NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 13, 2025

by | Dec 13, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 13, 2025

The Canucks trade Quinn Hughes to the Wild, Blackhawks center Connor Bedard is injured against the Blues, Lightning captain Victor Hedman is sidelined until February, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

CANUCKS SHIP QUINN HUGHES TO THE WILD IN A BLOCKBUSTER TRADE

NHL.COM: The Vancouver Canucks traded defenseman Quinn Hughes on Friday to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Marco Rossi, left wing Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The retooling of the Canucks roster is underway. Management reportedly knew for some time that Hughes wouldn’t sign a contract extension next summer.

Vancouver Canucks trade Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild (NHL Images).

The fault lies not with Hughes, one of the greatest players in Canucks history, but on a front office that failed to build a stable, winning roster around him. This move seemed inevitable following the drama between centers Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, resulting in the latter’s trade to the New York Rangers in January.

The Canucks didn’t get full value from the Wild in this return, but no team ever does when they trade a superstar. What they got was three players who could have a positive long-term effect on their roster.

Rossi will fill the second-line center position and has the skills to become a reliable two-way forward. Ohgren and Buium are promising youngsters who could blossom into stars. They also get an unprotected first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which they can keep for themselves or use as a trade chip to add another NHL-ready player to their roster.

Meanwhile, there’s no question that Minnesota is the immediate winner of this trade. General manager Bill Guerin has signaled his intent to turn the Wild into a Stanley Cup contender.

Hughes is a superstar, a Norris Trophy winner who brings a high level of skill to the Wild’s already deep defense core. He’ll also provide a significant measure of offense from the blueline, especially on the power play. His playmaking talent should mesh well with scoring stars Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy.

Guerin also hopes that Hughes will agree to a contract extension before his eligibility for unrestricted free agent status on July 1, 2027. The earliest he can sign it is next July, when the Wild would have an opportunity to sign him an eight-year, front-loaded, bonus-laden deal before the rules change for those types of contracts on Sept. 15, 2026.

At the very worst, the Wild have Hughes for two playoff runs. If he helps turn them into a Stanley Cup champion, or at least a Cup Finalist, they will consider it a worthwhile investment.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Chicago Blackhawks lost 3-2 to the St. Louis Blues, and they also lost franchise star Connor Bedard in the final second of the game.

Bedard injured his right shoulder after being checked by Blues captain Brayden Schenn off the faceoff in what Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill called “a freak accident”. Bedard left the ice immediately, gripping his shoulder in obvious pain.

Before the injury, Bedard assisted on both Blackhawks’ goals. He won’t play in Saturday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, and an update on his condition is expected on Monday. Blues defenseman Logan Mailloux scored his first of the season, and Robert Thomas set up two goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard is tied for third in league scoring (44 points) with San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini. His performance this season is the biggest reason why the rebuilding Blackhawks are jockeying for a wild-card berth in the Western Conference. A lengthy absence could send them into a tailspin. It could also jeopardize Bedard’s chances of playing for Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Utah Mammoth picked up their third win in their last 10 games by downing the Seattle Kraken 5-3. Nick Schmaltz had a goal and two assists for the Mammoth as they snapped a three-game losing skid. Mason Marchment scored twice for the Kraken, who’ve lost seven of their last eight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken played without winger Jared McCann, who is sidelined for three weeks with a lower-body injury. He’s only appeared in 11 of his club’s 29 games this season.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman will undergo a procedure on his elbow that will sideline him until early February. The 34-year-old defenseman missed 12 games with the injury, returning to action last Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hedman is expected to be ready when the 2026 Winter Olympics begin in February. He will be playing for Sweden.

SPORTSNET: New York Islanders center Bo Horvat is expected to miss one to three weeks with a lower-body injury suffered during Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Ducks, they activated goaltender Lukas Dostal off injured reserve on Friday.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Jets winger Nino Niederreiter will become the first Switzerland-born player to appear in 1,000 NHL regular-season games when his club faces the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils forward Arseny Gritsyuk will be sidelined this weekend with an upper-body injury.

TSN: The Pittsburgh Penguins placed defenseman Matt Dumba on waivers Friday. The move is a result of their acquisition of blueliner Brett Kulak as part of the return in yesterday’s trade that sent goaltender Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers for netminder Stuart Skinner.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators traded defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Oilers in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers added Stastney to fill the gap left by Kulak’s departure to Pittsburgh.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Sharks rookie center Michael Misa is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. It’s the second time he’s been sidelined in just over a month. He will miss the start of Canada’s training camp for the upcoming 2026 World Junior Championship.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Carolina Hurricanes signed rookie defenseman Joel Nystrom to a four-year, $4.9 million contract extension.










