It is four games of an 84-game season. There has been some good, some bad, and some ugly. Don’t let yourself get too caught up in early results and let them dictate your thoughts on where the season is going. There is a lot of hockey left, and a lot of time for good and bad elements of the team to develop.

Reality: The Penguins are not as good as they looked in the season-opener, and they are probably not as bad as they looked for portions of the Winnipeg and Washington games. I also thought they kind of put some things together in the second half of the Washington game and largely carried the play throughout the second and third periods, outside of two absolutely braindead turnovers that derailed all of that progress. The numbers back up that eye-test observation, as well. Those mistakes still count, and they still hurt, and they are still concerns, but eliminating one or two mistakes is a hell of a lot easier than figuring out how to tilt the ice and play better over an extended period of time.

There are still a handful of concerning trends that have developed early on that are probably inspiring different levels of panic.

Among them: the play of Sidney Crosby and the first line, the defense itself, and Arturs Silovs, who I don’t think has been very good since the season-opener (where he was never really challenged).

Let’s dig a little deeper into each of them and try to assess the proper level of concern and panic on a scale of 1-10, with one being “everything is normal” and 10 being “full blown panic.”

Sidney Crosby’s slow start

Wednesday night in Washington was a harsh reminder as to how imposing father time is on everybody in sports. Even the greats.

Everybody was excited to see the start of the final chapter of the Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin rivalry, and then both players were complete non-factors in the game.

Ovechkin played 14 minutes, had no points and recorded two shots on goal. After being on the fence about his future, he played two games this season and then decided this was going to be it.

Crosby was a minus-4 and was mostly invisible, continuing what has been a shockingly quiet start to the season for him and his line. He is almost two years younger than Ovechkin, and has been a better overall player, including over the past few years, but he is still 39. He is not going to dominate for ever.

There were eight goals scored in a Penguins-Capitals game and those guys factored into the scoring on exactly zero of them.

It’s a new era, folks.

The Penguins are now four games into the season and Crosby has zero goals, two assists, while the Penguins have been outscored by a 3-5 margin with him on the ice during 5-on-5 play. Through four games they have been significantly better when he is not on the ice versus when he is on the ice. Not only are they being outscored with him on the ice, their expected goal share is a 54 percent while he has received heavy offensive zone starts. When he is off the ice the Penguins are outscoring teams by a 9-4 margin, have a 60 percent expected goal share while those lines have received primarily defensive zone starts.

I’m just stating facts here, folks. And I’m watching the games. The eye-test isn’t much better. And given that his line has already rotated through three different wingers in four games to try and find the right fit I am guessing the coaching staff feels the same way.

Now, again, it’s four games. Crosby has been a slow starter in recent years, and he had even less time to build up for this season in training camp and the preseason. He is going to slow down at some point. The points will decline more significantly at some point. I am not sure we are at the point where his game has completely deteriorated over night (or over the summer). But I do think it’s more than acceptable to look at these first four games and say, “hmm, something doesn’t seem right with the 39-year-old forward here.”

Concern level: 5/10

The defense

I am on record as saying that I kind of like this defense and some of the players on it, at least in the context of what the Penguins 2025-26 defense was and what it looked like.

League-wide, and on an NHL level? It’s probably middle of the pack at best.

But compared to the 2025-26 Penguins level? I can see it being better than that group.

The early returns are not yet consistently there. Mostly due to the turnovers. Wednesday was shocking in that regard, with Trevor van Riemsdyk being guilty of two baffling plays, one of which led directly to a goal off the opening face-off, and another that led to a power play that eventually led to a goal that took away all of the momentum the Penguins had built in a comeback attempt.

Kris Letang and Declan Carlile were also guilty of shockingly bad plays that directly led to goals.

Just baffling, self-inflicted mistakes that clearly altered the flow and outcome of the game.

A lot of those same mistakes were also visible in Monday’s game against Winnipeg.

While it’s easier to clean up “a couple of mistakes” than it is to carry the pace of play, that doesn’t mean it’s actually going to happen, or that those mistakes are going to stop. Maybe they don’t. Maybe that’s what these guys do where they play well for 30 minutes and then just wet the bed two or three times a game.

That is a real possibility.

Concern level: 6.5/10

Arturs Silovs

I said at the start of the season that goaltending was going to impact a lot this season, and what it looks like for the Penguins. Silovs and Sergei Murashov certainly have the potential to be very good and steal some games, but they are also massive wild-cards that could put the Penguins into the lottery very, very quickly no matter what else is going on around them.

After posting a shutout in the opener, Silovs has allowed 10 goals in his next two starts and is now on the negative side of goals saved above expected (minus-1.4 via MoneyPuck).

My concern here isn’t necessarily about any one game, or any two games, or even his specific performance on Wednesday. Not only because it’s a small sample size, but also because the play in front of him has been spotty. It’s mostly about his overall play going back to the start of last season, and some of the things you see from him (and are still seeing from him).

He has had some great games, and the bigger situation, the better he seems to play. But He also has a tendency to just give them some non-competitive games and moments, especially when it comes to some of his plays with the puck and his rebound control. The difference between his floor and ceiling on most nights is like walking into the Sistine Chapel. I just don’t know that I trust him on a consistent basis.

Concern level: 7/10

Twenty-five years after the Ottawa Senators drafted him, and eight years after his tragic death, Ray Emery will be remembered at the club's home opener on Thursday night.

Emery was the starting goalie for the only modern-day Senators entry to make it to the Stanley Cup Final, and his family will be on hand to help them begin a new season. 

The Hamilton native spent six seasons in the Senators organization. He eventually won a Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and finished that regular season with a 1.94 GAA, a .922 save percentage, and a 17-1 record.

Tragically, a couple of years after his 2016 retirement, Emery died in a swimming accident in Hamilton. He was only 35.

