by Sean Murphy
Monday, Nov 24, 2025As the holidays approach, here's a look around the NHL at some news and notes you can use in your daily hockey handicapping.
Devil of a time
New Jersey has dropped three straight games and checks in just 5-7 over its last 12 games following a 8-1 start to the season. Injuries have played a role, most notably to Jack Hughes after his freak accident at a team function. Hughes is sorely missed as the team has produced three goals or less in six of its last seven contests. The good news is, the Devils schedule is manageable in the next several weeks as they'll play nine of their next 12 games at home and won't leave the Eastern time zone again until December 17th.
Broadway blues
It's been a trying campaign for the Rangers to this point as they enter the new week on a four-game slide including an 0-3 road trip that just wrapped up in Utah on Saturday. The week ahead offers no reprieve as they'll host the improving Blues before a two-game trip takes them to Raleigh and Boston before a return home in a back-to-back spot against the surging Lightning. You have to think it won't be long before changes are in order. Note that New York has mustered 22 shots on goal or less in six of its last seven games, scoring a grand total of 10 goals over its last five contests.
Capital punishment
Washington is coming off a renaissance season that saw it finish first in the Eastern Conference but things haven't gone nearly as well so far in 2025-26. The Capitals have shown signs of turning it around at least, reeling off three wins in their last four games while scoring a whopping 20 goals over that stretch. Special teams remain a struggle. Note that the Caps have produced just four power play goals over their last 14 games. Meanwhile, the opposition has clicked at a 7-for-20 rate with the man advantage over their last six contests.
Crowning achievement
While the Kings have played an uneven brand of hockey and enter Monday's clash with the Senators on a three-game slide, their penalty kill has been elite. Los Angeles has allowed just one power play goal in its last 10 games, covering a span of 22 opponents' chances. Unfortunately, the Kings have been mired in a scoring drought of their own, producing one goal or less in three of their last four games and managing just one power play marker in their last 19 opportunities. They'll play five of their next six contests on home ice as they look to right the ship.
The Dark Knight(s)
Vegas has been a perennial contender in the Western Conference ever since it broke into the league with an incredible inaugural season. Early returns haven't been good in 2025-26, however, as they've managed just 27 points through 21 games. The Golden Knights enter Monday's three-game road trip finale in Utah having lost nine of their last 14 games including a 4-3 setback in Anaheim on Saturday. A four-game homestand will begin on Wednesday against Ottawa but whether that's a good thing is up for debate. The Knights are just 4-3-2 on home ice this season with those five losses coming in their last six contests on the Strip.
Devil of a time
New Jersey has dropped three straight games and checks in just 5-7 over its last 12 games following a 8-1 start to the season. Injuries have played a role, most notably to Jack Hughes after his freak accident at a team function. Hughes is sorely missed as the team has produced three goals or less in six of its last seven contests. The good news is, the Devils schedule is manageable in the next several weeks as they'll play nine of their next 12 games at home and won't leave the Eastern time zone again until December 17th.
Broadway blues
It's been a trying campaign for the Rangers to this point as they enter the new week on a four-game slide including an 0-3 road trip that just wrapped up in Utah on Saturday. The week ahead offers no reprieve as they'll host the improving Blues before a two-game trip takes them to Raleigh and Boston before a return home in a back-to-back spot against the surging Lightning. You have to think it won't be long before changes are in order. Note that New York has mustered 22 shots on goal or less in six of its last seven games, scoring a grand total of 10 goals over its last five contests.
Capital punishment
Washington is coming off a renaissance season that saw it finish first in the Eastern Conference but things haven't gone nearly as well so far in 2025-26. The Capitals have shown signs of turning it around at least, reeling off three wins in their last four games while scoring a whopping 20 goals over that stretch. Special teams remain a struggle. Note that the Caps have produced just four power play goals over their last 14 games. Meanwhile, the opposition has clicked at a 7-for-20 rate with the man advantage over their last six contests.
Crowning achievement
While the Kings have played an uneven brand of hockey and enter Monday's clash with the Senators on a three-game slide, their penalty kill has been elite. Los Angeles has allowed just one power play goal in its last 10 games, covering a span of 22 opponents' chances. Unfortunately, the Kings have been mired in a scoring drought of their own, producing one goal or less in three of their last four games and managing just one power play marker in their last 19 opportunities. They'll play five of their next six contests on home ice as they look to right the ship.
The Dark Knight(s)
Vegas has been a perennial contender in the Western Conference ever since it broke into the league with an incredible inaugural season. Early returns haven't been good in 2025-26, however, as they've managed just 27 points through 21 games. The Golden Knights enter Monday's three-game road trip finale in Utah having lost nine of their last 14 games including a 4-3 setback in Anaheim on Saturday. A four-game homestand will begin on Wednesday against Ottawa but whether that's a good thing is up for debate. The Knights are just 4-3-2 on home ice this season with those five losses coming in their last six contests on the Strip.
