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The Florida Panthers are finally back home.

Despite the NHL season being just over a month old, the Panthers have already endured road trips of four and five game lengths, one of which took the team to the opposite side of the country for a week.

After a forgettable first trip, and a regretful opening game of last week’s trip in California, the Panthers are showing some serious signs of positivity.

That 7-3 loss last Tuesday in Anaheim led to an intense team practice and video sessions the following day in Los Angeles, one that Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice described as something of a back-to-basics kind of exercise.

Florida’s three games since have been three of their better games of the season, and certainly some of the best they’ve played on the road so far.

Now the question will be whether they can carry that momentum into what will be an extended period of time spent almost exclusively in South Florida.

Starting Thursday, when the Panthers host the Washington Capitals at Amerant Bank Arena, Florida will play 12 games over a 24-day stretch.

Only one of those 12 games will be on the road.

It all starts with a five-game homestand that starts Thursday and ends over a week later, as the Cats will host the Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers.

Then, a quick trip up to Tennessee for a matchup with the Nashville Predators on Monday, Nov. 24.

After that it’ll be right back down to South Florida for a six-game homestand that spans 12 days, featuring games against the Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maples Leafs, Nashville, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders.

So far this season, the Panthers have played only seven of their 16 games at home, holding a strong 5-1-1 mark in Sunrise.

If they can find a way to combine the recent momentum that was found on the road with their already formidable ability to win games at home, the next several weeks could be very prosperous for the Panthers.

Entering play Wednesday, Florida holds a very mediocre 8-7-1 record on the season. It’s good for a tie for sixth in the Atlantic Division with Toronto and a spot one point behind the Wild Card leading Flyers.

The good thing for the Panthers is that the standings are still extremely tightly packed, as only five points separate Florida from the top of the division, with games in hand on both the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators, who sit second and third in the Atlantic, respectively.

Bottom line, the Panthers have a wonderful opportunity in front of them to simultaneously continue riding the momentum of their trip, enjoy some time at home while working with more familiar routines and made up some ground in the standings at a time where it’s easiest to do so.

We’ll see if Florida can take advantage in the coming days and weeks.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Nov 1, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) celebrates with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) after winning a shootout against the Dallas Stars at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Buffalo Sabres currently sit in dead-last in the Eastern Conference with a 5-6-4 record. But the worst could be yet to come – and it may be coming this week.

For proof, just look at the Sabres’ schedule. When you do, you’ll see that, over the next six days, Buffalo has four games. And it isn’t as if any of them are against pushover teams.

Indeed, the Sabres start off this punishing stretch of schedule on the road – where three of their next four games will be played – with a showdown Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth. One night later, Buffalo travels to Denver to take on the dominant Colorado Avalanche. Then, on Saturday, the Sabres battle the Red Wings in Detroit. And finally, Buffalo squares off against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in Buffalo. 

To be sure, the Sabres could come out of this four-game span with four losses. And before they    know it, it’ll be the third week of November and Buffalo will be all but buried in the standings. And fat that point, it will be time for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and the team to part ways. 

Sabres Must Get Out Of Losing Spiral, Or Deal With The ConsequencesThe Sabres' losing streak is threatening their playoff hopes. Can Buffalo finally break the cycle before time runs out on their post-season dreams?

The Mammoth are one of the NHL’s up-and-coming teams. The Avalanche can beat any team in the league. The Wings are a pleasant surprise. And the Oilers will be continuing to prove they’ve got the ability to hang with any team. So there’s no question Buffalo really could come out of the next week with an 0-4-0 record. And that would be a calamity that should result in the resignation of Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff. 

What can you say if the Sabres are essentially out of the playoffs by Christmas? You can’t say “Look at our long-term prospect!”. You can’t say “We’re going to be great four years down the line,’ “ You need results, and they need to be positive and lasting, and you need them right now. And if that sounds like a tall order, that’s because it is.

Sabres Entering Stretch That Could Spell End Of The Line For GM, CoachThe Sabres once again are in a difficult stretch. And if they can't win more consistently, the jobs of GM Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff are in serious jeopardy.

