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IHM Performance Metrics Report: Why the Ducks and Utah Mammoth Suddenly Look Like Analytics Superpowers

IHM Performance Metrics Report: Why the Ducks and Utah Mammoth Suddenly Look Like Analytics Superpowers

Date: November 8, 2025 | Author: IHM News Analytics

Why the Ducks and Utah Mammoth suddenly look like analytics superpowers

A deep breakdown of two surprising engines of the 2025-26 NHL season

The first month of the season has delivered two unexpected machines of chaos: Anaheim Ducks, suddenly the brightest offensive show in the West, and Utah Mammoth, who instantly found an elite play-driver in Nick Schmaltz.

But behind the flurries of goals, comebacks and nightly highlights lies a far more revealing truth. This is an analytics-based evolution built on:

  • high-danger efficiency
  • elite transitional play
  • explosive speed clusters
  • possession metrics that indicate sustainability

IHM EDGE broke down both teams under the microscope – here’s what we found.

🦆 SECTION I – Anaheim Ducks: Inside the engine of a sudden powerhouse

1. High-danger ecosystem

Anaheim aren’t just scoring a lot – they are scoring the right way. The Ducks have already generated 28 high-danger goals, more than most of their division combined. Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier are currently among the top high-danger producers in the NHL.

Carlsson, Sennecke and Terry form a constant pressure triangle built on:

  • fast zone entries
  • short-link passing
  • finishes from the kill zone (2-4 meters)

This is not randomness - it’s a system. And it works.

2. Cutter Gauthier: The EDGE monster exceeding every projection

Gauthier is one of the most “unstoppable” analytical profiles in the league right now. His EDGE metrics look engineered:

  • average shot speed – 97th percentile
  • speed bursts – 97th percentile
  • hardest shot – 93rd percentile
  • mid-range goals – leads NHL
  • Goals Above Projected – +5.91 (1st in NHL)

He scores shots that models classify as low-probability. When a player beats the model itself – we’re dealing with elite talent.

3. Territorial control – Ice Tilt as a predictor of future success

Anaheim currently rank No. 1 in the NHL in first-period Ice Tilt advantage. This means they take control of rink territory and game tempo early.

Carlsson (+63) and Gauthier (+60) dominate 5v5 shot differential like established superstars – at age 20 and 21.

4. Goaltending stability

Dostal has quietly become a stabilizer:

  • elite mid-range SV%
  • 7-3-1 record
  • 5v5 save% above league average

For a team that has lacked a foundation in net for years, this is transformative.

🦬 SECTION II – Utah Mammoth: Schmaltz’s reinvention and the rise of a new top-six

Utah play fast, aggressive and structured – but their entire offensive shape is glued together by one player: Nick Schmaltz, the most underrated starter of the season.

1. Shot profile: dangerous from every lane

Schmaltz is one of the rare forwards producing elite volume from all three shot tiers:

  • high-danger – 96th percentile
  • mid-range – 95th percentile
  • long-range – 92nd percentile

42 shots in 12 games – the best pace of his entire career. Utah are top-two in shot differential, which confirms structure, not luck.

2. High-danger finishing touch

Five high-danger goals – fourth in the NHL. Two goals on deflections – placing him in rare company with Crosby and Miles Wood.

Schmaltz has long been a high-danger creator, but now he’s finishing at a career-high level.

3. Speed metrics: Utah = a missile

Schmaltz:

  • 20+ mph bursts – 84th percentile
  • total distance – 93rd percentile

Utah as a whole:

  • Cooley – second-fastest skater in the NHL
  • team – 4th in total speed bursts
  • shots allowed per game – 2nd fewest in NHL

This is a team that skates fast without losing structural discipline.

4. Chemistry: Keller – Schmaltz – Hayton

This long-developing trio finally has the personnel to play at full throttle. They drive Utah’s PP1 and tempo game, making possession swings almost automatic.

🚀 SECTION III – What Ducks and Mammoth have in common

Both teams:

  • dominate high-danger creation
  • apply speed as a core identity, not just a tool
  • are led by young stars who already think like veterans
  • show sustainable possession trends
  • benefit from EDGE-positive profiles across the top six
  • look structurally built, not statistically lucky

🎯 IHM VERDICT

Ducks:

Legitimate contenders for a top-2 finish in the Pacific Division. Their metrics match conference finalists – not pretenders.

