Pacific Division foes meet when Vegas hosts Calgary

Calgary Flames (1-5, in the Pacific Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (6-2, in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Thursday, 10 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Calgary Flames take on the Vegas Golden Knights in Pacific Division action on Thursday.

Vegas is 3-1-0 against the Pacific Division and 6-2 overall. The Golden Knights are 2-1-0 in games they score at least one power-play goal.

Calgary has a 1-4-0 record in Pacific Division play and a 1-5 record overall. The Flames have conceded 29 goals while scoring 12 for a -17 scoring differential.

Thursday's game is the first time these teams match up this season.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: Parker Wotherspoon: out (upper body), Lukas Cormier: out (undisclosed), Victor Olofsson: out (undisclosed), Kai Uchacz: out (undisclosed).

Flames: Jonathan Huberdeau: out (hip), Samuel Honzek: out (undisclosed).

___

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

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-2 Loss to the Flames

Following a brief two-game Canadian road trip where they took four of four points from the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames on Friday and Saturday, respectively, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the very same Flames team on Tuesday night at Honda Center. 

Their two points proved rather costly for Anaheim on Saturday, however, as throughout the game, they lost the services of both forward Cutter Gauthier and center Ryan Poehling. Gauthier remains “day-to-day” with an upper-body injury and was unavailable for this game. Poehling will miss the next 6-8 weeks with a sprained MCL. 

Game #6: Ducks vs. Flames Gameday Preview (10/13/26)

Ducks Roster Updates: Poehling to IR, McQueen Recalled, Helleson to Debut, Gauthier Day-to-day

Ducks top prospect Roger McQueen was recalled from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL to replace Poehling on the Ducks’ listed third line and made his NHL debut in this game. Also making his season debut was Drew Helleson on the blueline, who had been sidelined since Sept. 20 with a lower-body injury. 

Calgary entered this game hungry, as one of just three winless teams in the NHL and the only team without a point through five games. 

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

Killorn-Carlsson-Sennecke

Nesterenko-Granlund-Colangelo

Vatrano-McQueen-Greer

Malott-Washe-Caulfield

LaCombe-Warren

Mintyukov-Helleson

Hinds-Luneau

Lukas Dostal started in net for the Ducks for the fifth time in six games. He saved 32 of the 35 shots he faced. He was opposed in the Calgary crease by Dustin Wolf, who stopped 22 of 24. 

“We had all new lines today,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game of his team’s performance. “The other night, we didn’t generate a lot. There were a lot of bounce-ins, a lot of scrappy stuff in the offensive zone both ways. The quality tonight, they got a lot of point shots through; we weren’t in lanes. We could have been better in that area. 

“It wasn’t like we gave up a ton, so it’s one of those games at the end of the year, you’ll say, ‘Geez, we left one on the table.’”

Game Notes

The Ducks were outworked from the start in this game by a well-coached, hungry Flames team that doesn’t have the high-end offensive talent the Ducks have, but whose five-man defensive habits can keep them in games such as this one until they find their breaks. The Ducks’ lack of forward depth and secondary scoring was exposed a bit in this one, as only one or two players were consistently dangerous.

Defensive Zone Coverage: Again, breakouts and decision-making with pucks on the Ducks’ sticks became their undoing and led to several instances of extended zone time for the Flames and numerous quality looks. Anaheim did well to recover back to the middle and into lanes from broken board plays until fatigue set in.

Poehling’s presence was certainly felt in these instances, as he’s a vital key to what the Ducks are trying to accomplish on the ice in their end. Carlsson and Granlund did well to remain low in coverage and protect the inner slot, but Poehling has the ability to not only do those things, but provide a disruptive presence along the perimeter which sparks turnovers, exits, and transition offense. 

The Ducks only won 43% of face-offs in this game, which isn’t a major contributing factor to their loss, but when the first 5-15 seconds of shifts from offensive drivers are spent trying to win pucks back, the impact of said players is ultimately greatly limited. 

Beckett Sennecke: Sennecke was the Ducks’ best player in this game, hands down. He was incredibly disruptive at both bluelines, forcing turnovers in some of the most dangerous areas of the ice with outstanding consistency. He’s added elements of speed to his game, which, when combined with his puck skill and manipulation capabilities, is proving a deadly combination. He’s endlessly creative, and the attention he garners in the offensive zone unlocked aspects of Leo Carlsson’s cycle game at points early in the game. 

Leo Carlsson: Carlsson notched a pretty power play goal, showed some promising cycle tendencies with improved edges in tight spaces, and played a sound game above the puck on the defensive end. However, these are the kinds of games in which the Ducks need Carlsson to take over like the $18 million AAV superstar talent he is. 

Too often in this game, he was a passenger on Sennecke’s line rather than an equal share driver. When he isn’t as puck-dominant, Carlsson will have to find more clever ways to fill lanes, become more involved offensively than we saw from him in this game, and show a higher motor to win pucks back and win one-on-one battles with more consistency. 

Lukas Dostal: For the vast majority of the early season and this particular game, Dostal put forth a quality effort, made some tough saves look easy, and controlled play to a high level from within and surrounding the crease. However, the inability to make a save on a somewhat routine shot that became the Flames game-winning goal proved a costly mistake by the Ducks’ No.1. At a critical juncture in the game, when momentum seemed to be finally swinging the Ducks’ way, Martin Pospisil was able to slide one through Dostal’s legs during a 1v3 sequence, in transition, from just outside of the strong-side faceoff dot.

Roger McQueen: McQueen only played 11:26 TOI in his NHL debut, including 2:02 on the power play, in the net-front role. He generated one shot on three attempts and was part of some quality, effortful slot plays on his line. He wasn’t able to find much of a rhythm with the amount of penalties taken in totality, and his puck touches were expectedly limited, given the role of his line and the play style of his linemates. 

Some promising factors that were on display were on the defensive side of the puck, where his angling, habits, and reach were a presence in the middle third of the ice. He backchecked smartly, covering vast amounts of ice and eliminating passing, shooting, and skating lanes alike. He’s showing a higher NHL floor than expected and could evolve into a two-way dominant player with proper development.

The Ducks will look to get back in the win column on Friday, when the Boston Bruins make their way to Honda Center for a 7 pm PST puck drop. 

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-2 Win over the Flames

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-1 Win over the Jets

San Jose Sharks Fall to Boston Bruins 6-3 Despite Stenberg's First Goal

The San Jose Sharks hosted the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night as the "main event" of the NHL's annual Frozen Frenzy. For just one night, Sharks fans were wishing for the 7:30 PM start of years' past, but instead the puck didn't drop until 8. Yaroslav Askarov was back between the pipes for the Sharks, while Jeremy Swayman stood directly across from him at the other end of the ice.

