No. 5 Duke routs Niagara 100-42 to stay unbeaten

Patrick Ngongba II had 17 points and eight rebounds, Cameron Boozer contributed 14 points, and No. 5 Duke routed Niagara 100-42 on Friday night. Isaiah Evans and Nikolas Khamenia both added 12 points for Duke, which shot 58% from the field to score 100 or more points for the third time this season. The Blue Devils (6-0) sank 17 of 33 3-pointers, including the first of Ngongba's career.

Chandler and Williams help No. 12 Kentucky breeze past Loyola of Maryland, 88-46

Collin Chandler and Kam Williams each scored 13 points to lead No. 12 Kentucky to an 88-46 win over Loyola of Maryland on Friday night. Coming off an 83-66 loss to No. 17 Michigan State in the Champions Classic on Tuesday, the Wildcats (4-2) had little trouble with the Greyhounds (2-5). Kentucky opened with a 21-5 run and outscored Loyola 20-2 in the final eight minutes of the first half to lead 50-20 at the break.

No. 10 Florida rolls Merrimack 80-45 as world’s tallest teen scores first collegiate point

Rueben Chinyelu had 14 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, Alex Condon recorded 20 points and 11 boards for his third double-double of the season, and No. 10 Florida overwhelmed Merrimack from the opening tip in an 80-45 victory Friday night. The world’s tallest teenager, 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, got the loudest ovation of the night when he checked in with 2:26 to play. It was final November tune-up for the defending national champion Gators (4-1), who next play a Thanksgiving tournament on the West Coast and then have measuring-stick games against No. 5 Duke and third-ranked UConn.

No. 17 Michigan State stays unbeaten with 84-56 win over Detroit Mercy

Coen Carr scored 11 points in the opening seven minutes and finished with 13, and Jeremy Fears had 18 points and 11 assists to lead No. 17 Michigan State to an 84-56 win over Detroit Mercy on Friday night. Michigan State, which beat then- No. 14 Arkansas two weeks ago, will likely play a third game against an AP Top 25 team when it faces No. 18 North Carolina on Thanksgiving in Florida. Carson Cooper scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and Jaxon Kohler had nine of his 13 points after halftime, helping the Spartans coast to the lopsided win after getting off to a strong start.

Former Sabres Superstar Has Big Game

Jack Eichel (© Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

Former Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel has had a strong start to the 2025-26 season with the Golden Knights, and that is only continuing to be the case as the campaign rolls on. 

During his most recent appearance on Nov. 20 against the Utah Mammoth, Eichel scored two goals and recorded an assist in the Vegas Golden Knights' 4-1 win over the Central Division. With this, Eichel was certainly a notable reason for the Golden Knights' victory over Utah in this contest. 

With this latest big game for the Golden Knights, Eichel has now recorded 10 goals, 17 assists, 27 points, and a plus-7 rating in 20 contests this season. With this, there is no question that the former Sabre is having a very good start to the campaign with the Golden Knights. This comes after he posted 28 goals and set new career highs with 66 assists and 94 points in 77 games for Vegas in 2024-25. 

In 375 games over six seasons with the Sabres from 2015-16 to 2020-21, Eichel recorded 139 goals and 355 points. 

Nashville Predators Prepare For Hockey Fights Cancer Night On Saturday

Apr 4, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; A hockey fights cancer ambassador holds the puck during the ceremonial puck drop with Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) and St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) before the game at Bridgestone Arena. Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Amid the noise of on-ice struggles and rumors of roster changes involving the Nashville Predators, a battle of a completely different nature is taking place every day, all over the world: the fight against cancer.

Each season, the NHL and its teams hosts a Hockey Fights Cancer night – typically in November – to raise awareness and funds for their local cancer community.

Now in its 27th season, Hockey Fights Cancer unites the global hockey community through storytelling and meaningful events to fundraise for cancer research, to educate and empower more fans to learn about cancer risk factors and to take action to get screened for certain cancers.

The Nashville Predators Foundation will host its first of two Hockey Fights Cancer nights this season on Saturday, when the Preds take on the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena at 7 Pm CT.

The Foundation is looking to build off the support seen during its Hockey Fights Cancer efforts last season, which raised $229,365.25 for the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund.

“We are excited to host our first Hockey Fights Cancer Night of the 2025-26 season,” Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King said in a news release. “These nights are incredibly impactful for our organization as we use our platform to support cancer patients and their families. We are asking SMASHVILLE to join us in the fight against cancer through bidding in our silent auction or donating directly to the 365 Fund. Every dollar we raise goes straight to pediatric cancer research at Vanderbilt."

The Predators organization has had cancer affect members of its family over the past several years. Last July, Erin Daunic, wife of current Preds play-by-play television voice Willy Daunic, passed away at 54 from the illness. Lexi Rogers, the daughter of the team’s equipment manager Pete Rogers, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. Sheila Crisp, wife of former broadcaster Terry Crisp, was also diagnosed several years earlier. Equipment manager Craig “Partner” Baugh is a prostate cancer survivor.

Since its inception during the 2013-14 season, the 365 Fund, created by former Predators legends Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber, has raised over $4 million in donations and in-kind contributions to advance pediatric cancer research efforts at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Saturday night’s game will feature six patient ambassadors from Monroe Carell who will take part in various in-game activities including: High-fiving the team as they take the ice for warm-ups; meeting with the game’s referees pre-game as part of the NHL Officials Association’s Zebras Care initiative; joining the team on-ice for the starting lineup and national anthem; participating in a ceremonial puck drop; riding the Zambonis; and welcoming the team back to the ice for the second period as the Mayor of SMASHVILLE.

