News & Notes

Former Blue Jackets Star Scores First Goal With Maple LeafsMarchenko has his first goal as a Leaf.

At the 7:06 mark of the second period, Marchenko scored his first goal as a member of the Maple Leafs. 

Marchenko's first goal with the Maple Leafs was a good one, too, as he beat Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark with a nice backhander.

Weird Scheduling Quirk Could Benefit The Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus is 1-1 through their first two games.

When we first looked at the 2026-27 schedule, we had to look at it sideways because the Blue Jackets had a full 5-day break between games 3 and 4. After what we saw on Saturday, it seems the NHL did the CBJ a favor. They also have two separate three-day breaks sandwiched in between home games. 

Adam Fantilli Has Dominated The Faceoff Circle Through Two Games <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> center Adam Fantilli had a well-documented contract dispute in the preseason, but it seems he came in ready and hasn't missed a beat. 

But where he was most impressive was at the faceoff dot. Fantilli won 16/20, for an 80% win percentage. 

He followed that up in game two on Saturday night against Utah by going 15/20 for a 75% win percentage. It's not like he was facing off against minor leaguers either. 

Rick Bowness Provides Great Injury News Ahead Of This Weekends GamesThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> head coach, Rick Bowness, had some good news regarding his team today after practice. 

Bowness told the media that defenseman Damon Severson is expected to play this weekend. They play the Penguins on Friday, and then travel to St. Louis to take on the Blues on Saturday. 

It's Time To Shut Down The Kent Johnson Trade Talk...For Now<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> forward Kent Johnson lives in the heads of just about every hockey fan outside of Ohio. Every time there is a player brought up that Columbus should trade, it's him. It's time to stop that. Sure, he's from Western Canada and trains with all of the "B.C. Boys", but that doesn't mean he's up for sale. 

In two games this year, Johnson has two points and 6 shots on goal while averaging 16:04 of time on ice. So far, so good. 

Blue Jackets Place Mikael Pyyhtiä On WaiversThe Columbus Blue Jackets have placed Mikael Pyyhtiä on waivers. If he clears, he'll be assigned to the Cleveland Monsters.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed Mikael Pyyhtiä on waivers. If he clears, he'll be assigned to the Cleveland Monsters.

Pyyhtiä was placed on IR and Non-rostered on September 25th.

Former Blue Jackets Forward Has Big Game For RangersThis former Blue Jackets forward is making a difference with the Rangers.

Bjorkstrand scored his first two goals as a member of the Rangers in the contest, with his second being the game-winner. With this, there is no question that the former Blue Jackets forward delivered for the Rangers in this matchup. 

January 11, 2006, The Night The Columbus Blue Jackets Took 21 Penalties And Somehow Won 6-1 vs. The Pittsburgh PenguinsWith the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> set to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, we thought we'd reminisce and jump into the way back machine to bring you a little CBJ lore. 

The Jackets took 5 penalties in the 1st period, 9 in the 2nd, and 7 in the 3rd for a total of 21 penalties for 68 minutes. In total, the Pens got 8 power plays out of the chaos. But what's even crazier is that the CBJ went 8-for-8 on the PK. 

A Historical Look At The Damage Sidney Crosby Has Done To The Columbus Blue Jackets The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> will welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to Nationwide Arena on Friday night. The games are usually fun, but too often they wind up in the L column for the Blue Jackets. 

Regular Season

• Games Played: 49  

• Goals: 25
• Assists: 46
• Total Points: 71  
• Plus/Minus: +13  
• PIM: 40
• Power Play Goals: 4
• Power Play Assists: 16
• GWG: 7
• OTG: 2
• Shots: 143

Attorneys For Sean Higgins Throw Accusations At Johnny & Matthew GaudreauAttorneys for Sean Higgins, the New Jersey man accused of killing <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> superstar Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, <a href="https://www.nj.com/salem/2026/10/defense-expert-says-johnny-gaudreau-and-his-brother-created-the-hazard-that-led-to-their-deaths.html">filed new documents</a> yesterday and accused the brothers of riding in the road at the time of the crash. 

Higgins lawyers said in documents that the Gaudreau's were actually riding in the northbound lane, and not on the shoulder as previously reported by state police. The new report also says that Higgins "could not have reasonably avoided them." The new report comes from an accident reconstruction team hired by the defense.

Kirill Marchenko's Father-In-Law Gives Reason For Not Wanting To Sign With ColumbusKirill Marchenko's father-in-law, Igor Varitsky, gave an interview with <a href="https://www.sport-express.ru/hockey/nhl/reviews/toronto-prislal-za-marchenko-chastnyy-samolet-posle-ego-obmena-iz-kolambusa-intervyu-igorya-varickogo-2461280/">Sport-express.ru</a> and may have just told us why the talented Russian forward wanted out of Columbus. 

In the interview, he was asked what the main reason was for Marchenko wanting out. Varitsky said, "The athletic component. Kirill wanted to play for a big club and make the playoffs. During his four years in Columbus, there was virtually no prospect of making it. Every year, the coaches change, and a new one comes in with their own vision."  

Cam Talbot Sets Two NHL Records With Win Against PittsburghNew <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> goaltender Cam Talbot beat the Pittsburgh Penguins last night in a shootout to pick up his first win in Union Blue. 

With the win, Talbot became the first NHL goaltender to win a game with nine different teams. Yes, NINE different teams. Some people look at this record and think he's bad. I look at this record and see longevity. Will he be able to keep it up this season? Time will tell. 

REMINDER: Dante Fabbro Will Be Grand Marshal For 2026 Columbus Italian Festival ParadeDante Fabbro is confirmed to be still participating despite his injury.

Game Recaps 

Damon Severson Scores In Season Debut, Cam Talbot Wins Columbus Debut In Shootout Win Against Pittsburgh Columbus moves to 2-1-0 on the season.

Damon Severson(1) and Mathieu Olivier(2) scored the goals in regulation, and Kent Johnson scored the only goal for either team in the shootout to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night at Nationwide Arena.   

Jimmy Snuggerud Scores Twice, Blues Beat Blue Jackets For First Time In 7 TriesThe Jackets' record now stands at 2-2-0.

Val Nichushkin(1), Kent Johnson(2), and Cole Sillinger(2) scored the goals for Columbus, and Jet Greaves stopped 22 of 26 Blues shots in a 5-3 loss to St. Louis. 

The Jackets held 2-0 lead in the first period and got hammered for the rest of the game. 

This loss halts a 6 game losing streak to the CBJ for the Blues. 

Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets are back home on Tuesday to take on the Florida Panthers. 

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The Canadiens will take their hot dogs on ice.

On Saturday, a promotion attempt went wild when an inflatable hot dog and bun went on to the ice at Bell Centre in Montreal during a TV timeout in the third period against the Red Wings.

Fans in the crowd worked together to try to place the large inflatable hot dog into the giant inflatable bun across the arena. Yet the dog, with “Go Habs Go!” on the side of it, went over the glass and onto the ice as fans clapped and cheered. The bun, which featured a Canadiens logo, shortly followed, just barely getting over the glass and the Canadiens’ bench.

The bun went on to cause havoic.

HOT DOG ON THE ICE IN MONTREAL pic.twitter.com/f8fW1OPOO9

— NHL (@NHL) October 11, 2026

As it came down, captain Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovský attempted to poke the bun with their hockey sticks.

