Browsing: Power

Schaefer, who was limited to just 17 major junior games last season, has not only made the jump to the NHL, but is doing so in record-setting fashion.

The New York Islanders rookie defenceman has recorded a point in each of his first six NHL games, including a two-point effort during Tuesdayâ€s 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Schaefer actually made history in that outing, becoming the youngest defenceman (18 years, 46 days) to score a game-winning goal for his NHL club.Â

Four months after he was taken first overall for his projection as a franchise defenceman, Schaefer is somehow already playing like one.

Schaefer is by no means the only standout freshman early on this season, and so we felt it prudent to devote this edition of our weekly power rankings to taking a peek at the first-year players.

Whether youâ€re looking at Schaeferâ€s fellow rookie blueliners, a forward crew that includes the pre-season Calder Trophy favourite or even some of the showings by wet-behind-the-mask goalies, thereâ€s a lot to like.

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With that in mind, letâ€s holler at the hot-lap kids on all 32 NHL squads.

1. Colorado Avalanche (5-0-2) Gavin Brindley, who came over from Columbus in the summer in the swap that sent Charlie Coyle to the Blue Jackets, got his first NHL goal versus the Stars on Oct. 11. The tiny, talented winger (five-foot-eight, 173 pounds) hasnâ€t played much, but did see at least 10 minutes of ice in three of his outings.Â

2. Winnipeg Jets (5-1-0) Can winger Brad Lambert make an impression in Winnipeg this season? The 30th-overall pick in 2022 drew into the lineup for the first time during the Jets†2-1 victory in Calgary on Monday. He had a strong 21-goal AHL showing two years ago in his first full campaign with the Manitoba Moose, but netted just seven goals with the Moose last season.Â

3. Vegas Golden Knights (5-0-2)ÂCole Reinhardt, a sixth-round selection by Ottawa in 2020, scored his first NHL goal with the Sens last season and the winger has already kicked in one with Vegas this year, after the Knights inked him as a free agent in the summer.Â

4. New Jersey Devils (6-1-0) Arseny Gritsyuk got his first NHL tally — a snipe from the slot on the power play — in Wednesdayâ€s 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old Russian winger, who had 44 points in 49 KHL games with St. Petersburg last season, has five points in seven games with the Devils this season.Â

5. Carolina Hurricanes (5-1-0) All kinds of hype preceded Alexander Nikishinâ€s arrival in North America from the KHL, and rightfully so. The six-foot-three defenceman who just turned 24 is viewed in many circles as a potential do-it-all stud and heâ€s got four points in six outings with the Hurricanes. Heâ€s also seen an uptick in his minutes the past two games, when heâ€s gone from skating around 16 or 17 minutes of ice time to over 20.Â

6. Washington Capitals (5-2-0) Two guys on the Caps†third line are rookies and the heralded one is finding his form. Ryan Leonard, the 2023 eighth-overall pick, has goals in each of his past two games to give him three on the season. The hard-nosed winger left Boston College last spring to join the Caps and could be a serious contributor on this squad as early as this season. Meanwhile, right-shot centre Justin Sourdif — picked up in the summer from the Panthers for second- and sixth-round selections — is playing nearly 12 minutes per night for the Caps.Â

7. Dallas Stars (3-3-0) Undrafted forward Justin Hryckowian signed with the Stars in 2024 after his third year at Northeastern. He played five games with Dallas last season and already has that many under his belt this year. Hryckowian had a really strong showing in the 2025 AHL playoffs, netting nine goals and nine assists for 18 points in 14 outings with the Texas Stars.Â

8. Edmonton Oilers (3-3-1) Isaac Howard arrived with some fanfare in Edmonton after the Oilers acquired the 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner in July from Tampa Bay, which was unable to ink the winger after drafting him in 31st overall in 2022. Howard has been a healthy scratch this year, but did one-time home his first NHL goal during Tuesdayâ€s win over Ottawa. Matthew Savoie, another high-pedigree prospect who was acquired from Buffalo in the summer of 2024, also happened to pick up his first point of the season (an assist) against the Sens. Savoie has seen his average ice time increase at least a hair from 12:24 in his first four games to 14:25 in his past three.

9. Montreal Canadiens (6-2-0) Ivan Demidov entered the season as the favourite for rookie of the year and, although Matthew Schaefer has been unreal, nobody should be regretting any bet made on Demidov. The dynamic Russian winger has points in his past three games, including an assist that teed up Mike Matheson for an overtime winner Wednesday night in Calgary. As it happens, two other rookies are also making a huge impression in Montreal. Swedish centre Oliver Kapanen leads all freshmen with four goals and Jakub Dobes might be getting on the radar of the Czech Olympic team brass at this point with his .950 save percentage, which — among goalies whoâ€ve played four games this season — trails only the .957 mark of Igor Shesterkin. What a rookie crop in Quebec.Â

10. Detroit Red Wings (5-2-0) Axel Sandin-Pellikka looks like a keeper, as many expected he would be when Detroit got the shifty, right-shot defenceman at 17th overall in 2023. And how about the start by Emmitt Finnie, a 2023 seventh-rounder who has three goals in his past two contests and a 3-3-6 line in seven games?Â

11. Florida Panthers (4-4-0) The Panthers donâ€t have a rookie on their roster, but sophomore winger Mackie Samoskevich — on a team with key injuries up front — is playing a tick over 14 minutes a night and has four points through eight games. (Mind you, three of those points came in Floridaâ€s first three games.)Â

12. Utah Mammoth (5-2-0) Dmitri Simashev is a rangy, long defenceman the Mammoth have high hopes for. Heâ€s not going to put up big points — at least for a while — so no need to fret over his 0-0-0 stat line through seven outings.

13. Vancouver Canucks (4-3-0)ÂIt was certainly a bummer to see winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki — now on injured reserve — get hurt in Washington on the weekend. The 15th-overall pick from 2022 just barely meets the criteria for being a rookie after he played 24 games last season. (Any more than 25 games, and your rookie status is gone.) Lekkerimaki scored in Vancouverâ€s first game this season and the Canucks surely hope the skilled winger has it in him to be an offensive contributor over the long haul out west.Â

14. Toronto Maple Leafs (3-3-1) So far, winger Easton Cowan has either been on the top line or in the press box. Itâ€ll be interesting to see where Cowan settles in, be that as a regular on one of the Leafs’ lines or playing monster minutes with the AHLâ€s Marlies.Â

15. Los Angeles Kings (2-3-2) The closest thing L.A. has to a rookie in the lineup is Samuel Helenius, a monster six-foot-six sophomore centre whoâ€s seen action in only two games this season.Â

16. Tampa Bay Lightning (1-3-2) Six-foot-three, right-shot defenceman Max Crozier had three assists through four games before landing on injured reserve, a tough blow for the promising rookie and his team.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets (3-3-0) Denton Mateychuk played his first 45 NHL games last year and the offence-minded defenceman actually collected a couple Calder votes. The 12th-overall pick from 2022 could provide a good secondary push from the back end behind all-world Zach Werenski.

18. St. Louis Blues (3-2-1) Jimmy Snuggerud, a first-rounder in 2022, looked good when he joined the Blues out of college for seven games last season and heâ€s got three goals in six outings already this season.Â

19. Pittsburgh Penguins (5-2-0) Four rookies — centre Benjamin Kindel, winger Filip Hallander, defenceman Harrison Brunicke and goalie Arturs Silovs — have seen meaningful action for the Pens this season. While all three skaters have kicked in a goal, the long-term excitement lies with Kindel — the 11th pick just four months ago who made the team out of camp — and Brunicke, who has great puck-moving potential on the back end. The 24-year-old Silovs has also been more than steady in the crease, posting an impressive .919 SP in four outings.Â

20. Anaheim Ducks (3-2-1) Beckett Sennecke was a real riser when Anaheim nabbed him third overall in 2024 and, 16 months later, the six-foot-three winger is putting his abundant skill to use in the NHL with five points in six games playing on the Ducks†second line.Â

21. New York Rangers (3-4-1) Big Noah Laba has been playing 10 minutes per night as a bottom-six centre, while 24-year-old defenceman Matthew Robertson came into the lineup in the Rangers†third game, has two points in his past two outings and played over 20 minutes in his most recent game versus Minnesota on Monday.

