The New York Islanders went into Madison Square Garden last night with a near-full lineup of veterans, erased a 3-0 deficit, and knocked off the New York Rangers 4-3.
The game was full of big moments for the Islanders, but the number one highlight has to be Semyon Varlamov's return to the NHL, even in preseason form.
After 662 days, Semyon Varlamov was back in the #Isles net.
When I asked about the hugs from his teammates, he looked down, paused, then smiled.
Eklund and Eiserman skated with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and had a very strong game as a whole as a line.
Aitcheson, meanwhile, skated with Scott Mayfield and faced a very tough Rangers team, and in the process, he caught Islanders' Head Coach Peter DeBoer's eye.
“I thought he did a good job," DeBoer said postgame. "It’s a big ask. You’re coming into MSG, the bright lights of New York, and I thought all our young guys, again, played well. We’re giving them a lot of opportunity here in big situations to really kind of show us what they can do.”
The opportunity for Aitcheson is massive, even if he doesn't make the team outright. With the way he's played throughout training camp, he has played himself right into first call up consideration if and when injuries may strike.
With Matthew Schaefer on the right side, it's one less player in the path of Aitcheson's goal of the NHL.
The Islanders have stated that 2026-27 is a transitional year. People have taken that to mean the Islanders may not compete or go all-in.
It's just the opposite. Under DeBoer, and with a wide open Metropolitan Division, the Islanders could very well compete and earn a playoff spot. The transition is the emergence of young players as key contributors.
Eklund will be on the opening night roster, barring an absolute shock. Eiserman and Aitcheson likely won't be due to the numbers game, but both have had extremely solid camps and feel extremely likely to play NHL games at some point this season.
That's the transition. Aitcheson's tenacious game along with Eiserman's electric offensive zone displays should be an unbelievable bright spot for the Hamilton Hammers in the AHL.
This training camp has been an unquestioned success when evaluating Aitcheson and Eiserman. Both have things to work on, but both are much closer to the NHL than a lot of people realized entering this year.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — There wasn't a player in the NHL who threw the body around more than Yakov Trenin last season.
The Minnesota Wild forward finished the 2025-26 regular season with an NHL-leading 413 hits, 74 more than Kiefer Sherwood, who finished second with 339.
Trenin doesn't plan on abandoning the physical style that has become a defining part of his game.
Entering his third season with the Wild, he would like to bring something else to the table, too.
More offense.
“I always want to improve in every aspect and also keep the hits on the same high level,” Trenin said.
The idea of Trenin contributing more offensively isn't unprecedented.
The 29-year-old scored a career-high 17 goals in 80 games with the Nashville Predators during the 2021-22 season, under current head coach and former Predators head coach John Hynes. He followed that with 12 goals and 24 points the next season.
His goal totals haven't reached double digits in either of his first two seasons in Minnesota. Trenin recorded seven goals and 15 points in 76 games in 2024-25 before finishing last season with six goals and a career-high 17 assists for 23 points while playing all 82 games.
The offense also showed up in the postseason.
Trenin recorded 51 hits in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after registering 34 during Minnesota's playoff run the year before.
Now, there could be an opportunity for him to provide more than physicality.
Trenin has spent time playing alongside skilled forwards such as Danila Yurov and Bobby Brink, something that could give the Wild a different look from a line that will still be expected to play hard and defend.
“Obviously, you always want to help the team to win,” Trenin said. “It's either defense or hit, but nothing more exciting than scoring and jumping into the glass.”
Jan 27, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin (13) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Trenin knows firsthand what Yurov went through during his first full NHL season and believes the young Russian forward could be ready to add another offensive dimension to his game.
“During the last season, he learned a lot, he improved a lot, and just getting the confidence, staying always here, helps you,” Trenin said. “I think his defensive game was always great. He worked hard, and I think he can put his offensive game on too.”
Trenin has noticed Yurov becoming more comfortable away from the ice as well.
“His English got better too, and just confidence in the room, small jokes, all that stuff,” he said.
Who ultimately ends up alongside Trenin remains to be seen, but the veteran winger knows what he wants his own game to look like.
The physicality isn't going anywhere. After 654 regular-season hits over his first two years with Minnesota, including a league-leading 413 last season, that part of his identity is well established.
But Trenin has scored 17 goals in an NHL season before.
This year, he'd like to show there's still more offense there, too.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Hendrix Lapierre (22) skates with the puck in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on September 21, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A lot can change quickly for the picture of building the NHL roster. Take a look at the last 48 hours, where Blake Lizotte was announced as being out on a week-to-week basis, and Ben Kindel got injured during the preseason game with a day-to-day designation. Add in more injuries to Ville Koivunen and Justin Brazeau (both also day-to-day) and there’s not as much clarity coming into focus as much have been expected nearly one week into camp.
