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Browsing: hockey
As the Detroit Red Wings celebrate their centennial campaign, few figures can say theyâ€ve both played for the franchise and spent decades behind the microphone.
The beloved Mickey Redmond, the first 50-goal scorer in Red Wings history, fits that bill, as he’s been a longtime mainstay on Red Wings television broadcasts since 1986.
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Soon after Redmondâ€s playing days ended in 1976, a new face with ties to another Original Six franchise, the Montreal Canadiens, joined the Red Wings. And like Redmond, he’s become synonymous with Detroit hockey broadcasts.
Forward Paul Woods, who was originally selected by Montreal in the third round (51st overall) of the 1975 NHL Draft, never appeared in a game for the Canadiens and instead won two Calder Cup championships with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs.
However, it wasn’t long before he would be exposed in the 1977 NHL Waiver Draft and then subsequently scooped up by the Red Wings, where he would spend his entire NHL playing career before eventually transitioning into the field of broadcasting.
Woods admitted that he was frustrated that his career didn’t seem to be gaining much traction with the Canadiens, but that when he received the news of getting a chance with the Red Wings, he initially believed it to be a prank pulled by one of his teammates.
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“I was in Montreal and it was my third training camp there,” he said. “I was frustrated that I got sent down, and then a phone call came to me on a pay phone, just showing how much times have changed since then. It was someone from the Red Wings organization, and they asked, ‘If we took you today in the Waiver Draft, will you come?’
“I thought it was a prank, but I said, ‘Yeah sure, I’ll come.’ I thought it was one of my teammates that were just fooling around, trying to get me going.”
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However, he soon received the confirmation that sent him into full on elation – so much that he needed to pull his car over.
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“It came on the radio that I got picked by Detroit in the Waiver Draft,” he said. “I stopped the car and got out, and just started dancing around the car, I was that excited.”
Woods spent seven full seasons with the Red Wings and became the youngest captain in franchise history at the time, a mark later surpassed by 21-year-old Steve Yzerman in 1986, a role he would hold for 19 seasons.
Woods is one of 37 players in the Red Wings†century-long history to wear the captainâ€s “C,†a distinction heâ€s proud of, though he emphasizes that team success depends on everyone.
“It takes the entire team,” he said. “I guess captains are a sign of respect. The coaches decide that, it’s just who they picked to do it. I was involved in a lot of things, but it’s something to be proud of for sure.”
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Upon Woods’ entrance into the NHL in 1977, the Red Wings’ time at historic Olympia Stadium, which they had called home since 1927, was winding down.
As the surrounding neighborhood declined and crime increased, the Red Wings planned to build a new arena in the suburb of Pontiac before a counteroffer from the City of Detroit led to the hasty construction of Joe Louis Arena on the riverfront.
“It was a great building, it wasn’t that big, and it went straight up almost,” Woods said of Olympia Stadium. “The crowd was always right on top of you, it was a very intense building. The ice was outstanding, it was great.”
When the Red Wings moved from Olympia Stadium in December 1979, their new home wasnâ€t yet fully completed. Although it would go on to host countless nostalgic moments for new generations of fans, it took time for the arena to develop the signature charm that players and supporters eventually came to love.
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Woods admitted he wasnâ€t fully on board with the move to Joe Louis Arena at the time, but he eventually grew to appreciate it like so many others.
“Back in those days, I didn’t understand much about economics,” he said. “Not that I’m some great scholar of it now, but the point was for me, I didn’t think it made sense to be leaving such a great place to go to Joe Louis, which wasn’t even completely finished that that point.”

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“It didn’t seem like a good move at the time, but then it did turn out to be good because Joe Louis got its own identity,” he said. “And with the championships and the teams we had, it became a great place to play in, too.
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But I did love Olympia and the history of it. With (Gordie) Howe, (Alex) Delvecchio, Ted Lindsay, Bill Gadsby, all the different great players who played there, it meant something to me.”
Woods played one final season with the AHLâ€s Adirondack Red Wings in 1984–85 before transitioning into broadcasting, an career move that he never saw coming.
“I’d be the last person who would probably have ever gotten involved in that, but when I was done playing, they gave me a call and asked if I’d be interested in trying it. My plan was to do it for one year, just to say that I did it.
But then I started to understand it a a little bit better over time, and there was way more to it than I thought.”
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Like any good student of the game, there is plenty of preparation that goes into the work behind the scenes for any given broadcast.
“For me, it’s like preparing like back in my school days,” Woods explained. “Just like preparing for a test – if you don’t do it, you’ve got that bad feeling when you get there. So I like to keep myself prepared, going over the information of the previous night in the NHL, what’s happening and what’s going on, and just looking at the different teams and try to come up with a few interesting points.
Woods holds the distinction of being the current longest-serving radio color commentator in Detroit sports history. He initially worked alongside longtime Red Wings commentator Bruce Martyn until his retirement in 1995.
From that point on, Woods has been shoulder to shoulder with Ken Kal, a partnership that has lasted over 30 years.
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“Just like the Bruce Martyn, they have great calls and it’s exciting,” Woods said of working with Kal. “You get dragged into the action when you have that excitement, and you’re enjoying just litending to it as you’re waiting for your moment to say something that’s noteworthy.”
“He’s a great broadcaster, and so was Bruce. I’ve been very fortunate to have (worked with) two guys like that.”
Woods has been behind the microphone as color commentator for four Red Wings Stanley Cup victories, along with another two appearances in the Stanley Cup Final in 1995 and 2009 that would fall short.
The collective euphoria of the 1997 Stanley Cup win, the first by the Red Wings in 42 years, was shared not only throughout the city but at all levels of the Red Wings organization.
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“It’s not an easy thing to do, there are so many teams in the NHL that have never won the Cup,” Woods said of the 1997 win. “It was a great, great moment and something you never forget…it took us a long time to get to that point when we were winning the Stanley Cup with so many lean years before we got there.”
“It means a little bit more too, I think, when you’re an Original Six team.”
Like the players traditionally do, Woods got his own day with the Stanley Cup, a special privilege that was arranged by the team.
“The Red Wings worked it out so that even the broadcasters could have it for a day,” Woods said. “I was coaching my son’s team, I had the Stanley Cup in the dressing room there; it affects so many people in different ways.”
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While his NHL career lasted just over 500 games, Woods has now worked over 3,000 Red Wings games as a commentator, and says coming to the rink never gets old.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. “Had someone told me when I was a kid that as I got older in life that they’d be paying me to watch hockey and talk about it, I’d take that deal all day long.”
