Lindholm leads comeback as Bruins stay on top: Atlantic Division roundup

The Bruins keep setting the pace in the Atlantic, the Canadiens are absorbing some early-season damage, and the Gavin McKenna decision continues to swirl around the Maple Leafs. Here’s what matters from the last 24 hours in the division.

Bruins ride comeback in Anaheim to stay atop the Atlantic

The Boston Bruins beat the Anaheim Ducks 4–2 on the road, extending their winning streak to four games. According to Sportsnet, Hampus Lindholm was the spark in what was described as a comeback win, as Boston chased a fourth straight victory going into the night. The result pushes the Bruins to 12 points in 8 games (6-2-0), keeping them first in the Atlantic, level on points with Ottawa but ahead on tiebreaker.

Canadiens banged up and under the microscope before Sabres visit

In Montreal, the injury list is growing. Daily Faceoff reports that forward Florian Xhekaj will miss two weeks with a lower-body injury after already sitting out the last three games and showing visible discomfort at practice earlier in the week. Sportsnet adds that defenceman Mike Matheson remains day-to-day.

La Presse notes that Juraj Slafkovský skipped Friday’s practice. On the ice, Martin St-Louis told La Presse he wants a more disciplined team, believing the Canadiens have been playing good hockey without always getting rewarded. The Hockey Writers writes that despite not playing poorly overall, Montreal — seventh in the Atlantic with 7 points in 7 games (3-3-1) — is coming up short on key details. Another piece from The Hockey Writers argues the Canadiens will need more from goaltender Jakub Dobes after the optimism that surrounded him entering the season.

All of this frames tonight’s matchup against the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre. Eyes on the Prize lays out how to watch Game 8 for both clubs, with puck drop at 7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet East and TVA Sports in Canada, NHL Network in the U.S., MSG Buffalo in the Sabres region, and streaming options via Sportsnet+ and TVA Sports+.

Sabres in the mix, Leafs caught in the McKenna spotlight

Buffalo arrives in Montreal sitting fifth in the division with 9 points in 8 games (4-3-1), one point ahead of Toronto. The Sabres are also at the centre of the McKenna debate after Thursday’s game. Daily Faceoff points out that the 18-year-old didn’t see the ice in the third period or overtime in that loss, while Sportsnet notes he played under seven minutes as analysts comb through his shifts to understand the benching.

Maple Leafs face criticism, injuries and blue-line questions

In Toronto, McKenna’s benching by head coach Jim Hiller continues to draw fire. The Hockey Writers argues that the decision in the 5–4 overtime loss to Buffalo reflects a bigger problem for the Maple Leafs. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman told The FAN Hockey Show he felt Hiller made a mistake sitting the rookie but credited him for taking accountability afterward.

Daily Faceoff and Sportsnet both provide detailed breakdowns of McKenna’s performance before he was parked, while The Hockey News and The Hockey Writers broaden the conversation to Toronto’s room and current trajectory. On the injury front, The Hockey Writers reports that Chris Tanev’s status remains unclear and that the team might have lost another key player in John Tavares. Meanwhile, Sportsnet notes the Leafs urgently need a top defenceman but have limited assets to work with and want to get a longer look at prospect Ben Danford before making a major move.

Senators share top spot, Red Wings in rumour mill

The Ottawa Senators share first place with Boston at 12 points in 8 games (6-2-0). Sportsnet highlights goaltender Linus Ullmark’s hot start, with defenceman Jordan Spence calling it “awesome” and saying the team is trying to play its best in front of him. Down on the farm, La Presse reports Laval’s AHL affiliate, the Rocket, pulled off a wild 5–4 overtime comeback against Belleville, Ottawa’s farm team, on a winner from Luke Mittelstadt.

In Detroit, Sportsnet’s Hockey Central panel debated possible landing spots for Dylan Larkin, including Montreal, as they discussed potential moves for disgruntled stars. On the ice, the Red Wings sit last in the division with 6 points in 7 games (2-3-2). In Florida and Tampa Bay, there were no new headlines, but both the Panthers (10 points in 8 games) and Lightning (10 points in 7 games) remain solidly in the early playoff picture.