The Vancouver Canucks pulled together a gusty effort to take a 4–3 win against the Washington Capitals today, though this victory was not without worry, as Vancouver lost two players due to injury by the start of the second period. Elias Pettersson, Tyler Myers, Kiefer Sherwood, and Teddy Blueger scored for the Canucks, while Thatcher Demko made 29 saves on 32 shots faced in his fourth start of the season. 

After lots of chatter surrounding the play of Pettersson to start the season, it was the center who found the first tally of the game less than a minute into the first period. He fired a traditional seeing-eye shot past Charlie Lindgren to nab his first of the season. Pettersson finished the game with two shots and two timely blocks near the end of the third period. 

As a result of Brock Boeser’s absence, Vancouver shifted things around on their power play once again. In Boeser’s place was Sherwood, who got his first little bit of first-unit power play time of the season and made the most of it immediately. The forward honed in on the net at the perfect time, taking advantage of Washington’s poor penalty killing to start the season. 

Despite the excellent start to the game, things took a turn near the end of the first period when Tom Wilson took Filip Chytil out with a big hit. The center, whose injury issues have been well-documented throughout his career, had trouble getting off the ice and needed assistance from the training staff and teammate Conor Garland. While the hit was initially called as a major, the referees decided it was a “good hockey hit” and took the penalty away completely. Chytil was ruled out for the rest of the game.  

By the time the second period rolled around, the news kept getting worse. Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who came into the lineup for Boeser, was also taken out of the game. His ailment looked like it was sustained as the result of a hit from Matt Roy committed late in the first period. 

The rough stuff continued into the second period. Victor Mancini dropped the gloves with Brandon Duhaime, with both players feeding one-another big punches in an impressive effort for the young Canucks defenceman. Arshdeep Bains, part of the speedy Calder Cup line that has been fantastic at bringing pucks to the net, crashed into more than just the net today after he collided with Lindgren. 

Vancouver’s solid play was made even more notable considering their circumstances. Not only were they playing well when down to 10 forwards today, this was also their third game played in four days. For a team that’s been playing more often than not, especially at an early hour in pacific standard time, their early effort was notable. Players stepped up when needed and did well when taking on extra minutes. 

The third period was all Washington, with the home team controlling play more effectively in the o-zone than the Canucks. This included a brief stretch of o-zone time for the Capitals even during a Vancouver power play with around five minutes left in the third. Despite a full-sale push for the Capitals, including a late goal to cut their deficit to 4–3, Vancouver came up when they needed to and sealed their third straight win of the road trip. 

Stats and Facts: 

• With an assist on Kiefer Sherwood’s goal, Quinn Hughes extends personal point streak against the Capitals to five games 
• Quinn Hughes passes Thomas Gradin for sixth in career assists (354) scored by a Canuck 
• Tyler Myers scores his 100th career NHL goal 
• Conor Garland leads all forwards in TOI with 22:20 played 

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period: 

0:59 - VAN: Elias Pettersson (1) from Conor Garland 

17:11 - VAN: Tyler Myers (1) 

17:52 - VAN: Kiefer Sherwood (4) from Conor Garland and Quinn Hughes (PPG) 

2nd Period: 

4:54 - VAN: Teddy Blueger (1) from Evander Kane and Tyler Myers

13:42 - WSH: Ryan Leonard (2) from Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome (PPG) 

3rd Period: 

9:01 - WSH: Jakob Chychrun (2) from Hendrix Lapierre and Rasmus Sandin 

17:46 - WSH: John Carlson (1) from Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson 

Up Next: 

Vancouver’s next match of their road trip takes place on Tuesday, in what will be their fourth of five away from Rogers Arena. The Canucks will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in what will be their first time facing former goaltender Artūrs Šilovs since trading him back in July. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT. 

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The Ottawa Senators raised some eyebrows on Sunday morning with the announcement that backup goalie Leevi Meriläinen has been loaned to the AHL’s Belleville Senators. In a corresponding move, Mads Søgaard has been called up from the B-Sens.

At a glance, one might think the Senators had suddenly lost faith in Meriläinen, four days after he and the team were shelled in Buffalo on Wednesday night, falling 8–4 to the Sabres. But this probably isn't a demotion, not after only one game, and not after you see that Sogaard isn't off to a great start either. This is about getting Merilainen some real game action.

The Senators don’t have a back-to-back situation in their game schedule until October 27–28. The Sens will host Edmonton on Tuesday of this week, the Flyers on Thursday, then travel to Washington on Saturday before hosting the Boston Bruins a week from Monday. Barring injury, it's likely that Ullmark will start all of those games, including the one against his old team, then the Sens will probably turn to Meriläinen in Chicago on the 28th.