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Victoria MatiashDec 5, 2025, 02:00 PM ET
- Victoria Matiash is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. Victoria has been a part of the fantasy team since 2010.
A fluky encounter with glassware at a team dinner sidelines New Jersey’s top forward, Jack Hughes, for two months. On a goal-scoring heater with the Flyers, Tyson Foerster is suddenly knocked out months with an upper-body issue. We still don’t know what’s wrong with Victor Hedman, only that the Tampa Bay defender isn’t close to returning, despite being initially classified as day-to-day. An unwelcome wildcard in all athletic endeavors, injuries serve as a headache-inducing factor for both fantasy and NHL team managers alike. One, that has to be, well, managed.
Fortunately for those of us directing squads on the fantasy ice, there’s greater flexibility in plugging in an alternative, healthy body. The trick is figuring out who best to grab as substitute, while, in leagues that provide for the luxury, placing the lost performer on injured reserve. Two months into the 2025-26 NHL season, here’s a roundup of several significant fantasy performers out for a period of time, and how to best tread water in the meanwhile.
Resources: Goalie depth chart | Daily lines | Projections | Play for free | Player rater | Most added/dropped | Mock draft lobby | How to watch
Suffering an upper-body injury against Tampa Bay on Sunday, Adam Fox is out weeks, at minimum, for the Rangers. Performing excellently with partner Vladislav Gavrikov at even strength, anchoring the top power play, and essentially averaging a point per game, Fox is going to be greatly, greatly missed. Fingers crossed he’s back not too long into the new year.
Meanwhile, coach Mike Sullivan appears to favor a five-forward configuration on the No. 1 special teams’ unit, incorporating Will Cuylle into the mix. Already a solid-enough performer in deeper, well-rounded leagues, Cuylle is even more attractive if he hangs onto that plum power-play gig.
Gavrikov himself is also worth more than a fleeting fantasy thought right now. Rather vocal about how the entire team needs to step up in Fox’s absence, the defender has kicked in his bit by scoring in each of the games Fox has missed. He blocks enough shots to provide value otherwise.
Advice: Place Fox on IR/add Gavrikov/stream Cuylle
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Not even the most insightful insider can seem to crack what’s going on with Anthony Stolarz these days. What was initially thought to be a minor issue is now being loosely characterized as a mysterious, and much more concerning, ailment. However, any sense of real panic has been muted by the excellent play of Toronto’s other netminder, Joseph Woll. That is, until he, suffered what appears to be a lower-body injury in Thursday’s 5-1 win over Carolina. So, enter third-stringer Dennis Hildeby? We’ll see.
As of Friday morning, we await word on the severity of Woll’s issue. He could be out or a game, a week, a month, or even more. (He did finish off the second period even after suffering the injury, which is perhaps a good sign.) As such, invested fantasy managers should keep on top of what’s going on in Toronto’s net over the next few hours/days. Underperforming to date, the Leafs finally seem to be getting their act together.
Advice: Place Stolarz on IR/add Woll?/stream Hildeby?
Christmas will be here in the blink of an eye, which means Matthew Tkachuk will be back on the ice before we know it. As reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, Tkachuk’s projected return is set for the end of January. Just like Brady re-joining the Senators right after Thanksgiving, older bro projects to slide into Florida’s lineup when they host the Lightning on Dec. 27 (he won’t want to miss that hostility-riddled tilt). A top-six/No. 1 power-play role awaits the feisty forward, resulting in Carter Verhaeghe likely falling off the top special-teams unit. Still grabbable in about 20% of ESPN Fantasy leagues, Tkachuk is must-roster across the fantasy board.
Advice: Add Tkachuk now
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• Weekly trends: Public roster moves
• December schedule hacks
• Draft kit | Most added/dropped
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Promoted to second-line center in Jack Hughes’ absence, Dawson Mercer is starting to come on. Firing 13 shots on net, the 24-year-old has three assists and a goal in his past four contests, including two points with the extra skater. Which works out to an average of 2.0 FPPG in standard ESPN Fantasy competition. As long as he sticks in the Devils’ top six, and on the No. 1 power play, Mercer deserves a spot on any deeper-league roster. Hughes isn’t expected back until the new year.
Advice: Place Hughes on IR/add Mercer
In a bit of positive news for the banged-up Stars, Matt Duchene could be back in the lineup shortly. Officially cleared to play, the veteran reportedly needs to string together a few good practice outings before rejoining the lineup. The club wants to ensure their veteran forward is truly fit and ready to go, which is fair.
With Tyler Seguin (torn ACL) potentially out the rest of the season, Duchene could see minutes in the top six. If not, a role on the third line, along with plenty of quality power-play time, should still see the 34-year-old amass solid production numbers upon his return. He earned 30 goals and 52 assists only a year ago. Rostered in just 36% of ESPN Fantasy leagues, the versatile forward merits consideration in most standard competition. Additional note: Defender Thomas Harley remains out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Advice:Add Duchene/drop Seguin
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Matt Duchene tallies a power-play goal for Dallas
Matt Duchene banks in a goal for the Stars off the skate of a Wild defenseman.
In the here and now, Darren Raddysh stands out as a must-roster fantasy figure on Tampa Bay’s injury-ravaged blue-line. At least until Victor Hedman returns healthy. Competing on the Lightning’s top pair and power play, Raddysh boasts 15 points in his past 10 games, including five with the extra skater. Yes, you read that correctly. He’s averaging nearly 3.0 FPPG, yet remains there for the grabbing in more than 66% of leagues. It will be interesting to see how coach Jon Cooper managers matters once Hedman is fit once more.
Advice: Place Hedman on IR/add Raddysh
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Darren Raddysh scores power-play goal vs. Red Wings
Darren Raddysh scores on the power play for Tampa Bay Lightning
After undergoing facial surgery a couple of weeks ago, Charlie McAvoy is loosely expected out — there’s still no solid timeline in place — until mid-January. In the meanwhile, fellow defender Hampus Lindholm is filling in on the Bruins’ top power play, while seeing his average ice-time increase to nearly 25 minutes/game altogether. Through a combination of blocked-shots, shots, and assists with the extra skater and at even-strength, Lindholm is averaging 2.1 fantasy points per game (FPPG) in standard competition since McAvoy suffered his injury. And he remains available in more than 95% of leagues.
