How injuries to Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby impact the Knicks

Just as the Knicks appeared to be finding their stride, Jalen Brunson went down with a right ankle injury and OG Anunobystrained his left hamstring. Injuries are par for the course in any NBA season, and it looks like the Knicks are facing their bug early in this one.

Brunson’s injury is only a Grade 1 sprain, and he’s being evaluated daily, so good news for the Knicks on a potential timeline there. He’s historically been able to grit through these types of injuries, and the daily cadence suggests that we’re looking at only a week or two of missed time if things break right.

Hamstrings can be trickier, and we don’t know the full extent of Anunoby’s injury yet. Assuming a low-severity strain -- which is fair, given his immediate reaction -- this should also be a two-week recovery.

These injuries come just in time for New York’s first extended road trip of the year as it bounces around from Miami to Dallas, Orlando, Brooklyn and Charlotte before wrapping up the month at home against Milwaukee and Toronto. Those are five winnable road games, especially if the team plays up to the standard that it did this past Friday night against the Heat.

Ultimately, the impact of these injuries to the win column may end up negligible. Three teams are already deep lottery favorites, and the Knicks have already shown that they’re capable of stepping up without key pieces.

New York’s offense skewered Miami to the tune of 140 points, getting separate 30-point halves out of Karl-Anthony Towns and Landry Shamet, plus enough stops down the stretch to secure the win. The Knicks can’t bank on repeated historic performances, and maybe they do drop some of these games, but we can still learn a lot about this team in Brunson and Anunoby’s absence.

One early question with this squad is where it’s getting secondary ball handling and creation from. We’ve seen this offensive system sputter against tougher, high-pressure defenses that clog and muck up the freelance motion it relies on -- and fall right back on Brunson’s shoulders.

This has led some fans to pointing to the team’s lack of secondary ball handlers, with their alternates being more traditional off-guards in Shamet, Miles McBride and Mikal Bridges, a sparkplug scorer in Jordan Clarkson and whatever you consider Josh Hart. In theory, you can get enough ball handling in pieces from all these guys to make up for not having another reliable guard, but we’re waiting for that to translate in practice.

The above names will get their chance to elevate their creation games in the coming games. Clarkson contributed season highs with 33 minutes and 24 points against the Heat and should get more burn going forward.

Shamet had a career night with 36 points and has one of the quicker first steps in the rotation. McBride has been relatively quiet to start the season so far, but being thrust into the starting lineup might be the push that he needs.

Hart had his first triple-double of the season following these injuries -- the type of energy and impact that New York will need from him down two starters. He can be the best or worst playmaker, depending on his wildness, with his strengths maximized in transition and breaking defenses with timely cuts, passes and offensive rebounds in the halfcourt.

Somebody outside the rotation -- like Tyler Kolek -- could get their chance. But there was no indication of that as of Friday’s game.

Bridges is having a career playmaking year, but most of his success has come against weaker foes and he still doesn’t feel like a reliable pick-and-roll threat. Eyes should be on him to have a big stretch here, especially on the defensive end with Anunoby missing.

There’s been a silver lining to Brunson missing time in the past -- the defense typically improves with one fewer weak point. It’s not so simple this time around without Anunoby and with the Knicks running smaller lineups that bigger teams have started picking on.

The good news for the Knicks is that prior to Friday’s game, they ranked 12th in the league with 112.9 points allowed per 100 possessions. If they can keep up that level without a Defensive Player of the Year-level talent, it would help cement their defensive foundation and championship aspirations.

It’s possible that they roll out some guys to make up for the lost defensive personnel. Guerschon Yabusele’s size may be welcome right now, and Mohamed Diawara is worth look as well.

Every season comes with its challenges. For the Knicks, learning a new offensive scheme just wasn’t enough to start this year. The Brunson and Anunoby injuries may not leave long-lasting scars, but they can have long-term benefits if the rest of the team elevates their games.

Taylor Makar Called up Ahead of New York Islanders Game

Ahead of today's games against the New York Islanders, Taylor Makar has been called up from the Colorado Eagles once again.

Makar was first called up this season before the San Jose Sharks game on Nov.1, where he made his season debut. He was called up again before the Buffalo Sabres game not too long ago, on Nov. 13. So far, he averages just over six minutes of ice time, and despite not registering his first point of the season, he has had many chances and played well in a bottom-six role.

