NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2026

by | Oct 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 1, 2026

Recapping Wednesday’s games, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has a new contract, Golden Knights center William Karlsson and Stars goalie Casey DeSmith get new deals, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon led the Colorado Avalanche to an 8-4 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Makar had two assists, becoming the first defenseman in league history to record multiple points in five straight season openers, while MacKinnon scored two goals and got into a third-period fight with Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

Artturi Lehkonen also tallied twice, and Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche. Alex Laferriere collected two assists, and Artemi Panarin scored for the Kings.

Before this game, the Avalanche announced that head coach Jared Bednar signed a four-year contract extension. Bednar was in the final season of his current deal. He is the longest-tenured head coach in franchise history.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for the offseason rumors that the front office was losing confidence in Bednar after the Vegas Golden Knights swept the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. What do you think about this signing, Avalanche fans? Let us know in the comments section below.

The Pittsburgh Penguins crushed the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 in the latter’s home-opening game. Arturs Silovs turned in a 19-save shutout, Nick Robertson scored two goals, and Filip Hallinder had a goal and two assists for the Penguins. Flyers goalie Dan Vladar gave up seven goals on 38 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang won their 494th game together, setting the league record for the most by a trio. The Penguins also activated forward Blake Lizotte from injured reserve.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan scored the winning goal and collected an assist on Colton Sissons’ game-opener in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Anthony Stolarz stopped 26 shots for the win. Emil Heineman scored, and Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves for the Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (lower-body injury) missed this game, but he could return to the lineup this weekend. Before this game, the Maple Leafs placed sidelined forwards Max Domi and Dakota Joshua on long-term injured reserve.

HEADLINES

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights signed center William Karlsson to a two-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $6.75 million. Karlsson, 33, is in the final season of an eight-year deal with a $5.9 million AAV.

Karlsson’s been plagued by injuries over the past three seasons. When healthy, he’s a solid two-way center and invaluable core player. He’s also one of the three remaining players from their 2017-18 expansion roster.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed goaltender Casey DeSmith to a two-year contract extension worth $2.5 million annually.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeSmith has been a reliable backup for Stars starting goalie Jake Oettinger.

Speaking of the Stars, center Matt Duchene is doubtful for Friday’s season-opener against the St. Louis Blues with a lower-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson has returned to Sweden and is practicing with Swedish Hockey League club Frolunda. The 22-year-old restricted free agent awaits a new contract with the Red Wings.

“It takes as long as it needs to take,” Edvinsson’s agent Peter Werner said. “It is an ongoing negotiation that is ongoing.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ryan Lambert (my colleague at The Hockey News) summed this up best: the Red Wings are completely mishandling Simon Edvinsson’s situation.

This is just another chapter in the Red Wings’ decade-long decline, a maddening decline for their fans with no end in sight.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Red Wings were a once-proud franchise that became a laughingstock because of incompetent ownership, mismanagement, and a revolving door of coaches, earning them the derisive nickname of “The Dead Things”.

They are now The Dead Things 2.0. Their front office doesn’t seem to know what they’re doing. They haven’t made the playoffs in a decade. They’re bungling negotiations with their second-best defenseman. Their former captain wants out, and they can’t find a replacement for former GM Steve Yzerman.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils forward Connor Brown will miss his club’s first two games of this season with a lower-body injury.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets will not have a captain this season. They will have six alternate captains, with Zach Werenski serving as permanent alternate. The decision is due to the departure of former captain Boone Jenner and uncertainty over Werenski’s future.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL center Ryan Spooner has retired. He spent seven seasons in the NHL (2012-13 to 2018-19) with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks. In 325 games, he had 48 goals and 167 points, and two points in four postseason contests. He spent the past seven seasons in the KHL, the Swiss National A League, and the Slovakian Extraleague.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 30, 2026

by | Sep 30, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 30, 2026

Recaps of the season-opening games, the Senators name a new captain, Wild defenseman Brock Faber 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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 29, 2026

by | Sep 29, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 29, 2026

The 2026-27 NHL season begins on Tuesday, plus the latest on Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The 2026-27 regular season begins Tuesday with five games on tap.

The Carolina Hurricanes will raise their 2025-26 Stanley Cup banner before hosting the Florida Panthers at 5 PM EDT. The Montreal Canadiens visit the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 PM EDT), the New York Rangers face off against the Boston Bruins (8 PM EDT), the Vancouver Canucks meet the Edmonton Oilers (10 PM EDT), and the Chicago Blackhawks square off against the Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 PM EDT).