Advice:Place McAvoy on IR/add Lindholm
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Eric Comrie deserved a better fate in Montreal on Wednesday, when he almost single handedly kept his squad in the game until losing 3-2 in a shootout. Volume aside, many of the 29 shots denied were saves belonging on a highlight reel. Filling in for Connor Hellebuyck (minor arthroscopic surgery), Comrie hasn’t been the issue during Winnipeg’s recent dismal run. If the Jets can remember how to play better defense — usually their bread and butter — and get some secondary scoring, the club’s other netminder could enjoy a productive fantasy run before Hellebuyck returns in late December.
Advice: Place Hellebuyck on IR/add Comrie
Out since earlier November with a lower-body injury, Marco Rossi is now loosely anticipated back for the Wild in the next couple of weeks. Eventually, if not immediately, the young center is poised to reclaim his spot on a top line between Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. Which is a pretty swell assignment. Before a quieter November, Rossi racked up 11 points in 11 games through October. He should be accounted for in deeper leagues.
Advice: Add Rossi/drop Ryan Hartman
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Three cheers for the attempt at preciseness! According to coach Travis Green, Thomas Chabot (upper-body) is expected back Dec. 14. Or thereabouts. So we can anticipate seeing the Senators defender back in the lineup either Saturday in Minnesota or Monday in Winnipeg. Ranking second to Jake Sanderson on Ottawa’s fantasy depth chart, Chabot is more than a serviceable blueliner in well-rounded leagues. He blocks shots, shoots often enough, pitches in points, and produces on the power play. All good things. He won’t be available in 40% of leagues for long.
Advice: Add Chabot
Suffering a hand injury in October, Rickard Rakell is due back right after the Christmas break. Savvier fantasy managers might make a note to acquire the Penguins winger before he busts back on the scene and starts scoring once again. A staple in Pittsburgh’s top-six and on the No. 1 power play, Rakell is usually good for nearly a point/game. He ringed off eight in eight, while averaging 2.3 FPPG, before falling hurt this campaign. Often underrated as a fantasy performer, Sidney Crosby’s linemate is currently available in more than 40% of leagues.
Advice: Add Rakell soon
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Rickard Rakell lights the lamp for Penguins
Rickard Rakell lights the lamp for Penguins
At last check, goalie Adin Hill could still be out a while. Which means new Golden Knight Carter Hart is in position to see a hearty number of starts before the club’s No. 1 is once again fully fit. Solid on occasions earlier this season, Akira Schmid hasn’t been good enough of late. Fantasy managers with little to lose could do worse than take a chance on Hart, who played well enough in his first NHL game in nearly two years against the Blackhawks the other night. At least until Hill is back in the mix.
Advice: Place Hill on IR/add Hart
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While No. 1 Lukas Dostal is expected out another week or two, backup Petr Mrazek is also likely sidelined until the Christmas break. That leaves third-string netminder Ville Husso to continue patrolling the crease, as he has the past week — to mixed results, mind you. After stopping all but one of 22 shots in a win over the Blues, Husso stumbled by allowing four goals on 21 shots in a lopsided loss to the Mammoth. So the wisest approach would be to only stream the Anaheim netminder in more Duck-friendly matchups.
Advice: Place Dostal on IR/stream Husso when favorable
Hockey Junior World Cup (Photo Credit: @TheHockeyIndia on X) India’s junior men’s hockey team secured a thrilling victory against Belgium in the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 quarterfinals in Chennai. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with India winning 4-3 in the shootout.Princedeep Singh delivered an outstanding performance in defence, making crucial saves during both regulation time and the shootout. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award.”Have learnt a lot from Sreejesh and the confidence is up watching him, learning from him. It was a sensational match, and the crowd support in Chennai has been incredible,” said Princedeep.Sharda Nand Tiwari proved instrumental in the shootout by successfully converting three penalty strokes. Ankit Pal scored the winning goal for India in the shootout, securing the 4-3 victory.Belgium took an early lead in the 13th minute through a field goal by Gaspard Cornez-Massant. They maintained strong defensive tactics throughout the second quarter, effectively preventing India from creating scoring opportunities.The third quarter saw increased action as India returned with renewed energy after halftime. Indian captain Rohit equalised the score 1-1 in the 45th minute with an impressive dragflick. Princedeep Singh continued his exceptional form, making several remarkable saves during the match. His performance drew comparisons to his coach PR Sreejesh’s goalkeeping style.India took the lead in the 48th minute when Sharda Nand Tiwari successfully converted a penalty corner, making it 2-1. The celebration at the Egmore stadium was brief as Belgium’s Nathan Rogge equalised in the 59th minute. India will face seven-time champions Germany in the semifinal on December 7.
Three first-round NHL picks and a candidate to go first overall in this year’s draft headline Sweden’s roster for the 2026 world junior hockey championship.
The preliminary roster, unveiled Friday, features 26 players. Sweden will need to make one cut before the tournament starts Dec. 26 in Minnesota.
Forward Ivar Stenberg will be in the spotlight all tournament. The 18-year-old, who has six goals and 17 assists for 23 points in 24 games for Frolunda HC this season, is on pace to put up one of the best seasons in history for a draft-eligible player in Sweden’s top league.
Stenberg is projected to be in a battle with Canadian forward Gavin McKenna and defenceman Keaton Verhoeff for top pick in next year’s NHL Draft. Canada will name its world-junior roster Monday.
First-round picks on Sweden’s roster are forwards Anton Frondell (third overall, 2025, Chicago Blackhawks) and Victor Eklund (16th overall, 2025, New York Islanders), and defenceman Sascha Boumedienne (28th overall, 2025, Winnipeg Jets).
Sweden finished fourth last year after earning silver in 2024. Its last gold, and second overall, was in 2012.
Sweden will play Canada in a pair of pre-tournament games on Dec. 17 and 20 in Kitchener and London, Ont., respectively.
Sean AllenDec 2, 2025, 01:00 PM ET
- Sean Allen is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. He was the 2008 and 2009 FSWA Hockey Writer of the Year.
Halloween was too early to cut bait on a supposed cornerstone of your fantasy roster. But now that the holiday season is in full swing, it’s officially time to pull the plug and accept that some of these “difference-makers” have made exactly one difference: sinking your team.
This is a look at some of the biggest movers from the Oct. 31 fantasy rankings to last Friday’s update, featuring more than a few players who inspire the classic, “I’m not mad … just disappointed,” as they drift outside the top 250.
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Shane Wright, C, Seattle Kraken (ranked 129 on Oct. 31; 270 last week): He was on only 14% of rosters at the start of the season, but there was plenty of reason for optimism. Chief among them: Wright finished 136th among forwards for total fantasy points after Dec. 1 last season. But he hasn’t been part of the Kraken’s top six so far, which matters more this, year as the team isn’t spreading the ice time around like it used to.
