An 0-3-2 start to the season is far from what the Philadelphia Flyers expected from themselves after such a promising 2025-26 campaign, but with so few offseason additions, they have only each other to turn to in order to turn the tide.

Despite his best efforts and playing like a savant, Joseph Woll remains winless, and without the newcomer, the Flyers might be 0-5-0 with no points in the bank at all.

"Goals for Woll" may become a trend in the near future, as the Flyers are tied for last in the NHL with just four goals at 5-on-5 through five games.

Overall, the Flyers have scored just six times in total, with only Calgary and New Jersey keeping them company while having played fewer games - four and three, respetively.

Defensively, the Flyers rank 28th in the NHL with 19 goals allowed in five games, though this number is buoyed in large part by the 7-0 onslaught suffered at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the season opener.

But, this is all to say that, outside of Woll and Dan Vladar, every Flyers player can improve.

Three, in particular, need to step their games up multiple notches if the team is to right the ship and insert themselves back into the playoff conversation.

Trevor Zegras

In five games this season, Trevor Zegras has managed to produce just two assists, one of which came on the power play thanks to a heads-up play by Matvei Michkov in the crease against Ottawa on Thursday night, sweeping a loose puck over the goal line while the whistle was being blown.

Already, Zegras has ceded his center-ice duties to Christian Dvorak, and the Flyers now have Matvei Michkov taking faceoffs on the first power play unit barely two weeks into the season.

After signing a four-year, $36.5 million ($9.125 million AAV) extension with the Flyers, expectations for Zegras were raised heading into the season. He and his camp won both ends of the negotiation, pulling in an elevated salary while keeping the contract at a short length.

Now, it's time for Zegras to hold up his end of the bargain. The 25-year-old has hardly looked like the ice-tilting offensive dynamo he was last season, though the Flyers' struggles offensively aren't solely on his shoulders.

Still, Zegras has the talent to be that guy for the Flyers, as he was last year, and while I have little doubt he will eventually turn it around and get going in the right direction, the Flyers don't have time to spare. They've already lost five straight games, including three to Metropolitan Division rivals.

The only way to win hockey games is by scoring more goals than the other team, and the Flyers are depending on Zegras to lead the charge.

Cam York

For the last several seasons, Cam York has been a staple in the Flyers' top-four on defense, though he has badly struggled to keep pace this season.

The 25-year-old has often looked a step or two behind and has shown little urgency with the puck. Offensively, much is still to be desired, even with an added opportunity quarterbacking the second power play that has now been lost to David Jiricek and Jamie Drysdale.

Among NHL defensemen with at least four games played this season, only Nashville's Roman Josi has a worse share of scoring chances (13-44, 22.81%) than York (20-53, 27.4%) at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick.

Like Zegras, it isn't all on York with four other players sharing the ice at 5-on-5 at any given moment, but both Drysdale and Travis Sanheim have much better looking underlying stats without York on the ice compared to with him.

York has no points in five games this season and will need to improve dramatically to retain his hold on a featured spot in the lineup.

Otherwise, the Flyers may be left to seriously consider alternative options on defense, such as Simon Edvinsson or Alex Nikishin.

Tyson Foerster

In reality, Tyson Foerster has played mostly well, but the end product in his game has been completely absent, and it's been absent for some time.

Foerster, 24, has just two goals, his only two points in his last 15 games played, including the playoffs.

Of course, Foerster dealt with injury woes at the start and end of last season, and upon his second return to the lineup on April 2, Foerster scored three times in his first four games back.

Since his two-goal game against New Jersey on April 7, Foerster has just two goals and three points in 19 games, including the postseason.

The Flyers, like many fans, are enamored with Foerster's potential as a two-way winger given his shooting ability, 6-foot-2 size, and defensive prowess, but the former first-round pick is due to remind the organization and fans of that potential.

That inconsistency and drop-off is a bit worrisome, considering Foerster, like Zegras, signed a big-money extension this offseason, inking a eight-year, $56.8 million ($7.1 million AAV) deal to remain in Philadelphia for the long haul.

The Flyers have invested heavily in each of the three young players on this list, and in a time of great need, with heightened expectations, Zegras, York, and Foerster need to come through for the team and get the Flyers back on track in a hurry.

