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Penguins At Rangers Preview: Dan Muse Looks To Get His First Win As Head Coach

The regular season is finally here! The Pittsburgh Penguins will open the 2025-26 season inside Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. 

Penguins head coach Dan Muse is looking to win his first game as an NHL head coach against the team he coached the previous two years. He was an assistant coach under Peter Laviolette for the last two seasons before the Penguins hired him as their new head coach during the offseason.

On the other side, Mike Sullivan is trying to get his first win as the head coach of the Rangers after they hired him during the offseason. He was with the Penguins for 10 seasons before he and the team agreed to part ways after the 2024-25 season. 

The Penguins lost the season series against the Rangers last year (1-3) and are hoping to change that this year. Here's a look at the expected Penguins' lines for tonight's game.

Forwards

Koivunen-Crosby-Rakell

Mantha-Malkin-Brazeau

Novak-Kindel-Tomasino

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Defensemen

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Jones-Brunicke

Goaltenders

Silovs 

Jarry

Top prospects Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke will make their NHL debuts on Tuesday night after having great training camps. Brunicke was really close to making the roster last year and did even more this year to make the opening-night roster.

Kindel continued to improve throughout camp and passed each test that came his way during the preseason. He may not stay up past the nine-game trial, but the coaching staff is at least rewarding him for his outstanding camp. 

Arturs Silovs will get the start in goal over Tristan Jarry after Jarry struggled during the Penguins' last preseason game. He gave up three goals on 19 shots against the Buffalo Sabres last Friday and will start the regular season as the backup goaltender.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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

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Hat trick: The Blue Jays think their 1992 World Series-style caps are a lucky charm

NEW YORK — Wanting to cap Toronto’s season with a title, Jeff Hoffman suggested changing hats.

Six losses in seven games had dropped the Blue Jays into a tie with the New York Yankees for the AL East lead. That prompted the 32-year-old reliever to send Scott Blinn, Toronto’s director of major league clubhouse operations, scrambling to find those retro caps with white panels in the style the Blue Jays wore when they won the 1992 World Series.

Toronto is 5-0 in the historical headgear over the past two weeks as it takes a 2-0 lead into Game 3 of the best-of-five AL Division Series against the Yankees.

“I didn’t pack another hat,” manager John Schneider said with a smile.

Following a 7-1 loss to the Red Sox at Rogers Centre on Sept. 24, Hoffman suggested to Binn a switch to the 1992 headgear, which was used during Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame weekend promotion from July 25-27 — not because he’s superstitious, but because he liked the look. Wearing the white panels, the Blue Jays had taken two of three at Detroit to finish a four-game series.

“`We need a new combo. What should we wear?’” Hoffman said, recounting the player discussion. “And I said, `I know what we should wear. We should wear the blues, the blue jerseys with the white-panel hat.’ And they all kind of like perked up because they didn’t know I knew about them.”

Blinn found the caps in a Rogers Centre storage room. Toronto beat Boston 6-1 on Sept. 25, wearing blue alternate jerseys and the white-panel chapeaus. The next night, a Friday, the Blue Jays were required to wear Nike Connect uniforms topped by pitch-blue caps, suggested by Lake Ontario at night. They beat Tampa Bay 4-2 to remain tied with the Yankees.

On most days, players get to decide which uniforms to wear. Given that option for the final weekend of the regular season, the Jays stuck with the blue jerseys and white-panel hats. They closed with 5-1 and 13-4 wins over the Rays to win the division on a tiebreaker over New York.

Toronto finished the season 58-45 in blue caps, 20-17 in the two-tone hats with powder blue visors and navy crowns that were launched with the return of powder blue alternate jerseys in 2020, 8-3 in Nike Connect games and 5-1 in the white-panel throwbacks. They were also 1-2 in Armed Forces caps with beige camouflage crowns and olive visors from May 16-18, 1-0 in red for Canada Day on July 1 and 1-0 in light blue crowns and red visors for July 4.

The Blue Jays stayed with the white-panel caps and blue jerseys in the first two games of the Division Series, romping over the Yankees 10-1 and 13-7.

“I just wear what’s in my locker. I just will wear what we’re told to wear,” four-time All-Star outfielder George Springer said, spurning superstitions.

Toronto wore caps with white panels for all games from its inception in 1977 through 1990 — with white jerseys at home — then switched to all blue caps for road games in 1991. The Blue Jays dropped the white panel at home on July 6, 1991, in the midst of a five-game losing streak, going with all blue, and beat the visiting Chicago White Sox 5-1 behind six shutout innings from Dave Stewart.

“I’m not sure what the blue caps were all about,” Stewart said after the game, his 150th career victory. “But we won, so maybe we’ll wear them again.”

Blue Jays equipment manager Jeff Ross thought of the change “just to see how it looks with the white uniform.”

“It had nothing to do with the losing streak,” Ross said at the time. “We’d been doing so well at home so I didn’t want to do it while we were going well. This was the time to do it. It looks great after a win.”

