Bump shows flashes as Flyers drop to Canadiens in preseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers fell to the Canadiens, 4-2, in preseason action Tuesday night at Bell Centre.

Anthony Richard and Owen Tippett provided the Flyers’ goals. Travis Sanheim nearly tied the game in the third period on a shorthanded breakaway, but the defenseman was denied by Montreal netminder Kaapo Kahkonen.

The Canadiens’ fourth goal came with the Flyers on a power play and their net emptied.

The trip to Montreal was the second of seven preseason games for the Flyers, who are 1-1-0 so far. They beat the Islanders, 3-2, Sunday night in a shootout.

• Alex Bump made his preseason debut Tuesday night and played a real noticeable game.

The young roster hopeful didn’t score, but he was active and you could see his ability to complement NHL talent.

In the first period, he stripped a Canadien and got a shot on net. In the third period, he had a nice move on a semi-breakaway, but couldn’t quite finish.

Bump did take a couple of hits on the night, but popped back up each time.

The 21-year-old winger didn’t hurt his chances at making the Flyers’ season-opening roster.

Jett Luchanko, another youngster trying to open eyes, made some subtle, effective plays.

• Samuel Ersson played the first period and surrendered two goals on nine shots.

The first was a Cole Caufield blast as Montreal flipped a Sean Couturier turnover into a 3-on-2 opportunity. The second was a Florian Xhekaj shot that Ersson probably knows he can stop.

The plan all along was for Samuel Ersson to play just one period, not the full game, according to a source. Rick Tocchet just misspoke this morning when he said Ersson would play full game.

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 24, 2025

Aleksei Kolosov converted 12 saves on 13 shots over the final two periods. The 23-year-old has made 27 saves on 30 shots through two exhibition outings.

• Rick Tocchet gave Rodrigo Abols a second straight look after the 29-year-old forward impressed in the preseason opener.

“I really liked his first period last game, I thought he was really good,” the Flyers’ head coach said Tuesday morning. “He’s a big guy who can skate. I don’t know him, but from watching him, I love big guys that can skate like that.

“Can he fit a role? When you’ve got a guy like that, I want to see how he can play two, three games in a row. The hardest part, I find, for the guys that come up from the minors, they give you a good game and then they fall off.”

Abols fared well against the Canadiens. He played with physicality and had a team-high three shots.

Richard, who’s pushing for a bottom-six job like Abols, showed off a great burst of speed to put the Flyers on the board in the second period.

• Tippett drew the Flyers to within 3-2 in the middle stanza when he didn’t hesitate to fire a shot from the circle on the power play.

“Whatever the team gives you and it’s a Grade A, you take it,” Tocchet said last Friday. “We’re not looking for tic-tac-toes. If they’re there, take it. To me, be aggressive. The best power plays are the teams that break pressure and they attack, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

• Dennis Gilbert, who is vying to be the Flyers’ sixth or seventh blueliner, played a reliable game. He picked up an assist on Richard’s goal and delivered some hits.

“You notice him out there even when you coach against him,” Tocchet said last Saturday. “He’s a physical guy, he’s not afraid to stick up for his teammates. If he can play a solid game for us, the way we want him to play, I think he has got a good shot at making our team.”

• The Flyers will be on the ice Wednesday in Voorhees, New Jersey before they resume preseason action Thursday against the Capitals at Giant Center (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP+).

Niagara IceDogs forward Ryan Roobroeck is one of the first three members named to Team CHL’s roster for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. 

Roobroeck is projected to be a top ten pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, with many outlets ranking him in the top five of their preliminary rankings. The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy had him as high as the second-best prospect, right behind the projected unanimous first-overall pick Gavin McKenna. 

The Niagara star forward is one of the most exciting prospects coming up, due to his combination of size, high-end offensive skills, and an elite goal-scorer’s release, which forecasts him as someone who could tuck home 30 goals year-round in the NHL. He exploded for 87 points (41 goals, 46 assists) in 64 games last regular season, and was a major factor in Canada’s gold medal victory at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship (9 points in 7 games). 

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Roobroeck was drafted second overall in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection by the IceDogs. When he was drafted, he was listed at 6-foot-2 and 193 pounds. He has bulked up and grown over the last couple of years, currently standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 215 pounds. Every scout at a Niagara game this year will be watching the London, Ontario native. 

Offensively, he has impressed at the junior level already. Continuing to be that dominate threat this year in the OHL is of course important, but scouts are more focused on the development of his all-around game and play without the puck, which can be lackluster at times. 

The showcase between the top draft-eligible CHL prospects and the U.S. National U18 Team is set to take place on Nov. 25 and 26 in Calgary and Lethbridge. The inaugural event was held last November in London and Oshawa and was a resounding success. Of that 2024 team, five OHL players went on to get selected in the top ten of the 2025 NHL Draft: Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, Brady Martin, Porter Martone, and Jake O’Brien. 

Defensemen Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants in the WHL and Xavier Villeneuve of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL were the other two players named to Team CHL’s roster. 