A logjam formed on the left side of the Montreal Canadiens' blueline, and GM Kent Hughes decided it was time to act. Less than 24 hours after his team dropped two points to the Nashville Predators, Hughes sent Jayden Struble to the Predators in return for a second-round pick at the next draft. 

Struble was a healthy scratch for that game as the Habs elected to dress Adam Engstrom for the first time of the season. The young blueliner did well and it allowed to executive to finally answer the Struble or Arber Xhekaj dilemma that has been the talk of the town for three years now, even though it seems like we've been talking about it for longer than whether Ross and Rachel were on break. 

Canadiens’ Engstrom Had Good First Test
Canadiens’ Coach Trying To Complete The Puzzle With Two Big Missing Pieces
Canadiens Fall Victim To Predators' Opportunism

During Thursday's game, former Habs prospect William Trudeau, another left-shot defenseman was forced to leave the game and was placed on IR today. He will be re-evaluated on a week-to-week basis. That left a hole in the Predators' defense and Montreal had a surplus, a match made in heaven. 

Struble is 25 years old and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the current season. In Nashville, he'll get an opportunity to play everyday rather then have to sit out like he did in Montreal. 

Meanwhile, the Canadiens' get a second-round pick for a defenseman they had picked with the 46th selection of the 2019 draft. Given the fact that he hasn't yet established himself as a regular in the NHL, this is a good deal for the Habs and it will allow Engstrom to see more action, at least until Kaiden Guhle's return.

The Canadiens could also call up David Reinbacher, although it is likely they prefer him to see plenty of action in Laval rather than sit on the press gallery in Montreal. For Xhekaj who wanted to stay in Montreal and now plays alongside his baby brother Florian, this is probably good news although bittersweet as Struble was a good friend of his. 

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A day after facing off against the Montreal Canadiens, the Nashville Predators have now made a trade with them. On Friday evening, the Predators organization announced that they had acquired defenseman Jayden Struble from the Canadiens in exchange for a second round pick that originally belonged to the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Struble, a 25-year-old left-handed defenseman, has been a mainstay in the Canadiens' lineup for the last four seasons. Known mainly for his offensive ability during his time in collegiate and junior hockey, he hasn't been able to carry that offensive production into the NHL. 

Last season, Struble scored two goals and added 10 assists for 12 points in 59 games for the Canadiens. He also had 58 penalty minutes. During the Canadiens' playoff run, he failed to record a point in 12 games. 

The Predators' defensive core has struggled mightily to start the season and with William Trudeau out week-to-week, Struble will give Andrew Brunette another option to work with for the time being. 

“Jayden Struble is a 25-year-old physical defender who will add mobility and a hard-to-play against quality that will help our backend,” Predators General Manager Chris MacFarland said in a press release. “We are excited to watch his growth and look forward to him being a player who can grow with us.”

The Islanders are in limbo on Bo Horvat’s status, with their newly-named captain still being evaluated on Friday after Frank Nazar’s illegal check to the head late in Thursday night’s win over Chicago. 

Horvat was immediately pulled out of the game by the league’s concussion spotters, and didn’t take part in a very optional practice on Friday at UBS Arena. 

“I think he’s going to see our people again this morning and see how he feels,” coach Pete DeBoer said. 

The NHL’s department of player safety suspended Nazar for two games following a hearing on Friday.

Though that may be some measure of justice, it would do nothing to help the Islanders should they be without Horvat for Saturday’s game against the Lightning or beyond. 

Horvat’s four goals in four games lead the Islanders and so too did his 31 goals last season. He was also the only Islander named to an Olympic team. 

With 1:33 to go in Thursday’s match and the Islanders leading 3-1, Horvat was upended with a late shoulder to the head area after shooting the puck into an empty net. 

The Islanders reacted with furor, jumping into the ensuing melee to defend the captain. 

“I definitely think [the hit] was over the line,” Kyle Palmieri said. “I don’t think it’s necessarily taking liberties. It’s a fast game, Bo is in a vulnerable position and he’s got to know better. 

“Hopefully everything goes well with Bo and he’s ready to go. Obviously he’s a huge part of our team, and the hit is what it is and it’s out of our hands now. We reacted as a team and stuck up for each other.” 

