When they lost their last game to the St. Louis Blues, the Montreal Canadiens missed a golden opportunity to leapfrog their divisional rival to take the lead in the Atlantic Division. Still, on Tuesday night, they’ll at least have a chance to overtake the Tampa Bay Lightning in the standings. This game will be the first of four duels between the two sides this season.
Jon Cooper’s men will be playing the second half of a back-to-back tonight after suffering a 2-0 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs last night. That was their fourth loss in a row and a second shutout in a row. Nikita Kucherov made his return to the lineup after missing a couple of games, but goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Erick Cernak are all still sidelined.
There’s no word yet on who will be in net for the Habs tonight, but given the fact that Jakub Dobes has played the last two games and that Kaapo Kahkonen was returned to the Laval Rocket after the previous match, Samuel Montembeault should be back in net. The Becancour native has a 3-3-1 record against the Bolts with a 2.85 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. As for Dobes, he has faced the Lightning only once and was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots after 21 minutes of play. That means he has an 8.54 GAA and a .625 SV.
As for Tampa Bay, Jonas Johansson was in the net on Monday night and made 22 saves on 23 shots, and Brandon Halverson is expected to start tonight. The 29-year-old has only played two NHL games since the 2017-18 season, bouncing between the AHL, the ECHL and spending a season in Germany’s second division league. He has never faced the Canadiens. As for Johansson, he’s 2-2-0 with a 4.52 GAA and a .852 SV.
The Canadiens will want to keep an eye on the usual suspects tonight. Victor Hedman has 51 points in 51 career games against the Habs, Kucherov has 44 points in 38 meetings, and Brayden Point wraps up the top three with 24 points in 29 games. Jake Guentzel isn’t far behind with 22 points in just 18 games.
Meanwhile, Montreal only has four players who have reached double digits against Tampa Bay, and that includes the injured Patrik Laine. Brendan Gallagher is the team’s most productive player against the Bolts with 19 points in 37 games, but he is struggling mightily this season with only 10 points in 28 games, and he has been held off the scoresheet in the last six games. Nick Suzuki has 12 points in 18 tilts, while Josh Anderson has 10 points in 21 duels. As for Cole Caufield, who is on an 11-game point streak, he has only 6 points in 12 games.
The Bolts aren’t the Canadiens’ favourite team; the Florida outfit has won seven of the last 10 games between the two sides, including the previous meeting. They are currently in second place in the Atlantic Division, just one point ahead of the Canadiens, who are fourth in the division and outside the playoff picture, one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers, who are in the wildcard spots. It’s worth noting that the Rangers have already played 31 games, while Montreal has played only 28 so far. Interestingly, the Habs will be taking on those two teams later this week, visiting Pittsburgh on Thursday night and New York on Saturday.
Tonight’s game is scheduled at 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on RDS, TSN2 and The Spot.
Dennis Hildeby struck the right balance of confidence and humility after picking up his first career shutout. The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender made 29 saves to help his club defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 at Scotiabank Arena on Monday.
“Could have felt better, honestly, but I mean, it worked out,” Hildeby said. “I think I competed in there and got lucky, and some great effort by our guys out there too, carrying some rebounds and all that. I got away with it.”
Early on, the Lightning peppered Hildeby with shots. One particular chance flipped over the goaltender and appeared to be on its way into an open net, only to have defenseman Troy Stecher snatch it away at the goal line.
“It's a great play. One of those times where I felt a little off,” Hildeby admitted. “Maybe I wasn't doing what I was supposed to, but, I mean, yeah, he got it done there. So I'm very thankful for that.”
Thrust into the spotlight after goaltenders Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll went down with injuries, the Leafs find themselves riding their fourth-round pick from the 2022 NHL Draft. He is expected to hold the fort for the next week or more. That is when Woll is expected to return, although past experience with the goaltender could mean it could take longer.
