The Anaheim Ducks hosted the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night in their second of four preseason matchups between the Southern California rivals.

The Kings took the exhibition opener on Sunday in Ontario, CA, by a score of 3-1, but lineups in this game featured far more projected NHL roster players.

Quack of Dawn: Ducks Morning Report - 09/24/25

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 6-1 Win over the Mammoth

Both the Ducks and Kings iced a full top-six forward group and potential top-four defensemen.

Lukas Dostal got his first action of the preseason, as he started this one and stopped 17 of 18 shots before he was pulled halfway through the second period, as was reportedly planned.

Dostal was replaced by Calle Clang, who stopped 10 of the 12 shots he faced in the second half of the game.

In the Kings’ net stood Darcey Kuemper, who earned the shutout by saving all 14 shots he faced in this one.

“Whether it was a power play, whether it was five on five, the puck wasn’t our friend tonight,” Joel Quenneville said after the game. “That’s got to be a strength going forward. There’s some things that we’re trying to work on. Just like the penalty kill and establishing certain things, it all starts with having the puck, and starting with the puck, and that didn’t occur too much.”

Here are my notes on this game (once again, it’s preseason, so everything is to be taken with a grain of salt):

Defensive Zone Coverage-While the Ducks didn’t get the early kills they are striving for in their new systems, they didn’t allow much penetration to the middle of the zone or second chance opportunities. When they were hemmed, and they were hemmed often, it remained nondisastrous.

Lukas Dostal-Dostal was in mid-season form early in this game. As stated, the truly dangerous chances were limited, but he was able to track pucks through traffic, as is becoming his trademark, and his rebound control was spectacular, deflecting those distance shots to the corners of the ice.

“Sometimes you have games where the puck sticks to your chest better than other games, but that’s been something that I’ve worked on this summer,” Dostal said after the game. “The last two seasons in the NHL showed me the guys are crashing the net quite a lot, so it’s something that I worked on this offseason to eliminate the rebounds and something I really focused on.”

Jacob Trouba-Trouba had a tough start in his first action of the exhibition season. He was directly involved in all three Los Angeles goals against; his gaps were too sizable, his closing speed wasn’t there, and he uncharacteristically struggled to properly box out Fiala on LA’s third goal.

The Ducks have a few days off, after which, they will next head to Bakersfield to take on the Kings again on Saturday for their fourth of seven preseason games.

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Zellweger, Mintyukov to Benefit Most from New Coaching Staff, Systems

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Right Shot Defense Position Battle

After a hard-fought 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens in their pre-season opener on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins looked to carry some of that momentum into their tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.

Unfortunately, they couldn't get much going for them.

Zach Gallant scored in the first period, but the Penguins allowed four unanswered goals in the aftermath and fell to the Blue Jackets, 4-1. Yegor Chinakhov, Jake Christiansen (PPG), and Kent Johnson filled the net for Columbus, and Dante Fabbro scored into the empty net to seal the deal with three minutes left in regulation.

Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs surrendered two goals on 14 Columbus shots during the first half of the game, while Filip Larsson allowed one goal on eight shots to close it out for Pittsburgh. Blue Jackets' goaltender Jet Greaves was outstanding, surrendering just one goal on 25 shots. 

The game was a tough one, as there were a lot of special teams, and the Penguins spent a lot of time in the box. But they very easily could have gotten a different result if they were able to capitalize on some of the momentum swings that landed in their favor.

"I thought there were some momentum swings both ways," head coach Dan Muse said.  "There were some times there where I didn't feel like, you know, we were in our zone a little bit longer than we'd like to be, maybe didn't get the change that we wanted, tired bodies on the ice... but then, I also feel like it was a little bit back-and-forth, and obviously, in the third period, it was a lot of special teams."

He also added that the lack of flow to the game made it hard to create scoring chances.

"It was a game where it did feel like it was a little bit hard to generate," Muse said. "It came a little bit in waves. There would be some shifts where, maybe, you get one or two, and some of those looks, too, they're not connecting. We're trying to do the right thing, we're trying to make the right play, and maybe it just doesn't connect the way that we want to, and maybe it doesn't lead to an actual scoring chance. But, some of the things we were looking for, we saw. And I think this is still a game where we're going to take some positives from."

Penguins Hold Strong, Fall To Canadiens In Pre-Season ShootoutOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins' hockey officially kicked off for the 2025 pre-season.

Here are a few thoughts and observations from this one.

---

- I want to cut right to the chase and talk about the Penguins' best player tonight. And that was Ben Kindel. 

No, he wasn't the goal-scorer, and he didn't factor in on the lone goal. But Kindel was everywhere on Wednesday. He got some good looks on the power play, he was helping create offense when the opportunity arose, he had a breakaway opportunity that he failed to capitalize on, and he blew right by opponents on several occasions when skating with the puck and driving the net.

