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Five Surprising NHL Teams In A Playoff Spot At The Quarter Mark

The NHL’s 2025-26 season has reached the quarter mark, and the playoff race is already intense.

It’s a great time to look at which teams are surprisingly in a playoff spot heading into Friday's games. Here are five of them in alphabetical order. 

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks were believed to be a team on the rise, but few believed they were going to rise to the top of the Pacific Division or even near it.

But after 21 games, Anaheim has a 13-7-1 record, including a 7-2-1 home mark. They've played one more game than the Vegas Golden Knights, but with a one-point lead, Anaheim is first in the Pacific. That’s a huge positive surprise for a franchise that has been one of the league’s worst for many years now.

The Ducks have been thriving in no small part due to their high-octane offense, which sits third in the NHL with 3.57 goals-for per game. Leo Carlsson is tied for fifth in NHL scoring, with 28 points, and Cutter Gauthier, Troy Terry and the injured Mikael Granlund are also averaging at least a point per game.

Anaheim’s defense needs work, but this is a young Ducks team that is still learning how to compete at both ends of the ice. When they get to that point, Anaheim is going to be one of the NHL’s most dangerous squads.

BetMGM's odds of Anaheim making the playoffs: 1.53 (-189)

Chicago Blackhawks

Like the Ducks, the Blackhawks have been stuck in the unfortunate part of the competitive cycle. But thanks to young stars, such as centers Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, Chicago has put together a 10-6-4 record, good for fourth place in the Central Division and a wild-card spot entering Friday's action.

Bedard has 29 points in 20 games, and goaltender Spencer Knight has been exceptional, with a .922 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average. He leads all NHL netminders in goals saved above expected, with 14.2, according to moneypuck.com.

The Hawks still need time to flesh out their roster, which isn’t deep enough for this team to be considered a legitimate Cup threat. But for the first time since the Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews Era, the Hawks aren't an easy out.

BetMGM's odds of Chicago making the playoffs: 5.75 (+475)

Bo Horvat (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

New York Islanders

Coming off a season in which they finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, the Islanders looked like they needed a rebuild more than anything. Now, they're looking like a retool could suffice.

The Isles have been a competitive group, with a 12-7-2 record and a 7-2-1 mark in their last 10 games. That’s put them into third place in the Metropolitan Division – a lofty place few thought they’d be.

With 2025 No. 1 draft pick Matthew Schaefer as a foundational talent, the Islanders have been blessed by the hockey gods. But Bo Horvat has been outstanding, with 14 goals and 25 points in 21 games. Their second-leading scorers are Kyle Palmieri and Mathew Barzal, with 16 points. And off-season acquisitions Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin have 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Goaltender Ilya Sorokin had a rough start to the season. But after the team switched goalie coaches on Oct. 22, he's had a 5-2-2 record, .924 SP and 2.07 GAA.

The Islanders are still likely to need more time and talent to grow into a top team in the league, but they are feisty and intent on demonstrating the road back to relevancy will be fast-tracked.

BetMGM's odds of the Islanders making the playoffs: 2.15 (+115)

Pittsburgh Penguins

Few, if any, pundits had the Penguins as anything other than an also-ran team this season.

Instead, the Pens have been in a playoff spot right out of the gate, holding the first wild-card spot in the East on Friday. While they’ve cooled off of late, going 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, Pittsburgh has played well enough to quieten trade rumors involving stars Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.

The Penguins’ defense – second-best in the league at 2.47 goals against per game – is their biggest surprise. Last year, they ranked 29th in that category. Goaltender Tristan Jarry has bounced back, although he's currently injured, and trade acquisition Arturs Silovs has a .917 SP and 2.44 GAA.

While there may be some regression ahead for Pittsburgh in the days and weeks ahead, the Pens’ strong start means their fans may get to enjoy one more playoff run with Crosby, Malkin and Letang.

