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Penguins Play Clinical Road Game, Shut Out Rangers, 3-0

There were a lot of storylines heading into the Pittsburgh Penguins' season opener against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

For one, the respective head coaches of each squad - Dan Muse for Pittsburgh and Mike Sullivan for New York - swapped places and organizations this offseason. Two teenagers in Harrison Brunicke and Ben Kindel were debuting on the same day for the Penguins - the first time that's happened since Kris Letang and Jordan Staal on Oct. 5, 2006. Also, the "Big Three" - Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang - kicked off their record-shattering 20th season together.

But, despite all the noise, Pittsburgh played a smooth, sound road game - and it paid off for them.

The Penguins shut out the Rangers, 3-0, to begin their 2025-26 season, and they did it in clinical fashion. They limited high-danger chances against, and goaltender Arturs Silovs - who got the nod over veteran Tristan Jarry - stopped all 25 shots he faced. 

No one could have predicted that forwards Justin Brazeau and Blake Lizotte would carry the scoring for the Penguins, even with two of those goals being empty-netters. But perhaps the most impressive thing was that the Penguins took a 1-0 lead into the third period, and it didn't once feel like that lead was in danger of being taken from them.

They outshot the Rangers, 12-5, in the third period, locking down and playing structurally sound hockey - something that's been largely lacking over the past several seasons in Pittsburgh.

"I thought they, to a man, did a great job," Muse said. "I thought for the first game of the season, I just like the fact that you walk out of there, you get the job done. But you can look around the locker room and really feel like, to a man, everybody did something there to contribute tonight. If we start that way, and that's going to be the base that we're going to build off of, that's what I learned tonight. I'm excited about building with these guys."

2025-26 Season Predictions: THN Penguins' Edition2025-26 Season Predictions: THN Penguins' EditionIt’s a new NHL season, and that means it’s time for a new THN - Pittsburgh Penguins season prediction piece!

Here are some thoughts and observations from the Penguins' impressive season-opening win:

- Let's start with the kids.

First of all, it was a really cool thing to see Brunicke and Kindel take the ice in the opening lineup, along with three scrubs in Crosby, Malkin, and Letang (just kidding, of course). They actually had a pretty good opening shift and were pressuring in the offensive zone until the puck leaked out to the neutral zone and Brunicke took a penalty within the first minute.

To start the game, it was clear that Brunicke took some time to adjust to the speed and rigors of playing in a regular season NHL game. But after the first period, the 19-year-old blueliner - only the second South African-born player to play in an NHL game - settled in. His reads progressively got better, he got more confident in joining the rush and in playing the offensive blue line, and his defensive zone presence improved.

Brunicke was good in this game. But Kindel was outright impressive.

The 18-year-old center was 80 percent in the faceoff circle, and he looked like an NHL regular from puck drop. He made a few passes and plays that were remniscent of a 10-year veteran. He was calm, composed, and confident with no panic in his game. He even generated a few chances for his line with Philip Tomasino and Tommy Novak, and he easily could have finished the evening with a few points on the board.

There are very few young players in this league that I've seen debut - and I've seen many over the years - who looked like they belonged from the very start. It's so difficult to just jump into a game against an NHL lineup for the first time as a teenager and look the way Kindel did on Tuesday.

I continue to be impressed by this kid. If he can keep this up for nine games, I'm not sure how he doesn't stick around. But, that's just it: We'll see how he looks over a nine-game sample. 

Oct 7, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) tends net against Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

- Another player who was impressive and committed to structure tonight was Erik Karlsson.

"Karlsson" and "structure" don't typically go together in the same sentence. But, alas, he made very few mistakes - a missed outlet pass in the second period was one of them - and he looked akin to the 2022-23 version of Erik Karlsson that the Penguins thought they were acquiring from the start.

I think he and Parker Wotherspoon could, potentially, be a really solid pairing for the Penguins this season. It's obviously very, very early, but based on Tuesday's game and some camp observations, Wotherspoon plays a very stay-at-home, structurally sound, low-risk, and low-event game. A very low-event and positionally sound defenseman is an ideal partner for one of the most high-event players in the league. 

We'll see how things shake out with them. But if Wotherspoon's "unnoticeability" makes Karlsson more noticeable in a good way - and allows him to do what he does best - that's all you can really ask for. 

- Malkin was very, very good in this game. He had his gallop. And his linemate, Brazeau, seemed to be in the right place at the right time with frequency. 

'It's Super Rare': Looking Back On Two Decades Of The 'Big Three''It's Super Rare': Looking Back On Two Decades Of The 'Big Three'On Oct. 5, 2006, a young, 19-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman named Kris Letang suited up for his NHL debut against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Anthony Mantha looked a bit rusty, but that's probably because he is. He'll need time to get back up to game speed after missing nearly the entire 2024-25 season with a torn ACL, so it's nothing to be concerned about at this point. 

I'm not yet sure what to make of this line, which has a minimum height requirement of 6-foot-5. But it seemed like they were using that size advantageously, and the fact that they were mostly deployed in offensive zone starts allowed them to play to their size and their strengths.

I don't think this line sticks once Bryan Rust returns, and it certainly won't if Rutger McGroarty returns to the NHL roster. But, for now, it might just work. And Malkin deserves to have some consistency on his wings in what could be his final NHL season.

- Silovs was not tested to the extreme on Tuesday, and he was a bit shaky with his rebound control earlier on in this game. 

But, he locked in and made the saves he needed to. It was nothing flashy and nothing spectacular, but he got the job done. And he was calm and composed in the process. 

Honestly? This might just be what the Penguins need between the pipes this season. He won't be perfect, but he could very well be good enough - and he still has potential to rise above that. Muse said Jarry will get his early-season opportunities, too, but this was a really good way to start the season for Silovs.

3 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-263 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-26With final NHL rosters submitted and the pre-season officially coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be an interesting team to watch for a plethora of reasons in 2025-26. 

- Many hockey people are projecting the Rangers to be a playoff team. 

To be honest, I just don't see it.

Yes, they have, arguably, the best goaltender on the planet. Their top defensive pairing is quite good, and their top-six is formidable. 

But, beyond that? Things get less than ideal. 

The bottom-six leaves a lot to be desired, even with rookie Noah Laba in the picture. The bottom-four in their defense corps isn't all that great, either, and they also don't have a whole lot to look forward to in their prospect pipeline. 

On top of all of that, their team is aging, and its best player in Artemi Panarin is on an expiring contract.

