Happy American Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of the American readers The Puck Bulletin! In this week’s edition of The Puck Bulletin, I’d like to switch things up a bit with a relatively personal note to you all, but we’ll still include the usual Weekly Roundup.
A Note from Nick…
This week, I am thankful for many things, including that I am thankful for all of you who read and support The Puck Bulletin. I wanted to write a little note about my inspiration for starting the newsletter.
Though I grew up playing hockey in Minnesota, the past ten years of my life were mostly spent participating in a different sport, long-distance running. However, about a year ago I began reconnecting to the sport of hockey and its community. Recently, while watching hockey, reading hockey news, and listening to hockey podcasts, I realized that I wanted to engage more with the hockey community and couldn’t think of a better way to engage with the NHL fan community than through writing about news around the league. I don’t necessarily have any long-term vision for The Puck Bulletin, but I do enjoy writing about the league from my perspective.
With that being said, I’d like to hear from the readers… What has been your favorite of the standard sections of The Puck Bulletin? I’d greatly appreciate if you voted in the poll below, and I’d love to hear any additional thoughts or comments you might have in the comments section of the newsletter!
The Weekly Roundup
Atlantic:
Boston Bruins (32 pts | 16-2-0)
LW: W 4-1 PHI, W 6-1 CHI
11/21 @ TBL, 11/23 @ FLA, 11/25 vs. CAR
The Bruins have strung together another good streak, winning their last six games.
Toronto Maple Leafs (24 pts | 10-5-4)
LW: W 5-2 PIT, OTL 2-3 NJD, W 5-2 BUF
11/21 vs. NYI, 11/23 @ NJD, 11/25 @ MIN, 11/26 @ PIT
The panic in Toronto has seemed to have subsided for now.
Tampa Bay Lightning (23 pts | 11-6-1)
LW: W 5-4 DAL, W 4-1 CGY, W 3-2 NSH
11/21 vs. BOS, 11/25 vs. STL
Tampa Bay is beginning to round into form.
Detroit Red Wings (22 pts | 9-5-4)
LW: OTL 2-3 ANA, W 7-4 SJS, W 6-1 CBJ
11/23 vs. NSH, 11/25 vs. ARI
Detroit’s offense is clicking, and Tyler Bertuzzi is back in the lineup.
Florida Panthers (20 pts | 9-8-2)
LW: W 5-2 WSH, L 4-6 DAL, L/SO 4-5 CGY, L 3-5 CBJ
11/23 vs. BOS, 11/26 vs. STL
The Panthers have looked a little shaky lately.
Montreal Canadiens (19 pts | 9-8-1)
LW: L 1-5 NJD, L 4-6 CBJ, W 5-4 PHI
11/22 vs. BUF, 11/23 @ CBJ, 11/25 @ CHI
The Haabs had a pretty ‘meh’ week against some Metro opponents.
Buffalo Sabres (14 pts | 7-11-0)
LW: L 4-5 VAN, L 1-4 OTT, L 2-5 TOR
11/22 @ MTL, 11/23 vs. STL, 11/25 vs. NJD
After a hot start to the season, the Sabres have now lost eight games in a row.
Ottawa Senators (13 pts | 6-10-1)
LW: L 2-4 NYI, W 4-1 BUF, L 1-5 NJD
11/21 @ SJS, 11/23 @ VGK, 11/25 @ ANA, 11/27 @ LAK
Some fans are calling for DJ Smith to be out of Ottawa.
Metropolitan:
New Jersey Devils (30 pts | 15-3-0)
LW: W 5-1 MTL, W 3-2 TOR, W 5-1 OTT
11/21 vs. EDM, 11/23 vs. TOR, 11/25 @ BUF, 11/26 vs. WSH
Twelve wins in a row… are you kidding me?
Carolina Hurricanes (23 pts | 10-5-3)
LW: W 3-0 CHI, OTL 2-3 COL, OTL 1-2 MIN
W 11/21 @ WPG, 11/23 vs. ARI, 11/25 @ BOS, 11/26 vs. CGY
The Canes powerplay continues to struggle.
New York Islanders (22 pts | 11-8-0)
LW: W 4-2 OTT, L 4-5 NSH, L 2-5 DAL
11/21 @ TOR, 11/23 vs. EDM, 11/25 @ CBJ, 11/26 vs. PHI
The Islanders stumbled a bit this week but remain formidable in the Metro.
New York Rangers (22 pts | 9-6-4)
LW: OTL 2-3 SEA, W 2-1 SJS
11/22 @ LAK, 11/23 @ ANA, 11/26 vs. EDM
The Rangers have not looked great thus far on their western road trip.
Pittsburgh Penguins (21 pts | 9-7-3)
LW: L 2-5 TOR, W 6-4 MIN, W 3-0 WPG, W 5-3 CHI
11/23 vs. CGY, 11/25 @ PHI, 11/26 vs. TOR
The Penguins continue to find their game. I’m excited for their Thanksgiving showdown against the Flyers.
Philadelphia Flyers (18 pts | 7-7-4)
LW: OTL 4-5 CBJ, L 1-4 BOS, L/SO 4-5 MTL
11/21 vs. CGY, 11/23 @ WSH, 11/25 vs. PIT, 11/26 @ NYI
The Flyers are in a rough patch but see note above regarding Thanksgiving showdown.
Washington Capitals (17 pts | 7-10-3)
LW: L 2-5 FLA, L/SO 4-5 STL, L 0-4 COL
11/23 vs. PHI, 11/25 vs. CGY, 11/26 @ NJD
The Caps’ injury woes appear to be catching up to them a bit.