It also hit Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc as it bounced onto the ice.

Despite some not-so-thrilled looks from players and officials, the fans cheered and seemed to have fun with the in-game antics.

The fan event is a new promotion at Canadiens games and Saturday was its first appearance at Bell Centre.

“Yeah, that didn’t work out too good for them,” Suzuki said, per The Athletic.

“That was crazy,” Montreal’s Kaiden Guhle added. “I covered my mouth because I was laughing, and no one else was really laughing and it was just me. I’ve never seen that before. But the fans were having fun, so that’s good.”

The hot dog activity was made popular starting at MLB games.

A highlight occurred at Kauffman Stadium when the hot dog and bun were assembled at a Kansas City Royals game in September.

It’s unknown if the Canadiens will go forth with the fan activity during future games.

Montreal went on to win the game in a 1-0 shootout. The team moves to a 2-2-1 record for sixth place in the Atlantic division.

They move on to play Buffalo on Tuesday night while the Red Wings (1-3-1) will host the Devils.

The Montreal Canadiens have had their fair share of injuries in this young season: Kaiden Guhle, Oliver Kapanen, Ivan Demidov, and Samuel Montembeault have all missed time, but they’re still in much better shape than the New York Rangers. Jeff Gorton’s former team has lost its star goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, for the season thanks to a gruesome lower-body injury. To make matters worse, backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo is also out for four weeks, leaving the Rangers with rookies Dylan Garland and Callum Tung as their netminder tandem. Together, they have five games of NHL experience.

Can they ride the storm with them? And even when Korpisalo is back, will they be comfortable with their tandem? In Montreal, the Canadiens barely bat an eyelid at the news that Montembeault would be unavailable for 10 to14 days, because they’ve got another NHL-ready goalie in Jacob Fowler. The Florida native had a statement game Saturday night, stopping 30 shots in 65 minutes and another six in the shootout. He was flawless, and he did it with poise. His positioning was on point, making the saves look easy. His performance reminded those in attendance of former franchise cornerstone Carey Price.

Fowler Shines and Bolduc Put The Game Away Netting The Canadiens Two Much-Needed Points.
Canadiens Power Play Worryingly Inefficient
Canadiens Reportedly Still In On Larkin

That was his second game in a row, and while he didn’t win his first outing, he played well enough to earn a second start and keep Jakub Dobes on the sideline. When Montembeault returns, the Canadiens will have no choice but to return him to the AHL. Kent Hughes has made it clear he doesn’t want another three-goalie carousel this season. Unless, of course, the Habs could find a landing spot for Montembeault, who’s in the last year of his contract, then they could keep Fowler in the NHL. According to Frank Seravalli, the Rangers have put Shesterkin on LTIR, but not season-ending LTIR; still, that gives them $3.97M in cap space, so New York could easily take on Montembeault’s $3.15M contract.

The Canadiens couldn’t find a trade partner for Montembeault this summer because they didn’t receive a good enough offer for the Becancour native, but the end justifies the means. Now that the Rangers find themselves in such a precarious position between the pipes, they may be willing to match the Canadiens’ ask.

While some thought it would be tricky for the Habs to make a deal with the organization that fired Jeff Gorton in 2021, a lot of water has run under the bridge since then, and the Habs traded with the Rangers this summer, sending William Trudeau back for Brett Berard. It was a minor league deal, but it’s still a deal.

Of course, Montembeault needs to be healthy to help the Rangers, but he’s expected to miss only 10 to 14 days. That’s not too long, and the rookie goalie tandem may be able to hold down the fort for the Rangers until then.

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see what happens with the goaltending in Montreal now. Jakub Dobes finished training camp as the clear number one. He was instrumental in the Canadiens beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in their first game but then had a couple of tough outings against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes. After three games, it made sense to have the backup take on the Nashville Predators, and with Montembeault injured, Fowler stepped in.

Most expected Dobes back for game five, but Martin St-Louis chose to return to Fowler because the team hadn’t had a full practice in a couple of days. That’s an interesting move. Last season, the coach would have gone back to his number one. Does that mean Dobes doesn’t have as long a leash as Montembeault did? What will that do to Dobes’ confidence? Or does it simply mean that St-Louis has learned from last year’s goaltending woes and will go with the hot hand? If that’s the case and Fowler keeps up his play, the coach certainly won’t want to see him sent back down to the AHL.

There’s never a dull moment in Montreal, but finding a new home for Montembeault would allow the organization to keep its two young goaltenders in the NHL, where they belong.

---

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On Saturday night, the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center. It was the second home game of the season for Chicago, but not nearly as successful as the first. 

Roman Kantserov Scores First Career NHL Goal But Blackhawks Are Blown Out By HurricanesRoman Kantserov scored his first career NHL goal, but his Chicago Blackhawks were blown out at home by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Now, following a lousy loss to the Hurricanes, the Blackhawks are 1-5-0 after six games. It is not where they wanted to be, despite having a very tough schedule to open up the year. The issue now is that it doesn't lighten up any time soon. 

It is easy to understand why the Blackhawks players and coaches are frustrated following this one. They were run out of their own building early in a season that is already falling off the rails. 

When asked, Patrick Kane said that the frustration level of the team was "very high". This, of course, came after a tough game, but it's a sign of the overall team outlook. 

"D-zone and being better with the puck, whether it's living to fight another day sometimes or making better plays out there,” Kane said when asked about where the team needs to improve. “Supporting, demanding it, wanting it, those types of things."

Kane knows what it’s like to be on a team as good as the Carolina Hurricanes. He spent the first half of his career almost exclusively on those types of teams. At least for now, he has incredible confidence that this current group will get there one day. 

"I have a lot of confidence in the group," Kane said. "We definitely have enough talent, speed, and skill. What kind of team are we going to be? That's something we need to figure out."

Kane believes this young Blackhawks group has what it needs to "take a page" out of Carolina's book. If anyone on the team has an opinion worth trusting on this type of topic, it's Patrick Kane. 

Roman Kantserov, who scored his first career NHL goal on Saturday, spoke about how it wasn't his plan to lose the game that he got his first, but he did admit that finally turning that 0 next to his goal total into a 1 will give him confidence going forward. 

When Kantserov was leading the KHL in goals, it was obvious that this ability would translate to the NHL. It was just a matter of how long. He is still figuring things out, but getting that first will go a long way. 

It wasn't only players trying to balance frustration with confidence following Saturday's loss. Head coach Jeff Blashill was not shy on either end of the conversation. 

"Do I think frustration builds when you haven't won and you're not having enough success? Of course it does," Blashill said. "Those are the challenges we're going to have to face."

Coach Blashill often talks about process. He thinks that a team's process is more important than results because wins will come if you do things the right way. As of now, sitting in his coach's chair, he believes in this group. 

"I'm going to tell you right now, I have absolute 100 percent belief in this group," Blashill continued. "This group is going to win. I can't tell if we're going to start winning Tuesday, next week, [or] a year from now. I have no idea when it's going to be, but this group is going to win, 100 percent."

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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LAS VEGAS -- In a city that has embraced Stanley Cup champions, WNBA superstars, NFL personalities and some of the biggest names in professional sports, Ryan Reaves belongs in a rather exclusive category.

Not necessarily among the five greatest athletes to wear a Las Vegas uniform.

But among the five most beloved?

Absolutely.