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson is no longer practicing with the team and will remain off the ice until he signs a new contract. Edvinsson, 22, remains a restricted free agent as his representatives continue to negotiate with Red Wings management.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (NHL Images)

Edvinsson skated with his teammates in practice during training camp but couldn’t participate in scrimmages or preseason games. Now that the regular season has begun, he cannot take part in any team activities until he’s signed.

It’s rumored the two sides are working on a long-term deal worth an average annual value of $10 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings had the entire summer to sign Edvinsson. It was assumed a deal would happen quickly once assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff was named interim GM.

Edvinsson has been loyal to the Red Wings, rejecting offers from other clubs and taking part in training camp when he could’ve sat out. So far, he’s got nothing to show for it.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas raised eyebrows during his press conference yesterday when he gave a curt response to a question about the future of Evgeni Malkin, who’s on a one-year contract.

“I’m not gonna do this day-to-day, year-by-year thing with (Malkin) again this year,” Dubas said.

A team spokesman later said Dubas was referencing media questions about Malkin, and not any future years for the veteran center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Dan Kingerski observed, Malkin’s contract status last season became the subject of intense speculation as he publicly needled Dubas for a new deal, and the Penguins GM sidestepped those questions. The two sides eventually agreed to a one-year extension, but Dubas doesn’t want any future talks with Malkin playing out in the press.

TWINCITIES.COM: The Minnesota Wild placed defenseman Brock Faber (upper body) and goaltender Filip Gustavsson (hip surgery) on injured reserve.

TSN: St. Louis Blues defensemen Tyler Tucker (lower body) and Logan Mailloux (surgery, right hand) were placed on IR.

Montreal Canadiens center Oliver Kapanen will miss his club’s season opener because he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Mammoth defense prospect Maveric Lamoureux will be sidelined for four to six months after undergoing shoulder surgery.

NHL.COM: The Nashville Predators signed forward Tyson Jost to a one-year, two-way contract. He had attended their training camp on a professional tryout offer.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets claimed goaltender Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Washington Capitals. Stevenson, 27, will serve as Stuart Skinner’s backup. He backstopped the Capitals’ AHL affiliate in Hershey to the Calder Cup in 2023-24.

CBS SPORTS: The Vancouver Canucks released goalie Chris Driedger from his PTO contract.

DAILY FACEOFF: NHL forward Matt Nieto has announced his retirement. In 12 NHL seasons (2013-14 to 2024-25), he has 87 goals and 119 assists for 206 points in 705 NHL regular-season games with the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, and Pittsburgh Penguins, and 21 points in 62 playoff contests.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders sold roughly 15 percent of its shares at a $3 billion valuation. The identities of the new investors are not known, and the sale is subject to NHL approval.

CTV NEWS: A report by the Montreal Economic Institute found Canada’s higher tax rates are hurting some of the country’s NHL teams, making it harder to attract and keep top players from Canada and the United States.

The report also mentioned the NHL’s salary cap is based on gross salary rather than net salary, meaning a team from a no-tax state can offer the exact same contract and the player will take home more money.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stick tap to “Chris” for the link.

Players on Canadian teams are paid in US dollars, meaning their money goes further in Canada. As of Sept. 29, one American dollar is worth $1.42 Canadian.

It could make it difficult for smaller market Canadian teams, who earn revenue in Canadian dollars, to keep pace with the rising salary cap.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was an issue 25 years ago, when the Canadian dollar was ever lower. Small market teams in Quebec City and Winnipeg relocated to the United States in the mid-1990s, and Edmonton and Ottawa were on the verge of following suit.

Today, all seven Canadian teams have stable ownership, and the league has a robust revenue-sharing program. Winnipeg is the NHL’s smallest market and the only Canadian team facing a genuine problem attracting and retaining players. The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames are closer to the salary-cap floor, but that’s because they’re rebuilding their rosters.

Another factor putting Canadian teams on an unequal footing is a handful of US-born players who’ve pushed to leave Canadian markets, especially after the American men’s hockey team winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Quinn Hughes forced the Vancouver Canucks to trade him to the Minnesota Wild, Brady Tkachuk’s trade request sent him from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers, and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck requested a trade and remains suspended without pay for not reporting to training camp.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those moves were made for reasons that had nothing to do with higher taxes or playing in Canada.

Hughes’ trade happened two months before the Olympics, and was largely because the Canucks had become a dysfunctional mess, which Hughes (as team captain) seemed powerless to address.

Tkachuk’s trade to the Panthers in June was for family reasons. It was no secret he and his brother, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk, wanted to play together. Hellebuyck’s situation is based on his desire to play for a Stanley Cup contender while he’s still in his prime.

