The Carolina Hurricanes started off their three-game road trip with a dominant win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night by a score of 4-1. Still without Seth Jarvis, who did not travel with the team, the Canes did not have any trouble scoring in this one. Related: Hurricanes…
The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center tonight. Here are the projected/expected lineups sourced from NHL.com staff writers, independent correspondents, and others. HURRICANES (13-4-0) at FLYERS (8-9-2) 7:30 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, NBCSP Hurricanes projected lineup Andrei Svechnikov — Sebastian Aho — Jack RoslovicEric Robinson — Jesperi Kotkaniemi…
You can never predict the future when it comes to prospects at the NHL Entry Draft, and many teams have looked back and realized their mistake when they took the wrong player. The same could be said for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft when they…
The 2013 NHL Entry Draft was an important one at the time for the Columbus Blue Jackets organization. New general manager Jarmo Kekalainen had just taken over the team alongside a relatively new President of Hockey Operations, John Davidson, who had been with the team since Oct. 2012. Kekalainen was the first European general manager in NHL history, and the duo had three first-round draft picks to make an impact early in their tenure. Context of the 2013 Draft The Blue Jackets had quite a few pieces already in place for what seemed to be the next core group of…
The Columbus Blue Jackets have had quite the rollercoaster season so far. A strong start in October has quickly turned into a major slide in November, with the Blue Jackets currently sitting three points from the bottom of the league with 16 points. The games recently have been much more in line with what most people expected coming into this season with multiple blowout losses. The tight-checking team that was scoring at a franchise record-breaking rate has dried up and nothing has been particularly positive in their most recent stretch of play. As is always the question when a team…
Prior to signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets, it seemed like Kevin Labanc might be on his way out of the NHL. The 28-year-old struggled mightily in his final season with the San Jose Sharks, often finding himself as a healthy scratch under Sharks’ then-head coach David Quinn. The Sharks had a historically bad 2023-24 season, and it seemed difficult to imagine a player who struggled to get into their lineup would find another home in the NHL. Labanc seemed destined to either spend some time overseas or in the American Hockey League (AHL) trying to bounce back. A Strong…
The New Jersey Devils signed Kurtis MacDermid to a three-year, $3.45 million contract extension on May 17, 2024. The early season evaluation of him has been mixed: he’s been a tough, physical presence while also struggling to impact the game otherwise. Surface Numbers It’s clear what purpose MacDermid serves for the Devils: he’s an enforcer who will stick up for his teammates when they need it. Many players have spoken glowingly about what he does to protect them. That’s all well and good, but results-wise, he’s brought almost nothing to the table. MacDermid has just 11 goals in 275 career NHL games, to go along with…
The New Jersey Devils have recalled Nolan Foote and Shane Bowers from the Utica Comets. Justin Dowling will also return to the lineup, after being loaned to the American Hockey League (AHL) on Sunday. All three forwards will seek a role on the Devils’ fourth line, as the team prepares to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. The Devils have a 12-7-2 record, but their fourth line has been a major weakness in recent games. Injuries to both Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian have negatively impacted the team. Their current fourth line, composed of Kurtis MacDermid, Dowling, and Tomas Tatar,…
The New Jersey Devils headed to Amalie Arena to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in what was the Devils’ third straight contest in the state of Florida. This time, it didn’t go as well as the first two, getting blanked 4-0. The first period started pretty slow with sprinkled chances going both ways. After around the 10-minute mark, the Devils flattened out and Tampa Bay took advantage with a Nick Paul goal. Jacob Markstrom did enough to keep them afloat, though, especially in the dying minutes with a couple of high-danger stops. In the second, the Lightning continued to turn…