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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 19, 2025

by | Nov 19, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 19, 2025

Hat trick performances by the Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard, the Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini, and the Lightning’s Jake Guentzel, a milestone game for the Jets’ Mark Scheifele, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard tallied his second career hat trick (and his second of the season) in a 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames. Rookie forward Oliver Moore had a goal and an assist as the Blackhawks (10-5-4) are 5-0-1 in their last six games. Rasmus Andersson had a goal and an assist for the 5-13-2 Flames, who’ve lost five of their last six.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard is on a roll, with 11 goals in as many games. His 13 goals tied him with six other players for second among NHL scorers, and is tied for second in points with San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini.

Before this game, the Flames claimed center John Beecher off waivers from the Boston Bruins.

Speaking of Macklin Celebrini, his overtime goal completed a hat trick to nip the Utah Mammoth 3-2. Will Smith collected two assists, and Yaroslav Askarov made 24 saves as the Sharks improved to 9-8-3 on the season. JJ Peterka scored both goals for the Mammoth (10-7-3), leaving them with a record of 2-5-3 in their last 10 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was also Celebrini’s second hat trick of the season, making it the second time in NHL history that multiple hat tricks were scored by two players age 20 or younger. The last time was on Feb. 19, 1944, by Jack Hamilton and Bud Poile of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning got a hat trick from Jake Guentzel in a 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Darren Raddysh had a goal and two assists while Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 31 shots for the 10-7-2 Lightning. Nico Hischier replied for the Devils (13-5-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele collected three assists and became the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (898) in a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey, and Neal Pionk each had a goal and an assist as the Jets improved to 12-7-0. Zach Werenski scored to become the first defenseman in Blue Jackets history to reach 400 career points. His club’s record slipped to 10-8-2 as its five-game points streak (3-0-2) ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko’s points streak ended at 12 games.

Detroit Red Wings rookie Nate Danielson had a goal and an assist for his first two NHL points to double up the Seattle Kraken 4-2. Lucas Raymond also had a goal and an assist,and team captain Dylan Larkin scored for his 600th career NHL regular-season point as the Red Wings moved into first place in the Atlantic Division. Jordan Eberle and Ryker Evans tallied for the Kraken, who dropped to 9-5-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord returned to action after being sidelined by a lower-body injury since Nov. 5.

The New York Islanders got their fifth win in six games by holding off the Dallas Stars 3-2. Kyle Palmieri got the game-winning goal and picked up an assist for the 11-7-2 Islanders. Jason Robertson scored both goals for the Stars (12-5-3) as their five-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars winger Mikko Rantanen received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for hitting Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov from behind late in the third period. Romanov had to be helped off the ice, but did not require off-site treatment. Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom missed this game due to illness.

William Nylander’s overtime goal lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the St. Louis Blues 3-2, snapping a five-game winless skid (0-4-1). Jake McCabe and Steven Lorentz also scored, and Joseph Woll made 28 saves for the 9-9-2 Maple Leafs. Nathan Walker and Dalibor Dvorsky replied for the Blues, who have dropped three straight and fallen to 6-9-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the New York Rangers 3-2, ending the latter’s six-game road win streak. Tomas Hertl collected two assists, and Shea Theodore tallied the winning goal as the Golden Knights improved to 9-4-6. Vincent Trocheck and Jonny Brodzinski replied for the 10-9-2 Rangers.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Penn State University forward Gavin McKenna has struggled thus far in his first season in the NCAA.

Ranked as the early top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, the 17-year-old left wing has four goals and 15 points in 14 games, but his performance hasn’t been as dominant as expected. He’s struggled at even strength and with the physical style of the NCAA game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenna wanted to test himself against NCAA competition, and he’s finding that it’s more challenging than he expected. How he responds and adjusts over the rest of this season could determine whether he remains the top prospect in next year’s draft.

DAILY FACEOFF/PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ville Koivunen is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, the club placed winger Philip Tomasino on waivers.

DAILY FACEOFF: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring is expected to be sidelined for an extended period with a lower-body injury.