"Just kind of trying to play my game," Kindel said. "Just have confidence in my game, and just leave it all out there. You might not get many opportunities, so whatever opportunity I get, just go out there and do whatever I can."

I do not think Kindel has much of a shot at the opening night NHL roster, especially with some more NHL-ready, seasoned talent ahead of him. But what I will say is that he has exceeded my expectations during this camp. He's one of those guys who you don't notice as much in practice but stands out in a game setting. And I'm particularly impressed by his skating, which is something that a few scouts and analysts knocked him for pre-draft.

Kris Letang’s Hat Trick Highlights Penguins’ First Training Camp ScrimmageThe Pittsburgh Penguins held their first scrimmage of training camp on Wednesday. 

Yeah, his skating isn't an issue. Not even a little bit. He's an above-average skater in terms of speed, and his edgework is phenomenal.

I think he's earned himself another pre-season game. We'll see what happens, as some roster cuts may come as early as tomorrow. But he's been impressive through two games. 

- Both goaltenders were fine tonight. Neither Silovs or Larsson were forced to make ridiculous saves akin to what Sergei Murashov did on Monday, but they got the job done when they were called upon, and none of the three goals against were really on them.

"I thought there were some big saves in there.," Muse said. "Some plays into the slot there that we'd like to prevent from happening, but he was there when they did."

With Joel Blomqvist out day-to-day, it will be interesting to see how the goaltending battle shakes out. I suspect Silovs has the inside track right now, but don't count out Larsson, either. 

'My Goal Is To Take Another Step': Penguins' Goaltender Battles For Positioning In CampGoaltending has been an interesting topic of discussion around Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this season, and understandably so. 

All I know is that it's nice to be talking about the Penguins having excess goaltending depth in their system. It's a refreshing change of pace.

- I thought a few members of the Penguins' defensive corps played a solid game, namely Jack St. Ivany, Alexander Alexeyev, and Caleb Jones. St. Ivany and Alexeyev worked on a pairing together, while Jones - who blocked four shots - was on the left side of Connor Clifton. 

St. Ivany and Alexeyev were routinely able to shut down and stymie Columbus's transition game and their breakouts, and they also notched a few in the shot block department. Alexeyev's physicality was also apparent throughout the game.

The defensive battle - once again - is one to watch at camp, and I wouldn't count any of these guys out of the mix, especially on the left side. It will also be interesting to see whether or not Muse is willing to let any of these guys play their off-side.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

The goaltending battle for the Pittsburgh Penguins will be one of the big stories to watch this season.

And, unfortunately, one of their young netminders is facing an injury setback early on in the pre-season.

On Wednesday, the Penguins announced that goaltender Joel Blomqvist is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Blomqvist started the Penguins' pre-season opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, and he exited halfway through to make way for Sergei Murashov to finish the game, which was the plan beforehand.

Blomqvist, 23, had two NHL stints last season, seeing success in the first one and struggling with inconsistency in the second. He finished the NHL portion of his 2024-25 season with a 4-9-1 record and an .885 save percentage, and he put up an 8-7-3 record with a .914 save percentage at the AHL level.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound netminder is one of several goaltenders fighting not only for a spot on the NHL roster, but also a spot on the AHL roster. Tristan Jarry, Sergei Murashov, Filip Larsson, and Arturs Silovs are also competing for the net in camp, and GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has reiterated that camp performance - and developmental needs, to a smaller extent - will dictate the two goaltenders who are on the NHL roster out of camp.

'My Goal Is To Take Another Step': Penguins' Goaltender Battles For Positioning In CampGoaltending has been an interesting topic of discussion around Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp this season, and understandably so. 

---

Other injury notes:

- Forward Noel Acciari - who has been out since the beginning of camp with a core muscle injury - took part in Wednesday's morning skate wearing a white non-contact jersey. There is no official update to his status, and head coach Dan Muse said it's part of his recovery process.

- Forward Tanner Howe - out since April after getting surgery to repair a torn ACL - skated on the injured ice this morning with Acciari.

- Forwards Joona Koppanen (lower-body) and Mathieu De St. Phalle (upper-body) as well as defenseman Scooter Brickey (lower-body) are all day-to-day and did not practice Wednesday.

- No update was provided on the status of forward Rutger McGroarty, who is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury and has not yet skated.

McGroarty Out Indefinitely With Upper-Body InjuryThere is some bad news on the injury front for the Pittsburgh Penguins and one of their top prospects.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

According to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, Carter Hart is still considering signing with the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and one or two more unnamed teams.

The NHL announced earlier this month that it was reinstating the five players including Hart who were acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in 2018 when they were members of Canada’s world junior team, and that they will be eligible to sign a contract Oct. 15 and take part in games Dec. 1.