The New York Islanders faced the Calgary Flames on Nov. 19 in a game that ended 2-1 for the Flames in a shootout. The only big takeaway is that both teams have great goaltenders. The Islanders didn’t have their primary starter in net, but Semyon Varlamov proved he can still play at a high level as he made 30 saves, while Flames’ young goaltender Dustin Wolf rose to the occasion with 28 saves to secure the victory. Related: 3 Takeaways From Flames’ 2-1 Overtime Win vs. the Islanders The game proved that both teams have goaltending that will keep them…
As their 50th anniversary season celebration occurred in 2022-23, the New York Islanders recalled all the amazing moments that have happened since their inaugural season in 1972. With four Stanley Cup championships and dozens of stars to have worn the blue and orange, there is no shortage of wonderful memories. But how about the not-so-wonderful ones? Don’t we all need to spend a little time getting knocked on our butts to truly appreciate our times in the sun? Thus, here are the 10 worst moments in the Islanders’ 50-year history: 10 – First Islanders vs. Rangers Game, Coliseum, Oct. 21, 1972 The…
At the 2018 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers held consecutive picks, both targeting a right-handed defenseman. The Oilers selected London Knights captain Evan Bouchard at No. 10, while the Islanders followed by choosing Acadie-Bathurst Titan captain Noah Dobson at No. 12, right after picking Oliver Wahlstrom at No. 11. More than six years later, the connection between Bouchard and Dobson goes beyond the usual rivalry between first-round picks, as they now face similar challenges entering crucial 2024-25 seasons. Bouchard & Dobson’s 2023-24 Breakouts Ahead of the 2023-24 NHL season, Bouchard and Dobson were considered borderline top-four…
Even though the 2025 Trade Deadline is still four months away, it is never too early to look at what possible needs your team might be looking to fill as that day gets closer. While it seems like the New York Rangers might need another defenseman, that shouldn’t be their number-one priority. The position they need to focus on is center and although they have three legitimate centers on the team already, all three have been dealing with their own issues to start this season. If the Rangers want to avoid not having enough center depth heading into the playoffs,…
The New York Rangers earned a well-deserved 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks last night, delivering one of their most complete performances of the season. By heavily out-chancing their opponent and limiting opportunities against, the Rangers demonstrated a strong two-way game. Their depth was on full display with even-strength goals from Will Cuylle, Kaapo Kakko, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider. Rangers vs. Canucks Game Recap Just 34 seconds into the game, Quinn Hughes set the tone for the Canucks, collecting the puck at the point, weaving through the Rangers’ defense, and beating Igor Shesterkin with a backhand to give his…
The New York Rangers got goals from four different players as they squeaked by the shorthanded Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on Tuesday night. The Canucks were missing two-thirds of their top line in Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller but still found a way to stay step-for-step with the now 12-4-1 Rangers. Led by two-point efforts from Kaapo Kakko and Will Cuylle up front and Adam Fox on the blue line, the Rangers won their third straight since getting bounced 6-3 by the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 12. Chris Kreider got the eventual game-winner in the third with his ninth, and remains…
The Carolina Hurricanes started off their three-game road trip with a dominant win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night by a score of 4-1. Still without Seth Jarvis, who did not travel with the team, the Canes did not have any trouble scoring in this one. Related: Hurricanes Place Seth Jarvis on Injured Reserve Despite some spectacular saves from Ivan Fedotov, the Flyers, out-chanced by Carolina 43-12, were not able to muster up enough on the offensive side of the puck to keep things interesting. With the win, Carolina jumped over Washington for first place in the Metropolitan…
After starting off their 2024-25 season with a 4-8-1 record that placed them last in the NHL on Nov. 5, the Philadelphia Flyers have turned it around. Winners in four of their last six contests, the team is nearing the exact area that was more or less expected of them—the middle of the league’s standings. Although the potential face of the franchise, Matvei Michkov, is playing as advertised in his rookie campaign, the Flyers are still in a position where they need more talent. The roster has regressed offensively to this point, with only Travis Konecny, Michkov, and Travis Sanheim…