Travis Green After Senators 5-4 Loss To Islanders: 'A Lot Of Things We Took Pride In Last Year, We Weren't Good At Tonight'Sens head coach Travis Green: "It hurts that we didn't get a point tonight, and I think our game's a little sloppy right now."

In the meantime, the Senators want to get Meriläinen playing for two reasons. First, they don’t want him getting rusty from going almost two weeks without playing, and just as importantly, they don’t want him stewing too long about his difficult season debut in Buffalo.

Merilainen is starting for the B-Sens on Sunday afternoon when they host the Syracuse Crunch. They may also let him start again in Laval on Wednesday, and one of the two games against Toronto on Saturday and Sunday before bringing him back.

As for Søgaard, he recently cleared waivers after camp, so he's waiver-exempt for a couple of more weeks. In the meantime, the Sens just need him for practice and to wear the ball cap on the bench in Ottawa. Based on his two games so far in the AHL, his current .864 save percentage isn’t exactly a statistic that demanded an immediate call-up to the NHL.

So Meriläinen’s assignment to Belleville should not be regarded as a demotion, but instead as a much-needed tune-up – both physically and mentally.

More Sens headlines at the Hockey News Ottawa:
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Senators Suffer Discouraging 8-4 Loss At Buffalo
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An Early Glance At The Senators' Goaltending Pipeline

The Toronto Maple Leafs had to be concerned that the departure of Mitch Marner would result in an offensive dropoff this season, as they have been dependent on the “Core Four” group carrying the bulk of their scoring load for most of the last decade.

Through the first six games of the regular season, Toronto is third in the NHL with 22 goals, and part of that excellent production has been the play of defenseman Morgan Rielly. 

The longest tenured Maple Leaf had a difficult season adjusting to new head coach Craig Berube’s style of play last season.

Like he has in previous seasons, Rielly cycled through numerous D-partners until it was finally remedied when Leafs GM Brad Treliving acquired Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline.

The right-handed Carlo provided a stable defensive presence for the offense-minded Rielly, who finished with a subpar 41 points last season. However, the 31-year-old did produce in the playoffs, scoring four goals and three assists for seven points.

Rielly’s defensive issues have always been a focal point of criticism, and that was highlighted in Game 7 of their second-round loss to the Florida Panthers when he put up a minus-three rating.

That led to off-season rumors that Treliving would try to get the veteran to waive his no-movement clause.

Instead, he spoke to Rielly after the season about needing more from him. That resulted in him coming to training camp in great shape, with a new attitude, and that has been displayed on the ice, as he appears less tentative and willing to jump into offensive situations. 

'My Goal Was To Leave No Stone Unturned': How Morgan Rielly's Summer Could Set Him Up For Success With Maple LeafsShortly after the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-reveal-73-player-training-camp-roster-for-2025-26">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in May, Morgan Rielly and general manager Brad Treliving sat down to review the year.

“I thought (Morgan) had a really good game, skated well, moved the puck well, good reads, defended well, he was solid," Berube told reporters after Rielly scored the game-winner against the Montreal Canadiens in the season opener.

"(It) was great to see him have a good game. (There was) a lot of good, and there’s stuff that we’ve got to work on, but we did a good enough job to win the game. I thought our third period was our best period, (we did a) good job protecting the lead, closing it out,” the Leafs' bench boss added.

His six points put him tied for third in the league among defensemen, behind Cale Makar and Shayne Gostisbehere.

Rielly's scoring includes goals against the Habs and on Saturday in a 4-3 overtime loss to the  Seattle Kraken. The biggest change for Rielly is his return to being the quarterback of Toronto's power play after Marner took the point of the team's five-forward power-play unit last season.

The unit with Rielly at the helm has struggled early in the year, going just two for 14, striking at 14.3 percent, which is tied for 24th best in the league.

The blueliner’s lack of a heavy shot from the point has always been a criticism, but in the past, he has made up for that with his excellent playmaking.

The effectiveness of the Leafs on the man advantage will be a significant factor in whether Toronto can have the same level of success they had with Marner in previous seasons and perhaps advance further than they did with him in the playoffs.  

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Following their disappointing 5-1 setback to the Montreal Canadiens last Thursday evening to begin their centennial campaign, the Detroit Red Wings have since rattled off four consecutive victories. 

Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that those wins have come against three tough Atlantic Divisional opponents in the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Sunday afternoon will mark Detroit's first non-Atlantic opponent, but things won't get any easier for them considering that Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers are arriving at Little Caesars Arena for what will be their only appearance in the Motor City this season barring a Stanley Cup Final matchup in June. 

It may be a daunting task for a Red Wings team with three rookies going up against two of the best players in the world in McDavid and his equally impressive teammate Leon Draisaitl, whom Todd McLellan is already well familiar with from his days as Oilers coach. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Having already coached McDavid and Draisaitl in his career, McLellan will be sure to inform his current team about the tendencies of Edmonton’s stars that they can exploit, while also stressing that Detroit’s rookies cannot afford to play tentatively against such talented opponents.

"They have some tendencies, but the last thing you wang to do is scare the living daylights out of your younger players," McLellan said. "They can't go out there and play tentative and fearful, but both Connor and Leon have tendencies we'll make our players aware of, and then they'll have to play and experience it."

That being said, McLellan also noted that the rookie trio of Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, and Emmitt Finnie have already faced talented competition so far in their young careers.

Red Wings' Axel Sandin-Pellikka On First NHL Goal: "It’s Unbelievable"Detroit Red Wings defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka netted his first goal in the National Hockey League on Friday evening, a feeling that he still calls "unbelievable".

"They've already gone against (Auston) Matthews, (Nick) Suzuki, (Cole) Caufield, Brayden Point, some of these players are perennial All-Stars and Olympic stars," he said. "They've faced some of these players already. It'll be a couple others, and they'll be fine." 

The Red Wings will need all of them at their best on Sunday afternoon after the news was confirmed that Patrick Kane (upper-body) will be unavailable, while the status of Lucas Raymond, who has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury of his own, hasn't yet been determined.

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The Seattle Kraken have recalled defenseman Ville Ottavainen from the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

The move comes just a day after Brandon Montour was announced out due to a personal family matter. There is no timetable for his return, and Ottavainen's promotion to the NHL is to serve as the Kraken's seventh defenseman.

Cale Fleury made his season debut last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Montour's absence. The 26-year-old finished the Kraken's 4-3 overtime win with one shot on goal in 11:45 of ice time.

The 23-year-old Ottavainen has played one NHL game in his career, earning a call-up to the NHL late in the 2024-25 season. He notched an assist in 14:24 in his NHL debut. 

Currently, Ottavainen will be a backup, ready to step into the lineup if another defenseman suffers an injury or is unable to play. Standing 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, the young Finnish defenseman has shown plenty of promise playing in the AHL since he was drafted in the third round (99th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. 

The Kraken are back in action on Monday when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers on the road.

Shane Wright Scores Against Hometown Team In 100th Game As Kraken Beat Maple Leafs 4-3 In OvertimeShane Wright recorded a goal and an assist in his 100th career NHL game as the Seattle Kraken took down the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime.

Up until Saturday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, the Nashville Predators didn't have a lot of issues when it came to starting off games. 

In four of their first five games of the season, if Nashville wasn't scoring in the first period, it was scoring the first goal of the game. The 7-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs was the only game out of the first five where the Predators didn't have a first-period goal or score the first of the match. 

Facing off against the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners, the Winnipeg Jets, following that trend would've been critical for the Predators to keep pace with Winnipeg. That did not happen. 

Steven Stamkos took a hooking penalty a minute into the game, allowing the third-best power play in the NHL to go to work and take a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. 

Halfway through the period, Nino Niederreiter snuck past the defense and scored on a breakaway to make it 2-0 Winnipeg. Six minutes after that, Brady Skjei was called for hooking. 

A disastrous first period put the Predators in a hole that they were unable to dig themselves out of, falling to Winnipeg, 4-1. 

"We didn't start on time," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "We took a bad penalty right away against a really good power play and made a mental mistake on the second goal. It was a lot of things we've haven't done this year so far that crept into the game a little bit." 

The Predators struggled to get the offense going in the first period as well, getting outshot 11-5 before registering 10 more shots in the second period. To Nashville's credit, outside of a bad fight by Michael McCarron and a slashing peanlty by Roman Josi that led to a Jets goal in third period, the Predators evened out the game. 

Throughout this four-game road trip, where the Predators posted a 1-2-1 record, Nashville has shown flashes that they can be a good team and play complete periods. 

"You see the images of when we play a certain way and it's a good picture," Brunette said. "For us, going forward, we need to be a little more consistent with that from the puck drop. For the most part, through this trip, we have been." 