“It’s getting down to decision time for Carter Hart, obviously a free agent ever since the NHL earlier this month cleared him and his teammates from the Hockey Canada trial for reinstatement into the league,” Johnston said. 

“And where Hart has been since then is working through the available options. He’s down to about three to four potential teams at this point in time, two of those teams I can tell you are the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes. And the expectation here is in the coming day or two or maybe three, he will start to rule out some of those remaining teams, obviously pick where he is going.”

The Hurricanes are going into the season with Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov as their main goalies.

Only one NHL team has a longer current postseason drought than the Detroit Red Wings, and it's the Buffalo Sabres, who last played beyond the 82nd game of the regular season in April 2011. 

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

The Red Wings have yet to host a playoff game at Little Caesars Arena, and haven't experienced postseason hockey since Dylan Larkin's rookie season of 2015-16. 

Both Andrew Copp and Larkin himself have said in the days leading up to the new 2025-26 NHL season that the playoffs are the goal for the club. 

Will Little Caesars Arena host its first Stanley Cup Playoff game in the spring? 

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Players in the National Hockey League have almost always gone by nicknames, and the Detroit Red Wings are no exception.

Mention names like "Larks", "Cat", "Showtime", and "Razor", and fans immediately know that one is referring to Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, and Lucas Raymond. 

There's a new nickname to be added to that list - Elmo. 

That's how 6'8" forward Elmer Söderblom is referred to by head coach Todd McLellan, who is set to begin his first full season behind the Red Wings' bench after being hired last December.

Söderblom is the tallest player in Red Wings history, and that's before his height increases after putting on his pair of skates that almost look as if they were custom made for Shaquille O'Neal.

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

Due to a higher center of gravity, skating can sometimes not be a strength for taller players. During practice at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, McLellan directed Söderblom to move his feet quicker during an on-ice drill in resounding fashion. 

The good news is that McLellan doesn't believe that the skating of Elmer Söderblom - or Elmo, as he calls him - is an area of his game that needs work but that he can get caught up in his thoughts during specific practice situations. 

"I think sometimes when Elmo is playing the game and he's not thinking, he does move his feet," McLellan said. "In practice when we're working on specific moments and situations, I think he thinks it a little bit, so it slows him down. I'm not too worried about his feet in a game situation, but I'm just trying to push him in practice." 

"It's Time": Dylan Larkin Lays Out Clear Goal For Red WingsThe city of Detroit hasn't hosted a Stanley Cup Playoff game since April 2016 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Joe Louis Arena, who at that time were overseen by general manager Steve Yzerman.

"In that moment, he was thinking probably, 'Am I in the right spot, am I in the wrong spot?' And he didn't skate," McLellan continued. "I just caught him there and it was a gentle reminder. I don't think his skating is bad, but I think if he does chug into people and push, he's a big load to handle. His feet moving, it's a good thing for him." 

Söderblom has been getting looks playing on the top line alongside Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin in the absence of free-agent signing James van Riemsdyk, another candidate who could take that spot but has yet to officially skate with the Red Wings because of an ongoing family situation. 

Last season, he was called up from the American Hockey League and ultimately scored four goals with seven assists in 26 games in what was his second prolonged stint at the NHL level. 

If Söderblom plays well enough this season for the Red Wings, expect to see a lot more love for his new nickname. 

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

The Carolina Hurricanes suffered a third-period collapse Wednesday night at Lenovo Center, losing 4-2 to the Florida Panthers in their second preseason contest despite outshooting them 49-16.

It was clear that the Hurricanes outclassed the Panthers' NHL regular-less roster through 40 minutes, but the Canes decided to start packing it in early after going up 2-0 and you can't really do that.

After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Nikolaj Ehlers and Sebastian Aho spoke with the media. Here's what they had to say:

---

Rod Brind'Amour

On his first impressions of Nikolaj Ehlers in game action and on the top line: I thought they were good early. Had some buzz and then as the game went on, it kind of wasn't great. But I think it's tough to play in these games, I get it. But you can see that they generated a bunch early. Hopefully that will continue.

On Bradly Nadeau: He had some chances, one near the end Svech set him up. Again, he's a young kid still trying to figure it out. We'll keep giving him opportunity. 

On it being a community game: I think it's very important. The fanbase and the Hurricanes, we have a good relationship and I think anything we can do to show our appreciation is special, so I'm glad that we do it.

On Givani Smith: There's not much not to like about the way he's played. You always want to know when you ask about a player, 'What does he do and what can he provide?' and it's pretty obvious if you watch.

On seeing Dominik Badinka and Ivan Ryabkin in game action for the first time: They did fine. For a young kid, it wasn't NHL players they played against, but it's still men and I thought [Ryabkin] did well and Badinka isn't much older. He's a young guy too. The key is to not look out of place, right? If you can fit in and then all of a sudden, they did. They looked right at home there. So I think that's real positive.