Toronto went on to win its second straight World Series title in 1993, and the all-blue caps remained for most games. The Blue Jays brought back the white panels on Aug. 16, 2015, for a “Turn Back the Dial” promotion honoring the 30th anniversary of the team’s first AL East title, and beat the Yankees 3-1. Toronto then used the white panels at least once per season and as many as 27 times in 2018 and 24 the following year, according to uniformlineup.com, but then decreased its frequency.

The team hadn’t worn them since Aug. 27, 2022, before they returned this year for MLB’s Hall of Fame weekend promotion.

“We’ve been playing well since we’ve been wearing them, which is hard for my argument of, hey, it doesn’t matter what hat we’re wearing guys, like, we just need to play good,” Hoffman said.

And even Springer’s disdain for superstition only goes so far. For instance, he won’t think of stepping on a foul line.

“That,” he said, “would be crazy.”

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Islanders No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer Excited, Focused Ahead Of NHL Debut Against Pittsburgh

EAST MEADOW, NY -- Matthew Schaefer made the New York Islanders roster, a surprise to absolutely nobody who's been around him since he heard his name called first at the 2025 NHL Draft. 

The excitement is in the air, but for the mature 18-year-old, he's trying to focus on the task at hand -- winning a hockey game on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

"You want to take it day-by-day. You get drafted for a reason, and then you just want to go out, you want to forget about the media and stuff, and just go play your game," Schaefer said following Tuesday's skate.  "So I think every step of the way was a good step in the right direction, from the draft to preseason to now. I want to keep getting better. I want to keep working on things. But, I mean, it's a dream come true. It's the game of hockey, and you know, now the work starts. So I can't wait to get started."

No. 1 Overall Pick Matthew Schaefer to Start Season With IslandersNo. 1 Overall Pick Matthew Schaefer to Start Season With IslandersNew York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer has made the team. The 18-year-old had his rookie moment throughout preseason, but there's no question his best development path is at the NHL level. 

Schaefer will have a ton of people in attendance in Pittsburgh.

"My dad, brother, and his girlfriend [are coming]. And then there's, like, a couple of my buddies from school and their parents are coming down," Schaefer said. "One of my best friends from hockey when I played when I was younger, his family's coming down. And there's gonna be a lot of people, and then I think they're gonna make the trip to opening night, too. So, I mean, it should be good, but I mean, like I said, I'll be dialed into the game, so I won't be worrying about any of that."

The Islanders would love to see Schaefer play to the best of his abilities, but head coach Patrick Roy wants him to focus on one thing and one thing only. 

"Have fun," Roy said. "I know how special it will be for him, because it was very special for me when I started my career, and it's funny because it was in Pittsburgh. My first start of my career was in Pittsburgh, and same thing for him. So happy for him. He deserves it. He played hard, practiced hard, so it's the beginning of a new journey for him and for the Islanders organization."

Schaefer has thought about what his debut is going to look like but is really just trying to remained focused on the objective. 

"It's gonna be pretty cool," Schaefer said. "I mean, obviously, I've been playing in the NHL and playing against guys like that, but when you get on the ice, you just gotta zone it out. I mean, everyone's out there to play hockey. I mean, you really don't think about who you're going up against. Obviously, you've got to know what kind of style they play, like a little faster, all that stuff. But I think just going out there, putting your head down, working through it, and just working is going to be the big thing. I don't want to go out there and just be like, Oh, I'm going up against him. It's just hockey, right? So you want to go out there and work as hard as you can. And, you know, just forget about who is on the ice."

Puck drops on Thursday night at 7:30 PM at PPG Paints Arena. Fans can watch the game on MSGSN. 

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Al Horford experiencing easy Warriors transition with ‘terrifying' Steph Curry

Al Horford experiencing easy Warriors transition with ‘terrifying' Steph Curry originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The first game of any NBA team’s preseason schedule can bring heavy legs from an intense week of training camp, and rust still needing to be scraped off. The Warriors’ oldest player didn’t appear to have any issues in either category. 

Al Horford, 39 years old, was sharp and spry in the Warriors’ 111-103 win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at Chase Center. And he fit like a glove on his new team after spending the last four years with the Boston Celtics. 

Coach Steve Kerr was effusive in his praise of Horford after the win, and those same sentiments remained after reviewing the film. 

“Al just never seems to make a mistake,” Kerr said Tuesday after practice. “He just brings everything you want. There’s size and athleticism, and shooting ability and passing. He makes the game really easy for everybody.” 

Entering his 19th year as a pro, Horford isn’t as easy on himself as his new coach and teammates have been. But even he could acknowledge what everybody saw. The transition from the Celtics’ system to the way the Warriors operate was as smooth as anybody could have hoped. 