The biggest thing the Predators need to avoid is bad habits from last season. The power play needs to improve as it is sitting at a low 8.7% efficiency. Its offense needs to start scoring more, as its 15 goals for in six games is tied for the 10th lowest in the league. 

Then there's the penalty minutes. The Predators are smack dab in the middle of the league with 49 penalty minutes in six games, but it's about the type of penalties that are taken and when. 

McCarron, who was one of the league leaders in penalties and led the Predators in fights last season with nine, squared off against Logan Stanley when the Predators were down 2-0 in the second period. 

While McCarron was likely trying to "fire up" the Predators, Nashville was playing predominantly better already than in the first period. It outshot Winnipeg 15-4 and went to the power play three times. 

Returning to Nashville with a balanced 2-2-2 record, the Predators have a five-game home stand to take advantage of and potentially turn things around halfway through the first month of play. 

Before its game against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Minnesota Wild sent forward Liam Ohgren down to the AHL and recalled forward Tyler Pitlick.

Pitlick, 33, has played in 420 NHL games before his Wild debut on Saturday. The native of Minnesota has 56 goals, 53 assists and 109 points in his NHL career. He also has 54 goals, 86 assists and 140 points in 280 career AHL games.

But for Ohgren this is a chance to actually play top minutes and get more puck touches. Wild head coach John Hynes that was the big reason why Ohgren was sent back down and even Ohgren himself agreed.

The Wild's 19th overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft was given a chance in training camp to take the Wild's second line left wing spot with the absence of injured forward Mats Zuccarello. Ohgren did not play the best in preseason and opened the season on the fourth line.

"It's a situation where we've given him different opportunities in different situations and when you look at it, he hasn't taken one," Hynes said on Ohgren.

A team starving for even-strength offense and goal scoring, kept Ohgren on the fourth line and played him only 9:10 a night. He was a minus-four, had four shots and zero points in five games.

"At the same time, we are looking at where he's playing and what he's doing. It's only his second year over here in North America. Let him go down, play and find his game," Hynes said on the decision. "The big thing for us is puck touches. Without the puck, he has been responsible and his details were certainly growing but now, with a faster game and less time and space, it's just the puck touches and establishing himself more offensively."

Ohgren, 21, had 19 goals, 18 assists and 37 points in 41 AHL games last year. He was sent down to get more puck touches because despite the lack of scoring and being a young prospect who's top ability is scoring, the Wild felt the need to continue to play him on the fourth line.

Last year the Wild recalled Ohgren in January. He played in the top-six for four games and had two assists. He played on a line with Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy and fit in. He had a goal and two assists in seven games during that run.

After, the Wild dropped him down in the lineup and later sent him back down to the AHL were he tore it up.

When Marcus Johansson missed a game against the Seattle Kraken in March, the Wild recalled Ohgren again and stuck him on a line with Freddy Gaudreau and Gustav Nyquist. Ohgren scored in a 4-0 win and was sent back down with Johansson coming back the next game.

Wild Youngster Scores First Of The SeasonThis Wild youngster scored his first goal of the season.

He finished the season with two goals and three assists in 24 NHL games. When he was in the top-six getting 15 minutes a night, Ohgren produced and looked good offensively. The defensive side was a work in progress but that is expected for a 20-year-old at the time.

But nine minutes a night on the fourth line this year is not the best thing to do when it comes to developing a scorer. So Ohgren was sent down to the AHL to play top minutes in all situations.

"I think with more ice time and with opportunities to get his confidence us is something we felt was important and he agreed," Hynes said.

So of course in his first game with Iowa, Ohgren scored.

What a nice welcome back 🫡
Liam Öhgren ties things up for the @IAWild!@TheAHL#WildTerritory#AHLpic.twitter.com/mAZEChZ1Qp

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) October 18, 2025

Point being, you can see Ohgren is an offensive player. He has one heck of a shot. But playing in a fourth line role in the NHL is not going to suit his game. Giving him more time in the AHL is the right decision.

If there is a time this year that he is recalled, Ohgren has to be in a top-six role or there isn't a point in calling him up. Hence why the Wild recalled Pitlick to replace him on the fourth line.

Confidence is a big thing, especially for a young kid. Ruining that is not what you want to do. Hopefully this gives Ohgren confidence that he can one day score in the NHL and be a impactful top-six forward. That time is not now for Minnesota. Despite the lack of 5-on-5 scoring. But that is okay. His time will come and the Wild still believe in the youngster.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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There was a lot to get to on this week’s episode of The Hockey Show.

