NHL Rumor Mill – November 11, 2025

by | Nov 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 11, 2025

Check out the latest on the Oilers and Sabres in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WILL THE OILERS SHOP FOR A GOALTENDER?

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell examined what a trade to shake up the struggling Edmonton Oilers might look like. He speculated it could take moving one or more of Matthew Savoie, their 2027 first-round pick, and a veteran such as Adam Henrique or Brett Kulak to bring in a goaltender who might be an upgrade over current starter Stuart Skinner.

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (NHL Images).

Mitchell suggested Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators if the latter would agree to take on Henrique and Skinner and retain part of Saros’ $7.74 million average annual value. A more prudent move would be replacing struggling backup goalie Calvin Pickard, perhaps by targeting Sebastian Cossa of the Detroit Red Wings.

A wild card would be Marc-Andre Fleury. He retired at the end of last season, but it might be prudent to monitor his situation in case he changes his mind by midseason.

SPORTSNET: Mark Spector believes the clock is ticking for the Edmonton Oilers to resolve their goaltending woes. He believes Stuart Skinner’s time as their unchallenged starting goalie is over, citing the 26-year-old’s ongoing inconsistency. Spector called on general manager Stan Bowman to find an upgrade.

Spector acknowledged the difficulty Bowman would face. Saros has seven years remaining on his contract with the Predators. The St. Louis Blues might not wish to part with franchise goalie Jordan Binnington (whose stats are worse than Skinner’s). He also noted that Bowman missed the opportunity to land Scott Wedgewood and John Gibson during the summer, though the latter may not have wanted to come to Canada anyway.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited Oilers insider Bob Stauffer defending Skinner’s record and questioning if there was much of a goalie market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There isn’t much of a goalie market right now, which is why the Oilers haven’t replaced Skinner or Pickard.

Saros is a pipe dream right now. The Predators are struggling, but they’re not tearing down the roster and rebuilding at this point. Saros has a full no-movement clause and could be unwilling to waive it.

Cossa is an interesting suggestion, but the Red Wings aren’t likely to move out the guy they see as their future starter. Mitchell mentioned Michal Postava, but he’s more of a wild card than Fleury.

As for Fleury, he’s not changing his mind about retirement. He said as much after his brief appearance in a preseason game with the Pittsburgh Penguins to bring his NHL career full circle.

THE LATEST SABRES SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn wondered if Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams would make a move in the trade market with forward Jiri Kulich sidelined indefinitely with a blood clot.

Finding a willing trade partner when the Eastern Conference is wide open won’t be easy. Not many teams are in sell mode yet. Some players that might interest the Sabres could be difficult to acquire if they have no-trade clauses.

Fairburn doesn’t see Adams shaking things up in a big way, but he believes the Sabres GM should try to do something to help his banged-up roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could take several weeks for the trade market to improve. By then, it might be too late to help the Sabres. For now, they must explore internal options or keep an eye on the waiver wire.










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 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 2, 2025

by | Nov 2, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 2, 2025

In today’s NHL Morning Coffee, we recap a busy Saturday schedule, plus the three stars and the Rookie of the Month for October are revealed.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets got two goals from Kyle Connor to down the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi each had two points for the 9-3-0 Jets as they picked up their third straight win. Sidney Crosby and Blake Lizotte replied for the 8-3-2 Penguins as their points streak ended at eight games (6-0-2).

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Scheifele took over the scoring lead, becoming the first player to reach 20 points this season. Penguins winger Justin Brazeau missed this contest with an upper-body injury.

A shootout goal by Brad Marchand lifted the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. Marchand also scored in regulation, as did teammates Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett for the Panthers, who improved to 6-5-1. Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist, and Sam Steel had three assists for the 6-3-3 Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand returned to the Panthers’ lineup after taking a leave of absence to be with his friend and trainer, J.P. MacCallum, following the death of his daughter. Marchand immediately pointed skyward after he opened the scoring. Reinhart’s goal was the 300th regular-season goal of his NHL career.

San Jose Sharks forward Philipp Kurashev tallied twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 upset of the Colorado Avalanche. Macklin Celebrini scored to extend his points streak to seven games while Yaroslav Askarov kicked out 37 shots for the 4-6-2 Sharks, who’ve won three of their last four contests. Nathan MacKinnon netted his 10th goal of the season for the 7-1-5 Avalanche, who picked up a point to sit atop the overall standings with 19 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren left this game with an upper-body injury after being struck by a puck while sitting on the bench. Avalanche call-up Taylor Makar made his debut, marking the first time he and older brother Cale Makar played together in the NHL. Taylor was returned to Colorado’s AHL affiliate after this game.

