NHL Rumor Mill – December 1, 2025

by | Dec 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – December 1, 2025

Check out the latest on the Islanders and Senators in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ISLANDERS SPECULATION

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears recently listed several factors that could play into the Islanders’ approach to the March 6 trade deadline.

Their current record suggests they’re more of a playoff contender than originally thought when the season began. They could also have over $12 million in usable salary-cap dollars if or when Alexander Romanov and Semyon Varlamov join Pierre Engvall on long-term injury reserve.

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee (NHL Images).

Meanwhile, veteran forwards Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau are on expiring contracts, which could make them valuable trade chips if the Isles become sellers. However, it’s difficult to imagine general manager Mathieu Darche trading either player if his club continues playing the way it has.

Improving their defense corps should be the Islanders’ priority. They miss the sidelined Romanov on the left side, and they never fully replaced the departed Noah Dobson on the right. Sears considered Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames as an obvious fit. Filip Hronek of the Vancouver Canucks could be another, but he’s reportedly not among the players the Canucks would consider moving.

The Isles could use another scorer and some physicality among their bottom-six forwards.

Following Kyle Palmieri’s season-ending knee injury, Sears suggested Darche shouldn’t make any hasty decisions that might sacrifice future first-round picks or top prospects to replace the sidelined winger or bolster their defense.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma reports Palmieri’s injury has put the Islanders among the rumored suitors for Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old winger is enjoying a career-best performance thus far. Canucks management is wary that he’ll regress, but is also buoyed by the possibility that he’ll return a first-round pick, and possibly more, in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzma observed that the Islanders may not wish to mortgage their future in pursuit of Sherwood, but he believes they’d have to at least part with a first-rounder to land the feisty winger. That would also apply to any other significant player (Andersson, Hronek) that they could be monitoring in the trade market.

UPDATE ON THE SENATORS

THE ATHLETIC’s Julian McKenzie cited a report by TSN’s Darren Dreger on Friday in which Dreger claimed that Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios would like to add a forward or a defenseman to his roster. However, he doesn’t think that Staios is going to be “a big game hunter” in the trade market.

Dreger also dismissed the possibility of promising defenseman Carter Yakemchuk becoming a trade chip. “Not going to happen.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staios wants to improve his roster, but not at the expense of his top prospect. Yakemchuk is projected to fill the role of a top-pairing, right-shot defenseman.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports league sources told him that there is “virtually no chance” that the Senators will find a trade partner for Alex Formenton’s rights. The 26-year-old winger is a restricted free agent, and the deadline for him to sign a new NHL contract is 5 pm ET on Dec. 1.

The Senators have tried to trade Formenton’s rights for months, seeking a draft pick in return. If he’s not traded and signed by Monday’s deadline, he’ll be ineligible to play in the NHL this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 1, 2025

by | Dec 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 1, 2025

Connor Bedard leading the Blackhawks to a comeback victory highlights Sunday’s NHL action, an update on the injury status of Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, and more in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Connor Bedard scored two goals and assisted on two others to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Spencer Knight stopped 23 shots as the 11-9-5 Blackhawks overcame a 3-0 deficit, snapping a five-game winless skid (0-4-1). Cutter Gauthier and Troy Terry each had two points for the Ducks (15-9-1), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 31 points.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard moves into a tie for second place in the points race (37) with San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini. Ducks goaltender Petr Mrazek left the game midway through the third period with a lower-body injury.

Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston tallied a hat trick and picked up an assist in a 6-1 drubbing of the Ottawa Senators. Jason Robertson had a goal and two assists, and Mikko Rantanen collected three assists for the 17-5-4 Stars, who picked up their fourth straight win. Jake Sanderson scored for the Senators (12-9-4), who have dropped three of their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin returned to action after missing six games with a lower-body injury.

The Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Calgary Flames 1-0 on an overtime goal by Nikolaj Ehlers. Brandon Bussi made 15 saves for the shutout as the Hurricanes improved to 16-7-2. Devin Cooley stopped 17 shots for the 9-14-4 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win vaulted the Hurricanes over the New Jersey Devils into first place in the Metropolitan Division with 34 points.