This season marks the 20th anniversary of the Sens' amazing run to the Cup final, where they eventually fell to the Anaheim Ducks. It was a time Sens fans will never forget as they watched the club made short work of Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Buffalo that year, winning every series in five games.

Emery started all 20 playoff games that spring.

After the disappointing end to Dominik Hasek's one season in Ottawa, Emery was perfect for that Senators team.

He was a talented goalie, fearless and occasionally unpredictable. He had one of those smiles that made you instantly like him. 

And he was tough.

He loved the sweet science and wore masks during his career that featured legendary boxers like Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson, Jack Johnson, George Chuvalo, and in Philadelphia, the fictional Rocky Balboa.

Even on a team with brawlers Chris Neil and Brian McGrattan, Emery was in the discussion for guys on the team you'd least like to fight. Who could forget that wild night in Buffalo during the 2006-07 season, when Emery fought two Sabres in the same line brawl, smiling his way through both tilts?

As they open the home portion of a new season at Canadian Tire Centre, the building where fans once chanted Emery's name, his family has been invited to ring the ceremonial bell before the Senators take on the Philadelphia Flyers, another of Emery's other former teams. 

According to Ian Mendes, the Sens' Vice President of Communications, Ottawa is now home for Emery's family.

His parents, Paul and Sharlene, moved here from Cayuga, Ontario during COVID. They live in Ashton, while their other two sons, Andrew and Nick, live here with their families as well.

“Being in Ottawa means a lot to us,” Sharlene told Mendes. “It’s comforting and healing. Lots of memories, and it’s the healing steps we’re taking. It’s the place to be.”

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

Goaltending isn’t the reason for the New Jersey Devils 1-2 start and back-to-back losses. The power play, penalties, and defensive woes play a bigger role in the struggles. That said, it hasn’t impressed either. 

Jake Allen is the primary starter, and he put together a strong opening-night performance against the Philadelphia Flyers but then allowed five goals to the Utah Mammoth (though the defense in front of him didn’t help). Nico Daws, meanwhile, had a start to forget against the New York Islanders, where he allowed six goals and never settled into the game. 

Devils Lack The Skill To Compete With The Top Teams Around The LeagueIt’s why Sunny Mehta made a handful of moves to address the need and is far from done repairing this roster.

The Devils plan to rely on this tandem to start the season, or at least until injuries force them to decide. It’s how the Buffalo Sabres handled their trio last season after claiming Colten Ellis. The Devils will take that approach for now, but they shouldn’t, especially with the young Rémi Poirier waiting in the wings. 

Poirier Can Give The Devils A Spark In The Net

The 25-year-old goaltender is an unknown in the NHL. How he’ll play is anyone’s guess. However, his time in the American Hockey League showed his upside. Just as he hit his stride with the Texas Stars and looked poised to develop into an NHL starter, the Devils claimed him off waivers. 

The question with AHL goaltenders is always how they’ll adjust to the NHL, where the game is faster and the style of play is more technical. Poirier is expected to make that adjustment not just because he’s a bigger goaltender, but has the athleticism to make the big saves. 

Devils Net Front Issues Are Becoming A Glaring Early-Season Weakness“There are some defensive habits and details that we didn't do a good job of managing on some of the goals against,” Sheldon Keefe.

Poirier also has the mentality to play in the NHL. It’s that competitive edge that stood out in the AHL and something that gave opponents fits. He was also a workhorse with the Stars, playing 52 games for them last season and proving he can handle the grind that is the NHL. 

The Devils shouldn’t just turn to him because of his upside. They can start him to get a spark from the team. Many coaches will turn to their backup in-game after a slow start to wake the team up. When a team trails 2-0 or 3-0 early, it’s usually not the goaltender’s fault, but a message must be sent. 

The Devils don’t need that message after a 1-2 start. However, the way they’ve played in back-to-back games, where they’ve been outscored 11-3, is alarming. A new starter in the net can send that message to the rest of the team. 

When The Devils Should Give Him A Start?

The good thing about the game on Tuesday is that the Devils have three days to digest and process it. They’ll come into their Saturday afternoon game ready to go. The rare break in games is also a good time to reset, considering the Devils have a marathon ahead with 11 games to close out the month. 

The upcoming game against the Vancouver Canucks is a good time to give Poirier his first start. It’s a good way for the young goaltender to ease into the NHL, and as an afternoon game, he can get the nod while keeping Allen and Daws on a routine (many goaltenders prefer those 7 PM start times). 

Luke Evangelista Is A Bright Spot The Devils Can Rely On For OffenseThe 24-year-old winger scored two of the Devils' three goals Tuesday night and has been a bright spot early in the season. He could be a key part of the team's future success.

That said, the Devils are looking to get back on track with the upcoming game. They’ll likely turn to Allen with the expectation that he’ll bounce back. That said, the Devils play five games in eight days, and it’s a good time to give Poirier one of those games. 

The schedule ahead can and likely will wear down the goaltending. It’s why having an extra one helps. If Poirier doesn’t get the start against the Canucks, the Oct. 17 game against the Washington Capitals or the Oct. 24 game against the Los Angeles Kings both make sense as well, especially as they give their tandem a break in the month. 

In the big picture, the Devils won’t have Poirier sit around for too long; at least they shouldn’t. They claimed him off waivers to provide reinforcement, and while injuries might force their hand, strong starts from their young goaltender can provide an alternative, more positive outlook. 

When do you think the Devils should turn to Poirier? Comment below!

The Vancouver Canucks (2-2-0) kick off a six-game road trip on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes (2-1-1). This matchup will be a tough test for Vancouver as they battle the reigning 2026 Stanley Cup champions. Last year, Carolina swept the season series, picking up wins in both matchups. 