The Montreal Canadiens got an overtime goal from Alex Newhook for a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki extended his points streak to 11 games with two assists, and Cole Caufield scored his 10th goal of the season for the Canadiens (9-3-0), who sit first in the Atlantic Division with 18 points. Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist for the Senators, who dropped to 6-5-2.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Batherson ended up being the goat in this game, as his errant pass in overtime was picked off by Newhook, who made no mistake on the breakaway.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom turned in a 43-save performance to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Dawson Mercer has two goals for the 9-3-0 Devils as they move into first place in the Metropolitan Division with 18 points. Andrei Kuzmenko had the only goal for the Kings as they dropped to 5-4-4 on the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils winger Connor Brown was ruled out for this game with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, the Kings placed winger Warren Foegele (upper body) on injured reserve.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson had a goal and an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs got their first road victory of the season with a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Rookie Easton Cowan tallied his first career NHL goal, and John Tavares had two assists as the Maple Leafs improved to 6-5-1. Christian Dvorak and Tyson Foerster replied for the 6-4-1 Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev was stretchered off the ice with a suspected head injury in the third period after being inadvertently hit from behind by Flyers winger Matvei Michkov. After the game, Leafs coach Craig Berube said they will know more about Tanev’s condition after he undergoes more tests, but added that the defenseman was moving. Berube thinks Tanev will be okay.

An overtime goal by Evan Bouchard lifted the Edmonton Oilers (6-4-3) over the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 3-2. Leon Draisaitl extended his points streak to eight games with a goal and an assist, and Connor McDavid assisted on all three Oilers goals. Andre Burakovsky had a goal and an assist for the 5-4-3 Blackhawks.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman stopped 27 shots to backstop his club over the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. Casey Mittelstadt had a goal and an assist as the Bruins improved to 7-7-0. Alexander Nikishin scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost three of their last four games and dropped to 7-4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis returned to action in this game after leaving Thursday’s 6-2 win over the New York Islanders with a lower-body injury.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist as his club nipped the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Jet Greaves made 37 saves for the Blue Jackets as they improved to 7-4-0. Justin Faulk and Nick Bjugstad scored for the Blues, who dropped to 3-7-2.

A shootout goal by Bowen Byram gave the Buffalo Sabres a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals. Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch each netted their fifth goals of the season, and rookie Isak Rosen scored his first NHL goal for the 5-4-3 Sabres. Aliaksei Protas potted his fifth of the season for the Capitals (6-5-1), who are winless in their last four (0-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

New York Rangers winger Will Cuylle scored in overtime to give his team a 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Cuylle finished with two points, and teammate Adam Fox collected two assists for the 6-5-2 Rangers as they picked up their third straight win. Chandler Stephenson had a goal and an assist as the 5-2-4 Kraken extended their points streak to four games (2-0-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko was held scoreless against his former team in his season debut after suffering a broken hand in a preseason game.

Minnesota Wild winger Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and two assists as his club snapped a five-game winless skid to beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. Filip Gustavsson stopped 26 shots for the 4-6-3 Wild. Drew O’Connor tallied twice as the Canucks slipped to 6-7-0.

The Nashville Predators ended a three-game losing skid by doubling up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Michael Bunting had a goal and two assists in the first period for the 5-6-2 Predators. Jonathan Huberdeau and Joel Farabee scored for the Flames, who sit last in the overall standings with a record of 2-9-2.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes are the three stars for October 2025. New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was named Rookie of the Month.










NHL Rumor Mill – November 1, 2025

by | Nov 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – November 1, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest on Predators forward Steven Stamkos and Sabres goaltender Devon Levi, and updates on the Wild and Blues.

COULD THE PREDATORS TRADE STEVEN STAMKOS?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau suggested trade speculation could arise about Steven Stamkos if the Nashville Predators don’t improve. They’ve started the season 4-6-2, and the 35-year-old forward has just two points in those 12 games.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

Proteau noted that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently said he could see a scenario where both sides meet to consider their options. Stamkos is in the second season of a four-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million. He also has a full no-movement clause.

If Stamkos is willing to accept a trade, Proteau believes it’ll be to a veteran-laden Stanley Cup contender. He suggested the Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, and Toronto Maple Leafs as possible trade destinations.

THE PROVINCE: Paul Chapman referenced a report by CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal, where the latter claimed the Canucks had poked around on Stamkos.

Chapman observed that Stamkos is a shell of his former self. Given the Canucks injury status, however, it makes sense to kick tires on everyone.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos’ production has declined noticeably since his final season with the Tampa Bay Lightning two years ago. He’s getting plenty of playing time among the Predators’ top lines, but his scoring touch is no longer there.