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis Blues (ranked 98 on Oct. 31; 244 last week): Like Wright, there were bright spots last season that convinced about 15% of fantasy managers to roll the dice. And those believers have stayed faithful through 26 games as Snuggerud was given multiple looks in scoring roles and plenty of rope on the power play. But the stats just aren’t there. Now he’s out with a wrist injury until January, so it’s time to move on.
Logan Stankoven, C, Carolina Hurricanes (ranked 202 on Oct. 31; 299 last week): If we played fancy-stat fantasy hockey, Stankoven would be a darling. His lines are possession hogs with positive goal differentials across almost all his minutes. Among the 50 lines that have played at least 4:00 per game together this season, Stankoven has two separate lines in the top 20 for shot-attempt percentage (Corsi%). But he doesn’t collect counting stats, and that’s our whole game.
Fantasy hockey essentials
• Weekly trends: Public roster moves
• December schedule hacks
• Draft kit | Most added/dropped
• Rankings | Goalie depth chart
• Free agent pickups: Weekly adds
• Sign up and play for free today!
Alexander Nikishin, D, Hurricanes (ranked 139 on Oct. 31; 255 last week): The early-season burst of points for the rookie Russian defender has proven to be just that, an early-season burst. After collecting four in four to start his NHL career, Nikishin managed only five points across his next 20 games. There’s still potential here, as the Hurricanes have used a rotating mix of bottom-four defenders, with only Sean Walker and K’Andre Miller eclipsing 100 minutes together (161:22). Some pairings have been great for Nikishin — with Shayne Gostisbehere they’ve outscored opponents 9-1 — while others have not, as they’ve been outscored 4-3 with Sean Walker. If he can’t climb the depth chart with Jaccob Slavin sidelined, it’s hard to see him doing it once Slavin returns later this month.
Resources: Goalie depth chart | Daily lines | Projections | Play for free | Player rater | Most added/dropped | Mock draft lobby | How to watch
Goalie notes
Here’s this week’s selection of goaltending snapshots, showing crease shares, fantasy production and key notes where relevant.
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Jeremy Swayman makes beautiful save
Jeremy Swayman makes beautiful save
Boston Bruins in 27 games (three last week):
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Jeremy Swayman (crease share season/week: 63.1%/67.8%, fantasy points season/week: 51.6/15.6, 26.5% available, 3.01 FPP60)
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Joonas Korpisalo (crease share season/week: 36.9%/32.2%, fantasy points season/week: -5.4/-4.0, 98.5% available, -0.54 FPP60)
Swayman’s swagger, which we didn’t see much of in 2024-25, has returned in a big way. He has clawed his way into the top five goaltenders for total fantasy points. Some of the “credit,” of course, goes to Korpisalo, whom the Bruins have leaned on less and less, widening the door for Swayman’s workload.
Hurricanes in 25 games (three last week):
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Frederik Andersen (crease share season/week: 51.7%/32.1%, fantasy points season/week: -0.4/-3.2, 42.3% available, -0.03 FPP60)
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Brandon Bussi (crease share season/week: 32.0%/67.9%, fantasy points season/week: 30.0/14.4, 96.3% available, 3.73 FPP60)
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Pyotr Kochetkov (crease share season/week: 16.4%/DNP, fantasy points season/week: 22.6/DNP, 84.4% available, 5.49 FPP60)
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The Hurricanes’ smothering style means their goaltenders often face fewer than 20 shots. That low-volume environment hasn’t helped Andersen, whose only win in November came back on Nov. 6. Kochetkov has been excellent when healthy, which was a brief window from Nov. 4 to 17. That leaves Bussi, the bane of Canada; he started four games in November, all against Canadian teams, and the Hurricanes won all four with strong goaltending. He’s already a great spot-start option, and this crease could tilt further his way.
Calgary Flames in 27 games (four last week):
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Dustin Wolf (crease share season/week: 66.6%/3.2%, fantasy points season/week: 7.2/-5.8, 29.0% available, 0.4 FPP60)
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Devin Cooley (crease share season/week: 33.4%/96.8%, fantasy points season/week: 25.4/7.0, 98.4% available, 2.81 FPP60)
It’s likely too late to fully catch the Cooley heater, but there’s still a chance he has fuel left. He has started four of Calgary’s past six games despite Wolf being healthy, and Wolf was chased in his most recent start after allowing three goals in the first six minutes. The Flames aren’t exactly a fantasy goldmine, but if Wolf needs a breather, there are some soft opponents on the horizon.
Detroit Red Wings in 26 games (four last week):
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Cam Talbot (crease share season/week: 53.1%/75.1%, fantasy points season/week: 19.6/-9.8, 80.7% available, 1.41 FPP60)
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John Gibson (crease share season/week: 46.9%/24.9%, fantasy points season/week: -14.6/-5.6, 86.9% available, -1.19 FPP60)
Pittsburgh Penguins in 25 games (five last week):
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Arturs Silovs (crease share season/week: 43.7%/10.3%, fantasy points season/week: 15.2/-6.8, 84.2% available, 1.38 FPP60)
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Tristan Jarry (crease share season/week: 41.7%/89.7%, fantasy points season/week: 36.6/12.6, 65.3% available, 3.49 FPP60)
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Sergei Murashov (crease share season/week: 14.6%/DNP, fantasy points season/week: 8.6/DNP, 99.5% available, 2.33 FPP60)
Vegas Golden Knights in 25 games (four last week):
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Akira Schmid (crease share season/week: 58.0%/51.0%, fantasy points season/week: 33.2/-4.0, 64.0% available, 2.25 FPP60)
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Carl Lindbom (crease share season/week: 27.6%/49.0%, fantasy points season/week: -8.4/-0.6, 99.8% available, -1.2 FPP60)
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Adin Hill (crease share season/week: 14.4%/DNP, fantasy points season/week: 1.8/DNP, 36.4% available, 0.49 FPP60)
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Carter Hart(crease share season/week: DNP/DNP, fantasy points season/week: DNP/DNP, 88.2% available)
Editor’s Picks
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Hart is now with the team and eligible to play. We’ll see when he’s deployed. For what it’s worth, he allowed nine goals across three AHL starts and picked up one win.
Power-play notes
Josh Norris, C, Buffalo Sabres (available in 85.9% of ESPN leagues): A strong return to the lineup from injury saw Norris pick up a power-play point with the top unit and also be on the ice for two goals at even strength (with Tage Thompson and Zach Benson). Norris could be the shot in the arm the Sabres offense needed.