Thursday will be a good test for this young Canucks team. While the Hurricanes have not had the best start to the campaign, they know how to win and play a very structured game. Vancouver needs a strong first period; otherwise, they may not be able to recover against Carolina's shutdown system. 

If the Canucks want to skate out with two points, they need production from the power play. The Hurricanes' penalty kill is currently operating at 89.5% and was virtually unbeatable during last year's Stanley Cup run. Vancouver has had some success so far this season with the man advantage but will need a big performance on Thursday night. 

Players To Watch: 

Jake DeBrusk:

After dealing with an illness, Jake DeBrusk is projected to return to the lineup on Thursday. He was skating on the first line at practice on Wednesday and was back in his spot on the first-unit power play. Now that DeBrusk is healthy, he will need to start producing both at even strength and with the man advantage. 

Taylor Hall:

Taylor Hall has been a thorn in the Canucks' side for the last 17 years. The 34-year-old has 42 points in 44 games against Vancouver, which included a point in each game last season. With two goals so far this year, the Canucks will need to keep their eyes on Hall whenever he is on the ice. 

Vancouver Canucks (2–2–0): 

Paul Cotter: 4–2–6

Elias Pettersson: 2–4–6

Filip Hronek: 0–5–5

Marco Rossi: 3–1–4

Liam Öhgren: 1–3–4

Goaltenders: 

Kevin Lankinen: 1–2–0

Leevi Meriläinen: 1–0–0

Carolina Hurricanes (2-1-1):

Sebastian Aho: 4-3-7

Andrei Svechnikov: 1-3-4

Jackson Blake: 0-3-3

Taylor Hall: 2-0-2

Mark Jankowski: 1-1-2

Goaltenders:

Brandon Bussi: 1-1-1

Pyotr Kochetkov: 1-0-0

Game Information: 

Start time: 4:00 pm PT 

Venue: Lenovo Center

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: KiSS West Coast 

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: 

How The Canucks Fared On The Road During The 2025–26 Season

The Canucks Have A Significant Decision To Make When It Comes To Aatu Raty

‘That’s The Best Part About The NHL’: Canucks Defenceman Luke Schenn On The Importance of Team Bonding On Road Trips

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.

Jason Spezza shed some light on the decision making around yesterday’s trade that sent forward Filip Hallander to Edmonton in exchange for defenseman Spencer Stastney.

“We had to make a move due to our depth at forward and by looking at past performances and future potential. Filip was the player we determined as expendable,” Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza wrote in an e-mail to local outlets. “In our trade discussions, the Oilers had interest in Filip, while we had interest in Stastney.”

Spezza’s use of the word ‘expendable’ surely isn’t intended to be as harsh as it comes off in reading, but it’s pretty much on the money. Hallander is 26-years old, he’s only played 17 career NHL games for one reason or another due to injuries, leaving for Sweden and a blood clot issue. He’s got one 5v5 goal in those 17 games (scored last week against the Flyers in a blowout win against a team playing awfully poorly). He’s done well to show gradual improvements yet at the same time has a very low ceiling of a fourth line, PK winger who never has been a high-end skater or shown a lot of dynamic skill. By rule those players are as expendable as it gets.

It’s clear to see that this trade was a problem solver for both Pittsburgh and Edmonton. The Penguins had (and, let’s face it still have) too many forwards. Hallander earned a spot with a strong training camp, yet if it weren’t for injuries/absences to Bryan Rust, Ben Kindel and Andrei Kuzmenko, this type of decision would have had to be made earlier. It wouldn’t have been a great idea or beneficial to risk Hallander on waivers and see him depart for nothing.

The Oilers faced a similar quandary in reverse, having too many defensemen and needing to add a forward. Stastney, a player they acquired for a third round pick less than a year ago, ended up on the outside looking in this year as the team’s eighth defenseman following some off-season adds on the blueline — not dissimilar to how acquiring forwards like Kuzmenko, Nick Robertson and Hendrix Lapierre pushed Hallander further towards the margins in Pittsburgh.

So instead of playing waiver roulette and giving the other 30 teams a chance to pluck the players away for nothing, the Pens and Oil struck a deal that works for both. The dots were there to be connected, as we wrote about over the summer that the situation and a possibility made sense for these teams to work together in this fashion.

Spezza also talked about what Pittsburgh liked about their new player.

“Stastney is a great skating defenseman (who) is at his best when he is asserting himself defensively and offensively, using his legs, retrieving pucks and moving pucks into the forwards’ hands,” Spezza wrote. “Stastney adds to our depth as a left-shot defenseman (who) has experience playing on the left or right side, and he will be competing with our existing defensemen for ice time.”

Stastney checks a lot of the boxes that Dubas likes in players. That profile of defender: plus skater, puck mover, not a huge emphasis on size is a hallmark of what he often goes after.

Beyond that, Stastney is 26-years old, has no contractual commitment after this year and has lacked opportunity in other spots. That’s a lot of boxes to check off for similar players like Parker Wotherspoon, Ryan Shea and Declan Carlile that the Pens have employed recently.

Defensive depth is a necessary thing. Pittsburgh has three defenders in their lineup over the age of 35. They have another, Sam Girard, who has averaged missing 19 games over the prior three seasons. Adding another layer before having to go into the AHL and call-up players who might not be ready (especially on the left side) is always a welcome addition.

The other interesting item is that this trade hasn’t truly solved Pittsburgh’s issue in totality, since they are navigating staying under 23 players now that many of the camp injuries are returning to play. Does adding Stastney mean eventually pushing Ilya Solovyov off the roster, perhaps as soon as when Andrei Kuzmenko’s non-roster status expires on Sunday? What will become of Elmer Soderblom, now scratched in three-straight games? Just how safe is Ville Koivunen’s spot on the team? There are still more questions than answers for what direction they will take in the days to come but this first trade of the year starts to right-size the balance of the forward/defenseman split for the roster a little bit. If the team gets back to health this won’t be the only transaction to ease to logjam of forwards.

