ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild (1-1-0) is set to host the Los Angeles Kings (1-2-0) for a 7:00 tilt. Both teams have reveled the starting goaltenders for tonights matchup. 

Jesper Wallstedt will start for the Wild tonight. He will be making his sixth career start and first of the season. The Wild play the Dallas Stars in Dallas on Tuesday so Filip Gustavsson will get the second of the back-to-back.

"I think Wally's had a good summer physically and I think mentally prepared for the season," Wild head coach John Hynes said on Wallstedt. "I think he's had a good camp. I've seen the maturity in his game and the way that he practices, the intensity level, the details that he practices with, and then I think he's played well in the game. So he's ready. He's put the hard work in. He's always the guy that we expect to play well. So I'm excited to see him play tonight and he's certainly prepared to have a good outing."

It wasn't the best season for Wallstedt last year. He played in two NHL games and went 0-2-0 with a 4.09 goals-against average and a .843 save percentage. He went 9-14-5 in the AHL with the Iowa Wild last year and had a 3.59 goals-against average and a .879 save percentage.

He has never faced the Kings in his career.

Jesper Wallstedt starts tonight vs #gokingsgo. Danila Yurov will make his NHL debut at center. Hunter Haight is out.

— Dylan Loucks (@DylanLoucks4) October 13, 2025

Darcy Kuemper will start tonight for the Kings. He started two of the three games against the Wild last year for the Kings and went 1-1-0 with a 1.53 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.

In 14 career starts against the Wild, Kuemper has gone 5-7-1 with a 2.91 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. He is 0-2-0 on the year with a 3.63 goals-against average and a .860 save percentage.

Kuemper is looking to bounce back tonight against his former team. He played 102 games with Minnesota across five seasons and was the Wild's 161st pick from the 2009 NHL Draft.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

Wild's Danila Yurov Set To Make NHL Debut TonightST. PAUL, Minn - A smiley Danila Yurov sat in his stall after Monday's morning skate next to Kirill Kaprizov as the media swarmed Yurov. It came 20 minutes after Wild head coach confirmed Yurov was making his NHL debut tonight.

- Wild Place Nico Sturm On Injured Reserve.

- Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild Claim Defenseman Daemon Hunt Off Waivers.

- Wild Sign Filip Gustavsson To A Five-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild's Mats Zuccarello Out For Two Months With Lower-Body Injury.

While Philadelphia Flyers phenom Matvei Michkov hasn't looked quite like himself to start his second season in the NHL, there is, at least, a reason for that, according to head coach Rick Tocchet.

Tocchet dubiously did not play Michkov, 20, for the Flyers' 3-on-3 overtime session against the Carolina Hurricanes, which ended in a loss after Bobby Brink's game-winning goal was wiped out by a controversial goaltender interference call against Travis Sanheim.

The Flyers' first-year head coach revealed after the loss that he was going with the players he "thought were skating," which obviously did not include Michkov.

There is a little bit more to it than that, though, as Tocchet revealed Monday.

"If we don’t have penalties, [Michkov is] probably getting 17 [minutes]. I think everyone's making an issue," Tocchet was quoted as saying by Kevin Kurz of The Athletic. "Secondly, he dealt with something this summer, something with an ankle that I didn’t even know about. I don’t think he could implement some of his training. So, he’s a little bit behind the eight ball when it comes to that. It’s something we’re going to correct. But I think he got behind the eight ball a little bit this summer coming into camp.

Flyers Defenseman Benched After Struggles, Agent's Criticism of TeamJust two games into the season, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula has already been benched for his continued struggles.

"He’s healthy. It wasn’t a major thing. Something that affected some of his training. We know we’ve got to work with him. That’s the best way to explain it.”

Michkov has played just over 28 total minutes for the Flyers this season through two losses, recording two shots on goal in Game 1 against Florida and zero in Game 2 against Carolina.

In both games, the Flyers' franchise player took a penalty, and in both games, Michkov didn't record a point.