On if he considered giving Frederik Andersen the full 60 minutes: Nah. Really, I think originally we were thinking maybe just go half, but it didn't feel like he even had to make a save. But it's not really about that either. It's more like, 'Okay, we got through it without any incidents, let's get him out of there.' That's kind of what the decision was.

On Mike Reilly: I thought he was good tonight. Again, those are guys that could be really, really important at some point or maybe even right away. You don't know how it's going to shake out. Those guys that are new like that, I think it's important for them to get acclimated to what we're doing. Now we have clips and things we can teach off of to get everybody up to speed even more so.

On having a learning moment from how the game ended: It sucks to play a game like that and then lose, but there's a reason we lost too. We could have walked out of that game 5-2 and still didn't have a very good segment in there, but now it's obvious. So we can hammer home the point a little more. It's great that the game doesn't count, let's put it that way.

---

Nikolaj Ehlers

On his impressions from his first game as a Hurricane: I like the way we played in the first two periods. We put a lot of pressure on them, gave them nothing. I've played against this team enough to know that that's the identity of this team and we did that for 40 minutes. 

On the impact of game action over practice: You want to lay a foundation in practice, but ultimately, it's the games that you find that chemistry in and where you learn how to play with each other. I think we did a lot of good things today, but there were also a lot of shifts where there was really nothing happening at all, but that's a part of playing in the NHL. We got some work to do.

On putting on the jersey for the first time and playing in front of the Lenovo Center crowd: It was really cool. The jerseys were looking pretty nice. Lots of fans out there, which is always nice. You want to play in front of a lot of fans. Felt good. Obviously it sucks to lose, always does, but it was a good first game. Got some game legs in you, but there's a lot better in this room. 

---

Sebastian Aho

On the team's performance: Obviously a brutal third period, but at least we got a lesson on how not to play hockey. Obviously this time of year doesn't really matter, but I guess the good thing is we can get some clips and talking points out of the third period, but obviously we had plenty of chances to put the game away, but obviously that last... You play a real game, you do whatever you can, the last little step to put the puck in. But I guess it was a good day to miss all those and save them for the regular season and the real games.

On building chemistry with Nikolaj Ehlers: I think that's the good part about the preseason. You bring a new guy in and there's probably a thousand little details that you have to soak in all at once and then when you play a game, you really see and feel how each situation goes. I know already that we're going to build a lot better chemistry just buying in and doing the little details the right way. Every team has different tendencies and like I said, that's why the preseason is good when you're trying to learn a new system and new guys and all that.

On getting reps with the full PP1 unit: Obviously when we start in a couple of weeks, that's a big part of hockey right now. Special teams, a lot of times, dictate how the games go and obviously we did some good things and had some good looks. We'll build here in the preseason so we can be as sharp as possible when we start.

---

Recent Articles

Logan Stankoven Starting At Center To Open Hurricanes Training Camp

Bradly Nadeau Better Prepared, More Confident In Second Training Camp As He Aims To Make Hurricanes Roster

Cayden Primeau Excited About New Opportunity With Father's Former Team In Carolina

Olympic Aspirations, New Teammates and Rising Stardom: A Q&A With Seth Jarvis

Mike Reilly Provides Hurricanes With The Veteran Blueline Depth They Lacked Last Season

---

Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vegas Golden Knights draft pick David Edstrom stands with Knights staff after being selected with the thirty second pick in round one of the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena. Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

When David Edstrom’s name was called in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, he just so happened to be in Nashville.

The draft was held in Bridgestone Arena that year, but Edstrom wasn’t selected by the Predators. He was picked 32nd overall by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Fast forward to just over two years later. The 20-year-old Swedish center found himself in Bridgestone Arena again, this time in a Predators uniform. He scored the final goal of the Preds’ 5-0 victory against the Florida Panthers in the pre-season opener last Sunday.

Funny how things come full circle. After being selected by Vegas, Edstrom spent the next season playing for the Swedish World Junior Team, recording three assists during the tournament before appearing in 44 games with Frolunda HC (SHL).

When the Golden Knights traded for San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl in March 2024, Edstrom was part of the deal that also included a first-rounder in the 2025 NHL Draft.

After he informed the Sharks of his intention to play in Sweden, Edstrom was shipped to the Predators five months later. Nashville sent goalie Yaroslav Askarov, forward Nolan Burke and Colorado’s third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Along with Edstrom came goalie Magnus Chrona and the Golden Knights’ conditional first-round pick in this year’s draft to Nashville.

Now, Edstrom is in Predators’ training camp fighting for a roster spot. It’s been quite a journey for the 6-foot-3, 190-pound native of Goteborg, Sweden, but he’s just happy to be in this position, for however long that may be.

