NHL morning recap november 5 2025: Shutouts, milestones, and thrilling finishes highlight busy night

Tuesday night delivered exactly the kind of hockey that keeps fans glued to their screens until well past midnight. Ten games scattered across the NHL landscape provided everything from goaltending masterclasses to overtime heroics, with a few personal milestones sprinkled in for good measure. The evening’s slate featured three shutouts, two shootout thrillers, and multiple overtime battles that kept arenas buzzing from coast to coast.

Goaltenders steal the show in shutout performances

Three netminders turned in perfect performances on Tuesday night, each telling a different story of excellence between the pipes. The shutout trio demonstrated the variety of ways goalies can dominate a game, from spectacular saves to calm positional play that makes the difficult look routine.

Akira Schmid backstopped the Vegas Golden Knights to a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, making 24 saves for his second career regular-season shutout. The 25-year-old Swiss netminder has been a revelation for Vegas, earning his sixth win of the season while providing solid depth behind the team’s goaltending tandem. Ivan Barbashev provided the lone offensive support, scoring midway through the second period on assists from Brandon Saad and Jeremy Lauzon.

The Red Wings’ Alex Lyon matched Schmid save-for-save for most of the evening, keeping Detroit in a game where they generated plenty of chances. But in hockey’s cruel arithmetic, one goal was the difference between earning a point and leaving empty-handed. The shutout extended Vegas’s strong defensive play at home and continued Detroit’s struggles to find consistent offense.

In Los Angeles, David Rittich earned his first shutout of the season as the Kings blanked the Winnipeg Jets 3-0. The performance was particularly meaningful as it came in front of Corey Perry, who was playing in his 1,400th career NHL game. The Kings defense limited Winnipeg’s typically potent attack, giving Rittich the kind of support that makes shutouts possible. Drew Doughty’s empty-net goal at 19:06 of the third period wasn’t just insurance – it was his 571st career point as a King, setting a new franchise record for defensemen.

The third shutout came courtesy of Pyotr Kochetkov, who stopped all 26 shots he faced as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Rangers 3-0 at Madison Square Garden. Newly acquired Nikolaj Ehlers opened the scoring in the first period, while Sean Walker added a goal and an assist. Seth Jarvis’s empty-netter sealed the victory and continued Carolina’s strong start to the season.

Historic milestones mark memorable night for veterans

Adrian Kempe reached a significant career milestone with his 200th NHL goal, opening the scoring in the Kings’ shutout victory. The 28-year-old Swedish forward has been a cornerstone of Los Angeles’s offense since breaking into the league, and the moment came in front of a home crowd eager to celebrate one of their most consistent performers. Kempe received the puck from Joel Armia and Mikey Anderson at 17:09 of the first period, converting on a play that showcased his finishing ability.

Kempe’s milestone represented years of steady development from a third-round pick in 2014 into a reliable 30-goal scorer. His journey with the Kings has paralleled the franchise’s transition from its championship core to a new generation of contenders. Reaching 200 goals puts him in elite company among Swedish-born players and cements his legacy as one of the Kings’ most productive forwards of the past decade.

Doughty’s record-breaking point was equally significant for Los Angeles hockey history. The veteran defenseman, who has spent his entire 17-year career with the Kings, surpassed a mark that stood as a testament to longevity and production from the blue line. His empty-net goal may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing of his career points, but it carried the weight of franchise history. As covered in previous NHL morning recaps, veteran players continue to provide leadership and production across the league.

Corey Perry’s appearance in his 1,400th game added another layer of celebration to the evening in Los Angeles. The 40-year-old winger has built a career on grit, determination, and an uncanny ability to produce in key moments. While the Jets came up short, Perry’s milestone was acknowledged by both teams and the crowd at Crypto.com Arena.

Shootout drama in Dallas as Stars extend point streak

The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers delivered one of the night’s most entertaining contests, a back-and-forth affair that required a shootout to settle. Dallas emerged victorious 4-3, extending their point streak to seven games and further cementing their position as legitimate Western Conference contenders. The game featured offensive firepower from both sides, with stars living up to their billing.

Mikko Rantanen was the offensive catalyst for Dallas, recording two goals and an assist in another dominant performance. His second goal tied the game at 3-3 with just over eight minutes remaining in regulation, setting up the overtime period and eventual shootout. Wyatt Johnston was equally impressive with three assists and the shootout winner, showcasing the depth that makes Dallas so dangerous.