TSN’s Gino Reda said Hellebuyck didn’t have any Canadian teams on his list of trade destinations. “That tells you an awful lot. It’s not a trend just yet, but it’s a concern for the Canadian teams to watch their star players going south of the border.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could become a problem given the current economic tensions between Canada and the United States. However, the performance of the teams remains the prime factor. Contenders, even those in Canada, usually have little difficulty attracting and retaining talent.










Maple Leafs Ship Matthew Knies to Blue Jackets for Kirill Marchenko in Multi-Player Trade

by | Sep 28, 2026

Maple Leafs Ship Matthew Knies to Blue Jackets for Kirill Marchenko in Multi-Player Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired winger Kirill Marchenko, forward Miles Wood, and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for winger Matthew Knies, forward Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a conditional 2027 second-round draft pick.

The Maple Leafs signed Marchenko to a six-year, $75-million contract extension with an average annual value of $12.5 million. The Blue Jackets retain 18 percent of Merzlikin’s $5.4 million cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Who said blockbuster moves no longer happen on the eve of the regular season?

Columbus Blue Jackets trade winger Kirill Marchenko to the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL Images).

This is a significant move by both clubs. Marchenko was a fixture in the rumor mill over the summer after it was reported that he was unwilling to sign an extension with Columbus. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell insisted that he wasn’t seeking draft picks and prospects for the 26-year-old winger, instead preferring a comparable scoring winger in return.

Waddell gets his wish with Knies. The 23-year-old power forward is in the second season of a seven-year contract with an affordable AAV of $7.75 million. He’s made steady progress in his three-season NHL career. Despite being hampered by a knee injury last season, he reached a career-high 66 points in 79 games. He’ll likely skate at left wing on the Blue Jackets’ first line alongside young center Adam Fantilli.

Meanwhile, Marchenko will take Knies’ former spot alongside Maple Leafs superstar center Auston Matthews. Unlike Knies’ physical net-front presence, Marchenko is a swift, offensively creative forward who had a career-best 74-point performance in 2024-25. His style could mesh well with Matthews’ game.

The rest of the players in this deal are mostly depth players being swapped for salary-cap reasons.

Merzlikins was formerly the Blue Jackets’ starting goaltender until losing that job last season to Jet Greaves. He’s sidelined indefinitely due to offseason shoulder surgery and will go on long-term injury reserve. Merzlikins is in the final season of his contract and is UFA-eligible next summer. Given his injury status, it’s unlikely he’ll suit up for the Leafs this season.

So what do you think of this deal? Let us know in the comments below.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 28, 2026

by | Sep 28, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 28, 2026

The Bruins have a new captain, plusthe latest on Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, Islanders winger Mathew Barzal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins named David Pastrnak as the 28th captain in the franchise’s history.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).

Pastrnak, 29, replaced Brad Marchand, who filled that role from 2023-24 until traded in March 2025.

“Yeah, obviously very grateful and humble. (It’s) an honor to be the captain and recognize all the responsibility that comes with it,” Pastrnak said. “I can’t wait, and my biggest goal is to be the best version (of myself) for the team and the Bruins organization.”

Pastrnak ranks sixth all-time among Bruins scorers with 933 points in 833 games. He also has 94 points in 96 playoff games. He’s tied for second in franchise history with five 40-goal seasons, is only the second Bruin to score 60 goals in a season, and is the third player in team history to have four 100-point seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak is among the league’s elite forwards. He took on a larger leadership role with the Bruins last season, so it’s not surprising they made him captain.

What do you think about Pastrnak becoming Bruins captain? Let us know in the comments section below.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is selling his home. The move comes as the 32-year-old netminder recovers from offseason shoulder surgery and is sidelined indefinitely

Merzlikins struggled over the past four seasons, losing the starter’s job last season to Jet Greaves. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Merzlikins’ future with the Blue Jackets was in question before this report that he’s selling his home. This comes amid rumors that he might not return before the end of this season.

NHL.COM: New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal is travelling with his teammates to Toronto and hasn’t been ruled out for his club’s season-opener against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Barzal missed training camp after aggravating a prior injury that caused inflammation.

Meanwhile, the Islanders signed free-agent defenseman Logan Stanley to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

TSN: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson was fined $5,000 for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Grieg during Saturday’s preseason game in Montreal.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Pittsburgh Penguins placed four players on injured reserve. They include forwards Blake Lizotte, Justin Brazeau, and Ben Kindel, and defenseman Ryan Graves.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs signed defenseman Nick Blankenburg to a one-year, $1.4 million contract. He’d attended training camp on a professional tryout offer (PTO).

DAILY FACEOFF: The Florida Panthers signed forward Nathan Bastian to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level.

CBS SPORTS: The Bruins placed forward Matthew Poitras (upper body) on injured reserve.