Utah Mammoth:

Massively underrated playoff candidates. Their top-six is good enough to drag them into contention all season.

Questions & Answers | IHM Performance Metrics

Why are the Anaheim Ducks performing so well this season?

The Ducks rank among the NHL’s best teams in high-danger scoring, first-period territorial control (Ice Tilt) and 5-on-5 possession metrics. Their young core, led by Carlsson and Gauthier, drives elite shot volume and transition pace.

What makes Cutter Gauthier’s analytics profile elite?

Gauthier ranks in the 93rd-99th percentiles in shot power, speed bursts, midrange scoring and goals above expected. He consistently beats projected goal models.

Why is Nick Schmaltz breaking out for the Utah Mammoth?

Schmaltz produces high-volume shots from every scoring tier and ranks top-five in high-danger goals this season. His skating metrics and chemistry with Keller elevate Utah’s entire top six.

Are the Ducks and Mammoth legitimate playoff contenders?

Both teams show sustainable shot-differential and chance-generation metrics, suggesting long-term competitiveness rather than early-season variance.

NHL Match Preview · Philadelphia Flyers vs Ottawa Senators
NHL Status Report: Key Injury Updates Across the League,IHM News

NHL Status Report: Key Injury Updates Across the League

Date: November 8, 2025 | Author: IHM News

The NHL’s weekly status window opened with a wave of significant medical updates that will influence lineups across both conferences. From long-term absences in Pittsburgh to short-term concerns in Vancouver and major returns expected in Edmonton, teams are adjusting on the fly as they navigate the early stretch of the season.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are monitoring the status of starter Thatcher Demko, who is considered questionable for this weekend due to what head coach Adam Foote described as “preventative maintenance.” Demko is 5-4-0 with a .912 save percentage and has been handling a heavy workload.

“He’s such a strong leader. If he feels he needs a couple days to reset, we trust him,” Foote said.

Vancouver recalled goaltender Jiri Patera from Abbotsford under emergency conditions ahead of matchups with Columbus and Colorado.

New York Rangers

Center Vincent Trocheck traveled with the team to Detroit but missed his 13th straight game while continuing to skate in a non-contact jersey. Trocheck remains eligible to come off long-term injured reserve and is considered day-to-day.

Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen remains sidelined with a lower-body issue.

Forward Jaroslav Chmelar made his NHL debut Friday, logging 6:27 of ice time against Detroit.

Carolina Hurricanes

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 28. After returning briefly for a game against Vegas, he exited after the first period and has missed the last four contests. Rod Brind’Amour confirmed the injury is located in the midsection.

San Jose Sharks

Rookie forward Michael Misa was placed on injured reserve and is officially week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Misa has missed San Jose’s last two games, including their recent 2-1 win over Winnipeg. The 2025 No. 2 draft pick has three points in seven appearances, though his early NHL journey has already included healthy scratches and lineup experimentation.

San Jose also moved William Eklund to injured reserve and recalled forward Zack Ostapchuk from AHL affiliate San Jose. The Sharks continue their homestand Saturday against the Florida Panthers.

Edmonton Oilers

Forward Zach Hyman will not dress for Saturday’s clash with the Colorado Avalanche but is expected to make his season debut within the next week, according to head coach Kris Knoblauch. Hyman has been ramping up his on-ice work since late October and appears close to a full return from the wrist dislocation suffered during last season’s Western Conference Final.

Knoblauch also noted that Mattias Janmark is nearing a return as well, potentially “within days.” The Oilers anticipate both forwards rejoining the squad over the upcoming seven-game road stretch.

New Jersey Devils

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton remains under evaluation for a lower-body injury sustained in Thursday’s overtime win against Montreal. Hamilton exited in the second period and did not return.

New Jersey is already without defenseman Brett Pesce, who has missed five games with an upper-body issue. Brenden Dillon acknowledged the challenge:

“Guys are going to get more minutes, more responsibility. These stretches test your blue line.”

Colton White skated on the third pair during practice and is an option for Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins absorbed a major blow with the announcement that forward Filip Hallander will miss a minimum of three months after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg. Hallander had produced four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 13 games and was off to one of the most confident starts of his NHL career.

