Looking back on the season, no one would have expected the Colorado Avalanche versus the Anaheim Ducks to be as big as it is today. While the Avalanche are staying true to their team's roster and looking to compete for another Stanley Cup, what the Ducks are doing to start the season is mind-blowing for many (myself included): maybe they're a wildcard team that's fun to watch, but still rebuilding. That's not the case today. Despite the hot streak coming into today's game, it wasn't enough against the Avalanche.

First Period

The first period did not disappoint, and the action came just 30 seconds in as Cale Makar finds Artturi Lehkonen, and he blasts a quick one-timer past Lukas Dostal to make it 1-0. It was assisted by Nathan MacKinnon, who, on that point, recorded his 11th career point streak and passed Joe Sakic and Peter Stastny for the most in Avalanche/Nordiques history.

Lehkonen is called hooking, but the Avalanche penalty kill stands strong. The Avalanche get a power play when Ian Moore is called for tripping, but fails to convert. With a fast game comes a physical game, including some scrums in infront of each goalie, but this time Jack Drury and Olen Zellweger are called for roughing and sent to the penalty box for 4-on-4 for 2 minutes. Jacob Trouba, behind the net, finds Leo Carlsson crashing the net, and he taps it in to tie the game 1-1.

Second Period

While the first period was high-flying and full of shots, the defense and goaltending stood taller this period, with both goalies making big saves to keep their teams in the game. Jackson Lacombe crashed into Wedgewood when trying to cross the crease and is called for goalie interference. Wedgewood was on his knees and looked in pain once the play was called dead, but after a talk with the team trainer and staff, he remained in the game.

Finally, after two goals called back, it's the captain, Gabriel Landeskog, who pounces on Nichushkin's shot and buries the rebound for his first goal of the season and his first since the 2022 NHL season in March.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1347 DAYS, GABRIEL LANDESKOG HAS SCORED A REGULAR SEASON GOAL 🚨 pic.twitter.com/fLh2iFDYDo

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 12, 2025

Third Period

Moore takes his second penalty of the game as he is called for a delay of game. It's a wacky goal on the power play, but the Avalanche take it, as MacKinnon's shot is deflected/tipped twice, first by Lehkonen, then finally by Martin Necas, to make it 3-1. Just after the faceoff, Jacob Trouba is called for slashing and sends the Avalanche right back to the power play, but they don't end up converting on the opportunity.

No notes, it's perfect. pic.twitter.com/01Mw5Mg4Bi

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 12, 2025

Necas goes to battle for the puck against Alex Killorn, but his stick rides up high and hits Killorn in the face. The play is initially four minutes for high-sticking cause there was blood. After review, no blood was drawn, but Necas is still called for roughing after what happened after the initial whistle. Dostal is pulled with just over three minutes left in the period, but a Parker Kelly goal, assisted by MacKinnon, would seal the deal, and the Avalanche beat the Ducks, ending their seven-game win streak.

Alex Killorn just exited the medical tent. He has a bad gash under his right eye. @AnaheimDucks#goavsgo#avs@TheHockeyNews

— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) November 12, 2025

The Colorado Avalanche are back in action on home ice in a back-to-back against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, November 12.

Avalanche Ink Gavin Brindley to Two-Year ExtensionThe young phenom will stay in Colorado for at least a while longer.

Could Nathan MacKinnon Accomplish A Feat Unseen In Over Three Decades?We haven't seen a Triple Crown winner since 1993.

It appears that a decision on Pittsburgh Penguins' rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke's future with the NHL club has not yet been made.

Despite being a healthy scratch for the Penguins' last three games and for seven of the team's last 10 games, the Penguins elected to take the 19-year-old Brunicke to Stockholm, Sweden with them for the upcoming NHL Global Series, which will feature two games between the Penguins and Nashville Predators this weekend.

The Penguins' top defensive prospect played in his ninth NHL game a week ago in a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, meaning he is one NHL game away from activating his three-year entry-level contract. Fellow teenage rookie Ben Kindel - a center drafted 11th overall this summer - has already surpassed the 10-game mark and triggered his entry-level contract.

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Brunicke - selected 44th overall by the Penguins in 2024 - made the Penguins' roster out of training camp and has one goal on the season to go along with a minus-4. He has had some learning moments in recent games in trying to adjust to NHL speed, even if he has shown flashes of high-ceiling potential during his first taste of NHL action. 