NHL.COM: The department of player safety fined Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins $2,000.00 for embellishment during a Nov. 9 game against the Utah Mammoth.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 10, 2025

by | Nov 10, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 10, 2025

The Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and the Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard jockey for the scoring race lead, the rising Ducks extend their win streak to seven games, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and collected three assists to take over the lead in the NHL scoring race (29 points) in a 5-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Gavin Brindley scored in overtime and Artturi Lehkonen tallied twice in regulation as the Avalanche (10-1-5) holds first place in the overall standings with 25 points. Linus Karlsson scored his first of the season, and Kiefer Sherwood netted his 10th goal for the 8-8-1 Canucks.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard scored and picked up two assists, and Arvid Soderblom kicked out a career-high 45 shots to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 5-1. The Blackhawks have won three straight games, improving to 8-5-3. Dylan Larkin replied for the Red Wings (9-7-0), as they’ve dropped four of their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard briefly led all NHL scorers with 25 points until MacKinnon had his five-point game.

The Anaheim Ducks extended their win streak to seven games with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Leo Carlsson scored two power-play goals to extend his points streak to 10 games, and Beckett Sennecke also tallied twice for the 11-3-1 Ducks, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 23 points. Kyle Connor scored for the 9-6-0 Jets, who have dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Something special could be brewing in Anaheim. After years of rebuilding, the Ducks’ mix of rising young stars such as Carlsson, Sennecke, Cutter Gauthier, and Mason McTavish, along with veterans like Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, and Jacob Trouba, is turning this team into a potential powerhouse in the Western Conference.

The Ducks activated forward Ryan Strome off injured reserve and placed defenseman Radko Gudas on IR with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Jets forward Cole Perfetti made his season debut after suffering a sprained ankle during a preseason game against the Calgary Flames.

Three unanswered goals by the Carolina Hurricanes lifted them to a 5-4 comeback win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Logan Stankoven, Nikolaj Ehlers, and K’Andre Miller each had two points for the 11-4-0 Hurricanes, who have won four straight to take over first place in the Metropolitan Division with 22 points. William Nylander scored two goals and Dennis Hildeby made 42 saves for the 8-7-1 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube wasn’t pleased with his club blowing a 4-2 lead, blasting their poor defensive play. “It’s a mindset,” Berube said. “If you want to be a good defensive team, you gotta check, you gotta have good sticks, you gotta be hard, you gotta win battles, and you’ve gotta have good structure. We don’t have any of that right now.”

The Los Angeles Kings nipped the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. Kevin Fiala scored the game-winning goal and collected an assist, while Corey Perry also had a goal and an assist for the 7-5-4 Kings. Penguins rookie Sergei Murashov made 24 saves in his NHL debut as his club slipped to 9-5-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins are cooling off from their hot start to the season. After going 6-2-0 in their first eight games, they’re 3-3-3 in their last nine, with one win in their last five contests. Meanwhile, the 40-year-old Perry is off to a hot start with the Kings, tallying seven goals and 11 points in 10 games after his return from offseason knee surgery.

A 36-save shutout performance by Jesper Wallstedt carried the Minnesota Wild over the Calgary Flames by a score of 2-0. Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov scored, and Marcus Johansson collected an assist in his 1,000th regular-season NHL game as the Wild improved to 7-7-3. Devin Cooley turned aside 17 shots for the 4-11-2 Flames.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen made 29 saves as his club doubled up the Utah Mammoth 4-2. Jordan Spence and Ridly Greig each had a goal and an assist as the 8-5-3 Senators extended their points streak to five games (3-0-2). Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz replied for the slumping Mammoth (9-7-0), who have lost five of their last six contests.

The Dallas Stars beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1. Casey DeSmith made 20 saves while Wyatt Johnston and Tyler Seguin scored for the 9-4-3 Stars. Jaden Schwartz scored for the 7-4-4 Kraken.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: Washington Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois is expected to miss three to four months after undergoing surgery to address issues with his abdominal and adductor muscles.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That leaves a big gap at center for the Capitals during that period. They’ve been using Connor McMichael in Dubois’ spot on the second line. They could attempt to find a short-term replacement in the trade market, but the pickings are slim, and there are several other clubs also believed to be seeking a reliable second-line center.

THE ATHLETIC: The New York Rangers called up top prospect Gabe Perreault from their AHL affiliate in Hartford. Perreault, 20, is known for his offensive abilities and has 10 points with Hartford this season. This move is intended to spark the Rangers’ struggling offense.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 8, 2025

by | Nov 8, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 8, 2025

The Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini and the Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard jockey for the scoring lead, Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin takes a leave of absence for family reasons, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES.

