Even if things haven't been going so hot at the NHL level for the Pittsburgh Penguins, there are some good things happening down on the farm. 

And one Penguins' forward prospect is beginning to make a pretty good case for an imminent NHL call-up. 

23-year-old winger Avery Hayes - signed to a two-year entry-level contract this summer by the Penguins - is on quite the run with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins right now. In his last 11 games, Hayes has six goals and 11 points to go along with 38 shots on goal, and he continues to get better and better as the season rolls on. 

On the AHL season overall, he has nine goals and 17 points in 23 games - including three game-winning goals and the tying goal to send the game to extra time on Saturday against the Utica Comets, which ultimately ended in a 3-2 shootout loss for WBS.

Gritty effort from Hayesy! pic.twitter.com/Vg07kBaGtw

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) December 21, 2025

The undrafted forward showed out well in NHL training camp as one of the final cuts from the camp roster, making it until the last week. Hayes earned his entry-level contract last season after putting together a campaign for WBS that included 23 goals and 42 points in 60 games - as well as six game-winning goals. 

He has yet to make his NHL debut with the Penguins, but given the big club's immense struggles as of late - Pittsburgh has lost eight straight games - it would come as no surprise if Hayes does have his NHL debut sooner rather than later. There is an NHL roster freeze until Dec. 28, so until that time, Pittsburgh can only recall AHL players on an emergency basis. 

After Eighth Straight Loss, Where Do The Penguins Go From Here?The Pittsburgh Penguins are at a crossroads after their 4-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, which handed them their eighth straight loss. What's next for the organization?

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

The house wins on Hockey Night in Canada. 

The Calgary Flames continued their strong play on home ice Saturday night, earning a 6–3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Mikael Backlund led the way with two goals, while Connor Zary and Mackenzie Weegar each recorded three assists. Weegar’s performance included the 200th assist of his NHL career. Ryan Lomberg, Adam Klapka, Joel Farabee and Jonathan Huberdeau also scored for Calgary, while Devin Cooley turned aside 34 shots to secure his fourth win of the season.

The Flames went All-In early, and with Hockey Night in Canada spotlighting the matchup, the Flames delivered an energetic start.

Calgary opened the scoring at 3:54 when Zary drove the net and created a rebound that found its way to Backlund, who shoveled the puck home for his eighth goal of the season.

The Flames extended the lead at 8:42 after sustained pressure in the Vegas zone. Yan Kuznetsov’s point shot made its way through traffic and deflected off Klapka in front, slipping past Akira Schmid to make it 2–0.

Vegas responded at 10:02 when Riley Smith broke in alone, made a move to the backhand, and beat Cooley to cut the deficit to one on just the Knights’ third shot of the game.

Calgary answered again at 15:45 as Zary picked off a pass in his own zone and led a 2-on-0 rush with Lomberg, who finished the play to restore the two-goal advantage.

Moments later, Lomberg dropped the gloves with Jeremy Lauzon following the ensuing faceoff, igniting the Saddledome crowd. Calgary carried a 12–6 edge in shots after the opening 20 minutes.

The second period featured steady pace and flow, and the Flames capitalized. At 8:38, Backlund drove the net and stayed with the play, sliding home his second goal of the night off a pass from Weegar, with Zary picking up the secondary assist. The goal gave Calgary a 5–1 lead and marked Weegar’s 200th career NHL assist.

Vegas pulled one back at 14:34 when Kaeden Korczak fired a shot through traffic that eluded Cooley, making it 5–2.

The Golden Knights pushed in the final frame, outshooting the Flames 21-5 and applying sustained pressure, generating several quality chances. Mark Stone converted on the power play, batting a bouncing puck into the net to bring Vegas within two at 5–3.

However, with the Vegas net empty, Huberdeau scored into the empty net to seal it for the Flames. 

Three Takeaways:

Brzustewicz Settling In:

Hunter Brzustewicz continues to look comfortable at the NHL level. In his fifth game since being recalled, he made mature reads, directed pucks to the net, and even rang a shot off the post. He looks close to finding his first NHL goal any game now.

Triple Chip Performances:

Zary recorded his first multi-point game of the season with three assists and now has four assists in his last three games. Weegar also finished with three helpers, highlighted by his career milestone.

Captain Leading the Way:

Backlund’s two-goal night proved pivotal. With four goals over his last two games, the Flames captain continues to deliver timely offence and set the tone for his team.

The Final Word: 

Backlund on his hot hand:

“Some good plays, just trying to go to the net and put the puck in. Obviously it feels good to score some goals and help the team win.”

Lomberg on the goal and fight: 

“(Lauzon) hit Matty (Coronato) pretty good a couple of shifts before… it just kind of worked out that I scored before I got the chance to ask him (to fight).”

Weegar on 200 assists milestone: 

“I think I got more compliments on the plus-2 than I got on the 200th assist tonight… (Backlund) gets the goal that I got the 200 on and I look up to Backs a lot so it’s a great moment for sure.”

