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I’m going to try my best to stay cheerful despite sitting to write this minutes after the Toronto Blue Jays lost in Game 7 of the World Series in devastating fashion. In truth, I need a distraction. It was either this or polishing off the two giant bags of Doritos (Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese, naturally) that are currently in my cupboard. I will still likely do that at some point.

Anyway, let’s talk hockey. Not to throw salt in the wound of Toronto sports fans, but we have to focus on the Montreal Canadiens, who have been an absolute wagon this season, going 9-3-0 in their first 12 games and sitting on top of the Atlantic Division.

The Habs have played in some very tight and exciting games — nine of their first 12 have been decided by one goal. And there’s one particular player who is thriving in those clutch situations: Cole Caufield has three overtime game-winning goals this season. In the process, he has set the record for most overtime goals in Habs history (11, passing Howie Morenz and Max Pacioretty).

“Goal” Caulfield was one of the more noticeable names absent from Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster last season, and with a start like this, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to justify leaving him off the roster for the Olympics.

It’s not just the goals — Caufield has 10, tied for the league lead — it’s the clutch nature of a good chunk of those goals. On Oct. 16 against the Nashville Predators, Caufield took a pass from Lane Hutson (after Hutson saved the puck from going in on an empty net), and scored with 19.5 seconds to go in the third period to send it to overtime. Then, with two seconds left in the extra frame, Caufield called game to give the W for Montreal.

On Frozen Frenzy night, Caufield notched the first goal of the game against the Seattle Kraken — and was the star again with the game winner in OT after the Habs blew a 3-0 lead.

Performances like this are becoming commonplace for Habs fans — and would be a welcome sight for U.S. fans this February in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, too.

Jump ahead:
Games of the week
What I loved this weekend
Hart Trophy candidates
Social post of the week
Stick taps

Biggest games of the week

Thursday, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+

For all the reasons above, I can’t wait for Habs vs. Devils. It’s the first meeting of the season between two teams with a lot of young talent, and speed for days … there’s just so much to watch here.

Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt would be in the running for a tag-team Hart Trophy if it existed.

Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+

This will be a good measuring-stick game for Buffalo, one of those “are they legit?” kind of litmus tests. Utah has had a … Mammoth start, going 8-3-0 overall, but all three losses have come on the road.

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+/Hulu

This is maybe (?) one of the final chapters of the legendary Alex Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby rivalry matchups. “The Drop” with Greg Wyshynski and yours truly will have a special episode chronicling the history of 8 vs. 87 prior to the game on NHL on ESPN YouTube.

The Caps have yet to really get rolling, while the Pens are 8-3-2. Don’t tell Sid this team was supposed to miss the playoffs according to all of those preseason predictions!

Other key matchups this week

Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN+/Hulu

Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET | ESPN+

Thursday, 10 p.m. ET | ESPN+/Hulu

Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+

Saturday, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+

Saturday, 10 p.m. ET | ESPN+

Themed game of the week

Aside from co-hosting ESPN’s official Star Wars podcast “Never Tell Me The Odds” with Ryan McGee and Clinton Yates, I chronicle and document Star Wars theme nights across the hockey world. I take this responsibility very seriously — “This is the way,” some would say.

The next such extravaganza will be courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers, as they host the Ottawa Senators for a Saturday afternoon showcase that will be strong with the force.

The Flyers have confirmed that all fans in attendance will receive a Star Wars poster, and those that splurge for the special ticket package will also get the Flyers-Star Wars mashup t-shirt.

The Flyers have also arranged for Jedi training by the 501st Legion, the local chapter one of the popular Star Wars costumed brigades that attend events across the country.

Noted Star Wars fans on the team include Trevor Zegras and Bobby Brink. Both told ESPN that “Revenge of the Sith” is their favorite Star Wars movie; Brink is a Obi-Wan Kenobi fan, while Zegras prefers C-3PO. Brink is an avid “Star Wars Battlefront” player, while Zegras enjoys “Lego Star Wars.”

When asked which Star Wars character they would count on most to score in a shootout, Brink stuck with Obi-Wan, but Zegras landed on Darth Vader: “He could move the goalie out of the way with the lightsaber.”

