NHL Rumor Mill – November 7, 2025

by | Nov 7, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 7, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Roundup: we have updates on Flames center Nazem Kadri and Predators forward Steven Stamkos, plus the latest on the Mammoth and Devils.

THE FLAMES AREN’T INTERESTED IN MOVING NAZEM KADRI

TSN: Darren Dreger reports Calgary Flames ownership is telling people that they’re not interested in trading Nazem Kadri.

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).

The 35-year-old center has been the focus of trade speculation since the summer. He’s signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $7 million. Multiple teams are seeking a second-line center who covets Kadri’s experience. However, he loves living in Calgary and wants to help the Flames win.

Dreger admits that things could change between now and the March 6 trade deadline. For now, the position of ownership is that Kadri is unavailable.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The struggling Flames aren’t giving up on the season. Ownership’s unwillingness to move Kadri could put a damper on the media speculation for now. However, he’ll continue to be a trade target if the Flames remain mired near the bottom of the standings, especially if they’re still in that position when the calendar flips to January.

THE LATEST ON STEVEN STAMKOS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun considers the recent trade chatter swirling around Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos to be premature. He indicated that there haven’t been any conversations between management and the player, or the Predators, with other teams, about a trade.

However, LeBrun thinks the Predators could field calls about Stamkos if they’re out of the playoff hunt by the March trade deadline. However, the 35-year-old forward has a full no-movement clause. He would have a short list of acceptable destinations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos’s age, movement clause, declining production, and his $8 million annual cap hit through 2027-28 will make him difficult to move during the season. This could be a deal that takes place during the offseason.

THE MAMMOTH COULD BE AGGRESSIVE BUYERS

TSN: Chris Johnston thinks the Utah Mammoth will be “extremely aggressive” as buyers by the March trade deadline. They’ve made no secret of their intent to reach the playoffs this season. Johnston points out they have plenty of trade capital in draft picks, prospects, and in salary-cap space if they wish to pursue high-ticket players, such as a top-four defenseman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The patient rebuilding strategy of Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong is paying dividends this season. Even if they have a firm grip on a postseason berth by March, Armstrong could use his cap space and trade capital to bolster his roster for a deep playoff run.

COULD THE DEVILS PURSUE A DEFENSEMAN?

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols recently expressed concern over the blueline depth of the Devils. He speculated that an early-season trade might be necessary if things don’t improve soon.

The Devils are missing sidelined defenseman Brett Pesce, who was recently placed on injured reserve. They’re also waiting for Johnathan Kovacevic to return from offseason knee surgery. Simon Nemec has been inconsistent, and Jonas Siegenthaler hasn’t had a strong start to this season.

Nichols believes that the Devils need another defensive-minded blueliner. He suggested Nick Perbix of the Nashville Predators, Vincent Desharnais of the San Jose Sharks, and Andrew Peeke of the Boston Bruins are potential trade targets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils also lost Dougie Hamilton in their 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. That might prompt management to seek help if he’s out for a long time.

If Hamilton isn’t out for a lengthy period, the Devils might be willing to remain patient and wait for their sidelined blueliners to return. They’re currently sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings, so there is no urgency to address their defense issues right now. However, that could change if those absences start adversely affecting their performance.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 7, 2025

by | Nov 7, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 7, 2025

The Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and the Ducks’ Cutter Gauthier are tied for the goal-scoring lead, the Devils hold first place in the Eastern Conference, the Bruins extend their points streaks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby tallied twice to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. The Penguins blew a 3-0 lead until Bryan Rust scored and Connor Dewar collected an empty-net insurance goal to improve their record to 9-4-2. Rust finished the night with three points. Alex Ovechkin had two assists, and Dylan Strome scored and had two helpers for the 7-6-1 Capitals, who have lost five of their last six games.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 38-year-old Crosby has 11 goals, tying him for the league lead in that category. This game was the 99th time that Crosby and Ovechkin have faced each other since their NHL debut in 2005-06. Meanwhile, Penguins rookie winger Filip Hallander missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier had a goal and an assist, and Chris Kreider scored twice to help their club upset the Dallas Stars 7-5. Leo Carlsson also had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who scored seven goals for the second straight game as they moved into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division with 19 points (9-3-1). Miro Heiskanen had four assists and Wyatt Johnston had a goal and two assists for the 7-4-3 Stars, whose points streak ended at seven games (4-0-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier, 21, is tied with Crosby for the league goal-scoring lead. That’s a 17-year age gap between the two stars.