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Vancouver Canucks Sign Two Star OHL Players A couple of OHL players returned to their respective club teams after attending the Vancouver Canucks training camp, but they are both coming back with NHL contracts.  Former London Knight Impressing Maple Leafs Organization & FanbaseThe majority of NHL teams have kicked off their pre-season this past weekend, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. Training camp and pre-season are opportunities for younger players in the system to impress coaches and management and make a name for themselves.  Reversal Trade? OHL's Flint & Niagara Swap Players 13 Months Later Here’s a trade you don’t see too often. The Niagara IceDogs have reacquired defenseman Artem Frolov and forward Hayden Reid from the Flint Firebirds, two players who were traded from Niagara to Flint 13 months ago in a massive three-team deal involving those two teams and the Barrie Colts. 

One of the biggest names to watch for the New Jersey Devils ahead of the 2025-26 season is Seamus Casey.

The 21-year-old defenseman, a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has been working toward securing a permanent spot with the team.

Last season, Casey split time between the NHL and the AHL. In 14 games with the Devils, he recorded four goals, four assists, and eight points. With the Utica Comets, he tallied three goals and 18 points with a plus-1 rating over 30 games.

At five-foot-ten, Casey isn’t the biggest blueliner, but his strong two-way play has stood out. He impressed at the Prospects Challenge this fall and continues to build on the momentum he created last year. In the 2024 preseason, Casey made his NHL debut in Prague, where he scored his first career goal in just his second game.

Offense has always been a key part of his game. Speaking with the Comets before training camp, Casey said:

“I love to play offense too and help out whenever I can. I love to play with the puck on my stick and in the offensive zone with my teammates. Things went well on the offensive side last year and I’m looking to keep that up, but you have to be a complete player around all sides of the puck.”

Casey opened camp strong but is currently dealing with a minor injury. Head coach Sheldon Keefe provided an update Monday:

“He tweaked something in that practice Saturday. He’s doing a lot better. I just felt giving him a couple more days would be the smart thing to do. I would expect to see him Friday if he continues on the path that he is here now.”

"He tweaked something in that practice Saturday. He's doing a lot better. I just felt giving him a couple more days would be the smart thing to do. I would expect to see him Friday if he continues on the path that he is here now."
- #NJDevils Sheldon Keefe re. Seamus Casey

— Kristy Flannery (@InStilettos_NHL) September 23, 2025

Despite the setback, Casey’s mindset hasn’t changed. He’s determined to prove he belongs in the lineup:

“Not being one of the biggest defensemen out there, there’s always room to focus on being more physical. I never want there to be any doubts there. It’s just about being as consistent as I can be in all areas, which comes back to the help of the coaching staff and some of the older guys. Those daily habits on the ice might seem trivial, but you have to be able to do the little things right.”

Casey won’t dress for tonight’s game, but Keefe expects him back Friday. When he returns, he’ll have another chance to show the organization why he deserves a full-time spot on the Devils’ roster.

We’ve nearly made it to the start of the NHL’s 2025-26 regular season, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve worked our way through our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for each Buffalo player this coming year.

We’ve moved through Buffalo’s players at all positions. And in this file, we’re wrapping up the series with an examination of winger Zach Benson. The 20-year-old has been consistent in his first two NHL seasons, but as we’ll explore below, more is going to be asked of him in ‘25-26.

That said, let’s move on to our breakdown of Benson and what’s fair to expect from him this year:

Player Name: Zach Benson

Position: Left Wing

Age: 20

2024-25 Key Statistics: 75 games, 10 goals, 28 points, 14:49 average time on ice

2025-26 Salary:$950,000

2025-26 Expectations: If there’s one thing you can’t fault Benson for, it’s consistency. In his first year in the NHL, Benson played 71 games and generated 11 goals and 30 points while averaging 14:31 of ice time; in his second year, Benson slightly regressed, putting up 10 goals and 28 points while averaging 14:49 of ice time. 

To be sure, those aren’t horrible numbers for a secondary scorer on the fourth line. But Benson is currently slotted in as Buffalo’s first-line left winger. And that means expectations on Benson this season are going to rise significantly.

Earning slightly less than $1-million per-season, Benson could prove to be a great bargain, even if he fails to live up to the standard associated with being selected 13th-overall by the Sabres in 2023. He’s entering a contract season, but Benson showed enough last season to be given a bigger opportunity by coach Lindy Ruff. And Benson’s doggedness on the puck could be just what projected top-liners Tage Thompson and Josh Norris need to thrive and generate sufficient offense to win games.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Newcomer D-Man Jones Has Opportunity To Estalish Himself As Everyday NHLerThe NHL’s 2025-26 regular season is nearly here, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re approaching the end of our player-by-player series in which we break down expectations for each Sabres player this coming season.

Benson had to make a huge jump from the Western League to the NHL in 2023, but he stuck the landing because of his hockey instincts and determination. Now comes the harder part for him – establishing himself as a top-six forward and one who deserves a major raise when he becomes an RFA next summer. 