With every passing game, folks are waiting to see the Pittsburgh Penguins snap out of whatever malaise they find themselves in. 

With yet another loss - this one against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday in the first of a home-and-home back-to-back - they clearly have not found a way out of it. And it doesn't seem like any solution is in sight, either. 

Going into the month of December, the Penguins were 12-7-5, and they won their first two games of the month against the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Since then, they have dropped seven straight games, with four of those in regulation and four in overtime. 

They still have games in hand on almost every team above them in the standings, but so does everyone else around them in the standings. And, with the way they are playing, those one to three games in hand mean less and less with each loss. They end Saturday just three points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for last place in the Eastern Conference, and they are now four points out of the final wild card spot - a place they found themselves in just a week ago.

At this juncture, it seems pointless to keep asking what the Penguins can do to fix their situation. This hasn't been a gradual downward spiral. No, this has been an utter freefall, and it's almost unreal when considering that 33 of the 34 teams - like the Penguins - who have finished the month of October 8-2-2 have made the playoffs.

There were early warning signs that the start may have been a bit of a mirage. Team goaltending and shooting percentage (PDO) were high to begin with, and they have since fallen off. But even as those numbers began to balance out, the Penguins were still middle-of-the-pack from a five-on-five analytical standpoint, and their special teams were the best in the league.

Dan Muse: "You go through a stretch like we've been going through, sometimes you start to grip the stick too tight... It's not easy on anybody. But we got to turn the page."

More from tonight ⬇️ https://t.co/VnAUT1i9zO

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) December 21, 2025

All in all - even if they were never going to be the team they were in October - there is still a lot to indicate that this team should not be losing or performing the way that it is right now. They're better than this. And they know they're better than this. 

But, results are results. And the Penguins aren't getting them right now. They're at a juncture in their season where their performance in the immediacy is going to dictate what direction the team is going to take for the rest of this season and beyond. 

So, what now? Where do the Penguins go from here?

Well, there are some things in the "now" that need addressed. The NHL holiday roster freeze took effect Friday and runs through Dec. 28, so the Penguins can only have roster movement in the form of IR transactions and emergency recalls during that time. They play three more games in that time. 

And there are also more long-term things, too, that intersect with the short-term focus. 

Pittsburgh Penguins To Have New Majority OwnershipThe Hoffmann Family of Companies, which is acquiring a controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins, said its goal is to support Kyle Dubas with everything he needs to bring the team back to the top.

Special teams are becoming less special

A week ago, the Penguins had a top-five penalty kill unit. After the 4-0 shutout loss to Montreal?

They're ranked 18th. 

The unit has surrendered eight goals in the last six games, and that almost directly correlates with the loss of Blake Lizotte to injured reserve seven games ago. Lizotte is, without a doubt, the Penguins' best penalty-killer, and he has arguably been their best bottom-six forward this season. They are sorely missing him on the PK, in defensive zone situations, and in six-on-five situations, which have also been a disaster lately. But he is not expected back until after the holiday, so the Penguins need to get back to the aggressive approach they were taking with him in the lineup.

As for the power play? Even that has slid in recent games - again, almost directly correlated with the loss of Evgeni Malkin eight games ago. The unit has dipped below 30 percent for the first time this season, and it is now ranked third in the league after spending almost the entirety of the season at the top of the league. It is just six for its last 31 (19.4 percent), and it has surrendered two shorthanded goals in that time. 

The Penguins need to get back to basics on both units, and they need to get there fast. They are clearly more than capable, but injuries have killed them on both units.

3 Injured Penguins' Forwards Skate Before Team Practice WednesdayThe struggling Pittsburgh Penguins could be getting some help soon on the injury front

No trades right now... but what if this continues past roster freeze?

Obviously, the Penguins already made a big trade when they sent forward Sam Poulin and Tristan Jarry - their best-performing goaltender of the season - to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12 in exchange for goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick. Clearly, the Penguins have struggled mightily since then. 

But there are still other prominent names on the board. And with each loss, their time in Pittsburgh becomes less secure. 

Erik Karlsson has been one of the few players still performing relatively well through this stretch, and he is outpacing both of his previous seasons with the Penguins point-wise. He is also - generally speaking - playing better defensive hockey this season. With just one year remaining on his contract that the Penguins owe $10 million on - and with all three of their retention slots open - he is a clear candidate to be moved well in advance of the deadline if things continue to go south. 

NHL Rumors: 3 Penguins Featured On New Trade BoardThese three Penguins have made a new trade board.

And then, there is Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. Rust's production - 12 goals and 28 points in 32 games - may still be enough to entice a team to give up a pretty good package for him. But his defensive play has been abysmal this season, and that won't go entirely unnoticed by potential suitors. 

As for Rakell? His month and a half on injured reserve didn't do him or his trade value any favors, as he has three goals and 10 points in 14 games but no goals in his five games since returning to the lineup. There is still time for Rakell to gain traction, but it's unclear where he'll be deployed in the lineup going forward, even with Malkin back in the picture. 