Head coach Dan Muse addressed the media with a somber tone.

“This goes beyond hockey. We’re just grateful the medical staff identified the issue quickly. Now the priority is his long-term health.”

Hallander will remain under the care of the team’s medical department and specialists from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Coach Mark Comment

Injury waves tilt the season fast. The teams that manage depth and rotation survive November with real momentum. Pittsburgh losing Hallander is tough, but their structure can absorb minutes if they stay disciplined through the middle third. Vancouver’s handling of Demko is smart load management. Edmonton getting Hyman back is the biggest needle-mover of all. His timing and net-drive reshape their offensive layers.

IHM NEWS: Kaprizov leads Wild past Islanders 5-2; Zuccarello logs assist in season debut
Panarin drives Rangers past Red Wings 4-1 on the road | IHM News

Panarin drives Rangers past Red Wings 4-1 on the road | IHM News

IHM NEWS – Panarin drives Rangers past Red Wings 4-1 on the road

Date: November 8, 2025  |  Author: IHM News

DETROIT – This is what it looks like when your stars set the tone. Artemi Panarin produced three points (1G, 2A) and Jonathan Quick turned aside 32 shots as the New York Rangers handled the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 at Little Caesars Arena, pushing New York to 7-1-1 away from home and extending their run of dominance over Detroit to seven straight wins.

Panarin drives Rangers past Red Wings 4-1 on the road | IHM News

Panarin’s line dictated pace and possession from the opening faceoff. Mika Zibanejad stacked two primary assists, Alexis Lafrenière snapped a 12-game goal drought and added an assist, and depth scoring arrived on time from Will Cuylle, whose first-period power-play strike set the tone.

“Our best players were our best players,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We’ve generated looks; tonight we finished.”

Detroit’s push was real. J.T. Compher tied it 1-1 in the first, and Patrick Kane returned from injury with six shots in 17:41 – including a near-gift after picking off a Quick outlet that the veteran goalie and Braden Schneider scrambled to erase. But between Quick’s economy of movement and the Rangers’ five-man layers through the neutral zone, Detroit never found a second wave.

How it happened

  • 1-0 NYR (6:46 1st, PPG): Will Cuylle trailed the rush and buried Zibanejad’s cross-ice feed.
  • 1-1 (11:06 1st): Compher walked into a quick release from Mason Appleton’s feed behind the net, beating Quick high glove.
  • 2-1 NYR (4:52 2nd): Michigan native Noah Laba tapped in Lafrenière’s crease-edge pass for his hometown moment and Lafrenière’s 200th NHL point.
  • 3-1 NYR (7:29 3rd): Panarin finished a Zibanejad delivery in stride – a scorer’s touch through a small window.
  • 4-1 NYR (8:27 3rd): Lafrenière from the slot to close it out.

Quick’s best sequences came late in the second: a point-blank denial on Kane after the interception, then a second-chance blocker swipe that killed the building’s surge. “He bails us out after our mistakes,” Schneider said. “Tonight he even cleaned up his own.”

Detroit coach Todd McLellan was blunt: “Physically there, but not sharp between the ears. When you’re not crisp, those look-in chances don’t fall.”

Numbers that matter

  • Road form: Rangers 7-1-1 away, structure travels.
  • Panarin vs DET: 28 points in last 16 vs Red Wings.
  • Goaltending: Quick .970 SV% at 5v5 on the night (32 saves overall).
  • Special teams: NYR score first on the PP; even-strength shot quality tilted their way in periods 2-3.

Coach Mark comment

New York solved Detroit’s first-touch pressure by widening the neutral-zone entries and letting Panarin attack off the inside-out delay. That pulled Detroit’s weak-side defender up a half-step, and the Rangers hit seams behind it (see Cuylle PPG and the Lafrenière/Laba connection). Quick’s puck tracking was elite; minimal rebounds, square early. This is sustainable road hockey.