All is not lost, though, as it's still early in the season, and it certainly sounds as though Michkov just doesn't have his conditioning and game legs yet.

The Flyers play four times in the next seven days, including Monday's home opener against Florida, so the uber-talented Russian should still have plenty of opportunities to figure things out and get going.

The Winnipeg Jets have strung together back-to-back wins for the first time in the 2025-26 NHL season. 

For the second-straight game, the Jets took to the ice in the afternoon, this time on the road in New York. Squaring off against the Islanders, Winnipeg pulled ahead early and really did not look back.

Jonathan Toews picked up his first point as a member of the Jets, while fellow newcomers Tanner Pearson, Gustav Nyquist and Cole Koepke also picked up their firsts with the Jets, as Winnipeg beat New York 5-2 on Thanksgiving Monday. 

Morgan Barron kept his hot streak alive, picking up his third point in as many games, as he scored his second of the season just 7:35 into the game. 

Nino Neiderreiter picked up another Jets power play goal a few minutes later, with Toews earning the secondary assist - his first point as a member of the Jets. 

The middle stanza saw four goals, with JG Pageau cutting Winnipeg's lead in half just two minutes into the game, as he became the first player to beat Eric Comrie in goal this season. 

But just one shift later, Winnipeg restored its two-goal lead, on none other than Logan Stanley's first goal of the season. Pearson joined the goal scoring party with his first as a Jet at the 13-minute mark. 

Emil Heineman answered back for the hosts before the period came to a close, but that was about all the Islanders could muster up on the night. The third period didn't result in much other than an empty net gaffe from New York.

Kyle Connor stripped the Islanders of the puck, fed Mark Scheifele, who found his third of the season into the empty net. 

Barron, Stanley, Niederreiter and Pearson each picked up two points in the affair, while five other players found the scoresheet. 

Comrie turned aside 33 of the 35 shots he faced, while Ilya Sorokin made 21 stops on the 25 pucks sent his way from Winnipeg. 

Next up for the Jets is the second stop of the road trip in Philadelphia on Thursday. That game is set to be played at 6:00 PM central time. It can be viewed live on TSN. 

It wasn’t the prettiest of games for the Colorado Avalanche, but it's still early in the season, and there was still a lot of good to take away from the game. They were outshot heading into the third period, but took advantage of many Sabres mistakes to come out with the 3-1 win and the two points.

The Sabres came out much quicker than the Avalanche to start the period, with better passing, more shots on goal, and played with a much quicker pace. It was Nathan MacKinnon with a spin-o-rama backhand shot to open the scoring on the Avalanche’s first registered shot of the game. Jack Drury takes the first penalty of the game as he is called for tripping, but the Avalanche kills it off. Another penalty comes the Avalanche's way when a failed line change happens, and they are called for too many men; Ross Colton serves the penalty. 

WE SEE YOU, NATE 👀

Nathan MacKinnon opens the scoring with a beauty! #NHLFaceOffpic.twitter.com/QVpPLvP67c

— NHL (@NHL) October 13, 2025

The Avalanche gets its first power play of the game when Rasmus Dahlin is called for interference, but fails to capitalize on the opportunity. Tage Thompson ties the game when he sends a wrister from the blueline that beats a crowd in front of Scott Wedgwood and in, 1-1. Two minutes left in the period, Cale Makar is called for slashing, with the Sabres getting the remainder of the power play heading into the second period.

Nichushkin makes a great read intercepting Rasmus Dahlin’s pass and sets up Makar to take the lead 2-1 four minutes into the period. Makar draws a tripping penalty, but the Avalanche fail to score on the power play. Brent Burns powers through Alex Tuch but ends up tripping him, and is called for tripping. However, Tuch is also called for embellishment. Twenty seconds into the 4-on-4, Necas sets up a great drop pass to MacKinnon, who rifles one five-hole past Alex Lyon to make it 3-1, ending the second period.