Let’s take a quick glance at how it looks like players fighting for spots might be at the moment. As of now, the exhibition games are 50% completed and all the forwards competing for 1-3 spots (though it would be four if Lizotte heads to IR for the start of the regular season) have played one game. It’s just a baseline temperature check for now as for who is perceived to be moving in the right direction and what cases are not launching so cleanly. The upcoming days could always throw major new developments and changes into the picture in a hurry.
Stock up
Hendrix Lapierre – Lapierre was named the third star of the game on Monday. In a world where the Penguins have lost two centers this week (Kindel and Lizotte) to injury, Lapierre has looked the part of a capable lower-line fill-in. He’s a good skater and can make things happen in the offensive zone. He was pretty good in the faceoff circle. It’s early but he had a nice night for himself and other circumstances seem to be breaking in his favor – he found power play time during the game because of Kindel’s injury, then made the most of it getting an assist there. Opportunity knocking is one thing, making the most of it is another and right now it looks like Lapierre is starting to make good on the chances afforded. If Lizotte can’t be back in time for the regular season opener, the path is wide open right now for Lapierre to claim a spot in the lineup. At worst, he’s trending towards sticking with the NHL club.
Avery Hayes — Hayes has been coming from way in the back of the field, considering he’s mostly skated in practices with AHL caliber players and been something of an afterthought in a very stacked field. (Which, hey, someone has to be towards the back of a long pack). But seemingly every time Hayes plays, he makes something good happen, highlighted by creating a turnover and scoring a goal just before time expired in the second period in Monday’s game against Buffalo. Hayes usually leaves a lasting positive impression, it’s just a matter of how much opportunity he will get considering how many wingers the team has to sort through. His stock being up might not even have him on the verge of finding a roster spot but it hasn’t deterred him from standing out.
Elmer Soderblom – Soderblom went from the doghouse (misreading the schedule and showing up late on the first day of camp) to the penthouse of playing in key spots in the first preseason game in no-time flat. His physicality and mobility are very evident. He looks like a guy that is going to help an NHL team with his reach, length, skating ability to go along with the willingness to throw his body around.
Fillip Hallander – Hallander had five shots on goal in the game he played on Monday, probably should have scored one on a clean rush attempt. He does a lot of the little things right around the rink, knocking pucks free and staying on the right side of the action. So far he’s doing as expected to make his case back into the NHL, he’s an honest player that will be in the right spot at generally the right time. The injury situation is working in his favor much like last year when Hallander made the opening night roster in large part because Bryan Rust and Kevin Hayes opened the season on IR.
Stock middling or down
Tristan Broz – Broz was one of the stars of the 2025 training camp, so far he’s just kind of been present this year. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but you have to figure that he needs to elevate in order to make headway and jump the players with more experience and more established contracts to make the team. The tie isn’t going to go to the player like Broz that doesn’t need waivers to be sent to the AHL. And I’m not sure Broz has even come close to forcing the issue, to this point. Younger players are supposed to make it hard (if not impossible) to send them down. So far, I don’t think you can say Broz has done that.
Justin Brazeau – Brazeau endured a leg injury on Monday, so it’s reasonable not to get too down on him now, but even before that it looked like he’s barely keeping up with his teammates. Players and coaches say the league gets a little faster every year, it doesn’t look like Brazeau has kept up. Will his hands and scoring touch make up for the fact he’s the least mobile player in the competition? Especially now with a lower body currently less than 100%, it’s an area worth watching to see how quickly he returns to the ice and can try to secure a roster spot.
Ville Koivunen – It’s not Koivunen’s fault he got hit in the face and couldn’t play in his scheduled preseason game last night, but it certainly doesn’t help his cause to miss time in a quick preseason. Can’t make the club from the tub, and all that. This was going to be a massive camp for him to show his stuff and he can’t afford to miss much more time. Even prior to the injury, things were not trending in the right direction – Koivunen started camp on the first day playing with two surefire NHLers (Andrei Kuzmenko and Ben Kindel). By the third practice, he was playing with fourth liner Blake Lizotte and probable AHLer Rutger McGroarty. That may or may not be indicative of Koivunen’s performance but he wasn’t moving in the right direction prior to the injury that at the very least steals some time away from him at a critical juncture to find a niche.
Rutger McGroarty – It would be difficult to make a move for a player like McGroarty who is younger (22) than everyone on the list. So far, he hasn’t received a great opportunity to do so. Like Koivunen, McGroarty opened camp on a practice line with two NHL players (Lizotte and Bryan Rust). By last night’s preseason game, he was skating with future AHL players (Bill Zonnon and Atley Calvert). It’s not going to be the end of the world for McGroarty to go to the AHL and try to work his way up with a mid-season call-up but it sure looks like his path to making the NHL club out of camp is narrow to the point of barely being visible right now.