Boston's new captain David Pastrnak was sent to the penalty box at 4:44 in the first period for high-sticking the Sharks' new captain Macklin Celebrini. Although the Sharks sustained some pressure in the offensive zone with the man advantage, the Bruins were able to kill off the penalty successfully. 

Roughly eight minutes into the period, Igor Chernyshov had a tremendous individual effort to force a turnover at the blue line, complete a spinning pass to Will Smith and nearly got the Sharks on the board but whiffed on his one-timer attempt. Less than a minute later, it seemed like the Bruins had taken a 1-0 lead with a shot from Mason Lohrei, but the referee immediately signaled no goal and disallowed it. At 12:55 in the first period, the Bruins did get their lead though as Fraser Minten fired a shot from distance that beat Askarov to make it 1-0. 

The Sharks' power play got another chance with 6:33 remaining in the period, as veteran defenseman Nikita Zadorov was penalized for hooking. Two seconds after the penalty expired, Jacob Trouba scored with a rocket of a one-timer from the point that sailed past Swayman and into the nylon.

Charlie McAvoy restored the Bruins' lead after a broken play in front of the Sharks' net led to a mad scramble. The Sharks had a couple of opportunities to get the puck out of a dangerous area, but instead kept the puck right in front of the net where the Bruins could capitalize.

Zadorov went back to the penalty box early in the second period after he tripped up Macklin Celebrini. That power play ultimately led to a special moment, as Ivar Stenberg scored his first career goal on a deflection to tie things up at 2-2. Watch the goal here:

WATCH: Ivar Stenberg Scores First Career NHL GoalWATCH: Ivar Stenberg Scores First Career NHL GoalIt took a bit longer than he likely wanted, but San Jose Sharks rookie Ivar Stenberg has scored a goal in the National Hockey League.

Matthew Poitras then restored the Bruins' lead, making it a 3-2 game right before the halfway point. 

Stenberg took a hooking penalty at 12:01 of the second period, sending the Bruins to their first power play of the night. During the penalty kill, Jacob Trouba and Fraser Minton took offsetting penalties for their part in a scrum.

Moments after the Sharks' penalty expired, Mark Kastelic laid a heavy hit on Celebrini at the blue line. In retaliation, Will Smith cross-checked Kastelic from behind and sent the Sharks back to the penalty kill. While it's great to see a player stand up for their captain, taking a bad penalty in retaliation for a clean hit while behind by a goal likely wasn't the best decision. Ultimately, all it meant was two minutes of defensive hockey as the Sharks killed off Smith's penalty as well.

With three seconds remaining in the second period, Pavel Zacha scored his second of the season to make it a 4-2 lead for the Bruins.

Boston gave the Sharks an opportunity to get momentum back on their side as they took a bench minor for too many men, and they did just that. At 5:04 in the third period, just 11 seconds into the power play, Macklin Celebrini scored his second of the season to bring the Sharks within a single goal. 

Darnell Nurse dropped the gloves with Nikita Zadorov to try to spark some momentum, but instead Nurse went down the tunnel after he appeared to hit his head on Zadorov's takedown. Nurse skated to the penalty box momentarily during a TV timeout before once again heading to the Sharks' locker room.

Will Borgen sealed the game for Boston with an empty net goal to make it a 6-3 game, ending the Sharks' slim chances of a comeback.

Kings' Nightmare Start Continues With 4-1 Loss To Oilers: Time To Panic?

After a disappointing overtime loss in Vegas, the Los Angeles Kings returned home to face their rival, hoping to grab their first win of the season, but it didn't go as planned. 

The Kings (0-3-2) fell to the Edmonton Oilers (5-0-1) 4-1, dropping to 0-3-2, their worst start in franchise history, and remaining one of two winless teams in the league, alongside the Philadelphia Flyers.  

Edmonton was doing all this with several players out due to injury, still wearing the Kings' number and continuing to dominate them, not just win, but take their hearts out in almost every matchup in recent memory. 

Still, the Kings had no answer for Conor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, who both scored in the first period along with Vasily Podkolzin to give Edmonton a 3-0 lead in a span of eight minutes. 

It didn't seem like things could get worse than they already were, especially at Crypto.com Arena, but the visiting team played like it was their own, and now, a week into the 2026-27 season, they look even worse than their awful start last year. 

Many of the issues that were ailing the Kings continued in this game. After an excellent outing under center against Vegas, Darcy Kuemper didn't make much of an impact tonight, and the rest of the defense struggled as well. 

It was one of those nights when, even at home, the Kings looked uncomfortable and disorganized, with their team chemistry off the rails, allowing the Oilers to snatch their heart out in just the first period. 

Despite outshouting the visiting team 12-7, the home team still trailed 3-0 after 20 minutes, as McDavid and Draisaitl were a mismatch and a weapon on ice for the Kings. 

In the second period, the Oilers went quiet, getting sloppy with the puck for nearly the entire 20 minutes, and the Kings finally responded. After an excellent play from Brandt Clarke, who used his edges to keep the puck high on the 5-on-5, the Kings scored their first of the season in the last seven periods. 

The rest of the period went quiet; LA got within two, trailing 3-1 after 40 minutes at Crypto. 

LA got several close looks at the net in the final period, with Eric Haula and Adrian Kempe hitting the post and potentially cutting the deficit. All game, the Kings got good looks, which is why they finished with a season-high 40 shots on goal, but they still managed just one goal. 

It was more encouraging; the silver and black were playing faster and moving the puck around, but the shot selection wasn't there. 

With Artemi Panarin, Quinton Byfield, and Adrian Kempe on ice, the trio had 19 shot attempts but nothing to show for it. This has arguably been the team's best line, but one goal on the 5-on-5 isn't going to cut it. 

The power play killed any comeback for the Kings; they had several opportunities, but finishing 0-for-4 isn't the answer, especially against a high-powered Oilers team that scores efficiently. 

Edmonton sealed the deal for good, converting on an empty net to close out the game 4-1 and silence the fans at Crypo.com. 

The Kings weren't done any favors with their opening schedule. 

Four of their five opponents have a better-than-.500 record to start the season; it's not that hard to look at the Kings' schedule and explain the winless start. The Avs, Golden Knights, and Oilers are widely considered three of the top teams in the Western Conference, and two of those games were played on the road. 

And the schedule isn't getting any easier. The Kings play Boston on Saturday, Washington on Tuesday, and the Islanders on Thursday.

But the schedule isn't the number one priority for this team right now; it's their horrendous defense, goaltending, and shot selection, as they have scored just one goal in their third straight games. 

