DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 8: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates with teammates during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at American Airlines Center on November 8, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cooper Flagg has been playing angry in the Dallas Mavericks’ last two wins. But at least the team has prevented the second-year star from getting hangry. You wouldn’t like Flagg when he’s hangry.
Late in both Friday’s 112-100 win over the Utah Jazz and in Sunday’s 130-93 blowout over the Brooklyn Nets, Flagg could be seen on the bench as things wound down, snacking on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
And leave it to the intrepid Dallas sports media apparatus — when they spot a trend, they pounce with all the aggression of a rabid dog. No angle goes unnoticed around here.
So, naturally, Flagg answered questions about his emotional support PB&J after Sunday’s win. He gave an enthusiastic nod as the question was being asked about a “second straight in-game PB&J.”
“Listen, I want to give a shoutout to our strength staff, our medical staff,” Flagg said. “They’re the best in the business. I’m trying to put on some weight — keep gaining muscle, so there are some requirements I’ve got to meet, so I’m just trying to stay ahead of it. We’ve got another game [on Monday], so just trying to get my calories, stay ahead of it and be ready for another one tomorrow.”
Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has had in-game PB&J’s in back-to-back games.
He also confirmed that the jelly in question was grape flavored, and the peanut butter was of the smooth variety. Let’s get real. He’s not a savage.
So let’s break this down. Depending on weight, minutes played and how aggressively they move on the court, an NBA player can burn 900-1,800 calories over the course of a single game. Larger, heavier players (like Flagg, despite your opinion of the second-year star’s frame at 6’10”, 228lbs) burn toward the higher end of that range.
As such, sports dietitians generally advise heavier full-time athletes to consume anywhere from 4,000 to more than 7,000 calories per day. One peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread can account for somewhere in the neighborhood of 350 to 500 calories.
Flagg was listed at 205lbs entering his rookie season. He’s now listed at 228lbs. Considering all the full-court basketball he’s played in the meantime, that’s one hell of a lot of PB&Js along the way.
So, what does Flagg’s effort to make weight say about the Mavericks’ chances in a suddenly wide open Western Conference? That he sees an opening, and even in the early part of a breakout second season, he’s actively adding to his game because he doesn’t see himself as a finished product.
Fans may be looking for Flagg to take the next step with his outside shot, and for the record, he made 3-of-5 from 3-point range on Sunday against the Nets, but he’s working on those GAINS. Flagg has increased his scoring (in an admittedly small sample size) so far this year from just over 21 points per game to just over 23 points per game. He’s largely accomplished that by getting to the free-throw line a ton more.
Last season, he shot just over four free throws per game. This year, he’s getting to the free-throw line more than seven times per game. In one of the Mavericks’ first games of the year, color commentator Devin Harris said he’d like to see Flagg increase his free-throw rate to somewhere in the neighborhood of 8.5 per game, which would put him near the top of the league, if you’re looking at last year’s leaders in that category.
Getting stronger is always a great idea, especially when you’re 6’10.” Flagg has already shown an increased ability to bang inside through the first 10 games of the year. Being able to go both over and through defenders in the lane will increase Flagg’s ability to finish inside, which will, in turn, improve the team’s efficiency in the lane.
In a Western Conference that looks more wide open this season, every little advantage gained becomes a bigger deal.
In their first game following a successful Western Canada road trip, in which they notched six of a possible six points to bring their winning streak to four games, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins at Honda Center on Sunday evening.
The Ducks entered play just two points out of the second wild card spot, with a game in hand on the Utah Mammoth, which was somewhat surprising, given that prior to their win streak, they had only won one of their previous eight.
The Pens entered play on the second half of a back-to-back, as they snapped their own four-game winless streak against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. In the standings, they were just two points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers, who sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Following a first period benching that lasted the remainder of the Ducks’ 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Friday, Sam Colangelo was replaced in the depth chart by Frank Vatrano. That represented the only line/pair change for head coach Joel Quenneville.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:
Killorn-Carlsson-Caulfield
Gauthier-Granlund-Sennecke
Myatovic-Washe-Vatrano
Malott-McQueen-Nesterenko
LaCombe-Helleson
Mitchell-Luneau
Mintyukov-Warren
For the fourth time in five games, Laurent Brossoit got the start for the Ducks, with Ville Husso serving as backup. Lukas Dostal was scratched and given the night off. Brossoit stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced. Arturs Silovs got the start for Pittsburgh and saved 20 of 24.
“Overall, some positive things: the power play, killed some penalties, that five-on-three early. They got some power plays at the end, but LB (Laurent Brossoit) was pretty good today,” Quenneville said after the game.
Game Notes
Over 15 minutes of this game was played on special teams, which is how Anaheim’s been generating the majority of their offense, and this game was no different, as they tallied three goals on four opportunities. Discipline at key moments (like at the end of a game or while already down a man) will be important to iron out, as power plays can only bail a team out so often.
Laurent Brossoit: The Ducks have been struggling to get timely, important saves from their expected No. 1 starter, Lukas Dostal, to this point in the season. Brossoit has now won all four games he’s started for the Ducks since he was recalled from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, and in this game, when the Pens were pressing to climb back into the game at various points, he was there to meet every challenge.
Notably, he was efficient with his puck tracking, found perimeter shots through and around traffic directly in front of him, and swallowed the vast majority of shots, getting freezes as opposed to fighting those shots off and putting potential rebounds back in play.
Cutter Gauthier: After his third hat trick in five games, Gauthier is now on pace to finish the season with 73 goals. That’s obviously unlikely to happen, but his ability to provide the Ducks with needed instant offense is undeniable, and next to Mikael Granlund, who can find him with deceptive passes from throughout the offensive zone and on the rush, they represent one of the more deadly setup/finishing duos in the NHL.
In this game, Gauthier attacked downhill, found soft ice, scored on a no-look power play goal, and each seemed more effortless than the last. His release is as deadly and heavy as anyone’s in NHL history, and he’s remarkably deceptive with it.
Top Four Defensemen: According to TOI, the Ducks’ top four defensemen, as it stands, are Jackson LaCombe, Drew Helleson, Pavel Mintyukov, and Tristan Luneau. All four were counted on to provide offense when the team needed to get out to a lead and defend a late lead while fending off a pressing Pens attack.
LaCombe played his third consecutive game of logging over 30:00 TOI. Over 11 of those minutes came on special teams, and at 5v5, he was tasked with taking on the challenge of matching up against Pittsburgh’s top line of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Rickard Rakell. He notched three assists, and provided a safety net as a reliable breakout option, provided smart pinches, and blocked several shots at key times in the game.