I'm not saying the Rangers won't make the playoffs. It's early, they have the goaltending, and Sullivan is a very, very good coach. But I just don't think they have the talent or the depth to really make any kind of statement this season. 

I, for one, think this team needs a whole lot of tinkering in order to make the playoffs this season. If it stays the same - and they don't end up making the playoffs - I can't say I'd be surprised.

Mike Sullivan Understands The Magnitude Of What It Means To Represent The Rangers Mike Sullivan Understands The Magnitude Of What It Means To Represent The Rangers Mike Sullivan makes his way to The Big Apple in a unique season for the New York Rangers. 

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

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Yankees avoid elimination with thrilling 9-6 comeback win over Blue Jays in Game 3 of ALDS

Aaron Judge hit a huge home run Tuesday night to help the Yankees rally from a big deficit and stave off elimination in Game 3 of their ALDS against the Blue Jays. 

Judge, often maligned for his October play, slammed a game-tying three-run homer in the fourth inning and Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered in the subsequent frame to give the Yankees the lead for good in a 9-6 win in front of 47,399 at Yankee Stadium. It was the third time in these playoffs that the Yankees won a game in which a loss would’ve ended their season.

The Yankees had trailed by five runs after the top of the third inning. Toronto was 71-4 when they scored at least five runs in a game during the regular season and had won the first two games of this series while scoring five-plus, too.

The teams resume the series Wednesday night in the Bronx, and the Yankees will still be trying to avoid elimination -- the Jays still lead the best-of-five affair, two games to one.

Here are the main takeaways...

-- The Blue Jays got a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning after Carlos Rodón issued a one-out walk to Davis Schneider, bringing up Yankee-slayer Vlad Guerrero Jr. Guerrero smashed his third home run of the series, a 427-foot shot to left center that left his bat at 110.5 mph. Guerrero, who entered the game 10-for-17 with a homer and three doubles lifetime against Rodón, is the first Blue Jays player to homer in three consecutive playoff games. Not surprisingly, when Guerrero batted against Rodón in the third inning with first base open, Aaron Boone ordered an intentional walk. 

-- After a terrific regular season, Rodón has been mostly a disappointment in the playoffs. He could not get out of the third inning against Toronto and wound up allowing six runs and six hits in 2.1 frames. He walked two, one intentionally, and fanned two. In two starts, he’s mustered a 9.72 ERA.

-- Overall, Yankees starters have failed them badly in the series, allowing 15 earned runs and 18 hits in just eight total innings of work. Rodón’s start was the shortest of all, but the worst might have been ace Max Fried in Game 2, when he gave up seven runs in three innings. Overall, their starters have a 16.88 ERA in the series.

-- Schneider started the third inning with a double and the Yankees put on Guerrero. One out later, Daulton Varsho blooped a ball to left field that Cody Bellinger dove for, but could not snare. Schneider had slowed at third, but when he saw that Trent Grisham, who backed up the play, threw the ball to second, he bolted for the plate and beat Chisholm’s throw easily to give the Jays a 3-1 lead. Ernie Clement followed with a single to left and Guerrero whirled around second and sprinted for home, barely beating a strong throw by Bellinger. Varsho and Clement each moved up a base on the throw, which became key when the next batter, Anthony Santander, hit a two-run single to right for a 6-1 Toronto lead. Judge did not try to throw home on the play and the Jays seemed to be prepared to exploit that. Judge has been dealing with an elbow issue.

-- The Yankees kept chipping away, though. They scored twice in the third inning, which started when they challenged a non-call with Grisham up, hoping it would result in catcher’s interference. It did not, but the result of Grisham’s at-bat was better, anyway -- he doubled to right. Judge followed with an RBI double to left. After Bellinger singled to center, Ben Rice hit into a fielder’s choice, in which Judge was put out in a rundown between third and home. But the Yankees weren’t done scoring -- Stanton brought the crowd to its feet with a deep drive to center, but Varsho ran it down and the Yankees had to settle for a sac fly to move to within 6-3. After Chisholm walked, Boone used Amed Rosario, who hits lefties well, to pinch-hit for Ryan McMahon against lefty reliever Mason Fluharty. Fluharty got Rosario to foul out.

-- Judge’s big homer in the fourth inning was set up in part because the Blue Jays made another error. With one out, Austin Wells lofted a catchable fly ball beyond third base. Addison Barger went back for it, but the ball glanced off his glove for a two-base error. Fluharty walked Grisham, bringing up Judge. With the crowd chanting “M-V-P, M-V-P,” Judge fell behind hard-throwing reliever Louis Varland, 0-2. The second pitch was 100 mph heat that blew right by Judge. But he smashed a high parabola down the left-field line on Varland’s next offering, a 99.7 mph fastball off the plate, and it struck high up the foul pole, 373 feet away, for an enormous three-run homer. 

-- The Yankees, seemingly dead an inning earlier, were dead even. It was the 17th career postseason homer for Judge, first this year. According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, it was Judge’s sixth home run in the postseason when facing elimination, matching David Ortiz for the most in MLB history.

-- -Before Chisholm’s go-ahead homer in the fifth inning, which landed in the second deck in right field, he had been just 3-for-17 (.177) in the playoffs. His blast off Varland was the third postseason home run of his career. The Yankees pushed their lead to 8-6 in the same inning when Rosario doubled and scored on a single by Wells. In the sixth, Rice tacked on with a sac fly, scoring Judge after his intentional walk.

-- The Yankees' bullpen, viewed as a potential trouble spot during these playoffs, was terrific after Rodón gave up six runs and couldn’t get out of the third inning. Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, Tim Hill, Devin Williams and David Bednar combined to allow no runs and three hits in 6.2 innings of work. Williams had not gotten more than three outs in any appearance all season, but provided four across the seventh and eighth innings and allowed only one hit. This would’ve sounded crazy at points during the season, but Williams got a standing ovation from fans. Bednar got the final five outs in a row.

-- -With multiple miscues, including a pair of fielding errors, the Blue Jays looked more like the mistake-prone midsummer Yankees than their usually-efficient selves. Even plays in which they weren’t charged with an error -- like Santander’s ill-advised dive on a Bellinger liner in the sixth -- weren’t smooth. Santander missed and Bellinger reached second with a double. 

Game MVP: Aaron Judge

Judge singled and scored in the first, doubled in a run in the third, homered in the fourth and was intentionally walked and then scored in the sixth. He grounded out in the eighth to finish 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs and finished a triple shy of the cycle. He even made a sweet catch in right field. Judge is 11-for-22 this postseason (.500) and has already set a career-best for hits in a single October.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees will host Game 4 on Wednesday night, with first pitch in the Bronx scheduled for 7:08 p.m.

