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The 2026-27 NHL season is two days away for the Detroit Red Wings, and it appears as though they won't have one of their most important pieces on the ice with them when it comes time to drop the puck on Friday evening.

Unsigned defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who remains a restricted free agent, has returned to his native Sweden and is training with Frolunda. 

Simon Edvinsson är tillbaka i Sverige.
Tränar med Frölunda under onsdagen. pic.twitter.com/8duvOn5iXU

— Andreas III Johnsson (@Johnssonen) September 30, 2026

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Despite not having an NHL contract, Edvinsson reported to Training Camp and was on the ice with the rest of his teamamtes for non-scrimmage drills. 

Shawn Horcoff: Red Wings To "Continue Conversations" With Unsigned Simon Edvinsson In a statement, Red Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff said that the club will continue conversations with unsigned D Simon Edvinsson, who remains a restricted free agent.

"I don't see the reason for me to sit at home, to be honest," Edvinsson said earlier this month. "I think I would be stressed if I were back in Sweden now and I saw everybody else practicing. We are going into a new season where it's important that everybody is linked together."

"I don't know the expression, but everybody needs to be on the same page, and that was my reasoning to come over here," he continued. 

Earlier this week, Red Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff released the following statement: 

“As of today, Simon is not practicing with the team. The organization will continue conversations with Simon and his representatives.”

Edvinsson, whom the Red Wings selected in the first round (sixth overall pick) of the 2021 NHL Draft, has emerged as Detroit's second-best defenseman behind Moritz Seider. 

According to various reports, the Red Wings are allegedly interested in a bridge-style contract for Edvinsson, while he and his camp would prefer a more long-term arranement. 

A difficult situation for the Red Wings just became more difficult with the start of the regular season now just over 48 hours away. 

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Fearless forecast for the Flyers' 2026-27 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

When it comes to the Flyers’ expectations, Rick Tocchet will talk about stacking good days.

Danny Briere will talk about the development of young players and being patient if bumps are hit.

But make no mistake, the Flyers’ goal in 2026-27 is to make the playoffs. Last season, the team took a significant step in its rebuild by snapping a five-year playoff drought and making a run to the second round.

Now, the Flyers have to build on it. The new 84-game regular season starts Wednesday when the Flyers welcome the Penguins for their anticipated opener (7:30 p.m. ET/TNT). Flyers Pregame Live starts at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Flyers Postgame Live will come after the final buzzer.

“We hope our young guys take another step,” Briere said a little over two weeks ago. “And if they do, I think we’ll be very competitive. I think last year, going into the season, we were just hoping to be competitive, we were hoping to be in the mix. In or out of the playoffs was going to be a good season.

“I see us as more competitive than we were last year and a better team than we were last year. Where it leaves us, time will tell. But certainly, I’m hoping that after the players tasted the playoffs last year, that they’re eager to get back there once again.”

Before the puck drops at Xfinity Mobile Arena, let’s get into our Flyers Fearless Forecast, featuring projections for how the team will finish and a random assortment of bold predictions from NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jordan Hall, Ashlyn Sullivan and Joe Fordyce.

Hall

Flyers prediction/Cup prediction

The Flyers’ run to the playoffs last season was particularly impressive when you consider they had lost 12 of 15 games prior to the Olympic break in February. There’s reason to believe they can avoid such a funk this season, which would put them in good position for consecutive postseason berths.

The club’s lineup didn’t change a whole lot this offseason, but the addition of Joseph Woll could be critical. Last season, the Flyers’ skid coincided with Dan Vladar getting hurt. The team struggled mightily to stop the bleeding.

Woll, the new backup goaltender, has starter’s experience and played in a pressure-packed market with the Maple Leafs. He’ll give the Flyers a quality safety valve at the most important position in the game.

While the league-worst power play remains a legitimate concern, the Flyers have optimism around full seasons for Tyson Foerster and Porter Martone. Those two goal-scoring wingers combined for only 38 games last regular season. Both are big pieces to the Flyers’ present and future.

With more answers than they had at this time last year, the Flyers will make it back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the 2010-11 and 2011-12 campaigns. We’ll have them going 46-25-13 for 105 points.

The Flyers, though, will stomach a first-round exit because of a challenging Metropolitan Division matchup against a team like the Hurricanes or Capitals. But another trip to the playoffs should be considered a victory in the grand scheme.

As for the Stanley Cup, the Avalanche will be healthier this time when it matters most, beating the Capitals in six games.

Tippett’s time

A healthy Owen Tippett is poised to score 35 to 40 goals and put up 70 or more points. That would be a major step for the talented power forward who has battled streakiness in his career.

He hasn’t hit 30 goals yet and his career high in points is 53. But down the stretch last season, especially in March, the mild-mannered Tippett fueled the Flyers’ playoff push. The 27-year-old should ride that confidence this season.

“He has just got so much potential,” Travis Konecny said in March. “I love when you see him realize it during a game and he’s like, ‘This is my game and I’m taking over.’ It’s fun to watch.”

Power struggle

The fear for the Flyers would be the power play not improving. It was in the basement last season at 15.7 percent. Over the last five seasons combined, it has operated at 14.1 percent, easily the worst in the league.

Will the Flyers finally find some answers? It’s tough to say they will. They did homework in the summer and they’re harping on it every day, but the Flyers didn’t address it with an offseason move.

The power play could prove costly again, putting the pressure on offseason fixes next summer.

Sullivan

Flyers prediction/Cup prediction

I think the Flyers beat their point total from last season and finish with over 100 points. In January last season, the Flyers lost 11 of 15 games. A large part of that bad stretch was the wearing down of Vladar because the Flyers didn’t have a lot of trust in their backup goaltenders.

The addition of Woll to the goaltending room will hopefully stop those long losing streaks in their tracks. If Vladar can’t go, the Flyers should have a lot more confidence in Woll being able to steady the ship.

I think the Flyers’ season will end the same way it ended last season — with a loss in the second round of the playoffs. I also think with the expected competitiveness in the Metropolitan Division, the Flyers will make the playoffs with the last spot (third place) in the division.

My Stanley Cup prediction is the Dallas Stars vs. the Florida Panthers, with the Stars winning it all. The Stars have a proven core that is working to get over the hump of deep playoff contention.