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combined for three points, with Draisaitl scoring his 10th goal of the season in the first period. McDavid’s goal at 7:51 of the third briefly gave the Oilers a lead before Rantanen answered less than a minute later. The Oilers have now lost consecutive games where they held third-period leads, a troubling pattern that will need addressing if they hope to compete for the Pacific Division title.

The shootout came down to skill versus skill, with Jason Robertson converting for Dallas in the opening round. After Draisaitl equalized, Johnston sealed the victory with a patient move that beat Stuart Skinner cleanly. The win improved Dallas to 10-4-1 on the season, while Edmonton fell to 8-6-1 despite strong offensive production from their superstars. Much like the dramatic finishes seen earlier this season, shootouts continue to provide nightly excitement.

Overtime thrillers showcase league’s competitive balance

Three games required overtime to decide winners, each providing the kind of sudden-death drama that makes hockey unique. The Utah Mammoth defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1, with Clayton Keller scoring just 47 seconds into the extra frame. Keller’s heroics completed a comeback after Buffalo’s Noah Ostlund had scored his first NHL goal in the third period to briefly give the Sabres hope.

Nick Schmaltz tied the game for Utah with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, setting up Keller’s overtime winner. The victory improved Utah’s record to 9-4-0, continuing their impressive inaugural season in their new market. Buffalo’s struggles continued despite strong goaltending from Devon Levi, who made 30 saves in a losing effort.

Minnesota’s Marcus Johansson scored at 3:38 of overtime to give the Wild a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. The Swedish forward took a feed from Kirill Kaprizov and Brock Faber, beating Juuse Saros to extend Minnesota’s winning streak to four games. The Wild had erased a 2-1 deficit with Zeev Buium’s goal in the second period before Predators captain Steven Stamkos tied it with one second remaining in regulation.

Stamkos’s goal was typical of the veteran forward’s career – clutch timing in a moment when his team desperately needed a point. The fact that it came with the goalie pulled and time expiring made it even more impressive. While Nashville ultimately lost, earning a point kept them competitive in a tight Central Division race.

Special teams and depth scoring make the difference

The Philadelphia Flyers needed a shootout to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in a game that showcased offensive depth from both clubs. Bobby Brink scored twice for Philadelphia, including goals at 1:56 and 7:50 of the first period that staked the Flyers to an early lead. Trevor Zegras factored into the offense with three assists, continuing his productive start to life in Philadelphia.

Montreal mounted a furious second-period comeback, scoring four unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead. Ivan Demidov and Kirby Dach both scored in the rally, with Dach recording his second and third goals of the season. Lane Hutson added two assists, showcasing the young defenseman’s playmaking ability. The back-and-forth nature of the game kept fans engaged until Zegras secured the shootout victory for Philadelphia.

Boston edged the New York Islanders 4-3 in another shootout thriller, with Marat Khusnutdinov scoring the deciding goal. The Bruins rallied from deficits twice, getting goals from Viktor Arvidsson and Pavel Zacha in the second period. Bo Horvat scored twice for the Islanders in a losing effort, demonstrating the offensive talent that makes New York dangerous on any given night.

The Colorado Avalanche cooled off the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 3-2 victory built on Victor Olofsson’s two-goal performance. Olofsson’s goals in the first and second periods gave Colorado breathing room, while Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point tried to rally Tampa Bay. The Lightning’s six-game winning streak came to an end against Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche’s potent attack.

Looking ahead as standings tighten across both conferences

Tuesday’s results reinforced several developing storylines as the season approaches its first quarter mark. The Golden Knights’s defensive structure and goaltending depth give them multiple ways to win games, even when offense is scarce. Dallas’s seven-game point streak positions them as Western Conference heavyweights, with Rantanen fitting seamlessly into their core.

The three shutouts in one night reminded everyone that goaltending remains hockey’s most important position. When netminders are on, even the most talented offenses struggle to break through. Schmid, Rittich, and Kochetkov each earned the recognition that comes with perfect performances, but they also provided their teams with crucial points in tight divisional races.

For teams like Edmonton and Nashville, squandering third-period leads represents missed opportunities that could prove costly later in the season. Both clubs have the talent to compete for playoff positions, but consistency in protecting advantages will be essential. Buffalo’s continued struggles despite moments of promise from young players like Ostlund highlight the gap between flashes of potential and sustained success.

The NHL resumes action tonight with another full slate of games, including Toronto visiting Utah and St. Louis traveling to Washington. Based on Tuesday’s evidence, fans can expect more competitive hockey with minimal separation between teams. Every point matters in today’s NHL, and the parity on display makes each game meaningful long before the playoff picture comes into focus. The coming weeks will test which teams can sustain early success and which clubs need to make adjustments before falling too far behind in their respective divisions.