What I loved this weekend

A poignant lesson on life, priorities and the time we have with our loved ones. Brad Marchand missed a Panthers game this week to attend the funeral of Selah, the 10-year-old daughter of his longtime friend and trainer, J.P. McCallum. While in Halifax, Marchand also volunteered as a coach for the team McCallum coaches, March & Mill Company Hunters of the Nova Scotia Under-18 Hockey League, a team that Marchand co-owns with former Boston Bruins teammate Kevan Miller.

In Marchand’s first game back with the Panthers on Saturday, he scored the game-opening goal. Then, he pointed skywards in tribute.

“The hockey gods always come through,” Marchand said on the Panthers’ broadcast after the second period, in an interview that played in Amerant Arena. “It was a really, really tough week. That’s a special one to get for Selah.”

MVP candidates if the season ended today

Mark Scheifele, welcome to pole position in the Hart Trophy race. His 20 points lead the NHL, and his nine goals are one away from the league lead. The Winnipeg Jets are right in the mix atop the Central Division and Scheifele is a big reason why.

play

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Mark Scheifele tallies goal vs. Blackhawks

Mark Scheifele tallies goal vs. Blackhawks

Golden Knights center Jack Eichel is down a notch this week, but remains in the race. He’s a point back of Scheifele in the race, leading the current Pacific Division leaders.

And speaking of Central Division powerhouses, Avs center Nathan MacKinnon is undeniable; he’s tied with Eichel with 19 points and is leading the league with 10 goals.

Social media posts of the weekend

It would have been a perfect omen had the Blue Jays pulled off the win Saturday night, but I still want to give love to Vlad Guerrero Jr. showing up to Game 7 of the World Series in a Team Canada Marie-Philip Poulin jersey. Known as “Captain Clutch,” Poulin has led Canada to three Olympic gold medals.

Also, to tie a bow on Frozen Frenzy from last week, here’s a look behind the scenes:

Stick taps

Former NWHL champion Tatiana Rafter has started a new podcast, “Good People In Hockey,” which has now released six episodes.

It’s a fun, upbeat slant on hockey talk, and is refreshing and welcomed in the sports space. Guests have been eclectic and interesting, including Courtney Mahoney, who has been with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves for over 30 years and is now their president of operations.

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College football Week 11: Penn State and Indiana in wild finish

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November 8, 2025

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College football Week 11: Penn State and Indiana in wild finish

  • ESPN staffNov 8, 2025, 03:38 PM ET

The matchup between the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers and the Penn State Nittany Lions turned wild in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers held a 20-10 lead before Nicholas Singleton and the Penn State offense got moving. Then IU QB, and Heisman candidate, Fernando Mendoza threw and interception that set up an incredible finish.

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Poll: Mendoza top vote-getter as NFL draft’s QB1

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6 hours ago

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November 8, 2025

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Poll: Mendoza top vote-getter as NFL draft's QB1

The volatility and unpredictability of the 2025 college football season has rippled through the group of draft-eligible quarterbacks.

ESPN repolled 25 NFL scouts and executives about who will be the first quarterback taken in the 2026 NFL draft, with the results drastically different from six weeks ago.

In the latest poll, Indiana‘s Fernando Mendoza was the top vote-getter with 13 votes, putting him ahead of Oregon‘s Dante Moore (6) and Alabama‘s Ty Simpson (3). Notably, none of those quarterbacks received a vote in the first poll, and all have eligibility remaining.

The other three quarterbacks receiving votes were Oklahoma‘s John Mateer (1), Cincinnati‘s Brendan Sorsby (1) and South Carolina‘s LaNorris Sellers (1). Only Sellers and Mateer had votes in the first poll.

“It’s not a stellar class,” one scout told ESPN. “If you add the maybes [who have eligibility and could leave school], now it gets interesting. The top is better than last year’s class, for sure.”

The top of this year’s crop has flipped from Sept. 20, when seven different quarterbacks received votes, with Sellers (8) edging out LSU‘s Garrett Nussmeier (7). Both players and their teams have struggled this season. Others receiving votes in the first QB1 poll were Miami‘s Carson Beck (3), Mateer (3), Penn State‘s Drew Allar (2), Arizona State‘s Sam Leavitt (1) and Texas‘ Arch Manning (1).