Co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork were joined by a couple of guests this week to help get into the bevy of hockey news and happenings going on.

They first welcomed Shayne Goldman, NHL writer for The Athletic, who did not hold back when discussing the Vegas Golden Knights signing former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart to a PTO.

Hart and four other Hockey Canada players were indicted but found not guilty in a sexual assault case stemming from when each were teenagers and celebrating their World Junior Championship victory in 2018.

Also discussed with Shayna were the issues surrounding the New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers, an exciting early race for the Calder Trophy and who the next player to get a big contract will be.

The Hockey Show also welcomed actor, comedian and former MLB prospect Gerard Michaels to the show to discuss his career, but perhaps more importantly, his being a huge Rangers fan yet absolutely despising their biggest star, Artemi Panarin.

He also has experience working with THS producer Rose Arias, which was another interesting topic to dive into, especially for Roy.

This week’s wins and fails included some revenge in Colorado for a former Avs player, an incredible defensive effort from one of the best offensive players in the league, David Pastrnak, and the NHL once again falling over themselves to give some fake recognition to Sidney Crosby.

You can check out the show and full interviews in the videos below:

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NHL fines Brad Marchand for 'unsportsmanlike conduct' after he ripped apart Rasmus Dahlin's helmet

Brad Marchand rips apart helmet belonging to Rasmus Dahlin after taking it with him to penalty box

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Panthers suffer fourth straight defeat, lose Niko Mikkola to injury

Still searching for first road win, Panthers make stop in Buffalo

The Winnipeg Jets announced Saturday before their 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators, that they have recalled forward Brad Lambert from their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.

The 21‑year‑old Finland‑born forward has played in two games with the Moose so far this season, following a 35‑point campaign (seven goals, 28 assists) in 61 games during the 2024‑25 AHL season. Over his career with the Moose, Lambert has 93 points (30 goals, 63 assists) in 139 career AHL contests. 

Scheifele Sets Franchise Mark as Jets Beat Predators 4-1Mark Scheifele etched his name in Jets history with a franchise-record point. Connor Hellebuyck starred as Winnipeg took down Nashville, extending its win streak to four games.

Born in Lahti, Finland, Lambert has steadily progressed through the Jets organization and has drawn attention for his playmaking ability and polish at the AHL level. Earlier in his career, he broke out as a rookie, posting 55 points (21 G, 34 A) in 64 games, earning All‑Rookie Team honors. 

This recall comes as Lambert has already appeared in six NHL games for the Jets, picking up two assists. He was originally selected by Winnipeg in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2022 NHL Draft.

It's unclear as to what his role on the team will be just yet with the team experimenting with their lineup, playing rookies in Nikita Chibrikov and Parker Ford in a number of roles with nothing sticking as impactful. Hopefully, Lambert will get an opportunity to show what he has to offer with his game in likely their next contest on Monday in a road game versus the Calgary Flames.

Former First Round Pick Seizes Opportunity as Jets Navigate Early-Season InjuriesWith Dylan Samberg sidelined, Logan Stanley has stepped into a top-four role and delivered one of his best performances yet. As the 27-year-old defenseman shines in expanded minutes, the Winnipeg Jets face a decision; keep him as a developing cornerstone or capitalize on his rising trade value.

The first Florida Panthers player to incur a fine from the NHL Department of Player Safety this season is Brad Marchand.

Well, this regular season.

Marchand was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”

This stems from an incident that occurred during Saturday’s game between the Panthers and Sabres in Buffalo.

During the second period, Dahlin came up behind Marchand and cross-checked him in the lower back.

Marchand responded as many would expect, going after Dahlin and trying to fight him, eventually skating away from the scrum he created with Dahlin’s helmet in his hands.

As he got to the Panthers penalty box, Marchand began ripping the straps off of the helmet before tossing the damaged bucket back on the ice.

You can check out video of the incident by clicking here.

Florida will be back in action on Tuesday when they wrap up their disaster of a road trip in Boston.

Can the Cats salvage a single point on their five-game roadie? We’ll find out Tuesday!

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Brad Marchand rips apart helmet belonging to Rasmus Dahlin after taking it with him to penalty box

Panthers Finding Scoring Difficult Without Barkov And Tkachuk

Panthers suffer fourth straight defeat, lose Niko Mikkola to injury

Still searching for first road win, Panthers make stop in Buffalo

The Panthers Den: First road trip of season brings troubling results

Photo caption: Oct 18, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) looks to pass during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

NHL player safety has fined Florida Panthers left winger Brad Marchand $5,000 for his unsportsmanlike conduct and his actions against the Buffalo Sabres during Saturday’s game.