Every loss puts pressure on what the Kings' management and ownership should do next. The team has already had three coaches in the last three seasons, which hasn't helped much since Peter Laviolette was hired. 

After barely making the postseason last time, it won't be as easy this season, with teams improving and LA losing. At some point, the Kings just need to capture their first win. 

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Open the Floodgates: 3 Observations as Golden Knights’ Offense Breaks Through Against Predators

As a team, the Vegas Golden Knights feel they can come back from any deficit. However, they’d rather not, because they’re one of the best teams in the league at defending a lead. On Tuesday, they entered the third period up 3-2 over the Nashville Predators, and they made the most of it.

When teams have the lead, they tend to sit back and focus on defending their net. Tonight, the Golden Knights did none of that. Instead, they attacked in waves and continuously looked to extend their lead.

“Real good third period, obviously,” said defenseman Noah Hanifin following the 5-2 win. “Hiller made some huge saves for us that gave us some momentum. And the penalty came up big in a few different areas of the game.”

“I think the best part was coming out of the 3rd, not taking our foot off the gas, and bringing our game to another level,” said Brett Howden. “It’s tough on a back-to-back sometimes, but I thought we put the pedal down and did a good job of finishing it off the right way.”

1. Bandaid

It’s still early in the season, but thus far, there have been stretches where the Golden Knights have struggled to stop the bleeding. Last night, the Golden Knights took a penalty two minutes and 45 seconds after allowing the first goal of the game. Their penalty kill, which had previously been so strong, crumbled under pressure. The two-goal deficit quickly turned into three, and that hole proved to be too deep.

Tonight, they found themselves in a very similar situation when Brett Howden took a penalty just 41 seconds after the Golden Knights conceded the first goal of the game. 

This time, the Golden Knights’ penalty kill came through. Following a strong kill, Raphael Lavoie took it the other way and fed Tomáš Hertl for the equalizer. 

“That’s something we talked about this morning,” said Rasmus Andersson following the win. “We can’t let it snowball, right? If we let in one, then we can’t let in the second or third right after. Tommy comes up with a huge 1-1 goal there, and gives us a little bit of momentum.”

2. Momentum Killer

The penalty kill wasn’t just crucial in stopping the bleeding; it also swung momentum in the first period. Funnily enough, the Golden Knights generated quite a bit of offense from their penalty kill, including their second goal of the night.

“We scored right after two penalty kills,” said head coach Ryan Craig. “When you do the job on the kill and then get that response, it can be deflating to a team.”

Coming into Tuesday’s game, the Predators boasted the league’s fourth-ranked power play. But tonight, the Golden Knights won the special-teams battle, going 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

“The penalty kill was huge,” said Noah Hanifin. “And they’ve got a good power play over there. But we stuck with it and got a couple goals shortly after the kill. Building momentum, that’s what it’s all about. When you’re on the penalty kill, you’re making sure you’re giving your team some momentum. I thought the group did that tonight, and it paid off for us.”

3. Offense From Defense

With the likes of Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone, the Golden Knights have a pretty lethal forward group. But when they’re really humming, the defense is chipping in offensively. That happened tonight, and the defense combined for five points.

Rasmus Andersson led the way with two assists, one coming on William Karlsson’s game-winning goal. Brayden McNabb and Noah Hanifin each recorded a primary assist, and Dylan Coghlan provided an assist as well.

The defensemen didn’t just contribute offensively— they did so at key moments in the game. Just as Ivan Barbashev’s holding penalty expired, Jack Eichel found Brayden McNabb in transition. McNabb carried the puck up ice and fed Eichel as the center drove the net. Eichel redirected it past Juuse Saros, and the Golden Knights took their first lead of the night.

Noah Hanifin’s contribution, too, came when the Golden Knights needed it most. They led 3-2, but the Predators were pushing for the equalizer early in the third period. The Golden Knights responded with a good shift in the offensive zone, and Hanifin capped it off by finding Trevor Connelly all alone for a one-timer.

“You know, sometimes, when you’re in those tight games, you tend to [take your foot off the gas],“ said Noah Hanifin following the 5-2 win. “I thought we did a good job staying on our toes, getting after them, playing in the offensive zone and generating some good looks. It was a really good third period for us.”

Calgary Flames Earn First Win of the Season With 4-2 Victory Over Ducks

The Calgary Flames finally have a win to their name.

After opening the season with five straight losses, the Flames picked up their first victory of the season with a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Tuesday night.

It was a much-needed response from Calgary, which showed a noticeable improvement in its overall game. The Flames generated consistent offensive pressure, outshot Anaheim and did a better job limiting the Ducks’ chances at five-on-five.

Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Adam Klapka opened the scoring in the first period, Aydar Suniev continued his strong start since being recalled from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, and Martin Pospisil scored the late go-ahead goal to secure the win.

The Flames also had to overcome a difficult stretch in the opening period after Anaheim capitalized on its opportunities to take the lead.

Calgary got off to a strong start, opening the scoring at 8:32 of the first period. After establishing a forecheck and creating pressure in the offensive zone, Klapka collected the puck in the high slot and beat Lukas Dostal with a hard wrist shot for his second goal of the season.

The Ducks responded at 12:09 during a four-on-four sequence. Beckett Sennecke picked off Simon Nemec at the Anaheim blue line and broke in alone on Dustin Wolf. Using his speed, Sennecke moved from backhand to forehand before beating Wolf to tie the game 1-1.

Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Anaheim took the lead less than two minutes later on the power play. Leo Carlsson received a pass from Mikael Granlund, skated into the hash marks and picked the top corner over Wolf at 14:05. The goal was Carlsson’s second of the season and gave the Ducks a 2-1 advantage.

Despite surrendering two goals in the opening period, Calgary responded with a much stronger second frame.

The Flames generated several quality chances during a five-on-three power play but couldn’t find the equalizer. However, they capitalized shortly after Anaheim returned to full strength.

At 8:02, Ryan Strome found Suniev in front of the net, where the rookie forward one-timed the pass past Dostal to even the score at 2-2.

Calgary continued to dictate the pace, outshooting Anaheim 21-8 at that point in the game. The physicality also picked up midway through the period, with Klapka and Jeff Malott dropping the gloves.

Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The teams remained tied heading into the third period, setting the stage for a late breakthrough from the visitors.

Pospisil provided the decisive moment at 15:37. The forward carried the puck into the offensive zone with speed, drove wide and sent a low shot through Dostal’s five-hole to give Calgary a 3-2 lead.

Suniev and Yan Kuznetsov picked up the assists on Pospisil’s go-ahead goal.

Yegor Sharangovich added an empty net goal as the Flames held on, closing out the victory and putting an end to their winless start.

Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Three Takeaways

1. Penalties nearly cost the Flames early

Calgary’s opening goal gave the team an early boost, but three first-period penalties disrupted its momentum and allowed Anaheim to take control of the scoreboard.

The Ducks made the Flames pay, tying the game during a four-on-four sequence before taking the lead on the power play.

Special teams remain an important area for Calgary to clean up. The improved effort at five-on-five was encouraging, but the Flames cannot afford to give opponents repeated opportunities to swing games in their favour.

The difference on Tuesday was that Calgary responded instead of letting the early deficit dictate the rest of the night.

2. Aydar Suniev is making his case to stay

Suniev continues to make the most of his opportunity with the Flames.

The young forward scored his second career NHL goal, finishing a pass from Strome with a quick one-timer to bring Calgary level in the second period.

Since being recalled from the Wranglers, Suniev has recorded two goals and an assist in three games. He has shown an ability to get his shot off quickly and put himself in dangerous scoring areas, giving Calgary another option offensively.

The early production is encouraging, particularly for a team searching for more consistent offence. Suniev is making a strong case for an extended look with the big club.

3. Adam Klapka brings plenty of bite to the lineup

Klapka made his presence felt throughout the night.

The forward opened the scoring with a strong shot from the high slot and added another physical element by dropping the gloves with Malott in the second period.

Entering the game among the league leaders in penalty minutes, Klapka continues to bring a combination of size, physicality and offensive ability to Calgary’s lineup.

His willingness to get involved physically gives the Flames an edge, but his opening goal was another reminder that he can contribute beyond his imposing presence.

For a Calgary team looking to establish its identity after a difficult start, Klapka is bringing plenty of energy to the lineup.

Golden Knights Pull Away From Predators With Dominant Third Period In 5-2 Win

The Vegas Golden Knights turned a tightly contested game into a convincing victory Tuesday night, scoring three unanswered goals over the final two periods to defeat the Nashville Predators 5-2 at Bridgestone Arena.

Playing their second road game in as many nights, the Golden Knights rebounded from Monday's loss at Minnesota with goals from five different players and a third-period performance that impressed coach Ryan Craig.

"I thought everybody to a man was ready to play, especially our goaltender early with the early penalty kills and the penalty-shot save," Craig said. "But I think our best period for me was the third period. I thought we came up with the right intensity to try to finish off a game, and we did."

William Karlsson broke a 2-2 tie with 2:16 remaining in the second period before Trevor Connelly and Brett Howden scored 95 seconds apart early in the third to put the game away.

Ryan O'Reilly opened the scoring for Nashville at 3:55 of the first period before Tomas Hertl answered at 6:46 and Jack Eichel gave Vegas a 2-1 lead at 12:48.

Adam Edstrom tied the game with a shorthanded goal at 8:45 of the second period, but Karlsson restored the Golden Knights' advantage at 17:44.

Vegas seized control in the third, with Connelly scoring at 4:49 and Howden following at 6:24.

"I think the best part was coming out in the third and not taking our foot off the gas and kind of bringing our game to another level," Howden said. "I thought we put the pedal down and did a good job of finishing it off the right way."

Adin Hill made 25 saves, including a first-period penalty-shot stop, while Vegas demonstrated the offensive balance Craig believes will be critical throughout the season.

"Depth. That's what it is," Craig said. "We were able to play four lines. The game dictated that quite a bit, which is good for a hockey club, especially on a back-to-back early in the year."

KEY MOMENT: Tiebreaker Bill

Karlsson's goal at 17:44 of the second period broke a 2-2 tie after Nashville had gained momentum with a shorthanded equalizer. His second goal in as many games restored Vegas' lead and set the stage for its decisive third-period performance.

KEY STAT: Five of 'em

Five different Golden Knights scored, and 12 players registered at least one point. Vegas also received 25 saves from Hill, including a first-period penalty-shot stop that helped prevent Nashville from building an early advantage.

WHAT A KNIGHT: William Karlsson

Karlsson delivered the game-winning goal for his second tally in consecutive games, continuing an encouraging offensive stretch.

"Two good shots," Craig said. "He had the breakaway last night, too, so he's starting to shoot the puck, which we like to see."

UP NEXT

The Golden Knights return home Thursday to face the Calgary Flames at T-Mobile Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Pacific.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) skates with the puck against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Bridgestone Arena.

WATCH: Ivar Stenberg Scores First Career NHL Goal

It took a bit longer than he likely wanted, but San Jose Sharks rookie Ivar Stenberg has scored a goal in the National Hockey League.

On Tuesday night, as Nikita Zadorov of the Boston Bruins sat in the penalty box, Macklin Celebrini had a perfectly placed pass into the crease. Stenberg then tipped it past Jeremy Swayman. Immediately, you could see the weight lifted off of Stenberg's shoulders as he looked to the sky in celebration.

Not only is this a very important milestone for Stenberg, his first goal came at an important time. It tied the game between the Sharks and Bruins at 2-2. 

The second overall selection in this summer's 2026 NHL Draft, Stenberg is the second player in his draft class to score a goal. Gavin McKenna of the Toronto Maple Leafs was the first to do so and currently has two goals in his rookie season.

Stenberg now has three points in six games to start his NHL career, but with the sixth game still in progress at the time of writing, he has time to add to that total.

Instant Analysis: Blues Bludgeon Senators 7-2 With More Solid PK Work, Two Goals Each From Suter, McTavish, Neighbours

Want to watch the perfect road game, or as near a perfect road game as an NHL team can play, look no further than the St. Louis Blues and their 7-2 beatdown over the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre In Kanata, Ontario on Tuesday, ending Ottawa’s three-game winning streak.

Forget that they scored a season-high seven goals for the game; it was the way they did it.

So lets get into how they did it and what proved to be pivotal.

* Penalty kill continues to flourish – OK, I had this as the top reason why the Blues (3-2-1) won in the fashion in which they did despite allowing that Fabian Zetterburg meaningless power-play goal with 1:27 to play in what was a 7-1 blowout.

I know that unit on the ice (Pius Suter, Jonatan Berggren, Colton Parayko and Justin Barron) won’t like it, but that’s alright. The Sens, who were 5-1-0 on the season, crafted that one well.

But that unit was so good again early on in killing three penalties to get to 17-for-18 to start the season (they’re 17-for-19 now) and it’s the aggressive nature in which those skaters are doing it.

Assistant coach Greg Cronin has -- particularly the forwards -- on the ice, whether it’s Suter, Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Berggren, Jake Neighbours or whoever it may be with sticks in lanes taking away the open areas of the ice when teams are in the zone, but the Blues are taking away time and space so much, they’re doing to teams what teams have done to their power play: get on top of the puck handlers and forcing quick decisions, and it’s working.