In an interesting move that led to them replacing youth and flair with experience and sandpaper, the Philadelphia Flyers signed veteran free agent winger Michael Bunting to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Such a signing has its benefits, but it's fair to wonder if the Flyers got the right guy.

Four games into the season, Bunting isn't the only experienced winger with an established history of some scoring upside out there.

The Flyers likely chose the 31-year-old because of his physicality and ability to play the agitator role as a complementary forward, but in terms of pure skill and scoring upside, well, there's more out there.

All-Star sniper and two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko remains without a contract through the early stages of the 2026-27 season, and he's the only free agent forward remaining who scored at least 20 goals and 40 points last season.

In 75 games with the Minnesota Wild, Tarasenko, 34, scored 23 goals, 24 assists, and 47 points on a team with winning aspirations, rebounding nicely from a bad season with Detroit that saw him score just 11 times in 80 games in 2024-25.

Indeed, the Russian sharpshooter is no longer the player he was at the peak of his career with the St. Louis Blues, but his stints with Minnesota, Florida, and even the New York Rangers have proven that Tarasenko can, at a minimum, still bang 'em in for a contender in a middle-six role.

Flyers Not Making Progress in Dylan Larkin Trade PushAccording to a new report, the Philadelphia Flyers are still not a trade option for disgruntled Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin.

On top of his obvious scoring upside, Tarasenko won cups with Florida in 2024 and St. Louis in 2019, and his 132 playoff games and two rings are something the Flyers have placed a premium on in the past when adding to their young team.

Remember, at the 2024 NHL trade deadline, the Flyers traded what ended up being the 109th overall pick for an Erik Johnson well past his best playing days, then re-signed him in the offseason.

In the 2023 offseason, the Flyers had brought in Marc Staal, who was fresh off a Cup Final appearance with Florida, the second of his career.

The Flyers moved away from that approach last season and it paid off with their first playoff appearance since 2020, but the bottom appears to have completely fallen out this season, for whatever reason.

The Flyers have scored just five goals in four games this season, and only the rebuilding Calgary Flames (three in three) have been worse.

On top of his skill and experience, Tarasenko would be an excellent mentor for young Russian talents Matvei Michkov and Nikita Grebenkin, who are still cutting their teeth at the NHL level.

Oh, and 75 of Tarasenko's 327 regular season goals have come on the power play, which would surely be a boon for a Flyers power play that has sputtered to an 0-11 start while also allowing a short-handed goal.

Bunting's not half-bad either, with 36 of his 109 goals coming on the power play, but a much larger portion of his goals have come on the man advantage (33% vs. 23%) compared to Tarasenko.

As a not-as-naturally-skilled player, the Flyers may not be able to lift Bunting to his full scoring potential with their woeful power play units, and there is an element of concern given that the two-time 20-goal-scorer ended last season with just one goal in his last 14 games, including his lone playoff appearance.

In any event, Tarasenko, like Bunting, has been without a new team this long for a reason, though it's fair to wonder if Tarasenko would have been a better fit for the offense-needy Flyers.

A slow start on Wednesday night saw the Pittsburgh fall into a 4-1 that they almost clawed back from but ultimately fell short in a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals in D.C. Bryan Rust made his season debut after battling injury and scored his first of the season while Tommy Novak and Nick Robertson tallied the other Penguin markers in the loss. [Pensburgh]

Pens Points…

Something was going to have to give when it came to the Penguins logjam at forward and a domino fell on Wednesday with Kyle Dubas dealing Filip Hallander to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Spencer Stastney. [Pensburgh]

In a related move to the Hallander trade, the Penguins activated Bryan Rust from injured reserve after missing the first three games of the season and made his debut against the Washington Capitals last night. [Trib Live]

Coming off their best season in over a decade, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins began their 2026-27 campaign over the weekend with a pair of losses, one in overtime, to Springfield and Hershey respectively. [Pensburgh]

Declan Carlile received only a single NCAA scholarship offer coming out of junior hockey. After three seasons at Merrimack College then battling through the minors to make the NHL, Carlile now finds himself skating on the Penguins top defensive pairing. [PPG]

Matt Dumba has called it a career after 13 NHL seasons with five different clubs. Dumba played his final career NHL game on December 7th of last season as a member of the Penguins. His final professional game came with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL. [Trib Live]

Andrei Kuzmenko was granted non-roster status by the NHL as he continues to work back from missing time following the death of his father. He will work to get back in game shape at practice with the team but will not play any earlier than Saturday against Dallas. [Sportsnet Pittsburgh]

NHL News and Notes…

Alexander Ovechkin says he doesn’t want a farewell tour for his final season but he’s surely going to get a warm reception when he plays his final game at various arenas around the league. His last time on the ice at PPG Paints Arena will come on March 13th with his final home game in D.C. set for April 4th. [RMNB]

Coming off a season ending injury in 2025-26, New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov will be sidelined for another whole season as he recovers from a torn ACL that will take 6-8 months of healing following surgery. [NHL]

The Islanders are home Thursday to host the Chicago Blackhawks, who have exceeded preseason expectations by winning one of their first four games. They are also celebrating the UFA signing of legendary Ranger and Red Wing Patrick Kane.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

• The injury news for Alex Romanov is worst-case scenario: ACL tear, surely out for the season for the second consecutive year. [LHH]
• That’s gonna test the Isles depth, again. I mean, Carson Soucy isn’t walking through that door. [Newsday]
• Unrelated, but promising: The Isles reached an ELC with 2026 pick Vladimir Dravecky, the Slovakian-born, Sweden-experienced OHLer. (You should pronounce it “Druh-VETS-ky” to impress your spouse.) [Isles]
• Takeaways from the other night: ehhh. [Isles]
• Random league news and also the tidbit about Brayden Schenn telling J.T. Miller he had to welcome himself to the rivalry with that fight. [Sportsnet]

Elsewhere

• News is better for Aleksander Barkov, who should only miss six to eight weeks. [NHL]
• The Jets and Canadiens Heritage Classic jerseys are as they should be. [Sportsnet | ESPN]
• Jacob Fowler is back in the NHL after Sam Montembeault’s injury. [TSN]
• Having the stability of a massive contract helps Dustin Wolf deal with being on a terrible team. [Sportsnet]
• The Oilers and Penguins swapped some guys. [Sportsnet]
• Why Houston for expansion makes sense. [ESPN]

A lot has changed for Alex Ovechkin in 22 seasons.

