NHL morning recap November 23 2025: afternoon action sets up exciting division races

Sunday’s slate of NHL action delivered everything fans could ask for, with overtime thrillers, dominant goaltending performances, and critical divisional matchups that tightened playoff positioning across both conferences. The five-game schedule featured three contests with playoff implications, a rookie milestone, and a stunning comeback that had social media buzzing well into the evening.

Hurricanes offense erupts in Buffalo

The Carolina Hurricanes delivered a statement performance against the Buffalo Sabres, cruising to a 6-3 victory at KeyBank Center. The win improved Carolina’s record to 15-5-2, giving them a four-point cushion atop the Atlantic Division standings. Buffalo, meanwhile, saw their losing streak extend to six games, dropping them to 8-10-4 and raising questions about their early-season coaching adjustments.

Sebastian Aho paced the Hurricanes attack with a four-point effort, including a goal and three assists. The Finnish center has been on a torrid pace throughout November, amassing 18 points in his last 11 games. Seth Jarvis continued his breakout campaign with two goals, giving him 13 on the season and putting him on track for a potential 40-goal campaign. Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 28 of 31 shots, improving his record to 8-2-1.

The game turned decisively in Carolina’s favor during a four-minute stretch in the second period. Trailing 2-1, the Hurricanes scored three quick goals, with Jordan Staal’s deflection marker at 14:23 proving to be the game-winner. “We stuck to our structure even when they had the lead,” Staal told reporters after the game. “That’s the identity we’ve built here—just keep coming in waves.”

Sabres search for answers after sixth straight loss

Buffalo’s early-season promise has evaporated during this losing skid, which matches their longest from the 2024-25 campaign. The Sabres surrendered four goals in the second period, with defensive breakdowns and questionable goaltending plaguing their efforts. Tage Thompson scored twice for Buffalo, briefly giving the home crowd hope, but the team’s inability to defend the rush continues to undermine their offensive talent.

Rookie goaltender Devon Levi was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots, his second early exit in three starts. Backup Eric Comrie stopped 14 of 16 in relief, but the damage was done. Head coach Lindy Ruff faces mounting pressure to stabilize a team that entered the season with playoff expectations. The Sabres have allowed 4.2 goals per game during this losing streak, a troubling trend that must be addressed before their upcoming three-game road trip through Western Canada.

Kraken continue Pacific surge with islanders victory

Seattle cemented their position as one of the season’s surprise stories, defeating the New York Islanders 4-2 at UBS Arena. The victory pushed the Kraken’s record to 11-5-5, placing them just two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights in the competitive Pacific Division. The Islanders fell to 12-8-2, though they remained tied for third in the Metropolitan Division.

Jordan Eberle starred against his former team, scoring twice and adding an assist. The veteran winger has been instrumental in Seattle’s offensive resurgence, now sitting with 10 goals and 22 points through 21 games. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer delivered another steady performance, making 31 saves and improving his save percentage to .915 on the season. His consistency has been the foundation for Seattle’s climb up the standings.

The game’s defining moment came late in the third period. With Seattle clinging to a 3-2 lead, Eberle buried his second of the night on a breakaway with 3:14 remaining, effectively sealing the victory. “Playing against the Islanders always means a little extra,” Eberle admitted. “But two points in November are just as important as any other time of year. We’re building something special here.”

Islanders power play struggles continue

New York’s man-advantage unit went 0-for-5 against Seattle, extending their drought to 1-for-31 over the past eight games. This cold stretch has coincided with the team’s slip from first place in the Metro, and head coach Patrick Roy voiced his frustration postgame. “We’re getting chances, but we’re not bearing down,” Roy said. “At some point, pucks need to go in. It’s that simple.”

Bo Horvat scored his team-leading 15th goal for the Islanders, but the team’s depth scoring remains a concern. Mathew Barzal recorded two assists, but New York’s second line has gone quiet over the past two weeks. With a crucial three-game homestand looming against division opponents, the Islanders must find solutions quickly or risk falling into the wildcard scramble.

Wild blank Jets to solidify wildcard positioning

Minnesota delivered a textbook defensive performance, shutting out the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 at Canada Life Centre. The victory improved the Wild’s record to 12-7-4, giving them a three-point cushion in the first Western Conference wildcard spot. Winnipeg dropped to 12-9-0, remaining tied with Colorado for third in the Central Division.