IHM NEWS: Kaprizov leads Wild past Islanders 5-2; Zuccarello logs assist in season debut
IHM NEWS: Kaprizov leads Wild past Islanders 5-2; Zuccarello logs assist in season debut

IHM NEWS: Kaprizov leads Wild past Islanders 5-2; Zuccarello logs assist in season debut

Date: November 8, 2025  |  Author: IHM News

Kaprizov has goal, assist as Wild cruise past Islanders 5-2

Zuccarello picks up assist in season debut; Minnesota rolls four lines on second night of back-to-back

ELMONT, N.Y. – Kirill Kaprizov recorded a goal and an assist and the Minnesota Wild beat the New York Islanders 5-2 at UBS Arena on Friday night. Mats Zuccarello, playing his first game of the season after missing 15 with a lower-body injury, notched an assist, while Marco Rossi and Brock Faber also scored. Rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt made 25 saves as Minnesota improved to 6-7-3, winning for the third time in four outings one night after a 4-3 loss at Carolina.

“Going in on a back-to-back, we wanted to keep the energy up and roll all four lines,” coach John Hynes said. “Zuccarello around 16-plus minutes is a manageable load for him, and we could do that because the group played the way it needed to. All four lines, all six defensemen, and Wallstedt was good in net.”

Zuccarello’s return drew immediate praise from Kaprizov. “He’s smart and reads the game so well,” Kaprizov said. “We tried to help him today. It’s easy to play with him and hard to play against him.”

For New York (6-6-2), Emil Heineman and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored, and David Rittich stopped 21 shots in a second straight loss after a 2-0-1 stretch. “We had a good start, but after they scored the first one they took momentum,” coach Patrick Roy said. “They won more battles and took advantage of our turnovers.”

How it happened

1st period – Minnesota scored on its first shot when Vinnie Hinostroza tapped in Jonas Brodin’s feed to the far post at 7:24 for 1-0. Danila Yurov doubled the lead at 12:32, finishing Yakov Trenin’s feed into the low slot through traffic for 2-0.

2nd period – The Islanders cut it to 2-1 at 4:38 when Mathew Barzal worked the puck below the goal line to Bo Horvat, who found Heineman alone in the low slot for a tap-in. Minnesota answered 1:18 later: Brock Faber intercepted a Matthew Schaefer clearing attempt and fired from the slot; the puck deflected off Rittich’s glove for 3-1. At 9:05, Marco Rossi made it 4-1 on a breakaway sprung by a Kaprizov stretch pass from inside the Wild zone.

New York drew back within two at 18:51 when captain Anders Lee chipped the puck to open ice and Pageau won the race, cut to the slot and beat a sprawling Wallstedt glove side on a breakaway for 4-2.

3rd period – Kaprizov finished the scoring at 8:33, burying a one-timer from the right circle after a between-the-legs drop off the rush to Zuccarello and a quick return pass for 5-2.

What they said

“It stinks to be on for a goal, but you’ve got to bounce back,” Faber said of the Heineman tally. “Long year, long game – move on to the next. I thought we all responded the right way.”

Islanders captain Anders Lee: “We were off. When we struggle to break pucks out and turn it over, it’s a long night. We made it hard on ourselves.”

By the numbers

  • Shots: NYI 27, MIN 26
  • Goaltending: Wallstedt 25 saves; Rittich 21 saves
  • Streaks: Wild have won 3 of 4; Islanders drop two straight (2-0-1 prior)

Coach Mark comment
Minnesota’s neutral-zone spacing was clean on the back-to-back, and their stretch game through Kaprizov punished New York’s gaps. Wallstedt was composed on first shots; the Wild won most second-puck races. Zuccarello’s return adds poise to Minnesota’s east-west game – it showed on the 5-2 dagger.

CHL Round of 16 – Full Match-Up Preview | IHM News
Ducks extend win streak to 5 with stars 7-5 comeback over Stars | IHM News

Ducks extend win streak to 5 with 7-5 comeback over Stars | IHM News

Date: November 7, 2025 | Author: IHM News

Ducks extend winning streak to 5 with 7-5 comeback in Dallas

Anaheim erases early 2-0 deficit, scores four straight, and survives special-teams chaos to beat Stars in a 12-goal thriller

Ducks extend win streak to 5 with stars 7-5 comeback over Stars | IHM News

DALLAS – The Anaheim Ducks are officially one of the hottest teams in the NHL.
Not with luck, not with overtime squeaks – but with identity, structure, and relentless pace.