Projected lineup as of today
Nick Robertson – Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin Andrei Kuzmenko – Ben Kindel* – Bryan Rust Connor Dewar – Hendrix Lapierre – Elmer Soderblom Extras: Filip Hallander, Blake Lizotte (injured)
Bubble: Justin Brazeau, Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen
—
Kindel and Lizotte’s status for opening night could change the picture, placing Lizotte on IR would mean keeping one more bubble player. We’re projecting as a day-to-day that Kindel won’t miss the games that count, which obviously isn’t a known guarantee in this moment that would further shake up the picture.
There’s still another week for the bubble players to work their way up, and as seen already in camp, things can change on a dime with an injury or change in placement of the lines. Today’s outlook doesn’t always hold up for those future developments as the Pens enter the final week of camp before the opener on the 30th.
Corson Ceulemans (1) scored his first goal of the preseason, and first for the Blue Jackets in a 5-1 loss to an extremely heavy NHL roster put on the ice by Buffalo.
There wasn't a lot to take from this game from a fan's point of view. But from a coach's point of view, there may have been a few. Don't worry, though; the next two games will look a bit more like actual NHL games for Columbus, rather than AHL games dressed as NHL games.
Carson Soucy continues to make a case for his spot on the opening roster and a contract. He laid a tremendously hard hit on the Sabres' Owen Zellweger that left him lying on the ice for an extended period of time. It was a clean hit, but Beck Malenstyn fought Soucy to show his disapproval of the hit. Soucy knew a fight was coming and may have gotten dinged up a bit in the scrap. Malenstyn then hit Soucy along the wall, sending Soucy to the bench hunched over. There is no word if he's hurt, but he did speak to the media after the game and seemd ok.
Positives
Goalie Cam Talbot looked very good in the first period. The score could've been much worse had it not been for Talbot's play. The NHL roster the Sabres put out finally took over, and got a few past Talbot in the second, but he looked good.
Negatives
It's hard to look at a 5-1 game and not see negatives, but with a mostly AHL lineup on the ice, they had no real shot at beating the Sabres on this night.
Injuries
Mikael Pyyhtiä left with a lower-body injury and didn't return for the duration of the game.
Final Stats
CBJ APP
Player Stats & Notes
Corson Ceulemans scored his first goal of the preseason and first for the CBJ. preseason. He also had 4 shots, 2 blocks, and played 18:32.
Dmitri Voronkov had an assist and 2 shots.
Boston Buckberger
Luca Marelli led the team with 5 blocked shots.
Luca Pinelli had 3 shots.
Cam Talbot 23 of 26 shots.
Team Stats
The Jackets went 0/5 on the power play.
The Columbus PK stopped all 3 Buffalo power plays.
Columbus won 41.1% of the faceoffs - 23/56
The Blue Jackets had 28 hits and 20 blocks.
Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets will be back home on Thursday to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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The Vancouver Canucks dropped to 0-2 in the 2026 pre-season as they fell 3-1 to the Calgary Flames. Vancouver's lineup featured plenty of youth, while Calgary dressed a roster that will most likely be the same on opening night. Here are three Canucks standouts from Tuesday night.
Kevin Lankinen
Kevin Lankinen is the reason this game was close. Vancouver was outshot 31-9, with the 31-year-old making 28 saves. Although he allowed all three goals in the second, the middle frame was his best, as he stopped 15 of the 18 shots he faced.
Tuesday was a good bounce-back for Lankinen, who struggled during the scrimmage at training camp on Saturday. He came up with some big saves and was able to bail out his younger teammates throughout the night. Overall, it was a good start to the pre-season for Lankinen.
Aatu Räty
Aatu Räty was arguably the Canucks' best forward in this game. He led Vancouver with two shots on goal and recorded three additional shot attempts. Räty was also virtually unbeatable in the faceoff dot as he won 15 of the 20 draws he took.
After a less-than-ideal game on Saturday, Räty really stepped up against the Flames. He was able to win some board battles and looked engaged in the offensive zone. Ultimately, Räty made the most of his opportunities in what was his final game of the 2026 pre-season.
Adam Novotný
Adam Novotný did not look out of place in his second career pre-season game. The 18-year-old was constantly getting in on the forecheck and finished the night tied for second on the team with four shots. Novotný also blocked a shot on Tuesday and recorded one shot on goal.
Sep 22, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks left wing Adam Novonty (15) and Calgary Flames left wing Joel Farabee (86) battle for the puck during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Based on his performance during training camp and the pre-season, Novotný deserves some additional time with the NHL team. He will most likely head back to the OHL, but he has shown he may be closer to NHL-ready than initially thought. While it is early, it is safe to say that Novotný has a bright future ahead of him.
