The Ottawa Senators wrapped up their six-day, two-game Quebec City stop on Tuesday night with a 5-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in preseason action. On the scoreboard, the game meant nothing. But on the ice, it turned into a night of bad blood, dirty hits, and settling scores.

It was compelling theatre for fans, but for head coaches Martin St. Louis and Travis Green, it was a wasted opportunity to evaluate players and fine-tune systems. As expected, the nastiness spilled over to social media on Wednesday, with Sens fans and Habs fans going at each other over who started what.

Here are four of the most talked-about nasty moments from Tuesday night’s game. This obviously isn't the complete gospel, because no one sees everything that happens on the ice, and they certainly don't hear everything that might be said, which could spark a fight, hack, or hit that otherwise seems random. And even if they could see and heat it all, everyone interprets things differently.

But I've watched the video carefully, and here's my evaluation of what I think happened in each case.

1. Hayden Hodgson’s Hit from Behind on Alex Newhook

At 16:54 of the second period, Ottawa forward Hayden Hodgson delivered a dangerous hit from behind on Montreal’s Alex Newhook. Hodgson, who got a brief NHL look at the end of last season, is fighting to earn a role with the Senators through physical play. But in his eagerness to impress in that area, he crossed the line.

It was the kind of reckless finish that happens when a player is desperate to make an impact. Hodgson was fined by the NHL on Wednesday, and was fortunate he didn't get suspended. Even more fortunately, Newhook wasn’t seriously injured.

2. Struble’s Cross-Check to Jeník’s Face Was An Accident

Emotions were high in the stoppage right after Hodgson’s hit, as players began jawing. Sens winger David Perron lightly cross-checked Montreal defenseman Jayden Struble. It was nothing. Jenik moved in, and Struble responded by cross-checking him at roughly the same angle Perron had. But Perron got his stick in the way so Struble's stick slid up Perron's and accidentally caught Jeník in the face. Still a penalty, of course. But Struble had no intent, in my opinion, to strike Jenik in the face.

The result, though, was predictable: fights broke out. Arber Xhekaj tangled with Zack MacEwen, while Struble himself squared off with Jeník. The Canadiens got the big upper hand in both scraps.

3. Florian Xhekaj vs. Carter Yakemchuk

Third period now. Montreal’s Jake Evans bumped into Dylan Cozens in a light reverse hit at the Canadiens' blue line. Down 5-0 now, MacEwen didn't like it, so he bodied an unsuspecting Evans after the whistle, shoving him during the hit so he was teetering on top of the boards at the Habs bench. A roughing penalty for sure, but the Xhekaj brothers then both jumped into the scrum to rain blows down on MacEwen.

I swear, it reminded me of Slapshot in the scene where the Hansen brothers worked over an opponent together in the corner, and he just topples over sideways when they skate away.

With 19-year-old Carter Yakemchuk — the Senators’ top prospect — seeing 3 or 4 Canadiens all giving MacEwen the business, he came in to try and even out the numbers. He pulled the younger Xhekaj out of the melee, and the Habs’ minor-league tough guy took that as a challenge to fight. hammering Yakemchuk with six fast, hard punches. Wailing on a team's top prospect will never be appreciated, but what I had a way bigger problem with was Xhekaj's move at the end of it.

He grabbed Yakemchuk by the front of his shoulders and pulled him backwards to throw him awkwardly and violently to the ice. Thankfully, Yakemchuk landed flat on his upper back, but watching the replay, if you told me he ended up with a right knee injury, a shoulder injury, a neck injury, or a concussion, I would believe you.

That's judo, pro wrestling or MMA. If I had to pick any incident that should have earned a suspension on Tuesday night, it was that one, even over the Hodgson hit.

Credit to Cozens, who tried to intervene but was restrained by one of the Canadiens.

4. Nick Cousins Slashes Ivan Demidov

The last incident I reviewed (there were others) came just over a minute after the Yakemchuk incident. Canadiens forward Nick Cousins decided to go after Ottawa’s top offensive prospect, Ivan Demidov. Cousins first lined him up for a long run along the boards, then chased him up ice and capped it with a slash to the wrist.

The NHL fined Cousins for the slash on Wednesday. It was unquestionably a dirty play. But in context, it was a direct response to the dirty play that had just happened to Yakemchuk.

Final Word

Tuesday night’s tilt in Quebec City was about emotion, payback, and grudges. With the Senators and Canadiens meeting again on Saturday, this time in Montreal, both teams would ideally like to get back to hockey and get ready for their season openers. But the way these two teams hate on each other, they may not be able to help themselves, so I feel like there's a good chance they take it into the gutter again. If they do, I guess Sportsnet will just have to bite the bullet and deal with the record ratings.

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Broadcast Frustrations Resurface For Senators Fans
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BRACEBRIDGE, Ont. — Simon Benoit is feeling better after a “bump” early in training camp forced the defenseman to miss a portion of on-ice activities with the Toronto Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury.