Benson will be playing with above-average talent in center Norris and right-winger Tage Thompson to start the season, and he needs to respond with an above-average performance. Buffalo has a slew of young wingers they could turn to as an alternative to Benson if he doesn’t do well out of the gate, so Benson’s opportunities could fall off a cliff if he doesn’t produce.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Will Fourth-Liner Kozak Assert Himself As A Full-Time NHLer?The NHL’s 2025-26 regular season is just about here, and on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re almost done with our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for each Buffalo player this coming season.

Benson is now in his third NHL season, and although he still isn’t old enough to drink in many NHL areas, the pressure on him is going to be intense. The Sabres clearly have to see something promising in him as a developing young player that should get first-line time. But the catch is that promise has to be realized.

Otherwise, Benson is going to be the latest in a long list of players who couldn’t make it work in Buffalo.

It was a busy day on Tuesday at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale as training camp continues for the Florida Panthers.

On Wednesday, the Panthers will head up to Raleigh for a preseason matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center.

Making the trip to North Carolina for the Cats will be group that will not feature any of the team’s returning NHL regulars, a similar situation as to over the weekend when Florida played a preseason doubleheader in Nashville against the Predators.

The players who will participate on Wednesday in Raleigh were on the ice for a formal camp practice Tuesday afternoon.

For many, it’s all about trying to make a good impression and prepare yourself for the season to come, but at the end of the day, as long as the effort is there, the coaching staff understands that it’s a long road to the NHL.

“That's really what I'm looking for,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “If any of these young guys that came out and, let's say, I thought they were all fine, you know, real good idea of, like, either why we drafted them or why we brought them to camp. But if they're young, and they had a tough camp, I won't think about them again. I won't assess them, because they’ve got years before (they’re expected at the NHL level). So if a guy had a tough camp, that doesn't mean his career is over at all. He's just got to go back to play junior, or if it’s his first year pro, or whatever that is, get another year, and then you come in. So you really do go through the stages here, especially because we haven't drafted a high, first round pick that comes in has a legitimate chance to make our team. We don't have those players. All our first-round picks are playing on our team.”

Roster-wise, it will be a similar situation when Florida’s next road preseason game arrives, which will be next Tuesday when the Cats face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Orlando.

For that matchup, expect the Panthers to bring another mostly-young group to the neutral site showdown with Tampa.

However, the night before, when Florida hosts Carolina on Monday in Sunrise, we’ll get our first look at some of the NHLers expected to be on the Opening Night roster.

It’s all part of the process as Maurice and his staff evaluate everyone, new and returning, to see exactly where the players shape up as they prepare to mold a new roster for the upcoming season.

“All of the new guys, I'm just trying to learn their game, trying to find out what I think they do for a living,” said Maurice. “What are they good at? That's a really important question to ask. What's that guy good at? How do I fit him in? The returning players that we've had year over year, I'm just trying to anecdotally measure how much better they are. Do I think they're fitter? Are they stronger? Are they grasping what we've done? We're looking for progression and trying to measure that. And then there are a band of players that you're looking at saying, okay, that guy's a potential call-up, how would I play him? First of all, can I make him better? Can I help him get better? Early on, I just want them to learn our game, try to play it, and see if you can, and then we'll shape you a little bit. You've got to be more physical. You can be less physical. You're running around. We need to get the little details, where you take each individual player and try to shape them into our team.”

Before Tuesday’s formal workout in Fort Lauderdale, a large group of the Opening Night Panthers held a skate and scrimmage.

On the ice were Brad Marchand, Evan Rodrigues, Sam Bennett, Eetu Luostarinen, Dmitry Kulikov, Sasha Barkov, Niko Mikkola, Seth Jones, Anton Lundell, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Uvis Balinskis, Mackie Samoskevich, Carter Verhaeghe, A.J. Greer, Gus Forsling, Jesper Boqvist and Jeff Petry.

They are all expected to join the regular camp practices later this week ahead of Monday's game against Carolina. 

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Photo caption: Sep 19, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice speaks to center Gracyn Sawchyn (59), forward Tyler Motte (14) and forward Noah Gregor (18) during training camp at Baptist Health IcePlex. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

When in the early stages of NHL training camp, it's not often wise to read into too much.

There are a lot of players at training camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. Talent is spread out among groups. Players typically get reps with a lot of different people in the earlygoing. When there is an entirely new coaching staff, that means new systems are adapted, and it's difficult to discern much early on.

But one thing that has remained consistent throughout camp practices - and carried into Monday's pre-season-opening 2-1 shootout loss against the Montreal Canadiens - is the defensive pairing of prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke.

And if folks have been paying attention to the Penguins' prospect pool within the last calendar year, this very well could be a pairing to keep an eye on as the Penguins move toward the future. 

On Monday, Pickering and Brunicke suited up on the third pairing for the Penguins, and they did not disappoint. Brunicke quarterbacked the second power play unit and registered the secondary assist on Tristan Broz's power play goal in the first period, and Pickering made some key defensive plays throughout the evening. 

Head coach Dan Muse was happy with the pairing's performance.