“I’m just trying to learn new stuff each day, trying to get better,” Edstrom said during media availability Wednesday. “There’s a bunch of good guys here, so I’m just soaking it in every day, just trying to get better.”

Proving His Worth

Edstrom has shown some flashes of his talent during the first week of camp and in pre-season play. With the Predators leading Florida 4-0 late in Game 1 of their split-squad doubleheader, Edstrom took a feed from Brady Skjei after the puck ricocheted off a Panther defender. Edstrom then fired a wrist shot that went behind Florida netminder Brandon Bussi for the Preds’ final goal of the night.

“I thought he had a heck of a game against Florida,” Preds head coach Andrew Brunette said of Edstrom on Wednesday. “He seems to be getting better every time I see him.”

Last season, Edstrom collected 19 points (7-12-19) in 39 games with Frolunda HC and had a brief stint with Milwaukee in the AHL. He appeared in four post-season games for the Admirals but did not collect a point.

As eager as he is to get to the NHL, Edstrom knows he still has some things to learn.

“I think it’s been really good for me to get back to Milwaukee last season to end the year there, to meet all the coaching staff and players, to get a bit more of American hockey,” Edstrom said. “That’s something I’m trying to soak in during the summer and been working on a lot.”

Finding A Mentor

One of those “good guys” Edstrom mentioned earlier is Ryan O’Reilly, the Predators’ top-line center. Edstrom credits the 34-year-old veteran for helping him adjust.

“He’s a really good role model for me, his game, every detail,” Edstrom said of O’Reilly. “He’s a good guy to look up to.”

Edstrom is a long shot to make the final roster out of training camp. The Hockey News ranks him as the Preds’ No. 3 prospect and projects his NHL arrival in 2026-27.

Along with O’Reilly, Edstrom is competing with the likes of Steven Stamkos, Fedor Svechkov and Michael McCarron. The exceptional play of Brady Martin and Matthew Wood make the battle for forward spots even more intriguing, especially with Luke Evangelista not in camp as he attempts to negotiate a new contract.

Edstrom will most likely start the season with Milwaukee once again. In the meantime, he’s keeping his head down and working on his game.

“I’ve been working a lot on explosiveness this summer,” Edstrom said. “That is something I need to keep working on. Be more explosive in the gym, and it will translate into my game. Also faceoffs, be more explosive, skating and the skill stuff.”

The Florida Panthers played their third preseason game of the week on Wednesday night in North Carolina.

Florida faced the Carolina Hurricanes, who they’ve defeated in two of the past three the Eastern Conference Finals.

Much like their previous trip to Nashville on Sunday, the Panthers did not bring any expected NHL regulars on the trip – other than expected backup goalie Daniil Tarasov – instead allowing their younger prospects and players fighting for roster spots to have another opportunity to show what they could do.

Carolina, meanwhile, dressed plenty of their NHL guys, including Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Nikolaj Ehlers, Seth Jarvis, Frederik Andersen and Shayne Gostisbehere.

Tarasov looked good in his first appearance in a Panthers sweater, playing the entire 60 minutes and stopping an eye-popping 47 shots, backstopping Florida to a stunning 4-2 win.

The only goals to get by him were on a great deflection by Carolina’ Ryan Suzuki and off a quick turnover that led to a slot one-timer off the stick of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, both coming during the opening frame.

Considering the Panthers were outshot 19-2 during the first period, a 2-0 deficit didn’t seem that terrible.

Things didn’t get much better in terms of shot volume during the second period, but Tarasov stopped all 16 shots sent his way to keep Florida down by only two heading into the third.

Defenseman Ben Harpur, who got into a fight earlier in the game, got the Panthers on the board with a sneaky wrist shot from the right-side boards that got past the blocker of Amir Miftakhov just under four minutes into the final frame.

It wasn’t until late in the third when the preseason version of the Comeback Cats roared to life.

First it was Gregor scoring a gift of a goal after Miftakhov gave the puck away behind the net to Gracyn Sawchyn, who quickly fed Gregor in front of a wide-open net.

Just 1:16 later, Mike Benning fired a shot that went off the stick of Miftakhov, rolled up his arm and went just over the goal line to five the Panthers a stunning 3-2 lead.

Jack Studnicka added an empty-net goal to seal the victory for Florida.

Carolina outshot the Cats 49-16 in the game, but Florida played an excellent third period to shock the Hurricanes and head back home with a win.

