Tampa Bay Lightning (11-4-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (8-6-3, in the Atlantic Division)
Buffalo, New York; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Buffalo Sabres after Pontus Holmberg's two-goal game against the Winnipeg Jets in the Lightning's 4-3 loss.
Buffalo has an 8-6-3 record overall and a 2-1-2 record in Atlantic Division play. The Sabres have a -6 scoring differential, with 50 total goals scored and 56 given up.
Tampa Bay has a 1-0-0 record in Atlantic Division games and an 11-4-2 record overall. The Lightning are 6-2-0 in games they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponents.
The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.
TOP PERFORMERS: Noah Ostlund has scored four goals with six assists for the Sabres. Jack Quinn has seven goals and five assists over the last 10 games.
Jake Guentzel has 10 goals and eight assists for the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov has four goals and 10 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 5-3-2, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.3 penalties and 10 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.
Lightning: 6-2-2, averaging 4.2 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sabres: Matt Grzelcyk: out (lower-body), Konsta Helenius: out (upper-body), Justin Danforth: out (upper-body), Alex Lyon: out (upper-body).
Lightning: Brayden Point: day to day (undisclosed).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Utah Mammoth (10-7-1, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (12-5-2, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Utah Mammoth after Tomas Hertl's two-goal game against the Buffalo Sabres in the Golden Knights' 4-1 win.
Vegas has a 12-5-2 record overall and a 6-3-0 record in home games. The Golden Knights have gone 6-3-0 when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent.
Utah has gone 6-5-1 in road games and 10-7-1 overall. The Mammoth have an even scoring differential this season, scoring and allowing 63 goals.
The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Stone has 10 goals and nine assists for the Golden Knights. Hertl has five goals and two assists over the past 10 games.
Logan Cooley has 11 goals and 10 assists for the Mammoth. Dmitriy Simashev has scored three goals over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 5-3-2, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.4 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
Mammoth: 4-5-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.5 assists, four penalties and 9.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.9 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: Parker Wotherspoon: out (upper body).
Mammoth: Maveric Lamoureux: out (shoulder), Nate Schmidt: out (upper body), Kailer Yamamoto: out (upper-body), John Marino: out (upper body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Marnus Labuschagne has found himself in Test cricket exile — but a pair of legends believe the talented batsmen will “succeed” at the domestic level before returning to selection equations.
Marnus Labuschagne has found himself in Test cricket exile — but a pair of legends believe the talented batsmen will “succeed” at the domestic level before returning to selection equations.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point shot in the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Chase Center on November 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well that was fun. The Golden State Warriors made NBA history on Monday night, by becoming the first team to start 0-3 and follow it up with an eight-game winning streak. And they certainly did it in emphatic style, as they positively crushed the New Orleans Pelicans, ending their home-stand with a 138-87 victory that was every bit as lopsided as the score would suggest.
Needless to say, the grades are going to be good for this one. As always, my grades are based on my personal expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing that player’s average performance.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Monday’s games, league-average TS was 57.1%.
You gotta love Gui. Even in a game where the Warriors were pouring in points faster than a bartender pours shots, Santos was content to just help out doing the little things. He attacked the glass and did a swell job of keeping the ball moving. He repeatedly found the open man and ended up with four dimes and zero turnovers. He was a big part of the strong defensive performance.
He just does all the little things, and even though it doesn’t always come with offense, you can happily live with that on this team.
Yeah. I think we have a star on our hands, friends. I don’t think Lendeborg is good, or even really good, or even has the potential to be a star. I think he is a star, point blank. It’s only been 11 games but that’s abundantly clear.
There was some Steph Curry in Yax’s game on Monday, in that he seemed to relish the opportunity to rip a team’s soul out. So often you see rookies get sloppy when playing in a blowout. At best they hog the ball and put on their own show; at worst, they check out because the outcome is determined.
But stars like Curry lock in. They want the win to be as lopsided as possible. They want to crush the other team’s spirit and make it clear that they’re not in the same league (except, you know … in the literal sense). And they want to make sure that they’re the one who does the damage.
Lendeborg, it seems, has that gene. He didn’t try to do to much, even when the Dubs led by 20, or 30, or 40, or 50. There were no reckless heat checks or audacious dunk attempts. Instead, he just locked in like it was a tied game, and went after the Pelicans in every part of the game.
Shot check! Green is up to 27 field goal attempts in nine games. There was some offseason chatter that Steve Kerr wanted Green to shoot more (specifically threes), and then it turned out the Warriors offense was good enough that Dray could be super selective, and focus on the three things he does brilliantly on that end of the court: passing the ball, setting screens, and making sure that everything runs through Curry.
Green has really been an offensive asset this year, which is a testament to his patience and playmaking, but also to the players around him. Having four shooters on the court at almost all times certainly helps there as well.
Defensively, Dray played well, though we were robbed of getting to see him defend Zion Williamson, as the Pelicans’ star got the night off. Oh well; they’ll meet again in a week.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
Lest you get too caught up in the Yaxel hype, Podziemski is here to remind you that there’s more than one early-20s Warrior with a fun European name who just might be a star. This was Podz at his very best. He was all over the court in a blur of chaos, on both ends of the court. He attacked on offense, while also popping out time and time again, and hiding behind screens, to show off his jumper … which looks a lot better this year (he’s 25-for-62 from deep so far this year).
In a fast and frantic game in which Podziemski seemed to have the ball in his hands a lot, he went a whole game with nary a turnover nor a foul.
It really feels like his offense is far more in control this year. He’s always had creativity and unique explosiveness, but this year he’s harnessed it far better than in year’s past. Can you remember a single shot he’s taken this season that has made you scratch your head or yell at the TV (except in a positive way)? I can’t. He’s just unbelievably in control, and fully coming into his own.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points; best plus/minus on the team.
Here’s a fun question: who’s enjoying the Lendeborg and Podziemski breakouts more, Curry or Kerr? Steph is clearly having the time of his life playing with these invigorating youngsters. And more importantly, you can see the relief in not having to carry the team on his shoulders night in and night out, and possession in and possession out.
The way that Curry is picking his spots is honestly a little reminiscent of when Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant were on the team. Curry knows he can step into his easier roles — playing the distributing point guard, or just using his gravity to space the defense out — and the offense will still function well. And then, when the time comes — if the team’s in trouble, or he wants to put a nail in the coffin, or he just wants to have a little fun — he goes into supersduperduperstar mode.
He’s averaging more than a point per minute with a true-shooting percentage well into the 70s. And it looks sustainable because he’s not having to kill himself out there. I should give him an A+ but i can’t justify a perfect grade for someone I know can — and will — pop off for 50.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points.
Melton had a little bit of a slow start to the season, but new he is absolutely picking it up. He’s firing on all cylinders right now, and just making everything work. He has so much veteran savvy and poise … he plays with a little bit of that old man game where everything is slow, but then he displays these little bursts when they’re needed, to turn a rebound into a transition opportunity, or cut to the hoop, or strip a driving opponent. There’s more than a little bit of Andre Iguodala in his game, that’s for sure.
Like Curry, Melton has really been excelling at picking his spots this year, and that goes for both offense and defense. In this one, he came in with the bench unit and helped turn a solid lead into a blowout, and he never took his foot off the gas.
I’m just so happy that Horford is on this team. What a treat he is to watch. He never seems to make a poor play or be out of position, and sometimes he just goes on little flurries, such as what he did at the start of the second quarter to help ensure that this game would stay a blowout. He had five stocks in 15 minutes. He had six assists — as a center — in 15 minutes. It’s just comical how frequently he makes the right play.
I said when the Warriors signed him before last year that he was the perfect player for Kerr, and I think that dramatically undersold it.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
Just another quietly exceptional day at the office for Niang. He shows up, he stirs things up, he drains some threes, he makes some extra passes, he plays some defense, and he celebrates a win. Good life.
Williams was only on the court for 99 seconds, but he changed the game in that brief time with the quickness with which he got down the court and attacked the basket. Unfortunately, he aggravated his hamstring in the first quarter, and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Hopefully he won’t be sidelined for too long.
Grade: P for Please get healthy soon Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
With every passing game, Bassey makes it easier and easier to forget that Kristaps Porziņģis was supposed to be a part of this team. He only needed 18 minutes to nab a double-double and have one of the nastiest blocks you’ll see all season. We knew he had skills, but the way he’s able to fully control the paint — in terms of scoring, defending, and rebounding — is shocking.