Big Val with the interception 🤝 Cale Makar with the goal pic.twitter.com/kiQQGB996G

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 13, 2025

MacKinnon once again makes a nifty pass to Necas and shoots it five-hole past Lyon to make it 4-1, but the Sabres challenge the play for offside, and it stands, reverting the goal and keeping it 3-1. Dahlin is called for interference, but the Sabres kill the penalty. A scary moment occurs when Bowen Byram accidentally slashes Brock Nelson’s hand and rushes down the tunnel; thankfully, he rejoins the game later in the period.

Connor Timmins is called for a delay of game, which was initially called a tipped out-of-bounds play. However, after review, it was determined that the call was against Timmins, and the Avalanche was unsuccessful on the power play for the fifth time. Although it won't matter as the game ends 3-1, the Avalanche wins.

The Avalanche are back in action for their brief two-game road trip on Thursday, Oct. 16, against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Necas & Mackinnon’s 3-Point Effort Not Enough as Stars Beat the Avalanche 5-4Whenever the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars face off, it's going to be one hell of a game, and this one doesn't disappoint. After numerous lead changes and an eventful overtime, the Stars won 5-4 in the shootout. Insider Doubts Colorado Avalanche Will Hold Onto Martin NečasA big issue the Colorado Avalanche face this season is that Martin Necas and his expiring contract this summer set him up to be an unrestricted free agent. The Avalanche have been in this position before, last season, and their experience with trying to re-sign Mikko Rantanen ultimately led to trading him to the Carolina Hurricanes and acquiring Necas in a package deal. While Necas might not command the same extension price that Rantanen received from the Dallas Stars after being traded from the Hurricanes, an insider speculates that he would be “shocked” if the Avalanche agreed to extend Necas.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been named the NHL's third star of the week.

The 37-year-old posted a 3-0-0 record with a .925 save percentage and a 1.67 goals against average. In the Panthers' first three games, Bobrovsky led them to wins over the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and the Ottawa Senators. 

The Panthers are back in action today, beginning a five-game road trip, starting against the Flyers. Bobrovsky will get the night off, as off-season acquisition Daniil Tarasov will make his Panthers debut.

Per the NHL's press release:

"Bobrovsky went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .925 save percentage to lift the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers (3-0-0, 6 points) to a perfect start to their season. He made 17 saves in a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 7, 19 stops in a 2-1 triumph versus the Philadelphia Flyers Oct. 9 and 26 saves in a 6-2 victory against the Ottawa Senators Oct. 11. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky, who ascended to 10th place on the League’s all-time wins list last season, has a 432-243-57 record in 757 career NHL appearances (2.57 GAA, .914 SV%, 49 SO)."

Finishing as the first star of the week was Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev. The 24-year-old notched five goals in three games, including a hat trick in the season opener.

Coming in as the second star was Senators center Shane Pinto. The 24-year-old recorded four goals and five points in two games, including a two-goal game against the Panthers on Saturday. 

Sharks' No. 2 overall pick Michael Misa to make NHL debut against Hurricanes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

The Sharks’ 2025 first-round draft pick Michael Misa will make his NHL debut against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday at SAP Center.

Misa, the No. 2 overall pick in June’s draft, sat out for San Jose’s first two games of the 2025-26 NHL season.

The 18-year-old center was between Philipp Kurashev and Ty Dellandrea at practice on Monday.

Interesting new #SJSharks lines at practice, Misa to make his NHL debut?

Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli
Skinner-Wennberg-Smith
Kurashev-Misa-Dellandrea
Goodrow-Gaudette-Reaves-Graf

Ferraro-Orlov
Leddy-Liljegren
Dickinson-Klingberg
Mukhamadullin-Desharnais

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 13, 2025

Misa said that his parents, Frank and Sandra, will be on hand at SAP Center, as will his older brother Luke, a 2024 Calgary Flames fifth-round draft pick and Penn State forward.

Read the full article at San Jose Hockey Now

The New Jersey Devils made a roster move ahead of their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.