---

Mat Barzal continued skating on his own Friday, this time for a longer period than Thursday, but DeBoer struck a note of caution regarding his eventual return from left kneecap inflammation. 

“We’re not even having those conversations yet,” DeBoer said when asked about a timeline for Barzal to rejoin the team. “We’re still in the initial phase of return to play.” 

While the Islanders have maintained Barzal is progressing and feeling good, the timelines attached to his recovery were in terms of his return to skating, not his return to full practices or playing. 

---

The Islanders have a chance to win three consecutive games at home to start the season for just the third time this century, according to team statistician Eric Hornick. 

They swept the Lightning last season in three games between the two teams.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mathew Dumba is retiring after 13 NHL seasons with five different teams.

Dumba last played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, with stints in Minnesota, Dallas, Arizona and Tampa Bay. The 32-year-old defenseman won the 2020 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplified leadership qualities on and off the ice and made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.

“Matt Dumba is officially hanging up his skates after 748 NHL career games,” the NHL Players Association posted on social media Friday. “Wishing the former blue liner and 2019-20 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner the best of luck in his retirement!”

Dumba spent his first 10 NHL seasons in Minnesota after the Wild drafted him with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2012 NHL draft. He signed with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023, but was sent to Tampa Bay just before the deadline.

Dumba played one season with the Lightning, another with the Dallas Stars and had a goal and two assists with the Penguins in 2025-26. He spent most of the season at Wilkes-Barr/Scranton, the Penguins' AHL affiliate.

Dumba had 85 goals and 176 in 748 NHL games. He also had give goals and 10 assists in 54 playoff games.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

The Vancouver Canucks are 2–3–0 through their first five games of the 2026–27 season. This isn’t the worst record that they’ve produced through the past five seasons, but it’s not the best either. Here’s how the 2026–27 Canucks’ first five games compare to previous seasons.  

The 2022–23 Canucks Didn’t Register A Win In Any Of Their First Five Games 

The 2022–23 season was arguably the most significant in the team’s recent history, between trading then-captain Bo Horvat to hiring Rick Tocchet as Head Coach. The first five games of this season, however, made the start of the year look startlingly bleak. The goaltending tandem of Thatcher Demko and Spencer Martin combined for the team’s second-lowest save-percentage through the first five games of the past five seasons with .859% — ranking 30th in the NHL. The lone instance where either goaltender recorded a SV% of above .900 was in the team’s 3–2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. 

The 2022–23 Canucks’ first five games of the season also saw the team put up a particularly poor penalty kill with a success rate of only 58.8%. 

When it came to individual stats, Horvat led the way in goals scored through the first five games with four. Quinn Hughes tallied the most assists of Vancouver’s skaters with five. Elias Pettersson was the team’s leader in points with six, scoring three goals and three assists. 

Vancouver Started 2023–24 With Three Wins In Their First Five Games

2023–24 was, of course, Vancouver’s strongest season in recent history in terms of their place in the league’s standings and post-season contention. They started this particular season with a two-game win-streak, both of which were against the Edmonton Oilers. Thanks to their aggressive 8–1 win against the Oilers to open the year, Vancouver finished their first five games of the season with a total of 20 goals scored. They also logged the third-highest power-play percentage in the NHL with a success rate of 37.5%. 

During this span, Vancouver put together their best combined save-percentage with .928%. Only one of these games — a 4–3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning — ended in a Canucks goaltender recording a save-percentage of less than .900. What makes this stat even more impressive is the amount of shots Vancouver allowed in each of these games. The Canucks allowed 40+ shots in both their 4–3 win against Edmonton and 2–0 loss to the Flyers, while the lowest number they permitted was 27 in their home-opener. 

A four-goal performance in the Canucks’ season-opener gave Brock Boeser an early bump for the team’s goal-scoring lead, scoring six goals in the team’s first five games. Pettersson led the team in both assists and points this span of time with eight and 10 respectively. 

Three Of The 2024–25 Canucks’ First Five Games Went To Overtime 

The 2024–25 season started off memorably for the Canucks. They dropped their first game of the year by a score of 6–5 in overtime after climbing up to a 4–1 lead after the first period. Vancouver followed that up with a 3–2 shootout loss to the Flyers. After their third loss of the year, a 4–1 loss to Tampa Bay, the Canucks took their first win of the year in their third overtime game of 2024–25 — a 3–2 overtime win against the Florida Panthers. 