A month ago, folks were talking about all three players still being in Pittsburgh by season's end. Now, the conversation has shifted back to the one being had prior to the start of the season: Will any of them remain by season's end?

If the Penguins can't turn things around in quick fashion, there's a good chance at least two of the three won't. And GM/POHO Kyle Dubas has stressed that, while expectations for this season have been elevated because of what the team showed early on, the long-term plan cannot be compromised.

'It Just Made Sense For Us To Do It At This Time': Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas Gives Insight On Jarry TradeIt's safe to say that <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/breaking-penguins-deal-tristan-jarry-to-edmonton-oilers">the trade sending Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday</a> - which returned goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick - surprised a whole lot of people, fans and players alike.

Is going young or sticking with underperforming vets more conducive to losing?

Truthfully, there really isn't an easy answer for this question. And if the Penguins continue to fall, it will be interesting to see how they handle this dilemma. 

There is a widely held assumption that trimming underperforming veterans off the roster - names such as Kevin Hayes, Danton Heinen, Connor Clifton, and Ryan Graves - in favor of younger players like Tristan Broz, Avery Hayes, Harrison Brunicke, and Owen Pickering would suddenly give the Penguins a jolt and, potentially, return better results. 

While this is a nice idea in theory, that's not necessarily going to play out in practice. 

For one, getting whatever value the team can out of said veterans is always the preferred route to waivers or losing them for nothing by season's end. And, if the team isn't winning, it doesn't necessarily hurt a tanking strategy to simply keep throwing them back out there. 

World Juniors: Canada Makes Cuts, Penguins' Brunicke Included In Final 25It appears that Canada's roster for the World Junior Championship (WJC) is coming into focus, and one <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' prospect will be part of the tournament.&nbsp;

However, giving the kids some runway could - realistically - end in the same result. The truth about youth movements is that they're often messy. There are going to be players - such as Ben Kindel - who outperform expectations and can help more immediately than others. 

But, more often than not, that youth needs adjustment time. Rutger McGroarty could use some top-six minutes to see how his game develops. Ville Koivunen could, perhaps, use the same thing. Broz has played in one NHL game and would need time to marinate in a bottom-six role. Avery Hayes - although registering six goals and 11 points in his last 11 AHL games - will need much of the same. 

And Brunicke and Pickering? Brunicke is probably a bit further along than Pickering at this point, despite being a teenager - and he was loaned to Team Canada for the World Junior Championship by the Penguins. But there is still a lot of defensive work for him to do. And Pickering is reaching a point where he probably has to begin showing signs of progress at the NHL level, even if they are small steps. 

Then, there is the goaltending situation, as Arturs Silovs - still just 24 years old - has lost seven straight games while Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist continue to light up the AHL with save percentages of .941 and .935, respectively. However, as good as they've been, they're both unproven in their NHL minutes up to this point. 

The thing to remember with icing the "kids" is that there are going to be mistakes and growing pains. And not every prospect is going to pan out. The Penguins could, quite possibly, be a lesser team with all the kids replacing those vets in the lineup. 

But that's the thing: There comes a point when watching the kids make the mistakes and plummet the season is much more palatable than watching those veterans do similar kinds of things.

The Penguins will have some roster decisions to make on the horizon - namely the Jan. 3 40-game deadline for Kindel and Brunicke, where the Penguins lose a year of restricted free agency should they remain on the NHL roster - and it should say a lot about where they believe they're at in terms of their season and their longer-term outlook with the rebuild. If they believe some of these prospects can help more immediately, they should be on the roster.

But, if not, they may just ride it out with their veterans until at least the trade deadline - for better or for worse.

Rick Westhead Spotlights Canada's Troubled Hockey Culture: 'I Need People Who Are In This Game To Read This Book'Rick Westhead explores the dark side of hockey in Canada with his newest book, "We Breed Lions." He shares stories of wrongdoings at all levels of the sport, including youth hockey.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

Andrew Mangiapane hasn't been scoring goals. That much is obvious. His last one came November 3 against Nashville, and when he finally ended the drought Saturday afternoon in Minnesota—tipping an Evan Bouchard shot past Filip Gustavsson at 13:35 of the first period—it had been 21 games and 47 days since he'd seen one cross the line.

But something else has been happening while the goals dried up. Mangiapane has been everywhere. Forechecking relentlessly. Showing up on pucks. Never really stopping. It's been a slow development and albeit, extremely subtle.

But when Edmonton signed Mangiapane as a free agent this past summer, they weren't chasing the guy who scored 35 goals and 55 points for Calgary in 2021-22. Everyone knew that season was a fluke—a career year fueled by perfect linemates and power play minutes that would never be replicated. The Flames knew it too, which is why they eventually traded him to Washington for a second-round pick.

Edmonton didn't sign him to score goals. They signed him to be annoying. To forecheck in waves. To always be there when opponents try to break out cleanly. To be the guy who never gives defenders a clean look, never lets them settle into their game, never stops coming at them shift after shift.