22. Seattle Kraken (3-2-2) Jani Nyman, a 2022 second-rounder, has been a pleasant surprise, with three goals from the wing this season. Berkly Catton, who has the highest offensive ceiling of anybody in the organization, has now played two games for Seattle and picked up an assist in his NHL debut versus Philly on Monday. One night later, in Washington, Catton played 18:13, more than all but three Kraken forwards.Â

23. Minnesota Wild (3-4-1) Zeev Buium may be minus-8 through eight games, but itâ€s easy to see why Minny was over the moon to get this kid 12th overall in 2024. The 19-year-old defenceman has recorded six points while playing over 20 minutes per night. Up front, 2022 first-rounder Danila Yurov is seeing limited action as the 21-year-old acclimates to the North American game. And, with Marc-Andre Fleury out of the picture, Jesper Wallstedt is forming an all-Swedish battery in the crease with Filip Gustavsson. Wallstedt has a .909 SP in two starts with a shootout win and OT loss on his record.Â

24. Philadelphia Flyers (3-2-1) For the second straight fall, 2024 first-rounder Jett Luchanko made the Flyers out of training camp. Will the centre be returned to major junior again, though? Luchanko, 19, has played only four games and saw 10 minutes of ice in just one.Â

25. Chicago Blackhawks (3-2-2) Any freshman talk in Chicago must start with Sam Rinzel, the rangy, six-foot-four D-man whoâ€s got three points in seven games while averaging 21:04 of ice time, more than every Hawks defenceman save Alex Vlasic. Meanwhile, 2024 second-overall pick Artyum Levshunov is experiencing the predictable ups and downs a young blueliner — even really good ones — go through. Up front, third-liners Colton Dach and Ryan Greene are also seeing regular action.Â

26. New York Islanders (3-3-0) Schaefer takes up all the oxygen, and rightfully so, but Max Shabanov has shown pretty well as a winger who came over from the KHL. The guy who turned 25 at the start of the season has three points in six games, though he is listed as day-to-day with an ailment.Â

27. Ottawa Senators (2-4-1) The Sens called up Leevi Merilainen from the AHL on Thursday and with Linus Ullmark struggling out of the gate, Ottawa needs Merilainen to be a steady option. While his one start this season was a gruesome 8-4 loss in Buffalo, the 23-year-old Finn had a fantastic .925 SP in 12 outings last year.Â

28. Nashville Predators (2-3-2) Adam Wilsby, a fourth-rounder in 2020, played 24 games in Nashville last season and the 25-year-old is averaging 18:17 on the blue line this year while dressing for every Preds game.Â

29. Buffalo Sabres (3-4-0) Tyson Kozak, a 2021 seventh-rounder, is a nice story with two goals in October. And, on Wednesday night, Colten Ellis made his NHL debut by stopping 27 shots in a 4-2 win over Detroit.Â

30. Boston Bruins (3-5-0)ÂFraser Minten had the OT winner in Bostonâ€s second game this season, but he played just 7:07 in the Bruins†most recent outing.Â

31. Calgary Flames (1-6-1) Zayne Parekh has many years to show what he can do in the NHL, but with zero points in six games and Calgary seemingly in for a long season, you wonder whatâ€s best for the young man in the short term: stay in Calgary and risk losing confidence on a bad team or return to major junior where — aside from playing for Canada at the world juniors — he doesnâ€t have much to prove.Â

32. San Jose Sharks (0-4-2) See above. The Sharks have two players in a similar spot to Parekh in that they may not be ready for the NHL, especially if it means loss after loss on a cellar-dwelling club. Michael Misa, Parekhâ€s OHL teammate in Saginaw, has dressed for just three games after being the second-overall pick in June, while Sam Dickinson — a defenceman who won the Memorial Cup with London in May — has suited up for five. That said, Dickinson has averaged nearly 17 minutes on the back end in his past three outings. While Yaroslav Askarov has seen NHL action in four straight seasons, heâ€s still technically a rookie and is getting pelted pretty hard on a Sharks team that allows more shots per game (34.3) than any squad in the NHL.

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Brook was keen to stress before this series there would be no talk about next month’s Ashes series within his white-ball group, insisting his focus is on preparing for the T20 World Cup in February.

Whether that is true or not is irrelevant, any Brook runs are of benefit to both outfits.

Brook’s T20 international record is modest for a man of his talents – an average of 29 and five fifties in 50 innings – but this was one of his best knocks in either white-ball format as captain.

All his sixes were clean strikes over mid-wicket – three off the spin of Mitchell Santner and one each off seamers Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson – on the same surface his side struggled in the washed out first T20 on Saturday, but which had flattened out.

Salt’s knock follows scores of 89 against Ireland and 141 not out against South Africa in his six T20 innings since the start of September. He hit one six but 11 fours, targeting the covers and behind square on the leg side.

Salt and Brook both holed out in the 18th over after which Tom Banton’s cameo saw him finish unbeaten on 29 from 12 balls as England romped past the ground’s previous high score of 208-5.

Although Jos Buttler hit to mid-off for four and Jacob Bethell found mid-on having stuck four boundaries in a 12-ball 24, England’s T20 batting line-up is starting to take shape.

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Oct 19, 2025, 08:37 PM ET

It’s Sunday, and another round of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 25 to come up with this week’s order of all 14 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.

Previous ranking:1

The Current fell 1-0 to the Houston Dash on Saturday, but it’s star Temwa Chawinga that may go down as the far more impactful loss. After suffering a non-contact injury in the first half, the forward was carried off the field. While the severity of the injury isn’t known, Kansas City head coach Vlatko Andonovski said after the game that Chawinga’s injury was in the “upper leg” rather than the knee. Even so, plenty of folks in Kansas City will be holding their breath.

Previous ranking:2

It’s been a no good, very bad last few days for the Washington Spirit. First, Trinity Rodman went down with a knee injury during a midweek Concacaf Champions Cup clash with Monterrey. Then they lost to the Orlando Pride on Saturday. An unfortunate deflection and a penalty concession turned a 2-1 lead at half-time into a 3-2 loss at full-time for the Spirit. Still, the first defeat in more than four months won’t sting nearly as much as the uncertainty surrounding Rodman’s return to play.

Previous ranking:4

If there was any doubt about Marta’s ability to take over a soccer game at age 39, that doubt should be put to rest after Orlando’s 3-2 win over the Washington Spirit on Saturday. The Brazil icon forced an own goal and scored the game-winning penalty to help the Pride collect all three points against a Washington side that hadn’t lost a game since June. Marta’s introduction at the break changed Orlando’s fate. Is anyone surprised?

Previous ranking:3

Few matchups this weekend were easier to predict than NJ/NY Gotham vs. Racing Louisville, at least in a tactical sense. Playing at home and as one of the league’s more possession-heavy outfits, Gotham held the lion’s share of the ball. Louisville, for its part, continued a theme of deeper, resolute defending. The result was a game where the hosts hit nearly twice as many passes as the visitors, though the scoreline finished deadlocked at 2-2. The good news for Gotham, though, is that the draw clinched them a playoff spot.

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NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC, 10/19/2025

Previous ranking:5

Make that four goals in three games for Olivia Moultrie. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder bagged a brace in Portland’s 2-0 win over Angel City on Sunday, finding the first finish via a long-range banger from open play and the second from the penalty spot. With the young United States international pulling the strings and enough defensive solidity to see out the result, the Portland Thorns nailed down playoff qualification this weekend.