And it isn’t particularly difficult to make the argument.

Long before the Vegas Golden Knights lifted the Stanley Cup, before the Las Vegas Aces established their championship pedigree and before the Las Vegas Raiders settled into their new home, Reaves helped introduce a different kind of professional sports personality to Southern Nevada.

He wasn’t going to lead the league in scoring. He wasn’t going to win an MVP award. And nobody was confusing his offensive production with that of the NHL’s elite.

But Reaves could bring more than 18,000 people to their feet without scoring a goal.

Sometimes all it took was one thunderous hit, a dropped pair of gloves, or that unmistakable grin that told everyone inside T-Mobile Arena he was having the time of his life.

And Las Vegas loved every minute of it.

Now, after 16 NHL seasons, 962 regular-season games and a career built on toughness, personality and an unwavering willingness to stand up for his teammates, the man affectionately known as “Reavo” has officially retired.

And how is retirement treating him?

"Horrible, absolutely horrible," Reaves said with a laugh during an exclusive interview with The Hockey News at the Golden Knights' 10th-anniversary festivities. "I’m bored. I don’t know what to do with myself. Trying to fill the time in the wrong ways. So we’ll see. I’m gonna get going and doing something soon."

One thing he won’t have to figure out is where he’s going to live.

Las Vegas isn’t simply another stop in his hockey career.

It’s home.

A City That Embraced Reavo

Reaves arrived in Las Vegas in February 2018, joining the expansion Golden Knights during their remarkable inaugural season and helping a franchise nobody expected to contend reach the Stanley Cup Final.

But the relationship between Reaves and Southern Nevada became something much bigger than hockey.

"This community opened their arms to me," Reaves said. "I started a business here, and then people flooded out to the bars when I was there, pouring beer and really supported that."

His beer business, 7Five Brewing Co., became another connection between the rugged forward and a community that couldn’t get enough of his personality.

And while millions of visitors associate Las Vegas with casinos, nightlife and the Strip, Reaves discovered the city beyond the tourist attractions.

"The people are just so nice here. The city is great," he said. "I don’t think many people know what kind of city really lies outside that Strip. And so, yeah, we fell in love with this place. And right now I’m calling it home for sure."

For the good times and all the hits that rocked The Fortress, thank you and welcome back Ryan Reaves! 🥊 pic.twitter.com/NGnwyA5Dt0

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 7, 2022

Reaves also witnessed the city’s transformation into a major professional sports market, with the Golden Knights, Aces and Raiders establishing their places in the community and Major League Baseball on the horizon.

"This is obviously a new sports city, but you can see how vibrant the sports city is," he said. "This place loves its sports. It probably took a little longer than it should have, but good on the fans for coming out and supporting everything and really growing the sports in the city."

Perhaps nowhere has that growth been more evident than in youth hockey.

Reaves remembers a market that was still finding its hockey identity. Today, new ice facilities, youth programs and competitive teams have helped establish a thriving hockey culture in the desert.

"You just go around the rinks, the practice rinks and all the new rinks that are being built, and there’s kids everywhere, and they love the game," Reaves said. "The sport’s really growing here, and it’s going to continue to go up as long as the Knights are here."

An Unforgettable Walk Down The Tunnel

Ask Reaves about his favorite memory inside T-Mobile Arena, and he doesn’t immediately mention a fight, a goal or even the Golden Knights’ extraordinary run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.

Instead, he remembers the first time he experienced the building as a Golden Knight.

"I think the first time I walked down the tunnel, that John Wick song came out. The place was absolutely erupting," Reaves recalled. "It was the coolest sporting moment I think I’ve seen. Not just playing in, but just being part of, seeing live."

For a player who spent parts of 16 seasons in NHL arenas across North America, that is quite a compliment.

"I just thought the entertainment that this place puts on is like nothing in North American sports," he said. "I always remember that first day walking down the tunnel."

There was another important element to his time in Vegas.

Former coach Gerard Gallant, affectionately known as “Turk,” helped Reaves understand that his value extended beyond intimidating opponents.

Reaves said Gallant’s confidence in him allowed him to become a more complete player, particularly during his second season with the franchise.

"He really trusted me," Reaves said. "We played against a lot of top lines, and he trusted us in all situations. We played 10, 12 minutes as a fourth line, playing a lot of shutdown stuff."

For someone accustomed to limited minutes and long stretches on the bench, that trust changed everything.

"When you’re more involved in the game, you feel better on the ice," Reaves said. "Turk really just allowed me to kind of be myself and play the way I can."

One More Fight? Evander Kane, Of Course

No conversation with Reaves would be complete without discussing the fights.

And when asked whether there was anyone he regretted not dropping the gloves with more often, Reaves didn’t hesitate.

"Oh man, I regret not dropping more with Evander Kane," he said. "I think I got him once, but I regret not getting him every time we played."

Evander Kane and Ryan Reaves finally fight after chirping all night pic.twitter.com/Rla9W0ktX4

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 15, 2019

That competitive streak apparently hasn’t disappeared in retirement.

In fact, Reaves might have stumbled onto a rather unusual business opportunity.

Teaching other hockey players how to fight.

Reaves said he spent some time this summer working with players on fighting techniques when Golden Knights broadcaster Daren Millard suggested turning those lessons into a camp.

"I’ve actually thought about just flying around and helping teams with, or whoever wants it, just kind of breaking down general basics of what you’re looking for in a fight, how to set your feet, your grabs," Reaves said. "I think it would be cool, but I don’t know if there’s a market for it."

Imagine that.

The same guy who once terrorized opponents with his fists could someday be traveling around the NHL teaching the next generation how to throw them.

Hockey, Television and Fatherhood

Reaves hasn’t ruled out remaining involved in the NHL, whether through coaching, management or broadcasting.

He plans to experiment with television and social media opportunities this season before deciding on a more permanent direction.

"I think I’m going to dabble a little bit in some broadcasting, some social stuff with the NHL, and I’m going to see how I like it this year," he said. "I’m going to spend some time with the family. I’m not going to do anything too permanent."

He also offered a favorable early assessment of the current Golden Knights, particularly rookie Trevor Connelly, whom he skated with during the summer, and first-year head coach Ryan Craig.

"He’s played really well," Reaves said of Connelly. "He looks poised to have a really good season his first year up."

Reaves also praised Craig’s approach and the talent assembled around Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone.

"This is one of the most talented teams, I think, in the NHL," Reaves said. "The sky’s the limit for this team, as it always is."

But for now, his most meaningful assignment isn’t behind an NHL bench or in front of a television camera.

It’s coaching his son.

"I’m coaching my kid, my son, in hockey a little bit, and I’m just having fun spending time with them right now," Reaves said.

It’s a fitting next chapter for a player whose identity was never limited to the intimidating figure opponents encountered on the ice.

Years ago, Reaves could be seen patiently introducing his young son to skating on the same ice where he entertained thousands of Golden Knights fans attending practices.

Now, instead of worrying about his next shift, his next opponent or his next fight, he can enjoy those moments without the demands of an NHL schedule.

And while retirement may have left Reaves wondering what to do with all his free time, there’s something rather appropriate about where his journey has brought him.

Ryan Reaves cranks the siren. pic.twitter.com/e373f1TbLh

— Hannah Kirkell (@h_kirk6) October 11, 2026

He arrived in Las Vegas as a hockey player.