Oh, and on this night, Suter set the tone after what I felt like was a bad call on Cam Fowler with a shorthanded goal at 14:28 of the first period to make it 1-0:

At the time, it gave the penalty kill a 2-1 advantage on goals over the Blues’ power play.

* Huge response after an Ottawa goal – This to me was the goal of the game for the Blues because the Senators, who won 4-1 at the New Jersey Devils on Monday, started to find some footing.

Claude Giroux scored at 17:52 of the second to cut the Blues’ lead to 2-1 and make this an interesting third period of what they thought would be at least a one-shot deficit. And it was a goal that I thought Blues defenseman Brandon Carlo played well; it was just some bad luck that after taking the red-hot Tim Stutzle with him behind the net, the puck hit the side of the goal and Stutzle was alert in getting to his feet and finding a seam to Giroux coming down the interior of the right circle and beating Joel Hofer with a really good shot.

But Mason McTavish and the second line had a response 33 seconds later to restore the lead to 3-1 at 18:25 that broke out into a 3-on-2 where all three on that line (with Connor McMichael and Berggren) all touched the puck, and how about Berggren being able to control this McTavish pass with his skate and being able to get it to his stick and finding McTavish in the crease for the contested finish:

* Dylan Peterson fit in, in his first NHL game – Welcome to the big show, and it was a successful game for the third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Peterson, who was recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Sunday, played just 8:57, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but he had four of the team’s 18 hits, played physical throughout, started the process of Suter’s second goal of the game on the forecheck by separating the puck in the right hand corner that made it 4-1 at 7:54 of the third period:

And to top it off, he had his first NHL fight and it was a doozy with fellow Senators rookie Jorian Donovan at 14:52 of the third with his parents and three sisters among a plethora of family and friends in attendance:

There was good chemistry on that line with Suter and Ross Johnston, who picked up his first point with the Blues on Suter’s third-period goal.

* Doesn’t Colton Parayko look good? -- It’s been a terrific start to the season for ‘Colt55,’ and when you’re seeing him skate with the puck like that, with such confidence, you know things are going good.

Parayko got the assist on Suter’s shorthanded goal with the aggressiveness of checking the puck off two Senators skaters, then starting the breakout and saucing a puck to Suter to finish, then he started the breakout that led to the 3-on-2 for McTavish’s goal late in the second period.

Parayko, who played 19:33 in the game, has skated well playing with Justin Barron the past couple games, then locked it down with Philip Broberg in the third period.

He’s a big reason why the Blues’ defensive numbers through six games look so good right now. Some of the metrics don’t read it, but the eye test does, and No. 55 is passing them in the early going so far.

* McTavish looks like the real deal (so far), so does McMichael; that line with Berggren looks really good – McTavish and McMichael were off-season acquisitions to help balance out the top six and alleviate some of the pressure out on the Dylan Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud top line.

The line combined for six points (two goals, four assists) in the game and since Jim Montgomery moved Berggren up there, that line has been on fire.

Sure it’s early, but McTavish, who has four goals and three assists in six games, is on pace for 98 points (56 goals, 42 assists) in an 84-game season, and McMichael, who had two assists in the game and has two goals and four assists in six games, is on pace for 84 points (28 goals, 56 assists) over the course of an 84-game season.

As a Blues fan, you’ll take this return – or anything close to it – when these respective trades were made this past summer.

McTavish finished this dart of a one-timer on the power play at 15:33 of the third period for a 6-1 lead as part of three goals in a span of 1:44:

* Pius Suter is so valuable in all facets – This guy may be the most trusted, reliable player the Blues have, and that’s no exaggeration.

The coaching staff is so comfortable putting the 30-year-old on the ice in all facets, whether it’s on the PK, in 5-on-5 situations late in games protecting leads, and this season, he’s centering the fourth line, and the guy probably deserves to be higher up in the lineup.

Suter had two goals and an assist, was a plus-3 and won eight of his 11 face-offs in 15:21 of ice time and did such a good job of helping set the tone with two tough guys as his linemates in the game.

To be honest with you, I thought that Suter, who is in the final year of his two-year, $8.25 million contract, could be prime trade bait at some point this season, and he still could, but if the Blues are anywhere in the playoff chase or in a playoff position as the season progresses, I’m finding a way to keep him if I’m GM Alex Steen.

Where can you find such a multi-faceted skater like this that can be utilized in so many different situations? They’re hard to find, and unless Suter would out-price himself to remain in St. Louis, I think you have to find a way to keep this guy.

He’s a huge reason why your penalty kill is currently tied for sixth in the league, and when you have such a trustworthy player like this, you find ways to keep them.

His game tonight arguably was the the best all-around game by any of the Blues.

* Jiricek finally finds paydirt – It was coming. If you watched this game, it had all the earmarks that somehow, the 2024 first-round pick would find his way onto the scoresheet, whether scoring or assisting.

Jiricek had himself another solid game, making good, smart decisions on the ice, proper reads, effective pinches and he read the play well when he scored his first NHL goal at 16:32 of the third to make it a 7-1 game to finish as a plus-2 in 15:04 of ice time with five shot attempts (three on goal) and a blocked shot:

He also made a nice recovery after initially getting beat down the lefthand side that turned the puck back and got the Blues going the other way before Neighbours scored his first of the game in the second period.

* Is Jake Neighbours finding his scoring touch – That’s three goals the past two games for the 2020 first-round pick.

His goal at 13:20 of the second period made it a 2-0 game on a shot from the high slot:

And then he finished off an off-man rush with Pavel Buchnevich at 14:46 of the third to make it a 5-1 game:

But Neighbours set the tone with his solid check on Stutzle behind the net in the second period, and when he’s that engaging, it leads to other areas of his game, and his dad Ed apparently approved too:

Neighbours was a plus-2 in 16:05 of ice time with three shots on goal, two hits and three blocked shots.

* Pavel Buchnevich looks sharp, and it’s one side of the puck that’s leading to it – Buchnevich had three assists in the game giving him four points the past two games, and I’ve always felt like if his defensive game – like it was on Tuesday again – is noticeable and on par, it fuels his offense.

He’s part of that PK group that was engaging at the start and it helped kickstart his playmaking abilities in this game.

* Blues again took advantage of a team on second of back-to-back games – When teams are traveling, like the Senators did after playing in New Jersey on Monday, you want to get them to retrieve pucks and go the length of the ice.

The Blues did a good job of keeping pucks alive in the offensive zone and forcing the Senators to defend, hence only allowing 17 shots on goal, and not getting hemmed in themselves.