On Thursday night at American Airlines Center, Anaheim stormed back from a 2-0 first-period deficit and powered through a chaotic, penalty-filled game to defeat the Dallas Stars 7-5, stretching their winning streak to five games and improving to 9-3-1.

Dallas got goals from Wyatt Johnston (2), Tyler Seguin, Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, but defensive breakdowns and turnovers buried them. Jake Oettinger finished with 17 saves.

Anaheim answered with scoring from everywhere:
Chris Kreider, Ian Moore, Cutter Gauthier, Olen Zellweger, Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and a second one from Kreider. Lukas Dostal stopped 21 of 26.

🚨 Stars jump early – Johnston takes over the first period

Dallas opened the game with clean execution on back-to-back power plays.

At 12:48, Wyatt Johnston ripped home a mid-slot one-timer off a pass from Mikko Rantanen for 1-0.
He doubled the lead at 16:18, barely tipping a Miro Heiskanen point shot for his ninth of the year.

Through 20 minutes, Dallas led 2-0 and looked in full control.

They would not look that way again.

🔥 Anaheim erupts – four goals in 13 minutes flip the game

The Ducks opened the second period like a team shot out of a cannon.

Just 76 seconds in, Chris Kreider sprinted down the left side and snapped a blocker-side laser to cut it to 2-1.

92 seconds later, rookie defenseman Ian Moore scored his first NHL goal, hammering in a perfect crease-level pass from Ryan Poehling to tie it 2-2.

Dallas briefly regained the lead when Tyler Seguin beat Dostal on a breakaway, but Anaheim again answered instantly:

Cutter Gauthier: turnover forced by Killorn → right-circle shot → 3-3

Olen Zellweger: power-play finish after a wild cross-ice misdirection → 4-3

Entering the third period, Anaheim had completely flipped the script.

⚡ Third-period storm – Ducks pull away again

Just 16 seconds into the final frame, Kreider tipped in a point shot from Drew Helleson for 5-3.

Mikko Rantanen struck back on the power play at 1:50 (5-4), but Anaheim responded with the dagger – a shorthanded strike:

Leo Carlsson, reading the play perfectly, jumped on a loose puck during a broken rush and buried it for 6-4.

Roope Hintz deflected a Rantanen shot at 16:39 to make it 6-5, but the Ducks iced it when Mason McTavish hit the empty net at 18:07.

📊 Key numbers

Shots: Dallas 25 – Anaheim 24

Power play: Stars 3/5 – Ducks 2/5

Special-teams goals: 6 total

Scorers: 12 different goal scorers combined

Coach Mark comment
Anaheim is playing with tempo and layers. Their middle-lane drive is elite right now, and their weak-side activation creates constant second-wave threats. This comeback wasn’t luck – it was structural pressure. Dallas lost its gap discipline in the neutral zone and never recovered. The Ducks look like a team trending toward real contention if this pace continues.

Celebrini leads Sharks past Kraken 6-1 with 3-point night | IHM News
Celebrini leads Sharks past Kraken 6-1 with 3-point night | IHM News

Celebrini leads Sharks past Kraken 6-1 with 3-point night | IHM News

Date: November 6, 2025 | Author: IHM News

Celebrini dominates again as Sharks crush Kraken 6-1 in Seattle

Rookie phenom posts 3 points, Askarov locks down the crease, San Jose keeps rolling with 4th win in 6

SEATTLE – The youth movement in San Jose isn’t just alive – it’s accelerating. Macklin Celebrini delivered another breakout performance with three points (1G, 2A) as the San Jose Sharks dismantled the Seattle Kraken 6-1 at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday night.

San Jose is now 4-1-1 in its last six, showing structure, tempo, and confidence that wasn’t evident in October. Rookie goaltender Yaroslav Askarov added to that tone with a composed 28-save performance.

Celebrini leads Sharks past Kraken 6-1 with 3-point night | IHM News

Celebrini sets the tone early
At 1:08 of the first, Celebrini slipped into the slot, took a feed from Tyler Toffoli, and snapped a blocker-side wrister past Joey Daccord for 1-0.

Seattle briefly equalized on Ryan Winterton’s first NHL goal at 16:30, but that was the final high point for the Kraken.