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After narrowly beating the Ottawa Senators in Trois-Rivières on Monday night, the Montreal Canadiens enjoyed a much-deserved day off on Tuesday. The break was long planned, as it marked the halfway point of training camp, and everyone will be back in Brossard Wednesday morning.
Team B is scheduled to hit the ice first at 10:30 AM, followed by Team A at 11:50 AM and Team C at 1:00 PM. Then, on Thursday, Teams A and B will practice simultaneously at 10:30 AM before facing each other in a scrimmage at 11:30 on ice 2, while Team C will practice on ice 1 at 11:45. If you want to take a day off to visit the Canadiens’ camp, Thursday should be the day, as it’s the only scrimmage planned so far.
Friday, all three groups will practice at the usual times: Team A at 10:30, Team B at 11:50 Am and Team C at 1:00 PM. Then, on Saturday, the Canadiens will once again face the Senators, but this time in a split-squad game. Team A will stay in Montreal to play at the Bell Centre at 7:00 PM and will hold its morning skate at the CN Sports Complex at 10:30. Team B will have its morning skate at 11:30 before heading to Ottawa to face the Sens at 7:00 PM.
That will be the Canadiens’ final preseason game, and after that match we should see some cuts. Will Martin St-Louis be guided by who has an NHL contract, or will he truly award roster spots to the most deserving players? That remains to be seen. It wasn’t that long ago that the organization elected to put Joel Armia on waivers after an underwhelming camp.
Unless Kirby Dach raises his intensity soon, he could be a candidate for the same treatment. The question is, though, would he clear, or would a GM be willing to roll the dice on him? After all, he’s still a former third-overall pick and a big-frame potential center. Then again, there’s a significant injury history there, but it’s less of a factor when picking up someone on waivers than when actually using assets to acquire them.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 22: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Liam Ruck (34) skates with the puck in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on September 22, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins fell 7-4 to the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh’s second preseason game on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena. Nick Robertson scored in his Penguins debut, while Kaeden Korczak and Rutger McGroarty also found the net in the loss. [Recap]
Forward Nick Robertson is looking to establish himself in Pittsburgh after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason. The 25-year-old younger brother of Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson is hoping for a fresh start after struggling to secure a regular NHL role in Toronto. [Trib Live]
The Penguins are dealing with early injuries to centers Ben Kindel and Blake Lizotte, creating questions about their depth at the position with the regular season about a week away. [Trib Live]
Twin brothers Liam and Markus Ruck made their Penguins preseason debuts Tuesday, playing on the same line against the Red Wings. The 18-year-old forwards were selected by Pittsburgh in the 2026 NHL draft, with Liam going No. 22 overall and Markus No. 39. [NHL]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was unanimously elected chairman of the NHL’s Board of Governors on Tuesday, succeeding Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, who held the position for 19 years. [TSN]
The Board of Governors also discussed potential expansion to Houston or Austin, Texas, but did not decide on adding a 33rd team… at least not yet. [TSN]
The Minnesota Wild signed general manager Bill Guerin to a multiyear contract extension on Tuesday. Guerin has served in the position since 2019 and is coming off a season in which he won the NHL’s Jim Gregory Award as the league’s top GM. [Sportsnet]
For the second straight preseason game, the Philadelphia Flyers suffered an uninspiring blowout loss, and for the second straight preseason game, the Flyers lost a key player to injury,
On Monday in Hershey, the Washington Capitals ran away with a 5-2 win, and forward Denver Barkey exited the game in the second period due to a lower-body injury.
On Tuesday in Boston, the Boston Bruins cruised to a dominant 5-1 win, and the Flyers lost Dan Vladar after just 13 minutes to an innocuous upper-body injury, forcing Aleksei Kolosov to enter the game in relief.
Like Monday against the Capitals, the Flyers got off to a decent start against the Bruins, out-shooting Boston 10-9 in the first period and heading into the first intermission deadlocked at 1-1, thanks to a solo effort from Jacob Gaucher.
Top center prospect Jett Luchanko recorded his second assist in as many nights, quietly bolstering his case to earn an NHL roster spot in the next week.
An even, scoreless second period saw the Flyers again out-shoot the Bruins, this time 8-7, but they completely fell apart in the third period.
The Bruins scored on four of their nine third-period shots, and Kolosov was helpless on just about all of them.
Morgan Geekie's power play redirection left Kolosov stranded, and Brian Halonen tapped in a puck that was deflected in front of Kolosov two minutes later.
With five minutes left in the third period, the Flyers were caught sleepwalking in their own end once again, and Elias Lindholm waltzed right by Danila Klimovich to bury a feed from Nikita Zadorov with a one-timer.