"That pair… I thought you saw a lot of good things on both sides of the puck," Muse said. "In the offensive zone, you can see that both guys can get moving a little bit, which creates confusion for the opponent. And there [were] some shifts there where they were really able to do that, some of the shifts where we were able to extend time there in the offensive zone. Also, the puck movement, the breakouts… I think at the beginning of the game, the breakouts were really good, and they were a big part of that.”

Pickering, 21, was selected 21st overall by the Penguins in 2022. He surprised many last season when he earned an unexpected NHL call-up in November after putting on a solid performance to kick off his first full season in professional hockey. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound blueliner registered a goal and three points in 25 games with the big club before being re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) in January.

Pickering has aspirations of remaining on the NHL roster this season for good, and it's something that was the ultimate goal for him all summer long. The same goes for Brunicke, too.

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound young defenseman turned heads in training camp last season - just 18 years old and fresh off his 44th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft - with his top-of-the-line skating ability, hockey smarts, and two-way prowess. His high level of play earned him a stay through the end of training camp, and he may just have gotten that nine-game trial had it not been for the injury situation on the forward front.

Same fivesome as yesterday with Crosby, Koivunen, Brazeau, Brunicke, and Pickering. #LetsGoPenspic.twitter.com/bNk5dlixDX

— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) September 20, 2025

Now 19, Brunicke is partaking in a crucial camp for his development, as he wants to avoid the binding assignment back to junior hockey by cracking the NHL roster this time around. And part of what has helped both he and Pickering is that they have seen much of their camp repetitions alongside guys like Sidney Crosby and Ville Koivunen and against guys like Erik Karlsson.

"Me and Owen have spent a lot of time with Sid, Koivy, [Justin] Brazeau, all those guys," Brunicke said. "So, it’s cool to be a part of that, and we’re learning each day and taking it step-by-step."

As mentioned earlier, Pickering and Brunicke have been paired together consistently from the onset of camp, and the duo is something that goes back to last season. At the conclusion of his junior season with the Kamloops Blazers - where he put up five goals and 30 points in 41 games - Brunicke was awarded an AHL stint with WBS. In 10 regular season games, he registered two points - he also put up a goal and two points in two AHL playoff games - and he saw some time with Pickering then. 

Penguins Hold Strong, Fall To Canadiens In Pre-Season ShootoutOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins' hockey officially kicked off for the 2025 pre-season. 5 Observations From First Week Of Penguins' Training CampOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins officially opened training camp for the 2024-25 season. And through three days, there has been a lot of action. For One Penguins' Top Prospect, New AHL-CHL Rule Could Prove CrucialOn Tuesday, the NHL released its transition schedule for the new rules under the Collective Bargaining Agreement that is set to take full effect during the 2026-27 season. 

Pickering's size, reach, transition game, and shutdown ability complement Brunicke's ability to activate, skate with the puck, and use his skating ability to create offensive opportunity. But neither of their skillsets are limiting, as each of them have a pretty strong two-way game and are able to both generate chances and stymie opposing breakouts.

Both players alluded to how well they read off of each other, and their off-ice friendship has also led to on-ice chemistry.

"I think we play well together, complement each other," Pickering said. "We’re also just good friends and understand the other pretty good. So, yeah, we’re having fun.”

Brunicke echoed that sentiment, adding that they are learning from each other as well.

"We’re taking it each day, just learning and growing together," Brunicke said. "So, it’s been a lot of fun. We’re creating some chemistry here, and we’ll look to keep progressing.”

Of course, the path to the NHL roster for both of them isn't exactly going to be easy. The Penguins have a lot of defensemen on both sides vying for few spots, and even if GM and POHO Kyle Dubas's comments on youth earning roster spots are to be taken at face value, there's still a lot of veteran movement that would have to happen in order for both of them to make the roster.

In an ideal world, though, they both would. This is a pairing that could very well be a large part of the Penguins' future and their hopes of contending for another Stanley Cup championship, and playing at the NHL level now may just be what is best for their development moving forward. Pickering's left side is a bit more open a battle than Brunicke's right, but - either way - they want to make decisions difficult for Penguins' brass when final roster cuts are being made.

And, for Pickering, it all comes down to staying within himself and putting his best foot forward.

“I feel good," he said. "I'm just trying to compete and, hopefully, make the team.”

'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press ConferenceOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. 

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St. Louis Blues PTO attendee Milan Lucic exited practice early today after tweaking his groin and has been given a 50/50 chance of participating in tomorrow's practice, per Jeremy Rutherford.

Lucic skated in the Blues' second pre-season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording an assist and two hits in 15:26 of ice time.

Lucic was brought into St. Louis on a PTO with the possibility of joining the team as a physical presence. The 37-year-old comes with plenty of NHL experience, scoring 233 goals and 586 points in 1177 games. 

Lucic hasn't played much hockey recently, last playing in the 2023-24 season, where he recorded just four games with the Boston Bruins. The Blues have plenty of options for their bottom six, but none have the skillset Lucic can provide, which is a 6-foot-3, 236-pound frame and several NHL fights under his belt. 