NHL.COM: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 upset of the Winnipeg Jets. With 23 points, the 19-year-old Celebrini took over sole possession of first place in the NHL scoring race. Will Smith snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period as the Sharks improved to 6-6-3, picking up five wins in their last six games. Josh Morrissey scored for the 9-5-0 Jets.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks have recovered from their stumbling start to this season. After going 0-4-2 in their first six games, they’re 6-2-1 in their last nine.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard had a goal and three assists while goaltender Spencer Knight made 33 saves to shut out the Calgary Flames 4-0. Tyler Bertuzzi tallied twice for the 7-5-3 Blackhawks. Dustin Wolf turned aside 23 shots for the Flames, who dropped to 4-10-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 20-year-old Bedard sits one point behind Celebrini in the scoring race. Meanwhile, Blackhawks center Frank Nazar left this game in the first period after an awkward fall. He is listed as day-to-day. Flames rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh left the game with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss some time as a result.

The New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists, and Jonathan Quick stopped 32 shots for the 7-6-2 Rangers, who made history by becoming the first NHL team to pick up their first seven wins of the season on the road (7-1-1). J.T. Compher replied for the 9-6-0 Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Patrick Kane was held scoreless in his return to action after missing nine games with an upper-body injury.

The Minnesota Wild got a goal and an assist from Kirill Kaprizov in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders. Minnesota winger Mats Zuccarello collected an assist in his season debut after returning from a lower-body injury. The Wild improved to 6-7-3. Emil Heineman and Jean-Gabriel Pageau replied for the 6-6-2 Islanders.

HEADLINES

TSN: Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin has taken a temporary leave of absence to deal with a personal matter in Sweden. He is spending time with his fiancee as she continues her recovery from heart surgery during the summer. Everything is ok with her for now, but there is no timetable for Dahlin’s return.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Here’s hoping things continue to go well on her path to a full recovery.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins rookie winger Filip Hallander was diagnosed with a blood clot and will be sidelined for three months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The blood clot isn’t considered life-threatening, and Hallander is expected to make a full recovery. It’s a disappointing setback for the 25-year-old forward, who was off to a promising start to this season.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko skipped practice on Friday for a maintenance day. They recalled goalie Jiri Patera on an emergency basis. Whether he’ll be ready for this weekend’s games remains to be seen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given Demko’s injury history, the Canucks are giving him whatever extra time he needs to recover from a busy stretch of the schedule.

CBS SPORTS: The Carolina Hurricanes placed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (abdomen) on injured reserve.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs have sent goaltender Joseph Woll to their AHL affiliate for conditioning. Woll, 27, missed training camp and the opening month of the season for personal reasons.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 29, 2025

by | Oct 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 29, 2025

A milestone game for Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, a career-best performance by Avalanche winger Victor Olofsson, Canadiens winger Cole Caufield sets a franchise record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard tallied his first career NHL hat trick and added an assist in a 7-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Frank Nazar, Andre Burakovsky, Nick Foligno, and Louis Crevier each had two points for the Blackhawks, who improved to 5-3-2. Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson each had two points for the 5-5-1 Senators as their three-game win streak ended.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images)

Colorado Avalanche winger Victor Olofsson collected his first career hat trick in a career-high five-point performance as his club thumped the New Jersey Devils 8-4. Cale Makar had four assists and Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and set up another for the 6-1-4 Avalanche, snapping their four-game winless skid. Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist as the Devils’ eight-game win streak ended (8-2-0), but they remain atop the Metropolitan Division with 16 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a shaky performance for Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom, giving up eight goals on 42 shots in his first game since being injured two weeks ago. Devils defenseman Brett Pesce missed this game as he is expected to be sidelined for at least a month with an upper-body injury. They also placed forward Cody Glass (lower body) on injured reserve.

The Avalanche dropped struggling captain Gabriel Landeskog from the first line. He has three assists in 11 games.

An overtime goal by Cole Caufield gave the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory against the Seattle Kraken. The Canadiens blew a 3-0 lead until Caufield tallied his franchise-record 11th regular-season overtime goal. Caufield finished the night with two goals for the 8-3-0 Canadiens, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division. Brandon Montour scored twice and picked up an assist for the 5-2-3 Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki collected three assists to extend his points streak to a league-leading 10 games.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger turned in a 24-save shutout performance for a 1-0 win over the Washington Capitals. Tyler Seguin scored for the Stars (6-3-1) as they picked up their third straight win. Logan Thompson turned aside 18 shots for the 6-4-0 Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Stars announced the signing of defenseman Thomas Harley to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $10.587 million. The 24-year-old blueliner is in the second season of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $4 million, but his emergence as a top-four rearguard over the last two years earned him this lucrative new deal.