To put the cherry on top of the beatdown, Mikey Eyssimont cashed in on a Flyers defensive zone turnover, when Ty Murchison passed the puck right to Dans Locmelis. Eyssimont's one-timer beat Kolosov sliding across on the fast-developing play, and it was also the only Bruins goal that did not come between the circles and below the dots.
Overall, it was just a brutal game for the Flyers defensively, who frequently mismanaged the puck and failed to protect the good ice in their own zone.
Nobody especially stood out for the Flyers, though Spencer Gill and Cole Knuble looked in control for much of the game.
David Jiricek still has trouble handling the puck, something that wasn't a strong suit of his even dating back to the 2022 draft, but at times flashed the creativity and playmaking that helped make him the sixth overall pick four years ago.
Jiricek, 22, played a team-leading 22:46 on a pairing with Nick Seeler and appears poised to win the No. 6 defenseman spot, pending something catastrophic.
Oliver Bonk had moments, too, but would have committed his second penalty in as many games if Murchison's penalty hadn't been called first. Because Bonk is waivers-exempt, Jiricek will get every opportunity to retain his place in the lineup, though his shot needs to be utilized more.
The Flyers will return home Thursday for a preseason rematch against the Bruins at 7 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
It’s almost time for puck drop in a new NHL season.
The Carolina Hurricanes are coming off their second championship in franchise history after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Now, all 32 NHL teams will once again take the ice to begin the chase for the Stanley Cup.
That chase will be slightly longer in 2026-27, as the NHL expanded its regular season schedule from 82 games to 84 games.
From opening night to the return of the All-Star Game, here’s everything to know for the 2026-27 NHL season.
When does the NHL regular season start?
The 2026-27 NHL season will begin on Sept. 29 with a nationally televised tripleheader on ESPN and a pair of showdowns between Canadian foes.
In Canada, No. 1 overall draft pick Gavin McKenna is expected to make his NHL debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Montreal Canadiens, while the Edmonton Oilers will welcome the Vancouver Canucks.
How many outdoor NHL games will there be in 2026-27?
The NHL has three outdoor games lined up this season.
The Winnipeg Jets will host the Canadiens in the NHL Heritage Classic on Oct. 25, the Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL Winter Classic on Dec. 31 and the Dallas Stars will host the Golden Knights in the NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 20.
How many international NHL games will there be in 2026-27?
There will be four NHL tilts in Europe during the 2026-27 season.
The Hurricanes will face the Seattle Kraken in a pair of games in Helsinki, Finland, on Nov. 12 and 14. A little over a month later, the Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will battle in two matchups in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Dec. 18 and 20.
When is the 2027 NHL All-Star Game?
For the first time since 2024, there will be an NHL All-Star Game this season. The New York Islanders will host the festivities with the Skills competition on Feb. 5 and the revamped All-Star Game on Feb. 6.
The NHL did not hold an All-Star Game the last two seasons due to the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and the Milan Cortina Olympics in 2026, the first Winter Games to feature NHL players since 2014.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL season will conclude with all 32 teams in action on April 10.
Why did the NHL expand the regular season?
The NHL added two more games to the regular season in an effort to balance out the number of matchups each team has with its division rivals after several franchises complained about an uneven schedule.
The 84-game regular season is tied for the longest in league history. The NHL previously featured an 84-game slate from 1992 to 1994 with each team playing two neutral site games annually. It went down to 82 games starting with the 1995-96 season following a lockout-shortened 1994-95 campaign.
It’s almost time for puck drop in a new NHL season.
The Carolina Hurricanes are coming off their second championship in franchise history after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Now, all 32 NHL teams will once again take the ice to begin the chase for the Stanley Cup.
That chase will be slightly longer in 2026-27, as the NHL expanded its regular season schedule from 82 games to 84 games.
From opening night to the return of the All-Star Game, here’s everything to know for the 2026-27 NHL season.
When does the NHL regular season start?
The 2026-27 NHL season will begin on Sept. 29 with a nationally televised tripleheader on ESPN and a pair of showdowns between Canadian foes.
In Canada, No. 1 overall draft pick Gavin McKenna is expected to make his NHL debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Montreal Canadiens, while the Edmonton Oilers will welcome the Vancouver Canucks.
How many outdoor NHL games will there be in 2026-27?
The NHL has three outdoor games lined up this season.
The Winnipeg Jets will host the Canadiens in the NHL Heritage Classic on Oct. 25, the Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL Winter Classic on Dec. 31 and the Dallas Stars will host the Golden Knights in the NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 20.
How many international NHL games will there be in 2026-27?
There will be four NHL tilts in Europe during the 2026-27 season.
The Hurricanes will face the Seattle Kraken in a pair of games in Helsinki, Finland, on Nov. 12 and 14. A little over a month later, the Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will battle in two matchups in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Dec. 18 and 20.
When is the 2027 NHL All-Star Game?