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson scored two goals to defeat the New York Islanders 4-1. Alex Ovechkin scored his 909th career NHL regular-season goal, and Logan Thompson kicked out 30 shots for the Capitals (15-9-2), who collected their fourth straight victory. Bo Horvat scored for the 13-10-3 Islanders, who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

NEW YORK POST: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox was placed on long-term injury reserve with what is believed to be an injured left shoulder suffered during Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The injury is not considered season-threatening, and he will be reevaluated around Christmas.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fox’s absence creates a big hole in the Rangers’ blueline. He’s their top defenseman and is currently tied with winger Artemi Panarin as the club’s leading scorer with 26 points.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights recalled goaltender Carter Hart and assigned Carl Lindbom to their AHL affiliate. He’s expected to start in their Dec. 2 game against the Chicago Blackhawks.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 30, 2025

by | Nov 30, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – November 30, 2025

Check out the latest on the Canucks, Oilers, Maple Leafs, and Blackhawks in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

RUMORS FROM SPORTSNET’S SATURDAY NHL HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman felt there might be a quick trade involving Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old Vancouver Canucks forward is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Friedman noted he’s “a really good player,” carrying an affordable salary ($1.5 million). However, there’s nothing imminent, and it may not happen fast.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (NHL Images).

Winger Conor Garland didn’t play in last night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. However, that is injury-related and not because he’s being held out of the lineup for trade purposes.

Friedman believes teams such as the Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, and Philadelphia Flyers could be interested in some of the Canucks’ veterans who are on expiring contracts. Nevertheless, the Canucks aren’t in a hurry and are willing to take their time and see what the trade market looks like.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports a NHL source close to the situation said the Boston Bruins had contacted the Canucks about Sherwood and Garland. They’re in the market for more scoring depth. Murphy also indicated that the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Detroit Red Wings have expressed an interest in Sherwood.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner wondered if Canucks blueliner Filip Hronek might be in play. The 28-year-old has five seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $7.25 million and a full no-movement clause.

Rosner believes Hronek could be a good fit alongside rookie star Matthew Schaefer, which in turn could help the Islanders become a Stanley Cup contender. He wondered if a package offer of the 2026 first-round pick that originally belonged to the Colorado Avalanche, a conditional third-round pick, and a depth player would be enough to get the job done.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The current Canucks management has a reputation for making moves well ahead of the annual trade deadline. However, that doesn’t mean they’re going to pull the trigger in late November or early December, especially when teams aren’t as willing to meet their asking prices at this time of year.

The earliest they’ll make those moves will likely be January, which was when they shipped J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers last season.

As for Hronek, Friedman stated last week that he’s unlikely to be available. The Canucks are only looking to move pending UFAs or those with less than two years on their contracts, with superstar Quinn Hughes excluded from that list. Any club wanting Hronek must offer up more than draft picks and a depth player, assuming he’ll waive his no-movement clause.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports struggling goaltender Stuart Skinner has not sought a trade from the Edmonton Oilers. He also said the Oilers won’t make a trade just for the sake of doing so or to make a lateral move. They’d rather not make a move than a bad or a panic move.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s because there are slim pickings for goalies in the trade market. Friedman indicated there are teams with spare goalies (Columbus, Pittsburgh, Buffalo) but the Oilers don’t consider what’s available to be an improvement over their current tandem of Skinner and Calvin Pickard.

Friedman indicated that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been looking around in the trade market. However, he doesn’t believe there are any major organizational changes on the horizon.

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Laurent Brossoit is on a conditioning stint with the club’s AHL affiliate as he continues to work his way back from knee and hip surgeries that have sidelined him since last April.

The Blackhawks no longer have room for Brossoit. Friedman said they have permitted teams to speak with the 32-year-old netminder. He carries a $3.3 million cap hit, which not many clubs can currently afford.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: David Staples of the Edmonton Journal pointed out that Friedman recently speculated about the Oilers being one of those teams. However, his comments on Saturday about their unwillingness to make a lateral move with their goaltending suggest Brossoit might not be of interest to them.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 30, 2025

by | Nov 30, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 30, 2025

Nathan MacKinnon and Morgan Geekie are this season’s first 20-goal scorers, Macklin Celebrini reaches a scoring milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

RECAPS OF SATURDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon scored his 20th goal of the season and collected two assists as the Colorado Avalanche thumped the Montreal Canadiens 7-2. Brock Nelson scored twice and had two assists, and Gabriel Landeskog had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche (18-1-6), who hold first place in the overall standings with 42 points. Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson replied for the 13-8-3 Canadiens, whose three-game win streak ended.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon becomes the first NHL player to score 20 goals this season, reaching that milestone for the 11th time in his career. He’s tied for the goal-scoring lead and sits atop the points race with 44.

Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble missed this game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, player agent Philippe Lecavalier said his client, Mike Matheson, wouldn’t have signed the contract he did on Friday with any other NHL club. The 32-year-old Canadiens defenseman inked a five-year extension with an average annual value of $6 million.

