After notching another win, his sixth in seven career starts, Carolina Hurricanes netminder Brandon Bussi has been making a case for a larger workload.

The 27-year-old netminder waited quite a while for his shot in the NHL, but has certainly been making the most of his opportunity now that he's here.

In seven games, Bussi has a 6-1-0 record and a 0.899 save percentage. While that number doesn't seem as impressive at first glance, he has north of 0.890 in six of his starts and above 0.910 in four.

The American netminder also leads the Canes' three netminders with 2.7 goals saved above expected and he also is rocking a 0.900 high-danger save percentage, which is in the 99th percentile amongst all NHL netminders this season.

And with Pyotr Kochetkov once again dealing with injury and Frederik Andersen struggling a bit, it makes sense to give Bussi a little more of a runway with how well he's been playing.

"Yeah, for sure," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "We've kind of thrust him into some weird situations. He doesn't know when he's starting based on the health of the other guys, but I think he's done a good job. Last night, he came up with two really crucial saves at crucial times and helped us keep playing our game, and obviously win. He's earned every start he's had, and he's definitely earned the next one, whenever that is."

Brandon Bussi makes a massive breakaway save on Kyle Connor in the third period!

The "BUS-SI" chants from the Lenovo Center crowd that followed were incredible. 👏 pic.twitter.com/xWYPk4CUnO

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) November 29, 2025

Bussi has only started sporadically so far in the NHL, but he's used to a pretty steady workload, as across parts of four seasons in the AHL, the New York native appeared in 111 games (5, 32, 41, 33) and posted a 0.915 save percentage.

While he might not have been a known name when the Hurricanes first claimed him off of waivers, he's definitely been putting himself on the map.

"I think they know who he is now," said Seth Jarvis. "He's been electric. He's the best guy, so there's no one I'm happier for."

"I didn't know much about him, but I knew the name because we had talked about him a lot," Brind'Amour said. "I heard that name going around in the offseason, but I never even saw him play. But he's just a good dude. That's number one. Like, I love that part of it. You can just talk to him for a couple of minutes and know that this guy gets it. So that's a thing that stands out. And then can he stop pucks? Well, yeah. That's obviously something he's done for us really well."

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'He's Ready To Make That Jump': Brandon Bussi To Make First NHL Start In San JoseThe Carolina Hurricanes look to be in line to see an NHL debut tonight as goaltender Brandon Bussi is slated to make his first career start in San Jose after being the <a href="https://x.com/Real_Max_Miller/status/1978171483609309396">first to leave the ice at Tuesday's morning skate</a>.

The second annual CHL USA Prospects Challenge has come and gone. USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) took care of business in game one, defeating Team CHL by a score of 4-2. The NTDP was outshot 44-26, but American goaltender Brady Knowling, who also has a Canadian citizenship, stood tall with a 42-save performance in front of all the scouts. 

Game 2 was another back-and-forth, close contest between the two squads. The NTDP led for the majority of the game, but QMJHL’s Xavier Villeneuve scored on the power play to put Team CHL on top and win 4-3. 

With both teams winning one game apiece, a “Super Overtime” was held after regulation on game two to decide bragging rights. 

USA’s Victor Plante let off a lethal release that beat Guelph Storm netminder Zachary Jovanovski under the glove, and the Americans got their sweet, sweet revenge. 

VICTOR PLANTE SCORES THE SUPER OVERTIME WINNER 🥇

Team USA wins the #CHLUSAProspectsChallenge. pic.twitter.com/aqpnF7MRlE

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 27, 2025

There was a mixed bag of reactions to Team CHL. Brantford Bulldogs forward Caleb Malhotra was outstanding and certainly raised his draft stock, but there were a lot of individualistic performances. 

Perhaps the team could’ve used someone like Owen Sound Attack’s star forward Pierce Mbuyi? 

Leads OHL Draft-Eligible Prospects In Points

Mbuyi was the most obvious, and questioning, omission from Team CHL’s roster. The former seventh-overall pick from the 2024 OHL Priority Selection has been nothing short of spectacular since coming into the league. His rookie campaign was memorable, and he’s carried over that momentum into his NHL draft season. 

The most obvious reason why Mbuyi should’ve been on Team CHL is that he leads all 2008-born NHL draft-eligible players in scoring from the OHL. Only J.P. Hurlbert from the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL has more points than Mbuyi in the entire CHL (not including Jaxon Jacobson, who is draft-eligible in 2027). 