BetMGM's odds of Pittsburgh making the playoffs: 3.40 (+240)

Five Most Intriguing NHL Odds To Make Or Miss The PlayoffsFive Most Intriguing NHL Odds To Make Or Miss The PlayoffsBurning questions surround five NHL teams with playoff odds that are worth a closer look.

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken took a step backward last season, finishing 13th in the Western Conference with a 35-41-6 record. But after making a few roster tweaks – and after hiring Lane Lambert to be their coach – Seattle has surged up the standings, posting a 10-5-5 record to sit in third place in the Pacific.

They're scoring by committee, with eight players posting at least 10 points. And the Kraken have the league’s sixth-best defense at 2.70 goals against per game.

They’re going to need more time to stock their roster with high-end talent, but Seattle’s start ensures that they’re likely to stay in the playoff race all season long.

BetMGM's odds of Chicago making the playoffs: 3.40 (+240)

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Different issue plagues Warriors after fixing turnover woes in loss to Blazers

Different issue plagues Warriors after fixing turnover woes in loss to Blazers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors coach Steve Kerr during his pregame news conference Friday identified the greatest threat to the success of the team this season: Turnovers. When they commit fewer, they win. When they commit more, they lose.

“That’s our No. 1 concern at this stage,” he said. “Seventeen games in, it’s pretty clear what we have to do. If we take care of the ball, we win. If we don’t, we lose.”

Four hours later, in Game 18, at Chase Center for the first time since Nov. 9, the Warriors committed fewer giveaways than the Portland Trail Blazers – and, for the first time this season, lost.

Lack of size and interior muscle is an issue that has surfaced all too often this season, and they were the primary cause of the Warriors walking off the Chase Center floor with a 127-123 lashing that killed their homecoming buzz and dropped them back to .500.

“We know we’re small out there at times, but we got to play bigger than we are,” said Stephen Curry, whose game-high 38 points went for naught. “There were a lot of breakdowns and missed box outs because they had five out most of the time, with a 7-footer in there. Those possessions matter.”

Glancing at their opening-night roster, the smallest in the NBA, the Warriors had to expect there would be nights like this. Nights when they would pay a price for being relatively miniature compared to their opponent. When rebounds would be gone before the ball could drop low enough to reach their outstretched hands.

Nights, like this one, when they would outshoot their opponent from the field, and from beyond the arc, while committing fewer turnovers, and still come up short. Literally and figuratively.

Portland won the offensive rebounding war 21-9, the total rebounding war 52-32 and was plus-18 (28-10) in second chance points. Four Blazers snagged at least seven rebounds, with Robert Williams III hauling in a game-high 11, while Jimmy Butler III, with eight, was the only Warrior with more than six.

“They are an athletic team,” Kerr said after losing to Portland for the second time this season. “A couple of their guys are super athletic. They crash. They put a lot of pressure on us. That was the difference.”

It is exceedingly difficult to win when taking such a beating on the glass, though Curry indicated there is a path.

“Pretty much perfect basketball on the other end,” Curry said.

“But it’s still crazy that we were in a one-possession game with whatever with minute and a half (remaining) with that type of discrepancy. It’s like you play as hard as you want to, fly around, but the best offense and the most demoralizing thing for defense is 20 seconds of good defense, and then an easy put back or second, third opportunity.”

Though rebounding was the most statistical failure, and the most decisive, the Warriors also did a poor job of defending, particularly at the point of attack and when spread out by Portland’s shooters. Rookie guard Caleb Love, on a two-way contract, came off the bench to score a career-high 26 points, in the process draining six 3-pointers, several of which were wide open.

“We’re just not guarding nobody, from what I can tell,” Butler said. “And I haven’t been here long, but that’s never been the formula here.”

“You’re not taking anything away. You’re not taking the paint away. You’re not taking away layups, free throws, lobs, 3s. So, we don’t know where they’re going to get a shot from, but tonight they were getting whatever shot they wanted.”