Sharks take over
Ethan Cardwell restored the lead at 18:42 after a perfect cross-ice pass from Alexander Wennberg (2-1). John Klingberg hammered a power-play one-timer at 11:21 of the second (3-1). Will Smith scored early in the third with a wrister from the right wing (4-1). Ty Dellandrea buried a short-handed rebound at 3:24 (5-1). Tyler Toffoli finished a breakaway moments later (6-1).

Six goals, six momentum swings – all controlled by San Jose.

Kraken struggle on home ice
Daccord allowed four goals before giving way to Matt Murray in the third. Seattle finished its five-game homestand 2-1-2 and struggled to keep pace.

“Our structure wasn’t good enough,” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said. “San Jose was quicker than us.”

Coach Mark comment
Celebrini reads layers like a veteran – timing, spacing, anticipation. San Jose is playing fast through the middle and recovering pucks with purpose. Askarov gave them the calm anchor they needed. Seattle’s gaps were too loose, and San Jose exploited every seam. This is the best stretch of hockey the Sharks have played all year.

NHL Status Report: Key Injuries and Returns Around the League | IHM News
NHL Breakdown: Toronto vs Utah - November 6, 2025

NHL Breakdown: Toronto vs Utah – November 6, 2025

Scotiabank Arena in Toronto hosts a fascinating East vs West clash as the Maple Leafs welcome the surging Utah Mammoth. Utah continues to build a reputation as one of the most structured transition teams in the league, combining aggressive forecheck layers with quick middle-lane acceleration.

Toronto remains one of the most talented puck-possession teams in the NHL, but recent inconsistencies on defensive exits and coverage rotations have raised questions. Their top-six talent is undeniable, yet Utah’s ability to turn pressure into immediate rush chances will be a key storyline.

The Mammoth enter this matchup riding confidence from multiple strong offensive outings, while Toronto looks to tighten defensive assignments and avoid costly turnovers inside the neutral-zone funnel. Expect a tactical battle – tempo swings, tight forechecking, and special teams likely playing a significant role.

Venue: Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, ON)

Unlock Premium Access to read Coach Mark’s full tactical verdict and exact pick for this matchup.

Kochetkov Shuts Out Rangers in Season Debut | IHM News
By IHM Team | IHM News | November 5, 2025 Kochetkov makes 25 saves as Hurricanes shut out Rangers at MSG Carolina suffocates New York as Rangers fall to 0-5-1 at home NEW YORK Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov delivered a 25-save shutout in his first NHL start of the season, leading a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers and handing New York its sixth consecutive home loss to open the season. The Rangers generated 13 shots in the opening 8:40, including clear looks for Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, and Jonny Brodzinski, but Kochetkov turned all of them aside and Carolina controlled play from that point forward. Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal with the Hurricanes on a first-period power play through a screen, Sean Walker added another late in the second off a face-off sequence, and Seth Jarvis sealed the win with an empty-netter. New York recorded only 12 shots in the final 51 minutes and just one in the third period. Carolina improved to 8-4-0 while the Rangers fell to 0-5-1 at MSG and 6-6-2 overall. Coach Mark comment Kochetkov played with patience and strong interior positioning. Carolina protected the slot, cleared lanes, and managed their exits with purpose. New York had early looks but once Carolina controlled the walls and middle lane entries, the flow tilted decisively.

Kochetkov Shuts Out Rangers in Season Debut | IHM News

By IHM Team | IHM News | November 5, 2025

Kochetkov makes 25 saves as Hurricanes shut out Rangers at MSG

Carolina suffocates New York as Rangers fall to 0-5-1 at home

By IHM Team | IHM News | November 5, 2025 Kochetkov makes 25 saves as Hurricanes shut out Rangers at MSG Carolina suffocates New York as Rangers fall to 0-5-1 at home NEW YORK Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov delivered a 25-save shutout in his first NHL start of the season, leading a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers and handing New York its sixth consecutive home loss to open the season. The Rangers generated 13 shots in the opening 8:40, including clear looks for Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, and Jonny Brodzinski, but Kochetkov turned all of them aside and Carolina controlled play from that point forward. Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal with the Hurricanes on a first-period power play through a screen, Sean Walker added another late in the second off a face-off sequence, and Seth Jarvis sealed the win with an empty-netter. New York recorded only 12 shots in the final 51 minutes and just one in the third period. Carolina improved to 8-4-0 while the Rangers fell to 0-5-1 at MSG and 6-6-2 overall. Coach Mark comment Kochetkov played with patience and strong interior positioning. Carolina protected the slot, cleared lanes, and managed their exits with purpose. New York had early looks but once Carolina controlled the walls and middle lane entries, the flow tilted decisively.