“It was bothering me so I just didn’t want to take any risk to make it worse,” Benoit told The Hockey News.

Benoit took part in his first full practice without having to wear the red non-contact jersey, as the club practiced at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre for their annual getaway up north.

Simon Benoit is taking part in a regular jersey for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury. He had been in a red non-contact jersey.

⁦@BodogCA⁩ pic.twitter.com/ES5i0laCJ8

— David Alter (@dalter) October 1, 2025

The third-year Leaf wasn’t concerned, as he was during his first go-around with Toronto in 2023, when the defenseman suffered from back spasms. When he returned, he started his season with the Toronto Marlies before working his way back to the Leafs and eventually earning an everyday spot with the NHL club.

But now a new challenge awaits the 27-year-old from Laval, Quebec: playing on the right side.

When training camp opened, the Leafs flipped Benoit and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Both players are left-handed shots, and while skating together, it was Ekman-Larsson who skated on the right side. While Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said earlier in the camp that playing on the strong side unlocks more offense—a sentiment underscored by Ekman-Larsson, who scored just four goals last season compared to the nine he put up with the Florida Panthers in 2023-24—this positional switch means Benoit will play on his weak side, something he hasn’t done at the NHL level before.

Maple Leafs Provide Update On Playing Status Of Max Domi, Simon Benoit and Nicolas Roy As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for their second game of the preseason, there remain question marks about a few key players in their lineup.

With two games remaining in the pre-season, Benoit is eager to get into games so he can get some time on the weak side.

“It just takes a couple of games to break the habit and make sure you are in the right spot,” Benoit said.

The Leafs have been pleased with Benoit’s game over the last couple of years. He is a big, bruising defensive defenseman who is responsible with the puck. But now he aims to evolve his game by contributing offensively.

Benoit exhibited some of that ability when he set up Max Domi for Toronto’s overtime-winning goal against the Ottawa Senators in Game 2 of their 2025 first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series. He took it a step further, scoring the game-winner in Game 3 of that series.

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According to a report, former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart is rapidly gaining momentum to sign with a top Western Conference contender in the coming days.

On Wednesday, The Athletic NHL insider Chris Johnston reported that Hart, 27, is the closest of the recently acquitted Hockey Canada players to signing a new contract and resuming his playing career in the NHL.

The Vegas Golden Knights, according to Johnston's sources, are a near lock to sign the former Flyers goalie to a deal.

"Hart appears closest to signing a contract, with the Vegas Golden Knights almost certain to be the eventual destination for the 27-year-old goaltender, according to league sources," Johnston wrote for The Athletic. "Hart received interest from multiple NHL teams and is drawn to the opportunity to play for a contender in a situation where he’d likely end up sharing the crease with Adin Hill."

Flyers Roster Prediction 1.0: Nikita Grebenkin Secures Big OpportunityFollowing multiple roster cuts on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Flyers have only a handful of decisions to make before they reach their final roster for the start of the regular season.

The 27-year-old Hart was found not guilty of the sexual assault charge levied against him on July 24 and has since been reinstated by the NHL, though it should be noted that he, along with the other four players involved in the Hockey Canada trial, are suspended until Dec. 1.

Hart was eligible to sign a contract with a new team as of Wednesday, though it will not be officially registered until Oct. 15.

Previously, it was reported, then confirmed by the Flyers themselves, that a reunion in Philadelphia would not be in the cards.

Hart last played an NHL game on Jan. 20, 2024, when he ceded five goals on 15 shots and was replaced by Sam Ersson in a 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Just when you thought the fun Stanley Cup stories from the summer were over, the Florida Panthers squeezed in one more ahead of Opening Night.

On Tuesday, the Panthers played the Tampa Bay Lightning at Kia Center in Orlando, and on Thursday, the rivals will meet again, this time in Tampa.

As they have done in the past when playing an exhibition game in Orlando, the Panthers took the opportunity to enjoy some of what the tourist destination city has to offer.

This year, Florida was afforded the opportunity to include something very special: the Stanley Cup.

On Wednesday, the Panthers and the Cup visited Universal Studios’ brand new Epic Universe theme park.

Judging by the looks on many of the players’ faces, having the chance to cut loose and enjoy a little fun with each other before the season is something that they took full advantage of.

“It’s great,” said Panthers forward A.J. Greer. “We got to do something very unique, something that we don’t get to do much often, and I haven’t done it since I was a kid.

“You feel like a kid, and walking around with your best friends, it’s great to indulge in some of the stuff that you used to love.”

You can check out footage of the Cats’ day at Epic Univese in the video below:

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A few days ago, we had our Mailbox Monday, and I gave my final predictions for the Pittsburgh Penguins' final 2025-26 roster.

Well, as it turns out, some things have changed. More specifically, some of these young players - and the veterans - have me changing my mind. 

Through six pre-season games, the Penguins are 4-1-1, and that is in large part to some of the young players who are making a statement in this camp. While I don't think that means every single one of them will make the opening night NHL roster for puck drop on Oct. 7, I do think some of them have made enough of an impression to earn their way there - and I also think there are some veterans that have not performed up to standard and could, potentially, be blocking one of those younger players from a roster spot.