The organization announced that veteran forward Evgenii Dadonov has been placed on the Injured Reserve list with a fracture in his hand. 

"The X-rays were negative, but he woke up and wasn't feeling much better," head coach Sheldon Keefe told NJD.TV. "They had further imaging, which did show there was a fracture in there. The extent of it, they need to look a little bit closer. He will be out for the rest of this road trip, and we will get him back home and get a better sense of what the timeline will be."

In a corresponding move, Brian Halonen was called up from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL). The 26-year-old scored one goal in the Comets' game on Saturday afternoon against the Cleveland Monsters and was named the third star of the game. His line that included Matyas Melovsky and Xavier Parent combined for four points in Utica's 3-2 overtime loss. 

With the Comets, Halonen is a top-six player who gets time on the first power play unit. During training camp, he spoke about his different roles in Utica vs. when he plays in New Jersey. 

"Obviously, the minutes you play and the opportunities you are put in are different," he said. "There are not the same opportunities here (in New Jersey). I feel like growing up in college, I played both roles. I started off in more of a bottom-six role, and in my later years, I was in a top-six role. I feel like I have experience in both roles. 

"I just try to put my best foot forward wherever I am playing." 

In an exclusive interview with The Hockey News, Devils' Assistant General Manager/Utica Comets General Manager Dan MacKinnon spoke further about balancing competitiveness in the AHL with developing players in specific roles. 

"That has always been the nature of the American Hockey League," he said. "You are projecting prospects down there to potentially grow into a certain role at the NHL level, and that doesn't always completely align with what they are asked to do in the American Hockey League. 

"A bona fide future third or fourth line NHLer is probably, after an initial adjustment period, going to be at least a middle-six or top line AHL player. That is just the nature of the beast. 

"We believe as an organization that the best development happens when you are part of a competitive team that is getting its fair share of wins," he continued. "You want  Brian Halonen to score, and I think he can this year, 30 to 40 goals in the AHL, but the job he is competing for at the NHL level is a fourth line role where, if he ever has it full-time, and gets eight to 10 goals, I think the organization would be thrilled." 

Halonen is projected to play on New Jersey's fourth line with Paul Cotter and Luke Glendening against the Blue Jackets. 
"He is putting in his time in Utica and has been al leader down there in his play, his attitude, and work," Keefe told NJD.TV Monday morning. "When you need a guy this early in the season, there are a lot of people in the organization that go to bat for him. I think even in the short time he spent with us last season, you saw some elements in his game that with greater opportunity, you want to see how it plays out. There is a chance here now." 

The winger has played four career NHL games over the past two seasons. He has averaged 11:06 of ice time and has four shots on goal. 

Puck drop between the Devils and Blue Jackets is at 7:00 p.m. Fans can watch tonight's game on MSGSN or the Gotham Sports.

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes

Hischier's Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He's Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily

As Evander Kane of the Edmonton Oilers and Brad Marchand of the Florida Panthers went toe-to-toe in the Stanley Cup final last spring, it was learned the two players’ fathers had been junior-hockey teammates in Nova Scotia with the Dartmouth Arrows back in 1981.

It was news to the public and to Evander, even though he’s a chip off the old block. Perry Kane has been a driving force in his son’s hockey career, and in his younger days, he was a speedy winger with good hands and a tough edge, which carried over to the boxing ring. The family’s bloodline also includes Evander’s cousin Kirk Johnson, who boxed for Canada at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and once challenged for the WBA heavyweight title.

When it came time for Perry to name his first child in 1991, his inspiration was the reigning world heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield. “When I got drafted by Atlanta as a 17-year-old, Holyfield lived in Atlanta,” Kane said. “They brought him out to a morning skate one time, so I was able to meet him, and my dad was able to meet him.”

Fifteen years before Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini turned Vancouver into a youth-hockey mecca as back-to-back No. 1 draft picks, Kane was one of the brightest talents to emerge from the region.