Helleson, LaCombe’s partner, played one of the better games of his career, as he was difficult to compete against in tight areas, boxed out the front of the net, and made simple, effective decisions with the puck. Tristan Luneau was creative and dynamic with the puck on his stick at the point. His activations and mobility at the blueline were a consistent threat that opened up several other opportunities for his teammates.
Pavel Mintyukov has seen a confidence boost since his three-point performance against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Notably, he’s less frantic during retrieval sequences, and rather than losing a battle or sending a weak rim up the wall, he’s skating pucks out of danger, changing the angles on outlets, and/or leading exit sequences.
For the second game of their four-game homestand, the Ducks will host the Nashville Predators on Wednesday at 7 pm PST.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 11: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball while defended by Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets during the game on March 11, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Denver Nuggets played in Mexico two nights ago. They beat the Indiana Pacers 114-102. With the extra level of travel, Denver has listed their entire rotation as a game-time decision. More than likely, some of them will have to play. However, if they do sit everyone, the Houston Rockets will owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
Houston has looked poor, to stay the least, over the past two games. Against Minnesota at home and in Phoenix, the Rockets got off to sluggish starts and it cost them in the fourth quarters when they couldn’t score. Turnovers have also plagued the team in those losses. It was a stark reminder of last season’s struggles, and casts Houston’s hot start in doubt. Further, it brings into question the perceived importance of Fred VanVleet. If the team is making the same mistakes it made last season (sans FVV), how helpful is he?
The sky isn’t falling, but boy do the Rockets need to prove that they aren’t the exact same team as last season. Because if they are, what are we even doing here? I’m not arguing for a full teardown and I’m certainly not saying that a loss tonight should start that process, but if Denver doesn’t play their stars and Houston still finds a way to lose, well…it’s going to get loud.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: A New York Yankees hat sits during batting practice prior to Game One of the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sports Hochi: The Yankees are reportedly setting their sights on 21-year-old Japanese right-hander Hironari Hiroike, who pitched at Keio University in Tokyo. The site called the Bombers ‘the most likely destination’ for the young and talented hurler, who had a 2.88 ERA and a strikeout rate of 11.52 in six games in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League. With a mid-90s fastball that can reach 97 mph and multiple promising breaking balls, Hiroike wasn’t drafted in the NPB and is expected to sign a minor league deal with an MLB squad.
FOX Sports | Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar: The offseason, or at least the first portion of it, is already underway. Kavner and Thosar went through each team’s biggest need and identified an infield bat as the Yankees’ most pressing one. “Outside of first base, there are a lot of questions about the offensive production of this infield. They need another reliable bat,” they said.
Roundtable | Matthew Schmidt: Around the deadline, reports suggested the Yankees were interested in upgrading the catcher position. Ultimately, they chose to stick with Austin Wells as the primary guy behind the plate, but Schmidt wonders if they will revisit trade talks for Colorado Rockies backstop Hunter Goodman, who finished the 2026 campaign with 41 home runs and a 112 wRC+. He also explains why New York would be better off with Wells as the backup and Goodman or Ryan Jeffers starting.
New York Yankees on SI | Jonna Perlinger The Yankees extended a qualifying offer to closer David Bednar, so there’s a good chance he takes it and stays on a one-year deal. He could also reject it and hit the free agent market, and Perlinger identified four potential landing spots for the big righty if he leaves the Bronx.
Scott Boland brushed off Usman Khawaja’s claim that his home state Victoria once perfected the “dark arts” of ball-tampering, while Nic Maddinson has described the former Australian opener’s comments as “disappointing”.
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 8: Walter Clayton Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 8, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (6-4) took on the Brooklyn Nets (2-8), winning 130-93 on the first night of a back-to-back. This may be a game where one could draw correlations that aren’t really there, or it may be the perfect example of a lesson learned. The Mavs slept on the Kings a few nights ago and got embarrassed, but tonight they came out strong and stayed that way, holding a lead for roughly 47 minutes.
Let’s get to the grades!
Kyrie Irving: 8/10
21 PTS / 3 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL / 29 MIN
Irving displayed his typical veteran poise, recognized his matchup against an inexperienced player and took advantage while staying within himself and doing what was best for the team. His three-ball left a bit to be desired (2-of-7), but there were times it felt like he was literally working on that part of his game in real time, as if to work out a kink. More importantly, he finished well at the rim with no hesitation getting amongst the trees; hopefully that is a sign of building confidence and there will be more of it to come. Despite the misses from downtown, Irving still shot 9-of-15 overall (60%). His circus shot for the and-one to end the third quarter was the cherry on top.
Cooper Flagg: 9/10
25 PTS / 5 REB / 12 AST / 1 STL / 28 MIN
Flagg led all scorers in his double-double effort. He hit 8-of-13 from the floor, 3-of-5 from downtown and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Three turnovers was about the only blemish on his game. In relatively few minutes, he all but dominated every aspect of the game and set a new career high in assists in less than 30 minutes of action.
Caleb Martin: 6/10
2 PTS / 2 REB / 2 AST / 19 MIN
Martin insists on being the most difficult player on the team to grade. Since getting the starting job a few games ago, Martin hasn’t blown up the box score but has done a lot of intangible things. He’s smart, lets the game come to him and finds teammates (even if it comes by way of the hockey-assist or poking a rebound to a teammate that doesn’t register for him on the stat sheet).
P.J. Washington: 6/10
6 PTS / 5 REB / 1 STL / 1 BLK / 25 MIN
This was a tough grade to give, as it’s not especially high despite Washington having a pretty solid night. He was 2-of-3 from the floor, both from deep and did little bits here and there to contribute. It felt like this was a game he could go gang-busters in, especially off a great outing last game, but he was instead quietly effective.
Daniel Gafford: 8/10
18 PTS / 5 REB / 2 AST / 3 BLK / 19 MIN
Gafford was a mixed bag early on, with some strong finishes through contact for the and-one, but some matador defense on the other end. Then all of sudden he locked in and you blinked and realized he put together a very nice game. All said, he scored nearly a point per minute on a highly efficient 7-of-8 shooting from the floor while connecting on 4-of-6 free throws. His presence early on was a big help in the Mavs getting early separation.
Walter Clayton, Jr.: 6/10
5 PTS / 4 REB / 6 AST / 2 STL / 16 MIN
May Clayton go down as a super slick pickup by the front office. The guy is totally in control, makes good plays and seems to be in the right spot all the time. In just 16 minutes he was terrific, boosting his grade given how little time he had to work. He drained 2-of-3 shots including 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. Two turnovers and three fouls hurt him, but he gets the benefit of the doubt relative to his role and minutes played.