Previous ranking:7

For the first time in club history, the Wave bagged six goals in a single game. They bested the Chicago Stars 6-1 at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, dominating play in the attacking third in a game that was as one-sided as the scoreline indicates. Whether in open play or on set pieces, San Diego found looks early and often in Chicago’s danger area. Thanks to their dazzling attacking display, the Wave are officially bound for the postseason.

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San Diego Wave FC vs. Chicago Stars – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from San Diego Wave FC vs. Chicago Stars, 10/19/2025

Previous ranking:6

Thanks to a 2-1 win over the Utah Royals on Friday night, the Reign booked a spot in the postseason. While Seattle didn’t create a bevy of chances, a first career NWSL goal for Ainsley McCammon just before half-time gave the hosts a lead and a penalty from Sofia Huerta reclaimed it in the second half to finish the scoring. The Reign have been one of the league’s leakier defensive teams in 2025, but a victory against Utah could serve as a confidence boost with just one more match before the playoffs.

Previous ranking:9

Once again, Manaka Matsukubo came up big for the Courage, this time in a 4-1 win over Bay FC. The young Japanese attacker’s praises aren’t sung near enough: her hat trick, which could’ve been a four-goal game if not for a missed penalty, made the difference on Friday just as her attacking play has made the difference for her squad in so much of 2025. Matsukubo ranks second in the league in goal contributions this year and was a terror up the middle against Bay. She’s a bona fide star.

Previous ranking: 8

A win on the road against Gotham would’ve seen Louisville officially qualify for the playoffs, but Sunday’s 2-2 draw will see Racing go down to the wire in search of the postseason when it comes time for their regular season finale next month. Louisville looked to be sitting pretty late against NJ/NY, but an 85th minute equalizer from Rose Lavelle turned a playoff party into a run-of-the-mill draw for Bev Yanez’s team.

Previous ranking:11

The Houston Dash didn’t impress against the Kansas City Current on Saturday — they were out-shot 20 to six. Still, they managed to claw to a 1-0 victory thanks to a strike from Ryan Gareis just minutes into her appearance off the bench. With the win, Houston did everything in their power to stay alive in the playoff race but results elsewhere around the league didn’t go the Dash’s way. As a result, they won’t make this year’s postseason.

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Houston Dash vs. Kansas City Current – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Houston Dash vs. Kansas City Current, 10/19/2025

Previous ranking:10

With their hopes of qualifying for the postseason dashed before their matchup with the Portland Thorns even kicked off, it’s hard to blame Angel City for looking flat in a 2-0 loss on Sunday. Thanks to Racing Louisville’s draw earlier on Sunday, Angel City’s season effectively ended before they touched the ball at BMO Stadium. Allowing a brace to Moultrie simply placed the exclamation point on what has been a disappointing campaign.

Previous ranking:12

Utah’s three-game winning streak feels like ages ago, doesn’t it? The same could be said of their eight-game unbeaten run in the regular season, a run that came to an end in last weekend’s loss to San Diego. Following a 2-1 defeat in Seattle on Friday, the Royals have now kicked off a losing streak. Already eliminated from playoff contention, they were second-best in a sloppy affair against the Reign.

Previous ranking:13

Bay FC looked an awful lot like a team with nothing to play for on Friday night. With no hope of qualifying for the playoffs, the home side put together one of the sloppiest performances of any team this season. They fell 4-1 to the North Carolina Courage in a game that might have been even more lopsided if not for a missed North Carolina penalty. Between devastating turnovers in their own half and a mistake-filled performance in goal from Jordan Silkowitz, Bay fell behind early and never found their way back.

Previous ranking:14

Without hope of postseason qualification fueling their play, this time of year for Chicago is about identifying building blocks for the future. Saturday’s brutal 6-1 loss on the road in San Diego gave the Stars very, very few positive indicators for 2026 and beyond. Overrun in their own third and largely toothless when they did dare to venture forward into the Wave’s half, the sooner the memory of this game fades for Chicago, the better.

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A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep. Only I decide when Iâ€ve thrown enough pitches.

1.ÂIn the nine seasons Mitch Marner was a Toronto Maple Leaf, only two franchises — the two-time Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and two-time Cup finalist Edmonton Oilers — threw a more efficient power play over the boards (24.2 per cent).

One personnel change on a five-man unit shouldnâ€t make that much of a difference, right?

And yet the Maple Leafs were just a few seconds — and a fortunate bounce off a well-positioned Matthew Knies — away from going 0-for-10 on the man-advantage to start the post-Marner era.

Toronto and rebuilding Philadelphia are the only NHL teams to have a net power-play percentage of zero, having also surrendered a short-handed goal.

Meaning, thus far, their man-advantage has not provided any advantage at all.

How can that be when PP1 features a one-time 69-goal scorer, a one-time 47-goal scorer, a one-time 45-goal scorer, a one-time 29-goal scorer and a one-time 20-goal defenceman?

“Tough to get in a rhythm right now,†Auston Matthews conceded Thursday. “I donâ€t think weâ€re doing enough 5-on-5 to give ourselves more power-play opportunities. The more opportunities you get, the more rhythm you get. So, I think thatâ€s on us to kind of break out of that rut.â€

The Leafs ranked 20th in power-play opportunities in 2024-25 (2.6 per game) and are only drawing two per game this season.

There is a correlation here to how little offensive zone time and cycle chances they are generating. Far too seldom do the Leafs hang onto the puck and drive to the inside.

So, the PP needs more reps to get in a groove. Fair.

But it may also require a refresh of personnel soon.

That Knies goal was assisted by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who currently quarterbacks the second unit but has plenty of experience up top and makes decisions quickly. Could he sub in for Morgan Rielly if the struggles linger? Will that be enough?

Further, Torontoâ€s No. 1 power-play lacks a creative, decisive passer. Its best facilitators, Max Domi and Matias Maccelli, share ice on PP2.

So long have the big guns on PP1 played together that one might simply assume theyâ€ll figure it out sooner or later. Small sample size and all that.

But maybe the power play needs a shock to the system, not unlike it received last winter when a five-forward look gave it life. A passer to tee up Matthews or Nylander.

The Maple Leafs arenâ€t exactly overwhelming their opponents at 5-on-5 (48.7 per cent expected goals).

They need their power-play — one of their most trusted regular-season weapons — to become a serious threat.

2.ÂGM Bill Guerin and head coach Mike Sullivan invested a whack of time during the 4 Nations Face-Off into developing a process for building the U.S. Olympic squad. All the same principals — coaches and management — are in place, and they did most of the roster and strategy legwork over the summer.

“Because itâ€s hard once the season starts. All of us have an obligation to our respective NHL teams, and thatâ€s where our focus and our attention needs to be,†says Sullivan, who took a new job as Rangers coach. “And quite honestly, thatâ€s where it is right now for all of us. But we put a lot of work into the process leading up to it that I think helps us.â€

Guerin has stated that the Americans “have to win†gold in Milan, and Sullivan sees that as an indication of how far USA Hockey has come since winning its most recent menâ€s best-on-best, at the 1996 World Cup.

“Our expectation is that weâ€re going to win, and I think thatâ€s all Billyâ€s saying,†Sullivan says. “American hockey is as good as itâ€s ever been, and weâ€re developing players at a decent rate. Just from a sheer numbers standpoint, there were guys left off that (4 Nations) roster that are elite players in their own right. Those are some of the most difficult decisions that our group had to make. And I would anticipate thatâ€s going to be the case again when we go to the Olympics.â€

3.Anthony Stolarz posted the NHLâ€s best save percentage last season (.926) but remains an Olympic longshot.

