Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson finally speaks, taking 45 minutes to own the 4‑13‑1 start to the 2026‑27 season, defend Jeff Blashill and tease trade moves, including a rumored Rickard Rakell target. Prospect Ryan Roobroeck extends his OHL lead with 18 goals and 31 points in 17 games. Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram remain day‑to‑day, practicing in non‑contact gear. Elsewhere, Nikita Kucherov nets a natural hat‑trick in Tampa Bay’s 8‑3 win over Buffalo, Connor McDavid pushes his season‑opening point streak to 20 games, and Matvei Michkov’s discontent in Philadelphia fuels trade chatter. All the latest Blackhawks news, league scores and rumors are covered in today’s CHN Daily.
In this edition of The Hockey News Morning Skate, Eric Cruikshank and Michael Traikos break down Nikita Kucherov's natural hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres, the Nashville Predators' impressive six-game winning streak, and more.
Nikita Kucherov lit up the third period in Tampa Bay’s 8-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres, becoming the first player since Wayne Gretzky (Mar. 21, 1980) to net a natural hat‑trick and add an assist in the same period. After the Sabres cut the lead to 5‑4, Kucherov scored at 1:25, 4:11 and on the power play, all set up by John Carlson, then assisted Brandon Hagel for the final goal. The Lightning, riding a four‑of‑five stretch, head to Columbus Thursday. Kucherov now sits at 8 goals, 18 assists (26 points) in five games this month.
The Buffalo Sabres rally from a four‑goal deficit to pull within one, highlighted by Tage Thompson’s 33‑second third‑period strike, but then crumble, falling 8‑3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in front of 19,070 fans at KeyBank Center. The article dissects the collapse, noting the Sabres ‘beat themselves’ and examines the implications for the Atlantic Division rivalry.
Nikita Kucherov fuels a Tampa Bay Lightning comeback, netting three goals in a 13‑minute stretch to turn a 4‑1 deficit into an 8‑3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. After Tage Thompson cuts the lead to one early in the third period, Kucherov’s hat‑trick re‑establishes a dominant lead, sealing the win on November 12, 2026.
The Tampa Bay Lightning resume their road swing on Nov. 11, 2026, travelling to Buffalo's KeyBank Center for a 7:00 PM showdown against the Sabres, with a back‑to‑back game in Columbus the next night. The matchup will air on TNT, truTV, HBO Max and 102.5 The Bone. A major storyline is the Lightning’s lineup change: forward Brayden... is sidelined for the visit, leaving fans to wonder how the Bolts will adapt without him.
The Montreal Canadiens commemorate Carey Price with a heartfelt Ring of Honour ceremony and a five‑minute ovation, celebrating his Hall‑of‑Fame induction. Despite Jacob Fowler’s strong performance, the Habs fall 2‑1 in OT to the Wild. Price praises fellow goalies Fowler and Jakub Dobes, while prospect Brayden Klimpke tallies his sixth goal of the season (5‑14‑16). Mike Matheson and Samuel Montembeault train but remain sidelined, with Montembeault likely heading to the Laval Rocket for conditioning. The roundup also notes league updates, including the Rangers’ top prospect Liam Greentree scoring and Brayden Point landing on the Lightning’s IR list.
The Tampa Bay Lightning fall to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, and forward Brayden Point exits early with an undisclosed injury while warming up. Although the coaching staff downplays the severity, Point is placed on Injured Reserve, leaving his timeline for return uncertain. The loss adds to the team's challenges as they assess the impact of his absence.
Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin endures a rough outing, taking a -3 rating after a costly penalty in the Sabres’ 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, where he was stripped of the puck by Victor Olofsson. As the team heads into a home series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, the article examines Dahlin’s recent struggles and the Sabres’ need for consistency.
Brayden Point exits the Lightning’s 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets with an undisclosed injury and is placed on injured reserve, guaranteeing at least a seven‑day absence. The 30‑year‑old, who recently hit 700 career points and was on pace for a point‑per‑game season with five goals and 11 assists in 17 games, could return within a couple of weeks, but his missing time disrupts a key power‑play trio with Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel. Coach Jon Cooper may shift Anthony Cirelli, Yanni Gourde, or Zemgus Girgensons into larger roles and has recalled 20‑year‑old Sam O’Reilly from Syracuse as a potential fill‑in. The injury’s severity remains unclear, but Point’s explosiveness is vital for Tampa Bay’s Atlantic Division push.
After 20 games the Toronto Maple Leafs sit at an 8-10-2 record, already worse than last season's start. A 6-3 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche marks their fourth straight defeat at home, and they trail the Tampa Bay Lightning by six points for a playoff spot in the Atlantic. Coach Jim Hiller faces criticism for benching rookie Gavin McKenna and underutilizing young talent like Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic. Goaltender Sergei Bobovsky’s play has slipped, conceding 50 goals at 5‑on‑5 – the NHL’s third‑worst total. Injuries and an aging defense corps have left the Leafs vulnerable, despite a recent 7-2 win over Edmonton. With 64 games left, the team's fate hangs in the balance.