Morez Johnson, Jr.: 8/10
4 PTS / 9 REB / 1 AST / 19 MIN
He gets a major grade boost for how he managed himself throughout some chippiness with Noah Clowney. Clowney hit the deck after Johnson boxed him out, then proceeded to jaw with Johnson and bump him on their way back down court. Clowney persisted, bodying up into Johnson for an intentional foul, but literally bounced off Johnson for all the good it did. Johnson never got flustered, never retaliated and even though he was assessed with a technical foul, he showed poise well beyond his years. Also, Johnson made a heads up play that stood out in the first quarter. Instead of hopelessly closing out on an open shooter (he gave it a thought), he instead dropped to the basket to get a body on a cutter and ended up with the rebound. It was a savvy play he wasn’t necessarily making a few weeks ago.
Santi Aldama: 8/10
12 PTS / 2 REB / 1 STL / 15 MIN
Aldama was 5-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-4 from deep. He barely played a quarter, but came in scorching. In the flow of watching the game live, it was hard to remember him getting so many shots – he was totally within the flow of the offense and got a couple easy ones right at the rim. It’s a small sample size, but Aldama has thus far been everything Mavs’ fans could hope for. Another smart player that doesn’t get ahead of himself and makes the absolute most of his time on the floor.
Zaccharie Risacher: 8/10
11 PTS / 6 REB / 1 AST / 16 MIN
Like Aldama, Risacher did a lot with a little. Aside from an air-balled three that he had to put up after getting the ‘live grenade’ tossed to him, he was on fire, shooting 5-of-8 (1-of-3 from downtown). He didn’t commit a foul and pursued rebounds including two on the offensive end. He joined Aldama as a big reason the starters got a lot of rest.
Final Thoughts
This was a fantastic game all around. One could argue the Mavs played a struggling team. While that is true, we saw what happened against Sacramento just a few nights ago. Sunday night, Dallas got out to a lead, extended it and maintained it. The latter may have been the best part – the Mavs never relented and it seems to be in no small part due to Dusty May’s coaching. May at one point (with a large double-digit lead) was still yelling to his players to box out. Anyone could have mailed it in on the first night of a back-to-back, but no one did.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
Nov 8, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) hugs forward Cooper Flagg (32) during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dallas Mavericks (6-4) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (2-8), 130-93 in a Sunday evening matchup at the American Airlines Center. The win over the Nets marks the Mavericks’ second straight win and follows Friday night’s 112-100 win over the Utah Jazz in NBA Cup Group Play.
Dereck Lively, Tarik Biberovic, and Sergio de Larrea were out for Dallas. Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. were notably absent for Brooklyn.
Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 25 points and 12 assists. Kyrie Irving added 21 points. Michael Porter Jr. contributed 19 points for the Nets.
Here are three numbers to know from Sunday evening’s win.
40%: Dallas’ 3-point shooting
The Mavericks shot efficiently from the floor this evening, making 14-of-35 shots from behind the arc. The Mavericks are a better team when they are hitting their threes and not trying to force them up. Though against a less-talented and less-experienced team, the Mavericks won both the field goal and three-point percentage advantages. Dallas took care of a team that was a scheduled win and will need to carry their efficient night from the field into their next matchup.
18/3: Daniel Gafford points, blocks
Daniel Gafford had an active showing for the Mavericks, finishing with 18 points, three offensive rebounds, and a season-high three blocks. Gafford’s ability to finish at the rim at an efficient rate and his shot-blocking abilities have allowed him to have a nice start to the season as the Mavericks’ starting center. He has improved his efficiency this season and built on-court chemistry with Flagg, scoring on five of his assists for 10 points this evening. Gafford has been able to impact the game in a way he once did for the previous iteration of the Mavericks, allowing the Mavericks to stay afloat at the center position as Lively continues to rehab from his injury.
12: Cooper Flagg career high in assists
After an outing last week that served as a reminder that Flagg is still 19 years old, Flagg finished with an emphatic 25 points, 5 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists. Notably, he shot 8-of-13 from the field in the win over the Nets, an improvement from his 17-of-54 (31.5%) field goals made in the Mavericks’ three games last week. He played more decisively tonight on offense, highlighting his passing abilities and shooting 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Though the Nets are a borderline G League team, Flagg was able to completely dismantle their defense. When Flagg is playing confidently, he is one of the league’s best players, and tonight’s outing will give him the motivation to carry his performance into Monday night’s matchup with Indiana.
Up next
Try not to miss them for too long; the Mavericks will be back in action Monday night as they host the Pacers. Tune in to KFAA-TV and Mavs TV at 7 p.m. CT to catch the matchup.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 08: Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on November 08, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks started strong but faded in a 117-97 loss to the Boston Celtics. In a rematch of Wednesday’s back-and-forth loss to the Celtics, the Bucks led by as much as 14 in the first quarter, but ceded ground thanks to Boston’s strong shooting and pesky defense. The Celtics retook the lead at the start of the second quarter and never looked back in a comfortable 20-point victory. Kyle Kuzma led Milwaukee with 27 points on 10/17 shooting, followed by Brayden Burries (13 points) and Tyler Herro (13 points). Paul George scored 27 on 18 shots, while Jayson Tatum (21), Neemias Queta (13), Payton Pritchard (12), and Mitchell Robinson (12) all logged double-digit points.
Milwaukee rolled out its new starting lineup of Brayden Burries, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner. Boston started Mike Conley, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta. The story early was Kyle Kuzma, who dropped 16 points on 6/10 shooting in the first quarter alone. The Bucks led 20-6 after five minutes of play, forcing the Celtics to call a timeout as Kuzma had already dropped 14 of those 16—he was hot. But of course, the Celtics remained calm and worked their way back into the game, largely thanks to Tatum’s high-level shooting and aggressive defence that forced turnovers and let Boston score easy points. Tatum finished the quarter with 16 points on 4/9 shooting as Boston strung together a 10-0 run to end the period, with the Bucks leading by just two, 27-25.
Paul George connected on a corner three to give the Celtics their first lead just seconds into the second quarter. Boston kept clicking from the perimeter and pestered Milwaukee’s ball handlers. The Bucks really hit an offensive wall at this point, connecting on just two threes from 12 attempts. In comparison, Boston looked at ease; White got to his spots at the midrange, Queta consistently beat Turner on the interior, and George splashed three after three. In fact, PG finished with a ridiculous 16 points in the second quarter on 6/9 shooting, helping Boston outscore Milwaukee 33-18 in the period. Tatum found Queta wide open in the paint, who threw down a big jam to put the Celtics up 58-45 at halftime.
Things got uglier for the Bucks in the third, as the Celtics opened with a 7-0 run and stretched their lead to 20. Herro also hobbled off the court with an apparent knee injury after being fouled by Derrick White, but thankfully, returned later in the game. To their credit, the Bucks showed resolve; Turner converted an and-one layup over Queta and Kuzma knocked down a three to trigger a Boston timeout. Ousmane Dieng saw his first minutes in nearly four games and made his cameo count with a pull-up midrange jumper to cut the Celtics’ lead to 16. Ryan Rollins also began to pick up steam from long range, but Boston still held a huge advantage, leading 91-74 entering the final frame.