DO NOT sleep on PIERCE MBUYI of the Owen Sound @AttackOHL who is 5th in scoring in the OHL!

He has 27 points in 19 games as a 2026 #NHLDraft eligible prospect! #Hockey

Check out this ROCKET🚀The goalie didn't even see it! pic.twitter.com/jhZA4NrO08

— NHL Draft Prospects (@NHLDraftPros) November 8, 2025

Mbuyi is tied for fifth in OHL scoring. He’s recorded 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points. Owen Sound’s top line of himself, Tristan Delisle, and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Harry Nansi has been a force this season, and Mbuyi has adopted a more advanced playmaking game, while also developing a pesty side to him. 

Mbuyi was given a disrespectful “C” grade by NHL Central Scouting (NHLCS) in their preliminary rankings for the 2026 draft. Yes, he’s undersized for the NHL, and there’s still plenty of work to be done in his defensive play and puck management, but the CHL USA Prospects Challenge is meant to showcase the most talented players coming out of the CHL. Mbuyi deserved to be on that list of players. 

Reigning OHL Rookie of the Year

As previously mentioned, Mbuyi had an incredible rookie season as a 16-year-old with the Attack. He set a franchise record for most points by a rookie with 52 points in 63 games, and was one goal shy of tying Colby Barlow’s record for most goals (finished with 29). 

Mbuyi’s season concluded with him receiving the OHL’s Emms Family Award for the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year.

The “C” grade he was given by NHLCS indicates that they view him as a potential fourth-to-fifth-round candidate. However, TSN’s Director of Scouting, and former NHL GM, Craig Button, had him ranked 21st in his November rankings. For reference, Button had nine players from the CHL above Mbuyi, four from the OHL (Chase Reid, Ethan Belchetz, Caleb Malhotra, Nikita Klepov).  

With the season Mbuyi is currently having and being the reigning OHL Rookie of the Year, well, that is just another clear reason why the Mississauga, Ontario, native should’ve been at the recent prospects showcase. 

Swing and a goal🤩

2026 #NHLDraft prospect Pierce Mbuyi batted in his own rebound on the breakaway en route to an @AttackOHL win, earning the @deltabingo_ Play of the Night! pic.twitter.com/aptgyHn1E2

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 22, 2025

Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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No matter how high the Islanders climb in the competitive Metropolitan Division race, they'll have to play the remainder of this season without one of their trusted veterans.

The team announced on Saturday that center Kyle Palmieri suffered a torn ACL in Friday's shootout loss to the Flyers at UBS Arena, and he's slated to undergo surgery with a recovery timeline of six to eight months.

Palmieri hurt his left knee early in the second period, when he collided with Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale and fell awkwardly along the corner boards. 

Impressively enough, the Islanders' alternate captain got up under his own power moments later and proceeded to steal the puck from Flyers blue-liner Emil Andrae in the offensive zone and deliver the assist on a goal for Emil Heineman.

Palmieri didn't participate in the goal celebration -- he immediately left the ice and walked gingerly down the tunnel with trainers.

The brutal injury snaps Palmieri's streak as one of hockey's most durable players, as he'd played 223 consecutive games across five-plus seasons with the Islanders.

In the middle of a two-year, $9.5 million extension signed this past spring, Palmieri logged 18 points (six goals and 12 assists) across 25 games this season. 

The Islanders (13-9-5) are currently tied for fourth place in the Metro standings with 29 points. They'll continue a lengthy seven-game homestand on Sunday against the Capitals.

Kyle Palmieri gets the takeaway and Emil Heineman scores his 10th goal of the season 👏 pic.twitter.com/lBDanfeXM4

— Islanders Videos (@SNY_Islanders) November 28, 2025

Nov 28, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with his teammates during the third period at United Center. David Banks-Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators swept their two-game Thanksgiving road trip with a 4-3 triumph in Chicago over the Blackhawks Friday at United Center.

Luke Evangelista, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly each had a goal and an assist, with O’Reilly lighting the lamp for what would eventually be the game-winner. He did the same in the Preds’ 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Wednesday night.

Evangelista picked up his 100th career NHL point with a goal that put Nashville in front 3-2.

Matthew Wood also got in the scoring column, and goalie Juuse Saros made 24 saves to pick up the win.

Prior to Friday’s game, the Preds recalled forward Reid Schaefer from Milwaukee. He recorded three hits and two blocked shots in 10:22 of ice time in his NHL debut against the Blackhawks.