Boston Bruins winger Morgan Geekie tallied two goals, and Casey Mittelstadt scored the winner in a shootout for a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Elias Lindholm collected two assists for the 15-12-0 Bruins. Lucas Raymond and Michael Rasmussen scored for the Red Wings, who are winless in four games (0-3-1) and dropped to 13-11-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Geekie is tied with MacKinnon with 20 goals on the season. Bruins center Pavel Zacha returned to action after missing the Bruins’ previous game with an upper-body injury, while teammate Henri Jokiharju was placed on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Red Wings forward Patrick Kane is struggling to score. He had three goals and 14 points in 17 games, with the last goal being scored on Nov. 15.

The Vegas Golden Knights got two goals from Tomas Hertl to hold off the San Jose Sharks by a score of 4-3. Carl Lindbom turned aside 18 shots for his first NHL win as the Golden Knights (11-6-8) snapped a four-game winless skid (0-2-2). Will Smith tallied twice for the 12-11-3 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks center Macklin Celebrini collected an assist for his 100th career NHL point, becoming the second-fastest player in Sharks history to reach that milestone and the eighth youngest player in league history (19 years, 169 days) to do so.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel scored two goals to extend his goal streak to five games in a 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers. Nikita Kucherov picked up three assists for the Lightning (16-7-2), who won their seventh straight game and sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with 34 points. The Rangers (13-12-1) got a goal from J.T. Miller as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox left this game with an injured left arm. Head coach Mike Sullivan said he was being evaluated. His status remains unclear.

The Edmonton Oilers got a 26-save shutout from Stuart Skinner to blank the Seattle Kraken 4-0. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist in his return to action after a nine-game absence with an undisclosed injury as the Oilers improved to 11-10-5. Joey Daccord allowed four goals on 25 shots for the Kraken, who are winless in three games (0-2-1) as they slipped to 11-7-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers played without forwards Jack Roslovic and Kasperi Kapanen, who are expected to miss at least two weeks with injuries. On Friday, the Kraken announced that winger Jaden Schwartz will be sidelined for six weeks with a lower-body injury.

St. Louis Blues goalie Joel Hofer made 18 saves, and Dylan Holloway scored the only goal to shut out the Utah Mammoth 1-0. Mammoth netminder Karel Vejmelka stopped 18 shots as his club has lost three straight games and dropped to 12-11-3. The Blues improved to 9-10-7.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth center Logan Cooley had to be helped off the ice in the third period after a knee-on-knee hit from Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko, who received a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct. There was no update on Cooley’s status.

The Philadelphia Flyers got two goals and an assist from Owen Tippett in a 5-3 upset of the New Jersey Devils. Matvei Michkov netted two goals, and Dan Vladar stopped 29 shots for the 14-7-3 Flyers, who picked up their third straight win. Dawson Mercer had a goal and an assist for the Devils (16-8-1), whose three-game win streak was snapped, but they remain in first place in the Metropolitan Division with 33 points.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist in a 7-2 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Bobby McMann, and Nicolas Roy also each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who improved to 11-11-3. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (12-7-5).

Winnipeg Jets winger Nino Niederreiter tallied twice as his club defeated the Nashville Predators 5-2, snapping a four-game losing skid. Dylan Samberg had three assists as the Jets improved to 13-11-0. Luke Evangelista had a goal and an assist for the 8-13-4 Predators.

A shootout goal by Noah Ostlund lifted the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 upset of the Minnesota Wild, ending the latter’s seven-game win streak. Beck Malenstyn and Josh Doan scored in regulation for the 10-11-4 Sabres. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy tallied for the 14-7-4 Wild.

An overtime goal by Adrian Kempe lifted the Los Angeles Kings over the Vancouver Canucks 2-1. Anze Kopitar also scored for the 12-6-7 Kings. Evander Kane replied for the Canucks, who dropped to 10-13-3.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NEW YORK POST: Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri’s season is over after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee on Friday. He will undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight months.

CBS SPORTS: Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot (upper body) was placed on injured reserve.

TSN: There is no backup plan if the main ice hockey arena for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics is not ready on time. Construction is behind schedule, and its completion is going down to the wire.

The women’s tournament begins on Feb. 5, while the men’s tournament starts on Feb. 11. The latter will feature NHL players for the first time since the 2014 Games.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 29, 2025

by | Nov 29, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 29, 2025

The latest on Predators winger Steven Stamkos and Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SUGGESTED LANDING SPOTS FOR STAMKOS

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon proposed five potential trade destinations for Nashville Predators winger Steven Stamkos.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Dixon acknowledged the decline in the 35-year-old Stamkos’ production since last season. He doubted that a club would have to make a significant offer to Nashville to get him, especially if they can swing it without asking the Predators to retain part of his $8 million cap hit through 2027-28.