The Sabres’ start to the season went about as poorly as they may have hoped, and now, they’ve got a killer stretch to deal with. The way they respond could be the difference between them making and missing the playoffs. 

The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond.

Will Injuries Hurt The Canucks Or Leafs The Most? by The Big Show

Here’s what Drew Shore, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed:

01:05: Does the NHL have a Nikita Zadorov problem after Auston Matthews hit?

04:40: Whose injuries will impact the team more: the Toronto Maple or Vancouver Canucks?

07:30: What contributes to rookies staying in the NHL or going back to junior?

12:30: Is it more beneficial to remain with an NHL team without bouncing back and forth between leagues?

14:20: Who's more of a Stanley Cup contender: the New Jersey Devils or Anaheim Ducks?

19:30: How concerned should Team Canada be about Brayden Point's start?

22:15: What did Drew do when he got into a slump?

24:10: How much change do you think there will be from Team Canada's 4 Nations team and the Olympic team?

28:15: What would you like to see next year when NHL All-Star Weekend returns?

31:00: What was your favorite moment from the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony?

33:15: Who gets traded first: Ryan O’Reilly or Nazem Kadri

36:00: Who will win the “hockey Cy Young,” a.k.a. the player with the most goals and fewest assists?

37:15: Who is on more of a hot seat: Craig Berube or Kris Knoblauch?

https://megaphone.link/ROUST2971439851

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

This week on the NHL power rankings, we’re entering the unofficial playoff cutoff as American Thanksgiving approaches.

Historically, NHL teams that are well out of the playoff race at the end of November have a very minimal chance of making the playoffs, so if any team is looking to bank points before the races heat up again in March, now’s the time to do it. (Looking at you, Bruins). 

But what a difference a week can make. The standings have been tight – 17 teams are within two points of each other! – and we’re starting to see some winning and losing streaks emerge. We thought the Bruins were done after losing six in a row, but they now have won seven in a row. The Mammoth looked like they were going to take a huge leap with six straight wins, only to lose five of their next six.

Injuries have been a big story this season, and it continues. Auston Matthews left last night after taking a hit from Nikita Zadorov, and Thatcher Demko didn’t finish the game against the Jets.Boone Jenner and Thomas Chabot also didn’t finish their games, and Frederik Andersen was pulled by a concussion spotter, though he’s not expected to miss any time at this moment. No doubt their absences can negatively affect their respective teams.

As for the NHL power rankings, the No. 1 team has started to pull away.

1. Colorado Avalanche (11-1-5, +25. PR: 1)

There’s little doubt the Avs are the best team in the league. They held the Ducks, who have the second-best offense, to just one goal in Tuesday’s big showdown, and they’re pulling ahead of the pack. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are early-season front-runners for the Hart and Norris, respectively. 

2. Carolina Hurricanes (11-5-0, +14. PR: 4)

Three goalies? No problem. The Canes have been in this situation before, and it hasn’t really disrupted their rhythm at all this season. They’ve lost consecutive games just once this season.

3. Anaheim Ducks (11-4-1, +14. PR: 9)

The hype is totally real. Though they scored just one goal, they hung with the Avs for most of the game, and they might have the NHL’s most underrated elite goalie in Lukas Dostal. The Ducks are playing some freestyle offense under Joel Quenneville, which really suits them given the amount of scoring talent they have.

4. New Jersey Devils (11-4-1, +7. PR: 7)

All three of their games over the past week went into extra time, but they pulled off wins against the Habs and Pens, maintaining the advantage against two upstart East teams. Interesting development is the Devils rotating Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom, one of the growing number of teams doing so.

5. Winnipeg Jets (10-6-0, +10. PR: 2)

The three-game losing streak was slightly concerning, but their offense picked up again, and Cole Perfetti will bolster their non-existent depth scoring. The lack of overtimes and loser points is hurting the Jets; they have three one-goal losses, all suffered in the third period. Had they at least forced extra time in those games, they would be tied for second in points in the standings. 

