Nikita Tolopilo stole the show for Vancouver with 37 saves in a last-minute start against the high-flying Ducks, whose fire-wagon style continues to delight fans and make coaches nervous. The Canucks also signalled they’re “open for business” on pending veteran UFAs. In Winnipeg, Scott Arniel says the Jets are “in a funk” in recent games without Connor Hellebuyck, highlighting the gap between good goaltending and elite. Toronto edged Columbus in OT with Matthews and company returning from injury, though Auston’s 24-plus minutes in his first game back raises some eyebrows. Joe Woll’s strong outing matters with no timetable for Stolarz's return. Edmonton suffered yet another home blowout, stuck in a defensive spiral where effort isn’t the issue—execution is. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay (five straight), Minnesota (six straight), and Colorado (one regulation loss by U.S. Thanksgiving) are rolling, with the Avs looking every bit like a wagon.

Plus, in Ask Ray & Dregs we discuss personal space between the benches, will Ovi chase 1000 and the effectiveness of "players-only" meetings.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The state of Florida seems likely to remain a proving ground for anyone chasing the Cup. The Panthers' recent offensive outbursts are somewhat surprising considering their slew of injuries. Tampa Bay tops the division despite their own IR troubles and some individual slow starts. Nashville’s struggles continue, they can't seem to find an identity despite big-name signings. How long will Barry Trotz wait before he starts to shake things up? Plus, AJ Greer’s dangerous takedown on Trent Frederic, Mikko Rantanen’s costly misconducts and hit that sidelined Romanov, and Logan Cooley’s four-goal eruption highlighting Utah’s impressive young foundation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Avalanche have won six straight and look every bit like a Stanley Cup favourite, Ray notes it feels like they are in a window right now with Makar's next deal 2 years away and last year’s bold overhaul in goal. Winnipeg extended captain Adam Lowry at five years times $5 million—a fair deal for a 32-year-old leader—though Ray is surprised by the league-wide trend of signing players into their age-36/37 seasons. The Oilers continue to struggle badly, losing to Washington amid alarming defensive breakdowns; despite criticism of the goaltending, Edmonton’s team play has been atrocious, they rank last in goals against and save percentage. The Rangers are dealing with backlash toward captain J.T. Miller after he appeared to quit on a play that led to Vegas’ 2–0 goal—an effort Ray compared to a preseason vibe and something New York fans won’t tolerate. Meanwhile, Patrick Roy was caught on a hot mic furious over Mikko Rantanen’s hit from behind on Alexander Romanov, who will miss significant time; Ray didn’t like the hit either and felt it warranted a suspension.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Treliving held a media availability in which he addressed the Leafs' inconsistency and lack of intensity. Could a change be on the horizon for his team? Florida's culture is the envy of the league. Brad Marchand riding an 11-game point streak. Is he a lock for Team Canada? Drew Doughty is out week-to-week as the Kings continue to grind. Jonathan Quick initiates a postgame brawl. Plus, how young is too young for youth ID skates?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Pinto’s 4 X $7.5M extension in Ottawa earns praise as a fair, forward-looking deal for a rising centre and potential Team USA Olympian, even as the cap climbs toward $100M. In Toronto, the visiting Kings face a battered Leafs squad missing Anthony Stolarz and Auston Matthews, big voids for a team whose defensive commitment is again under scrutiny after back-to-back losses to Boston. Edmonton has rebounded with two OT wins—both courtesy of Jack Roslovic—though the play hasn’t looked right and the Oilers eagerly await Zach Hyman’s return. Boston’s surprising seven-game heater continues behind Pastrnak and an unexpected scoring surge from Morgan Geekie, while New Jersey rookie Simon Nemec stole headlines with a hat trick in a back-and-forth win over Chicago. Team Canada Olympic chatter centres on whether youngsters Bedard and Celebrini can both fit at the expense of veterans, weighing their experience against limited roles on the big stage. The Rangers erupted for a 7–3 win over Tampa as Vincent Trochek returned and a freshly shorn Artemi Panarin added four assists, though their bizarre home-ice struggles persist. The hockey world also mourns the passing of longtime Rangers writer Larry Brooks after a brief battle with cancer.

Plus, Ask Ray & Dregs Anything!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A memorable Hall of Fame induction saw Duncan Keith thank his son for helping him rediscover his love of the game, Joe Thornton deliver an emotional speech, and a standout class featuring Zdeno Chara, Alex Mogilny, Brianna Decker, Jennifer Botterill, Danièle Sauvageau & Jack Parker. On the ice, the Oilers rebounded from a humiliating 9–1 loss to Colorado by storming back against Columbus, thanks to two brilliant Connor McDavid goals and Jack Roslovic’s OT winner, though their structural issues and Kris Knoblauch’s pointed post-game comments on goaltending (from Saturday) underline how far they still are from true contention. In Toronto, defensive lapses continue as the Leafs gave up three third-period breakaways in a loss to Boston. Craig Berube was visibly frustrated and the team's lack of speed is apparent as they search for answers. Meanwhile, Brad Marchand is having a stellar season with a five-game goal streak and nearing 1,000 points, stepping up for an injury-depleted Panthers lineup and strengthening his case for Team Canada.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Ovechkin scored his unprecedented 900th goal on Wednesday, alongside 138 game-winners and 324 power-play goals, while Sidney Crosby continues his unreal pace toward a 21st straight point-per-game season and Evgeni Malkin stands as the highest-scoring Russian ever. All reminders of how lucky we are to witness this era’s icons. Jordan Binnington briefly tried to stash Ovie’s milestone puck, a light moment amid bigger concerns for a Blues team that simply doesn’t look right. A bizarre OT winner in Minnesota saw a dislodged net factor into a good-goal ruling that, while correct by rule, raised questions about odd one-off scenarios. Steven Stamkos forced OT with a buzzer-beater but has struggled overall, something Ray attributes partly to Nashville's roster construction. In Calgary, Nazem Kadri’s 1,000th game came with a goal and a rare Flames win, though Ray remains unconvinced about their playoff hopes. Macklin Celebrini’s hot start continues to shine in San Jose, as the league’s 18-to-22-year-old wave surges and potentially affects Olympic rosters. And in Seattle, Ryan Winterton’s first NHL goal offered a touching moment as he plays while his brother battles cancer, with strong support from the Kraken organization.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Penguins dominated Toronto for 40 minutes before collapsing in the third, as the Leafs flipped the script despite continuing to look out of sorts. Even Craig Berube is flummoxed as to why his team can’t piece together 60 good minutes. In St. Louis, the Blues edged the Oilers late, overshadowing Connor McDavid becoming the 4th-fastest player ever to reach 1,100 points - though he didn’t record a shot on goal, a concerning trend for a player of his caliber on a roster that still feels a forward short. Winnipeg about to get a major boost with Adam Lowry’s return from hip surgery, the Jets have jumped out to another strong start, even after losing Ehlers and their captain on the shelf. Jonathan Toews’ faceoff dominance and unexpected scoring touch have also been revelations. Out West, the Kraken and Ducks are a surprising sight atop the Pacific division, with Seattle unbeaten at home and Anaheim’s young, fast core surging ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, Pierre-Luc Dubois’ serious injury leaves Washington in a bind: last season’s magic isn’t repeating, and the Caps may need to dip into their prospect pool to find a 2nd-line centre... if one is even available.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.