The Penguins have a decision to make with regards to Brunicke, who could be re-assigned to his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers (WHL), for the rest of their 2025-26 season. If re-assigned, Brunicke would not be eligible to return to the AHL or NHL until the conclusion of Kamloops' season. 

What To Know: NHL Global Series Feat. The Pittsburgh Penguins And Nashville PredatorsThe 2025-26 NHL Global Series is finally here, and the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators">Nashville Predators</a> are gearing up for their two-game set at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

Should he stay, Brunicke would activate his NHL contract, and another date to keep an eye on would be Jan. 3 - as that would mark the 40th game for the Penguins, who would lose a year of team control if they decide to keep Brunicke and Kindel beyond that date. The Penguins also have another option in the immediacy, as Brunicke would be eligible for a 14-day or five-game maximum AHL conditioning stint should he be healthy-scratched for both games in Sweden.

Brunicke can also be lent to Team Canada for World Juniors in late December, and that loan would not affect his NHL eligibility.

Opinion: Despite Struggles, Brunicke Should Remain With PenguinsThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> made a flurry of moves Tuesday, sending young blueliner Owen Pickering back to the AHL, placing three others on injured reserve, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-call-up-3-players-announce-several-roster-moves">and recalling two veterans and top goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov from the AHL</a>.

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson was involved in a lot of trade rumors during this offseason. 

He was coming off his second season with the Penguins after they acquired him from the San Jose Sharks before the 2023-24 season. Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas was trying to give this core one more push toward contention before he pivoted and started rebuilding at the 2024 trade deadline with the Jake Guentzel trade, since the Penguins were outside the playoff picture at the time. They tried to make a late-season push for the playoffs, but fell three points short. 

Dubas has kept the same plan since that trade deadline and wants to return the Penguins to contention as urgently as possible. It felt like Karlsson wasn't going to be part of those plans after the 2024-25 season, but Dubas opted to hold onto Karlsson during the offseason, and it's been a great decision.

Karlsson is off to a tremendous start to the 2025-26 season, compiling one goal and 12 points in 17 games. His one goal came against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 3, and it was a blistering shot. 

He's been showcasing his playmaking ability at 5v5 and on the power play, the latter of which was a bit of a struggle for him these last two years. He wasn't even quarterbacking the top power play unit for most of last year (that job belonged to Matt Grzelcyk), but he has been great in the role this year. He's making the right reads at the point and using his elite skating ability to his advantage. 

At 5v5, he's driving offense and is even holding his own in his own end. Part of it has to do with how steady Parker Wotherspoon has been as his partner, but you're not seeing him out to lunch nearly as much in his own zone like you did these previous two seasons. Speaking of the Karlsson-Wotherspoon pair, the two have played 243:32 at 5v5 this season, and when they're on the ice, the Penguins have had 52.7% of the shot attempts, 54% of the scoring chances, 57.4% of the high-danger chances, and 60% of the actual goals (9-6). 

Dan Muse and Co. were never going to change Karlsson's playstyle. He's the best offensive defenseman of his generation for a reason. However, there was the opportunity to tweak certain aspects of his game, and so far, that has all worked to perfection. He's not being too aggressive in his pinches, like you'd see under former head coach Mike Sullivan. His positioning has also been outstanding. He's taking those top-pairing minutes and running with them. 

Karlsson has even gotten some time on the penalty kill, which hasn't always been the case during his Penguins tenure. He spent a combined 78 minutes on the penalty kill these last two seasons and is already up to 31:45 of penalty kill time in just 17 games this year. He hasn't missed a beat on that unit and has done a great job getting his stick in shooting lanes and winning puck battles down low, leading to clears. It's part of the reason the Penguins rank seventh in the league with an 84.3% PK. 

Penguins Take Swedish Goaltending Prospect To Stockholm As Third GoalieThe trip overseas to Stockholm, Sweden for the NHL Global Series presented the opportunity for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> to bring a third-string goaltender with them.

Overall, Karlsson is a big reason why the Penguins are off to a 9-5-3 start and is proving Dubas right for holding onto him during the offseason. He's also trying to secure a roster spot on the Swedish Olympic team after he was on the 4 Nations Face-Off team back in February. He was on a pairing with Mattias Ekholm, and they had great chemistry together. Nobody should be surprised if they get more minutes this coming February, especially if they both make the team.

Karlsson is set to play in his home country on Friday and Sunday, as the Penguins take part in this year's NHL Global Series. They'll play the Nashville Predators in both games before returning to Pittsburgh next week.