For the first month or two, it looked like another depth signing that might not work. Mangiapane was fine but not particularly noticeable. He wasn't hurting the team, but he wasn't helping much either. Five goals through 36 games isn't moving any needles. Twelve points doesn't inspire confidence in the acquisition.

Then, in Montreal's road game, Mangiapane started showing up more consistently. He started being that constant presence that makes defensemen uncomfortable. He started being there on every loose puck. Every time the whistle blew and players went at it—he was there. He did it again Saturday against Minnesota—not just scoring the goal, but being everywhere all game long.

Oilers’ Mistakes Against Minnesota Won’t Be Sustainable With Ingram In GoalConnor Ingram faces Vegas Sunday, and the Oilers' lack of attention to detail and defensive lapses against the Wild offer little confidence for his starting debut.

"I think I'm a tenacious, hard-working forward," Mangiapane said when Washington acquired him. "I feel when I'm playing my best is when I'm forechecking their 'D', making them turn pucks over and then I can use my ability kind of in tight and finish, make plays from there."

He's been doing that lately. Actually doing it, not just talking about it. 

He's bounced around the lineup, but let's be real, everyone has. Kris Knoblauch shuffles lines constantly, trying to find combinations that work. Mangiapane has played with just about every center on this club, with various fourth-line combinations. He's been scratched. He's been elevated. He's averaged 11:37 of ice time per game, significantly less than the 14-15 minutes he saw in Calgary and Washington.

None of that seems to bother him. Or if it does, he's kept it to himself and just kept working.

Oilers Provide Several Injury Updates: Pickard Starts vs. WildCalvin Pickard starts versus the Wild on Saturday as multiple Oilers face uncertain recovery timelines, with Roslovic close and Jarry's condition raising significant concern.

The 21-game scoreless drought was a problem, though. Going from November 3 to December 21 without scoring while watching teammates celebrate goals every night tests anyone. But Mangiapane didn't shrink. He changed his game, or found it again, or however you want to look at it, but it worked.

Saturday in Minnesota, the puck finally cooperated. Draisaitl moved it up to Bouchard at the point, and Mangiapane was already in the slot, ready to redirect whatever came his way. Bouchard's shot arrived low, Mangiapane got his stick on it, and the puck lifted over Gustavsson's pad to make it 2-1.

His fifth goal of the season. His first since November 3. It cut Minnesota's lead in half and gave Edmonton life before McDavid tied it 2-2 later in the period. The Oilers eventually lost 5-2, so the goal didn't matter much in the standings, but it validated what Mangiapane has been doing for weeks now.

NHL Rumors: Oilers Urged To Address This Trade Need Should the Oilers be looking to improve their blueline at the deadline?

Being there. Always being there. Never stopping. Never giving opponents a clean look or an easy shift or a moment to breathe.

The development has been slow. The adjustment period was real. But somewhere between a very slow start to the season, a road trip to Montreal and Saturday afternoon in Minnesota, Mangiapane found his place on this team. He's the third-line winger who forechecks in waves, shows up on every loose puck, and occasionally tips one in when the opportunity comes. He doesn't complain about ice time. He doesn't sulk when the goals don't come. He just keeps working.

The goal on Saturday ended the drought. But what's more encouraging is how he's been playing the past few weeks. A be everywhere, get in your face kind of depth winger who never stops working, rather than trying to recapture that 55-point season that was never sustainable anyway.

Ex-Oilers Forward Milan Lucic Signs With Overseas ClubFormer Edmonton Oilers forward Milan Lucic is continuing his career overseas.

It took time. It wasn't smooth. But Mangiapane has figured out what Edmonton signed him to do, and he's been doing it. The scoreless streak made it harder to notice, but the work was there. 

He's finding his place. And for a team that needs depth players who can contribute by being everywhere, and annoying, with relentless energy, that's exactly what they need from Andrew Mangiapane.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

The Colorado Avalanche square off against a major Central Division rival tomorrow night—and it isn’t the Dallas Stars.

Instead, it’s the Minnesota Wild, the hottest team in the NHL, riding a seven-game winning streak. On Saturday night in front of a packed Grand Casino Arena, Minnesota continued its surge with a convincing 5–2 victory over Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

How It Unfolded

Matt Boldy set the tone early, burying his 21st goal of the season less than four minutes into the game. Just over seven minutes later, he struck again, finishing a play set up by Quinn Hughes and Mats Zuccarello to give Minnesota an early jolt of energy.

Edmonton pushed back in an eventful first period, answering with two goals of its own. But the Wild had the final say before intermission, as Ryan Hartman tipped in a goal with just eight seconds remaining to restore Minnesota’s lead and send the teams to the locker room with the Wild up 3–2.

THIS GAME IS BANANAS 🤯

Ryan Hartman steals the lead back just before the first period comes to an end pic.twitter.com/R9cZqoLpBA

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 20, 2025

The second period came and went without a goal, but Minnesota regained control in the third. Vladimir Tarasenko extended the lead to 4–2, and Nico Sturm later sealed the outcome, converting on a setup from Tarasenko to cap the scoring.