6. Dallas Stars (10-4-3, -1. PR: 8)

It hasn’t been easy – the minus-1 goal differential is a little eyebrow-raising – but the Stars are 7-1-2 in their last 10 after a pretty slow start. The play of Miro Heiskanen this season, by the way, isn’t getting enough attention, and he has a chance to win his first Norris this season after being completely left off the ballot last season.

Who's Hot And Cold In The NHL: MacKinnon's On Fire, Marchessault SlumpsWho's hot – and who's not – in the NHL over the past week? An Avalanche superstar, the cornerstone of the Blackhawks and Red Wings goalies are among those on the list.

7. Los Angeles Kings (8-5-4, -2. PR: 15)

There was a little concern early in the season, but they’ve gone 7-2-2 since. The Kings had a comeback win against the Pens and continue to dominate the Habs, winning their ninth (!) straight against them since 2021.

8. Montreal Canadiens (10-4-2, +6. PR: 5)

I’m a little curious why the Habs have played Sam Montembeault four times in their last five games when a red-hot Jakub Dobes is an option. The Habs remain impressive, but two losses to conference opponents and then suffering their worst loss of the season Tuesday against the Kings bumps them down a few spots.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (9-5-3, +9. PR: 13)

It’s Arturs Silovs’ show now with Tristan Jarry hurt, and there’s a lot of pressure to stay near the top of the standings. The Pens have lost six of their last nine but should have a good chance to sweep the Global Series against the Preds in Stockholm later this week. Cracks are showing, but the bottom has not fallen out yet.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning (8-5-2, +5. PR: 18)

I noted a couple weeks ago that we shouldn’t count out the Lightning because, well, it’s the Lightning. They’re now arguably the league’s hottest team and are 7-1-0 since their four-game losing streak, though injuries to Victor Hedman and Anthony Cirelli are slightly concerning. They’ve faced some tough opponents during that stretch with the only loss coming against the Avs, currently the best team in the league.

11. Vegas Golden Knights (7-4-4, +3. PR: 3)

It’s as if goaltending matters in this league. Clearly, the Knights either don’t feel confident with Akira Schmid in net or expect big things from Carl Lindbom down the road, otherwise they wouldn’t be rotating goalies like this. Their play in front of their goalies has been worrisome, too, and they’ve lost six of their last eight.

12. Utah Mammoth (9-7-0, +1. PR: 6)

I think fatigue is a factor here; the Mammoth have played eight of their last nine games on the road and lost five of their last six. What is more curious, however, is the lack of scoring on a team whose greatest strength is scoring. Clayton Keller has three points and Dylan Guenther has two goals in their last eight games.

13. Philadelphia Flyers (8-5-2, +4. PR: 14)

Is there a bigger dichotomy out there between how the Flyers are playing and the discourse surrounding Rick Tocchet? The Flyers are in playoff position, albeit tied with four other teams, but so far have exceeded expectations. This time last season, they already had a six-game losing streak.

14. Chicago Blackhawks (8-5-3, +12. PR: 22)

The Hawks had a tough start but since then have really lost one game where they probably should’ve won (Nov. 3 against the Kraken) and another that could’ve gone either way (Oct. 17 shootout against the Canucks). The standings are super tight, so do not be shocked if the Hawks make some big jumps over the next few weeks. They have the fourth-best goal differential in the league, which can be a better barometer of a team’s ability than its record.

Five NHL Favorites For Fewest Regular-Season PointsWhich NHL team will finish the regular season with the fewest points? Here are five favorites.

15. Detroit Red Wings (9-7-0, -5. PR: 10)

The Red Wings had a great start, but it’s starting to be undone with three straight losses and only two goals scored. Neither Cam Talbot nor John Gibson can win with that kind of goal support. Another long losing streak, and I swear we’re going back to doubting the Yzerplan again.

16. Boston Bruins (11-7-0, +3. PR: 25)

Ranked too low in the previous two weeks or just taking advantage of a soft part of their schedule? A little tough to say, but grinding out a 2-1 win against the Canes and then beating the Leafs in consecutive games – maybe this one’s not surprising – are definitely commendable feats. And they’re doing this with Morgan Geekie leading the team in goals. 

