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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins have made a small move to shore up their depth.

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins' AHL affiliate inked goaltender Jaxon Castor to a paid tryout (PTO) contract.

Castor, 28, has spent parts of the last three seasons in the Penguins' organization. He started with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL in 2023-24, when he appeared in 16 games and went 10-4-1 with a 2.71 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage. He returned to Wheeling in 14 appearances last season and struggled a bit, putting up a 3.65 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage.

He appeared in just one game for WBS last season and is back in Wheeling this season, where he's played two games and has a 2.38 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.

A product of the USHL program, Castor spent four seasons with St. Cloud State from 2019-23 before ending the 2022-23 season with the Florida Everblades.

Castor's PTO could be an indication that the Pittsburgh Penguins took one of Filip Larsson, Taylor Gauthier, or Maxim Pavlenko with them to Stockholm, Sweden for the NHL's Global Series, which will come in the form of Friday and Sunday matchups against the Nashville Predators at Avicii Arena in Stockholm.

Pittsburgh and Nashville can carry three goaltenders on the trip, so it's likely that the Penguins took one of the other three goaltenders with them. No official announcement has yet been made by the team. 

The Penguins May Now Have Three Pieces Of Their Future Core - And That's A Big DealObviously, there is such a thing as getting too far ahead of the curve in sports.

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

Nov 10, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers with center Jonathan Marchessault (81) and defenseman Brady Skjei (76) and center Steven Stamkos (91) and left wing Michael Bunting (58) during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators were hoping the long flight to Sweden following Monday's game in New York against the Rangers would be a victorious one.

The Rangers' offense, which had struggled most of the season, found new life against the Preds, who dropped their fifth straight in a 6-3 defeat at Madison Square Garden.

“It’s a little disappointing,” Preds head coach Andrew Brunette told reporters. “I thought the start of the second period kind of dictated the rest of the game. I thought we had a pretty good first…a couple little mistakes on the second goal. I liked the start of that first shift, and then [we] did a strange thing that we shouldn't be doing, and then took a penalty, and then started chasing the game a little bit."

Mika Zibanejad, Vladislav Gavrikov, Alex Lafreniere, Artemi Panarin (2) and Will Cuylle had goals for the Rangers.

Matthew Wood provided the only offense for Nashville, getting his first career hat trick. He also leads the team with four power-play points after his first goal of the night came on the man advantage.

Juuse Saros stopped seven of 12 shots before giving way to Justus Annunen to start the third period. Annunen saved five of the six shots he faced. Igor Shesterkin stopped 26 of 29 shots in net for the Rangers.

After Wood's first goal tied the game 1-1 at 16:16 of the opening period, the Rangers scored four unanswered goals before Wood lit the lamp a second time. Panarin's second goal of the night pushed the lead to 6-2 before Wood's hat trick finished off the night with a 6-3 final.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Juuse Saros can’t do it alone

There’s little debate that Juuse Saros is an above-average goaltender. He is tied for the second-most starts (13) in the NHL this season and has faced the second-most shots against (386). He’s also tied for the most saves in the NHL this season (348).

He’s not perfect, by any means. Lafreniere’s power-play goal that made it 3-1 went just under Saros’s pad. He got over a little late on Panarin’s goal that increased the lead to 4-1, but he also had too much traffic in front of the net and was tied up with Vincent Trochek and Nick Blankenburg on the play.

The Preds’ defense giving up breakaways like the one that allowed Zibanejad to score the Blueshirts’ first goal and a mental lapse by Adam Wilsby making a line change at the wrong time on another once again plagued the Predators.

Saros was pulled in favor of Annunen at the start of the third period, after the Rangers scored three goals for a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes. With little support from both his defense and offense, it was probably the best thing for him.

Matthew Wood tried to light a fire.

Nashville's offense looks lost.

Correction: Nashville's offense looks lost, except for Matthew Wood.

The 20-year-old rookie continues to do his best to carry the team on his back. His hat trick was the lone bright spot and were the only three goals the Preds could manage.

“I think [I’m just trying] to build confidence and go out there and give my best effort every night and try to have fun,” Wood said. “It's the NHL, so this is every kid's dream. Just try to not take any day for granted."

