Worldwide Sports News

On Saturday, when the Pittsburgh Penguins went up 5-1 against the San Jose Sharks with less than 15 minutes to go in regulation, it felt like the kind of game in which the Penguins would continue to pile on. They were dominating in pretty much every facet, had three power play goals, and were outshooting the Sharks by a very hefty margin. 

Of course, holding third-period leads has been a problem for the Penguins since the beginning of November. Their most recent blunder came Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks, when they had a 3-2 lead going into the final second of the game and somehow lost 4-3 in overtime.

That loss was the kind of loss that could kill a season. But if one thing has rung true about these Penguins this season, they have had the ability to bounce back after tough losses.

That didn't happen. They followed it up with a loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, which was an underwhelming effort until the final five minutes of the game, when it was too late.

Then came Saturday's tilt against the Sharks. And - despite having a four-goal lead in the third - they somehow managed to upstage arguably their worst loss of the season against Anaheim with an even more gut-wrenching, shocking ending.

Beginning with a John Klingberg power play goal seven and a half minutes into the final frame, the Sharks scored four unanswered goals within 11 minutes and sent the game to overtime, where Klingberg scored the game-winner to hand the Penguins their worst defeat of the season and their fourth straight loss. 

Final. pic.twitter.com/uopzhvP5ci

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 13, 2025

The air in the locker room was dead in the aftermath. A few veteran players lingered in their stalls and stared into the abyss. Head coach Dan Muse could barely find the words to field questions during his press conference. 

Normally after losses where the Penguins control play for most of the game, there is discussion about some positives to take away from the performances despite the undesirable outcome. 

Saturday, there was no such thing. When asked if it was getting tougher and tougher to pull positives after losses like this, a couple players were candid:

"Yeah," Rust said. "Not much after that."

"For sure," goaltender Arturs Silovs said. "Like, you're winning the game, and then you just manage to somehow lose it. Yeah, it's not the best feeling. And you just have to keep going." 

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

And, make no mistake: This one was about as ugly and back-breaking a loss as it can get. 

The Sharks did open the scoring in this one, as Tyler Toffoli threw a shot at the net from the blue line that floated past Silovs to make it 1-0 midway through the first. But, a few minutes later on the power play, Sidney Crosby pounced on a rebound in the low slot and put it past Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov to tie the game. 

Then, the second period was all Pittsburgh. Rutger McGroarty - who has been putting pucks on net with frequency - finally broke through with a snipe from the slot to put the Penguins ahead, 2-1, just 19 seconds into the middle frame. Approaching the midway point, Kevin Hayes added his third of the season, then Rust - again, on the power play - scored with seven seconds left in the period to extend the Penguins' lead to 4-1. Sidney Crosby's assist on the play marked his second point of the afternoon, putting him just three shy of breaking Mario Lemieux's franchise points record. 

What a shot from Rutger McGroarty for his first of the season 🙌 pic.twitter.com/c0JJONxXOL

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 13, 2025

For the first part of the third, the Penguins did carry over momentum. Anthony Mantha scored his second goal in as many games - and his 10th of the season - on the man advantage for the Penguins' third power play goal of the game to make it 5-1. 

And it all unraveled from there in epic fashion. 

First, it was Klingberg at 7:33. Then, it was William Eklund at 14:19. Then Macklin Celebrini at 17:33. Then Toffoli again at 18:22. 5-5. 

Then, overtime, where the Penguins have struggled. Klingberg. 6-5 final.

What has been happening to the Penguins is inexplicable. And Muse knows that his team is capable of better, even if there is, really, one common thread with all these tough losses piling up. 

"It's clearly - and you can go back not just this recent stretch, but to other games earlier in the year - like, obviously, we have to be better about closing out games. That doesn't need to be stated," Muse said. "I think it's something different every time. I don't think it's always the exact same thing. 

"The common thread is we play one way for the great majority of the game, and then sometimes, it's a one-goal lead, two-goal lead, it's been different situations - but the common thread is we get away from what works. Sometimes, structurally, we get away from what works. Sometimes, we just put ourselves in bad positions. Sometimes, we've taken poor penalties at inopportune times, giving them momentum. And we haven't done nearly a good enough job of gaining that momentum back. And, we then look like a different team.

"I'll take responsibility on this, too... believe me, it's all of us. We have to be better with it on the ice. I have to clearly be better because it's happened a number of times now, and we'll find a way to. It's just cost us too many points already. So, obviously, it has to stop. And there's not one thing other than we fall away from what works in those critical moments."

