember being in that same position," he smiled.

'I Remember Being In That Same Position': Maple Leafs' Brandon Carlo Shares Funny Story About Easton Cowan's Early Days In NHL<a href="https://x.com/nickbarden/status/1977860208614391957">Easton Cowan</a> is enjoying life up in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"Yeah, obviously, the dinner is very good food, nice hotels, so just being grateful for each and every day," added Cowan. But yeah, it's called the never hungry-league for a reason, and I haven't really been hungry that much, I've been eating a lot, lots of good food, so I've been very grateful for that."

Cowan also revealed that he's been pranked by a few of the older players on the team.

"We were out for dinner, and I was sitting with the younger guys on the team, I'd say, and the waiter came over and handed me a bill," Cowan grinned.

"I thought I was going to have to pay for it, but it was just (Max Domi and Auston Matthews) playing a prank on me. So, it was definitely nice, finding out you didn't have to pay for that, but just little jokes like that, that are funny and go a long way, and it's just cool they can joke around, and you got to be able to take it."

What did the rookie think when the waiter placed the bill on the table?

"Pretty nervous, but (Matthew Knies) helped me out, looked at the bill, made sure it was fake. So yeah, definitely nervous for sure though."

Going back to that tuna tartare Cowan tried — what did he think of it?

"It was okay. Not a big fish guy," he said. "It was okay, but I don't think I'll go back to it."

'He Always Has Good Feedback': Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Details What Conversations Are Like With William NylanderIf there's anyone on the<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-2025-26-season-opening-roster-revealed"> Toronto Maple Leafs</a> who can come out on the good side of adversity, it's William Nylander.

Chris Tanev recalls a time during his rookie year when he was handed the bill after a team dinner. The veteran defenseman didn't reveal much about what occurred that night, aside from it being in Minnesota.

What he did reveal, though, was his welcome to the NHL moment off the ice.

"I think maybe the first time I had sushi. I never had sushi until I played in the NHL, so it was probably a 'what's going on right now' (moment)," Tanev said.

"Or going to a nice steakhouse. I never really went to those growing up as a kid, so you sort of get thrown into a whole different life than you're really accustomed to."

'If You Stick With It, Good Things Will Come': What Easton Cowan Will Remember About His NHL Debut With Maple LeafsAs Easton Cowan <a href="https://x.com/nickbarden/status/1977789417462083825">skated onto the ice ahead of his NHL debut</a>, the crowd started cheering. Within all the noise, a song blared inside Scotiabank Arena: "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)".

These stories, of course, are comedic, but they highlight an important aspect of rookies playing in the NHL. The older players want to welcome the younger players into the league — and when they can make someone feel comfortable, they're going to do it for the betterment of the player and the group.

"It just makes you feel comfortable. It makes you feel welcomed," Tanev said. "We know how hard he's working on the ice and off the ice and he's a really good player. So anything we can do to make him feel comfortable and welcomed, we'll do."

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