He became one of the city’s most recognizable and beloved sports personalities.

And after 16 NHL seasons, countless fights and memories that will endure long after his playing days, Ryan Reaves isn’t leaving the city that embraced him.

He’s already home.

Val Nichushkin(1), Kent Johnson(2), and Cole Sillinger(2) scored the goals for Columbus, and Jet Greaves stopped 22 of 26 Blues shots in a 5-3 loss to St. Louis. 

The Jackets held 2-0 lead in the first period and got hammered for the rest of the game. 

This loss halts a 6 game losing streak to the CBJ for the Blues. 

First Period - SOG 10-4 CBJ

Both teams played a bit sloppily in the first period, with little offense to speak of. They were awarded a power play, though, at 8:44 into the period when Robert Thomas was called for hooking on Damon Severson. The power play was disjointed and netted no shots on Blues goalie Jordan Binnington. 

Val Nichushkin scored his 1st goal of the season at the 16:10 mark, assisted by Erik Gudbranson and Sean Monahan. Gudbranson slung a puck off Binnington's stick that shot to the front of the crease and went in off of Nichushkin. 

With 12 seconds left in the period, Kent Johnson scored his second goal of the season, with assists coming from Adam Fantilli and Zach Werenski. Johnson's goal marks his second of the season. 

Second Period - SOG 12-3 Blues 

The second period started with a bang when Mathieu was challenged by Ross Johnston to a fight. The pair exchanged punches, but Olivier left Johnston's head bleeding. 

Damon Severson gave the Blues their first power play when he was called for interfering with Jimmy Snuggerud with 16 minutes left in the period.

The Jackets killed the penalty, but Jake Neighbours would score a few seconds later to cut the score to 2-1 for the Blue Jackets. Neighbours put his stick into the ear of Carson Soucy, but play was allowed to continue. 

9:00 into the second, Jimmy Snuggerud scored to tie the game at two. At the 12:32 mark, Jimmy Snuggerud scored his second goal of the game to give the Blues a 3-2 lead. 

Third Period - SOG 11-10 Blues 

The third period started much better for Columbus, as they seemed to be playing like they did in the first. That being said, Cole Sillinger tried the game at 3 when he scored his 2nd goal of the season at 6:50 into the third period. 

At 9:33 into the period, Jonatan Berggren scored his 1st of the season to give the Blues a 4-3 lead. 

Pavel Buchnevich scored with the net empty to seal the game for the Blues.  

The Jackets fall 5-3. 

Final Stats

Player Stats & Notes 

• Val Nichushkin scored his first goal of the season. 
• Kent Johnson scored his 2nd goal and had 3 shots. 
• Cole Sillinger scored his 2nd goal of the season and won 66.7% of his faceoffs. 
• Sean Monahan got his 1st assist. 
• Erik Gudbranson picked up his first assist and point of the season.
• Adam Fantilli recorded an assist.
• Zach Werenski tallied his 4th assist of the season, had 4 shots, and won 64.3 of his faceoffs. 
• Charlie Coyle got his 4th assist of the season and was a minus-2. He also won 84.6% of his faceoffs. 
• Carson Soucy recorded his first point as a CBJ with an assist. 

Team Stats 

• The Jackets went 0/1 on the power play. 
• The Columbus PK stopped the only man advantage the Blues had. 
• Columbus won 57.6% of the faceoffs - 34/59
• The Blue Jackets had 17 hits and 19 blocks.

Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets are back home on Tuesday to take on the Florida Panthers. 

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Gavin McKenna has always been advertised as a playmaker. That has been true since being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs this past summer, as well as during his WHL and NCAA career.

His puck skills are off the charts, and it doesn't take a genius to see that's a strength of his game. But what hasn't been talked about nearly as much as his playmaking is McKenna's ability to skate and his quickness.

In Toronto's outing against the Vegas Golden Knights - a 4-3 shootout loss on Thursday - McKenna reached 23.34 miles per hour (37.57 kilometers per hour). That's the fastest speed captured by an 18-year-old since NHL Edge began capturing it in 2021-22.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini and New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer were also able to break the 23 miles-per-hour mark when they were 18, clocking 23.10 and 23.09 miles per hour, respectively.

McKenna's top speed from the Leafs' clash against the Golden Knights ranks in the 99th percentile of the NHL. So far this season, McKenna's 23.43-mile-per-hour burst is the fastest burst on the team this season.

Why Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews Could Be Back To Full Speed For 2026-27Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews reached high speeds in his first pre-season game against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Could this be an indication that he is back to full speed?

Toronto's head coach Jim Hiller noticed McKenna's speed earlier in the year. 

"If you ask me what's the one part of his game that has caught you off guard, I would say it's his skating," Hiller said after the Leafs' second pre-season game on Sept. 23. "It's his speed. I don't know if he was talked about that way, but his skating and his straightaway speed has been really good. Of course, we know he's got great agility, but that's the thing that's jumped out at me so far.

The Maple Leafs rookie recorded an assist in that game against Vegas and added another helper in Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, which makes for four points in six games. 

McKenna is tied for the league lead in NHL rookie scoring, alongside Chicago Blackhawks' Anton Frondell and Boston Bruins' James Hages.

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Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks “3 Standouts From The Game.” In this recurring series, The Hockey News’ Canucks team will do a deep dive into three standouts from Vancouver’s last game. This article will focus on the Canucks' most recent 4–1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. 

Jake DeBrusk

While he didn’t end up on the scoresheet on Saturday, Jake DeBrusk was easily the Canucks’ most noticeable forward. It was difficult for Vancouver to generate offence against the Devils on Saturday, but when they did manage to, DeBrusk was often involved in the play. The winger finished the game with the team’s high in shots with seven and played in the second-most minutes by a Canucks forward with 17:15. 

As a whole, however, DeBrusk and his line of Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Lekkerimäki were notable offensively. The trio combined for their team’s highest volume of scoring chances-for with seven. They also logged five high-danger scoring chances-for while surrendering only one. 

Leevi Meriläinen 

Leevi Meriläinen put up a strong performance today despite dealing with equipment issues mid-game. He surrendered only one goal before a hard shot knocked the blade off of his skate, taking him out of the final five minutes of the first period. Meriläinen’s skate blade popped out another time, during the second period, though this time he didn’t need to come off the ice for an extended period of time. 

Even with the awkward flow of the game for Meriläinen, the goaltender stopped 31 of 34 shots faced and did not allow a goal-against on 27 even-strength shots faced. His stats on the season are now up to a .929 SV% and 2.18 GAA. 

Linus Karlsson 

Vancouver’s lone goal-scorer in Saturday’s game was Linus Karlsson, who potted his first of the 2026–27 season and is now up to five points in six games so far. The forward wound up on Vancouver’s first power-play unit after Elias Pettersson briefly left the ice, finding the back of the net early into the elevated opportunity. 

Adding to his game-opening goal is the fact that Karlsson drew the early penalty for Vancouver after ending up on the receiving end of a hook by Anthony Mantha. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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DENVER — William Nylander authored a five-point masterpiece and Sergei Bobrovsky secured his first win as a Maple Leaf as the Toronto Maple Leafs weathered a second-period storm at Ball Arena and beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 on Saturday night.

Nylander finished with two goals and three assists, tying a career high in points. Auston Matthews added two goals and two assists. Nick Blankenburg scored on his first shift of the season in his first appearance as a Leaf, Easton Cowan scored, and Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 33 shots. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice for Colorado, which lost its first home game of the season.