“In my eyes, I’m very hard on myself. It was good. I know there’s definitely ways that I can continue to be better,” Horford said Tuesday. “But they make it so easy for guys to come in here and fit in with the group and what we’re trying to do. Draymond [Green], Steph [Curry] and obviously coach putting us in positions to kind of go out there and play and feel the game out. 

“It has been an easy transition. For me, I’m obviously still getting comfortable and familiar with everything. But I am encouraged after that first game, some of the things that I saw, and some of the things that I know that we will all continue to get better at.” 

The expectation upon Horford’s signing was that he’d be the Warriors’ new starting center. Kerr instead stuck with the same group that was so successful in the second half last season and brought Horford off the bench to begin the preseason. Without scoring a point, Horford quickly showcased the kind of impact he can have on the Warriors once he first entered the game. 

Horford played just under nine minutes in the first quarter after sitting for the first three minutes, and was a plus-four as the Warriors held a one-point lead. In that first run of his, Horford already grabbed two rebounds, dished two assists, blocked two shots and had a steal. The most notable was how he quickly found Curry for two points. 

About a minute and a half after taking his warmup gear off, Horford ran the floor alongside Curry and wound up in the left corner. Curry gave Horford the ball but found it back in his hands a split second later as he cut behind Dalton Knecht and finished a nifty layup that also sent him to the free-throw line. 

Curry after the game said he already feels an “unspoken chemistry” sharing the floor with Horford. 

“It’s a level of awareness that I’ve never really had to think about before like that,” Horford said of Curry’s constant movement. 

Plenty of players, even the best of the best like Kevin Durant, have needed extra time to get used to understanding Curry’s uniqueness. Horford is looking at it in the simplest ways he can. 

“When I’m on the floor with him, the whole mindset is trying to make the game easier for him. For me, that is either getting him the ball or setting a good screen or doing anything that I can to make sure that our offense just kind of moves and flows,” Horford said. 

“He’s such a smart player that it’s easy to play off of him. And sometimes he’ll kind of tell you what to do. When he passed me that ball, you know he’s going to cut, so I guess that’s the unspoken stuff right there.” 

The variety of combinations Kerr can use with Horford is another bonus at his disposal. Horford, 6-foot-9, will play both frontcourt positions. He’s seen more as a center but will see time at power forward, too. 

That wrinkle was seen in the second quarter when Horford slid down to the 4 and 7-footer Quinten Post was the 5 next to him. They played the final five minutes of the second quarter together, and the Warriors outscored the Lakers 16-7. 

“He obviously brings that versatility, both offensively and defensively,” Post said. “I like playing with him. We’ve been having a lot of talk, trying to pick his brain. … He’s just a guy that you can plug into any system, any defensive scheme.” 

Stats didn’t need to jump off the page to understand what a seamless addition Horford is, though the numbers spoke for themselves. Horford was a plus-13 in 14 minutes off the bench with three points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and one assist.

Like so many others before him, Horford also sure was happy to go from being Curry’s opponent to immediately relishing in the riches of being his teammate.

“He just does such a good job of terrifying everybody in the league every time he moves, so that’s something I’m going to take advantage of,” Horford said. 

Games don’t even count yet and the rest of the league already is on notice for a new duo that can make any arena a house of horrors.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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He sat in the nosebleeds for the Cubs’ historic World Series. Now Quinn Priester can end their year

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Quinn Priester has experienced postseason baseball at Wrigley Field before, only from a much different perspective than the one he’s about to have.

Priester grew up in the Chicago area and was in Wrigley Field’s stands for Game 5 of the 2016 World Series. The 25-year-old right-hander will be back at Wrigley for Game 3 as he continues his breakthrough season by trying to pitch the Brewers into the NL Championship Series.

“I was in the last row in the nosebleeds,” Priester said about that 2016 experience. “My mom and I had our backs against the chain-link fence up there drinking hot chocolate because it was late October in Chicago and it was freezing.”

Priester watched the Cubs beat Cleveland 3-2 that night to begin their rally from a 3-1 series deficit that earned them their first World Series title since 1908. Now he wants to make sure the Cubs don’t start a similar comeback.Milwaukee carries a 2-0 lead into Game 3 of this best-of-5 NL Division Series.

This start will mark Priester’s postseason debut. Jameson Taillon is starting for the Cubs.

Priester went 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA during the regular season while winning 12 straight decisions at one point. According to Sportradar, that was the longest streak within a single year by any pitcher since Gerrit Cole won 16 consecutive decisions for Houston in 2019.

Until the Cincinnati Reds beat Priester 3-1 on Sept. 26, the Brewers had won 19 straight games in which Priester had pitched. That stretch included 16 starts and three appearances in which he had followed an opener.

“He’s been sensational for us,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.

The Brewers needed starting pitching due to multiple injuries on April 7 when they acquired Priester from the Boston Red Sox for minor league outfielder Yophery Rodriguez, the 33rd pick in the 2025 draft and minor league pitcher John Holobetz.