The New Jersey Devils overcame a 3-2 deficit on goals by Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt to nip the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. Jack Hughes picked up two assists for the 10-4-0 Devils, who hold first place in the Eastern Conference over the 9-3-2 Canadiens. Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, and Oliver Kapanen scored, and Noah Dobson had two assists for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton left the game in the second period with an undisclosed injury. They activated forward Cody Glass off injured reserve for this game after being sidelined for seven games with an upper-body injury. They also placed defenseman Brett Pesce (upper-body injury) on IR.

Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki’s point streak ended at 12 games.

An overtime goal by Pavel Zacha extended the Boston Bruins’ win streak to five games as they downed the Ottawa Senators 3-2. Morgan Geekie and Sean Kuraly also scored for the 9-7-0 Bruins, who moved up into third place in the Atlantic Division. Michael Amadio and Claude Giroux replied for the 6-5-3 Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins forward John Beecher left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

Meanwhile, the NHL is taking another look at gambling allegations against Senators forward Arthur Kaliyev after his former girlfriend, model Lauren Mochen, claimed he owes her and others around the league thousands of dollars. The league has yet to find any evidence of wrongdoing, but will continue to examine the case. Kaliyev currently plays for the Senators’ AHL affiliate in Belleville.

The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Nashville Predators 3-1. Noah Cates snapped a 1-1 tie, and Travis Konecny and Cam York each had two points for the 8-5-1 Flyers. Ryan O’Reilly scored for the Predators, who dropped to 5-7-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: O’Reilly ripped his team’s performance following this game. He was also critical of his own efforts. “The number one center and I turn the puck over everywhere,” he said. “I can’t make a six-foot pass to save my life. Not going to have much success if I’m playing pathetic like that.”

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer turned in a 28-save shutout to blank the Buffalo Sabres 3-0. Mathieu Joseph, Nick Bjugstad, and Justin Faulk scored for the 5-8-0 Blues. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 14 shots for the Sabres, who dropped to 5-5-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The struggling Blues raised eyebrows when they made leading scorer Jordan Kyrou a healthy scratch. That had some observers wondering if a trade might be afoot, but it was head coach Jim Montgomery’s way of sending a message to his players about his unhappiness with their performance this season.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres placed forward Jiri Kulich on injured reserve. He’s been dealing with an issue related to fluid in his ears.

Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel each scored two goals in a 6-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Kucherov, Hagel, and rookie forward Dominic James each had three points for the Lightning, who improved to 7-5-2. Ivan Barbashev and Mitch Marner each had three points for the 7-3-3 Golden Knights.

The Carolina Hurricanes tamed the Minnesota Wild by a score of 4-3. Jackson Blake and Sean Walker each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes as they improved to 9-4-0. Matt Boldy tallied twice for the Wild, who dropped to 5-7-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Tyler Pitlick received a major and a match penalty for a hit to the head of Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield, who left the game and did not return. Hurricanes blueliner K’Andre Miller collected an assist in his return to action after missing six games with a lower-body injury.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand scored two goals in a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves as the Panthers improved their record to 7-6-1. Anze Kopitar and Corey Perry tallied for the 6-5-4 Kings.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NEW YORK POST: Struggling Rangers winger Artemi Panarin has shaved his head in a light-hearted effort to try to break out of his slump. He also admitted that concerns about the future are on his mind. The 34-year-old winger is in the final season of his contract and eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July. To date, there’s no indication the two sides are close to an extension.

TSN: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington explained he had every intention of handing over Alex Ovechkin’s 900-goal puck after tucking it into his goalie pants after the Capitals star scored the milestone goal on Wednesday.