They chipped pucks and used the forecheck to win the possession battle and not give the Senators any time and space.

They did the same thing to the Columbus Blue Jackets -- finally -- in the final two periods on Saturday in a 5-3 win.

All in all, a truly solid performance by plenty of skaters, including Barron, who played 18:28 and was a plus-2 with two hits and three of the Blues’ 18 blocked shots.

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Takeaways: Defense, Goaltending Falter In Penguins' 5-3 Loss To Blackhawks

It's early in the season, but after three tough losses, the Pittsburgh Penguins put together their most complete effort of the young campaign Saturday in a 2-1 shootout win over the Dallas Stars, one of hockey's best teams. 

It seemed like a natural starting point to build for the Penguins, who had struggled to find consistency in the early going.

But they reverted right back to square one in their follow-up performance Tuesday.

The Penguins visited the Chicago Blackhawks and walked away with a 5-3 loss despite coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period. A late goal allowed by Sergei Murashov - one that he would certainly want back - forced a six-on-five situation for the Penguins at the end, where Tyleer Bertuzzi scored an empty-net goal to seal the win.

The Penguins were up to no good in the opening minute of the game yet again, which is becoming an unfortunate recurring theme for them. Defenseman Declan Carlile turned the puck over from below his own goal line, feeding a puck directly to the Hawks that resulted in a Teuvo Teravainen goal just 28 seconds into regulation.

Pittsburgh responded six minutes later, though, when captain Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell found themselves on a two-on-one. Crosby rifled the puck past Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight for his long-awaited first of the season to tie the game at 1-1. 

However, Roman Kantserov scored a power play goal near the end of the first period to restore the Blackhawks' lead, and he scored another goal midway through the second period to put Chicago up by two.

When all seemed to be going downhill for Pittsburgh, the fourth line of Blake Lizotte, Connor Dewar, and Nick Robertson created a chance off the rush in the offensive zone. Robertson finished the job to score his team-leading fourth goal for the Penguins at the end of the middle frame to bring the Penguins to within one. 

Midway through the third, the captain answered the bell again when he picked up some loose change at the net front to tie the score at 3-3. But, unfortunately, with a little more than four minutes left in regulation, Teravainen had the puck along the left wall just above the goal line in the offensive zone, and he threw it toward the net.

The puck unexpectedly trickled past Murashov, giving the Blackhawks the late lead and deflating the Penguins of any kind of life they had.

Takeaways: Penguins Deliver Complete Effort In 2-1 Shootout Win Over Dallas Stars To Snap Three-Game SkidTakeaways: Penguins Deliver Complete Effort In 2-1 Shootout Win Over Dallas Stars To Snap Three-Game SkidThe Pittsburgh Penguins brought their A-game against one of the league's best teams Saturday to get back in the win column.

Here are some takeaways from this one:

- Special teams killed the Penguins in this game. 

It's hard to fault the penalty kill too much, as the Penguins allowed just their second power play goal of the season against the Hawks. But Pittsburgh's power play was 0-for-4, and minus the third opportunity, it looked like it was 0-for-4, which occurred against one of the worst penalty kills in the league.

Special teams was a huge reason the Penguins made the playoffs last season. The PK is keeping up, but the power play looks lost. Zone entries and faceoffs have been an issue, but so has personnel. 

They need to switch things up, and I think it starts with moving Malkin back to the second unit, when the power play was more effective. It's hard to keep Egor Chinakhov off that first unit, and Rickard Rakell is struggling enough that he can afford to be bumped down, too.

They need more guys willing to just rip the puck - other than Erik Karlsson, that is, as he took about five consecutive one-timers on the third power play and missed the net about seven times. He showed up, at least

Penguins Complete Trade With Sabres To Acquire Former First-Round PickPenguins Complete Trade With Sabres To Acquire Former First-Round PickThe Pittsburgh Penguins addressed their defensive logjam at the minor league level with a blue line swap involving the Buffalo Sabres Monday

- If it seems like I'm bringing up Robertson in a whole lot of recaps, it's because I am. He's been really, really good for the Penguins up to this point, and it's not often you see a team's leading goal-scorer on the fourth line. 

While the goal total speaks to Robertson's work ethic and the season he's had so far, it's not ideal for, again, your team's leading goal-scorer, to be on the fourth line. Maybe this is less of an issue with a team like the Penguins, who roll four lines. 

But the top-six has two guys with three goals, two guys with two (both of Crosby's came in this one), two guys with one, and a guy with zero. At the end of the day, that's not encouraging, especially when the two guys with three goals, Tommy Novak and Evgeni Malkin, have one goal between them in the last three games. 

Simply put, the top-six needs to produce more, and in particular, the first line. There were some encouraging signs from Crosby in this game, but neither Rust or Rakell are meshing with Crosby like they usually do. 

As a whole, the top-six needs to get going. I know the fourth line has been spectacular, but it's a combination Dan Muse could always put back together down the line. Right now, Robertson needs to be playing in the top-six.

The Early Returns On Nick Robertson Are EncouragingThe Early Returns On Nick Robertson Are EncouragingPittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Robertson is off to a good start this season.

- Another player who needs to get going is Egor Chinakhov. This is something that was brought up in a recent recap, but it feels like he is so close to scoring yet so far at the same time. 

He had a one-timer hit above 96 mph on the radar gun that he missed the net on in this one. He had a breakaway opportunity that he just missed as well. He has had some chances, but he is missing the net with frustrating frequency right now. 

In addition, the chemistry that was so evident with Novak and Malkin last season isn't really there to start this season.  

If I'm the coaching staff, I consider bumping both Chinakhov and Rickard Rakell - two goal-scorers struggling to score - to the third line with Ben Kindel for a bit. Elevate Robertson and Andrei Kuzmenko. Give Elmer Soderblom another look:

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

Chinakhov and Rakell have combined for just one singular goal in eight games this season, and the one goal was scored by Chinakhov in game one. The Penguins need more from them, and they need more from them sooner rather than later.

- Murashov's fourth goal was not a good one. It's a play that he would want back, and it's a save he should have had. 

That said, I think some folks need to pump the brakes on expectations for the 22-year-old netminder with eight games of NHL experience. 

Young goaltenders are going to give up bad goals. Elite goaltenders are going to give up bad goals. And, sometimes, those bad goals will come at bad times. There is a difference between wanting or needing a save in a particular situation and it being unnacceptable that a save isn't made in that situation. 

Murashov should not have allowed that goal. But he should be allowed to surrender a bad goal or have a bad game as a young goaltender finding his NHL footing and as a guy whose team has not played well in front of him once this season. 