The Maple Leafs starter wasnâ€t invited to Team USA orientation camp in the off-season, nor engaged in discussions with GM Bill Guerin.

The Americans have yet to name any goaltender to their Milan roster for the Olympics; Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman and Joey Daccord entered the season as the top four in managementâ€s power rankings.

That doesnâ€t mean a Jersey boy canâ€t dream.

“Youâ€re gonna say yes as soon as you can,†Stolarz tells me.

“Itâ€s one of those things you canâ€t really think about or control. I mean, you look at the goalies in the U.S., and thereâ€s seven or eight guys that can be on that roster. So, just to even be in the breath — in the mention of it — is an honour.

“You know what? If I play well enough to be in the discussion for Team USA, it means that the Leafs are winning a lot of games. So, itâ€s a win-win.â€

4. Double whammy for a pair of Atlantic Division squads counting on a return to the post-season.Â

That Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk and Florida heartbeat Matthew Tkachuk are sidelined for weeks as they rehab from their respective surgeries not only opens the possibility for other Atlantic powers to take advantage, it also means a couple important ingredients for the U.S. Olympic dream may be playing catch-up.

“The silver lining is, you potentially become bulletproof to injuries in the playoffs if you can figure out how to survive this now,†Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters in Detroit.

“Thatâ€s the only thing we get out of this, because weâ€re going to have to scratch and claw to make the playoffs, because the division is that good.â€

5.The projected salary cap for 2027-28 is $113.5 million.

The Montreal Canadiens have prime Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Jake Evans, Noah Dobson, Kaiden Guhle and now Lane Hutson locked in for a total of $50.075 million that season.

That leaves more than $63 million to build a contender.

6.Not sure any team has needed a Game 4 win as desperately as the Buffalo Sabres, who mercifully gave KeyBank Center a reason to cheer — or, at least, not boo — by stomping the Senators 8-4 Wednesday.

Entering that game, Buffalo had mustered just two goals through three losses, never held a lead, had been jeered off home ice, and watched disgruntled fans go viral with their disgust.

The injury bug has taken a toll, absolutely.

But with “Fire Adams!†razzes at the ready and pending hometown UFA Alex Tuch already smashing pause on contract extension talks, this could be a long winter in Western New York.

“I think I saw the exact same scene in The Mighty Ducks, so I tried to reenact that.†— No. 1 pick MatthewSchaefer on his pile-diving first NHL goal

8.ÂThe Nashville Predators have adopted a new motto: no free offence.

On the heels of a 30th-place finish last season in which the “winners†of 2024â€s free agency gave up a leaky 3.34 goals per night, the Preds (2-1-2) are making a concerted effort to tighten up, and theyâ€ve snatched points in four of their first five.

“Thereâ€s not as many expectations around this group, and theyâ€re embracing it,†said Andrew Brunette, whom many believe entered this season on the hot seat. “Theyâ€ve been bringing it every night.â€

The coach believes the changes in Music City are more mental than personnel-based.

Brunette wonders if the spending splash and preseason hype of 2024 — when Nashville outbid rivals for prized UFAs Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei — had an adverse effect.

The staff and the veteran core needed to decompress and take a hard look internally.

“The expectations were so big around us, starting July 1, we just werenâ€t able to fulfill them,†Brunette said. “We were looking for results and forgot about the process. And this year, weâ€re trying to reverse that. Worry about the process first, and results will follow. No expectations on our group.â€

Brunette explains that through “constant communication through the summer,†the staff and the skaters deepened their relationship via an exchange of opinions on how to get the team back to respectability in a tough division.

Why not pick the brains of Cup-winning captains like Stamkos and Ryan Oâ€Reilly?

“We were able to build a plan everybody believed in, where it was both of our ideas. And weâ€re trying to implement it. Itâ€s gonna be hard. We know that coming in, it’s not easy. But weâ€re going to try to get better every day.â€

9.Yes, the New York Rangers began their centennial celebrations by not scoring a single goal at Madison Square Garden through three games.

Yes, they mercifully ended their goal drought at 170:39 Thursday night in Toronto and still lost.

But weâ€re betting on a turnaround.

The Blueshirts have elite goaltending and look tighter defensively under Sullivan, allowing a league-best 1.5 goals per game. (They ranked 19th in that department last season, allowing 3.11.) They also have a stingy penalty kill (91.7 per cent).

The addition of Vladislav Gavrikov is huge. Just ask the L.A. Kings; the second-best defensive team in 2024-25 now ranks 27th.

The Rangers are incredibly snakebitten offensively, converting at a league-worst shooting percentage of six.

Artemi Panarinâ€s contract campaign through six games: zero goals, two assists, minus-3. Yikes.

A swing in puck luck, surely, is around the corner — and it should start from positive habits on the back end.

“I see more aggressive defending out of the offensive zone with them. Their D are tight. Theyâ€re bearing down on ya; theyâ€re reloading hard. Like, itâ€s a faster game. I believe Sully, his D zone is a lot like ours,†says Leafs coach Craig Berube. “Theyâ€re gonna take care of the middle of the ice and box people out in their own zone.â€

Sullivan isnâ€t sweating the sluggish offence. Heâ€s celebrating the instant buy-in to play smart without the puck.

“Weâ€re limiting the quality looks and the quantity of looks throughout the course of the games. We’re getting better with every game that we play. And the last couple of games we played some pretty good teams (Washington, Edmonton, Toronto) that have people that are as good as it gets, as far as generating offence,†Sullivan says.

“Itâ€s a credit to the players and their commitment to embrace the message. And I donâ€t think itâ€s been at the expense of generating offensive opportunity. The puck hasn’t gone in the net for us, but I believe that if we continue to play the game that weâ€ve put on the ice over the last couple of games, the pucks will go in.â€

10.In selecting J.T. Miller as his first captain in New York, Sullivan recalled the forwardâ€s ability to drag his Team USA teammates into the fight during Februaryâ€s best-on-best.

“Well, it certainly gave me a better opportunity to get to know him as a person and get a better understanding of what makes him tick,†Sullivan says.

“The one thing that jumped out at me with respect to J.T. at the 4 Nations is, he is a fierce, fierce competitor, and he has an incredible appetite to win, and heâ€s willing to do what it takes to win. And for me, those are great attributes to have if you’re a captain of an NHL hockey team.â€

11. Leafs rookie Easton Cowan is getting a taste of the good life — literally.

“The dinner is very good food, nice hotels, so just being grateful for each and every day,†says Cowan, who was raised on a farm in Mount Brydges, Ont., of Week 1 in the show. “Itâ€s called the Never Hungry League for a reason.

“Iâ€ve been eating a lot, lots of good food.â€

Including tuna tartare, a delicacy not widely available in Western Ontario hamlets.

“Not a big fish guy,†Cowan grins. “It was OK, but I donâ€t think Iâ€ll go back to it.â€

It reminds the undrafted Chris Tanev of how heâ€d never tried sushi until he began playing for the Canucks.

“Going to a nice steakhouse, never really went to those growing up as a kid,†Tanev adds. “You sort of get thrown into a whole different life.â€

Raw fish wasnâ€t the only eye-opening experience for Cowan at one of these upscale Leafs dinners.

“I was sitting with the younger guys on the team, and the waiter came over and handed me a bill,†Cowan says. “I thought I was gonna have to pay for it, but it was just Domes [Max Domi] and Auston playing a prank on me.â€

The 20-year-old got “pretty nervous,†seeing as how heâ€s beginning his entry-level contract and the total due was large enough that heâ€d rather not say.

“But Kniesy (Matthew Knies) helped me out, looked at the bill, and made sure it was fake. So, yeah, definitely nervous for sure,†says Cowan, starting to become one of the boys.

“Little jokes like that are funny and go a long way. Itâ€s just cool. They can joke around, and you gotta be able to take it.â€

12.When life gets you down, when you feel dragged into a scrum you never asked for, be like Frank Nazar.