FIRST CAREER HATTY FOR MATTHEW WOOD! 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/VShUQRVxZR

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) November 11, 2025

Slow starts by the Preds are nothing new; they came into Monday 0-3-1 when trailing after the first period. They've had uninspiring games in stretches, but haven't had a real blowout. Monday definitely felt like one.

Matthew Wood was the exception. Like Saros, however, he can't be the only one counted on to win games.

The second period was particularly ugly; there were only eight shots taken between the two teams in the frame, with four apiece.

Wood's last name is often referred to when starting a fire; if only he could do that to an anemic Preds offense.

The Preds couldn’t take advantage of a struggling opponent.

The Rangers have stumbled out of the gate under new head coach Mike Sullivan. While they boast the best road record in the NHL (7-1-1), they came into Monday without a win at home (0-6-1). They’ve also been shut out five times at Madison Square Garden, including a 5-0 loss to their biggest rival, the New York Islanders.

The Rangers’ offense was 31st in the NHL prior to the game, just behind the Preds, who were 30th. They were averaging 2.19 goals for compared to Nashville’s 2.53.

Not exactly juggernaut numbers by either team. Somebody was due, and the Rangers were the ones who took advantage of the Preds' struggles.

A victory against the Rangers wouldn't have guaranteed a sudden turnaround, but it could have been a spark.

“It was frustrating, for sure,” Preds defenseman Brady Skjei said. “I think we just didn't come out right away and get to our game. We got there, but it was too late."

Now, the Preds are off to Stockholm, Sweden, for the 2025 NHL Global Series against the Pittsburgh Penguins for two games Friday and Sunday. The Penguins have dropped three of their last four games. It'll be a long flight, and a long weekend if the Preds can't come away with at least a split.

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NEWARK, NJ -- After blowing a 2-1 lead with just 4.7 seconds left in the third period, the New York Islanders came away victorious in overtime for the 3-2 win. 

Mathew Barzal scored the game-winning goal at 1:17 of overtime, after a goegous give-and-go with Jonathan Drouin before he beat Devils' netminder Jacob Markstrom glove side:

Barzal. 180 feet of two-way overtime hockey. 🚨🚨🚨 #Isles

Holy smokes was that fast. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/NFRAXX07Br

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) November 11, 2025

Ilya Sorokin stopped 33 of 35 for a win and has been electric over his last two starts. He stopped all 33 shots he faced in the Islanders' 5-0 win against the New York Rangers on Saturday. 

Here's how the game unfolded: 

It was a rocky start for the Islanders at The Rock, as just 38 seconds into the game, they found themselves on the penalty kill for having too many men on the ice. 

The penalty kill was going pretty well before Timo Meier rifled one low glove side, as he was left unguarded from the slot at 2:12 of the first:

Reeled one in early. #NJDevils | @Mikes_Amazingpic.twitter.com/IJdTCM47Fm

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 11, 2025

But, have no fear Islanders fans as Horvat is here -- seemingly every game. 

No. 14 continued his hot streak, beating Markstrom high blocker side at 6:55 of the second to tie the game at 1-1. 

Horvat heater continues 🔥🔥🔥

Team 🇨🇦??? pic.twitter.com/jt64EmkjjZ

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) November 11, 2025

Not only did that goal extend his point streak to six games (six goals, two assists), but that gave Horvat 12 goals over his last 13 games, an unprecedented heater for one of the best two-way forwards in the league. 

Kyle Palmieri scored on the power play with 2:53 to go in the third, with Horvat notching career assist No. 300 on the play. Mathew Schaefer, who recorded the primary assist, now has 12 points in 16 games to begin his NHL career:

FOR THE LEAD!#LGI | @fordpic.twitter.com/OEEL1o4p7a

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 11, 2025

But, as mentioned, the Islanders couldn't hold on. With the net empty, Simon Nemec's point shot went through three Islanders' bodies, glancing off Jean-Gabriel Pageau and past Sorokin to tie the game at 3-3 with 4.7 seconds to play in regulation:

4.7 SECONDS LEFT! pic.twitter.com/LPCmpDj5r6

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 11, 2025

The Islanders will now battle the Vegas Golden Knights and the Utah Mammoth on Thursday and Friday respectively, as they continue on with their seven-game road trip. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Mika Zibanejad scored to end a lengthy goal drought on home ice, Gabriel Perreault picked up his first NHL point and the New York Rangers used an offensive outburst to defeat the Nashville Predators 6-3 on Monday night for their first victory at Madison Square Garden this season.

