NHL morning recap November 22 2025: Quarter-season surprises and playoff positioning

The NHL reaches its quarter-season mark this weekend, and the landscape looks dramatically different than many anticipated back in October. Friday night’s slate of games featured pivotal divisional matchups that could shape playoff seeding for months to come, while individual performances continued to defy preseason expectations. As teams prepare for Saturday’s packed 14-game schedule, the morning of November 22 gives fans a perfect moment to reflect on where the league stands and where it’s heading.

Colorado remains the class of the league at 82.5% points percentage, but the real stories emerge from teams like Chicago and Detroit that have crashed the top-10 conversation. The Blackhawks’ ascension behind Connor Bedard’s 29 points through 19 games represents the most significant narrative shift, while traditional powers like Calgary and Nashville find themselves searching for answers at the bottom of the standings.

NHL morning recap November 22 2025: Friday’s key results and performances

Friday’s modest three-game schedule delivered consequential results for teams fighting for positioning in tightly contested divisions. Each contest featured playoff implications and standout individual efforts worth examining in detail.

Winnipeg’s statement win tightens Central race

The Winnipeg Jets handed Carolina its second regulation loss in November, moving within three points of the Hurricanes for the Central Division lead. Mark Scheifele’s two-goal performance extended his point streak to eight games, pushing his season total to 36 points through 22 contests. The veteran center’s pace projects to 50 goals and 109 points—both of which would shatter his career highs.

Jets coach Rick Bowness praised his top line’s consistency in the postgame press conference. “When your best players play with that level of determination every shift, it elevates everyone,” Bowness noted. “Mark’s commitment to both ends has been exceptional.”

The loss halted Carolina’s five-game winning streak despite another strong outing from Seth Jarvis, who registered his seventh multi-point game of the season. The Hurricanes continue to navigate the absence of key forwards but remain firmly in the playoff picture at 70% points percentage.

Blackhawks’ surge continues with Buffalo victory

Chicago secured its third straight win, defeating Buffalo 4-2 to maintain their surprising grip on a wild-card position. Connor Bedard’s third-period goal proved decisive, giving the 20-year-old center points in 15 of his last 16 games. His 29 points in 19 games place him sixth in league scoring, directly ahead of established stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews.

The victory showcased Chicago’s improved defensive structure under third-year coach Luke Richardson. After allowing 3.4 goals per game last season, the Blackhawks have trimmed that number to 2.8 through the quarter pole. Rookie defenseman Alex Vlasic logged a career-high 24 minutes of ice time, while Petr Mrazek stopped 31 of 33 shots to improve his save percentage to .915.

“What we’re building here feels sustainable,” Bedard told reporters. “Last year we competed hard but didn’t get results. Now the details are clicking, and we’re finding ways to win tight games.”

Minnesota’s goaltending excellence stifles Pittsburgh

Jesper Wallstedt continued his Calder Trophy campaign with a 28-save shutout against the Penguins, improving his season record to 6-0-2. The 22-year-old netminder’s 2.10 goals-against average ranks second in the NHL, while his .926 save percentage leads all qualifying goaltenders.

The Wild’s 3-0 victory moved them into third place in the Central Division, remarkable considering preseason projections had them battling for a lottery pick. Kirill Kaprizov added two assists, extending his point streak to seven games, while Mats Zuccarello’s shorthanded goal in the second period broke the game open.

Pittsburgh’s loss marked their third consecutive defeat, dropping them to 23rd in the power rankings despite Sidney Crosby’s continued excellence. The captain recorded six shots on goal and won 64% of his faceoffs but received limited support from a depleted forward group missing Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin.

NHL morning recap November 22 2025: Quarter-season MVP candidates emerge

As teams pass the 20-game threshold, individual excellence has separated contenders from pretenders. Several players have established themselves as early Hart Trophy candidates through sustained dominance.

The elite tier: McDavid, MacKinnon, and emerging challengers

Connor McDavid leads all players with 36 points through 22 games, though Edmonton’s team struggles have limited his national spotlight. The Oilers sit at 50% points percentage, well below expectations, despite McDavid’s point-per-game pace that projects to 133 over a full season.

Nathan MacKinnon has been even more spectacular statistically, pacing the league with 16 goals and 36 points while leading Colorado to the NHL’s best record. His partnership with Mikko Rantanen (34 points) forms the league’s most dangerous duo. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar recently called MacKinnon “the most complete player I’ve coached,” citing his defensive improvements and leadership.

Jack Eichel has vaulted into the conversation with 24 points in 19 games for Vegas, though the Golden Knights’ recent slide from the top-10 raises questions about his overall impact. Meanwhile, Dylan Larkin’s 24 points have Detroit in playoff position ahead of schedule.

Rookie sensations reshaping franchises

The 2025 rookie class ranks among the deepest in recent memory. Matthew Schaefer, selected first overall by the Islanders, leads all freshmen with 21 points and anchors New York’s top power-play unit. His 22:29 average ice time ranks fourth among all NHL forwards, demonstrating coach Patrick Roy’s trust in the 18-year-old.

Leo Carlsson continues justifying Anaheim’s decision to select him second in 2023 over Adam Fantilli. The Swedish center’s 23 points lead the Ducks, while his two-way play has drawn comparisons to Anze Kopitar. Anaheim’s 64.3% points percentage represents a 15-point improvement over last season’s pace.

In Columbus, goaltender Jet Greaves has wrestled the starting job from Elvis Merzlikins, posting a .919 save percentage through 12 starts. The 24-year-old’s emergence provides stability for a young Blue Jackets squad that features rookies in three of its top six forward positions.