Cryer was forced into duty early on, after Williams’ injury. And he responded quite well. He scores in a different way than Williams does, but he sure can be a lightning rod as well. His jump shot is so slick, and I love the way he works into the defense, and then retreats … it reminds me a little bit of Jameer Nelson, or honestly, even Chris Paul.
This team is deep enough that Cryer is probably only going to get opportunities in situations like this, but it was great seeing him make the most of it.
Cryer got the most minutes of the two-way players in this game due to Williams’ injury, but Ike remains the two-way contract most capable of helping the team on a nightly basis. There aren’t many minutes for him now — he was limited to extended garbage time in this game — but you can see why Kerr is so excited to get him out there, and believes he can help. He does so many good things on the court.
Grade: A- Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
Nice to see Leons get some serious run. Like Ike, he played the entire fourth quarter since the Warriors were up by 47 points going into the final frame. He did some nice things out there.
Grade: B Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
Monday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on November 9, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (7-4) won a 125-122 thriller over the Indiana Pacers (3-8) on Monday night. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg were dominant, combining for 78 points, while Caleb Martin made the defensive play of the game to seal the deal. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavericks found themselves trailing for much of the first half but worked their way back, determined to not have a letdown after a convincing win over the Brookly Nets just 24 hours prior. With the victory, the Mavericks extend their winning streak to three games.
Let’s get to the grades!
Kyrie Irving: 10/10
35 PTS / 0 REB / 4 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 38 MIN
We try to be discerning with a perfect grade, especially for a Hall of Famer who has plenty of exceptional games on his resume. Tonight Irving gets the bump despite no rebounds, steals or blocks. He was simply too dominant offensively not to. He connected on 11-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-10 from downtown. He hit 6-of-7 free throws while he was at it. Helping get him over the top was a game-high +29 plus/minus. Even with a few goose eggs in the stat line, Irving was playing on another level Monday night and did a lot in the fact of tough on-ball defense to keep the Mavs connected and ultimately able to pull away.
Cooper Flagg: 10/10
43 PTS / 10 REB / 6 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 39 MIN
Little needs to be said when the box score reads as it does. Flagg hit 16-of-25 shots in a 40-point double-double and was absolutely huge down the stretch, hitting big shots in the fourth quarter in a refuse-to-lose performance. Just dominant while leaving a couple rough shooting nights as a distant memory.
Caleb Martin: 6/10
0 PTS / 3 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 19 MIN
The conundrum of Martin persists. A starter with limited minutes and little tangible production makes the defensive play of the night to seal the victory. We’ve yet to determine how best to grade him, but suffice it to say tipping the inbounds pass away from Paskal Siakam to prevent the Pacers from even attempting a shot on the final possession gives his grade a boost.
P.J. Washington: 5/10
13 PTS / 9 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 35 MIN
Washington gets the “5” based on some intangibles. His 4-of-12 shooting left a bit to be desired (though one of his two made three-pointers came at a critical time) and he was only 3-of-6 from the charity stripe. Of the three misses, two of them came in the waning moments where even one make would have effectively ended the game. Worse still, he probably could have gotten the ball to Irving before he was fouled, allowing the better free throw shooter to get the opportunity at the line. He rebounded well and had a few defensive efforts that don’t hit the box score and the fact the outcome was a win finds us giving him a bit of a bump on his grade.
Daniel Gafford: 5/10
8 PTS / 2 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN
Gafford was foul-happy, playing himself off the court early on. He showed better control during the latter part of the game, but having him on the floor consistently to match up with Ivica Zubac would have helped along the way. He was solid in the limited minutes and managed to show some passing ability but it was a somewhat mundane night.
Santi Aldama: 7/10
10 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 19 MIN
Aldama was 4-of-9 from the floor, but only 1-of-5 from downtown. Even with the longball not falling, he did a nice job maximizing his limited minutes. He had a soft touch around the rim and put himself in the right spots – especially impressive given he just returned from injury had had no prior reps with his teammates before just a couple games ago.
Final Thoughts
This was a hard-fought game that came down to the final possession. Dallas was on the second night of a back-to-back, yet got incredible offensive performances from both Flagg and Irving. The team plays together and fights hard on every possession. That isn’t to say every possession is pretty, but Dallas continues to stay disciplined and tied together. On Monday night, that cohesion resulted in a great clutch win.
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New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown directs his team against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
At this stage in the season, winning isn’t enough for the Knicks.
The champions care more about how they win.
