Kucherov Trade Request Dominates Busy NHL Night With 11 Games
Nikita Kucherov's request to leave Tampa Bay looms over a slate of 11 matches, including high-stakes matchups in Detroit and Colorado.
By Harper Collins ·
Hockey fans can expect a full schedule as 11 games begin Thursday, a sharp increase from the four matches played on Wednesday. The action kicks off at 7 p.m. ET across the league, with most games available on ESPN+. Two intradivisional contests stand out amid the interconference slate: the Carolina Hurricanes visiting the New York Islanders and the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Nashville Predators.
The biggest story of the day involves the Tampa Bay Lightning, who face the Chicago Blackhawks at 7 p.m. ET. Reigning Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov has informed the team that this is his final season in Tampa and he wants a trade. Coach Jon Cooper stated that Kucherov remains committed to the club while the request is processed. The Lightning are heavy favorites against Chicago, with DraftKings odds of minus 380. Kucherov has recorded five assists in the two games since making his request.
The Chicago Blackhawks enter this matchup missing key contributors Bowen Byram and Patrick Kane. The team will be testing the depth of Tampa Bay's roster, which is currently being reshuffled by the trade rumors. Meanwhile, in Detroit, the Red Wings host the Vegas Golden Knights at 7 p.m. ET. The Wings are battling in the Eastern Conference playoff race while dealing with off-ice drama involving Dylan Larkin. Vegas, who sit atop the Pacific Division race, views Larkin as a potential target. The Knights were on Larkin's initial list of preferred teams, which has since expanded to ten clubs.
In Montreal, the Canadiens host the Utah Mammoth at 7 p.m. ET. Both teams are in a developing phase, relying on young players like Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Lane Hutson, and Jacob Fowler. The Mammoth arrived in Montreal after a 3-2 win over Toronto, while the Canadiens seek to rebound from Tuesday's overtime loss to Winnipeg. That defeat saw Montreal concede four goals in just two minutes and eight seconds of the final period.
New Jersey hosts St. Louis at 7 p.m. ET, with the Devils favored at minus 192. The Devils won 4-3 in a shootout against Edmonton on Tuesday. New Jersey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is 3-0-0 since joining the team from Winnipeg, stopping 54 of 60 shots. Forward Jack Hughes has 19 points in 15 games, a pace that projects to 106 points for the season. The Blues are building a young core, with four of their top five scorers aged 25 or younger.
The Carolina Hurricanes, who lead the NHL in record and goal differential, visit the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. ET. Carolina sits at 12-3-2 with a plus-24 goal differential. Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov has a 1.64 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. The Islanders rely on Ilya Sorokin, who allowed four goals on 40 shots in the last meeting between these teams on April 4.
In the Northeast, the Philadelphia Flyers visit the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. ET. The Rangers hold the No. 3 spot in the Metro Division, while the Flyers are in last place in the Eastern Conference. Both teams feature young stars, including Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov for Philadelphia, and Adam Fox and Alexis Lafreniere for New York. The Bruins travel to Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. ET, facing the Penguins, who have lost three straight games. Boston is 11-4-1, ranking eighth in scoring and fourth in goals allowed.
The Dallas Stars visit Columbus at 7 p.m. ET for the second meeting of the season. The Stars won the first matchup 3-1 on Halloween, featuring two buzzer-beater goals. Jason Robertson of Dallas scored a hat trick in a 6-5 win over Washington, while Charlie Coyle of Columbus scored twice in a 7-2 victory over Colorado. The Vancouver Canucks host the Winnipeg Jets at 8 p.m. ET. Winnipeg recently scored four goals in 2:08 to beat Montreal in overtime. The Canucks broke a 10-game losing streak but have since lost three times.
The Anaheim Ducks face the Edmonton Oilers at 8 p.m. ET. Edmonton beat Anaheim 5-2 on October 7, with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard involved in five straight goals. Anaheim's Cutter Gauthier scored a hat trick in a win over Vancouver on Tuesday. The nightcap features the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Nashville Predators at 9:30 p.m. ET. The Avalanche seek revenge after losing 6-2 to Nashville on October 25. Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado is on a six-game scoring streak, with 11 points in that span.