With major roster cuts expected within the next two days, we are drawing closer and closer to the end of camp - and the dawn of the new season.

So, here goes. Here is my final roster prediction to begin the 2025-26 season.

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Forwards (14)

C Sidney Crosby
No explanation required.

C Evgeni Malkin
See "C Sidney Crosby."

RW Bryan Rust
Assuming he is not dealt in the next week, Rust will be on the opening night roster.

LW/RW/C Rickard Rakell
See "RW Bryan Rust."

RW Anthony Mantha
Mantha has shown value with his size, strength, and ability to create scoring opportunities off his shot. He has also meshed well with Malkin up to this point, and the Penguins will not want to waste a chance for him to make himself valuable enough to flip for assets at the trade deadline.

Penguins' Pre-Season: Prospects Lead Way As Penguins Defeat Sabres, 5-3The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their winning ways in the pre-season on Wednesday when they visited the Buffalo Sabres.

LW Ville Koivunen
It will be an absolute travesty - as well as serious malpractice - if Koivunen is not on this roster to start the season. He is tied for the pre-season lead in goals with two, and he's making guys look silly out there on a nightly basis.

C Tristan Broz
Broz has been one of the most impressive forwards in camp, period. And not only has he impressed offensively with two power play goals, it's telling that the Penguins are experimenting with him up and down the lineup and in all situations, almost as if to test him - and he's passed with flying colors.

RW Philip Tomasino
At first, I did not have Tomasino on my final roster projection. But he has been legitimately good in the last couple of games, and he has also shown some chemistry with a few other guys who could be on the roster. He's been going to the net a lot, he's been unafraid to pull the trigger, and he's made a few nice passing plays, too. He's earned a stay on the roster.

Penguins' Mid-Camp Prospect Tiers: Who Is Most Likely To Make NHL Roster?We're officially 10 days into Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp, and if one thing is for certain, there has been a ton of competition. 

C Filip Hallander
In the first half of camp, I felt that Hallander needed to show me more in order to convince me he should be on the roster. Well, he has convinced me in the last couple of games with his playmaking smarts, his two-way play, and his center drive. I like what I've seen from him, and he didn't cross an ocean again for nothing.

C/LW Connor Dewar
Dewar has been outstanding in this camp. He made himself stand out in the 4-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday with a nice backhand goal and a fight, and he continues to prove why he may be a hidden gem for the Penguins on their fourth line.

RW Justin Brazeau
He's big, he's physical, he forechecks well, he goes to the net... and he's remarkably good at deflections. While that reason alone is not enough to earn him a roster spot, what does earn him a spot is his knack for seemingly always being in the right place at the right time. He's a great combination of size and smarts, which is something the Penguins could use.

C Ben Kindel
If you would have asked me at the beginning of camp if Kindel had a shot, I may have laughed. Not because Kindel isn't good, but because there are so many worthy forwards in camp. But Kindel has managed to rise above them all, and he's earned himself a nine-game trial - even if that means waiving a veteran. He may need to add size, but so does almost every 18- or 19-year-old who plays in the NHL. To me, that's not a valid reason to hold him back when he's shown he can handle NHL-grade competition - and even outmatch it.

Should Ben Kindel Get The Nine-Game Trial? The Case For And AgainstThere are a lot of stories coming out of Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this year. Many of them involve young players making an impression and pushing for the NHL roster.

C Blake Lizotte
Quite honestly, I think Lizotte barely makes this roster. It's not because he's been bad, but there have simply been younger centermen who have outplayed him. He's someone the Penguins would probably lose to waivers, so I think they'd rather hold onto him for a potential trade later.

C Tommy Novak
Truly, I haven't been a huge fan of Novak's camp. There are times when he looks a step slow, and he could stand to do a bit more away from the puck. But I have liked the look of the Novak-Hallander-Tomasino combination, and I do think that he has more to offer than what he's shown.

Notable omissions: Avery Hayes, Noel Acciari, Danton Heinen, Robby Fabbri, Boko Imama

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Defensemen (7)

RD Erik Karlsson
Barring a surprise trade, there is no way the Penguins' top defenseman misses out on a roster spot. He's consistently been paired with a stay-at-home partner, and they've meshed well together.

RD Kris Letang
See "C Sidney Crosby" and "C Evgeni Malkin."

RD Matt Dumba
Dumba has been one of the best surprises of camp, and this is good news for him and the Penguins. He seems to be a different player than he was with the Dallas Stars a year ago, and he has been unleashing his booming shot with consistency, too. The pre-season has been good for his confidence, and, hopefully, that can translate to the regular season and turn him into a tradeable asset.

Ben Kindel setting up this Matt Dumba one-timer.