Scott Morrow, D, New York Rangers (available in 99.8%): The Rangers don’t have a clear successor to Adam Fox on the blue line for the power play, so when he left midgame, the team went with five forwards (adding Will Cuylle) on the next advantage. No other Rangers defender has a single power-play point. Fox will miss at least a month, and Morrow has the closest thing to a PP-QB skillset on the roster. He’s been bouncing between the NHL and AHL, with minimal usage, but he still makes the most sense to get the shot.
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Gabriel Landeskog nets power-play goal
Gabriel Landeskog scores on the power play for Colorado Avalanche
Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche (available in 55.3%): It took a bit, but Landeskog has nudged his way onto the Avs’ top unit. His PPTOI has jumped to 3:19 over his past three games (from 1:53 on the season), and he tallied his first two power-play points of his return in that span. The unit itself has clicked with him on it, with 9:49 of time, 5.3 shot attempts per two minutes and two goals.
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Zach Hyman, RW, Edmonton Oilers (available in 43.5%): Pick him up. Someone we know scored more than 50 two seasons ago is back in the lineup and boosting the power play alongside two of the best players on the planet. Hyman rarely stays quiet for long. He shouldn’t be available in this many leagues.
Darren Raddysh, D, Tampa Bay Lightning (available in 73.4%): We’ve highlighted Raddysh plenty while Victor Hedman is out, but there may be an argument to keep him there even when Hedman is healthy. The Lightning’s top unit (Kucherov, Guentzel, Bjorkstrand, Point) has logged 27:50 with Hedman and 26:34 with Raddysh. With Raddysh, the group has more shots (27-21), more attempts (50-44), and more goals (4-3).
Easton Cowan, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs (available in 98.4%): The fact that Cowan is getting top-unit looks without an injury opening the door is a notable development. At some point this Maple Leafs power play has to start dominating … right? It has too much talent not to … right? They haven’t scored with Cowan in 6:32 so far, but the 4.29 shot attempts per two minutes is at least encouraging … right?
Sean AllenDec 2, 2025, 01:00 PM ET
- Sean Allen is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. He was the 2008 and 2009 FSWA Hockey Writer of the Year.
Halloween was too early to cut bait on a supposed cornerstone of your fantasy roster. But now that the holiday season is in full swing, it’s officially time to pull the plug and accept that some of these “difference-makers” have made exactly one difference: sinking your team.
This is a look at some of the biggest movers from the Oct. 31 fantasy rankings to last Friday’s update, featuring more than a few players who inspire the classic, “I’m not mad … just disappointed,” as they drift outside the top 250.
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Shane Wright, C, Seattle Kraken (ranked 129 on Oct. 31; 270 last week): He was on only 14% of rosters at the start of the season, but there was plenty of reason for optimism. Chief among them: Wright finished 136th among forwards for total fantasy points after Dec. 1 last season. But he hasn’t been part of the Kraken’s top six so far, which matters more this, year as the team isn’t spreading the ice time around like it used to.
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis Blues (ranked 98 on Oct. 31; 244 last week): Like Wright, there were bright spots last season that convinced about 15% of fantasy managers to roll the dice. And those believers have stayed faithful through 26 games as Snuggerud was given multiple looks in scoring roles and plenty of rope on the power play. But the stats just aren’t there. Now he’s out with a wrist injury until January, so it’s time to move on.
Logan Stankoven, C, Carolina Hurricanes (ranked 202 on Oct. 31; 299 last week): If we played fancy-stat fantasy hockey, Stankoven would be a darling. His lines are possession hogs with positive goal differentials across almost all his minutes. Among the 50 lines that have played at least 4:00 per game together this season, Stankoven has two separate lines in the top 20 for shot-attempt percentage (Corsi%). But he doesn’t collect counting stats, and that’s our whole game.
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Alexander Nikishin, D, Hurricanes (ranked 139 on Oct. 31; 255 last week): The early-season burst of points for the rookie Russian defender has proven to be just that, an early-season burst. After collecting four in four to start his NHL career, Nikishin managed only five points across his next 20 games. There’s still potential here, as the Hurricanes have used a rotating mix of bottom-four defenders, with only Sean Walker and K’Andre Miller eclipsing 100 minutes together (161:22). Some pairings have been great for Nikishin — with Shayne Gostisbehere they’ve outscored opponents 9-1 — while others have not, as they’ve been outscored 4-3 with Sean Walker. If he can’t climb the depth chart with Jaccob Slavin sidelined, it’s hard to see him doing it once Slavin returns later this month.
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Goalie notes
Here’s this week’s selection of goaltending snapshots, showing crease shares, fantasy production and key notes where relevant.
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Jeremy Swayman makes beautiful save
Jeremy Swayman makes beautiful save
Boston Bruins in 27 games (three last week):
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Jeremy Swayman (crease share season/week: 63.1%/67.8%, fantasy points season/week: 51.6/15.6, 26.5% available, 3.01 FPP60)
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Joonas Korpisalo (crease share season/week: 36.9%/32.2%, fantasy points season/week: -5.4/-4.0, 98.5% available, -0.54 FPP60)
Swayman’s swagger, which we didn’t see much of in 2024-25, has returned in a big way. He has clawed his way into the top five goaltenders for total fantasy points. Some of the “credit,” of course, goes to Korpisalo, whom the Bruins have leaned on less and less, widening the door for Swayman’s workload.
Hurricanes in 25 games (three last week):
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Frederik Andersen (crease share season/week: 51.7%/32.1%, fantasy points season/week: -0.4/-3.2, 42.3% available, -0.03 FPP60)
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Brandon Bussi (crease share season/week: 32.0%/67.9%, fantasy points season/week: 30.0/14.4, 96.3% available, 3.73 FPP60)
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Pyotr Kochetkov (crease share season/week: 16.4%/DNP, fantasy points season/week: 22.6/DNP, 84.4% available, 5.49 FPP60)
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The Hurricanes’ smothering style means their goaltenders often face fewer than 20 shots. That low-volume environment hasn’t helped Andersen, whose only win in November came back on Nov. 6. Kochetkov has been excellent when healthy, which was a brief window from Nov. 4 to 17. That leaves Bussi, the bane of Canada; he started four games in November, all against Canadian teams, and the Hurricanes won all four with strong goaltending. He’s already a great spot-start option, and this crease could tilt further his way.
