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Flyers finish homestand 2-2-2 after suffering shootout loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rick Tocchet warned against the Hurricanes’ relentless pressure.

“Full-out blitz,” the head coach said. “It’s the way they play.”

The Flyers didn’t handle it well enough Saturday night, especially when trying to protect a lead, as they lost to Carolina, 4-3, in a shootout at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

“There are positives, I’m going to take the positives,” Tocchet said. “I think we’ve just got to start to learn when teams put pressure on us, we’ve got to find the pressure; we can’t back off. That’s what I believe in.”

Jackson Blake scored the lone tally in the skills competition.

Trevor Zegras, Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny and Bobby Brink came up empty for the Flyers.

Samuel Ersson suffered just his fourth career shootout loss in 16 opportunities.

Tocchet’s club relinquished a 2-0 lead in the second period. The Hurricanes turned up the dial and had the Flyers defending a lot. Seth Jarvis then handed the Flyers their first deficit when he scored on a breakaway with 7:34 minutes left in the third period.

Brink, Zegras and Carl Grundstrom provided the Flyers’ goals. Grundstrom answered Jarvis’ goal just 23 seconds later.

Zegras and Konecny had a chance to win it in the final minute of overtime, but couldn’t convert on a 2-on-1 rush.

The Flyers (16-9-5) went 2-2-2 on their season-long homestand. Three of the losses came against top-10 teams — this one to Carolina, a 3-2 regulation decision to the Avalanche and a 3-2 overtime decision to the Golden Knights.

Tocchet’s club dropped to 7-4-5 in games decided by one goal. It has gone to overtime 12 times. It’s now 5-1 in the shootout.

The Flyers are 0-0-2 in their four-game regular-season series with the Hurricanes (20-9-2). They’ve lost 15 of their last 17 games against Carolina(2-9-6).

• In the first game of a back-to-back set, Ersson made 18 saves on 21 shots for the Flyers.

The 26-year-old had a massive stop on Jordan Staal in the final seconds of overtime.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Alexander Nikishin erased the Flyers’ 2-0 lead in a span of just over five minutes. Ehlers scored six seconds after Ty Murchison had a pass get picked off in the neutral zone. Nikishin then had a shot go off Noah Cates’ skate and past Ersson.

Hurricanes netminder Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 15 of the Flyers’ 18 shots.

Brink and Zegras gave the Flyers their 2-0 lead in the first period. Brink made a sharp move before sniping one past Kochetkov. Zegras scored off a very good feed from Konecny.

“I thought we got off to a good start,” Zegras said. “Kind of expected a big push [from Carolina], I think we just kind of got on our heels a little bit instead of playing that same game. They’re a real good team, we kind of expected that. I thought we responded and made some adjustments in the third. Obviously a tough one in the shootout.”

• Through 30 games with the Flyers, Zegras has already matched his goal total from all of last season.

He had 12 in 57 games with the Ducks. He’s at 12 goals and 30 points for the Flyers.

Talk about a change of scenery doing wonders. Tocchet has raved about how coachable the 24-year-old has been. General manager Danny Briere has to be thrilled about the return on the trade so far.

• The Flyers’ struggling power play was costly two nights ago in the team’s overtime loss to Vegas.

And against Carolina, they didn’t go on a single power play.

Tocchet has harped on the Flyers needing to generate more through the middle to create second and third opportunities on the man advantage. They’ve gotten away from that and entered Saturday night 5 for 38 over their last 16 games.

“I think we revert to bad habits,” Tocchet said after morning skate. “We need a chunk of guys to take ahold of it. We talked about it at the start of the year, it’s going to be a work in progress.”

• Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen remained out, but both defensemen will be on the Flyers’ four-game road trip and are close to returning, Tocchet said after morning skate.

York has been out the last four games with an upper-body injury.

Ristolainen is nearing his season debut. Has been recovering from surgery in March on a second triceps tendon rupture.

• The Flyers and Hurricanes are right back at it Sunday when they meet at Lenovo Center (5 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

It has been a whirlwind of a season for Pittsburgh Penguins' young defenseman Harrison Brunicke.

After making the NHL roster out of training camp, Brunicke played in only a few games before finding himself a frequent healthy scratch, with his most recent NHL game coming in a Nov. 3 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was then sent on an AHL conditioning loan to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) for five days, where he showed well. And - most recently - he was loaned to Team Canada for World Junior Camp.

Now, he finds himself likely slotting in a prominent role for Canada.

On Saturday, during the first day of World Junior camp, Brunicke was on a top-four pairing with 2025 first-round pick Kashawn Aitcheson, who was selected 17th overall by the New York Islanders. Aitcheson, a big, hard-hitting blueliner, has 19 goals and 32 points in 27 games this season for the Barrie Colts of the OHL.