Expecting perfection - or, even, expecting that goaltenders won't allow any goals they should have - is a perfect way to set a young netminder up for failure. 

His team needed a save there, but he also needed his team to be better the rest of the night. Neither happened. That goal is an easier pill to swallow if the stakes weren't that high to begin with due to poor play from the rest of the team preceding it.

- Carlile has endured a rough couple of games. He coughed up the puck in a bad turnover on Chicago's first goal, and oftentimes, he finds himself playing like a forward.

This is not a slight to Carlile, but there is a difference between Erik Karlsson jumping up on a play and Carlile doing so. I think Carlile commits a bit too much offensively for the relative level of offensive talent he has, and it gets him in trouble sometimes. 

On a pairing with Karlsson, being too active can hurt more than help. He just needs to learn when to pick his spots better. And he also needs to have more awareness below the goal line in his own zone. 

He blocks a ton of shots, is mobile, and is physical. He's at his best when playing to his strengths and not trying to force plays. 

'I Feel Pretty Good Right Now': Penguins' Koivunen Building Confidence In Season's Earlygoing'I Feel Pretty Good Right Now': Penguins' Koivunen Building Confidence In Season's EarlygoingPittsburgh Penguins' forward Ville Koivunen signed an unexpected eight-year, $32 million contract this summer and has looked good early this season.

- A small yet relatively significant bright spot in this game was Crosby. 

He needed those two goals. It was only a matter of time before the captain broke through, and he finally did, which should, hopefully, get him going a bit.

I thought his line was a bit better tonight, but it could still use more speed, which is why I'd like to see Robertson reunited with Crosby. If Sid has finally found his legs, and Robertson and Rust can provide some speed on his wings, it could make for a lethal combination. 

- The Penguins next have the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights back-to-back Friday and Saturday. Needless to say, they are not the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Penguins tend to find a way to elevate against better competition, so hopefully, they can find another level like they did against the Stars Saturday. But they need to start beating some of the teams they should be beating, like the Hawks. 

Half the points on this tough Western road swing would be a good aim for the Penguins. Winning at least one of these games feels important. 

Breaking: Cale Makar to Miss Tonight’s Game as Wife Tracy Nears ChildbirthBreaking: Cale Makar to Miss Tonight’s Game as Wife Tracy Nears ChildbirthColorado Avalanche star Cale Makar will miss tonight’s game as he and his wife, Tracy, await the arrival of their first child, team spokesman confirms.

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Recap: Blackwood and Necas propel Colorado’s 3-2 victory in Dallas

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Martin Necas #88 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal against the Dallas Stars during the second period at American Airlines Center on October 13, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was the first meeting of the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars of the 2026-27 season, and the fierce rivalry and tension did not disappoint!

The Dallas Stars made things interesting in the third period, but an explosive second period from Martin Necas and a solid outing from Mackenzie Blackwood made the difference.

First Period

The game started with both the Stars and Avalanche gauging each other, but halfway through the frame, Artturi Lehkonen got the scoring started. A point shot caught traffic in front, and Lehky worked hard in the slot, backhanding one through Jake Oettinger at 11:32.

Things got a bit chippy toward the end of the opening frame when Noah Juulsen took a hit from Radek Faksa. Fedor Svechkov took exception and quickly challenged Faksa to a fight. In a controversial call, the refs issued Svechkov an instigating penalty, giving the Stars a power play.

The Stars capitalized and got a bit of luck when Tyler Seguin’s centering attempt went in off an Avalanche skate. That brought things to a late first-period tie, one goal apiece.

Second Period

The second frame got even rowdier, but the Avalanche cashed in on the chaos and started a Marty Party in the middle frame.

First, Necas slammed home a one-timer on a feed from Nathan MacKinnon to make it 2-1 Avalanche at 3:05 in the second period.

We then saw Nathan MacKinnon in his second fight of the first six games of the season, but this time he was caught on the button and left the ice bleeding. He still ended the fight sprawling on top of Roope Hintz. I’m speculating, but I’d bet that tussle stems from MacKinnon and Hintz’ past. MacKinnon returned for his next shift without question.

Later in the frame, the Avalanche would earn a 5-on-3 after Malinski was cross-checked and MacKinnon was tripped. Once again, Martin Necas scored when Landeskog collected a net-front rebound and backhanded a pass to Marty, who had nothing but net to aim at. Just like that, the Avalanche led 3-1 at 16:14 in the second frame.

Third Period

It wouldn’t be a game against the Dallas Stars without a little anxiety, so the Stars brought it to a one-goal game just 3:17 into the third period. This time, Roope Hintz let his game do the talking, scoring a timely goal with help from Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen.

That set up a contentious, heart-rate-spiking rest of the third period as the Avalanche were tested more than once as time wound down. Fortunately for Avalanche fans, Colorado’s players sold out left and right to block the puck and protect their one-goal lead, and their efforts secured a 3-2 win.

Takeaways

This was a big game for the Colorado Avalanche and an even bigger game for goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. He passed the test tonight, getting the stops Bednar called for after their loss to Toronto. This is the type of performance that could propel Blackwood’s season and confidence. The team in front of him wasn’t perfect, so Blackwood had to step up, and he did.

Martin Necas was on a mission tonight, and his two goals dictated the outcome. MacKinnon and Lehkonen were going too. All in all, aside from a few breakdowns, the Avalanche played a solid game, with a competitive level we haven’t seen too often so far. Stealing one in Dallas without Cale Makar is impressive.

I guess Nathan MacKinnon is a goon now, with a fight in Colorado’s two biggest games so far.

I, for one, love seeing Nate chuck ’em but naturally worry about him sustaining an injury in the process. He was bloodied tonight, but it’s kinda weird if Nate’s nose isn’t bleeding by the end of the game.

Up Next

The Avalanche will take a quick flight back to Denver and prepare for their second back-to-back with Dallas tomorrow night on home ice at Ball Arena!

Let us know what you thought of the game in the comments!

William Karlsson has go-ahead goal and Golden Knights beat Predators 5-2 for 3-1 road record

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — William Karlsson scored for the second straight game to put Vegas ahead, and the Golden Knights beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Playing a night after losing 4-2 at Minnesota to stop a four-game skid, the Golden Knights (6-2) improved to 3-1 on the road this season.

Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, Trevor Connelly and Brett Howden also scored for Vegas, and Adin Hill made 25 saves.

Hill stopped a penalty shot from Jack Drury in the first period after Nic Dowd was penalized for holding on a breakaway.

Adam Edstrom had his first career short-handed goal and Ryan O’Reilly also scored for the Predators, who lost in regulation for the first time since their season opener against the Wild. Juuse Saros stopped 20 shots.

