NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 30, 2026
Recaps of the season-opening games, the Senators name a new captain, Wild defenseman Brock Boeser sidelined indefinitely, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING THE SEASON-OPENING GAMES
NHL.COM: The Vancouver Canucks blew a three-goal lead but still upset the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in overtime. Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard had a hat trick and two assists, becoming the first defenseman in NHL history to open the season with five points. Paul Cotter scored twice for the Canucks, including the winning goal.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen gave up five goals on 32 shots, but Oilers netminder Tristan Jarry allowed six goals on 23 shots. The Oilers played without versatile two-way forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who is out until mid-October with a lower-body injury.
Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling scored with 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime to nip the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0, spoiling the defending Stanley Cup champions’ home opener. Panthers goaltender Jacob Markstrom had a 15-save shutout, and Brandon Bussi stopped 19 shots for the Hurricanes.
The Boston Bruins got goals from Fraser Minten, JJ Peterka, and Mark Kastelic within a 1:15 span in the third period to blank the New York Rangers 3-0. Jeremy Swayman got the shutout with a 24-save performance. Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin allowed two goals on 22 shots.
Montreal Canadiens winger Josh Anderson and defenseman Alexandre Carrier each had a goal and an assist to hold off the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Jakub Dobes turned aside 26 shots for the Canadiens. William Nylander scored both goals for the Maple Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winger Kirill Marchenko picked up an assist in his first game with the Maple Leafs since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade on Monday. Before the game, Leafs general manager John Chayka said goalie Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder surgery) is out three to five months, and forward Miles Wood would start this season with their AHL affiliate. Both players were part of the trade that brought Marchenko to Toronto.
Patrick Kane scored in his first game back with the Chicago Blackhawks, but they dropped a 5-2 decision to the Vegas Golden Knights. Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists, and rookie forward Trevor Connelly scored his first NHL goal for the Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks winger Teuvo Teravainen was a healthy scratch for this game.
HEADLINES
OTTAWA SUN: The Senators named defenseman Thomas Chabot as their new captain, becoming the 11th player in franchise history to fill that role. He’s the first Canadian captain for the Senators since Jason Spezza in 2013-14.
TWINCITIES.COM: Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is sidelined indefinitely with a fractured skull after taking a puck to the ear during the club’s final preseason game against the Dallas Stars on Friday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a serious blow for the Wild. Faber is a core player who skates on the top defense pairing with superstar Quinn Hughes. Team captain Jared Spurgeon will replace Faber alongside Hughes.
GM Bill Guerin wouldn’t say whether the injury is season-ending or if he’ll trade for a short-term replacement.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sophomore defenseman Matthew Schaefer is among the New York Islanders’ four alternate captains, joining blueliner Ryan Pulock and forwards Kyle Palmieri and Brayden Schenn. Earlier this month, the Isles named Bo Horvat as their new captain.
TSN: The Columbus Blue Jackets signed free-agent defenseman Carson Soucy to a one-year, $1.15 million contract. He had attended their training camp on a professional tryout offer.
DAILY FACEOFF: Buffalo Sabres forward Conor Sheary and New York Rangers defenseman Vincent Iorio on waivers.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche promoted Andrew Cogliano to assistant general manager. He’d served as a special assistant to the GM since 2024.
Will no.1 Oilers fan be in hiding this morning? Before
I begin you need to read the comments at Oilers
Nation. Owen Michaels is excellent because he got the most TOI. Trent, Jarry, Howard were all superb.
Jarry was the most excellent on breakaways. You claim I have a love affair with Sam. No I hate Stan and JJ who BOTH need to be fired. Eat your porridge
and mull over the fact we lost to the worst team in
the NHL.
I was told and have no way of checking a glass
of Molson’s is $19.50 at the Oilers arena.
Katz is going to make a killing.
A bit of an oddity in the fact that the Panthers-Hurricanes game produced just 33 shots combined over 3 periods and almost a full OT before the 34th shot won it with just 4 seconds to go.
Didn’t see any of it, but the D and fore-checking on both sides must have been fierce.
Re Chabot, no real surprise there. It would have been a miscarriage of justice had the C gone to anyone else.
The comment this morning on the Oilers game is
very mild as to what you read at Oilers Nation.
There is another site with someone named OPIE
on it but I imagine it is full of far harsher comments
than what I read here.
Jarry may be responsible for Babcock being bald by the TDL due to his inconsistency making Babcock pull his hair out.
Holy guacamole terrific game by the bruins they dominated the rangers lastnight. Looking forward to the jets Thursday. Had to get up at five for work for some reason I thought the game got underway at 7pm. Definitely worth watching all the way though. That 3rd line could be a killer liked what I saw on that. And the overall effort everybody seemed to be on the same page. It’s almost like all the lines had been playing for years together.