Filip Gustavsson was steady in net, stopping 28 of 30 shots to earn his fifth consecutive win. He improved to 12-8-3 on the season as the Wild outshot the Oilers 37–30 in another well-rounded performance.

Now 22-9-5, the Wild are playing their best hockey of the season, but a significant challenge awaits Sunday night. Minnesota will be on the second leg of a back-to-back as it faces the league-leading Colorado Avalanche (25-2-7).

Avalanche Hold Off Jets

Last night at Ball Arena, the Avalanche (25-2-7) earned their 12th consecutive home victory with a 3–2 win over the Winnipeg Jets, extending their winning streak to four games.

Brent Burns scored the game-winning goal, his fifth of the season, making him just the fourth defenseman in NHL history to record at least five goals in a season at age 40 or older.

Josh Manson on growing his game with Brent Burns as his D-partner:

"It took me 4 shifts in the first period to start to finally realize that I've just got to pass it over to Brent and then he can make plays from there."

Full Presser ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/CjwfZzgLBi

— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) December 20, 2025

Martin Nečas and Parker Kelly also scored for Colorado, while Josh Manson added two assists and was named the first star of the game. The Avalanche improved to 14-0-2 at home and extended their point streak to seven games (6-0-1).

Scott Wedgewood made 20 saves to secure the win.

Avalanche-Wild Head-to-Head

The two teams last met on November 28 at the same venue, where the Wild earned a 3–2 shootout victory. Scott Wedgewood made 35 saves for Colorado, while Nathan MacKinnon recorded two points, including a goal. Gabe Landeskog scored a crucial late goal to force overtime.

Kirill Kaprizov scored both regulation goals for Minnesota before the game was decided in the shootout.

The Wild have won three of their last five matchups against the Avalanche—an impressive turnaround after dropping their previous five meetings. Over that span, MacKinnon has three goals and three assists against Minnesota, while Kaprizov has four goals and three assists in his last five games versus Colorado. Prior to the November 28 meeting, Kaprizov had missed three straight games against the Avalanche due to injury.

Start Time

Avalanche vs. Wild coverage begins at 4 p.m. local time on Sunday afternoon. It should be a classic. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

What was this? An offensive explosion? Against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champs, of all people?

That’s why sports of all sorts can be interesting in different sort of ways, but the St. Louis Blues, who came into Saturday’s game against the Florida Panthers dead-last in scoring (2.44 goals per game) put up their largest offensive output of the season.

And it was a little bit of everyone, from Robert Thomas to Pavel Buchnevich to Jake Neighbours to Jonatan Berggren to Otto Stenberg, each with multi-point games.

Thomas (two goals, one assist) and Berggren (one goal, two assists) led the way, and Jake Neighbours (two goals) became the first Blue to reach double-digits in goals this season, and Stenberg had two assists for his first points in the NHL to lead the Blues to a 6-2 win against the Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

Joel Hofer made 27 saves in his fourth start the past five games and Justin Faulk also scored, a buzzer-beater (which we’ll get into below) at the end of the second period to give the Blues (14-15-8) a lead they would never relinquish in the third period.

Let’s go into Saturday’s game observations:

* Have the Blues found themselves a player? – Let’s pump the brakes a little bit and not get too excited about it (yet), but boy, this Berggren kid has fit in like a glove.

Berggren was moved up to the top line with Thomas and Buchnevich, who had two assists, after playing there in the third period on Thursday against the New York Rangers.

That line picked up where it left off and combined for eight points, and Berggren, who now has four points (two goals, two assists) in three games since being claimed off waivers last Tuesday from the Detroit Red Wings.

Not only was he inserted onto the top line, but Blues coach Jim Montgomery put him on the top power play unit and paid dividends immediately when his one-timer from the right circle was actually caught by Florida goalie Daniil Tarasov with a brilliant glove save but it was ruled a goal on the ice and after a look, referee Michael Markovic, who had a really good look live, was right and the puck was caught but across the goal line that gave the Blues a 2-0 lead at 1:55 of the second period:

Tarasov ALMOST got it. pic.twitter.com/DngtBVIqb2

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 21, 2025

But Berggren is making high-end plays, and he’s making himself more comfortable in this lineup. The fact he’s doing it this quickly is quite remarkable, to be honest. But again, he could be playing off a high of proving himself for the new team that took a chance on him. But if the Blues can continue to get this kind of production and effectiveness, they may have something here.

Here's what referee Michael Markovic saw in real time. Pretty sharp eye and he was in a good position to see it. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/dsTziMHLEa

— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) December 21, 2025

When it comes to waiver wire pickups that turned into gems, I look no further than the opponent tonight and Gustav Forsling, who was a waiver wire claim in 2021 by the Panthers from the Carolina Hurricanes, and he’s been a staple to their defense.

* Neighbours the catalyst for hard work – When the Blues work, particularly on the boards and forecheck in the offensive zone, they’re a tough out.