I’ll admit, I felt Penguins reached on Kindel, but is proving scouts & myself wrong. Kid has a chance to be an absolute stud pic.twitter.com/M8PI1poU5h

— Jason Shetler (@Jason_Shetler) October 2, 2025

RD Connor Clifton
Clifton has been very sound in this camp. He knows his identity and sticks to it, and he's never trying to do too much. He strikes me as someone the Penguins could potentially play on their off-side, too.

RD Harrison Brunicke
Brunicke may not have been his tip-top self in a 5-3 win over Buffalo Wednesday, but he's been tip-top otherwise all throughout camp. He's already one of the Penguins' three best defenseman in this camp, and he has absolutely nothing left to prove or develop in juniors. His development needs to happen at the NHL level. He's ready, and he's a good, smart hockey player.

LD Parker Wotherspoon
Wotherspoon has been very unremarkable in the best possible way. His defensive details are on-point, and - so far, anyway - it seems like he can read pretty well off of Karlsson, which is a very hard thing to do. He plays a simple, calm game, and the Penguins need that on their blue line.

Mailbox Monday: What Will The Penguins' Final Roster Look Like?Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp is beginning to draw to a close, and there is sure to be a lot of drama in the next several days. 

LD Ryan Shea
Shea struggled a bit in the 5-3 loss to Buffalo, but before that, he was making his case. It's worth noting that Shea played his off-side in Buffalo and that the Penguins only had five defensemen. Other than that, he's had a solid, steady camp and has earned his way onto the NHL roster.

Notable omissions: Owen Pickering, Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, Jack St. Ivany

Goaltenders (2)

Starter: Tristan Jarry
Jarry has been good in the pre-season, and - although he will more than likely have a short leash at the NHL  level - he has earned the right to try to defend is net from younger guys coming up through the system and via trade - at least, one last time for old times' sake.

Backup: Arturs Silovs
Some will groan that this isn't Sergei Murashov, but the best thing for Murashov's development right now is to get a heavy workload in the AHL and see how he handles it. Besides, Silovs has been perfectly serviceable and solid, and he's earned his way onto the roster as a No. 2.

Notable omissions: Sergei Murashov, Filip Larsson

'Inspiring': Penguins' Top Goaltending Prospect Reflects On Fleury, Game To Remember Marc-Andre Fleury's final game in Pittsburgh was an unforgettable experience for many, fans and longtime teammates alike. 

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The San Jose Sharks were back at the SAP Center on Wednesday night as they hosted the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks fell to the Ducks in their first road trip of the preseason earlier this week. The Sharks ran with a fairly light roster during their trip to Southern California, but tonight they brought a lineup that looks more like what we’ll see on opening night against the Vegas Golden Knights next week.

The first thing I noticed during the game was Cam Lund’s effort level. He lost his stick in the defensive zone, blocked a shot, then had a good attempt at clearing the puck without his stick; however, the Ducks quickly regained possession in their offensive zone. Regardless of the outcome, it was a smart play by the 21-year-old forward.

The Sharks tested Anaheim goaltender Calle Clang early in the game; however, he made an incredible split-save to deny the Sharks’ scoring opportunity. He also got some help from the post, as at one point, Tyler Toffoli got a breakaway opportunity that hit the inside of the post before launching into the corner.

Both teams took a penalty in the first period, but neither power play was either to take advantage, and it remained 0-0 heading into the first intermission.

Yaroslav Askarov would be forced to make a save quickly to start the second period; however, he wouldn’t be able to deny Beckett Sennecke just over a minute into the period, as the 19-year-old forward would make it 1-0 in favor of the visitors. Alex Wennberg was called for slashing a couple of minutes later. The Sharks would kill off the penalty, but moments later, Drew Helleson would find Sam Colangelo behind the Sharks’ defense, and the Massachusetts native would make it 2-0 for the Ducks.

Things continued to spiral as Cutter Gauthier scored 7:55 into the period, scoring his second of the preseason and making it 3-0 for the visitors. In less than eight minutes, the Sharks went from a tied hockey game to a three-goal deficit. Even though it’s a preseason matchup, head coach Ryan Warsofsky certainly wasn’t going to be happy with his team slipping up in such a major fashion.

Dmitri Orlov was stripped of the puck on an offensive zone entry, allowing the Ducks to rush the other way for a 2-on-1. Luckily for the team in teal, Askarov was able to deny the attack and keep the Sharks’ deficit at three goals.

The Ducks’ Frank Vatrano was called for hooking at 13:46 in the period, but Anaheim maintained a perfect penalty kill by shutting the Sharks down for two minutes. The Sharks’ power play got another opportunity with just over a minute left in the period as Stian Solberg was called for a puck-over-glass delay of game penalty. After a couple of close calls for Clang, the Sharks were unable to find the net before the end of the second period.