Perreault assisted on Alexis Lafrenière’s goal a little over 24 hours after getting called up from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Artemi Panarin had two goals and Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Cuylle also scored, while Lafrenière had three points.

The Rangers matched their entire goal production from their first seven home games, when they were 0-6-1 and got outscored 23-6 before facing struggling Nashville. Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves, including a blocker stop when he didn’t have a stick early in the third period.

Juuse Saros got pulled at the second intermission after allowing five goals on just 12 shots, with backup Justus Annunen finishing it out in net. Despite Matthew Wood’s first career hat trick, which doubled his goal total in the league, the Predators lost a fifth consecutive game and for the eighth time in their past nine.

Zibanejad’s goal on a semi-breakaway off a perfect pass from defenseman Adam Fox midway through the first was New York’s first at MSG in 141:27, dating to Oct. 23 against San Jose, two home shutout losses ago.

Gavrikov scored his second with his new team with 1:53 left in the first to restore the lead after Wood tied it on the power play minutes earlier. Playing for the first time since Oct. 9 after missing the past month with an undisclosed upper-body injury, center Vincent Trocheck had the primary assist.

Up next

Predators: Travel to Sweden to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in Stockholm on Friday and Sunday in the NHL’s Global Series event of the season.

Rangers: Visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night, looking to improve on their league-best 7-1-1 road start.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Mathew Barzal scored in overtime, Ilya Sorokin stopped 33 of the 35 shots he faced and the New York Islanders bounced back from allowing the tying goal to Simon Nemec with 4.7 seconds left in regulation to beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Monday night.

Barzal scored 1:17 into 3-on-3 OT to get the win, not long after Nemec’s shot at 6 on 5 with Jacob Markstrom pulled for an extra attacker beat Sorokin to extend the game. Nemec’s goal was ruled good after officials spent a few minutes reviewing it.

Kyle Palmieri had put the Islanders ahead on the power play with just under three minutes left in the third period. Palmieri scored it off a rebound of a shot by No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer who has become the favorite to win the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.

Palmieri also assisted on Bo Horvat’s tying goal 6:55 into the second. The Devils had taken an early lead on Timo Meier’s power-play goal 2:12 in, and the Islanders did not have their first shot on net until past the nine-minute mark.

Sorokin could not be blamed on Meier’s goal after some tic-tac-toe passing, and he was screened on Nemec’s first of the season. He continued his stretch of strong play since getting some practice tips recently from coach Patrick Roy, himself a Hall of Fame goaltender.

Markstrom made 22 saves for New Jersey.

Up next

Islanders: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night to open a three-game Western Conference road trip.

Devils: Visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night to begin a stretch of five consecutive games away from home.

The Colorado Avalanche have started the season on a tear, breaking franchise records seemingly every game. That’s the result of an offense as explosive as Colorado’s—relentless, fast, and skillful. At the heart of it all is Nathan MacKinnon, setting the pace and leading the charge, steadily etching his name deeper into Avalanche history. 

On Sunday, MacKinnon notched a five-point night, including two goals, and in the process surpassed Peter Šťastný for third place on the Avalanche’s all-time goals list with his 381st career goal. 

Maritime Hockey (@HockeyMaritime) on XWhat a performance from Nathan MacKinnon as he had two goals and five points in the Colorado Avalanche's 5-4 OT win against the Vancouver Canucks. The 2013 first overall pick currently leads the league in both goals (14) and points (29). #GoAvsGo

There is no shortage of superlatives to describe Nathan MacKinnon, yet even we’re beginning to exhaust the vocabulary. Entering the weekend, MacKinnon sat just behind young sensations Macklin Celebrini, 19, and Connor Bedard, 20, in the NHL scoring race. The 30-year-old’s response? A figurative “Watch this.” 

Nate Dogg Is Hungry 

Across back-to-back games against the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, MacKinnon delivered a masterclass, piling up four goals and five assists for nine points. Colorado dismantled Edmonton in a 9–1 rout, then outlasted Vancouver 5–4 in an overtime thriller—each night punctuated by MacKinnon’s unmistakable imprint on the ice. 