Calgary Flames in 27 games (four last week):
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Dustin Wolf (crease share season/week: 66.6%/3.2%, fantasy points season/week: 7.2/-5.8, 29.0% available, 0.4 FPP60)
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Devin Cooley (crease share season/week: 33.4%/96.8%, fantasy points season/week: 25.4/7.0, 98.4% available, 2.81 FPP60)
It’s likely too late to fully catch the Cooley heater, but there’s still a chance he has fuel left. He has started four of Calgary’s past six games despite Wolf being healthy, and Wolf was chased in his most recent start after allowing three goals in the first six minutes. The Flames aren’t exactly a fantasy goldmine, but if Wolf needs a breather, there are some soft opponents on the horizon.
Detroit Red Wings in 26 games (four last week):
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Cam Talbot (crease share season/week: 53.1%/75.1%, fantasy points season/week: 19.6/-9.8, 80.7% available, 1.41 FPP60)
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John Gibson (crease share season/week: 46.9%/24.9%, fantasy points season/week: -14.6/-5.6, 86.9% available, -1.19 FPP60)
Pittsburgh Penguins in 25 games (five last week):
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Arturs Silovs (crease share season/week: 43.7%/10.3%, fantasy points season/week: 15.2/-6.8, 84.2% available, 1.38 FPP60)
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Tristan Jarry (crease share season/week: 41.7%/89.7%, fantasy points season/week: 36.6/12.6, 65.3% available, 3.49 FPP60)
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Sergei Murashov (crease share season/week: 14.6%/DNP, fantasy points season/week: 8.6/DNP, 99.5% available, 2.33 FPP60)
Vegas Golden Knights in 25 games (four last week):
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Akira Schmid (crease share season/week: 58.0%/51.0%, fantasy points season/week: 33.2/-4.0, 64.0% available, 2.25 FPP60)
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Carl Lindbom (crease share season/week: 27.6%/49.0%, fantasy points season/week: -8.4/-0.6, 99.8% available, -1.2 FPP60)
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Adin Hill (crease share season/week: 14.4%/DNP, fantasy points season/week: 1.8/DNP, 36.4% available, 0.49 FPP60)
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Carter Hart(crease share season/week: DNP/DNP, fantasy points season/week: DNP/DNP, 88.2% available)
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Hart is now with the team and eligible to play. We’ll see when he’s deployed. For what it’s worth, he allowed nine goals across three AHL starts and picked up one win.
Power-play notes
Josh Norris, C, Buffalo Sabres (available in 85.9% of ESPN leagues): A strong return to the lineup from injury saw Norris pick up a power-play point with the top unit and also be on the ice for two goals at even strength (with Tage Thompson and Zach Benson). Norris could be the shot in the arm the Sabres offense needed.
Scott Morrow, D, New York Rangers (available in 99.8%): The Rangers don’t have a clear successor to Adam Fox on the blue line for the power play, so when he left midgame, the team went with five forwards (adding Will Cuylle) on the next advantage. No other Rangers defender has a single power-play point. Fox will miss at least a month, and Morrow has the closest thing to a PP-QB skillset on the roster. He’s been bouncing between the NHL and AHL, with minimal usage, but he still makes the most sense to get the shot.
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Gabriel Landeskog nets power-play goal
Gabriel Landeskog scores on the power play for Colorado Avalanche
Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche (available in 55.3%): It took a bit, but Landeskog has nudged his way onto the Avs’ top unit. His PPTOI has jumped to 3:19 over his past three games (from 1:53 on the season), and he tallied his first two power-play points of his return in that span. The unit itself has clicked with him on it, with 9:49 of time, 5.3 shot attempts per two minutes and two goals.
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Zach Hyman, RW, Edmonton Oilers (available in 43.5%): Pick him up. Someone we know scored more than 50 two seasons ago is back in the lineup and boosting the power play alongside two of the best players on the planet. Hyman rarely stays quiet for long. He shouldn’t be available in this many leagues.
Darren Raddysh, D, Tampa Bay Lightning (available in 73.4%): We’ve highlighted Raddysh plenty while Victor Hedman is out, but there may be an argument to keep him there even when Hedman is healthy. The Lightning’s top unit (Kucherov, Guentzel, Bjorkstrand, Point) has logged 27:50 with Hedman and 26:34 with Raddysh. With Raddysh, the group has more shots (27-21), more attempts (50-44), and more goals (4-3).
Easton Cowan, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs (available in 98.4%): The fact that Cowan is getting top-unit looks without an injury opening the door is a notable development. At some point this Maple Leafs power play has to start dominating … right? It has too much talent not to … right? They haven’t scored with Cowan in 6:32 so far, but the 4.29 shot attempts per two minutes is at least encouraging … right?
Photo credit: X/@TheHockeyIndia NEW DELHI: India started their Junior Womenâ€s Hockey World Cup campaign with a one-sided result, running over Namibia 13-0 in their first game on Monday.Hina Bano and Kanika Siwach scored a hat-trick each, as India registered their biggest win in the event’s history. Along with Hinaâ€s goals (35′, 35′, 45′) and Kanikaâ€s strikes (12′, 30′, 45′), Sakshi Rana (10′, 23′) scored twice. Binima Dhan (14′), Sonam (14′), Sakshi Shukla (27′), Ishika (36′) and Manisha (60′) also scored for India. The result placed India at the top of the group standings. India scored four goals in four minutes to take early control. Sakshi began the scoring with a reverse flick. Kanika made it 2-0 with a strong finish. Binima added the third after a direct run, and Sonam scored the fourth following a sequence of passes, giving India a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. India continued to press with Sakshi getting her second goal after a run that ended with a firm strike. Namibia tried to push forward for an opening but was stopped repeatedly by Indiaâ€s midfield. India scored again through Sakshi, who converted a penalty-corner dragflick. Kanika added her second goal just before half-time to make it 7-0. India kept control in the second half. Hina scored her first goal of the tournament with a hit into the top corner. She added another soon after, taking advantage of a loose restart from Namibia. Ishika scored the tenth goal after a rebound from a penalty corner. Another penalty-corner deflection came to Hina, and she completed her hat-trick. Kanika then scored her third from a penalty corner, taking Indiaâ€s lead to 12-0 at the end of the third quarter. India made some changes in the final quarter but continued to create chances. Manisha scored from a penalty corner to complete a 13-0 win in Indiaâ€s first match of the tournament.
Team USA has picked players to go for a three-peat at the world junior championship on home ice.
The Americans named a 28-player preliminary roster Monday ahead of a training camp, Dec. 15-23 in Duluth, Minn. The team will be cut to 25 players for the world juniors, Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Nine players from last year’s team are back, including reigning world junior scoring leader Cole Hutson. The Americans also feature eight first-round NHL Draft picks, including James Hagens, Cole Eiserman and Will Horcoff.