A move to a better club might help Stamkos regain his form, but his contract makes him an expensive gamble. Interested teams could insist that the Predators retain up to half of his cap hit to facilitate a trade.

As for the proposed destinations, Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky is expected to make a big swing for a superstar this season. However, he has pursued superstars in their late-20s who are in the prime of their careers, such as Mikko Rantanen and Mitch Marner. Tulsky is unlikely to go after a declining star in his mid-thirties with an expensive contract.

Stamkos might welcome a trade to the Kings or the Maple Leafs, but they don’t look like Stanley Cup contenders. They lack salary-cap space, which is also an issue for the Canucks.

THE WILD ARE SHOPPING FOR HELP

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco reports a team source claiming that Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin is in the market to bolster his club’s middle-six forward group.

Injuries to Mats Zuccarello and Nico Sturm have hurt the Wild’s depth among those forwards. Guerin’s priority is to add offensive depth to their middle six regardless of the position.

Di Marco suggested Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri and Boston Bruins centers Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt as possible trade targets.

THE ATHLETIC: Joe Smith and Michael Russo also weighed in on the Wild’s early-season struggles. They don’t see an impact trade available that could provide immediate help.

Smith and Russo pointed out that it’s difficult to make in-season trades, especially with the salary cap rising and most teams wanting to improve, not sell. They also don’t see acquiring fourth-line players, such as Toronto’s Nick Robertson, as providing a jolt to their lineup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The problem is that the few players mentioned as trade candidates aren’t being moved yet, if at all. The Flames and Bruins haven’t given up yet on their seasons.

By the time the trade market improves, it could be too late to help the Wild. Smith and Russo believe it’s up to the current Wild players to get themselves out of the hole they’ve dug.

IS SABRES GOALIE DEVON LEVI AVAILABLE?

SABRES NOISE: Tim Daniels linked to a report from the Sabres podcast “After The Whistle” (hosted by former Sabres Craig Rivet and Andrew Peters) claiming that goaltender Devon Levi requested a trade.

“Rumor has it that Devon Levi asked to be moved prior to returning to Rochester,” Rivet and Peters reported.

RATINGS: James Murphy reported that requests from the Sabres and Levi’s agent to confirm the report were not returned. Nevertheless, he cited a source claiming the 23-year-old goalie’s name was out there in the trade market after he failed to crack the Sabres lineup following training camp.

Murphy’s source mentioned the Utah Mammoth, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and Carolina Hurricanes as clubs seeking goalie depth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are overloaded at the goalie position right now. Levi was once seen as their future starter, but his inability to secure a place among their goalie tandem is one reason why they loaded up with more experienced options.

Levi won’t fetch much of a return if the Sabres peddle him. He could bring in at most a third-round pick.

LATEST ON THE BLUES

THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently pondered what St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong would do to help his struggling team. They have a 3-6-2 record after 11 games, and as of Oct. 31, they were winless in their last six contests (0-4-2).

Whatever Armstrong has in mind, it’s unlikely to involve the roster core. That includes Jordan Kyrou, Richard Thomas, Brayden Schenn, Pavel Buchnevich, and Colton Parayko. He observed they’re all under long-term contracts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would mean peddling depth players on short-term deals, but such moves likely won’t do much to change their fortunes.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 26, 2025

by | Oct 26, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 26, 2025

Milestone games for the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin and the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman, the Kraken’s Brandon Montour makes an emotional return to action, the Red Wings stage a big comeback, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin played in his 1,500th career regular-season NHL game, but the Ottawa Senators spoiled the party with a 7-1 victory. Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson each had two goals and an assist for the Senators as they improved to 4-4-1. Trevor van Riemsdyk scored for the 6-3-0 Capitals, who also lost center Dylan Strome to a lower-body injury in the first period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is the 24th player in league history to reach 1,500 regular-season games. Only seven players missed fewer games on their way to that milestone, and the eighth to do so with one team. The Capitals superstar remains one goal away from becoming the first player in NHL history to score 900 regular-season goals. Meanwhile, Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois returned to the lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

Nikita Kucherov became the second player in franchise history to reach 1,000 regular-season points as the Tampa Bay Lightning nipped the Anaheim Ducks 4-3. Kucherov collected two assists, including the primary one on Anthony Cirelli’s game-winning goal. Cirelli and Jake Guentzel each scored twice, and Lightning captain Victor Hedman had two assists to reach the 800-point milestone. Troy Terry had a goal and an assist for the 4-3-1 Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Steven Stamkos is the Lightning’s franchise points leader with 1,137. Hedman sits fifth among their all-time points leaders with 801. The Lightning (2-4-2) snapped a four-game winless skid (0-2-2). Meanwhile, Ducks center Mikael Granlund left this game with a lower-body injury.