Binnington joked that he had a claim to the puck since it was his turnover that led to the goal. “I had full intention to give it back to him.”

ROTOWIRE: Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan underwent evaluation after suffering an upper-body injury during Wednesday’s loss to the Calgary Flames. More information on his condition is expected before Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks placed rookie forward Michael Misa on injured reserve. He suffered a lower-body injury during the morning skate before Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Kraken.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Toronto Maple Leafs have suspended forward David Kampf for leaving their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. It’s expected this situation will be resolved soon, either by his reporting back to the Marlies, the two sides agreeing to terminate his contract, or he gets traded to another club.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 6, 2025

by | Nov 6, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 6, 2025

Check out the latest on Predators forward Steven Stamkos, Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON STEVEN STAMKOS

DAILY FACEOFF: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman appeared on the “Morning Cuppa Hockey” podcast on Wednesday, where one of the topics discussed was Steven Stamkos’s slow start with the Nashville Predators, and the possibility that the two sides might consider a trade.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Friedman was asked if the Predators might be willing to retain part of Stamkos’ $8 million average annual value through 2027-28 to facilitate a trade. He believes if they can get an offer that makes sense, it will be considered.

Stamkos’ scoring has declined since leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning to head to Nashville in July 2024. Friedman believes that may be due in part to the Predators lacking a set-up man comparable to the one Stamkos had in Tampa Bay with Nikita Kucherov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos has had a career worthy of the Hockey Hall of Fame, but his performance has declined noticeably since leaving the Lightning. The 35-year-old forward’s age is also a contributing factor.

A rival club could take a chance on Stamkos if they believe they have a suitable passer who can set him up in the offensive zone. However, the Predators could end up having to retain up to half of his remaining cap hit to make it happen. If such a trade were to occur, it would be during the offseason.

AN UPDATE ON ARTEMI PANARIN

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli weighed in on recent speculation over Artemi Panarin’s future with the New York Rangers.

The 34-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July, and there is no sign of progress in contract extension talks between the two sides. That’s prompted rumors suggesting he could be traded.

Seravalli pointed out that there is still a lot of time between now and the March 6 trade deadline. He believes Rangers management is still determining what kind of team they have before making any drastic decisions, such as trading Panarin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Rangers are in playoff contention and Panarin remains their offensive sparkplug by March, they’ll hang onto him for the rest of the season and hope to reach some common ground contract-wise before July. If not, then they could be open to trading him if he seems intent on testing the market or unwilling to accept a shorter, less-expensive contract.

KINGS GETTING OFFERS FOR BRANDT CLARKE

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports there are teams interested in Brandt Clarke, but the Los Angeles Kings aren’t interested in moving the 22-year-old defenseman.

Clarke is a right-shot defenseman with top-four upside who has seven points in 14 games thus far in this season. He’s due to become a restricted free agent next summer. The fact that he hasn’t signed an extension yet has prompted some speculation about his future.

Murphy believes the Kings’ focus on re-signing UFA-eligible winger Adrian Kempe has delayed contract extensions for other players, such as Clarke. Once the Kempe issue is resolved, management’s focus will shift toward re-signing Clarke.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings would be foolish to part ways with Clarke. He’s coming out of his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights, so they hold all the leverage in contract discussions. Regardless, he’s a promising part of their defense corps. It wouldn’t make any sense to move him unless they’re getting someone better to take his place, and that doesn’t seem likely.

TIDBITS FROM THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” COLUMN

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman doesn’t know if there’s anything going on trade-wise with Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei. However, he believes other teams may be calling after the talented youngster was benched for four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lohrei’s had his difficulties defensively this season, but it’s unlikely the Bruins will part with the 24-year-old unless someone makes an eye-popping trade pitch. He’s also in the first season of an affordable two-year contract. The Bruins will continue to work with him to improve his overall game.

The Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues were the most active in the trade market last week. Friedman believes they wanted to ensure that they weren’t missing out on any trade possibilities.

Friedman pointed out that the Seattle Kraken are still having trouble offensively. They have five first-round picks and four second-rounders in the next three drafts to draw on for trade bait if they want to add an impactful player.