Get up, dust yourself off, and celebrate anyway…

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Spencer Jones finished second in the minor leagues with 35 home runs. He also placed second with 179 strikeouts.

It was something of a mixed bag of a season for the 6-foot-7, 240-pound center fielder, whom the Yankees drafted out of Vanderbilt in the first round in 2019.

Despite the highs and lows, the 24-year-old Jones’ output represented a vast improvement from his 2024 season, and it was at Double-A Somerset where things started to trend upward.

Jones adjusted his hitting setup by using a much more open stance that allows his hips to be in a better position to start, but it turns out that the aesthetic changes were mostly just that.

“Itâ€s funny, it looks very different, but it wasnâ€t that much different,†first-year Somerset hitting coach Mike Fransoso said.

“When you really dive into the how his swing was actually unfolding, it wasnâ€t a ton different from where it really was in spring, to where it was those first few weeks here, when he really opened up, which made it look incredibly different.

“It wasnâ€t a new swing. The setup added a level of comfort . . . it allowed the swing he has naturally to unfold. A lot of people got caught up in what it looks like to the eye before he starts moving.â€

Regardless, it was in Somerset where Jones was finally able to unlock his in-game power, hitting 16 home runs in just 49 games before a late-June promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Jones hit 19 more homers in 67 International League games, using lessons learned in swing mechanics and also in finally mastering Double-A after spending all of 2024 at the level.

“Sure, there were some tweaks within the swing and maybe flattening a little and not as uphill,†Fransoso said, “but the setup was the main part. Finding one he was comfortable with and then once he loads, making sure itâ€s free so he can go.â€

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• Sean Allen

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  Sean Allen

  Special to ESPN.com

  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.

• Victoria Matiash

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  Victoria Matiash

  Special to ESPN.com

  Victoria Matiash is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. Victoria has been a part of the fantasy team since 2010.

Oct 17, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

The 2025-26 NHL season is less than two weeks old, so all small-sample warnings still apply.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

But the fact that it’s early means it’s also not too late to find some values on futures bets. As part of our updated set of 1-32 Power Rankings this week, ESPN analysts Sean Allen (Eastern Conference teams) and Victoria Matiash (Western Conference teams) also came up with a captivating futures bet for every club.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our list.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Oct. 6. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.

All odds accurate as of publish time. For more, go to ESPN BET.

ESPN Illustration

Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 100%

Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup (+800). The first two games showcased Carolina’s depth. The fourth line was on the ice for three goals, and the third defensive pairing for five, signaling a team where contributions come from every corner of the roster. That’s the kind of balance that can carry a Cup run.

Next seven days: @ LA (Oct. 18), @ VGK (Oct. 20), @ COL (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 75%

Stars win the Western Conference (+475). The Stars rank fourth in conference odds, behind Edmonton, Vegas and Colorado, which adds some appeal to the number. Plus they’ve picked up head-to-head wins over Central rivals Winnipeg, Colorado and Minnesota to start the season.

Next seven days: @ STL (Oct. 18), vs. CBJ (Oct. 21), vs. LA (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 90%

Avalanche win the Stanley Cup (+900). Admirably balanced altogether, this roster features one of the most dangerous forwards in Nathan MacKinnon and the game’s best defender, Cale Makar. Their 4-0-1 record through five games doesn’t serve as a turnoff either.

Next seven days: vs. BOS (Oct. 18), @ UTA (Oct. 21), vs. CAR (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 62.5%

Leon Draisaitl Rocket Richard Trophy winner (+325). After winning the Rocket Richard by a comfortable margin last season despite missing 11 games, Draisaitl doesn’t look any less effective at filling the net this time around.

Next seven days: @ NJ (Oct. 18), @ DET (Oct. 19), @ OTT (Oct. 21), vs. MTL (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 50%

Panthers win the Presidents’ Trophy (14-1). No Aleksander Barkov or Matthew Tkachuk, and yet the Panthers are off to a strong start. After three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances — preceded by a Presidents’ Trophy season — why couldn’t they emerge as the league’s top regular-season team again?

Next seven days: @ BUF (Oct. 18), @ BOS (Oct. 21), vs. PIT (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 80%

Jack Eichel Art Ross Trophy winner (20-1). After collecting a career-high 94 points in 77 games this past season, Eichel appears determined to kick it up another notch. His sizzling start lays a solid foundation in the race for most points.

Next seven days: vs. CGY (Oct. 18), vs. CAR (Oct. 20)

Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 75%

Alex Ovechkin Rocket Richard Trophy winner (50-1). At 40 years old, Ovechkin isn’t the favorite anymore, but that’s what makes this wager fun. The NHL’s greatest goal scorer still finds ways to produce, and if the Capitals’ offense clicks again, a push for one more Rocket Richard isn’t out of the question.

Next seven days: vs. MIN (Oct. 17), vs. VAN (Oct. 19), vs. SEA (Oct. 21)

Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 80%

Ivan Demidov Calder Trophy winner (+400). Demidov showed flashes of elite talent last season and into the playoffs. He’s no longer the early-season favorite, so to claim consecutive rookie of the year honors for Montreal (after Lane Hutson won last season), Demidov will need to make his mark across all situations.

Next seven days: vs. NYR (Oct. 18), vs. BUF (Oct. 20), @ CGY (Oct. 22), @ EDM (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 75%

Red Wings to make the playoffs (+270). Patrick Kane is off to a nice start, exactly what Detroit needs to take the next step. Who the Red Wings bump out of the playoff picture remains up for debate, but win enough games and it won’t matter. Hopefully John Gibson’s early stumble was just a minor hiccup.

Next seven days: vs. TB (Oct. 17), vs. EDM (Oct. 19), @ BUF (Oct. 22), @ NYI (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 60%

David Pastrnak Hart Trophy winner (30-1). Pastrnak is Boston’s offensive leader and everything starts with him. If the Bruins exceed expectations and contend for the postseason, Pastrnak will be a Hart Trophy contender. At 30-1, it seems like a long shot, but only seven players have shorter odds.

Next seven days: @ COL (Oct. 18), @ UTA (Oct. 19), vs. FLA (Oct. 21), vs. ANA (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 75%

Jack Hughes Art Ross Trophy winner (40-1). Jack Hughes is the heart of the Devils’ offense and capable of elite point production. His playmaking and scoring make him an Art Ross candidate if he can stay healthy. At 40-1, it’s a long shot, but Hughes’ skill and role could align for a high-point season.

Next seven days: vs. EDM (Oct. 18), @ TOR (Oct. 21), vs. MIN (Oct. 22)

Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 75%

Jets regular-season total points over 98.5 (-115). They amassed 116 points in 2024-25! The Jets aren’t that much worse without Nikolaj Ehlers. Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele and crew should break 100 points with ease.

Next seven days: vs. NSH (Oct. 18), @ CGY (Oct. 20), vs. SEA (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 60%

Auston Matthews Selke Trophy winner (20-1).Matthews’ game continues to evolve as he has become one of the league’s most effective defensive centers. If he keeps scoring while maintaining a defensive edge, a Selke nod is within reach. With two-time defending champ Aleksander Barkov out, the path is clearer.

Next seven days: vs. SEA (Oct. 18), vs. NJ (Oct. 21)

Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 75%

Joey Daccord Vezina Trophy winner (35-1). If the Kraken enjoy even modest success this season, their No. 1 netminder will likely deserve a good chunk of the credit. When in top form, Daccord performs in near step with the league’s best, but he needs more consistency.

Next seven days: @ TOR (Oct. 18), @ PHI (Oct. 20), @ WSH (Oct. 21)

Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 50%

Jimmy Snuggerud Calder Trophy winner (+650). The 21-year-old is right up there with Ivan Demidov, Matthew Schaefer and other talents from this rookie class. Regular turns in the Blues’ top six and on the power play should help Snuggerud remain in the Calder race all season long.