Columbus Blue Jackets (15 pts | 7-10-1)
LW: W 5-4 PHI, W 6-4 MTL, L 1-6 DET, W 5-3 FLA
11/23 vs. MTL, 11/25 vs. NYI, 11/26 @ NSH
The Blue Jackets are coming off their best week of the season thus far.
Central:
Dallas Stars (24 pts | 11-5-2)
LW: OTL 4-5 TBL, W 6-4 FLA, W 5-2 NYI
11/21 vs. COL, 11/23 vs. CHI, 11/25 vs. WPG, 11/26 @ COL
The Stars are a force atop the Central.
Colorado Avalanche (21 pts | 10-5-1)
LW: L 2-3 STL, W 3-2 CAR, W 4-0 WSH
11/21 @ DAL, 11/23 vs. VAN, 11/25 @ NSH, 11/26 vs. DAL
The Avs are looking solid despite some key injuries.
Winnipeg Jets (21 pts | 10-5-1)
LW: W 3-2 ANA, L 0-3 PIT
11/21 vs. CAR, 11/23 @ MIN, 11/25 @ DAL, 11/27 @ CHI
Winnipeg looks to bounce back after being shutout by the Penguins.
St. Louis Blues (18 pts | 9-8-0)
LW: W 3-2 COL, W 5-2 CHI, W 5-4 WSH, W 6-2 ANA
11/21 vs. ANA, 11/23 @ BUF, 11/25 @ TBL, 11/26 @ FLA
The Blues have quietly strung together six wins in a row.
Nashville Predators (18 pts | 8-8-2)
LW: W 2-1 MIN, W 5-4 NYI, OTL 2-3 TBL
11/21 vs. ARI, 11/23 @ DET, 11/25 vs. COL, 11/26 vs. CBJ
Nashville is playing their best hockey of the season thus far.
Minnesota Wild (18 pts | 8-8-2)
LW: L 1-2 NSH, L 4-6 PIT, W 2-1 CAR
11/23 vs. WPG, 11/25 vs. TOR, 11/27 vs. ARI
The Wild had a great comeback win against the Canes to salvage their week.
Chicago Blackhawks (15 pts | 6-9-3)
LW: L 0-3 CAR, L 2-5 STL, L 1-6 BOS, L 3-5 PIT
11/23 @ DAL, 11/25 vs. MTL, 11/27 vs. WPG
The Blackhawks continue to drop down the standings after their good start.
Arizona Coyotes (13 pts | 6-9-1)
LW: L 1-4 VGK
11/21 @ NSH, 11/23 @ CAR, 11/25 @ DET, 11/27 @ MIN
The Coyotes had a small break at home before heading back on the road.
Pacific:
Vegas Golden Knights (29 pts | 14-4-1)
LW: L 2-5 SJS, W 4-1 ARI, OTL 3-4 EDM
11/21 @ VAN, 11/23 vs. OTT, 11/25 vs. SEA, 11/26 vs. VAN
The Golden Knights look to rebound after a sub-par week.
Los Angeles Kings (24 pts | 11-8-2)
LW: L 5-6 CGY, W 3-1 EDM, L 1-4 VAN, OTL 2-3 SEA
11/22 vs. NYR, 11/25 @ SJS, 11/27 vs. OTT
The Kings have played an NHL-leading 21 games at this point.
Seattle Kraken (23 pts | 10-5-3)
LW: W 3-2 NYR, W 3-2 LAK
11/23 vs. SJS, 11/25 @ VGK, 11/27 @ ANA
Seattle won two close game this week and are eyeing a climb up the Pacific standings.
Edmonton Oilers (20 pts | 10-8-0)
LW: L 1-3 LAK, W 4-3 VGK
11/21 @ NJD, 11/23 @ NYI, 11/26 @ NYR
The Oilers played a little .500 hockey this week, but an OT win against Vegas could jumpstart this team.
Calgary Flames (18 pts | 8-7-2)
LW: W 6-5 LAK, L 1-4 TBL, W 5-4 FLA
11/21 @ PHI, 11/23 @ PIT, 11/25 @ WSH, 11/26 @ CAR
Jonathan Huberdeau and the Flames took down Matthew Tkachuk’s Panthers via shootout in their first matchup since this summer’s blockbuster trade.
Vancouver Canucks (15 pts | 6-9-3)
LW: W 5-4 BUF, W 4-1 LAK
11/21 vs. VGK, 11/23 @ COL, 11/26 @ VGK, 11/27 @ SJS
The Canucks went a nice 2-0-0 this week, but everyone appears to be on the hot seat in Vancouver.
San Jose Sharks (15 pts | 6-11-3)
LW: W 5-2 VGK, L 4-7 DET, L 1-2 NYR
11/21 vs. OTT, 11/23 @ SEA, 11/25 vs. LAK, 11/27 vs. VAN
The Sharks had a nice win over Vegas this past week.
Anaheim Ducks (11 pts | 5-12-1)
LW: W 3-2 DET, L 2-3 WPG, L 2-6 STL
11/21 @ STL, 11/23 vs. NYR, 11/25 vs. OTT, 11/27 vs. SEA
Anaheim still has yet to win a game in regulation.
As it's hard to follow the entire league throughout the week, I love the weekly roundup to catch up. I wouldn't even mind a second bullet point on each team to learn more about their performances!