“Obviously, we want to play well, we want to win, but we also want to continue to grow as a team and try not to plateau,” Jalen Brunson said after practice Monday. “I think the way we do that is to continue to try to see how we can win games differently.”
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown directs his team against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. AP Photo/Phil Long
That sentiment trickles down from head coach Mike Brown. Constant experimentation is a core staple to his philosophy. It feels like there’s a surprise in the box score every game.
His players believe that brings the best out of them.
“It’s kind of a freeing thing, playing that way, knowing that you don’t have to really be looking over your shoulder or thinking that one thing is gonna ruin whatever,” Landry Shamet said Monday. “And I think that he knows that we have that makeup as a group, too, that we’re all on the same page in wanting the best for each other — the next man up kind of mentality. It’s from top to bottom, and it’s a good environment to have.”
Brown used an 11-man rotation for Saturday’s 109-97 win in Cleveland. That wasn’t the result of garbage-time minutes, as all 11 saw the court in the first half. It was clear Brown wanted to get guys involved who are usually out of the rotation, such as Mohamed Diawara and Dalton Knecht.
It represents the biggest difference between Brown and predecessor Tom Thibodeau, who established a rotation and stuck strictly to it unless forced to change. Thibodeau prioritized maximizing his chances of winning every single night. Brown looks at the regular season more like a canvas to try new lineups, rotations and systems so that, by the end of the year, he has more available in his toolkit.
That process might be ugly at times, but it’s designed to deliver long-term results.
Brown credits it as a big reason for their championship last season. The likes of Shamet and Jordan Clarkson spent time in and out of the rotation all year but stepped up in the postseason when their number was called. The shift to an offense built around Karl-Anthony Towns as a hub was only possible because they toyed with it during the regular season.
Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks dribbles against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. NBAE via Getty Images
“It builds trust,” Brown said Monday, “because it’s like, ‘Hey, they trust me to go out there and play right now, even though I might not have played in two or three games.’ It helps with connectivity because guys feel more part of it, because they’re getting an opportunity. It helps with everybody’s readiness because the reality of it is, if a guy is sitting on the bench and he’s been there game after game after game, which happens sometimes — I’m not saying that will never happen because it’s gonna happen sometimes — then he may lose a little interest and relax a little bit because it’s like, ‘Hey, I’m not going in.’ But then, if you call their number every once in a while, throw them in a game, now they know, ‘Oh, I gotta be ready.’ ”
Even Jaden Akins, signed to a two-way deal like Knecht, has seen a little action beyond garbage time.
“If he can go in the game during some real moments,” Brown said, “anybody can.”
It’s different from Thibodeau’s final season, when he inserted Shamet and Delon Wright into the rotation out of desperation in the Eastern Conference final, having hardly used them previously.
Under Brown, there is a track record on which to fall back for everyone on the team, even if they go long stretches out of the rotation.
“It builds a lot, when you’re talking about building a team,” Brown said. “And then at the end of the day, your guys get used to it, so come playoff time, if you try something new or different when it comes to the lineups, it’s not like, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on? We’ve never done this.’ Nah, we’ve done it.”
There is the flip side, though. Playing time and roles constantly are changing. Jose Alvarado started the year as the backup point guard but now finds himself behind Tyler Kolek in the pecking order after missing time due to an ankle injury. There is constant fluctuation with the bench players in how much time each plays. That could cause problems.
Not with these Knicks.
“That’s just kind of the makeup of our group, and that’s special,” Shamet said. “Typically, you go to a lot of NBA locker rooms, there’s some ulterior motives and personal agendas — which is part of why we’re all here, is some ego, of course. Everybody is a good player at this level and is striving to get to something or be somewhere. But very rarely does that take a backseat to just truly buying into one another, wanting the best because, ultimately, good things come from that for everyone. It’s special. It’s really special.”
Alberts Smits #12 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, in New York.
EDMONTON, Alberta — Alberts Smits is considered week to week with an upper-body injury, the Rangers announced Monday.
The rookie defenseman had appeared in all 17 games for the Rangers before he was a last-minute scratch for the win over Seattle on Saturday. Despite taking warmups against the Kraken, Smits ultimately didn’t dress and watched from the press box with the other scratches for the first time this season.
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“I don’t know exactly when it happened,” head coach Mike Sullivan said before the Rangers fell 3-1 to the Oilers at Rogers Place on Monday. “It wasn’t during warmup, but yes, obviously, he was dealing with it. I don’t know the exact time.”
