Recapping Wednesday’s preseason games, injury updates, plus the latest on Dylan Larkin, Logan Cooley, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S PRESEASON ACTION

NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs swept the Ottawa Senators in split-squad games on Wednesday.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Jack Roslovic each had a goal and two assists, leading the Maple Leafs to a 6-1 win over the Senators in Toronto. Tim Stutzle replied for the Senators.

Anthony Stolarz stopped 19 shots, and Ryan Tverberg snapped a 2-2 tie as the Leafs doubled up the Senators 4-2 in Ottawa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ottawa Sun’s Callum Fraser reported Senators defenseman Carter Yakemchuk had a “disaster performance” in the 6-1 loss, which didn’t help his efforts to clinch a roster spot this season. Fraser felt the same about Sens goalie Leevi Merilainen, who didn’t get much help from his defense, but still could’ve played better.

Senators defenseman Artem Zub remains sidelined and is expected to miss the start of the regular season. Maple Leafs forward Nick Paul left this game with an undisclosed injury. It’s not expected to be serious, but he will be re-evaluated on Thursday.

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg made 24 saves to hold off the Anaheim Ducks 2-1.

Alex Laferriere and Joel Armia scored for the Kings. Ethan Procyszyn replied for the Ducks.

The Dallas Stars blanked the Minnesota Wild 2-0. Remi Poirier made 24 saves for the shutout, and Matthew Seminoff and Esa Lindell scored for the Stars. Jesper Wallstedt turned aside 22 shots for the Wild.

HEADLINES

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Dylan Larkin returned to the ice with his Red Wings teammates on Wednesday. He’d been sidelined for a week with an upper-body injury.

Larkin won’t be playing in Thursday’s preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres in Detroit. He could be in their preseason finale at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico interviewed Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley, who discussed his club’s push to become a true Western Conference contender.

Cooley said that making the playoffs last year, and the realization of how difficult it is to win a postseason series, has raised the intensity level in training camp for the Mammoth. He’s also thrilled with the addition of fellow Pittsburgh native Vincent Trocheck, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers in July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth’s improvement last season didn’t result in increased coverage of the team. Despite having established talent like winger Clayton Keller and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, rising stars like Cooley and Dylan Guenther, and a deep prospect pool, they don’t receive the same attention as other up-and-coming clubs in Anaheim and San Jose. People should pay attention to the Mammoth because they could make some noise in the West this season.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers prospect forward Adam Sykora will miss the next four to five months with a lower-body injury suffered during Monday’s preseason game against the New Jersey Devils.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s preseason match against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Blueline Olen Zellweger is in concussion protocol from a hit he received later in that game.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro will likely miss the start of the season with an undisclosed injury that could sideline him for weeks. Meanwhile, blueliner Damon Severson hasn’t been cleared to play yet as he works his way back from the shoulder surgery he had in April. He’s been skating in practice with a “no-contact” jersey.

THE SCORE: Philadelphia Flyers starting goalie Dan Vladar is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s preseason game against the Boston Bruins. Head coach Rick Tocchet said Vladar “dodged a bullet” and is in good spirits.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers fans are exhaling in relief as there was concern that Vladar may have been seriously hurt.

DAILY FACEOFF: Florida Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury but is expected to be in the lineup for their season-opener. It’s uncertain when Tkachuk was hurt.

TSN: Hall of Famer and ESPN hockey analyst Mark Messier said he’s “horrified” and “shocked” by the Edmonton Oilers hiring Mike Babcock as head coach.

Messier believes there must be a separation of powers on the structural level of the team, suggesting the players had too much of a say in the decisions being made at the management level, including the hiring of management and coaches.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Messier makes a good point, but as some on social media noted, he’s not in the best position to level criticism over players influencing coaching hires. After Messier signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 1997, he was reportedly directly responsible for the club hiring Mike Keenan as head coach.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Former Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr. died on Tuesday at age 87. He was owner of the club from 2001 until 2009.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gillett purchased the Canadiens and their arena at a time when no potential Canadian owner could be found. That led to concerns that the American owner might have designs on relocating the storied franchise to the United States, but he instead brought stability to the club during a period of uncertainty that included the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

My condolences to Gillett’s family, friends, and the Canadiens organization.