That was clear when he was introduced for his final home opener.

Ovechkin’s sons Sergei and Ilya handled the task of announcing their father onto the ice, and the Russian star received a standing ovation before the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Wednesday night.

View this post on Instagram

The 41-year-old Ovechkin announced earlier this week this would be his final season.

“It was pretty cool moment,” Ovechkin said. “Huge crowd, kids announce my name. It was a special moment.”

The NHL’s career leader in goals did not add to his total of 929 on Wednesday. In fact, Ovechkin wasn’t even on the ice during an extended period at the end when the Penguins had their goalie pulled. This was the 101st meeting between Ovechkin and Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby, including playoffs. Neither managed a point, only the 11th time that’s happened, according to Sportradar.

Crosby actually finished with a minus-4 after being on the ice for all four of Washington’s even-strength goals.

The Capitals have assembled a roster with plenty of depth, to the point where Ovechkin no longer needs to play every second of Washington’s power-play time.

“I’m not going to say that he doesn’t want to be out there,” coach Spencer Carbery said.

“But he also is understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish as a team, and the great players that he has around him.”

Washington’s one power-play goal on the night was scored by Ryan Leonard — from the left circle where Ovechkin so often sets up.

Make no mistake, though. Ovechkin was still the center of attention. When the whole roster was introduced one by one, he was last, with his kids doing the honor.

“I had no idea any of that was happening,” Carbery said. “I think they nailed that moment. Special for I think everybody in the building.”

Ovechkin had two shots on goal, and he was on the ice when Anthony Beauvillier gave Washington a 1-0 lead 23 seconds into the game.

“It’s been such an incredible journey. Cool to see his kids down there,” said Tom Wilson, who had a goal and two assists for the Caps.

“He’s a legend in this city, so I think everyone had a big smile. You get chills watching him come out.”

Colorado Avalanche (2-1, in the Central Division) vs. Calgary Flames (0-3, in the Pacific Division)

Calgary, Alberta; Thursday, 9 p.m. EDT

LINE: Avalanche -243, Flames +194; over/under is 6

BOTTOM LINE: The Calgary Flames will try to stop their three-game slide when they play the Colorado Avalanche.

Calgary went 34-39-9 overall and 23-13-5 at home a season ago. The Flames had a -48 goal differential last season, scoring 208 goals while allowing 256.

Colorado had a 55-16-11 record overall and a 32-10-5 record in road games last season. The Avalanche scored 45 power-play goals last season on 263 total chances (3.2 chances per game).

INJURIES: Flames: Jonathan Huberdeau: out (hip).

Avalanche: Logan O'Connor: out (lower-body), Georgii Merkulov: out (undisclosed), Trent Miner: out (undisclosed).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

To conclude their opening three-game stretch against Stanley Cup contenders to begin their 2026-27 campaign, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night at Honda Center in a rematch of their first-round series of the 2026 playoffs. 

The Ducks were coming off back-to-back wins against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday and the Florida Panthers in overtime on Sunday. 

Game #3: Ducks vs. Oilers Gameday Preview (10/07/26)

What's the Plan for Ducks Rookie Nikita Klepov?

Edmonton has had a high-event start to their season, entering with a 2-0-1 record and having already scored 18 goals through three games and allowed 13.

Nikita Klepov (15th overall in 2026) made his NHL debut for the Ducks in this game. He was slotted in on the third line alongside Ryan Poehling and Nikita Nesterenko. That remains the only lineup change for Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville through three games.

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

Greer-Carlsson-Gauthier

Killorn-Granlund-Sennecke

Nesterenko-Poehling-Klepov

Malott-Washe-Colangelo

LaCombe-Luneau

Mintyukov-Mitchell

Hinds-Warren

Lukas Dostal got the start in net for Anaheim and stopped 12 of 17 shots before he was pulled after two periods. Ville Husso played the third period for the Ducks in relief and stopped the only two shots he faced. In Edmonton’s crease stood Devon Levi, who saved 28 of 30.

Game Notes

This game started out all Anaheim and all penalties in the first period, as they took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Edmonton came screaming back in the second, scoring five unanswered. The third period consisted of the Oilers halting the pace of the game with high flips out of the defensive zone and a passive neutral zone forecheck to ice the game. 

Breakouts: Anaheim has perhaps the most unproven blueline in the NHL. While stylistically, they fit what the coaching staff is trying to accomplish on the ice, their inexperience shows up on occasion in areas that are only improved by repetition with said situations. 

Ducks’ defensemen have increased their success rate of boxing out, tying up sticks, and clearing rebounds; areas that have plagued them in the past. What’s costing them presently is first passes out of the zone and second touches up ice that need to lead to more exits than battles. 

Though defensemen aren’t directly turning pucks over to heavy F1 and F2 forechecks often, they are rimming more pucks than desired, which leads to broken exit sequences against aggressive-pinching defensemen. When pucks find their way into neutral ice, too often plays are broken and the ensuing transition defense leaves much to be desired, as their decision-making, communication, and sorting against a quick-up, transition offense led to multiple goals in this game. 