Smits is the second Rangers defenseman to go down with an injury this season, after the Rangers put Sean Durzi on injured reserve with a lower-body injury last week. Durzi participated in an optional morning skate Monday in a red noncontact jersey, which indicates the 28-year-old blueliner is progressing toward a return after missing his fifth straight game.
Since his injury is retroactive to Oct. 26, however, Durzi can be activated and slot back into the Rangers lineup at any time.
Their pair has been a bit of a weak spot for the Rangers this season, but Smits continues to adjust to the NHL game.
Alberts Smits #12 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, in New York. NHLI via Getty Images
Among the 46 defense pairs who have logged at least 140 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, Braden Schneider and Smits’ 3.63 expected goals against per 60 is the second highest, per Natural Stat Trick.
The only duo with a higher rate is the Sharks’ Michael Kesselring and Darnell Nurse (3.82 xGA/60).
“I think Smitty’s learning curve has been steep,” Sullivan said. “I think he’s getting better and better with every game he’s played. I’ve said to you guys all along, I think No. 1, playing defense in this league is the hardest position to play for so many reasons. That’s a huge challenge for an 18-year-old kid to step into the NHL and play that position. I think he’s done an admirable job. He’s big, he’s strong, he has a good stick, he has mobility, he closes on people, he has a quiet confidence about him. He’s learning on the job, so to speak. We think he’s getting better and better. We’re excited about potentially where his game will eventually grow to.”
With Smits and Durzi both unavailable again, defensemen Scott Morrow and Matthew Robertson both remained in the lineup.
After he was scratched the last time the Blueshirts were in Edmonton, Robertson played in front of his home crowd for the first time. “It’d be super, super meaningful,” he said. “Be a really cool experience getting to play in front of your hometown, family and friends in the building. It’s a game I’ve really wanted to play for a long time. It’s something you dream of growing up, playing in front of your hometown.”
Luke Glendening returned to the Rangers lineup Monday night after serving as a healthy scratch the past three games.
As a result, Matt Rempe was the odd man out for the 14th time this season.
Bobby Sheehan, who played a notable role in the Rangers’ run to the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, died Saturday at his Massachusetts home, the Canadiens announced.
He was 77 years old. A cause of death was not revealed.
“We join the hockey community in mourning the loss of Bobby Sheehan, who played an integral role in helping the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 1979,” the Rangers said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with Bobby’s family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time.”
Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks shoots on goal past Matthew Schaefer #48 of the New York Islanders in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Nov. 9, 2026.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The fourth loss in a row for the Islanders was more alarming than the first three for two big reasons.
First, the Sharks are not the Oilers, Hurricanes or Devils. Talented they may be, but the club that beat the Islanders 3-2 in a shootout at SAP Center on Monday night is not a Stanley Cup contender. San Jose is now 8-11-1, still very much figuring itself out.
Second, the Islanders played poorly for most of this game, and it’s not the first time lately. They were hemmed in their zone frequently, they gave up chances in the middle of the ice, they struggled to hang onto possession of the puck or generate a forecheck. It was, in other words, not Pete DeBoer hockey.
Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks shoots on goal past Matthew Schaefer #48 of the New York Islanders in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
“We’re giving up too many chances, we’re giving up too many shots,” captain Bo Horvat said. “It’s just not sustainable for 84 games. We got to get back to the way we were the first 10 games, and that’s playing well defensively, reloading hard and making it tougher on teams. Right now, we’re giving up too many shots.”
That was excusable against the league’s top class. Against the Sharks, less so, even if it took a shootout winner from Ivar Stenberg to put San Jose over the top.
Even had the Islanders gotten away with a win — and to be fair, they were close to doing so — this was still a performance that invited scrutiny.
“I think we both played smart for stretches and we both played really badly for stretches,” DeBoer said. “… The self-inflicted parts of the game where we didn’t stick with it costs us.”
Of course, the big-picture outlook comes with the massive caveat that there is “potential,” as DeBoer has said, for Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock to return from injury by the end of this trip. That ought to be a game-changer, and there is no doubt at all that a lot of what’s happened over the past week-plus has been about the collective toll of the injuries catching up with the Islanders.