What a shot from Rutger McGroarty for his first of the season 🙌 pic.twitter.com/c0JJONxXOL

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 13, 2025

Here are some thoughts and takeaways from this one:

- Hate to keep saying it over and over, but it really is a shame that the game had this turnout. Especially since the Penguins almost put it away with the empty net. 

Rust got the puck in the neutral zone, and he shot it toward the empty cage. Unfortunately, it hit the post and went back the other way, resulting in Celebrini's goal. And the tying goal felt inevitable after that. 

I've ever seen a player hit so many posts on an empty net as Rust. And had he potted that one, the game may well have had a much different result. 

- I don't even know what else to say about this team and its inability to hold leads. The crazy thing is that - after the first month - I went on and on about how the Penguins DID manage to shut down the opposition when they were playing ahead.

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

That all went out the window on Nov. 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sure, they have had some pretty bad ones since then, but that game was the point in which the Penguins started playing like a bit of a different team. I still think that loss largely derailed everything because, all of a sudden, the Penguins were losing games they should have won and not the opposite. 

Something in them broke that night. This is a good hockey team - the team has outplayed enough higher-level opponents to suggest they are. But they are fragile, and the only way to go about fixing that is by sending some kind of message.

- This one was a tough one to assess goaltending in. Silovs made some spectacular saves on two breakaways and a couple of high-danger chances around the net-front. 

But the end was shaky for him, as it was for everyone else. He has now lost six decisions in a row.

- Rakell was activated from IR on Friday, and it was definitely noticeable that he was back in the fold. There were a few instances of him just shaking off some rust, but for the most part, he fit right in. 

He didn't register a point, but his presence on the power play was especially noticeable. I think having Rakell on tha unit helps a lot because teams are aware of his lethal shot, and it makes them more wary about making sure he's covered and that the Penguins can't get the puck to him for a one-timer. It also opens up a little bit more space for Crosby.

The Penguins really needed Rakell back. And he made an impact Saturday.

- Speaking of the power play, that is the one undeniable positive from this game. 

The Penguins' man advantage hadn't looked this lethal in a couple of weeks, and it showed three times why it is still the league's very best unit at a 32.9 percent conversion rate. The puck movement was insane. The player movement was there. The scoring chances were piling up. Their passing was throwing the Sharks' PK out of structure. 

It was clicking on all cylinders Saturday, and it's a huge reason the Penguins are where they are in the playoff race. 

Another PPG for PGH 💪

...AND WE GET 1/2 OFF RUSTY’S SHAKE AT THE @MShakeFactory TOMORROW! pic.twitter.com/phbQCZRhen

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 13, 2025

- Now, let's talk about that playoff race. 

With the OT loss, the Penguins fell out of a playoff spot by one point. There is plenty of season left for this team to pull itself out of the funk it's mired in and compete for the postseason. 

But that is going to start with the team's veterans, who need to be a whole lot better late in games and are largely responsible for what has happened. Crosby was on the ice for five goals against on Saturday, including the overtime winner that was a not-so-great defensive effort against Klingberg. Letang has been guilty of far too many costly mistakes this season, and especially as of late. 

Rust is in a similar boat to Crosby. Karlsson hasn't been terrible, but he's still not playing good enough defense at five-on-five late in games to help his team. 

The Penguins have lost all four games since Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte went down with injuries. But they need to find a way to close out games late, and it starts with their best players showing out when the stakes are highest and when it matters most. 

Penguins Waive Veteran Defenseman After Jarry TradeWhen the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> traded goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin to the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/">Edmonton Oilers</a> on Friday morning, the deal caused a ripple effect for the rest of the roster.&nbsp;

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

CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center on Saturday night. Ahead of this game, the Blackhawks honored their centennial season’s second chapter: “The Madhouse”. 

A ceremony that included alumni, Wayne Mesmer and Frank Pellico doing the Star Spangled Banner, and Pat Foley leading the charge, took place as part of the honor. A retro theme on the scoreboard that mimics the old stadium was featured for the whole game as well. 

Despite the success of the pregame festivities, things did not start well for Chicago once the puck was dropped. With less than a minute expired in the hockey game, the Red Wings made it 1-0. It was former Blackhawk Alex DeBrincat. 

Speaking of former Blackhawks, Patrick Kane made it 2-0 before five minutes were gone in the opening period. Kane and DeBrincat each assisted on each other's goals. That 2-0 score would hold through the first intermission. 