The Montreal Canadiens are atop Dixon’s list of sensible landing spots, followed by the Winnipeg Jets, Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes, and Detroit Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: What wasn’t mentioned was Stamkos’ full no-movement clause. He’ll have the final say over possible landing spots, and there’s only one on this list that seems the most likely.

Recent reports also claim the Predators haven’t spoken with the aging star about a trade, though some observers believed they could entertain offers for him, Jonathan Marchessault, and Ryan O’Reilly.

The Canadiens were rumored to have inquired about Stamkos, but that may have been due diligence on their part. If Stamkos passed on signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016 because of all the attention he would’ve faced in that hockey-mad market, it’s doubtful he’ll be keen to come to Montreal, or any other Canadian market.

The Kraken could use a scoring star, and if Stamkos were five years younger, they’d probably jump on an opportunity to get him if he wanted to go to Seattle. But he’s no longer that scoring star, so he’s not a good fit there, and the same applies to Montreal and Winnipeg.

As for the Red Wings, they could use a boost to their secondary scoring, but defense remains their Achilles heel, and Stamkos can’t help them in that department.

That leaves the Hurricanes as the only sensible spot on this list. They’re in “win-now” mode and might benefit from Stamkos’ Stanley Cup experience. However, their pursuit of Mikko Rantanen and Mitch Marner last season indicates that they want younger scoring stars in their prime.

COULD THE FLYERS PURSUE QUINN HUGHES?

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James noted the recent speculation swirling around Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. The Canucks are in sell mode with some of their veteran players, and while they’re not shopping the 26-year-old defenseman, some observers feel they could peddle him if he’s unwilling to sign a contract extension next summer.

James noted the New Jersey Devils are considered the front-runners for Hughes, setting up a reunion with brothers Jack and Luke. However, hockey insider Frank Seravalli suggested the Philadelphia Flyers could be among the suitors if the former Norris Trophy winner becomes available.

According to James, it would take a package offer consisting of top draft picks, a top prospect, an NHL defenseman, and a winger to land Hughes. He doesn’t see the Flyers including winger Matvei Michkov and prospect Porter Martone in that deal.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports no one has told him that the Flyers would pursue Hughes if the Canucks put him on the trade block, but he thinks they could to land a player who could accelerate their rebuild.

Kurz believes Michkov, Martone, and Tyson Foerster are the only untouchables on the Flyers. He thinks it doesn’t make sense to part with players who seem destined to be part of the solution to upgrade another position. Instead, they could draw on their four first-round picks and their second-rounders over the next three years as trade chips.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It remains to be seen whether Hughes re-signs with the Canucks or gets traded next summer to a club that he’s willing to sign with. It wouldn’t be surprising if they look into the asking price for Hughes, but the Canucks could insist on Michkov or Martone being part of the return. If they’re untouchable, then the Flyers have slimmer odds of landing him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 29, 2025

by | Nov 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 29, 2025

The Wild ended the Avalanche’s long win streak, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby reached another scoring milestone, the Canadiens re-signed Mike Matheson, the Flames re-signed general manager Craig Conroy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Minnesota Wild extended their win streak to seven games with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Colorado Avalanche, ending the latter’s win streak at 10 games. Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 39 shots, Kirill Kaprizov tallied twice (including his 200th career goal), and Matt Boldy scored the winning goal for the 14-7-4 Wild. Nathan MacKinnon scored his league-leading 19th goal for the Avalanche (17-1-6), who picked up a point and sit atop the overall standings with 40 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Wild placed forward Marcus Foligno on injured reserve.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Sidney Crosby scored two goals and Kris Letang tallied in overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. With the win, the Penguins improved to 12-6-5. Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist for the 11-9-5 Blue Jackets, who are winless in their last four games (0-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby scored his 640th career regular-season NHL goal, moving past Dave Andreychuk into 15th on the overall goal list. He also moved past Jarome Iginla into 20th place for the most multi-goal games with 109.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin had a goal and three assists in a 6-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. Mika Zibanejad scored two goals, and Adam Fox picked up three assists for the Rangers (13-11-2), who picked up their third straight win. Casey Mittelstadt and Morgan Geekie replied for the 14-12-0 Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins forwards David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha missed this game due to injuries and are listed as day-to-day. Forward Matej Blumel was placed on long-term injury reserve.