Next seven days: vs. DAL (Oct. 18), vs. LA (Oct. 21), vs. UTA (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 50%

Kirill Kaprizov Hart Trophy winner (+750). Nine points in four games is an impressive start indeed. A healthy Kaprizov has as legit a chance at being named most valuable to his team as any other member of the league’s elite. Earning a rest during the Olympics — Russia isn’t competing — should also give the Wild winger an edge during the final stretch.

Next seven days: @ WSH (Oct. 17), @ PHI (Oct. 18), @ NYR (Oct. 20), @ NJ (Oct. 22)

Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 50%

Beckett Sennecke Calder Trophy winner (16-1). How about a three-game point streak to launch one’s NHL career? The 19-year-old is already attracting attention from fans outside of Anaheim. An early outside favorite to challenge Demidov, Schaefer and Jimmy Snuggerud, Sennecke likely won’t sport these odds for long.

Next seven days: @ CHI (Oct. 19), @ NSH (Oct. 21), @ BOS (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 41.7%

Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy (33-1). The Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy in 1991-92, missed the playoffs the following season, but reclaimed the award with a new head coach in 1993-94. The 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy winners missed the playoffs last season and have a new coach. Can history repeat itself for a team that still has the players to rank among the league’s best?

Next seven days: @ MTL (Oct. 18), vs. MIN (Oct. 20), vs. SJ (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 37.5%

Nikita Kucherov Art Ross Trophy winner (+600). Kucherov remains the heartbeat of the Lightning offense, blending elite playmaking with an elite scorer’s precision. After back-to-back Art Ross wins, he shows no signs of slowing down. With Tampa Bay’s reliance on his production, another scoring title is within reach.

Next seven days: @ DET (Oct. 17), @ CBJ (Oct. 18), vs. CHI (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 60%

Roman Josi Norris Trophy winner (40-1). For the number, Josi presents as an extra attractive option to seize the Norris. He’s healthy, looks his effective self and has won it before (2020), so voters won’t be afraid to put him on their ballots.

Next seven days: @ WPG (Oct. 18), vs. ANA (Oct. 21), vs. VAN (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 60%

Penguins regular-season total points under 75.5 (-110). The Penguins managed 80 points last season, but the need for a rebuild is becoming unavoidable. If — or when — they start trading players, a slide toward the Eastern Conference basement starts to look like a pretty reasonable wager.

Next seven days: @ SJ (Oct. 18), vs. VAN (Oct. 21), @ FLA (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 50%

Blackhawks regular-season total points over 68.5 (-115). Is this Chicago team good for an additional eight points after earning 61 last season? Judging how they’re battling to start the campaign — highlighted by Wednesday’s 8-3 trouncing of the Blues — probably.

Next seven days: vs. VAN (Oct. 17), vs. ANA (Oct. 19), @ TB (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 30%

Anze Kopitar Selke Trophy winner (20-1). Why not send one of the greatest two-way forwards into retirement with a third Selke? Sean Couturier is the last active skater to have won the award, back in 2019-20. Patrice Bergeron (retired) and Aleksander Barkov (injured) have owned it since. Kopitar has as robust a shot as other leading candidates.

Next seven days: vs. CAR (Oct. 18), @ STL (Oct. 21), @ DAL (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 50%

Mammoth regular-season total points over 90.5 (-115). This talented squad is expected to take another step forward after finishing with 89 points this past season. The additions of JJ Peterka, Brandon Tanev and Nate Schmidt will help in moving the Mammoth forward.

Next seven days: vs. SJ (Oct. 17), vs. BOS (Oct. 19), vs. COL (Oct. 21), @ STL (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 37.5%

Flyers to miss the playoffs (-375). With no front-runners for any individual awards, uncertainty in goal and a roster that still needs more seasoning before it can compete, another lottery pick feels like the safer prediction for Philadelphia.

Next seven days: vs. MIN (Oct. 18), vs. SEA (Oct. 20), @ OTT (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 25%

Blue Jackets to make the playoffs (+200). Kirill Marchenko is already showing sparks, with Sean Monahan steadying the line as his pivot. The Jackets came close last season, and if Jet Greaves can elevate the goaltending tandem, Columbus has a shot to cross the playoff threshold if it can reverse course following a slow start.

Next seven days: vs. TB (Oct. 18), @ DAL (Oct. 21)

Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 40%

Linus Ullmark Vezina Trophy winner (30-1). A former Vezina winner on a team with playoff ambitions and a heavy workload is a strong formula. If the Senators finish above the wild-card spots, Ullmark will be a major reason why.

Next seven days: vs. NYI (Oct. 18), vs. EDM (Oct. 21), vs. PHI (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 50%

Quinn Hughes Norris Trophy winner (+260). After winning it in 2024, he finished third in voting last spring, despite playing only 68 games. Any minor stumble by Cale Makar, and Hughes could find himself leading the Norris pack again in a few months.

Next seven days: @ CHI (Oct. 17), @ WSH (Oct. 19), @ PIT (Oct. 21), @ NSH (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 33.3%

Michael Misa Calder Trophy winner (30-1). There’s no discounting 134 points in 65 games, even at the junior level. Misa has nothing left to accomplish with the Saginaw Spirit. If offered a genuine chance to contribute with this rebuilding Sharks team, the teen center could make a splash in his first NHL season.

Next seven days: @ UTA (Oct. 17), vs. PIT (Oct. 18), @ NYI (Oct. 21), @ NYR (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 25%

Islanders to miss the playoffs (-320). It’s always been an uphill battle, and while the payout is modest, it may be the smarter bet. Leading the league in 5-on-5 goals allowed is a red flag, meaning the Isles will need Ilya Sorokin to carry them if they want any shot at the playoffs.

Next seven days: @ OTT (Oct. 18), vs. SJ (Oct. 21), vs. DET (Oct. 23)

Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 20%

Dustin Wolf Vezina Trophy winner (30-1). He earned a single vote last year! Hey, it’s a start. The Flames’ MVP is loosely expected to earn one or more Vezinas before all is said and done in his career. Wolf will undoubtedly get enough reps to impress in Calgary’s crease again this season.

Next seven days: @ VGK (Oct. 18), vs. WPG (Oct. 20), vs. MTL (Oct. 22)

Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 25%

Tage Thompson Rocket Richard Trophy winner (20-1). Thompson is capable of leading the league in goals, but the supporting cast isn’t always there. With the added incentive of an Olympic roster to make, this wager banks on Thompson once again carrying the Sabres.

Next seven days: vs. FLA (Oct. 18), @ MTL (Oct. 20), vs. DET (Oct. 22)

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After two straight games chasing their opponents, trying and failing to mount comebacks, what the Vancouver Canucks desperately needed in their fourth game of 82 was a swing in momentum — a lucky bounce, a strong shift, anything that could inject and sustain life into this lineup.

On Thursday night against the Dallas Stars, however, it seemed to be getting late early.

An unfortunate own-goal tip from Elias Pettersson got the Stars on the board, a Mikko Rantanen power-play snipe doubled their lead and it looked like the Canucks were headed towards another too-little-too-late effort after barely surviving the first period.

Then, the momentum swing came, and it came in the form of a penalty kill.

The Canucks just had their best scoring chance after being thoroughly hemmed in their own zone when Conor Garland took a slashing penalty against Sam Steel in the early minutes of the middle frame. It could have been a nail in the coffin for Vancouver, could have made the hill to climb that much steeper. Instead, the penalty killers dug in and prevented the Stars from producing any dangerous chances.

Suddenly, it was an entirely different game.