It didn’t take long for the Sharks to get on the board in the third period,as a Will Smith slap shot deflected off of Clang into the crease, where William Eklund put it away after it touched Tyler Toffoli, making it a 3-1 Ducks lead. After the goal, things started to get a bit chippy as a scrum broke out in the corner, which saw Vincent Desharnais go after Pavel Mintyukov after he exchanged cross-checks with Eklund. Desharnais and Mintyukov got coincidental minor penalties, while Eklund was also penalized for cross-checking, giving the Ducks a power play. It would be cut short, though, as Olen Zellweger was called for a penalty 30 seconds later.

Philipp Kurashev nearly scored, causing the goal horn to go off and play to stop for a moment, as the goal appeared to go into the net; however, it was waved off and ruled to be off the post and out. Moments later, Kurashev would get his point as he’d find Jeff Skinner, who fired off a wide-open one-timer to reduce the Ducks’ lead to a single goal. Sennecke had a breakaway opportunity just under eight minutes into the period, but a decent defensive play by a trailing Shakir Mukhamadullin helped Askarov turn the shot aside.

The Sharks’ power play got another opportunity with 8:53 remaining in regulation, as Ross Johnston was penalized for interference. Toffoli hit the post again early in the power play, but the Sharks would fail to get another quality scoring opportunity during the two minutes.

The Sharks maintained solid offensive pressure shortly after pulling their goaltender, but eventually Egor Sidorov would put away the empty-net goal and put the game out of reach.  Vatrano then scored a second empty-netter. The Sharks played well, outside of an eight-minute stretch in the second period, but that short amount of time created too big a deficit for them to overcome, as they fell 5-2.

The Vancouver Canucks clobbered the Calgary Flames 8-1 in their penultimate preseason game at home on Wednesday evening.

The main casts for both teams were suited up and ready to go.

Despite getting a power play in the second minute, the Flames veterans had some summer rust and clearly needed to get warmed up. They would eventually get adjusted and outshoot the Canucks 7-3 in the first 11:18, but Vancouver scored on their very first shot taking a 1-0 lead. Johnathan Huberdeau had a great breakaway opportunity after a pass from Matt Coronato at the 10:15 mark but was denied by Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen.

Afterwards, for the rest of the period, the Canucks ran all over the Flames, outshooting them 9-4 including scoring three goals in a span of 1:18 that included a shorthanded goal.

The players who led the Flames in faceoffs last season found themselves on a losing battle once again. Nazem Kadri was 2-for-6 (33.33%), Mikael Backlund was 0-for-3 (0%) and Morgan Frost was 1-for-2 (50%)

In the second period, Calgary regrouped and performed better. So good, that Joel Farabee scored a goal for the home side 30 seconds in, albeit that would've been called back for offside in the regular season. Unlike the first period, the Flames outshot the Canucks in expected goals and scoring opportunities.  They produced the same number of shots on goals, two, in their first power play of the second period as they did in BOTH of the power plays in their first period. It also helped that they didn't give up a shorty.

The faceoff leaders had also shown improvement: Kadri and Backlund were both 5-for-11 (45.45%) and Frost was 6-for-13 (46.15%) by the second recess.

Unfortunately, two careless goals were given up by Calgary that put the Canucks up 6-1.

Vancouver took only three shots in the final period, but two of them found the back of the Calgary net, sealing the Flames' night with a seven-goal drubbing.

Close to the end, Huberdeau would collide with the goal post and would need help walking off the ice. Let's hope he is okay.

Calgary were 0-for-6 on the power play which included giving up two shorthanded goals.

Both goalies Ivan Prosvetov and Devin Cooley played in the game and both let in goals that had no business being in the back of the net.

The penalty-kill went 2-for-4.

Rory Kerins was a bright spot with 5-for-9 (55.6%) faceoff wins in the game and three shots on goal.

The Flames final preseason game will be against the Winnipeg Jets at home on Friday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their winning ways in the pre-season on Wednesday when they visited the Buffalo Sabres.

And they were once again led by the young guns.

The Penguins defeated the Sabres, 5-3, and their best young prospects - especially on the forward front - showed out again. Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes scored power play goals for the Penguins, while Ville Koivunen, Filip Hallander, and veteran defenseman Matt Dumba also got on the board.

Goaltender Arturs Silovs stopped 28 of 31 Buffalo shots in a strong effort, with Buffalo's goals coming from Josh Norris twice and Rasmus Dahlin. In addition, Penguins' defenseman Jack St. Ivany sustained a lower-body injury blocking a shot during the first period, and Pittsburgh played most of the game with five defensemen. 

Given that development on the blue line, it wasn't a perfect game by any means. There were definitely some mistakes here and there. But, overall, head coach Dan Muse loves the effort put forth by each of his players over this slate of pre-season games - and that continued Wednesday.

"There's no complaints on the efforts," Muse said. "This is a game of mistakes, especially in exhibition season, especially early in the season... and I think the guys, when mistakes were happening, they were collectively outworking those mistakes. They were getting back, they were supporting, they were putting themselves in good positions.

"That's a trend that we wanted to see as we went through camp, and it was good by them. Like I said, these groups - tonight's game and last game - they are definitely making things harder."