The sentiment regarding the class has soured a bit since the initial polling. Along with the dip in play from Sellers and Nussmeier, Allar suffered a season-ending injury and Manning hasn’t resembled anything close to what his family and recruiting pedigrees projected.

While Mendoza is the top vote-getter, he has yet to establish himself as a no-brainer No. 1 overall pick. He is trending that way, but there is not yet conviction behind those projections.

Mendoza transferred from Cal and has taken a leap under coach Curt Cignetti and the tutelage of offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer. His completion percentage is 72.3%, up from 68.7%, and he has thrown 25 touchdowns, nine more than last season at Cal. He has also rushed for four touchdowns and is averaging 9.5 yards per attempt, up from 7.8.

What do scouts like? They start with the basics of him being 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. He idolizes Tom Brady, which is viewed as a strong North Star for a prospect.

“He has ‘wow’ throws and playmaking passer ability,” one scout told ESPN. “He can anticipate post-snap.”

Added another: “He’s decisive, and he sees everything well. He’s got accuracy down the field and is very tough in the pocket.”

There was a play against Iowa where Mendoza hung in the pocket and got decked by a Hawkeyes linebacker while delivering a perfect ball to a receiver in tight coverage.

Moore’s emergence has been sudden. He has started 13 games, including five at UCLA in 2023 before backing up Dillon Gabriel at Oregon last season. A redshirt sophomore who entered college as ESPN’s No. 2 overall player, Moore is 6-3 and 206 pounds. He attempted just eight passes last season but has maximized his starting role in 2025, with 19 touchdowns, a 71.4% completion percentage and 1,772 passing yards.

Simpson didn’t start a game until this season, which has led to speculation in NFL circles that he will return to college. (Quarterbacks with under 25 starts don’t have a consistent track record of NFL success.) Simpson has soared onto radars with 20 touchdowns and just one interception. He has completed 67.8% of his passes and thrown for 2,184 yards.

Sorsby might be the biggest surprise. While he struggled in high-wattage spots against Nebraska and Utah, he has clearly progressed.

One scout summed him up this way: “He’s big, tough, athletic and smart. He’s a leader and can make off-schedule plays and change arm angles. He’s got the ‘It.’ I think he’s very gifted.”

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Sabres’ Dahlin leaves team to support fiancée

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6 hours ago

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November 8, 2025

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Sabres' Dahlin leaves team to support fiancée

  • Kristen ShiltonNov 7, 2025, 02:31 PM ET

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      Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin is taking a leave of absence from the team to join his fiancée in Sweden, where she continues to recover from a heart transplant.

There is no timetable for when Dahlin will return to the Sabres. Coach Lindy Ruff was able to share that Dahlin’s fiancée, Carolina Matovac, hadn’t suffered any setbacks.

“[Dahlin] said everything is OK,” Ruff told reporters Friday. “I think it’s been incredibly hard. I fully understand what this young man is going through. I don’t think you can describe it. I’m very passionate about the fact that no one would want to walk in his shoes and to have dealt with what he has dealt with. He has the support of everybody on this. This is larger than hockey.”

Matovac began feeling sick last summer while she and Dahlin were vacationing in France. She experienced sudden heart failure and received life-saving care en route to the hospital. Matovac has remained in Sweden to recover while Dahlin started the new season with Buffalo.

The 25-year-old blueliner is two years into his tenure as Sabres captain and has anchored the club’s defense practically since Buffalo drafted him first overall in 2018. Given Matovac’s health issues, it has been a distracting season for Dahlin, but he has managed nine points in 14 games and carries a heavy workload at over 24 minutes per night.

But Dahlin expressed some frustration about his performance this season following Buffalo’s 3-0 loss to St. Louis on Thursday.

“I got more to give. I’m not satisfied,” Dahlin told reporters. “I want to create more. I want to do more out there. I’m not satisfied, but I’m on the way.”

Some things are bigger than a stat sheet or standings, though, and that’s where Ruff wants to see Dahlin’s focus going for now.

“Family and personal come before hockey,” Ruff said. “Hockey’s our job, hockey’s our lifeline, but family and personal trump anything else.”

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