Pritchard fired a step-back three, and Brayden Burries responded with a midrange jumper to start the fourth quarter. Boston continued to dominate Milwaukee, though they slowed marginally as they brought in their deep rotation to finish the game. That was no matter, though, because they still had Pritchard on the court, who connected on three three-pointers within two minutes. Special hat tip to Dieng, though, who scored eight points in the fourth quarter along to get his year heading back in the right direction. The Celtics coasted to a comfortable 20-point lead, dropping the Bucks to 1-9 in their first 10 games.
Stat That Stood Out
The battle on the glass was one-sided today. Boston grabbed 20 offensive boards to Milwaukee’s nine and led the game in rebounds, 48-36. Boston picked up a lot of second-chance points through the efforts of Queta and Robinson, which ultimately helped the Celtics pull away in the second quarter.
Obscene Overreaction
Ousmane Dieng deserves a permanent spot in the rotation after that fourth quarter. Dieng shined in his limited minutes, scoring 10 points on perfect 3/3 shooting. Dieng has struggled this season, especially finding a rhythm from beyond the arc and competing with wings for playing time, but he certainly took a step forward against Boston. It could translate to more meaningful minutes in Tuesday’s outing against the New York Knicks.
BOSTON (AP) — Elias Lindholm, Mikey Eyssimont and Morgan Geekie each scored a goal in an opening period that started out testy, carrying the Boston Bruins past the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Sunday.
Jeremy Swayman made 40 saves, 17 coming in the first period, for the Bruins, who improved to 7-0-0 at home by winning their fourth straight game a day after placing young star James Hagens on injured reserve.
JJ Peterka added a goal for Boston, which owns a plus-21 goal differential at TD Garden. David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha each added two assists.
Carter Verhaeghe scored a power-play goal for the Panthers, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 32 shots. Florida has lost three of four games.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, SABRES 1
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Tomas Hertl scored two goals and Vegas won their third straight game, over Buffalo.
Hertl scored both of his goals in the third period to help put the game away for the Golden Knights, who finished their road trip 3-0-1.
Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner also scored for Vegas while Adin Hill made 27 saves.
Beck Malenstyn scored and Colten Ellis made 21 saves for Buffalo, which has lost two of its last three games.
Marner opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 12:17 of the second period following a turnover by Tage Thompson.
Eichel, who was the Sabres first-round draft pick in 2015 and traded to Vegas in 2021, made it 2-0 one minute and 26 seconds later with his eighth goal of the season. He has seven goals and three assists in eight games against Buffalo in his career.
JETS 4, LIGHTNING 3
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Mark Scheifele scored on a 5-on-3 power play with 1.6 seconds left and Winnipeg beat Tampa Bay after blowing a late three-goal lead.
Scheifele scored on a one-timer from the high slot off a feed from Cole Perfetti.
After Brayden Yager gave Winnipeg a 3-0 lead on a power play at 8:10 of the third with his first NHL goal, the Lightning tied it in a 4:07 burst. Brandon Hagel scored with 9:38 to go, and Pontus Holmberg struck twice — with 5:59 left and 5:33 remaining.
Perfetti, Morgan Barron and Brayden Yager also scored for Winnipeg (7-8-3), and Stuart Skinner made 18 saves. The Jets have won three in a row after dropping nine straight.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 21 shots for Tampa Bay (11-4-2) in the opener of a three-game trip The Lightning had won three in a row.
DEVILS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 0
TORONTO (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for his first shutout with New Jersey and the Devils beat Toronto.
Acquired from the Winnipeg Jets last month after demanding a trade, Hellebuyck became the first goalie in franchise history to win each of his first five games with the club.
The Devils are set to play at Winnipeg on Tuesday night, with general manager Sunny Mehta saying Sunday night that Hellebuyck will not play. Hellebuyck had his first shutout of the season and the 46th of his NHL career.
Timo Meier scored twice for New Jersey (13-5-0), which has won nine of its last 10 games. Nico Hischier, with a goal and an assist, and Connor Brown, into an empty net, provided the rest of the offense. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt each had two assists.
Anthony Stolarz stopped 25 shots for Toronto (8-9-2). The Maple Leafs have lost three straight and five of their last six in regulation.
FLAMES 4, FLYERS 3, OT
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Matt Coronato scored at 4:08 of overtime to give Calgary a victory over Philadelphia.
Zane Parekh, Zach Whitecloud and Joel Farabee, while short-handed, also scored for the Flames (8-9-1). Yegor Sharangovich had two assists.
Flames goalie Devin Cooley, in his first game back after missing five because of a lower-body injury, made 32 saves.
Denver Barkey, Noel Acciari and Owen Tippett scored for Philadelphia (4-10-5), and Sean Couturier added two assists. Dan Vladar stopped 22 shots.
Farabee tied it on a short-handed breakaway midway through the third period.
DUCKS 5, PENGUINS 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cutter Gauthier continued his scoring rampage with his third hat trick in eight days, and captain Mikael Granlund had a goal and three assists in the Ducks’ fifth consecutive victory, over Pittsburgh.
Gauthier’s empty-net goal in the final minute gave him three goals and an assist for the Ducks, who became the first team since the 1988-89 Los Angeles Kings to score at least five goals in eight consecutive games.
Gauthier extended his goals streak to six games and his points streak to a career best-tying eight games with his fourth multi-goal performance during this electric sequence, including three of his four career hat tricks. He has scored eight of his 13 goals in this six-game stretch on power plays.
Jackson LaCombe had three assists and tied a Ducks record with an assist in his 10th consecutive game. Laurent Brossoit made 32 saves for his fourth victory in four starts in Anaheim’s net.
Kris Letang and Rickard Rakell scored 6-on-4 power-play goals in the third period after Pittsburgh had fallen behind 4-0. Evgeni Malkin had two assists and Arturs Silovs stopped 20 shots for the Penguins, who snapped a four-game skid Saturday night at Los Angeles in the opener of their California trip.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) reacts after a dunk during a game against the Brooklyn Nets in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.
DALLAS — The Nets let go of the rope Sunday. There was a disconnect, bad body language and even worse defense.
And the result was as horrible as it sounds, a 130-93 beating at the hands of the Mavericks before a crowd of 19,184 at American Airlines Center.