For the first time since 2024, there will be an NHL All-Star Game this season. The New York Islanders will host the festivities with the Skills competition on Feb. 5 and the revamped All-Star Game on Feb. 6.
The NHL did not hold an All-Star Game the last two seasons due to the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and the Milan Cortina Olympics in 2026, the first Winter Games to feature NHL players since 2014.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL season will conclude with all 32 teams in action on April 10.
Why did the NHL expand the regular season?
The NHL added two more games to the regular season in an effort to balance out the number of matchups each team has with its division rivals after several franchises complained about an uneven schedule.
The 84-game regular season is tied for the longest in league history. The NHL previously featured an 84-game slate from 1992 to 1994 with each team playing two neutral site games annually. It went down to 82 games starting with the 1995-96 season following a lockout-shortened 1994-95 campaign.
There’s a timeless saying that goes a little like this: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” In the case of the Vegas Golden Knights vs. the San Jose Sharks, this seems more like a young dog struggling to learn a new trick. If you wanted to force the Golden Knights into the ‘old dog’ role, the saying really only applies if the ‘new trick’ is losing to the Sharks.
The Sharks iced a more veteran-heavy roster, deploying the likes of Jacob Trouba, Dmitry Orlov, Tyler Toffoli, and Alexander Wennberg. They also played Ivar Stenberg and Michael Misa, the second overall picks from the past two NHL Entry Drafts. However, despite entering tonight as heavy underdogs, the Golden Knights found a way to win. It seems like they always do against the Sharks.
Yes, their 2-1 shootout victory tonight came in a meaningless preseason game. But to the Golden Knights, who sent a young roster out against a more veteran-heavy Sharks team, a win is a win.
1. A Hard Day’s Knight
The Golden Knights are saving their veterans for their two home preseason games, and therefore didn’t ice many flashy names tonight. They did, however, ice a roster chock full of hardworking individuals, and their top line– Alexander Holtz, Tanner Laczynski, and Jonas Røndbjerg– led the way.
They pushed the pace all night, getting in on the forecheck and making life difficult for San Jose’s defensemen. They generated offense off the cycle and combined for 11 shots on goal. It’s really only fitting that they were the line to finally break through and get the Golden Knights on the board.
On this particular shift, Braeden Bowman came over the boards with Holtz and Laczynski instead of Røndbjerg. He and Holtz prevented the Sharks from clearing the zone and dumped the puck in for Laczynski below the goal line. Laczynski worked it around to Adam Ginning at the point; Ginning held the line and sent it back to Laczynski below the left circle. Bowman crashed the net, and Laczynski set up Holtz for a one-timer through traffic.
We really should’ve known right from the start that tonight’s preseason contest was destined to be a goaltender duel.
Carter Hart stole the show in his preseason debut, earning first star of the game with 28 saves on 29 shots for a .966 SV%. And the Golden Knights didn’t do him many favors– the Sharks used their speed to generate odd-man rushes all night. Hart was up to the task and made highlight-reel saves all night, robbing second overall pick Michael Misa on several Grade A chances. The only puck that got past him came on the power play on a second attempt.
For the Sharks, Yaroslav Askarov wasn’t far behind and earned second star of the game with 22 saves on 23 shots and a .957 save percentage.
3. Piiparinen’s First Dance
Juho Piiparinen, the Golden Knights’ first-round selection at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, made his preseason debut tonight. The Finnish defenseman just turned 18 last month, but you wouldn’t have been able to guess his age based on how he played tonight.
Piiparinen didn’t look out of place against veteran NHLers. He looked comfortable, and was confident enough in his game to jump into the rush and activate in the offensive zone. He played just over 20 minutes, blocked two shots, and recorded a takeaway.
The organization is extremely high on this year’s 29th overall pick, and for good reason.
“He’s come as advertised from what we’ve seen,” said head coach Ryan Craig on Tuesday morning. “A great young man, great skill set.”
RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 02: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly addresses the media prior to game one of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 2, 2026 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
NEW YORK — Meeting for the first time since the NHL began exploring expansion to Houston or Austin, Texas in June, the league’s Board of Governors discussed the topic on Tuesday but did not make any decisions, according to Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly spoke to billionaire Dan Friedkin’s group last week and got a full report, and representatives from the 32 current teams were briefed on the situation with no timetable to consider a possible vote on adding a 33rd.
“I think everybody’s taking a wait-and-see attitude to see what’s being presented and what the pros and cons are,” Bettman said. “Expansion is a multibillion-dollar transaction, which has an impact on all the other clubs in the league. A lot of i’s have to be dotted and t’s have to be crossed. And if there’s going to be expansion, three-quarters of the governors are going to have to be comfortable that this makes sense to them. And that’s not something you do overnight.”