Victor Hedman, the Lightning’s veteran defenseman and 2018 Norris Trophy winner, appears to be rebounding after a tumultuous 2025-26 season marked by injuries, an elbow surgery, and a mental‑health leave that cost him the final 15 regular‑season games and the first‑round playoff series. In the first 16 games of 2026‑27 he has already logged four goals and two assists, showing improved puck movement and willingness to shoot despite lingering concerns about his speed. With new roster additions like John Carlson and rising prospects J.J. Moser and Charle‑Edouard D’Astous, Hedman faces stiffer competition, but coach Jon Cooper is easing him back rather than restoring his old workload. His resurgence could be pivotal for Tampa Bay’s blue‑line depth as the season unfolds.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov has reportedly asked for a trade, according to NHL insider Kevin Weekes. The request follows a heated altercation with teammate Nick Seeler during the Flyers' 3‑1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Michkov, in the final year of his three‑year, $12.75 million contract (cap hit $950,000), leads Philadelphia with 10 goals and 14 points in 20 games and is set to become a restricted free agent next summer. Fans react with speculation about potential destinations—including Tampa, Vegas and Dallas—and calls for roster changes.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled top prospect Sam O’Reilly from the AHL's Syracuse Crunch to fill the roster slot opened by Brayden Point, who lands on injured reserve. The move, announced on November 10, 2026, underscores Lightning’s quick response to Point’s injury and gives O’Reilly his first NHL opportunity.
Wednesday, Nov. 11 offers a packed sports night across multiple leagues. The NBA kicks off with the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks at 7:10 p.m. ET and the Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets at 9:35 p.m., both on ESPN. The NHL doubleheader follows: Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m.) and Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights (9:30 p.m.) on TNT/truTV. College basketball delivers four men’s games—including Marquette at Michigan and Lindenwood at Nebraska—on FS1 and NBCSN/Peacock, plus a women’s contest between South Dakota State and Texas on SEC Network. Women’s volleyball features Notre Dame at Pittsburgh (7 p.m.) on ACCN and the Auburn‑Alabama SEC showdown (9 p.m.) on SECN. Early Thursday sees the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. All matchups and TV info are listed for fans planning their watches.
The Tampa Bay Lightning placed star forward Brayden Point on injured reserve after he suffered an undisclosed injury during Sunday’s 5:35‑minute stint against the Winnipeg Jets. Point, who has five goals and 11 assists in 17 games and recently reached 701 career points, is expected to miss an uncertain amount of time, forcing coach Jon Cooper to reshuffle the lineup before Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. The team recalled 20‑year‑old Sam O’Reilly from AHL Syracuse, giving him a role on the top power‑play unit in practice, though he may face a steep learning curve in Point’s place.
Six weeks into the season, Sabres forward Jiri Kulich remains out of sync after a year-long recovery from a blood clot and a recent concussion that sidelined him for five games. In his two post‑concussion appearances, Kulich has struggled, and Buffalo may sit him as a healthy scratch for Wednesday’s home matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center.
The Lightning acquired O’Reilly from Edmonton in 2025 in a one-for-one trade for Isaac Howard.
The Minnesota Wild could be among the teams pursuing Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov next summer if they don't re-sign Quinn Hughes, plus it's rumored the San Jose Sharks could have Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson in their sights.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have experienced an exciting stretch of hockey since October 15. From dramatic overtime victories
The post Tampa Bay Lightning Surge Through October and November appeared first on We Never Stop .
Tampa Bay’s star center Brayden Point exits the November 9 game in Winnipeg after just six shifts, raising fears he could miss significant time. Point logged 5:35 of ice, two shots, and left with a six‑minute‑left first‑period injury, with coach Jon Cooper warning the setback may be more than minor. The 30‑year‑old, who has 5 goals and 11 assists in 17 games and a career‑high 51 goals last season, is in the fifth year of his $76 million contract. His absence adds to the Lightning’s drama as Nikita Kucherov’s trade request looms, though the team remains 11‑4‑2 heading into a Wednesday matchup with Buffalo.
The Chicago Blackhawks, mired in a six‑game losing streak and near the bottom of the standings, are aggressively hunting elite offensive help for star center Connor Bedard. GM Kyle Davidson is reportedly willing to part with multiple future first‑round picks to land a top‑tier forward, with Dylan Larkin of Detroit initially named as a target—even though Larkin’s trade list excludes Chicago. The club also eyes Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, despite his hefty contract demands, and younger scorers like Trevor Zegras or Martin Necas. While a marquee addition could boost the power play and push Chicago toward a wild‑card spot, analysts warn it won’t solve deeper defensive and goaltending woes.
Nikita Kucherov tells the Tampa Bay Lightning he will not re‑sign and requests a trade, sending shockwaves through the NHL. Fresh off a Hart Trophy‑winning season, the star winger becomes one of the league’s most coveted assets, but the Minnesota Wild face numerous hurdles to acquire him. The article examines the obstacles—cap space, roster depth, and trade assets—that could block a potential Kucherov deal for Minnesota.
In this week's fantasy hockey roundup, Jason Chen breaks down Cutter Gauthier's goal-scoring streak with the Anaheim Ducks, Roman Josi's status as a potential Norris Trophy candidate, and more.
The Winnipeg Jets try to stretch their win streak against a surging Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 9, 2026 at Canada Life Centre. Coach Scott Arniel emphasizes defensive discipline, and the Jets hold the Lightning to just five shots in the first period (7‑5 overall). The recap details how Tampa Bay’s offense pushes back, key player performances, and whether the Jets can maintain momentum.