During practice this past Wednesday, Preds goalie Juuse Saros wore a custom mask honoring the four in the Preds family affected by cancer. Saros will wear the mask on Saturday.

“A lot of people are involved, unfortunately, with cancer within the last couple years,” Saros said Wednesday. “I thought I would honor all those people by fighting against it.”

Fans can bid on the mask in the Preds Foundation’s Hockey Fights Cancer auction by texting PREDS to 76278. The auction will close at the start of the third period of Saturday's game. Vaughn Hockey donated the mask, and David Gunnarsson of DaveArt donated the paint job.

To help make a bigger difference, the Preds Foundation is calling on SMASHVILLE to support Hockey Fights Cancer, the 365 Fund and the imperative cancer research taking place at Monroe Carell. There are a number of ways fans can get involved: wearing lavender to Saturday’s game; bid on silent auction items; and donate to the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund.

The goal is to raise $36,500 through these donations.

"We are so very grateful for the long-standing support of the Nashville Predators and the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund that spans well over a decade and that truly has made a difference in the lives of children and their families," Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, said in a statement. "Each season, we look forward to the Hockey Fights Cancer games that highlight our partnership with the Nashville Predators, raise support for childhood cancer efforts and also celebrate our pediatric cancer patients. I absolutely love to see the joy and hope that the Nashville Predators and Hockey Fights Cancer bring to our patients and families during these events."

Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint initiative of the NHL and NHL Players’ Association and powered by the V Foundation for Cancer Research presented by AstraZeneca.

The Predators’ second Hockey Fights Cancer Night will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, during their game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bernie Parent's love for people and Flyers comes through in celebration of life

Bernie Parent's love for people and Flyers comes through in celebration of life originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

As Scott Tharp watched all the miffed drivers whiz by Bernie Parent on the highway, he, of course, saw the legendary goaltender remain unfazed.

Parent was driving Tharp and others home from a 2018 outdoor game in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was going a cool 45 miles per hour in the left lane. Once he finally budged and moved his way to the right lane, some cars let him have it.

“Bernie rolled down his window and took both hands off the wheel to put his Stanley Cup rings out the window,” Tharp said. “And then turned to those of us in the car and said, ‘How about that? They’re cheering for me!'”

You could not bring down Parent’s zest for life and happiness.

“Bernie only ever saw good in others,” Tharp, the president and CEO of Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education, said.

That was abundantly evident Friday night as the Flyers held a celebration of life for Parent, who died Sept. 21 at the age of 80. His wife, fans and former teammates sat in the lower bowl at Xfinity Mobile Arena, remembering the fun-loving, dominant goalie who led the Flyers to their back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 1974 and 1975.

“Bernie was a titan of our franchise,” Dan Hilferty, the Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO and Flyers governor, said. “For many, he is the quintessential Philadelphia Flyer. You cannot tell the story of the Flyers without talking at length about Bernie Parent.”

Video tributes and pictures were played on the arena’s giant scoreboard, which was flanked by Parent’s retired No. 1 and the Flyers’ Stanley Cup champion banners.

The Hockey Hall of Famer won the Vezina Trophy twice as the NHL’s top goalie and the Conn Smythe Trophy twice as the league’s postseason MVP.

“When you win two Stanley Cups, it takes the best that everybody on that team can give,” Bob Clarke, a fellow franchise legend, said. “It just so happened that Bernie’s best was better than the rest of our best and we got two Stanley Cups because of Bernie.”

Well before he became the NHL’s deputy commissioner, Bill Daly remembered when Parent crushed his childhood dream of the Rangers hoisting the Stanley Cup. The Flyers knocked out New York en route to their first championship.

“Bernie contributed to breaking the heart of a 10-year-old boy in 1974,” Daly said. “Yes, that would be me. Yes, I was raised as a die-hard New York Rangers fan growing up in North Jersey.”

Fans in attendance gave Daly some good-natured boos.

“Passionately committed to the team despite years and years of postseason failure, 1974 was supposed to be a different year for the Rangers, finally an opportunity to win a Stanley Cup,” Daly said. “But Bernie and the Flyers had different ideas.”

Parent was not just a fearless goalie who donned that iconic white mask. He was also a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

“I’m so lucky and blessed that I was able to be his daughter, his only daughter,” Kim Parent said in a video message. “Like, how lucky am I? I am so grateful. The bond that we shared was something that means the world to me.”

The Montreal native became devoted to the Philadelphia area, making it his home.

“You were such a huge part of his life,” his wife Gini Parent said. “Bernie didn’t just play for the Flyers; he played for you, the fans.”

Parent was a true ambassador for the Flyers’ organization and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education program. He was always happy to see fans and take pictures.

“I can remember numerous occasions where he had his Stanley Cup rings, he would share them, you’d look over and there’s a couple of kids wearing his rings,” Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones said in a video message. “I think that’s something fans really appreciated, but I think we all can learn from, because he took the time to make sure he shared his success with everybody else.”

Joe Watson probably could have shared Parent stories all night and into the morning. He had known Parent since 1963, before their title-winning days with the Flyers. He called it “an honor and a privilege” to be Parent’s teammate.

“I know Bernie’s up there laughing and smiling and everything else,” Watson, who fought back tears, said. “He’d love to be down here. But I look forward to seeing you again my friend.”

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. 

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