Brandin Podziemski, at times tasked with point-of-attack defense, conceded that it did not go well for him or any of his teammates when given that assignment.

“Just too many straight-line drives,” Podziemski said of Portland’s freeway to the rim. “Obviously, they are a bigger team than us. So, when our big has to rotate over so many times, it leaves (it open) for lobs and offensive rebounds.”

The Warriors entered the game ranked 29th in number of turnovers per game and 22nd in rebounding. They committed 14 turnovers, to 21 for Portland. They plugged that leak.

Only to have another one bite them in the backside.

It has been that kind of season for Golden State. And probably will be if the current roster is unable to overcome the areas, and there are several, in which it is deficient.

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Canadiens Recall Florian Xhekaj From AHL

Florian Xhekaj (© David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

After extending their losing streak to five games following their 8-4 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Montreal Canadiens have made a notable roster move. 

The Canadiens have announced that they have recalled forward Florian Xhekaj from their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. In addition, the Canadiens announced that forward Joshua Roy will remain on the NHL roster, after initially stating that he was heading back to Laval. 

Xhekaj is a prospect who many fans have been wanting to see get his first chance on the Canadiens' roster, and it is now coming to fruition. The 6-foot-4 forward has appeared in 16 games this season with Laval, where he has recorded two goals, four points, and 44 penalty minutes. This is after he recorded 24 goals, 35 points, and 175 penalty minutes in 69 games this past season with Laval.

With Xhekaj being called up, the Canadiens will be adding more bite and toughness to their lineup.

As for Roy, he has recorded zero points, two shots, and an even plus/minus rating in three games this season with the Canadiens. Down in the AHL with Laval this season, he has posted four goals, seven points, and a plus-4 rating in 10 contests. 

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Report: Ottawa Senators Place Swedish Winger On Waivers

The Ottawa Senators reportedly made a roster move on Friday. According to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, the Senators have placed 26-year-old Swedish winger Olle Lycksell on waivers for the purpose of reassignment. Lycksell was recently placed on injured reserve with a concussion, but now he's apparently ready to return, and if he clears, he's likely headed back to Belleville for the second time this season.

Lycksell cleared waivers coming out of training camp but made Ottawa's roster to open the season. The Sens sent him to Belleville 12 days later (Oct. 17), but brought him back on Oct 21. He's played just six games in Ottawa this season, scoring one goal, and two games in Belleville, where he's been held pointless.

In 51 career NHL games with the Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, Lycksell has tallied two goals and 10 assists. But he's been an elite AHL player the past three seasons, putting up 128 points in 136 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. That intrigued the Senators enough to sign him to a one-year two-way contract on July 1.

With Lycksell ready to play, the Senators had the option on Friday of sending Stephan Halliday back down, a forward who's waivers-exempt. But after his nice NHL debut on Thursday night in Anaheim, including a fine setup on Shane Pinto's tying goal, it appears the Sens are keen to book a little more Halliday time until either Ridly Greig or Brady Tkachuk is ready to return.

On that note, Tkachuk hopes to return (and come off IR) within the week. Greig is said to be day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, but with Senators' head coach Travis Green being so consistently cloak-and-dagger with his roster and/or injury information, who knows?

If he clears waivers, Lycksell is expected to immediately join the AHL's Belleville Senators. The B-Sens are in Laval this weekend, where they play on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

NHL Insider Says Senators Are 'Looking To Hit A Home Run' On The Trade Market
Former Senators Defenseman Returns To Ottawa In Monday Trade With Philadelphia
Arthur Kaliyev Heating Up, Now Third In AHL Goal Scoring
Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions In Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)
Four More Years: Shane Pinto Signs Four-Year Extension

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Dodgers non-tender Evan Phillips, but remain interested in re-signing the reliever

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 20: Evan Phillips #59 of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips delivers against the New York Mets in Game 6 of the 2024 NLCS. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Ahead of his final season under club control, and with his 2026 salary expected to top more than $6 million through arbitration, reliever Evan Phillips was not tendered a contract for next year by the Dodgers on Friday, but president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the team is still interested in re-signing him as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

“We had a number of back and forth discussions with Evan and his agent,” Friedman said via text. “It is challenging with him coming off surgery, so he is going to take some time and look to sign after he throws off the mound when his rehab allows. Evan has been a big part of our past success and we will continue the conversation about bringing him back. We respect that he is taking this time to decide what is best for him and his family.”