RHP Cam Schlittler is slated to take the mound, while the Blue Jays have yet to announce their starter.

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Artūrs Šilovs Shuts Out J.T. Miller And Carson Soucy In Battle Of Former Canucks To Start 2025–26 NHL Season

While the current Vancouver Canucks prepare for their season-opener on October 9, some former Canucks started their 2025–26 season off with a matchup against former teammates. In the second game of the NHL’s opening night, former Canuck Artūrs Šilovs and the Pittsburgh Penguins shut out J.T. Miller, Carson Soucy, and the New York Rangers by a score of 3–0. All three players started the 2024–25 season on Vancouver’s opening night roster and all ended up on different teams via trade. 

Šilovs, the 2025 Calder Cup MVP in the Abbotsford Canucks’ first championship in franchise history, had been named the Penguins’ opening-night starter earlier in the day. He was traded back in July in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick and forward Chase Stillman. In his Pittsburgh debut, Šilovs stopped all 25 shots faced and earned his first regular-season NHL shutout. 

On the other side of this game was Miller, who spent six seasons with the Canucks before being traded for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a 2025 first-round pick back in January. The scrappy forward was named captain of the Rangers back in September and will likely be a big piece in New York’s successes in 2025–26. He was joined by Soucy in March when the Canucks traded the veteran defenceman a day before the trade deadline. 

Oct 7, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (8) reacts after being pushed into Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) by Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The next former 2024–25 Canuck who is expected to start their season is Dakota Joshua, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in mid-July. Joshua and the Maple Leafs will face the Montréal Canadiens tomorrow, October 8, at 4:00 pm PT. Another former Canuck, Pius Suter, will make his debut with his new team, the St. Louis Blues, on October 9 at 5:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Raleigh, Suarez, Crawford homer and Mariners top Tigers 8-4 for a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series

DETROIT — The Seattle Mariners are on the brink of a spot in the AL Championship series for the first time in 24 years.

Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer, Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford had solo shots and Seattle beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series.

The Mariners are within a win of their first AL Championship Series since 2001. Their first chance to advance is on Wednesday afternoon in Game 4 at Comerica Park and if necessary, another opportunity awaits on Friday back in Seattle for a decisive Game 5.

"The Seattle Mariners deserve where we’re at right now," Suarez said.

Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said not to count his team out after it showed resolve following a historic collapse in the regular season and bounced back by eliminating Cleveland in an AL Wild Card series, then won Game 1 against Seattle.

“We’ve had to play more and more back-against-the-wall-type games,” Hinch said. “I know our guys are going to be ready.”

Seattle’s Logan Gilbert gave up one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking none over six innings.

“Can’t say enough about what Logan did," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. "Just an incredible outing. He had everything going.”

Raleigh, who had a major league-high 60 homers during the regular season, hit a 391-foot, two-run homer to left-center in the ninth to make it 8-1.

The offensively challenged Tigers were limited to four hits and one run through eight innings before suddenly generating some offense in the ninth against Caleb Ferguson, who allowed three runs on three hits and a walk without getting an out.

Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double and Andy Ibanez followed with an RBI single.

All-Star closer Andres Munoz entered with one on and no outs and ended Detroit's comeback hopes with a flyout and game-ending double play.

Detroit's Jack Flaherty lasted just 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks.

Seattle scored two runs in the third after starting the inning with three hits and a walk.

Victor Robles led off with a double and scored on an error, which was credited to left fielder Riley Greene for an errant throw that could have been fielded on a bounce by catcher Dillon Dingler.

“A little bit of a breakdown all the way around,” Hinch said.

Randy Arozarena's RBI single put the Mariners ahead 2-0 in the third.

Suarez sent a 422-foot shot to left in the fourth to make it 3-0. Raleigh's two-out RBI single in the inning gave Seattle a four-run cushion.

The Tigers were hoping their first home game in two-plus weeks might make them more comfortable at the plate, but it didn't help and they lost an eighth straight at Comerica Park.

Detroit finally scored in the fifth on Kerry Carpenter’s fielder's choice on what was potentially an inning-ending double play. Crawford’s throw from second base pulled first baseman Josh Naylor off the bag and he didn’t secure the ball in his glove, allowing Dingler to score.

Crawford's homer in the sixth restored Seattle's four-run lead.

The Tigers allowed the Mariners to score a second unearned run in the eighth inning after Carpenter dropped Victor Robles' fly in right field, allowing Luke Raley to advance to third and to score on Crawford's sacrifice fly.

Detroit RHP Casey Mize and Seattle RHP Bryce Miller are expected to start Game 4 on Wednesday.

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'It's Super Rare': Looking Back On Two Decades Of The 'Big Three'

On Oct. 5, 2006, a young, 19-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman named Kris Letang suited up for his NHL debut against the Philadelphia Flyers.

By then, 19-year-old phenom teammate Sidney Crosby already had an entire NHL season under his belt, which was a marvelous 39-goal, 102-point rookie campaign. And, less than two weeks later - on Oct. 18 - a 20-year-old Evgeni Malkin suited up for an NHL game for the first time. 

Little did those three players know that, 20 years later, they'd still be donning the same sweater and taking to the ice together. 

The trio of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang is the longest-tenured trio in North American professional sports history, and, to some, it might stand to reason that they always knew there was something special between the three of them - a bond and a partnership that could stand the test of time.

But, in reality, it's not something that was ever guaranteed - which makes it all the more unique and special.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt that secure with it, to be honest," Crosby said. "I mean, [in] hockey… there’s so much turnover. I think, just in general, like all sports, you see more and more turnover. It’s pretty rare that you see guys be with one team for long periods of time, and because of that, I probably didn’t allow my hopes to get up too much. But, I think that’s what makes it even more special.

"I think that, in the back of our mind - you’d have to ask [Malkin and Letang] - but there’s no guarantees, and that’s what makes it what it is. It’s super rare, and I think it makes us appreciate knowing that [change] could have happened so many different times.”

8 Bold Penguins' Predictions For The 2025-26 Season8 Bold Penguins' Predictions For The 2025-26 SeasonIn case you haven't heard, the Pittsburgh Penguins play hockey Tuesday night against the New York Rangers. 

But, change never happened. And given the long run of success that the Crosby-era Penguins had, the thought of them spending two decades together - from an outside perspective, at least  doesn't feel unnatural in the slightest.