Brunicke, 19, was loaned to the WJC by the Penguins in order to give him some big, meaningful minutes on what is presumed will be a stacked Canada roster for this year's tournament. The decision to pair Brunicke with Aitcheson - one of the CHL's best defensemen - indicates that he will probably be in a lot of high-stakes situations, should the pairing stick.

What Brett Kulak Brings To The Penguins After Trade From EdmontonThe Pittsburgh Penguins got Brett Kulak back in the Tristan Jarry deal, and he has the tools to help this team.

Canada's lines for camp today.

Brady Martin is expected to join the team later today. #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/uPEH8ooeDc

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 13, 2025

Brunicke is also expected to be in the mix for Canada's leadership group, assuming he breaks camp.

Canada's World Junior camp runs from Dec. 13-23 before a brief holiday hiatus. Final rosters are due Dec. 24, and the World Junior Championship will take place in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn. on Dec. 26 - Jan. 5.

'It Just Made Sense For Us To Do It At This Time': Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas Gives Insight On Jarry TradeIt's safe to say that <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/breaking-penguins-deal-tristan-jarry-to-edmonton-oilers">the trade sending Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday</a> - which returned goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick - surprised a whole lot of people, fans and players alike.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

The Buffalo Sabres have made some roster moves.

The Sabres have announced that they have called up forward Noah Ostlund from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. The Sabres also shared that they have assigned forward Trevor Kuntar back to Rochester. 

Ostlund has played in 20 games so far this season with the Sabres, where he has recorded three goals, three assists, 12 blocks, and a plus-1 rating. Down in the AHL with Rochester this season, he has recorded three goals, seven assists, and 10 points in seven games.

With Ostlund being a former first-round pick and one of the Sabres' most promising prospects, fans will naturally be keeping a close eye on him during his latest call-up. 

Kuntar, on the other hand, just made his NHL debut during the Sabres' Dec. 11 contest against the Vancouver Canucks after landing an NHL deal with Buffalo earlier this week. During his debut, Kuntar recorded one hit and a minus-1 rating in 5:12 of ice time. 

Down in the AHL this season with the Amerks, Kuntar has posted nine goals, four assists, 13 points, and 43 penalty minutes in 24 games. 

The Edmonton Oilers had themselves a big day on Dec. 12, as they brought in multiple new players. Goaltender Tristan Jarry was their biggest addition of course, as the Oilers will be hoping that he provide them with more stability between the pipes.

Jarry was not the only player who the Oilers acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in this deal, however, as Edmonton also landed forward Sam Poulin. While Poulin is more of an under-the-radar addition for Edmonton, he should not be ignored. 

Before being traded to the Oilers, Poulin was in the middle of a strong season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 22 games with the AHL club before the move, he posted nine goals, 11 assists, 20 points, and a plus-8 rating. This is after he recorded 19 goals and 43 points in 57 games with the AHL club this past season. 

Poulin has struggled to cement himself as a full-time player at this point in his career, however. In 15 games with the Penguins over four seasons, the 6-foot-2 forward has posted two assists and 20 hits. While the 24-year-old winger has yet to break out at the NHL level, perhaps getting a fresh start with the Oilers could help him take a step forward in his development. 

Poulin has been showing signs of promise at the AHL level this season, so there is ultimately no harm in the Oilers taking a chance on. The possibility of him taking that next step and becoming a bottom-six forward for the Oilers should not be ruled out. Yet, at a minimum, he should serve as a serviceable call-up option for the Oilers. 

During the 2025 NHL off-season, the Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Zack Bolduc. This was one of the most intriguing trades of the summer, as it involved two former first-round picks. 

Mailloux has had a tough start to his Blues tenure. In his first 19 games with the Central Division squad, the 6-foot-3 defenseman recorded just one assist to go along with an ugly minus-18 rating. He was also briefly sent down to the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, earlier this season, where he posted two goals in five games. 

While Mailloux has had a tough start with the Blues, he has now broken the ice. 

During St. Louis' Dec. 12 contest against the Chicago Blackhawks, Mailloux scored his first goal as a member of the Blues. It was a good goal, too, as the former Canadiens defenseman beat Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight with a nice wrist shot. 

Mailloux will now be looking to build off this big moment with the Blues. There is no question that the young blueliner has good potential, and it will be interesting to see if he can tap into it more as the season rolls on. 

Mailloux was selected by the Canadiens with the 31st overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In eight games over two seasons with Montreal, he posted two goals and five points. 

A former Chicago Blackhawks forward has hit the waiver wire.

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have placed former Blackhawks first-round pick Lukas Reichel on waivers.

The Blackhawks traded Reichel earlier this season to the Canucks in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. This was after Reichel was the subject of several trade rumors, as he struggled to find his fit with the Blackhawks.

The Canucks hoped that Reichel would thrive with a change of scenery, but the young forward has only struggled more. In 14 games with the Canucks since the trade, he has recorded zero goals, one assist, and a minus-5 rating. He also became the odd man out in Vancouver's lineup, as he has not played since their Nov. 28 contest against the San Jose Sharks. 