The $5,000 fine is the maximum fine allowable under the CBA.

Florida’s Brad Marchand has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for unsportsmanlike conduct for his actions during yesterday’s game against Buffalo.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 19, 2025

In the middle of the second frame between the Panthers and the Sabres on Saturday, Marchand flew off the hinges, following a cross-check from Buffalo’s defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

Dahlin cross-checked Marchand in the back, with the puck away from the two of them. Marchand went down as a result of the cross-check, but there was no call on the play.

Not long after, Marchand followed Dahlin to the other side of the blueline, stepping into the Sabres' D-man, taking him to the ground.

From that point, Marchand jumped on Dahlin and began whaling punches on him. Buffalo center Tage Thompson stepped in to pull Marchand away from the team’s captain.

In the aftermath, Marchand was called for interference and roughing on Dahlin, and Thompson was sent to the box for roughing Marchand.

That wasn’t the end of the theatrics from the Panthers veteran. As Marchand headed for the penalty box, he was carrying Dahlin’s helmet. When he was stepping into the sin bin, Marchand began ripping the straps off Dahlin’s helmet and tossing it away.

The Sabres capitalized on Marchand’s penalties. Right winger Josh Doan scored his second power-play goal of the game to make it 2-0 for Buffalo.

Buffalo went on to defeat Florida 3-0 with goaltender Alex Lyon earning the shutout.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

On Saturday, former members of the Hockey Inside Out message board and Montreal Canadiens fans gathered at Hurley’s Irish Pub to hold their annual Habs Summit. The group included a lot of out-of-towners, people from different provinces; Ontario, Alberta, and Newfoundland, to name a few, and even one gentleman from Bulgaria.

As always, Stu Cowan from the Montreal Gazette acted as master of the ceremony and held a Q&A with the fans until the guests of honour, Yvon Lambert and Rejean Houle, arrived. The alumni members brought a team-signed stick with them, which ended up being the crown jewel of a prize table, which also included a signed Arber Xhekaj jersey, Jeff Petry game-worn gloves, and autographed pictures of Brendan Gallagher and Samuel Montembeault (generously provided by Memorable Authentic), a copy of Brendan Kelly’s Habs Nation: A People’s History of the Montreal Canadiens, and much more.

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Canadiens: St-Louis Opens Up On Morning TV

Lambert and Houle also fielded a few questions, and Lambert gave everyone a good laugh when he gave his opinion on Marc Bergevin drafting Jesperi Kotkaniemi in no uncertain terms that cannot be published in this article. Houle poked fun at Lambert, teasing him about the fact that he has one more Stanley Cup ring than he does.

Both men played with the late great Ken Dryden in the 1970s, and they reminisced about their former goaltender and how great and focused he always was in the net. Lambert prompted another round of laughs when he told how Dryden would chase players who would shoot on him above the shoulders in practice. They also had good words for another Canadiens idol, Guy Lafleur, explaining that when he was scoreless in a game, he would often ask goaltender Michel “Bunny” Larocque to show up an hour early to practice the next day because he needed to work on his shot.

After the Q and A, the raffle was held, and everyone left with a prize, even if those who came out of the hat late got smaller prizes.$4,000 was raised for the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation. Overall, it was a great day for those fans who only get to gather once a year but have a blast discussing their beloved Habs while also raising funds for the worthy cause.

A lot of prizes on the prize table this year! The Habs Summit is happening at Hurley’s right now. #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/4m2ACMA7MJpic.twitter.com/m4XmXT5mKH

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) October 18, 2025

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The Detroit Red Wings look to extend their winning streak to five on Sunday in a matinee matchup versus the defending back-to-back Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers. The Motor City hockey club is coming off impressive wins over several divisional opponents in the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and sweep of the Toronto Maple Leafs during a home-and-home. 

Superstar center Connor McDavid and the Oilers are looking to win their third game of the season after dropping two straight heading into Sunday, that leaves them with a 2-2-1 record through five games. 

Detroit's homestand to start the season has helped them get out to an early 4-1-0 record on the season as they currently sit a top the Atlantic Division. For the Oilers, they sit outside of the playoffs early on and will need to start stringing together some wins if they want to build some momentum towards a seventh straight playoff push, that has included nine series wins, three conference finals appearances and two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Red Wings look to continue their hot streak into a potential playoff berth for the first time in nearly a decade. 