The trio's run of success started almost immediately, as the Penguins made the playoffs in that first season. Letang was not part of the picture - as he was sent back to juniors after just six NHL games and remained there for the rest of the season - and they did get ousted by the Ottawa Senators in five games. But it built the foundation for what was to come next with a roster one year older and more experienced. Malkin and Crosby enjoyed successful seasons individually as well, as Malkin recorded 33 goals and 85 points in 78 games and Crosby registered 120 points - and won the Art Ross Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, and Hart Trophy. 

But it all started to peak in 2007-08 with all three of them in Pittsburgh for almost the entire season. The young Penguins peaked early, going all the way to the Stanley Cup Final against the veteran powerhouse Detroit Red Wings but ultimately falling short. 

It was almost deja vu in 2009, but this time, the Penguins came out on top, and the young core were already Stanley Cup champions at 22, 22, and 21 years old. Playoff success may have eluded them for a while after that, but after back-to-back championships in 2016-17, it seemed that - no matter what - the legacy of the "big three" was already pretty solid.

Fast forward to the dawn of the 2025-26 season, and the Penguins have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. The team finds itself in the midst of a rebuild with an unclear timeline, and even with youth beginning to populate the roster, the three Penguins' legends still remain. 

It's hard to tell what's next with these Penguins and their three longest-tenured players. Malkin is entering the final season of his current contract and - at 39 years old - is contemplating retirement at the end of it. Letang, 38, still has three years remaining on his deal, and he will likely continue to settle into a lighter workload as the season progresses. At 38 years old, Crosby is still going very strong, and he is entering the first year of a two-year contract.

2025-26 Season Predictions: THN Penguins' Edition2025-26 Season Predictions: THN Penguins' EditionIt’s a new NHL season, and that means it’s time for a new THN - Pittsburgh Penguins season prediction piece!

The 3,705 points between them is the most by a trio on a single team in NHL history. Even if the future is a bit uncertain, they're still writing history, and they're still writing their story.

It would be easy for each of them to sit back and soak in the moments. Take it all in and enjoy everything they've built together. But that's just not how they're wired. 

They still want to win, and they want to win in Pittsburgh. As a new generation is ushered in, they're still focused on the season in front of them - and they're enjoying the ride.

And, even if his captain is pleasantly surprised that the three of them are still doing all of it together, Letang is not.

"We don't really take time to think about," Letang said. "From the beginning, we felt like we were pulling in the same direction, and we all wanted the same thing. For some reason, it doesn't surprise me that we're still here. It's just been great. Three different personalities, and it's just been fun.

"So, we're excited for another one."

3 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-263 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-26With final NHL rosters submitted and the pre-season officially coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be an interesting team to watch for a plethora of reasons in 2025-26. 

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

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The Hockey Show: Postgame reaction to Panthers picking up Opening Night win over Chicago

The Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks kicked off a new hockey season on Tuesday night in Sunrise.

Florida, the NHL’s back-to-back defending Stanley Cup Champions, raised their 2025 championship banner before facing off against the young Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena.

It’s going to be a challenging campaign for the Panthers.

Before playing a single game, the Cats were already without three of the key players from their most recent championship run: Matthew Tkachuk, Tomas Nosek and team captain Sasha Barkov.

The Panthers were able to get things off on the right foot during Opening Night, defeating Chicago 3-2 in front of a packed house full of excited Cats fans.

After the game, The Hockey Show co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork broke down all the action.

You can check out THS’ postgame coverage in the video below:

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Dave Roberts explains why the Dodgers didn't use Roki Sasaki earlier in Game 2

Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki throws from the mound late in the ninth inning against the Phillies Monday in Philadelphia.
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki throws late in the ninth inning against the Phillies Monday during Game 2 of the NLDS in Philadelphia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was trying to play the long game Monday night.

Which is why, when his team entered the ninth inning with a three-run lead in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, he gave the save opportunity to Blake Treinen instead of Roki Sasaki.

If all things had been equal, it’s likely that Roberts would have turned to Sasaki to start the inning. In just two weeks since returning from a shoulder injury and being moved to the bullpen, the converted rookie starter has become the club’s most dominant relief option.

But, for as much of a revelation as the 23-year-old right-hander had been in that time — posting four scoreless outings with a 100-mph fastball and unhittable splitter — the team remained conscientious about managing Sasaki’s workload, which included one appearance in Game 2 of the wild card series, then another in Game 1 of the NLDS just days prior.

Thus, with Roberts feeling confident enough in Treinen (the veteran right-hander coming off a career-worst season but also some recently improved outings) to protect a three-run cushion that felt relatively comfortable, he left Sasaki sitting in the bullpen despite the save situation.

Read more:Hernández: Is Roki Sasaki the Dodgers' closer now? 'That's what we need right there'

He tried to take advantage of an opportunity to give his ace reliever rest.

“He hasn't gone two out of three [days] much at all,” Roberts said after the game. “So I didn't want to just kind of preemptively put him in there. I felt good with who we had.”

That plan, of course, almost backfired in disastrous fashion. Treinen gave up two runs without retiring a batter. Alex Vesia needed his defense to turn a wheel play on a Bryson Stott bunt to limit the damage from there. And in the end, Sasaki entered the game anyway to record the final out.

Moving forward, Roberts confirmed on Tuesday, Sasaki is “definitely the primary option now” for any future save situations — the closest the team will come to calling him their outright closer, since they could also choose to use him in high-leverage spots before the ninth.

Read more:Hernández: The Phillies are done, and the Dodgers' path to the World Series looks clear

“Obviously what Roki has done, has continued to show, has been very encouraging on a lot of fronts,” Roberts said.

The question, however, remains exactly how hard the Dodgers can ride him the rest of these playoffs; and how delicately they’ll have to balance the burden they place on a young pitcher who has never before pitched in a relief role.

“He's not going to close every game, it's just not feasible,” Roberts said Tuesday. “This is something he's never done. And you're expecting to go a few more weeks [in the postseason]. So all that stuff has to play in, that a lot of people don't have any appreciation for.”

The deeper the Dodgers go in the playoffs, the more tricky this calculus will get.

For now, the team’s preference would be for Sasaki to have at least one day of rest before each of his outings. And while Roberts didn’t rule out using him back-to-back days, he described it as “the next graduation point” for the offseason Japanese signing (who had made only eight MLB starts at the beginning of the season before initially getting hurt and missing the next four months).

“There's no guarantee what the stuff's going to be like [in a back-to-back sequence],” Roberts said, adding that any potential usage of Saskai on consecutive days would require conversations beforehand with pitching coaches about how Sasaki looked in pregame catch sessions.