The Leafs improved to 3-2-1 and collected three of a possible four points on a tough back-to-back western swing against the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado. They now head into a day off with a statement road victory against a Stanley Cup contender, even as concern lingers over the status of defenseman Chris Tanev, who left the game in the first period and did not return.

“I liked the first (period), and I like the third,” head coach Jim Hiller said. “They had a couple of rush chances in the first, second period got a little crazy, but what a response in the third period. And even after Vegas, we were able to get it done tonight.”

Nylander’s Masterclass Starts Away From the Puck

Nylander’s night was defined by more than just the points. Hiller pointed specifically to the work that set up the opening goal, when Blankenburg scored 3:03 into the game on a feed from Nylander and Nick Paul.

“Well, he was skating. I think must have been the first goal. So he makes the nice pass to Blankenburg. Back it up ten seconds. He's in on the forecheck. He wins a puck battle. That sets the whole thing up, and then he's allowed to get the opportunity to make the next play because he made the first one. Skating on the forecheck, winning a battle,” Hiller said.

Nylander later scored a power-play goal at 6:53 of the second on a setup from Gavin McKenna and Matthews, then tied the game at 16:47 of the second. His three assists tied a career high in a game. Matthews, who scored the eventual game-winner on the power play in the third and added an empty-netter, was effusive.

Power play goal for Toronto!

Scored by William Nylander with 13:07 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Gavin McKenna and Auston Matthews.

COL: 2 | TOR: 2#TORvsCOL#GoAvsGo#PassionNeverSleepspic.twitter.com/QP2gdArsm3

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 11, 2026

“Yeah, he was great. I mean, I thought he was just skating all over the puck, making plays. You know, beautiful pass on that power play to me, and he was just all over it tonight. One of those games where it just seemed like he had the puck on his stick a lot, and he was making things happen,” Matthews said.

Nylander himself kept it simple: 

“I don't know. I was just going out there playing, you know. I got some really nice passes. Able to score those two goals. I think the power play was great.”

Bobrovsky Earns His First Win Under Heavy Fire

Bobrovsky faced 33 shots, including 13 in the second period when the game turned chaotic. Colorado outshot Toronto 33-23 overall and held a territorial edge for long stretches, particularly at even strength in the middle frame. Yet Bobrovsky, who had been left without a win despite strong showings earlier in the trip, delivered the performance the Leafs needed.

“Those last two games, a lot of work for him, and I guess that's just classic Bob, right? That's why he's here. He just has a way to settle everybody down. Such a calm demeanor, and he made some great saves,” Hiller said.

Matthews noted the team’s early-season struggles in front of the netminder: 

“We haven't been good enough in front of him in his first couple of starts, and he's had to come up big and hasn't gotten rewarded for it. So, I mean, I would have loved to see him get a win earlier, but obviously coming into this building against this opponent, he was huge for us tonight.”

Career win No. 457 for Sergei Bobrovsky and his first as a Toronto Maple Leaf 🫂 pic.twitter.com/s010b3VtZa

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 11, 2026

The starting goaltender was a question given Bobrovsky’s 40-save performance in a shootout loss against the Golden Knights on Thursday. But Bobrovsky, who has a reputation for wanting to have the net, doesn’t mind being busy.

“I like it. I like the workload. I do like it. It's been great,” Bobrovsky said. “I had a good amount of work in Vegas, and I really feel good. Playing is fun in the NHL. You live in a dream. So every day is a paradise to be in this league.”

Tanev Injury Casts a Shadow

Chris Tanev left the game and did not return. Hiller had no immediate update.

“We had lots going on here, so I haven't talked to really anybody about him. And we'll probably know more tomorrow or the next day. Tomorrow's a day off (Sunday), so maybe a couple days,” the coach said.

Tanev was seen around the locker room after the game talking to teammates but there was very little to extrapolate from that. 

Blankenburg, who played more than expected in his season debut, described Tanev as “kind of the anchor of the back end for those first couple games, just shut down defensively, him and (McCabe).”

Given Tanev’s injury history, the uncertainty will dominate the immediate aftermath in Toronto. Hiller praised the remaining defensemen for bending but not breaking: 

“I thought that D corps battled. It was tough in D zone at times, but those guys did a really good job, just bending but not breaking.”

Blankenburg’s Instant Impact

Blankenburg, returning against his former club, scored 3:03 into the game on his first shift of the season. Nylander set him up after winning a puck battle on the forecheck.

“I think obviously the first time you get into a game in the year, you're a little bit nervous, but I think it's a good kind of nervous, like excited. So to get one there in the first shift definitely felt nice,” Blankenburg said. “I kind of took a weight off my shoulders and just kind of go all time and play.”

He acknowledged the wait had been familiar:

“I've done this so many times before in my career. I feel like every year in my four-year career so far, it's been like out of the lineup, wait. ... I just kept telling myself leading up to this, like, I've been in this situation before, and every time I've been able to handle it.”

Power play goal for Toronto!

Scored by Nick Blankenburg with 16:57 left in the 1st. Assisted by William Nylander and Nick Paul.

COL: 0 | TOR: 1#TORvsCOL#GoAvsGo#PassionNeverSleepspic.twitter.com/5vbEEaSNBH

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 10, 2026

His teammates were thrilled.

“Blank’s the man,” Matthews said, praising the first-year Leaf’s vibe in the room, as well as his personality and work ethic.

“He roofed that thing. That was how many seconds into his first shift? Was it his first shift? That's awesome,” Nylander said with a big grin.

McKenna’s Seamless Addition to the Top Power Play

With John Tavares not available after becoming a father for the fourth time, 18-year-old Gavin McKenna earned time on the top power-play unit and delivered the setup on Nylander’s power-play goal. Both Matthews and Nylander highlighted his vision.

“Yeah, it's pretty seamless. I mean, he's elite, super skilled and smart, and made a beautiful play there on the first power play goal to Willy,” Matthews said. “He just has such a good IQ and can see the play kind of developing before it happens.”

Nylander called the pass “unbelievable.” 

The GREAT pass by McKenna and then the SILKY mitts in close by Willy, WHATTA GOAL 🔥🚨 pic.twitter.com/GnFlfFcJaM

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 11, 2026

Hiller noted McKenna’s progression against elite competition on consecutive nights: 

“Just seems to be every game he's taking steps. Just play Vegas and Colorado, and you're a young guy at 18 years old to play those two games back to back. It's pretty impressive. And he's dynamic.”

Toward the end of the game, McKenna had been promoted to the top line for some shifts.

“He's playing good. You know what I mean? We're not just giving that to him. He's earned that.”

Containing MacKinnon and the Checking Line’s Role

MacKinnon scored twice in the first period and finished with eight shots. Matthews described the challenge directly: 

“He's one of the best in the world. It's always a really tough, tough challenge. I mean, he's a really hard guy to contain. He's explosive. He possesses so much power when he skates and when he moves. And when he's on the ice, you've got to have a bit of a group effort to kind of contain him because he's too good one-on-one.”

Hiller adjusted in the third by matching the checking line of Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, and Brandon Duhaime against Colorado’s top unit at five-on-five.