This call-up still signifies the forward injuries the Avalanche have been facing. With Logan O’Connor and Joel Kiviranta still out, players like Zakhar Bardokov and Gavin Brindley have stepped up in their absence. Now, with Valeri Nichushkin's recent injury, it's Makar’s time to step in and show the organization his continued growth in finding a full-time spot in the lineup.

Valeri Nichushkin to Miss Time With Avalanche — How Long Is Still a QuestionValeri Nichushkin to Miss Time With Avalanche — How Long Is Still a Question Valeri Nichushkin was injured against the Anaheim Ducks early in the third period; we got some updates from head coach Jared Bednar, but his timeline is up in the air

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What Are the Avalanche’s Plans for Ilya Nabokov After Wedgewood's Extension?What Are the Avalanche’s Plans for Ilya Nabokov After Wedgewood's Extension?With Scott Wedgewood extended for another year, what's the plan for top rookie Ilya Nabokov?

The Hockey News Sunday Recap: Columbus Blue Jackets

News & Notes

Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier Faces Backlash For Boarding Penalty Against CanucksBlue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier Faces Backlash For Boarding Penalty Against CanucksOlivier's hit sparks fan fury and debate. Did the Blue Jackets forward cross the line, or is the fanbase overreacting to a penalty?

Today, the NHL never announced any discipline for the hit. It was a very questionable hit and he was able to avoid a suspension, which is huge.

Unfortunately, it seems that some of the Blue Jackets fanbase has now turned on him. 

Some fans have taken to social media to call him a "bum" and insinuate that he would be nothing but a goon if he it wasn't for his point total last season. 

Columbus Blue Jackets' Injury Report - Week 5 Columbus Blue Jackets' Injury Report - Week 5 Despite a relatively healthy season, three key players remain sidelined, impacting team strategy. Erik Gudbranson's return remains uncertain.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been lucky with injuries this season. If we compare it to last season, they had a plethora of players on the shelf. However, this season, they've only been bitten a few times and have navigated it fairly well.

Blue Jackets’ Olivier Destroys Oilers’ Frederic In Heavyweight ScrapBlue Jackets’ Olivier Destroys Oilers’ Frederic In Heavyweight ScrapOlivier unleashes a first-period onslaught, dominating Frederic in a lopsided heavyweight tilt that could define "fight of the year."

Last night, in the Columbus Blue Jackets game against the Edmonton Oilers, Mathieu Olivier dropped the gloves with Trent Frederic and absolutely destroyed him.

The fight came very early in the first period on Prime Monday Night Hockey. Olivier and Frederic squared up, and it may go down as one of the biggest regrets of Frederic’s career.

Former Blue Jackets Forward Inks Two-Year Deal With New ClubFormer Blue Jackets Forward Inks Two-Year Deal With New ClubBrindley's impressive NHL debut with the Avalanche earns him a new two-year contract, solidifying his place in their lineup.

Former Columbus Blue Jackets' forward Gavin Brindley signed a two-year contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $875,000.

Brindley, 21, has played 15 games this season and scored three goals and two assists for five points. He did score his first NHL goal with his new club, earlier this season.

Insider Believes Jenner Could Be Big Trade Chip At 2026 NHL Trade DeadlineInsider Believes Jenner Could Be Big Trade Chip At 2026 NHL Trade DeadlineVeteran leadership and a team-first attitude make Boone Jenner a prime target for Stanley Cup contenders seeking an edge at the 2026 trade deadline.

According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, Columbus Blue Jackets' captain Boone Jenner could be a sought-after target this season.  

Cleveland Monsters Sign Former Ohio State Forward Tate Singleton To PTOCleveland Monsters Sign Former Ohio State Forward Tate Singleton To PTOThe Cleveland Monsters have announced the signing of forward Tate Singleton to a PTO today. Tate was invited to the Monsters 2025 Training Camp.

The Cleveland Monsters have announced the signing of forward Tate Singleton to a PTO today. Tate was invited to the Monsters 2025 Training Camp.

The undrafted free agent from West Lebanon, NH, played four years with Ohio State, and played in 139 games for the Buckeyes. 

