2026 NHL October Central Division standings and team updates

The Utah Mammoth ended the Dallas Stars’ franchise-record 15-game point streak with a 6-3 win on Monday night. Jack McBain scored a tie-breaking short-handed goal early in the third period to lead the Mammoth to victory. The Mammoth goals came from Clayton Keller, Kailer Yamamoto, Michael Carcone, Lawson Crouse, and Nate Schmidt. Dallas now has 3 wins, 3 losses, and 1 overtime loss, leaving them five points behind the Colorado Avalanche. The Stars also fall behind the Utah Mammoth, who hold the Western Conference’s first wild-card position by five points. I find the Dallas situation concerning because they lost in regulation for the first time since January 22. Mikko Rantanen has 6 points, including 2 goals and 4 assists, for the Stars. Despite the loss, Jake Oettinger has a 0.74 goals-against average and a .963 save percentage in four starts, including two shutouts. Casey DeSmith made 16 saves during the game. Dallas scored 3 goals, while the Mammoth scored 6. The Stars’ scoring is an issue, as they scored 1 or fewer goals in each of their three defeats, including a shutout by the St. Louis Blues in their home opener. The Dallas team currently occupies the sixth spot in the Western Central standings.

Colorado’s injury list

The Colorado Avalanche lost 5-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night after Ross Colton exited the game with a foot injury, which adds to a growing list of missing players which includes Jonathan Drouin and Gabriel Landeskog. Colton left the arena wearing a boot on his foot. Nichushkin remains out until mid-November due to a suspension. Arturri Lehkonen is also missing from the lineup. The team struggles to find offense when these players sit, and I believe the blue line looks thin without these veterans. Can Colorado tighten their defense before the standings slip further? This loss followed a defeat against Toronto, which was their worst loss of the short season on home ice. The Avalanche hold a record of 4 wins, 2 losses, and 1 overtime loss. They currently lead the Dallas Stars in the Central Division. The team is also dealing with the loss of Valeri Nichushkin and the need for better power-play production. The Avalanche occupy the fourth spot in the Western Central standings with a .643 winning percentage.

Nashville’s goalie debate

Justus Annunen threatens Juuse Saros’s status as the starter in Nashville. Annunen recorded a 5-0 shutout in Anaheim and a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild this week. Since the Olympic break, Annunen maintains a .948 save percentage and a 1.60 goals-against average. Saros holds a .909 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average during the same period. Nashville sits at 2 wins, 2 losses, and 3 overtime losses in the standings. You should watch how coach Andrew Brunette manages this split. I think the decision to start Annunens Goals Saved Above Expected of 12.2 over Saros’s 3.0 makes sense. Annunens Wins Above Replacement is 2.04 compared to 0.49 for Saros. Annunen also has a Goals Against Average Better Than Expected of 1.24, while Saros has 0.29.

Annunen has played like one of the league’s best goaltenders since the Olympic break. His performance in recent starts is superior to Saros’s in nearly every advanced metric.