Priester, the 18th overall selection in the 2018 draft, had a 6-9 record and 6.23 ERA in 21 career appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Red Sox at the time of the trade.

“I had followed him for years,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said. “Obviously when guys come up to the big leagues, especially as pitchers, they don’t always have success immediately, but we thought there were some really good ingredients there.”

Priester quickly warmed up to the idea of pitching in Milwaukee.

“I was really surprised,” Priester said. “I felt like I was kind of in the mix for the rotation in Boston. I certainly felt like I had a shot at it. When I did get traded, I was super excited for the opportunity. Being close to home was super exciting for me and my fiancée, being able to see family. And obviously, being in Pittsburgh, every year, you’d see how well the Brewers seemed to play.”

Priester wasn’t as familiar at the time with the Brewers’ reputation for getting the best out of pitchers who hadn’t encountered much success before arriving in Milwaukee. He’d develop into the latest example.

The turning point came against the team he next faces.

Priester gave up seven runs over 4 1/3 innings in a 10-0 loss to the Cubs on May 2, raising his ERA to 5.79. That immediately followed a start in which he allowed five runs over five innings in a 6-5 loss at St. Louis.

“That was the kind of the moment when I felt things needed to change,” Priester said. “What I was doing, it’s not like I wasn’t trying, but what I was trying just wasn’t working. And so I started to write some things down every day, came in with some goals, talked to all of our guys, started to go about the lineups a little bit differently.”

Priester pitched 24 more times the rest of the regular season and allowed more than three runs in just two of those appearances.

“The Cubs blistered this guy, and he wanted to continue pitching and his competitive nature came out, and actually the last couple innings of that outing he was pretty darned effective,” Murphy said. “I think that failure, if you will, for him, like, launched him into open ears, ‘OK, how do I figure this out?’ And we got the best version of him because of his competitive nature, and we got the best version of him going forward, and it’s been miraculous.”

Priester added a cutter this year that he now throws about 20% of the time to complement his sinker and slider, while he abandoned his four-seam fastball. Priester averages less than one strikeout per inning, but he has a knack for inducing ground balls and weak contact while working quickly.

He understands the raucous atmosphere he’s going to encounter. When Priester was in the stands for that 2016 World Series game, Priester recalled how “Kris Bryant hit a homer and I thought the stadium was going to collapse.”

But he also enters this game with the confidence that comes from spending the last few months living up to all the expectations that accompanied his draft selection.

“I think it was just kind of a ticking time bomb waiting for a year like this to happen for him,” Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick said. “I’m super happy we got him when we did because I just kind of knew it was coming for him.”

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3 Blackhawks Who Will Return Looking For First NHL Goal

The Chicago Blackhawks are set to return for regular-season hockey with a group excited about the future. They likely aren’t a playoff team, but they’re a young squad that has the potential to show growth. 

Over the last handful of years, Chicago has inserted a lot of players with little to no experience. This year will see a fair level of that again. 

When the Blackhawks take the ice against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, three players will be looking to score their first career NHL goal, and they all play very different games. 

Sam Rinzel

Although Sam Rinzel has played in the NHL for years, he has only nine games under his belt. Those nine games occurred at the end of 2024-25, when Rinzel and Minnesota were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. 

In those contests, he collected five assists, played stout defense, but didn't score a goal. His first of the season will be the first of his NHL career. 

Artyom Levshunov

When the Chicago Blackhawks selected Artyom Levshunov with the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, they were hoping for tons of goals, assists, and defensive gems. 

So far, his development has been excellent. That includes 18 career NHL games. He is still, however, looking for his first career NHL goal. He had a big overtime game-winner in the AHL playoffs last year, so you can expect to see that memorable first one in the not-so-distant future.

Ryan Greene

Ryan Greene played in two games with the Blackhawks after his season at Boston University ended last spring. He is not only looking for his first career goal in the NHL, but his first career point. He was initially sent down out of camp, but was called back up quickly because of Landon Slaggert's injury. 

None of Greene, Levshunov, or Rinzel will have goal scoring as their main goal in the NHL. The former two are defenseman, and the latter is a defensive-minded forward. With that said are all incredibly skilled and are capable of bringing some offense here and there. 

Oliver Moore is an honorable mention. He didn't make the team out of camp as the Blackhawks want him getting top-line minutes in Rockford to begin the year, but he will almost certainly play in the NHL at some point this season. When that time comes, he will also be looking for his first career NHL goal. 

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

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Former Rangers Goalie Hitting Waivers

Alexandar Georgiev (© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

While speaking to reporters, Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff announced that former New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev will be placed on waivers, The Hockey News' Michael Augello reports. 

Georgiev signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Sabres last month. This was after he posted a 15-26-4 record, a .875 save percentage, and a 3.71 goals-against average in 49 games this past season split between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.

Georgiev being placed on waivers comes after the Sabres claimed goaltender Colten Ellis off waivers from the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 6. 