Friday’s decision — which will make Phillips a free agent — reflects the uncertainty around the pitcher’s status for next season, following the Tommy John procedure he had last June.

Read more:Dodgers boss Andrew Friedman part of team to advise Lakers in ownership transition

Phillips’ recovery process is expected to stretch at least into the early part of next year. How much he will be able to pitch in 2026 remains unclear.

Because of that, the Dodgers faced a decision ahead of MLB’s non-tender deadline Friday: Keep Phillips on the roster and pay him the $6.1 million or so that MLB Trade Rumors projected he would receive through the arbitration process. Or cut him loose and attempt to re-sign him (likely to a lesser salary) this offseason.

The club picked the latter. Now, only time will tell whether Phillips’ productive tenure in Los Angeles will continue.

Phillips, 31, has been a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen since the team plucked him off waivers near the end of the 2021 season.

In 2022, he was one of the top relievers in baseball, posting a 1.14 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 63 innings. He had a 2.05 ERA and 24 saves the following season, before regressing to a 3.62 mark in 2024.

Despite that decline, the right-hander still played a crucial role in the club’s 2024 World Series run, pitching 6⅔ scoreless innings that postseason before missing the World Series with a shoulder injury.

Read more:Shaikin: Mayor's take on Dodger Stadium gondola project? We didn't get it in her 21 seconds

That injury, which Phillips later said included a tear in the back of his rotator cuff, caused him to miss the early weeks of this past season.

Phillips eventually made his 2025 season debut on April 19, but logged only seven appearances (all of them scoreless) before going on the injured list in early May with forearm discomfort. At the time, Phillips’ hope was that the IL stint was only a “precautionary” measure and that he would be able to return later in the season.

Instead, his forearm pain lingered. And by the end of May, the full severity of his injury had become frustratingly clear.

Phillips underwent his Tommy John procedure, which typically comes with a 12-18 month recovery timeline, on June 3.

“[His arm] wasn’t really responding,” general manager Brandon Gomes said at the time. “We felt like this could be a possibility. So as he got deeper into the process and it wasn’t really getting better, the decision to do it was pretty much evident with our information.”

Read more:Dodgers need an outfielder. Cody Bellinger is a free agent. Could a reunion be possible?

Phillips did begin throwing again on Nov. 5, he announced on Instagram. The Dodgers would still like for him to be part of the mix in their bid for a World Series three-peat in 2026.

Now, however, it will take a new contract to get that done.

In addition to Phillips, the Dodgers also decided not to tender a contract to 27-year-old pitcher Nick Frasso on Friday. Frasso, a former top prospect who struggled in triple-A in his return from a shoulder surgery this past season, had yet to make his MLB debut.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Jets goalie Hellebuyck to undergo arthroscopic procedure on his knee and miss 4 to 6 weeks

NHL: Winnipeg Jets at Calgary Flames

Nov 15, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his knee and be out four to six weeks, the team said Friday.

Jets coach Scott Arneil said Friday that Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goalie, had been trying to play through a knee injury, and the timing is right to get it taken care of.

“Obviously, he’s, what is it, 10 years, he’s been pretty healthy,” Arniel said. “And this has kind of been nagging on him here since training camp. It’s something we’ve kind of known about, he was trying to play through it, would be good days, bad days, just something that, timing’s right, get it done now.

“A lot of schedule ahead of us, so that was really just the thinking. Sat down, talked to him, obviously the medical staff, everybody, agent. This was the time to do it.”