Looking sluggish and spent, the Nets got shredded on defense, never led, fell behind by 37 and were noncompetitive the whole night.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) reacts after a dunk during a game against the Brooklyn Nets in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Yeah, obviously defensively we were not connected, and we made a lot of mistakes. And then a team like this, when they’re in rhythm with the players that they have, it’s when you can get hurt,” head coach Jordi Fernández said. “They made some tough ones, and we also allowed some. I thought offensively, we created good shots, but we again turned it over too much — and the nature of the turnovers, 17 turnovers for 24 points. That’s just not acceptable.
“And a lot of them were like we’re trying to run in transition and we give it to the other team, and those are tough. We still created 21 turnovers with 25 points, and I think that that’s the pressure and who we want to be. But overall, a poor defensive game.”
That’s an understatement.
The Nets (2-8) saw Cooper Flagg dominate with 25 points, 12 assists and five rebounds while Kyrie Irving scored 21 against his former team.
Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 19 points and nine boards, but Julius Randle struggled with just 13 and finished a minus-33. This team isn’t capable of winning with that sort of performance from Randle.
The Nets allowed 57.1 percent shooting, including 61.9 percent in a first half that saw them trail 66-46, and unlike the Hawks a day earlier, they never rallied.
Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving (11) drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Getty Images
The Nets had caught Atlanta on the tail end of a back-to-back and built a 17-point cushion. They even led by four with 1:45 to play before coughing up 10 unanswered points, letting the Hawks close the game on a 14-7 run.
Fernández had hoped they could replicate their energy from the night before, but actually sustain it. Instead, apparently they had exhausted it.
“The second quarter, we didn’t make shots, didn’t play defense,” Randle said. “They were giving a lot of stuff off of switching. But credit to them, they executed really well.”
The Nets shot 38.8 percent and 11-for-39 from deep.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., center, tries to score against Dallas Mavericks defenders Daniel Gafford, left, and Cooper Flagg on Nov. 8, 2026. AP Photo/LM Otero
Brooklyn fell behind by 13 in the first quarter, and that deficit doubled to 26 in the even sloppier second.
When Randle threw the ball behind Porter coming upcourt, it was a turnover on the sideline with 1:48 left in the half. The latter banged the ball on his head in frustration.
But the sequence that really typified the evening for Brooklyn?
Noah Clowney got whistled for a foul on Morez Johnson Jr., and the two had to be separated with 3:51 left in the third quarter as the officials went to replay to see whether the Net forward had committed a flagrant. The replay showed that Johnson had actually brazenly knocked Clowney to the court on the other end of the floor moments earlier, so he was assessed a technical.
Then Moritz Wagner clanked the ensuing free throw with the Nets trailing 92-62.
Clowney promptly fouled out to salt the wound.
“We couldn’t make shots, they made a lot of them. And then once adversity hits, it seems to be really difficult for us to kind of get our head out of … whatever it is,” Wagner admitted.
“It’s never all bad, and it’s not all good, you know. It never is as bad as it looks, but our body language does drop. We lack a little maturity there as a group. It’s nobody’s fault; it’s just everybody kind of in new roles, everybody getting used to it, which is an excuse. It’s something we have to look in the mirror for, everybody for himself and kind of figure it out.”
ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 8: Spencer Stastney #24 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Killorn #17 of the Anaheim Ducks battle for position during the first period at Honda Center on November 8, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Pregame
Ville Koivunen picked up a day-to-day undisclosed lower body injury in last night’s game, Andrei Kuzmenko steps into his spot in the lineup. Arturs Silovs rotates in to get the start in goal.
The Ducks also brought some of the actors from the Mighty Ducks movies and woo, these Hometown Remix sure hit the ‘90s nostalgia sweet spot. There’s been some mixed reviews and spotty acceptance of some of the team’s choices, would have to imagine this concept is about as universally loved as it’ll get. That front crest is so much better than Anaheim’s typical webbed foot D looking thing and the color scheme of the green/yellow/purple is just iconic. Hard to believe after all these years this is the first movie-inspired jersey the NHL team has gone with.
We are Ducks, and Ducks fly together!
Marguerite Moreau (Connie), Matt Doherty (Averman), Justin Wong (Kenny Wu), and producer of the films, Jordan Kerner, fly with us! pic.twitter.com/OMIJBKEoCg
Great start for the Pens, including the Crosby line and then the Lizotte line getting plenty of pressure and time in the offensive zone. The good will goes out the door when Erik Karlsson steps up and Beckett Sennecke and the puck both get behind him for a breakaway, though Sennecke skies the shot to avoid issues.
Kaedan Korczak takes the first penalty of the night. Pittsburgh holds on until one second remains on it, Mikael Granlund is the first to a rebound kicked in his direction and the return effort hits the back of the net. 1-0 Anaheim.
Shortly after that, the Pens are back to the penalty box, it’s Crosby this time for a cross-check. No goal on it this time.
Pittsburgh gets their footing back under them, another good shift by the top line and after that Ben Kindel is tripped by Tristan Luneau to grant the first Pens power play. Not much comes of it.
Well, it was a good opening and closing five minutes for Pittsburgh, then the penalties came and their defensive structure got (pardon the pun) a little loosey goosey against the Ducks, giving up two 3-on-1 rushes that they were able to survive in the middle of the period.
Second period
Pittsburgh gets some power plays early, Rickard Rakell gets held and then just 23 seconds into the power play, Tommy Novak has his lip opened up by an Alex Killorn high stick, leading to 1:37 of a 5v3 advantage for the Pens.
Jackson LaCombe blocks away a sure goal with his skate, there’s a whistle with 41 seconds left in the 5v3 and Pittsburgh elects to use their timeout very early in the game in order to get their top players a breather and talk strategy.
It doesn’t pay off, they try to move the puck and find Kindel, his shot misses the net. From there the team bumbles around, finding ways to lose the puck and getting no where.
Pittsburgh gets called for a penalty, the Ducks strike again for their second PPG of the night. Cutter Gauthier makes a slick no look shot that fooled everyone in white thinking he would probably be passing. 2-0.
The bottom starts dropping out, Granlund finds Gauthier with a nice pass that again exposes the Pens’ defensive structure with only one player anywhere near the net. Gauthier scores his second goal of the night, right along the ice again. 3-0.
Repeated missed opportunities and repeated Gauthier goals put the Pens down 3-0 and it doesn’t even feel that close at the second intermission.
Third period
Blake Lizotte goes off for a tripping minor early in the period, the Ducks try to set Gauthier up for the hat trick, that doesn’t work. The second group comes out and Tristan Luneau shoots from the point with traffic and Silovs doesn’t catch up in time. 4-0 on the third PPG of the game for Anaheim.
The Pens get a power play with over 13 minutes to go and pull Silovs to make it a 6v4 advantage. Kris Letang joins the top power play and it pays off with Letang’s first goal of the season. 4-1 game.