On Saturday, the Preds come back to Bridgestone Arena for a rematch against the Winnipeg Jets, who handed them a 4-1 defeat Oct. 19 in Winnipeg. Nashville gave up three goals in the first period and couldn’t recover.

Saturday’s game is the second of three meetings between the two teams. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the matchup.

Game Day

Who: Nashville Predators (8-12-4) vs. Winnipeg Jets (12-11-0)

Where: Bridgestone Arena

When: 6 Pm CST

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game

Betting line (via BetMGM):

Jets

-1.5 (+185)

O 6 (-115)

-125

Predators

+1.5 (-225)

U 6 (-105)

+105

InjuryUpdate

Jonathan Marchessault did not play Friday against Chicago and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Cole Smith is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

Defensemen Justin Barron and Adam Wilsby were healthy scratches against the Blackhawks.

Preds Leaders

Ryan O’Reilly (8g-10a) has taken over the team lead in scoring with 18 points, followed by Filip Forsberg (9g-8a) with 17 points. Evangelista (3g-12a) has 15 points, while Michael Bunting (5g-8a) and Erik Haula (4g-9a) each have 13 points. Wood is third on the team in goals with seven.

Following the win in Chicago on Friday, Saros is now 7-9-3 on the season with a 3.08 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. Justus Annunen collected his first win of the campaign on Wednesday in Detroit and is 1-3-1, 3.89, .850.

Nashville is 12-for-74 (16.2%), 23rd overall, on the man advantage. They rank 16th on the penalty kill at 80.3% (14-of-71).

Head To Head

Nashville is 4-5-1 in their last 10 outings against the Jets but have a 3-0-2 record in their last five contests against them at Bridgestone Arena.

Preds On A Roll

After getting an assist against the Blackhawks, Nick Blankenburg extended his point streak to three games (2g-2a) and reached the double digit point mark for the third time in his career.

Evangelista has scored five points over his last three contests.

With his multi-point night in Chicago, Ryan O’Reilly collected five points on the road trip (2g-3a) and leads all Nashville skaters in points.

In his last 12 games against the Jets, Steven Stamkos has nine points (4g-5a).

Scouting The Jets

Winnipeg is in a bit of a tailspin, having lost each of their last four outings. They’ve given up 16 combined goals over that span.

The Jets began their back-to-back set with a 5-1 loss in Carolina against the Hurricanes Friday night. After Winnipeg tied the score 1-1 when Mark Scheifele took advantage of a turnover, the Canes responded with four unanswered goals to put the game out of reach.

Scheifele leads the Jets with 13 goals and 30 points, followed by Kyle Connor with 11 goals and 28 points. Josh Morrissey has 18 assists and 23 points from the backend.

Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is out due to injury; netminder Thomas Milic made his NHL debut Friday night in Carolina and took the loss. Eric Comrie is 4-4-0 with a 3.02 GAA and .897 SP.

The Jets are 6-6-0 on the road this season. Scheifele leads the team with seven goals away from home ice, Kyle Connor leads with 10 assists, and Connor paces the club with 13 points in the opposing arena.

Winnipeg is 17-for-71 )23.9%) on the power play this season, ranking them sixth. Gabriel Vilardi leads with four power-play goals, Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey are tied for the lead in power-play assists with six, and Connor, Vilardi, and Morrissey are each tied for the lead with six power-play points.

On the penalty kill, the Jets are 12-of-80 (85.0%), sixth overall in the NHL.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play the second half of a back-to-back against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside PPG Paints Arena on Saturday night. 

The Penguins are coming off a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, in which they rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period. Kris Letang won the game in overtime, giving the Penguins their second-straight win. Sidney Crosby also scored two goals, and Bryan Rust scored in his second-straight game. 

Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry had another stellar start, making 26 saves on 29 shots. He's 16th in the NHL among all goaltenders in goals saved above expected (7.7).

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Washington Capitals on Friday before they gave up four consecutive goals to lose 4-2. The Leafs have lost three of their last four games and find themselves in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference with a 10-11-3 record. 

Star forward William Nylander missed Friday's game with an illness and it's unclear if he will be better for Saturday's game. He has been the Leafs' best player this year, compiling 11 goals and 31 points in 20 games. 

The Penguins will likely start Arturs Silovs in this contest since Jarry played on Friday. Silovs has been great this season and will try to keep his strong play going. 