A 23-save shutout by Jonathan Quick carried the New York Rangers over the Vancouver Canucks 2-0. Mika Zibanejad and Sam Carrick scored for the 4-5-2 Rangers. Thatcher Demko stopped 23 of 24 shots for the Canucks, who dropped to 5-6-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was J.T. Miller’s first game in Vancouver since his trade to the Rangers in January. While he was booed by Canucks fans the first time he touched the puck, he received a standing ovation minutes later during a video tribute honoring his years with the Canucks.

Earlier in the day, the Rangers announced forward Matt Rempe is out “longer term” with an upper-body injury suffered during a recent fight with San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Reaves.

The Philadelphia Flyers nipped the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on a shootout goal by Bobby Brink, who also had a goal and an assist in regulation. Flyers winger Travis Konecny netted his 200th career NHL regular-season goal as his club improved to 5-3-1. Jonathan Brazeau and Sidney Crosby replied for the Penguins (7-2-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A brawl erupted at the end of overtime, resulting in eight players receiving misconducts, including Crosby, Trevor Zegras, Tyson Foerster, and Owen Tippett, leaving them ineligible to participate in the shootout.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi scored twice, including the game-winning goal, to lift his club over the Calgary Flames 4-3. Matthew Knies tallied two goals and picked up an assist as the Maple Leafs improved to 5-4-1. Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, and Samuel Honzek scored for the Flames, who are 2-8-0 on the season.

The Vegas Golden Knights got two late goals from Jack Eichel in a 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Eichel finished the night with three points, and Pavel Dorofeyev also had two goals for the 6-1-3 Golden Knights, who sit atop the Pacific Division with 15 points. Andrei Svechnikov, Jordan Martinook, and Logan Stankoven scored for the 6-3-0 Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere left this game with a lower-body injury. This comes a day after being activated from injured reserve.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Miles Wood scored two goals, including the overtime winner, to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. Jet Greaves turned aside 35 shots for the Blue Jackets as they improved to 5-4-2. Alex Tuch had two assists for the 4-4-2 Sabres.

The Anaheim Ducks squeaked past the Florida Panthers 3-2 on a shootout goal by Mason McTavish. Leo Carlsson had a shorthanded goal and an assist as the 5-3-1 Ducks took a 2-0 lead until the Panthers (5-5-1) rallied on goals by Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Ducks announced center Mikael Granlund is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo stopped 33 shots as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the New York Islanders 5-2. David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, and Michael Eyssimont each had a goal and an assist for the 5-7-0 Bruins. Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri tallied for the 4-4-1 Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins activated defenseman Hampus Lindholm off injured reserve and made blueliner Mason Lohrei a healthy scratch for this game.

The Tampa Bay Lightning won their third straight by downing the Nashville Predators 5-2. Zemgus Girgensons scored two goals, and Brandon Hagel had a goal and an assist as the Lightning improved to 4-4-2. Luke Evangelista and Filip Forsberg replied for the Predators, who slipped to 4-5-2.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor’s overtime goal lifted his club to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves for the 7-3-0 Jets. Brock Faber and Marco Rossi each had two points for the 3-5-3 Wild, who have one win in their last eight games (1-4-3).

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored twice and collected an assist to defeat the St. Louis Blues 5-2. Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond each had two points for the 7-3-0 Red Wings. Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou replied for the Blues (3-6-0), who are 0-4-1 in their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues forward Jake Neighbours is out for five weeks with an injured right leg.

The Edmonton Oilers overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 6-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Connor McDavid scored twice, Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist, and Evan Bouchard collected three assists to improve their record to 5-4-2. Logan Cooley, JJ Peterka, and Barrett Hayton scored for the 8-3-0 Mammoth, who remain in first place in the Central Division with 16 points.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke snapped a 3-3 tie as his club downed the San Jose Sharks 4-3. The Kings had blown a 3-0 lead before Clarke’s game-winner. Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper got the win with a 37-save performance as his club improved to 5-3-3. Philipp Kurashev and Alex Wennberg each had a goal and an assist for the 2-6-2 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings forward Warren Foegele missed this game with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss some time. Meanwhile, the Sharks placed defenseman Nick Leddy (upper body) on injured reserve.