Pittsburgh keeps pushing to get back in the game. Silovs is pulled again with 7:40 to go when the team gets an offensive zone faceoff. They force Anaheim into an interference penalty. Silovs stays on the bench for the team to try another 6v4 power play. It works again, this time with Crosby making a short pass over for Rickard Rakell to smack in. 4-2 game with 6:18 to play.
The push continues with the fight against the clock. The Pens pull Silovs for a third time with about three minutes to go and nearly score during a net-front scramble that again sees a Duck defender block a shot that was going into the net. The empty net luck finally runs out, Gauthier scores from long-range to get his hat trick and set the final score at 5-2.
Some thoughts
Rutger McGroarty was called up for an extra body in lieu of the Koivunen injury but didn’t play. He did play Friday and Saturday in the AHL and then make the cross-country trek to join the NHL club, it can be annoying when young players are recalled and not dressed but this decision made some sense. (Of course, it’ll make less if/when McGroarty doesn’t play again on Wednesday if he’s still with the NHL club by then).
Anaheim has the second ranked power play in the NHL, not a great idea to send them to the power play twice in the first ten minutes of action!
The Pittsburgh PK rotation in play is interesting, and not really a good interesting. Karlsson ended up at the top of the box, where a forward would usually be. The next PK, it was Korczak who ended up in the same spot. This required forwards to be down low and have to defend near the net, which doesn’t seem like the most sound strategy. That it happened twice for a defenseman fine with rotating out far from the net within a few minutes stood out as noteworthy.
Great Bob Grove stat (well not so great for Blake Lizotte): Lizotte has lost 11 straight defensive zone faceoffs while on the PK. That’s a big issue since Lizotte typically takes the first PK faceoff and those draws are in the d-zone. Overall, the non-Crosby faceoffs of the first period were two wins and nine losses, which was at five wins and 14 losses by the end of the second. Immediately losing puck possession so consistently has mounted into a major problem for this team. When Lizotte was in the box, Kindel took the duty of the first PK faceoff, he lost and broke his stick in the process – the puck ended up in the net seconds later.
It’s very petty but it doesn’t stop me from doing a little smile when remembering Gauthier elected to not want to sign with the Flyers after they drafted him. Maybe a little less happy when he starts snapping goals in left and right, but better it happens 2x a season instead of four.
Tonight had shades of the Vegas game for last week when Pittsburgh got a long 5v3 power play in a perfect spot to change the game (though down 1-0 in the second period tonight is of course a little different than a tie game late in the third like back then) only to not score. Then watch the opponent get a power play and quickly score a back-breaking goal. Not exactly the type of deja vu that you want to go through.
Just from the box score, a 2/5 night for the power play will look better than this one actually was, given the long 5v3 that went south at a key time of the game. It doesn’t help that aforementioned great Ducks power play was even better, going 3/4 and putting the game out of reach until a comeback effort that was too big of a hole and too little time for the Pens to have a real shot.
Liked the idea for the coaches to call the timeout early on in the game and try to give the players another crack at it. Having Novak back in the room getting repairs on his lip didn’t help matters, but at this point there’s still three future Hall of Famers on the ice in that situation. They have to find a way to get it in the net.
At least Letang got the power play something for the night with a goal. Nothing fancy, just a slapshot from the middle of the ice. Keeping it simple and putting pucks on target is the best thing they can do right now. Great stat from the SNP crew that tonight’s goal was only the second regular season goal for Letang in calendar 2026 (and the last was way back on January 1st!). Letang did score two goals in the playoffs.
Malkin had two power play assists tonight. He did get a PPA last night vs LA which was his first of the season in that ledger and his first power play point since way back on the second game against Montreal on 10/3. He’s had some injury issues, nice to see three PPA this weekend after being dry all year to that point.
A sixty minute game can’t be boiled down as simply as two plays, but it’s hard to avoid the final pre-empty net score of 4-2 and the fact two Ducks defenders blocked shots going into empty nets. It’s almost impossible to imagine Penguin players doing the same, most of them tend to end up out of picture view to the net when the goals go in. That, of course, wasn’t the true difference in why one team won and the other lost, though it does stand out just the same.
Not a new feeling, the Penguins are just missing that little extra bit right now that it takes to win games. Usually that comes from the power play failing gloriously and the defense getting out of sorts leading to goal(s) against. Both of those elements have been on display regularly this season and certainly were a big part of the story tonight. In theory, they’re pretty close, yet they fail to get there so regularly that it is a very real gap between winning and what they’re typically capable of. One more on the road on Wednesday night in San Jose before returning home.
The play by Luke Hughes on Saturday night still stands out. Not the fight with Matthew Schaefer, although that’s noteworthy as well. The play does involve Hughes and Schaefer, though.
It’s the overtime play where Hughes closes in on Schaefer, who has a chance to end the game with a breakaway goal. Then, Hughes breaks up the scoring chance, steals the puck, and sends it up the ice to his brother Jack Hughes for the overtime winner.
The play might have been a penalty, or at least a borderline call. It’s how Schaefer felt afterwards, expressing frustration on the ice. However, that play speaks to the improvements Hughes has made on defense, allowing the New Jersey Devils to win that game 5-4 and become one of the top teams in the NHL.
Hughes is where this week’s Devils notebook should start. After all, it’s been quite the week for the young defensemen. He’ll get a deep dive, but first, some thoughts on the recent 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs Remind The Devils Of The Woes They Addressed
The 4-0 final indicates that the game was lopsided. The play was even at the start but the Devils wore the Maple Leafs down and pulled away. The pace and how the Devils took over was a reminder of many issues that had to be addressed this season to become a contender.
The noticeable one was a slow defense, which the Devils fixed and the Maple Leafs stil have. Throughout the latest game, Jack Hughes and the fast-paced skaters blew by the Maple Leafs defensemen, many of which are veterans in their 30s who have lost a step.
Outside of Luke Hughes, the Devils defense is older yet doesn’t play that way. One reason why is the Declan Chisholm addition, as the 26 year old defenseman adds a burst of speed to the third pair, and he gets ice time when the matchups call for it.
Speaking of wearing the opponent down, the Devils managed to do so to the Maple Leafs despite playing with 11 forwards. Another issue general manager Sunny Mehta addressed this offseason was the depth and he wanted the forward unit to have multiple lines that could come at teams. They have throughout the season and they wore down the Maple Leafs.
The other key is in the net. The Maple Leafs thought their fix was signing Sergei Bobrovsky, which is fair considering his playoff success. The problem is that they are relying on two goaltenders who have slowed down in the regular season with injuries and don’t have a workhorse who can get them throught the season. It’s costing them as the Maple Leafs lost their third game in a row and sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
The Devils meanwhile addressed their issues in the net with the Connor Hellebuyck move. It’s a risk considering his playoff woes but his success in the regular season has boosted the Devils. His 23-save shutout against the Maple Leafs was his best start as a Devil and proved why he was worth making the move to acquire. He gives them stability in the net while the rest of the roster makes them an early season Cup contender.