Here were the lines that the Penguins went with on Friday:

Forwards

Hayes-Crosby-Rust

Novak-Malkin-Mantha

Heinen-Kindel-Koivunen

Koppanen-Lizotte-Dewar

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Graves-Dumba

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NHL Network. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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

The Colorado Avalanche are off to a fantastic start to the season, with a record of 17-1-6, totaling 40 points, which is the most within the NHL. Their star players are playing out of their minds, and their depth is producing well while being great defensively. Their goaltending tandem has been the best in the league, garnering attention for early Vezina Trophy nominations and even Olympic consideration. The biggest question you're thinking about now is: does this team need to make a trade, or should they rely on what's been working while waiting on reinforcements from players currently hurt?

Well, according to David Pagnota, Editor-in-Chief of TheFourthPeriod, the Avalanche could be a suitor to acquire forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks, he stated on the “Sekeres & Price Show”

Sherwood’s Play On the Turbulent Canucks

On the season, Sherwood has 12 goals and four assists for 16 points, including 103 hits, which is the third most points on the team behind Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, and his 103 hits are second most in the NHL behind Yakov Trenin (Wild). The Canucks have not been good this season in hopes of a bounce-back from last season’s performance. Currently 10-13-2 with 22 points, they stand second-last in the Pacific Division, only ahead of the last-place Calgary Flames, who have 21 points.

Many Canucks players are linked in trade rumours this season, but a significant problem is that many of the names that might interest many teams are under trade protection in their contracts, making it a hassle even to consider trading them. 

NHL Rumor Roundup: Canucks To Become Sellers, Canadiens Linked To Predators' Ryan O'ReillyThe struggling Vancouver Canucks are poised to start shopping some of their veterans, while the Montreal Canadiens have been mentioned to be among the suitors for Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly.

This brings up Sherwood's name. With a cap hit of $1.5 million and a player who is on pace to break his career high in goals, and with no trade protection, of course, the Canucks would capitalize on this. There is no shortage of teams who would be interested in taking a player like him and slotting him into their middle-six with the effort he brings every night and the ability to use him on the power play and penalty kill.

Cost Of Acquiring Sherwood.

If the Canucks are trying to sell as much as they can, including Sherwood, they will try to get as much as possible for him and his play as of late, so the question begs: What do they want in return? NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Canucks are beginning to listen to trade offers on veteran players.

“According to several sources, the Vancouver Canucks have let it be known that - in an effort to get younger - they are willing to listen to offers on 'veteran players.'" Friedman said.”

So it’s likely prospects and picks they are looking for; they don’t own their own third- and seventh-round picks this year, and their own second-round pick next year, and their prospect pool is relatively thin. The Avalanche’s prospect pool is quite thin as well, but they do have players who could be packaged into a deal that could be worth it. What would the value of picks be sufficient enough to acquire Sherwood?

Three Colorado Avalanche Prospects off to a Red‑Hot StartWhile the Colorado Avalanche are off to a hot start, so are these three prospects in thier system

Well, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports that the Canucks are specifically seeking either multiple young players or at least a 2nd-round pick in return. The Avalanche don’t own their second-round pick this year, but they do have the Columbus Blue Jackets' second-round pick next year, which came from the Gavin Brindley trade, so if it’s just a simple 1-for-1 trade, they could be in play.

Brindley Acquisition Proving a Win for the AvalancheWhat was supposed to be a big camp dump while gaining some additional assets has proven to be much more in their quest to win the Stanley Cup this season, and the future of this roster.

But according to Pagnotta, when he appeared on The Sheet with Jeff Marek, his sources told him they were seeking at least a first-round pick for him, which could dissuade the Avalanche from moving yet another first-round pick.

The biggest issue is his status as a pending UFA and what his asking price would be to be extended, especially as he is on pace to finish with over 35 goals and break his career high from last season. Former NHLer and Sportsnet analyst Nick Kypeos was on Sens 1-on-1 and reported that Sherwood could be asking for more than $5 million on his next contract.

"He is looking for $5 million or north of that, on a six-year deal. I'm not sure if that's too rich for Ottawa... But when you talk about a rugged type of player like that, there will be a lot of teams looking at Vancouver for Kiefer." Kypreos said

As it stands right now, the Avalanche are projected to have $12.750 million in cap space next season, but that's if they don't re-sign any of their pending UFAs and RFAs. Yes, they might not sign all of them, but how players like Sam Malinski and Jack Drury are playing, they're on pace for a nice pay raise. So if the reports are accurate, that could mean that if they do acquire him, some money isn't being spent this summer.