If Georgiev clears waivers, he will be assigned to the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

Georgiev started his NHL career with the Rangers. In 129 games over five seasons with the Blueshirts from 2017-18 to 2021-22, Georgiev recorded a 58-48-11 record, a .908 save percentage, a 2.94 goals-against average, and eight shutouts. 

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Hockey Horoscope: What Your Favorite NHL Team Says About You

By Benjamin Kirshenblatt, The Hockey News intern

Hockey fans are some of the most underrated, loyal and sometimes unhinged supporters in all of pro sports.

Whether you ended up matching with a Kraken fan on a dating app, find yourself deep in enemy territory at a rival hockey game or just want to know more about what your NHL team says about you, keep reading to find out.

Anaheim Ducks

Their past best characterizes the Ducks. They are nearly a decade removed from real competitiveness – and nearly two decades since they won their only Stanley Cup. If you are a Ducks fan, you are likely to have ambitious goals and big dreams but seemingly find a way to fall short of them every time and are then left wondering if you really did peak in high school.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have been one of the most competitive NHL teams of the 21st century, consistently in the mix for Stanley Cup contention. However, more often than not, the Bruins come up short in one round or another, and they are always leaving their fans disappointed. If you are a Bruins fan, although you’re driven, you are likely to leave the people in your life disappointed when you are needed the most.

Buffalo Sabres

If you’re a Sabres fan, you’ve had a lot to be miserable about since 2012. The Sabres have become notorious for their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought. If you are a Sabres fan, you once had dreams but have suffered a fall from grace and haven’t been able to pick up the pieces since, instead yearning to be the fan you used to be.

Calgary Flames

Despite their name, the Flames have been one of the NHL’s cooler teams as of late. The Flames have been unable to recapture their 1989 glory, coming oh-so-close in 2004 but instead enduring the disappointment of a series-defining no-goal. If you are a Flames fan, you are making slow and steady progress toward being back in full force and better than ever. It may not be tomorrow, but a return to contention is closer than you think.

Carolina Hurricanes

The only Hurricane that can be associated with Carolina is an emotional one. The Hurricanes have made it a routine to make it to the Eastern Conference final and then lose quickly. Being a Hurricanes fan can be best associated with big promises and high expectations, but when the moment actually comes to execute, you freeze without fail and end up embarrassing yourself in the end.

Chicago Blackhawks

It’s time for a reality check, Chicago: 2015 was 10 years ago now. To this day, the Blackhawks are continuing to pay the tax of winning three Cups in one decade. If you are a fan of the Blackhawks, it’s time to stop living in the past and smell the ashes of the present. You had some good times a while ago, but you need to get yourself in order.

Colorado Avalanche

Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the Avalanche is they’ve proven they can deliver but just don’t do it often enough. The Avalanche have been a promising team in the past and present but often perform below expectations. And they only have themselves to blame. If you are an Avalanche fan, you need to do a better job of delivering on your promises. You are capable of more than you are willing to give, and it’s about time you showed that.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have made the playoffs six times since their inception in 2000, not winning their first series until 2019. If you are a Jackets fan, you’ve had a hard time, but you’re dedicated, and the best is still yet to come. Just be patient and keep cheering, and one day, you will be rewarded.

Dallas Stars

Although the Stars have yet to relive their 1999 Cup dreams, they are big spenders who are not afraid to make that bold move to get one step closer to their destiny. However, it seems as if they’re paying a big price for those moves. If you’re a Stars fan, you are capable of accomplishing great things in life – but chase that dream before the window closes.

Detroit Red Wings

If you’re a Red Wings fan, you’ve enjoyed success in your life but are struggling to find purpose nowadays. The Red Wings have won many Cups but are also on a streak of futility. GM Steve Yzerman has much to prove this coming season, and if you’re a Red Wings fan, that’s the best way your life can be described. You’ve accomplished great things but have much to prove in this chapter.

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have much to prove this coming season. Many have surmised that what the Oilers will go on to accomplish this year will define their future in a big way: whether or not McDavid is here to stay past 2028. Fresh off back-to-back losses in the Cup final, the Oilers have more to prove than possibly anyone in the league. If you’re an Oilers fan, a lot is being expected of you and fast, so brace yourself.

Florida Panthers

If you are a Panthers fan, you are on cloud nine right now. You’ve proven to everyone in your life you have what it takes and delivered in the biggest way when it was asked of you on more than one occasion. If you are a Panthers fan, you’ve got nothing left to prove. Just sit back, have fun, try your best, and whatever happens, nobody will be disappointed in you.