Power Play: Anaheim’s top unit is white hot to start this season and was the reason they got out to their early lead in this game. Their breakouts and entries have been increasingly creative and precise, utilizing, whether with trailers or leading the rush, the two puck-carrying forwards criss-crossing with speed through the neutral zone. 

Once set up, puck movement and player movement through the zone are crisp and decisive, with intricate knowledge of where teammates are and are going to be. They are manufacturing second-chance opportunities by winning pucks back along the perimeter and capitalizing on killers now out of position. 

Lukas Dostal: Dostal wasn’t at his best in this game, nor was he at his worst, and he certainly wasn’t the largest contributing factor to his team’s defeat in this game. Of the five goals he allowed, two were screened shots off the stick of one of the heaviest-shooting defensemen in NHL history (Evan Bouchard), a vintage Connor McDavid play setting up Kasperi Kapanen with masterful deception, a breakaway, and a McDavid shot from the top of the circle off the rush. 

The only goal he undoubtedly could and should have stopped was the final, as it was from distance, didn’t change direction, and snuck through his arm and body. The point shots will be quibbled over, but they were either heavily screened and/or changed direction on their way to the net. 

The Ducks will hit the road for a brief two-game Canadian road trip, starting with a matchup against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday at 5 pm PST. 

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

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

Who is Tristan Luneau, and Why did the Anaheim Ducks Sign Him to a Huge Extension?

Days after being placed on waivers by the Calgary Flames, Connor Zary has cleared and joined the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, practicing with the team on Wednesday.

The Flames’ first-round pick, 24th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, appeared calm and composed when he spoke with the media. Still, Zary admitted the news caught him off guard, and he isn’t exactly happy about being sent down.

“I was pretty surprised, I’m not going to sit here and lie,” said Zary. “ I just got a phone call that said I was going on waivers and, obviously, it’s not something you really expect a couple games into the season, but it’s something you spend 24 hours thinking of and sitting with and then you try and get back to work.”

"I think the human part gets lost in it a lot, and to know that you are still a good person when you're going through something bad is big for me."

Connor Zary spoke with the media after skating with the Wranglers this morning. pic.twitter.com/8IJuYkb2oR

— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) October 8, 2026

Waiting out the 24-hour waiver period to find out whether another NHL team would claim him was difficult for the 25-year-old. Once he cleared, Zary said the support he received, including the many text messages that came his way, helped him stay focused on what comes next.

“It sucks, right, there’s no sugar coating it, you’re just sitting there by yourself on your couch for 24 hours - that feels like five days -where you’re just waiting to hear anything and everything about what’s happening with your life. For sure, it sucks.”

At Wednesday’s practice, Zary skated alongside Dryden Hunt and William Stromgren. While the circumstances aren’t ideal, he said he’s looking forward to playing with his new linemates and getting back to enjoying the game.

For Zary, the immediate priority is simple: get back to work.

“It hurts, definitely, at the start and then you kind of just got to put your head down and go to work,” said Zary. “For me I think it’s just trying to do the right things coming down here, enjoying the game and having fun with these guys.”

As for whether he expects to eventually return to the Flames, Zary wasn’t making any predictions. That decision is out of his hands, and his focus is on controlling what he can.

“I think that’s up to them,” said Zary. “I’m here to just do what I can do as a player. I want to play hockey.” 

“That’s not really my focus right now,” he added. “I think it’s just to take it day by day and do my thing.”

Zary hasn’t been able to fully regain the form he showed earlier in his NHL career after suffering multiple knee injuries two seasons ago. Last season was a difficult one as well, with his role reduced to fourth-line minutes at times while he also spent time in the press box.

He opened this season with one assist through two games but was a healthy scratch for Calgary’s second game.

Now, he’s back with the Wranglers, where he spent parts of three seasons, with an opportunity to reset his game and rebuild some of the confidence that made him one of Calgary’s most intriguing young players in the first place.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Evan Bouchard had two goals and an assist to become the second defenseman in NHL history with at least six goals through the first four games of a season, and the Edmonton Oilers used a five-goal second period to beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Bouchard has a league-leading six goals through four games. Harry Cameron had eight goals in four games for the Toronto Arenas during the NHL's inaugural season in 1917-18.

Leon Draisaitl had four assists, Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists, Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin also scored, and the Oilers overcame a sluggish start to win their third straight game. Devon Levi made 28 saves.

Beckett Sennecke had two power-play goals and Leo Carlsson had two assists, but the Ducks lost for the first time in three games. Lukas Dostal made 12 saves, stopping just six of 11 shots in the decisive middle period before being replaced to start the third. Ville Husso made two saves in relief.

Bouchard scored twice in the second period, sparking Edmonton’s rally by cutting it to 2-1 11 seconds into the frame on a long wrist shot through traffic. He put the Oilers in front 3-2 on a one-timer from Draisaitl with 5:48 to go.

Bouchard is the fifth defenseman in league history with at least 10 points through the first four games of a season. The feat was last accomplished by Morgan Rielly in 2018-19 for the Maple Leafs.

McDavid capped off the five-goal outburst by netting his third goal and 12th point of the season with 51.7 left during 4-on-4 play.

After scoring one power-play goal in 82 games as a rookie, Sennecke found the back of the net twice on the man-advantage in the first period.

Ducks winger Nikita Klepov, the No. 15 pick in the 2026 draft, made his NHL debut and became the youngest player in franchise history at 18 years, 102 days old.

Up next

Oilers: At San Jose on Saturday.

Kings: At Winnipeg on Friday night.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Much like their start in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins didn't exactly come out of the gate strong on Wednesday in Washington against the Capitals. 

And, akin to their loss Monday, their sloppy, dysfunctional start was too much to overcome.