Red Wings' Starting Goalie Debate Hotter Than Ever Following Gibson's 31-Save EffortGibson's 31-save spectacle ignites Detroit's goalie controversy. Who gets the crease against Edmonton?

Lineup Storylines

With Patrick Kane and possibly Lucas Raymond sidelined, the Red Wings will need a full team effort to extend their winning streak to five games. Their new-look top line features rookie Emmitt Finnie, still chasing his first NHL goal, alongside offseason acquisition Mason Appleton, who has three goals so far, tying captain Dylan Larkin for the team lead. 

The lineup shuffle will put Detroit’s depth to the test as Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Söderblom return, with Berggren stepping into a key second-line role in Kane’s absence. Meanwhile, rookie Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, also searching for his first NHL tally, will aim to spark the third line with veterans Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher. That trio has managed just one goal combined, and in a game like Sunday’s, secondary scoring could be the difference between another clutch win and a lost opportunity. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The Oilers will be desperate to halt their two-game losing streak, which means the Red Wings should expect a motivated, high-energy Connor McDavid leading the charge. Edmonton’s lineup will look quite different from the last time these teams met, featuring several new faces and returning players who were previously injured. Detroit will now get a look at additions like Jake Walman, Trent Frederic, Andrew Mangiapane, and recent acquisition Jack Roslovic, along with promising prospects Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie.

The rookie duo were projected to play key roles for the Oilers this season, but both rookies have struggled to find their footing still without a point and now skating on the fourth line after opening the year in top-six roles. Much like Detroit, Edmonton will likely need some timely production from its depth players if it hopes to gain the upper hand and secure the win. 

Red Wings' Axel Sandin-Pellikka On First NHL Goal: "It’s Unbelievable"Detroit Red Wings defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka netted his first goal in the National Hockey League on Friday evening, a feeling that he still calls "unbelievable".

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (+115) | EDM ML (-139)

DET +1.5 (-200) | EDM -1.5 (+165)

O/U 6.0 Goals

All eyes in Detroit will be on Connor McDavid, the Oilers’ captain who has consistently tormented the Red Wings. Over his last 17 games against Detroit, McDavid has racked up five goals and 21 assists for 26 points, including a stunning six-assist performance in February 2023, when Edmonton came out on top in an 8–4 shootout victory. That result fits a recent pattern as the Oilers have owned this matchup, posting a 5-0-2 record over their last seven meetings with the Red Wings.

High-scoring affairs have also been a trend, with the over hitting in five of the last seven matchups and both teams combining for six or more goals in many of those contests. However, history points to the more consistent outcome being over five goals, which has occurred in eight straight meetings. 

Beyond that, goal-heavy games have been somewhat inconsistent, with six or more goals in just 11 of the last 20 matchups, not exactly a dependable betting angle, especially given Detroit’s recent defensive surge. The Red Wings’ latest success has been built on tight defensive play and stellar goaltending, allowing two or fewer goals in three consecutive games. With injuries piling up, Detroit's Dylan Larkin will be asked to shoulder much of the offensive burden. Fortunately for the Red Wings, Larkin has a solid track record against Edmonton, tallying seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 17 career games versus the Oilers. 

Goalie Matchup

Detroit: John Gibson (VS EDM: 9-9-3 record, 3.48 GAA, .893 SV% in 23 Games)

Edmonton: Stuart Skinner (VS DET: 1-1-1 record, 2.95 GAA, .919 SV% in Three Games)

Rookie Defenseman Shocks NHL as Early Calder Trophy Front-RunnerAn 18-year-old defenseman is shattering expectations, logging elite minutes and dominating the early Calder Trophy race against a loaded rookie class.

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The New York Islanders got an early contender for win of the year on Saturday, defeating the Ottawa Senators late in a matinee contest. New York came from behind three times in the victory, with Anders Lee scoring the game-winner with just over a minute to play in regulation. 

However, not to be lost in the effort was a timely performance by Ilya Sorokin. While he wasn’t at his sharpest, allowing four goals on 33 Ottawa shots, he made several big saves late, including a penalty shot save on Shane Pinto, to give his team a chance to rally late. 

Sorokin stops Pinto's penalty shot 👀 pic.twitter.com/bFmf3deV37

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 18, 2025

His stop on Pinto continued his success on penalty shots in his career. Per MSG Network’s Eric Hornick, Sorokin is a perfect four-for-four on such opportunities. His stops came against Michael Bunting and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Jan. 2023, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins April 2024, Jason Zucker and the Buffalo Sabres in Nov. 2024. Two of those three stops have led to Islanders wins. 