2024–25 also saw Vancouver put up their lowest goals-for through their first five games in the past five seasons with 14 total. All but one of their first five games resulted in the Canucks scoring three or less goals. 

Individually, Vancouver’s player stats through the first five games faced a fair drop-off compared to previous seasons. Boeser logged the team’s lead in goals once again, this time with three. He also finished with a team-high of five points. Jake DeBrusk finished with the team’s lead in assists with four. 

No Canucks Averaged A Point Per Game Through Their First Five Games In 2025–26 

The 2025–26 Canucks had a decent first five games of the season compared to how the year actually ended. They won three of their first five, one of which came in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks. Thatcher Demko had a particularly strong start, recording a save-percentage of .944% in back-to-back matchups. 

Vancouver’s team stats landed towards the middle of the pack through their first five games of the year. Their power-play percentage (18.8%) was tied for 16th in the league, with their penalty killing rate (78.9%) coming in at 17th. Their highest registered team stat was their save-percentage (.909%), which ranked eighth throughout the NHL. 

Vancouver’s goal-scoring was a lot more spread out through their first five games of the 2025–26 season. Boeser, Filip Chytil, and Kiefer Sherwood were tied for the team’s lead with three goals. Hughes, Conor Garland, and Filip Hronek shared the lead in assists with three. Hughes and Garland split the lead in points with four each. 

The Canucks Have The NHL’s Worst Penalty Kill Through The First Five Games Of 2026–27 

There are both positive and negative things that can be taken away from the Canucks’ first five games of the 2026–27 season. For starters, their overall effort level has been strong, with the team sporting two wins and one loss separated by only one goal. They’ve managed a strong offensive effort, scoring 21 goals since the start of the season — the most of all seasons through the past five years. They currently sit at third in the league in goals scored behind only the Colorado Avalanche (23) and Oilers (22).  

Also positive about this start are the players’ individual stats. Paul Cotter’s four goals is currently tied for fourth in the NHL, while Pettersson’s six assists and eight points lead the Canucks in both categories. 

There are, however, some things about the Canucks’ first five games to be concerned about. Kevin Lankinen and Leevi Meriläinen’s combined save-percentage currently sits at .837%, the lowest of all five seasons on this list. Their penalty kill also sits at the bottom of the league with a success rate of 57.9%. 

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After he exited last night's game against the Montreal Canadiens with an upper-body injury, the Nashville Predators have placed defenseman William Trudeau on the injured reserve.

The Predators revealed that Trudeau is considered week-to-week. Notably, Mavrik Bourque who also left the game with an upper-body injury has not been placed on the injured reserve, so he'll likely be good to go in the near future. 

Trudeau, who the Predators claimed off of waivers from the New York Rangers during the preseason, is a Quebec native who started his professional career with the Canadiens organization. Montreal originally drafted the now 23-year-old defenseman back in 2021 with the 113th overall selection. He spent the last four years with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, before being traded to the Rangers in June. 

Trudeau then went on to make the Predators' opening night roster and made his NHL debut against the Dallas Stars on October 3. He left the game in Montreal after just 4:39 of ice time.

After 13 NHL seasons, former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Dumba has announced his retirement from professional hockey. 

Dumba spent the final season of his professional career with the Penguins organization in 2025-26. In 11 games with Pittsburgh during this past campaign, he posted one goal, three points, 16 hits, and a minus-5 rating. 

Dumba also played in 27 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season after clearing waivers. During them, he posted six goals, 14 assists, 20 points, and 43 penalty minutes in 27 games.

Following the AHL club's regular season, Dumba mutually terminated his contract with the Penguins. Now, after his Penguins tenure, the right-shot defenseman has called it career. 

While Dumba had a tough finish to his NHL career, he still had a strong one overall. In 748 career NHL games split between the Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, and Penguins, he posted 85 goals, 176 assists, 261 points, 558 penalty minutes, and 1,104 hits. 