In the second, Detroit made it 3-0 on a goal scored by Emmitt Finnie. The Blackhawks, up through the second intermission, were unable to execute on any of their chances, and they trailed by three going into the final frame. 

In the third, DeBrincat scored his second of the game into the empty net to seal the victory for the Red Wings. 4-0 stood as the final, and the Blackhawks were shut out at home by goaltender John Gibson. 

This was the first game following the injury to Blackhawks star Connor Bedard. You saw how much he was missed, especially in the offensive zone, as the Blackhawks were able to muster up 0 goals without him. 

Between assisting on both Chicago goals scored in St. Louis on Friday and them scoring 0 with him out of the lineup on Saturday, you can see just how important he is to the totality of the team. If the Blackhawks want to tread water without Bedard, everyone needs to do more in his absence.

"It's just time for guys to step up and create more," Ryan Donato said of the team needing to adjust without Bedard in the lineup. "Obviously, he's been phenomenal for us this year. It's going to be a huge piece missing, but I think it's about the next guy stepping up. Teams go through injury problems, that happens."

Bedard Update:

"I don't anticipate him on this trip," Said Jeff Blashill on Connor Bedard's current status. He advised once again that they will know more on Monday. 

Connor Bedard Will Not Travel On Chicago's Upcoming Road TripThe Chicago Blackhawks are about to embark on another road trip. This one will be for three games on the east side of Canada, and they will be missing Connor Bedard.

Nick Lardis NHL Debut

Nick Lardis made his NHL debut in the loss. Despite the team looking a bit off in the offensive zone without Connor Bedard in the mix, Lardis looked like he belonged on NHL ice. He led the team with 8 shot attempts. A couple of golden chances, including a post, showed just how dangerous he and his shot can be. His final year in the OHL didn't end with 71 goals by accident. 

With Connor Bedard out, Lardis is someone who can help replace some of the offense that Bedard brings. He won't completely replace him, but he has the tools to be a high-end producer. While he's a rookie, it may take some time, but you can tell just by watching this game that he's going to be a good player. 

After the game, Jeff Blashill said that the line Lardis was on with other rookies in Ryan Greene and Oliver Moore "had a lot of juice". He acknowledged that the game might have been different if some of the Lardis' chances went in, but the fact that they played well and looked fast together is a good sign of things to come. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

The Chicago Blackhawks did not score any goals against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, so there are no highlights to share in that regard. 

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

On Tuesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks are going to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs north of the border. This will be the third Original Six opponent for Chicago in the last week. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Florida Panthers responded to one of their worst games of the season with one of their best.

Florida was throttled on Thursday night in Colorado against the NHL-best Avalanche, but he Cats bounced back in a big way against the Dallas Stars, who are second-best in the league behind the Avs.

A stingy Panthers squad held Dallas to just 15 shots on goal, skating away with a 4-0 victory.

The game started out with a playoff-like feel, as both teams were on their toes and tightly checking the other.

Ten minutes in, the Panthers had the game’s only shot on goal and Dallas had blocked all six of Florida’s other attempts.

The Stars, meanwhile, picked up their first shot on their sixth attempt at the 10:08 mark, coming off the stick of veteran Matt Duchene.

After a first period in which the Cats and Stars logged only two shots apiece, Florida broke the ice with a goal on the first shift of the middle frame.

Anton Lundell cut through the middle of the ice with the puck and to Jake Oettinger’s net, keeping the puck on his stick just long enough to outwait the goaltender and sneak in a shot as he crossed over the goal line at the 19 second mark of period two.

Florida picked up a second goal after an extended shift in Dallas’ zone when Sam Bennett used his skate to deflect a rebound of a Carter Verhaeghe shot into the net at the 5:45 mark.

A late period power play for the Panthers would yield goal number three.

Sam Reinhart made a gorgeous, no-look backhand pass to the right circle, where Brad Marchand one-timed the puck past Oettinger to send Florida into the intermission with a commanding 3-0 lead.

Marchand added an empty-net goal with 2:48 to go, after Dallas had pulled Oettinger with just under six minutes on the clock in a final act of desperation.

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 15 saves, including the Stars’ six high danger shots, for his third shutout of the season and second straight impressive win on this road trip.

Florida has now taken two of three on their four-game roadie and another point or two on Monday will go a long way toward the Panthers starting to feel pretty good about the on-ice product they’ve been putting out lately.

As it stands, the Cats have won four of their past five and have points in five of six.