Do The Avalanche Even Need Shwerwood?

The Avalanche is in this predicament: the team has been performing so well that it brings back the topic I introduced at the start of the article: Does this team need to make any significant moves?

The Avalanche has players who can play all positions in their lineup; it's just that they are hurt right now. Need top-six help? Valeri Nichushkin. Need middle-six help? Gavin Brindley. Need bottom-six help? Logan O’Connor. Players like Ivan Ivan and Zahkar Bardakov have been great filling in those spots, but once these guys are back, they will get sent down to the AHL Colorado Eagles for the rest of the season unless another injury pops up.

Joel Kiviranta Delivers Good Injury Update, Nichushkin ProgressingJoel Kiviranta is ready to return to action.

Now, if these players come back and aren’t performing as well, or another significant injury occurs (knock on wood), then yes, I think the Avalanche should be in play for Sherwood, depending on the asking price and whether they can get an extension in play. The Avalanche know Sherwood well from his time within the organization a couple of years ago, but he has shown that his game has grown, and it could fit the team really well if his play continues.

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

Game Preview: Avalanche and Canadiens Clash in a High-Noon Showdown in DenverThe Colorado Avalanche will get another chance to secure a win in their Quebec Nordiques throwback sweaters.

Whether it’s an Original Six franchise or one of the more recent teams to join the league, all NHL teams have one thing in common: they possess dedicated fan bases. And while some may appear to be more dedicated than others – at least in how they fill up their team’s respective arena – they are all dedicated nonetheless.

Around Halloween, we took a look at the NHL teams that had the highest average attendance over the past five seasons, with the Montreal Canadiens emerging as the top dog. But what about the teams at the opposite end of the spectrum? Today, we will be laying out five teams with the lowest average attendance over the past five seasons.

For the purposes of this list, we will be excluding the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons due to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the league’s attendance numbers during that period. With that in mind, we will focus on the average attendance numbers from the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Additionally, we will be omitting both the Arizona Coyotes and the Utah Mammoth from this list. While both of these teams would have made up the top two spots on the list, the now-defunct Coyotes played in Mullett Arena, which has an NHL capacity of 4600, during their final two NHL seasons from 2022-23 to 2023-24. This extremely low attendance capacity, compared to other teams, felt unfair to include in this list. 

With the Mammoth, firstly, the team has been in the league for less than two seasons, and secondly, their attendance numbers themselves have been greatly hindered by renovations to convert their arena, the Delta Center, from the strictly basketball home of the Utah Jazz of the NBA, to an arena that can better house NHL hockey. So, including the Mammoth, like with the Coyotes, felt a bit unfair.

With that in mind, let’s get to it.

5. Anaheim Ducks

When you account post-season and even regular-season success, the Anaheim Ducks finding themselves in the basement of the league’s average attendance numbers does not come as a surprise. In the five seasons analyzed, the Ducks averaged just 15,821 fans per game, while their arena, the Honda Center, has a hockey attendance capacity of 17,174; much of this can be attributed to the team’s lack of success over the past half-decade or so.

The Ducks’ downward attendance trajectory has coincided with the franchise's longest playoff drought, which now stands at seven seasons – the third-longest active post-season absence in the league. However, the Ducks had their highest attendance since 2018-19 last season, with an average of 15,806 per game according to HockeyDB. With the team currently leading the Pacific Division and looking dominant, that number could easily rise, especially if the Ducks continue to thrive and return to the playoffs. 

4. New Jersey Devils

While the New Jersey Devils have been an overall successful franchise in the team’s 42-year history, winning three Stanley Cups and making the post-season 24 times during that span, a more recent lack of playoff success or even qualification has caused the team’s attendance totals to slip in recent years. 

In the five seasons analyzed for this list, the Devils had an average attendance of 15,738.4 per game, nearly 2000 less than the Prudential Center’s hockey capacity of 17,625. And since the last time the Devils made it to the Cup final in 2011-12, the team has only surpassed the 17,000 mark twice. The first time was the 2012-13 season, also a lockout-shortened season, then in 2023-24, the team had an impressive average attendance of 17,598.

If the Devils can achieve more significant playoff success this season and beyond, and we believe they likely can, perhaps their attendance average can shift out of the league’s basement.