NEW YORK Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov delivered a 25-save shutout in his first NHL start of the season, leading a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers and handing New York its sixth consecutive home loss to open the season.

The Rangers generated 13 shots in the opening 8:40, including clear looks for Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, and Jonny Brodzinski, but Kochetkov turned all of them aside and Carolina controlled play from that point forward.

Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal with the Hurricanes on a first-period power play through a screen, Sean Walker added another late in the second off a face-off sequence, and Seth Jarvis sealed the win with an empty-netter.

New York recorded only 12 shots in the final 51 minutes and just one in the third period. Carolina improved to 8-4-0 while the Rangers fell to 0-5-1 at MSG and 6-6-2 overall.

Coach Mark comment
Kochetkov played with patience and strong interior positioning. Carolina protected the slot, cleared lanes, and managed their exits with purpose. New York had early looks but once Carolina controlled the walls and middle lane entries, the flow tilted decisively.

Minnesota beats Nashville 3-2 in OT after Stamkos equalizer with 0.3 seconds left | IceHockeyMan
Bruins rally past Islanders 4-3 in shootout as Khusnutdinov scores late and decides it | IHM News

Bruins rally past Islanders 4-3 in shootout as Khusnutdinov scores late and decides it | IHM News

By IHM Team | IHM News | November 5, 2025

Khusnutdinov lifts Bruins over Islanders in shootout

Rookie ties it from his knees late in the third and beats Sorokin in the skills contest

ELMONT, N.Y. Boston found a way in a heavy game and extended its streak to four straight wins. Marat Khusnutdinov tied the contest 3-3 at 15:06 of the third from his knees after pouncing on a rebound in the low slot, then scored the only goal of the shootout to push the Bruins past the Islanders 4-3 at UBS Arena.

Head coach Marco Sturm praised the poise on the bench, noting the group never sagged after New York punches. The Bruins had already erased two separate deficits with goals from Viktor Arvidsson and Pavel Zacha, the latter on a power play, while Jeremy Swayman delivered 29 saves including key stops late in regulation and another on a last-second rush during a New York power play.

Bo Horvat powered the Islanders with two goals, exploiting transition windows off quick touches from Mathew Barzal and Kyle Palmieri. Anthony Duclair opened the scoring early in the second with a turnaround look through a screen. Ilya Sorokin stopped 24 of 27 for New York, sharp on east-west sequences before the equalizer and shootout.

Arvidsson first leveled it 1-1 at 12:21 of the second by jamming at the left post, the puck deflecting in off Anders Lee’s skate. Horvat answered 45 seconds later on a two-on-one with Barzal, finishing short side off the post. With 17:29 gone in the period, Zacha buried a rebound into an open net after Charlie McAvoy’s shot caromed off Sorokin’s pad, tying the game 2-2 on the man advantage.

New York regained the lead at 5:05 of the third when Horvat struck again, this time in stride after Matthew Schaefer exited the penalty box and quickly connected with Palmieri in the neutral zone for a stretch feed. The Bruins pressed, created volume through the middle, and finally got level on Khusnutdinov’s second-chance effort. In the dying seconds of regulation, Schaefer nearly won it for the Islanders on a power-play rush but Swayman blocked the in-tight attempt.

Scoring summary

  • 2nd, 5:11 NYI – Duclair, turnaround shot through a screen, 1-0
  • 2nd, 12:21 BOS – Arvidsson, jam at left post, 1-1
  • 2nd, 13:06 NYI – Horvat, finish on Barzal 2-on-1, 2-1
  • 2nd, 17:29 BOS PP – Zacha, rebound into open net, 2-2
  • 3rd, 5:05 NYI – Horvat, high-slot release off stretch sequence, 3-2
  • 3rd, 15:06 BOS – Khusnutdinov, from knees on rebound, 3-3
  • SO BOS – Khusnutdinov, winner

Goaltenders

BOS: Swayman 29 saves on 32. NYI: Sorokin 24 saves on 27.