It's not a forgone conclusion that Lucic will sign with the Blues, but GM Doug Armstrong has stated that he is open to giving players a second chance, and if Lucic can snag it, he'll give it to him.

Milan Lucic Latest In "Second Chances" For St. Louis Blues Under Doug ArmstrongMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues have been down this road before, and general manager Doug Armstrong is quite familiar with them.

The Chicago Blackhawks have several young players eyeing NHL jobs with the 2025-26 regular season right around the corner. One of them is Colton Dach, as the 22-year-old forward is a candidate to earn a bottom-six spot in Chicago's lineup at the start of the season. 

Dach played in a career-high 25 NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he recorded two goals, seven points, and 86 hits. Overall, the 6-foot-4 forward undoubtedly demonstrated that he is not afraid of the physical side of the game and did provide a little offense along with it. Thus, the possibility of him getting more chances on the Blackhawks' roster this season should not be ruled out.

Dach will be in the lineup for the Blackhawks during their Sep. 23 preseason contest against the Detroit Red Wings. With this, Dach will certainly be looking to stand out with a strong night, as it could very well increase his odds of making the NHL roster out of camp. 

It will be very interesting to see what kind of performance Dach can put together for the Blackhawks against the Red Wings from here. He is undoubtedly one of the youngsters to keep an eye on during this contest. 

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced its starting goaltender for Sunday's game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas

Cal Petersen will get the start between the pipes for Minnesota in Dallas for the Wild's first preseason game. The Stars are playing a very heavy veteran lineup tonight. It should be a good test for Petersen.

Petersen, 30, was signed on a one-year deal worth $775,000. He went 13-15-3 with a 3.14 goals-against average (GAA) and .885 save percentage (SV%) in 31 games last season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL.

The native of Iowa has played in 106 NHL games in his career across six seasons. He is 46-44-10 with a 2.96 GAA, .903 SV% and has four shutouts.

He was signed as some extra insurance if Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt get injured. Gustavsson will back him up on Tuesday in Dallas.

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The Montreal Canadiens have several young players looking to earn spots on their NHL roster ahead of the 2025-26 season. Among the Canadiens' most notable prospects looking to impress is forward Owen Beck.

Beck just completed his first full professional season during the 2024-25 campaign. The 21-year-old forward spent the majority of the year down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Laval Rocket, where he recorded 15 goals, 29 assists, 49 points, and a plus-10 rating in 64 regular-season games. He also played in 13 playoff games for Laval this spring, posting two goals and six points.

Beck also played in 12 games for the Canadiens during the 2024-25 season, where he recorded one assist and 23 hits. Overall, while he did not break out offensively, he still showed promise. As a result, he is a candidate to watch for the Canadiens' opening night roster and will be looking to have a big preseason.

Beck certainly got off to a good start with that in the Canadiens' recent preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins, as he scored at the 2:36 mark of the third period to tie the game up at 1-1. Beck worked very hard for his goal, too, as he kept jamming the puck in front before scoring.

Il lui a cloué le beck!

WE ARE SO BECK

PIT 1, MTL 1#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/YN7xd1WdpM

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 23, 2025

While Beck's goal was not the flashiest, this is exactly the kind of play that the Canadiens are hoping the exciting prospect can provide for them. It will be interesting to see how he builds off his solid start to the preseason from here.

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After nine years without Stanley Cup playoff hockey, most fans of the Detroit Red Wings have become realists. That's because, heading into the 2025-26 regular season, it's apparent to many of them that the Red Wings have little chance of securing a playoff berth.

The moves Wings GM Steve Yzerman has made this summer are leading many to expect more out of Detroit this year. But, when you consider all the things that need to go right for the Red Wings to even be in the conversation for a playoff spot, it becomes clearer why the Wings are a smart bet to once again miss the post-season.

Sportsbook BetMGM has set the odds for Detroit to miss the playoffs at 1.33 (-300) and 3.30 (+230) to make the post-season.

As part of the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division, the Red Wings are going to have to unseat one of the five teams that earned a playoff berth last season – the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.

While it's possible one of those teams can take a step backward, the reality is that they are strong teams. And that’s to say nothing of the two other teams in the Atlantic – the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres – who also are desperate to make the playoffs this year. The competition for a playoff berth is ferocious, and the Red Wings may not have the horses to get into the post-season.

The Three Tiers Of The NHL's Atlantic Should Create A Tough Playoff RaceFrom year to year, there’s been a regular discussion on which NHL division is strongest.

Compounding matters for the Wings is another fact – namely, that the Metropolitan Division will also be more competitive this season. The Metro – which sent only three teams to the playoffs last year – could send four teams to the playoffs next season.

That would leave only four playoff spots for Atlantic teams. And that would mean Detroit’s fight for a playoff berth will be a task all the more mountainous.

Another thing that has to go right for the Red Wings this coming year is their health. Last season, 10 of Detroit’s top-11 point-producers played at least 70 games. Only center Andrew Copp, who appeared in 56 games last year, and that should be a sobering thought indeed for Wings fans.

"We Have To Make The Playoffs": Andrew Copp Has Blunt Expectation For Red Wings in 2025-26 The Detroit Red Wings enjoyed one of the longest postseason streaks in professional sports, qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs every season from 1991 through 2016.

