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The Pittsburgh Penguins will start December with a game against one of their biggest rivals. 

They're set to play the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia on Monday. This is a Flyers team that has won three in a row and five of six. They recently beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Saturday. 

The Flyers have gotten great goaltending from Dan Vladar this season, and he is set to start in this game. He is 10-4-1 with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. 

The Flyers have also gotten some great play from forward Trevor Zegras. He has nine goals and 24 points in 24 games after the Flyers acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason. He has been everything they have needed and then some. 

Travis Konecny has also been good to start the year, racking up five goals and 19 points. Owen Tippett, who is tied for second on the Flyers in goals with Matvei Michkov, has also played well. 

The Penguins will be making a few lineup changes for Monday's game after they sent Tristan Broz and Danton Heinen back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday. They recalled Rutger McGroarty and Boko Imama before the morning skate on Monday, and head coach Dan Muse confirmed after the skate that both players will be in the lineup. 

McGroarty was skating on the "kids" line with Ben Kindel and Ville Koivunen, and Imama was skating on the fourth line with Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte. 

Tristan Jarry will start in goal after another stellar performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

Connor Clifton looks likely to replace Matt Dumba after he skated on the third pair with Ryan Graves.

Here's what the full lines looked like during the morning skate:

Forwards

Hayes-Crosby-Rust

Novak-Malkin-Mantha

McGroarty-Kindel-Koivunen

Dewar-Lizotte-Imama

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Graves-Clifton

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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It is hard to stick out as a prospect in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. There have been so many good ones over the last handful of years, and many of them are already making their mark on the NHL roster. 

Down in the AHL, Nick Lardis is doing everything he can to earn his first career NHL call-up. After scoring 71 goals for the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL last season, he came into this year looking to translate that success to pro hockey. 

Lardis was impressive in training camp and during the preseason, but due to his status in the organization, combined with the limited roster space, he was assigned to the AHL to start the year with the Rockford IceHogs. 

The questions of his success in major-junior translating to pro hockey have been answered. He has been incredible with the Hogs. After his three-point performance against the Milwaukee Admirals on Sunday, he now has 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 20 games played. 

When down 1-0, Lardis made a great play that led to Joey Anderson tying the game. That 1-1 score held into the third period. It was then Nick Lardis who scored a power play goal to give the Hogs their first lead of the game. He later scored his second of the game to make it 3-1. 

Milwaukee added a second goal before the game was over, but Rockford held on to win 3-2. Lardis decided to take over again and lead his team to victory. 

Watch Every Nick Lardis Point

Lardis & Anderson putting on the pressure to tie the game 😤 https://t.co/ULdCxzLjPNpic.twitter.com/lrBHI1yM5m

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) November 30, 2025

Not to be dramatic but this is a must see power play goal 😳 https://t.co/wAKzRYUfNnpic.twitter.com/vbueNdxj6Q

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) December 1, 2025

We’ll take that, thank you!! https://t.co/lva6O41SRNpic.twitter.com/yPnP8JxlTn

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) December 1, 2025

Next Up For Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis and the Rockford IceHogs take on the Colorado Eagles on Friday, December 5th at 7 PM CT. This will take place at the BMO Center in Rockford. Eventually, especially if he keeps up his point-per-game pace, Lardis will get to make his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

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Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Sebastian Cossa has been named the AHL Player of the Week after a flawless three-start stretch that helped the team extend its record-setting season start to 16-1-0-1.

Cossa posted a 1.33 goals-against average, a .945 save percentage, and a shutout against the Iowa Wild last Sunday, cementing his impact between the pipes. The 15th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft has been sensational this season, boasting an 8-1-0 record with two shutouts, a 1.56 GAA, and a .942 save percentage in nine appearances.

Brick Wall Award: Accepted 👊‼️ #GoGRG

DETAILS | 🔗 https://t.co/SxdkN8Fkr1pic.twitter.com/YAm4W8bPR3

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 1, 2025

He leads the AHL in both goals-against average and save percentage and ranks among the top in wins and shutouts. This marks the second time in his career he has earned Player of the Week honors, previously doing so in February 2024.

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Cossa reached a major milestone earlier this season against the Texas Stars, notching his 50th career win as a Griffin and joining an elite group of eight goaltenders in franchise history to reach that mark. He also recorded a career-high five-game win streak from October 10 to November 19 and is currently on a three-game winning streak.

Over four AHL seasons, Cossa has posted a 52-26-14 record with five shutouts in 93 games, alongside a 2.43 GAA and .912 save percentage. Last season, he made his first AHL All-Star Classic and ranked among league leaders in minutes, games played, goals-against average, and save percentage, finishing with a 21-15-6 record.

“I’ll take that” - Cossa 🤣🥅 pic.twitter.com/ywsDV6AbKN

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 22, 2024

Cossa’s hot play has put him on the radar for an NHL call-up, especially as Red Wings veterans John Gibson (3.59 GAA, .865 save percentage) and Cam Talbot (2.88 GAA, .887 save percentage) struggle this season. He has already proven he can handle the NHL stage, making his debut last December in Buffalo with a 6-5 victory, stopping 12 shots and three in the shootout.

With Cossa in net, the Griffins’ historic start shows no signs of slowing, and the young goaltender continues to make a strong case for his future at the NHL level.

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Four of five players acquitted of sexual assault in this year's Hockey Canada trial have pro contracts as their NHL suspensions end.