Team notes

  • Boston improves to 8-7-0 and has won four in a row including a 5-2 victory over New York on October 28.
  • Islanders fall to 6-5-2. They created multiple third-period looks but could not extend the lead to two.
  • Khusnutdinov shows deception on the shootout attempt with a shoulder fake and blocker-side finish.

Coach Mark comment
Boston stayed connected between forwards and defense, which is why the third-man support looked clean late. Khusnutdinov’s touch around the crease is real and Swayman managed screens well in traffic. This is the type of controlled response that travels on the road.

Flyers outlast Canadiens 5-4 in shootout after blowing 3-0 start | IHM News
Wild Beat Predators in OT After Dramatic Stamkos Equalizer

Minnesota beats Nashville 3-2 in OT after Stamkos equalizer with 0.3 seconds left | IceHockeyMan

By IHM Team | IHM News | November 5, 2025

Wild top Predators in OT after last-second equalizer by Stamkos

Johansson wins it at 3:38 of overtime as review confirms goalie-caused net displacement

ST. PAUL, Minn. Minnesota absorbed a gut punch and still closed the deal. After Steven Stamkos hammered a one-timer with 0.3 seconds on the clock to force overtime, the Wild regrouped and defeated the Predators 3-2 at Grand Casino Arena. The winner belonged to Marcus Johansson at 3:38 of OT in a rare sequence that required a long look from the NHL Situation Room.

The deciding play began when Nashville goaltender Justus Annunen knocked the net off its moorings during a scramble. Johansson’s first attempt struck the left side where the post should have been, and he immediately tapped the puck into the vacant space. On-ice officials ruled goal. Video review supported the call, determining Annunen’s actions displaced the net prior to the puck crossing, which by rule awards the goal.

Minnesota leaned on its top pieces all night. Kirill Kaprizov recorded a goal and an assist, again steering the power-play tempo from the top of the slot, and Brock Faber logged two primary helpers including the low-slot shot that Zeev Buium redirected for a second-period power-play strike. Filip Gustavsson handled 32 of 34 shots with sturdy tracking through layers.

Nashville earned its point in dramatic fashion. With Annunen pulled for the extra skater, Stamkos darted into the left circle and uncorked a clean one-timer off a high feed, beating Gustavsson over the shoulder with 0.3 seconds remaining to tie the game 2-2. Earlier, rookie Matthew Wood had pulled the Predators level 1-1 by slipping behind coverage for a back-door finish on a Michael McCarron backhand pass.

Minnesota opened the scoring at 10:44 of the first on a man advantage. Kaprizov walked into a wrist shot from the high slot through traffic for his third goal in six games, part of an eight-point surge in that span. The Wild restored control late in period two when Buium angled Faber’s low drive past Annunen for 2-1, setting the stage for the wild finish.

Scoring summary

  • 1st, 10:44 MIN PP – Kaprizov 3, wrist shot from the slot (Faber, Johansson), 1-0
  • 2nd, 5:16 NSH – Wood, back-door tap-in from McCarron, 1-1
  • 2nd, 16:01 MIN PP – Buium, redirection of Faber shot in low slot (Faber, Kaprizov), 2-1
  • 3rd, 19:59 NSH – Stamkos, one-timer from high left circle with extra attacker, 2-2
  • OT, 3:38 MIN – Johansson, awarded after goalie-caused net displacement, 3-2

Goaltenders

MIN: Gustavsson 32 saves on 34. NSH: Annunen 22 saves on 25.

Team notes

  • Minnesota power play goes 2-for-x on the night, both goals created through Faber’s point activation and Kaprizov’s half-wall gravity.
  • Kaprizov up to 8 points in his last 6 games, continuing to drive controlled entries and east-west looks.
  • Nashville drops a second straight in overtime after a 5-4 OT loss to Vancouver the previous night.

Coach Mark comment
Minnesota showed mature game management after an emotional swing. The Kaprizov unit kept pace and spacing simple, Faber’s point timing was excellent, and the bench reset quickly before overtime which is a good playoff indicator.

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