From THN's Archive: No Excuse For Euro Exclusion From THN's Archive: No Excuse For Euro Exclusion While the hiring of a Finnish GM is great news, it’s absurd the NHL’s Old Boys Club took this long to let a European in

If the NHL’s GM community were representative of the league’s rosters, Kelalainen’s achievement would barely have raised a ripple. Instead, the hiring sticks out precisely because of hockey’s pace of progress, which makes tree ring growth look like time-lapse photography. That’s the only conclusion you can draw, especially when you bear in mind the league has had only two European coaches in its modern history (Russian Johnny Gottselig was the first from 1944-48, when he was bench boss of the Chicago Black Hawks). Indeed, that it has been almost 13 years since Finn Alpo Suhonen stepped behind the bench of the Hawks and late Czech legend Ivan Hlinka coached the Pittsburgh Penguins – and that neither lasted much more than a season – is another indictment of the NHL’s slow-to-change culture.

Game Previews & Recaps

Blue Jackets Lose Third Straight In VancouverBlue Jackets Lose Third Straight In Vancouver<b>Kirill Marchenko</b>(7,8) and&nbsp;<b>Dmitri Voronkov</b>(6) scored the goals for Columbus, while Elvis Merzlikins 21 of 25 Vancouver shots in the loss.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kirill Marchenko(7,8) and Dmitri Voronkov(6) scored the goals for Columbus, while Elvis Merzlikins 21 of 25 Vancouver shots in the loss.  

This wasn't the best outing for Merzlikins, who gave up the game-winner with five minutes left. The goal was one he will definitely want back. 

Columbus Blue Jackets (14 pts) vs. Edmonton Oilers (16 pts) Game PreviewColumbus Blue Jackets (14 pts) vs. Edmonton Oilers (16 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 27-36-3-3 all-time, and 9-23-0-2 on the road vs. Edmonton.

Columbus is 27-36-3-3 all-time, and 9-23-0-2 on the road vs. Edmonton.

Blue Jackets Blow Another Late Lead; McDavid Too Much For ColumbusBlue Jackets Blow Another Late Lead; McDavid Too Much For Columbus<b>Ivan Provorov</b>(3), <b>Sean Monahan</b>(2), <b>Boone Jenner(</b>3), and <b>Adam Fantilli(</b>3) provided the offense, and Jet Greaves stopped 19 of 24 Oilers shots in a 5-4 OT loss.&nbsp;

Ivan Provorov(3), Sean Monahan(2), Boone Jenner(3), and Adam Fantilli(3) provided the offense, and Jet Greaves stopped 19 of 24 Oilers shots in a 5-4 OT loss. 

Connor McDavid was too much for Columbus on Monday night. 

Columbus Blue Jackets (15 pts) vs. Seattle Kraken (18 pts) Game PreviewColumbus Blue Jackets (15 pts) vs. Seattle Kraken (18 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 3-5 all-time, and 2-2 on the road vs. Seattle.

Columbus is 3-5 all-time, and 2-2 on the road vs. Seattle.

Blue Jackets Snap Four-Game Skid; Lose Boone Jenner To InjuryBlue Jackets Snap Four-Game Skid; Lose Boone Jenner To InjuryThe Blue Jackets snapped a four-game losing streak against the Seattle Kraken.

FanDuel Sports Jody Shelley mentioned on the broadcast that Captain Boone Jenner left the bench around four minutes into the period. He did so after taking a single shift early in the period. Blue Jackets PR announced that Boone Jenner had suffered an upper-body injury and was questionable to return to the game.

Columbus Blue Jackets (17 pts) vs. Edmonton Oilers (20 pts) Game PreviewColumbus Blue Jackets (17 pts) vs. Edmonton Oilers (20 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 27-37-3-3 all-time, and 18-13-3-1 at home vs. Edmonton.

Columbus is 27-37-3-3 all-time, and 18-13-3-1 at home vs. Edmonton.

Olivier Scores Twice As Jackets Survive Late Edmonton PushOlivier Scores Twice As Jackets Survive Late Edmonton Push<b>Mathieu Olivier</b>(2,3), <b>Charlie Coyle</b>(3), <b>Denton Mateychuk</b>(4), and <b>Adam Fantilli</b>(5) powered the Blue Jackets' offense, and Jet Greaves stood as tall as he could to beat the ultra-powered Oilers 5-4 on Thursday night.&nbsp;Greaves stopped 25 of 29 Edmonton shots in the win. It's the Jackets 5th straight win against Edmonton in Columbus.&nbsp;

Mathieu Olivier(2,3), Charlie Coyle(3), Denton Mateychuk(4), and Adam Fantilli(5) powered the Blue Jackets' offense, and Jet Greaves stood as tall as he could to beat the ultra-powered Oilers 5-4 on Thursday night. Greaves stopped 25 of 29 Edmonton shots in the win. It's the Jackets 5th straight win against Edmonton in Columbus.   

Cannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Edmonton OilersCannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Edmonton OilersBlue Jackets exact revenge on Oilers, snatching a hard-fought 5-4 victory. Hear what players and coaches said after the crucial win.

Dean Evason: Head Coach

  • Felt the team almost let the game go
  • Proud of his team to come out with the win against a team with pretty special players
  • Felt his team did a lot of good things
  • Felt Coyle's line was the best line for his club
  • Praised Fantilli for his improvement on the attention to detail
  • They've asked Fantilli to play more sound defensively, rather than focusing on scoring goals
Columbus Blue Jackets (19 pts) vs. New York Rangers (20 pts) Game PreviewColumbus Blue Jackets (19 pts) vs. New York Rangers (20 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 24-24-1-6 all-time, and 13-16-0-1 at home vs. New York.

Columbus is 24-24-1-6 all-time, and 13-16-0-1 at home vs. New York.

Jackets Lose To Rangers In Shootout; Extend Points Streak To Four GamesJackets Lose To Rangers In Shootout; Extend Points Streak To Four Games<b>Dmitri Voronkov</b>(7) scored the only goal of the game for the Blue Jackets, and Jet Greaves stopped 31 of 32 New York shots on Saturday night in a shootout loss to the Rangers.&nbsp;

Dmitri Voronkov(7) scored the only goal of the game for the Blue Jackets, and Jet Greaves stopped 31 of 32 New York shots on Saturday night in a shootout loss to the Rangers. 

It was a tight-checking, back-and-forth game that could've gone either way, but per the norm, the New York Rangers came out on top on the road. 

Up Next: They then take on the Montreal Canadiens in Columbus on Monday. 

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Knicks' OG Anunoby has hamstring injury, will be reevaluated in two weeks

Knicks wingOG Anunoby has a left hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in two weeks, a league source told SNY's Ian Begley.

Anunoby sustained the injury in this past Friday's 140-132 win over the Miami Heat.

He will not travel with the Knicks on their upcoming road trip, Begley added.

The Knicks (8-4) have a five-game stretch away from MSG, starting with Monday's 7:30 p.m. tipoff at the Heat (7-6).

Anunoby scored two points on 1-of-4 shooting and grabbed three rebounds in five minutes of this past Friday's victory against Miami.

Through 12 games, Anunoby is averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 31.1 minutes.

Takeaways: Dallas Slams Door on Flyers’ Back-to-Back in 5–1 Defeat

The Philadelphia Flyers walked into Dallas on the second leg of a back-to-back, in a building they rarely look comfortable in, and got a very clear reminder of why the Stars are one of the league’s most complete teams.

The 5–1 loss wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t subtle — Dallas controlled the game early, dictated pace, and never allowed Philadelphia to find the kind of rhythm that carried them through St. Louis the night before.


1. The Game Was Tilted from the Start — and the Flyers Never Recovered Their Feet

This wasn’t a slow bleed; Dallas hit the gas immediately. Their pace in transition caused problems right away, and the Flyers’ legs simply weren’t at the same level after a grueling 6–5 shootout win against the Blues the night before.

When the Stars get rolling downhill, they’re one of the league’s toughest teams to disrupt. Their breakouts are crisp, their neutral-zone structure is airtight, and their forwards arrive in layers. Against a well-oiled Stars team, the Flyers spent most of the first 40 minutes reacting instead of initiating.

NHL (@NHL) on XNHL (@NHL) on XThat's a natty hatty for Jason Robertson! 🧢 He now has six goals and nine points in his last three games!

2. Meaningful Offense Was Almost Impossible to Come By

You can usually tell how a Flyers game is going based on how often they generate second opportunities or extended o-zone shifts. This one had almost none of either. Dallas boxed out decisively, won middle-ice battles, and kept the Flyers to the perimeter.

Philadelphia ended up with shot attempts, but not enough that carried intent. Breakouts were choppy. Entries were rushed. And once inside the zone, Dallas immediately smothered passing options, turning potential scoring sequences into one-and-done possessions.