Selected fourth overall by the Thrashers in 2009, Kane began his glittering junior career in his hometown when he made history as the youngest player ever to skate in a Memorial Cup. “When I got drafted by the Giants, I was actually a little disappointed because I wanted to go away,” Kane said. “My dad heard on the radio that I had been drafted. I was happy, but he looked at me, and he’s like, ‘Well, you better get to work now. You have an opportunity to play in the Memorial Cup as a 15-year-old.’ ”

That had never happened before, and with the Giants hosting the 2007 Memorial Cup at the Pacific Coliseum, a berth in the tournament was guaranteed. After eight regular-season games, coach Don Hay put Kane into five WHL playoff games, including Vancouver’s Game 7 double-OT loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL final. “Earning Hay’s trust at the time was really cool,” he said.

For the start of the Memorial Cup, Kane was back on the sidelines. But Hay brought him back for two crucial games, including Vancouver’s 3-1 revenge win over the Tigers that won it all. “I was really excited and hungry to get into the lineup and try to perform,” Kane said. “What a start to my junior career.”

After making the Thrashers as an 18-year-old and playing 930 NHL games, Kane joined the Vancouver Canucks this summer following a trade from Edmonton. Fourteen years after the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg, Kane and Zach Bogosian are the last two active players to have played with Atlanta.

At 34, Kane now has four children of his own, all under the age of six.

In the eyes of Vancouver’s new coach, Adam Foote, Kane will bring an edge and a veteran presence, including 68 games of playoff experience with the Oilers the past four seasons. “I love his grit,” Foote said. “He’s hard to play against. We needed some of that sandpaper.”

Kane has a competitive fire that drives him to get under opponents’ skin every time he steps on the ice. That intensity was on full display in Edmonton’s seven-game battle against Vancouver in the second round of the 2024 playoffs. But as we often see in hockey, foes can become fast friends when allegiances change. “A guy I probably would have hated the most coming onto this team is Conor Garland,” Kane said. “I think he’d probably say the same, but we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well over training camp, and I think we’ve both enjoyed each other’s company. You find yourself on the golf course with each other, and next thing you know, it’s all good to go.”

After the Canucks stumbled to a playoff miss last season, Kane’s truculence and experience will add a fresh dimension to a dressing room that was fractured. With a beefed-up defense and a strong goaltending duo that includes a healthy Thatcher Demko, the returning players are aiming for a bounce-back campaign.

Kane heads into his first year in Vancouver sitting fifth among active players with 1,186 penalty minutes – 71 ahead of sixth-place Marchand. But he also brings nine 20-goal seasons, including two years with 30 goals.

After the Canucks finished last season in the bottom 10 in goal scoring and second-last with just 25.5 shots per game, his offensive prowess should make him a fixture in Vancouver’s top six and on the power play. “The hardest thing to do in the NHL is score goals,” Kane said. “Each and every time we step on the ice, I try to impact the game in different ways – physicality, emotion, skating, goal-scoring, whatever it may be. I have the ability to bring all that.”

He’s 70 games away from 1,000, but Kane is feeling healthy and re-energized after missing the entire 2024-25 regular season while rehabbing from surgeries to repair two torn hip adductor muscles, two hernias, two lower abdominal muscles and a knee issue.

Kane looked rejuvenated when he rejoined the Oilers for their second consecutive run to the Stanley Cup final, contributing 12 points in 21 games while averaging more than 16 minutes of ice time.

In a sport where humility and conformity are often the norm, Kane has never been afraid to stand out – whether that’s with the luxury sports cars he drives or the wardrobes that stack up favorably against the fashion-forward stars in other sports.

With the NHL’s relaxed dress-code rules kicking in this season, expect Kane’s walk-ins at Rogers Arena to be appointment viewing. “I’m going to come in looking like I’m homeless one night, then I’ll look like I’m a billionaire,” he said. “Keep people guessing.”