Just when you thought the kids were pulling away, MacKinnon—carrying a noticeable chip—took a very on-brand chip out of Celebrini and Bedard’s early scoring cushion. If the NHL adopted a tradition from Major League Baseball, MacKinnon is in contention for the hockey Triple Crown. He leads in goals (14) and points (29). However, his 15 assists are technically tied for sixth best in the NHL, as Evgeni Malkin leads the way with 18 assists, Connor McDavid is in 2nd with 17, while three players, including Cale Makar are tied with 16 assists before we find MacKinnon with 15. 

When you add it all up, MacKinnon is on track for a career-best season—an impressive feat considering he tallied 140 points in 2023–24, with 51 goals and 89 assists while playing all 82 games for the fourth time in his career. Though the season is still young, he’s pacing for 72 goals and 77 assists, totaling a staggering 149 points. For comparison, last year’s Art Ross and Ted Lindsay winner, Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay, finished with 121 points, but MacKinnon is showing early that he could go even further. Could we be looking at a sweep of the Art Ross, Ted Lindsay, and Hart Memorial trophies? The ceiling is sky-high for Nathan MacKinnon, but it’s just as high for the rest of his teammates. 

The Avs Are a Scary Bunch 

What makes the Avalanche even more intimidating, however, is their depth. It’s one thing to marvel at the offensive exploits of the Oilers, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl typically posting astronomical numbers as a duo, but Edmonton is top-heavy. They can deliver some big bombs, sure, but they also leave plenty of openings for opponents to exploit—evidenced by their eight-goal loss on home ice just a few nights ago to this team, and back-to-back defeats in the Stanley Cup Finals the last two seasons. 

Colorado is utterly stacked from top to bottom. You have two players in MacKinnon and Makar who are the best in their position. Forget the term arguably. It’s not even close right now. These two are the very best in their position and Martin Nečas, fresh off that eight-year, $92 million contract extension, give him a few years and maybe he’ll be in the conversation as the best winger in the NHL, but time will tell. And then you have to account for the rest of the team. 

2022 Vibes? 

15 different Avalanche players have found the back of the net so far this season, combining for a total of 64 goals. For context, the next closest team, the Montreal Canadiens, also have 15 goal scorers, but they’ve managed only 57 goals—showing that Colorado is not just spreading the scoring around, but also getting more production out of each individual through 16 games. 

And of course, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have the Nate Dogg himself driving the puck up the ice like a man possessed and snapping goals and setting up plays from every angle imaginable. But when I look at this team, there’s a lot of similarities to the 2022 Cup team.  

d (@avsinseider) on Xno championship win will ever hit as hard as the 2022 colorado avalanche winning the stanley cup. just goosebumps every single time i think about it

There’s that chemistry, the deep camaraderie, the genuine respect for one another, and a shared goal of becoming champions again. For many on this team, it would be their first taste of a championship, and for Brent Burns, a chance to cap his career at the very pinnacle. 

MacKinnon Triple Crown Bound? 

For Nathan MacKinnon, what could be more emblematic of supremacy than claiming the NHL Triple Crown? Only five players in league history have accomplished this rare feat: Howie Lorenz, Gordie Howe, Phil Esposito, Wayne Gretzky—who astonishingly achieved it seven times—and Mario Lemieux, who managed it twice. Even more remarkable, however, is that Gretzky alone paired the Triple Crown with a Stanley Cup victory in the same season, doing so three times in 1984, 1985, and 1987. In 1988, while Gretzky captured his final Cup with the Oilers, Lemieux captured his first Triple Crown that season, though the Pittsburgh Penguins somehow failed to make the playoffs despite his historical individual campaign. 

But if MacKinnon can capture the Triple Crown, he’d be the first to do it in more than 33 years. And if the Avalanche capture the Cup this season, MacKinnon will enter hockey immortality. 

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The Carolina Hurricanes’ 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday was a special game for two rookies. 

Both Charles-Alexis Legault and Joel Nystrom picked up their first NHL points. 

Legault recorded one goal and one assist, while Nystrom had an assist on the night, marking a memorable night for the two young players.

“You dream of scoring one since you've been a kid, so being able to get one tonight is a great feeling,” Legault said.

“Today, I got my first point, and I'm real happy for that,” Nystrom said.