Power surge

The Flyers’ power play might be fixed. I know … I can’t believe I am writing that either.

I am really encouraged from what we saw from the first power play unit throughout the preseason and training camp. Working to create plays with net-front presence speaks to the skill sets of Martone and Matvei Michkov.

Martone played only 19 games for the Flyers last season, including the playoff run. That was not long enough to make a lasting impact on the power play. A full season with Martone making plays could bring this power play to at least relevancy in the NHL.

Imagine how many more games the Flyers would have won in regulation last season if the power play could have done anything … anything at all.

Tyson’s turn

Foerster is going to lead the Flyers in goals. Tippett led the Flyers with 28 last season; Foerster will finish with more than that this season.

I was so impressed with how Foerster responded to the big injury last season and immediately impacted the lineup upon his return in April.

Foerster is taking on more responsibility this season and his connection with Konecny is noticeable daily on the ice.

Fordyce

Flyers prediction/Cup prediction

The arena is cold, the ice is painted and it’s time for the rubber to hit the ice.

The Flyers enter this season with expectations that most players on this team are not familiar with. The kind of expectations that come with a playoff run that included a first-round win over their opening night opponent, the bitter rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

The offseason was headlined by a big swing and perceived miss when the Flyers signed Ducks star Leo Carlsson to an unprecedented offer sheet, only to see Anaheim match the offer and retain the young phenom.

That does not, however, mean that this team did not get better, particularly in net. Not only is this Year 2 of Vladar, who was awarded a new contract during the offseason, but also a trade for Woll gives the Flyers what they hope to be a formidable 1-2 tandem.

For these reasons and more, I believe the Flyers will comfortably make the Stanley Cup Playoffs without needing a stretch of red-hot hockey down the stretch to solidify their place.

When it comes to the Stanley Cup Final, I’m going to be that guy, the one who picks the favorites. The Florida Panthers enter this season getting Aleksander Barkov back from injury. Oh, and they added Brady Tkachuk to a lineup that features his brother Matthew Tkachuk for a full season. Last year, Matthew Tkachuk missed a sizable portion of the season with an injury from the start. I think the Panthers will meet the Colorado Avalanche in a hard-fought series, with Florida eventually capturing its third Cup in four years.

Martone mania

When I look at how this season will play itself out, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Martone will be the Flyers’ leading goal scorer. Martone seems to be unfazed for a young player who burst onto the scene late last season, and I expect him to roll into the 2026-27 season and not miss a beat.

Woll’s resurgence

My second prediction: Woll will rediscover himself with the Flyers. This tends to happen to players when they leave Toronto. Phil Kessel, Mitch Marner and several others could attest to being unlocked upon leaving the Maple Leafs for in many cases greener pastures.

Not suggesting that Woll is on the level of talent as a Kessel or Marner, but I believe the 28-year-old goaltender will find a new level of success in Philadelphia.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 1 day until opening night at Nationwide Arena. 

Let's take a look at who wore 1 and where they are now.

Jean-François Labbé - 2002 - Undrafted out of Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Jean-François Labbé played in 14 games with the Blue Jackets over the course of two seasons. He went 3-5 with an .890 SV%. He spent the bulk of his time playing in the AHL for the Syracuse Crunch. 

He left North America in 2003 for Russia. He then played in Germany and Poland before returning to Canada in 2009. After playing a season for Sherbrooke Saint-François in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey, he would retire. 

Labbé was primarily an AHL goalie, playing in a total of 261 games. He had a record of 131-97-25 and had 13 shutouts. He has won numerous awards in the AHL, including Best Goaltender and Most Valuable Player. For his efforts, Labbé was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2016.

After retiring, he moved into coaching, where he was either a head coach or a goaltending coach at different stops. 

Tomáš Pöpperle - 2007 - Drafted by Columbus in 2005. 

Pöpperle played two games for Columbus in 06-07, which were the only two NHL games of his career, both of which were in relief. His SV% was .929% and he had a GAA of 1.35.

He played 66 AHL games for the Syracuse Crunch before returning to Europe. He last played in 23-24 in Germany's second tier. 

Steve Mason - 2009-2013 - Drafted by Columbus in 2006. 

Mason won 96 games for Columbus in his career. His win total is third behind Sergei Bobrovsky and Elvis Merzlikins. His 19 shutouts are also second, while he played 13,138:02 of TOI, which is fourth. His GAA is fourth in team history, while his save % is fifth. 

After he was traded to Philadelphia, he played four years for the Flyers before spending a season with the Winnipeg organization. After suffering two concussions and a serious knee injury, Mason wouldn't play again and would retire. 

Mason started his career with a bang, winning the 08-09 Calder Trophy and being named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team. He was also named an NHL All-Star during his rookie year, to go along with his NHL second-team honors. 

Mason was traded to the Flyers on April 3, 2013, in exchange for goaltender Michael Leighton and a 2015 third-round draft pick. In Philly, he would finish with a record of 104-78-36.

Mason, while playing for Canada at the U20 World Junior Championships, went 5-0 with a SV% of .951 and won tournament MVP, best goaltender, and was an all-star. 

Oh, what could have been. 

There is one day left until opening day at Nationwide Arena. 

Darren Raddysh’s first night as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs was certainly memorable, but for all the wrong reasons.

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in the season opener at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday. William Nylander scored 48 seconds in and again late in the third. Josh Anderson, Zachary Bolduc and Alexandre Carrier answered for the Canadiens. Raddysh, who was paired with Morgan Rielly and logged 23:47, more ice than anyone in blue and white except Auston Matthews, finished minus-2 with three shots and two blocks. He was on the ice for all three Montreal goals. The first two, in particular, followed the kind of plays that get clipped and circulated before the third period even starts.

“Obviously, you know, not what we wanted. Obviously, I think personally myself, I can do a little bit better,” he said after the game. “But, yeah, you know, I’m really excited to be here and be a part of this and just be a part of the whole organization.”

The Leafs acquired Raddysh’s rights from Tampa Bay for a 2026 fifth-round pick and signed the Toronto-area product to an eight-year, $68 million contract ($8.5 million AAV) before he could test free agency. After a 22-goal, 70-point breakout with the Lightning, the bet was simple: a right-shot who can run a power play and move pucks would stabilize a blue line that needed more than veteran stopgaps. One night does not settle that bet, but it certainly asks for a marked improvement.