Still, they were bossed around for long stretches on Monday, particularly by San Jose’s top line of Michael Misa, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Even when they weren’t, it often looked like a track meet and not the detailed hockey the Islanders want to play.
Victor Eklund (38) of the New York Islanders celebrates his goal during the second period against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
The clubs were tied at two entering a heated third period after Kyle MacLean’s hit on Stenberg provoked Ty Dellandrea to fight MacLean and Barclay Goodrow to fight Mitchell Chaffee off the ensuing faceoff.
That did at least seem to wake the Islanders up a little bit as they started the third on the front foot.
Maybe, after the fury at officials in Saturday’s Islanders loss, there was some karmic justice as well, after a Victor Eklund hit on Kiefer Sherwood initially called a major was reversed into a roughing double minor on Mason Marchment, handing the Islanders a four-minute power play midway through the third.
New York Islanders defenseman Ben Hutton (71) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. AP Photo/Thien-An Truong
The fledgling momentum, though, was squandered when Anthony Duclair and Ondrej Palat both took penalties trying to stop a shorthanded San Jose rush, putting the Islanders at four-on-three and, eventually, leaving both teams scoreless on their respective power plays.
“That’s the game right there,” DeBoer said of those sequences in the third. “I loved how we started. I think we had five or six grade-A looks in the first five minutes of the third period. You gotta stick one in the net.”
There was no missed call to complain about this time at three-on-three, only a frenetic five minutes without resolution. Ilya Sorokin, strong all evening with 37 saves, was terrific in overtime, and it took the Sharks eight rounds of the shootout to beat him.
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini moves the puck against New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. AP Photo/Thien-An Truong
Problem was, the Islanders couldn’t get anything by Yaroslav Askarov either.
“I didn’t think, overall, it was our best game system-wise or on the little details,” Jean-Gabriel Pageau told The Post. “I thought there were some good parts and we need to focus on those, and try to be better where we didn’t. I’m not worried about the process or anything.”
The best minutes of the game for the Islanders were the first handful. After Ben Hutton opened a 1-0 lead by getting to a deflected Simon Holmstrom pass first, the Sharks started pressing, and the visitors never quite recovered their mojo, even as the game stayed close — with Stenberg, Eklund and Tyler Toffoli all trading goals.
“Mentally, we have to commit to playing the same way every night,” Horvat said. “We know what it’s gonna take to be successful. We know what our really good game looks like. Just, we haven’t been doing it these last five games for a full 60.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 09: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets blocks Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets at the basket during the first half at Toyota Center on November 09, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This won’t be one of those 2,000 word recaps that I do at times. In fact, it will mark the season debut of Bullet Points – The Lazy Man’s Friend(tm)
The Rockets lost the two previous game, which were by no means twins, due to the same issue, essentially. That is to say, bad shooting. Against Phoenix, the Rockets shot it so badly they didn’t break 100 points. Not scoring 100 points in a modern NBA game usually spells defeat, but to the Rockets credit, they did hold the Suns to 102 points. The problem is they shot 36-94 overall, for 39%, and 10-35 from three point range, for 29%. They did make their freethrows at around 90%. The game before that, against the Timberwolves, it was much the same story. 43% overall, 35% from three. When the Rockets can’t shoot it from outside, they will typically lose. Why? Generally because there is one player who can get to the basket and do anything there regularly, Alperen Sengun. If he isn’t doubled, or he’s neutralized, it can be a long night of no one open for the Rockets.
Tonight featured the Rockets against a Denver team that just doesn’t strike the same fear into opponents they did a few years ago. Still, they were 5-3 coming into tonight, which doesn’t sound great, but would, if extrapolated to a full season, come to about 50 wins. 5 of 8 isn’t bad in the NBA. Would the Rockets be able to hold Denver on defense, which they couldn’t do against the TWolves. Could the Rockets score more than the paltry 99 they mustered against the Suns? Could they overcome the new, pinstriped, white jerseys they’d worn for all three losses.
In a word, yes, but it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t easy because the Rockets starting lineup more or less played the Nuggets even. Now, you might think that the Rockets would decide that despite the lack of success, they’d just keep doing the same thing. You’d only be partly right.
One of the Rockets big advantages over Denver seemed to be their depth. Denver just doesn’t have much compared to the Rockets, who are nonetheless down three centers at the moment. The heavier bench lineups seemed to pull away from the Nuggets. This allowed the Rockets to go into halftime with a 14 point lead, which grew to as much as 19 before the Rockets hit one of those dreaded scoring lulls from last season, where what most would think of as their best lineup just can’t score or defend.