NHL Power Rankings: All 32 Teams' Significant StorylinesNHL Power Rankings: All 32 Teams' Significant StorylinesThis time next Wednesday, the 2025-26 regular season will be underway, but we're already in Week 2 of the NHL power rankings.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings have faced the same Oilers team in the first round for the last four seasons and lost each time. With captain Anze Kopitar set to retire following this season, the Kings are scrambling for one last kick at the can. If you’re a Kings fan, you’ve been struggling to get over the hump for the longest time, so it’s important you focus and give it your all, and maybe, this year will be different.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild are in a great position right now after Kirill Kaprizov signed the richest contract in NHL history. With the failures of the North Stars looming large, Minnesota still has much to prove to its faithful, and it all starts with Kaprizov. If you’re a Wild fan, you’ve got one objective in mind, and it’s important you accomplish it first, and the rest will fall into place.

Montreal Canadiens

If you’re a Canadiens fan, you know the feelings of pain and pleasure as a fan of the franchise with the richest history in the NHL. It’s hard to forget, but the best hasn’t passed you by. It’s only a matter of time before the Habs are back to contention. If you’re a Habs fan, the same can be said about you. Don’t give up on your dreams, because they haven’t given up on you.

Nashville Predators

Nashville learned last season that money can’t always buy you happiness. The Preds added three big fish in 2024 free agency but were in for a rude awakening when the team went on to miss the playoffs. If you’re a Preds fan, it’s time to be more conservative with your money and not spend it on the next big thing to make yourself happy. Otherwise, you may end up in the same boat as your team.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils seem to be just now hitting their stride after some difficult seasons. With three Cups and a series win over the Rangers in 2023 that they won’t soon forget, the Devils faithful have much to be happy with, but the goal remains the same. If you’re a Devils fan, you have big goals in mind but are content with enjoying the journey it takes to get there.

New York Islanders

It’s not super easy being an Islanders fan, being forced to cope with accusations of being hockey’s most boring team. Sadly for the Islanders, after making back-to-back playoff semifinals in 2020 and 2021, first-round exits now seem to be their best-case scenario if they don’t miss the playoffs altogether. Adding Matthew Schaefer is a huge plus, even though they traded their former No. 1 D-man, Noah Dobson. If you’re an Islanders fan, you desperately need to give the people in your life something to cheer about, because right now, they’re unconvinced.

New York Rangers

Last season, the Rangers were the soap opera of the NHL. It might just be the one NHL team where being named captain is a sign you’ll probably be traded. Longtime veterans like Chris Kreider weren’t even safe from the Rangers' liquidation sale, being banished to Anaheim in the off-season. If you are a Rangers fan, you’ve got serious commitment issues and might want to treat the people in your life a bit better.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators are finally just now enjoying a return to relevance after an extended break from post-season contention. Although the bitter taste of losing to the hated rival Leafs is still fresh on the tongues of Sens fans, they’ve got nothing to be ashamed of heading into this season. With that said, if you’re a Sens fan, don’t get hung up on the past. Instead, look towards the future – it’s all you can do now.

Philadelphia Flyers

Despite icing many talented teams and making it to the finals six times since their runs in the ’70s, the Flyers have consistently come up short and now find themselves more times out of the playoffs than in. If you’re a Flyers fan, you have distant memories of what it was like to be at the top, and have been doing all you can to get back ever since, for better or for worse.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh has cemented itself as a city of champions, especially when it comes to the NHL. The Penguins have a total of five championships between two star-studded eras, but even with all they’ve proven, they’re still hungry for more, and it’s too much for their own good. If you’re a Penguins fan, there is no shame in remembering the good times, but it’s imperative you move on and embrace the changes inevitably coming your way.

NHL Pre-Season Fan Survey: Best And Most Annoying Fans, Expansion, Favorite Rink And MoreNHL Pre-Season Fan Survey: Best And Most Annoying Fans, Expansion, Favorite Rink And MoreThe finale of The Hockey News’ NHL pre-season fan survey results is here. 

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks live with the bittersweet memories of always being a contender but never being the one to go all the way. It feels like there are good ol’ times they should be missing, but in reality, it’s just two decades’ worth of underperformance. If you’re a Sharks fan, it’s important not to let your past define your future. Instead, it’s time to embrace brighter days ahead.

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken are the newish kids on the block. After Vegas entered the NHL in 2017 and immediately ran the show, people wondered if Seattle could follow suit, until they only mustered one playoff appearance in four seasons. If you’re a Kraken fan, there’s an air of mystery and confusion to you – people don’t really seem to understand you in the slightest. That can be a good thing sometimes, but be wary.

St. Louis Blues

Despite their recent Stanley Cup win in 2019, St. Louis fans are left feeling blue after failing to carry over that success. It seems the Blues have been flirting with mediocrity as of late, losing within the first two rounds if they even make the playoffs at all. If you’re a Blues fan, your accomplishments are not lost in the rearview mirror, but it might be time for a spark.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are one of the most accomplished teams in recent NHL history. However, since their three straight final runs, they appear to be thunderstruck, having lost in the first round every year since. If you’re a Lightning fan, you’ve accomplished a lot and still can accomplish more, but you better make it quick before time runs out on you as fast as lightning hits the ground.