And the "things" he was referring to are roster decisions, which should be happening in the coming days for the Penguins. Most of the veterans should expect to skate in the final pre-season tilt against Buffalo in Pittsburgh on Friday, but it will probably be a final test for some of the younger guys who are really making those decisions difficult, too.

Speaking of difficult decisions, let's talk about who is making decisions difficult. Here are some thoughts and observations from this one.

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- I didn't think this was the best performance from Harrison Brunicke, but he certainly wasn't bad in this game. He got burned badly on Dahlin's goal, and he was out-of-position during the penalty kill on Thompson's goal. 

Then again, it wasn't a great night for the Penguins' defense all around. Ryan Shea and Ryan Graves were completely out to lunch on Buffalo's first goal by Norris, and Owen Pickering didn't enjoy a particularly strong evening, either. It's worth noting that - again - the Penguins played most of the game with five defensemen because of St. Ivany's injury.

That said, everything else from Brunicke in this game was outstanding yet again. He isn't going to be perfect, and there are going to be plenty of growing pains from him. But, if he is not on this roster come Oct. 7, that will be some serious mismanagement by the Penguins.

He has earned the nine-game trial at the very least. And he's not the only one.

- Penguins' historian Bob Grove - if you don't follow Bob, you need to follow this link and do that - pointed out prior to Wednesday's game that since 2012, the only four players to dress for more than three pre-season games were Greg McKegg in 2017, Juuso Riikola in 2018, Rutger McGroarty in 2024, and Ben Kindel in 2025. The first three all made the opening night NHL roster.

Call me a contrarian, but Kindel - along with Brunicke - also needs to start the season on the Penguins' roster. Even if he only gets the nine games then gets sent back to the Calgary Hitmen, it's worth seeing what he can do in those nine games. 

Should Ben Kindel Get The Nine-Game Trial? The Case For And AgainstThere are a lot of stories coming out of Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this year. Many of them involve young players making an impression and pushing for the NHL roster.

This was three games in a row now where Kindel was the best player on the ice, arguably, including the three respective opponent teams as well. He's doing things at 18 that you just can't teach - such as showcasing his incredibly high hockey IQ by making passes that kids his age shouldn't be able to make - and the things he's getting wrong, he's learning on-the-fly.

"He's been consistent," Muse said. "I thought he had another game where it's the same thing. On the defensive side, too, you can see a little bit more. He's a little quicker to close space. He's been out there, him and his line, against some very established NHL players in these last couple of games.

"I think that experience for him and him being out there, it's massive. And he's handled it well. You can see with the puck, too... at no point have I seen any hesitation with him. He's not afraid to make plays, and he's made some high-end ones without a lot of time and space."

I don't buy much into the argument that size or the grind of an 82-game season are issues for Kindel. There are plenty of players who enter the league at 18 or 19 years old and need to add some size who turn out just fine. Every young player needs to get bigger and stronger. This is nothing new in today's NHL. 

But a player is ready when he's ready. Kindel has yet to show that he can't handle NHL competition, and he's getting better with every game and with increasingly difficult competition. To me, he looks ready.

He's earned the nine games. The Penguins need to give credit where it's due and reward him for his efforts and for simply being the best guy out there on a consistent basis. If they don't, I think they're getting this one wrong.

- In my opinion, Broz should be a lock for this roster. And I think what the Penguins are doing with his deployment is pretty telling.

Muse was asked about putting Broz in more defensive situations during this game. And he said that moving him around the lineup and using him in different situations hasn't exactly been an accident.

"He's been out there in a lot of different situations. Game-to-game, it's kind of changed a little bit, and that has been something that's been a little bit by design," Muse said. "I think there's been some games where he's been in more d-zone starts, there's been some games there where it's maybe a little bit more on the penalty kill time. But, I think it's been good. I think he's been in the right spots, and the detail has been pretty solid."

This whole thing reads to me as if the coaching staff is testing Broz a bit. And he's passing with flying colors. The thing that separates Broz from some of the other guys fighting for roster spots is that he can play effectively in an NHL bottom-six role without that deployment effecting the course of his development. It's not the same thing as putting someone like Koivunen in a bottom-six role. Broz can thrive there.

I think he's earned his spot. It's going to be tough, but he's a guy you cut a veteran for. He's ready for the next level.

- Now, let's talk about a veteran who has really showed up to camp this season in Dumba.

I've got to say that I've been impressed by him. I know it's only the pre-season, but he looks nothing like the same defenseman that struggled with the Dallas Stars last season. He's playing solid defensive hockey, he's physical, he's activating in the offensive zone, and he's got a booming shot that he hasn't been afraid to unleash.

Many were down - and, in some cases, outright harsh - on Dumba coming into camp. But I think he has pretty discernibly earned a spot on the final NHL roster. If he can get anywhere close to the blueliner he was in his prime with the Minnesota Wild, that should make the Penguins very happy. He's in a contract year, and I'm sure the Penguins would love to be able to sell high on him this season to a contender.