A judge in London, Ont., found Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote not guilty of sexual assault in July. They were initially charged in connection with allegations stemming from the aftermath of a 2018 gala celebrating that year's Canadian world junior team.

All of them but Dube now have a contract after Foote signed with the AHL's Chicago Wolves on Monday.

The NHL announced in September the five players were suspended until Dec. 1, but they were eligible to sign contracts as of Oct. 15. The league's investigation concluded that while the players' conduct wasn't criminal, it did not meet the "highest level of moral integrity."

Here's the latest on each player.

Carter Hart, G, Vegas Golden Knights

Hart, 27, signed a two-year contract worth $2 million annually with the Vegas Golden Knights in late October.

In preparation for his return to NHL action, Hart played three games for the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights. He went 1-2-0 in his three starts, posting a 3.07 goals-against average and .839 save percentage. He last played on Friday, stopping 12 of 16 shots.

Vegas recalled Hart from his conditioning stint on Sunday. The team faces the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday at home before embarking on a five-game road trip against five Metropolitan Division squads.

Cal Foote, D, Chicago Wolves (AHL)

Foote, 26, joined the Wolves on an AHL contract. The Wolves are the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, but Foote would have to sign an NHL contract to be eligible for a call-up.

Foote last played in 2024-25 for Liptovsky Mikulas in the top-tier league in Slovakia, finishing third on the team in scoring with 30 points in 38 games. He last played in the AHL in 2023-24 before taking a leave of absence. That season, he had nine points in 24 games for the Utica Comets.

Alex Formenton, LW, Ambri-Piotta (Sui.)

Formenton, 26, signed with Swiss National League club HC Ambri-Piotta in September. The contract runs through the international break at the end of December and carries an option through the end of the season.

In 20 games, Formenton has five goals, nine points and 36 penalty minutes.

Formenton remains an RFA whose NHL rights belong to the Ottawa Senators. If he doesn't sign a contract by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, he cannot play in the NHL this season.

The Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch reported the Senators have tried to trade Formenton's rights elsewhere in exchange for a draft pick. Senators GM Steve Staios and Formenton's agent, Darren Ferris, agreed over the summer that the player's best bet was a change of scenery.

As of Monday morning in Ottawa, there is "virtually no chance" a trade will happen, Garrioch reported.

Michael McLeod, C, Omsk (Rus.)

McLeod, 27, returned to Avangard Omsk in the KHL this season after playing part of the 2024-25 campaign with them.

In 17 games, McLeod has five goals and seven assists for 12 points. He ranks eighth on the team in scoring.

Last season, McLeod had six points in 16 games for Barys Astana in the KHL before joining Omsk and posting 13 points in 19 games. He added eight points in nine playoff matches.

While he, Hart, Formenton, Dube and Foote faced one charge each of sexual assault, McLeod faced an additional charge of party to the offense. He was found not guilty of both counts.

Dillon Dube, C, Unsigned

Dube, 27, has not played for a pro hockey team this season so far.

He last played for the KHL's Dinamo Minsk in 2024-25, recording four goals and 11 points in 42 games. He went without a point in four post-season games as well.

Dube played six season for the Calgary Flames, recording 127 points in 325 NHL games.

In September, Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy said at that point, the team was not interested in signing the UFA.

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The Charlotte Checkers announced they have signed free agent forward Robby Fabrri to a professional tryout (PTO).

Fabbri attended Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on a PTO but was released after suffering an injury.

The 29-year-old recorded eight goals and 16 points in 44 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season.

Originally a first round selection of the St. Louis Blues in 2014,  Fabbri has 106 goals and 216 points in 442 career NHL games with the Blues, Ducks, and Detroit Red Wings. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019. 

The Mississauga, Ont., native has six points in six career AHL games, he last played in the league with the San Antonio Rampage in Oct. 2018.

The Checkers have signed forward Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout (PTO).

➡️https://t.co/5mhKlShCmXpic.twitter.com/5z1zEYjTOW

— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 1, 2025

A gold medal winner with Team Canada at the 2015 World Junior Championship, Fabbri's offensive ability will be nice boost to an already strong Charlotte team as he looks to work his way back to the NHL.

The Florida Panthers AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, have signed veteran winger Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout.

The 29-year-old has played in 442 games in the NHL, scoring 106 goals and 216 points. His nine NHL seasons have been spent with the St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks. He was originally selected by the Blues in the first round (21st overall) in the 2014 NHL draft. 

Fabbri has little AHL experience, skating in just six games, but the skilled winger has found it increasingly difficult to lock down spots on NHL lineups. Last season with the Ducks, Fabbri scored just eight goals and 16 points in 44 games. 

He's played more than 60 games just twice in his NHL career. Although he hasn't had the individual success many thought he could achieve, he's won at multiple levels. He was part of the Blues' 2019 Stanley Cup win, won gold with Team Canada at the world juniors and won an OHL championship with the Guelph Storm. 

He hasn't played any professional hockey games since pre-season, when he was on a PTO with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so it may take a little while for Fabbri to get his legs under him, but he should be a top-end contributor on the Checkers once he does get back into game shape. 

The Checkers currently sit in fifth place in the Atlantic Division and are just three points back of third place despite playing three fewer games. The Checkers have struggled to score goals this season, and Fabbri should help the team improve offensively. 

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.