The Panthers ended up going 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, including a lengthy 5-on-3 during the first period. Tarasov stopped all eight of the power play shots sent his way by Carolina.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Programming plan announced for Florida Panthers game broadcasts on Scripps Sports

Panthers Dressing AHL-Looking Lineup Against Hurricanes

New Depth Panthers Players Hoping To Help Continue Success

Plan for NHL regulars comes into focus as Panthers camp, preseason slate continues

Paul Maurice Willing To Give Mackie Samoskevich Top Six Role To Keep Panthers' Third Line Intact

Photo caption: Sep 24, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Eric Robinson (50) tries to get to the puck against Florida Panthers defenseman Mike Benning (20) and defenseman Tobias Bjornfot (22) during the first period at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Jets former first round pick puts on impressive performance in preseason loss to the Oilers Tuesday

It might be safe to say that Colby Barlow is ready to make the jump to pro hockey. 

While the Winnipeg Jets were downed for their second straight preseason loss Tuesday after falling 3-2 to the Edmonton Oilers. The team's 2023 first round pick had a standout performance with a goal, a +2 rating and five shots on net. Barlow was noticeable all over the ice as he made more than a handful impact plays. 

His line with high-end prospects Parker Ford and Brad Lambert made their presence felt as they were involved on the Jets first goal of the game. Barlow jumped up in the play after anticipating that Lambert would be able to free the puck off the boards from a Oilers defender. He speeds up to scoop the puck and dishes the puck to Ford who tries to work it back but the pass is knocked away. 

Jets Drop Second Pre-season Game 3-2 to Oilers in Toews' DebutThe Jonathan Toews era in Winnipeg has officially begun. 

The quick thinking by Barlow led to a lengthy possession in the Oilers end that was capped off by a Colin Miller goal from the point. Before the shot was fired, Barlow quickly moved to the front of the net as the puck was working its way to the point. He got in position for a screen or for an opportunity to tip the puck in and the play resulted in a goal. 

Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) on XFirst (preseason) game ✅ First (preseason) goal 🚨

Barlow showcased his hockey IQ throughout the game like when intercepting a centering pass in the Oilers end and creating a high-danger chance but was turned away by Calvin Pickard in net.

He also showcased his talents on both ends of the ice as during a backcheck into the Jets end, Barlow caught up to a pinching Oilers defender coming into the zone looking to get a shot off in the high zone. He stick-checked the defender and quickly turned away the scoring chance before chipping the puck out to Lambert and creating a fast break the opposite way. 

Jonathan Toews: "I'm Just Excited to Play Hockey Again"For Jonathan Toews, Tuesday night at Canada Life Centre was a long time coming.

Barlow's best play of the night was late in the third period, when the Jets found themselves down 3-1 after giving up a power play goal followed by a defensive collapse leading to the Oilers third goal. Barlow was out in the final minutes and made another solid play.

He again saw the puck working its way back to the point and made sure he secured a prominent position in the netfront. Barlow was able to screen the goalie and even get a stick on a point shot from Ville Heinola for a re-direction that got past backup goaltender Matt Tomkins to cut the Oilers lead to one. 

TSN (@TSN_Sports) on XColby Barlow gets his goal off the deflection after his first was given to Miller! 😅

Although they lost the game, it was a very positive showing from Barlow as he said post-game that his changes to his body were noticeable as he was able to get in the play easier and felt faster. 

"I think it's just moving my feet, getting in on the forecheck, backchecking, I think that gets you into the game pretty quick and, gets you involved all over the ice," Barlow explained "Definitely felt faster out there, light on my feet, more agile, was able to carry the puck, back check, get into place. So I think that's a big thing for me that helped me." 

Barlow is expected to not make the Jets main roster and will be optioned to the Manitoba Moose for the upcoming season. In his first three AHL games last season, he averaged a point-per-game with a goal and two assists.

Jets Make Six Roster Cuts, Send Kevin He Back to JuniorThe Winnipeg Jets announced six roster transactions on Monday afternoon. 

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here

Also, go to thn.com/free to subscribe.

The Evolution Of Dominance - Apr. 1 2019 - Vol. 72 Issue 13 - Matt Larkin

REMINISCING ABOUT DARRYL SUTTER’S Los Angeles Kings feels like admiring primitive cave drawings these days. They won Stanley Cups as recently as 2012 and 2014, but hockey has changed so much that those teams look like Dead Puck Era throwbacks.

Sutter’s Kings were dominant possession teams, outstanding defensively and, most memorably, they were huge. The average NHLer in 2011-12 was 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds. The Cup-winning Kings: 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds. The average NHLer in 2013-14 was 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds. The Cup-winning Kings: 6-foot-2 and 211 pounds. They outweighed their typical opponent by an average of nine pounds per guy in 2014. They wore the competition down with a heavy game.

Shrinking NHL Pre-Season Could Present Opportunity For AHLThe NHL's recent CBA changes could lead to a longer AHL pre-season, following the NHL cutting down on exhibition games. 