Filip Gustavsson posted his second shutout of the season, stopping all 34 Jets shots. The Swedish netminder has been stellar in November, posting a 5-1-0 record with a 1.84 goals-against average. “Our penalty kill was outstanding tonight,” Gustavsson noted. “When you trust the structure, you can just focus on stopping the puck. Everyone did their job.”

Kirill Kaprizov scored his 13th goal of the season, while Joel Eriksson Ek added his 5th and Matt Boldy chipped in his 14th. The Wild’s balanced scoring attack has been crucial during a stretch where they’ve won seven of nine games. Head coach John Hynes praised his team’s commitment after the game, emphasizing how Minnesota’s forecheck disrupted Winnipeg’s transition game all afternoon.

Jets offense stalls without Connor

Winnipeg played without star winger Kyle Connor, who missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury. The Jets managed just 34 shots but few were high-danger chances, as Minnesota’s defensive structure eliminated time and space in the scoring areas. Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi combined for just three shots on goal, a testament to the Wild’s suffocating defensive effort.

Coach Rick Bowness remained optimistic despite the shutout loss, pointing to his team’s upcoming schedule as an opportunity to rebound. “We didn’t generate enough quality looks, but that’s going to happen against a team like Minnesota,” Bowness said. “The key is how we respond on Tuesday against Nashville. We can’t let one loss turn into two.”

Western Canada clash goes to Calgary

In the lone late-afternoon matchup, the Calgary Flames edged the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in a shootout at Rogers Place. The victory pushed the Flames to 10-8-3, moving them within a point of the Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division. Edmonton fell to 11-7-2, with concerns mounting about their defensive depth after blowing a third-period lead.

Rookie forward Matt Coronato scored his first NHL goal in regulation, then added the shootout winner to cap a memorable night. The 20-year-old has been finding his stride after a slow start, now with three points in his last four games. “That’s a moment you’ll never forget,” Coronato said of his milestone marker. “But getting two points against a division rival is what matters most.”

Connor McDavid extended his point streak to 11 games with a goal and an assist, but the Oilers couldn’t protect a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame. Third-period defensive lapses have plagued Edmonton all season, and head coach Kris Knoblauch used his postgame press conference to call out his team’s lack of urgency. “We stopped playing,” Knoblauch said bluntly. “When you have a lead in this league, you have to keep your foot on the gas.”

Goaltending duel defines early action

Flames netminder Jacob Markstrom and Oilers counterpart Stuart Skinner combined for 72 saves through regulation and overtime, with Markstrom stopping 38 shots to earn the victory. The veteran Swede has been Calgary’s most consistent player this season, posting a .921 save percentage despite facing the fifth-most shots against in the league.

Edmonton’s defensive breakdowns are becoming a concerning pattern. The team has now surrendered third-period leads in seven games this season, converting just two of those into wins. With the Pacific Division race expected to go down to the wire, these lost points could prove costly come April. The Oilers will have a chance at redemption when they host the Flames again in two weeks.

League-wide trends emerging at quarter mark

Sunday’s action reinforced several developing storylines across the NHL. The Metropolitan Division continues to be the league’s tightest race, with just seven points separating first from seventh place. In the Atlantic, Carolina’s victory created some separation, but Toronto and Florida remain within striking distance. The Western Conference wildcard picture is equally muddled, with six teams separated by just five points.

Rookie performances are making significant impacts, with Coronato’s heroics in Edmonton joining a growing list of first-year contributors. Through the first quarter of the season, rookies have combined for 127 goals, the highest total at this stage since 1995-96. This influx of young talent is reshaping team identities and providing cost-effective production in a salary cap era.

Injury updates around the league

Several key players left Sunday’s action with injuries that could affect their teams’ short-term fortunes. Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson exited in the second period after blocking a shot, though coach Patrick Roy indicated the injury wasn’t serious. Jets forward Kyle Connor missed his second consecutive game, and Winnipeg provided no update on his potential return timeline.

The Oilers lost defenseman Darnell Nurse in the first period to an upper-body injury, further thinning their blue line. Edmonton has already been without Brett Kulak for two weeks, and their defensive depth will be tested during a five-game road trip starting Tuesday. The Flames emerged from their victory relatively healthy, a positive development for a team that has dealt with significant early-season absences.

As teams approach the Thanksgiving marker—a traditional indicator of playoff probability—the intensity is ramping up. With division races tightening and wildcard spots up for grabs, every point takes on added significance. Tuesday’s slate features 11 games, including a Atlantic Division showdown between Florida and Toronto that could shake up the standings once again.