Evander Kane sprung Filip Chytil just after Garland’s penalty came to an end, who tucked one in blocker-side on former Canuck goalie Casey DeSmith for his third of the season. Then, Brock Boeser tipped home a Quinn Hughes shot on the power play for his third marker this year just over two minutes later, followed quickly by Max Sasson’s first in his season debut. In the span of 3:26, the Canucks turned a 0-2 deficit into a 3-2 lead — a lead they would not surrender en route to a gusty 5-3 win.

“The guys stuck with it. The start of the game didn’t go how we wanted,” Adam Foote told reporters in Dallas after the game. “But I give the guys a lot of credit. They hung in there at intermission and stayed with their game.”

In a market so accustomed to gloom, doom and endless disappointment, it’s easy to catastrophize after two straight losses. But it’s only Game 4, and this win returned the team to .500. More importantly, the Canucks put together their most dominant period of the season in the second and held strong in the final frame in the face of pressure, and a goal, from the Stars.

“We just fought our way back,” said Conor Garland, who scored the game-winner to close out the dominant second period. “That Sasson line kind of carried the pace for us, let us get our legs under us, and we had a really good game. Really good finish to it as well.”

That this performance came against a Western Conference juggernaut like the Stars should do loads to boost the Canucks’ confidence as they continue along their five-game road trip, with upcoming stops in Chicago, Washington, Pittsburgh and Nashville.

Is this the type of performance we should expect from the Canucks going forward? We’ll find out on Friday night, when they take on the Blackhawks.

“We’re 2-2 now,” said Garland. “We had no panic. It’s early. We’re trying to find our game. A lot of young guys in the lineup just getting used to the league. To hang in there tonight against one of the best teams in the Western Conference was a good statement by us.”

It took four games, but the Canucks power play finally got on the board.

The Canucks have suffered from a lack of production from their top players, and the same can be said about their power play, which went 0-for-7 prior to Thursday night.

While going 2-for-3 on the man-advantage against the Stars won’t magically fix the power-play woes, which date back to the latter half of last season, it’s encouraging to see them finally find success and string together high-danger chances on each chance.

“I thought they were moving the puck pretty good tonight,” Foote said.

The Canucks scored on their first opportunity, with Boeser, Hughes and Elias Pettersson combining to finally score for the snake-bitten unit.

They were stymied on their second chance, but looked dangerous throughout, forcing DeSmith to stay on his toes and make some tough saves, and on their third try, with the Stars’ goalie pulled to pull to five-on-five, Hughes sent one into the empty net for his first of the year.

The power play still sits at a dismal 20 per cent, but for the first time this season, there is a glimmer of hope that they can find this success consistently.

With just one assist through three games — albeit a record-breaking assist — the Canucks captain was off to an uncharacteristically slow start to the season.

Of course, ‘slow’ for the 2024 Norris Trophy winner is a relative term, and he still led the team in ice time prior to Thursday, smooth skating even if the points weren’t coming with it — very much the case for the entire top-end of the lineup.

Nobody who watches Hughes play regularly thought this mini-slump would at all extend to the point of concern, but it was still a relief to see the defenceman impact the scorecard in the way we’ve grown accustomed.

Hughes finished the night with a goal and an assist, bringing his point total up to three in four games this year, while launching a team-high four shots in over 25 minutes on ice.

If there were any questions surrounding Thatcher Demko’s ability to man the crease after an injury-plagued 2024-25, he has very quickly provided answers.

The 29-year-old has far and away been the Canucks’ MVP through his three games played this season, looking much like the Vezina Trophy runner-up of two years ago, and on Thursday night, he provided yet another first-star performance.

His .903 save percentage is a little misleading, as he kept the Canucks competitive even as the Stars were throwing everything at him. He had to be sharp early, too, with Dallas outshooting his squad 8-1 before the halfway point of the first period, including a Grade-A chance from Adam Erne less than three minutes into the game.

“I think he’s the best in the world. So big, so mobile, tracks every puck,” Garland said of his goaltender. “We feel very confident any time he’s in the net and we’re fortunate to have (Lankinen) tomorrow night, so we feel great about our goalies.”

“He’s unbelievable,” Sasson added. “The saves he makes just look… They’re really hard saves, and he makes them look routine. It’s just a testament to his professionalism.”

In his past two games combined, against the Stars and the Oilers on Sunday, he’s been tested 67 times and made 62 saves.

It’s early, but Demko is already in mid-season form.

Compliments to the Calder Cup line

Foote, on the Arshdeep Bains-Sasson-Linus Karlsson line: “I thought they had some jump. You saw it in pre-season and then you saw it tonight. That speed on the goal —(Sasson) almost had another chance — with that speed, defencemen will back off when he’s out there. He spread the D out, they weren’t playing up when that line was out there. They had to be cautious of that speed.”

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Whether youâ€re a stick-flexing sniper or a third-pair defender, nobody wants to wait long for the weight to come off.

Bagging your first goal of a new season is always a delight.

Last year, every player who skated in 65 or more NHL games managed to find the net at least one time, and only two players — defencemen Adam Pelech and Josh Mahura — who suited up in at least 55 contests failed to score a goal.

Only four NHL teams have played five games so far, so unless you entered the year with legit Rocket Richard hopes, itâ€s not exactly time to panic if youâ€ve failed to get off the goal-scoring schneid.

That said, grips get tight quickly when you canâ€t get one to fall.

With that in mind, weâ€ve decided to use this weekâ€s power rankings as a way to highlight a player or two from each team whoâ€s probably only thinking about one thing when his head hits the pillow: “When is that first goal gonna come?â€

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1. Dallas Stars (3-0-0): Knee surgery wiped out February, March, April and half of May for Miro Heiskanen last year. The Stars†No. 1 defenceman hasnâ€t scored a regular-season goal since Jan. 9, so you know heâ€s itching to get one.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (3-0-0): Nikolaj Ehlers hasnâ€t potted one yet for his new team, but the Dane has 13 shots on goal in three outings. Something should fall soon.

3. Colorado Avalanche (3-0-1) Gabriel Landeskogâ€s most recent regular-season tally came three-and-a-half years ago on March 1, 2022. Itâ€s going to be quite a fist pump when he buries his next one.

4. Edmonton Oilers (2-0-1): Connor McDavid talked about wanting to score more coming into the season, but No. 97 has yet to hit the back of the net so far.

5. Washington Capitals (3-1-0): Alex Ovechkin will move to within two goals of career tally No. 900 when he breaks through for the first time this fall.

6. Winnipeg Jets (2-1-0): Jonathan Toews actually scored in his final game with the Chicago Blackhawks on April 13, 2023. Heâ€s already picked up his first apple with the Jets; all thatâ€s left to do now is bend that twine.

7. Vegas Golden Knights (2-0-2): Nine of Vegas†14 goals this year have come courtesy of Pavel Dorofeyev (five) and Jack Eichel (four). That means there are a few guys on this club whoâ€d like to find the range, including newcomer Mitch Marner.

8. Florida Panthers (3-2-0): Ten Panthers already have a goal this season, but Seth Jones is not one of them.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (2-2-0): You know Nick Robertson wanted to find one quickly this season, but it hasnâ€t happened yet in four games. Only three forwards — Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann — have more shots on goal this year than Robertsonâ€s eight.

10. New Jersey Devils (2-1-0): Neither Jack Hughes nor Luke Hughes has lit the lamp this season. You know Luke — after signing that massive new contract — is dying to slip one home.

11. Montreal Canadiens (3-1-0): Nick Suzuki leads the team with six points, but theyâ€re all assists. Suzuki has hit the 30-goal barrier each of the past two seasons.

12. Minnesota Wild (2-2-0): Newcomer Vladimir Tarasenko has been seeing over 16 minutes per night so far, but that has yet to result in his first score as a Wild.

13. Los Angeles Kings (1-2-1): Every goal will be a special one for Anze Kopitar in this, his final NHL campaign. Heâ€s still trying to break the goose egg in his 20th season.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning (1-2-1): Brandon Hagel registered a career-high 35 goals last season, so you know heâ€d like to get the ball rolling on this year very soon.