The Seattle Kraken (5-2-2) got two goals from Jordan Eberle to hold off the Edmonton Oilers 3-2, tying them with the first-place Vegas Golden Knights (12 points) in the Pacific Division. Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots, and Matty Beniers collected two assists for the Kraken. Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse replied for the 4-4-1 Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour logged over 23 minutes in his return to action from a leave of absence on Oct. 18 to be with his family. His brother, Cameron, passed away due to ALS (otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) two days later. “I’m very, very happy to be his brother,” an emotional Montour said. “He’s probably smiling and chirping me up there, for crying.” My condolences to Montour and his family.

Earlier in the day, the Kraken placed sidelined winger Jared McCann (lower body) on injured reserve.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson scored the winning and insurance goals as his club overcame a 4-0 deficit for a 6-4 upset of the St. Louis Blues. Jonatan Berggren and J.T. Compher each had a goal and an assist for the 6-3-0 Red Wings. Jake Neighbours tallied two goals for the Blues (3-4-1), who’ve gone 1-3-1 in their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues center Robert Thomas left this game in the third period with an upper-body injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares’ 499th career regular-season goal came in overtime to lift his club over the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. Tavares also picked up an assist while winger Matthew Knies had two helpers as the Leafs improved to 4-4-1. Tage Thompson tallied twice for the 4-4-1 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger William Nylander missed this game due to an injury suffered on Friday night against the Sabres. Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly returned to the lineup after missing Friday’s contest with an undisclosed injury.

The Montreal Canadiens got a three-point performance from Ivan Demidov as they overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Demidov scored the game-winner and collected two assists, while Nick Suzuki scored to extend his points streak to nine games as the Canadiens (7-3-0) sit atop the Atlantic Division with 14 points. Center Elias Pettersson had a goal and two assists for the 4-5-0 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Canadiens announced winger Patrik Laine will be sidelined three to four months after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury.

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly scored two goals and collected an assist, and Ozzy Wiesblatt scored the game-winner in a shootout to nip the Los Angeles Kings 5-4. Juuse Saros kicked out 36 shots in regulation and overtime as the Predators improved to 4-3-2. Joel Armia had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who fell to 3-3-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings captain Anze Kopitar was held scoreless in his return from a foot injury suffered on Oct. 17. Meanwhile, Predators captain Roman Josi missed this game as he’s listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 31 saves for a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, snapping a six-game losing streak. Morgan Geekie scored the game-winner while Mason Lohrei collected three assists for the 4-6-0 Bruins. Artturi Lehkonen tallied both goals for the Avalanche (5-1-3), who are winless in their last three (0-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sidelined Bruins defenseman Jordan Harris is reportedly considering surgery for a lower-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets blew a 4-2 lead but emerged with a 5-4 shootout win on a goal by Kirill Marchenko. Dmitri Voronkov tallied twice for the Blue Jackets, who improved to 4-4-0. Evgeni Malkin and Anthony Mantha collected two points, and Arturs Silovs made 37 saves for the 6-2-1 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins winger Rickard Rakell left this game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. Earlier in the day, the Penguins announced defenseman Caleb Jones will be sidelined for eight weeks with a lower-body injury.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras netted his first two goals of the season, and Matvei Michkov scored the shootout winner to down the New York Islanders 4-3. Zegras finished the game with three points as the Flyers improved to 4-3-1. Defenseman Marshall Warren collected two assists in his NHL debut as his Islanders sit at 4-3-1.

The Florida Panthers got a 17-save shutout from Sergei Bobrovsky to blank the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0, handing the latter their first regulation loss. Sam Reinhart, Cole Schwindt, and A.J. Greer scored for the Panthers, who improved to 5-5-0. Akira Schmid made 23 saves for the 5-1-2 Golden Knights.

Utah Mammoth forwards Logan Cooley and Nick Schmaltz each scored two goals in a 6-2 rout of the Minnesota Wild. Karel Vejmelka turned aside 32 shots for the 7-2-0 Mammoth, who extended their win streak to six games and hold first place in the Central Division with 14 points. Marcus Johansson scored both goals for the struggling Wild, who fell to 3-5-1.

The Dallas Stars got two goals from Miro Heiskanen to rally past the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2. Jake Oettinger made 26 saves as the (4-3-1) Stars snapped a four-game losing streak. Jackson Blake and Sebastian Aho tallied for the 6-2-0 Hurricanes.