The surgery comes less than three months before the start of the Olympic men’s hockey tournament in Milan, Italy.

Hellebuyck is 8-6-0 with a 2.51 goals-against average and .913 save percentage this season for the Jets (12-7-0), who entered a game Friday against Carolina in third place in the Central Division.

The 32-year-old Hellebuyck won his first Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and his second straight - and third career -Vezina Trophy in 2024-25, helping the Jets to the best regular-season record in the NHL. He also won the award as top goalie in 2019-20.

Hellebuyck, from Commerce, Michigan, was not included in the first group of six players announced for the United States’ Olympic preliminary roster, but was widely expected to be added to the team.

Eric Comrie is expected to take the Jets starting role in Hellebuyck’s absence. He is 4-1 with a 2.60 GAA and .908 save percentage this season.

In a corresponding move, the Jets called up goaltender Thomas Milic from the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose.

“Obviously we’ve been really fortunate to have Helly be healthy and available," Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey said. "His durability is something to marvel at. Obviously now without him, you can’t replace a guy like that.

“But we’re super confident in Coms and Milly and our defensive game. But definitely, we’ve been fortunate to not have him out of the lineup for a whole lot of years.”

Hellebuyck, who last played on Nov. 15 in a victory over Calgary, was 47-12-3 last season. He has a career record of 330-191-44 with a 2.56 GAA and .918 save percentage and 45 shutouts.

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Flames' Ugly Start Has A Big Bright Spot In Net

Things are not going well for the Calgary Flames so far this season.

The Flames are at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 6-13-3 record and 15 points. This is after they just missed out on the playoffs last season, finishing the year with a 41-27-14 record and 96 points. They even had more points than the New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens, which made the playoffs in the East.

A crucial part of Calgary's success last year was the play of rookie Dustin Wolf. He started the season splitting the starts with then-backup Dan Vladar, then gradually got more assignments as he played exceptionally well for a rookie netminder. He finished as a finalist in the Calder Trophy race.

Now, Wolf has had some ups and downs this season as he's taken on more responsibility, with an .892 save percentage, 3.08 goals-against average and one shutout.

But while the Flames are struggling immensely early on, another goaltender – Devin Cooley – has been a big bright spot for them.

After spending all of last season in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers, Cooley beat out free-agent signing Ivan Prosvetov for the Flames' backup job out of training camp. And he quickly dismissed questions about whether Calgary needed a proven NHL veteran to give Wolf the type of backup support that Vladar gave.

In fact, Cooley's been excellent.

While he has a 1-2-1 record, he leads all NHL goaltenders who have played six or more games with a .935 save percentage and a 1.80 goals-against average. He also has six goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com.

With numbers like these, there is no question that Cooley is playing some very strong hockey right now. He is also showing no signs of slowing down as the season continues, either. In his most recent appearance against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 19, he stopped 28 out of 30 shots, which equates to a .933 save percentage. 

Cooley has also shown great consistency early on, as he has had a .921 save percentage or better in five out of his six appearances this season with the Flames.

When noting that the 28-year-old Cooley had only six games of NHL experience before this season, which were all with the San Jose Sharks in 2023-24, him playing this well with the Flames is undoubtedly impressive. It will be interesting to see if the Los Gatos, California, native can continue to stay hot for the Flames, but he has been a fun story early on in 2025-26. 

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Red Wings Still Can't Budge With Andrew Copp Situation

A quarter of the way into the NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves in unfamiliar but welcome territory: sitting atop the Atlantic Division with a winning record, a wave of rookies making meaningful strides, and milestone moments piling up faster than they have in over a decade. It has been, by nearly every measure, a season to remember.

But amid the glowing storylines and energized fan base, a handful of concerns continue to simmer beneath the surface. At the center of the quiet discontent is a respected veteran who has long been considered part of the team’s leadership core in forward Andrew Copp.