TSN: The St. Louis Blues claimed defenseman Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils plucked goaltender Remi Poirier off waivers from the Dallas Stars.

DAILY FACEOFF: 71 players hit the waiver wire on Sunday as the 32 NHL clubs finalized their rosters for the upcoming regular season.

Goaltenders include David Rittich of the New Jersey Devils, Dylan Garand of the New York Rangers, Laurent Brossoit of the Anaheim Ducks, and Vitek Vanecek of the New York Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Placing the 24-year-old Garand on waivers could be a risky move by the Rangers. A rival club seeking a promising young netminder or goaltending depth could snap him up today.

Notable defensemen include Nick Perbix of the Nashville Predators, Henri Jokiharju of the Boston Bruins, and Donovan Sebrango of the Florida Panthers.

Forwards include Sam Lafferty of the Panthers, Vinnie Hinostroza of the Colorado Avalanche, Colin Blackwell of the Dallas Stars, Taylor Raddysh of the Rangers, and Alexander Holtz of the Vegas Golden Knights.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 27, 2026

by | Sep 27, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 27, 2026

Recapping the final-day preseason games, plus the latest waiver and injury updates in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators each picked up a win in split-squad action on Saturday.

Montreal Canadiens winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images)

Chris Kreider scored his first preseason goal for the Canadiens, Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and two assists, and Phillip Danault and Noah Dobson each had a goal and an assist to double up the Senators 4-2 in Montreal. William Eklund scored the winning goal, and Claude Giroux had a goal and two assists in the Senators’ 4-3 win in Ottawa.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki faced off with brother Ryan Suzuki for the first time in an NHL game. Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson left the game in Ottawa midway through the second period for precautionary reasons with an undisclosed ailment. Speaking of the Senators, they acquired goaltender Jonas Johansson from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday for future considerations.

The Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Nashville Predators 6-0. Jackson Blake had a goal and two assists, and Brandon Bussi turned in a 22-save shutout. Juuse Saros made 20 saves for the Predators.

Mats Zuccarello had a goal and two assists in his preseason debut to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Alex Turcotte scored twice and picked up an assist, and Drew Doughty had three assists for the Kings. Nikita Nesterenko and Beckett Sennecke replied for the Ducks.

Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk scored and collected two assists to nip the Seattle Kraken 4-3. Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson each had a goal and an assist, and Kevin Lankinen stopped 25 shots for the Canucks. Brandon Montour had a goal and an assist for the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken forward Mackie Samoskevich missed this game with an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

New Jersey Devils winger Luke Evangelista scored two goals in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. Simon Holmstrom scored for the Islanders.

Edmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Kasperi Kapanen each had a goal and an assist to douse the Calgary Flames 4-1. Matt Coronata replied for the Flames.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby tallied his first goal of the preseason in a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan McLeod scored for the Sabres, who lost goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the third period with an undisclosed injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins winger Bryan Rust left this game with an undisclosed injury midway through the second period. He was still being evaluated following the game.

The San Jose Sharks beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2. Macklin Celebrini and Mason Marchment had a goal and an assist each, and Yaroslav Askarov made 28 saves for the win. Tomas Hertl and Nic Dowd were the Golden Knights’ scorers.

Washington Capitals forward Andrew Cristall had a goal and an assist as his club downed the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1. Jamie Drysdale replied for the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: During warmups, the Flyers skated with tucked jerseys to protest teammate Trevor Zegras receiving a minor penalty for wearing his jersey in a similar fashion during their previous game.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves kicked out 31 shots for a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Charlie Coyle and Valeri Nichushkin each scored a goal and collected an assist for the Blue Jackets. Ben Chiarot had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Red Wings claimed defenseman Andreas Englund off waivers from the Calgary Flames.

Utah Mammoth goalie Karel Vejmelka had a 25-save shutout in a 2-0 upset of the Colorado Avalanche. Jack McBain and Logan Cooley were the goal scorers. Scott Wedgewood turned aside 33 shots for the Avalanche.

The Chicago Blackhawks got a 29-save performance by Spencer Knight to hold off the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Rookie Roman Kantserov tallied what proved to be the winning goal for the Blackhawks, while Jonatan Berggren and Colton Parayko replied for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues defenseman Logan Mailloux left this game with an undisclosed injury. Earlier in the day, the Blues announced defenseman Tyler Tucker is expected to miss the start of the season with a knee injury.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Florida Panthers 3-2 on a shootout goal by prospect forward Benjamin Rautiainen, who also scored the tying goal in the third period.

DAILY FACEOFF: New York Islanders forward Pierre Engvall, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Miles Wood, and Boston Bruins winger Lukas Reichel were among the 18 players placed on waivers on Saturday.