If the injury bug takes a big bite out of Detroit’s roster, the Red Wings don’t have nearly enough depth to keep them in the mix for a playoff spot. Even if newcomer goalie John Gibson performs well, he’s got an injury history that doesn’t make you confident he’ll be a workhorse who appears in 50-60 games this season.

Lastly, in addition to their team health and the teams around the Wings opening up a playoff spot for them to get hold of, Detroit needs Yzerman to spend his team’s salary cap space on a difference-maker.

The Red Wings currently have $11.9 million in cap space, and that rightly puts a ton of pressure on Yzerman to, at last, land a big fish that can help elevate Detroit’s all-around game.

However, there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to do that. And if Yzerman can’t find a trade partner prepared to give up a needle-moving talent, the Red Wings’ cap space will go unused and, in many people’s minds, wasted.

Do you see what we’re getting at here? Detroit needs just about everything to go exactly according to plan – something that never happens. If the Lightning, Maple Leafs, Panthers, Canadiens and Senators all live up to expectations, there’s simply no room for the Red Wings to get into the playoffs.

If any of Detroit’s key players are sidelined for a significant period of time with injuries, there’s not enough NHL-caliber talent on the roster to rise to the occasion.

Furthermore, if the Wings can’t bring in a difference-maker via trade, there’s not enough high-end skill to carry them into the post-season. It all adds up to a bleak picture for the Red Wings.

We’re not trying to tell you there’s nothing to like about the Red Wings. They’ve got some young players who will be above-average players for the next 10 years or longer, including right winger Lucas Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider.

But when there are so many potential pitfalls in the road ahead for them this season, it’s small wonder most pundits aren’t picking the Wings as a playoff team. Too many things can go wrong for them, and by the time the regular season ends, Detroit could see its playoff drought extended to a full decade. 

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The Detroit Red Wings enjoyed one of the longest postseason streaks in professional sports, qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs every season from 1991 through 2016.

During that time, they advanced to the Stanley Cup Final six times, and won the Stanley Cup four times, adding to their total of the most championships by any NHL club based in the United States. 

However, their five-game series loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 Eastern Conference Quarter Final remains their most recent playoff appearance to date.

Since then, the Red Wings have moved from Joe Louis Arena to Little Caesars Arena, hired beloved team icon Steve Yzerman as their general manager, and experienced an especially trying season of 2019-20 season, earning the lowest point total in franchise history since 1985-86.

The good news is that they’ve made gradual, incremental improvements in the standings since then, with the 2024-25 campaign being the only season under Yzerman in which they didn’t improve their point total from the previous year. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Little Caesars Arena has yet to host a Stanley Cup Playoff game, something that veteran Andrew Copp, entering his fourth year with the club, said has to change this season, which is the franchise's 100th in the NHL. 

"We have to make the playoffs, it's our goal and our focus," Copp said following Tuesday's practice. "Anything short of that is going to be looked at as not good enough, and I don't think we can be fearful of admitting that. We need to look at our goal straight in the eye, and everything we do from now until April is to make the playoffs." 

Copp, who hails from the Detroit suburb of Ann Arbor and also played college hockey for the Michigan Wolverines, suffered a season-ending injury in late February. Naturally, it was difficult for him to not be available to help his team on the ice from that point on. 

Red Wings Players To Watch In 2025-26: Andrew Copp It was a homecoming for forward Andrew Copp, an Ann Arbor native who played for the University of Michigan, when he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Detroit Red Wings during the 2022 offseason.

"It was definitely not fun at a time when I felt that both my team and the team game was starting to take off," he said. "I think we'd just finished two seven-game win streaks in 20 games. It was bad timing, for sure. But I feel like I had a long time to train and I had a long time to clear my head mentally, be refreshed for a new season." 

A key penalty killer for the Red Wings, Copp is understandably excited to be back on the ice after missing the final month and a half of last season. 

"I'm excited," Copp said. "I was chomping at the bit maybe in July and August more than usual because it'd been that long since I played a hockey game, so I'm very excited. I think every individual is the same, you want to have as big a role as possible, play as well as possible." 

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The Toronto Maple Leafs made a surprise announcement Tuesday morning – goaltender Joseph Woll was taking an immediate leave of absence from the team to attend to a family matter. But while the hockey world wishes for the best for Woll, the business of hockey continues. And the Maple Leafs are fortunate that they have solid depth in net to hold the fort until Woll is ready to return.

To be sure, no one knows whether Woll will return in a matter of days, weeks or months. However, Leafs GM Brad Treliving has always found a way to build above-average netminding depth, and this year appears to be no different.

Two years ago, it was longtime NHLer Martin Jones who was Toronto’s third option in net. Last year, it was longtime NHLer Matt Murray who was No. 3 on the Maple Leafs’ goaltending depth chart.

This year, with Woll and tandem-mate Anthony Stolarz under contract, Treliving clearly felt good about a trio of youngsters battling for the third goalie spot and playing time that might include a stint at the NHL level. Those three youngsters are Swedish native Dennis Hildeby, and Russians Artur Akhtyamov and Vyacheslav Peksa. 