Toronto Maple Leafs

It’s a poorly kept secret in the NHL that Leafs fans are in their own land of make-beleaf. The Leafs didn’t peak in high school; they peaked in childhood. If you’re a Leafs fan, you will spend the rest of your life convincing people that your best days are yet to come, but in reality, they are far behind you in the past. You also might want to place more value on those closest to you.

Utah Mammoth

The Mammoth are the NHL’s youngest franchise and best attempt to retcon the Arizona Coyotes. Though they haven’t made the playoffs yet, the Mammoth are a youngish team on the rise. If you’re a Mammoth fan, you’re a trendsetter and not afraid to try new things, even if they sometimes fail. However, it’s also important to embrace the past and how you got here, not forget it ever happened.

Vancouver Canucks

Canucks fans are an unruly bunch who have proven twice they don’t take losing in the final well. They’ve also had to deal with a lot of drama lately, including Elias Pettersson’s setback on offense getting national attention, Quinn Hughes’ future and a playoff miss after winning the Pacific the year before. If you’re a Canucks fan, you definitely need to let your guard down, stay optimistic and maybe consider anger management.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Knights spent extra cash to skip the painful part of being an expansion team. From the jump, they were finalists and have only missed the playoffs once. Though unafraid to make that big move, they received criticism in 2020 for not informing Marc-Andre Fleury he was being traded before reports came out on social media. If you’re a Vegas fan, you’re a follower who needs to find independence, and you need to be honest and direct with people in your life.

Washington Capitals

The Capitals impressed the league with a surprising return to relevance last season, despite being on the older side of teams, unlike their rivals in Pittsburgh. Though the dream of adding a second cup to Ovechkin’s resume still looms large, the Capitals are hopeful they can continue to exceed expectations. If you’re a Capitals fan, you’re full of surprises, but be wary, not every surprise is a good one.

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets seem to be a tale of two seasons as of late; they impress in the regular season and then completely drop the ball in the playoffs. The Jets have given fans little to cheer about in recent post-seasons. If you’re a Jets fan, you have the potential to do great things but desperately need to get over your stage fright before the opportunity passes you by.

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.

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Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski hits 104.3 mph while throwing 3 innings of shutout relief

MILWAUKEE — Jacob Misiorowski rediscovered the form that earned the flamethrowing rookie so much acclaim in the first few weeks after the Milwaukee Brewers called him up from the minors.

He was throwing heat. More importantly, he was throwing strikes.

Misiorowski fired three innings of scoreless relief while reaching at least 100 mph on 31 of his 57 pitches during the Brewers’ 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of their NL Division Series. He struck out four while allowing one hit and two walks.

It was the type of performance that showcased how much of an impact Misiorowski could make if the Brewers have a long postseason run.

“Miz stepped up,” manager Pat Murphy said. “You guys get all enthralled with MPH. I’m enthralled that he wasn’t giving up free bases, kept his composure with runners and that type of thing.”

Those have been the issues for Misiorowski during his eventful rookie season.

The right-hander garnered so much attention for his overpowering fastball that he was selected an All-Star after making just five starts. In two of them, he won head-to-head pitching matchups with NL Cy Young Award favorite Paul Skenes and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.

But he’s dealt with plenty of obstacles ever since.

Misiorowski went on the injured list with a bruised left tibia in early August. He returned later that month but allowed 23 runs (22 earned) over 32 2/3 innings from that point on.

His late slide pretty much assured that Misiorowski wouldn’t be part of the Brewers’ starting rotation for the playoffs, but his pure stuff demanded that he be included in Milwaukee’s postseason plans.

He entered Game 2 with the score tied 3-all in the third inning. Each of his first eight pitches registered at least 102.6, including a top velocity of 104.3.

“I think I was so fired up, adrenaline pumping,” Misiorowski said. “You know, I didn’t really know where my feet were, but we landed, so it was fun. It was a lot of fun.”

When Misiorowski has struggled, he generally has either lost control of the strike zone or struggled to maintain his poise amid adversity. But he managed to balance showing his emotion while also maintaining his focus in Game 2 as he helped the Brewers grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Misiorowski issued a one-out walk to Seiya Suzuki in the third inning but struck out Ian Happ and then got Carson Kelly to hit a grounder back to him.

“We needed to get him before he settled in, and he made some pitches to strike out Happ,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “If Ian gets on there, then there’s some pressure on him immediately.”

Misiorowski was so excited after Kelly’s grounder that he ran all the way from the pitcher’s mound to first base himself to retire the batter before pumping his fist repeatedly. Misiorowski said afterward he handled the play unassisted because he was worried about overthrowing first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

Even so, Murphy used the moment to offer a reminder to the 23-year-old.