---

This article appeared in our 2025 Goalie issue. The cover story for this issue features back-to-back Vezina Trophy winner and Winnipeg Jet, Connor Hellebuyck. We also include features on Mammoth's goaltender Karel Vejmelka, the ranking of goaltending duos and more. In addition, we take a look at the 'goaltending future' from each NHL division.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe has announced that Devils forward Zack MacEwen will be out for "an extended period of time" after suffering an injury during the club's last matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning, as reported by The Hockey News' Kristy Flannery. 

In his Devils debut against the Lightning, MacEwen recorded one hit and two shots in 7:12 of ice time.

The Devils acquired MacEwen from the Ottawa Senators earlier this month in exchange for Kurtis MacDermid. This was after MacEwen posted two goals, one assist, three points, 21 penalty minutes, and 49 hits in 21 games this past season with the Senators.

MacEwen being sidelined for a decent amount of time is certainly not ideal for the Devils. They are already dealing with injury trouble elsewhere, and now they have lost another one of their experienced depth forwards with MacEwen out.

In 238 games over eight NHL seasons split between the Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Senators, and Devils, MacEwen has recorded 17 goals, 17 assists, 34 points, 323 penalty minutes, and 524 hits.

Just two games into the season, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula has already been benched for his continued struggles.

On Monday, ahead of the team's home opener against the Florida Panthers, the Flyers confirmed that Zamula, 25, was exiting the lineup.

Taking his place will be fellow defenseman Emil Andrae, who didn't make the Flyers out of training camp but had a mostly impressive 2024-25 season in addition to a strong start with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms over the last few days.

The Flyers were wary of including him in the mix due to his 5-foot-9 size, and there's even been some rumors that the team would consider trading Andrae for the right offer, even though they aren't actively looking to do so.

As for Zamula, his benching was, to be blunt, a long time coming.

NHL Waiver Wire: Flyers Should Take a Chance on Recently Cut Sharks DefensemanThe Philadelphia Flyers badly need adequate reinforcements on defense, and what better way to get them than for free from the NHL waiver wire?

Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet already expressed disappointment in the defenseman's game during the NHL preseason, and there has not been much improvement in that regard in the first two games of 2025-26.

This also comes on the heels of some rather inflammatory quotes from Zamula's agent, Shumi Babaev, which indicated that the formerly undrafted Russian hasn't been able to reach his full potential with the Flyers due to a lack of opportunity.

Such opportunities had been afforded by the Flyers in the past during John Tortorella's tenure with the team, especially when it comes to the power play, but those chances paid off only sometimes.

With Adam Ginning and now Andrae overtaking him, it's fair to wonder how much longer the 25-year-old Zamula will remain in Philadelphia with the Flyers, especially considering he's in the last year of a two-year, $3.4 million ($1.7 million AAV) contract that will see him become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of this season.

Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev was named the NHL’s "First Star" on Monday, after opening the season with an offensive explosion.

Dorofeyev, who scored five goals in the team's first three games, paced the NHL in both goals (5) and power-play goals (4) while the Golden Knights opened the season with four points, going 1-0-2.

Dorofeyev opened the season with his third career hat trick, scoring all three goals in the second period, to help Vegas tie the game in their season opener against the Los Angeles Kings, who won 6-5 in a shootout on Oct. 8.

The 24-year-old scored once in both a 4-3 overtime victory at the San Jose Sharks Oct. 9 and then during a 2-1 overtime loss at the Seattle Kraken Oct. 11.

Dorofeyev, a third-round pick (79th overall) from the 2019 NHL Draft, reached career highs in goals (35), assists (17) and points (52) while playing in all 82 games for Vegas last season.

ST. PAUL, Minn - A smiley Danila Yurov sat in his stall after Monday's morning skate next to Kirill Kaprizov as the media swarmed Yurov. It came 20 minutes after Wild head coach confirmed Yurov was making his NHL debut tonight.