Expansion, if it happens, would involve a $3.5 billion investment between the fee paid to owners and the cost to build a new arena. Daly said Friedkin’s Pursuit Sports had looked at sites to build in Houston and Austin, with a lot left to figure out, including deciding between one of the biggest U.S. media markets and a place that does not have a team in any of the major four North American men’s professional sports leagues.
“We would expect that we’ll know by the end of the year which market they would prefer,” Bettman said. “But we still and they still have a lot of work to do.”
The next board meeting is scheduled for December. The term sheet between the NHL and Friedkin’s family is for a six-month exploration, but that does not guarantee it will be wrapped up by the end of the year.
“I don’t think we’re putting time limits on things,” Daly said. “Originally we contemplated at least knowing where we are in December. I expect we will certainly know a lot more than we do now, come December, but I don’t think there’s any magic date by which something has to get done or not get done.”
Daly said earlier this month in Las Vegas that part of this meeting was getting direction from the board. If the league knows how members are leaning, officials are not saying.
“I think there are probably some owners who think expansion is the greatest thing ever, and I think there are some people who say, ‘Why do we need to expand?’” Bettman said. “I can’t tell you the numbers.”
Bettman and Daly said there also continue to be expressions of interest from ownership options in Atlanta and the Phoenix area. A feasibility study could be the next step, but those processes are not as far along as Texas.
“There’s always markets that are approaching the NHL, looking for expansion opportunities,” Calgary Flames owner Murray Edwards said after he was voted vice chairman and Washington’s Ted Leonsis chairman of the board. “We talk about it, but there’s no sort of fast process or slow process. We’re just looking at options.”
It’s almost time for puck drop in a new NHL season.
The Carolina Hurricanes are coming off their second championship in franchise history after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Now, all 32 NHL teams will once again take the ice to begin the chase for the Stanley Cup.
That chase will be slightly longer in 2026-27, as the NHL expanded its regular season schedule from 82 games to 84 games.
From opening night to the return of the All-Star Game, here’s everything to know for the 2026-27 NHL season.
When does the NHL regular season start?
The 2026-27 NHL season will begin on Sept. 29 with a nationally televised tripleheader on ESPN and a pair of showdowns between Canadian foes.
In Canada, No. 1 overall draft pick Gavin McKenna is expected to make his NHL debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Montreal Canadiens, while the Edmonton Oilers will welcome the Vancouver Canucks.
How many outdoor NHL games will there be in 2026-27?
The NHL has three outdoor games lined up this season.
The Winnipeg Jets will host the Canadiens in the NHL Heritage Classic on Oct. 25, the Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL Winter Classic on Dec. 31 and the Dallas Stars will host the Golden Knights in the NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 20.
How many international NHL games will there be in 2026-27?
There will be four NHL tilts in Europe during the 2026-27 season.
The Hurricanes will face the Seattle Kraken in a pair of games in Helsinki, Finland, on Nov. 12 and 14. A little over a month later, the Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will battle in two matchups in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Dec. 18 and 20.
When is the 2027 NHL All-Star Game?
For the first time since 2024, there will be an NHL All-Star Game this season. The New York Islanders will host the festivities with the Skills competition on Feb. 5 and the revamped All-Star Game on Feb. 6.
The NHL did not hold an All-Star Game the last two seasons due to the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and the Milan Cortina Olympics in 2026, the first Winter Games to feature NHL players since 2014.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL season will conclude with all 32 teams in action on April 10.
Why did the NHL expand the regular season?
The NHL added two more games to the regular season in an effort to balance out the number of matchups each team has with its division rivals after several franchises complained about an uneven schedule.
The 84-game regular season is tied for the longest in league history. The NHL previously featured an 84-game slate from 1992 to 1994 with each team playing two neutral site games annually. It went down to 82 games starting with the 1995-96 season following a lockout-shortened 1994-95 campaign.
New York Islanders' Matias Maccelli (63) skates against the New York Rangers during a preseason game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
Two of the uncertainties that followed the Islanders into training camp involved the version of Matias Maccelli they’d get — whether he could produce in the top six as some type of Anders Lee replacement — and whether they could revive their power play.
And in their second preseason game, against a lineup containing plenty of NHL regulars, both flashed some potential as Maccelli — who also skated on the left side of the Islanders’ second line in their 4-3 win over the Blueshirts at the Garden — collected two of their three goals with the man advantage. Maccelli started last season on the Maple Leafs’ top line alongside Auston Matthews, but he was also at one point a healthy scratch and finished with just 14 goals and 39 points.
“Obviously, that’s the goal, to play in that role,” Maccelli said of trying to carve out a top six role and run with it. “It was a good start for that [Tuesday], and try not to think about it too much and just come to the rink and do my job and play as good as I can.”