The Capitals defeated the Penguins, 5-3, in what was a remarkably sloppy defensive effort from the visiting club. Pittsburgh brought it to within one by the end of the second period, but they were ultimately unable to undo their own mistakes from the first half of the game. 

Arturs Silovs stopped 22 of 27 Washington shots on goal, and Logan Thompson went 27-for-30 for the Capitals in net.

Just 23 seconds into the game, former Penguin Anthony Beauvillier found himself on a breakaway, and he converted on it to give Washington the early 1-0 lead. However, Bryan Rust - fresh off injured reserve and playing in his first game of the season - had the equalizer just 56 seconds later after a nice play in the neutral zone by Kindel got him the puck and allowed him to make his patented power move to the net.

TRUSTY RUSTY IN HIS FIRST SHIFT OF THE SEASON! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/xiSpk76lq6

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 7, 2026

But, then, the mistakes really started to pile up. 

Nearing the 12-minute mark of the opening frame, Kris Letang found himself with the puck on the right wall in the defensive zone. He softly played the puck down the wall and behind the net, where Pierre Luc-Dubois was waiting for it. Dubois swiftly got the puck into the slot, where Tom Wilson was set up and made it 2-1.

The mishaps carried into the third. Less than five minutes in, Hendrix Lapierre played the puck down the wall again in the defensive zone, and Arturs Silovs went back to retrieve it with a few Capitals gaining on him. Declan Carlile was beat to the puck by Alex Tuch, and the puck squirted over to Wilson, who was able to scoop up the puck before either Penguin could get to it and slip it to Dubois in the slot, returning the favor from the second goal to give the Caps the 3-1 lead.

Willy returns the favor to PLD on this one pic.twitter.com/5XKNImYu8X

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 8, 2026

Almost 10 minutes later, the Penguins were pressuring in the offensive zone, and Carlile made an ill-advised cross-ice pass attempt in the direction of Erik Karlsson on the offensive blue line. Tuch intercepted it and went in on a breakaway, beating Silovs to make it 4-1.

The Penguins would not go quietly, though, and seemed to wake up after the fourth goal. Less than a minute after Tuch's goal, Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin found themselves on a two-on-one due to a neutral zone breakdown by the Caps, and Malkin hit the crossbar on off a feed from Chinakhov. The puck bounced into the slot area, where Tommy Novak was waiting for it to cut the deficit to two with his third of the season.

A TOMMY TALLY 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ctp9wpPlTk

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 8, 2026

Then, with only two minutes left in the second, Nick Robertson - playing on a fourth line with Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar - deflected a Kaedan Korczak shot while getting cross-checked to the ice, and it snuck past Thompson to bring Pittsburgh to within one.

Robbie with his third on the season 💪 pic.twitter.com/xkdeFskYok

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 8, 2026

Even with the Caps beginning to make a lot of defensive mistakes of their own - surrendering a few breakaways to the Penguins, too - they were able to seal the victory on a power play goal by Ryan Leonard less than four minutes into the period, which came after a few shorthanded chances from the Penguins. 

Despite ending the first period with just four shots on goal to the Capitals' 14, Pittsburgh ended up outshooting Washington at the end of it. If not for such glaring mistakes, the game likely has a different result. 

"We've got to manage the game better," head coach Dan Muse said after the loss. "We've got to manage momentum."

Penguins Acquire Spencer Stastney From Edmonton Oilers for Filip HallanderThe Pittsburgh Penguins cleared up their forward logjam Wednesday by sending Filip Hallander to the Edmonton Oilers

Here are a few takeaways from this one:

- The Penguins could, rather easily, be 4-0 right now if they weren't so busy beating themselves. 

They're a better team than the Jets, but a sloppy, lackluster effort with far too many careless plays led to a 3-2 regulation loss. They're probably a pretty even matchup with the Caps, and they quite literally handed them three goals they wouldn't otherwise have had. 

Simply put, they need to be smarter with the puck. There are way too many critical giveaways in their own zone and in the neutral zone and way too many odd-man breaks happening, and if they expect to win games this season, they need to cut down on the mistakes. 

Mistakes happen every game for every team, but the Penguins are rolling the dice far too much and leaving their goaltenders out to dry.

This Penguins Off-Season Signing Is Already Paying Off Big TimeThis Penguins new defenseman is making an impact early on.

- This was a particularly brutal game for Penguins' blueliners not named Sam Girard and Kaedan Korczak.

Letang's turnover preceding the second goal was putrid. There are many other choices he could have made with the puck there, but he chose to softly send it down the right wall and right to Dubois, who fed it on a silver platter to Wilson in the slot.

Willy's first of the season is a beaut across the board pic.twitter.com/mVzL7Jq4sO

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 8, 2026

Then, some kind of miscommunication between Carlile and Silovs led directly to the third goal. Then, Carlile handed Tuch the keys to the fourth goal. Silovs appeared to be screened on the final goal, but the optics on it weren't great.

Karlsson was giving the puck away with frequency again, too, even if none of his plays resulted in goals against. Same with Trevor van Riemsdyk, who looked lost most of the evening.

It's early in the season, and sloppiness is to be expected. However, the Penguins' blue line needs to clean things up and get accustomed to one another sooner rather than later. 

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. 

- Sidney Crosby does not look himself. He was a minus-5 in this one. 

Yes, a minus-5. He was on the ice for all five Capitals' goals. 

He and Rakell have been slower starters in the last couple of years. So, just four games in, it's not yet time to raise alarm bells. 

However, he is not only ineffective offensively at five-on-five right now, he is also costing them on the defensive side of the puck. His dip in footspeed is rather noticeable this season, and Rickard Rakell's lack of speed on his line isn't helping matters, either. 

Crosby and Rakell have, historically, been very good together. I liked what I saw from Robertson in training camp and in the first couple of games on that line as a complement, but that experiment was ended quickly. By the second period in the Caps' game, Rust was back up on the first line with Crosby and Rakell, and it was status quo.