"He says a little nervous and he plays so many games in KHL already it should be easy for him to play his game," Kaprizov translated what Yurov said about making his debut tonight. "Just a little nervous but excited and happy to jump in play tonight."

Kaprizov has been a big help for Yurov since he has come here. He can speak English and has even answered some questions in English but he is obviously is more comfortable with Russian. Kaprizov, Yakov Trenin and Vladimir Tarasenko have all been very helpful for Yurov and have made the transition smoother.

"Three days spoke with me that my time is come and I need to be ready for this game," Yurov said in English on how much Kaprizov has helped him. "I just prepare for games, practice and finally this day start."

Yurov, 21, started as a center in training camp. He played a few games there and then towards the end of camp he shifted to the wing and played with Joel Eriksson Ek and Tarasenko. Eventually that spot was grabbed by Marcus Foligno and now Marcus Johansson.

So his NHL debut will come at the center position. Hunter Haight has played the first two games of the season and now Yurov will replace him tonight.

“When you have a younger player coming in playing their first game, it’s just reminding them there’s a reason why they’re here and just play to his identity," Hynes said. "He doesn’t have to overthink. He’s been here, he’s been through training camp, I think he’s a very smart player. He needs to play a fast game.

"I think he knows the importance of faceoffs and the intensity level in the faceoff circle and then probably the biggest adjustment for him is not that he’s not a willing combatant but there’s more puck battles all over the ice and confrontations than there is in the KHL. Be prepared for that and be ready to compete in the hard areas of the ice.”

The Wild selected Yurov with the 24th pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He spent a few years in the KHL and his 49 points during the 23-24 season broke the KHL record for most points in a season as a 20-year-old. That record was previously held by Tarasenko.

"It was nice to play because I used to watch him on tv," Yurov said on playing with Tarasenko before. "He still has skill and it was nice to play together."

Tarasenko has talked about how cool it was that he has played with Yurov and how he broke his record. It has come full circle now and even Tarasenko has invited Yurov over for dinner and has helped him in any way he can.

Yurov will be the second Wild player to make their NHL debut this season. Zeev Buium made his regular season debut after playing four playoff games last year. He is one of five rookies on the Wild's roster. Him and Jesper Wallstedt will be the fourth and fifth rookies this year to play tonight.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

Minnesota Wild Vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Analytical RecapST. PAUL, Minn - I have been tracking some stats about the Minnesota Wild that I will now make available to the public. After each game I will have some analytics that I tracked. Most analytical recaps will be after home games but I may post some road ones too.

- Wild Place Nico Sturm On Injured Reserve.

- Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild Claim Defenseman Daemon Hunt Off Waivers.

- Wild Sign Filip Gustavsson To A Five-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild's Mats Zuccarello Out For Two Months With Lower-Body Injury.

Daniil Tarasov will make his Florida Panthers and 2025-26 season debut today against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Panthers are set to embark on a five-game road trip after sweeping a three-game homestand to start the season. Sergei Bobrovsky was in between the pipes for the first three games, posting a .925 save percentage and a 1.68 goals against average.

Tarasov will likely play twice this week, as the Panthers play a back-to-back against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday and the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. 

The 26-year-old recorded an. 881 SP and 3.55 GAA last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but the Panthers are hoping to get the 2023-24 version of Tarasov, who posted a .908 SP and 3.18 GAA. 

The Panthers and Flyers met this season already, with the Panthers defeating the Flyers 2-1 in the second game of the season. Bobrovsky wasn't a busy man in that game, turning 19 of the 20 shots he faced. Anton Lundell opened the scoring in the second period before Noah Cates tied the game later in the frame. Brad Marchand scored early in the third period, and the Panthers locked the game down, allowing just five shots on net in the final stanza. 

The Panthers are hoping for a similar end result, the two points, but are probably hoping for a bigger score line. 

Panthers kick off five-game road trip in Philadelphia against winless FlyersFresh off a strong three-game homestand in which the Florida Panthers collected all six possible points in the standings, the Cats are hitting the pavement for an extended road trip.