“Well, in the third period, we really tried to get (Colton) Sissons, (Teddy) Blueger and (Brandon) Duhaime against them. So, if you check that, I think we got, outside of the power plays and stuff, we really were able to five-on-five match them up and get our matchup. And I thought those three in particular did a great job in the third period,” Hiller said.

Blankenburg credited Bobrovsky first when asked about limiting MacKinnon: 

“I mean, I'd say first thought would just be Bob (Bobrovsky). Bob's been great for us all year. I think, yeah, just obviously he's such a special player just trying to limit his time and space.”

A Measuring-Stick Result

The three points from the Vegas-Colorado swing give Hiller’s group early validation against two Western Conference heavyweights. The Leafs alternated wins and losses to open the season and now sit with a road win in Denver that required goaltending, special teams, and a composed final period after the second-period mess.

“I thought we did a good job weathering the storm,” Matthews said. “Sometimes you've just got to weather the storm, bend, don't break. Just grind out a win, and I thought we did that tonight.”

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The Montreal Canadiens faced the Detroit Red Wings for the first time this season as the Michigan team came to town last in the division with a 1-3-0 record. On Friday, Georges Laraque had suggested on BPM Sports airwaves that fans should try to seduce Dylan Larkin with cheers and chants. Timid attempts were drowned out by the Bell Centre’s pregame show early on, but fans didn't boo the American anthem, and in the first frame, when Larkin took the ice, the “We want Larkin!” chants were clearly audible.

The chants are there when Larkin is on the ice #GoHabsGo@thehockeynews#THNpic.twitter.com/9YhxQ2ERNE

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) October 11, 2026

For the second time in as many games, the Canadiens appeared to score early, but the goal was called back. This time, Cole Caufield appeared to score from an impossible angle, but after a lengthy review, they determined the puck didn’t cross the line.

Canadiens Power Play Worryingly Inefficient
Canadiens Reportedly Still In On Larkin
Canadiens' Hughes Strikes Trade With Predators

Fowler Showed He Belongs

The Canadiens didn't let the setback get to them and kept going strong; with 6:35 left in the first frame, they led 9-2 in shots, but a couple of penalties to Kirby Dach and Jake Evans gave Detroit 27 seconds at five-on-three.

Given the state of the Habs’ special teams, one would have been forgiven for thinking they'd surrender at least a goal, but Jacob Fowler decided otherwise. The young netminder made five saves on the PK, and while he did give a couple of juicy rebounds, his teammates were able to prevent the Wings from getting to them, and he gave them credit:

The killers were great; even in the last game, they were really good. It only came down to a couple of tips. Love the effort, love kind of the intensity, the urgency to get pucks out, and I think the boys just stuck up for one another, from the kill all the way out. It’s a big win for the group.

-

FOWLER DIT NON

GOBBLE THAT UP FOWLS#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/4DTXPgPDrC

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 11, 2026

As calm as ever, the youngster stood tall and held his ground, even stopping a late push in the dying seconds of the first frame. Allowing a goal there would have been a gut punch. He kept up the good work in the second frame, stopping an early chance and even getting his stick on the crease to block a shot.

When the Habs couldn't score on the PP, he stopped Alex DeBrincat, who was alone in front of him, once again keeping things from going sour for the Canadiens. All night long, his positioning and tracking were flawless, all the way to the six-round shootout. A well-deserved shutout for the youngster.

Power Play Struggles

The Canadiens dominated the Wings in the second frame, taking 11 shots on net, but they still couldn't bury their chances. Their golden opportunity came on the power play; they were up a man while Detroit had to make do with four players but three sticks. The Habs kept trying the same play, moving the puck to the wings for one-timers instead of adapting and taking more shots from the middle with traffic in front of the net.

Maybe give Zach Bolduc a shot on the first power-play unit to shake things up. With a power play that has one goal on 17 opportunities, changes are needed to shake things up. Waiting for Ivan Demidov’s to come back won’t do.

Bolduc Made Up For It

The Trois-Rivières native is off to a great start, and he’s already found the back of the net a few times, scoring three goals in the first four games. On Saturday, he played another solid match, and it was fitting that he was the one to put an end to it with a shootout goal after Alexandre Texier’s goal in OT was waived off for an offside he caused:

I don’t know if I felt owed that goal, but I felt a bit guilty about the offside I caused in overtime. I’m disappointed I cost my stall mate, Tex [Alexandre Texier], a goal, but I’m happy with how it ended.

-

It took some time before Martin St-Louis gave Bolduc the nod to have a shot on Daniil Tasarov, but he put that time to good use:

You’re always looking forward to your turn; you try to get ready as well as possible. You try to analyze as much stuff as you can when your teammates are taking their shots. You’re always looking forward to it; you’re always a bit nervous, but it’s a good stress- it’s excitement.

-

While Bolduc might have felt guilty about costing Texier a goal, the Frenchman wasn’t the only one to see a goal overturned during the game. After Caufield's early goal, the referees also waived off Bolduc's own goal because Jake Evans interfered with the goaltender in the crease.

The referees don't have an easy job, and it could be easier if the NHL followed soccer’s example and put a tracker in the puck to prove whether it went in. Still, St-Louis didn’t want to entertain that thought:

I think they’re doing their best; I’m not sure I agree that they don’t have the technology. I think it’s rare for the calls to be wrong. I think they do a good job, so I’m going to stay on the right side.

-

The coach didn’t want to get on the referees’ or the league’s bad side, but in those kinds of instances, human error and unnecessary lengthy delays could be removed from the game, and that’s something the league should look into.

In the end, the Canadiens got the two points, but it certainly wasn’t easy or quick. The first period featured a lengthy review, and the rest of the game featured a myriad of icing calls and offsides; the Habs had to work hard for those two points, and they will certainly make it easier to have a good day off on Sunday.

Zachary Bolduc joue les héros en tirs de barrage! pic.twitter.com/7WaaZvesC2

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) October 11, 2026

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The 0-4-2 Philadelphia Flyers remain the last team in the Eastern Conference without a win, and the tall task of earning a victory will get no easier on Sunday night when they host the first-place 4-1-1 Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

This is already the second meeting of the season between the two teams. Back on Oct. 3, the Flyers hosted the Hurricanes and were able to drag the reigning Stanley Cup champs to overtime, but a power play overtime goal from old Shayne Gostisbehere ended the contest in unceremonious fashion.

The Flyers were out-shot 30-12 through the first two periods of that game, and 40-18 overall. This has, unfortunately, been far too common a theme for the winless Flyers, who still look incapable of doing the basics with any level of consistency.

Injuries exacerbated the Flyers' already existing issues, as Cam York, Travis Konecny, and Rasmus Ristolainen were all out for the team's 5-1 smackdown suffered at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon.

After a largely unsuccessful three-game road trip, the Flyers return home with the gift of facing the Hurricanes and the danger of losing a seventh straight game looming large.

Where does it all go from here if they do, in fact, lose again?