The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center tonight. Here are the projected/expected lineups sourced from NHL.com staff writers, independent correspondents, and others. HURRICANES (13-4-0) at FLYERS (8-9-2) 7:30 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, NBCSP Hurricanes projected lineup Andrei Svechnikov — Sebastian Aho — Jack RoslovicEric Robinson — Jesperi Kotkaniemi — Martin NecasJordan Martinook — Jordan Staal — William CarrierTyson Jost — Jack Drury — Jackson Blake Jaccob Slavin — Brent BurnsDmitry Orlov — Jalen ChatfieldShayne Gostisbehere — Sean Walker Pyotr KochetkovSpencer Martin Scratched: Ty Smith Injured: Seth Jarvis (upper body), Frederik Andersen (lower body) Status report Latest for THW: Flyers projected…
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning met up for an early-week matchup, with the Lightning battling back from a multi-goal deficit in the third period before winning 3-2 in overtime. Tristan Jarry and Andrei Vasilevskiy played strong in between the pipes for their respective teams. With the win, the Lightning moved to 10-6-1, while the Penguins fell to 7-10-4 with the loss. Game Recap The Penguins mostly controlled the first 40 minutes of play. Even though the shot totals did not show it (22-15 Tampa Bay), the Penguins played possibly the most complete two periods they have played almost…
The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks have gotten out to similar starts this season, both playing well enough to be in playoff contention but not strong enough to be viewed as contenders early on in the season. The Oilers have posted a 9-8-2 record through their first 19 games and sit just outside of a playoff spot, while the Canucks are tied for third in the Pacific Division with a 9-5-3 record through their first 17 games. Related: Oilers’ Bouchard Still Expected to Receive Massive Extension Despite Slow Start Both teams have been inconsistent to start the 2024-25 campaign and…
The Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena tonight. Here are the projected/expected lineups sourced from NHL.com staff writers, independent correspondents, and others. LIGHTNING (9-6-1) at PENGUINS (7-10-3) 7 p.m. ET; FDSNSUN, SN-PIT, SNP, SNO, SNE, TVAS Lightning projected lineup Jake Guentzel — Brayden Point — Nikita KucherovBrandon Hagel — Anthony Cirelli — Nick PaulGage Goncalves — Conor Geekie — Mitchell ChaffeeZemgus Girgensons — Luke Glendening — Michael Eyssimont Victor Hedman — J.J. MoserRyan McDonagh — Erik CernakEmil Lilleberg — Darren Raddysh Andrei VasilevskiyJonas Johansson Scratched: Cam Atkinson, Nick Perbix Injured: None Status report Latest for THW: Penguins projected lineup…
It was reported on Tuesday (Nov. 19) that Washington Capitals’ star forward Alex Ovechkin will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury following a collision midway through the third period of Monday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club. Washington finished with a 6-2 win, which seemed secondary to questions regarding their captain who limped off the ice on one skate. While Washington’s NHL-leading offense was boosted by Ovechkin, he was not the entire arsenal the Capitals present to challengers. Top-six forward Connor McMichael, 23, is enjoying the start of a breakout season with 12 goal celebrations in 2024. Five other teammates…
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, Alex Ovechkin is out of action for the Washington Capitals, week to week after a lower-leg injury on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs say there is no setback or reason to panic despite revealing that Auston Matthews traveled to Germany to see a specialist about his injury. Robert Thomas might be returning for the St. Louis Blues, and is Jeremy Swayman on the outs with his teammates in Boston? Ovechkin Out Week-to-Week for Capitals The Washington Capitals have provided an injury update on Alex Ovechkin. After a collision with Jack McBain in Monday’s game against Utah,…
The Washington Capitals have provided an injury update on their captain Alex Ovechkin after he left last night’s game against the Utah Hockey Club, which had the entire hockey world collectively held their breath. After colliding knee-on-knee with Utah’s Jack McBain midway through the third period, Ovechkin stayed down on the ice in what looked to be tons of pain. He would later leave the game and not return; however, today the Capitals organization has provided an update on their star forward. Washington has announced that Ovechkin has sustained an injury to his lower leg and will be listed as…