The Edmonton Oilers could send players to the minors and through waivers to make room for players returning from injuries. Friedman said they’re trying to get Troy Stecher “a new opportunity”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, they’re trying to find a trade partner for Stecher.

The Carolina Hurricanes are carrying three goaltenders as Brandon Bussi has played his way into the rotation. Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov aren’t waiver exempt. Friedman said they were looking for defensemen, but some of their injured blueliners are close to returning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes have little choice right now but to hang onto all three goaltenders, given veteran Frederik Andersen’s injury history.

The Buffalo Sabres are trying to find a new home for Alexandar Georgiev. They’re hanging onto Colten Ellis. Friedman would be surprised if they traded Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, as he’s still their best goalie when healthy.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devon Levi recently surfaced in the rumor mill, but Friedman pointed out that the 23-year-old netminder is getting the bulk of the starts with their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

Friedman claims the word on Adin Hill is that the Vegas Golden Knights netminder will be sidelined for a few months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would also explain why the Golden Knights moved so quickly to sign Carter Hart.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 6, 2025

by | Nov 6, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 6, 2025

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin reaches 900 goals, Flames center Nazem Kadri plays his 1,000th game, Sharks center Macklin Celebrini moves up in the scoring race, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 900th career NHL regular-season goal in a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Ovechkin is the first player to reach that milestone. Tom Wilson and Anthony Beauvillier tallied twice, and Jakob Chychrun collected three assists for the 7-5-1 Capitals, ending a four-game losing skid. Alexey Toropchenko replied for the Blues (4-8-2), who’ve lost eight of their last nine contests.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin entered this season needing only three goals to reach the 900-goal plateau. It’s an impressive achievement, but it seems anticlimactic after he surpassed Wayne Gretzky last season as the all-time goal-scoring leader.

Regardless, it will be a long time before anyone comes close to Ovechkin’s record of 900 goals and counting. The active player closest to him is 38-year-old Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, sitting 16th among the all-time scorers with 634. Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has the best chance, with 409 goals in 643 games, but he’s battled injuries that have hampered his production.

Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington attempted to steal the historic puck for himself by tucking it down the back of his goalie pants for some reason. Official Michael Cormier convinced Binnington to turn over the puck.

Earlier in the day, the Capitals activated defenseman Rasmus Sandin off injured reserve for this game. Sandin missed the previous five games with an upper-body injury.

Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri scored in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game as his club defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1. Dustin Wolf kicked out 42 shots for the 4-9-2 Flames as they picked up their second straight win. Columbus forward Kirill Marchenko scored to extend his points streak to five games as his club dropped to 7-6-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was among the few highlights in what’s been a disappointing start to this season for the Flames. Kadri has become the subject of frequent trade speculation, but the club isn’t giving up on the season, and he hasn’t requested a trade. It’ll be interesting to see if the Flames can overcome this poor start and climb back into the playoff chase.

The San Jose Sharks got a goal and two assists from Macklin Celebrini in a 6-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. Yaroslav Askarov made 28 saves as Tyler Toffoli, Will Smith, and John Klingberg each had a goal and an assist for the 5-6-3 Sharks, who’ve won three of their last four contests. Ryan Winterton scored his first NHL goal as the 6-3-4 Kraken have dropped three of their last four.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini has 21 points, tying him with Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid for the scoring lead. The 19-year-old is the first teenager in NHL history to lead the league in scoring (tied or outright) at this stage of his career (217 games played).

Celebrini is also the second-fastest player in Sharks history to reach 20 points in a season (14 games played), behind Joe Thornton (13 games played) in 2005-06.