Flyers lines vs. Hurricanes

Christian Dvorak - Trevor Zegras - Tyson Foerster

Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov

Denver Barkey - Noah Cates - Porter Martone

Michael Bunting - Noel Acciari - Garrett Wilson

Travis Sanheim - Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler - David Jiricek

Simon Benoit - Helge Grans

Joseph Woll (S), Dan Vladar

Hurricanes lines for Flyers game

William Carrier - Sebastian Aho - Andrei Svechnikov

Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake

Nikolaj Ehlers - Jordan Staal - Jordan Martinook

Mark Jankowski - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Eric Robinson

Flyers' Time Is Now to Strike for Unsigned Hurricanes DefensemanThe Philadelphia Flyers have money to spend, and it can be an asset to them in a potential chase for an Alexander Nikishin trade with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Jaccob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield 

K'Andre Miller - Sean Walker

Shayne Gostisbehere - Mike Reilly

Flyers special teams

Power play: 2-for-18, 11.1% (25th)

Penalty kill: 17-for-22, 77.3% (20th)

Hurricanes special teams

Power play: 7-for-26, 26.9% (7th)

Penalty kill: 23-for-25, 92% (5th)

How to watch the Flyers game

Sunday night's Flyers game can be found on NHL Network, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Sportsnet+, and TVAS.

Flyers player to watch

On the second leg of a back-to-back, goalie Joseph Woll is expected to make his fourth start of the season for the Flyers.

Woll, 28, has been phenomenal so far this season, owning a 2.61 GAA and .927 save percentage despite the unflattering 0-1-2 record that is completely unreflective of his own performance.

Woll stopped 37 of 40 shots in the Flyers' first meeting against the Hurricanes eight days ago, and he'll be the only chance Philadelphia has of winning this one, especially if they continue to play in front of Woll the way they have all season.

Las Vegas, N.V.– When I spoke to James Neal on Thursday, the original Golden Misfit repeatedly used the word “fun” to describe the Vegas Golden Knights’ inaugural season. In fact, Neal said that season was the most fun year of his hockey career. So, it’s pretty ironic that the game celebrating the ninth anniversary of that 2017-18 team was slow, boring, and not very fun at all.

Actually, maybe it was fitting– this game was a nice callback to the first playoff series that the Golden Knights ever played, which was also against the Los Angeles Kings. There wasn’t much offense to be found in that four-game series; there were only 10 total goals.

On a night celebrating the original Golden Knights team, it didn’t really matter how ugly the game was. What mattered was that in the end, they came out on top. 

“There was a lot of back and forth,” said Shea Theodore following the Golden Knights’ 2-1 overtime win. “You know, I didn’t think there was a ton of action, but it’s good to get the win, especially in overtime.”

1. Big Time Kill

Historically, the Golden Knights aren’t an undisciplined team. Tonight, however, they took two back-to-back penalties in the first period, which gave the Kings a full minute and 31 seconds of 5-on-3. With Nic Dowd and Brayden McNabb– two of the Golden Knights’ best penalty killers– both in the box, things didn’t look great for the home team.

The Kings only managed two shots on goal.

“I liked their compete,” said goaltender Carter Hart following the win. “They got in lanes and tied up sticks, so [the Kings] weren’t getting second opportunities, and got a lot of big clears. Our PK's been solid.”

After LA’s power play expired, the Golden Knights looked like the more inspired team. For the rest of the night, they collectively outshot the Kings 27-19.

“[The 5-on-3 kill] energized us,” said head coach Ryan Craig. “I thought the building got alive after that. Our guys did a real good job, and our game kind of took off there. I liked our start; we just ended up getting a couple penalties. But Carter came up big when we needed him to make a save.

“I liked our pressure,” Craig continued. “I liked how those guys that were on the ice closed and didn’t allow them to reset the puck. So for me, it was a huge moment of the game and gave us a chance for our power play to take advantage.”

2. If You’re a Goaltender…

It’s still early in the season, but so far the Golden Knights have enjoyed solid performances in net from both goaltenders. Tonight, goaltender Carter Hart earned third star of the game after stopping 26 of the 27 shots he faced.

“It’s our expectation with both of [our goaltenders],” said head coach Ryan Craig. “Tonight, Carter, right from the start, including during the 5-on-3 kill, was consistent. I thought he saw the puck well. He let the game come to him. They didn’t have much there in the 2nd period, and sometimes you can get chasing the game, looking to get involved. He was ready when we needed him in the third.”

You can tell when a team isn’t confident playing in front of their goaltender. For the Golden Knights, that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

“We have so much confidence in our goalies,” said Mitch Marner following the win. “And they have so much confidence in themselves, no matter what happens in small moments.”

3. KillaTrav? Nah, KillaTrev

Not many 20-year-old rookies find themselves on the top power play unit with only six NHL games under their belt. But with Victor Olofsson sidelined with an injury, Trevor Connelly is getting the opportunity of a lifetime on the top power play unit. 

​​“It’s a shooter spot because of how our power play is set up,” said head coach Ryan Craig. “You can’t defer in that spot. Trevor can make plays— we’ve seen it a few times. That’s what we wanted to continue to do. Those four guys support him 100% with what he’s doing there. 

“He can’t just be a shooter,” Craig continued. “We have to recover pucks and look to attack. 
Yes, it’s all most likely going to run through Jack as we start a power play, Jack and Mitch. But where it goes from there, and off puck recovery, your second-chance opportunities… Trevor’s got to attack, right? 
From the weak side, we don’t necessarily just need to reset it back to the other side. We can attack, and he can make plays off that side.”

Two nights ago, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky sprawled out to deny Connelly his first NHL power play goal. Tonight, Connelly converted on a very similar play.

“I loved [seeing] it,” said Mitch Marner following the 2-1 win. “I’ve really enjoyed hanging out with him. Super great kid. He loves the game and has so much fun out there… He’s a great hockey player. You see his hockey sense out there. He just reads the plays so well. He makes so many great offensive plays, and he’s really building his defensive game as well.

“It’s been great to see, and he’s only going to get better,” Marner finished. “If he’s got questions to ask, I’ll answer them, and always try to help him out.”

To wrap up their brief early-season Canadian road trip, the Anaheim Ducks were hosted by the Calgary Flames on Saturday evening in Calgary. 

The Ducks entered Saturday with a 3-1-0 record and a day removed from defeating the previously undefeated Winnipeg Jets on Friday by a score of 5-1.

Their opponent in this game entered having lost all four of their games to open the season in regulation by a combined score of 23-6.

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-1 Win over the Jets

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-2 Loss to the Oilers

Having made seemingly successful wholesale changes to his depth chart ahead of their game against the Jets, Joel Quenneville only made one change in this game: inserting Frank Vatrano onto the listed third line in place of AJ Greer. 

Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game: 

Sennecke-Carlsson-Colangelo

Nesterenko-Granlund-Gauthier

Vatrano-Poehling-Killorn

Malott-Washe-Caulfield

LaCombe-Warren

Mintyukov-Mitchell

Hinds-Luneau

Ville Husso got his first start of the year. His first action of the year came in relief in the third period of the Ducks’ loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, where he stopped both shots he faced. In this one, he saved 27 of 29 shots. Opposing Husso in Calgary’s crease was Dustin Wolf, who stopped 24 of 28. 

This was a costly two points for the Ducks, who had to play without star forward Cutter Gauthier for the final 50 minutes of the hockey game, after he left for the locker room with an upper-body injury. 

Center Ryan Poehling scored the game-winning goal, shorthanded, with 14:25 remaining in the game, but after the puck went into the net, he was tripped, and he crashed into the post, right leg first. He was helped off the ice by the training staff and did not return. 

Game Notes

The Ducks played the majority of this game with 11 forwards and the last 14 minutes with ten. Jackson LaCombe was seemingly benched for the final ten minutes of the second period, so for that stretch, they relied on just five defensemen. 

