NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 20, 2025
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin reaches another scoring milestone, the Jets re-sign captain Adam Lowry, and injury updates on the Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy, the Senators’ Brady Tkachuk, and more.
RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 904th career regular-season goal, and rookie Ryan Leonard had his first NHL multi-goal game in a 7-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Leonard and Tom Wilson scored twice while John Carlson and Connor McMichael each collected three assists for the Capitals, who improved to 10-8-2. Darnell Nurse tallied twice for the struggling Oilers, who dropped to 9-9-4.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin also reached another scoring milestone by scoring his 480th goal at Capital One Arena (regular season and playoffs), tying Gordie Howe (480 at Detroit Olympia) for the most goals in a single venue in NHL history.
The Minnesota Wild blew a 3-1 lead but recovered to nip the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on a shootout goal by Matt Boldy. Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 42 shots, and Mats Zuccarello had a goal and an assist for the Wild (10-7-4) as they picked up their third straight win. Jackson Blake tallied twice for the 13-5-2 Hurricanes, who collected a point to move into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Wild placed sidelined forward Ryan Hartman (lower body, week-to-week) on injured reserve.
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ian Moore snapped a 3-3 tie with 3:35 remaining in the third period to beat the Boston Bruins 4-3. Lukas Dostal stopped 36 shots and Mason McTavish picked up two assists as the Ducks (13-6-1) opened a three-point lead over the Vegas Golden Knights atop the Pacific Division with 27 points. Morgan Geekie scored two goals for the 12-10-0 Bruins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Bruins announced that defenseman Charlie McAvoy underwent successful facial surgery. McAvoy was injured on Saturday when he was struck in the face by a puck. There is no timeline yet for his return.
The Calgary Flames score four unanswered goals in the third period in a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Joel Farabee tallied two goals, and Rasmus Andersson had a goal and two assists for the 6-13-3 Flames. Mattias Samuelsson and Tage Thompson replied for the Sabres, who slipped to 7-9-4.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames will be loaning rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh to the Canadian team for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in December.
HEADLINES
WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets signed captain Adam Lowry to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5 million. Lowry, 32, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lowry is in the final season of a five-year deal with an AAV of $3.25 million. The 6’5”, 210-pound center is the Jets’ top defensive forward and has spent his entire 12-season NHL career with the Jets, who also re-signed Kyle Connor, Gabriel Vilardi, Morgan Barron, and Dylan Samberg earlier this year.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is eyeing the US Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) as his return date. He’s been sidelined since Oct. 13 with an injured thumb.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers revealed that a freak cooking accident is the reason why forward Eetu Luostarinen has been sidelined. A malfunctioning gas grill resulted in Luostarinen suffering burns to the lower half of his body. He’s expected to miss a couple of weeks.
The Panthers also lost center Cole Schwindt during Monday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. He suffered a broken arm that might require surgery.
SNY: The New York Islanders placed defenseman Alexander Romanov (upper body) on injured reserve. He suffered the injury on Tuesday when he was driven into the end boards from behind by Stars forward Mikko Rantanen.
ESPN: Neck guards are expected to be mandatory for hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Eeeek. The oilers are really good and really bad at the same time. I don’t even put it all on goaltending. They don’t back check – or they don’t do it correctly.
the new buzz phrase coming out of interviews involves “checking for my chances” or some form of that…and it’s true…it always has been. When you play good defense and check your opponents you create opportunity for yourself and your team. It’s a lesson you’d think the Oil would have learned already.
I do put in on the goaltending.
I am now taking the approach…would the oilers have won if the goalies were switched and almost always the answer is yes.
That is not to excuse the breakdowns but how many times this year has the oilers goalie been better than the guy at the other end. Use any metric or eye test.
Its not like the oilers are giving up 40 shots and losing 5 to 4. They gave up 19 shots.
19! And I understand not all shots are created equal….but cmon.
We jettisoned Campbell out when his stats were better.
Let than sink in
The losses of Corey Perry, Evander Kane and Connor Brown aren’t talked about enough. A lot of grit and character missing.
Good comment, Snold. That’s a factor. But …
Early yet, but how long before McDavid starts to reflect on his time in Edmonton. Big gesture accepting 12 million.
Meanwhile, Bouchard is the 4th highest paid D in the NHL, (and another 9.25 for Nurse) and the Oil have 200K in cap space.
So the best player in the game makes a significant gesture to help win while Bouchard held the Oil to ransom and hamstrings the Oil.
Boosch for Riley ,Domi and Ben Danford
Major shake-up for both teams!
I agree that their goaltending is weak, but the Oilers just look like they have lost some chemistry. They also are classically relying way to much on their big guns. I’d they look gassed and all the hockey has caught up. It was inevitable. They probably need an early year to rest up and get some hunger and mojo back.
Crazy injuries keep mounting for the Fla. Panthers. I Don t know how many of these they can absorb and still contend for a cup.Each day Lyle your column can read like a mash unit. Scheduling or are players bigger,faster and stronger?