“I would love to have Roki throw every single day if he could, but that's just not feasible,” Roberts reiterated. “Again, we have a lot of conversations, and then I make my decision.”

In other words, Sasaki will get the majority of save opportunities moving forward. But he likely won’t be the only one to handle such spots.

Sheehan responds in set-up role

Emmet Sheehan reacts after closing out the eighth inning against the Phillies in Game 2.
Emmet Sheehan reacts after closing out the eighth inning against the Phillies in Game 2. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

After a promising regular season in which he posted a 2.82 ERA in 15 outings, the Dodgers looked to Emmet Sheehan to be a multi-inning set-up man for their beleaguered relief corps.

His first playoff outing was troublesome: Giving up two hits and two walks while recording only one out in Game 2 of the wild-card series against the Reds.

But on Monday night, he bounced back with two innings of one-run relief to keep the Dodgers’ lead intact entering the ninth.

The biggest moment of Sheehan’s outing (in which he retired the side in the seventh, before giving up a down-the-line triple to Max Kepler and RBI single to Trea Turner in the eighth) came after he’d yielded that lone run. The Phillies had left-handed sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper due up next. The Dodgers had Vesia, their top left-handed option, warming in the bullpen.

For a brief moment, as pitching coach Mark Prior came to the mound and Sheehan fidgeted with his PitchCom device during an extended pause, it appeared the Dodgers were just stalling for Vesia to get warm.

But Roberts ultimately stayed put and let Sheehan pitch to the Phillies' star duo. His faith was rewarded with two outs that ended the inning. Sheehan struck out Schwarber with a 97.6-mph fastball on the inside corner, tied for his third-hardest pitch for a strikeout this season. Then he got Harper to fly out on a changeup, pumping a fist into his mitt as he skipped off the field.

“I think it just showed some adjustments that I made compared to that previous game [against the Reds],” Sheehan said.

The biggest one?

“Definitely controlling your emotions,” Sheehan acknowledged. “It’s a big piece of coming out of the bullpen. I’ve talked to a lot of guys about that, especially after Cincinnati where I wasn’t as comfortable out there.”

Read more:Shaikin: Inside the Mookie Betts play call that won NLDS Game 2 for the Dodgers

That Reds outing, of course, was a major red flag for the Dodgers’ bullpen plans. Given the struggles from the team’s traditional relievers entering the playoffs, Sheehan was supposed to essentially be a set-up man out of the bullpen capable of bridging the gap from the starting pitcher to the ninth.

Sheehan said, in that wild-card outing, he felt he was “trying to do a little too much, trying to be a little too fine with my pitches at the corners.”

“That’s not really my game,” he said in hindsight. “So I think just getting back to the approach and the game plan that’s been working for the past couple months was big. Trying to just go right at them and attack in the zone.”

Roberts gave Sheehan the leash to do that Monday, and will likely keep calling upon him in high-leverage spots moving forward, perhaps making Sheehan and Sasaki his preferred combination to close out the final innings of games.

“I just felt that his stuff was still real good [and that] he wasn't going to run from those guys at the top,” Roberts said Tuesday of letting Sheehan face Schwarber and Harper (who are a combined one for 14 in the NLDS with two walks and eight strikeouts).

“I trusted him. I felt in that moment he was the best option. And it proved to be right.”

Treinen lacking ‘edge’

At the other end of the reliever trust spectrum is Treinen, who not only failed to retire any of the three batters he faced in Game 2 but also, at least in Roberts’ estimation, also didn’t look like someone confident in their stuff.

“I just didn't see that edge last night,” Roberts said Tuesday, “that I know I've seen it many times over.”

Indeed, Treinen was the Dodgers’ most trusted reliever during their World Series run last year, when he was credited with three saves, two holds and two wins and punctuated his October with 2 ⅓ scoreless innings of relief in Game 5 of the World Series.

This season has been a different story, with Treinen stumbling to a career-worst 5.40 ERA after missing much of the first half with a forearm problem.

Despite that, Treinen had entered Monday on more of a high, after striking out three batters in his regular-season finale before making two scoreless appearances in the wild-card series.

The Phillies, however, took advantage of his inability this year to get as much swing-and-miss, fanning on just one of eight swings while stringing together a single and two doubles (the last one on a half-swing from Nick Castellanos against Treinen’s trademark sweeper).

“I felt that he was getting some momentum before that last one, so I'll check in on him,” Roberts said. “But there's ways of how you go about an outing, successful or not successful, and how a player carries himself matters to me.”

On Monday, Treinen didn’t check that box. And whether he will be thrown into such a high-leverage situation his next time out remains to be seen.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Do The Math, And You'll See Why Sabres Are A Playoff Longshot

 

Auston Matthews (left); Jiri Kulich (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres are facing an uphill battle to make the Stanley Cup playoffs this season, and we’ll be honest – in our pre-season predictions for THN.com, we slotted the Sabres into sixth place in the Atlantic. And we were being generous about Buffalo in comparison to THN magazine\, which ranked the Sabres as the seventh-best team in the Atlantic.

It really comes down to easy math: you just have to ask yourself which teams are locks to make the playoffs, and how many playoff openings that leaves for the teams that aren’t playoff locks. And in the Atlantic, the math isn’t encouraging for the Sabres.

To wit: in this writer’s opinion, the Atlantic playoff locks are the Toronto Maple Leafs (who were the best regular-season team in the division last year), the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the defending-champion Florida Panthers.

The Maple Leafs made major changes, yet they still have a deep, skilled attack that’s going to be desperate to go far this year. They won't be handing Buffalo any free standings points. Neither will the Lightning or Panthers. Thus, the Sabres will be fighting it out for fourth space. And the competition for fourth place is fierce. Not only are the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins also vying for one spot – two spots if they’re good enough to steal an extra spot from the Metropolitan Division. 

It's The Calm Before The Storm For Sabres As Buffalo Aims To End Painful Playoff DroughtIt's The Calm Before The Storm For Sabres As Buffalo Aims To End Painful Playoff DroughtFor the Buffalo Sabres, it’s the calm before the storm. The NHL’s 2025-26 regular-season is about to commence, and with the new season comes a new set of expectations for the Sabres. And with this season’s Sabres, the expectation is urgent – this Buffalo team is either going to end the Sabres’ 14-year playoff drought, or there are going to be changes throughout the organization, including the firings of GM Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff.