He may have to play the off-side at times, but he has earned his spot.

- I am not overly impressed with Blake Lizotte in this pre-season. I do believe he will start the season in Pittsburgh, but - quite frankly - I think quite a few of the younger guys have outplayed him. In fact, three young centers, in particular - Broz, Kindel, and Filip Hallander - have all outplayed him, and two of those guys would be in a position to take on a center role in the bottom-six.

Lizotte is a player the Penguins should be able to trade early on in the season, and if there is a taker, I'm not so sure I wouldn't pull the trigger. I quite liked what Lizotte brought to this team last year, but if the Penguins are truly going younger, he's the exact kind of player who will block a young, promising prospect from locking down a roster spot.

I do think waivers will be exercised on some veterans in the next few days. Again, while I don't think Lizotte will be one of them, don't be surprised if he doesn't stick around this entire season.

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It has been a tough 12 months for Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Jack St. Ivany, and it looks like things aren't getting any easier. 

During Wednesday's pre-season tilt against the Buffalo Sabres, St. Ivany blocked a shot midway through the first period that appeared to hit the inside of his foot. He was helped off the ice and into the locker room and returned to the bench briefly, but he was then ruled out for the remainder of the game with a lower-body injury.

St. Ivany, 26, made the Penguins' NHL roster out of camp last season after signing a three-year extension that summer. He struggled to start the season and was re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), where the Penguins hoped some heavy AHL minutes would help him get back on track.

Unfortunately, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound blueliner was injured just two games later, and he missed nearly two months of action, making it hard for him to get back on track. He had just one point in 19 games at the NHL level in 2024-25, and at the AHL level, he recored one goal and 16 points to go along with a plus-9 in 37 games. 

No further update on St. Ivany's status has been announced yet. Stay tuned to the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins site for updates. 

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If the Philadelphia Flyers want to solve their issues on defense, they may have to get creative by using the NHL waiver wire.

On Wednesday, it was announced that former Flyers defenseman Louie Belpedio was placed on waivers by the Metropolitan Division rival Washington Capitals, making him available to Philadelphia for a reunion.

Also on waivers is former Flyers forward Jakob Pelletier; the Flyers themselves cut newcomer Lane Pederson, who suffered an upper-body injury in the first preseason game against the New York Islanders.

Flyers fans may remember Belpedio, 29, as the steady but unspectacular right-shot defenseman who spent the last three seasons with the organization, primarily in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Belpedio did, however, play 12 NHL games for the Flyers in the 2023-24 season, scoring two goals, two assists, and four points while accumulating zero (yes, zero) penalty minutes and a +6 rating. That's not half bad!

Flyers Roster Prediction 1.0: Nikita Grebenkin Secures Big OpportunityFollowing multiple roster cuts on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Flyers have only a handful of decisions to make before they reach their final roster for the start of the regular season.

Belpedio also spent the entirety of last season with the Phantoms, scoring five goals, 23 assists, and 28 points in 66 games while wearing an 'A' on his sweater for the second year in a row.

The former third-round pick is under contract for two seasons at a $775k cap hit, and his salary is reduced to $575k if and when he plays in the AHL.

The Flyers know the player well, and assistant GM Brent Flahr was the assistant GM of the Minnesota Wild when Belpedio was drafted in 2014.

Should the Flyers truly be completely underwhelmed by the race to the bottom for a roster spot on defense between Adam Ginning, Egor Zamula, Dennis Gilbert, and Noah Juulsen, they could take a free flier on Belpedio and see if they can land him on waivers.

Things will change once Rasmus Ristolainen returns from his triceps injury, but until then, it wouldn't be the worst idea to give Belpedio another shot wearing the Orange and Black.

 A new patch has gone live in NHL 26. 

This update consists largely of visual refreshes and tunings.

The lone gameplay issue that was fixed was an issue in Ones Eliminator where idle players were not kicked out of the match.

These edits occurred across all leagues. The Minnesota Wild and Philadelphia Flyers had their scoreboards updated, while the two along with the Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks, had their center ice artwork updated.

Center ice artwork was also updated for ECHL and CHL teams.

New jerseys were added to the Carolina Hurricanes, Seattle Kraken, Ottawa Senators, and Chicago Blackhawks. 

The ECHL's Greensboro Gargoyles had their new jerseys added, while multiple teams in Liiga, the SHL, and the NL had jerseys updated.

Artwork changes related to the Boston Bruins logo on hats in WoC and a missing pixel in the jersey number 8 were addressed. 

Crashes, UI and chemistry issues, and missing text were addressed in Franchise Mode. 

An injury symbol not showing up at appropriate times and crashing issues were fixed in World of Chel. 

A full list of changes can be seen on EA's official post here. 

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The NHL had many players hit the waiver wire on Oct. 1. While no current Montreal Canadiens were placed on waivers, two of their former players were.

This is because former Canadiens defensemen Kale Clague (Winnipeg Jets) and William Lagesson (Detroit Red Wings) have been placed on waivers by their current clubs.