Calgary was by far the fresher and hungrier team of the two, as they were physical from puck-drop, orchestrated lengthy offensive zone sequences, and generated scoring chances off Anaheim’s mistakes. Fortunately for the Ducks, their talent won out, and Ville Husso made numerous difficult saves when the Flames were pressing.

Jackson LaCombe: As mentioned, LaCombe sat for ten minutes to end the second period. He carried the highest percentage of responsibility on Calgary’s first goal, finding himself too aggressive and deep in the offensive zone when the Flames had clear possession, moving up ice. A lackadaisical effort led to a second puck crossing the Ducks’ goal line, but it was called back, and the play was ruled offside. 

He notched his first goal of the season early in this game, but the Ducks will need a more dogged effort from their No.1 defenseman when they’re facing adversity and up against stiffer competition. 

Breakouts: After seemingly solving their d-zone exit issues during their last game against Winnipeg, the Ducks again struggled to get pucks into neutral ice from their end. Defensemen did well to draw forecheckers low before sending pucks to their outlets, but those second touches out of the zone were often bobbled or turned over, leading to several extended cycle sequences. 

Frank Vatrano: Vatrano was reinserted into the Ducks lineup and put forth an effortful performance, highlighted by a significant goal late in the first period to give his club a 2-1 lead. He was impactful on the forecheck, finished his hits, and, as displayed by his tally, he battled hard in the small, dangerous areas of the ice. 

Due to the injuries sustained, his ice time was limited as he was often the odd-man out of the 11-forward rotation. However, he was rewarded with three big shifts in the final five minutes of the game when Calgary was pushing to tie. 

Tristan Luneau: With LaCombe sitting for so long, Luneau was the Ducks’ de facto top defenseman in this game, as he led the team in TOI (23:42) and received heavy defensive minutes, not starting a single shift in the offensive zone. Though there were a few instances of hurried retrievals and outlets, he did well to dictate play from the backend and handled his assignments well in the defensive zone. 

The Ducks will travel home to Southern California, where they’ll host this same Flames team on Tuesday at 6:45 pm PST. 

What's the Plan for Ducks Rookie Nikita Klepov?

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 OT Win over the Panthers

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Win over the Golden Knights

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, back on the crease, delivered one of his best games in a long time, posting his best season performance with several big saves against the Vegas Golden Knights and easing pressure on the Kings' defense. 

The 36-year-old posted 30 saves on 32 shots on Saturday night, anchoring LA's defense on the road against a Western Conference opponent. But it still wasn't enough to give the Kings their first road win of the season in a tough environment. 

Final from Overtime in Las Vegas. @twilio | #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/zOHOoZonP2

— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 11, 2026

The Kings have now started the season off 0-2-2 for the first time in franchise history. Somehow, though, even though they played arguably their best against a quality team, this loss feels much harder to swallow given how close the match came down.

By all means, this was a very winnable game for the visiting team; despite never leading, the Kings were in position to take the lead, especially with Kuemper's crease play giving the offense plenty of chances to take over.  

The game was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes, thanks to Kuemper's strong goaltending, and Artemi Panarin tied the score with a power-play goal in the second period. 

Right on target 🎯 pic.twitter.com/339MeftN5V

— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 11, 2026

The final period mirrored the opening, with both teams struggling to score and their defenses tightening to stretch the game as long as possible. LA was doing a solid job on the rush, especially on the 3-on-2 break-up, with Drew Doughty stopping a dangerous situation. 

Neither team could control the game or take the lead in the third period to break the tie. For the second time this season, the Kings were headed to extra periods in T-Mobile Arena. 

In overtime, back-to-back plays by Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfeild looked like they would lead to a game-winning goal and head home, but a big save by Knights goaltender Carter Hart kept the home team alive. 

All those chances, the door was left open for the home team to convert, and they did. Off the faceoff, Mitch Marner spotted the traffic and nailed a shot down the middle, converting on the Knights' power play and finishing 2/3. 

After the game, winner Kuemper, who left it all on the ice, walked off, disappointed, shrugging in disbelief after his best game of the season. 

“We hate losing. We want to win. We've got to use that feeling the right way, find that extra level to be difference makers to find wins, Kuemper said after another close loss.’’

A disappointing season last year and an ugly start to this one, despite playing better tonight, have turned up the volume about ownership and whether this team should move towards rebuilding rather than staying in the middle for the last 10 years already.

Despite the defense playing its best this season, holding Vegas to a season-low two goals, the Kings' offense let them down, especially in the final period, after the defense made quality saves and stops; they failed to capitalize. 

While the Kings played another close one and looked like they wanted it more, the box score didn't show it. They once again struggled on the power play, finishing 1-for-3 and scoring just one goal in their second straight game. 

The positive takeaway from this game was that Kuemper looked excellent on the road against the Knights. If he continues this play, all LA needs to do is work on their offense, and the team will be fine. 

Los Angeles returns to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers beginning their two-game homestand at 7:30 PM PT. 

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LAS VEGAS — On a night celebrating the players who helped introduce NHL hockey to Las Vegas, a rookie scored the Golden Knights' first goal.

Trevor Connelly scored on the power play early in the second period, but Artemi Panarin answered with a power-play goal of his own, leaving Vegas and the Los Angeles Kings tied 1-1 through two periods Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Vegas led 23-13 in shots through 40 minutes. Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves for Los Angeles, while Carter Hart stopped 12 shots for the Golden Knights.

The evening began with members of the Original Misfits taking part in Fan Fest before joining former coach Gerard Gallant on The Fortress. Fan favorite Ryan Reaves cranked the siren as Vegas celebrated the ninth anniversary of its first home game during the franchise’s 10th season.

Once the puck dropped, Hart and Kuemper delivered early highlights, making big saves to keep the first period scoreless. Vegas also navigated overlapping penalties from Brayden McNabb and Nic Dowd, giving Los Angeles an extended two-man advantage.

Connelly broke through at 2:37 of the second period after Mitch Marner moved the puck down to Mark Stone, who tapped it across the crease for the rookie to punch home for his second goal of the season.

Vegas entered the night 5-for-20 on the power play against the NHL’s second-worst penalty kill. Connelly’s goal left Los Angeles with six power-play goals allowed on eight road opportunities.

The SoCal kid scores on the SoCal hockey team 🦅 pic.twitter.com/4GSAew3w1c

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 11, 2026

Connelly became the third Golden Knight to score on the man advantage this season, joining Tomas Hertl and Victor Olofsson.

Stone’s assist extended his point streak to four games, giving the captain points in five of Vegas’ first six contests. He now has 35 points in 36 career games against Los Angeles.

Panarin tied the game at 6:21 of the second with Jeremy Lauzon serving a tripping penalty. Adrian Kempe and Brandt Clarke assisted on Panarin’s third goal of the season, which extended his point streak against Vegas to six games.

Connelly and Marc Gatcomb each had five shots through two periods to lead Vegas. Panarin paced Los Angeles with four.

The Kings also marked two milestones. Drew Doughty played in his 1,283rd NHL game, tying Ken Daneyko for 24th among defensemen. Peter Laviolette coached his 1,598th game, matching Ken Hitchcock for eighth all-time.

This is a developing story and will be updated following the game with the final result and postgame reaction.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) battle for the puck in the first period at T-Mobile Arena.