All of this is to say the odds of the Sabres beating out every other team and sneaking into a wild card berth this year. There are too many things out of Buffalo’s control, too many what-ifs, too many ripple-effects. None of them make the Sabres’ lives easy. Buffalo could play well, and still not have their destiny in their hands down the stretch. That has to be alarming for Sabres hands who want nothing more than to cheer on their own playoff team. 

Buffalo knows they’re not going to be a popular pick to go far this season, and they need to use the underdog label to send a message – this year’s Sabres aren’t the Sabres of the past decade-and-a-half. Buffalo has sufficient talent to be a playoff team this season, and as they prepare for their first game Thursday night against the New York Rangers (another team that could hurt the Sabres landing a wild card spot), Buffalo understands they’re coming to a crossroads with this Sabres team.

Early Injuries To Key Sabres Players Can't Be An Excuse For Buffalo To Fail This SeasonEarly Injuries To Key Sabres Players Can't Be An Excuse For Buffalo To Fail This SeasonWe said it earlier this summer, on more than one occasion – if the Buffalo Sabres intend on ending their Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years, they can’t afford to let the injury bug take a major bite out of their roster. Obviously, that’s something that only the Hockey Gods can control, but the Sabres simply don’t have the organizational depth to withstand the damage if someone meaningful is sidelined for a notable stretch of time.

Buffalo absolutely has to empty the tank to avoid losing out on simply qualifying for the post-season. Because the Sabres are going to be fighting it out with many teams for a wild card berth, and the odds are stacked against them. 

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Rangers look flat in 3-0 loss to Penguins in season opener

NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Brazeau scored twice, Arturs Silovs stopped all 25 shots he faced for his first regular season NHL shutout, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday night in each team’s opener.

Dan Muse won his debut as Penguins coach with his predecessor, Mike Sullivan, on the other bench running his first game with the Rangers. Sullivan guided Pittsburgh to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and ’17 as part of a nearly decade-long run there before parting ways in April.

Brazeau and Silovs were also playing for the Penguins for the first time. Brazeau signed as a free agent, while Silovs joined in a trade from Vancouver.

Evgeni Malkin led off his 20th season in the league by setting up Brazeau’s goal. Malkin beat Vincent Trocheck on an offensive zone faceoff to get the puck to Brazeau, who was alone in front and roofed a backhander past Igor Shesterkin.

Brazeau’s first goal with 32 seconds remaining in the first came near the end of a period that Pittsburgh controlled the play for much of the time. Silovs blocked away a shot from Alexis Lafrenière in the final seconds of an early Rangers power play but did not have to make too many other spectacular saves to get the win. With Shesterkin pulled for an extra attacker, Brazeau had an empty-netter with 2:12 left, and Blake Lizotte sealed it with another 20 seconds later.

Mika Zibanejad, who Sullivan put on new captain J.T. Miller’s right wing to start the season, was one of the most noticeable players for New York. Zibanejad missed the net on a couple of scoring chances but also had a game-high seven shots on goal.

Defeating the Rangers gave the Penguins something to celebrate on opening night as Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang made some history. They became the first trio in the four major North American men’s professional sports leagues to play 20 seasons together with the same team.

Up next

Penguins: Host the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

Rangers: Visit Buffalo on Thursday night.

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How Braeden Cootes Made The Vancouver Canucks’ Opening-Night Roster

On June 27, 2025, the Vancouver Canucks drafted center Braeden Cootes 15th overall. Not even half a year after, Cootes is preparing to make his NHL debut on Thursday night in Vancouver’s season-opener against the Calgary Flames. Having already passed the tests provided by the prospects showcase, training camp, and pre-season, Cootes is taking a low-stress approach to skating in his first NHL game. 

“I’m just trying to tell myself, ‘I’ve been playing this game for how long, it’s just hockey at the end of the day.’ So I’m just trying to do my best with it,” he told the media after practice on Tuesday. 

While there’s no doubt about Cootes’ skills, there weren’t many who thought the young center would make the team straight out of pre-season and training camp. However, a strong showing during his in-game performances as well as his strikingly mature mindset ultimately helped the forward earn his way onto Vancouver’s opening night roster. 

“I think we owe it to Braeden, obviously, that he earned his way to be here today and looking like he’s playing on Thursday, but I think we’ve got to be a little bit careful here and evaluate as we go along,” Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin said while discussing the decision to keep Cootes on the team’s opening-night roster. “No difference from what we have done since he earned his first game in Seattle and continues to earn another day. He’s young, but he’s playing a very, very mature game, so we’ll see here as we move along.”

“He got better. He’s smart, playing with good players,” Canucks head coach Adam Foote said about what he saw from Cootes during the pre-season. “He seems not to get confused, or he doesn’t slow down. Obviously, at times, there might be an adjustment for certain things, but he’s handled it well and wants to take it day to day.”

“Everything feels a bit more normal, so to speak,” Cootes added regarding what he has learned. “When you’re playing with such good players here, honestly, sometimes it feels — not easier, but sometimes you get pucks in better spots and quicker, because they’re so good and they can make such good plays.”

Canucks Have A Natural Leader In 2025 Draft Pick Braeden CootesCanucks Have A Natural Leader In 2025 Draft Pick Braeden Cootes12 years after the Vancouver Canucks drafted Bo Horvat, the organization selected two-way center Braeden Cootes 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old served as a captain for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL in 2024–25, with this being his third year spent with the club. 

When he was first drafted, many took to comparing the young center as Bo Horvat-esque with his leadership and two-way skillset. Quinn Hughes has only shared the ice with Cootes since the pre-season began, but already, the Canucks captain has been impressed with how the young center approaches the game. 

“He’s reliable, he’s got good reads defensively, he plays a mature game offensively. He’s got skill, good instincts all around the ice, and he’s just going to continue to get better and better,” Hughes said. “He’s a pretty impressive player. It’s hard at 18, even first-overall picks struggle, but I think Footy and the coaching staff have done a good job with him and kept it positive. I’m excited for him, happy for him, and he’s definitely earned to be here.”

Canucks head coach Adam Foote has taken this a step farther by drawing parallels to Ryan O’Reilly’s game.

“With a guy like Cootes, there’s always the next play, the next job, and moving your feet to the next position. We want all our players to be like that, but he’s been good at it, and that helps him with the physical part, because he’s usually in a better body position, so then he’ll let his brain and his body defend. O’Reilly defended like that for a long time.”

Cootes, on the other hand, describes his game a bit more simply. 

“Something that’s reliable that you can put out in the D-zone, that doesn’t cheat the game, so to speak, that I can play defence, I can play a 200-foot game and be reliable.”