Copp, 31, entered the season looking for a rebound year as his production has dropped every season since his first with the Red Wings when he recorded nine goals and 33 assists for 42 points. He's continued to be a two-way player with a stabilizing presence in the locker room and a key contributor on special teams. Yet his offensive production has again dipped, this time to an alarming level. 

Through 21 games, Copp has recorded just one goal, an empty-net tally, and seven assists for eight points. He is currently on pace for just four goals, which would mark the lowest total of his NHL career, while his projected 30 points would fall fairly in line with his last two seasons but remains well short of expectations for a player carrying a $5.625 million cap hit.

With Detroit fans growing increasingly vocal about their frustrations with general manager Steve Yzerman and several of his personnel decisions, Copp has become one of the most heavily scrutinized names. Certainly not because of his character, as he remains one of the most beloved players in the dressing room and has even worn the "A" at times with the organization, but because of what his contract means for a team trying to take the next step.

Complicating matters even worse is Copp has a modified 10-team no-trade clause, which limits Detroit’s flexibility. Even if the Red Wings wanted to move him, the combination of his cap hit, declining scoring touch and lack of trade candidates would make any deal difficult to execute.

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Yet Detroit’s coaching staff continues to lean on Copp in critical moments, largely because of his role on the top penalty-kill unit. Though now skating on the fourth line, he still averages over 14 minutes per game because of his work on Detroit's penalty kill, that has transformed the unit for from the worst in the NHL last season to a respectable 13th overall this year. 

Still, internal pressure is on the horizon as the Red Wings are continuing to get surging young talent pushing upward from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, with several prospects eager for NHL minutes. Among them is Carter Mazur, who was nearing an NHL look before suffering an injury. Once healthy, Mazur could force Detroit’s hand, or at least apply the pressure necessary to spark improvement from Copp.

League insiders suggest the Red Wings have quietly explored their options regarding Copp, though no imminent move appears realistic. With the salary cap expected to rise next season, Copp’s contract may feel less burdensome over time but for now, Detroit is likely tied to him for the next two years.

For a team finally emerging from its rebuild, the Copp conundrum is less a crisis and more a stubborn complication. The Red Wings know what he brings as a leader, penalty killer, and steadying on-ice presence. They also know they are not getting the level of offensive production they are paying for and will continue to nag at fans until things turn around. Until then, the Red Wings may simply have to make the best of the situation, trusting that Copp’s intangible value and the rising cap environment will ease the sting over time.

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Brady Anderson is hired as the Angels' hitting coach, with John Mabry as his assistant

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Brady Anderson will be the Los Angeles Angels' hitting coach next season, and John Mabry will be the club's assistant hitting coach.

The Angels on Friday confirmed the hiring of Anderson, the longtime Baltimore Orioles slugger, for his first major league coaching job under rookie manager Kurt Suzuki.

Anderson played baseball at UC Irvine in Orange County before his 15-year major league career, which included parts of 14 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.

He was a three-time All-Star who hit 210 homers, including 50 in 1996, and drove in 761 runs. Anderson worked in the Orioles' front office for several seasons in the 2010s after his playing retirement.

He will attempt to help an Angels lineup that led the majors in strikeouts and had the lowest batting average at .225, improbably finishing 25th in runs despite being fourth in homers. Los Angeles has 10 straight losing seasons and 11 straight non-playoff seasons, both the longest active streaks in the majors, after finishing 72-90 and in last place in the AL West this year.

Mabry is leaving the Orioles, where he was a senior adviser last season. He spent several years as the Cardinals' hitting coach before additional coaching roles with Kansas City and Miami.

The Angels already hired Mike Maddux to be their new pitching coach. While Suzuki and Anderson have no experience in their jobs, Maddux will begin his 24th consecutive season as a pitching coach for five teams.