17. Ottawa Senators (8-5-4, -2. PR: 28)

The Sens finally managed to win a game in regulation, and nearly half their games have gone to extra time. It’s hard to gauge a team when so many results have been decided by 3-on-3 and shootout gimmickry, but so far their depth has been very good.

18. San Jose Sharks (8-6-3, -2. PR: 30)

Ever since Ryan Warsofsky made that comment about trading his kid for a win, the Sharks have gone 8-3-1, so perhaps the apology wasn’t fully warranted. (Kidding). It’s worth noting for all the Macklin Celebrini highlights, the Sharks have held their opponents to just four goals in four games. 

19. Washington Capitals (8-7-1, +7. PR: 16)

I think losing Pierre-Luc Dubois for most of the season is going to be a huge loss, and it highlights the Caps’ lack of depth at center. It’s a bad time, too, having lost six of their last eight.

20. Florida Panthers (8-7-1, -5. PR: 19)

It’s still not great, but it’s better. After losing four straight, the Panthers have alternated wins and losses. I think what’s most concerning, however, is that no one has really stepped up in Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk’s absence other than Brad Marchand. 

21. Toronto Maple Leafs (8-8-1, -3. PR: 12)

Never mind the three-game losing streak, what might hurt most is losing Auston Matthews for an extended period of time. The Leafs have looked good at time this season, but nowhere near as good as they were last season or what people expected this season. Silver lining: Joseph Woll is returning soon. 

22. Minnesota Wild (7-7-4, -8. PR: 23)

After a stretch of eight losses in nine games, the Wild have managed to get back on track, and getting better goaltending is no coincidence. They took advantage of the Preds, Flames, Isles and Canucks because some big tests against the Ducks, Knights, Canes and Jets loom in the coming weeks.

23. New York Islanders (8-6-2, even. PR: 26)

Big wins against the Rangers and Devils, so does that mean the Isles are the best team in the tri-state area? By the way, Ilya Sorokin’s line in October – 3-4-1, .877 SP, 3.40 GAA – versus his line in November – 2-0-1, .947 SP, 1.61 GAA. He’s back. 

24. New York Rangers (8-7-2, -2. PR: 20)

No doubt having Vincent Trocheck helps a lot. After an embarrassing dearth of goals on home ice, the Rangers broke through in a big way against the Preds. I noted in previous weeks that the Rangers’ expected goals aren’t that poor, and the pucks should start going in soon. Even if you’re a pessimist, note the Rangers play at home only three times for the rest of the month.

25. Edmonton Oilers (7-6-4, -9. PR: 17)

What stuck out the most was an embarrassing 9-1 loss against the Avs. When Cale Makar scored from the same spot off the same play twice, it was a microcosm of the Oilers’ inability (stubbornness?) to adjust and change. You reap what you sow; the Oilers watched the same Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard we did and decided their best option was to run it back for a third time.

26. Columbus Blue Jackets (8-7-1, -1. PR: 11)

The Jackets at least ended their five-game road trip on a good note with a shootout win against the Kraken, allowing just one goal after allowing 17 in their previous four games. Consistency remains elusive, too, and they were just as streaky last season.

27. Seattle Kraken (7-4-5, -6. PR: 21)

The Kraken haven’t gone on any extended losing streaks like they did last season, which is positive, but they’ve also lost consecutive games four separate times already this season. They look a little more like the version that made the playoffs, but the story’s still the same – they can’t score.

28. Vancouver Canucks (8-9-1, -10. PR: 24)

Quinn Hughes looks like he might be playing hurt, and Thatcher Demko is definitely hurt. The Canucks are battling through injuries and managing to stay in games, but there continues to be an underlying current of frustration with the front office and management by the fan base. It’s not exactly toxic, but it’s not definitely helping, especially with what transpired last season.

Hall Of Fame D-Man Says Canucks' Quinn Hughes Is His Favorite To Watch, Paying Back ComplimentDuncan Keith has only been retired for three years, but the two-time Norris Trophy winner says so much has changed with the defense position: "Each generation does things that nobody has seen before."