Reichel was selected by the Blackhawks with the 17th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In 174 games over five seasons with the Blackhawks, he recorded 22 goals, 36 assists, 58 points, and a minus-60 rating. 

The Chicago Blackhawks are set to take on the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. This is the second half of a back-to-back for Chicago. In these situations (second half of back-to-backs), the Blackhawks have been beaten both times badly. 

Now, the Blackhawks have a chance to make that issue right. They lost 3-2 to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night, and now they need to find a way to play well one night later. 

Scouting Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings employ Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane. He plays there with Alex DeBrincat, and the two are very solid together. Kane is not a superstar producer anymore, but he's still very good and a threat to create offense on every shift. 

Finnie - Larkin - Raymond

DeBrincat - Copp - Kane

Rasmussen - Compher - Berggren

Soderblom - Kasper - Danielson

Edvinsson - Seider

Chiarot - Sandin Pellikka

Johansson - Hamonic

Gibson

The Detroit Red Wings have a lot of young talent in addition to Kane and DeBrincat, who are solid veterans who help them calm the waters. 

Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka are the youthful players on the team, while captain Dylan Larkin drives play. All-in-all, this is a solid group that can win any game. 

Cam Talbot started in their last game, so you can expect to see John Gibson in the net for the Wings. As long as everyone plays their game in front of him, he should give his team a chance. 

Patrick Kane is sitting on 497 career goals. A hat trick against his old team would put him in the exclusive 500 goals club. In the event that this doesn't happen, Kane will reach the milestone shortly after. 

Patrick Kane on Verge of Major Milestone as He Faces BlackhawksPatrick Kane was one of the core pieces and superstars for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> during their dynasty that hoisted three Stanley Cups, but the team went into a rebuild and he was traded in 2022-23.

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks will not have Connor Bedard in this game. He injured himself on Friday night, and an update will be provided on Monday. 

Jeff Blashill Provides Tough Update On Connor Bedard's Injury StatusAfter their loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill provided a tough update on Connor Bedard.

In his place, the Blackhawks are going to have Nick Lardis called up from the Rockford IceHogs. He will make his NHL debut against the Red Wings. 

There was no morning skate for the Blackhawks, so there is no way of knowing exactly how things will line up. Warmups will indicate the lines, defense pairs, and goalie decision for Chicago. It is hard to even project the lineup because of Bedard's absence and Lardis' addition. 

Arvid Soderblom is likely going to start in the net as Spencer Knight went against the Blues on Friday night. That will be confirmed or denied during the warmups as well. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game locally, it can be found on CHSN. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM. 

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 Winnipeg Jets could be on the verge of handing rookie goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis his NHL debut Saturday night when they host the Washington Capitals, a possibility that has sparked widespread speculation among fans and media alike.

Questions around the Jets’ starting goaltender emerged earlier Saturday after the team released its projected lineup on X, formerly known as Twitter, accompanied by the caption: “No indication has been made on tonight’s starting goalie.” The vague wording immediately fueled speculation that Winnipeg may be preparing to give DiVincentiis his first NHL start.

The uncertainty comes as veteran backup Eric Comrie continues to shoulder a heavy workload in the absence of regular starter Connor Hellebuyck, who remains sidelined. Comrie has started seven consecutive games for the Jets, a demanding stretch that could prompt the coaching staff to give him a much-needed night off.

While Comrie has battled through the stretch, results have been mixed. He has won just one of his last six starts, and with Winnipeg looking to stabilize its play and manage workloads, the idea of a fresh look in goal has gained traction.

Dom with a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIG STRETCH pic.twitter.com/DJqHCMT8JU

— Manitoba Moose (@ManitobaMoose) November 15, 2025

DiVincentiis’ recall has been widely anticipated within the organization and among fans. The 20-year-old netminder impressed during training camp and the preseason, positioning himself as a legitimate option should the Jets need depth in goal.

With the AHL’s Manitoba Moose this season, DiVincentiis has been among the league’s more consistent goaltenders. Despite a 6-7-1 record that reflects the challenges faced by the Moose, he has posted a respectable 2.49 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage, numbers that underscore his individual performance and poise beyond his years.

Jets Aim to Snap Lengthy Losing Streak Against Scorching Hot CapitalsThe Winnipeg Jets aim to snap their losing streak against a red-hot Capitals team led by Olympic hopefuls in Tom Wilson, Logan Thompson.

Head coach Scott Arniel has not confirmed a starter for Saturday’s matchup, leaving open the possibility that Winnipeg could turn to Comrie once again or the rookie against a flaming hot Capitals team led by Alex Ovechkin.

If DiVincentiis does get the nod, it would mark a significant milestone in his development and offer the Jets a glimpse of a potential future piece between the pipes. For now, the team remains noncommittal, but all signs point to a decision that could come right up until puck drop.

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.