Horcoff (University of Michigan, Pittsburgh Penguins pick) and fellow American team forward Max Plante (Minnesota-Duluth, Detroit Red Wings second-round pick) are tied for the NCAA scoring lead this season.
Hagens (Boston Bruins pick) has nine goals and seven assists in 14 games for Boston College, while Eiserman (New York Islanders pick) has seven goals and three assists in 10 games for Boston University.
Hutson (Washington Capitals second-round pick), a defenceman and brother of Montreal Canadiens blue-liner Lane Hutson, has seven goals and 11 assists in 15 games for Boston University.
The team’s biggest question likely is in net with Michigan State star Trey Augustine aging out. Caleb Heil (Madison, USHL), AJ Reyelts (Penticton, WHL) and Nick Kempf (Notre Dame, NCAA) are the three goalies in camp.
Meanwhile, 2026 first-round NHL Draft prospect Chase Reid (defenceman, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) will get a shot to compete for a spot.
Here is the preliminary roster:
Kamil Bednarik: Boston University (NCAA), New York Islanders (Round 2, 2024)
Trevor Connelly: Henderson (AHL), Vegas Golden Knights (Round 1, 2024)
Cole Eiserman: Boston University (NCAA), New York Islanders (Round 1, 2024)
James Hagens: Boston College (NCAA), Boston Bruins (Round 1, 2024)
Will Horcoff: University of Michigan (NCAA), Pittsburgh Penguins (Round 1, 2025)
Jacob Kvasnicka: Penticton Vees (WHL), New York Islanders (Round 7, 2025)
Ryker Lee: Michigan State (NCAA), Nashville Predators (Round 1, 2025)
Cole McKinney: Michigan (NCAA), San Jose Sharks (Round 2, 2025)
Brendan McMorrow: Denver (NCAA), Los Angeles Kings (Round 7, 2025)
LJ Mooney: Minnesota (NCAA), Montreal Canadiens (Round 4, 2025)
Max Plante: Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA), Detroit Red Wings (Round 2, 2024)
AJ Spellacy: Windsor Spitfires (OHL), Chicago Blackhawks (Round 3, 2024)
Teddy Stiga: Boston College (NCAA), Nashville Predators (Round 2, 2024)
Shane Vansaghi: Michigan State (NCAA), Philadelphia Flyers (Round 2, 2025)
Brodie Ziemer: Minnesota (NCAA), Buffalo Sabres (Round 3, 2024)
Asher Barnett: Michigan (NCAA), Edmonton Oilers (Round 5, 2025)
Henry Brzustewicz: London Knights (OHL), Los Angeles Kings (Round 1, 2025)
EJ Emery: North Dakota (NCAA), New York Rangers (Round 1, 2024)
Blake Fiddler: Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), Seattle Kraken (Round 2, 2025)
Logan Hensler: Wisconsin (NCAA), Ottawa Senators (Round 1, 2025)
Cole Hutson: Boston University (NCAA), Washington Capitals (Round 2, 2024)
Adam Kleber: Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA), Buffalo Sabres (Round 2, 2024)
Luke Osburn: Wisconsin (NCAA), Buffalo Sabres (Round 4, 2024)
Chase Reid: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL), eligible for 2026 NHL Draft
Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen: Michigan (NCAA), eligible for 2026 NHL Draft
Caleb Heil: Madison Capitals (USHL), Tampa Bay Lightning (Round 7, 2025)
Nick Kempf: Notre Dame (NCAA), Washington Capitals (Round 4, 2024)
AJ Reyelts: Penticton Vees (WHL), eligible for 2026 NHL Draft
After winning six of seven games on their road trip, the New York Islanders have lost four of their first five games to start their seven-game homestand.
While the game outcomes tell one story, head coach Patrick Roy remains confident in his squad, which is still 13-10-3 and tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card spot.
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“Sometimes after games there’s nothing to be said,†said Roy.
“And I think today is an example. We did everything right. We had a lot of shots and we had a lot of chances. We just came up short. We could find excuses. I get it. I mean, the standard of our team is to win hockey games and do the right thing, but sometimes we just need to continue to play the way we are and believe that things will go our way.â€
Stefen Rosner asked Roy if he’s noticed anything different from the way they’ve played on their recent road trip to how they are playing right now.
“I feel like we played pretty much the same way,” Roy said. “Actually, we might give more shots on the road than at home, but other than this, I feel like we’ve been playing the same kind of hockey. I really do. Did the puck bounce our way, maybe a little more on the road, maybe, yes — obviously, we score more goals. But I mean, I felt like we played really well defensively. I thought on the trip where we won, what six out of the seven, I mean, the game that we lost was the game we played our best. And we’ve been playing some good hockey, and unfortunately, we don’t win.”
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There is no doubt the Islanders’ finishing has struggled in their recent stretch, shooting at just a 3.49% rate, but is the rest of their game there?
During the first five games of their home stand, the Islanders have had 69.1 shot attempts per 60 minutes, 12.39 of which from higher-danger areas. Both of these metrics are significantly higher than their road trip, where they had 50.23 and 9.57, respectively, according to Natural Stat Trick.
At 5v5, the numbers are closer: 63.02 to 48.39 in shot attempts and 10.98 to 9.27 in high danger shot attempts.
Natural Stat Trick’s expected goals model also has the Islanders generating 3.8 expected goals per 60 minutes at all strengths during the home stand, as opposed to 2.9 on the road trip.
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However, the Islanders have scored just 1.16 goals per 60 minutes amid this stretch, while they scored 3.38 on the road trip.
Roy said himself, following the Islanders’ 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in their third game of the homestand on Nov 26, that the shot quality had to improve, and this is something expected goals models struggle to pick up as they track location on the ice but not the location on the net.
Fortunately for the Islanders, the chances are there, and at the very least, the defense has been much improved.
During the homestand, the Islanders have conceded just 18.19 shots per 60 minutes compared to 29.13 on the road trip — an over 10 shot improvement.
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They have also conceded 5.81 fewer high danger shot attempts per 60 minutes, down to 9.1 from 14.91.
On the season, the Islanders are shooting 9.75% — the sixth lowest in the NHL — yet this is still over 6% higher than their stretch on the homestand.
Roy has said himself that there are no moral victories and the goal remains to win hockey games, but fans and the team should hold optimism that, at the very least, the data is promising.
It was one of those plays that, if you described it to a hockey fan, they’d respond with “yep — hockey guy.”
On Friday, veteran forward Kyle Palmieri tore his ACL while chasing a puck in the offensive zone. He crumbled to the ice in visible pain while the play continued into the neutral zone.