Christian Dvorak’s third-period goal — the Flyers’ only one — was less a spark and more a consolation after the Stars had already built what proved to be an insurmountable lead.

Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) on XPhiladelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) on XStay hot, 2️⃣ 2️⃣! #PHIvsDAL | #LetsGoFlyers

3. Dallas Is Simply Not the Team You Want to See on Fatigue Night

The Stars are a matchup nightmare even when you're rested. They roll three legitimately dangerous lines, their defense is enormous and mobile, and Jake Oettinger doesn’t usually give much back when he’s dialed in.

The Flyers arrived in Dallas having emptied the tank the previous night. The Stars looked like a team waiting for them.

Philadelphia isn’t alone in this — plenty of teams get thumped here — but it does illuminate how thin the margin for error becomes against elite opponents when the schedule isn’t in your favor.


4. Perspective Matters: This Loss Doesn’t Erase the Progress of the Road Trip

A loss like this looks ugly on paper, but the larger picture matters. This was just the seventh road game the Flyers have had this season, and while they haven't been perfect away from home, they've found some footing in some tough road barns.

They collected wins in Montreal and Nashville on their previous road trip, then clawed out an exhausting shootout win in St. Louis. Facing Dallas less than 24 hours later was always going to be unforgiving.

Christian Dvorak (22). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)

The Flyers have been trending upward — structurally, competitively, and in their ability to stay in games late. None of that changes because Dallas did what an elite team does to a tired opponent.

The takeaway isn’t that the Flyers collapsed. It’s that they walked into a brutal situational matchup and got the expected result.

Not every loss needs to be a narrative shift, and this one certainly isn’t. It was a rough night against a powerhouse — nothing more, nothing less. 

Avalanche Look Like Stanley Cup Front-Runners As Hot Streak Continues

In our pre-season predictions, the Colorado Avalanche were this writer’s pick to win the Central Division and be a frontrunner to win the Stanley Cup. That’s hardly a stretch, given how deep and talented the Avalanche were on paper.

But not even the Avs’ most fervent advocates believed they’d be as dominant as they’ve looked through the first 20 percent of this season. 

Indeed, Colorado has posted a 12-1-5 record thus far this season. That’s right, the Avalanche have lost just once in regulation time this year. That is astonishing, particularly when you consider the teams they’ve beaten this season.

To wit: the Avs are currently on a five-game win streak, with victories over the Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, and Buffalo Sabres. In addition, Colorado has beaten the Los Angeles Kings, Utah Mammoth, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights. Out of those teams, only the Canucks and Sabres are subpar teams this year.

The truly impressive thing to note about the Avalanche is that they’re dominating at both ends of the ice. The Avs have the NHL’s best offense, averaging a whopping 4.11 goals-for per game. They also have the league’s best defense, averaging just 2.44 goals-against per game. So it’s no wonder Colorado is the NHL’s top team right now.

NHL Power Rankings: Avalanche Thrive As Leafs, Jackets And More FallNHL Power Rankings: Avalanche Thrive As Leafs, Jackets And More FallOne week made a big difference in the NHL power rankings, with injuries continuing to be a big story and lengthy winning and losing streaks standing out.

That said, another impressive element in the Avalanche’s stunning start is the fact that starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood didn’t play a game (due to injury) until Nov. 1. Since Blackwood has returned to action, he’s posted subpar individual numbers, including an .870 save percentage and 3.28 goals-against average. 

In Blackwood’s stead, the Avalanche have leaned heavily on backup Scott Wedgewood, and he’s been terrific, putting up a 10-1-2 record, a 2.26 GAA and a .913 SP. Avs GM Chris MacFarland has rewarded Wedgewood with a one-year contract extension, which provides Wedgewood with job security through the 2026-27 campaign. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has taken a tough-love approach when it comes to giving Blackwood the lion’s share of the work, and you can’t blame Bednar for it. He’s riding the hot hand, and that raises the competitive bar for both Blackwood and Wedgewood.

Colorado Avalanche (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

Now, it hasn’t been all sunshine and lollipops in Denver. The Avalanche did stumble through a four-game losing streak at the end of October. But even then, the Avs took two of those four games to overtime, and a third game to the shootout, which we know is a crapshoot. And since that stretch, Colorado has gone 7-0-1 to underscore their status as the NHL’s gold standard team. 