On Anderson’s tying goal at 10:53 of the first, Raddysh’s attempted breakout was intercepted and the puck stayed in Toronto’s end long enough for Kirby Dach and Carrier to set up a rebound that Anderson batted out of the air. On Bolduc’s 2-1 goal early in the second, Raddysh seemed caught puck-watching in front of Sergei Bobrovsky while Mike Matheson crashed the crease. 

Head coach Jim Hiller did not single him out. He framed the night as what a new group looks like when the first real game arrives before the reads do.

“I thought he was alright too, but I thought, like, we had a lot of new guys. And I thought we looked a little bit like a new team today,” Hiller said. “We just weren’t connecting with our passes. And, you know, I don’t know if that has anything to do with nerves or being in the building for the first time and the first time everybody together. So we just weren’t clean as a team.”

Raddysh heard the same thing from the other side of the stall. Training camp was short. The system is new. The names around him, Gavin McKenna, Kirill Marchenko, Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic and the rest of a remade roster, are still getting used to one another. He has seen this Montreal team plenty from his Tampa years. Nothing about their speed or their forecheck surprised him. 

NHL Game Score Impact Card for Toronto Maple Leafs on 2026-09-29: pic.twitter.com/GRAgRfEyiU

— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) September 30, 2026

“Yeah, the training camp’s short. A lot of new guys and, you know, everyone’s trying to learn a new system with a new coach,” he said. “There’s a lot of new learning curves. But, you just got to be prepared for that.”

The pairing with Rielly was the other story that followed him out of the room. Camp had pointed that way for more than a week: two offensive defensemen, extra offensive-zone starts, a clean slate for Rielly under a new staff. Tuesday was the first real look. Chemistry is not built in 23 minutes against a team that plays fast and stays simple. Raddysh said as much.

“Yeah, it was good to finally play a real game with Morgan and try and build out the chemistry that we’ve had these few days of training camp. Yeah, I just got to get ready for it all.”

The schedule does not leave much room to sit with any of it. The New York Islanders are in town Wednesday. Raddysh called that an advantage.

“Yeah, it’s always good when, you know, you play right the next day, so you can kind of put this in the back and just get ready for tomorrow and be prepared for the Islanders.”

One game. A hometown contract that runs through 2034. A minus-2 that will follow him until the next one doesn’t. Raddysh already said the part that matters: he can be better. The Leafs paid for the version that usually is.

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Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (0-0-0) @ Philadelphia Flyers (0-0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. eastern

How to Watch: Nationally televised game on TNT and TruTV, streaming on HBO Max

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins have a few days off to prepare for their home opener on Saturday night against Montreal. Next week will be a busy one with games on Monday (10/5) at home against Winnipeg, followed by road games on Wednesday and Friday in Washington and Columbus before returning back home for another Saturday home game against Dallas.

Opponent Track: Tonight’s the Flyers’ first game, they have a quick turnaround to play in New Jersey tomorrow before going back home on Saturday against Carolina. Add in road games next week against Tampa, Ottawa and Boston (followed by another Carolina game after that) and it’s a challenging start of the year for Philadelphia based on opponent strength.

Season Series: The Pens and Flyers won’t see each other again after tonight until January 31st. The two rivals then play late-season games on March 30th and April 3rd to close out the four-game set. Last year the Penguins went 2-0-2 in the regular season against Philadelphia.

Hidden Stat: Philadelphia has finished 32nd on the power play in four of the last five seasons. They’ll certainly be looking for improvement in that department this season for what’s long been a dreadful man advantage.

Hidden Stat 2.0: Pittsburgh has points in 10 of its last 15 season-opening games (9-5-1), per Penguins PR.

Getting to know the Flyers

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Owen Tippett – Trevor Zegras – Porter Martone

Alex Bump – Christian Dvoark – Travis Konecny

Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov

Carl Grundstrom – Sean Couturier- Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Travis Sanheim /Rasmus Ristolainen

Cam York / Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler / Simon Benoit

Goalies: Dan Vladar and Joseph Woll

Potential scratches: Denver Barkey, David Jiricek, Garrett Wilson

Injured Reserve: None

• It stings to see Acciari cross the state after a few solid seasons in Pittsburgh. Tough to hate on the player for securing the bag (Philadelphia gave Acciari a $2.8 million AAV for two years, a bigger salary than both of his former linemates last year took to stay in Pittsburgh), even though it’s a bitter place to watch the good soldier depart for.
• The Flyers are largely unchanged from the end of last season, making ancillary additions of Acciari, a backup goalie in Woll and a couple of depth defensemen. They’ll benefit from a full season of Martone, who essentially is a new add, but otherwise had minimal roster movement over the summer.
• Vladar and Barkey picked up minor injuries during the preseason. Especially with the Flyers having another game on deck tomorrow, one would wonder if Vladar gets an extra day off since he’ll likely only play one of the two opening games anyways. Rick Tocchet was “hopeful” earlier in the week about Vladar in the season opener, which may suggest he will play if he’s able.

Season stats(from last year)
via hockeydb

• The stability from last year is apparent with 14 of the top-15 scorers from 2025-26 back again this year for the Flyers (only Bobby Brink, traded at the 2026 deadline, is gone). One piece of good news for them: they should expect more than 38 total games out of Foerster and Martone this time around and other young players like Bump, Barkey and David Jiricek figure to work their way into larger impacts.

Key to the Game: Flyers offense vs. Penguins defense

This is from last season but figures to dictate the game for which team’s perceived weaker areas will perform better than the other. Will the Flyers offense be better? Can the revamped new Pittsburgh defense with three new defensemen limit more chances? How will (presumably) Arturs Silovs do as a follow-up against the Flyers given his strong postseason play? If Philadelphia scores a power play goal and piles up shots, it will be an indicator that Pittsburgh’s weaker areas can’t hold up against what has been a very limited attack in the past, if they take care of business there then it’s obviously a great sign for a positive result could be coming at the end of the night.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Nick Robertson – Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell

Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Filip Hallander – Hendrix Lapierre – Ville Koivunen

Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte* – Elmer Soderblom

DEFENSEMEN

Declan Carlile / Erik Karlsson

Sam Girard / Kaeden Korczak

Trevor van Riemsdyk / Kris Letang

Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov

Potential Scratches: Rutger McGroarty, David Gustafsson, Ilya Solovyov

IR: Ben Kindel, Ryan Graves, Justin Brazeau, Bryan Rust

Non-roster: Andrei Kuzmenko

• The Penguins work in five new players to make their official team debuts tonight, highlighted by half of the blueline getting turned over from last year. That will be a huge element of change as the team looks to tighten up some messy defensive numbers from 2025-26 where they were in the bottom 10 of the league in 5v5 scoring chances allowed and ninth worst in overall goals allowed.
• Lizotte is on IR retroactive to his injury date of 9/24, he can come off at any time. He went through practice yesterday and could be in line to play tonight. The Penguins have 22 players on the active roster, so they don’t even need to send anyone down to make room (though they could still choose to send McGroarty back to the AHL today if they wanted).

Throw the popcorn

Per Pens PR: Evgeni Malkin (32G-67A) enters today’s game one point shy of becoming just the sixth player in NHL history to notch 100 or more points against the Flyers. Four of the five have Penguins ties: Sidney Crosby (139), Mario Lemieux (124), Jaromir Jagr (120), Bryan Trottier (117), along with Wayne Gretzky (100). Malkin likes when the Philly faithful throw popcorn at him.

Letang to set record

Other assorted milestones on the horizon:

• Sidney Crosby (654) is two goals away from tying Brendan Shanahan for 14th all-time in NHL goals.
• Crosby (1,107) is two assists away from tying Joe Thornton for seventh all-time in NHL assists.
• Evgeni Malkin (1,407) is two points away from tying Dale Hawerchuk for 22nd in all-time NHL points.
• Kris Letang (806) starts the year five points away from Sergei Gonchar and Victor Hedman for 18th place among NHL career defenseman points.

It was a full house in the press gallery at Scotiabank Arena to watch the Montreal Canadiens take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was not only the season opener for both teams, but also Kirill Marchenko’s debut in Leafs colors and the start of rookie sensation Gavin McKenna’s NHL career. Toronto also hoped to remain unbeaten in home openers with captain Auston Matthews in the lineup (they were 10-0 since drafting him in 2016), while the Habs just hoped to ruin everybody’s party. Interestingly enough, it looked like Sergei Bobrovsky wanted to be the first to ruin a party; the superstitious netminder insisted on going on the ice first, stealing McKenna’s thunder on his rookie lap. Funnily enough, he did that after taking McKenna’s number 72.

Sergei Bobrovsky has to be first on the ice, even if a rookie is taking their debut lap 😅 pic.twitter.com/ytIupTKdbx

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 29, 2026

Dobes Picked Up Where He Left Off

Granted, Jakub Dobes didn’t look great when he allowed a goal on the second shot he faced on the night, but he more than made up for it later. He made a couple of big saves on Matthews, and at the start of the second frame, with the score tied 1-1, it looked like Montreal was falling back into its bad habit of sitting back in the second. Not Dobes, though; he was locked in and started the frame with a great glove save on new Leaf Marchenko.

Game 1: Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs Pregame – Newhook’s Opportunity
The Canadiens’ Swiss Army Knife
Canadiens: The One That Got Away

That’s the kind of statement save that gives a team confidence, that says “fear not, I’ve got your back,” and five minutes later, Zach Bolduc was giving Montreal its first lead of the game. By the end of the second frame, Toronto only had six shots, five of which came in those first five minutes.

At the start of the third frame, the same pattern emerged, and Dobes flashed the leather at Nylander. The Leafs’ winger would score another goal later, but it was too little, too late.

New Look PK

Starting the season against the Leafs’ big guns while trying to implement a new penalty-killing system may sound daunting on paper, especially after the Habs struggled down a man in the preseason. Still, Montreal didn’t have its full lineup then. With a full NHL roster, the Habs rolled up their sleeves, put on their work boots, and got to work.

In the first two-minute penalty, six forwards saw some ice time: Phillip Danault, Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, Alex Newhook, Nick Suzuki and Chris Kreider. Arber Xhekaj also saw some ice time down a man, 1:29 of the 6:00 minutes the Habs were shorthanded, and he played well.

Full marks to Alexandre Carrier, however, who frustrated the Leafs on his knees, blocking the puck along the boards for precious seconds, before scoring the game-winning goal on his next shift.

More Of That Dach

On the Canadiens’ first goal, Kirby Dach made a great play. He dispossessed Darren Raddysh, held onto the puck, found Carrier in space, and that eventually allowed Josh Anderson to bat the puck out of the air and behind Bobrovsky. Great patience by the alternate captain to wait for that puck to drop low enough before hitting it, but without Dach’s play, that doesn’t happen.

That’s the kind of Dach the Canadiens need. A big player who can pressure the defence on the forecheck and hold the puck long enough to build an attack. The 6-foot-4, 221-pound winger showed urgency tonight, something we didn’t see in the preseason. If any scouts were in Toronto tonight to see Dach, they saw some good things.

Patience Needed

Some will be quick to criticize the first line's play, but Chris Kreider just arrived and has had little time to learn the Canadiens’ system. Unlike the rest of the Canadiens’ players, he’s not yet familiar with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield’s game, and that’s hardly surprising. Caufield didn’t find the back of the net, but he had three shots, and the line had six total on the night.

It wasn’t perfect, but the Canadiens do skate away with the two points, largely thanks to goaltending and their bottom-six, not unlike what we’ve seen in the playoffs, really. Winning games without your top-six finding the back of the net is something teams need to do if they want to be contenders. Of course, the big guns will have to step up eventually, but Montreal will be glad to have put an end to the Leafs’ opening-night streak and to have put that game away in regulation, something they struggled with last season.

NHL Game Score Impact Card for Montréal Canadiens on 2026-09-29: pic.twitter.com/XowaB6rX0Y

— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) September 30, 2026

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Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said his focus entering the new season remains on improving the team rather than setting a specific goal such as a playoff berth or Stanley Cup title. Dubas said Pittsburgh will continue seeking young impact players while developing its current prospects and improving defensively. [Trib Live]

The Penguins will celebrate their 60th anniversary throughout the 2026-27 season with special events, giveaways and ticket packages. The yearlong celebration begins with a pregame ceremony on Oct. 3 before the Penguins’ home opener against the Montreal Canadiens, and the team has also unveiled a retro-inspired 60th anniversary logo. [KDKA]

Forward Egor Chinakhov is getting an opportunity on Pittsburgh’s top power-play unit after Bryan Rust was placed on injured reserve. Chinakhov, who scored 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games with the Penguins last season, is expected to skate alongside Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and Tommy Novak.

ICYMI: In an appearance on Mark Madden’s radio show on 105.9 The X, Sidney Crosby said the shortened preseason has limited his time to build chemistry with new linemate Nick Robertson, but he has been encouraged by their progress. The Penguins captain also said he hopes to play for several more years, while acknowledging that his retirement timeline will depend on how he feels physically and mentally. [PensBurgh]

News and notes from around the NHL…

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a skull fracture suffered when he was struck by a puck during Friday’s preseason game against Dallas. The 24-year-old had 51 points in 80 games last season, but the Wild have not established a timetable for his return. [NHL]

Thomas Chabot has been named the next captain of the Ottawa Senators. [TSN]

Newly acquired Columbus Blue Jackets forward Matthew Knies is glad to have the trade speculation surrounding him in the rearview mirror after being dealt by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Knies said the rumors had become tiring but is excited for a fresh start in Columbus. [Sportsnet]

The NHL season is underway! Let us now enjoy all the ups, the downs and endless absurdities that are sure to follow with the “transition” 2026-27 New York Islanders, including an extra two games of angst in the expanded 84-game schedule.

They have an incredible Calder-winning defenseman who’s sure to be a Norris candidate through much of his career and delight us on even the darkest nights, a Vezina-caliber goalie whose peak may nonetheless behind him, a 38-year-old backup trying to come back with two (partial) new knees, and a bunch of aging players who will be “transitioned” out in the next few years as this season’s (hopefully) emerging youngsters take the reins.

There is a lot to scratch your head about and wonder, “How’s this gonna work?” about their opening roster, but there’s also Matthew Schaefer and Victor Eklund, two youngsters who provide hope today and should be part of the next generation if the roster one day gets out of this middling state.

PROGRAMMING/GAME THREAD NOTE: I’ll do my darndest to make sure we have a separate game thread/chat for each game. With the new SB Nation app, there is a “game chat” functionality that is supposed to work pretty well. I am not an app person and sure as Avery am not a salesperson, so I’m comfortable telling you the app is pretty useful for accessing this site and jumping around comments on mobile.

COMMENTING NOTE: And that brings up another note…the lifeblood of this site is fun, informed(???), fan-driven commentary. I know you (or at least many of you) don’t come here for my unsourced prose; you come here for the laugh or the reality-check or the well-meaning banter in comments. So please don’t abuse it, don’t abuse each other, don’t hammer the same point (whether its genius or tinfoil) 20 times per day. To help prevent trolls and bots, there is network-wide comment moderation, which means certain words or antagonistic comments toward each other may get filtered or blocked, and I won’t know about the injustice until long after the moment has passed.

Sometimes the filters or moderators overreact (don’t mention that you graduated summa cum laude!), but by and large it shouldn’t be hard to have basic, human discourse here. (Remember: The enemy isn’t each other, it’s…Isles management, or something.) There are options to mute your least favorite commenters or simply skim on by the stuff you find dumb, so consider doing that and channel your blood pressure spikes to what happens on the ice.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Islanders News

First things first! The Islanders open the season in Toronto tonight. First Islanders Goal picks for tonight go here, with instructions in the first comment.

• Victor Eklund has switched to number 38, which I really don’t like but I guess it’s okay, as it’s what he wore in Sweden. Still, ick. [Isles]
• The Islanders will have four alternate captains — different guys for home and road — in addition to new captain Bo Horvat. I’m not going to pretend to think this means anything significant, but I’m glad Schaefer gets an A since he’ll one day lead this next generation. [Isles]
• ONLY in Newsday! What can Schaefer accomplish in his second season? [Newsday]
• It’s going to be a work-in-progress as the Isles acclimate to what Pete DeBoer wants. [Post]
• Exhausted by click bait headlines, I made 32 BOLD predictions about this season. [LHH]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores included the defending champs raising their banner but falling to the previous champs, the Leafs falling at home to the Canadiens, and the vaunted Babcockian Oilers and Islanders playoff hero Tristan Jarry giving up five goals on the first 20 shots in an OT loss to the Canucks. They got a very friendly call to help them tie it up late and force overtime, making Evan Bouchard’s hat trick worth something.

• During the game broadcast, ESPN paid modest tribute to Barry Melrose. [NHL]
• The Blue Jackets are happy to be done with the Kirill Marchenko drama. [NHL]
• Speaking of whom, thank GOD Carson Soucy has found work. [TSN]
• Who else here is thrilled that the Leafs “look like a new team in emotional loss”? [Sportsnet]
• Who needs AI? Jakub Dobes proved he can get a robot to express emotion. [Sportsnet]
• Elliotte Friedman returns with some 32 Actual Written Thoughts. [Sportsnet]

JJ Peterka gave Bruins exactly what they needed in season-opening win originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON — The Bruins knew they had to add more high-end offensive talent and speed to their lineup during the summer after failing to generate a ton of goals in their first-round playoff series loss to the Buffalo Sabres last season.

So general manager Don Sweeney made a bold trade with the with the Utah Mammoth on the day of the 2026 NHL Draft to acquire top-six winger JJ Peterka in exchange for two first-round draft picks.

Peterka provided a shining example of the kind of impact he can make for the Bruins during Tuesday night’s regular season opener against the New York Rangers at TD Garden.

Fifty-two seconds after Fraser Minten gave the Bruins a late third-period lead, Peterka showed off his puck-handling skills by dancing around Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider and beating all-world goaltender Igor Shesterkin to double Boston’s lead. The B’s held on for a 3-0 victory — a league record-tying 11th straight home opener win.

PURE FILTH BY PETERKA IN HIS BRUINS DEBUT AND THE B'S TAKE A 2-0 LEAD LATE 🔥🚨 pic.twitter.com/TFQh2ooJov

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 30, 2026

“That was nasty,” Minten said postgame. “That was a really nice goal. He’s got sick hands and sick skill.”

Peterka’s tenacity on the forecheck, the speed he plays with, his ability to transition the puck up ice — they were all on display against the Rangers.

But the offensive skill really stood out. Outside of David Pastrnak, the Bruins didn’t really have anyone last season who could produce a highlight-reel goal from a feat of individual brilliance. Peterka gives this team another top-six forward who can generate scoring chances at an elite level.

“That’s why we got him, right?” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said with a smile postgame. “It was nice to see because he had some really good scoring chances in the preseason, in practice, and to make a move like that today and finish the way he did, I hope it helps him moving forward.

“I also know as a new guy on a new team in a new city, playing at home you want to be good and you want to be the guy. I think that part was really nice, too. He showed everyone you got me here for a reason.”

Peterka had a slightly disappointing 2025-26 season for the Mammoth. He scored two fewer goals and tallied 19 fewer assists than the year prior. But the Bruins are confident he can get back to, or exceed, the career-high 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) he posted in 77 games for the Sabres in the 2024-25 campaign.

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Playing with Pastrnak consistently should help Peterka reach another level as a goal scorer and hit the 30-goal mark for the first time. The Bruins generated six shots, seven scoring chances and one goal during the 13:55 of 5-on-5 ice time that Peterka and Pastrnak were on the ice together.

“It’s fun. I think we tried to look for each other a lot today,” Peterka said postgame when asked about playing on a line with Pastrnak.

“He’s playing with so much speed, so much poise with the puck. Makes a lot of great, great plays. It’s awesome. I think you guys have seen it. We have a lot of fun there together, and hopefully click in the future a couple times more.”

The strengths of that duo are aspects of the game that the Bruins as a team need to exhibit more often — speed, transition, maintaining offensive zone possession, wearing down opponents and creating scoring chances off the rush.

“Whenever we’re out there we can make something happen and it’s fun to be a part of,” Peterka said.

It was a great start for Peterka. Now the question is whether he can make this kind of impact on a consistent basis. If he can, the Bruins will be a much tougher team to play against, which was one of their goals over the offseason.

“I’m glad he’s on our team now,” Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman said. “That’s a goal scorer’s goal, and just the whole way it developed, the crowd is still buzzing from (Minten’s goal), a ton of credit to him and it shows the kind of player he can be.”

Las Vegas, N.V.– With its legalized gambling, world-renowned restaurants, magic shows, and acrobatic circus acts, Las Vegas is widely viewed as the entertainment capital of the world. The Strip has something for everyone and attracts an unfathomable amount of foot traffic every day. On Tuesday, a good chunk of that traffic flocked to T-Mobile Arena for the Vegas Golden Knights’ home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Golden Knights are known for their pregame theatrics, and they didn’t cut any corners in their 10th season. The ‘Season X’ pregame show included a walk down memory lane with a nostalgic video, and finished with a call to the city’s rich history with neon signs.

Ladies and gentlemen… your 2026-27 Vegas Golden Knights. pic.twitter.com/WsLlgnA6A4

— Hannah Kirkell (@h_kirk6) September 30, 2026

Even before puck drop, the building was electric. 

The good time certainly didn’t stop when the Golden Knights struck first. After spending most of the 2025-26 season playing catch-up, the fans were all-too eager to cheer as their team took a two-goal lead and spent the rest of the night fending off every push that the Connor Bedard-less Blackhawks could muster. And in the end, when the final horn sounded on a 5-2 Golden Knights victory, well, they liked that too.

1. A Milestone Knight

Usually, an NHL debut is enough cause for celebration. But tonight, 20-year-old Trevor Connelly killed two birds with one stone and became the second-ever Golden Knight to score a goal in his NHL debut.

“I mean, it’s incredible,” said Jack Eichel about Connelly’s milestone. “You see his family here before the game; it’s his first NHL game. He’s been awesome all camp. He’s a great part of our locker room, and he’s obviously a special player. [I’m] so happy to see him get his first, definitely a night and a moment that he’ll never forget.”

Eichel, too, hit a pretty big milestone tonight. With a goal and two assists, Eichel recorded his 700th career point. 

“I’ve been really lucky and grateful to be a part of this organization,” said Eichel following the 5-2 win. “But I think those things just come kind of organically. I’ve played with some great players in my career, and like I said, those things kind of just come. Yeah, it was cool.”

2. Guess Who’s Back, Back Again?

There’s been a fair bit of chatter about the Golden Knights’ new-look power play heading into the season. There are questions about how they’ll replace Pavel Dortofeyev’s 25 power play goals, and how the top unit will fare without a one-time option for Jack Eichel. They went 1-4 tonight against the Blackhawks.

Who scored the lone goal? Why, Victor Olofsson, of course! 

After a partial change, Olofsson found himself out on the ice with most of the top unit. Shea Theodore left the puck for Jack Eichel at center ice, and Eichel found Olofsson entering the zone with a full head of steam. In his first game back with the Golden Knights, Olofsson flew towards the left dot and ripped a shot past Spencer Knight.

It’s far too early to form conclusions about the power play. However, one thing is for certain: Victor Olofsson sure does know how to score goals.

3. Meet the New Boss…

Ryan Craig has been working up to his first game as an NHL head coach for a long, long time. He spent six years serving as an assistant coach for the Golden Knights, then three years as the head coach of the Henderson Silver Knights. Now, he’s back behind an NHL bench, and this time, he’s the boss.

It only took Craig one game to record his first win as head coach.

“I don’t think anyone in this locker room is surprised,” said Jack Eichel postgame. “Craiger’s an unbelievable person, and a great leader. It’s been a really seamless transition. He’s done a great job in the meetings, before the game, on the bench. 

“I’m so happy to have this opportunity, and it’s so deserved,” Eichel continued. “He’s been in the organization for a while. It was a pleasure when he was on the bench a few years ago, and now to have him back, it’s great. For him, I’m sure this is a special moment as well, his first win as a head coach. So, super happy for him, and plenty more.”

Craig, who has been fielding questions about ‘firsts’ like a champ for the past two weeks, understandably wasn’t too interested in talking about himself following the 5-2 victory.

“It’s nice to have my family here to witness the first win,” he said following the game. “Proud of our guys and our effort, and we’ll get back to work.”

Jack Eichel reached 700 career points Tuesday night, but the number that mattered most to him belonged in the Golden Knights’ win column.

"Not much, honestly," Eichel said when asked what the milestone meant.

His contribution meant plenty to Vegas - and to the coach who trusts him to deliver at both ends of the ice.

Eichel finished with one goal and two assists in the Golden Knights’ 5-2 season-opening victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena. His second-period goal produced his 700th career point, and he ended the night with 701. He recorded two shots while playing 18:01 across 25 shifts.

Two days after NHL Network ranked him No. 10 on its Top 50 Players Right Now" countdown, Eichel supplied a three-point illustration of his offensive ability. First-year Vegas coach Ryan Craig emphasized the broader game behind that production.

"Jack’s an elite player in this league, elite 200-foot player," Craig said. "And I think we saw it with how he can skate, how he can get to certain areas."

This top line sure is something else 😤 pic.twitter.com/lfttC4zZRn

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) September 30, 2026

Craig’s Trust Goes Beyond the Scoresheet

Craig’s assessment reflected a relationship maintained during his three seasons coaching Vegas’ American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson. Their conversations helped establish an understanding that Eichel’s status comes with demanding expectations.

"I understand how I can push Jack, how I can hold him accountable," Craig said. "He expects that out of me."

That combination of talent, responsibility and accountability has become central to Eichel’s importance in Vegas. Acquired from Buffalo in November 2021, he made his Golden Knights debut the following February after neck surgery.

In his first NHL postseason, Eichel led the 2023 playoffs with 26 points in 22 games as Vegas captured its first Stanley Cup. He later produced the two highest-scoring seasons in franchise history: 94 points in 2024-25 and 90 last season.

JACK EICHEL. 700 CAREER POINTS. #VegasBorn

🎰🎰🎰🎰🎰🎰🎰 pic.twitter.com/aVMIItO0Cz

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) September 30, 2026

His production helped earn NHL Network’s top-10 recognition and its No. 6 ranking among centers. Craig’s remarks explained why Eichel’s value extends beyond those numbers: his skating creates opportunities offensively, while his commitment to defending gives his coach confidence in demanding situations.

"He’s a guy that I can trust," Craig said.

Eichel, meanwhile, shared credit for his milestone. He praised Ivan Barbashev’s play on the goal and the preceding shift that helped create the opportunity, describing himself as "really lucky and grateful" to be part of the organization.

"I think those things just come kind of organically," he said.

Eichel Shares the Spotlight With Connelly

Eichel’s enthusiasm was more pronounced when discussing Trevor Connelly, who scored in his NHL debut. Before the game, Eichel had named a Connelly goal as something he hoped to see.

"He’s been awesome all camp," Eichel said. "He’s a great part of our locker room."

THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR: TREVOR CONNELLY'S FIRST NHL GOAL pic.twitter.com/R8OarohlEq

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) September 30, 2026

Watching the rookie score with his family in attendance gave Eichel another reason to celebrate.

"So happy to see him get his first," he said, "and definitely a night and a moment that he’ll never forget."

Eichel was equally measured about the victory, identifying encouraging offensive-zone pressure and quick transitions while acknowledging that timing and spacing still need improvement.

"By no means was it our prettiest effort, but we’re going to get better. We know that," Eichel said.

Opening night gave Eichel another career milestone and Craig his first NHL head-coaching victory. It also offered an early look at their shared expectations: an elite center willing to be pushed, and a coach who trusts him with more than scoring.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) looks on during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.

The Chicago Blackhawks were in Las Vegas for their first game of the season, as they had a tough matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas, of course, was in the Stanley Cup Final back in June, and now they're looking to defend their Western Conference crown while trying to finish the job this time around. 

Vegas has elite players up and down their lineup, and they are all filled with the pedigree needed to win games in bunches. Most of them were at the top of their game in a 5-2 victory over the Blackhawks on their home ice. 

The leader among them was Jack Eichel, who had a three point night (1-2--3) in the win for the Golden Knights. Victor Olofsson, Trevor Connelly (first career NHL goal), Noah Hanifin, and Mark Stone (empty-netter) also scored.

Jordan Greenway scored the first goal of the season for the Chicago Blackhawks, and it was a great shot to beat Carter Hart. Wyatt Kaiser made a great move that allowed Ryan Greene and Jordan Greenway to make a play, and the latter gave his team a great first impression. 

It was that fourth line with Greene, Greenway, and Cole Smith that played the best of all Chicago lines in the loss. They are the team's 4th line, but they created chances, kept Vegas at bay, and scored a goal. They will mostly need to simply be an energy line throughout the season, but they showed how good they can be in this one, despite losing the game. 

Patrick Kane scored Chicago's second goal of the game. This was the first goal that Kane has scored in a Chicago sweater since 2023, before he was traded to the New York Rangers. It was a breakaway goal that he created for himself. His hands and patience allowed him to find the back of the net. Vintage Patrick Kane was on full display there. 

In addition to the goal, Kane had 4 shots, 8 shot attempts, and managed to play 21:36. At his age, it is impressive to see him still playing at this level. The Blackhawks didn't bring him in for a feel-good story. It happens to be a feel-good story, but he is there to play well and help young guys develop. 

Spencer Knight was the main reason that the score wasn't worse than it showed. He would say he'd like to be better than four goals against, but they were hardly all on him. He made 32 saves on 36 shots, as Vegas peppered him all night long. The Blackhawks, especially early in the game, had no answer for Vegas's speed on the rush. Knight faced the brunt of that issue. 

Vegas is an incredibly hard team to face, especially for a young team like Chicago in their first game of the season. Not every opponent will be as good as they are, but they will all be difficult in their own way. For the Blackhawks, this is a process that they hope will lead to better results as the year wears on. 

Andrew Mangiapane Injury Update

Andrew Mangiapane was part of a few scoring chances in the first period, but he hurt himself one shift into the second period. He did not return for the rest of the game. Once the match ended, Jeff Blashill confirmed that Mangiapane would not play again on their current road trip, which has two more games on it. 

First Time Blackhawks

Roman Kantserov made his NHL debut in this game. He didn't score a goal or have an assist, but he clearly demonstrated high-end offensive abilities more than once. In 17:07 of ice time, he had one shot and three hits. He also didn't give the puck away once while earning a takeaway. When Mangiapane went down, Kantserov was one of the players to take a few shifts in his spot. Early on, Jeff Blashill already trusts the young star. 

Ian Cole, Bowen Byram, Cole Smith, and Jordan Greenway are the other players who made their Blackhawks debut in the game. Obviously, Greenway's goal was the most noticeable moment for any of them, but they all showed promise as they try to play a role in getting this team back on track. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

first goal as a Blackhawk for Jordan Greenway 🚦 pic.twitter.com/hcZnn3XhAE

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 30, 2026

KANE YOU BELIEVE IT?! pic.twitter.com/8AIRA7mIrX

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 30, 2026

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks are now 0-1-0 in the 2026-27 season. They will now head to Salt Lake City for their first Central Division showdown as they take on the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night. 

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

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

The Edmonton Oilers opened their 2026-27 regular season with a loss to the Vancouver Canucks. To say the least, fans have seen this story before.

After a perfect preseason in which the Oilers allowed only five goals in four games, Edmonton allowed six to a Canucks team many aren't expecting much from. A style of play that felt all too familiar to Oilers fans, night one of the season reminded everyone how little exhibition means.

"The bottom line is, if we want to work, we want to do things right, we're going to have a lot of success. We want to play like that, we're going to be chasing the game," said Mike Babcock. "To be honest, we've got to feel fortunate we got a point."

The Game BreakDown

Paul Cotter scored first for the Canucks, a shorthanded goal after a great save by Kevin Lankinen on a one-timer from Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers had dominated up to that point, 8-3 in shots. It was a nice shot, high glove, on Jarry.  

Evan Bouchard scored his first of the season, and what would be his first of three goals on the night. It came on a long-point shot that worked through a screened Kevin Lankinen. 

The shots were 13-5 in favor of the Oilers after the first, and Edmonton dominated at 5-on-5 play. They went 0-for-2 on the power play and tried to send an early message physically, outhitting the Canucks 14-3. 

The first was not an indicator of how the rest of the evening would go. 

Babcock On His GoaltendersMike Babcock was asked Monday afternoon if he could tell us who would start in net for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> on opening night.

Marco Rossi made it 2-1 for the Canucks early in the second. He got in behind the defense on a breakaway. Jake Walman made a poor choice to pinch, with Connor Murphy having gone down low; Colton Dach was the forward covering. It was just one of many odd-man rushes for the Canucks.  

Bouchard scored his second of the night on a pass from Connor McDavid. Alex Formenton drove the puck along the boards and got taken out, opening a lane for McDavid. Bouchard was in the slot to pick up a pass and score. 

The Canucks scored just over a minute into the third on a shot that Tristan Jarry should have had. Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored a five-hole goal. Max Sasson scored another quick one to give the Oilers a 4-2 lead. Jarry lets another one sneak by him, five-hole, on a backhand break. 

Elias Pettersson scored to make it 5-2. A nice tip past Jarry. It became clear that the Oilers were back to their old habits and had really crumbled in the second and third periods. 

Vasily Podkolzin got the Oilers back on the board with a goal on a nice loose-puck pickup from a Bouchard shot that didn't quite reach the intended target. Podkolzin had worked hard and deserved the reward. On the goal, Bouchard picked up his third point.

Bouchard scored his hat-trick goal on a long point shot that got through a crowded net.

BOUCH TRICK 🎩🧢👒 #LetsGoOilerspic.twitter.com/eM8jxMJFPI

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 30, 2026

Finishing off the comeback,  Podkolzin scored with 42.5 seconds left after the Oilers got a power play in the final minute. It was a bullet from Podkolzin.

The Oilers salvaged a point out of the comeback, but couldn't seal the deal with a win. Three successive good chances for the Canucks in overtime eventually led to a goal against the Oilers. 

Was it a valiant effort or a disappointing showing? Head coach Mike Babcock called it the latter. Down three goals, they tied the game at five. Still, when a player like Bouchard has five points, it makes no sense that the Oilers would lose. 

The Oilers looked solid in the first period but brutal in the second and the first half of the third. Jarry owned his poor performance, and Babcock noted there was no point in hammering home what their goaltender already knew, nor praising the individual performances of Bouchard and Podkolzin. There was a lot not to like here and Babcock said the team will get to work, and that there's a lot of work to do.

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.   

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Paul Cotter scored 1:59 into overtime to cap a two-goal game as the Vancouver Canucks got the season off to a strong start with a 6-5 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.

Marco Rossi, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Max Sasson and Elias Pettersson also scored for the Canucks, who are coming off a last-place finish in the NHL last season with a 25-49-8 record.

Kevin Lankinen made 32 stops.

Evan Bouchard had three goals and two assists and Vasily Podkolzin scored twice for the Oilers. Tristan Jarry made 17 saves for Edmonton.

Entering the third period tied 2-2, Pettersson capped a three-goal run by the Canucks 5:15 into the frame to swiftly put the Canucks ahead 5-2.

But Podkolzin scored at 8:56, followed by Bouchard’s third of the night 24 seconds later and Podkolzin’s second of the night with 43 seconds left in regulation to send it to extra time.

Cotter, who joined Vancouver as a free agent after spending the last two seasons in New Jersey, became the first player in Canucks history to score a short-handed goal in his debut with the team.

Bouchard is the first defenseman in Oilers history to record a multigoal game in a season opener and just the third defenseman in NHL history to score a hat trick in an opener. He is also just the third blue-liner in the last 30 years to have at least four points in a game to open the season.

Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra became the fourth person to represent the Canucks as both a player and head coach in his career, following in the footsteps of Marc Crawford, Pat Quinn and Orland Kurtenbach.

Up next

Canucks: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

Oilers: At the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here