So, did the Rockets keep at it, keep doing the things that cost them the lead? They did not. They went small, and pulled Alperen Sengun from the game. It’s not that Alpie was bad, he was 9-17 for 20 points, 12 rebounds, 8assists to 2 turnovers, with a steal and a block. But the mobility edge, especially on defense, and running off misses, was pronounced.
The bench did good work, especially around the beginning of the fourth quarter. Tari Eason, in my opinion, continues to build a good case for 6th man of the year.
The Rockets ended up shooting it well. They shot 41 of 91 overall, for 45%, and 14 of 38 from three point range, for 37%. They didn’t take a ton of freethrows, but made 14 of 17 for 82%. Denver shot 37 of 83 for 45% overall, but a woeful 8-29 from three point range (28%).
The Rockets absolutely crushed Denver on the offensive glass, 15 to 7, and that showed up in the Rockets attempting 8 more shots than the Nuggets. It wasn’t an especially high paced game by modern standards, but Denver plays currently at the slowest pace in the NBA, and if an opponent counters that with extra chances, they can get into trouble, as we say tonight.
It’s great to break the Curse of The New White Jerseys after so short a run. Now that’s been proven, we don’t need to see them again.
The Rockets are 8-3, which currently has them essentially in a tie for 3rd place in the “Why are you looking at the standings in early November?” stakes.
Until next time!
The picture with this article is Alpie rejecting Jokic, which means any comparisons are over. Alpie wins.
Victor Eklund, who had three hits in the first period, found the back of the net on the power play, finishing off a Brayden Schenn backhand feed from the slot at 1:11 of the second period:
The Vancouver Canucks extended their losing streak to six games after falling 3-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night. Jonathan Lekkerimäki scored the only goal for Vancouver, which came in the third period on the power play. As for Leevi Meriläinen, he stopped 14 of the 16 shots he faced in the loss.
Another night, another frustrating performance by the Canucks. Despite facing a tired Flyers team that blew a lead on Sunday before losing in overtime, Vancouver failed to generate any form of offence through the first two periods. By the second intermission, the Canucks had registered just six shots, which was the same total Philadelphia had in the second period alone.
"I think the level of frustration is high," said Drew O'Connor post-game. "No one's happy with losing. No one's happy with how we're playing. I think over the last little stretch, there's probably been some games that we've played pretty well. And then, you know, look at Winnipeg. We were really bad in Winnipeg. We have a decent response. Played pretty good in Edmonton, and then kind of more the same tonight. Just not good enough."
Poor effort and lack of compete has been a common theme for Vancouver this year. For whatever reason, the team has struggled to put forth a full 60-minute effort, which has contributed to their losses in 16 of their last 17 games. Post-game, Head Coach Manny Malhotra once again sounded frustrated as he explained some of the problems from Monday's loss.
"The most frustrating part was our start," said Malhotra. "When you know the topic of discussion for the game is you want to stress a team early that's coming in on a back to back, and the message is we have to have that same level of intensity that we played with the other night. And to come out as flat as we did, and make the same mistakes, and take dumb penalties, it's concerning. It's frustrating. It's becoming a problem."
The Canucks deserve credit for how they played in the third. After allowing a goal that was called back for offside at the start of the period (shoutout Video Coaches Ian Beckenstein and Andrew Shaw), Vancouver controlled play the rest of the way and outshot the Flyers 13-2. Unfortunately, the Canucks could not find an equalizer on a late power play as instead, they surrounded an empty net goal late in the period.
"There's a number of things that go into that," said Malhotra when asked about the third-period push. "Obviously, they did do a good job of pushing back. Yes, they were a tired team on the other side. Give our group some credit for applying that pressure, but again, the lesson being we wait so long. Those are the types of efforts and mentality we need out of the gate. And when we discuss it prior to going out on the ice, and we don't see it, it's extremely frustrating."
While long losing streaks during rebuilds are expected, Vancouver's nightly effort level is shocking. Everyone sounds frustrated, but as Malhotra mentioned in his post-game, the same mistakes are happening night after night. With just three wins through their first 20 games, the Canucks need to find a way to become a cohesive unit; otherwise, they could find themselves on the wrong side of NHL history.