“You’ve got to let him express himself, but then you’ve got to watch and see if he comes back to where he needs to be,” Murphy said. “It’s hard. He came off the mound in the (third) inning and he was ranting and raving and I gave him a little, like, ‘OK, stay with it.’

“He’s here at the highest level for a reason, and he’s been through some ups and downs. I think he’s pretty aware and pretty on high alert.”

Misiorowski walked Matt Shaw with two outs in the fourth and gave up a leadoff single to Nico Hoerner in the fifth, but didn’t let either runner advance beyond first base and ended up as the winning pitcher.

“I think the whole thing was just staying fired up, staying with that adrenaline pumping, and keep going at what I was doing before in (my) first inning,” Misiorowski said.

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'I Want Him Playing': What's The Maple Leafs' Plan For Easton Cowan?

As the Toronto Maple Leafs began practice one day before their home opener against the Montreal Canadiens, Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan were on a separate rink working with the team's development staff.

It's been a fascinating week of following what could happen with Cowan. Early on and even towards the end of training camp, it appeared as if he had made the Maple Leafs. However, everything changed when Scott Laughton suffered a lower-body injury.

At first glance, it seemed like David Kampf would take Laughton's spot and center the fourth line with Cowan and Steven Lorentz. Kampf was then placed on waivers after that practice.

A day later, the lineup was mashed up with Max Domi as the third line center with Dakota Joshua and Nick Robertson on his wing, and Nicolas Roy in the middle of Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok on the fourth line.

Cowan was then on the outside looking in.

Toronto then claimed Cayden Primeau and Sammy Blais off waivers on Monday afternoon. And a few hours later, when the Maple Leafs' opening day roster was submitted, Cowan was nowhere to be found.

Explained: Why Easton Cowan Was Temporarily Left Off Maple Leafs Season-Opening RosterExplained: Why Easton Cowan Was Temporarily Left Off Maple Leafs Season-Opening RosterThere was some chaos around 5 p.m. ET when the Toronto Maple Leafs announced their opening night roster. Jacob Quillan was on it rather than Easton Cowan, who many expected to be.

Quillan was there, though, after taking in a few days of Toronto Marlies camp after moving away from the NHL camp. The moves were so that Toronto could get as close to the cap ceiling as possible.

"The plan is right now, today (Cowan is) not on the roster, and then we'll see what happens tomorrow, right?" Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Tuesday.

"Easton has had a really good camp. I think he's right there ready to play for us. We want to manage it appropriately. If he's going to be playing with us here, great. But if he's not, I want him playing, right? So we'll manage it here the next little bit. We'll get through today and see what tomorrow brings."

Cowan believed he did everything he could to earn a spot on the Maple Leafs. And again, for the majority of camp, it appeared he was going to be in their opening night lineup. He played in five of Toronto's six preseason games and rarely looked out of place.

'I Played Some Of My Best Hockey': Has Easton Cowan Done Enough To Make The Maple Leafs Out Of Training Camp?'I Played Some Of My Best Hockey': Has Easton Cowan Done Enough To Make The Maple Leafs Out Of Training Camp?If this was the final game of Easton Cowan's training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he should be proud of himself.

"He's made such big strides in a couple years here. I thought he looked really great in camp, all camp. He played in most of the preseason games. I thought he put on a really good show," Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said.

"He looks physically strong. I think he's matured a lot as a guy, and as a player as well, and I think it showed throughout the whole camp. I know there's tough decisions to be made, but I think he should definitely be proud of what he accomplished during camp and the way he handled everything."

Both Treliving and Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube stated they had a plan for the forward, but they didn't reveal the inner workings of said plan. "That's about all I'm going to say about that right now," added Berube after Tuesday's practice.

If anything is for certain, it's that the Maple Leafs want Cowan to play. Whether that's in the NHL or AHL remains to be seen.

"Well, yeah, [an opportunity to play Cowan] can present itself for sure. And I said, he had a good camp," said Berube. "I liked him in camp. We all liked him in camp. He's a player that can help the Toronto Maple Leafs."

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James O’Connor returns keen to add ‘stardust’ to Leicester’s attack

  • Fly-half back in UK after facing All Blacks with Australia

  • O’Connor may play against Northampton on Saturday

James O’Connor, Leicester’s new Australian recruit, is hoping to bring a touch of sparkle to the East Midlands after finally linking up properly with the Tigers this week. O’Connor’s first spell last month was curtailed when he was swiftly recalled to the Wallabies squad to face New Zealand, but he is now back raring to go before his new club’s derby against Northampton on Saturday.

Having arrived in the UK only on Monday, the 35-year-old played a limited part in his first training session but seems poised to feature in the matchday 23 against the Saints. Leicester’s new director of rugby, Geoff Parling, will not confirm his team until Friday but hinted that O’Connor was in line for some action despite his latest long-haul flight. “He’s an experienced operator who gets up to speed quickly, put it that way,” Parling said. “When you’re in business class you can just put your feet up anyway. I don’t think it was too bad for him.”

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