We're only a little over a month into the season, but so far, Karlsson is doing an outstanding job silencing his naysayers. 

(Data via Natural Stat Trick).

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The 2025-26 NHL Global Series is finally here, and the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators are gearing up for their two-game set at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

Pittsburgh's last trip to Stockholm in 2008 ended up turning out pretty well for them, as they later went on to beat the Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final for the franchise's third championship. And - according to NHL.com writer Amalie Benjamin - that's something that isn't unique to the Penguins. 

In fact, starting with the Penguins' trip to Stockholm in 2008, there have been 10 NHL trips outside of North America. Six teams participating in those contests went on to win the Stanley Cup in the same respective year as their trip.

In other words, these trips actually tend to mean a lot in the grand scheme of things, whether that's due to the team bonding experiences or a break from the normalcy of the NHL schedule. And there are added stakes since these games will count toward the regular season.

Here is what you need to know about this year's Global Series between the Pens and Preds:

- Including this season, the NHL debuted the Global Series in 2017 when the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche squared off, and it had been six years since the league played an international regular season game overseas - as the NHL Premiere series ended in 2011. This is the seventh season the NHL has done the Global Series, as there was a recess in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Penguins Five-Day Break Before Sweden Games Comes At Perfect TimeThe Pittsburgh Penguins have five days off before their next game, and it couldn't come at a better time.

- Both games will take place at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, and it will be an international home-and-home series. The two-game set begins Friday at 2:00 p.m. EDT, and it concludes on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. EDT.

- The games can be viewed on Sportsnet and Sportsnet Pittsburgh for regional coverage and on NHL Network for national/international coverage. 

- The Penguins enter the Global Series third in the Metropolitan Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with 21 points and a record of 9-5-3. They have lost four out of their last five games and have blown leads in three of them. 

Forsberg And Wilsby Hope Global Series Will Breathe New Life Into PredatorsFilip Forsberg and Adam Wilsby have an opportunity to play two NHL games in their home country of Sweden. But this trip could also provide a fresh start for the Nashville Predators.

- The Predators enter the Global Series at 5-9-4 with 14 points, which is second from the bottom of the league standings. The Calgary Flames are the only team with a lower points percentage (.278) than the Preds (.389). They are on a three-game losing streak. 

- The Penguins are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games against Nashville.

- The Penguins' active roster features two Swedes in defenseman Erik Karlsson and goaltender Filip Larsson - who was named the team's third-string goaltender for the trip. They also have two inactive Swedish players on their roster in forwards Rickard Rakell and Filip Hallander, who are both on injured reserve. Rakell made the trip, while Hallander did not. The Predators feature forward Filip Forsberg and defenseman Adam Wilsby.

Penguins Take Swedish Goaltending Prospect To Stockholm As Third GoalieThe trip overseas to Stockholm, Sweden for the NHL Global Series presented the opportunity for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> to bring a third-string goaltender with them.

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The St. Louis Blues beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 in what came to be a rare thriller situation for the Flames in the Gateway to the West.

Here are the takeaways:

Needed A Good Start

Until the two Calgary goals that were scored in a span of 25 seconds by the 14:29 mark of the second period, the Blues outshot the Flames 22-20, out-chanced them 21-16 in scoring chances and 12-4 in high-danger scoring chances.

After that, it seemed to light a fire in Calgary as until the end of the game, the Flames outshot St. Louis 21-9, out-chanced them 7-6 in scoring chances and 3-2 in high-danger scoring chances.

But Jordan Binnington proved to be too good.

A good start is always necessary.

In the bigger picture, the Flames outshot the Blues 40-31, but St. Louis doubled them in high-danger scoring chances 14-7. Quality counts...

Penalty Costing Dearly

In a one-goal game, a single goal given up on the power play will always be scrutinized. Deservedly so.

But that's not the only reason why the penalty was costly.

Out of the 18 games Calgary has played so far, the time on the penalty-kill in this game (3:46) ranks the seventh-lowest but the shots on goal given up on it (7) were the seventh-highest and the eventual goal was the nail in the coffin.

Dustin Wolf

Even though it was a losing effort and his small size was taken advantage of, Wolf did face the seventh-most shots on goal in a Flames game this season. He came out with a save percentage of 0.903 which is still a consolation prize in this loss.

Bottom Line

This game showed something new in the Flames. That they had spunk and fire (pardon the pun).

For the first time since the season opener, you saw passion on both sides of the ice.

Let's see if this carries on.