A hat trick by winger Tyler Bertuzzi lifted the Chicago Blackhawks over the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 5-2. Spencer Knight stopped 43 shots for the Blackhawks, who snapped a three-game losing skid and improved to 6-5-3. Aatu Raty and Evander Kane scored for the Canucks, who dropped to 7-8-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks winger Conor Garland returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games with an upper-body injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares netted his 501st career regular-season goal as his club downed the Utah Mammoth 5-3, handing the latter their third loss in their last four games. Tavares, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and Matias Maccelli each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (8-5-1), who picked up their third straight victory. Michael Carcone, Mikhail Sergachev, and Dylan Guenther scored for the Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Maple Leafs sent forward Easton Cowan to their AHL affiliate.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 5, 2025

by | Nov 5, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 5, 2025

Check out the latest on the Penguins, Flames, Hurricanes, Capitals, Sabres, and Maple Leafs in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RUMOR MILL GOES QUIET ON SIDNEY CROSBY

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the trade rumors about Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby have quieted down since the start of the regular season. Their surprisingly strong start to the season is largely responsible for that.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

General manager Kyle Dubas said he had “very clear communications” since the end of last season with Crosby and his agent about the club’s plans going forward. While attempting to build for the long term, the Penguins also intended to be competitive this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun wonders whether the Penguins can maintain that strong start throughout the season, but for now, it has stopped the media chatter about possible trade destinations for Crosby.

They’re not the only Penguins who aren’t featuring as prominently in the rumor mill as they once did. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos pointed out that it’ll take Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell out of the trade-rumor talk if the Penguins can sustain their winning ways.

THE LATEST ON NAZEM KADRI

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos reports Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy could move Nazem Kadri if he gets a suitable offer. The 35-year-old center has been linked to multiple teams, but Kypreos suggested the Carolina Hurricanes as a possible destination because they’ve been relentlessly pursuing a top player in the trade market. However, they’re believed to be on Kadri’s 13-team no-trade list.

The Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens have been mentioned as destinations for Kadri, and they’re not on his list. They’ve also been linked to the Bruins’ Pavel Zacha.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Teams can ask for permission to speak to the player or his agent to see what it would take to convince them to waive their no-trade list.

The Canucks have a more pressing need for help at center than the Canadiens. It’s also been frequently pointed out that acquiring the aging Kadri would go against the Canadiens’ habit of acquiring younger talent.

Zacha would probably be more to the Canadiens’ liking. However, it’s rare for the Habs and Bruins to make deals together, given their longstanding rivalry.

BLEACHER REPORT: Speaking of the Hurricanes, Frank Seravalli reports they’re seeking stop-gap defensemen to replace their injured blueliners.

UPDATE ON THE CAPITALS

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there is no quick fix for the Washington Capitals to replace sidelined center Pierre-Luc Dubois. He won’t be out for the season, but is expected to miss a significant period of time.

Dreger believes the Capitals will explore the trade market, but must be careful when moving out current or future assets, being mindful of when the post-Alex Ovechkin era begins.

For now, they’ll attempt to address Dubois’ absence internally. It’s expected that Connor McMichael will get a long look in the second-line center role.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals would be joining a long list of NHL clubs that are believed to be in the market for second-line center help. However, there isn’t much available, and they are either aging and expensive (hello there, Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames) or playing on struggling clubs that aren’t giving up on the season, like Pavel Zacha with the Boston Bruins.

THE LATEST ON THE SABRES AND MAPLE LEAFS

SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos believes this season could be Lindy Ruff’s last as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. He’s in the final season of his contract, and could move to a different role within the organization if he doesn’t retire.

The Toronto Maple Leafs would like to add a scoring winger. However, they don’t have many assets that would entice rival clubs. Many teams are calling about Easton Cowan, but that suggestion is a non-starter for now.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 5, 2025

by | Nov 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 5, 2025

Cutter Gauthier leads the Ducks over the defending champion Panthers, a milestone game for the Kings’ Adrian Kempe, Drew Doughty, and Corey Perry, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Anaheim Ducks sophomore forward Cutter Gauthier tallied his first career NHL hat trick in a 7-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. Gauthier also had an assist for his first four-point game for the 8-3-1 Ducks, who picked up their fourth straight win and moved into first place in the Pacific Division with 17 points. Evan Rodrigues had a goal and an assist as the Panthers dropped to 6-6-1.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks center Leo Carlsson received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for a blindside hit to Rodrigues’ head early in the third period, sending the Panthers forward out of the game.