On to Tampa.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers Prospect Signs Two-Year Extension In Sweden

The Panthers Den: Three strong wins, a blowout loss, several Panthers heating up

Panthers challenging road trip continues with stop in Dallas

The Hockey Show: Ways to make NHL even better, Oilers get their goalie, Vegas shelters Carter Heat from media

Panthers struggle keeping up with speedy Avalanche, fall 6-1 in Colorado

Photo caption: Dec 13, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) and center Sam Bennett (9) and left wing Brad Marchand (63) celebrates a goal scored by Bennett against the Dallas Stars during the second period at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

NEW YORK (AP) — J.T. Miller scored his second goal of the game on a power play at 2:56 of overtime as the New York Rangers rallied to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 on Saturday night.

Will Cuylle, Noah Laba and Artemi Panarin also scored to help the Rangers snap a three-game skid (0-1-2). Mathew Robertson and Conor Sheary each had two assists, and Igor Shesterkin had 12 saves.

Zach Bolduc, Arber Xhekaj, Jake Evans and Josh Anderson scored for Montreal in its third loss in four games (1-2-1). Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson each had two assists, and Jacob Fowler had 21 saves.

In the extra period, Miller beat Fowler for his ninth goal to give the Rangers the win after they trailed 3-0 and 4-2.

The teams combined for eight goals in the opening 28 minutes, then none until overtime.

Cuylle and Miller scored in a 36-second span early in the second period to tie the score 4-4. Cuylle got his ninth at 7:22 and Miller tied it at 7:58.

Bolduc opened the scoring with 7:19 left in the first period with his seventh. Xhekej made it 2-0 with his first wit 5:50 left in the period, and Evans made it a three-goal lead 2:08 later with his fifth.

Laba then beat Fowler on the power play with 1:11 left in the opening period to get the Rangers on the board.

Panarin scored on a penalty shot 19 seconds later to make it 3-2.

Anderson restored the two-goal margin at 3:17 of the second, whipping a one-timer past Shesterkin.

The Rangers honored players from the 1970s and 80s. Attendees included Hall of Fame defenseman Brad Park, Swedish stars Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson plus family members of Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield. Herb Brooks, who coached the Rangers from 1981-85, was represented by his son Dan.

Up next

Canadiens: Host Edmonton on Sunday night.

Rangers: Host Anaheim on Monday night.

On December 7, the Abbotsford Canucks celebrated their 5th anniversary as an organization. Though the team would eventually drop the game 2-1 against the visiting Coachella Valley Firebirds, the crowd at Rogers Forum still honoured the team until the last whistle blew.

Beginning play in the 2021-22 AHL season, the Abbotsford Canucks were not the first AHL team to occupy the Fraser Valley. The Calgary Flames had their affiliate Abbotsford Heat take up residence in the then-named Abbotsford Centre from 2009 until 2014. The Canucks organization at the time had their AHL affiliate in Manitoba, until the Winnipeg Jets revival took over the Manitoba Moose, leaving the Canucks to sign a two-year affiliation agreement with the Atlanta Thrashers’ now-unused AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves. The Vancouver Canucks then housed their prospects across the continent in Utica, New York, before gaining approval in May 2021 to relocate their AHL organization to the largely vacant Abbotsford Centre.

In the seven years between the Heat and Canucks, the Abbotsford Centre was largely dormant when it came to hockey. The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the BCEHL would begin using the building in 2018, though that was it for the 7000-seat arena.

At least until the Vancouver Canucks announced they would be moving their AHL team 4500 kilometres closer to the Abbotsford Centre, thereby creating the Abbotsford Canucks. Canucks fans were excited to see their team’s prospects in close proximity, and players were excited to get a fresh start in bringing back professional hockey to the Fraser Valley.

“Moving to a new city, I guess you don’t really know what to expect coming in, and I’ve loved every minute of it,” Abbotsford captain Chase Wouters would tell The Hockey News, “It was exciting because everyone was on the same page.”

Wouters signed with Abbotsford as a free agent ahead of their inaugural season after spending five years in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades, pursuing his dream of playing professional hockey. At 22 years old, Wouters was named the team’s first captain in 2022, ahead of the team’s second season in the Valley.

“It was a great opportunity like that from the management and the coaching staff here. To wear the ‘C’ is something I’m very proud of. It’s something I don’t take lightly, and it’s a huge honour.”

Wouters is one of four players still with the organization from the 2021-22 season, along with forward Danila Klimovich and defensemen Jett Woo and Guillame Brisebois, though Woo and Brisebois have yet to play this season due to injury. Woo was recently activated onto the Abbotsford roster, and Brisebois has been on injured reserve for the Canucks since the season began.