And who better to get the scoring started for the Blues on this night than Neighbours, who was stationed in the slot with a perfect redirect of Cam Fowler’s wrister at 9:59 of the opening period for a 1-0 lead:

Atta boy, Jakey. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/m6GriGSrih

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 20, 2025

The Blues won the opening O-zone face-off that came as a result of an intentional offside by the Panthers, and Stenberg picked up his first NHL point on the play, with Fowler getting his 400th NHL assist.

And it was a Neighbours goal at 12:02 of the third period that essentially sealed the game for the Blues and each member of the line had a solid contribution on it.

It started with a Brayden Schenn effective forecheck behind the net, and the captain wound up checking Seth Jones off the puck, center the puck to Stenberg, who had a nice touch pass to Neighbours and he finished upstairs for a 4-2 lead:

JAKE.
NEIGHBOURS.
DOES.
IT.
AGAIN. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/9lchOXbSaU

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 21, 2025

Neighbours made some nifty plays throughout the game, but his work ethic was infectious and rubbed off on others that also put on their work boots in this one.

* Blues overcome a couple questionable calls – Leading 2-0 in the second period, which hasn’t exactly been a stellar one for the Blues this season.

The first was on a goal scored by A.J. Greer to cut the Blues’ lead to 2-1 at 7:35 of the period, one in which Montgomery challenged for goalie interference, quite simply a rule nobody knows a darn thing about. Seriously.

It’s such a fickle rule, and we all know the effects of it when the Blues were on the bad judgment of a call in what ultimately turned into a 4-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken in November.

On this one, both Jones and Greer made their way into the crease, not forced in, and made contact with Hofer, but again, it was determined that neither affected Hofer’s ability to play his position.

"That's a stocking stuffer right there!" pic.twitter.com/ZpFI3zui02

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) December 21, 2025

Again, I disagree, and I have no qualms with the Blues challenging this. But this confusion goes around all over the league, and if it’s in the judgment of the officials on the ice, then why have any set rules for it in the first place? Just eliminate it and allow the officials to make those calls so teams don’t continually get confused by it.

Here's the reason for #stlblues unsuccessful goalie interference call. You can judge for yourself ... pic.twitter.com/QGNJ0qk7Mc

— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) December 21, 2025

The one that baffled me even more was Jon McIsaac’s holding penalty call on Colton Parayko in the neutral zone on Evan Rodrigues at 11:44 that ultimately led to Sam Reinhart’s power-play goal at 12:45 that tied the game 2-2.

This to me was a nothing call, two guys jostling for position, trying to play the puck, right in front of McIsaac. Swallow your whistle at this point and let them play, but if you’re going to take one there, then both should have been taken. Quite frankly, neither should have been taken, and in my judgment, it was a bad call of a good hockey play.

This is where the Blues could have buckled, despite the Panthers (19-14-2), who had won four straight, including a 4-3 shootout win against the Hurricanes rallying from a 3-0 third-period deficit in the final 10 minutes.

But they didn’t. Patience was a virtue.

* Faulk’s goal massive – The Blues have allowed them, but they had yet to get one themselves … until Saturday.

Not only did they get a goal in the final minute of a period or the first time, but Faulk just beat the horn with 0.8 seconds left at the end of the second to give them a much-needed 3-2 lead, another example of hard work, winning a puck behind the net, and it was Berggren again fighting through what looked like multiple holds and obstructions by Aaron Ekblad, winning the puck, sending it through the seam off the right boards, and Faulk steps into a clapper to beat Tarasov high on the short side:

HOLY FAULK HE JUST SCORED WITH LESS THAN ONE SECOND LEFT! #stlbluespic.twitter.com/z5tNBO5eSy

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 21, 2025

At 2-2 with 20 minutes left, maybe there’s more juice in the Panthers’ tank to win a game, but chasing it, there’s a different emphasis, and the Blues can do some things different themselves.

* Blues kept the foot on the gas in the third – How many times have we seen this particular team sit back and either let the lead get away or hang on for dear life?

Not only did the Blues win, but they won handily. They were smart with pucks, patient with it, and the tone was set with Schenn, Neighbours and Stenberg opening the period, and playing their entire 45-second shift in the Florida zone.

When Neighbours finally gave them the two-goal cushion, Thomas put an exclamation point on the game whipping in his first of the night at 12:53, or 51 seconds after Neighbours made it 4-2, to make it 5-2 on more loose puck work behind the net by Berggren to find Buchnevich, who found Thomas with a slip pass and not much room to shoot:

one heckuva one-timer pic.twitter.com/LIUDAGkWze

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 21, 2025

And Thomas scored a shorthanded empty-netter to put icing on the cake at 16:28 for the 6-2 final.

But the Blues outshot Florida 16-8 in the third and were never overwhelmed by the Panthers’ effective forecheck. Hofer did his part intercepting rims throughout, and puck transition was pretty smooth throughout.

* Does Stenberg belong – Boy, the first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (No. 25 overall) sure doesn’t look overwhelmed, does he?

Not only his first two NHL points came, but he was a plus-2 in 11:39 of ice time, but man, does this kid have an infectious work ethic and he just seems to be in the right areas of the ice.