Oct 3, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Braeden Cootes (80) skates against the Edmonton Oilers in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Thursday night’s game means a lot for the 18-year-old, who is originally from Edmonton. Cootes noted that “it’s a little extra motivation” playing against the Flames — the provincial rivals of the Edmonton Oilers, who he’d grown up cheering for as a kid. The first NHL game in any player’s career is always one of the most important. It’s a feeling that Hughes remembers from his own first game back in March of 2019. 

“I’m excited for him,” the Canucks captain said. “Rookie lap will be pretty cool, it’s something you always remember. He should just enjoy it, because he’s gonna play for a long time, but you only have one first game.”

Fans can catch Cootes and the Canucks on their season-opening night on October 9. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Frank Nazar & Spencer Knight Shine, Blackhawks Lose 3-2 To Panthers

The Chicago Blackhawks had a tall hill to climb with their first game of the season being against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. That would be a tough start for a team full of seasoned veterans, let alone a young squad like the Blackhawks. 

The Blackhawks found a way to keep this one close, though, as the Panthers walked away with a 3-2 victory. They won the game thanks to a third-period goal by Jesper Boqvist.

After the first period, the Blackhawks were down in shot attempts (35-10), shots on goal (17-3), and scoring chances (19-4), but they were only down 2-1 on the scoreboard. They took a 1-0 lead on Frank Nazar's breakaway goal, but then allowed goals to AJ Greer and Carter Verhaeghe. 

With a bit over 3 minutes remaining in the opening period, captain Nick Foligno tried to spark the team with a fight. He took on one of Florida's goal scorers, AJ Greer, and the fight can be summed up as a draw. 

There did seem to be a spark for Chicago in the second period, as the Blackhawks did play much better than they did in the first. That included a game-tying goal. Tyler Bertuzzi won a board battle to find Frank Nazar, who once again made a great play to feed Teuvo Teravainen for the goal. 

The aforementioned 3rd period goal by Boqvist ended up being the difference in the hockey game, but the Blackhawks stayed in a game that they were mostly outplayed. 

Frank Nazar was as good as expected during the game. He played a huge role in each of the two Chicago goals and was hard to play against for Florida in all three zones. His offensive prowess, special teams work, and tenacity on pucks make him worth his contract alone. It will be a bargain in short order. 

Like Nazar, Spencer Knight also gave the Blackhawks a chance to win the hockey game, despite the losing result. Knight made 34 saves on 37 shots against the team that traded him away. 

A year ago at this time, there were question marks in net for the Blackhawks, but Knight looks like a guy who can be a legit number one. He was sharp against a really good team with an unfavorable amount of help in front of him. 

Connor Bedard looked as fast and dynamic as he did in the preseason. This is a result of the hard work that he put in over the summer. He created a ton of chances for himself, Bobrovsky was just up to the task on every one, except for the one that rang off the pipe. A star-level breakout is on the horizon for Bedard. 

Nazar showed well with Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi, but Bedard didn't get much from Ryan Donato or Andre Burakovsky. The latter specifically looked out of place playing on the top line with Bedard. If he doesn't get better quickly, Jeff Blashill will be making a change. 

Next up for the Blackhawks is a trip to the East Coast to take on the Boston Bruins. Boston, although they have talented players at every position, is not Florida.

The compete level of the Blackhawks in this game will be a lot more telling. They only lost to Florida by one goal, which is something to build on, but they were outplayed in a lot of ways. More games will end in losses than wins if they play like they did in game one. A better effort is to be expected in game two against the Bruins. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Travis Green Says Senators Are 'Headed In the Right Direction'

48 hours after the Ottawa Senators' final preseason game, head coach Travis Green held court with the media on Monday, answering some of the key questions facing the team on the doorstep of the NHL regular season. The rehearsal is over, and Green sounded like a coach who's content with his troops on the other side of the always-too-long preseason.

"Yeah, I think I'm happy with camp in general," Green said. "Our guys have worked hard. We haven't had many days when I didn't think the effort was there. Attention to detail. I liked our last game. We looked better, dialled in. We still had a lot of guys who didn't play. But I think everyone's excited that we're through camp and we're getting ready to play for real."

The Sens won 3-1 in Montreal on Saturday in their final dress rehearsal, which was a nice bounce back after being outscored 12-1 in combined in their previous two games. But Green was quick to point out he wasn't that concerned about those performances.

"There are different games that have different elements to them in preseason," Green said. "In the St. Louis game, we were in tough. Obviously, we had played three games in five days and we didn't send our best lineup. But I thought our defensive game has slowly gotten to where we want it to be. There's been a lot of games in the preseason where we've had a lot more looks. We haven't put the puck in the net, but I think our game's trended in the right direction."

The health of Tyler Kleven and Drake Batherson may be as well. They've both been placed on IR, but they're not far off. And when they return, the Sens' 2025-26 lineup will be mostly what people expected it to be. The one surprise is the sudden addition of NHL heavyweight Kurtis MacDermid, acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Friday, three days after the Sens lost a rough, feisty game, 5-0 in Montreal. 

"He brings a lot of toughness to the game," Green said. "I mean, there's no doubt about it. He's one of the tougher customers in the league. He's a very smart player as well. He understands his positioning in the game. He'd be one of the smarter players on the team, knowing the details of where he needs to be to make sure that he's not out there hurting the team. And he's a tremendous teammate. Guys that stick up for their teammates are well respected within the league. And he's got that respect for sure."

With 0 points in 23 games last season, MacDermid isn't here to score, but the Sens need the rest of the lineup to step up in that area. That didn't happen in the preseason with just 12 goals on 189 shots over six games for a pop-gun shooting percentage of just over six percent.  But Green still feels like they're making progress in trying to fix their much-talked-about 5-on-5 scoring woes last season.

"I think we are. At the end of the day, the onus usually comes down to the guys who are supposed to score. But we've tried to structurally look at some different things that we can do to create offense. I've seen some improvements. I haven't seen the puck go in the net (enough). But I think we can score more 5-on-5."

They definitely improved after the trade deadline last season. If you just measure games after the acquisitions of Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund, the Sens' shooting percentage was 11th best in the league during that time. Now they have to do it consistently over a full 82 games.

Final roster decisions got a little easier on the blue line on Monday afternoon after Nick Jensen returned to the lineup Saturday following offseason hip surgery. That paved the way to send down Carter Yakemchuk, the club's 2024 seventh overall pick, for more seasoning in the AHL. Green admits that they've talked about possible load management for Jensen, but he remains thrilled with the veteran's preseason debut.