Matt Dumba is officially hanging up his skates after 748 NHL career games. Wishing the former blue liner and 2019-20 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner the best of luck in his retirement! pic.twitter.com/oDSI5vGDw7

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) October 9, 2026

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares was absent from Friday's practice in Las Vegas for personal reasons. He travelled back home to be with his family for the birth of his fourth child, Tucker, head coach Jim Hiller revealed.

With that terrific news for the Tavares family, it also means that the 36-year-old won't be available for the Maple Leafs when they head to Denver and take on the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

It'll be a big loss for Toronto in terms of the role that Tavares supplied in the lineup. He's scored a goal and three assists in his first five games and is averaging 17:10 of ice time per game so far.

As he's predominantly been the second-line center for his entire tenure with the team since joining in 2018-19, there is an opportunity for others on the roster.

Hiller decided to bump up Nick Paul to the second-line center position, with Easton Cowan and William Nylander as the left and right wingers, respectively. That left a third line with Gavin McKenna, Colton Sissons and Bo Groulx, and Zack MacEwen, Teddy Blueger and Brandon Duhaime on the fourth line. The first line remains the same as in the game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.

"I'm just thankful for the depth that we have in the center position," Hiller said after practice. "I think (Paul's) played really well this year. We've really liked him together with Sissons. Whether it's been McKenna or Cowan, they've been solid defensively and been a dangerous offensive line. So, I think both he and Sissons, they're solid two-way players, but there's offense there too. So, playing with Nylander and Cowan, I think that can be a good offensive line as well."

Leafs lines at practice Oct. 9/26

Marchenko-Matthews-Roslovic
Cowan-Paul-Nylander
McKenna-Sissons-Groulx
MacEwen-Blueger-Duhaime
Absent: Tavares (personal)

McCabe-Raddysh
Rielly-Tanev
OEL-Stecher
Extra: Blankenburg

Stolarz
Absent: Bobrovsky (likely maintenance) @Ozoon_CApic.twitter.com/UhmjTFzH8C

— David Alter (@davidalter) October 9, 2026

Though Paul is getting a likely short-lived promotion in the absence of Tavares on that second line, he doesn't intend to change his style of play very much.

"I think I just play the same way," Paul said. "Obviously, when plays are there to be made, obviously make them, but for me it's just hard forecheck, turn pucks over and get into their hands and in around the net. So nothing really changes from my game."

Paul has spent some time with Cowan, as they've shared the third line together for a considerable amount of time in this young season, but with Nylander is a different story. At any rate, Nylander thought their first look together at practice went well.

Maple Leafs Recall Miles Wood From AHL Marlies, First Time Since Blue Jackets TradeThe Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have recalled Miles Wood from the AHL's Toronto Marlies. It's his first look with the team since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"I think it was clicking pretty good," Nylander said of his line at practice. "I haven't played with (Paul) yet, but I know what he's done in Tampa. I've seen him in the first couple of games here with us. I love the way he plays the game. I think it'll be a lot of fun."

Nylander nodded at Paul's competitiveness and ability to play on both sides of the puck effectively. "A very dependent guy," he said about Paul.

In Paul's first five games, the 31-year-old has put up one goal and one assist, scoring his goal against the Golden Knights, nicking the puck off his shin pad from a Darren Raddysh one-timer.

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Amid the turmoil of the Montreal Canadiens’ defeat to the Nashville Predators, defenseman Adam Engstrom finally earned a spot in the lineup after watching the Canadiens' first three games from the press gallery. The Swede was paired with Arber Xhekaj, and the youngster played on his off side, on the right.

While it wasn't easy, Engstrom made it look effortless, repeatedly picking up the puck on his backhand before quickly getting it back to his strong side. He had some early jitters and committed two giveaways, but both were in the first frame, and he tidied up his play after that.

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After the game, the 22-year-old was pleased with his team’s performance despite the loss:

It felt good; we controlled the game, but they got a couple of bounces and scored on their power plays. I mean, we outshot them pretty heavily, so sometimes that stuff happens, and they got the win today, so I think we played a pretty good game.

- Engstrom on the team's performance

Even though it was his first game this season, he ended up on the penalty kill in the third frame after Arber Xhekaj got a 10-minute misconduct at the end of the second frame. That didn’t surprise him:

One of our D who usually kills got in the penalty box, so they needed me, and I’ve been practising PK; I play it in Laval too, so it was nothing special for me.