This season, there has been a notable number of young, talented players who are entering their rookie season.

Some are fresh from the 2025 draft, which took place in late June, or had a small taste of what the NHL experience is like, making a handful of appearances last year.

This past weekend, the NHL had all 32 NHL teams play on Saturday. It would be very challenging for fans to catch every game or moment, including several rookies who scored their first NHL goals.

Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

The first overall pick from the 2025 draft, Matthew Schaefer, wasted no time getting his first career goal on the board. Schaefer’s first NHL goal was a power-play marker that came against the Washington Capitals, in unusual fashion.

The 18-year-old defenseman was standing near the offensive blueline when there was a pileup in front of goaltender Logan Thompson. Bodies were lying down everywhere as Capitals defensemen and New York Islanders forwards scrambled for the puck.

Eventually, the puck skewed free of the pile of players, and Schaefer charged from the blueline before diving and poking the puck in the net.

Schaefer spoke about his mom, who passed away in February 2024 following a battle with breast cancer.

“She’s up there with the hockey gods,” Schaefer said after the game. “Maybe (she) slipped them a little 20 (dollar bill) to get that goal. She’s definitely there to help.”

Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild

Zeev Buium of the Minnesota Wild is another defenseman who scored their first NHL goal this past weekend. Buium’s was also on the power play, a little more traditional than Schaefer’s, though. 

The 19-year-old blueliner scored his goal in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets, cutting their lead to 5-3. 

Buium started the play when he received the puck at the point and rapidly inched closer to the slot before firing a wrist shot that went wide of the goal. However, Minnesota center Joel Eriksson Ek picked up the puck from behind the net and found Buium in the slot, who one-timed it home.

Buium also recorded another power-play point in that period, a secondary assist on a Kirill Kaprizov goal. The young D-man now has two points in two games this season.

Gavin Brindley, C, Colorado Avalanche

Gavin Brindley scored a big goal for the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. His first-career marker came against the mighty Dallas Stars. The Stars have seen the Western Conference final for three straight seasons and eliminated the Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last year.

At any rate, Brindley’s goal put Colorado up 2-1 over Dallas at this moment. The play started as a 2-on-2 opportunity with Brindley pushing toward the slot and left winger Victor Olofsson carrying the puck on the left flank.

Olofsson made a good move in an effort to get past Stars defenseman Thomas Harley. In the process, he created a passing lane to the front of the net for Brindley, who shoved the puck through goaltender Jake Oettinger.

Sam Rinzel, D, Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel secured his first goal of the season against the Montreal Canadiens. His goal was the equalizer after Canadiens right winger Cole Caufield opened the scoring less than two minutes before Rinzel’s tally.

Rinzel’s goal came off a faceoff, won by center Frank Nazar. Nazar’s draw was directed toward left winger Teuvo Teravainen, who made a drop pass to Rinzel standing at the right point. 

The 21-year-old blueliner galloped into the faceoff circle, where Nazar’s faceoff was won, and Rinzel whipped it past Habs goaltender Sam Montembeault for the first of his career.

Outside of this season, Rinzel played nine games with Chicago last season, recording five assists in that span. With this goal in the Blackhawks’ third game of the season, Rinzel has six points in 12 career NHL contests.

Ben Kindel, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Ben Kindel has looked like a regular NHL pro in his first three career games this season. To back that up, he’s another player who bagged his first NHL goal on Saturday for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

His goal came off the rush in a solo fashion against the New York Rangers. The 18-year-old center picked up the puck neutral zone and carried it over the blueline on the right-hand side.

As he entered the right-sided faceoff circle in the Penguins’ offensive zone, he fired the puck on the short side of goaltender Igor Shesterkin, tying the game for Pittsburgh in the second period.

Like Schaefer, Kindel is one of the few players from the 2025 draft to play this season. Only Brady Martin of the Nashville Predators and Braeden Cootes of the Vancouver Canucks join them in that category.

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