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‘Fine the singers, too’: Guardiola’s joking dig at Manchester City penalties for late restarts

  • Manager laments club’s £3m fines for late second halves

  • Burna Boy pre-show ‘made Champions League final late’

Pep Guardiola has lamented the Premier League’s strict rules that have led to Manchester City being fined more than £3m for 30 late second-half restarts in the past three seasons, jokingly bemoaning that Burna Boy did not suffer a similar fate after delaying the kick-off in the 2023 Champions League final.

City play at Newcastle on Saturday evening, beginning a hectic schedule in which they will play twice a week until mid-January. They travelled to the north-east on Friday afternoon, leading to a change in routine at the Etihad Campus and an early pre-match press conference in order to comply with Premier League rules and avoid another punitive fee.

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Canadiens Need Ice-Cold Forward To Heat Back Up

Zack Bolduc (© David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

During the 2025 NHL off-season, the Montreal Canadiens acquired forward Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux. This was after Bolduc had a solid breakout year for the Blues in 2024-25, posting new career highs with 19 goals, 17 assists, and 36 points in 72 games. 

Bolduc started off his Canadiens tenure on fire, recording three goals and four points in his first three games. However, since then, he has only posted one goal and two assists over his last 17 games. This included him going without in nine straight games from Oct. 28 to Nov. 17. 

Bolduc broke his pointless streak in the Canadiens' most recent matchup against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 20, as he recorded an assist on Nick Suzuki's second-period goal. Now, the Canadiens will be hoping that Bolduc can build off this and get his offense going again. 

If Bolduc can regain his early-season form, it would be big news for a Canadiens club that is dealing with serious injury trouble right now. It will be interesting to see if he will heat back up for the Canadiens from here. 

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NHL Trade Rumors: Should Blackhawks Target Jets Top Prospect?

Brad Lambert (© James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Winnipeg Jets have granted top prospect Brad Lambert permission to seek a trade. 

With the Chicago Blackhawks being a team on the rise and Lambert being a young forward with high potential, should the Original six club consider pursuing him? 

Lambert has shown signs of promise early on during his career at the American Hockey League (AHL). His top season was in 2023-24 with the Manitoba Moose, as he posted 21 goals, 34 assists, and 55 points in 64 games. However, he did see his offensive numbers drop this past season with Manitoba, as he finished the year with 35 points in 61 games. 

Lambert also showed off his offensive talent during the 2022-23 season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds, as he recorded 17 goals and 38 points in 26 regular-season games. He also had six goals and 26 points in 17 playoff games for the Thunderbirds that year. 

Lambert is still looking to cement himself as a full-time NHL player, but he has played in some games for the Jets. In 10 games over three games with Winnipeg, he has recorded one goal and three points. However, with the Jets having such a deep forward group and being in win-now mode, Lambert has had trouble landing a permanent role with them. 

While this is the case, there is no question that Lambert still has the potential to become a top-six forward due to his skill. With this, he could be a very interesting player for a young team like the Blackhawks to take a chance on. At 21 years old, he could be a long-term option for the Blackhawks if he took that next step, which also adds to his appeal. 

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Former Philadelphia Flyers Forward Hits Waivers

Olle Lycksell (© David Banks-Imagn Images)

According to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, the Ottawa Senators have placed former Philadelphia Flyers forward Olle Lycksell on waivers. 

Lycksell joined the Senators this off-season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Atlantic Division club in free agency. He has played in six games this season with Ottawa, where he has recorded one goal, two hits, three blocks, and a minus-2 rating.

However, Lycksell has not played for the Senators since their Nov. 8 contest against the Flyers, as he was in concussion protocol. 

With Lycksell being placed on waivers, this indicates that the former Flyer is ready to return to action. If he clears waivers, the Senators will then be able to assign him to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Belleville Senators. 

Lycksell was selected by the Flyers with the 168th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In 45 games with the Flyers over three seasons from 2022-23 to 2024-25, he posted one goal, 10 assists, 11 points, and a minus-6 rating. He also had 52 goals, 76 assists, and 128 points in 134 games with the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. 