- Engstrom on playing on the PK

It’s still a big vote of confidence from the coaches, though; they could have gone with four more experienced options: Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier and Lane Hutson, all of whom logged PK minutes yesterday.

The Swede finished the game with a plus-one rating because he was on the ice when Alex Newhook found the back of the net, even though he wasn’t involved in the play; that also means he wasn’t on the ice for any of the Preds’ goals. He spent 11:49 on the ice and, aside from the early jitters, played well without needing the coach to shield him.

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Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ilya Solovyov is back on waivers after the Pittsburgh Penguins made him available Friday.

Solovyov made Pittsburgh’s opening-night roster but has yet to play this season. If he clears waivers Saturday, the Penguins can assign him to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Colorado claimed Solovyov off waivers from the Calgary Flames on Oct. 3, 2025. He scored his first NHL goal with the Avalanche on Jan. 10, finding the net in a 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

His stay in Colorado was brief. Ten days after scoring his first NHL goal, Solovyov was traded to Pittsburgh. The Avalanche received forward Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Colorado later used the pick to select Shawn Carrier.

Solovyov Has Yet to Play This Season

Solovyov appeared in 14 regular-season games for Pittsburgh after the trade, recording five assists. He also played three games in the playoffs before the Penguins were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Across his time with Colorado and Pittsburgh, Solovyov played 30 NHL games last season. He finished with one goal and seven assists while averaging just under 13 minutes of ice time per game.

His next move depends on whether another team claims him. If he goes unclaimed, Pittsburgh can send him to the AHL, where he would have a chance to keep playing while waiting for another NHL opportunity.

The Penguins have also welcomed forward Bryan Rust back to the lineup. Rust missed the start of the season with an upper-body injury suffered during a preseason game against Buffalo on Sept. 26. He returned Wednesday against the Washington Capitals.

Solovyov has already spent time with Calgary, Colorado and Pittsburgh. With his latest waiver placement, he could soon be looking for an opportunity with a fourth organization.

ST. LOUIS -- Dillon Dube missed practice on Friday and is doubtful to play for the St. Louis Blues on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a neck injury.

The forward, who scored a shorthanded goal early in the third period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, went into the boards head-first after getting bumped by Will Smith early in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss.

"We're just being precautionary, MRIs on his neck," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. "He went into the boards there awkwardly in the first minute of the game, I think it was. Obviously a tough kid that played really well for us in the minutes that he played. Scored a big goal that should have been the game-winning goal for us. We haven't gotten the results back yet.

"I'd say doubtful (for tomorrow), but I can't rule him out. He's got a lot of Western Canadian in him. He's going to rub a little dirt on the neck and he'll be fine."

Dube played in his third straight game and recorded his first goal in the NHL since Nov. 16, 2023, and should he miss Saturday, look for Zach Dean to move into his spot and play on the fourth line alongside Pius Suter and Ross Johnston.

What does Montgomery need to see?

"Tenacity, speed, physicality, relentlessness on pucks and starting to develop habits of our structure, where to stop, where to go, routes to be run," Montgomery said. "It's really early for him and we're trying to get him as many reps as we can so he can use his God-given speed to his advantage."

Instant Analysis: Blues Let Another Winnable Game Slip Away, 3-2 In Overtime To Celebrini-Less SharksHome opener dampened by more solid play, lack of finishing; top line is doing Blues no favors right now despite creating more opportunities; McMichael, McTavish chemistry continues to shine;

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The Buffalo Sabres road to repeating as an Eastern Conference playoff team this season appeared challenging, not only because of the departure of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram would put more onus on the Sabres youngsters being able to fill the void, but also because a number of clubs looked to be better on paper. After two weeks, some of those teams are proving that evaluation is closer to reality. 

The Florida Panthers, who the Sabres will host on Monday afternoon in the finale of their five-game homestand, are an unbeaten 2-0-2 and second in the Atlantic, in spite of losing team captain Aleksander Barkov and veteran winger Brad Marchand to injury. 

The Ottawa Senators are tied for the lead in the Atlantic with a 3-1 record, which is somewhat surprising after the departure of Brady Tkachuk, but newcomer William Eklund suffered a severe ankle injury in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia that is expected to keep him out an extended period, while Tampa Bay is 3-1 after a 3-2 victory over Minnesota on Thursday with backup Dennis Hildeby making 34 saves.  