New York Islanders’ Matias Maccelli (63) skates against the New York Rangers during a preseason game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Getty Images
Maccelli’s first goal contained a fortunate bounce, as he flung a puck toward the net that bounced off Rangers defenseman Sean Durzi and went in. But for his second tally, he collected a generous rebound from Spencer Martin off a shot from Matthew Schaefer and deposited the puck into the net.
Maccelli acknowledged that it was just the preseason, but Tuesday’s goals still served as an encouraging sign that his one-year flier with the Islanders could end up being worth it.
“You need a certain amount of goals in this league in order to get in the playoffs, regardless of how well you defend,” Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer said. “You still have to put the puck in the net at a certain level in order to give yourself a chance to get in the playoffs. So I think our conversations were around ‘how do we add some goals to the lineup,’ and that included adding guys that could help our power play — and I think he checked both those boxes.
“He did what he’s supposed to do [Tuesday] in order to make a statement about where he fits on this team.”
Matias Maccelli (63) of the Islanders scores the game-winning goal against Spencer Martin (41) of the New York Rangers during a preseason game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Getty Images
And it could directly coincide with the emergence of a power-play unit that finished with the third-worst success rate in the NHL (16.5 percent) last season. DeBoer said the unit “felt dangerous” during their power-play chances — with Schaefer recording the other goal — but said he wanted to “temper our enthusiasm.”
“It’s one game,” DeBoer said. “We’re working on some things. If we go 0-for-4 tomorrow, the sky’s not falling, either.”
DeBoer said postgame — when asked about Schaefer — that the second-year superstar will be “a future captain of this team.”
“He’s one of those players at the end of my coaching career, I’m gonna sit on a deck somewhere and think about that I got a front-row seat to watch that guy play hockey, which is pretty special,” DeBoer said.
Defenseman Ethan Bear and goaltender Henrik Tikkanen were waived Tuesday for the purpose of assignment to AHL Hamilton. Cameron Berg, Cam Thiesing, Jesse Pulkkinen, Hunter Drew, Ryan Healey, Luke Rowe, Ryan Fanti, Brandon Scanlon, Jesse Nurmi, Joey Larson, Gleb Veremyev and Calle Odelius were all assigned to the Hammers, according to the team. … Kyle MacLean scored the first Islanders goal.
The New York Rangers’ Tuesday night preseason game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Islanders was a big test for 2026 fifth-overall pick Alberts Šmits.
Entering his first training camp, Mike Sullivan emphatically stated that Šmits would be given a real opportunity to make the Rangers’ opening-night roster.
Those words have been put into action, as through the first week of training camp, Šmits has been playing on the Rangers’ third pairing alongside Braden Schneider, a clear indication that Sullivan and the coaching staff are serious about getting a serious look at their young defenseman to determine if he’s ready for the NHL.
Tuesday night marked his biggest test, facing off against an Islanders roster filled with NHL players, and it’s safe to say he passed the test.
The way in which Šmits defended in his own zone stood out, specifically on a play where he used his long reach to poke-check the puck away from Bo Horvat, who was cutting to the net.
At just 18-years-old, Šmits showed he’s able to still command a physical presence and hold his own amongst NHL players, which is what caught the eye of Sullivan.
“I thought he played well,” Sullivan said of Šmits. “One of the biggest challenges for young players is just the physical size and strength of the guys in this league, and I mean you guys can see it, he's a man as an 18-year-old. His physical stature. He's big and strong. He has the ability to battle on pucks. He's big enough and strong enough to compete in this league, that's one challenge I think he's already met.”
Šmits was also able to contribute offensively.
In the second period, Šmits gave Taylor Raddysh a perfect pass as he was streaking to the front of the net, which resulted in a deflection goal from Raddysh.
The play showed Šmits’ confidence with the puck as well as his impressive offensive instincts to find Raddysh in a tight window.
“He makes a really nice play on Taylor Raddysh’s goal,” Sullivan said. “Just looking for that stick in the high slot, just getting his head up, and the awareness to make that play… He;s a mobile guy.”
Šmits finished the night playing 15:29 minutes, while recording one assist, one blocked shot, two hits, and one takeaway.
After the game, Šmits emphasized that he felt comfortable with the speed of play, something that was directly shown in his performance.
Despite an impressive preseason debut, Šmits described his overall performance as up and down.
“There were a lot of good moments, a lot of moments where I wish I could have played differently,” Šmits said. “Hockey is a momentum game, and there is ups and downs through the game. I just gotta learn from the bad things and gotta take them with me to the future.”
Šmits has already played some high-level hockey at a young age, including at the 2026 Winter Olympics, representing his home country Latvia.
However, he was still in awe and relished the opportunity to play under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.
“Obviously, it's a big arena,” Šmits said. “You can feel all the energy that's in there, and it was an amazing experience for me. I really enjoyed it.”