The Montreal Canadiens got a 30-save performance from Sam Montembeault to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1. Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Zach Bolduc each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (13-7-3), who picked up their third straight win. Mark Stone scored for the slumping Golden Knights (10-6-8), who are winless in their last four contests (0-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Canadiens signed defenseman Mike Matheson to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $6 million. The 31-year-old Montreal native has been a reliable veteran presence on the Canadiens’ blueline. His cap hit is a bit pricey, but he likely would have received over $7 million annually on a longer term in next summer’s free-agent market. It’s a good move by the Habs, ensuring their top-four defensemen are all under long-term contracts.

Calgary Flames goalie Devin Cooley stopped 37 shots as his club overcame an early 2-0 deficit for a 5-3 upset of the Florida Panthers. Nazem Kadri had a goal and two assists for the 9-14-3 Flames, who’ve won four of their last five contests. Evan Rodrigues and Sam Bennett scored for the Panthers, who’ve dropped three of their last four and dropped to 12-11-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Flames announced the signing of general manager Craig Conroy and fellow front-office executives Don Maloney, Dave Nonis, and Brad Pascall to two-year contract extensions. It’s a vote of confidence from Flames’ ownership despite the club’s low placement in the standings thus far.

New Jersey Devils netminder Jake Allen turned in a 42-save shutout to blank the Buffalo Sabres 5-0. Arseny Gritsyuk had two goals for the Devils (16-7-1) as they picked up their third straight victory. Alex Lyon allowed five goals on 18 shots for the Sabres, who slipped to 9-11-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the win, the Devils hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 33 points.

The Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 6-3. Yanni Gourde tallied twice, and Nikita Kucherov collected two assists to extend his points streak to eight games for the 15-7-2 Lightning, who picked up their sixth straight win. J.T. Compher and Michael Rasmussen each had a goal and an assist for the 13-11-1 Red Wings, who’ve lost four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning sit atop the Atlantic Division with 32 points, three ahead of the second-place Canadiens.

Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston snapped a 3-3 tie to give his club a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen each had two assists as the 16-5-4 Stars collected their third straight win. Logan Cooley, Kevin Rooney, and Jack McBain scored for the Mammoth (12-10-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth winger Clayton Keller played in the game despite the sudden death of his father the previous day. As a tribute, he was named the game’s first star. My sincere condolences to Keller and his family.

The Philadelphia Flyers blew a 3-0 lead to the New York Islanders but picked up a 4-3 win on a shootout goal by Travis Konecny. Tyson Foerster, Sean Couturier, and Trevor Zegras scored in regulation for the 13-7-3 Flyers, who’ve won four of their last five games. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (13-9-3), who’ve dropped three of their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders winger Kyle Palmieri left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. While on his way to the bench, he stole the puck from Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae and passed to Anders Lee, who set up Emil Heineman for the Isles’ first goal.

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson scored the tying goal and had two assists as his club nipped the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 on a shootout goal by Mason McTavish. The win gave the Ducks (15-8-1) a two-point lead over the Kings for first place in the Pacific Division with 31 points. Defensemen Brandt Clarke and Brian Dumoulin each had two assists for the Kings (11-6-7), who have one win in their last five games (1-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Ducks announced that goaltender Lukas Dostal would be sidelined for two to three weeks with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Kings winger Warren Foegele missed this contest with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun scored to extend his goal streak to five games as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to double up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2. Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (14-9-3) as they’ve won six of their last seven contests. Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies scored for the struggling Maple Leafs (10-11-3), who are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger William Nylander missed this game due to an illness, and forward Max Domi was a healthy scratch.

A hat trick by Seth Jarvis powered the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Andrei Svechnikov and Shayne Gostisbehere each had two assists for the 15-7-2 Hurricanes. Mark Scheifele replied for the slumping Jets (12-11-0) as they lost their fourth straight game.

The St. Louis Blues squeaked past the Ottawa Senators 4-3 on a goal by Matthew Kessel. Jordan Binnington stopped 25 shots for the 8-10-7 Blues. Brady Tkachuk collected an assist in his return to action with the 12-8-4 Senators.

San Jose Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov stopped 32 shots, and Macklin Celebrini picked up two assists to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Adam Gaudette netted the winning goal for the 12-10-3 Sharks. Forwards Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson replied for the Canucks (10-13-2), who have lost four of their last five games.

The Nashville Predators held off the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3. Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos, and Luke Evangelista each had a goal and an assist for the 8-12-4 Predators. Ryan Donato, Ryan Greene, and Teuvo Teravainen replied for the Blackhawks, who’ve lost four straight and dropped to 10-9-5.