Palmieri got up, hobbled toward the Isles bench, but along the way the Philadelphia Flyers brought the puck back into their own zone. Palmieri, somehow with the wherewithal to keep his mind in the game through what was no doubt excruciating pain, stripped the puck from Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae, passed it off and got an assist on the ensuing goal. Palmieri didn’t even see the goal as he was off the ice and helped to the locker room. He will be out six to eight months due to the injury.
To recap: Palmieri tore his ACL. Got up by himself. Hobbled toward the bench. Made a takeaway in the offensive zone and made a (SAUCER!) pass that led to a goal.
That might be the most gangster way to leave a game due to injury in NHL history.
And again, if you told that story to a hockey fan, their response would be, “yep — hockey guy.”
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In that moment, Palmieri exemplified one of the big reasons we love hockey: that natural toughness, stubborn unwillingness to give up in the face of adversity. We have a running hockey inside joke where we laugh, often bewildered, at the laundry list of injuries that come to light after a team gets eliminated from the playoffs.
Like in 2020, when Steven Stamkos came back from a lengthy injury for only two minutes and 47 seconds and scored on his first possession? Hockey guy.
Or when 42-year-old Zdeno Chara played with a broken jaw (and modified face mask) in Game 5 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final? Hockey guy.
Or in 2017 when Joe Thornton played with a torn ACL and MCL through the playoffs? Hockey guy.
Veteran of over 1,000 NHL games and now-ESPN analyst T.J. Oshie reacted thusly when he saw Palmieri’s effort:
That’s the hockey culture. Torn ACL and still made his way to the bench without help. Oh and he stripped the puck and got an assist on the way. What a warrior. What a sport. Hoping for a full recovery. https://t.co/mASNyLeW1l
— TJ Oshie (@TJOshie77) November 29, 2025
These kinds of heroics aren’t exclusive to hockey, of course. Kirk Gibson will forever be a hero for his 1988 World Series home run for the Dodgers and hobbling around the bases, for example. But hockey seems to have the most publicly known cases of such examples. And, quite frankly, the most believable culture of athletes that would go to those lengths to compete and win. Hockey guys.
Jump ahead:
Games of the week
What I loved this weekend
Hart Trophy candidates
Social post of the week
Stick taps

Biggest games of the week


Tuesday, 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu
These are two teams that need a kick. The Golden Knights are 4-2-4 in their past 10, while the Blackhawks are 4-4-2. The two teams are separated by five points, which is not something many people would have expected at this stage of the season.
Plus, lots of star power on display in this one, including Connor Bedard vs. Jack Eichel at 1C. Let’s go!


Thursday, 7 p.m. | ESPN+
The Penguins head to Tampa to play the Lightning, and even though it’s not a “return” per se, it’s always fun to see a player play against many former teammates. Jake Guentzel against Sidney Crosby and the Pens will be interesting.


Saturday, 12:30 p.m. | ESPN+
The league’s bulldozer, the Avalanche, head to Madison Square Garden on Saturday. The Rangers are still struggling at home but have picked up a couple of wins at the Garden recently. But if the vibes stay bad and the hottest team in the NHL is coming to your barn, that has the makings of a disaster. The Avs doubled up the Rangers the last time these teams played (in Denver on Nov. 20) 6-3.
Other key games this week


Monday, 7 p.m. | NHL Network


Tuesday, 10:30 p.m. | ESPN+


Wednesday, 7 p.m. | ESPN+


Thursday, 9 p.m. | ESPN+


Thursday, 10 p.m. | ESPN+/Hulu


Friday, 10 p.m. | ESPN+


Saturday, 7 p.m. | ESPN+


Sunday, 8 p.m. | ESPN+
What I loved this weekend
Many in the hockey world talk about growing the game, and this weekend included one excellent example of doing that courtesy of the Minnesota Wild.
For the first time in NHL history, in honor of Native American Heritage Day, the game between the Wild and Avalanche had Ojibwe-language commentary:
check out this call 📞
a first-of-its-kind Ojibwe-language game broadcast in celebration of Native American Heritage Day!! pic.twitter.com/Zo1XvnF8Qj
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) November 28, 2025
In speaking with fans who consume hockey games in their native languages, it means the world to them and particularly their family members who can fully experience and fall in love with hockey, surrounded by their family and friends. You absolutely love to see it.
Shout out to Jessi Pierce, who covers the Wild and also cohosts the “Bardown Beauties” hockey podcast for bringing this to my attention.
Hart Trophy candidates if the season ended today
Nathan MacKinnon might stay on this list for the rest of the season. He’s building a sizable gap between him and No. 2 in the Art Ross (currently seven points ahead of Macklin Celebrini) and is battling with Morgan Geekie for the league lead in goals. He’s a finalist every week and continues to build his case.
I hate to give two spots to one team, but I simply can’t deny Scott Wedgewood. The veteran goaltender has a .920 save percentage to help drive his 13-1-3 record, and he has allowed only 36 goals in 18 starts this season. I’ll admit that I love when goalies get some love in the Hart race, so that plays a factor. If the Blackhawks were in a playoff spot, I’d give the nod to Spencer Knight, because he has been incredible too, with the same save percentage as Wedgewood behind a much younger D corps.
And, since I love having some youth in this race, Celebrini is back in the third spot. He’s second in the NHL in points. He had five points in four games this week, which is a slow week for him — a somewhat wild thing to say about a second-year player.
Social media post of the week
Ice tennis has hit the NHL!
I first discovered this on Pavel Barber’s social feed but ice tennis now has the honor of saying it was featured at the World’s Most Famous Arena. Pretty cool!
Credit to Jonny Lazarus (who among many other things, calls college hockey games for ESPN+) for the video:
This is new, we’ve got Ice Tennis at intermission at MSG. pic.twitter.com/w8FEtd2FNA
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) November 29, 2025
Stick taps
Normally I reserve this space to show love to people who do great things in hockey and don’t usually get credit for it — reach out to me on social media with your nominees. But I’m going to empty my notepad for this week instead — and it is a stick-related story, so it fits.
During last week’s Blackhawks vs. Wild broadcast, John Buccigross and Cassie Campbell-Pascall discussed how P.K. Subban used to get a new stick for every power play and often switch back out. I asked P.K. why, and he explained that it was because he wanted a fresh twig with “less chance of breakage.” New stick equals stiffer stick, so he was able to get the shots he wanted — and often scored on. Mystery solved, thanks to the Subbanator!