Luke Hughes Leaning Into His Strengths To Become An Elite Defenseman
Hughes has always been a great skater, which has typically helped him offensively. According to NHL Edge, his 30 bursts in the 20-22 miles per hour range are tied for sixth-most among defensemen in the NHL. He is not only fast but also accelerates and joins plays in a hurry.
This season, he’s leaning into his speed to impact the games defensively. The play in overtime against Schaefer is a prime example, as he chases down the Islanders defenseman and breaks up the scoring chance. It’s also become a common occurrence for Hughes, where he’ll close in on the skater with the puck and either break up a rush chance or a shot in the slot.
Moreover, it allows Hughes to play in the right position or, more accurately, circle back into position in the defensive zone. It’s something Keefe has preached to the defense throughout the season, and noticed during the hot streak. “I think that the guys away from the point of contact or away from the puck have worked to get back to position and have been more disciplined to be in position so that if something happens, if a puck gets through, somebody's there to clean it up,” Keefe noted after the Oct. 24 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
While Hughes is an aggressive defenseman, often joining the play on offense, he has the speed to make up for it on the defensive end, and it’s reflected in his 1.4 defensive point shares, which are second-most on the Devils behind only Brett Pesce.
Speaking of Pesce, another factor is the improvements from Hughes. Young defensemen who are learning the position but have the skill offensively need a veteran on their pair to both cancel out their mistakes and teach them firsthand. Pesce has done that in the past, and it’s paying off this season.
It’s also a reminder that Hughes needed time to learn the position. Defensemen typically need NHL action and games to develop. Hughes is 23 and closing in on 250 games (he’s nine away, following the game against the Maple Leafs).
Along with the speed is the puck-handling ability, a quality that turns defense into offense. It’s something many defensemen were taught at the development level, where possession and the ability to move the puck out of the defensive zone and into the offensive zone are prominent in Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Schaefer’s play. The Devils' young defenseman has focused on his puck handling to help the defense and offense.
“He's controlling the pace, he's controlling the puck, and he wants the puck on his tape,” Connor Hellebuyck stated after the game against the Blues when asked about Hughes and his defensive play. “Guys like that, they have a way of really pushing the other team back,” Hellebuyck added. When Hughes is on the ice, the opponent is on their heels and can’t forecheck the way they typically would, knowing the pressure the defenseman can generate the other way.
What about his play on the offensive end? His career-high for goals came in his first full season in the NHL, scoring nine in 2023-24. Hughes has six goals and 11 points through 18 games. It’s a credit to his willingness to shoot and take on a more aggressive mindset in the offensive zone.
Hughes won’t be in the Norris Trophy conversation. Likewise, he’s not one of the handful of elite defensemen in the NHL. However, the best teams in the NHL often have an elite number-one defenseman. The Devils look like they found their answer in Hughes.
Timo Meier’s Fight To Be A Team Player
In the game against the St. Louis Blues, Timo Meier dropped the gloves with Jake Neighbours after the Blues skater delivered a big hit on Nico Hischier. Meier was given a game misconduct for instigating the fight.
After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe said something interesting about fighting and the way it’s changed recently. “The guy who threw the hit is often the first one to get his gloves off and throw the first punch. That’s happening a lot around the league.” It suggests that when a player delivers a hit, even if it’s clean, they are anticipating a fight right away.
I reached out to multiple former NHL enforcers turned scouts (as an aside, a surprising number of former enforcers are now scouts) for their thoughts on this. Here are three takeaways about what’s happening in the league.
The player who delivers the hit is anticipating a fight, whether it’s a clean hit or not. They might not drop their gloves, but they have their head on a swivel, knowing someone is likely coming after them.
When a hit happens, it’s easy to miss it. However, the skaters must make a snap decision. Either they can play on or drop the gloves and stick up for their teammates. They must make this decision with the game being played at warp speed, and ignoring the hit for a few seconds can make the skaters look like bad teammates.
It’s why most players will stand up for their teammates and drop the gloves regardless of the hit. Meier wants to be known as someone who will stand up for his captain, and likewise, the coaching staff wants to see players respond. The opposite was on display last season when Radko Gudas injured Auston Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit, and the lack of a response from the Maple Leafs was a bad look.
A problem is how these fights are officiated. Meier was given a game misconduct for instigating. It’s a side effect of fighting returning to hockey and referees not being used to seeing them, certainly not as often as they used to.
Moreover, the NHL has turned over many of the older officials recently, many of whom have retired, for younger refs. The pros are that they can skate with the players and keep up with plays. They see more. The downside is that they are making more calls both because they see more and don’t have the same feel for the game. They’ll make the right call by the book but not for the flow.
That’s also been a trend in the NHL. The refs are making more calls and calling more penalties. The Devils game against the Edmonton Oilers had a combined nine penalties called, which disrupted the flow of the game and made it longer. It’s a fine line between making the right calls and managing the game, making sure it’s not too long (plus, allowing the players to police the game themselves). The younger officials are still learning where the line is and how to control a game because of it.
As for Meier, it’s been a frustrating season for him. It’s what made his two-goal night against the Maple Leafs a relief. He’s been playing the right way yet hasn’t had the puck luck. He was due for a big game and finally got it.
Quick Hits
The Utica Comets swept their back-to-back this weekend. The Devils' American Hockey League affiliate is 8-2 and has the best winning percentage in the North Division (third-most points). They are a good team, and oddly enough, they mirror how the Devils are built.
The Comets have four forward lines that come at teams in waves, a young rising star on the defense (in this instance, it’s Devils prospect Anton Silaev), and steady goaltending. It’s great for the Devils' future and the present.
With Anthony Mantha out and missing time, the Devils might turn to one of the Comets to add depth for the time being. Stefan Noesen is the go-to call-up considering his time with the Devils, and he’s a depth veteran. Riley Tufte is a power forward who can slide in on the fourth line. Then there’s Lenni Hämeenaho, a 23-year-old forward who leads the AHL team with eight points in 10 games, the one fans will want to get a glimpse of.
The Devils' 4-3 win over the Oilers was in a shootout. It’s always fascinating to see who goes in the shootout and how coaches decide who takes a shot. Every team has the usual suspects (for both teams, it was Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl), but then some coaches must guess, rely on instinct, or rely on what the players say.