But with the pressure placed squarely on the goaltender known as the ‘Beast’, he has put forth solid back-to-back performances: first a 2-1 shootout loss on Saturday, and now a shutout against the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I'm just trying to enjoy it. I mean, it's easier said than done, but at the end of the day, it's like what I've been dreaming of since I started playing hockey,” Hildeby said. “So you just got to remind yourself of that and have a lot of fun in the meanwhile and just compete.”
The confidence in his play since taking over the No. 1 spot hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“That's one big thing I find with goaltending is when they get more comfortable, you can see with their puck play too, and just had another layer of confidence for him,” Jake McCabe said of Hildeby. “He's been rock solid. He put in some work the other night, comes into the third period and shuts the door as well. So, yeah, it's good stuff.”
McCabe was referring to Hildeby coming on in relief of Woll for the third period of the club’s win against the Carolina Hurricanes. It became evident then that it was Hildeby’s net for the time being.
Hildeby was given the game puck at the end for the shutout and said he will give it to his father, who collects them. The one thing that is evident is the Leafs seem to be playing better in front of him, too.
“I think what I see in that is he's trusting his ability and his size and, you know, staying pretty calm and cool in net,” Head Coach Craig Berube said. “That's what I see. You know, his puck play has been good, but overall his mindset is really good.”
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry has been the subject of trade rumors for quite some time. It has carried over to this season, and it makes sense with the Penguins having two promising young goalies in Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov.
Jarry is also in the middle of a strong bounce-back season, as he has a 9-2-1 record, a 2.54 goals-against average, and a .913 save percentage in 13 games so far this campaign. Due to this, the Penguins could be in a position to sell high on the 10-year veteran.
With this, let's look at two teams that could make sense as landing spots for Jarry if the Penguins decide to move him.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers have been heavily linked to Jarry this season, and it was recently confirmed by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that Edmonton is interested in the Penguins goalie. It makes sense, as the Oilers need serious help between the pipes, and Jarry would give them that.
Yet, the big obstacle in a potential Jarry to Edmonton trade is his $5.375 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season. The Penguins and Oilers would need to find a way to make a trade work out financially, but on paper, Edmonton looks like a great fit for Jarry.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens could make for an intriguing landing spot for Jarry if they are looking to make an upgrade. Sam Montembeault is in the middle of a nightmare season with the Canadiens, as he has a .861 save percentage and a 3.61 goals-against average in 14 games so far.
The Canadiens have Jakub Dobes and an exciting prospect in Jacob Fowler, but if they want immediate help between the pipes ahead of the playoffs, Jarry could make for a good addition.
In today's edition: The magical Week 6 AP poll, Chargers top Eagles in OT, ranking every bowl game, World Cup adds water breaks, meet the boxer with 100 losses, photo finish, and more.
The Chicago Blackhawks have many pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) this season. Because of this, the Blackhawks could be active as sellers if they find themselves out of a playoff spot as we get closer to the 2025 NHL trade deadline.
Among their most notable pending UFAs is forward Ilya Mikheyev. If the Blackhawks make him available this season, he would likely generate interest, as he is a solid forward who can score and kill penalties. He also just had a 20-goal and 34-point season in 2024-25.
Due to this, let's look at three teams that could target Mikheyev if the Blackhawks shop him this season.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals could be an interesting landing spot for Mikheyev if the Blackhawks shop him. He would offer them another solid option for their third line and could give them a bit more secondary offensive production if brought in.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning will likely be on the hunt for forward depth this season, as their bottom six could use a boost. As a result of this, Mikheyev could fit in nicely in their bottom six if acquired. He would also give them another option to work with on their penalty kill, which would not be a bad thing for the Bolts.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings could also be a team to watch when it comes to Mikheyev. When looking at their roster, it is clear that they could use some help on the wing, and Mikheyev could provide them with just that if acquired.