3. New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are an interesting case, as the team hasn’t performed poorly necessarily. The team has made the playoffs in eight of the last 13 seasons, and two of those appearances saw them make it to the Eastern Conference finals in 2020 and 2021, and 2023-24 saw the team post their best average attendance total in Islanders history with 18,099.

However, last season, a season where the team failed to make the post-season, the Islanders saw that number dip to 15,979. Another factor at play for the team is their attendance numbers from when they played at Barclays Center from 2015-16 to 2019-20, where the hockey capacity was just 15,795. During the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, the Islanders weren’t even able to reach that capacity, averaging 12,627 in those two seasons, and those years significantly reduced the average for the purposes of this list to 15,248.8.

Hopefully, the new-look Islanders, led by top rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, can get more fans in the seats and allow them to thrive again.

2. San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are a victim of a lack of recent success, and that is why they find themselves with the second-lowest spot on this list. As a whole, the Sharks’ franchise history has been filled with success, with the team, despite never winning a Stanley Cup, missing the playoffs only six times between 1991-92 and 2018-19. But it is in more recent years that the Sharks have faltered, and it is reflected in their attendance numbers.

The Sharks have been a rebuilding team for the past few seasons and have missed the playoffs for the past six seasons. If you look at their season-to-season attendance averages, the peaks that they reached in years like 2014-15, with 18,708 in attendance on average, have fallen off to an average of 15,092 in the years discussed in this list. 

There is some hope for a resurgence as the current 2025-26 average of 14,832 is the highest the team has had since the 2019-20 season, but with the team still struggling to make any real noise in the Pacific Division, it may still be some time before we see the SAP Center filled to its capacity.

1. Winnipeg Jets

Considering the regular-season success the Winnipeg Jets have had in recent memory – notably last season when they won the Presidents’ Trophy with the best regular-season record in the NHL – it may be a shock to see the Jets at the bottom in average league attendance, yet here they are. And while the reason for this could simply be attributed to the fact that the team has the smallest arena capacity at just 15,321, there are bigger issues at play.

Even with this small arena capacity, the Jets have been unable to average a sold-out crowd in all of the last three seasons. Even when you take the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons into account, which together had an average attendance of 15,535, the average for the years included in this list still comes out to a concerning 14,594.2.

Even this season, the team is only averaging 14,096 – nearly 300 less on average than last year’s total. Perhaps fans are becoming fed up with tremendous regular-season play followed by playoff mediocrity, but no matter what theory you have, there is only one conclusion, and it’s that the Jets have failed to put butts in the seats in Winnipeg.

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The Buffalo Sabres have had their share of issues through the first third of the NHL season, with a crippling series of injuries to key players, a continuing high level of inconsistency, and managing only one win on the road, but as the club is getting their injured players back, their goaltending has not contributed to them being able to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. 

On Wednesday, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed three goals on 18 shots in a 4-2 loss in Pittsburgh, and on Friday Alex Lyon allowed five goals on 23 shots in a 5-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Lyon, who was making his first start in nearly three weeks, took ownership of his performance after the game. 

"It's been a while since I've won a game, and for me, that's really the most important thing and (it's) just disappointing and I got to find a way to do a little bit more." Lyon said. "My job is to stop pucks and that's all I'm going to focus on. I'm not going to beat myself up over it, but (it's) important that everybody holds themselves accountable."

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The Sabres goaltending situation is not ideal, but was something that was thrust upon them after Luukkonen was injured prior to and during training camp. It necessitated signing Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year contract (who terminated his deal last week and signed with Spartak of the KHL) and claiming rookie Colten Ellis on waivers from St. Louis. The club continues to carry three goalies on the NHL roster and all three have had limited runs as the primary starter, but none have taken the bit and run with it, and head coach Lindy Ruff says that is a difficult situation to navigate. 

"It's not an easy process to go through. It's not easy for them. It's not easy for myself, but it is, and was based on the fact that we had a goaltender we didn't know if he was gonna be healthy or not," Ruff said. “ "I think we've done a good job trying to work through it. Alex was working on some stuff with his game and that was the reason we didn't play him. He missed more time than we (would have liked) and you don't want to see a guy sit down long in between games." 

With both Luukkonen and Lyon coming off subpar outings, it is possible that Ellis, who last started in a 6-2 loss to Calgary, gets the start in Minnesota on Saturday. 

Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson left the ice midway through the third period after a collision with Devils forward Timo Meier.  Ruff indicated that the blueliner was in concussion protocol and did not have an update, but with the Sabres playing on Saturday, it is possible that Zach Metsa subs in for Samuelsson against the Wild. 

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ST. PAUL, Minn - Despite what some visiting broadcasts think, rookie Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt is not going to change up his postgame win celebration any time soon.

It has become his thing and something no other goalie does.

"There’s no reason to change, I don't think," Wallstedt said postgame. "I think I now look as much forward to do it as maybe the fans do seeing it, so that one’s not going anywhere."

Wallstedt, 23, made 39 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday to end the Avs' streak of ten wins in a row.

The rookie net minder now leads the league in goals-against average (1.93), save percentage (.938) and shutouts (3). He is 7-0-2 on the season and has yet to lose in regulation. Wallstedt is now 6-0-0 in his last six starts with a 1.14 goals-against average, a .967 save percentage and three shutouts.

Colorado came into Friday's game against the rookie goaltender with ten-straight wins. After stopping three shots in overtime and 39 overall, the Wild and the Avs went to a shootout.

Wallstedt entered the shootout 7-for-7 and left the win going 2-for-3. Only Martin Necas scored on Wallstedt.

After Matt Boldy beat Scott Wedgewood, who leads the NHL in wins, Wallstedt had to make a save to win it. After stopping the NHL's leading goal-scorer and point getter, Nathan MacKinnon, Wallstedt was tasked with stopping the NHL's leading point getter among defenseman, Cale Makar.

The Wall of St. Paul stood tall and handed the Avalanche their first loss in 11 games and first since Nov, 1.

Jesper Wallstedt stops Cale Makar, Wild win in a shootout pic.twitter.com/o9tsE7g9Te

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) November 28, 2025

"I just let them make the first move I guess. MacKinnon, it’s hard when he starts chopping the puck there with his stick, he goes fast. I’ve never played him before. I’ve never seen something like that before either. So it was fun. It’s definitely, it’s where you want to be; you want to compete against the best players," Wallstedt said on the thought process in the shootout. "I love shootouts, and doing that against the best shootout takers in the world are pretty special. I felt like I had a good read on both, or on all three really but lost my edge on the first one. So otherwise I would have saved it."

Wallstedt has three wins in three shootouts this year and has allowed one goal on ten attempts. In all three of those he has done the same celebration of shooting an arrow before his team mobs him.

Where did it come from?

"I have no idea. I think I’ve kind of seen it probably when I was younger in the NHL or somewhere else. I thought it looked cool," Wallstedt said. "I don’t think a lot of other goalies do it right now so maybe it’s my thing right now."

But, 92.5 FM Denver's Altitude Sports Radio is not a fan.

"Makar tried to go five hole, save made by Wallstedt and he celebrates like he's won the Stanley Cup. He has not."

Wallstedt may not have won the Stanley Cup but he did just beat the best team in the World, as Conor McGahey said on the call, after stopping the best player in the World and the best defenseman in the World to end the Avalanche's ten-game winning streak.

They can call Wallstedt’s celebration whatever they want, but the rookie just joined a long list of Minnesota players who’ve sent Colorado home unhappy. For a franchise that’s been bounced twice in unforgettable Game 7 fashion (2003 and 2014), you’d think a simple arrow pose would barely crack the top 10 most painful moments.

If anything, Wallstedt kept it respectful. Maybe he could’ve pantomimed the whole 2003 handshake line or Andrew Brunette's celebration, when the Wild beat one of the best rosters ever constructed, and Colorado fans would’ve recognized the choreography instantly.

The Wall of St. Paul T-Shirts

what do ya know about The Wall of St. Paul 😌 pic.twitter.com/kSFgV8Aavl

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) November 28, 2025

Wallstedt's performance this year has even sparked a t-shirt that the whole team wore before the game on Friday.

As for where it came from or if he had expected it, Wallstedt had no idea.

"No idea. I saw it on Instagram or something, I got tagged in it I think. And I thought it looked sick. And then I kind of, definitely did not expect it to be in the locker room. Kind of a weird feeling. I got in here and I’m like, ‘I asked Ekker, am I supposed to wear it or is that kind of weird wearing your own shirt?’ Yeah so I ended up not wearing it," Wallstedt said.

It is so sweet, even head coach John Hynes wants to get his hands on one.

“No, I saw all the T-shirts around but I’m going to have to get one. I didn’t get one before the game but maybe now.”

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