Clague signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Jets this off-season. This comes after the 2016 second-round pick recorded 10 goals, 29 assists, 39 points, and a plus-3 rating in 69 AHL games with the Rochester Americans this past season. 

Clague appeared 25 games for the Canadiens during the 2021-22 season, where he recorded two goals, three assists, five points, 14 hits, and a minus-8 rating. 

Lagesson, on the other hand, signed a two-year contract extension with the Red Wings this summer. This was after the 6-foot-2 defenseman recorded one assist, six hits, seven blocks, and a minus-1 rating in seven games with Detroit in 2024-25. He also had three goals and nine points in 23 AHL games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2024-25. 

Lagesson played in three games with the Canadiens during the 2021-22 season, where he posted one assist, four blocks, and a plus-2 rating. 

Well, it didn't take long for Christián Jaroš to get a job. 

According to Russian Hockey Insider Artur Khairullin, Christián Jaroš will be signing with HC Spartak Moscow of the KHL. 

Per Khairullin, "Defenseman Christián Jaroš, whom Columbus placed on waivers to terminate his contract, will continue his career at Spartak." Jaroš and the Blue Jackets mutually agreed to him being places on waivers just today. 

Blue Jackets Place Christián Jaroš On Waivers To Terminate Contract The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed Christián Jaroš on waivers for the purpose of contract termination.

Jaroš has played in 94 NHL games, recording 14 points. In the AHL, he has suited up for 90 games and collected 34 points. 

Before signing in Columbus, Jaroš played the last three seasons in the KHL. He played for Avangard Omsk, CSKA Moskva, and Severstal Cherepovets. He totaled 8 goals and 33 points. 

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Two Former Monsters Earn PTO's With AHL TeamsTwo former Cleveland Monsters have joined AHL teams on PTOs. Erik Gudbranson & Tom Wilson Square Off In Heavyweight BoutLast night, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals squared off in a preseason matchup that saw the Capitals win 4-3. This game, much like most of the NHL preseason, had a fight. However, this fight included two heavyweights that can hold their own. Here’s what happened. 12 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #12The Columbus Blue Jackets have 12 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #12. 

As Tuesday's contest between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens showed, even pre-season NHL games can be intense and emotional.

Even if there's a potential risk of injury in rivalry friendlies, anyone who argues pre-season games should only be between non-rivals should compare the attendance in the Senators' two games in Quebec City.

Sunday's matchup between the Senators and New Jersey Devils at Videotron Centre drew in 12,159 fans. Tuesday's game had 18,259 fans, even though most of them wore the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge and were happy to see a 5-0 win over the"home team" Senators. The intensity of a game between two teams that really don't like each other should often sell more tickets.

That said, it was obvious why emotions were running high between Ottawa and Montreal. These teams will be duelling all season long, whether it's on the ice, in the standings or in the trade market.

Playing in the Atlantic Division – arguably the NHL’s toughest division – the Sens and Habs are essentially in the same boat this season. Both teams wanted the other to know they won't lay down and roll over for their opponent.

Indeed, only six points separated fourth-place Ottawa and fifth-place Montreal last season, and many pundits have the Senators and Canadiens finishing in the same vicinity this season. That’s only the equivalent of three wins that was the difference between the two teams. One bad week could be the difference between these longtime rivals. 

2 Senators Fined For Actions vs. CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Ottawa Senators on Sep. 30 in a preseason contest. While it may have been a preseason game, there is no question that tempers flared during this matchup in Quebec City, as there was plenty of fightning and nastiness.

Here’s something else to picture: if these two teams meet in the playoffs, watch out. You’re going to get two passionate fan bases in close geographical locations, with a healthy hate-on for each other. We already saw it in 2012-13 when the Sens and Habs had a line brawl and in 2014-15 when Montreal got revenge for their first-round loss two years earlier.

Given that the NHL has long been trying to develop and maintain divisional rivalries, we should expect that the league would be thrilled to have Montreal and Ottawa squaring off in the first or second round.

And above and beyond the four regular-season games the Habs and Sens will play against one another this season, the rivalry between the two franchises will manifest in other areas.

Depending on how the regular season plays out, the Senators and Canadiens could be vying for the same players on the trade market. Ottawa has $3.5 million in salary cap space at the moment – a number that could swell to $16 million by this year’s trade deadline. Meanwhile, Montreal has $4.5 million in cap space, which could balloon to $20.8 million by the deadline. So both teams have the financial flexibility to do big things via trades this season, with Montreal potentially wanting a second-line center and Ottawa looking wherever it can for upgrades.

It could well come to pass that the Canadiens and Senators could be wrapped up in an arms race that has a significant effect on their bottom line.

In any case, we should never be surprised to see ill feelings between the Sens and Habs, no matter what time of year it is. It’s true that the pre-season proves nothing to anyone, but the NHL needs its divisional rivalries to thrive for the league to succeed – and in that regard, the Canadiens and Senators have nothing to worry about.

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