The Los Angeles Kings (6-4-4) got a 23-save performance from goaltender Darcy Kuemper to shut out the Winnipeg Jets 3-0. Adrian Kempe tallied his 200th career NHL regular-season goal, and Drew Doughty scored his 162nd career goal to surpass Rob Blake for the most by a defenseman in franchise history. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped 23 of 25 shots as his club’s three-game win streak ended, giving them a record of 9-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a notable game for Kings winger Corey Perry, who became the fourth active player to play 1,400 career regular-season NHL games.

Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen scored twice and picked up an assist in a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Wyatt Johnston scored the shootout winner and collected three assists in regulation for the 7-3-3 Stars. Connor McDavid and Jack Roslovic each collected two points for the 6-5-4 Oilers, who held a 3-1 lead in the third period until the Stars rallied.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers defenseman Alec Regula was activated off injured reserve after missing 12 games with an undisclosed injury.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 25 saves in his season debut to blank the New York Rangers 3-0, leaving the latter winless at home (0-5-1). Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal with the Hurricanes (8-4-0). Igor Shesterkin turned aside 29 of 31 shots for the Rangers, who dropped to 6-6-2.

The Vegas Golden Knights nipped the Detroit Red Wings 1-0. Akira Schmid had a 24-save shutout, and Ivan Barbashev tallied the only goal for the 7-2-3 Golden Knights. John Gibson made 33 saves for the 9-5-0 Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights activated defenseman Noah Hanifin off injured reserve for this contest. He missed the past 10 games with an undisclosed injury.

Colorado Avalanche winger Victor Olofsson scored twice in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Scott Wedgewood kicked out 22 shots for the 8-1-5 Avalanche, who extended their points streak to five games (3-0-2) to sit atop the Central Division with 21 points. Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point replied for the Lightning (6-5-2) as their win streak ended at five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning activated defenseman Max Crozier off injured reserve for this game. He’d been sidelined since Oct. 14 with an undisclosed injury.

The Philadelphia Flyers blew a 3-0 lead but rallied to nip the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout by a score of 5-4. Bobby Brink tallied twice and Trevor Zegras scored the winning goal after collecting two assists in regulation for the Flyers, who improved to 7-5-1. Kirby Dach scored two goals and Sam Montembeault stopped 38 of 42 shots for the 9-3-1 Canadiens, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 19 points.

An overtime goal by Clayton Keller lifted the Utah Mammoth to a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Nick Schmaltz also scored for the Mammoth (9-4-0). Noah Ostlund replied for the Sabres (5-4-4), who got a 33-save effort from goalie Alex Lyon to extend their points streak to five games (1-0-4).

Boston Bruins forward Marat Khusnutdinov scored the tying goal and the game-winner in a shootout to defeat the New York Islanders 4-3. Jeremy Swayman made 29 saves for the 8-7-0 Bruins, who extended their win streak to four games. Bo Horvat tallied two goals for the Islanders, who dropped to 6-5-2.

The Minnesota Wild beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 on an overtime goal by Marcus Johansson. Johansson and Kirill Kaprizov each finished with two points for the 5-6-3 Wild. Steven Stamkos sent the game into overtime for the 5-6-4 Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johansson’s goal was controversial as it was scored after the net was dislodged. Officials ruled that Predators goalie Justus Annunen caused the net to be knocked off its moorings before the puck crossed the goal line.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TORONTO SUN: Sidelined Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz are expected to return to the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Utah Mammoth.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins placed goaltender Tristan Jarry and forwards Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari on injured reserve. They recalled goalie Sergei Murashov, demoted defenseman Owen Pickering, and recalled blueliner Ryan Graves.

THE MERCURY NEWS/DAILY FACEOFF: Sharks forward William Eklund (lower-body injury) is expected to miss his second straight game on Wednesday when his club faces the Seattle Kraken. Meanwhile, rookie defenseman Sam Dickinson will remain with the Sharks for the rest of the season.

STLTODAY.COM: Milan Lucic has signed a professional tryout offer with the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Springfield.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks have released winger Vitali Kravtsov from his contract, enabling him to return to the KHL.