Carolina Hurricanes - 17-9-2 - 36 Points - 5-4-1 in last 10 - 2nd in the Metro
Columbus Blue Jackets - 13-10-6 - 32 Points - 3-3-4 in the last 10 - 8th in the Metro
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 18.3% - 20th in the NHL
Penalty Kill -72.2% - 29th in the NHL
Goals For - 86 - 16th in the NHL
Goals Against - 98 - 28th in the NHL
HurricanesStats
Power Play - 15.3% - 27th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 79.0% - 23rd in the NHL
Goals For - 93 - 8th in the NHL
Goals Against - 81 - 12th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheHurricanes
Columbus is 29-30-0-5 all-time, and 13-16-0-3 on the road vs. Carolina.
The Jackets are 0-6-0 in their last six games in Lenovo Center.
The CBJ went 2-2 vs. the Canes last season.
Who To Watch For TheHurricanes
Seth Jarvis leads the Canes with 16 goals.
Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 26 points.
Goalie Brandon Bussi is 8-1-0 with a SV% of .903. His last start was on December 6th.
Pyotr Kochetkov is 4-1-0 with a SV% of .915. His last start was on December 7th.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Hurricanes
Zach Werenski has 16 points in 31 career games against Carolina.
Kirill Marchenko has 11 points in 10 games, which includes 9 goals.
Sean Monahan has 16 points in 19 games vs. the Canes.
Injuries
Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 21 Games - IR - No timeline for a return
Boone Jenner - Upper Body - Missed 13 Games - IR - Could return this week
Mathieu Olivier - Upper Body - Missed 6 Games - IR- No timeline for a return
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 56
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on ESPN+ & HULU. Bob Wischusen will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 93.3 THE BUS, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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In three starts, Sorokin went 3-0-0, with a 1.33 GAA and a .960 SV%, which includes a 32-save shutout against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, a 2-0 win:
#Isles Ilya Sorokin has been named #NHL’s first star of the week:
The former world No 1 shares how a traumatic year has shaped him as a darts player and a father and insists he can recapture his glory days at the world championship
“I can be a miserable bastard sometimes,” Michael van Gerwen says with a grin and a shrug as he tries to explain his new burst of optimism after a horribly testing year. “But I can also be quite positive. If you asked me this question a month ago, and we did this interview then, you would find me a bit different to today. But I feel good now even if, 100%, this has been a very tough year for me both on and off the oche.”
Rather than being miserable, the 36-year-old is amiable company – which seems remarkable as in 2025 he has been through a divorce after 17 years with his wife, Daphne, witnessed the devastating effect of cancer on his father, endured intense scrutiny in the Dutch media, and struggled to regain his once imperious form with the arrows.
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the controversy surrounding the College Football Playoff selection process. The final rankings were unveiled on Sunday, and Notre Dame and Texas were among those left out. First, however, they talk about Sportico‘s …
PHILADELPHIA — Macklin Celebrini might not want to hear it, but he’s having a season for the ages.
The 19-year-old is on pace for 41 goals and 118 points. The last teenager to score that many points in a year was 19-year-old Sidney Crosby with 120 points in 2006-07.
Celebrini literally means everything to the Sharks. He has 43 points, meaning he’s been directly involved in 50.6 percent of the team’s 85 goals. Just in comparison, Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the NHL with 49 points, is credited for 42.6 percent of the league-leading Colorado Avalanche’s offense.
If Celebrini keeps this kind of involvement up, it will be literal history.
Macklin Celebrini has factored on an NHL-high 50.0% of team goals this season. Only 4 players in the modern era have been involved in more than 50.0% of team goals in a season:
But Celebrini is doing so much more than producing offense.
He’s second in the NHL with those 43 points, and according to Stathletes, he also is among the league leaders in a variety of two-way statistics.
“You see all the offensive production, how good he is there,” Alex Wennberg said. “You kind of forget how good of a job he does defensively as well.”