All things considered, if you’re an Avalanche fan, you couldn’t be happier with the way this team has come out of the gate. And considering that Colorado’s next five games come against the New York Islanders, New York Rangers,Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, the Avs may go through the first 25 games of this season with only one regulation loss. And that is absolutely incredible. 

Expectations on the Avalanche were sky-high entering this season, and the Avs have more than lived up to those expectations. So long as the Avalanche stay healthy, as far as we’re concerned, all roads to the Cup go through Colorado this season.


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McIlroy emotional after overtaking Ballesteros with seventh Race to Dubai title

  • Fitzpatrick wins DP World Tour Championship in playoff

  • McIlroy now one behind record for season-long crowns

An emotional Rory McIlroy hailed surpassing Seve Ballesteros by winning a seventh Race to Dubai title as more than he ever dreamed of. McIlroy lost in a playoff against Matt Fitzpatrick in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, having staged a dramatic late fightback with an eagle at the 72nd hole.

While his Ryder Cup teammate celebrated a third win in the event, the Northern Irishman clinched the season-long crown to eclipse the late Ballesteros’s tally of six and move one behind record-holder, Colin Montgomerie. McIlroy told Sky Sports: “It’s amazing, I had a conversation with Carmen [Ballesteros’s ex-wife] before I went out to play today and she told me how proud he would have been.

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Kiké Hernández has elbow surgery and will miss World Baseball Classic

LOS ANGELES — Kiké Hernández said Saturday he underwent surgery for a left elbow injury that bothered him for much of this past season and he will miss next year’s World Baseball Classic for his native Puerto Rico.

The free agent infielder and outfielder did not provide a timetable for his return.

Hernández wrote on Instagram that he’d been playing hurt for about a month with the Los Angeles Dodgers when he went on the injured list with left elbow inflammation July 7. He returned on Aug. 26 but was limited to 93 games.

He had 16 postseason hits in helping the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Series title and his third with the club. He hit .203 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs during the regular season.

‘It Made Him Stronger’: Hynes Highlights Wallstedt’s Growth As Rookie Makes History

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild (8-7-4) is 5-1-1 in its last seven games. The Wild are currently tied for the most points in the NHL since Nov. 1. Goaltending has been a big reason why. Jesper Wallstedt is 3-0-0 in that span and Filip Gustavsson is 2-1-1.

“Yeah, you need strong goaltending to win and we obviously have a good tandem," Wild head coach John Hynes said on the goaltending. "I think both guys are competing and that’s what you want when you have two guys that can play and they compete for the net. That’s usually what drives a lot of things is if you have competition.”

Wallstedt, 23, picked up another shutout on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks after he stopped all 28 shots he faced. He has posted shutouts in back-to-back starts and leads the NHL in that category.

In his last three starts, Wallstedt is 3-0-0 with a 0.67 goals-against average and a .978 save percentage.

"I just think it's a player that's gone through adversity, which you have to have. When you go through some tough times, whether it be a team early in the year, when it's hard and it doesn’t go as what you want it, or as individual players, can you gain the lessons out of that? And then can you take the actions to get better? And, you know, for Wally, it was a tough season for him for numerous reasons, but it made him stronger," Hynes said on Wallstedt from last year to now.

"He took the lessons out of it. He committed himself this summer. And there's a difference in the way that he practices and the way that he conducts himself away from the rink. They're little things that make a big difference. So that's how I see it. Sometimes young guys go through struggles, and it’s OK as long as you learn the lessons and take the right actions to come out the other side."

'All The People That Have Doubted Me, This Felt Really Good': Jesper Wallstedt Opens The Season Proving Haters Wrong'All The People That Have Doubted Me, This Felt Really Good': Jesper Wallstedt Opens The Season Proving Haters Wrong<b>ST. PAUL, Minn -</b> It has been one heck of a journey for goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. It is just one game, but there is no doubt Wallstedt is riding high after the win on Monday.

Per NHL Stats, Wallstedt became the first rookie in franchise history with consecutive shutouts as well as the youngest Wild goaltender to achieve the feat, besting the previous mark set by 24-year-old Darcy Kuemper (2 GP from Oct. 9-11, 2014).

Niklas Backstrom did it in his "rookie year," but he technically wasn't a rookie due to being 28 during that season.

Wallstedt has still not lost in regulation this year for Minnesota. He improved to 4-0-2 after the 2-0 win over Anaheim. He has a 2.10 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in six starts this season.