Stats and Facts:
Brock Boeser records point 499 of his NHL career
Filip Hronek logs a career-high 31:11 of ice time
Canucks have given up a power play goal against in 16 of their 20 games this season
Jamie Oleksiak, Luke Schenn, Filip Hronek and Guillaume Brisebois all finished the night with three blocked shots
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
2:03- PHI: Michael Bunting (1) from Christian Dvorak and Nick Seeler
2nd Period:
3:05- PHI: Travis Konecny (2) from Matvei Michkov and Christian Dvorak (PPG)
3rd Period:
12:44- VAN: Jonathan Lekkerimäki (7) from Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson (PPG)
19:01- PHI: Travis Sanheim (2) (ENG) (SHG)
Up Next:
Vancouver Canucks vs New York Rangers, November 13, 2026, 7:00 pm PCT
Nov 9, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Drew O'Connor (18) and defenseman Jamieson Oleksiak (4) and forward Linus Karlsson (94) and Philadelphia Flyers forward Noah Cates (27) watch goalie Leevi Merilainen (31) make a save in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Things got heated, then ended in a breakaway drill. | NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders and Sharks were trading chances in a pond hockey Monday night when an old-time hockey game broke out. These are not very good teams, but they can be fun teams to watch, particularly with their recent top-of-the-draft picks (most of which, obviously, are on the persistently tanking Sharks side).
Fittingly, it ended in the longest shootout of the season thus far, where the first 15 attempts were stopped until Ivar Stenberg finally beat Ilya Sorokin for a Sharks shootout win, while Yaroslav Askarov stopped all eight Isles attempts.
The teams took turns with power play goals — one coming off a terrible call against Kyle MacLean when Macklin Celebrini fell in the neutral zone — before the gloves came off at the end of the second period with the game knotted at 2-2.
Shoves were exchanged, threats were made, and then MacLean fought Ty Dellandrea and Mitchell Chaffee fought Barclay Goodrow. Chaffee had control over Goodrow, while Dellandrea cut MacLean’s cheek open.
That set the stage for an eventful third that ignited after Victor Eklund, who had a nice power play one-time goal in a great game for him, threw a check into Kiefer Sherwood’s body, then fell on top of the Shark. The irony is that Sherwood, who wears gloves within his gloves and so cannot legally fight, picked Eklund out of a scrum at the end of the second period to demonstrate his superiority over a teenager.
Anyway, Mason Marchment, demonstrating the hockey um, intelligence that is in his DNA, initiated a scrum and started throwing ungloved punches at Eklund while the Isles teenager was tied up by, among others, the linesman. The refs procedurally called a five-minute major on Eklund so that they could review his hit on Sherwood, then decided no penalty was warranted for him but Marchment received a double-minor.
But then after the Islanders power play returned to its normal level of incompetence, the second unit took one penalty — Ondrej Palat with the lazy hook after a turnover — and then received a second one on the same play, Anthony Duclair called for tripping after the play should’ve been blowed dead when he knocked away a Sharks pass in the slot.
With great work from Ilya Sorokin, J-G Pageau, Bo Horvat and Adam Pelech, the Islanders killed off the ensuing two-minute 4-on-3. The game was still stuck at 2-2 with under 10 minutes to go.
The teams each had some half-chances the rest of the way, including an uncomfortable rush and wraparound try by Ivar Stenberg right before the horn, but overtime and then a shootout was their shared destiny. Sorokin made some nice saves in OT, and Horvat had backhand chance all alone that he sent just wide, but nothing could prevent us from the breakaway drill.
Nobody could do a damn thing in the shootout, though we had the novelty of seeing Matthew Schaefer’s first career shootout attempt, and it wasn’t so good. Sorokin and Askarov were both in a zone, so it was somewhat interesting to see the shooters try to divine a new approach that would work.
Other notes
One of the frustrating things in this game was how often the Sharks defense simply pinched down the blueline to cut off Islanders breakout passes. Again, and again, and again, with no adjustment.
Kyle Palmieri had a ton of good chances, a few that he created on his own. Coming off ACL surgery, he’s got just one goal in his last 10 games, but at least tonight he looked like more goals are near. Ah, but the less said about his unconvincing shootout approach, the better.
Up Next
Now it’s south, for games in Anaheim and L.A. on Thursday and Saturday to complete the trip.