That’s why, in the opinion of this awards voter, if Celebrini can sustain his elite two-way play and drag the surprising Sharks into the playoffs, he would be a deserving Hart Trophy winner. As of Dec. 8, San Jose is tied for the last wild-card berth in the Western Conference.
Simply put, is there any player more valuable to his team than Celebrini?
Most stats are from Stathletes and rankings are among NHL forwards in All Situations.
Turnovers Created
Celebrini has forced 67 turnovers this season, sixth among NHL forwards. Turnovers Created are the sum of steals and pass interceptions.
Puck Deflections
Related, Celebrini has 75 Puck Deflections this season, fourth in the league. These are deflected opposition passes, suggesting that Celebrini’s stick is very active, defensively, in all three zones.
Puck Battles
Celebrini has 58 Puck Battle Wins this season, best among NHL forwards.
This might be Celebrini’s most impressive micro-stat. He’s 19, taking the puck from his often much-older peers, as if he were the veteran.
“He’s not afraid. Doesn’t matter who it is. Ultra-competitiveness is probably the best word for that. He wants to win the puck like it’s life or death,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, also noting that Celebrini added some size over the summer. “I know that’s a very drastic and dramatic comment, but the great players in every sport [do it]. Tom Brady wanted the ball in his hand. Steph Curry wants the ball in his hand [and is going] to do whatever he can to get it back. I think [that’s] what make great players great.”
“His competitiveness and his full compete is just different from the rest of us,” Wennberg admitted.
There’s a reason why, no less, than Brad Marchand called Celebrini “a dog” because of his compete.
Recoveries
Celebrini has 495 puck recoveries this season, fifth among NHL forwards. Recoveries are loose puck and shot recoveries.
That’s a testament to Celebrini’s quickness and ability to read where the puck is going.
Closer Carries
Celebrini has 511 Closer Carries, ninth in the league. Closer Carries are carries that bring the puck closer to the net.
Successful Zone Entries
Celebrini has 186 Successful Zone Entries, tied with Kirill Kaprizov for sixth in the NHL.
These puck-carrying stats mirror those of the most puck-dominant superstars in the league, your MacKinnon and Connor McDavids.
Penalties Drawn
Celebrini leads all forwards, per Evolving Hockey, with 19 Penalties Drawn and is tied for the lead with a +9 Penalty Differential.
Slot Passes
Celebrini has 71 Slot Passes and 21 Inner Slot Passes, both seventh in the league.
Assisted Chances
Related, Celebrini has 55 Assisted Chances, ninth among NHL forwards. Assisted Chances are passes that lead directly to scoring chances.
Total Chances
Celebrini has 113 Total Scoring Chances, eighth in the league. That’s a combination of shooting and assisted chances.
So shoot, pass, carry, battle, and defend, what can’t Celebrini do?
In baseball, the five-tool player is the ideal, someone who can hit for contact and power, and has speed, a strong arm, and a good glove.
A hockey comp might be a six-tool player who can skate, shoot, pass, stickhandle, is physical, and has hockey IQ at an elite level.
That already appears to be Celebrini, at just 19, in the best league in the world.
Granted, we’re just 30 games into the season, but MVP isn’t a stretch.
“He does everything in all three zones. He’s in on half our points. He plays hard in the D-zone. He plays big minutes. He plays against top lines. He’s a key part of the power play. He’s becoming a leader in the room,” Ryan Reaves said. “He’s doing everything that you want. He’s getting better every day. So I think he’s got a strong case.”
“He’s done a really good job of not letting all the outside noise affect his game, for the most part,” Warsofsky said. “He deserves to be in that conversation, but we got a long way to go.”
McLaren were the obvious choice for team of the year but Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari were a big disappointment while Williams exceeded expectations
Lando Norris had gone into the season as favourite and he emerged on top after a gruelling contest. Securing his maiden world drivers’ title was no easy feat given how hard he had been pushed by his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Closing it out was testament to a driver who maintained his nerve and confidence even as at times it seemed the title had slipped from his reach.