We know what happened next, of course. The 2015 Chicago Blackhawks won with one of the smallest teams in the league, and coach Mike Sullivan’s need-for-speed Pittsburgh Penguins captured consecutive Cups in 2016 and 2017 with a workmanlike defense corps that fired stretch passes to a brigade of fleet-footed, undersized forwards. The 2015 Hawks and 2016 Penguins were about six-foot on average with a mean weight below 200 pounds. Both teams were shorter and lighter than the league average. Being a copycat league, the NHL thus ushered in an era of rewarding speed and skill. The Kings’ style suddenly became fossilized. They missed the playoffs this spring for the third time in the past five years.

So would the NHL belong to the Little Guy for years to come, then? Hold on. To assume things would stay exactly the same would mean forgetting how Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection works. A quick refresher: organisms pass on traits to their offspring, certain traits suit them better for survival, and individuals whose traits suit them well to survival will pass on the most offspring to the next generation.

Exclusive: Jets Goalie Prospect Domenic DiVincentiis Eyes NHL Debut in 2025Winnipeg Jets prospect Domenic DiVincentiis talks season goals with AHL All-Star Game, Calder Cup and NHL Debut in new exclusive interview with The Hockey News. 

Giraffes are tall because the generations of shorter giraffes died out from failure to reach food in high places. For a while, big hockey teams bred other big hockey teams because the game was tailored to reward a heavy style. The Kings’ approach has died out because the game rewards speed and skill more than ever. Starting in 2017-18, stricter enforcement of slashing rules really opened up space for smaller, faster players. The likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Mitch Marner, Brayden Point and Alex DeBrincat could fill the net like they never could’ve even five years ago. They were naturally selected to thrive in the new NHL ecosystem.

Eventually, however, a generational mutation would come along favoring a new set of traits built to thrive. That brings us to the 2018 Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals. They oozed skill and speed, no doubt. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson and T.J. Oshie were high-talent, high-motor offensive weapons, all first-round picks. The Caps had the razzle-dazzle to compete with, and defeat, the skill-oriented Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning plus a Vegas Golden Knights team that prioritized a rapid, hornet’s-nest approach to forechecking and back pressure.

The Caps, though, also had Tom Wilson. And Lars Eller. And Devante Smith-Pelly. And Brooks Orpik. And Jay Beagle. In an NHL growing noticeably smaller and lighter, this Capitals team averaged 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, making it the biggest championship squad since the 2014 Kings. The Caps had the size to play a Sutter-like bruising style when necessary and the skill to run and gun. Wilson epitomizes Washington’s dual-threat identity. He’s a 6-foot-4, 220-pound monster who bludgeons opponents with his hits and fists yet also keeps up with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov in a first-line role, stride for stride.

Winnipeg's Newest Top Prospect Eying Redemption After Devastating NCAA FinalsWinnipeg's 2025 first round pick Sascha Boumedienne eyes another shot at a national title following loss in last season's final. 

Behold, the next phase of hockey’s evolution. It’s established that small and fast beats big and slow in today’s NHL. But it stands to reason a biological mutation to big and fast beats small and fast. The laws of natural selection suggest any team that manages to blend both traits should win the fight to survive.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been hockey’s most dominant, talented club this season. They also entered 2018-19 as the NHL’s 28th-heaviest and 23rd-tallest team. Our Stanley Cup pick, the Winnipeg Jets, entered the season as the league’s tallest and seventh-heaviest squad – while still boasting almost as many elite-skill players as the Lightning. Washington’s evolutionary traits made it a champion last year – and could birth a new Cup-winning offspring in Winnipeg this June.

While speaking to reporters, including the Denver Gazette's Evan Rawal, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar shared that former New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is making progress with injury recovery but might not be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season. 

If Blackwood ends up not being good to go at the start of the campaign, it would be tough news for the Avalanche. This is because Blackwood is their clear starting goalie and a big part of their roster because of it. 

After being acquired by the Avalanche from the San Jose Sharks, Blackwood immediately made a big impact. In 37 games with the Avalanche following the move, the former Devil posted a 22-12-3 record, a 2.33 goals-against average, and a .913 save percentage. Due to his strong play, Blackwood also earned a five-year, $26.25 million contract extension with the Avalanche. 

Blackwood was selected by the Devils with the 42nd overall pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. In 152 games over five seasons with the Metropolitan Division club, he recorded a 65-57-18 record, a .906 save percentage, a 2.97 goals-against average, and eight shutouts. 

Blackwood's time with the Devils ended when he was traded to the Sharks during the 2023 NHL off-season in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round pick. 

Red Wings recent 5th round pick Nikita Tyurin signs four-year extension with Russian club

Detroit Red Wings 2025 fifth-round pick Nikita Tyurin has committed to staying in Russia for the foreseeable future, signing a new four-year contract with his MHL club, HC Spartak Moscow.

The deal, announced on Wednesday by the team, runs through the end of the 2028–29 season and marks a significant step in the young defenseman's development path. 

