The NHL Evening Skate for Nov. 16

Yahoo Sports Staff

Heading into this evening’s action, here are the day’s top NHL storylines:

These are Jim Rutherford’s Penguins, for better or worse

This week, despite the Penguins struggling mightily to stop being mediocre this season, Rutherford signed an extension to stay on as GM through 2022, at which point he will be 73 years old. To celebrate the extension, Rutherford made a notable trade, swapping speedy, half-a-point-a-game Carl Hagelin — a guy he acquired in 2016 — for Tanner Pearson, a younger, slightly cheaper, signed-for-longer player in much the same mold, but who scores more often. [Read]

Oilers trade Ryan Strome to Rangers for Ryan Spooner

The Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers exchanged beleaguered Ryans on Friday afternoon, with Spooner heading west to Oil Country and Strome joining the Blueshirts. [Read]

Flyers’ goalie nightmare continues with Elliott injury

Life presents few constants: death, taxes, and the Philadelphia Flyers’ goalies letting them down. The latest nightmare comes as the Flyers announce that Brian Elliott will miss approximately two weeks with a lower-body injury. [Read]

Archibald to have hearing for illegal check to head of Hartman

Josh Archibald could be facing a suspension in the near future. The Coyotes forward will have a hearing for his illegal check to the head of Predators forward Ryan Hartman on Thursday night. [Read]

Predators have one big problem to solve

When it comes to goals scored, they’re currently ninth in the NHL with 62. When it comes to goals against, the Predators (44 goals allowed) only trail Winnipeg by one for top spot. So, what’s the glaring weakness? It’s the power play, which currently ranks dead-last in the NHL at 10.8 percent. No other team is below 12.7 percent this season. [Read]

Lamp-lighters

Philadelphia Flyers mascot, Gritty, has fun in first snow

The Flyers’ mascot experienced his first snowfall and proclaimed his love it by shuffling his feet to form the shape of a heart. He called it ‘Zamboni dust’. [Read]

Game of the Night

Washington Capitals at Colorado Avalanche

Colorado’s Philipp Grubauer, acquired via a June trade with the Capitals after spending his first six seasons in Washington, gets the start in net Friday for the first time since an ugly seven-goal showing in a loss at Vancouver on Nov. 2. [Full Preview]

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