It hit me this week that I’ve yet to write about hockey, so now feels like as good a time as any to get started on the 2025 season’s coverage. We’ll have Rangers coverage for you all soon, but for today it’s an Around the Rink Thursday. We’ve got four stories from around the league, to bring you the flavor of the NHL through just about 20 games. Let’s hit the sheet folks!

First Period

Brick Wallstedt: We begin in the state of hockey, where the Wild have climbed to standings to third place in the central thanks to the man in the pipes. Rookie netminder Jesper Wallstedt has been out of this world good of late. In number 30’s last seven starts he’s 7-0 with just seven goals against and four shutouts. For years Minnesota has had trouble getting consistent goaltending, which has held them back from winning big in the playoffs. But with Wallstedt finally delivering on his draft promise and Filip Gustavsson sporting a GAA of 2.74 himself, this tandem can take the Wild a long way!

Second Period

Bedard Brothers: The Blackhawks have been down and out for some time now with issues on and off the ice plaguing them. They have lacked leadership on the coaching staff and in the room, but it feels like that is finally starting to change. At 11-9-6 on the year, Jeff Blashill’s squad is showing signs of life that this franchise hasn’t in years. The driving force of that is franchise player Connor Bedard who having a career year, with 38 points in 26 games. It feels like he’s on a mission from God to make Chicago relevant again and it’s a 106 miles to the playoffs. But with Bedard and his mates, they’ve a half a pack of cigarettes and a full tank of gas…

Third Period

Team to Beat?: It’s early, really early, but humor me here. The Avalanche are off to a very fast start in 25-26, at 19-1-6, putting them 10 points clear of any other team in the league. They are as usual stacked in the forward core and the defense is solid. They have some goaltending questions to address going forward when it comes to the postseason, but for now all their big guns led by Nate MacKinnon are enough to overcome those issues. Maybe, just maybe, it’s their year again out west!

Overtime

Keystone Surprise: The Keystone states squads weren’t expected to be very good when you talked to most preseason prognosticators. But so far the Flyers and Penguins have surprised as through 27 games, they hold a playoff spot in the east. Philly 15-8-3 in year one under Rick Tocchet, with a their mix of young players and reclamation projects combining nicely. Meanwhile the pens are in year under Dan Muse and Sid has the boys buzzin 13-7-5. Muse has managed to get a lot out of an otherwise unremarkable group. Full credit to both squad for giving their fans something to enjoy. Now let’s see if they can make it last…my money is on Philly to do that!

On twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon.