Category: NHL

Lyle Odelein, a Stanley Cup-winning defenseman with the Canadiens and the first captain in Blue Jackets history, died on Friday.

He was 58.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that he died after suffering a heart attack.

Odelein played 1,056 games across his 16-year NHL career, putting up 252 points (50 goals, 202 assists) while spending time with the Canadiens, Devils, Coyotes, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, Stars, Panthers and Penguins.

The native of Saskatchewan was drafted by the Canadiens in the seventh round of the 1986 NHL Draft and spent his first seven seasons in Montreal, helping the club win its most recent Stanley Cup in 1993.

Following a three-year stint with the Devils and a half season in Phoenix, Odelein was chosen by the Blue Jackets in the 2000 expansion draft and became the first captain in the team’s history.

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are deeply saddened by the passing of Lyle Odelin,” the team said in a statement on Saturday. “Lyle is a significant part of our history, serving as our first captain and helping us celebrate our 25th season last March. He left an indelible mark on our organization and community.

“On the ice, Lyle was a fierce competitor and Stanley Cup champion. Off the ice, he was warm, kind, and quick with a smile and kind word. He was a friend to all who knew him and will be sorely missed. Our sincerest thoughts and condolences go out to his wife, Laurel, his children, family and many friends. Rest in peace, Odie.”

Odelin retired from the NHL following the 2005-06 season.

He suffered from a major health scare in 2018, being placed in a medically induced coma after being pricked by cactus needles during a golf outing in Arizona.

Odelin then experienced a slow road to recovery and was paralyzed from the neck down. He was unable to speak upon exiting the coma. Later that year, Odelin regained his speech and was able to walk with a cane for the Canadiens’ celebration of their ’93 Stanley Cup.

“I don’t remember a lot because I was in a coma and paralyzed from my neck down,” Odelein said at the ceremony. “There’s stuff that I didn’t even know that they were doing and neither did my wife, actually. It was really hard. Now I’m walking around with a cane and stuff, but things are going really, really well.

“It’s unbelievable. I can tell you one thing, there is a God. I had a five percent chance to live and if it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Less than a week into the NHL season, and there are already some interesting situations to monitor regarding players across the league.

Of course, one of the most prominent is that of former Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade during the summer and started the season on injured reserve. At Detroit's home opener Friday, Larkin was introduced to a less-than-pleased crowd, who booed him relentlessly and chased him back into the locker room. 

But Larkin is not the only Red Wings player in a tough situation with the organization. So, too, is 23-year-old left defenseman Simon Edvinsson.

Edvinsson was selected sixth overall by Detroit in 2021, and he is currently a restriced free agent without a new contract. The towering 6-foot-6, 222-pound Swedish blueliner registered nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last season and was a staple on the Red Wings' top defensive pairing alongside Moritz Seider. 

Well, feelings between Edvinsson and Detroit seem to be souring. 

The big defenseman is back overseas and training in Sweden, which says a lot about where things are with contract negotiations. And, according to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, Edvinsson would prefer to be traded out of Detroit rather than extend. 

BREAKING: Simon Edvinsson prefers to be traded out of Detroit, per @FriedgeHNIC. pic.twitter.com/lyyrAENEIn

— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) October 4, 2026

If this is the case, the Pittsburgh Penguins might just have a perfect trade target.

For one, the organization's right-side prospect pool is a bit more promising, as Harrison Brunicke, Finn Harding, and Chase Pietila all look like they could be NHL players in the pretty near-term. They also have Quinn Beauchesne as a farther-out option. 

They do have some options on the left side, as Owen Pickering and Jake Livanavage are also on the brink of NHL minutes, and Peyton Kettles, Tomas Galvas, and Parker von Richter probably need a bit more time to marinate. However, unlike Brunicke on the right side, they don't necessarily have a surefire top-four blueliner on the left side, and defensemen as big yet mobile as Edvinsson are hard to find. 

Yes, Edvinsson is far from a finished product. His production has been respectable through parts of four NHL seasons, as he has 19 goals and 60 points in 175 career NHL games, but there are still some inconsistencies for him to work out on the defensive side of the puck. He also has a higher offensive ceiling to reach.

NHL Insider Reports Simon Edvinsson Prefers Trade Out of Detroit After Contract StalemateFrustrated by a bridge-deal offer and seeking long-term security, the Swedish blueliner is eyeing an exit as Detroit’s front office refuses to meet his $70 million demands.

But, he's big. He's physical. He's a solid two-way option capable of playing a shutdown brand. He's adapting his game to his frame and also getting stronger at the net-front. He would immediately be an upgrade on their left side, and he would immediately make the Penguins a better team.

Plus, given Pittsburgh's growing reputation as a place where disgruntled or misplaced players can go to thrive, it stands to reason that Edvinsson could unlock an even higher level to his game than he has up to this point in his career. The Penguins have already seen a transformation in Erik Karlsson under head coach Dan Muse's staff, Sam Girard is off to a great start this season, and Parker Wotherspoon - dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights this summer for Kaedan Korczak - had a breakout season with the Penguins in 2025-26 at the age of 28 and is now a top-four shutdown defenseman. 

Edvinsson could be the perfect complement for a player like Brunicke, whose development will be key for the Penguins moving forward. Brunicke is a highly mobile defender who loves to jump up on the play, and Edvinsson is capable of making calculated decisions when it comes to an offensive-oriented partner, as he has that experience with Seider. 

Penguins Assign Forward To Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonThe Pittsburgh Penguins have assigned Rutger McGroarty to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

As a big, top-four left defender, Edvinsson surely won't come cheap, even if he's an RFA and wants out. The Red Wings hold all the cards, and they will want NHL talent in return - whether that's more help up front, a replacement of sorts on the blue line, or both.

If the Penguins wait things out a bit, maybe Girard makes himself a valuable trade commodity. They also have Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, both 30-goal wingers who could help Detroit up front.

It's also worth noting that Detroit's interim general manager is Shawn Horcoff - father of Penguins' top forward prospect Will Horcoff, who has enjoyed a successful run in his young career at the University of Michigan so far. Detroit also has two of the Plante brothers, while the Penguins have the third and oldest, Zam, in their system.

Edvinsson is going to cost a whole lot, but it's a gamble worth looking into for the Penguins. If they can nail down young, top-four options on both the left and the right side for the foreseeable future, that would go a long way toward their goal of becoming a sustainable Stanley Cup contender for the years beyond Sidney Crosby.

Of note, no formal trade request has been submitted by Edvinsson up to this point.

Trade Talk Around Dylan Larkin Intensifies After Opening Night Boos, Capitals Emerge With Intriguing OfferA hostile homecoming fuels rumors of the captain’s exit as Washington weighs a blockbuster swap for Dylan Strome to bolster Alex Ovechkin’s final Stanley Cup charge.

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When Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos scored his first goal of the season in the first period of tonight's game, he did more than just tying the game against the Dallas Stars. He entered the 2026-27 season sitting in 19th place on the NHL's all-time goal scoring leaderboard. Today, he scored his 625th career goal and tied two Hockey Hall of Famers for 17th.

At 4:46 in the first period, the Predators were on the power play when Ryan O'Reilly was able to connect with Stamkos on a cross-slot pass that was quickly shot past Casey DeSmith and into the net. This was Stamkos's 70th goal with the Predators and 625th overall, as 555 of them came with the Tampa Bay Lightning. As a result, the Predators forward tied Hockey Hall of Famers Jarome Iginla and Joe Sakic for the 17th-most goals in NHL history.

Sakic scored his final goal against goaltender Mathieu Garon on October 23, 2008 when the Colorado Avalanche faced the Edmonton Oilers. Iginla then tied the legendary centerman with his 625th goal as a member of the Los Angeles Kings against the Vancouver Canucks and Ryan Miller on March 31, 2017.

Stamkos has the third-most career goals amongst active players trailing just the all-time goalscoring leader Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. On the all-time list, he now sits 15 goals behind Dave Andreychuk for 16th place. 

The Senators had lingering questions about Jake Sanderson’s health all through preseason. Unfortunately, those questions likely aren't going away anytime soon.

After playing one period of preseason hockey, Sanderson suited up on Saturday night for the Sens regular season opener, but left the game in the first period after just six shifts. Early in the second period, the team announced he would not return.

Earlier in the game, as he battled former Senator Nick Paul, Sanderson appeared to awkwardly extend his leg along the boards. Sportsnet cameras later caught footage of the Senators' top defenceman on the bench, punching the boards in frustration.

Sanderson missed practices during training camp because of an undisclosed injury and didn't make his preseason debut until the Sens' final exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens on September 26.

That return didn't last long either.

Sanderson played 13:22 against the Montreal Canadiens before leaving in the second period. The Senators described his departure that night as precautionary, and head coach Travis Green said afterward that he didn't expect Sanderson to miss any time.

But Sanderson subsequently missed more practice time, which until Saturday, is all the Sens have had since the NHL season began. The Senators said the issue that caused him to miss practice following the Montreal preseason game was different from the one that had bothered him earlier in camp.

He finally returned to a full team practice on Friday, one day before the opener and understood that it might take a minute to get up to sped.

"Obviously, I've only played one period of preseason," Sanderson said Friday. "I think, for me, I (need to) control what I can control, and that's my effort and my mindset, making sure I'm locked in."

There's no word yet on whether his exit Saturday has anything to do with the either of the issues that bothered him in camp. But it's more than reasonable to suspect that it does.

The timing would be terrible for a Sens blue line that's already without Sanderson's usual partner, Artem Zub, who continues to work his way back from a knee injury.

Simply having Sanderson available for opening night seemed to be good news for the Senators. Now, after his early departure, his health issues have instantly shot back to the top of the club's early season storylines.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

The Colorado Avalanche put on a clinic in their season opener against Los Angeles on Wednesday night!

Tonight marks the first head-to-head match within the Central Division, with the St. Louis Blues making their first trip to Denver of the season.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avs, having had four months to stew over being eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in May, took out their frustrations on former netminder Darcy Kuemper on their way to a lopsided 8-4 victory. The power play, which had been the Avs undoing against Vegas, got off to an impressive start. Brock Nelson led all skaters with three (3) power play points. Artturi Lehkonen scored two power play goals, and Nathan MacKinnon added another. In total, seven skaters collected points on the power play.

MacKinnon would also score another goal in this contest and, in the third period, put his goal-scoring hands to work in a brief but decisive fight against Los Angeles defenseman Brandt Clarke.

Newcomer Jaden Schwartz also tallied a pair of assists in his Avalanche debut, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 27 of 31 shots in his first win of the season.

Head Coach Jared Bednar also said Zachary L’Heureux could be a possibility for today’s game, but it would depend on how he looks during morning skate. Bednar didn’t seem optimistic that Logan O’Connor would be ready to go for today’s game.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nazem Kadri
Jaden Schwartz – Fedor Svechkov – T.J. Hughes
Parker Kelly – Nicolas Roy

Defense:
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Noah Juulsen

Between the Pipes:
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

St. Louis Blues

St. Louis began their season on Friday evening against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. McTavish scored his first goal as a Blue—which ultimately stood as the game-winner—just barely over a minute and a half into the game. Dalibor Dvorský added a goal in the second period, while Jimmy Snuggerud and Pius Suter scored two empty-net goals in the third period to secure a 4-0 victory. Goaltender Joel Hofer stopped all twenty-four shots he faced for his first shutout win of the season.

The game was not without controversy. Early in the third period, Carlo made a dangerous knee-on-knee hit against Stars center Roope Hintz. Hintz did return to the game shortly after the hit, while Carlo earned a five-minute major and was ejected.

With Hofer getting the start in Dallas, expect Jordan Binnington to start in goal for St. Louis tonight. Loved by some and reviled by many, Binnington is entering the last year of his six-year contract with St. Louis. With Hofer being positioned to succeed him as the starter in goal, this season may be the final one in a Blues sweater for the thirty-three-year-old Binnington.

Montgomery also said that right-wing Alexsey Toropchenko, who was injured early in the Dallas game, is “more than day-to-day” but is waiting for more information on his status as of this writing.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Dylan Holloway – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud
Pavel Buchnevich – Mason McTavish – Connor McMichael
Jake Neighbours – Dalibor Dvorský – Jonatan Berggren
Dillon Dubé – Pius Suter – Ross Johnston

Defense:
Philip Broberg – Adam Jiříček
Theo Lindstein – Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler – Brandon Carlo

Between the Pipes:
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer

NOTE: Don’t forget to download the new SB Nation app for a more mobile-friendly way to follow tonight’s action and engage with Mile High Hockey’s match threads. Commenting and interacting with your communities is easier than ever before with the Game Chat feature. The app is currently available in the U.S. and Canada on iOS and Android devices.

Igor Chernyshov's game-winner lifts Sharks past Kings in another OT thriller originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Two nights after an overtime classic against the Florida Panthers, the Sharks did it again.

San Jose beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in overtime on Saturday, with Igor Chernyshov scoring twice — including the game-winner with 1:42 remaining in the extra period — to give the Sharks consecutive overtime victories to open the 2026-27 NHL season.

ANOTHER OT WINNER AT THE TANK. CHERNY WITH HIS SECOND 🚨 pic.twitter.com/0r7MecQumu

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 4, 2026

The winning goal came off a defensive play first. Macklin Celebrini recovered the puck deep in San Jose’s own zone before springing Chernyshov the other way, and Chernyshov beat Anton Forsberg clean.

Asked by NBC Sports California’s Sheng Peng what he saw on the game-winner, Chernyshov kept his answer characteristically short.

“Net,” Chernyshov said.

.@Sheng_Peng: "What did you see on your overtime goal?"

Cherny: "Net." 🤣 pic.twitter.com/lALmacSEvM

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 4, 2026

The goal capped a wild, back-and-forth game at SAP Center. Chernyshov had given San Jose a 4-2 lead earlier in the third period on a breakaway, only for Los Angeles to answer twice — Erik Haula cut the deficit to one, and Artemi Panarin tied it with 5:01 remaining after a poor clearance attempt by Sharks defenseman Nolan Allan sent the puck right back to the Kings.

The night also included a milestone for rookie Ivar Stenberg, who recorded the first point of his NHL career with a second-period assist on a Tyler Toffoli power-play goal, with Celebrini picking up the second apple on the play.

Ivar Stenberg gets his first NHL point with this beauty of an assist to Tyler Toffoli 🍎 pic.twitter.com/GGzcnkmNpb

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 4, 2026

Toffoli, who has centered Stenberg alongside Alexander Wennberg to begin the season, did not hold back his praise for the rookie afterward.

“He’s a great player — he does everything on the ice,” Toffoli said. “I think there’s a reason he’s playing with Wenny and playing against other teams’ top lines. Obviously, yeah, very happy — selfishly — that he made that pass to me.”

"Obviously, very happy — selfishly — that he made that pass to me."

Toff with an honest assessment of Stenberg's first NHL point 😂 pic.twitter.com/RdsLtOITQo

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 4, 2026

Toffoli was equally complimentary of Chernyshov’s night.

“Unbelievable, he’s been a beast,” Toffoli said. “He skates super well, and obviously that goal was pretty nice as well.”

Tyler Toffoli gives Igor Chernyshov his flowers after netting the OT winner 💐 pic.twitter.com/pCCzA5v9qE

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 4, 2026

Allan’s turnover was not the full story of his night — the Sharks defenseman also scored a goal of his own, assisted by Michael Misa and Chernyshov, as eight different Sharks factored into the scoring column. Yaroslav Askarov made 31 saves on 35 shots for the win, and the Sharks improved to 2-0 while the Kings fell to 0-2.

Two games into the season, Toffoli said the team’s chemistry already feels different than it has in his first two years in San Jose.

“We’ve had it for the two previous years that I’ve been here — we just haven’t been as lucky,” Toffoli said. “We’re building off the same vibes and having fun, and now we’re getting wins. Everybody’s starting to produce.”

Three seasons ago, this same franchise tied an NHL record by losing its first 11 games. The year after that, it lost its first nine, then first six last campaign. San Jose has opened recent seasons with losing streaks long enough to make history for all the wrong reasons — which is exactly what makes two overtime wins to start this year feel different.

For a young core that has only ever known where this team has been, a 2-0 start is the first real sign of where it actually might be headed.

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MONTREAL (AP) — Lyle Odelein, a defenseman who won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 and played for several other NHL organizations, has died. He was 58.

Odelein's death on Friday was confirmed in social media posts by several teams he played for, including the Canadiens. No cause of death was provided. He played the last of his 16 NHL seasons with the Penguins in 2005-06 and lived in the Pittsburgh area.

The native of Quill Lake, Saskatchewan, was a seventh-round pick of the Canadiens in 1986 played in 1,056 NHL games with Montreal, New Jersey, Phoenix, Columbus, Chicago, Dallas, Florida and Pittsburgh.

He totaled 252 points (50 goals, 202 assists) and served 2,316 penalty minutes. He scored 20 goals and had 75 assists in 420 games with Montreal between 1990 and 1996 and ranks second in franchise history with 1,357 penalty minutes, leading the team in that category in each of his six seasons.

Odelein also contracted a near-fatal blood infection in 2018, apparently when he was pricked by a cactus while playing golf in Arizona. The infection traveled to Odelein’s heart and his organs began shutting down, so he needed liver, kidney and aortic valve transplant surgery, according to KDKA-TV. The surgery left him temporarily paralyzed.

“The entire Canadiens organization is saddened to learn of the passing of Lyle Odelein, who passed away Friday at the age of 58,” the Canadiens said in a statement.

Odelein was the first captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets when the team joined the NHL in 2000.

“Lyle is a significant part of our history, serving as our first captain and helping us celebrate our 25th season in March,” the Blue Jackets wrote in a social media post.

“He left an indelible mark on our organization and on our community. On the ice, Lyle was a fierce competitor and a Stanley Cup champion. Off the ice, he was warm, kind and quick with a smile and a kind word. He was a friend to all who knew him and will be sorely missed.”

The Penguins also remembered Odelein on Saturday in social media posts.

“Lyle was known for his tough exterior on the ice, but we will always remember his generous heart and enormous laugh,” the team wrote.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Flyers fall short in overtime again, remain winless with third straight loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers stayed winless with a 3-2 overtime loss Saturday night to the defending champion Hurricanes at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Shayne Gostisbehere scored the game-winner for Carolina. It was a power play goal. Owen Tippett was in the penalty box for slashing.

Nick Seeler was not happy with the officials after the goal. The Flyers felt the defenseman was crosschecked by Andrei Svechnikov at the net just before Gostisbehere’s shot.

The Flyers had 34 seconds of power play time to open OT, but they couldn’t capitalize.

Rick Tocchet’s club has dropped three straight to start the season (0-1-2). The last time the Flyers lost their first three games was 2014-15, when they dropped four straight to open the season (0-2-2).

Tippett and Matvei Michkov provided the Flyers’ goals.

The Hurricanes (1-1-1) were on the second night of a back-to-back set. They lost at home Friday night to the Capitals, 5-2.

The Flyers faced Carolina for the first time since last season’s second-round elimination to the Hurricanes. The Flyers were swept by Carolina. Going back to the start of the 2021-22 season, the Flyers have lost 21 of their last 24 games against the Hurricanes, including the playoffs.

• Tocchet went back to Joseph Woll, who stopped 37 of 40 shots.

With under four and a half minutes left in the second period, Woll made an athletic split to deny William Carrier, who was trying to flush a rebound. The save kept the Flyers in front, 2-1.

But Carolina tied the game just under five minutes into the third period on Sebastian Aho’s second goal of the night. This one came on the power play and with Michkov in the penalty box for holding.

Aho’s first goal came just 10 seconds into the game.

Woll earned consecutive starts after making 41 saves in the Flyers’ 3-2 overtime loss Thursday night to the Devils.

Hurricanes netminder Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 16 of the Flyers’ 18 shots.

In all three games so far, the Flyers have been outshot by double digits.

• Rasmus Ristolainen took a shot to his left hand with 3:31 minutes left in the second period. After exiting, the the 31-year-old defenseman was able to briefly return at the start of the third period. But following his shift, he went back up the tunnel and did not return.

The team said Ristolainen would be reevaluated Sunday.

Not having Ristolainen would put the Flyers in a tough spot on the back end. He has been a top-pair guy next to Travis Sanheim.

Simon Benoit was the Flyers’ extra defenseman Saturday night. He’d be in line for more action if Ristolainen has to miss any time. The injury could also open the door for Oliver Bonk, a 21-year-old prospect who has been knocking at the door.

David Jiricek made his season debut against Carolina. The 22-year-old was on the third pair alongside Nick Seeler.

• Tocchet’s decision to put Michkov on a line with Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny paid off.

That line impressed in the team’s third preseason game.

“They did play well that game,” Tocchet said Saturday morning, “so hopefully some same kind of magic happens.”

The line produced the Flyers’ go-ahead 2-1 goal from Michkov in the second period.

Tippett scored the first goal by a Flyers forward this season when he tied the game at 1-1 in the first period.

The 27-year-old fired one home through traffic from the slot. His persistence paid off. After having his initial shot blocked, he did a good job of getting the next one on net, which created some chaos in front. His third attempt found the back of the net.

• Denver Barkey was on the ice at morning skate in a non-contact jersey. The 21-year-old forward has been considered day to day with a lower-body injury.

Later in the skate, Barkey was wearing a regular jersey. Tocchet mentioned next week as a possibility for Barkey’s return, but we’ll see how things progress.

Denver Barkey wore non-contact jersey, but then shed it during skate.

"I think it's the first time where he switched jerseys, a little more and more contact," Rick Tocchet said. "When that happens, obviously you get closer and closer. Hopefully he's a possibility this week." pic.twitter.com/gNKf2m1Upx

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) October 3, 2026

• The Flyers go on the road for a three-game trip starting Monday when they visit the Lightning (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

Two games into the season, the Vancouver Canucks have already given an idea of what this rebuild could look like.

The opener gave Vancouver something to build on. The Canucks played with pressure, sacrifice and pace in a 6-5 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers. They blocked 21 shots, Kevin Lankinen made 32 saves, and turned Oilers mistakes into counterattack opportunities.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki’s third-period goal showed it. With the game tied 2-2, Vancouver went the other way after an Edmonton mistake. Lekkerimäki attacked down the right side and beat Tristan Jarry five-hole to give the Canucks the lead.

The same thing happened moments later. Drew O’Connor and Max Sasson capitalized on another turnover, combining on a quick give-and-go that ended with Sasson scoring. In overtime, Paul Cotter pressured Ryan Shea into another turnover, Sasson picked up the loose puck and found Cotter again for the winner.

That pace has been missing from Vancouver’s game. The Canucks have spent years trying to deal with the opposition’s speed. Through two games, they finally look capable of using some of their own.

Sasson’s matchup against Connor McDavid reinforced that point. Sasson was asked to keep McDavid’s line at bay. Arguably the best player in the world somehow finished the opener with zero shots on goal. Sasson also scored and assisted on the overtime winner.

High scoring has not been limited to Vancouver and Edmonton. Through three days of the 2026-27 NHL season, 107 goals were scored across 15 games. For the first time since 1995, multiple teams scored at least seven in their opener.

The regular season increased from 82 to 84 games, while the preseason was cut to four. That may be part of the early-season sloppiness, but Vancouver’s pace and effort still stood out.

Game 2 was a lot less clean. Edmonton came over the boards wave after wave, and Vancouver spent the night trying to recover from its own mistakes.

The Canucks fell behind 5-0 and 8-2 before closing the gap in a 9-7 loss. McDavid finished with five points, and Sasson had a tougher night.

Vancouver really struggled in its own zone. Coverage broke down, Edmonton found too much space and the Canucks spent much of the night chasing the play.

Luke Schenn was direct afterward.

“Careless with the puck, didn't defend hard enough, kind of lost structure and details,” Schenn said. “If we want to have a chance, we’ve got to play as a five-man unit. That's the only way.”

With three defencemen under 23 in the lineup, mistakes are going to happen. Vancouver will get outskilled some nights, especially against Edmonton’s firepower. What cannot happen is being outworked or outwilled. Nights like Thursday are part of the learning process, but the bigger problem is when mistakes come with lost battles and poor structure.

For the fans, 6-5 and 9-7 games are definitely entertaining. For the team, they cannot become the norm. Vancouver cannot keep asking its goalies to bail the team out while giving up chance after chance.

An 84-game season is a grind, and spending too much of it trapped in the defensive zone, blocking shots and relying on big saves will eventually take a toll.

The offence will not score six or seven every night. Vancouver has to find ways to win when it only gets two or three. A big deficit will sometimes be too much to overcome, especially against teams with Edmonton’s skill. Those comebacks will be harder to find once games tighten up.

Still, the response after falling behind 8-2 was worth something. The Canucks scored four straight to make it 8-6. Elias Pettersson returned after needing stitches earlier in the game and finished with three points.

“I am proud how we didn't give up and went till the buzzer there,” Cotter said afterward.

The comeback did not excuse the first 40 minutes. The pushback, though, was closer to what Manny Malhotra wants this team to look like.

This is still a young team, so rough nights will come. The Canucks need to clean up their defensive-zone play, but the team looks faster, more dangerous off the rush and willing to keep pushing when things go wrong.

Two games in, Vancouver has given fans plenty to watch.

That makes the early part of this season far from boring.

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

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Lyle Odelein, the Columbus Blue Jackets' first captain and a rugged Stanley Cup-winning defenseman whose NHL career spanned 16 seasons and eight teams, has died at the age of 58, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The publication said he died on Friday, Oct. 2 of a heart attack.

A native of Saskatchewan, Odelein entered the NHL in 1989 and played the first seven seasons of his career with the Montreal Canadiens. The crease-clearing defenseman won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1992-93.

His best season came the following year when he scored a career-best 11 goals (including a hat trick), 29 assists and 40 points, while also getting his most penalty minutes (276).

Teammate Mathieu Schneider that season called Odelein a synonym for Canadiens-style hockey.

"Montreal Canadiens hockey is safe, sound hockey - not too many chances," Schneider said. "I think Lyle is the poster boy for us."

He also drew praise from then-Canadiens coach Jacques Demers.

"He was known as a fighter. He wanted a chance to play more, and I gave it to him," Demers said.

Odelein also was named to the star-studded Canadian team at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and played two games.

He played three-plus seasons with the New Jersey Devils before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes, who left him unprotected in the 2000 expansion draft. The Blue Jackets selected Odelein and named him captain for the team's inaugural season.

The Blue Jackets paid tribute to Odelein on Saturday night with a video presentation and moment of silence.

The Jackets honored their first ever captain Lyle Odelein who sadly passed away today ❤️🕊️ pic.twitter.com/Zn6NzM6vMq

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 3, 2026

Odelein played in 1,056 games over 16 seasons with the Canadiens, Devils, Coyotes, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, Stars, Panthers and Penguins. He scored 50 goals, notched 202 assists and racked up 2,316 penalty minutes.

Odelein recovered from a health crisis in 2018. He developed a blood infection, was in a medically induced coma for 40 days and needed to have multiple transplants.

NHL teams react to Lyle Odelein's death

pic.twitter.com/qTwa3Ju7hQ

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 3, 2026

The Canadiens are saddened to learn of the passing of Stanley Cup champion Lyle Odelein.

News release ↓https://t.co/n2M44SKx7O

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 3, 2026

The entire Penguins organization joins the NHL community in mourning the loss of defenseman Lyle Odelein. Lyle played over 1,000 career NHL games for eight teams, and ultimately called Pittsburgh home upon retirement. Our condolences go out to his wife, Laurel, their children and… pic.twitter.com/j9QhqtcwWh

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 3, 2026

Our organizations join with those around the NHL in mourning the passing of Lyle Odelein. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lyle’s loved ones at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/jGc2w8TKLA

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 3, 2026

Contributing: Kevin Allen, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former NHL defenseman, captain Lyle Odelein dies at 58

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov has been placed on long-term injured reserve as the team continues to determine the severity of his most recent injury, the Associated Press reported on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Barkov's status means he will miss at least 10 games and 24 days.

Barkov went down awkwardly on his left leg during a board battle in the second period against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, Oct. 1. He got up and immediately went to the dressing room, limping and throwing off his glove in anger. He didn't return to the game.

Barkov had missed the entire 2025-26 season after suffering injuries to his ACL and MCL in his right knee during training camp that required surgery

Aleksander Barkov heads STRAIGHT off the ice after falling awkwardly on his leg 🤕

Barkov missed all of last season after receiving right knee surgery for a torn ACL and MCL... pic.twitter.com/t4Vh9OGKTe

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 2, 2026

Barkov's injury last season was one of many that derailed the Panthers as they missed the playoffs after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2024 and 2025.

Aleksander Barkov injury update

Barkov has been placed on LTIR, meaning he'll miss at least 10 games and 24 days.

Barkov is key to the Panthers as their captain and a three-time winner of the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward. He missed all of last season, but was able to play in the world championships and help Finland win a gold medal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aleksander Barkov injury update as Panthers captain goes on injured list

Rangers rookie goaltender Dylan Garand has had "the craziest week of [his] life."

The 24-year-old Canadian - who was drafted by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft - was sent down to the team's AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on Sunday, Sep. 27.

This came on the heels of Garand's promising NHL debut last year, albeit in a very small sample size. Garand started three games towards the tail end of a rough Rangers season and posted a .954 save percentage, saving 3.9 goals above expected as the Rangers went 2-0-1. 

"I had a number of conversations with [Garand] when the decision was made to send him to Hartford," explained head coach Mike Sullivan. "He knows that we believe in him. He's a good, solid goalie."

Sullivan and his staff chose veteran journeyman Joonas Korpisalo - acquired during the offseason from the Boston Bruins - to be Igor Shesterkin's backup this season, and Garand returned to Hartford for the sixth consecutive season (dating back to the first season after he was drafted) once he cleared waivers.

Garand could've been discouraged. Discouraged that he didn't win the backup job. Discouraged that not a single one of the 31 other NHL teams took a chance on him.

Instead, Garand stayed ready, determined to make the most of his chance once it came.

"I'm proud of the way I handled it," Garand reflected. "It was out of my control, so I focused on what I could control... It doesn't really matter how you feel, it matters what you do."

It didn't take long for him to get that chance.

With the Rangers opening their season with three games in four days (in Boston on Tuesday, at home against Tampa Bay on Thursday, and in Detroit on Friday), the organization knew that they'd have a backup goaltender start one of those games.

The problem? On Thursday, Korpisalo was placed on IR, out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. 

As such, Garand was promptly pulled off the ice during practice in Hartford, mere days after finding an apartment, and told by Assistant GM Ryan Martin to travel to Detroit so he could start Friday's game against the Red Wings.

Garand didn't miss a beat, saving 22 shots and recording his first career shutout in front of a boisterous Little Caesars Arena crowd. He lifted the Rangers to a second straight win, a gritty 2-0 affair in a hostile environment.

A 22-save shutout for G 👊 pic.twitter.com/81GkotFVPr

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 3, 2026

"The team played really well, I just tried to battle and give them a chance to win," reflected Garand postgame. 

"Proud of the group, the whole [defensive] core was unbelievable tonight," Garand chuckled as he rattled off the names of each Rangers defenseman, player by player. "We only gave up three shots in the third period, which made my job easy."

His coach sang the praises of the young man between the pipes, both regarding his stellar performance and his attitude through the adversity he's faced.

"He's a good person, first and foremost," said Sullivan. "Every time I see him walk through the door, the way he works on his game, he wants to play in the NHL."

"He's a fierce competitor. He's battling. He's controlling what he can, and it's hard... things don't always go your way. You've got to be able to work your way through the ebbs and flows of a career," he continued.

The Rangers having a capable backup for Shesterkin is crucial. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, the Russian star has played in 323 total games (including playoffs), the fifth most among all NHL goaltenders during that span.

Being a workhorse wears down the body, of course. Shesterkin has missed time due to injury on multiple occasions during those past five seasons.

Last season, he missed 13 games due to injury, starting 51 games, his lowest amount during this time frame. In the 31 games without their franchise netminder between the pipes, the Rangers went 9-20-2.

Garand will hope that his persistence, combined with his dazzling display on Friday night in Detroit, earns him the chance to seize the invaluable role of reliable backup goaltender.

"He's got a great attitude. His effort is always where it needs to be," Sullivan concluded. "I really have a lot of admiration for him, for how he handles his circumstances."

"He's a great kid. I was thrilled for him that he got a shutout tonight.”

The Rangers don't have another back-to-back until the end of November, so it's difficult to predict when Garand will next hit the ice for the Rangers.

What we can predict, however, is that he'll be ready when his number is called again.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play the Montreal Canadiens in their home opener on Saturday night. 

Both teams have started the season 1-0-0 after the Penguins demolished the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 on Wednesday and the Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Tuesday. 

This will be a great test for the Penguins since the Canadiens are expected to be one of the best teams in the NHL this year. They got to the Eastern Conference Final last year and are primed for more. 

Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki lead the way up front and are spectacular players. Caufield can score from anywhere in the offensive zone and finished last season with 51 goals and 88 points.

Suzuki is a two-way force and can do it all. He has excellent vision, a great shot, and can take away an opposing team's best player. 

Don't forget about forward Ivan Demidov and defenseman Lane Hutson, either. Demidov is a ton of fun to watch, and Hutson's skating is breathtaking. 

Jakub Dobes will start in goal for the Canadiens. He was great in their season opener on Tuesday after a fantastic year in 2025-26, stopping 26 of 28 shots. 

As for the Penguins, multiple forwards look poised to return to the lineup. Andrei Kuzmenko will make his season debut, while Ben Kindel was activated off injured reserve on Saturday afternoon. Blake Lizotte also told reporters after the morning skate that he's good to go. 

Goaltender Arturs Silovs will make his second straight start after earning a shutout on Wednesday. 

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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The Chicago Blackhawks are 0-2-0 coming into their third game of the season. This is the third and final game of the road trip that opens their 2026-27 season, and it is against the Buffalo Sabres. 

The first two games were not just losses. The Blackhawks were blown out in both, with a combined score of 11-2. Both the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth are good and will be playoff contenders, but they shouldn’t be able to toy with the Blackhawks the way that they did. Now, the Hawks have another opportunity to bounce back. 

Scouting Buffalo

The Buffalo Sabres are coming off their most exciting year in decades. They ended a 14-year-long playoff drought, which is the longest in the history of the NHL. They didn’t just squeak into the playoffs, either. Buffalo went 50-23-9 for 109 points and won the loaded Atlantic Division. 

Buffalo did lose some pieces, including Alex Tuch, who was one of the top free-agent forwards this past off-season. They also lost Bowen Byram, whom they traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in a deal that included the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and Louis Crevier. 

Still, after ending the drought, Buffalo has more hype coming into the season than they’ve had in years. They had a tough road loss to a motivated Columbus Blue Jackets team to open their season, but now they will host the Blackhawks, hoping for their first win. 

Norris-Thompson-Doan

Benson-Ostlund-Quinn

Krebs-McLeod-Helenius 

Kulich-Carrick-Malenstyn 

Samuelsson-Dahlin

Power-Crevier 

Metsa-Gilbert/Grzelcyk

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is going to be Buffalo's starting goaltender. The third pair will be two of the three who rotated in and out during practice. 

Buffalo has three outstanding defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power. Louis Crevier adds another layer of strength in place of Bowen Byram, who was expendable because of the talent they have at the top. 

At forward, Tage Thompson drives the bus. He gets plenty of help from Josh Doan, Jack Quinn, Josh Norris, and Zach Benson, among others, throughout the lineup. For the Blackhawks, they have to use their speed to overcome a group like this and get to a much better forecheck with traffic in front of Luukkonen. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks are off to a rough start. It is a situation where they had higher expectations than in previous years and somehow managed to look worse over two games. Even without Connor Bedard, it has been disappointing. It’s one thing to lose; it’s another to be blown out. 

Bowen Byram is going to miss the game against his former team as he addresses a family matter. Sam Rinzel is going to be a scratch as well. This means that both Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro will be called up. 

With that, it is unclear how the pairs will line up. However, the forward group is projected to look like this: 

Kantserov-Nazar-Kane

Bertuzzi-Frondell-Teravainen

Donato-Moore-Lardis

Smith-Greene-Greenway

These are the lines that the Blackhawks had going during training camp, but then went away from them a day before the season started. Spencer Knight will start in goal. 

Frank Nazar, Anton Frondell, Oliver Moore, and Ryan Greene have been projected to play center ever since Connor Bedard went down. One of them will move to the wing when he returns, but this is a bright young group in the meantime. 

Greene’s 4th line with Cole Smith and Jordan Greenway has been the team’s best through 2 tough games. The top 9 are hoping to match that energy in Buffalo. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. For the first time this season, the Blackhawks can be seen locally on CHSN. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 6:00 PM CT. 

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

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill ruled out top defenseman Bowen Byram from playing at Buffalo on Saturday night because of a family matter.

Byram’s absence comes as he was preparing to face his former team for the first time since the Sabres traded him to Chicago in a multiplayer deal in June. The 25-year-old Byram subsequently signed a six-year, $75 million contract with the Blackhawks in becoming the team’s top-paid defenseman.

The offensive-minded player had 21 goals and 89 points in 182 games with Buffalo.

He’s yet to register a point this season, with Chicago opening with two straight losses. After playing Buffalo, the Blackhawks open their home schedule hosting St. Louis on Tuesday.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here