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What we learned as Steph Curry, Warriors stall late in NBA Cup loss to Blazers

What we learned as Steph Curry, Warriors stall late in NBA Cup loss to Blazers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Home is where the heart is. Pulses raced inside Chase Center on Friday night, racing up and down whichever way the game went. 

Warriors fans, for the first time this season, exited the building with broken hearts from a 127-123 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Warriors led 97-94 through three quarters, and then were outscored 33-26 by the Blazers in the fourth. 

Weaknesses were exposed for the Warriors, particularly in their lack of size and point of attack defense. They were beaten in rebounding 52-32, which included 21 offensive rebounds for the Blazers and a lowly nine for the Warriors. That kind of ownage led to 28 second-chance points by the Blazers, a whopping 18 more than the Warriors. 

Steph Curry led the Warriors with 38 points and nine 3-pointers, giving him his most points in a loss this season. The Warriors now are 3-3 when he scores 30 or more points. 

Jimmy Butler did a bit of everything with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Brandin Podziemski scored 20 points off the bench for the Warriors. 

Another first for the Warriors (9-9) was winning the turnover battle but losing the game. They never could pull away quite enough, and the Blazers (7-9) kept coming. 

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ first home loss of the season, extending their losing streak to three. 

Steph’s Sizzle Wasted

Drool began forming at the corner of Curry’s mouth whenever Blazers big man Donovan Clingan guarded him at the 3-point line. Clingan is essentially a foot taller than Curry at 7-foot-2. He sure isn’t as fleet of foot as him, though.

Somehow, Portland’s defense kept letting that matchup happen in the second quarter. Curry kept taking advantage of that decision, too. After a five-point first quarter, Curry made five 3-pointers in the second quarter while playing just six minutes. 

Back home and getting to enjoy a day off, Curry exploded for 18 points in the second quarter on a perfect 6 of 6 from the field, including making all five of his tries from deep. 

Curry came back down to earth in the third quarter, scoring four points. He then scored nine big-time points in the fourth quarter. Each one felt bigger, and it still couldn’t equal a win.

BP Brings Scoring Punch

For the second time this season, Podziemski reached 20 points Wednesday night in the Warriors’ short-handed loss against the Miami Heat. He also needed 19 shot attempts to get there, making only six shots. Podziemski was much more efficient and in control against the Blazers. 

With Curry up to 23 points at halftime, Podziemski was right there alongside him. Jimmy Butler wasn’t the Warriors’ second scoring option. Podziemski was, scoring 15 first-half points on just five shot attempts. 

Podziemski hit the 20-point mark with a minute and a half left in the third quarter. He had taken just seven shots at the time. 

Whether it was shooting threes in the flow of the offense or forcing his way to the free-throw line, Podziemski was much more decisive Friday. That’s everything for him. His 10 free-throw attempts were a season high, as were Podziemski’s eight made free throws.

Make The Whistle Your Friend

Defending without fouling always will be key to the Warriors’ two-way success. Within the first seven minutes of the game, however, the Warriors already had been called for seven fouls. The Blazers in the first quarter were whistled for four fewer fouls than the Warriors and took five more free throws than them. 

Lesson learned. 

Instead of watching the Blazers walk to the charity stripe, the Warriors were the ones enjoying their time there in the second quarter. A total of five Warriors shot free throws in the second quarter, going 11 of 14 as a team. They got the Blazers in the bonus early, giving the Warriors a halftime advantage of two more attempts than them and three more makes. 

It was a back-and-forth battle of fouls and free throws for the two teams. The Warriors were at 18 fouls and 24 free throw attempts through three quarters, and the Blazers, going into the fourt,h had been called for 21 fouls and taken 22 free throws. 

Both teams were called for 25 fouls. The Blazers, though, took two more free throws than the Warriors and made one more than them. The Warriors dropped to 3-7 when their opponent makes more free throws.

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