While both sides can be heard of Sorokin’s struggles to open the campaign and the Islanders' struggles structurally, the goaltender made the big saves when needed to give them a chance to pull off the comeback.

The Islanders return to action against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday at UBS Arena, puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Anaheim Ducks have started their 2025-26 campaign with a 2-2-0 record, with some encouraging and discouraging trends emerging to start their season, in which the stated goal is to make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Ducks' most recent game ended in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, a perennial cup contender, well-oiled machine, and perhaps the early favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in June.

Quack of Dawn: Ducks Morning Report - 10/18/25

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-1 Loss to the Hurricanes

After a final faceoff in the Canes’ zone and when the buzzer signified the end of the second period of that game, tempers flared between centermen Mason McTavish and Logan Stankoven, igniting a skirmish between all five skaters on the ice. Canes’ goaltender Frederik Andersen involved himself, so Ducks’ netminder Lukas Dostal took the long skate to meet him.

“We had some momentum going there at the end of that period,” Joel Quenneville said after Thursday’s loss. “(We had a couple of breaks, a couple of great opportunities. The guys were sticking together there. A little bit of hockey there.”

No gloves hit the ice, but plenty of grappling gave life to the building and had many fans and media around the league commenting on the kerfuffle. Taking a step back and rewatching, one can’t help but notice the personnel on the ice for the Ducks during the altercation: Mason McTavish, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, Leo Carlsson, Jackson LaCombe, and Lukas Dostal. Nearly the entire young core of the Anaheim Ducks franchise was involved to some degree, mixing it up or defending themselves and teammates.

“It’s great, I mean, especially early in the season,” Mason McTavish said. “It shows the guys are super glued together here. We got a great group, everybody loves each other, which is awesome. I’m very grateful. We have an awesome locker room here. It’s something we can build on.”

While some may scoff at the most talented players on a roster engaging in post-whistle/buzzer altercations, and it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, if the past 20 years of NHL playoff hockey have taught anything, it’s that those instances are common occurrences. The ability and willingness to engage in them is almost a prerequisite if a team has designs on lifting the Stanley Cup when it’s all said and done.

“I think we got a really, really tough team,” McTavish added after practice on Saturday. “WE got some big bodies on our team, and we’re not afraid to get in the mix. It’s just part of the game, and I don’t think anybody in here shies away from it, so it’s good to see.”

The Florida Panthers have reached the Stanley Cup Final in three straight seasons, winning the last two. They have become the poster team for post-whistle altercations and getting under opponent's skin. Radko Gudas was part of the first of the finalist teams before signing with the Anaheim Ducks the summer prior to the Panthers winning their first cup.

“I think it’s great,” Radko Gudas said. “I think everybody’s invested, everybody’s pulling the same rope, and that’s what you want. Young guys leading the charge, I think, is the best thing you can have in a team. You want the young guys to be better, and you see them driving those plays, and you want them to get their nose dirty and go in the dirty areas.

“It’s fun to have throughout the whole lineup, having guys invested in the one big goal. We’re trying to get better, and seeing those guys doing these things that’s not particularly in their job description, it’s fun to see them mixing it up and wanting to do it for themselves and for the team.”

As stated above, the Ducks have their eyes set on ending their rebuild and making the playoffs this season. They’ve loaded up the current roster and pipeline with one of the most talented collections of players. However, when the playoffs arrive, every team is loaded with firepower, the ice shrinks, and emotions run high. The Ducks’ young core’s willingness to engage on Thursday night could certainly be seen as an encouraging sign for when the games mean the most, and those instances are anything but rare.

Whether observing close or from afar, it’s clear that Ducks’ general manager Pat Verbeek had the Florida Panthers in mind when molding his club in Anaheim and is borrowing some pages from Bill Zito’s playbook. Skill, speed, and hockey IQ are all requirements, but physical willingness and tenacity are right up there as well.

“I think we’re a little younger than we were in Florida, but we also think we’re a lot more skilled, a lot faster, so those are things that we need to work in our advantage or make them our biggest advantage and slowly learn the other things that we’re going to need in the playoffs,” Gudas continued. "So there’s a lot of similarities in these two organizations. It’s a good start to have, for sure.”

The Ducks will hope to build on those playoff habits as they head on the road for an early-season five-game road trip, starting on Sunday afternoon, when they’ll take on a Chicago Blackhawks team that has been at a similar stage in their rebuild process.

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Jackson LaCombe's Elevated Composure Despite Payday