At 8:45 of the second, Edstrom had a breakaway with Nashville a man down but initially couldn't get a shot off with Eichel in pursuit. But he maintained control of the puck behind the net and guided it past Hill to tie the game at 2-all.

Karlsson restored the Golden Knights' lead at 17:44 of the second with a snap shot to the top corner of the net, and goals by Connelly and Howden about 1 1/2 minutes apart in the third gave Vegas a three-goal advantage.

Up next

Golden Knights: Host Calgary on Thursday.

Predators: Host San Jose on Thursday.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Martin Necas has 2 goals to lead the short-handed Avs past the Stars, 3-2

DALLAS (AP) — Martin Necas scored two goals, including a 5-on-3 score, and the short-handed Colorado Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Tuesday night in the opener of a home-and-home series.

Artturi Lehkonen also scored for the Avalanche, while Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves after allowing five goals on Saturday against Toronto. Nathan MacKinnon had two assists, giving him 12 points.

The Avalanche opened with 11 forwards and six defensemen when forward Zachary L’Heureux was a late scratch with an upper-body injury. Colorado then played almost 17 minutes with 10 forwards when Fedor Svechkov drew a two-minute instigator penalty, five minutes for fighting and 10 more for misconduct. MacKinnon was also off the bench for more than seven minutes in the second after he fought Roope Hintz — who had his first NHL fight — and went to the locker room for facial repairs.

Tyler Seguin had a goal and an assist, and Hintz also scored for the Stars. Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots after allowing three goals in his previous four games, and Miro Heiskanen had two assists.

Colorado came in leading the NHL with 5.2 goals per game, while Dallas had a league-best 1.38 goals-against average.

Necas gave the Avs a 2-1 lead early in the second period and then doubled the lead with four seconds left in the 29-second, two-man advantage.

Seguin’s goal, tying the score late in the first period, was Dallas’ first home power-play goal in eight tries.

Cale Makar, the Avalanche’s two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, didn’t make the trip with his wife expecting twins.

Stars forward Wyatt Johnston sat out with an illness after playing in all 395 games, regular season and playoffs, since he made the team in 2022. The Stars played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

Up next

The teams will meet again on Wednesday in Denver, where the Stars swept two meetings last season in shootouts.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Blackhawks Hang On And Win 5-3 In Connor Bedard's Return To Lineup

The Chicago Blackhawks were a part of the NHL’s Frozen Frenzy on Tuesday night. All 32 teams played in 16 games with staggered starts from 5 PM until the early hours of the morning. 

Chicago welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third United Center game of the young 2026-27 season. In addition to being a special night because of the Frozen Frenzy, it had extra-special meaning for the Blackhawks as well.

This game was the season debut of Connor Bedard, who skated in his first game as captain. It was also his first game with Patrick Kane. With this, there was extra buzz in the building. 

Once the game started, it didn’t take the Blackhawks long to get on the board. Just 28 seconds into the game, Teuvo Teravainen made it 1-0. Tyler Bertuzzi and Anton Frondell were hard on the forecheck, and Frondell found Teravainen for a point-blank chance that he didn’t miss. 

For a while, the Penguins started to take over the game. Eventually, Sidney Crosby scored with a snipe on the rush. His first of the season tied the game at 1. 

Late in the first period, with Chicago on the power play, Roman Kantserov gave the Blackhawks their lead back. He put home a goal after receiving a one-touch pass from Connor Bedard, who collected his first point of the season there. Bowen Byram also earned an assist, as he found Bedard for the setup. 

Whether it’s Kantserov, Bowen Byram, or Patrick Kane, who passed it to Byram, Bedard makes everyone on that unit better. That 2-1 lead stuck with Chicago through the first intermission. 

At 10:32 in the middle frame, Kantserov added his second goal of the game. He tapped home a nifty centering feed from Artyom Levshunov, who has been really good in the offensive zone in the season's early stages. 

Kane collected the secondary assist on this one, and that tied him with Phil Housley for the most assists by an American-born NHL player (894). This new-look top line with Bedard back in the mix is clicking, and it’s only been one game. 

Before the second ended, Pittsburgh added another to get back within one. Nick Robertson scored a strange one as he put it in the net, but it came out the back of the bottom, causing some confusion. After a review, it was clearly a goal. This 3-2 Chicago lead held through the second intermission. 

In the 3rd period, the expected push from the Pittsburgh Penguins came. Sidney Crosby’s second of the game tied it up at 9:17. At that point, the game could have gone in any direction. 

However, Teuvo Teravainen had a bit of puck luck that saved the day for the Blackhawks. He threw an innocent floater on net, and it somehow went in through the paraphernalia of goaltender Sergei Murashov. 

After Tyler Bertuzzi tapped a great spin-o-rama pass from Anton Frondell into the empty net, Chicago took a 5-3 lead, and that held as the final score. 

Winning Bedard's first game back was big for the group, as they now improve to 2-5-0 through their first 7 games. It hasn't been a pretty start, but they are 2-1 at home and 1-0 with Bedard back in the lineup. 

It's clear that Bedard changes the entire outlook of their game. He played a key role in making the power play look better; his line was strong at even strength, and everyone below his trio in the lineup had an extra step because they were slotted into positions where they were better suited. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks will play at home again on Thursday. It's another divisional battle as the Winnipeg Jets are coming to town. This is another good test for Chicago against a team that came in with low expectations but is off to a grand start (4-1-1). 

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Jets beat the Wild 5-2 as Cole Perfetti scores 2 goals

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Cole Perfetti scored a pair of goals, Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Perfetti opened the scoring with his fourth of the season just 1:50 into the game. He added another late in the second period on the power play, converting a pass from Gabriel Vilardi in the slot.

Promoted to the top line with Scheifele and Kyle Connor, the trio combined for seven points against the Wild. Connor had a goal and assist. Connor now has goals in three straight games and in five of six games this season.

Perfetti now has five goals this season. Last season, the Jets winger needed 40 games to score five times.

Cole Koepke also scored for Winnipeg, which finished a three-game homestand 2-1.

Stuart Skinner made 19 saves and has yet to lose in regulation this season, with a 3-0-1 record.

Kirill Kaprizov scored both goals for the Wild, who were playing the second of back-to-back games after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night. Calvin Pickard stopped 20 shots. Kaprizov’s two goals gives him the NHL lead, with eight. Quinn Hughes’ assist extended his point streak to seven games. He has two goals and eight assists in that span.

Winnipeg went 1 for 2 on the power play, while Minnesota was 0 for 2.

Winnipeg never trailed in the game, taking 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads.

Up next

Wild: Host St. Louis on Thursday night.

Jets: At Chicago on Thursday night.

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