Even if the Penguins have a ton of depth - and, contrary to national narratives, the Penguins are not even close to entirely reliant on Crosby for offense - it's going to become a legitimate problem if this first line doesn't start producing for a plethora of reasons. I'd give it a few games, and I'd shift things back to what was intended early on.

But they need to get going soon. The Penguins have scored 19 goals this season - and Crosby and Rakell have zero of them. That's not ideal at all.

I'd really like to see the Penguins give their originally intended lines, minus Kuzmenko, another look Friday:

Robertson-Crosby-Rakell
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Koivunen-Kindel-Rust
Dewar-Lizotte-Soderblom

I'd give Soderblom a game either for Lapierre or Koivunen.

— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) October 8, 2026

- Speaking of which, there is far too much lineup shuffling happening right now. 

I actually did a bit of a 180 on this in the middle of the game. Most of the time, when lines aren't producing, it makes sense to change things around. I said the Penguins should have a short leash with the first line.

I take that back. I think a lot of their issues the last two games have been a result of players not having ample time to gel together. It's difficult to build chemistry when you're constantly playing with different people.

I'd like to see the Penguins revert to the original forward lines they had built during training camp in their next tilt on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, with the lone exception being Ville Koivunen subbing in for Andrei Kuzmenko, who is on non-roster leave from the Penguins:

Robertson-Crosby-Rakell
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Koivunen-Kindel-Rust
Dewar-Lizotte-Lapierre/Elmer Soderblom

Chemistry needs time to build. Muse clearly had a vision for these lines during camp, and they weren't given much runway with all the lineup shuffling and personnel rotations. 

So, give them some time. Robertson has three goals in four games and has produced more than Crosby and Rakell. Rust and Kindel have looked good in the little time they've spent together. 

The Penguins have a lot of depth. But it's still important for them to find the right combinations for that depth, and the only way to figure those things out is to allow guys room to gel.

Depth Is Good, But Too Much 'Depth' Becoming Problem For PenguinsThe Penguins could, potentially, face a tough roster decision prior to Wednesday's game against the Washington Capitals if Bryan Rust is ready to go.

- On a positive note, Kindel is far and away the best player for the Penguins right now. 

Novak and Robertson have been quite good up to this point as well. But Kindel has been doing it all. He has more speed than he did last season. His increased size is evident in how hard it is to knock him off the puck. He's making highly cerebral plays and reads. He looks excellent on the penalty kill and in all three zones. He's effective on the power play. 

This kid is 19. He's playing like a ten-year veteran, and his offensive ceiling gets higher by the game. Kindel has two goals and four points in three games, and the pace, honestly, looks pretty sustainable, especially if he's glued to a scorer like Rust.

Point-per-game is not out of the question, and him being this team's best player going forward may not be hyperbole. He looks like a first-line center with the way he's playing. Right now. 

He is going to be a special player for the Penguins. Underestimate him at your peril.

- Lastly, Kindel needs to be out in six-on-five situations. At this juncture, having Letang, Karlsson, Crosby, Malkin, Rust, and Rakell all out there is malpractice. 

Kindel, their best player in the present, needs to be on the ice when the stakes are highest. I'd throw Novak out there, too. They've earned those opportunities.

Andrei Kuzmenko Granted Non-roster Leave By NHLThe NHL has granted Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko non-roster leave.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

It’s no longer preseason but the Colorado Avalanche had another date with the Winnipeg Jets in Manitoba. What looked like fun early on settled into a battle in which the Avalanche lost in the final minute as the Jets secured a 3-2 victory on a second Kyle Connor goal on the evening.

The Game

It was a quiet start to the game with a scoreless first period with each team trading fruitless power plays. Colorado found some momentum in the second half of the frame, though, as they ended up with a 17-6 shot advantage at the first intermission. We had a Cale Makar moment early on as well. He recorded the hardest shot of the season thus far of 101.9 mph in the period.

Scoring would emerge in the second frame as each team found the back of the net. To start, Jaden Schwartz netted his first in an Avalanche sweater as Fedor Svechkov picked up his first point with the club as well. But Winnipeg answered back just over a minute later with Kyle Connor getting a puck through traffic on Mackenzie Blackwood, which has been one area of weakness thus far this season.

That hot start the Avalanche enjoyed lost steam as by the end of the second period as Winnipeg gained a lead when a puck deflected off Cole Perfetti and into the net. Suddenly the Avalanche were looking at their first deficit of the year heading into the third period down 2-1.

The third period was another tight contest with Winnipeg limiting Colorado’s chances. The Jets got a power play and couldn’t cash it which gave the Avalanche a little jolt. It was the third line who evened the score, this time Svechkov the beneficiary of a pass from Schwartz and the Russian was found alone at the net front and chipped the puck past Jets netminder Stuart Skinner. It looked like this game was headed to overtime but Kyle Connor had other ideas and buried a rush chance for his second score of the contest with just a minute left on the clock and Winnipeg secured a 3-2 win to keep them unbeaten in regulation.

Takeaways

Zach L’Heureux made his Avalanche debut and his game was as advertised through some hard-nosed and energetic play though he played some modest minutes. With just 8:22 time on ice the 23-year-old forward provided three shots on goal and five hits, setting the stage for more to come.

It was also great to see newcomers Jaden Schwartz and Fedor Svechkov find some chemistry and convert on a couple of goals, which would be the entirety of Colorado’s production this evening. The first two lines were jumbled as they weren’t clicking, however. Brock Nelson had a tough night defensively but so did Gabe Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen as they were shuffled around.

Upcoming

This first back-to-back of the season sends the Avalanche to Calgary to finish out their brief two-game road trip. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. MT on Thursday, October 8th.