"I thought his game was excellent," Green said. "I was pleasantly surprised. I think you always wonder how a player's going to look coming off an injury. Also, being his first game, it's a testament to him as far as the work he's put in. And not just off the ice but on the ice. I thought he was good."

Again, preseason performances, good or bad, mean absolutely nothing. The real live fire begins on Thursday night in Tampa Bay. Once the puck drops there, people will forget that there even was a preseason.

"You go 6-0, 0-6, 3-3 in preseason, it doesn't matter. It's all about getting your game in order for game one. The good thing about this year is I think our guys have a strong understanding of our game and what it looks like when we're on top of it.

"And I think we're ready to start the season."

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NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Badly Need Defensive Upgrades

(Photo: Dennis Schneidler, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly scouring the NHL trade market for much-needed defensive reinforcements, but which players are actually going to be worth their while?

After the Ryan Ellis trade, the Flyers have $6.64 million in cap space, which allows them the opportunity to target virtually any player they want as far as salary goes.

We know that Egor Zamula had a poor preseason, which resulted in Adam Ginning overtaking him in the Flyers' lineup. Next to Ginning could be Zamula, Noah Juulsen, or Dennis Gilbert--it's really anyone's guess this early into the season.

That said, it's been reported that the Flyers are going to exhaust their external options at the position.

"Not sure we’re going to see much trade action too early, but Philadelphia is definitely checking what’s out there on defence," NHL insider Elliotte Friedman briefly reported in his "32 Thoughts" column on Tuesday.

We can already comfortably say that the Flyers aren't going to be trading assets for an older player, nor will they add a smaller, offensive-minded defenseman to the fold.

It's not in their team-building philosophy, and that's why, evidently, Emil Andrae was left off the Flyers' roster in favor of inferior options like Zamula and Gilbert.

The problem for the Flyers is that good teams usually look for defensemen around the playoffs and NHL trade deadline, so they'll be reduced to striking a deal for a younger player, and likely one in need of opportunity and/or a change of scenery.

I could see some interest in a player like Emil Lilleberg in Tampa Bay, a 6-foot-2 bruiser who scored 19 points in 76 games last year while racking up 105 penalty minutes but has since fallen out of favor.

Emil Lilleberg's advanced metrics from Evolving-Hockey.

Would there be mutual interest in an Emil-for-Emil trade that swaps Andrae and Lilleberg? It could work for Tampa Bay if they want some extra offensive juice and puck-carrying from the blueline from players not named Victor Hedman and J.J. Moser.

Bowen Byram has been floated again, and the Flyers have been linked to him before, but he's no defensive stalwart. Byram could excel with first-unit power play time, but that would mean less opportunities for Cam York and Jamie Drysdale by default, and the Flyers are still invested in the success of those players.

Rising stars like Thomas Harley and Philip Broberg are in the last years of their respective contracts and are due for big raises, but it's unlikely that either player is dealt by teams aspiring for the postseason in St. Louis and Dallas.

Shai Buium, the older brother of Zeev, is playing in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins after playing his first pro season last year. There's also Jordan Harris, a formerly promising Montreal Canadiens prospect who made the Boston Bruins as the presumptive seventh defenseman.

NHL Waiver Wire: Flyers Should Take a Chance on Recently Cut 11th Overall PickNHL Waiver Wire: Flyers Should Take a Chance on Recently Cut 11th Overall PickWith perpetuated struggles on defense, the Philadelphia Flyers must keep an open mind towards their options, internally and externally, at the position.

Like Friedman noted, the Flyers aren't likely to find many willing dance partners before they even play Game 1, but they have plenty of options, especially when it comes to low-risk, high-reward choices.

Byram could be a big swing for the Flyers, but I'm not overly optimistic about the fit in Philadelphia given the way the team's roster is currently constructed. And, no, New Jersey is not trading Simon Nemec to a division rival.

The Flyers should be actively working the phones moving forward, but don't expect an immediate resolution to the issue that is the team's defense, which was only further exacerbated by York's new injury.

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Panthers open season with victory over Chicago after raising Stanley Cup banner

There was a lot going on around Florida Panthers before the puck ever dropped on Opening Night.

That’s life when you’re the Stanley Cup Champs.

A lavish championship ring ceremony and a Stanley Cup Champions banner raising were on the checklist of things to get done ahead of actual hockey being played.

Once the Cats got to the game, though, they picked up right where they left off last season, picking up a solid 3-2 victory over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.

It was the Blackhawks who picked up the game’s opening goal, and it came right after the visitors killed off the night’s first power play.

Speedy sophomore Frank Nazar got behind Florida’s defense and beat Sergei Bobrovsky on his stick side to give Chicago a 1-0 lead just past the midway point of the opening period.

It was a lead that lasted all of 63 seconds.

With Florida’s fourth line putting on some post-goal pressure, a point shot from Gus Forsling was stopped by Knight through a screen, but A.J. Greer was waiting at the doorstep to bang home the rebound and quickly tie the game.

Just 3:01 later, Florida took their first lead of the game.

Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov was called for his second minor penalty of the period, and this time Florida cashed in when Carter Verhaeghe found himself with the puck on his stick and all kinds of time and space to the left of Spencer Knight.

Verhaeghe’s first of the season made it 2-1 Florida with 5:52 left in first period.

Florida held a 17-3 shot advantage after the opening period, but it took the Blackhawks all of 69 seconds to log two shots and a goal once the middle frame began.

Connor Bedard was stopped by Bobrovsky on a breakaway, but moments later Teuvo Taravainen finished off a great feed from Nazar on a 2-on-1 to knot the score at two.

Soon after, with the Blackhawks on the power play, Evan Rodrigues needed help getting off the ice after blocking a point shot with the inside of his right knee.

Fortunately for the Panthers, both Rodrigues and Sam Reinhart, who left the ice after taking a Seth Jones backhand clearing attempt off the face, were back on the ice later in the period.

The game remained deadlocked at two until the 9:40 mark of the third period.

Mackie Samoskevich chased down a puck dump in the corner to the left of Knight and sent a backhand feed to the front of the net.

Flying down the slot, Jesper Boqvist choked up on his stick and batted the puck out of midair and into the net to give the Cats a 3-2 lead.

Florida continued to put the pressure on, but couldn’t solve Knight, who came up with big save after big save.

It was all good for the Panthers, as they earned the big two points on Opening Night.

On to the Flyers.

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Panthers to raise second Stanley Cup banner as Opening Night against Chicago has arrived

Photo caption: Oct 7, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) celebrates after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)