Breakout performances from unexpected sources

Trevor Zegras has resurrected his career in Philadelphia, registering 26 points through 19 games after struggling to find consistency in Anaheim. The 24-year-old’s creativity has flourished alongside Travis Konecny, giving the Flyers a dangerous second line behind Sean Couturier’s unit.

Adrian Kempe’s 19 points lead Los Angeles after signing a lucrative extension, while Tim Stutzle’s point-per-game pace has Ottawa within striking distance of a wild-card spot despite Brady Tkachuk’s injury absence. Both players entered 2025 with questions about their ability to carry offensive loads but have answered emphatically.

NHL morning recap November 22 2025: Injury updates and roster movements

Injuries continue reshaping lineups across the league, with several high-profile absences creating opportunities for depth players.

Stars on the mend

New Jersey announced that Jack Hughes will miss 6-8 weeks following a &quotfreak injury” sustained at a Chicago steakhouse last week. The details remain vague, but Hughes’ absence forced coach Lindy Ruff to shuffle his top six significantly. Jesper Bratt has elevated his game accordingly, posting 28 points while centring the top line.

Auston Matthews missed his fifth straight game with a lower-body injury, though Toronto expects him back within a week. William Nylander’s 27 points in 17 games have kept the Maple Leafs afloat during Matthews’ absence, but the team desperately needs its superstar centre to return as they navigate a challenging November schedule.

Emerging opportunities

In Boston, the absence of Charlie McAvoy (upper body) has thrust rookie Mason Lohrei into top-pairing minutes alongside Hampus Lindholm. The 22-year-old has responded with three goals and eight points while managing difficult matchups.

Calgary’s potential fire sale could begin soon if their losing streak extends past eight games. Nazem Kadri, Rasmus Andersson, and Blake Coleman have all drawn trade interest, with contending teams monitoring the situation closely. Kadri’s 15 points in 20 games make him an attractive secondary scoring option for playoff-bound clubs.

NHL morning recap November 22 2025: Saturday’s must-watch matchups

Fourteen games dot Saturday’s schedule, including several matinees that could impact playoff positioning before evening games begin. The slate features multiple divisional rivalries and individual matchups worth circling.

Early afternoon showdowns

Colorado at Nashville (2:00 PM ET): The Avalanche aim to extend their league-leading points percentage against a fading Predators squad. Nathan MacKinnon enters on a nine-game point streak, while Nashville must contain Colorado’s lethal power-play that converts at 29.3% efficiency.

New Jersey at Philadelphia (1:00 PM ET): This Metropolitan Division clash carries extra weight following the Hughes injury and Zegras’ resurgence in Philly. The Flyers trail the Devils by two points, making this a crucial four-point swing in the playoff race.

Montreal at Toronto (7:00 PM ET): The first Original Six matchup of the day features Canadiens rookie Jakub Dobes against a potentially returning Auston Matthews. Montreal sits two points ahead of Toronto in the Atlantic Division, adding rivalry stakes to divisional positioning.

Primetime spotlight games

Dallas at Calgary (10:00 PM ET): The Stars’ high-powered offense faces a Flames team potentially playing out the string. Mikko Rantanen’s red-hot play (11 points in his last five games) contrasts sharply with Calgary’s league-worst 34.1% points percentage.

Edmonton at Florida (7:00 PM ET): Connor McDavid visits the two-time defending champions without captain Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers’ Brad Marchand leads the league with 23 points through 18 games and continues carrying Florida’s offense during their title defense.

The sheer volume of games creates a fantasy hockey nightmare but a dream for fans seeking nonstop action. With 28 teams in action, the playoff picture could shift dramatically by Saturday night.

NHL morning recap November 22 2025: What the standings tell us

The quarter-season mark provides enough data to identify legitimate trends versus early-season noise. Several patterns have emerged that challenge preseason assumptions.

Conference balance shifts eastward

The Eastern Conference owns a 52-44 record against the West through November 21, reversing last season’s 138-126 advantage for the West. Metropolitan Division teams have been particularly dominant, with Carolina, New Jersey, and Pittsburgh all ranking in the top-10 of points percentage.

This shift impacts playoff probabilities significantly. Western Conference bubble teams like Calgary and Nashville face tougher paths to qualification, while Eastern squads like Philadelphia and Detroit benefit from intra-conference wins boosting their point totals.

Goaltending determines destiny

Teams with save percentages above .915 own a collective 182-78-22 record, while those below .895 sit at 102-163-35. The gap between elite and replacement-level goaltending has never been more pronounced. Jesper Wallstedt’s emergence in Minnesota exemplifies how a single position upgrade transforms team expectations.

Traditional goaltending powerhouses like Boston (.917 team save percentage) and Vegas (.914) maintain their advantages, while teams like Calgary (.879) and Nashville (.887) find themselves at competitive disadvantages difficult to overcome.

Rookie impact reaches historic levels

First-year players have combined for 312 points through the quarter-season, the highest total since the 2005-06 campaign that featured Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin’s rookie seasons. This influx of cheap, high-impact talent has allowed teams like Anaheim, Columbus, and the NY Islanders to outperform expectations while maintaining salary cap flexibility.

The trend appears sustainable, with several top prospects like Schaefer and Celebrini playing significant minutes in all situations. Their continued development will shape not just this season’s playoff race but the competitive balance for years to come.

As teams prepare for Saturday’s marathon slate, the quarter-season lessons are clear: expected contenders like Colorado and Carolina remain dominant, but emerging teams led by young stars have created unprecedented parity across the league. With trade season approaching and injuries mounting, every point becomes precious in determining which clubs play past April.