The 24-year-old Hildeby has by far the most experience of the three, appearing in 73 American League games with the Toronto Marlies. Last season in the AHL, Hildeby put up a .908 save percentage and a 2.55 goals-against average in 30 appearances.

Hildeby just signed a three-year contract extension that will pay him $841,667 per year, so unless he struggles out of the gate – or if Peksa or Akhtyamov go on an incredible streak of performances and leap over him in Toronto’s pecking order of goalies– Hildeby is going to get the first chance at playing in the NHL next year.

'I Got Notice And Liked It Instantly': Why Dennis Hildeby Signed Unique Three-Year Contract With Maple LeafsDennis Hildeby is excited for the upcoming season after signing a rather unique three-year, $2.53 million extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Meanwhile, Akhtyamov appeared in 26 games with the Marlies last season, posting a .901 SP and 2.81 GAA. As for Peksa, he played two games with the Marlies last season, posting an .878 SP and 3.77 GAA.

Both Akhtyamov and Peksa are 23 years old, so Father Time is on their side at the moment. But if Hildeby struggles at the AHL level or after being recalled by the Leafs, Treliving may turn to one of Akhtyamov or Peksa and give them their first NHL opportunity.

There’s no question the Maple Leafs will be at their best only after Woll returns. Woll has earned his position, and when he’s back and ready to go, Treliving will shuttle one of Hildeby, Akhtyamov or Peksa back to the Marlies, while the team will be thrilled to have Woll playing hockey again.

But if Woll is out of action for a good chunk of time, Stolarz is going to need a break now and then. And that’s where Toronto’s third goalie comes into the picture.

Playing net in one of the NHL’s biggest pressure-cooker markets has melted the resolve of many Leafs goalies over the years. Therefore, Toronto management must be reasonably confident that they can deploy a young goaltender into NHL action without the goalie taking a competitive nosedive and impacting the Leafs’ place in the standings in a negative way. 

So whether it’s Hildeby, Peksa or Akhtyamov, the challenge is the same for whoever winds up being the Leafs’ third goalie: keep the Maple Leafs at or near the top of the Atlantic Division and be a terrific understudy for Stolarz, or be moved on from as Toronto’s backup. 

There’s no grey area here – a backup goalie either performs to expectations, or they’re bouncing around the league in short order. So while the Buds are hopeful Woll returns sooner rather than later, they’re going to need netminding help getting to that point.

With the way things are shaping up, the Leafs could be putting some of their season in the hands of a goalie who has yet to make their mark at the NHL level.

It's a calculated gamble by Treliving, but one that could pay off handsomely for the third straight year.

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Two highly ranked prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft went head-to-head on Tuesday night. On one side was standout forward Ivar Stenberg. On the other stood Viggo Björck, who finished last season by breaking the all-time scoring record in Sweden’s junior league. Also in Djurgården’s lineup were 2025 third-overall pick Anton Frondell and another former first-rounder, Victor Eklund.

Ivar Stenberg was asked about his journey to this point prior to the game.

“It’s about building on last year’s playoffs. There were things that were good and that I wanted to carry forward, even though it’s difficult,” said Ivar Stenberg to TV4 before the game.

Is there any part of your game you still need to develop further?

“It’s about getting better with the puck and in decision-making. I want to be stronger on the puck and know when to make certain decisions. Mostly, it’s about becoming more mature in my game and a bit more grown-up.” He continues: “The coach wants me to play my game and do the things that define me,” said Ivar Stenberg before the game.

The game between Frölunda and Djurgården was the only matchup of the day and drew major interest. The all-time attendance record for an indoor hockey game in Sweden was set, with 13,950 fans packing Avicii Arena in Stockholm.

Victor Eklund created the game’s first big chance. He battled his way to the puck and fired a low shot, with Anton Frondell lurking for the rebound. But Frölunda goalie Lars Johansson was there to turn it aside.

It took until the 18th minute for the first goal to arrive. Buffalo Sabres’ 2019 fifth-round pick Filip Cederqvist capitalized on a rebound after a scrambled sequence in front. It all started with a breakaway from Erik Thorell that Magnus Hellberg stopped but couldn’t control the rebound on, allowing Cederqvist to score his second goal of the season. Before the period was over, Max Friberg made it 2–0 for Frölunda, who went into the intermission with a two-goal lead.

Filip Cederqvist snappar upp pucken och ger @frolunda_hc ledningen i Avicii Arena! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/vM7oXc0g0O

— SHL.se (@SHLse) September 23, 2025

During the first intermission, Islanders first-rounder Victor Eklund of Djurgården wasn’t satisfied with the game.

“We’re cutting corners a bit. We’d rather take a wide turn instead of stopping and chasing the puck. That’s what we need to work on.” He continues: “We’re not working at 100%, and that’s something we have to fix before the second period,” said Victor Eklund to TV4 during the first intermission.

Frölunda goal scorer Filip Cederqvist, on the other hand, was much more positive during the intermission.