He had three shot attempts in this game, so he’s trying to get more involved offensively, but when you have a line like Schenn and Neighbours, and complement it with another hard worker like Stenberg, teams are going to hate playing against them.

Stick of the game goes to Otto 🙂‍↕️ #stlbluespic.twitter.com/YMbNkdhBbH

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 21, 2025

The Blues are going to have some tough decisions to make when some of these injured guys return. And I’d be foolish not to mention Robby Fabbri, who had three shots on goal and played 13:40 but had two Grade A scoring chances in the game early on, rebounding well after being a healthy scratch Thursday.

Can you imagine: Fabbri was signed to a one-year, two-way contract a week and a half ago; Berggren was claimed off waivers four days ago and Stenberg was recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League four days ago and all are playing effectively for this team right now.

If anything, they’re going to make decisions difficult, and that’s OK.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Vancouver Canucks pushed their win streak to four games on Saturday after a 5-4 shootout victory over the Boston Bruins. Liam Öhgren was the hero in the shootout while also scoring and adding an assist in regulation. As for Vancouver's other goal scorers, Linus Karlsson scored twice, while Max Sasson scored the Canucks first goal of the game. 

While Vancouver had a few standouts, no player had a stronger game than Kevin Lankinen. The Canucks goaltender stopped 38 of the 42 shots he faced before going a perfect seven for seven in the shootout. Thanks to his performance, Lankinen picks up his fifth victory of the season and first since November 16. 

This was yet another example of Vancouver finding a way to win despite being outplayed by its opposition. The Canucks were outshot 42-22 in this game, yet somehow kept their win streak alive. Whether it was Lankinen coming up with big saves at crucial times or depth pieces scoring massive goals, the win streak continues heading into the final game before the holiday break. 

Shifting over to standouts from this game, Aatu Räty is one player who deserves a shoutout. After being a healthy scratch in each of the last three games, the 23-year-old had one of his most impressive performances in the NHL as he set a new career high with eight hits. Räty also went nine for 12 in the faceoff dot, which included going six for seven in the defensive zone. 

Vancouver's fourth line of Öhgren, Sasson and Karlsson also put forth impressive performances as the trio led the way offensively for Vancouver. They scored all four of the Canucks goals in regulation, with Öhgren scoring the shootout winner. With Vancouver's top players struggling to score recently, these three are showing they can step up when the team needs them the most. 

"We didn't like our start in the first," said Öhgren post-game. "But I think we came out much better in the second period and in the third as well. We really pushed it and happy to get the win."

After what was a frustrating start to the season, the positive vibes seem to be returning to the Canucks. They are finding ways to win, which is even more impressive considering that they are on the road and are still missing center Elias Pettersson. The question now is, can Vancouver keep the momentum not just on Monday, but when they return home after the holiday break? 

Stats and Facts:

- Liam Öhgren records his first assist with the Canucks

- Marco Rossi record his first point with the Canucks 

- Linus Karlsson records his first career three-point game 

- Kevin Lankinen's 38 saves are the most during his time with Vancouver

Scoring Summary:

1st Period: 

8:23- BOS: Morgan Geekie (25) from Charlie McAvoy and Elias Lindholm (PPG)
19:45- VAN: Max Sasson (7) from Liam Öhgren and Linus Karlsson

2nd Period:

4:22- VAN: Linus Karlsson (6) from Evander Kane and Filip Hronek (PPG)
9:41- BOS: Pavel Zacha (10) from Nikita Zadorov and Casey Mittelstadt
12:05- BOS: Tanner Jeannot (4) from Mark Kastelic and Fraser Minten

3rd Period:

3:53- VAN: Linus Karlsson (7) from Marco Rossi
7:34- VAN: Liam Öhgren (2) from Marcus Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk
16:16- BOS: Andrew Peeke (3) from Marat Khusnutdinov and Morgan Geekie

Overtime:

No Scoring

Shootout:

VAN: Liam Öhgren

Up Next: 

The Canucks will wrap up their five-game road trip on Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Monday will also be the final game before the NHL's holiday break. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:30 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Canucks Forward Jonathan Lekkerimäki Has Been On A Heater In The AHL

Calder Cup Champion Abbotsford Canucks Still Have Not Received Their Rings

Did The Canucks Make The Wrong Decision In Trading This Star Forward Away?

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Less than halfway through the 2025-26 season, the Philadelphia Flyers are already icing a much different team than the one they started the year with.

Once upon a time, Flyers GM Danny Briere cited the size of Zeev Buium, which was already comparable to the likes of Cam York, Emil Andrae, and Jamie Drysdale, as one of the primary drivers that led to the selection of Jett Luchanko instead.

Well, Andrae, 23, didn't even make the Flyers to start this season after an impressive 2024-25 season on the whole, and his 5-foot-9 size and ho-hum training camp didn't do him favors in comparison to taller teammates Adam Ginning and Egor Zamula.

Now, Andrae has emerged as one of Rick Tocchet's most important defenders and is already up to nine points in 24 games, smashing last year's total of seven points in 42 games.