29. St. Louis Blues (6-8-3, -18. PR: 27)

The Blues nearly blew a 3-0 lead against the Flames, and given the way their season has gone, it’s actually a minor miracle they’ve somehow managed to win six games already. It certainly helps that Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer are playing better.

30. Buffalo Sabres (5-6-4, -8. PR: 29)

Losing Rasmus Dahlin is a huge blow, and we’ll see what Bowen Byram and Owen Power are really made of in the coming weeks. They’ve lost six of their last seven, including four in overtime, and have not won in regulation in two weeks. The Sabres have a logjam in the crease, which makes the panic signing of Alexandar Georgiev all the funnier.

31. Nashville Predators (5-9-4, -18. PR: 31)

If there’s a team that has the bleakest outlook, it’s certainly the Preds. Ryan O’Reilly was unnecessarily harsh on himself – perhaps he was deflecting – but there is some underlying truth to what he was saying. For many of the Preds’ vets, their best seasons are well behind them. They’re saddled with big contracts that will be tough to move. 

32. Calgary Flames (4-12-2, -20. PR: 32)

The Flames have lost three straight and scored just two goals, quickly overtaking the Rangers as the league’s most offensively inept team. With dates against Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard coming up, they have zero chance if they can’t score goals.

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.

The Grand Rapids Griffins open a two-game homestand on Wednesday and Friday, beginning with a highly anticipated matchup against the Toronto Marlies. Grand Rapids has been dominant to start the season, winning eight straight games before falling in a shootout against the Chicago Wolves. Now, they shift their focus to the Marlies, who will feature the return of Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll on an AHL conditioning stint.

Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) on XIT’S GAME DAY‼️ Wake up we got a game to play #GoGRG 📍 : Van Andel Arena ⏰ : 11 AM 💻 : AHLTV on FloHockey https://t.co/K1zdGDHoeZ 📻 : 96.1 The Game https://t.co/eP1wPsALbI

Woll’s return comes at a crucial time for the Maple Leafs, who have struggled defensively this season. Toronto has allowed 65 goals, tied with the Nashville Predators for the most in the NHL. The pressure has largely fallen on Anthony Stolarz, who has shouldered a heavy workload with Woll sidelined. Stolarz has started 12 of the Leafs’ 15 games, posting a 6-5-1 record with a 3.35 goals-against average and an .889 save percentage. Without Woll’s steady play, the Leafs’ goaltending tandem has lacked balance, making this rehab assignment a major storyline for both the NHL and AHL clubs.

Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) on XROOLLLL CALLLL @Acrisure | #GoGRG

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Woll made his season debut last Saturday for the Marlies against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, stopping 21 of 24 shots in a 3-2 loss. He will get the start again on Wednesday as Toronto fans watch closely, hoping this appearance marks the final step before his NHL return.

The Griffins, meanwhile, continue to roll offensively with forward John Leonard as one of the hottest scorers in the league. With nine goals and three assists for 12 points in eight games, the 27-year-old is producing at a 1.50 points-per-game pace, the second-best average in the AHL. He has scored in six of his eight appearances and carries an active eight-game point streak that includes three multi-goal performances. Playmaker Amadeus Lombardi has also been a key contributor with assists in seven of Grand Rapids’ nine games, including an active five-game assist streak.

Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) on XLooks like the Griffins might get to face goaltender Joseph Woll tomorrow for the annual school day game 👀 #GoGRG #LGRW

Grand Rapids will look to test Woll early and often, but they have goaltending concerns of their own. With both of their regular netminders injured in the last game, the Griffins will turn to ECHL call-ups Carter Gylander and newly signed Luke Pavicich to handle duties in goal.

Wednesday’s matchup promises high intensity and plenty of offense as the Griffins aim to make a statement against an NHL-caliber goaltender. Puck drop is set for 11 a.m. EST. Fans can listen live on WOOD 106.9 FM and 1300 AM or stream the action on AHLTV via FloHockey.

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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.