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL  

Boston has started strong with a 3-2-0 record and throttled the Sabres opponent on Saturday, the Utah Mammoth, 6-0 at TD Garden on Thursday, while the Toronto Maple Leafs stole a point against the Vegas Golden Knights, thanks to a 40 save performance from Sergei Bobrovsky. The Leafs are 2-2-1 to start the season and Auston Matthews appears to be fully healthy for the first time in three years. 

The big surprise is the New York Rangers, who lead the Metro and the East with a 4-1-0 record. The Montreal Canadiens are surprisingly struggling at 1-2-1 and are behind the Sabres by a point, and will have to battle the next month without star forward Ivan Demidov. Buffalo has two more games on their five-game homestand before finishing October with seven of the next eight games on the road.

What occurred last year, when Buffalo was in last place in the East in early December and finished atop the Atlantic Division is not likely to be repeated. The Sabres will need to stay within range early in the season to remain in the mix for the postseason.  

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The Senators may be getting one injured forward back just as they lose another for an extended period.

Following Friday's practice, Travis Green provided some encouraging news on Andre Burakovsky, who's getting close to making his Senators debut. The veteran winger could potentially return to the lineup as early as Saturday as the Nashville Predators visit.

Unfortunately, the news wasn't nearly as positive for William Eklund.

The Senators confirmed that Eklund suffered an ankle injury in Thursday night's 2-1 home-opening victory over the Philadelphia Flyers and will be sidelined for an extended period.

Eklund was injured in the first period after a hit from Flyers defenceman Simon Benoit and awkwardly jamming his skate hard into the base of the boards. He needed assistance getting off the ice and was unable to put any weight on his left leg.

It's a disappointing development for the 24-year-old, who was just beginning to settle into his new surroundings. Acquired from the San Jose Sharks during the offseason, Eklund was expected to be a major contributor to the Senators' top six this season.

With Eklund now out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Burakovsky's potential return couldn't come at a better time. Whether he's ready to play Saturday remains to be seen, but the fact that it's a possibility is certainly encouraging.

Enforcer Kurtis MacDermid was also back on the ice after missing much of camp and the early part of the season.

On the other hand, defenceman Artem Zub was not out there on Friday as he continues working toward his return. Zub has yet to make his regular-season debut after dealing with an injury dating back to last April. He opted for rehab, which has turned out to be an extended one, and it remains to be seen whether that was the right choice. 

There were also a couple of other interesting notes at practice.

Defenceman Hoyt Stanley is still here, while Cameron Crotty (illness) was not at practice.

Crotty has been pressed into service early in the season because of the injuries to Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub and has provided some steady minutes in a depth role. But since he was sick, Stanley was called up from Belleville in the middle of the day on Thursday, giving the Senators another option as they figure themselves out, health-wise.

Sanderson has been sidelined since suffering an injury in the season opener against Toronto, Zub has yet to play, and Crotty is sick. Now Eklund faces a lengthy absence.

For a team that has already had to make a bunch of lineup adjustments, getting some healthy bodies back can't happen soon enough.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen has cleared waivers after being placed on Thursday afternoon.

The 33-year-old appeared in the Devils’ first two games of the 2026-27 season, averaging 7:24 of ice time per game. He was recently removed from the lineup in favor of 27-year-old Jesper Boqvist.

Noesen, a first-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, has recorded 83 goals and 175 points in 484 career NHL games. His 2025-26 campaign was limited to 38 games because of injury during which he registered three goals and seven points.

The winger enjoyed a career-best season in 2024-25 with New Jersey, scoring 22 goals and recording 41 points.

Noesen returned to New Jersey in July 2024, signing a three-year contract worth $8.25 million, carrying an average annual value of $2.75 million. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

Throughout his NHL career, Noesen has played for the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, and Devils. He also won the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League in 2022.

With Noesen clearing waivers, the organization announced they loaned him to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League. 

The Comets are scheduled to host their home opener Saturday night against the Rochester Americans at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Utica enters the matchup with a 1-0-0-0 record after defeating the Providence Bruins in its season opener on October 2.

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