Gustavsson, 27, doesn't nessicarly have the best numbers on the season but has been playing great recently. He is 2-1-1 in the Wild's last seven games with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.

Since Nov 1, the Wild rank second in goals-against average (1.69) and third in save percentage (.939).

“Obviously, keeping goals low is a team result," Wallstedt said after his second consecutive shutout. "It’s something we’re doing as a team. If we can limit scoring chances and blocking shots and taking away sticks and boxing out, obviously my record will look good. But at the end of the day, it’s a team result. We’re doing it all together.”

Nonetheless, this had to feel good for Wallstedt. Last year he went 9-14-5 with a 3.59 goals-against average and a .879 save percentage in 27 AHL games. It was a hard season for him.

In two NHL games last year, Wallstedt went 0-2-0 with a 4.09 goals-against average and a .843 save percentage. 

Wild fans and people were writing the so called "goaltender of the future" off. But the Wild continued to believe in him and signed him to a two-year contract extension worth $2.2 million for a goaltender who had only played in five career NHL games.

Safe to say so far that decision by the Wild was a great one.

“It feels really good. It’s obviously a big difference from what I experienced last year and changes the whole mood and my whole lifestyle outside of hockey as well," Wallstedt said on the how this year has been for him personally. "It’s so much more fun right now going to work than it was 12 months ago. With that said, like I’ve said, it’s not just me. It’s about this team as well.”

The 6-foot-3 goaltender took it upon himself to get in better shape this season. You could see it as training camp opened. Wallstedt just looked different on and off the ice. It should not come as a shock as to why he has played so good to start the season.

“He’s physically fit. He’s more fit than he was last year. I think he’s mentally tougher than he was last year," Hynes said on Wallstedt. "His practice habits are good so when you combine all those things, you do get yourself ready whether you play lots of games in a row where there’s a little bit of time in between starts that when you do start, you are ready and he’s done a nice job of that.”

Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) on XSpoked Z (@SpokedZ) on XJESPER WALLSTEDT SHUTS THE DOOR AGAIN

You need both goalies all season long. It is good to see Wallstedt finding his grove and playing such good hockey right now.

The Wild also committed to Gustavsson long-term. Right before the season they extended him to a five-year contract worth $34 million ($6.8m AAV).

Could we have some goaltending controversy?

“I’ll take that any day of the week," Hynes said postgame.

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Devils Earn 3-2 Shootout Victory Against Capitals

With Jack Hughes sidelined for the next several weeks after undergoing surgery on his finger, the New Jersey Devilscontinued their road trip, facing the Washington Capitals on Saturday evening at Capital One Arena. 

Arseny Gritsyuk and Luke Hughes scored for the Devils in regulation, while Jesper Bratt and Simon Nemec lit the lamp in the shootout for a 3-2 victory. Goaltender Jake Allen made 31 saves on 33 shots. 

"Good teams find a way and we’ve got to hold the fort for (Jack Hughes)," Hischier told NJD.TV. "That is what we are trying to do here, and I think everybody bought in and that is why we got a grindy win, that is important for morale."

Gritsyuk scored his first road goal at the 5:05 mark of the first period. With the Devils on the man advantage, the 24-year-old was positioned on the flank and fired the puck with a slap shot that flew past Capitals' goaltender Logan Thompson.

Hughes extended New Jersey's lead to 2-0 with two minutes remaining in the period. It was his first goal of the season and second point as he earned the primary assist on Gritsyuk's goal. 

Allen lost his stick one minute into the third period as the Capitals had the Devils hemmed in the defensive zone. Connor McMichael skated in front of New Jersey's net and popped the puck in to bring Washington within one goal. 

With 11 minutes remaining in regulation, Alexander Ovechkin tied the game with his fifth goal of the season and 902nd of his career. Hughes was unable to tie up the Russian's stick, leading to the game-tying goal. 

After a lively overtime, where the Devils had a 7-2 shot advantage over the Capitals, a shootout was needed to declare a winner. 

Dylan Strome was the only Capital player to beat Allen, while Bratt and Nemec scored for a 3-2 victory. Saturday marked the fifth consecutive game that New Jersey had to play extra minutes. 

"We have been dealing with injuries and adversity all season long, finding ways to cope" head coach Sheldon Keefe told NJD.TV. "Finding ways to earn points and stay alive in games, but the guys just played incredibly hard here today. They are well-deserving of the two points."

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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.