“Djurgården came out really strong, which was expected on their home ice. They pushed us back, but we kept them fairly well to the outside. Then it was nice to get two goals at the end of the period.” He went on to describe his goal: “I saw that Thorell was open, then the puck bounced out and I was in the right place,” said Filip Cederqvist to TV4.

A strong start to the second period from Anton Frondell

Djurgården struck early in the second period. Chicago’s third-overall pick Anton Frondell worked the puck down into the offensive corner before sliding a slick pass back to Albin Grewe, who fired it into the top corner. Strong plays from both the goal scorer Grewe and the playmaker Frondell.

Albin Grewe sätter reduceringen för @DIFHockeyse tidigt i den andra perioden! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Mn9PirhtHI

— SHL.se (@SHLse) September 23, 2025

Midway through the second period, Frölunda restored their two-goal lead through Filip Hasa. Holding the puck confidently at the blue line, Hasa ripped it high past Magnus Hellberg in the Djurgården net. Just a minute later, Frölunda added another goal to lead 4–1.

Before the period was over, Djurgården’s August Berg fired a shot from the blue line to make it 4–2. That gave Djurgården a glimmer of hope, but it was short-lived as Frölunda extended their lead to 5–2.

Stenberg picks up two assists in the third

Frölunda wasted no time getting on the board in the third period. Just 55 seconds in, Filip Cederqvist carried the puck in and set up Jere Innala, who shoveled home the 6–2 goal. The assist gave Cederqvist his fourth point of the game.

A seventh goal followed for Frölunda, with Ivar Stenberg carrying the puck into the zone before moving it along to Theodor Niederbach, who set up Max Lindholm to make it 7–2. Frölunda piled on four more goals to finish with an 11–2 win, while Djurgården looked every bit the newly promoted SHL side. Stenberg picked up another assist on the power-play tally that capped the scoring at 11–2.

Ivar Stenberg picks up a secondary assist🍏 good middle lane drive after dishing the puck wide. #Frölunda#NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/aC8XM1zDpb

— HockeyWithZak (@HockeyWithZak) September 23, 2025

Among the young players, Ivar Stenberg and Anton Frondell stood out the most. Frondell had a strong second period, creating a scoring chance and picking up an assist on Albin Grewe’s goal. Stenberg was a constant threat, showing majestic puck control throughout the game. He was rewarded with an assist for carrying the play that led to Frölunda’s 7–2 goal. He also picked up an assist on the final goal after being involved in the power-play setup.

Fans who made their way to the Bell Centre to watch the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night got to see Ivan Demidov and new defenseman Noah Dobson. On Tuesday, they’ll see the top line: Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky, the second pair of defensemen, which consists of Kaiden Guhle and Lane Hutson, and both Xhekaj brothers. For the first time, Arber and Florian Xhekaj will be suiting up for the same team.

Alex Newhook, Samuel Bolduc, and Joshua Roy will be forming the second line. This is a big opportunity for the St-Georges native. Unlike Oliver Kapanen, who only served as a placeholder for Kirby Dach on Monday, Roy will be skating in a role that’s actually available. After a great summer of training, Roy shed 16 pounds and, as a result, he’s much faster on his skates.

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Samuel Blais, Joe Veleno, and Austrian winger Vinzenz Rohrer will form the third line while the younger Xhekaj will center Luke Tuch and Tyler Thorpe, a line that could do a lot of damage in Laval, should the three start the season there.

On the blue line, the older Xhekaj and Alex Carrier will be the second pairing behind Guhle and Hutson, and David Reinbacher will suit up with Tobie Paquette-Bisson. While some would probably like to see Reinbacher get a chance in the NHL this season, the youngster isn’t ripe for the show yet. The knee injury he sustained last year didn’t help his development, even though the Canadiens kept him involved in team meetings and video sessions; there’s nothing like actually playing the games.

In net, Jakub Dobes and Kaapo Kahkonen will split the games like Samuel Montembeault and Jacob Fowler did on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. As for the visiting Philadelphia Flyers, they won’t be dressing Russian-born Matvei Michkov, who played in Sunday’s game and featured in the highlight reels for the wrong reason when first-overall pick at the last draft, Matthew Schaefer, stopped him on a breakaway.

Just an absolutely insane defensive backcheck from Matthew Schaefer on Matvei Michkov 😱

In the first overall pick’s first NHL game too 😳

(via @OSulr81) pic.twitter.com/CqRBhSJOdg

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 22, 2025

There will be at least a couple of familiar faces wearing orange, though. Christian Dvorak, who left the Canadiens in free agency this summer, will return to his old stomping ground, and another former Hab, tough guy Nicolas Deslauriers, will also be in the lineup. Other big names who will suit up for the Flyers include Sean Couturier, Owen Tippett, and Travis Sanheim.

If Deslauriers wants to rough someone up, he can expect plenty of opposition; the Xhekaj brothers, Thuch, and Thorpe all play with a physical edge. It’s been some time since a pair of brothers suited up for the Canadiens; the last ones to do so were Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn in 2007-08.

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