The Devils went with Evan Rodrigues for the third attempt and Arseny Gritsyuk for the fourth and game-winner. “Putting together historical data, stats, and how guys have done. Rodrigues is right up there with our top guys, especially if you just factor in recent years,” Keefe stated on the selection, adding Gritsyuk has a small sample; he’s only taken one shot in the NHL, but he’s done well in the KHL previously, and obviously he's the hot hand.” It’s something Keefe had in his back pocket for the Devils' first shootout, and it worked. Chances are the next time the Devils are in a shootout, they’ll go with Hughes, Bratt, and Grityuk.
The upcoming week will be an interesting one, to say the least. It starts with the big news on Sunday night that Hellebuyck won't start the Tuesday night game against the Jets, a game many anticipated he would get the nod for, as it's the first time he makes the trip back. There will be plenty of coverage of it here at The Hockey News.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 08: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz reacts in the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on November 08, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Jazz 115-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well… We can only go up from here right? The Utah Jazz suffered yet another road loss Sunday night at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, without Anthony Edwards. Now 1-9, the Jazz tonight matched the 2013-14 Utah Jazz for the worst 10-game start to the season since the team has been in Utah. As you will recall, that 2013-14 squad included a rookie Rudy Gobert and head coach Ty Corbin… So, that is definitely not great at all!
The Bench
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 08: Kyle Filipowski #2 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball against Joan Beringer #19 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on November 08, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Even under ideal circumstances, you are just not going to win a lot of basketball games when your bench unit is as poor as the Jazz’ bench was tonight, and honestly, really all year. Tonight, the Jazz bench scored only 2o points. Not only were they not scoring points, but they were bleeding points on the other end with extremely porous defense. With three of the Jazz’ most important players already not in uniform, and Keyonte George clearly hampered by illness, you just need bench guys to come in and at least hold the line by making some shots or getting stops on defense. None of those things happened.
More Injuries
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 08: Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz reacts to an apparent injury against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center on November 08, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Jazz 115-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Already down three starters in Jusuf Nurkic, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George joined the ever-growing list of injuries for the Jazz when he suffered an ankle injury in the 4th quarter. Aside from the fact that today is Keyonte’s 23rd birthday and it sucks to get hurt on your birthday, if Keyonte is out for an extended period of time with this ankle injury, the Jazz truly might be in a whole different realm of trouble. Here’s to hoping Key can rebound quickly and get back on the court soon.
The Shining Pillar of Hope
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 8: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz shoots a three point basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 8, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With all the doom and gloom surrounding the Utah Jazz right now, Darryn Peterson showed up and showed out tonight, proving once again why he was the #2 overall pick in the draft. Darryn finished the night with 26 points 6 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting 52.4% from the field and 50% from three.
Darryn Peterson is the only rookie this season to have a game with 25+ PTS & 0 FTA. pic.twitter.com/z5Qt3Mnkxp
All of that, while not shooting a single free throw, indicating there is still plenty of room to grow. His aggressiveness and decisiveness were clear throughout the entirety of the game. Some of that was out of pure necessity due to the number of guys not in the game for the Jazz, but Darryn very obviously starting to get more comfortable in his abilities on an NBA floor. As the season progresses, it is very reasonable for Jazz fans to expect Peterson to clearly take the reins as one of the best, if not THE best, player on this Jazz squad.
Anyways, you can’t go 73-9 without losing 9 games… We move.
The Calgary Flames found a way to get the job done Sunday night, overcoming three separate deficits before Matt Coronato played overtime hero in a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
With overtime needed to decide a winner, Coronato buried the game-winner with just 51.7 seconds remaining, sending the home crowd home happy.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
It was a relatively quiet opening period until the Flyers broke through at the 12:46 mark. Sean Couturier put a shot on Devin Cooley, who kicked out the initial attempt, but Denver Barkey was right there to collect the rebound and fire it past the Flames goaltender to make it 1-0 Philadelphia.
The Flames responded with some sustained offensive-zone pressure and found an equalizer at 15:26. Zayne Parekh showed off his skating ability, walking through two Flyers defenders before driving toward the net and ripping a shot into the far-side top corner past Dan Vladar. Yan Kuznetsov and Yegor Sharangovich picked up the assists as Calgary tied the game 1-1.
Philadelphia regained the lead early in the second period. Just 2:16 into the frame, Noel Acciari got his stick on a rolling point shot from Nick Seeler, redirecting it past Cooley to put the Flyers ahead 2-1. Couturier collected his second assist of the night on the play.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Once again, the Flames had an answer.
At 5:59, Aydar Suniev found Zach Whitecloud, who stepped into a wrist shot and picked the blocker side of Vladar with a well-placed attempt. It was Whitecloud’s first goal of the season, tying the game 2-2. Sharangovich added his second assist of the night.
The Flyers took their third lead of the game at 15:07, capitalizing on the power play. Owen Tippett found a loose puck in the slot, spun around and fired it past Cooley to give Philadelphia a 3-2 advantage.
The Flames needed another response, and they got one from an unlikely situation.
At 8:27 of the third period, Martin Pospisil turned the puck over at centre ice, allowing Joel Farabee to jump on the opportunity. Scoring against his former team, Farabee broke in alone on Vladar, made a slick move to his backhand and slid the puck underneath the goaltender’s pad for his seventh goal of the season.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The game was tied 3-3.
Vladar came up with two enormous pad saves in the late stages of regulation to keep the game even and send the contest to overtime.
With 51.7 seconds remaining in the extra frame, the Flames found their opening. Calgary moved quickly up ice, with Matvei Gridin feeding Coronato, who made no mistake, firing the puck past Vladar to secure the 4-3 victory.
The Flames completed the comeback and picked up two points in front of their home fans.
Three Takeaways
1. Zayne Parekh continues to impress
Parekh’s first-period goal was another example of the skill and offensive instincts that make him such an exciting young defenceman. He walked through two Flyers defenders, used his skating ability to create space and finished with a terrific shot into the far-side corner.
He’s been putting together more consistent efforts on both sides of the puck, although there’s still some learning to do. There were moments Sunday when he looked a little disconnected, but the talent is undeniable. The more experience he gets, the more comfortable he’ll become.
2. Cooley gives the Flames a chance
It was good to see Devin Cooley back between the pipes for Calgary. Despite allowing three goals, he battled throughout the night and made several important saves to keep his team within reach.
One of the highlights came shortly after Philadelphia’s second goal, when Cooley came up with a terrific glove save. He’s shown an ability to stay locked in regardless of what’s happening in front of him, and that kind of composure gives the Flames a chance to win games.
3. Sharangovich finds the scoresheet
Yegor Sharangovich turned in a productive night offensively, recording a pair of assists in the victory.
He’s a player the Flames need to generate offence from, and he was involved in several key moments Sunday. His work on Parekh’s goal and Whitecloud’s equalizer helped Calgary stay within striking distance throughout the game.
The two assists were a welcome contribution from a player who can be an important part of the Flames’ offensive attack.