Last year was the definitive highlight for the young center, as Abbotsford captured its first-ever Calder Cup in its first season under rookie head coach Manny Malhotra.

“Being able to reach the top of the mountain, the end of the goal with that group of guys that we went through it with,” Wouters would say on the Calder Cup win, “There’s a lot of guys on that team that were here since the start and whether you’ve been here two, three, four, one year. Whether you’re a first-year guy, we kind of have a culture around here where everyone’s welcome and everyone can be their self, and be comfortable, and that’s what helped us get to that ultimate goal last year.”

“It’s an amazing feeling and something I’ll never forget, that’s definitely been the highlight.”

Though Abbotsford is coming off of a championship year, the season thus far has been a difficult one, hampered by injuries and constantly changing lineups at the whim of the NHL squad’s needs. They occupy the last place in the AHL’s Pacific Division with a 5-15-1-3 record, which is a far cry from their triumphs this past spring. Still, Wouters hopes to focus on the positives for the remaining months of the regular season.

“You look at our record and we’re not where we want to be, of course, but you always gotta take positives away. It’s obviously a lot of room to improve and room to grow as a group and grow as a team, we’re going to keep doing that. I mean, it falls on my shoulders, falls on kind of everyone in the room and we’re gonna be better. We’re going to keep pushing each other every day to crawl back into this thing. I got a huge belief in our group in there and that hasn’t wavered since day one.”

When asked about the most influential person during his time in Abbotsford, Wouters gave kudos to his friend and former assistant captain, John Stevens. Stevens was a veteran AHL center, having played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and spending parts of two seasons with the Utica Comets before joining Abbotsford in the franchise’s move westward. Though he was injured in the spring and missed the Calder Cup Playoffs, Stevens was still an integral part of the Canucks locker room and was the first person passed the Calder Cup by Wouters during the post-game celebrations. Being an unrestricted free agent, Stevens signed with Kiekko-Espoo of the Finnish Liiga this offseason.

“He was a huge mentor to me my first year. He really showed me what it was like to be a pro in pro hockey and to be a part of this community. Definitely a huge mentor to me and really helped me through the first couple of years and even through stuff now.”

Having been with the team for the past five seasons, Wouters has seen the crowd in Abbotsford grow ever since their first home game on October 20, 2021, a 3-2 win over Logan Thompson and the Henderson Silver Knights.

“I think back to our home opener five years ago, and it was obviously exciting. Everyone was excited, and compared to what it was like last year in the end of the playoffs, it was just crazy. The support after we won […] was crazy, and it’s an ongoing thing. It’s going to keep building as we get out in the community more and get to know people. It’s amazing, and we obviously thank the support so much.”

“We have a ton of support from surrounding towns. It’s not just Abbotsford, it’s Chilliwack, it’s Langley, […] everyone is rallied around coming to games and showing the support. And we like to give back to the community as much as we can, whether it’s doing appearances or taking the time to talk to fans after the game. That stuff goes a long ways, that’s something we definitely take pride in.”

Looking ahead to the next five years, Wouters mentioned his goal is to make it to the NHL, along with continuing to build upon the foundation he has helped build in Abbotsford.

“We’re just going to keep building, keep growing the culture here […] Whether guys are new guys coming in or guys that are staying here, everyone coming in comes in here and knows our identity and what it means to be an Abbotsford Canuck.”

Wouters has witnessed the ups and downs for the organization since the very beginning, being the player with most games played for the team (290 at the time of writing), and having just clinched his 100th career AHL point on December 2. From a pro hockey rookie to a championship-winning captain, Wouters has experienced a lot in the past five seasons, though his advice to his younger self is to simply live in the moment.

“I know it’s only been five years, but just enjoy every day. There’s a lot of ups and downs throughout the year, but the guys in the room, those are your teammates, those are your brothers, and you build relationships with them over time, and they’re long-lasting relationships, they’re friendships that go beyond hockey.”

“If I could tell myself one thing five years ago is just enjoy it, work hard, and do everything you can to earn trust, and to be able to expand your hockey game and just get better as a player and a person.”

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Why Liam Öhgren Is An Intriguing Prospect Canucks Fans Should Be Excited About

'I Want To Write My Own Story': Defenceman Zeev Buium Speaks On What He Hopes To Accomplish As A Member Of The Vancouver Canucks

Does Zeev Buium Have The Potential To Become The Canucks’ Next Quinn Hughes?

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.