15. Detroit Red Wings (3-1-0): Alex DeBrincat has a half-dozen apples so far, but the 39-goal scorer from last year has not been the finisher on a play yet.

16. St. Louis Blues (2-2-0): Jordan Kyrou scored 104 goals for St. Louis in three seasons from 2022-23 through 2024-25. The next highest Blue in that time is Pavel Buchnevich with 73. Kyrou needs to get going soon.

17. New York Rangers (2-3-0): Well, we know absolutely every Ranger is looking to break through at home, where New York has mind-blowingly failed to find the net in three outings at Madison Square Garden. Pending-UFA Artemi Panarin has just two points in five games this year, and neither of them are goals.

18. Utah Mammoth (2-2-0): Just one point and zero goals through four games is not how captain Clayton Keller wanted to begin the Mammoth chapter of his career.

19. Boston Bruins (3-1-0): Viktor Arvidsson is getting a chance to show heâ€s still got some scoring touch in Boston. As such, heâ€d surely like to get his first as a Bruin before too long.

20. Seattle Kraken (2-0-1): Shane Wright came within a single tally of scoring 20 goals last year. The fourth-overall pick from 2022 is still looking for his first goal of this campaign, while also trying to show he can be a real top-six offensive presence in the NHL.

21. Anaheim Ducks (2-1-0): Two guys who inked big deals with Anaheim in the off-season — Mikael Granlund, who came over as a UFA, and Mason McTavish, who re-upped as an RFA — have yet to celebrate with a tally.

22. Columbus Blue Jackets (1-2-0): Kent Johnson had a nice 24-goal breakout last year, so you can bet the talented winger is dying to get one soon.

23. Nashville Predators (2-1-1): Year 1 in Nashville was a bit of a nightmare all around for Steven Stamkos, so itâ€s got to be killing him to be 0-for after four outings this season.

24. Vancouver Canucks (1-2-0): First off, only one Canuck — Jonathan Lekkerimaki — has exactly one goal this year. Kiefer Sherwood (3), Brock Boeser (2) and Filip Chytil (2) all have more than one, and everybody else is sitting on zero. Youâ€ve got to think the guy who would most like to move off zero immediately is Elias Pettersson.

25. Ottawa Senators (1-3-0): Really, the big concern here is how long it will be before Brady Tkachuk has a chance to pop his first of the year. The hand injury he sustained in Ottawaâ€s home opener is going to keep him out “a significant amount of time,†according to coach Travis Green, and thatâ€s awful news for the Sens.

26. Chicago Blackhawks (2-2-1): A league-high 12 Blackhawks have already hit paydirt this year, which is a great sign for the young squad. That certainly takes some pressure off 2024 second-overall pick Artyom Levshunov, who has not popped one yet and has been a healthy scratch.

27. Philadelphia Flyers (1-1-1): 0-0-0 is not the line sophomore Matvei Michkov wanted after three outings.

28. Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2-0): Evgeni Malkin may not have a goal yet, but his six assists are sure attention-catching in the big manâ€s 20th NHL season.

29. New York Islanders (0-3-0): The winless Islanders wonâ€t be going anywhere without some goals from Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, both of whom have yet to break through this season.

30. Buffalo Sabres (1-3-0): Rasmus Dahlin is averaging over 26 minutes a night, so the Sabres need a goal out of him soon.

31. Calgary Flames (1-4-0): Yegor Sharangovichâ€s 31-goal showing two years ago — his first year in Calgary — is starting to feel like a distant memory. He had 17 last year and is stuck on zero so far through five contests this fall.

32. San Jose Sharks (0-1-2): Macklin Celebrini is averaging nearly 21 minutes per night — most of any Sharks player — but he hasnâ€t been able to find the range just yet.

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October 13, 2025

(By Edgardo Vazquez/Bowmar Sports)

In top-level table tennis, every detail counts. The choice of rubber can be the difference between controlling a rally or losing the initiative. With the arrival of the new Zyre 03, Butterfly introduces an innovation that redefines the way offensive players can generate power and spin at the table.

The first thing that stands out about Zyre 03 is its short, dense pimple structure (Ricosheet), designed to offer superior grip and a more pronounced trajectory. This combination allows for confident lifting of sliced ​​balls, heavier spin, and a deep arc that keeps the opponent under constant pressure.

The use of a hard, extra-thick Spring Sponge X offers an immediate feeling of power. Players can feel the ball digging into the rubber, generating solid and precise contact. The result is greater control in rallies and the ability to finish points with penetrating and consistent shots.

In real-life match situations, Zyre 03 provides clear advantages:
• Heavier/more confident openings against underspin
• Greater consistency in long rallies
• Ability to maintain the initiative with deep, quality shots
• Confidence in closing points with power and spin

The new capabilities with this rubber are not only technical, but they are also strategic. Zyre 03 opens up new tactical possibilities: it allows for more aggressive point building and variation with heavy spin.

In conclusion, Zyre 03 is a rubber designed for the player looking to dominate with spin and power, expanding their playing style and elevating their performance in every match. From my experience as a coach, I can say that this Butterfly release represents a new standard for those who want to take their table tennis to the next level.

 

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England’s Sophie Ecclestone celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Hasini Perera (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt scored her fifth Women’s World Cup century while Sophie Ecclestone delivered an outstanding bowling performance, leading England to an 89-run win over Sri Lanka on Saturday.Sciver-Brunt’s impressive 117 runs from 117 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, helped England reach 253/9. Ecclestone then secured 4/17 as Sri Lanka was dismissed for 164 runs in 45.4 overs.England now leads the eight-team standings with six points after winning all three matches, moving ahead of defending champions Australia who have five points.Sciver-Brunt, who was dropped early at three runs by Udeshika Prabodhani, made the most of her chance to score her tenth ODI century and a record fifth in Women’s World Cups.Sri Lanka’s chase faced an early setback when captain Chamari Athapaththu retired hurt with seven runs in the sixth over due to cramps and had to leave the field on a stretcher.Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama formed a promising 58-run partnership, reaching 95/1 before Ecclestone initiated a collapse.Ecclestone’s exceptional spin bowling caused Sri Lanka to lose three wickets for just eight runs in four overs.Ecclestone dismissed Perera, who was caught by Alice Capsey, followed by Samarawickrama’s wicket with Lauren Bell taking the catch.She then bowled out Dilhari for four runs, leaving Sri Lanka at 103/4 at the halfway mark.Athapaththu returned to bat but quickly became Ecclestone’s fourth victim, bowled through the gate by a sharply turning delivery.Sciver-Brunt contributed with the ball as well, taking 2/25 in five overs, while Charlie Dean secured 2/47 in nine overs.Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, who had previously taken four wickets against India, maintained her form with 3/33, including a crucial double-wicket maiden over.Off-spinner Kavisha Dilhari supported well with 1/34 from eight overs, but Sciver-Brunt remained steady despite the regular fall of wickets.England’s innings concluded with Sciver-Brunt’s dismissal on the second-to-last ball, after she helped add 49 runs in the final five overs.England’s innings started poorly, losing two early wickets before Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight stabilized with a 60-run partnership from 74 balls.Knight’s innings ended at 29 runs from 47 balls after a late review confirmed a glove touch on a reverse sweep attempt.Inoka’s impressive 35th over saw her dismiss both Emma Lamb and Alice Capsey, with Lamb bowled behind her legs and Capsey stumped by wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani.Sophia Dunkley scored 18 runs from 30 balls before being caught and bowled by Dilhari, as England lost three wickets for 34 runs between overs 30 and 40.The scoring rate dropped below four runs per over until Charlie Dean hit a reverse sweep to end a seven-over period without boundaries.

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