As for Ginning and Zamula? Both had their opportunities to play for the Flyers and make a case to stick in the NHL, but, at least for now, both players are loitering in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Ex-Flyers Coach John Tortorella Shuts Down Talk of NHL Return... For NowFormer <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> head coach John Tortorella isn't close to throwing in the towel on his coaching career, but the veteran bench boss was well prepared to say any talk of an NHL return right now is premature.

Are the Flyers suddenly turning over a new leaf after experiencing first-hand the lack of success they had going with a bigger lineup for the sake of being bigger? Maybe, but the diminutive Denver Barkey having an impressive and productive NHL debut against the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon isn't a coincidence.

Barkey, 20, is in the midst of his first season playing pro hockey and got the call-up from the AHL in the wake of an injury to Christian Dvorak, though the Flyers probably needed to add a forward to their roster regardless.

Well, two primary assists later, the 5-foot-9, 155-pound forward has already made a case to stay with the Flyers beyond this one-game cameo, excelling on a line with top forwards Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett.

In my eyes, Barkey, formerly the captain of the OHL London Knights, was one of the most impressive young guns in Flyers training camp alongside Nikita Grebenkin.

Flyers: How Ty Murchison Fared in Thrilling NHL DebutIf one game can be taken for anything concrete, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> may have found themselves a useful new piece on defense with prospect Ty Murchison.

The 2023 third-round pick is one of those players that, despite their size, manages to get involved in every play at both ends of the ice, attack the game with poise and moxie, and carry themselves assuredly, whether right or wrong.

The Flyers have a use for more of those players, even though the logjam at forward doesn't necessarily help the cause.

Still, the Flyers now have two more players shorter than 5-foot-10 than they started with the season with, and it's working out well so far for them.

Another poor performance from Sam Ersson spoiled Barkey's debut, which ended in a 5-4 shootout loss, but as long as the Flyers continue to trust in their most talented players above singular traits, the results will eventually come.

Marc Bergevin is parting ways with the Los Angeles Kings to join the Buffalo Sabres' new staff. 

After spending four-and-a-half seasons with the Kings as a senior advisor to the GM, he's moving on to join the Sabres as an associate GM.

Bergevin will be a part of Buffalo's front office, working alongside the newly hired GM, Jarmo Kekalainen. Kekalainen was hired by Buffalo as a senior advisor, the same role as Bergevin with Los Angeles.

This hire by the Sabres comes on the same day as the team relieved associate GM and Rochester Americans GM Jason Karmanos from his duties. It seems that Kekalainen knew who he wanted working alongside him in efforts to steer the ship in Buffalo back on its tracks.

The 60-year-old Bergevin was the GM of the Montreal Canadiens for 10 seasons from 2012 to 2021. He was succeeded by Jeff Gorton, who is now Montreal's president of hockey operations.

Former Kings GM Rob Blake was the one who brought on Bergevin following his departure from the Canadiens. Now with Ken Holland at the wheel, Bergevin will be off to take on a new challenge.

Ken Holland's Latest Move May Force Him Into AnotherAfter Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland sent Phillip Danault back to the Montreal Canadiens, there will be a gaping hole down the middle when next season rolls around

The Sabres currently own the longest playoff drought in NHL history, and their addition of Bergevin will be a hope for them to build the team up from the ruins.

In addition to Bergevin's experience as an NHL GM and senior advisor, he'll be overseeing Team Canada at the upcoming Spengler Cup, which kicks off on Boxing Day.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Chasing the lead for the majority of the game, it was a highlight reel goal by Luke Evangelista in the third period that gave the Nashville Predators a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena. 

The Predators have now won eight of their last 12 and have not lost back-to-back games since Nov. 24. 

Nashville found themselves in an early hole as Nicolas Roy scored on a tip-feed from Bobby McMann to go up 1-0 1:32 into the game. Erik Haula tied things up with a power-play goal in the early second period. It's his first goal in 11 games. 

John Tavares answered for Toronto later in the period to give it the lead back, 2-1. In the final minute of the period, Adam Wilsby netted his first goal of the season off a feed from Ryan O'Reilly to tie things up. It was O'Reilly's 10th point in nine games. 

OH. MY. GOODNESS. 😱

LUKE EVANGELISTA, TAKE A BOW

📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctFpic.twitter.com/cepyeREd0r

— NHL (@NHL) December 21, 2025

In the third, while entering the zone, Evangelista made a move to the backhand to get behind a Toronto defenseman and open the left side of the net. Still on the backhand and falling, Evangelista got a shot off that beat Joseph Woll bardown, glove side. 

Steven Stamkos and Cole Smith added empty net goals in the final two minutes to seal the victory. Bobby McMann made it a one-goal game in the final minute of the game. 

Evangelista's efforts propelled the Predators to their first win over the Maple Leafs since March 22. 

Juuse Saros picked up his 13th win of the season. Nashville will face the New York Rangers next on Sunday at 6 p.m. CST at Bridgestone Arena. 

This story will be updated.