Finnie, Danielson Shine as Red Wings Slip Past Blackhawks in Preseason OpenerDetroit prospects Emmitt Finnie and Nate Danielson delivered impressive performances in the Red Wings’ 3-2 preseason-opening win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

Tyurin, 18, had a breakout debut in Russia’s Junior Hockey League (MHL), playing a key role in JHC Spartak Moscow’s run to the Kharlamov Cup championship. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 187 pounds, the Moscow native reportedly totaled 30 points (6 goals, 24 assists) over 75 games across all competitions, establishing himself as one of Spartak’s most promising young defensemen.

Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) on XNikita Tyurin(5th round’25) GOAL🚨 he starts the play and finishes it. #LGRW

In 50 regular-season MHL games, Tyurin recorded 20 points (4 goals, 16 assists), finishing as Spartak’s second-highest scoring defenseman while averaging 18 minutes of ice time per game. His mature, poised play earned him a spot in the MHL All-Star Game, a gold medal at the Challenge Cup, and a call-up to the KHL, where he made his debut with Spartak’s senior team.

We recently highlighted some of his early success this season and broke down a recent interview Tyurin had done with the JHL website, where he mentioned he needs to continue to add muscle and weight as he felt undersized going into puck battles. He added that he added 13 pounds in the off-season after weighing in at 174 pounds last season. 

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

"It's Time": Dylan Larkin Lays Out Clear Goal For Red WingsThe city of Detroit hasn't hosted a Stanley Cup Playoff game since April 2016 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Joe Louis Arena, who at that time were overseen by general manager Steve Yzerman.

While the new deal means Tyurin is likely to remain in Russia for at least the next few seasons, it could benefit both player and NHL team alike. He would turn 22 years old at the end of his deal and could present the option to follow up his development in the Spartak system with a stint in North America with the Grand Rapids Griffins. 

For now, Tyurin should receive opportunities in both the MHL and KHL with valuable ice time and experience before making the leap to pro hockey. With a new contract in place and a championship already under his belt, Tyurin now turns his focus to further cementing his place as one of Russia’s top young defensive talents.

Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) on XYesterday Nikita Tyurin(5th round’25): 2 Assists +4 4PIM 2/5 SOG 1 shot block 22:40 TOI in a 7-1 win. #LGRW

Also signing a four-year extension with Spartak is fellow young blueliner Vsevolod Matveev (17), who played in 47 MHL games last season and has already appeared in four KHL contests this year.

The NHL’s 2025-26 season is nearly here, and the Buffalo Sabres are being cautiously optimistic about their chances of ending a 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. You don’t see Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, coach Lindy Ruff or Buffalo’s players making grand pronouncements guaranteeing the Sabres will make the playoffs. Nobody under the Sabres’ umbrella will be handing out dressing room white-board material to their opponents in the highly-competitive Atlantic Division.

However, make no mistake – this is shaping up to be one of the most pressure-packed seasons in Sabres history. From Game 1 of the year through to the point Buffalo either qualifies for or are eliminated from the playoffs, the Sabres’ every move will be under the microscope. Any one particular loss could wind up being the difference between Buffalo making or missing the playoffs. 

There’s virtually no room for error with this Sabres group. They have to be consistently competitive, and while we know Buffalo isn’t going 82-0-0 in the standings, the Sabres need to eke out standings points wherever they can. You never know – a playoff spot could come down to one standings point. 

This is why Buffalo’s day-in, day-out results will be so fascinating this year in particular. Sabres fans are beyond exhausted cheering on a team that has been almost comically inept in the past decade-and-a-half. They need to see progress out of the gate, or cynical fans will pop up right away decrying the state of this organization.

Lots of teams need a good start right from the first game of the season. The Detroit Red Wings are one of those teams. For different reasons, the New York Rangers are another one of those teams. And for different reasons, the Vancouver Canucks are another one of those teams. 

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Will We See A Major Improvement In Play From New First-Line Winger Benson?We’ve nearly made it to the start of the NHL’s 2025-26 regular season, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve worked our way through our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for each Buffalo player this coming year.

But there are degrees of desperation going on in hockey’s top league, and no team has a deeper degree of desperation than the Sabres. Buffalo can’t afford another year of dismay, and the Sabres are going to need every bit of puck luck and grace from the hockey gods if they’re going to avoid being the punchline for jokes for a 15th-consecutive season.

The Sabres can't avoid it -- the pressure is going to be there, day-in and day-out, no matter what goes on. If they do come out strongly, the pressure will be on them to stay consistent in that regard. And of course, if they come out poorly, the vultures will quickly emerge to pick their bones clean.

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

Thus, Buffalo has to tackle the pressure in a heads-on manner. Their leadership will be tested, as will their depth. And the Sabres' response to the particular type of pressure they create for themselves will dictate what their legacy is going to look like.